Monthly Archives: August 2007

we come

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We come…..

While…. 

 

We come seeking your gaze, eyes impure and blemished from dreams and fantasizing life’s distractions.

While your luminous black eyes, framed by noble long lashes, cast a loving glow illuminating the heavens.

We come searching your smile, mouths sullied and tainted from gossip, backbiting and idle talk.

While the gentleness of your countenance radiates a tranquil aura dispersing all weaknesses.

We come running to you, limbs lazy and heaving as slaves to sloth and consumerist whims.

While your compassionate guiding steps rejuvenate indifferent desires for embracing your Sunnah.

We come greeting you, hands brazenly wretched, time wasting talons clutching fake trinkets.

While you tenderly reach out, your unconditional light of truth obliterating the gloomy darkness.

We come conversing, minds polluted with excessive nonsense, overflowing detritus numbing the soul.

While your sanctified words transform bewilderment to enlightenment.

We come praising your perfection, deeds shamelessly decorated with ostentation and arrogance.

While your dignified station and the bearer of Allah’s promise, endears one to alchemize faults to gold.

We come weeping for your affection, hearts frail, devoid of passion for the Garden’s Eternal Enchantment.

While your presence rouses hopes as you disregard lapses and instill contentment with the mere utterance of your name.

We come addressing you, prayers empty of devotion; a profusion of nagging whispers.

While your worship had no end, a pristine sincerity shining as brightness itself, a beacon for your Ummah.

We come begging from you, relationships smashed, severed, abused and neglected.

While your caress embodied the spirit of justice, a servant of the Majestic, imparting fairness to all.

We come yearning, aching; deeds contrary, a nonillion swarms of disobedience.

While you the preferred one, the emblem of certainty, the holy trusted one, the beloved of Allah, the one brought near to His Divine Presence, our honoured intercessor, sent as a mercy to all the worlds, accept our every Salawaat and Salaam.

Allahumma Salli ‘ala Badrit-Tamaam
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Nuriz-Zalaam
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Miftaahi Daaris-Salaam
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Shafee’i fee Jamee-il Anaam

Allah! Send Blessings upon the Full Moon in brilliance.
Allah! Send Blessings upon the Light overwhelming darkness.
Allah! Send Blessings upon the Key to the Abode of Peace.
Allah! Send Blessings upon the Intercessor of all humanity.
SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam.

‘Jaza Allahu ‘annaa Sayyidina Muhammadin maa huwa ahluhu’

Allah! Grant Sayyidina Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, on behalf of us, his rightful due.

Credit and appreciation once again to the dear sister who has so generously shared this beautiful detail of Bab Baqi, capturing the glint of gold, epitomizing our Prince of Peace SallAllahu alaihi wasallam resting under the Dome of Felicity.

This humble speck is taking ‘leave of absence’ for a short moment. Insha’Allah a few kind words in your Du’a would be greatly appreciated, as I will include you and yours in mine.  In the meantime may our hearts be active with Salawaat on our blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, in these Mubarak Shaban days of his, and our spiritual leanings seeking the blessed month of Ramadhan on the horizon.

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 

 

 

CEPHALOPODS!!!

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And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat….

(16:14)

…and He is the Best of those who give sustenance.   (23:72)

You provide limitlessly for whoever You will.  (3:27)

Remember the bounties of your Lord, so that you may be successful.   (7:69)

And so it was that our sustenance from the sea was delivered to us in the form of some cute baby CEPHALOPODS!!!! Aka octopuses, or some say octopi…..whatever the name they are slimy creatures and loads of fun to prepare as I discovered for the first time in dealing with them!

 

I kept staring at them….and they kept staring at me….those huge bulbous eyes…what DO I DO???

Google comes to the rescue in all situations….so I had to turn the head inside out, gouge out those bulbous eyes, the brain and the three hearts!!! along with the “beak” and the weird bit at the top and what I guess is the gut at the other end….leaving the eight legs spiraling out like a dancer performing under water synchronized swimming as they are washed and washed and washed. All the while being squirted with their dense black ink…how amazing is Allah Ta’ala’s creation, SubhanAllah! And these represent only one of the thousands of species inhabiting the oceans, with this rizq originating from the Red Sea, only a few hours to the west of Madinah.

The main fish market here is a fascinating place….small individual “shops” of about ten square meters line a central walkway, all competing for customers with their catch of the day fresh from Yanbu, the major fishing hub, creatively arranged on benches at the front. The smaller fish are in bundles with a natural string of cane weaving through the mouth then tied into a handle. Some of the larger fish, sometimes more than two meters long are truly incredible…the vibrant colours and patterns seem to have a direct impact on one’s Iman! SubhanAllah….such is the artistic magnificence of our Rabb Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala! The traders vie for custom enticing one with all sorts of offers while the bargaining adds to the general fish market symphony, enhanced by the aroma!

