Monthly Archives: August 2008

sizzling, day one

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Ramadhan means to be scorched, parched. Just as the sun-baked earth is cracked and shriveled with the searing heat, so it is hoped with this Mubarak month, that our sins are similarly burnt and shrivel away as our hearts and souls are subjected to this intense purification process.  

This City of Enlightenment is sizzling, literally and spiritually.

Ramadhan is also the month of the Qur’an. Jibreel Alaihis Salam was commanded to fill the horizon as he came to our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as he meditated in the Cave of Hirra, high on Jabal Nur above the Makkan valley, with the very first words of Revelation. And every subsequent year Jibreel Alaihis Salam would sit with our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam reading and listening to his recitation, with two readings in the final Ramadhan of the life of HabibuLlah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

The venerable Mu’adh ibn Jabal RadhiAllahu anhu tells us that he was going somewhere one day in the company of our Master, the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: “Messenger of Allah,’ said I, ‘tell me something that will be useful for me in this world and the next, if I apply it in my life and put it into practice.’ Our Master, peace be upon him, replied: ‘If you wish to live like the blessed, to die like the martyrs, to enjoy the shade of the Throne in the heat of the Day of Ressurection and to achieve guidance out of error, then practice the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. For the Holy Qur’an is the Speech of the All-Merciful. It will being you within God’s fortress and protect you from the mischief of Satan. On the Day of the Balance, it will fill up the right scale, the good one. The most meritorious forms of worship from my Community are reading the Qur’an and acting on what they have read. Every responsible member of my Community must learn to read the Holy Qur’an, keep on reading it and make it his preoccupation.’”

May we all strive, regardless of our ability or level of recitation, to devote to this Divine Speech in these next thirty days of extreme blessing.

And repeat the words of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: “I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or which you revealed in Your Book, or which You taught to any of Your creation, or which You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.”

I repost this chart. May it be of assistance.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Tune into the Haramain:

http://www.haramainrecordings.com/

http://muslimtents.com/iharam/madeenah.html

 

I have chosen the delightful manuscript ‘The Sanctuary it Medina’ from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin as the Ramadhan 1429 banner.  It presents a metaphor of being intimately enclosed within a hallowed sanctuary with our Blessed Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam for the next thirty days.  May his perfection seep into our hearts and souls, Ameen.

And the words of Allah Ta’ala fill the skies:  "Does anyone have a request to make, so I may grant his request? Is there anyone who wishes to repent, so that I may relent towards him and accept his repentance? Is there anyone wishing to seek forgiveness, so I may forgive him?…"

O Allah to help us fast this Ramadan in the way it pleases You the most so that we may enter Your Garden through the Gate of Ar-Rayyan, to be in the company of Your Beloved SallAllahu alahi wasallam.  

O Allah, we ask you by Your Beautiful Names and Attributes of higher rank, and by all the sincere deeds we have done, do not deprive us from his company, and do not deprive us from looking at you in Paradise. Aameen

All praise is due to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would not have been guided, had Allah not guided us.

Wa salla Allahu `ala Nabiyyina Mohammad wa `ala ‘aalihi wa sahbihi

Insha’Allah I will attempt to post as much as is written during these days. I am attempting to file whatever posts I manage under the category of Ramadhan 1429. Insha’Allah it works, otherwise I will have to revert to the current unsatisfactory system :)

 Now to rush to the first night of Taraweeh in Masjid an-Nabawi!

ALLAH, on this day make my fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely), and my standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one who forgives the sinners. Ramadhan Du’a day one, go to Darvish for the complete month. 

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. 

 

a new book

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Shaykh Muhammad b. Yahya al-Ninowy’s words of praise for the recent publication of the translation of Imam ‘Abdullah Sirajuddin al-Husayni’s volume, Our Master Muhammad, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, The Messenger of Allah, His Sublime Character and Exalted Attributes, leaves one eager to read this glowing work, extolling the virtues and perfection of the best of creation, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam:

‘It is as though the Shaykh (ra) was looking directly at the Messenger of Allah (asws) before him as he wrote, deriving his beautiful expressions from the light of his (asws) countenance, so that by divine providence his insight was opened, and he grazed in the pastures of subtle secrets, uncovering the beauty and perfection of the Messenger’s (asws) character, imbibing the fragrance of the Prophetic Sunnah, bathing in the light of the Muhhammadan reality and its meanings, and tasting of its fruits, and then gathering all of these illuminations in a work so noble and rarefied that it would not be surprising if it were to be read to a sick person and so cure him.’

I wanted to share the following from the chapter ‘His Eloquence and Wisdom’, as an excellent preparatory lesson for the heart and soul as we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Mubarak month of Ramadhan.

