786! Peace!
Some of you who followed this blog when it started would
perhaps remember that these pages saw light as a result of 2 happy-go-lucky
girls starting their journey of discovery of themselves. In spite of being
involved with the inevitable “paper-chase” we found the allure of PEACE &
serenity compelling. On this journey we discovered the choice presented to us
in Quran 2/200 & Quran 2/201 & the wonderful promise in 2/202.
002.200
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI :… …..“Our Lord! Give us (Thy bounties) in this world!” but they will have no portion in the Hereafter.
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI :… …..“Our Lord! Give us (Thy bounties) in this world!” but they will have no portion in the Hereafter.
002.201
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI: And there are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!”
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI: And there are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!”
002.202
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI: To these will be allotted what they have earned; and Allah is quick in account.
ABDLH.YUSUF ALI: To these will be allotted what they have earned; and Allah is quick in account.
Both Ayesha & I were struck by the implications in these three verses for many months. We would talk and discuss and invite friends at uni in animated discussions and this lead us to reading about the final prophet –pbuh.
This started something very beautiful within us. Not only in Ayesha & me but in many
friends in our dorm of different faiths and outlooks to life. We exchanged ideas in those December wintry nights with a lot of passion and a few of us embarked on a long quest of
self-discovery. That journey we discovered was amazing, confusing, frightening,
exhilarating all at the same time …..
The Prophet* (* = Peace be upon him) is reported in Abu
Dawood to have said “‘A Mu’ min is a
mirror for a Mu’min.’
Thus we set out to “share
& witness” in our little blog in the spirit of this beautiful Hadis.
However we were forced to discontinue because we were repeatedly told that we
were not Islamic scholars to talk about Islam. The response that we earlier got in our
blog was phenomenal. We received many comments sharing people’s experiences and
sharing what moved people in the texts. That was so useful, and helped us much
in our journey. In the comments there was the good, the bad and the ugly. But that is
how life is and from all of it we had take-home lessons. We are beginning once
again trying to recapture what we lost and starting again what we shouldn’t have
ever stopped.
We are inviting you to take a few minutes
to help us on our journey. Maybe we will discover something of the failings
within ourselves looking into your thoughts that you hopefully choose to
express here. Let’s try to turn ourselves into mirrors – one for the other vice-versa.
Peace!
A reminder!
Our understanding is that human beings are free to make choices and of course they are answerable for
making those choices. In our blog we make no attempt to limit this freedom. We
are really not interested who you are and what you are and from where you are.
We are interested only in what you say and how you say it; for therein lies the take-home lessons. Thus whilst your comments are very welcome it’s your responsibility
to control your pen.
Jasmine.
18 comments:
you have to make a personal thing such as a religion a big public affair. Our country is having an overdose of religion. Cant we just do our thing the way we want and just get on with our life. Don’t we have worst pressing problems such as getting rid of the first democratically elected president in a coup. Your talk of free choice is also laughable. I cant see the point in your living in a bubble. Our country has many problems. Here you talk of your journey to fantasy. I also agree you are selfish.
Good to see you after a long time. Nice little post. Dont take too much to hart the negative comments. I will look around for good materials. how is your baby?
Good, very Good.. Welcome
@ anon
I’m very sorry that you have misunderstood what I wrote. My remarks about “not caring” are in the context of ONLY encouraging to make known to us your point of view. It’s an assurance that we would not be judgmental and hold back and censure someone’s comment and his/her point of view. This blog is all about airing out opinions and taking stands. Some would be more comfortable remaining anonymous and we are saying that we respect that.
The broader issue here is the freedom to express oneself in the context of in the process hurting another person. The stand that we take is that any such limitation should come from the person who is exercising his/her rights to the freedom of expression. That is a point of view amongst many others. Something like demand and supply interacting freely to determine the price.
Education, upbringing and Guidance decide who and what we are. From an Islamic perspective we are all slaves of Allah Almighty. The implications of this are profound. In one stroke we are all absolutely equal relative to one another except where a difference is allowed by Allah. We learn that we gain any preference over another person only by his/her piety & god consciousness.
The Quran says: "O Mankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other. Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you." (49.13)
In his last sermon on the occasion of fare well pilgrimage the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'O People! You are all children of Adam and he was created with the dust. Arabs and non-Arabs, Blacks and Whites all are equal. Nobody has superiority over another except by piety and good actions.'
