A thought

The depth of a word isn't what is uttered out of the mouth, rather what is felt in the heart.

Apologies

A sincere apologie to my 1 follower for my lack of blogging!

The application of Free Time and Struggle

There are two blessings about which most people are cheated: health and spare time," (Sahih Bukhari vol.8 no.421).

I've been thinking about this hadith alot lately. Since finishing university successfully Alhumdulilah, I have had more free time and spending it in the way of Allah (swt) is something I really want to do but at the same time time difficult, its almost a constant battle to avoid other distractions, wasting time on things that are not beneficial and even just the thoughts within!

I know who I want to be, but becoming 'her' is hard. I know I want to become more knowledgeable , and Alhumdulilah I have been but applying knowledge can be difficult. But surely that is not an excuse?

So my plan up until Ramadan 2010:
Tomorrow I am signing up for a 2 week intensive Tajweed course, following that I start a 'Wonders of the Heart.' The outline of this course is very exciting!

"There is nothing closer to you than yourself. If you don't know your self, how will you know others? You might say, "I know myself," but you are mistaken.... The only thing you know about your self is your physical appearance. The only thing you know about your inside, is that when you are hungry you eat, when you are angry, you fight, and when you are consumed by passion, you make love. In this regard you are equal to any animal. You have to seek the reality within yourself.... What are you? Where have you come from and where are you going. What is your role in the world? Why have you been created? Where does your happiness lie? If you would like to know yourself, you should know that you are created by two things. One is your body and your outer appearance (zahir) which you can see with your eyes. The other is your inner forces (batin). This is the part you cannot see, but you can know with your insight. The reality of your existence is in your inwardness. Everything is a servant of your inward heart." 

The last sentence and first sentence got me! It is very true, that the closest thing to 'us' is 'ourselves,' yet how much do we actually know about ourselves? My interpretation of the last sentence is that if for example you love your spouse sincerely with your heart, than your actions will naturally follow this inward affection. This sentence could be applied to all sorts of behaviour. Its quite fascinating really, that which you hold close to your heart will be reflected in your deeds, and even thoughts. So the question I ask, if we as Muslims really hold Islam close to our hearts than surely it would be reflected in our thoughts and actions?

http://www.muslimhands.org/en/gb/our_work/its_my_project/orphans_village/ http://www.justgiving.com/orphanvillage

These above links is what the fee to the course is going towards, please pass on if you can! Jazakallah khair

(I'm really looking forward to this course now, Inshallah! Will keep my only follower updated on what I learn, Inshallah!)

Contemporary poets

Some inspirational writers and poets pages on facebook:

Brother Berhan

Profound B.Shakoorah

Boona Mohammed

Thoughts

If you gave a someone the world they would want another one. Satisfaction, pleasure, happiness are all feelings that people chase. We as Muslims should chase the Akhirat not the dunya.

Since finishing my final term at university ever (!!!!!) I have had a lot more free time, and have been spending the new found time with family and friends. And Inshallah will be signing upto some Tajweed lessons for July :) 

I have come to realise that people are always chasing something, a degree, a car, house, job, money etc. It is almost as if society moulds you into doing these things. Its automatic, one after the other. To obtain any of these things is challenging.

"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.'' They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e., who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones." (Qur'an 2:155-157)

The amenities I have mentioned above, are indeed materiality but in a Western civilisation where society is run on money, it is impossible to get away from it. I have never really seen the obtainment of these things as trials until very recently. You could say that life is beginning to get very serious, not that it ever wasn't, I have just been taking it more seriously and I think the significant and most contributing reason to this is seeking knowledge.

People tend to be afraid; never being good enough, never having that lifestyle seen in so many tv programmes, letting others down, not achieving the goals they have set for themselves, losing what they already have. So surely we should be afraid of losing our life? I mean what I sometimes or very often as of late find so hard to grasp is how people can be so fully occupied with the here and now? I mean everyone has the potential to be intellectual and really think about life ... even the intellectual ones I know who are not Muslim do not think about the Hereafter. How can intellect be so wasted? Dont't people realise that all the intellect they have developed over their life will come to a halt? How can they think thats it? Or not think at all?

On another note this year has been eventful, I have learned alot, and my interest in the Deen is increasing Alhumdulilah! As knowledge increases though, the trials seem tougher or perhaps more apparent? 

At the moment I have many thoughts going on in my head! And about half an hour ago I came to the conclusion of this: event > feeling > thought > motive > spoken word > action > outcome.

Love is like a lawsuit

I am amazed at the seeker of purity
who when it's time to be polished
complains of rough handling.
Love is like a lawsuit:
to suffer harsh treatment is the evidence;
when you have no evidence, the lawsuit is lost.
Don't grieve when the Judge demands your evidence;
kiss the snake so that you may gain the treasure.
That harshness isn't toward you,
but toward the harmful qualities within you.
When someone beats a rug,
the blows are not against the rug,
but against the dust in it.


(A Rumi poem, translated by Kabir Helminski and Camille Helminski)

I guess what Rumi is saying is that those who seek to be righteous often complain, struggle, and find it extremely difficult when they are being hurt, in turmoil, have tough choices, internal jihad you could say.

However to suffer is an opportunity to demonstrate our love for Allah (swt). Because often the struggles are our weaknesses, desires and that which is haram, therefore giving up such things for Allah (swt) is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

The struggles that each of us face are not personally directed to us, but at the negative attributes of our character.


Hence Rumi uses the metaphor of an extremely dusty rug, in order to remove our own impurities we too must be made aware off them to be rid of them Inshallah!