بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Now that Ramadhan is over, the effects of Ramadhan should still linger especially for those who are doing or planning to do the 6 days Shawwal fasting and other sunnah fasting throughout the year.
How different it was in Ramadhan. People were a lot mellow--there were neither shoutings nor fights on the streets or in public transportation. People were more cordial and helpful. There were more bright and smiling faces. How peaceful and how blessed Ramadhan was! SubhanAllah. You wish it stays that way all year.
If we fasted correctly, then we would have benefited from one of the effects of Ramadhan--an increase in patience. One can never have too much patience. Lack of patience can cause lots of problems--to oneself as well as to others. Patience is an acquired trait which many people don't have or many lose it very easily. If you have patience, nothing befalls you disturbs or bothers you. You will go through challenges, difficulties, uneasiness and discomfort in stride.
Patience is waiting--waiting for something to change in your favor. You know everything will change except Allah. So you will be patient because your difficulties, your uneasiness, your discomfort will be relief, ease and comfort sooner or later by the Will of Allah.
Patience is not passively waiting--that is laziness. But to keep going when the going is tough and slow--that is patience. You know all things will pass including the waiting.
Time and patience are two most powerful warriors. In time things will pass. In time all things will change. Only Allah does not change. So, keep going for the sake of Allah and towards Allah. Don't waste time on the sources of distractions--like anger, complaints, arguments and fights. "Truly, Allah is with the patient." (Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:153) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
"By time, Verily, Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual teaching of Truth and of Patience and Constancy." (Qur'an Asr 103)
On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with them both, who said : One day I was behind the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said to me:
"Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." (narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is true and fine hadith)
In a version other than that of Tirmidhi it reads:
"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."
May Allah give us and all the Muslims victory. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Showing posts with label difficulties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label difficulties. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Beautiful Patience
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We just finished Surah Yusuf last night where we prayed taraweeh. This surah is one of my favorite surahs, the surah that lifts me up in times of difficulties.
"...come, beautiful patience! And Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you describe." 12:18
"...come, beautiful patience! Haply God will bring them all to me; He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' 12:83
If you need a shoulder to cry on who would be best to give you that shoulder? Follow Prophet Ya'qub, Allah grant him peace, "He said, 'I only complain of my anguish and sorrow to Allah;.." 12:86
Allah put you in whatever situation you are in. Run to Him. Show your sorrow and grief to Him only and "...Do not despair of Allah's comfort..." 12:87
May Allah makes us among the patient. Ameen. Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We just finished Surah Yusuf last night where we prayed taraweeh. This surah is one of my favorite surahs, the surah that lifts me up in times of difficulties.
"...come, beautiful patience! And Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you describe." 12:18
"...come, beautiful patience! Haply God will bring them all to me; He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' 12:83
If you need a shoulder to cry on who would be best to give you that shoulder? Follow Prophet Ya'qub, Allah grant him peace, "He said, 'I only complain of my anguish and sorrow to Allah;.." 12:86
Allah put you in whatever situation you are in. Run to Him. Show your sorrow and grief to Him only and "...Do not despair of Allah's comfort..." 12:87
May Allah makes us among the patient. Ameen. Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, August 23, 2010
How Long Can You Last?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you have a blessed Ramadhan with full acceptance of works of righteousness.
If you think your life is difficult, think again. Just imagine how long you can last in an over 100 degrees weather wiping and cleaning people's pathways. Many of you men have jobs in nice offices, with good paying jobs. And many of you ladies have husbands to bring food to your table, to buy you nice things, to take care of your children's needs, and for some to provide for your yearly vacation. In short there is nothing to complain about but so much to be thankful about if only we reflect. But we tend to be short sighted. If we just look around us--we don't have to go very far, we don't have to see with our own eyes even, although if we open our eyes, we should see many many people around us who are in a worse situation than us. So if we are grateful for what we have, we don't complain. Instead, we are merciful to people and help those who are less fortunate.
