Fitrah Of A Kitten

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

For many years, my youngest son has been asking me if he could have a cat. And I always have to say No when he asked. I have a whole list of reasons for not wanting a cat in my house. He didn't give up though and have been more persuasive lately. He tried to get me to agree by giving the examples of a couple of my teachers who own a cat and the other day he reminded me of one of the great Companions, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who had a cat and so he was nicknamed Abu Hurayrah by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

A few weeks ago, there were these 4 beautiful little kittens hiding under our building, apparently without a mom. Again, my son asked me if he could have the kittens. I wasn't sure why I said Yes (not one but to 4 kittens!) but I did. My sons immediately set out to try to catch the kittens and did so for a few days but to no avail. Realizing that it was not an easy task, I offered to pay one of the neighborhood kids to catch at least one of the kittens but she could not catch it either, and finally the kittens disappeared. So, my son gave up on the idea.

On the first night of this blessed month of Ramadhan, right after the taraweeh payer, a family friend came by with a rattan basket. He said, "This is for Omar." In it was a small kitten which he had found wondering alone, crying, as he was walking back home from a masjid where he was the taraweeh imam. He was looking for something to put it in and found the basket near some trash.

The kitten has been with us for 5 days now. Already it has taught me a lot.

It shows you love. He sits on your lap for a long time--never get bored to be with you, but by the same token it also disappears to discover and to give you space. He knows when he can sit with you and when he should leave you alone. When we pray, he would not walk in front of us, but rather stayed quietly on the side, watching attentively. When we do our dhikr of Allah, he would not make a sound.

It offers and receives lots of love but it can also create his own entertainment.

He is very patient and does not complain about anything. Even when he has to go (we moved his litter box to the balcony, quite a distance from the room for little kitten to walk to), he would wait until he gets to the litter (in the new location) to go. Right now he is teething but he does not complain, rather he soothes himself with what he has.

Grooming and appearance is important to him and he happily spends hours cleaning and re-cleaning the same spot, making sure he is at his most attractive. He also makes sure he doesn't leave a mess behind him when using a litter box.

He is a fast learner. My son showed him where he could do his things, and there he went. So far no accidents. InshaAllah.

He won’t pick a favorite. He share his time with all of us and anyone who visits us. He is not fussy and he talks to everyone.

He is such a zahid and not demanding. He doesn't mind even to sleep inside a slipper or in an empty noodle box (don't have to be in those fancy and expensive cat house) or simply on the hard ceramic floor, and play with rags (don't have to be those fancy and expensive cat toys). He doesn't let himself get accustomed to expensive stuff--he drinks full cream milk but when we give him powdered milk, he doesn't mind at all. For that we rewarded him by sharing with him vanilla chocolate ice cream cake (the leftover on the plate).

This is the fitrah (nature) of our kitten. We love him. SubhanAllah.

Cat lessons for us.

Show your love to those you love and give them space to grow.

Be cheerful and don't be bad with anyone you meet or encounter because the person might be a friend of Allah.

Be independent. It’s easy to fall into line and just accept what is being said or done, because it is always been that way. But who is to say that way is the right way? Think for yourself, question the status quo and never accept something for acceptance sake.

Stay clean. Be transparent about all you do and don’t keep secrets that can come back and bite you in a painful way. If you’re doing something that will affect those around you, be they friends or family or employees or bosses at your business, be open and honest. You might need help later on and that can be hard to come by without the trust of your closest allies.

Keep an open mind. Everyone has their favorites. Yet staying within that comfort bubble does nothing for your personal growth. Seek knowledge. Knowledge is power – knowledge gained with wide-scale insight is almost unstoppable. Keep your options open, never close a door completely, and interact with everyone. You never know what you might discover.

Don't complain, but rather be an agent for solutions.

Be patient. You can handle it, and be optimistic--there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Respect people who are praying or reciting Qur'an. They are in the presence of the Lord and you should not walk in front of them or make noise. Be quiet and listen.

Go with the fitrah that Allah created you with and that will make people love you.

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:164]

إِنَّ فِي اخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّـهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦

Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day and [in] what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allah (6)

[Qur'an Yunus 10:6]

May Allah grant us a deep understanding of our religion and make us among the people of taqwa. Ameen.

Please keep us in your prayers. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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Merciless Hearts
You Were Born Muslim
Friends