Like an Angel

"Well I am not an angel, I can't be perfect!" How many times have we said this to justify our sins? Or how many times have we heard "others" give the same excuse for their wrong actions.

One doesn't have to be perfect to be like an angel. Unlike the angels, Allah has given us the freedom to choose, to allow us to err and stray. It is by trail and error, and by realizing and rising above our mistakes, that we learn and progress to higher levels of imaan. To be crippled by sin and then repented to Allah, is an extremely valuable albeit painful experience, for the terrible consequence of living with a sin, feeling, guilt, loss and emptiness becomes more than a warning from a parent or an imaan - its becomes an internalized lesson! So episodes of error in our life that lead to discernment of right and wrong, then personal reform, are not only good but necessary for our spiritual growth.
For example, what is the difference between a child who has only heard from his mother that the stove is hot versus the child who burnt it hand over the hot stove? For the former, the idea of the hot stove is only a proposition - he may or may not believe it. However for the latter, the hot stove is a established fact, a confirmed and undisputed reality. Why? Because the latter has undergone the discomfort of get getting burnt. Similarly, in life, we do not always heed the teachings of the Qur'an. Thus, we fall into sin only to notice that we have hurt ourselves, the people we love and other completely innocent folks who have nothing to do with us. Ask a patient of lung cancer, how much he wishes he never smoked. Ask a debtor, how much he wants to go back in time and take a house on rent instead of mortgage. Ask a pregnant teenager how much she regrets not wearing the hijab.

The good news is that we don't have to commit sins to realize how that they only result in injustices and violence.The cause of sins are the innate tendencies of greed, power, lust, envy and pride. The only weapon that can regulate, control and balance these feelings, ergo curb prevalence of sins, is the Qur'an. In the Qur'an, we are given examples of the best that a man can be: like the prophets Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Esa and Muhammad (s.a.w); best women like Mariam, Aasiya, Queen Sheba. The young, like the teenagers of the cave in Surah Kahf, and the old, like the righteous, handicapped man from Surah Yaseen. Did you ever wonder why there are so many stories in the Qur'an? Is it only to be read to our children before bed or entertain them with during weekend Islamic school? Qur'an shows us the lives of men, women parents an children, and husbands and wives, of both believers and disbelievers - practically every type of social perspective is narrated to unveil the unending conflict and the mandatory decision we all must make: 'Will I surrender to Allah, or will I turn away? Will I discard or defend the sin? Where do I fit in? Which of these people am I?'

Apart from the stories of the people of the past, Allah also teaches us through nature and animals. For example, the honey bee is mentioned in the Qur'an to give us an example of  ideal diligence and dedication. Allah highlights the spider to show that the justifications for shirk are as feeble and pathetic as the spiderweb. There is a lesson in the lives of angels as well. In the Surah Nazi'at and Abasa, Allah articulates two laudable and profound attributes of angels. Certainly we cannot physically become like angels (grow wings and fly etc) but for sure, we can learn from them and emulate their character.

(1) وَالسَّابِحَاتِ سَبْحًا فَالسَّابِقَاتِ سَبْقًا فَالْمُدَبِّرَاتِ أَمْرًا  - And [by] those who glide [as if] swimming.  And those who race each other in a race. And those who arrange [each] matter [Qur'an, 79:3-5]
(2) بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ  كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ -  [Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels, Noble and dutiful. [Qur'an, 80: 15-16]

(1) In Surah Nazi'aat Allah says the angels are energetic and vigorous. They are quick in answering the call of Allah. They hurry in completing Allah's command. There are two things which are noteworthy here. One, is the keen attitude to obey Allah and the other is the physical speed and swiftness with which the angels obey Allah.

Have you ever read a book that took you forever to finish? I tried to read Harry Potter once. Not because I am into magic, ghosts or goblins, No! I am more of Dennis Lehane and Robert Ludlum type. Anyway, so in grade 10 or something all my friends would ever talk about during break was Hermoinê this and Ron that. So to catch up with the latest gossip, I gave "Philosopher's Stone" a try. I swear I must have read the book for three weeks and not gotten past the first page. I was just too tedious for me to peruse. My brother read all 5 books but every time I made the same attempt, I fell asleep. Then there are some people who are lazy when it comes to cleaning their room. A pile of unfolded laundry will sit on their bed or chair for a week and they will not be in the least bothered to put it away. Then there is the slacking off when doing homework and cramming for projects the night before they are due. What else are people lethargic about? Cooking? They will have pizza, chips and ice-cream for as long as their teeth don't fall off from cavities or heart strokes from clogged arteries. Have we become sloths? Why are we so lax? Maybe because there is no meaning in the lives that we live. All movies are predictable, all rides are the same. Nothing different happens in parties - people just show off, sit around talk about the usual things. Even if a new food or drink comes, its like the old, but only more greasier and fizzier. Soon life becomes too monotonous and pointless for us to take any serious interest. So one way to keep up the morale and motivation is to always remember the purpose. Why am I reading the book in the first place? Because Islam is a religion of knowledge, without which I cannot know, revere and worship my Creator. What will I get if I put away my laundry on time? Allah loves those who are clean and purify themselves. It is a part of faith to maintain cleanliness. What about cooking? Is that important too or is it just a waste of time? Prophet (s.a.w) also said that feeding a morsel of food to one's family does not go unrewarded. In fact the reward of feeding others is Paradise and lofty chambers of Paradise.