Saudis, like most Arabs, love their seafood, and more especially on Friday after Juma’ah. Numerous outlets around the city specialize in frying fish which have been rubbed with various spices, predominantly cumin, making a thick tasty coating. These are then displayed ready for one to choose exactly which fish is wanted, and then they are fried in a huge vat. How they recognize who belongs to what fish must be a secret of the trade! These are then carried home in an open box lined with paper….

The crowds around these places has become a real traffic hazard, with several police in attendance trying to maintain some sort of order and preventing the locals from triple parking while they race in for their Juma’ah lunch! The frying fish smell fills the air for miles, and cats congregate from miles away!

Anyway, back to the amazing octopus …apparently it is not a good housekeeper as it throws all the discarded shells from its banquets of crustaceans just outside its lair.  If it octopus damages one of its vital arms, it can grow a new one. Also they are capable of learning. In an experiment, octopi were trained to distinguish between shapes and also to recognize objects by touch, and to undo the lids of jars that contained their favourite food. And the first writing ink was made from the pigment found in the octopus’s sac. And that weird little beak, the only hard feature it has…sort of like a small piece of plastic, is used to locate hiding places, and then grab onto a hard surface with this tiny beak, with the rest of the body being able to slither through….experiments have shown that a huge octopus can fit through such tiny gaps. In their natural habitat they can swiftly escape any predators by first squirting them with ink and then slinking into a tiny crevice! Extraordinarily clever! SubhanAllah!

For those with children, or those who are involved in educating our dear young ones, this link provides some excellent lesson plans.

~*~*~ 

"All praise is for Allah Who has made me eat this food and has provided it for me without any effort and labour on my part", is one of the Du’a our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, according to Tirmithi, would recite after meals, and it is said that all past sins are forgiven if this is recited. Some Ulema have explained the two separate issues inherent in this Du’a…..one is the blessing of being provided the food….and the second is the blessing of actually being able to eat it. Many people due to various conditions of illness may be provided with certain foods, but are unable to actually eat thereof.

 

…and He is the Best of those who give sustenance.  

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 

dream of Nabi SallAllahu alaihiwasallam 2

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MEANS TO OBTAIN THE VISION OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH

SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

There are forty four means listed in this chapter (from The Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam Vol.2*) They have been extracted from the book ‘Al-qubul fi wusul ila r’uyati Sayyidina Rasul of Shaykh Hassan Muhammad Shaddad ibn ‘Umar, may Allah Ta’ala reward him for his services to the Ummah.

Insha’Allah I post 17 at the moment. My typing Arabic is slow and made more tedious by adding the tashkeel, if Allah the Almighty wills more to be posted in the future Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah in all situations, Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah! (apologies for the small Arabic font….blogsome refuses to allow me to post otherwise, so I suggest that you copy/paste into word and then enlarge it, Insha’Allah)

The First Means:

The Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘One who wishes to see me in their dream should recite:

???? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ???????? ??????? ????? ????????? ??? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????????????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ?????????

????????? ????? ????????? ?????????  

And we have not sent a messenger except that he should be obeyed by the permission of Allah. And if they had come to you when they had wronged themselves and sought the forgiveness of Allah and if the Messenger of Allah sought forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah, Relenting and Merciful. (4:64)’

The Second Means:

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘One who recites the following salutation will see me in a dream:

???????? ???? ??? ????????? ????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????

O Allah send blessings upon our master Muhammad from among the spirits, upon his bodies and upon his resting place from among the resting places.

One who sees me a their dream will see me on the Day of Judgement, and the one who will see me on the Day of Judgement, I will intercede for them, and the one who receives my intercession will drink from my Hawd and their body will be protected from the Hellfire.’

Shaykh Abdusi Rahmatullah alaihi said that after the above salutation one should recite Sura Ikhlas, Sura Falaq and Sura Nas three times each and fall asleep without speaking in between.

The Third Means:

The Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘One who sends blessings upon me on Friday, a thousand times with the following salutation:

????? ????? ??? ????????? ????? ?????????? ??????????

May the blessings of Allah be upon our master Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet.

will see either their Lord, their Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, or their place in Paradise. If this does not occur, then they should repeat it for two, three or five Fridays consecutively.’

The Fourth Means:

Abu al Mawahib ash-Shadhili Rahmatullah alaihi said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in a dream and he said to me: ‘When going to sleep recite, A’authu billahi minash shaitanir rajim….five times, and Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim….five times, then say:

???????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????

