Let the Tube's strike. Don't let your good character.

Quest to becoming a Huquq Al Ibaad Hero (part 1)

Top Tips For Maintaining Your Humanity During The London Tube Strikes (and other such battles)

The “How to be a Huquq Al Ibaad Hero” series… starting with the London Tube Strikes

"Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors," one train driver recently quipped. Such is just one example of the daily commotion known to occur all too well in London’s beloved underground. Any  Londoner can give testament; keeping ones wits about one when one is late, packed into a steel box like a sardine and unable to find a seat is undoubtedly difficult. But what can only add to this misery is the smile ridden faces and state of constant grumbling grunts of ones fellow travellers. But there comes a point, when every bad habit must be broken, every wrong rule be rewritten and every commuter told it’s okay to act human on the London Underground, for God’s Sake! And when best to do this, than in the time of extenuated chaos pushing you to what you see as an underground battle field, during the train strikes! And so I bring to you the first in the series of helpful short guides  on how to maintain your humanity, or is known in Arabic,  Huquq Al Ibaad (that is, the rights of others), during the London tube strikes, and other such minor battles:

1. Keep Calm and Carry On

Ah yes. It’s been a long day and now there are train delays and strangers getting too close for comfort. Not ideal. But maintaining your composure during all of this is essential. “Glad tidings” are given to the “As-Sabirun”, the patient as Surah Baqarah states, let’s not forget!  But it’s is easy to be calm when all is going well and you are untroubled. The real test of character comes in moments of hardship and discomfort; this is when ones real character is revealed. Anybody can get flustered in the moment, but not the Muslim who watches themselves and keeps close check on their behaviour. How we express ourselves in such moments in critical. A man said to the Prophet, ‘Give me advice.’ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, ‘Do not get angry.’ The man asked repeatedly and the Prophet answered each time, ‘Do not get angry.’ (Bukhari). If you must speak out, do so with tact and an intention to be of assistance rather than an additional nuisance. Don’t forget "Gentleness does not enter anything except that it beautifies it and harshness does not enter anything except that it disfigures it." (Bukhari) And only if you stay cool and patient, will you be able to be of assistance to others. Which brings us nicely onto tip number 2...


2, Stay Alert: Look out for the welfare of the vulnerable

Hey City Slicker! Yes, you! Not everyone who has to use the train will be at the peak of their health and fitness! Now is the time to really show what Huquq Al Ibaad is all about. It’s time to revive the forgotten art of chivalry. It’s time to dust of your heart to enable your kind intentions to shine out through action. It’s time to help the vulnerable:

The Elderly:  If you happen to spot someone elderly during the tube strikes, asking after them will go a long way. It isn’t just about getting up for them on the train, it’s also about helping them with bags, reassuring them that there is someone at hand and walking at their pace. This is the way of the Best of examples (peace be upon him), who advised, "And your helping a man to get up on his means of transportation, or helping him carry his things on it, is a Sadaqah (charity)." (Bukhari)

Young children: Young children may be afraid to see so many strangers in a small space and their parents likewise will be concerned about the wellbeing and safety of their child. In all the commotion it may become easy for them to become separated. As a 2 year old child, I was once lost on a trip outside. To this day, some couple of decades on, my parents still remember vividly their fear in that moment. Don’t be that person who in their absentmindedness, comes between a parent and child. Help parents with pushchairs and let parents onto trains ahead of you. Remember this hadith and you will go a long way; “He is not of us who does not show mercy to our young ones and does not respect our old ones.” (Tirmidhi).

Pregnant women, Disabled, Unwell:  Any of the people within these groups may find particular discomfort travelling in this busy period and need assistance. Stay alert and if you are able look out for such people in advance of the doors of the carriage opening / getting comfortable in a chair. Remember, “Allah is ever assisting His servant as long as that servant is helping his brother” (Bukhari). Importantly, if you see someone struggling, talk to them, double check whether they need anything. Now is not the time to be living by the unwritten underground rule of no speaking! 


3. Show good comradery

We all know the infamous hadith “None of you truly believes (in Allah and in His religion) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself” (Bukhari). Well get ready to take your Ilm to Amal and practice what you know! Firstly, for the love of a good cup of tea when you get home, move down the carriage! After this in order of importance, if you know of an easier route, or an alternative train line that happens to be running, you may want to consider informing those around you or those who ask.  Additionally show respect to the train staff and the ethics for which they feel the need to strike. Rather than insulting them, think of all the good service that has enabled you over the years to get to and fro with ease. Be kind to them, they too are trying to earn a living and do a job. The truth of the matter is those who do not appreciate their blessings when they have them come to realise through losing them and this may be one such time to reflect on the blessing on a good transport system.

