Friday, April 25, 2008

Jummah Mubarak

As-Salaamu-Alaikum
Jummah Mubarak to all!
Remember us in your Dua'as, Jazakallah
THE HOLY PROPHET SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM
When becoming humiliated, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) in Ta'if.
When being starved, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) tying two stones to his stomach in the battle of Khandaq.
When becoming angry, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam)'s control of anger on the martyrdom of his beloved Uncle Hamza.
When bleeding from any part of the body, remember the Prophet
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s body covered in blood on his return from Ta'if.
When feeling lonely, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhiwasallam)'s seclusion in Mount Hira
When feeling tired in Salaat, remember the Prophet (sallallahualayhi wasallam)'s blessed feet in Tahajjud.
When being prickled with thorns, remember the Prophet (sallallahualayhi wasallam)'s pain from Abu Lahab's wife.
When being troubled by neighbours, remember the old woman who would empty rubbish on the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
When losing a child, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhiwasallam)'s son, Ibrahim.
When beginning a long journey, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s long journey to Madinah.
When going against a Sunnah, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s intercession, (Ummati,Ummati, Ummati) (My Ummah).
When sacrificing an animal, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s sacrifice of 63 animals for his Ummah.
Before shaving your beard, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam)'s face rejecting the two beardless Iranians.
When falling into an argument with your wife, remember the Prophet
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s encounter with Aisha and Hafsa.
When experiencing less food in the house, remember the Prophet
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s days of poverty.
When experiencing poverty, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam)'s advice to Ashaab-e-Suffa (People of Suffa).
When losing a family member, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam)'s departure from this world.
When becoming an orphan, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s age at six.
When sponsoring an orphan, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)'s sponsor for Zaid ibn Haritha.
When fearing an enemy, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam)'s saying to Abu Bakr in Mount Thour
Whatever situation you may find yourself in, remember your role model, the best of creation:
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Friday, April 18, 2008

Another Jummah dawns...

As Salaamu Alaikum

Its Jummah again and I sit back and reflect where did the week go to?
It was Monday a few days ago and the week just flew by :(

Hmm time and tide waits for no one, how true this saying is!!!

Jummah Mubarak to you and your families on this Blessed Day!!The Prophet (SAW) is the best example of this. Look to his life, learn from it and live it. And, choose your companionship according to this lofty character, indeed, it will shape you too.Please make Dua'a for all of those going through hardships.
Verily, with every difficulty, there is ease. Truly, with every difficulty there is ease.
Kindly remember the Ummah of Nabi (saw), the sick and oppressed as well as my family & I in your Dua'as, likewise we will do the same, Jazakallah
Please do make me Maaf for anything I may have said or done be it intentionally or unintentionally...
Take care & have a blessed day, Inshallah
Was-Salaam

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.About a month later, just before Eid-ul-Kareem, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"There was silence.Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings! Skip this one."But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? R100, R200?"Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give R10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford."We have R10, who will bid R20?""Give it to him for R10. Let's see the masters..""R10 is the bid, won't someone bid R20?"The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for R10!"A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over.""What about the paintings?""I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.The man who took the son gets everything!"Similarly Allah (swt) gave Nabi (Saw) the Qur-an one thousand four hundred of years ago to guide us Mankind...Much like the Auctioneer,
His message today is: "The Qur-an, the Qur-an, who'll take the Qur-an?"Because, you see, whoever takes the Qur-an gets everything.Glory be to Allah, Master of the Universe and All of Creation!!

Friday, April 11, 2008

An interesting read....

http://muslimmatters.org/2008/03/17/hookah-sheesha-shisha-smoking-safer-than-cigarettes/

Coffee Should Be...

Warm to the soul as it stimulates discussion yet fosters dissention and captivates many with its blend and aroma...

Coffee anyone?