I had to travel to the US Embassy in Cairo the other day with my son to take care of some work for him. We decided to take the bus. By mistake, we stopped a little further than where we were supposed to stop. So we had to walk quite a ways to get to the Embassy! We took the pedestrian pathways to avoid the challenge of crossing the busy roads. This added to the amount of walking we had to do. I felt a little tired after a while (because of the heat and we were fasting) but did not want to show that to my son who was walking behind me, who was quite tired as well. As we were walking, there was this very skinny old man (at least he looked very old) with a bucket of muddy water and a rag on his knees wiping the floors. I pointed that out to my son--that we should be grateful that we were not in his shoes. My son was quiet so I didn't have to say more. On the way back, we took the commuter train. As we were walking to the main bus stop from the train station, there was this very skinny old woman (at least she looked very old) with a dust pan and an old broom sweeping the floor. I pointed that out to my son and ask Allah not to test me with that! My son was very quiet.
May Allah help all the Muslims and not lay a burden on us more than we can handle and may He make us among His grateful servants. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you have a blessed Ramadhan with full acceptance of works of righteousness.
If you think your life is difficult, think again. Just imagine how long you can last in an over 100 degrees weather wiping and cleaning people's pathways. Many of you men have jobs in nice offices, with good paying jobs. And many of you ladies have husbands to bring food to your table, to buy you nice things, to take care of your children's needs, and for some to provide for your yearly vacation. In short there is nothing to complain about but so much to be thankful about if only we reflect. But we tend to be short sighted. If we just look around us--we don't have to go very far, we don't have to see with our own eyes even, although if we open our eyes, we should see many many people around us who are in a worse situation than us. So if we are grateful for what we have, we don't complain. Instead, we are merciful to people and help those who are less fortunate.
I had to travel to the US Embassy in Cairo the other day with my son to take care of some work for him. We decided to take the bus. By mistake, we stopped a little further than where we were supposed to stop. So we had to walk quite a ways to get to the Embassy! We took the pedestrian pathways to avoid the challenge of crossing the busy roads. This added to the amount of walking we had to do. I felt a little tired after a while (because of the heat and we were fasting) but did not want to show that to my son who was walking behind me, who was quite tired as well. As we were walking, there was this very skinny old man (at least he looked very old) with a bucket of muddy water and a rag on his knees wiping the floors. I pointed that out to my son--that we should be grateful that we were not in his shoes. My son was quiet so I didn't have to say more. On the way back, we took the commuter train. As we were walking to the main bus stop from the train station, there was this very skinny old woman (at least she looked very old) with a dust pan and an old broom sweeping the floor. I pointed that out to my son and ask Allah not to test me with that! My son was very quiet.
May Allah help all the Muslims and not lay a burden on us more than we can handle and may He make us among His grateful servants. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Friday, July 2, 2010
Sweet Victory
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are very well.
When we are met with afflictions and difficulties, whether you saw them coming or they hit you by surprise, try remember this.
The Prophets were the most tested by Allah, and their tests were more severe than anyone of us are going through, perhaps more than many of us combined.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Tests come down upon a person that is loved by Allah, far quicker than the rain falls down on the ground."
Tests are there to purify the servant of all his sins in general but to draw him closer to Allah in particular. Because the more he gets tested the more he will long for Paradise where there will be no more tests. So afflictions and difficulties are indeed blessings from Allah. And we thank Allah for choosing us to draw close to Him.
Be patient, it will pass. You will get through this inshaAllah. "Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:286
There is no victory without struggle. The harder the difficulties, the sweeter the victory.
May Allah make our tests our way to the highest levels of Paradise to dwell with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and our loved ones. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are very well.
When we are met with afflictions and difficulties, whether you saw them coming or they hit you by surprise, try remember this.
The Prophets were the most tested by Allah, and their tests were more severe than anyone of us are going through, perhaps more than many of us combined.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Tests come down upon a person that is loved by Allah, far quicker than the rain falls down on the ground."
Tests are there to purify the servant of all his sins in general but to draw him closer to Allah in particular. Because the more he gets tested the more he will long for Paradise where there will be no more tests. So afflictions and difficulties are indeed blessings from Allah. And we thank Allah for choosing us to draw close to Him.
Be patient, it will pass. You will get through this inshaAllah. "Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:286
There is no victory without struggle. The harder the difficulties, the sweeter the victory.
May Allah make our tests our way to the highest levels of Paradise to dwell with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and our loved ones. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tranquility
BismillahirRahmanirRahim
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that this finds you in tranquility. Ameen.
