Photo Credits: Ansaar Moughis` Photography

When you come to Allah,come with an empty mind, a clean slate, because when people bring their pre-conceived notions to the Deen,they start looking for escape routes and hence end up going fatwa shopping, eventually defeating the whole purpose. For to love, is to love unconditionally, and to love unconditionally is to surrender. And when the object of one`s affections is the Supreme Being,why question His infinite wisdom at all, for to love is to obey!

   سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

                        We hear and we obey: Qur’an 24: 51-52

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Ibn Qayyim Rahimullah said:

He is Allah, Yet you do not Love Him?

From the most amazing of matters is that you know Him, yet you do not love Him.

You hear his caller (the Prophet ﷺ) yet you delay in responding to him.

You know the prestige of working for Him, yet you work for those other than Him.

You know the gravity of His Anger, yet you challenge Him.

You taste the harsh reality of disobeying Him, yet you do not seek and long for the delight of obeying Him.

You feel the tightness in your heart when you engage in conversations about other than Him, yet you do not long for the opening of your chest through His Remembrance and having an intimate discourse with Him.

You taste the bitterness of your heart’s attachment to other than Him, yet you do not flee to Him and to the joy of returning to Him.

And it is even more amazing that you know you will never have anyone other than Him, and that you are the most destitute of things to Him, yet you crave and ache for what will take you far away from Him.

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Crying myself to sleep tonight- a feeling so rare, I cannot comprehend. The heart feels sad and so worn out. Perhaps, its the pain I feel. Of losing myself in it. A cut so deep. It bleeds, the reflection of my helplessness. The nothingness. It just doesn’t end. And, I keep coming back. Never to let it rest. The head hurts. So bad.

God of the worlds, I need You as its too tiring. May be its a mild warning. Of all wrongs. O my Lord, rectify my state. Put good in every decree of my fate. Who else am I to turn to? who else am I to cry for help? You, alone, are my King, my Lord, my Ilah.

The Source and the Creator of good, peace, love and all cures. My ailment has got it all wrong. You’re my Lord and that’s all I want. For I grieve, for peace, tonight. The eyes are full of tears and the heart is full of hurt. God of all mercy, please mend it, protect it and make it Yours. All Yours. For all I know is how very near You are. Nearer to me than any being, any soul – nearer to me than my jugular vein. For this heart beats only if  You will.

For everything that has ever happened – the good, the bad, the evil- its paving my path to You, for You, through You.

Peace is from You. Peace is You, my Lord.

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For this article I thought I would talk small and quote big. Throughout my life I was a care-free work-little-have-fun-all-year-round kinda student who somehow managed to score 80-90% regardless of the tiny amount of hard work I put in. That in itself a blessing, which should have been a cause for bringing me closer to Allah, but nay! Like any other silly teenager of my age that just made me more and more self-reliant (read obnoxious) till I fell flat on my face. Life was all sunshine and gold till I ACTUALLY discovered that I was working lesser than my peers and scoring more. That led to a certain amount of complacency, which led to a huge amount of over dependence on the self, which ultimately led to my fall from grace, hah. Now most of you would say (the way I used to) that this is not arrogance, well maybe its not arrogance like the Pharoah`s, who said:

“Council, I do not know of any other god for you apart from Me…”” (Surah Al Qasas 28:38)

But it IS still a form of arrogance, which many of us unknowingly fall prey to  i.e thinking our success-es <read blessings> are a result of say our intellect, our logical thinking, our deductive powers…whereas that is not the case! In fact this is exactly the attitude which led to Qarun and his house being swallowed up, when he said of his vast treasures:

“He said, “I have only been given it because of knowledge I have.” (Surah Al Qasas 28:78)

Reading that just gave me the creeps! O God I sound like that! Most of us forget that Satan`s maiden sin, too, was that of arrogance, when the Lord commanded Satan to prostrate,he said:

“I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay.”” Surah Al A’raf 7:12

Read: “I am sooo better than you dude”. How many times have we said/thought that for someone we thought was beneath us, it might be the mullah next door, or the geeky guy upstairs, and if you think you`re justified in thinking so, think again…

Alhumdolillah I have learnt my lesson but changing the thought-process is a long challenging path, so when I write this article, it is more a reminder for myself than for anyone else. I believe Allah(s.w.t) teaches us lessons in so many ways that we cannot begin to comprehend His infinite wisdom. I mean can you name one teacher who has taught you the lesson of arrogance whilst killing a mosquito (machar)?:D Check following:

Scene I:

Malo sees machar on wall

<evil laugh> “dude you`re so dead!”

