What can you see?

‎"Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to be farsighted enough to trust the end result of a process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be so short-sighted as to not be able to see the outcome. The lover’s of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full."

A Royal Love

Today I am thankful to Allah for making me British, because today the Diamond Jubilee celebrations have strengthened my conviction in the deen and love of the Rasool, walhamdulilah. How? Why? What? Yes.

I wasn’t too fussed about most of the hoo-haa surrounding the Jubilee weekend, but took a break from studying just as the final celebrations were being held. I caught the Queen coming on the balcony, with the heirs to her throne, as the soldiers led her praise and the hundreds of thousands who had gathered at Buckingham and Pall Mall sang with love and cheer the British National Anthem. Ahh the British National Anthem is a good as they get. Millions of people singing ‘God Save the Queen’, probably with some Ameens thrown in, and the Queen indeed does ‘long reign over us’ - God is All Listening after all!! It was something fascinating to see how much effort had gone towards this one person, in praising her.

Fascinating indeed to witness the amount of adoration her subjects have for her, and I mean seriously great love, to stand in the rain, amongst thousands of others, just for a glimpse of her smile, subhannallah, thats dedication and love to a public figure. This is a lady who is the head of a household of, according to the British atleast, noble lineage. Born into that family of ‘pure blood’, who has taken and held the role of Queen for 60 years, serving the commonwealth countries and charitable causes. A job which does take effort no doubt. She does appear to be a lady of dignity and I have respect for that. Alhamdulilah, that it is through seeing this and understanding this, I have increased in love for the king of the world. Our Habib. Habibullah!  For if this all that effort had gone for a Queen of a country, how incumbent is it on us to showcase with full belief our love for the best of mankind?

I mean, the national anthem is only ever sung for a current king/queen. And by people of the said country/nation. On specific occasions. Sung with love no doubt , people make Dua in effect, that God Blesses her. Then imagine the power and effect of salawat. Recited by people of all colour, nations and tribes. All united by a faith. All for the Final Messenger of God, the most perfect of humans. Recited not only on specific days, but every day, hundreds of times a day, throughout the world. And continually recited though he is no longer physically present. Imagine, the power of salawats! Thinking of the beauty of the Islamic Anthem of Praise for him of pure blood, him who held the most noble of lineages, what is even more astounding is how, each and every sender of peace to him, themselves is rewarded, not just in this life, but in the next life of eternity!!! Ya Rab Al ‘Alameen. This is love. 

And he, Rasoolullah, was not one who carried the message through wealth, ease and luxury. On being asked to choose whether he wanted ease and luxury, or simplicity, he himself, peace be upon him, chose the simple life. And so it was, and how many a story do we have of his humility and modest living. Yet, this is our King. The King of Kings. The Beloved of humans, angels and the beloved of the Creator himself!! 

They had a huge concert last night in honour of the Queen. Approximately 100,000 people attended in person. Songs were sung, hearts warmed. Today again I was wondering about songs, especially songs of love. Every artist writes atleast one song of love. Its what is wrote about, what is sung about. But pure love is something else. Imagine the ballads written in praise and love for a man who you haven’t met?! But who you are enchanted by. By his way of life, which has been preserved through not only narrations, but embodiment by generations of faithful. By his lessons and reminders and faith. Subhannallah, such ballads are born out of someone not seen, but someone loved. And from the best of these poems, is undoubtedly the Qasidah Burdah, Poem of the Cloak. I understand now on reflection, why everyone seeks love and writes about love and sings about love. There is undoubtedly the special feeling of being loved by another. And then there is the immeasurable feeling of being the lover. Being such a lover, a pure lover, that though one hasn’t seen the beloved in real life, they appear to one in their dreams! Subhannallah.

As the Queen stood on the balcony, looking content, with her family smiling gracefully, thoughts automatically turned to the Ahlul Bayt. The Royal Family is indeed the Queens Ahlul Bayt. So honoured by all the British and all those accross the world! So what then of the real Ahlul Bayt? How lofty is their status? How adored are they, MUST they be?! Subhannallah. Last year while watching Williams wedding, I was made to remember Fatima & Ali radhiAllahuAnhum - because if such a royal wedding was being witnessed, what then of the real royal wedding? Poetic flows came naturally and a couplet was written. Funny that on thinking about it,  the British Royalty always takes my thoughts back to the Real Royalty, peace be upon them, Prophet Muhammad sallalaualayhi wa salam and his family. 

And thus I respect the Queen and her family and thank them, because if nothing else, to see how great effort is made to appreciate them and how they are enthusiastically adored, they remind me of how seriously, epically, legendarily, great our REAL royalty is, how important it is to praise in great cheer and enthusiasm the beloved  Prophet and how timelessly honoured a place Habibullah & his family hold. 