Another reason for our round-the-clock fatigue and drowsiness is obesity. 61% of adult Canadians are overweight, that's 6.8 million people between the ages of 20-64 years old. Think about it, what exercise do we get on a regular basis, beside pushing the buttons/keys of a TV remote and/or computer. Cars, elevators and escalators take us everywhere, no one actually ever walks or takes the stairs. The last time when we went on a vacation; canoeing, biking and mountain climbing was in our dream. Because we are not used to physical work, we get exhausted just getting out of bed, or getting to our car from our house. If it was up to me, I would throw away my bed, sleep on the hard floor (to sleep less), live on fruits and jog to the Masjid and university. Allah loves a strong believer more than a weak one. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) used to training the sahaba how to fight (I wonder what kind of martial arts they practiced?) The sahaba would have horse racing competitions and swimming contents. The entire history of early Islam is full of active Muslims. You will never read about our predecessors passed out on the coach from laziness. Moreover, look at the example of Jihad in Surah Tawbah. Why else is there more reward for the Mujahid as compared to those who stay behind? Because the former takes pain in pleasing Allah while the other takes pain-killers to forget how pointless his life is.

I think the best goal in life is the attaining Allah's love and happiness. It is one thing that one will never become bored of and back off from. I think ibn Qayyim said, "Truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is sadness that cannot be removed except with the joy of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that cannot be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness". So if Allah is the focus of your life and everything that you do in life, inshaAllah you'll have the strength to do anything. But if you are aiming for something cheap and materialistic (even if it is a religious deed but your intention is for worldly reasons) then you'll lose your spark overnight. Look at the angels. Why are they so enthusiastic and vibrant that Allah says they are "swimming and gliding?"  They are driven by the love and respect of Allah. So like the angels, getting Allah's approval on the Day of Judgment, be the fire that fuels you.

(2) In Surah Abasa, Allah accentuates the hands of كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ (angels) and then crowns them with the title "noble and dutiful." Why are their hands their zenith? Because كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ are the angels who bring the Qur'an down to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). In the Tafseer of Surah Maida, Ammi was telling my brother (sorry I didn't get a chance to double check this from ibn Katheer yet so am just quoting my mom) that when Surah Maida was revealed, a score of angels accompanied Jibreel (a.s) from the heavens to the earth for his protection and to protect the revelation. So being part of carrying (learning) and conveying (teaching) the Qur'an is what makes the angels, ergo humans, noble. It is not only an optional virtue that we can satisfy if we desire, rather it is a magnificent duty.

I know I keep writing about the Qur'an. Only if some Qur'an institute hired me :( The Qur'an is deserves to be discussed until we perfectly understand its virtues and blessings. Remember with the Prophet (s.a.w), how the Qur'an changed his life and the fate of this world, forever!? Jibreel (a.s) appeared to him (s.a.w) and overwhelmed him (s.a.w) in an almost crushing embrace, commanding him, 'Read! Prophet (s.a.w) said he could not because he was not learned. Again Jibreel (a.s) overwhelmed him in a a his embrace and repeated the same command. In desperation, the Prophet's response, (s.a.w) was the same. After the third time, Jibreel (a.s) conveyed to Prophet (s.a.w) the first few verses of Surah Alaq. Our experience when we read the Qur'an is almost the same. The Qur'an, through its various passages, illuminates, in others it threatens, and in others it embraces and assures. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, 'whoever followed the Book of Allah and his sunnah will never go astray.'  So the Qur'an guides us away from sin. The Qur'an makes us vigilant against sins. The Qur'an develops in us Taqwa, a state of self-critical awareness and readiness to submit to the commands of Allah. The Qur'an makes us acutely alert of Allah's presence, His blessings and mercy. The Qur'an opens for us a breath of life, a life more real and meaningful than anything on earth, a life with Allah in Paradise. So to be angelic (figuratively) is to carry the Qur'an with you, hold on to its teachings.

As for conveying the Qur'an, have you ever lost a child, brother or sister? I lost my youngest brother when I was 11. I didn't really lose him. We were at this beach party in Yanbu. It was late at night and I was playing with my friends. Somehow my mother assumed that I would keep an eye on my brother but I didn't and soon we realized that he was lost. It was pitch black near the beach. The street lamps were only by the swings and the parking lot. Ammi was afraid that he might have gone into the water. There was also a possibility that he was kidnapped. It was too tragic, too horrible, too shocking to fully understand what happened or what could have happened. I honestly thought the grief would kill me. And these were just my feelings, of course my mom was going through the same, a thousand times over. Imagine how relieved we were when this auntie spotted him under the bench eating candy. What would it be like to sooth someone's life with Qur'an. For sure if a sister can be jubilant about finding her brother then how comforted and liberated would a person be upon finding Allah, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, our Lord and their Lord. Watch some videos by converts. See the tears in their eyes from the peace and thrill they get by accepting Islam. Imagine how many people are missing out on this happiness and security because we have not conveyed the Qur'an to them.  So to be like an angel is to carry and convey the Qur'an.

Faith and Fate

As we move through life, the force of fate creates events that are inevitable. As Muslims, our faith leads us to belief that good and bad circumstances in our lives are predestined by Allah. You must have heard of expressions like "this morsel of food had your name on it," when someone turns up for dinner by surprise. Or when talking about doing something in the future, people say "when the time comes" or "when the time is right." Or it is alleged about a couple, that they were "meant to be" together. Muslims acknowledge that (1) nothing can happen without the permission of Allah and (2) there is a divine purpose in will of Allah. We are all meant to fill a place in the world and pass through a series of tests before we meet Him. This place and these tests are not from our own choosing. For example, we do not decide where we live sometimes, we are just born in that country or emigrate there with our parents. Or we don't get to shop for our siblings. There are no refunds if we don't get along with a brother or a cousin. On the whole, life is full of things we never asked for, don't always like and cannot change.

