Sunday, May 25, 2003
The Greatest Excuse
“I’m only human. I can’t help it”: The greatest excuse of mankind and the greatest deception of waswasa from Shaitan.
The natural disposition of man is purity, just as he took his first breath into this existence as a pure child administered from the Heavens. As he comes into contact with the filth that is flung at him, defenceless, he slowly forgets his natural disposition and how he came into existence in that state of purity. Hence he fails to detect the filth, what was originally not a part of him.
At first he swallows the filth with lack of conscience. As it slowly digests into his system wrecking him internally, he begins to taste bitterness within. Only then he acknowledges that he shouldn’t have consumed this filth in the first place.
But alas, there are those who acknowledge the filth and surrender to it, devouring the initial pleasures that quickly transform into poison to the soul. To douse their pain, they attach themselves to continuous consumption, hoping that every bite of its short pleasure will help to dampen the tormenting cries of their souls.
Self-denial and self-pity sinks in. The hideous deception of “I’m only human” becomes their defence. A defence that imprisons them even before the trial begins.
Only animals “can’t help it”. Their disposition is desire. Our Lord has granted us an ability that animals do not possess, an ability which distinguishes us from them. ‘Aql. (conscience). An ability that serves to protect us from the filth that is flung at us and to prevent us from reaching out to the filth. But alas, what do we do; we deny this ability and lower ourselves to the status of the animal.
"Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaitana, wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah. Innaka antal wahhab." (O Allah let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us. Grant us mercy from Your own Presence. Surely You are the greatest Grantor of bounties." (Surah Al Imran:8)
“I’m only human. I can’t help it”: The greatest excuse of mankind and the greatest deception of waswasa from Shaitan.
The natural disposition of man is purity, just as he took his first breath into this existence as a pure child administered from the Heavens. As he comes into contact with the filth that is flung at him, defenceless, he slowly forgets his natural disposition and how he came into existence in that state of purity. Hence he fails to detect the filth, what was originally not a part of him.
At first he swallows the filth with lack of conscience. As it slowly digests into his system wrecking him internally, he begins to taste bitterness within. Only then he acknowledges that he shouldn’t have consumed this filth in the first place.
But alas, there are those who acknowledge the filth and surrender to it, devouring the initial pleasures that quickly transform into poison to the soul. To douse their pain, they attach themselves to continuous consumption, hoping that every bite of its short pleasure will help to dampen the tormenting cries of their souls.
Self-denial and self-pity sinks in. The hideous deception of “I’m only human” becomes their defence. A defence that imprisons them even before the trial begins.
Only animals “can’t help it”. Their disposition is desire. Our Lord has granted us an ability that animals do not possess, an ability which distinguishes us from them. ‘Aql. (conscience). An ability that serves to protect us from the filth that is flung at us and to prevent us from reaching out to the filth. But alas, what do we do; we deny this ability and lower ourselves to the status of the animal.
"Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaitana, wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah. Innaka antal wahhab." (O Allah let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us. Grant us mercy from Your own Presence. Surely You are the greatest Grantor of bounties." (Surah Al Imran:8)
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
What you own will eventually own you
Have you ever noticed that you have soo much to own in this world. The amount of property you have been given is in abundance. Gadgets that fit readily into our pockets and seemingly complex machines that facilitate for convinience, comfort and pleasure. SubhanAllah, it's amazing how mankind has progressed in this ability to invent new things to suit the ever-changing lifestyles. But perhaps innovations come with a undetectable risk that may cause more harm than good. A risk that many of us fail to notice as soon as we become victims. The risk of being owned by what we own.
Have you ever noticed that you have soo much to own in this world. The amount of property you have been given is in abundance. Gadgets that fit readily into our pockets and seemingly complex machines that facilitate for convinience, comfort and pleasure. SubhanAllah, it's amazing how mankind has progressed in this ability to invent new things to suit the ever-changing lifestyles. But perhaps innovations come with a undetectable risk that may cause more harm than good. A risk that many of us fail to notice as soon as we become victims. The risk of being owned by what we own.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Striving
"Hold on to the rope of Allah (Surah Ali Imran:103)" lies in establishing our hearts to developing the traits of our Beloved Prophet sallalahu alaihi wassalam, for his example is a great mercy onto us. His example is for us to know that it is not impossible for us to attain those qualities which our Lord wants us to attain. Despite being granted the miraculous qualities of a Prophet, Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wassalam displayed the most human of characters ever existed on the face of the Earth, characters that each and every one of us are able to strive for.
The rope that binds us to Him is a rope that would have to bind all of us together to move towards Him. This battle is not just fought alone, it is fought together, with the essence of goodness and tranquility not with vengeance and pride; just like how our Beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam entered Mecca as he led the muslims to conquer the home they were expelled from, with his head bowed down in humility, knowing that it is Allah's Victory, it is Allah's Greatness. It is not us who make things happen. All we do is put in the effort and strive. It is Allah that gives the results.