WHAM! $%**@

Self whining & holding hand whilst mosquito flies off peacefully, oblivious to pain inflicted

Scene II

Malo still smarting from last call, much more sub-dued <read humble>, spots killer-machine <read mosquito ofcourse>

-advances

-makes dua-“Allah let this terrorist perish at my hands,pretty please!”

SWAT!

Blood splattered on wall!

-Stops mid-step whilst breaking out into weird break-dance sequence

-remembers previous lesson

-says “Alhumdolillah”

Now you know what I meant by talk small at the start;d Also I hope that now you know how much changing the thought-process actually requires-_-

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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However, just last week I was rudely awakened by a fact that compelled me to venture out again – to explore a terrain more horrid than the wars that have rocked the world! I discovered about Safar, evil omens and bad luck! And how dear-and-near are still caught in the web Shaytan so carefully and cunningly weaves around us! The web of “tou-iss-main-kya-harj-hai?” (so-what’s-the-harm-in-it web!)

I found out in conversation with my mother, that a very near relative (who has mashAllah left a lot of her bida’as since she has found the deen), sacrifices a goat the 13th of every Safar in order to ward off evil and bad luck. “Whaa?!” was the syllable that emitted from my mouth on hearing something so ridiculous! My mom gave me a puzzled look and repeated what she had said, commenting, “You know that people believe Safar to be a month of bad omens, right?” Well, I didn’t, so it was time to go knocking at some doors!

Here is what my limited research revealed: The month of Safar is considered to be full of misfortune and calamities and one must recite Surah Muzammil 313 times in order to be saved from them. The first to the thirteenth of Safar is ill-fortune and evil; however, the person who distributes food or money on the 13th of Safar will be saved from its ill-fortune. Also, whoever commences any important venture, business etc. during this month will have bad luck. One must instead make 365 balls of flour and toss them into the sea or rivers in order to counter bad omens and to increase Rizq! Also, a nikah performed in this month would not be successful or result in an unhappy marriage. The list goes on, but here’s enough to fuel your imagination! It almost sounds like a bad chain letter, only a million times more dangerous as it can destroy our Iman and Aqeedah!

Now, you’d wonder why Safar has been singled out so? A little more research revealed that this concept actually goes back to the days of Jahiliyya! The Arabs were a warring nation; small arguments and disputes would turn into feuds and wars that lasted not only for years, but sometimes spanned even generations. However, even back then, the Arabs observed the sacred months of Rajab, Dhul Q’ada, Dhul Hijja, and Muharram, and would abstain from fighting in them. They would however be waiting impatiently for Safar; for as soon as Safar rolled about, the men would proceed to settle scores with their rivals, heading out for battles while leaving their houses empty (hence the name Safar as the word Safar means empty or vacant). As a result of the resumption of killings and fighting in the month of Safar, the Arabs started regarding it as a month of ill-fate and bad luck. History, sadly, reveals that man loves to blame, and even though the Arabs went off in a killing-spree, it was poor Safar which bore the brunt of the blame!

The advent of Islam however changed this mind-set. Allah Subhana Wa Ta’la told the Arabs and the entire Muslim Ummah that “…whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Surah Ash-Shura, Ayah 30). No person, animal or object, no day, month or year can cause harm to anyone! We are responsible for whatever happens to us, ourselves!

Also, how can any day or month be unlucky or be a portent of bad omens when in fact months and years are formed by the alternation of days and nights which Allah has appointed for our convenience and to help us organize ourselves?
“And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs etc.). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.” (Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 12)
Considering any time, hour, day, month or year to be unlucky is a great sin as Allah the Exalted says: “ The son of Adam hurts me for he abuses Time though I am Time: in My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night.”(Sahih Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) also negated all superstitions and beliefs of the Jahiliyah period concerning the month of Safar. Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “(There is) no ‘Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah’s permission), nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Haamah, nor is there any (bad omen in the month of) Safar… ” (Bukhari and Muslim).
What is really sad now is that despite having the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet before us, such sentiments of superstitions have crept back into our society. And this is where you and I come in. As conscious Muslims we need to make it a point to shun all superstitions that we come across and direct others to do so too, not only regarding the month of Safar but also otherwise. We must understand that all conditions which befalls us, good or bad, favourable, or unfavourable are from Allah (as a result of our actions).
We need to remember that the most unfortunate person is actually he who disobeys Allah’s commandments such as one who does not perform the five daily Salah, not someone who has his path crossed by a black cat or one who weds in the month of Safar. We must not let unimportant and baseless matters of superstitions occupy us so much that we forget to do what Allah has commanded us. Rather, we should remember to keep things in perspective and follow and believe only that which has been revealed by Allah and taught by our Prophet, in order to gain success in this world and the next.