Fate is not to be confused with pessimism. Pessimism is giving up on life, while fate is living life to its fullest, even under strenuous conditions. Allah says, "no evil befalls on the earth nor in your own souls, but it is in a book before We bring it into existence; surely that is easy to Allah: So that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you." (Qur'an, 57:22-23) So list all the problems in your life and realize that Allah decided this fate for you as a test and a blessing. There is no reason to fight with your family, cry or cut yourself.
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, “No Muslims is fatigued, is stricken with illness, feels stress, worry, sadness, or harm, not even a thorn which pricks him, except that Allah forgives his sins through it.” (Bukhari #5318) Imagine being purified from sins every time we are patient during a traffic jam, argument and aliment. Imagine receiving Allah's forgiveness whenever we do a good deed that is difficult upon the nafs.  Suffering and adversity prompts moral and spiritual evolution. So challenges arise to refine our character and draw us closer to Allah.

Many people resist their fate. They insist on doing something which is clearly not working out for them. Like this one uncle in Yanbu, applied for Canadian emigration 8 times and each time his paperwork was rejected. This poor man continued to apply for many years, only to waste millions of dollars of his earnings, which he could have used for his children's education and given some to charity.  Or someone trying to pass the SAP exam but failing each time. Instead of trying their skills in a different field, they buy more textbooks, take more courses and still get no where. It's like what Albert Einstein said about insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. So if you have been kicking and pushing for something for so long and you are not getting it, maybe it's not your destiny. You know how the duaa' of istikhara is...

اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمرا خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعقبات أمري أو عاجل أمري وأجله فقدره لي ويسره لي 

Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me.

وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعقبات أمري أو عاجل أمري وجله فصرفه  عني واصرفني ؛عنه واقدرلي الخير حيث كان ثم ارضني به

And if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it. 

It is Allah's mercy that He saves us from places, people and things that are bad for our religion and/or livelihood. For example, it may seem like living on residence is a good idea; it will save you commuting time and gas money. Since you live close to the school campus, you can walk in and out of your classes, cafe and library whenever you want but paying for residence means you would need to take interest based loan and sharing your dorm with a non-Muslim who will drink or wear indecent clothes. You do istikhara and immediately thereafter you find that your application is rejected or they just ran out of spaces or it rained all summer and the room allotted to you is flooded. It is possible right? Stranger things have happened? 

Yusuf (a.s) entered Egypt as a slave sold for a petty price only to reign over it as a king. Yakabid (Musa a.s mom) threw her baby in the river to save it from Pharoah and the river takes him right to the Pharaoh's doorstep.  The Bani Israel gets lost in the desert for 40 years. Tragedy yeah? Not exactly. The desert environment toughens up the young generation; they return to Palestine and clobber the Amalqa giants to their knees. Allah says, "perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allāh Knows, while you know not." [Qur'an, 2:216] So on the very onset, it may look like you were just handed a death-blow (you lost your wallet with $500 cash and car keys in it or someone u know just got diagnosed with cancer or there is a divorce in the family etc). But if you trust Allah and remain patient, you'll soon realize that this blow either saved you from a bigger problem or it unlatched the door of bounties and blessings, without first receiving this test.

I had a fate related issue too. Naturally I turned to the Qur'an for guidance (alhamdulillah). Every time I have questions and objections, I discover the answer the next day as I continue to read the Qur'an in the accepted order. Allah Knows and Understands my specific situations and it's like He revealss the solutions in the appropriate lines of the Qur'an in time for my next reading. It is scary at times, how accurately the Qur'an exposes and discloses our secrets and weaknesses. It imposes questions which can be painful to read, which we prefer to ignore or postpone. Then gradually it wears out any resistance until the heart and body yearn for the wonderful, sweet surrender to Allah.

Of the things I adore about the Qur'an is that it gives honest advise. The Qur'an will never isolate our happiness or suffering as be-all and end-all. Instead the Qur'an will tie our daily emotions to Allah and the Hereafter. Thus, the Qur'an will discuss our lives, our spouses, children, parents, relatives, the indigent, the orphans, the way-farers, our wealth and conflicts from Allah's frame of reference.  The Qur'an maintains that although we will be aroused to seek revenge, hate, discriminate and succumb to debauchery, we should not lose sight of the fact that the most beautiful rewards are with Allah in the Hereafter.  All acts of sin are actually self-destructive. The primary casualty of our sins is no one but ourselves. We rob ourselves  of spiritual ascent; a peaceful and purposeful life. Secondary loss is that the people around us and eventually the entire planet reeks with the stench of cruelty and crimes. Whereas, surrendering our desires to Allah bequeaths freedom and honour. Obedience to Allah incurs a powerful, sublime, serene felicity in this life and to an infinitely greater one in the next which cannot be achieved in any other way.

So anyway, when I was fighting with my fate a few days back, I didn't think too much of it. I just thought of it as QadarAllah - if Allah wills, it will happen if not then inshaAllah for sure Allah has something better in store or at least there is reward for being patient. Long story short...what did I learn about Faith and Fate from the Qur'an in my recent reading because of which I am writing this never ending post? :) The following... 

Qur'an, 4:23-25

1. People turn away from Allah's revelation because they have no fear of accountability. They don't really believe in the Day of Judgment. They assume that even if this Day was to come to pass, ever - the Hellfire will burn them for only a few days. So they remain averse to the commands to Allah. 

