O Allah! Bestow mercy upon Muhammad equivalent to the amount of all those reciting salaat upon him, and bestow mercy on Muhammad as much as the number of all those who fail to recite salaat on him, and bestow mercy upon Muhammad as You did command us to recite salaat on him, and bestow mercy on Muhammad in the manner that You love the salaat to be recited on him, and bestow mercy on him in the most appropriate manner that salaat should be recited upon him.

 

 

 

It’s a haunting lanscape between the Enlightened City and the Place of Honouring. Stark reminders of a primordial past, a harsh present, and only Allah Ta’ala the One knows what tomorrow will bring. SubhanAllah.  

 

 

Ancient black volacanic spewings create a desolate landscape for mile upon mile… 

 

 

….while the human condition spores a vista of litter; negligence, ignorance, arrogance, disrespect, irreverence. Sad enough to be along the highway, but when one is faced with similar scenes in the courtyard of Masjid Nabawi the sorrow is beyond description.  

~*~   

We are servants of whatever we love. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “May the servant of the dinar whither! May the servant of the dirham whither! May the servant of coins whither! May their hands whither, their heads hang low, and their feet stumble! If they should step on a thorn may there be nobody to remove it for them!” So be a servant of God with every object and in every situation, whether you are given to or prevented from receiving, whether you are debased or ennobled, whether you are raised to power or stripped of power, whether you are enriched or impoverished, whether you are expanded with joy or contracted with pain, whether you have what you need or need what you don’t have, whether you are in a hopeful condition or a desperate condition, whether you are passing away or remaining. These states are all the changing traces of divine activity. They are circumstances other than God that necessarily change and, in changing, transport you.

Now it is clear to you that people who are with their circumstances exist only for circumstances while circumstances exist for those who are with the One who transforms their circumstances. Shaykh al-Mursi has said, “Those who love to appear before others are servants of appearing. Those who love to be hidden from others are servants of hiding. But servants of God do not care whether God makes then appear before others or become hidden in anonymity.” Realize that the eternal One places you in a circumstance in order that you take something from the circumstance rather than having the circumstance taking something from you. Circumstance comes upon you bearing a gift for you: the potential for you to gain new knowledge about God. So turn to face each new circumstance uttering the name of the One who initiates (al-Mubdi)  Enter each changing circumstance and remain in it as you have received the gifts that it bears for you. Stay respectfully attentive and cultivate proper comportment while it faces you, turning your whole attention toward it. Recognize when it is beginning to pass away, and uttering the name of the One who calls to return (al-Mu’id) (Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah al-Iskandari)

~*~ 

May we all be sincere servants to Allah Ta’ala in each and every circumstance. 

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. 

 

 

 

Our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, There is a certain hour in the night wherein if a Muslim asks Allah Ta’ala for any good of this world and the Hereafter, Allah Ta’ala will certainly give it to him. And this continues throughout the night. 

Tahajjud; a most blessed prayer. (previous detailed post)

O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, and whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth and all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; and all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, And to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth and Paradise is true and Hell is true and all the Prophets (Peace be upon them) are true; and Muhammad is true, and the Day of Resurrection is true. O Allah! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and depend on You. And repent to You, and with Your help I argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) and I take You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me my previous and future sins; and whatever I concealed or revealed You are the One who make (some people) forward and (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but You.

 

 

Looking towards the northern wall of our Lady Fatimah RadhiAllah anha’s home where our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s offered Tahujjud, both alone and with Ahl Suffa, diagram here.

The plastic ’skirts’ attached to the columns that are on the periphery of the open umbrella areas are a relativley recent addition, protecting the Mushafs from the birds as they come and go for their ziyarah.

 

 

A closer view. Unfortunately bookcases have been placed in front of the decorative grill that surrounds the Mubarak Hujrah and the house of our Lady Fatimah RadhiAllahu anha. The oil painting of what seems to be a scene of Madinah, set in the Ottoman tile work always fascinates me…but I do not know the stroy behind it.

 

 

Taken from behind the raised platform looking towards the places of Tahujjud. Some narrations say this platform marks the place where the Ahl Suffa would stay, other narrations say it is to the right of this photo, and Allah the Almighty knows best. 

 

 

This is the Baqi side of the raised platform, Babun-Nisa to the immediate left and Bab Jibreel to the left of where the lights are. The framed Hilye hangs above the shelf of Mushafs. 

 

 

And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the Alameen, Al-Anbiya 21:107 is the main verse with the names Muhammad, Hameed, Mahmoud and Ahmad reading clockwise from the top right around the circular verses. I do not know the origin of this work either, please share if you know, Insha’Allah.

 

 

Rowdha As-Shareef is to the right of this corner. Note the elaborate Ottoman lighting fixture. It is one of a pair.  

 

 

NASRUN LINA ALLAH WA FATHUN QAREEB WA BASHIR AL MU’MINEEN
Help from Allah and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the believers.  As-Saff  61:13

 

 

A wider view of the platform, Babun-Nisa on the left.