O Allah show me the face of (our master) Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam without delay.’

Surely I will come to you without fail, and one who wishes to see me should say: ‘Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam twenty two times when going to sleep.”

The Fifth Means: It has been related on the authority of Sayyidina Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu who said that Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘Indeed a servant who performs two Rak’ah of prayer, after the Fatiha recites Sura Ikhlas 25 times, the (after he has finished) recites 1000 times:

?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????????? ??????????

May the blessings of Allah be upon (our master) Muhammad the unlettered Prophet.

The following Friday will not arrive until they see me in the dream. One who sees me, Allah forgives their sins.

The sixth Means:

The following salutation was given to Sayyidina Ali RadhiAllahu anhu from the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu laihi wasllam:

??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ????????? ????? ???? ??? ????????? ????? ?????? ???????

 

In the name of Allah, who is ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim. O Light of Light. Send blessings upon our master Muhammad, the enlightened one and upon his family.

The seventh Means:

Imam al-Fayruzabadi has related in his book Salat wa al-bishr fi al-slat ala khair il-bashar, on the authority of Sayyidina Khide Alaihis Salam and Ilyas Alaihis Salam, who said that a man from Syria came to the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam and said: :O Messenger of Allah, my father is old and he would love to see you.” The Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: “Bring him to me.” He replied: “He is very weak of sight.” Rasulullah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: “Tell him to recite for seven days:

????? ????? ??? ??????

May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad.

and he will see me in a dream.” He did so and he saw the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in a dream.

The eighth Means:

One who recites Sura al-Qadar (97) 21 times at sunrise and at sunset, they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream.

The ninth Means:

One who recites Sura al-Kawthar (108) 1000 times in the night, they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream.

The tenth Means:

One who recites Sura al-Muzzammil  (73) 41 times, they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream.

The eleventh Means:

In the book Khazinat il-Asrar one of the scholars has mentioned: ‘One who recites Sura al-Qadar (97) 1000 times on Friday, they will not die until they see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam.

The twelfth Means:

One of the scholars has said that one who recites Sura al-Kawthar  (108) 1000 times and sends blessings upon the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam 1000 times on Thursday night, and then goes to sleep they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream.

The thirteenth Means:

One of the teachers has said: ‘One who recites Sura al-Quraish (106) 1000 times in the middle of Thursday night, then sleeps with ablution, they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream and their wish will be fulfilled.

The Fourteenth Means:

Sayyidina Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu said: “One who recites Sura al-Ikhlas (112) 1000 times in the night they will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream.

The Fifteenth Means:

One of the most effective supplications for seeing the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in the dream is this Du’a of Habib ‘Abd al-Qadir ibn Ahmad as Saqqaf:

??? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ??? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???? ????? ????????? ????????

In the name of Allah, who is ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim.O Allah, Lord of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. Unite us with Muhammad soon, O You who answers all prayers! O Allah, he is Your greatest door, and Your straightest path. There is no path except through this door, honour me by removing the veil. O Allah, do not deprive me of this vision, nor of seeing his face, nor denying me entering into his blessings, nor of gaining his solicitousness. Make me, O Allah, always under his gaze and make me close to him, O You who answers all prayers, O You who answers all prayers! All praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon our master Muhammad, his family and companions.

The sixteenth Means:

One who recites the following salutation 100 times on Thursday night, will see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam in their dream:

???????? ????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ?????? ? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????

O Allah! Send blessing upon our master Muhammad, the Opener for what is closed, the seal of all that which has preceded, the Helper of Truth by the Truth, the Guide to Your straight path, peace and blessings upon him and his companions, according to his formidable standing.

The Seventeenth Means:

It has been related in ad-Dhakha’ir al-Muhammadiyyah that one who wishes that to see the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam should recite the following 100 times:

???????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????????

O Allah, I ask You by the light of lights, who is You beloved and not other than that, to show me the face of Your Prophet, our master Muhammad. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him and his family, as those blessings are known to You.

I will finish this post with a witr number, Allah Ta’ala loving odd numbers….if there is a demand for the complete forty four means, do comment, and Insha’Allah I will try to post them all over time.

Some of the above specify the night of Juma’ah to be auspicious for reciting these means, and Allah the Almighty knows best. JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

May we make the most of this Shaban, the month of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam a time for increasing all of our salutations upon him, Ameen.  

And a timely reminder, to me first, from the same book:

The Doors of Repentance are Open.