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s counsel which encompassed wisdom and manners.

Abi Dharr RadhiAllahu anhu said: ‘I said, “O Messenger of Allah, counsel me.” He said: “I counsel you to be conscious of Allah, for it will beautify your whole affair.” (In another narration: “For it is the head of the entire affair.”)

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Recite the Qur’an, and make remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, for it is remarked of you in the heavens, and a light for you on the earth.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Be silent often, for it casts Satan out, and It aids you in your religious affairs.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Beware of much laughter, for it kills the heart, and takes the light of the face.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Speak the truth, even if it is bitter.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Do not fear to face criticism in Allah’s cause.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Let what you know about yourself prevent you from (finding fault) in others.” (note: Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Tabarani, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih and Hakim [and the wording is his] who said: ‘Its chain is rigorously authentic.’ [Al-Targhib])

The narration in Ibn Hibban’s Sahih adds, after his SallAllahu alaihi words ‘beware of much laughter’:

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Perform Jihad, for it is monasticism of my community.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Love the poor, and sit with them.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Look at those who are lower than you (note: that is in worldly affairs) and do not look at those who are higher than you, for it will be better to facilitate your not taking Allah’s blessings upon you lightly.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Speak the truth, even if it is bitter.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me more.”

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Let that which you know about yourself prevent you from the people, (note: That is, let the faults that you know you have prevent you from speaking about others, and their deeds, for it is doubtful that you are free of defects like the defects of other people, or uglier, whether you recognize it or not. [Sharh al-Munawi] and do not take issue with what they do, (note: That is, do not be angry with them for what they do to you. [Sharh al-Munawi ‘ala al-Jami al-Saghir] it is enough of a defect that you should recognize in people that which you ignore in yourself.”

Tabarani’s narration has it: ‘”It is enough of a fault in a person that he has three attributes: he recognizes in people that which he ignores in himself, and he is ashamed of them for that which he is also guilty of, and he is ashamed of then for that which he is also guilty of, and he harms his companions.” The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then beat his hand on my (Abu Dharr’s) chest, and said: “O Abu Dharr, there is no intelligence like being prepared, and no piety like abstinence, (note: That is from that which the heart is troubled concerning its permissibility or impermissibility.) and there is no honour like good conduct.”’

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. 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Juma’ah, the Scent of Paradise

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The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: ‘Jibreel Alaihis Salam came to me and in his hand was like a clear white mirror with a black spot in it.’

I said, ‘Jibreel, what is this?’

He said, ‘This is Friday’

I said, ‘What about Friday?’

He said, ‘There is goodness for you in it.’

I said, ‘What do we have on it?’

He said, ‘It is a happy day for you and for your people after you.’

I said, ‘What do we have on it?

He said, ‘There is an hour on that day in which if any Muslim servant asks Allah Ta’ala for anything in this world or the Hereafter and it is decreed for him, Allah Ta’ala will answer him. Or if it is not decreed for him, Allah Ta’ala will save something better for him. Or if he seeks Allah Ta’ala’s refuge from evil that is destined to him, Allah Ta’ala will take some worse evil away from him.’

I said, ‘What is this black spot in it?’

He said, ‘It is the Day of Resurrection and it will occur on a Friday. For us it is the superior of all days and on the Day of Resurrection, we call it The Day of Excess.’

I said, ‘Why?’

He said, ‘Because Your Lord the Exalted and Blessed took in Paradise a valley of white musk. On Friday, He the Almighty descends from ‘Iliyun on His Kursi. Then He surrounds the Kursi with pulpits of light, and then He salutes the Prophets till they sit on them. Afterwards, He surrounds the pulpits with golden seats, then the true believers and the martyrs come and sit on them. The people of the chambers descend to sit on those grains of aromatic musk.

Then their Lord, the Exalted and Blessed, shows Himself to them and says, ‘Ask for anything and I will give it to you.’

They ask for His satisfaction.

He then says, ‘My satisfaction with you is that I make you dwell in My Place and grant you My Grace. Ask Me and I will give it to you.’

They ask Him for His satisfaction and He announces that He is pleased with them. They will have opened for them equal to their worship on Friday what an eye never saw and an ear never heard of and what a human heart never thought of. Then Allah Ta’ala ascends followed by the Messengers. The true believers and martyrs ascend and the people of the chambers return to their chambers, which are white pearls free of defects or cracks, or red pearls or green chrysolite wherein are rooms and doors. Attached to them are rivers continuously flowing and fruits are hanging down. The need of that day is only to look more at their Lord and they get more of His Honour.’ (ibn Abi Shibah)

 

When the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi was asked why Friday was called Juma’ah he said, ‘It was called Juma’ah because Adam was brought together (created) on that day. [Juma’ah is from the same root as the word meaning ‘brought together’.]