"Hold on to the rope of Allah (Surah Ali Imran:103)" lies in establishing our hearts to developing the traits of our Beloved Prophet sallalahu alaihi wassalam, for his example is a great mercy onto us. His example is for us to know that it is not impossible for us to attain those qualities which our Lord wants us to attain. Despite being granted the miraculous qualities of a Prophet, Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wassalam displayed the most human of characters ever existed on the face of the Earth, characters that each and every one of us are able to strive for.
The rope that binds us to Him is a rope that would have to bind all of us together to move towards Him. This battle is not just fought alone, it is fought together, with the essence of goodness and tranquility not with vengeance and pride; just like how our Beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam entered Mecca as he led the muslims to conquer the home they were expelled from, with his head bowed down in humility, knowing that it is Allah's Victory, it is Allah's Greatness. It is not us who make things happen. All we do is put in the effort and strive. It is Allah that gives the results.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
May Allah shower His Grace and Mercy upon our Beloved Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam. May Allah bless his soul and raise his rank to an exalted station. Ameen ya Rabbal 'Alameen.
Abode of Bliss
As he stepped into the House of Peace, he felt an aura of bliss speaking to his soul, offering overwhelming salutations that made him feel welcome to an abode that felt like more than a home to him. A sanctuary of tranquility that he never knew he had yearned for all his life, until he set foot into its abode. The essence of Alhamdulillah felt like it was blown into him, travelling through the fragility of his self. As his eyes surveyed the majestic vicinity, he felt the walls around him transform itself into unimaginable grandeur. The majestic symbolisms exclaiming the Divinity of the One God: Allahu ta'ala spoke to him with an overwhelming flow of Divine Mercy, like an ocean of sweetness pouring into his heart.
The Ceremony
Tonight, my thoughts drift back to that day I witnessed a ceremony that flung the doors of my heart open to receive His Divine Love. The night I first witnessed the cermony of Maulid un-Nabi : the commemoration of the birth of our most beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallhu alaihi wassalam, may Allah bless his soul and raise his rank. Ameen.
As I sat myself amongst the illuminating congregation, I felt my heart immediately stretch in all directions to connect with an overflow of compassion streaming out of the hearts of every devotee and every lover of our blessed Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam. The intimacy of their hearts were manifested from the tranquil expressions on their faces. There was not a single soul there that did not contribute to the ever-illuminating atmosphere.
As soon as the Imam began the recital of the Maulid, the congregation followed behind erupting with emotion, straining their tongues and pouring their hearts out with every ounce of love from within, exclaiming their devotion to the beloved master of masters, Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam. The electricity of their passion stung me instantly. There was not a note which they sung which lacked the awesome intensity of love. I felt myself flow with the fragrances that engulfed the atmosphere along with the soothing exclamations of love. The louder their voices climbed the deeper the feelings penetrated my heart.
The night journeyed onwards and felt like an eternity that I wish would never stop. When the moment gathered itself up, I felt reluctant to part, wishing I could disconnect with time to witness it over and over again in endless streams. The congregation gathered around the vicinity of the masjid hall in procession, pouring salutations onto one another in joy. The euphoria was indescribable. I had never witnessed the pouring of so much love amongst brothers to brothers, fathers to sons, teachers to students; all for the infinte cause, for the essence of embracing the beloved, Light of all Lights, Muhammad sallallahu alahi wassalam. The moment ended with the raising of palms up towards the Eternally Besought Lord of Creation and All Existence, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, to beseech His Blessings upon His most obedient of servants, the master of masters, Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam. Allahumma swolli wassalim wabarik 'alai!
I look back to that day, reliving it in my heart and mind with sweet recollection, Alhamdulillah for giving me that moment.
The Infinite Light
Our Prophet, this clear proof, is leader to all the believers, preacher to all mankind, the chief of all the prophets, lord of all the saints, the leader of a circle for the remembrance of God comprising all the prophets and saints. He is a luminous tree whose living roots are all the prophets, and fresh fruits are all the saints; whose claims all the prophets relying on their miracles and all the saints relying on their wonder working confirm and corroborate. For he declares and claims: There is no god but God! And all on left and right, that is, those luminous reciters of God's Names lined up in the past and the future, repeat the same words, and through their consensus in effect declare: "You speak the truth and what you say is right!"
His person, his laudable morals, which were at, the summit of perfection; and in his duties, his complete confidence and elevated qualities, which were of the highest excellence, and his extraordinary fear of God, worship, seriousness, and fortitude, which demonstrated the strength of his belief, and his total certainty and his complete steadfastness, all show as clearly as the sun how utterly faithful he was to his cause.