“Make haste, make haste, O beloved of the Messenger of Allah Sallahu alaihi wasallam! The doors of repentance are open, and Allah is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful, He accepts the repentance of His servants, and He forgives sins. Do not forget your share of the temporal world, and act with excellence, just as Allah favours you with excellence, getup, strive, endure and be patient!”

May we all take these next few “seconds” available to us as we approach the glory of Ramadhan to be polishing the heart more than usual, Ameen!

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

 

Allahumma salli wa sallim da’iman abadan ‘alaa habibika khairil khalqi kullihimi.

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 once again this "dear" blogsome, using its "free will" decides to go all bold on me! Khair…ummm…

*see previous post for details

 

 

 

 

dream of Nabi SallAllahu alaihiwasallam 1

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“Shaban is my month” said our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, an excellent time for us to increase our Durood upon him as we prepare for “Ramadhan, the month of my Ummah”, as he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam continued in the Hadith, when Insha’Allah we reap all that we have previously sown.

As-salamu alayka ya habibi sayyidi,

As-salamu alayka ya nabi al-arabi

Ya Habibi Sayyidi

As-salamu alayka ya habibi sayyidi

As-salamu alayka ya nabi al-arabi

As-salamu alayka ya shafial-muznibin

As-salamu alayka rahamtallah lilaalamin.

And how it is that the lover excessively reciting Durood upon the light of lights SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would be in ecstatic raptures to be gifted the vision of the beloved, SubhanAllah

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu narrates: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: "Whoever has seen me in a dream, has in fact seen me, for Shaytan does not appear in my form"

And Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu said, "Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to say, ‘Shaytan is unable to imitate my form, so whoever dreamt that they saw me, actually saw me’.

To see our beloved master, the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream is certainly very virtuous and a blessing from Allah Most High upon the person who was fortunate to see him.

Yes, thoughts of the beloved came to me at night and kept me awake

And love transforms pleasure into pain.

Imam Busayri.

Read how Imam Busayri’s dream of our Blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was the inspiration for his impassioned Burda.  

 

There is an extensive section, Receiving the Vision of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in “The Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger”  Masha’Allah, I have been given the permission to post selections from this. (If you would like to purchase copies then please leave a comment and I will pass your details to one of the suppliers, Insha’Allah.)

There was a man in the blessed city of Madinah Al-Munawwarah who saw the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in his dream. He had written a book on the blessed life of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. While he was composing this book, he saw the messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in his dream and he was delighted. He saw him with lights (anwar) but he had never seen lights of this kind before with the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. During the dream he was confused as to whether this was actually the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam or not. This thought had never even left him when the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam called out to him and said: ‘I am the Messenger of Allah  SallAllahu alaihi wasallam!’

May glad tidings be upon him with this manifest light, whom Allah, Exalted is He, sent as a mercy to mankind, who shines like the sun upon them. The more one’s insight becomes radiant, the more the light will increase.

The light of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam manifests to the believers when their hearts have been purified, their characters become virtuous and noble upon performing all of the obligatory acts. All of those who love Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam will see him, and when they become humble before Allah Ta’ala and respectful with the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, then Allah Ta’ala will reveal him to them whenever He pleases and wills.

A person should not get worried if they do not see the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream. There are states that Allah, Exalted is He, has knowledge of, He only wishes well of His servant. It is enough merit and honour if Allah Ta’ala has given you the success and ability (tawfiq) to recite the Qur’an, to seek forgiveness (istighfar) and to send blessings and peace upon the chosen Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

The author of Mafatih al-Mafatih says: “If you are not fortunate with receiving the vision of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam despite doing all that is required, then do not worry, it is sufficient that you have received the great blessing of Allah Ta’ala by remembering Him, reciting His Book, sending blessings upon His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and yearning to see him. You have taken all the means for the vision but you have not received the vision of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, such a person is higher in rank than one who does see him. He is the noble beloved, he does not disappoint those who yearn to see him.”

The final section on this topic includes forty four means to obtain the vision of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Insha’Allah I intend to post some of these in the next post.

An extract from Dreaming of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam:

It is very fortunate to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream but two points should well be considered in this connection. The first, as written by Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahmatullahi alaihe in his book ‘Nish-rut-tib’, is as follows: It is really a source of great consolation and a great favour for a person who has not seen the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam live, to see him in a dream. However, it should be borne in mind that it cannot be acquired; rather it is granted by Allah. A Persian poet says:

"This felicity cannot be earned through strength but only when Allah grants and bestows."

Many people have devoted their whole lives in the hope of this fortune. One might have succeeded if he sends Durood upon the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam abundantly and follows his ways with love and eagerness. Nevertheless, if a person is not successful, he should not be worried because it may be due to some unknown Wisdom and the Mercy of Allah. A lover only wants the pleasure of his beloved whether it is because of union or due to separation. As a poet rightfully says:

"I want a meeting with him (the beloved) but he wants separation, and I leave my pleasure for his pleasure."