“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself…” (Surah An-Nisa, Ayah79).

May Allah grant us the courage and perseverance to follow what is right and reject what is wrong! Ameen!

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The Islamic month of Muharram is a very blessed and important one. Muharram literally means ‘sacred’.  It symbolizes the first month of the lunar, Hijri calendar. The Hijri calendar denotes the years from the time of the Prophet’s migration with his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE by the Gregorian calendar. Though it marks a significance that Muslims finally were able to establish their own identity in Madinah it is not celebrated in either the Islamic sense of a holy day nor the Western style secular celebration of ‘New Years’ (for more details as to why not click here).   

Instead it serves as a time of reflection on the year past of a believer and is a hope that the following year will be better (Insha Allah). It is also a time to remember the hardships faced by  the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims before and during their migration.

Muharram is amongst the four sacred months as Allah states in the Quran:

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah 9: 36)

The four months, according to authentic Ahaadith, are the months of Zhul-Qa`dah, Zhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.

 “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumad (ath-Thani) and Sha’baan.” (Bukhari).
It is unlawful/haram to fight during these months and since Allah has increased their sanctity, they are very good times for one to reach out and begin bonding with Allah, to seek His forgiveness and His Love from Him. It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said regarding the above verse that these four months were singled out and made sacred. Sins in these months are more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

During this month it is great to fast and very much encouraged since the fasts of Muharram were ones Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) looked forward to.

The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of Salaats (prayers) besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salaah (voluntary night prayers). (Sahih Muslim).

It is voluntary if a person wants to fast on the 9^th and 10^th or 10^th and 11^th of Muharram since on the 10^th with regard to the blessing of this fast, Muhammad (pbuh) was asked regarding its virtue. He answered; ‘It is a compensation for the sins of the past year.’ i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Muslim, Vol. 1).

Note: Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Taubah (repentance) is a requirement.

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I found myself breathing the crisp autumn breeze as I stood there in awe, smiling at the lush greens, bright oranges, crisp yellows, and dark reds that surrounded me.  Glory be to Him, it was a moment I did not want to let go of. I love autumn. I love everything about this particular season. The changing colors, the air and the ambiance of this time of the year. It wasn’t long before it was time for me to leave the park and get going. Though if I could, I would stay there forever. Forever. Such sheer, ultimate bliss.

And suddenly, it hit me.  This was just a fleeting moment albeit picturesque and serene. What is it that is going to last forever?  Is there anything, anything, thatcan transcend the laws of the world? Except the One,the Waahid al Qahaar (the One/the Indivisible, the Irresistible) Allah says in the Qur`an 55:25

“And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.”

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Hence the only thing to last forever, literally, is His Majesty, His Grandeur. His is the Dominion. Forever.

And there in, it reminded me of perhaps what I would call my biggest fear. A fear so big. So real. So scary, so true, and yet utterly inevitable. A fear that makes it hard for me to breathe. A fear that brings me back to my reality (haqeeqat) and insignificance.

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And it wasn’t death.Instead, it was the fear of parting from this world in a state that’s not pleasing to Him. A wakeup call.A state that cannot render us any good here or in the Hereafter.  A state with no relief.  A state of utter loss. A state too full of agony and pain-indescribable, sharp, unbearable,eternal. Granted, He is the Most, Most, Merciful and it’s only and only by His limitless mercy that we, God-willing, can enter Jannah.And we ask Him, The (Al-’Afuww)The Pardoner, the Effacer of Sins, the(Muqalibal Quloob) the Turner of hearts, to forgive us, turn our hearts toward Him and to grant us, through His infinite mercy, beautiful company and homes in Jannah. Ameen.