Allah Ta’ala’s messeneger SallAllahu alaihiwasllam said, ‘Why was it called Juma’ah?’ because on it was formed the mud of your father and on it are the Blast, the Resurrection and the Impact, and on it will be the last three hours, one of which will be an hour that Allah Ta’ala will answer the one who prays to Him in it.’ (Ahmad)

 

The Truthful Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, ‘There is an hour on Friday that no believing servant witnesses praying and asking Allah Ta’ala for anything but Allah Ta’ala answers him.’ He was asked, ‘Which hour is it, Oh Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘The hour between Asr prayer and sunset.’ (Al-Hakim)

 

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, ‘The best day on which the sun ever rose is Firday. Adam was created on it, entered into the Garden on it and taken out from it, forgiven and died on it. On Friday will be the Hour. All creatures wake up on Friday afraid till the sun rises for fear of Resurrectionexcept the son of Adam. On Friday is an hour that no good servant witnesses while praying and asks Allah Ta’ala for anything but He grants it to him.’ (Malik and Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Al-Hakim)

The Scent of Paradise, a small volume by Abdul Aziz al-Shinnawy on Yaumul Juma’ah.

 

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

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. 

 

 

a stroll

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SMILES…I thought that I would be spending days sorting out the copious mess I have made with the voluminous list of categories. Progress is happening behind the scenes with the ‘experts’ still mulling and advising, Alhumdulillah. So until I am occupied with attacking the task of changing things I thought I would quickly share some photos from this afternoon. 
 
 
 
 
The building on the western edge of the courtyard. Imagine owning the apartment at the top. An uninterrupted view of the Dome of Contentment, SubhanAllah, as seen by turning 180 degrees, below.
 
 
 
The sky this afternoon was a threatening grey. Such a contrast to the usual rich vivid blue. The air still and humid with a biting, head exploding temperature.
 
 
 
Rolls of cleaned carpets are regularly wheeled across the courtyard from a storage area behind the above building, routinely replacing thousands. New carpets were recently layed throughout the Masjid, including the green ones in Rowdha Shareef.
 
 
 
 
I needed to go to one of the many bookshops located in the buildings around Haram and was amused by this cover! Some one being ‘creative’, adding a niqab! Reminding of a blog I read yesterday by American Bedu on censorship within the Kingdom. A very lively debate ensued via the comments.
 
 
 
The censorship of images is one thing, but it is the range of titles that are banned that irks me. All stores have a very limited selection, and only ‘approved’ publishers are permitted. There are hundreds of excellent texts throughout the Islamic world that should be made available here. Insha’Allah the Light emanating from the Noble Resident of the Dome of Peace SallAllahu alaihi wasallam will once again penetrate and illuminate minds. 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. 

 

 

seventeen

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I Once Complained

Only once did I ever grumble at how Fortune treated me. I was so poor that I could not even afford shoes, and went into the mosque at Kufah with a sore and complaining heart. There I saw a man with no feet.

~*~

Market Value

I saw an Arab merchant sitting among some jewellers at Basrah. He told them this story: ‘I once lost my way in the desert. Soon I had eaten every scrap of food and I knew that I was not far from death. In despair, I searched again through my luggage and found a bag which felt to me as if it were full of grain. You can imagine my joy, my absolute ecsasty!

Imagine my despair and bitterness, then, when I got the bag open. It was full of pearls.’

~*~

Removing the Rubbish

When the young traveler got off the boat, they saw that he looked wise, devout and humble that there was only one place at which he could possibly stay.

They deposited his luggage at the monastery. There the youth was made welcome by the pious community.

One day the head of the community said to the youth:

‘Would you please sweep the rubbish away from the mosque?’

That was the last they saw of him. All were puzzled, but decided that he had no aptitude for work.

But next day, one of the servants of the community happened to catch sight of the youth, and stopped him.

‘It was foolish of you to go off like that,’ he remarked. ‘Don’t you know that it is only by service that you climb the ladder?’

At this the youth wept.

‘Oh my friend,’ he cried, ‘what could I do? I looked around and the place was spotless. I therefore concluded that the head of the community was referring to me! I removed myself so that the place should remain pure and spotless.’

From Sa’di The Discontented Dervishes. 

~*~

What is it to Lose a Donkey….?