Shirazi, a Persian poet and Mystic says, "Meeting or separation have no value in comparison to the pleasure of the beloved; and to seek any other thing than his pleasure is an offence (in love)."

 

There are numerous stories from our learned predecessors recounting their experiences of dreams of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in Virtues of Salaat alan Nabi. (2)

Story number 27: Ibrahim Nasafi Rahmatullah alaihi relates: On one occasion I saw Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream. It appeared as if he was displeased with me. I stretched forth my hands, took the hands of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in mine and kissed them. I asked in great anxiety, “O Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam I am indeed one of the servants of Hadith. I belong to the Ahlus Sunnah, those who follow your way, I am a traveler from afar. Have compassion on me. Have I displeased you?” Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam smiled and said: “Whenever you recite Salaat, why do you not recite salaam?” Thereafter it became a fixed habit of mine to recite ‘wasallam’ as well.

Story number 34: Abu Ali Hasan ibn Ali Attar Rahmatullah alaihi says: Abu Taahir Rahmatullah alaihi gave me a few scripts of Ahadith. I saw therein that whenever the name of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was mentioned salaat alan Nabi was written in these words:

Bestow mercy O Allah upon him (Muhammad) and (bestow) peace and Your pleasure abundantly, abundantly, abundantly.

I then asked Abu Taahir Rahmatullah alaihi: “Why do you write salaat on the Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam like that?” He replied: “In my youth I used to write Ahadith and I did not write salaat alan Nabi with the name of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. I then once saw Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream and greeted him, but he turned his face away from me. Then I came to him from the other side and again greeted him, but once more he turned his face away from me. Once again for the third time I approached him from the front and inquired: ‘O Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam why do you turn your face away from me?’ He replied: ‘It is because that whenever you write my name in your book you do not offer salaat on me.’ Since that time it has become my habit that whenever I write the name of the Rasool SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, I also wrote:

Bestow mercy O Allah upon him (Muhammad) and (bestow) peace and Your pleasure abundantly, abundantly, abundantly.

 

And,  The Perfect Mirror - CD (Dreaming of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) Muahmmad al-Yaqoubi

In this fascinating talk, after some introductory comments about the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) and who he was, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi describes over ninety ways the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) appears in people’s dreams, giving the interpretation of each dream: If you see the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) with his hands open, you will perform Hajj. If you see him leaning, your worries and difficulties will be removed. If he hands you a book, you will become a teacher. If he gives you bread, you will attain wealth. If he offers you honey, you will memorize the Qur’an. If he appears beardless or having a short beard, it means you lack righteousness and should strive to improve. If you see him while you are pregnant, you will have a boy and thus should name him Muhammad. If you see him in the middle of the night, you will be a wali of Allah (friend of God) in your forties. These are just a few examples of the many dreams of the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) Shaykh Muhammad interprets during this amazing talk. In addition, he explains how anyone who tries to add to the praises of the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) is attempting the impossible, because there are no praises beyond the praises of Allah.

*

Oh beloved of the Lord, hear my greeting, hear my call

Bless this seeker of your love with the vision of you.

From Talib al Habibs “Songs of Innocence”.

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O Allah, send blessings and Peace upon our Master and Patron Muhammad, The Owner of the Crown and the Ascent and the Buraq and the Standard, The Repeller of Affliction and Disease and Drought and Illness and Pain. His name is written on high, served and engraved in the Tablet and the Pen, The Leader of All, Arabs and non-Arabs, Whose body is sanctified, fragrant, and pure, Illumined in the House and the Haram, The Sun of Brightness, the Full Moon in Darkness, The Foremost One in the Highest Fields, the Light of Guidance, The Cave of Refuge for Mortals, the Lamp That Dispels the Night, The Best-Natured One, The Intercessor of Nations, The Owner of Munificence and Generosity. Allah is his Protector, Gabriel is his servant. The Buraq is his mount, the Ascent is his voyage, The Lote-Tree of the Furthermost Boundary is his station, Two Bow-Lengths or Nearer is his desire, His desire is his goal, and he has found his goal, The Master of the Messengers, the Seal of the Prophets, The intercessor of sinners, the friend of the strangers, The Mercy for the Worlds, The rest of those who burn with love, the goal of those who yearn, The sun of knowers, the lamp of travellers, The light of Those Brought Near, The friend of the poor and destitute, The master of Humans and Jinn, The Prophet of the Two Sanctuaries, The Imam of the Two Qiblas, Our Means in the Two Abodes, The Owner of Qaba Qawsayn, The Beloved of the Lord of the Two Easts and the Two Wests, The grandfather of al-Hasan and al-Husayn, Our patron and the patron of Humans and Jinn: Abu al-Qasim MUHAMMAD Son of `Abd Allah, A light from the light of Allah. O you who yearn for the light of his beauty, Send blessings and utmost greetings of peace upon him and upon his Family.