Going one step further being a slave necessitates that one cannot do what one likes because he he/she is a slave. The person lives his life according to the how the master wants the slave his or her life. The Will of Allah is made clear in His book. Allah tells in his book to follow His prophet. And with regard to your brother or sister the Prophet has made clear what Allah has demanded of His slaves.
Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Isra', (Verse 15), what can be translated as, "Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his own self. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another’s burden…"
Allah also says in surat Fussilat, (Verse 46), what can be translated as, "Whosoever does righteous good deed it is for (the benefit of) his own self and whosoever does evil, it is against his own self, and your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves."
Allah also says in surat Fatir, (Verse 18), what can be translated as, "And no bearer of burdens shall bear another’s burden, and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin…"
The implications are clear that we all are warned that we have to bear 100% responsibility for our actions – all our actions, SPEECH included and we would be called to account for all our actions on Judgment day. On that day we are told in surat Saba’ verse 42... "So today none of you can profit or harm one another."
WE also see in the Koran how serious this accountability is and the consequences of disobeying the limits set by Allah.
Surat At-Tahrim, (Verse 10), what can be translated as, "Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of our righteous servants, but they both betrayed their (husbands by rejecting their doctrine) so they (Noah and Lot) did not benefit them (their wives), against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter."
Allah (S.W.T.) says in Surat Mariam, (Verse 95), what can be translated as, "And every one of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender)."
.... see below 2
There cannot be any false hope of getting any help from another person, as Allah (S.W.T.) will say in the day of Judgment, in surat Saba’, (Verse 42), what can be translated as, "So today none of you can profit or harm one another."
The Prophet –sal, taught us over and over again that each of us was personally responsible for our ALL our actions and that we would be call to account on the Day of Judgment…..
So its reported that he said,
"O children of Ka’b-bin-Luai save yourselves from hellfire, O children Mura-bin-Ka’b save yourselves from hellfire, O children of Hashim save yourselves from hellfire, O children of Abdul-Muttalib save yourselves from hellfire. O Fatima saves yourself from hellfire. I don’t have anything to help you before Allah."
Allah (S.W.T.) says in Surat Al-An’am, (Verse 164), what can be translated as, "…No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return…"
Allah (S.W.T.) also says in Surat Luqman, (Verse 33), what can be translated as, "O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, or a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah."
Verse after verse, Allah has warned us of the judgment day, how personal the calling to account ones behavior is. Friends, family are of no avail. Perfect Justice served. Man answers all his deeds. Man answers every action of his limbs and man answers every action of his tongue.
In Surat Al-Mumtahinah, (Verse 3), what can be translated as, "Neither your relatives nor your children will benefit you on the Day of Resurrection (against Allah). He will judge between you. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do."
Surat An-Nahl, (Verse 111), what can be translated as, "(Remember) the Day when every person will come up pleading for himself, and everyone will be paid in full for what he did and they will not be dealt with unjustly."
Allah says in surat Al-Ma’arej, (Verses 11-15), what can be translated as, "Though they shall be made to see one another, the Mujrim (Criminal, Sinner) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. And his wife and his brother, and his kindred who sheltered him, and all that are in the earth, so that it might save him." The answer comes from Allah (S.W.T), By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell…"
..... see below 3
For anybody who reads the Koran there cannot be any confusion the warning to heed the principle of individual responsibility, where everyone is solely responsible for his actions. Allah makes known how HE wants you to lead your life. Then Allah leaves you free to choose the way you want to live your life. It is at our peril that we forger final JUDGEMENT as Allah (S.W.T.) swear in the Qur’an in Surat Al-Mudathir, (Verses 32-38), what can be translated as, "Nay, and by the moon, And by the night when it withdraws, And by the dawn when it brightens, Verily, it is but one of the greatest calamities. A warning to mankind, to any of you that chooses to go forward (by doing righteous deeds), or to remain behind (by committing sins), every person is beheld (accountable) on his own deeds."
Allah says, "He does not utter a single word without a watcher by him, pen in hand." (50:18)
So what next? We are asked to follow the Prophet –sal. He was sent to us as a Mercy to us, making known to us what Allah expects from.
"Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day', and remembers A1lah much".
"Thus it is by Allah's mercy that thou art gentle to them. And hast thou been rough, hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around thee''.
"And We have not sent thee but as a mercy to the nations.”
When it comes into our interactions with other human beings we need to follow the Prophets example and his instructions. There are no short cuts.
. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak good words or be silent."
"Try to pass your mornings and evenings in a state where your heart is free from all ill-feelings, jealousy and hatred for everyone, and remember that this is my Sunnah, and he who loves my Sunnah will be with me in paradise."