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But, that in no way gives us the license to show ingratitude, love everything but Him? To basically do as we please.  Therein lies our tragedy. We do not call on Him until we lose sight of that which matters. That which matters most.We seek shelter, home, peace, refuge in everything other than Him. When all our avenues are exhausted, we call on Him. We get so lost in the means. The means that are given to us by Him in the first place to make this journey toHim, the Ever-lasting. We lose sight of the bigger picture. He and He alone is the path to a sound heart. It’s up to us as to how we take up on this journey and choose to have this inevitable, irresistible meeting with the Lord.

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There has to be struggle. Struggle to get there. A longing. A desire so strong it transcends everything and beyond.

But really, where we stand is the very reason for why I felt that block of ice in my throat. The very reason for why I couldn’t bear the thought of standing before the Lord in front of His entire creation. Alone. On my own.  My deeds as my witness. For or against me. The good, the bad-right in front of everyone. Literally. Nothing hidden from Him. Absolutely nothing. Who knows what’s hidden inside­­ the chest? Who else knows the secrets of the heart, the treachery of the eyes? Who? None other than Him. He is the Al khabir -The All-Knower/Aware.  The Al Basir the All-Seeing; acquainted with all hidden secrets; knows all that conscience does conceal.

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It is only befitting that we worship Him because He alone is worthy of worship. To surrender to Him. To thank Him for each breath we take. To Go before Him with a heart that’s whole. A heart that belongs to­ Him. That seeks Him, alone. That yearns for Him. Since, verily, the heart was created to know Him. And not to habitually yield to the demands of our lower nature. Not to carry a heart where the evil overrides the good each time, everytime. Like Ibn-e- Qayim beautifully put it: “The one who is (truly) imprisoned is the one whose heart is imprisoned from Allah and the captivated one is the one whose desires have enslaved him.”To empty our hearts; the vessel of all evils, since “every vessel drips that which it contains.” A heart that’s full of goodness will only give out that. Goodness (khair). The heart will reflect only that which it carries. And Subhan’Allah He will not let go of even an atom’s weight of good.  God says in the Qur`an (55:60):

“Is the reward for good [anything] but good?”

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How beautiful is that statement. How true is His word.  Is there any reward for good other than good?Goodness in deed, in act, in word.  Goodness that takes you to Him in a state that He is pleased with. And so to be more generous, kind, forgiving, tolerant, to control anger and the desires of the lower self(nafs), to smile more often for His sake, to give for His sake, to love for His sake for that love is never depleted, to follow His word and fulfill your covenant. To see the Creator in all of His creation. To see the Provider in all provisions- the paramount purpose. To really be amongst those whose souls when being taken out are called as ‘the soul at rest’ (al-nafs al- mutma’innah) ( Quran 89:27-30)

To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured soul,

Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him],

And enter among My [righteous] servants

And enter My Paradise.”

The transient nature of seasons and their temporariness serves as a stark contrast to what real bliss is supposed to be like. Real and pure bliss is a state that’s eternal. Forever. If it’s anything less than that is not to be equated with pure bliss. Just bliss?

Probably. Alhamdulillah. But it’s always changing. Just like the changing seasons. Just like the attitude of people around us and the feelings they have for us. Never constant. Not to be relied upon. This bliss is flawed. A flaw that is inevitable here, in this flawed dunya. The kind that is incapable to fill the void, the emptiness in the heart, on its own.

So that feeling that chokes me each time is a reminder to do good. More good.To strive harder.To purify that which lies in the heart and governs the soul therewith.

Wouldn’t we want to choose the path to success (falah)? Success that brings back to us that bliss.That perfection.That wholeness.That warm feeling inside that just never really seems to last here for long enough. It being eternal.Forever, in the truest sense of the word.For the soul to return safely to its blissful home.To return to Him as pleased souls? (al -nafs al-mutmainah)

There’s still time. He will never give up on us, so we cannot give up on ourselves. We will always be the apple of His eye. He can never abandon us. It’s we who move away from Him and feel so hollow. So lost. Isn’t it time to regain back our hearts? To secure this fortress. Nothing , absolutely nothing, is difficult once you hold tightly to His rope.

I pray and long to feel and experience the blanket of serenity I wait for each autumn. Only this time it would be forever.

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You are probably familiar with the excellence of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Well, let us introduce you to 10 days that are even MORE virtuous, yet many people are not aware of it. They are the first ten days of the Islamic calendar month of Dhul-Hijjah.

