03 -"There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator."

We've heard it many a times, the above famous hadith from our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Consider the following example, a personal experience at that. My paternal cousin is to get married soon and I am expected to attend the wedding. I need not delve into the details nor explain how this goes against the conditions and laws set by Allah. However, I shall speak a little of the great amount of resistance I have faced from my family concerning my refusal to attend such a gathering (you know, the dress code, the music, the free-mixing). How do you tell those who obviously know it is wrong that you wish not attend? Simple - I am not going. The difficulty comes from feeling isolated and as if you have done the wrong. It may be the whispers of the Shaytaan deterring me from what is right. It's the whole ' you are going to upset your uncle', 'people will think you're being stand-offish', 'since when did you turn all religious'. I wish I was brave enough to reply, 'does it not bother you that I shall upset Allah over my uncle'. It's so sad as people worry so much over everyone's right and forget the right of Allah over us that we worship Him and obey Him. It's done , though, and I shall not attend the wedding, alhamdullilah. The lesson I would like to share follows. At the beginning of this whole issue, I'll be honest, I gave in and told myself I would attend although I'd hate it in my heart. I remember seeking help from Allah and asking Him to aid me if it was right. In fact, I cried. Although, I may have cried over something else, I've been doing a lot of that lately. Point is, when one is sincere about seeking a means to Allah, wallahi, He will meet you greater than half way. Our Rabb will respond, just put your trust in Him. I've often heard that but never experienced it as I have over this situation.Praise be to Allah, then.

Lesson learnt : Try your best and rely on Allah, the results will amaze you.
Wassalamu alykum

02 - They say miracles happen there.

I spoke to a friend I know today. She was feeling really upset and , alhamdullilah, I was there to lend a helping hand. But, something my friend said to me really got to me and the words are still in my head. She spoke of how her relative had got ill and had visited their homeland ( no, not Makkah or Madina). That's not the point. What got to me was when she told me that she would soon visit a 'holy place' that is known to have had miracles appear therein and that her relative may possibly be cured. OK, I thought. My friend was distraught so I thought better than to inquire further as to this supposed holy place. It got me thinking about the state of the Prophet's Ummah and Allah's submitted servants, though. Where have we gone so wrong? What happened to seeking Allah's help through ruqyah (healing via verses of the Quran and authentic supplications) and having tawakkul in Him. This particular person may well have tried both - I don't know. But, I felt uneasy about the 'holy place' of healing she spoke of. Its things like this that make me very uneasy and sadden me concerning the state of Muslims today. We do not advocate the Quran and Sunnah for no reason. Nor do we shun innovation for the sake of it. May Allah protect us all and keep us on His straight Path. And ( I advice myself first) , we should all strive to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, as Allah repeatedly reminds us in His revelation. I guess its finding the courage in what seems to be a tricky situation as described above.

wassalamu alaykum.

01 - Saying goodbye

It was a year ago I held my head in prostration and asked Allah that He grant me a friend of a beautiful nature. I had asked that He grant me a friend that would help me in the road to seeking His pleasure. And my, He did and He did so in the best of manners. If I choose to speak of the qualities this friend has been endowed with it would defeat my Project:Paragraph theme so I shan't and that's testament enough, I suppose. I cried last night in a way I can't remember doing so for quite some time. The thought of parting from my friend (this coming Friday) sends tremors through my heart. I can't describe it any other way. And then, I thought. If an individual who I've known for only a few months has had this effect on me, I wonder what the companions around the Prophet were going through at his death. I mean my friend is only going away. You see, my friend is the way she is because Allah has endowed her with such great qualities. She has nurtured them through Islaam and used the path the Prophet had provided her , from Allah's permission. Imagine then , I said, how people would have reacted to the parting of the Prophet, peace be upon him. I did start to imagine but I couldn't imagine any longer because if the temporary parting of this friend sends tremors through my heart , the parting of the Prophet, must have cataclysmically broken their hearts, into a million and one pieces.

wassalamu alaykum

Project: Paragraph

It's all in the title, really.
Start date: 22/03/09, inshallah.

wassalam.

A worthy series.

oh, it reminds me of my days in Egypt.
Go on, try it . You'll love it it.


http://knowledgetravels.wordpress.com/

Don't despair.

Ok, Ok, rummage tells herself. The bar was set too high the moment you suggested a hiatus. I suppose its testament to how I rely on the pen and paper. Maybe.

This is about the time of year my imaan goes through a good ol’ trial – a thorough whipping. It’s this time of year, I get the doubts as to where my future lies. Heck, they’ve gone beyond doubts, entered uncertainty and done a somersault over the term regret. And, that’s dangerous. It’s why I don’t like going there, I try my best to avert away from such thoughts but it gets too hard especially when it is all you hear , day in, day out.

Now, I have heard about the idea of being broken in front of Allah – admirable.That’s a trait preserved for the believers, the pious amongst the Prophet’s nation. May Allah grant them of His immense bounty.

Try ashamed. Utterly ashamed to ask for His help. How can I? , I question myself, without helping myself. It’s a stalemate in the thought process. In a normal situation nothing would hinder me seeking help from my Protector, the Source of Peace, the Forgiving and the Forbearing.

And then, one comes back to their senses and realises Allah is called At Tawwab (the Ever-Relenting). Wallahi, the jolt of joy one feels is inexplicable as soon as they realise that. Maybe the weather is helping, a lovely March morning; the dazzling sunshine manages to permeate every nook and cranny.

The problem is not the trial itself. No. It is the awful reality of it being self-inflicted and constantly repeating itself. It’s that which causes the annoyance, ridiculously large bouts of utter annoyance at oneself. Then all is calm as I remind myself that Allah has delivered me through this , on numerous occasions. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse, an avenue became available that I never expected.

Lesson learnt – probably not, yet. Will I continue trying – most certainly.

So, in trying to pass on what bit of advice I can, remember that Allah does not purposefully harm his servants nor would He subject them to hardships for which they could not handle , unnecessarily.
· Remember that no soul is subjected to more than it can bear, as Allah reminds us.
· Remember that Allah tests those who he loves.
· Shun the whispers of the accursed by seeking refuge in Allah.
· No amount of crying is going to get the job done, so start.
· Through hardship there is relief, as Allah, tells us.
· Don’t underestimate your capabilities for many of mankind are forever guilty of this condition.

And finally, a beautiful hadith that seems to put everything into perspective.

"A muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression - even if pricked by a thorn, but Allah expiates his sins because of that. " [Bukharee and Muslim]

Blessed be Allah, then. Lord of all Mankind. His Mercy encompasses all things.

Ma3assalam.

Off to....

Except I shan't be sleeping.

Well, I'll try not to.

No, I shall befriend my books.

Caress the sweet facts that exist therin.

Yep, I am officially in hibernation.

Well, after tomorrow night actually.

Wassalamu alakyum.

And may Allah protect and have mercy on you all.

:):):)