2. Their misbelief is the result of their misinterpretation of religion. They incorporated their own wishful thinking in Allah's revelation so much so that the revelation itself lost all meaning, credibility and value. So naturally their conviction in the Day of Judgment receded. They forgot if the Day of Judgment was part of Allah's promise or their own concoction. 

3. Undoubtedly, every person will be gathered on the Day of Judgment. Every soul will receive its share of reward and punishment.

What did I learn from these verses? The importance of revering the Qur'an and observing all of its commands in its entirety. I learned to always juxtapose my problems with the Hereafter. Is my problem worth giving up Allah's pressure? Is it worth going to Hellfire? In the grand scale of things, this problem may be only a matter of pain and stress for a few hours or days, I may not even remember it a week or a month from now (as life is a process of growth and decay) but if I sin, then Allah will thoroughly punish me for it in the Hereafter. I seek refuge in Allah from His anger.

Qur'an, 4:26-29

1. Allah is the King, the All Powerful. He give leadership and authority to whom He wills and removes it from whom He wills. Allah Honours and debases whom He wills. All goodness is in His Hands (control, possible with His permission). He is Mighty and Capable to do as He intends. 

2. Allah turns day from night and takes night from day. He extracts the living from the dead and vice versa. He decrees sustains to His creation as He wills (i.e. some He makes poor while others are rich by His permission).

3. Muslims should not take the Kaffireen as close, protecting friends. Allah is our final destination. 

4. Allah Knows our secrets whether we hide them or disclose them. He is aware and acquainted with all the details of the heavens and the earth. 

I learned that we cannot change the fate Allah has destined for us. Fate binds us to wealth or poverty, power or inability. Fate brings us together with some people and distances us from some. Faith is to accept fate. It doesn't mean we shouldn't earn an education or seek good employment. Or that we should give up our relations with people. Rather, accepting faith means not to complain and commit suicide over things that are not to according to our desires and dreams. It means acknowledging the other blessings of Allah that we do have, being grateful and living righteously.

Moreover, I learned that life presents innumerable opportunities to receive guidance and err and stray. Our company, especially if they are Kafir will lead us into trial. So stay away from those who can pose a negative influence. Also, I learned that in order to change one's fate, we should not join the Kuffar or become like the Kuffar. For example, if a person is desperate to make money or to get married but he is not able to do so, he should not resort to the ways of the Kuffar i.e. doe haram business or start a secret relationship with a non-mahram. Allah is Watching and Nothing is Hidden from Him. 

The Biggest Day in your life!

No it is not your birthday, or the day you turn 16 and get your driver's license. It is not even your wedding.

 Birthdays are a big deal for kids. For almost all kids, life is about balloons, streamers, inflatable bounce houses and slides, especially birthday cake and presents. Kids love to chose their birthday party theme, colour their birthday invitation cards, dress up like their favourite superhero or princess, lick the icing off the cake and tear the gift wraper to find the toy they always wanted inside. When my little cousin was turning 5, he nearly called all our close relatives to remind them of his birthday. Even now, he likes to show off on his tiny stubby fingers how old he is. He is proud that he is growing up (especially since he is getting presents for it every year). Still no matter how much of a blast a birthday can be, it is not the biggest day in life. In fact it is not even halal to celebrate birthdays! Birthdays are actually a part of the pagan religion. See my dear Shaykh Anwar's explanation here.
Just want to add one thing about birthdays before I move on...birthdays are turning our kids into brats. An average 21-century child is more self-centered and egocentric than the kids from the past generations. Why? Because parents nurse their every whim and desire so much so that today's children cannot see beyond their own feelings and thoughts. Not only do they cry and throw a fit to get what they want but they also bite and beat the person they want it from. When parents see this out-of-control behaviour, they get scared and do whatever the kid demands. This magnifies the problem instead of mending it. Because the parents give-in, the kids think that the more they continue the rude and reckless routine, the more attention they will get. Raise your kids with the Prophet's sunnah (s.a.w), that is the only way to save them from shaytan.

So where were we?
Yes, the biggest day in your life!

Driving - which teenager is not excited by the sound of V12 super charged turbo engine roaring? At 16, many of us dreamed of power steering a high agility scorcher on four wheels with convertible roof mechanism, crisply geometric nose, strong deep shoulders and chopped off rump. My brothers are still in their teens so all they ever talk about is acceleration this and rpm that. Their vehement passion is getting their license and driving a blazing orange Pagani Zonda or Yellow (marrane Apus) Lambourghini Gallardo. Yes, it'll be intensely exhilarating and emphatically wild to cruise 350 km/hr in a car with a body that can snap necks...but it is still NOT the most important thing in life. The sahaba (r.a) enjoyed their rides but they didn't worship them. Yes, they cared for their horses and camels; named them, washed them etc but I cannot for the life of me, think of any sahabi (r.a.) who watched youtube videos all day about a ride that he wanted to buy or had posters of his ride all up his room. Besides the freedom and a the rage, driving comes with a lot of responsibility. The moment you get your license, guess what? You get to drive your siblings to school, to soccer practice and take your mom shopping. Not to mention pay for gas, insurance, maintenance...HURRAY! (sighs).

Wedding - am grinding my teeth on this one....nearly every (deranged) man and woman (who has nothing better to do in their lives) looks forward to marriage as the ultimate ticket to the happiness. Okay, maybe not deranged? Marriage is from the Prophet's sunnah (s.a.w) and it is part of completing one's faith. The Prophet (s.a.w) encouraged Muslims to marry young and keep the wedding ceremony simple. But because all movies and songs grossly romanticize marriage as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, people ditch the Sunnah and go with superficial standards of society. Thousands of dollars, months of planning and manpower is wasted on just one day that flies by. The bride and the groom merely sit in one corner, which defeats the purpose of a 86’x 56’x 11’ banquet hall (you can rent that much space if you were going to play football or something but for a wedding? Come'on! Just do Nikkah in the Masjid). The dress is so heavy (with embroidery and elaborate ornamentation) that it itches and is too warm to wear. More often than not, the bride just suffocates and sweats under the weight of her dress. Moreover, to this day, I have actually never seen the bride or her family eat the wedding food so I have no idea why they cater a seven course meal with three deserts, drinks and chai.
 