Jummah Mubarak

ALWAYS VALUE THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Naseehat: Good Advice
2. Eghsaan: Good deeds done to others
3. Death: Remembering it at all times
ALWAYS LOOK AFTER THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Your Parents
2. Your Teachers
3. The Laws of the Almighty (to always obey them)
ALWAYS BELIEVE IN THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Almighty Allah (swt)
2. His Prophet (Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam)
3. The day of judgment and resurrection (Qiyaamah and Aakirah)
ALWAYS LOVE THESE THREE THINGS:
1. The Truth
2. Good Deeds
3. Your beliefs in Allah Ta'ala
ALWAYS CONTROL THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Bad Temper
2. Your Tongue
3. Your Heart
ALWAYS STRIVE FOR THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Your Namaaz
2. Uniting & Helping the Ummah
3. Honesty
ALWAYS AVOID THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Gossip
2. Greed & Jealousy
3. Hatred, Envy & Suspicion
ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THESE THREE THINGS:
1. Your people
2. Your country
3. Your haq (rights)
"There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart....pursue those!" In all that you say & do constantly remember Allah (swt) & the teachings of Nabi (Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam)....for you will greatly succeed, Inshallah!
Hadith for the week: The Prophet Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said: "Three Dua'as are undoubtedly answered:
The Dua'as of a father (for his children),
the Dua'a of a traveller (musaafir) and the Dua'a of an oppressed person." (Abu Dawood)
Kindly remember the Ummah of Nabi (saw), the sick and oppressed as well as my family & I in your Dua'as, likewise we will do the same, Jazakallah

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Who are you working for??!


The luxury Cars, Land Cruisers, Rav 4's, the Mercedes that are parked 8 hours driven 30 min to the office and 30 minutes back home 5 days out of 7 (i.e. 5 out of 168 hours in a week)....

and whilst we sit on a not-so-comfortable chair in a small room called an office your 7 Bed-roomed mansion lies idle with only the domestic enjoying herself to the 'breakfast' relaxing on that very expensive leather sofa that we only sit on when we get home... and being so tired we just doze off to sleep anyway. When tired of work she takes a break turns on the TV and spoils herself with the fully subscribed DSTV, of course if she feels bored she can always turn on that brand named sound system and swing a bit...lol

While all that is happening where are you... you are eating a cheap take away lunch everyday and oh by the way there is no breakfast really, because its just a cup of tea a few slices of bread probably with some left-over's from yesterday's supper (for the fortunate few). Every moment you pray that it could just get to 4pm so that you can drive home and join... the domestic! (Poor you!)

That's how it's going to be for the rest of your working life... by the time you retire you'll have no pleasure in them anymore. Your children will also join in the Rat Race of finding a good job working very hard and never enjoying the fruits of their labours... its all vanity isn't it?

SO MY QUESTION IS... WHO IS ENJOYING BETTER THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR?

Friday, April 04, 2008

A scary Dialouge


Deep at night, I had this dialogue with Satan.
Shortly, I heard the Fajr prayer call. I wanted to go to the mosque.

* He said: "The night is still long, so take a nap."
* I said: "I'm afraid I'll miss my obligatory prayer!"
* He said: "There is much time to go "
* I said: "I'm afraid I'll miss praying in congregation."
* He said: "Don't be too harsh on yourself in worship."
Then, I didn't wake up until the sun had already risen.
* He whispered to me again saying: "Don't feel sorry for what you have missed. The day is still full of many other chances."