Finally, it is worth reminding that “Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed.” – while this hadith is usually used to console those going through calamities, it is also important to bear in mind during every day struggles. Why? Because the example given, is that of a prick of a thorn. This indicates that any difficulty, no matter how small will be rewarded for. So, battling a brutal rush hour (multiplied by 10 in this instance!) on your way to study or earn a living can actually earn you reward. Just imagine! So loosen up, be thankful for an otherwise decent train service rather than having to walk 20 miles a day and …. Perhaps even… smile!

Rouse

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Every now and again, you may find that you're roused from your sleep. Not the sleep of your eyes, nor the rest of your body, but rather, the slumber of your soul. You may find that you are suddenly given a jolt of life, not like the gentle rousing from your physiological sleep, but like the striking of something solid, hard and cold, striking at your heart. You're struck and you sit, bolt upright, suddenly alert, and very, very awake.

[This message was written and emailed to me by a friend. MashaAllah, may Allah reward her. She doesn't usually like her words publicised, but has given permission this once. I would encourage you to read on, for the issue is too important and the sentiments too sincere to ignore!! Read and take action. Sign the petition & spread the message.]

When I refer to sleep here, then know that i refer to the slumber of the muslim ummah. and when i refer to being roused, then i refer to the times, the few, odd, occasional - but significant - times, where we, as an Ummah, as the Ummah of Muhammad [saw], rouse out of our deep slumber, and for some brief, sparing moments, we stand united, we stand tall, and we fight for a cause. a real cause.

So you may find yourself roused every time the muslims in palestine are massacred and butchered, you may find yourself suddenly awake, bolt upright, fire burning inside you, and your limbs expending all efforts to help your brethren. you pray, you encourage others to pray. you make sincere du'aa and your heart hurts. you give sadaqah and you invite others to give sadaqah. or then you may have found yourself roused when the earthquakes, landslides or floods hit indonesia, japan, somalia, pakistan. and you are not somali, or pakistani, or japanese, but it bothers you nonetheless. you struggle to see what's happening in the world around you, thousands of miles away from you, yes; but in your world, in your waking reality, as you watch. so you don't watch. once more you're roused, and suddenly you're awake, and again, your expending your efforts. you're making du'aa, your doing charity appeals, you're encouraging others to give of their wealth and you too are striving with your wealth.

So you see, every now and again, we, as an Ummah, we rouse out of our sleep, and we unite together, one body, fighting for one cause. we wake out of our deep sleep, and we make something magnificent happen to someone, somewhere on the other side of the world. someone, somewhere, who you'll never meet. someone, somewhere, whose house you'll never visit. but still it'll bother you; to see them cry, to see their children cry, to see their homes washed away. and so, for those brief moments, you, the glorious Ummah of Muhammad [saw], will stand together, and you will fight for a cause, and you will succeed in bringing some relief to the afflicted. MashaAllaah tabarakAllaah.

Well today, upon us is a cause that is not on the other side of the world. it is not to do with someone, somewhere, who you'll never meet. it's to do with someone, right here, in our midst. Someone who, if he was a free man, who knows? perhaps you would pass him by in the street some day. perhaps you would live near him. his is an ordinary face, like yours and mine. except, his is a face that has been shut off from the world - your world - right here, in the midst of your existence. His is the face, body, person and soul that has been locked up and deprived of the love of his parents, the love of his family, the salaam of a brother in the street, the adhaan in a masjid, for 7 plus years, as he sits, waiting to be extradited, whilst a single charge has yet to be brought against him. He is Babar Ahmad. Your brother, my brother.

And his is the cause, that today MUST rouse, nay, DRAG us out of our deep sleep. For it would be a mighty shame on you, and a mighty shame on me, if the 100,000 signature petition fighting to keep him in the UK, doesn't meet its target. it would be an enormous shame on each and every one of us, and the way i see it, the onus WILL be upon us.

Now alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, the petition is well on it's way, mashaAllaah tabaarakAllaah. And everyday, the number of signatures is increasing, and more and more sharply, to the degree that we now have 70,000 plus signatures, mashaAllaah walhamdulillah. However, we still have 30,000+ signatures to go, and little more than 10 days to do it in, so suffice to say, time is of the essence.

But I know, with certainty, that if we stand together, shoulder to shoulder, with a firm, sincere intention, expending all our efforts, and seeking the aid of Allaah [swt], beseeching and imploring Him, most High, for brother Babar's victory, for YOUR victory, I know that we'll definitely make it. Print off copies of the petition, go round to the local communities and have them signed. If you think you're dosing in and out of sleep, let me assure you the people around you are in a far more comfortable state of sleep than you. As far as they're concerned, if it's not happening at their doorstep, it's not their problem. MAKE IT THEIR PROBLEM. We Muslims, besides our love for sleep, also love to laze around generally! We can't be bothered to click that link on that website that everyone keeps talking about. And so what if i don't do it? Surely, someone else will. That's our mentality. And right now, it's gotta change. Real swift. So spoon feed those around you, do all the hard work for them, all they have to do is sign your petition, and you can upload the details on their behalf.