What is more crucial than the wedding itself I think, is the person one is getting married to. Do you really know your future partner? How much Deen, Da'wah spirit and good akhlaaq are you both bringing in to the relationship? Do you fully understand the rights and responsibilities of a spouse in Islam? How will you deal with the inevitable speed bumps ahead? (Don't forget, Shaytan loves to break marriages). So the wedding day is not all that glamorous and glossy as it is fantasized to be. PS. next time you know someone who is getting married, please have them read, "Companions of the Prophet" Vol. 1 by AbdulWahid Hamid, pages 14-31 to see what the wedding of Fatima (r.a) with Ali (r.a) looked like and take lesson. 


That being said, what is the biggest day then? It is not graduation, not anniversary, not when you have your first baby. Then?

The biggest Day is the Day of Judgment.
Allah introduces the Day of Judgment in Surah Naba (Ch. 78 of the Noble Qur'an) as, "the greatest news". There is CTV News, CNBC, CNN and Al Azeera. These are man-made and clearly manufactured news. But the Day of Judgment is news from Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The Day of Judgment is detrimental not to a group people, of a certain religion or economic circumstance in a particular country but the entire human race. So this is one news we need to read about an read it NOW!

With so much going on in our lives, its sort of hard to fathom all of this will actually come to an end one day. We see many endings, just 2 nights ago, after Taraweeh, the Imaam told us that some 33 year old brother died an hour ago from cancer. We all made duaa for him and then home. Every day, there are over 156,000 deaths.  Every minute, 108 people on earth breath their last.  Every second, 2 souls are perished. Still we remain so careless with our time as if we are going to live forever. No car accident, cancer, or natural catastrophe conjures our consciousness.

I partially blame television. We are constantly exposed to movies that downplay the magnitude of the Day of Judgment. "2012" for example, made the blockbuster top 10 hit list. Every man, woman and child, Muslim and non-Muslim, either saw it or heard about it. And what did this hit movie
depict? A doomsday scenario (earth's crust displacement / basically an earthquake and mega tsunami that devastates the entire planet), killing millions. But of course the hero and his lover secure an Antonov 500 aircraft that takes them to an ark and float to some distant land (South Africa) where they live happily ever after. "Core" was another blockbuster hit of 2003. It showcased another end of the world scenario, reversed thanks to a team of expert scientists that make a top secret space-shuttle-type-rocket to go to the core of the earth to fix the electromagnetic field. In the 1990s the movie "Epidemic" had the storyline of this diseased monkey from Vietnam infecting the entire human race with its virus. People began to die in scores until a genius doctor saves the planet with his new strand medicine. ---- You see what I am getting at? The TV mocks the coming of Day of Judgment. And because TV is watched in our homes 24/7, we consciously accept the TV's message and do not perceive the Day of Judgment as a fast-approaching and all encompassing reality. The TV suggests that even if the world is coming to an end, don't worry, some geologist, scientist, brave heart, epitome of good looks and elegance will rescue you.

Allah says, كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ and ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ Nay, soon you will know and then nay soon you will find out. All these plots and narratives on TV about the Day of Judgment are a joke. They have nothing to do with reality. Its just their wishful thinking. These people are مُخْتَلِفُونَ. They have all these ideas of what might possibly happen on the Day of Judgment but they don't have a consensus. Sometimes they say (show in a movie) that an astroid or a meteorite will hit the earth. At other times they parade the Aramagadon (end of times war) synopsis.

Apart from being brain-washed by TV, why else don't we take the Day of Judgment with the seriousness that it deserves? Because we don't know Allah and revere Him with the love and respect that He deserves.
Who is Allah?  He is the One Who made the earth. He made the mountains, people, the day and the night. Allah made the sun and the moon; the sky and the clouds. He sends down rain. He cultivates the earth with plants, trees and gardens.

 The earth is 32% iron, 31% oxygen, 15% silicon and 13% magnesium. 70% of the earth's surface is water, only 30% is dry land. 70% of water makes up the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans. The dry land entails seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica, Europe and Australia. These continents host 196 countries and are home to 10,000 birth species, 30 million animal species and 10,000 reptile species. There are over hundreds and thousands of mountain ranges on earth and 400,246,300 trees. The mountains give us natural gas, petroleum, iron, zinc, salt, magnesium, tin, titanium, diamonds and pearls. There are more mountains in the oceans than there are on land.  The largest mountain range, called the mid-ocean ridges is 5000 km in length under the Indian Ocean. The second largest range, called the 90 east ridge consists of a series of 90 mountains, also under the Indian Ocean. Trees produce all our food, juices, salads, and medicine. All in all, the earth is a an intricate and incredible planet - full of Allah's blessings and mercy. Allah made earth, our home; comfortable and convenien.

The earth's tectonic plates crash into each other, forming mountains as the sides of the plate crumple like cars in a head on collision. Mountains also form along fault lines; blocks of the earth are lifted as two plates grind together. The uplifted part forms a mountain and the lower part is filled with eroded material. Lava bulging from a volcano also forms mountains made up of left over rock and ash collection. Allah created the mountains as pegs to stabilize the earth's surface, lest it quivers or sinks beneath our feet.