If we follow the rules of Allah even though we might go through difficulties, Allah promises us ease. "So, truly with every difficulty is ease; truly with every difficulty is ease." Qur'an Ar-Sharh 94:5-6
In the Battle of Badr, the first meeting between the Muslims and the non-believers, it was a very difficult moment for the Muslims because they didn't know what the outcome would be. They saw with their eyes an adversary, more in numbers (more than 3x their number) and better in preparation while they were few (about 300 men). In this difficult times with difficult feelings in their heart, Allah gave them tranquility--Allah gave them sleep.
"Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus May ye show your gratitude." Qur'an AleImran 3:123
"After (the excitement) of the distress, He sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred to anxiety by their own feelings, Moved by wrong suspicions of Allah-suspicions due to ignorance." Qur'an AleImran 3:154
At the battle of Hunain, the Muslim had a big army and they felt confident of victory. When the enemy arrows were falling on the Muslims from every direction, Muslims were caught by surprise and most of the 12,000 Muslim army started fleeing from the battlefield. They lost trust in Allah. Camels were stumbling on one another--it was a chaotic scene and the alignment of the Muslim army was gone. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, started calling them who were running towards the sea. It was a very difficult time. But Allah revealed tranquility on the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and on the believer and He supported them with soldiers, and this changed the situation in ways unimaginable.
"Assuredly Allah did help you in many battle-fields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat. Then Allah sent down His Tranquility on the Messenger and on the Believers, and sent down forces which you did not see: He punished the Unbelievers; and that is the recompense of the unbelievers." Qur'an at-Tawbah 9:25-26
Even though the world around you can be a great mess, Allah can give you sakinah, tranquility, peace in your heart. On the other hand things could be great and peaceful, but Allah can put in the heart the exact opposite feeling--feeling of despair. So we cannot judge the affair from the outside but what is important is what is inside you. Tranquility descend upon those with Iman, those who have trust in Allah (tawwakkul), depend on Allah and are grateful to Allah. If we depend on Allah and attribute our successes to none other than Allah, the help of Allah will come in times of difficulties. Otherwise, even on a land that is wide and spacious, you will feel congested and constrained.
May Allah pour upon us tranquility, make the best of our lives the end of it, the best of our deeds the last of them and the best of our days the day we meet Him. Ameen.
Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that this finds you in tranquility. Ameen.
If we follow the rules of Allah even though we might go through difficulties, Allah promises us ease. "So, truly with every difficulty is ease; truly with every difficulty is ease." Qur'an Ar-Sharh 94:5-6
In the Battle of Badr, the first meeting between the Muslims and the non-believers, it was a very difficult moment for the Muslims because they didn't know what the outcome would be. They saw with their eyes an adversary, more in numbers (more than 3x their number) and better in preparation while they were few (about 300 men). In this difficult times with difficult feelings in their heart, Allah gave them tranquility--Allah gave them sleep.
"Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus May ye show your gratitude." Qur'an AleImran 3:123
"After (the excitement) of the distress, He sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred to anxiety by their own feelings, Moved by wrong suspicions of Allah-suspicions due to ignorance." Qur'an AleImran 3:154
At the battle of Hunain, the Muslim had a big army and they felt confident of victory. When the enemy arrows were falling on the Muslims from every direction, Muslims were caught by surprise and most of the 12,000 Muslim army started fleeing from the battlefield. They lost trust in Allah. Camels were stumbling on one another--it was a chaotic scene and the alignment of the Muslim army was gone. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, started calling them who were running towards the sea. It was a very difficult time. But Allah revealed tranquility on the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and on the believer and He supported them with soldiers, and this changed the situation in ways unimaginable.
"Assuredly Allah did help you in many battle-fields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat. Then Allah sent down His Tranquility on the Messenger and on the Believers, and sent down forces which you did not see: He punished the Unbelievers; and that is the recompense of the unbelievers." Qur'an at-Tawbah 9:25-26
Even though the world around you can be a great mess, Allah can give you sakinah, tranquility, peace in your heart. On the other hand things could be great and peaceful, but Allah can put in the heart the exact opposite feeling--feeling of despair. So we cannot judge the affair from the outside but what is important is what is inside you. Tranquility descend upon those with Iman, those who have trust in Allah (tawwakkul), depend on Allah and are grateful to Allah. If we depend on Allah and attribute our successes to none other than Allah, the help of Allah will come in times of difficulties. Otherwise, even on a land that is wide and spacious, you will feel congested and constrained.
May Allah pour upon us tranquility, make the best of our lives the end of it, the best of our deeds the last of them and the best of our days the day we meet Him. Ameen.
Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)