As soon as I started mentioning Allah, he brought to my mind all kinds of thoughts.
* I said: "You are diverting me from making Dua'a."
* He said: "Just delay it until the night." Shortly, I intended to repent.
* He said: "Enjoy your young age before it comes to an end"!
* I said: "I'm too afraid of death."
* He said: "But your life will not end now."
I started to memorize Qur'aan
* He said: "Entertain yourself with songs."
* I said: "But it's an unlawful thing to do."
* He said: "Scholars differed on that matter
* I said: "The evidences from the Prophet's sayings (peace be upon him) are with me"
* He said: "But you know their sources are weak!"
A beautiful lady passed by, so I lowered my gaze.
* He said: "What's wrong? It's just a gaze"!
* I said: "A gaze puts me in a dangerous place."
* He said: "It's lawful to contemplate in grace."
I went to the Kaaba (The Ancient House of Allah). There he was with me on the way.
* He said: "What's the reason behind this trip?"
* I said: "To make 'Umrah'."
* He said: "You have risked dangers (on your travel) to do this Umrah.
Don't you know that good deeds have plenty of other doors?!!"
* I said: "But my life needs a change for the better"
* He said: "Don't you know that you can't enter Paradise through your deeds?
I went to give advice to people.
* He said: "Don't put yourself in an embarrassing situation.
* I said: "But, my only aim is to benefit others."
* He said: "That's a trap of self-admiration, and it is indeed the head of corruption."
* I said: "Tell me your opinion about some people."
* He said: " I can answer you of the private, as well as the general."
*
I said: "Ahmed Ibn Hanbal?"
* He said: "His calling to follow Qura'an and Sunnah was killing me."
* I said: "Ibn Taymeyah?"
* He said: "His words hit my head like a daily beating."
* I said: "Al-Bukhari?"
* He said: "I can even burn my house with his book."
* I said: "Al-Haggag?"
* He said: "I wish 1000 of men are like him. His way is cure and happiness to my colleagues of Satan's."
* I said: "Pharaoh?"
* He said: "Oh, to him victory and support we owe."
* I said: "Saladin, the Hero of the battle of "Hetteen"?"
* He said: "Let us not talk of him…he brought humiliation to my sons, and buried our heads in mud."
* I said: "Mohamed Ibn Abdul Wahab?"
* He said: "His messages were like the heavenly fiery stars that were burning my heart"
* I said: "Abu Jahl?"
* He said: "The best kinship and brothers we are."
* I said: "Abu Lahab?"
* He said: "We are together in every step forever."
* I said: "Lenin?"
* He said: "Bounded by me, with Stalin on fire."
* I said: "Nude Magazines?"
* He said: "Are my holy books."
* I said: "Satellites?"
* He said: "Make people diabolical."
* I said: "Coffee Shops?"
* He said: "Welcome everyone who is diverted from Allah and the right way."
* I said: "What is your dua'a (athkaar)?"
* He said: "Songs."
* I said: "What is your job?"
* He said: " False Hopes."
* I said: "What do you think about the Markets?"
* He said: "Clubs where my friends meet."
* I said: "What do you think of the Socialist party?"
* He said: "It is with which I have shared all my belongings, to whom I taught all my thoughts, intentions and prayers."
* I said: "How do you misguide people?"
* He said: "By desires, doubts, distracting amusements, hopes and songs."
* I said: "How do you misguide women?"
* He said: "I tempt them towards showing off their beauty, and favoring the prohibited over the lawful.
* I said: "How do you misguide the Scholars?"
* He said: "By paving the way for them to admiration and showing off, and by planting envy and pride in their hearts."
* I said: "How do you misguide people as general?"
* He said: "Through back-biting, tale-fabrication, wasting their times in things of no value and in useless cheap conversations."
* I said: "How do you misguide merchants?"
* He said: "By tempting them to deal with bribery, making them hate paying charity and by making spendthriftness beloved."
* I said: "How do you misguide young people?"
* He said: "By making them fall in the trap of love, reckless in following Allah's orders and committing the prohibited."
* I said: "What do you think of "Israel", the Jewish state?"
* He said: "Oh, don't try to backbite and speak ill of my beloved home country, the most dear to my heart."
* I said: "What do you think of Abu Nawwas?"
* He said: "Such a respectful character. His poems really inspired me."
* I said: "And "modernity"?"
* He said: "The inheritors of our satanic knowledge."
* I said: "Secularity?"
* He said: "That's my belief, and its believers are the cheating magicians and creators of false hopes. We all bear same names."
* I said: "What do you think of Washington?"
* He said: "The state of my beloved ones and the base for my army. Indeed it is my nation."
* I said: "What do you think of those people who call to the word of Allah?"
* He said: "They are torturing me! They inflict a lot of pain and misery on me. They made me an old man with gray hair! They destroy all what I build! They make noise when I speak, read when I sing, and seek refuge from me when I show up."
* I said: "What do you say about newspapers?"
* He said: "Means for wasting people's time, especially that of the elite, and means for stealing money."
* I said: "What do you think of the BBC?"
* He said: "It's my weapon. Through it I put the poison in the honey, ignite wars between Arabs & the other nations and flatter both the oppressor and oppressed."
* I said: "What did you do with the Crow?"
* He said: "I made him kill his brother and bury him under earth till he disappeared."
* I said: "What did you do with Karoon?"
* He said: "I whispered to him: You son of the old man. Save the treasuries to win. You are one of the greatest men."
* I said: "What did you say to Pharaoh?"
* He said: "I told him: You are the greatest one in the palace. To win say: "Isn't it me who possess the power over Egypt?"."
* I said: "What did you say to the one who drinks wine?"
* He said: "I told him you should drink this grape's juice. It is the answer to all your problems. It wipes out your troubles. And don't worry, you know the way to repentance and its doors are always opened for you."
* I said: "What kills you?"
* He said: "Reading the verses of "Al Kursy" (the Chair). It prevents me from breathing and makes me feel I'm in an eternal prison, in a night full of misery."
* I said: "Who are the most beloved people to you?"
* He said: "Singers, poets that aim at misguiding people, sins doers, and every cunning person who goes astray."
* I said: "Who is the most hateful person to you?"
* He said: "Mosque-goers, everyone who kneels and prostrates to Allah, every pious and sincere worshipper, and every fighter in the cause of Allah."
* I said: "I hereby seek refuge in Allah from you."