But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. {Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412} 

The Prophet (SAW) said: “There aren’t any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah, the Most High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahlil (La Ilaha illa Allah), and Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmid (al-Hamdu li-llah)”. {Musnad Ahmad}

The Prophet (SAW) said concerning the fast observed on the Day of Arafah: “I have full confidence in Allah for the one who observes a fast on the day of Arafah that his previous year’s sins and the proceeding year’s sins are forgiven”. {Muslim}

SubhanAllah! Our Rabb- in His infinite compassion ends the Islamic year with a parting gift for us-a fresh start, by wiping out our ‘previous year’s sins and the proceeding year’s sins’ inshaAllah.  Better than any Gregorian New Years’ eve’s offering!

In these first 10 days of the Month of Dhul-Hijjah we find:

•  the 9th day is the day of Arafah,
•  and the 10th day is Eid ul Adha.  The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘For every nation there is a feast and this is our feast.’ {Bukhari}

Even if you are not going for Hajj, you can put in extra effort to do good deeds.

What extra good deeds can you do?

• Trim hair and clip nails before 1st Dhul-Hijjah and not cut them again until after the sacrifice (qurbani)
• Fast the first 9 days especially on Youm-e-Arafah (The Day of Arafah in Saudi Arabia) – can’t fast on our Eid day.
• Give more charity.
• Strengthen ties of kinship (visit family, say kind words to them, etc).
• Perform extra voluntary prayers.
• Read more Qur’an, contemplating on the meanings.
• Do additional Dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
• Ask Allah for forgiveness repeatedly(Do a lot of Astaghfaar).
• Say the “Eid” Takbeers aloud wherever you go. (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Walillaahil hamd.) especially after every salah.

May Allah (SWT) help and guide us in these days (and all others) & may He be pleased with us, ameen.

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*Warning: Keep away from reach of narcissists.

How many times do we look in the mirror and sigh/whine/dream for flawless skin, perfect hair, and hour-glass figures? All that stares back at us (or so we think) is fat that we like to call love-handles, pimples we try to convince ourselves are normal signs of puberty and hair that never quite looks like the ad promised.  Quick peek at what the Prophet (S) saw when HE looked in the mirror:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

“O Allah, just as You have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful as well”.

Subhan Allah! Just imagine for a second, the self-assurance and contentment of a man who says this when he looks in the mirror (yes, the mirror!). And add to that the fact that the very next second he is praying for beauty within. Goes to show how little importance he placed on it. (I can almost see the accompanying shrug: “beautiful, so what?”) . He knew that beauty should not be skin-deep only, that handsome is as handsome does. And what has Disney taught us:

“Mirror Mirror on the wall! Who is the fairest of us all?” (and poison anyone fair-er than you:P)

And lets not even start on the “Fair & Lovely” commercials and whatthey taught us.

So basically yes I know the media and society and the rishta-wali auntis have these un-realistic expectations (read demands) on what the ideal woman looks like (read tall, fair 19-year old Doctor whowants to give up her career to raise your son AND his kids  ). But its time we told ourselves (and a lot of other people too) that we are notputting up with this anymore! We are not dolls to be ogled at, at whim or ornaments for bike commercials. We have dreams, aspirations, careers and homes. But most of all, we have a higher purpose in life:

“Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?”

(Surah Al Muminun Verse 115)

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding – Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

(Surah Al e Imran Verse 191)

Besides we ought to be happy with the way we look and not let others decide what being beautiful entails. Why conform when you can be unique? Who decides these stats anyway? Allah made each one of us beautiful in our own special way and Allah said to me:

“… and (He) has given you shape, and made your shapes beautiful…”

(Surah Taghabun Verse 3)

Allah told me I am beautiful! Why would I need OR heed anyone telling me the same or otherwise after that? Better than that naked blue guy in the snow crooning (OR Tariq next door for that matter): “I saw your face…you`re beautiful its true”. I know they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but beauty is also in the mind. It’s a figment of our imagination. Trust me! If you believe you are beautiful, no power on earth can convince you otherwise. And if you feel ugly, NOBODY can convince you that you are not.  So stop being over-critical of yourself when you look in the mirror and start working on the thought process instead:

“If our sense of self-worth comes from any place other than our relationship with Allah, Wallah we`re in deep trouble” – Sh. Yassir Fazaga

Here`s a quick tip

Mental Exercise:

Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I`m not JUST a pretty face”. Now remind yourself of some personality flaw you know you have and need to work on, and watch those pimples disappear:P

P.s Did you know that they say  if Barbie were real she would be 7 feet tall and she would have to walk on all fours due to those “proportions” of hers

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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