Unbelieveable

...Except for those who believe in Allah's Immense Karam.

Ok, so perhaps there are more unbelievable stories out there, but when one such beautiful moment touches oneself, how can one not Praise The Lord of The World, through Whom all motions are commanded and nothing becomes but through His Saying "Be" and it is.

The moment I am talking about is very simple. But there is beauty in simple things:

Meeting someone at the exact moment after thinking about them.

It happens often. I'm sure it's happened to all.

As simple as that is, thoughts work fast alhamdulilah and each action builds momentum towards the next. Thinking about spending the afternoon with someone, when in probability terms it wouldn't be likely. Turning around, only to see them driving past. Them seeing you, only because you turned around. What's in a moment? Everything! Subhannallah. Allah answers prayers that we don't even realise we make! One naat rings in my ears "Iss Karam Kaa Karoon, Shukr keseh adhah" - apologies for any mis-spelling, though its the sentiments carried within!

Subhannallah. His Mercy is actually so Substantial and so Manifest and so Great and so Generous that it would be unbelieveable (in the "woahhhhh no way man" kinda way) except for those who believe.

It could have been my sudden compelled action-that I turned around and her car passed at that moment that joined us, it could have been my thoughts, intrisic duas that I didn't know I made that joined us. But neither of the two are worthy I don't think. I guess its the duas of my mother yearning to see her daughter, that Allah Answered.
Mothers.
The Rasool.
Allah.
Treasure.

Allah Knows

Subhannallah. Sometimes, a good old nasheed does the trick.

I love nasheeds because their lyrics are to the point, bold and easy to ponder over, subhannallah. They offer food for thought.

Allah knows is one of my favourites, its lyrics are so simple yet so powerful. Every emotion is described, and i listen to it and always ponder over Allahs Knowledge of each thought regarding each aspect of each part of each of our lives. Its amazing.


"...When you feel all alone in this world
And there’s nobody to count your tears
Just remember, no matter where you are
Allah knows
Allah knows

When you carrying a monster load
And you wonder how far you can go
With every step on that road that you take
Allah knows
Allah knows


No matter what, inside or out
There’s one thing of which there’s no doubt
Allah knows
Allah knows
And whatever lies in the heavens and the earth
Every star in this whole universe
Allah knows
Allah knows

When you find that special someone
Feel your whole life has barely begun
You can walk on the moon, shout it to everyone
Allah knows
Allah knows

When you gaze with love in your eyes
Catch a glimpse of paradise
And you see your child take the first breath of life
Allah knows
Allah knows


When you lose someone close to your heart
See your whole world fall apart
And you try to go on but it seems so hard
Allah knows
Allah knows

You see we all have a path to choose
Through the valleys and hills we go
With the ups and the downs, never fret never frown
Allah knows
Allah knows

Every grain of sand,
In every desert land, He knows.
Every shade of palm,
Every closed hand, He knows.
Every sparkling tear,
On every eyelash, He knows.
Every thought I have,
And every word I share, He knows.
Allah knows ....."

This, along with "test" by Native Deen are really my moments of reflection, moments of weakness, fragile state nasheeds which reinvigorate the ideas of Allahs Love again and inspire me. Alhamdulilah.

The Tawfeeq Factor

Asalamalaikum,
Hope you are all well

My brother shared this amazing story with me today, and subhannallah, if there is one thing you forward and fill peoples inboxes with, this should be it!! Subhannallah......

I recently heard an incredibly amazing account told by Shaykh Yasir Salamah, one of the leading Imams and recitors of Egypt. In his audio tape ‘When will I see you as a Haafidh?’ he speaks of the true account of Muhammad, a brother who after attending a workshop on memorising Qur’aan and utilising all the available mediums, went on to memorise the entire Qur’aan within just 50 days (i.e 2 months)

Within 2 months?!

Yes. Within 2 months. This is his account and he says:

“I declared a state of Jihad upon my soul and put death before my eyes. I made an intention to memorise the Noble Qur’aan. So I abandoned telephone calls and unnecessary visits, and I changed all the negative thoughts associated with hifdh (memorisation) to positive and practical ones e.g. When a thought came to me saying ‘I can’t do it!’ I’d say, ‘I can do it.’ If it said, ‘My memory is weak!’ I’d say ‘I take pleasure in having a great memory.’

I chose the masjid as the place of my hifdh as it preserves three:

1. The eyes

2. The ears

3. The tongue

I followed a specific dietary program consisting of eating dates, fruits and honey - and fasting helped me a great deal in that. I used to wake up before salaat al-Fajr by 2 and a half hours and I slept 2 hours after ‘Isha. I used to wake up for Tahajjud (the night prayer), prolonging my sujood wherein I would call upon Allaah ta’alaa to ease for me my affair. I would also seek forgiveness 100 times.