And beyond all that, if you feel that you have done all that you can [I haven't], and you have exhausted your limbs for the sake of Allaah [I haven't], then rest. Rest your limbs and put your heart to work. Supplicate for brother Babar Ahmad. Supplicate for his success, for his relief, for his victory. For du'aa is the weapon of the believer. In these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, beg and beseech Allaah, even for a few moments, as no doubt his elderly parents will have, day in day out, for more than seven years, waiting in angst to see their son home again. Prophet Ya'qub alayhis salaam lost his sight due to the grief he felt over losing Yusuf alayhis salaam. And he said, let me alone, for I only complain of my sorrow to Allah.

Brother Babar's parents have never complained to you, they have never complained to me. But I have no doubt that they have complained to Allaah. And now is the time for their relief, by the mercy of Allaah. And though this is a magnificent test for them as a family, it is equally a test for us, to see how willing we are to wake out of our sleep, to drag one another out of our slumber, and to make a real difference to another Muslim bi'ithnillah.

How helpless do we feel, how much does it hurt, to see those children dying in Somalia, and to be stuck here, being able to do little more than raise money? How stuck did we feel, who's heart didn't cry when Aafia Siddiqui was given 84 years in a questionable trial and court hearing? And yet here is Babar Ahmad, at your doorstep, and here is your chance to stand tall, free of all restraints, and to do something, like you've always wanted to.

Wallahil adheem I have no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that when you and I stand together, sincerely, for the sake of Allaah, and strive in this cause, begging and beseeching Allaah all the while, I have no doubt that the Help of Allah will come. And when the Help of Allaah comes, nothing in the heavens and the earth can withhold it. Nothing can stop His relief and His Mercy descending. And Babar Ahmad will be victorious, inshaAllaah.

And may Allaah [swt] grant us success, and make this struggle a momentous occasion of strength and victory for the Ummah of Muhammad [saw]. Aameen Ya Rabbil 'alameen.

http://www.freebabarahmad.com/

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/885

Learn from Prophet Ayyub

Learn from the story of Prophet Ayyub, peace be upon him.

He faced trials, yet remained faithful. He faced tribulation, yet did not doubt His Lord. He faced tests upon tests, yet kept focused. He was sincere in love, sincere in patience and sincere in worship.

His wealth was taken. His children were taken. His health was taken. His support system taken.
And we have the audacity to complain about our situations. We must learn from the story of Ayyub alaihisalam.

It was Shaytaan who was jealous of Prophet Ayyub's devotion to his Lord. Shaytaan who thought he would flinch in the face of trials. And Shaytaan it was who sought to destroy him. But sincerity cannot be so easily destroyed. May Allah protect us, protect our faith and grant us sincerity.

Gather strength from the story of the trials of Ayyub. Gather courage from the stories of the Prophets. Gather love in your heart for them, and in the hereafter you will surely be with those you love.

(And who knows, Oh self, these moments may be the sweetest in disguise. A cleansing for us, though we know not, for we only see the apparent, while there is much work happening in the unseen world! And remember how we are advised that although we may not want something, it is good for us! Subhannallah. Appreciate the moments you are in and give thanks for giving thanks is a blessing and have trust in Him who Created you from dust!)

Pricked By A Thorn

The Prophet peace be upon him said,
"No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sin for that."
[Bukhari]

Subhannallah. Such is the Mercy of our Lord. There are always people who are going through trials, some small trials, some life changing trials. As another quote I once read states "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is facing some kind of battle." That quote inspires my being and I hope I can live by it. But what of the reassurances and promises we have from the Lord of the Worlds? As informed to us by His Most Beloved of Messengers? Subhannallah, the Court of Allah is Most Just.

I know of a few people recently who are facing ongoing trials. I was talking to my brother and I must have slipped out, in reference to someone we know being tested, "Don't you feel sorry for so and so?". My brother's reply, short and succinct as it was, echoed the hadith above,, and was the best response possible. "Why should we feel sorry for them, when Allah is relieving them of their sins and rewarding them?"

It's amazing the way in which the world works.

Yet, this does not rid us, fellow human beings, to care and show concern and thought for those suffering. In dua as we all are aware, there is power. But we have also been told that there is a right and reward in visiting the sick. Just imagine, that through merely visiting a person who is unwell, WE( fit, healthy, able to joke and smile, far from the pain that they feel) gain the reward! "Which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?!" - this ayaah whispers throughout most of this life we live. But, it was only recently that it struck me as it did. I was on the phone speaking to someone who isn't well and I told them I would not be able to visit them. In what can only be described as a plea, they said "Don't you know that visiting the sick is rewarded and required of Muslims?!" In this life too, there is relief for those being tried. That relief comes through seeing their brothers and sisters. Through being shown that they are loved. Through being told that they are not alone.

And which of us is alone, when Allah is by our side?