Allah created humans, all 6.93 billion of us, with brain impulses that travel 70 miles per hour through the body, generating enough energy to light a 10-watt bulb. Allah created in the brain, the capacity to store 5x more information than encyclopedia Britanica (that is 1 million gigabytes of information. The fastest computer in the world today only stores 250 gigabytes of information, and the latest phone - iphone only 16 gigabytes). Allah gave us a heart that can squirt blood up to 30 feet. Blood vessels that can be stretched 60,000 miles (the earth's distance is only 25,000 miles).  Lungs that have a surface area equal to the size of tennis courts. Liver that has over 500 functions. Bones that are stronger than steel and over 59 bones in the feet alone. Of course the human body is far more complicated and astounding than these random facts. Just as there is a universe outside of us, of the different things on the earth, hidden in mountains and under the oceans, there is a universe inside of us, of an array of organs, veins and cells that work round the clock. A hairline discrepancy in their system can cause serious sickness or even death.  What is even more stunning is that Allah created the humans in two opposite pairs - men and women. Allah created women more cooperative, nurturing, cautious and emotionally responsive. In contrast, Allah made men more assertive, competitive, reckless and physically strong.  The unique talents and personalities of both men and women, make them compatible partners (not competitive rivals).

Allah created night and day, a time to rest and sleep and a time to exert and work. This division of activities is fabulous. Sleeping is restorative for the brain. A specific growth hormone is secreted during slow wave sleep. Memory consolidation occurs during slow wave sleep, meaning that the different pieces of what we've learned during the day come together coherently so that the knowledge can be accessed when needed. A lot of young brothers and sisters, especially those studying the Deen or busy with Da'wah - do not sleep. In fact, many of us think that it is against piety to sleep. But Allah made night as a covering, to allow us to unwind, take the load off, lie down, put up our feet and catch some Zs. Remember that only Allah is لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ Insufficient sleep in humans is associated with a higher incidence of behavioral problems, especially attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), moodiness, anxiety, aggression and stress. Lack of sleep has also been linked to difficulty making good decisions and night terrors. Too little sleep can also lead to weight gain by altering levels of the hormones that regulate satiety and hunger, leading to overeating, overweight, and obesity.
Even the Prophet (s.a.w) used to sleep a night part of the night. So don't miss out on this sunnah. Plus the Prophet (s.a.w) made duaa to Allah to bless his followers in the hours of the morning. Now imagine a person who stays awake all night, supposedly 'working' and then goes to sleep after Fajr. They just lost all the blessings of the morning for which the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) made duaa. A good night sleep is crucial for a great day of work. Follow this pattern which Allah has ordained and inshaAllah you will see the difference in the quality of your performance. Not only you will be awake but inshaAllah you'll find yourself motivated to work more diligently because of which inshaAllah you will accomplish more in a few hours as compared to staying awake the entire night and then sleeping after fajr only to start your day at 1:00 pm and finding it difficult to concentrate on anything. Coming home tired and disappointed for being unproductive, then staying awake all night again to lay off the guilt assuming that we can achieve what we didn't during the day - but that usually never happens!

Allah creates the clouds and sends down rain. Clouds are formed when water droplets cool and condense in the atmosphere. Eventually, if the rising currents persist long enough, the water droplets become too heavy to be kept in suspension within the clouds and they fall on earth as rain. Its a beautiful process that requires just the right combination of heat and light from the sun, water of oceans and lakes, and wind. Without the absence of any one of these elements, the land suffers with drought and then famine.

Moreover, it is also a miracle how Allah germinates the seed to grow into plants and trees. In the damp, warm and dark soil, Allah gives life to a tiny seed. First the young root appear then the skin of the seed splits and the shoot straightens, pulling the cotyledons with it. The main root gets bigger and grows side roots, then eventually leaves sprout.

No aspect of our lives is absent of Allah's blessings. His mercy surrounds us and is as far as the eyes can see and beyond. The sky that covers us and brings us rain. The earth that supports us and feeds us. The night and day which are subservient for our sleep and work, are all Allah's generous favours. I am thinking فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ  Everything that breath, eat, see, touch, know and feel is a blessing of Allah and His mercy. Just looking at His creation overwhelms and overpowers us so how will it be to finally look Him? Meet Him and talk to Him? Certainly the Day of Judgment is the Biggest Day in our lives because it is the Day we will go back to Allah.
 

The Day of Judgment is the Biggest Day because...
1. It is due by surprise - it will come suddenly and envelope everything without warning, in its clutches and jaws.
2. The sky will open -reality as we know it will shatter and fall apart. Even the sky will break and split.
3. The mountains will be removed and become a mirage - nothing will stand erect on the Day of Judgment. All buildings and towers will be uprooted. The entire infrastructure of this planet mashed into bits. There will be no scientists and secret agents to save humanity, everyone will be slaughtered.
4. The angels will be scared and standing silently in rows. No one will be allowed to speak except whom Allah gives permission.
5. Hell will ambush and pounce on the disbelieving and disobedient slaves of Allah. They will remain in scourge, suffering for ages unending. When they will cry out of heat and thirst, the angels will give them scalding water and pus to drink. When they will beg for food, they will be served poisons thorns.
6. Paradise - gardens and grapevines, delicious wine (free of intoxication) in overflowing cups, perfused with the echoes of peace and fragrance of prosperity, will be granted as reward and generous gift by Allah to those who loved and feared Him.