If you wish, come! Let us go to Arabian Peninsula, to the Era of Bliss! In our imaginations, we shall see him at his duties and visit him. Look! We see a person distinguished by his fine character and beautiful form. In his hand is a miraculous Book and on his tongue, a truthful address; he is delivering a pre-eternal sermon to all mankind, indeed, to man, jinn, and the angels, and to all beings. He solves and expounds the strange riddle of the mystery of the world's creation; he discovers and solves the abstruse talisman which is the mystery of the universe; and he provides convincing and satisfying answers to the three awesome and difficult questions that are asked of al1 beings and have always bewildered and occupied minds: "Where do you come from? What are you doing here? Where are you going?"
He is the discoverer and proclaimer of an infinite mercy, the herald and observer of the beauties of the sovereignty of Dominicality, and the discloser and displayer of the treasures of the Divine Names. If you regard him in that way, that is in regard to his being a worshipful servant of God, you will see him to be the model of love, the exemplar of mercy, the glory of mankind, and the most luminous fruit of the tree of creation. While if you look in this way, that is, in regard to his prophethood, you see him to be the proof of God, the lamp of truth, the sun of guidance, and the means to happiness. And look! His Light has lighted up from east to west like dazzling lightening, and half the earth and a fifth of mankind has accepted the gift of his guidance and preserved it like life itself.
He conquered and subjugated their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls. He became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls, the ruler of spirits.
(extracted from an article by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi)
Abode of Bliss
As he stepped into the House of Peace, he felt an aura of bliss speaking to his soul, offering overwhelming salutations that made him feel welcome to an abode that felt like more than a home to him. A sanctuary of tranquility that he never knew he had yearned for all his life, until he set foot into its abode. The essence of Alhamdulillah felt like it was blown into him, travelling through the fragility of his self. As his eyes surveyed the majestic vicinity, he felt the walls around him transform itself into unimaginable grandeur. The majestic symbolisms exclaiming the Divinity of the One God: Allahu ta'ala spoke to him with an overwhelming flow of Divine Mercy, like an ocean of sweetness pouring into his heart.
The Ceremony
Tonight, my thoughts drift back to that day I witnessed a ceremony that flung the doors of my heart open to receive His Divine Love. The night I first witnessed the cermony of Maulid un-Nabi : the commemoration of the birth of our most beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallhu alaihi wassalam, may Allah bless his soul and raise his rank. Ameen.
As I sat myself amongst the illuminating congregation, I felt my heart immediately stretch in all directions to connect with an overflow of compassion streaming out of the hearts of every devotee and every lover of our blessed Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam. The intimacy of their hearts were manifested from the tranquil expressions on their faces. There was not a single soul there that did not contribute to the ever-illuminating atmosphere.
As soon as the Imam began the recital of the Maulid, the congregation followed behind erupting with emotion, straining their tongues and pouring their hearts out with every ounce of love from within, exclaiming their devotion to the beloved master of masters, Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam. The electricity of their passion stung me instantly. There was not a note which they sung which lacked the awesome intensity of love. I felt myself flow with the fragrances that engulfed the atmosphere along with the soothing exclamations of love. The louder their voices climbed the deeper the feelings penetrated my heart.
The night journeyed onwards and felt like an eternity that I wish would never stop. When the moment gathered itself up, I felt reluctant to part, wishing I could disconnect with time to witness it over and over again in endless streams. The congregation gathered around the vicinity of the masjid hall in procession, pouring salutations onto one another in joy. The euphoria was indescribable. I had never witnessed the pouring of so much love amongst brothers to brothers, fathers to sons, teachers to students; all for the infinte cause, for the essence of embracing the beloved, Light of all Lights, Muhammad sallallahu alahi wassalam. The moment ended with the raising of palms up towards the Eternally Besought Lord of Creation and All Existence, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, to beseech His Blessings upon His most obedient of servants, the master of masters, Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam. Allahumma swolli wassalim wabarik 'alai!
I look back to that day, reliving it in my heart and mind with sweet recollection, Alhamdulillah for giving me that moment.
The Infinite Light
Our Prophet, this clear proof, is leader to all the believers, preacher to all mankind, the chief of all the prophets, lord of all the saints, the leader of a circle for the remembrance of God comprising all the prophets and saints. He is a luminous tree whose living roots are all the prophets, and fresh fruits are all the saints; whose claims all the prophets relying on their miracles and all the saints relying on their wonder working confirm and corroborate. For he declares and claims: There is no god but God! And all on left and right, that is, those luminous reciters of God's Names lined up in the past and the future, repeat the same words, and through their consensus in effect declare: "You speak the truth and what you say is right!"