The moment I said so, he disappeared as though melting into the sand - and this is the liar's end!
Is it too deep not think about? Answer me oh dear one...

An end & a beginning

I'm sitting here and trying to get this naggy feeling out of my head...its been a long time since my Nana (grand dad) passed away and I have thoughts of him constantly. I have restless dreams of him calling me, other times he is happy and smiling whilst sitting on a bench in the most loveliest of all gardens I have ever seen, and than I awake...shivering and cold wondering what's the meaning of these dreams.

I think of him constantly and all these memories come back rushing: Walking to the fruit shop and butcher early on a Saturday morning, driving my siblings & I to school, giving me spending money, spoiling me and mostly of all his laughter which reminds me of a bright sparkly sunny day, than one day all of this ends....suddenly

In my small world where death never existed just of happy memories of us being together always, little did we realise that the Almighty has other plans for us indeed! I cherish those memories and the days culminating to my wedding day where I thought of him at every turn, I've always been his favourite amongst the grandchildren...I wonder how things would be if he was still around amongst us, there are many things that I would have loved to say to him if given the chance but Inshallah one day we will meet, one day when the threads of time end...

It was whilst searching for an answer to why him and why only those that you love the most have to leave this Dunya'a for Barzakh, I came to the finality that we Insaan cannot and should not question the Almighty for He is the All Knowing, All Seeing, The Master of the Universe and Most Merciful, Oft-Forgiving and the Master of the Day of Judgement. This post helped me understand somewhat that this is the way things are and best to be left that way...In Allah (swt) hands as he is the Master of our Taqdeer (Destination):-


Death: What a Wonderful way to explain it!!

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said,
"Doctor, I am afraid to die.
Tell me what lies on the other side.
" Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know?
You, a Muslim man, does not know what’s on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...
I know that my Master & Creator is there and that is enough"

I make Dua'a always that the Almighty Allah (swt) grant him as well as all of my other family, friends and not forgetting those that have passed away in the Ummah of Nabi (SAW) - a Qabr (resting place) as lush and fragrant and as wide and far as the naked eye can see, good pious neighbours and respite from the Azaab (reckoning) of the Qabr, and the loftiest abode in Jannat-ul-Firdowse, Inshallah ~ Aameen!

I make Dua'a that on the day of Qiya'amah the Almighty makes it easy for us all in that we may cross the Pul-e-Siraat with such ease and that our entry into Jannat-ul-Firdowse will be amongst Nabi (SAW), his wives - Umme Momineen (RA), his companions (RA), the Shaabha's (RA), the Ahle-Bait (RA) and those believing men and women who accepted Islam upon hearing the way of Life of our Nabi (SAW), Inshallah Aameen.

Jummah Yet Again??!

As I get to bed past midnight I realise that tomorrow another Jummah will dawn upon us...so I reflect upon the weeks that seems to fly by and the week that has just past...All that I have done and yet to do, seems like time is too short and before you know the days over!

Hmm why is it that there seems to be no Barkhat in time neither any value in the things we do....its like time just slips aways and its already the end of the month when it just began...

Anyway on a lighter note, I look forward to my weekend which entails some shopping for our new home ;)
seems like that's all we've been doing since February is window shopping and than doing some really serious shopping....okay time to sign off till later!

PS before I forget I wish you all Jummah Mubarak to you and your families on this blessed day!
Kindly remember the Ummah of Nabi (SAW), the weak, oppressed, the sick, our Marhoomeen, as well as my family and I in your Dua’as, likewise we will do the same, Jazakallah.
Take care & have a blessed day, Inshallah
Was-Salaam

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Finally I get some inspiration

After hunting and searching for something to write about I figured that I will post tit bits for now...

Love Letter...

Love letter from some one very special

You will be happy that you read this all the way through.As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk tome, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday.But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.

When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.At one point you had to wait, fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair.Then I saw you spring to your feet.

I thought you wanted to talk to me,but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, may be you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head.You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't.That's okay.

There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything go there and you spend lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show.

I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal,but again you didn't talk to me. Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said good night to your family you popped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation. Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time.Have a nice day!Your friend, ALLAH

PS - Do you have enough time to send this to another person?
Salaams, today's the day that I decided that I should pen my thoughts and what better way than by writing in my very own blog....

So here I sat deciding what should I write...& I came up with nothing - just endless blank :(