We may only plan a month in advance (i.e. for Eid at the beginning of Ramadan) or just six months from now - winter break etc.  We may not keep track of time or where we are spending a bulk of our money or what the Qur'an says. But Allah has enumerated every minute and major detail about our lives in writing and He will recompense us accordingly. It is the day when our fate for all eternity will pronounced. The day after which there is only happiness with Allah, His Prophets and righteous servants in Heaven or just stinging sorrow with Pharaoh, Hamaan, Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab in Hell. So if we were smart, we would stop obsessing with birthdays, cars and weddings; instead we would consume ourselves with concern and preparation for the Biggest Day of our lives - the Day of Judgment. I pray that Allah makes this Day the Best Day of our lives aameen.

Why Ramadan? Part 2

Most people like to follow a routine. They like lists, schedules, agendas not because they are boring but because it gives them a sense of stability and control in their lives. It gives them comfort knowing what to expect same time everyday. Then comes Ramadan and abruptly their neat little organized world turns upside down.

Its amazing how life takes a 180 degree turn in Ramadan. We eat when we are suppose to sleep (3 am suhoor). We pray when we are suppose to eat (9 pm Maghrib and then 10 pm isha + Taraweeh). We smile when we are furious. We give profusely until we are penurious. We refrain our thoughts and restrain our gaze even when we are tempted and curious. Ramadan is indeed an incredible month. Although it is hard to get used to the changes, especially when we haven't done any good in a long time, Ramadan is still the best time of the year because it gives us the chance to obtain and increase in Taqwa, Gratitude and Guidance.

Gratitude

فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ 

يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

"So whoever sights [the new moon] of hte month, let him fast it....Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." [Qur'an, 2:185]

So what can we be grateful for in Ramadan?

Food would definitely top almost everyone's list. We don't think about this when our plates and cups are full but at the end of a long day of fasting - when the body is weak, fatigued, shaking and irritable, even the smallest of dates and the fewest drops of water during iftaar seem sublime and delightful.  There is a twofold lesson in the blessing of food.
We seldom think about where our food comes from, and we never think about food shortages. Yet for millions of people around the world, this world this is a daily anxiety. Can you imagine living in Africa and going without anything to eat and drink at all for weeks and months on end? Your stomach growling and distending from hunger? Your body beat and dehydrated from thirst? You scavanging through raw, infected with diseases, garbage dumps to find a few scraps for yourself and your family? This Ramadan when I come home from Qur'an class in the evening, I am grateful for my mom's gourmet meals.

In fact alhamdulillah I am humbled that Allah has blessed me to eat at all. Normally we are overly demanding and fastidious with our food. The vegetables must be broiled to a specific degree, the bread baked meticulously for the exact number of minutes. The coffee stirred methodically in a certain way. InshaAllah we can do without these strenuous stipulations. Be grateful that we have enough to nourish our body. We don't necessarily have to eat with fancy cutlery, seven course cuisines every time we sit at the table. The Sahaba (r.a) were altogether modest when it came to food. They ate to gain enough energy to go about their work and worship. They governed and guided the world without breakfast in bed or buffets.  So to do great work, one does not need to eat great food. Simple food is sufficient for the sincere.

When Allah honoured Bani Israel with leadership of the entire human race, they responded to this favour with demands for a change in their food menu. They fixated and fretted over "green herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils and onions" [Qur'an, 2:61] when they really should have devouted themselves to the Book of Allah with integrity and called people to its teachings. They gave up the knowledge and respect that Allah bestowed them through Islam for an ignoble obsession with food. Of course in the end, their transgressing tummies incurred the wrath of Allah and they were disgraced, destroyed and replaced with Bani Ismael (that's us! Aren't we awfully preoccupied with our provisions, just like the Bani Israel? Why do you think the state of the Ummah is, what it is? Our priority is food not Allah. Alhamdulillah for Ramadan, we can stop living for food and start living for Allah).

More than anything, I am grateful for Taqwa. Every year, Ramadan is the month in which we are intensely conscious of Allah. His remembrance is magnified in our hearts and we are forced to focus on it. Allah is so GREAT, we are less than a speck of sand and yet He loves us more than 70 mothers could love a baby child. Nothing happens except Allah is Watching. When we breathe in, Allah is watching and when we breathe out, Allah is Watching. When we open our mouth to speak, we cannot utter a word except that Allah Hears it. When we eat, sleep, work, chat, play and study - Allah is well Acquainted. Allah is Subtle and All Knowing of every small detail of our lives. It seems very elementary, of course Allah is Watching! But if we actually sit and really think about this - we are being watched by the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. The weight of this realization will knock the lights of our head and suck the air out of our lungs. It will leave our hearts locked in tension and we'll collapse on the spot - out of fear and love of Allah.Fear because Allah Knows our thoughts and fantasies. Our feelings, perceptions and desires are not entirely a secret but common knowledge to Allah. Allah encompasses all our actions. Love because we are not alone in this universe. Allah Protects His obedient believing slaves, Provides for us, Guides us and Grants our duaa. Allah gives us a pure purpose to live for.

Allah says, "So whoever disbelieves in tāghūt and believes in Allāh has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it....Allāh is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light." [Qur'an, 2:256, 257] Imagine holding a Hand that never renegades its care, protection and safety. Imagine a Hand that leads you into the light. Light here is symbolic for solutions to your problems, enlightenment, ease, happiness and peace in your personal life, health, work and relations. Who would not run to hold this Hand? Such is the Hand of Allah and Ramadan is the right time to take His Hand.