This entire area is out of bounds for sisters during the crowded Umrah, Ramdhan, Hajj seasons…it is now fenced off and will be for months.  

Once again heartfelt appreciation to the Ashiq who dedicated his time to take photos for this humble space, JazakumuLlahu khairan katheeran.  

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. 

 

 

 

….for all seeking to wed, about to wed, just wed and all wedded….

 

 

 

From the traditions of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam:

Knowledge is an indispensable weapon against the ploy of Shaytan, without which couples remain susceptible and vulnerable.

The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so while she still has some crookedness.

The world and all its contents are but perishable commodities, and the best of perishable commodities is a pious wife.

No believing man should totally dislike a believing woman, his wife. If he dislikes something in her, there would be something else in her that he would like.

Should I not inform you of the best of man’s treasures? A pious wife, when he looks at her she pleases him.

The most perfect belief is that of those who are best mannered and tender to their wives.

A man will be rewarded for spending on his wife, even for putting a morsel of food in her mouth.

O people, fear Allah Ta’ala concerning your wives. You have taken them into your possession with the permission of Allah.

The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.

You shall not enter Paradise until you have faith, and you will not have faith until you love one another. Have mercy on those on the earth, and He Who is in Heaven will have mercy on you.

When a woman seeks the pleasure of her husband and carries out her domestic duties to his satisfaction, she gets the same reward as the men get for their services to Allah Ta’ala.

If it were permissible to prostrate to any one besides Allah Ta’ala, I would have asked the woman to prostrate before the husband.

A woman cannot do what she owes to Allah Ta’ala until she has done what she owes to her husband.

Everyone of you should adopt a remembering tongue, a thanking heart, and a believing wife who may help you in preserving your Iman.

 

 

The Road of Deliverance; a talk given to sisters by an Alim Rahmatullah alaihi, who rests in Jannatul Baqi having spent decades in Makkah and Madinah tracing the footsteps of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum.

1.       One pious woman is better than 70 Saints, Awliya, and one pious woman means the whole family is pious, while one sinning woman affects seven generations.

2.       One sinning woman is worse than one thousand sinning men.

3.       The two raka’at prayer of a pregnant woman is 80 times better than the two raka’t prayer of a non-pregnant woman.

4.       Allah Ta’ala grants a breast feeding woman one good deed for every drop of milk she feeds her baby.

5.       The woman that welcomes and comforts her husband when he comes home, Allah Ta’ala grants her the reward equal to that of half a jihad.

6.       The woman that cannot sleep at night due to her child’s crying is given a reward equal to that of freeing 20 slaves.

7.       For the husband or wife who looks upon each other with kindness, Allah Ta’ala looks upon both of them with His Mercy.

8.       If a woman cannot sleep due to comforting her sick child Allah Ta’ala forgives all her sins and bestows upon her a reward equal to twelve years of worship.

9.       If a woman recites ‘Bismillah’ before milking her cow or buffalo, that animal prays for her.

10.   If a woman recites ‘Bismillah’ while kneading flour Allah Ta’ala adds Barakah to the flour.

11.   The woman who enjoys looking at other men is cursed by Allah Ta’ala. As it is Haram for men to look at non-mehrim women it is also Haram for women to look at non-mehrim men.

12.   The woman who does Dhikr whilst doing her housework is rewarded by Allah Ta’ala as if she was cleaning the Ka’abah.

13.   If you do not practice modesty then do as you like.

14.   A woman who is steadfast with her prayer and fasting and is chaste and loyal to her husband has the choice of entering Jannah through any door.

15.   There are two people whose prayers do not go above their heads; the runaway slave and the woman who is disloyal to her husband.

16.   A pregnant woman’s day is considered equal to a day of fasting and her night to a night of worship.

17.   When a woman gives birth, Allah Ta’ala bestows upon her a reward similar to that of 70 years of worship, plus for every pain she endures during labour she receives the reward equivalent to one Hajj.

18.   If a woman dies within 40 days after childbirth she is given the rank of a martyr.

19.   If a baby cries and the mother feeds it without cursing she will be given a reward equivalent to one year of Ibadah.

20.   When a child reaches the age of weaning an angel comes to give the good news to the mother that he child’s entry to Jannah is Wajib.

21.   Whenever a husband returns from a journey and is fed by his wife who has remained chaste and loyal during his absence she will be rewarded with 12 years of nafl worship.

22.   When a woman massages her husband without him asking she is bestowed with the reward equal to 7 tola (1 tola=11grams) of gold in sadaqat. If she massages him after her requests it then she is rewarded 7 tola of silver.

23.   For the woman whose husband is satisfied with her and then she dies, Jannah becomes Wajib for her.

24.   To teach one’s wife one mas’ala is to get the reward equal to 80 years of worship.

25.   In Jannah people will go to visit Allah Ta’ala, but for the woman who practices purdah and modesty in Dunya, Allah Ta’ala will come to visit her.