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

twelve

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As the last few moments of Rajab, the month of Allah Ta’ala fades into Shaban, the month of our Blessed Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, may we fill the heart with expressions that stir our love for our Rabb, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, drawing closer to Him, Insha’Allah.

I have selected some of the sayings from the Necklace of Gems (1) of Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qadir, may Allah be well pleased with him, concerning tanzih [the affirmation of Allah’s freedom from all imperfection] to enhance our awareness of the One.

Our Lord, Allah (Exalted is He) is the Near in His sublimity,

the High-Exalted in His proximity.

[He is] the maker of the creation by His power,

and the Foreordainer of all matters by His Wisdom,

and the Wncircler of all things with His knowledge.

His word is complete and His mercy is universal.

There is no God but He.

Liars are they who attribute equal to Him,

as are they who claim that He has a peer,

or believe that He has a likeness or a namesake.

Glory be to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He)

Glory be to Allah

[in proportion to]

the number of His creatures,

and the good pleasure of His Essence,

and the weight of His Throne,

and the content of His words,

and the extent of His knowledge,

and of all that He has willed

And created and fashioned and formed.

[He being] the Knower of the unseen and the visible,

The All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate,

The Sovereign Lord, the All-Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise,

Single, One, Unique, Everlasting.

He does not beget and is not begotten,

And to Him there is no equal.  (112:3,4)

There is nothing like unto Him,

For He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing  (42:11)

He has no likeness and no counterpart,

and He has no aide and no assistant,

and He has no partner and no minister,

and He has no peer and no advisor.

He is not a physical body, that could be touched,

nor a material substance, that could be felt,

nor an accidental property, that could be discarded,

nor a compound structure, that could be dismantled,

nor a mechanical apparatus, that could be replicated,

nor a composition, that could be modified.

nor a figment of the imagination, that could be defined,

nor a natural phenomena, among other such phenomena,

nor a celestial body, among other celestial bodies,

nor a darkness, that could become transparent,

nor lamplight, that could shine.

[He is] Present to all things in respect of knowledge,

but without intermingling,

[and He is] a Witness to them in respect of observation,

but without physical touching.

[He is] Irresistible, Decisive, Unique,

Worthy of worship, One who will never pass away,

Sempiternal, One who will never die,

Governing, Just, Powerful,

Compassionate, Forgiving, Pardoning,

Creator, Maker,

Eternal Lord of the Realm of Sovereignty,

Everlasting Lord of the Realm of Dominion,

Self-Sustaining, One who never sleeps,

Almighty, One who can never be harmed,

Impregnable, One who can never be assailed.

His are the Most Beautiful Names,

and the loftiest attributes,

and the ideal paradigm,

and the most lasting glory.

Imaginations cannot picture Him,

and understandings cannot appraise Him,

and He is not subject to analogy,

and He cannot be compared to people,

and minds cannot describe Him,

and intellects cannot define Him.

He far transcends comparison

with that which he made,

or annexation to that which He has originated.

[He is] the Reckoner of breaths.

[He is] Holding every soul

Responsible for what it has earned  (13:33)

He has already counted them [His creatures]

and added them all up,

and all of them will come to Him

on the Day of Resurrection, one by one.

He feeds, but is not fed.

He nourishes, but is not nourished.

He protects, but does not need protection.

He created that which He originated,

not for the sake of procurement.

He provided benefit,

though not to ward off harm,

nor in response to someone who appealed to Him,

nor because of a thought that occurred by chance,

 but rather by an absolute Will,

independent of novel interpretations.

As He has said (Exalted is He):

[He is] Lord of the Throne, the All-Glorious.

Effective in doing whatever He wishes.  (85:15,16)

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The blog has been honoured to use the stunning art work of Bint-eh Adam, alias Butterfly of Brum for the header. An expressive ALLAH as if blossoming in a heart of pure love….with fronds reaching out to others for the love of Him. And below is her “Finding God” This, along with other of her visual Dhikrs, which seem to transport one to deep inner contempaltive, Muraqaba, recesses, are for sale, as well as commissions taken. You can read more about the evolution of her works, and make contact here, Insha’Allah. May Allah Ta’ala continue to grace her hands with His gift of creativity , Ameen.