"No one truly believes until he likes for his neighbor what he likes for himself."
“Restrain your tongue and your passions and you will enter Paradise”.
"None of you [truly] believes until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself"
"God will not have mercy upon one who does not have mercy for others."
Abu Musa said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, whose Islam is best?' He said, 'The one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe.'"
Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who safeguards for My sake what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I will safeguard the Garden for him."
Sufyan ibn 'Abdullah said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, tell me something I can cling to.' He said, 'Say: "My Lord is Allah" and then go straight.' I said, 'Messenger of Allah, what is the thing you fear most for me?' He took hold of his tongue and then said, 'This.'"
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not say much without mentioning Allah. A lot of talk without mentioning Allah Almighty makes people's hearts hard. The furthest of people from Allah are the hard-hearted."
'Uqba ibn 'Amir said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, what ensures safety?' He said, 'Holding your tongue, keeping to your house and weeping for your sins.'"
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When the son of Adam starts the day, all his limbs supplicate his tongue, saying,
see below 4
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When the son of Adam starts the day, all his limbs supplicate his tongue, saying,
'Fear Allah in respect of us. We move by you. If you go straight, we go straight. If you go crooked, we go crooked.'"
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do you know what backbiting is?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "To mention your brother in a manner he dislikes." It was said, "What if my brother is as I say?" He said, "If he is as you said, you have backbitten him. If he is not as you said, you have slandered him."
Abu Bakra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in his khutba on the Day of Sacrifice during the Farewell Hajj, "Your blood, your property and your honor are sacred to you, like the sacredness of this day in this month in this city. Have I not conveyed it?"
Abu Hurayra stated that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The blood, honor and property of every Muslim are sacred for another Muslim."
In conclusion it’s clear my position is clear. I believe that we are slaves of Allah. We are ordered by Allah to follow the Prophet –sal. If we do not obey we would face the consequences on the Day of Judgment. Thus the above Koran verses and Hadith of the prophet makes clear that we need to be as the prophet was in his speech – Always mindful of Allah, full of love, compassion, patience and reticence.
Forgive the long answer. Please correct me if I’m wrong and please bear with me. Perhaps it will be clearer to you why I wouldn’t call people names such as “muzzie”. Words might be as hurtful as physical blows. May you have Peace!
@ copy cat, Island kid.
May Allah Bless you. Thank you for your kind welcome. Insha Allah brothers and sisters will start posting Hadis's and Koran verses that moved them and whatever they have to share.
We live in strange times. The Muslim youth need to help each other, We need to encourage each other to return too the path of Allah.
We need to encourage each other to pray, fast, engage in Dhikr and respond to Allah swt call to invoke Blessing of Allah on His Prophet -Peace be upon him.
Peace to you my friends. Copy Cat thank you she is Alhamdulilahi doing fine.
Coooooooooooooool
Thanku
A sad day today. May Dr. Afr Ali be given to him jannatul Firdous. May Allah curse the murderer
DONT CURSE ANYONE
IT CURES ALSO NONE
As-salaamu’Alaykum
Jazakallahukhair for the effort & shared this very helpful article… may Allah grant u more knowledge.. Ameen!
Please pray that we become brothets and good sisters to each other. Pray for guidance from Allah. Pray that you turned away from evil ones small and big. Pray that you are filled with love and not hate. Pray that Islam is able to withstand attacks from its attackers. Pray that people who denigrate the prophet is truly cursed. Pray that you are able to do away with the needs that link us to our enemies.
O' Allah assist us in remembering u, in thanking u,nd in worshipping u in the best of manners -Amin-
I think the flaw with you Islamists that you are so willing to give away your rights as human beings. You don't think, you don't want others to think except your mullacracy.
Maldives is seeing a cancer that has started and you saw the face of it the other night. For the Mullah's anything is allowed. So they can insult state guests such as ambassadors and they can give ultimatums to Governments.
How much worst can things get before the world puts an end to this madness that's sweeping Maldives?
I think the flaw with you Islamists that you are so willing to give away your rights as human beings. You don't think, you don't want others to think except your mullacracy.
Maldives is seeing a cancer that has started and you saw the face of it the other night. For the Mullah's anything is allowed. So they can insult state guests such as ambassadors and they can give ultimatums to Governments.
How much worst can things get before the world puts an end to this madness that's sweeping Maldives?
Why do you people think of Imran and his ultimatum
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