 

 

Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring. Make us good examples to those who are aware of You.   (25:74)

O Allah! Unite our hearts, grant us compatibility and love. Bless us with contentment and happiness.

O Allah! Forgive us and shroud us with Your protection and mercy. Ameen. 

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. 

 

 

 

 

Allah has not created a disease except that He has created a cure for it; except for a single disease: old age. (Tirmidhi)

We are all wayfarers on the ‘Hereafterly Path’, each step taking us closer to this destination as well as taking us further from our youth. This is a touching Du’a for those of us stepping into the soft and subtle hue of twilight!

 

 

O Allah make most of the rizq you bestow upon me during my old age when nothing is left of my time.

O Allah make the best of my time at the end of it and the best of my deeds the last of them and the best of my days the day I meet You.

O You the Supporter of Islam and its people, make me firm upon it till I meet You. Ameen.

 

 

 

 

 

…new season dates shyly adorn dense groves…

 

 

….and the speck almost takes off on the way to the water containers…

 

 

 

 

…we prayed Maghrib here… 

 

 

 

On Silence (Samt)

‘Abd Allah bin Yusuf al-Isphahani informed us…through Abu Hurairah RahdiAllahu anhu that the Messenger of God SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Whosoever believes in God and the last day, let him not trouble his neighbor. Whosoever believes in God and the last day, let him be generous to his guest. Whosoever believes in God and the last day, let him say what is good or let him be silent.”

Ali bin Ahmad Abdan informed us….that Ukbah bin Amir RadhiAllahu anhu said, “I asked, O Messenger of God, what is salvation?” He said, “’Keep your tongue to yourself, stay home, and weep over your sins.’”

Silence is security. That is the root of the matter. This can be cause for remorse on occasions when keeping quiet is blameworthy. What is necessary is that one choose speech or silence according to the divine law and the obligation of a Muslim to command what is good and forbid what is evil. To say nothing at the proper time is a characteristic of true men, just as to speak at the proper occasion is one of the noblest qualities. I heard Abu Ali al-Daqqaq say, “Whoever holds back from speaking the truth is a devil without a tongue.”

One should be silent in the presence of God. God Most High said,

When the Qur’an is recited, hearken to it and give ear so that you may receive mercy  (7:204)

And He said, referring to the Jinn who were in the presence of the Messenger,

When they were present with him, they said, ‘Listen!’  (46:29)

And

Voices will be lowered for the Beneficent, so that nothing will be heard but a whisper  (20:108)

What a difference is there between a servant who is silent to protect himself from lying and gossiping and a servant who is silent because he is overwhelmed by the power of the awe he feels!

Silence has two parts, outer quiet and the quiet of the heart and mind. Someone who trusts in God stills his heart as a way of laying claim to his sustenance. The Gnostic stills his heart in acceptance of destiny through the quality of harmony with God. The one relies upon the fineness of His work. The other is content with the totality of His decrees. With this meaning they have said:

His misfortunes came over you,

And the cares of your inner being were relieved.

Bishr bin al-Harith said, “When speech makes you conceited, be silent. When silence makes you conceited, speak.” Sahl ibn Abd Alah al-Tustari said, “Silence is not appropriate for a person until his ego has been compelled to retreat. Repentance is not appropriate for a person until his ego has been compelled to silence.”

It is related that Muadh bin Jabal said, “Speak to people little and speak to your Lord much. Perhaps your heart will see God Most High. Someone asked Dhul-Nun al-Misri, “Who among people best protests his heart?” He replied, “The one among them who best controls his tongue.”

Ibn Masud said, “Nothing is worthier of a stay in prison than the tongue.” Ali bin Bukkar said, “God Most High made two doors for everything, but He made four doors for the tongue, the lips are two leaves of a door, and the two jaws are the two leaves of a door. It is said that Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, for many used to hold a stone in his mouth in order to limit his speech.

A wise man said that the human being was created with only one tongue, but with two eyes and two ears so that he may hear and see more than he says. Ibrahim bin Adham was invited to a banquet. When he sat down the guests began to gossip. He remarked, “It is our custom to eat the meat course after the bread, but you have begun by eating the meat! (He was pointing to the saying of God,

Would one of you like to eat the dead flesh of his brother? No, you would abhor it  (59:12)

A Sufi said, “Silence is the tongue of forbearance.” Another said. “Learn silence as you have learned speech. Speech will guide you, and silence will protect you. It is said, “The chastity of the tongue is its silence.” And it is said, “The tongue is like the beast of prey. If you do not tie it up, it will attack you.”

Abu Hafs was asked, “Which is better for the Friend of God, speech or silence?” He replied, “If the one who speaks knew what disasters there are in speech, he would be silent even if he lived as long as Noah, and if the one who keeps silent knew what disasters there are in silence, he would pray to God Most High twice as much as Noah did until he could speak.”

Excerpts from Qushayri. This is a brilliant book, elaborating the main stations and states while referring to Qur’an, Hadith and a rich array of scholars.

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

…a respectful reflection on silence one.

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.