 

Go sweep out the chamber of your heart. 
Make it ready to be the dwelling place of the Beloved. 
When you depart out, He will enter it. 
In you, void of yourself, will He display His beauties.

Mahmud Shabistari – ‘Rose Garden of Mystery’

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 

 

haberdashery

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Treasures are hidden under these streets….not the sort that gold diggers would be interested in. No, far greater than any earthly, worldly, or materialistic thing, is the knowing that these streets were blessed with the Mubarak feet of our Esteemed Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his illustrious guiding stars, the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu. His most blessed sandals treading the earth, his noble self alighted on a camel, or a horse, traversing this land now occupied by buildings. The closer one is to Masjid Nabawi, the more likely it was that the earth folded for him, witnessing these sacred footsteps, while being perfumed with amber and musk. So is the bliss of walking these streets….one is transported with the knowledge that the richest of treasures are hidden in the earth, in the air…the gaze is held humbly down and each step seems to float upon this blessedness.

Behold the dancing dust,

still sparkling from the gentle steps

of the pinnacle of messengers,

igniting hearts, intoxicating souls,

emblazing galaxy-like bursts of love,

reaching far off realms divine,

spreading glistening beads of a fragrant elixir

all along the way.

 

And also hidden in the streets of Madinah, minutes from the sacred Haram are treasures of a different worldly kind. The dilapidated shop front opens to a festive array of colour and texture.

 

Enter the doorway to a blaze of delight!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beads, braids, trims, ribbons, sequins, boas, flowers, pearls, buttons, and more cram every inch of space. One can barely fit in the small isles overflowing with cascading lace, yarn, and fabric. An old man has sat almost trapped in the middle of these decorative and festive trims for the past four decades. (he proudly told me his story) He sits in this one place directing an assistant and sometimes offering advice….but always collecting the money. Customers come in droves seeking that special touch, bringing samples to match colours and design. A few years ago when I first discovered this shop I could barely remain inside whilst choosing ribbons I was wanting as there was no fan or AC in there. It was suffocating. Alhumdulillah, when going there this time an AC had been installed. An amazing little world minutes from home and minutes from Masjid Nabawi. How long some of these older establishments remain is only a matter of time, a short time, as more and more of these prime locations are sought for hotels and thus demolished.    

 

And sitting at regular intervals on the side walks of these streets of Madinah are ladies selling candy and roasted nuts, ‘treasures’ to appease the small children accomanying their mothers as they shop for all their party attire.

The streets of Madinah….treasures above and below….earthly and divine…..

Behold the dancing dust,

still sparkling from the gentle steps

of the pinnacle of messengers.

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

 

 

time

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Time for a ramble….. on TIME.

I’ve been procrastinating!

PROCRASTINATING!!! The word itself seems to extend and stretch one into a mesmerized stupor…..PROCRASTINATING…..aaarrrggggggg……

Astaghfirullah…one of Shaytan’s magical ploys in his gigantic box of tricks. I have so many projects on the go, so many emails to answer, so many tasks I wish to complete….all unfinished, all floundering in this befuddled mind….the process of deciding which one to tackle swirls around as a murky maelstrom…. I am wasting time….a catastrophe.  

Take a few moments to click here….then allow the eyes relay to the heart what you see….try to comprehend the speed of life as it literally flies by and the events that accompany this disappearance…..the capital of our existence….seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years…..on and on…..quickly passing…..spiritual and material potentialities vanish, abilities fade into an oblivious well…..continual loss as each ordained breath diminishes another fragment of one’s life …..unless.

We have been gifted this potential investment, TIME, and how we invest it is entirely up to us. Wisely and we profit, heedlessly and we not only lose, but also attract and accumulate numerous sins. According to one Hadith of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasllam said: When a person wakes up in the morning, he invests his soul or life in a business enterprise: some of the investors free or save the capital from loss and others destroy it.

Woe to procrastination…..woe……it is not enough for the mind to understand that ‘time’ is like melting capital and thus taking every moment of this life as valuable, but the heart needs to be activated into ensuring the best capital return for the investment we have been entrusted with.   

It seems a universal condition….we have become so time poor, even though “technology” has produced an incredible explosion in time saving gizmos to supposedly free our time. We seem to be tangled in a web of busy-ness…so busy that we cannot recall what has even made us busy. Gadgets….technological whiz bang thingamajig inventions kidnap the brain…. millions of mouse clicks, recording devices and agile button pressing gobble our time as if it is the latest gourmet treat, spitting out a benumbed brain that then needs “timeout” before the next bout. Ya Allah, Ya Lateef.