For me, the best part of Ramadan is Taraweeh. I am tremendously grateful for Taraweeh. It is so exciting and enthralling to stay awake one third of the night, out of the house, standing with scores of people in Salah listening to the recitation of the Qur'an. I feel like a lost child finally coming home. Listening to the Qur'an is different from reading the the Qur'an yourself. And listening to the entire juzz at a stretch whilst standing, with your hands folded and heads bowed - is something totally out of this world. It is a divine experience when man (in my case woman) encounters and embraces his Lord. The Qur'an recited beautifully and passionately can generate such serenity and torment, trust and fear that leaves one in anguish and yearning to surrender to Allah and to be with Allah.  I am grateful to the Quraa who recite slowly and melodiously. If a qari has a measured and adequately (not exaggeratedly) rhythmic tone, it can actually facilitate the understanding of the Qur'an. Taraweeh is even more gratifying when one knows the Qur'an with meaning. The Qur'an talks to us directly, personally; it knows us better than we know ourselves. It contains our daily vicissitudes. The Qur'an consoles, criticizes, counsels and challenges.  It is intense, imposing but ravishing and re-energizing.

Ramadan teaches us to be thankful in almost all instances of our lives. Ramadan removes our cold and skeptical shells and nurtures a caring and sharing spirit. Notice how neighbours send each other more food in Ramadan than in any time of the year. No matter how busy everyone in the family is, they all pool together in the same car to go for Taraweeh. Only in Ramadan the Masajid are packed that strangers are forced to stand close (literally shoulder to shoulder and feet to feet). Ramadan brings people together and gets them to communicate and cooperate.

Some folks have a  contemptuously and grouchy attitude. Yes, life isn't perfect, everyone has problems but being rotten and putrid about it, is not going to make it better! There will always be some stress in life - work, family, finance or health related. The key to overcoming that stress is gratitude. If we concentrate on finding something good in every situation, we will discover that our lives are suddenly filled with happiness. This is especially true in Ramadan. No matter how upset or tired we are, we get up and pray; peel ourselves off the couch/bed and find a mushaf to recite. Tune out the obnoxious neighbour, walk away from an argument and ignore our growling stomachs because we don't want to do anything that would invalidate our fast.  In other words, despite the setbacks we remain positive in Ramadan and paddle for Allah's pleasure. Yes, the paddling is hard - it goes against our nafs, its even painful at times but the prospective of getting Paradise in return keeps us patient for a whole month. Why not ditch the crying/complaining/cursing-under- the-breath routine for the rest the year too? Just don't get mad or express your anger. Even if something/someone is testing you to your wits ends' - be grateful and busy yourself in a good deed. Allah says the recipients of Paradise will be those people of Taqwa who "who restrain anger and who pardon the people" [Qur'an, 3:133-134]. Remember that a believer is always fasting. The actual iftaar is on the Day of Judgment.

Why Ramadan? Part 1

Because Allah has decreed it! And it is nothing new.
Every human being in the history of mankind was commanded to observe the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is to obtain and increase in Taqwa, Gratitude and Guidance. 

Taqwa

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous – [Qur'an, 2:183]

Ramadan is a time to think about Allah and to think over our faults. Ramadan puts a stop to our eating, drinking and other material carvings, and focuses our attention entirely on Allah. Ramadan is a time to review our personality and make it perfect so that Allah is pleased. We have done and said many things in the past year - some good and some bad - Ramadan gives us a chance to pause, to take note of, appraise and to reconsider them. 

There are many instances in the Qur'an when Allah says, "Those who believe" and "Don't they realize? Don't they see? Have they not considered? Will they not desist? Isn't it time that they should change?"

Ramadan is a time of deepest privacy with Allah. It is the month in which we talk less and listen more to Allah. Ramadan is the month of the Divine Call. The cellphones and gmails are logged off to hear and read Allah messages, reminders, good news, advises and admonitions in the Qur'an that we need to mend our broken hearts,  detoxify our infected souls, and transplant good deeds into our lives.

The companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) were ordinary people made extraordinary via the Qur'an. From being ignorant, tribalistic and reckless, some were even alcoholic, chauvinist, thieves and murders - they transformed into deeply religious scholars and sages that saved the human race because they heard and followed Allah's Words. Ramadan is the month of hope, redemption and renewal. No matter how bad we messed up our past lives, Ramadan gives us the opportunity to come back to Allah, to train ourselves to live with His guidelines, seek His forgiveness and overcome our shortcomings.

Ramadan also gives us quiet time away from all the troubles and worries we have accumulated in our lives. Yes, work is worship, when we do it for Allah. Staying awake late at night to finish a university project, cleaning the house, driving to work, cooking and spending time with the family are all good deeds when done with the intention to please Allah, and in accordance to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). However, it is necessary to take a break from the 11 months of grind - to relax with Allah. Normally we associate relaxation with sleep or shopping, watching TV or wasting time on some video game. However, to really relax, we need to be with Allah. Verily, hearts are only satisfied with Allah's remembrance. Try it,  one night of standing in Taraweeh and really being conscious of Allah is more insightful and inspiring than all the sales, samoas and skylines + superveloces in the world combined.

Ramadan puts our life in perspective. When we can give up food and drink - the very basic necessities of survival for the love and respect of Allah then certainly we can do without sins in our lives as well. No one ever died from not listening to music or from not watching TV.  If we can live patiently without food and water for month then certainly we can live without eating the flesh of our dead brother (backbitting), without haram relations and without finding faults in others and fighting. In Ramadan for one month if we are cautious of Allah and bring out the best of us because He is watching then definitely we can try and continue to be submissive and obedient to Allah all year around because Allah is All Seeing and All Knowing All the Time.


Make special duaa this month; ask Allah for His Taqwa.