His person, his laudable morals, which were at, the summit of perfection; and in his duties, his complete confidence and elevated qualities, which were of the highest excellence, and his extraordinary fear of God, worship, seriousness, and fortitude, which demonstrated the strength of his belief, and his total certainty and his complete steadfastness, all show as clearly as the sun how utterly faithful he was to his cause.
If you wish, come! Let us go to Arabian Peninsula, to the Era of Bliss! In our imaginations, we shall see him at his duties and visit him. Look! We see a person distinguished by his fine character and beautiful form. In his hand is a miraculous Book and on his tongue, a truthful address; he is delivering a pre-eternal sermon to all mankind, indeed, to man, jinn, and the angels, and to all beings. He solves and expounds the strange riddle of the mystery of the world's creation; he discovers and solves the abstruse talisman which is the mystery of the universe; and he provides convincing and satisfying answers to the three awesome and difficult questions that are asked of al1 beings and have always bewildered and occupied minds: "Where do you come from? What are you doing here? Where are you going?"
He is the discoverer and proclaimer of an infinite mercy, the herald and observer of the beauties of the sovereignty of Dominicality, and the discloser and displayer of the treasures of the Divine Names. If you regard him in that way, that is in regard to his being a worshipful servant of God, you will see him to be the model of love, the exemplar of mercy, the glory of mankind, and the most luminous fruit of the tree of creation. While if you look in this way, that is, in regard to his prophethood, you see him to be the proof of God, the lamp of truth, the sun of guidance, and the means to happiness. And look! His Light has lighted up from east to west like dazzling lightening, and half the earth and a fifth of mankind has accepted the gift of his guidance and preserved it like life itself.
He conquered and subjugated their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls. He became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls, the ruler of spirits.
(extracted from an article by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi)
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Seek Refuge from Envy
Jealousy wraps a thick veil over the heart. One who is engulfed in envy over another experiences nothing but discomfort within himself. The flow of jealousy into one's heart feels like the swallowing of fire. The envious only taste bitterness within themselves, scowling over what they get not. The victimised who are envied on the other hand are oblivious and continue ascending in tranquility unperturbed by the commotion amongst the envy hearts. Iblees fell from his jealousy of Adam alaihis salam. The first murder on the face of the Earth took place from the roots of jealousy : Cain's manslaughter of Abel. Avoid company with the envious for within them is a disease that spreads and contaminates the light of iman within your heart.
Jealousy wraps a thick veil over the heart. One who is engulfed in envy over another experiences nothing but discomfort within himself. The flow of jealousy into one's heart feels like the swallowing of fire. The envious only taste bitterness within themselves, scowling over what they get not. The victimised who are envied on the other hand are oblivious and continue ascending in tranquility unperturbed by the commotion amongst the envy hearts. Iblees fell from his jealousy of Adam alaihis salam. The first murder on the face of the Earth took place from the roots of jealousy : Cain's manslaughter of Abel. Avoid company with the envious for within them is a disease that spreads and contaminates the light of iman within your heart.
Friday, May 02, 2003
The True Servants
The blessings are abundant upon those who have little in their hands but much in their hearts. Those who toil for the least that they can get, content with the slightest provision for the day. Their souls acknowledge impotence and know that despite all their toil, ultimately, He is the only One who grants. The satisfaction in the little they get is more than what they are content with, for they know that it is His Mercy that is the ultimate pleasure.
Sometimes He barely gives them much to stand their ground on for survival, but with that, the foundations of faith He instills in them keeps them uprooted and unshakeable. They are the ones who acknowledge how weak and dependant upon Him they are. They are they ones who constantly turn to Him in their times of need, and unlike the rest, their need for Him is ever occuring. The extent of His love for them is incomprehensible. They are indeed the true servants.
Said our Beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam: "Shall I tell you of the people of Paradise? They comprise every poor humble person, and if he swears by Allah to do something, Allah will fulfill it..."
The blessings are abundant upon those who have little in their hands but much in their hearts. Those who toil for the least that they can get, content with the slightest provision for the day. Their souls acknowledge impotence and know that despite all their toil, ultimately, He is the only One who grants. The satisfaction in the little they get is more than what they are content with, for they know that it is His Mercy that is the ultimate pleasure.
Sometimes He barely gives them much to stand their ground on for survival, but with that, the foundations of faith He instills in them keeps them uprooted and unshakeable. They are the ones who acknowledge how weak and dependant upon Him they are. They are they ones who constantly turn to Him in their times of need, and unlike the rest, their need for Him is ever occuring. The extent of His love for them is incomprehensible. They are indeed the true servants.
Said our Beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wassalam: "Shall I tell you of the people of Paradise? They comprise every poor humble person, and if he swears by Allah to do something, Allah will fulfill it..."