The Mubarak streets of Al-Madinah Al-Munarrawah witnessed the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum reciting Surah al-Asr:

By the time. Verily man is in a state of loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and one another to endurance. (103:1-3)

to each other before they departed company to remind themselves of the eternal loss if we squander ‘time’, and additionally, concisely outlining the complete way of human life: faith, righteous deeds, advising each other for Truth, and advising each other for patience.

A beautiful recipe for salvation in both Worlds……and such a profound sharing of love and concern for each other’s destiny. They understood that it was not ‘time’ to be cursed as we so often do, but our neglect towards it.

Allah Ta’ala said in Hadith Qudsi:

The son of Adam does me wrong when he curses the course of time. I am the course of time, for the affair is in My hands as I turn the day and night over one another.

Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasllam said: There are two blessings that most people are deluded by: health and available time.  And:  Value five before five: youth before old age; health before sickness; affluence before poverty; leisure before becoming too busy; and life before death.  SubhanAllah, ‘time’ to wake up from our delusionary slumber…..

Once our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was passing by a graveyard along with some of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, when he said to them: You often offer two Rak’ats of Nafl prayer hurriedly without realizing their value. However in the sight of the man lying buried in the grave, these two Rak’ats are more valuable than all the wealth of the world. The soul confined in the grave might be earnestly and regretfully wishing if he could find in his life two minutes more to offer two Rak’ats of Nafl prayer and add its reward to his Record of Deeds.

Jurjani Rahmatullah alaihi for forty years ate simple roasted barley flour….not bothering to make it in to bread as in the time it would take to chew one mouthful of the bread he could say SubhanAllah seventy times!

Is not time ripe for the believers to humble their hearts to the remembrance of Allah and the Truth that has been revealed? (57:16)

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Imam Al Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi wrote this in his book: ‘The Beginning of Guidance’

"You should not neglect your time or use it haphazardly; on the contrary you should bring yourself to account, structure your litanies and other practices during each day and night, and assign to each period a fixed and specific function. This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing (baraka) in each period.

But if you leave yourself adrift, aimlessly wandering as cattle do, not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment, your time will be lost. It is nothing other than your life, and your life is the capital that you make use of to reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of God the Exalted.

Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved. Do not be like deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens.

What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter? Therefore be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind.”

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The following was from somewhere on the WIDE WIDE www…..from ages ago when I did not record the source…..so credit to whomever, and apologies……

Shaytan called a worldwide convention.
In his opening address to his evil Jinns, he said, "We can’t keep the Believers from going to Masjids. We can’t keep them from reading their Qur`an and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship with Allah".

Once they gain that connection with Allah, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their Masjids; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain that relationship with Allah.

This is what I want you to do Jinns. Distract them from gaining hold of their Lord and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day! "How shall we do this?" shouted his Jinns. "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-Qur’anic recitation constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Allah."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so their husbands will believe that external beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. That will fragment those families quickly!"

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature to reflect on Allah’s wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, and busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Go ahead, let them be involved in soul winning; but crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Allah."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!" It was quite a convention. The evil Jinns went eagerly to their assignments causing Believers everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there. I guess the question is; has the devil been successful at his scheme?

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The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Every person goes forth in the morning trading in his own self. He either earns its freedom or consigns it to perdition.

O Allah, I seek divine guidance so that I remain steadfast in what is just.

I seek divine guidance in order to be firm in righteousness.

I seek divine guidance in the manner that I express my gratitude for Your favours and worship with devotion.

I seek from You a tongue that speaks the truth and a heart which is pure and clean.

I seek from You the ability to utilize the time You have entrusted me with for the best of purposes that will lead me to You.

O Allah, I beg you to grant me the good of this day and the good of what comes after it.

O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of this day and the evil of what comes out of it.

O Allah, I beg you to grant me the good of this day, its victory, its assistance, its light, its blessing and its right guidance.

If Allah brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
In Happy moments, praise Allah.
In Difficult moments, seek Allah.
In Quiet moments, worship Allah.
In Painful moments, trust Allah.
In Every moment, in every time, thank Allah.

And make Du’a for this humble speck and her battle with PROCRASTINATION….and all time wasting things, and, and, and, and forgive me if you are one of the many awaiting my communication…..and Insha’Allah I will do the same for you for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.

I conclude by sharing as our illustrious Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu did as they departed in these very streets: 

By the time. Verily man is in a state of loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and one another to endurance. (103:1-3)

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

An additional link, 

http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/feelnikon/discovery/universcale/index_f.htm

see brother Irving’s comment and link also. Amazing!