I began to memorise 5 pages and would recite them in the Sunnah prayers of Fajr. After salaat al-Fajr, I would begin the memorisation of 5 new pages and at the end, I would recite them in the 2 raka’ahs of salaat al-Duhaa, all the time thanking Allaah for easing the memorisation.

I would perfect the recitation of what I had memorised by listening to tapes of one of the recitors. I would read about the qiraa’ah in books or via the Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah (poem on the ahkam of tajweed).

After salaat al-Dhuhr, I would repeat everything that I had memorised previously beginning from the 1st Juz, until salaat al-’Asr. After the ‘Asr prayer, I would repeat the new portion of hifdh and the juz before. After the Maghrib prayer, I would prepare the recitation of 10 new pages and it was only after salaat al-’Isha that I’d review the Qur’aan with my teacher, may Allaah reward him well.

Before retiring to bed, I would listen to all that I memorised in the day from cassettes and I would be sitting for 6 continuous hours, without any boredom or feeling tired. In the 1st week, I would sit for 6 hours, memorising and revising. In the 2nd week, I would sit for 8 hours. In the 3rd week, it was 10 hours and in the 4th week, it was 12 hours. In the last 10 days, I was sitting for 14 hours memorising and revising.

The hardest times for me were when it came to sleeping and eating. I ardently wished that the period of sleep would end quickly so that I could start my hifdh of the Noble of Qur’aan. Everytime I began to read the Qur’aan and memorise, I felt such delight and enjoyment that I had never felt before. Du’a was an important factor for me before and after hifdh. I would memorise a page whilst sitting down and then repeat it whilst walking. My teacher played an important role in encouraging me, in revision, in correcting me and benefiting me in terms of Tajweed.


In the last week, on the night of 20th Ramadan, only 4 and a half juz remained until completion of hifdh. So I turned to Allaah to open up my way and ease it for me. I went on to memorise it in 6 days with the Help of Allaah.

Laylatul-Qadr came, the night of delight and happiness - it was like a wedding night to me. My completion of hifdh took place between Maghrib and ‘Isha in the masjid with the Imam and those in I’tikaaf. We began the khatma (reciting from beginning till end of the Book). In the end, during the du’aa, my heart opened up greatly and I began to weep like never before. It was the most beautiful hour of my life. Allaah had honoured me with the memorisation of His Book.

During the du’aa, I remembered a dream I had more than 10 years ago… I was a Mu’adhin of a mosque and after Fajr salaah, I sat remembering Allaah in the mosque. I felt sleepy so I took a nap in the middle of the mosque, and behold! I found myself amidst a gathering. A powerful ray of light descended from the sky down to the middle of the masjid. From that light came many angels and between them were 2 big Angels. One of them turned towards me and took me to the light. I entered along with the 2 angels. I then found myself on top of a large green tree - I began to climb it in the companionship of the 2 angels. We found angels standing by the door of the 1st heaven. They said to me ‘Where are you going?’ They opened up a book and said, ‘We don’t have your name with us, so climb onwards to the top.’ And likewise, all the time (through each heaven), they said the same thing to me.


Upon arriving at the 7th heaven, we reached the end of the tree. I found angels standing at the door and they said, ‘Are you Muhammad?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘Enter, for the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) wants you.’ I said to the 2 angels that were with me ‘Come in with me.’ They said, ‘We can’t enter. But we will wait for you.’ So I entered Jannah and behold, I saw therein what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and had never entered in the heart of Man. Angels were surrounding me and there was a door, on top of it was written لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله. جنة الفردوس (There is no God but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger. Al-Firdaws Paradise).

The Angels opened the door and I entered. Before me was the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) sitting at the top end and beside him were men, some that I recognised and some that I didn’t. In front of him were a very large group of men, women and children. They wore white clothes, and they were so many that they had a beginning but no end. All of them were reciting Qur’aan. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) called me and I went up to him. He got up and made some space for me. I kissed him and he sat me down besides him. I asked him ‘Who are these people O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘These are the people who have memorised the Book of Allaah `azza wa jall.’

Inshaa’Allaah ta’ala, the dream ended in truth. I never spoke to anyone about it until the night that I completed the memorisation of the Qur’aan..."


Allahuakbar! Subhannallah, this story is inspiring on all levels... such a direct portrayal of true striving, for which Allah granted him immense immersion in His tawfeeq. May Allah guide us all and allow us to reflect and learn from this beautiful story, Ameen!