Ali al-Nasafi had lost his donkey. Setting out to look for it, he met an unbeliever along the way. Turning back at once, he fell in prostration. In that prostration he prayed:

“My God, I may have lost my donkey, but this unbeliever has lost his faith. His misfortune is much greater than my own. I offer thanks and praise to You for not having made my misfortune the same as his. I went in search of a donkey worth a few dollars, while he was going along without bothering to look for what he had lost, though it was no less than his God and his religion, more precious than this world and all it contains. O Lord, do not cause me to lose my religion and my faith, for the loss of these is the greatest misfortune of all.”

From Sheikh Muzaffer, Irshad Wisdom of a Sufi Master 

~*~

Sayyid Abu Bakr ibn Ali Ibrahim al-Bayti asked Imam al-Haddad about the saying of Shaykh Yahya ibn Mu’ath al-Razi:  “Abandon all the world and you will find all the world. To take it is to abandon it and to abandon it is to take it.”

He answered: The words are clear and show not the least obscurity. They mean that whoever abandons the whole world in renunciation, God will compensate him with repose both in his heart due to giving up avidity and preoccupation, and in his body due to giving up striving and seeking. Reasonable men only wish for repose in the world, for this do people strive and aspire outwardly and inwardly, but they miss the way to it which is only found by the renunciates. This is indicated by the saying of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: “Renouncing the world rests the heart and body, while the wish for it increases worry and sadness.” A sage was once asked: “To whom does the world belong?” He said: “To those who abandon it.” And: “To whom does the hereafter belong?” He said: “To those who pursue it.”   

From Imam al-Haddad, The Sublime Treasures 

~*~

I leave you to ponder while I disappear for however long it takes for me to act upon the advice given by the helpful souls who responded to my call for assistance with this blog. Insha’Allah I will return after dealing with tasks that are easy for those who know, but that I have been unable to fathom.  Insha’Allah without creating a bigger mess than what already is  :)

 

~*~ 

 

Edit: Remiss of me not to acknowledge the source of the heart penetrating ALLAH image that I have chosen as the favoured header for these posts. Tranquilart can be found here and here. Jazakillahu khairan katheeran for allowing me to share your work. May Allah Ta’ala continue to inject your hands and heart with His creative energy, 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. 

 

 

 

first umbrellas

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…there is constancy in the changes around Masjid Nabawi…
 
…the evolution of this awesome umbrella project could be months…
 
 
 
…the sixth one added to the area near Bab as Salam…. 
 
 
 
 
…an almost balletic elegance whether closed or open…
 
 
 
 
 
….the next phase; four more having arrived in the past few days… 
 
 
 
 
…to the south of the Dome of Peace… 
 
 
….in the section of the courtyard which is in front of the Imam, and thus Salat cannot be offered here. I thought it strange that they were not covering one of the more popular places for Salat, or attending to some in the sisters areas… 
 
 
 
…as regular as clockwork, daily after Asr, brothers scrub rubber matting…the truck with the umbrella behind them… 
 
 
 
 
…moving to the eastern side…this was open for sisters two days ago, now workers completing the marble slabs adjacent to the Masjid, while a new walkway has been opened for sisters. Jannatul Baqi on the left with crowds filling the ramp, while the area between this and the Masjid boundary fence is abuzz with vendors….  
 
 
 
….walking towards the north eastern prayer area for sisters..extension work continues to the right with resplendent Jabal Uhud in the distance…. 
 
 
 
….sisters seem to be floating on water…. 
 
 
 
….years of congestion transformed… 
 
 
 
….one sensing how Bilqees Alaihas Salam needed to lift her dress…
 
 
 Alhumdulillah for all that Allah Ta’ala has bestowed of knowledge and skill to benefit the Ummah.

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. 

 

 
 
 

interconnected threads

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A seemingly disconnected tangle of threads.
But in reality
we, and all we do
are part of this embellished embroidery
called LIFE.
 
 ~*~ 
 
A wealth of Ramadhan treats. Each one leading to treasure boxes of links covering numerous aspects of Ramadhan. I especially found the following 1,2, to contain an abundance of ideas for children for instilling a love and understanding of this Mubarak month. 
 
~*~
 
Two four year olds living across the globe from each other, both little Mu’mineen from a home school environment, Masha’Allah. May Allah Ta’ala continue to bless parents and the homes of those who value this style of education. Ameen

Umm Adam tells:

‘Yesterday after getting up, Adam was sittin with a frown on his face, Mother said she is not goin to bake any more cakes for him if his face is not happy all the time since it takes lots of effort to make a cake. He instantly showed his teeth , then straining to keep from frowning, keeping his teeth out, he asked  but look, if im not crying n not laughin either, but im showing my teeth, would u consider it a happy face?"’

 
 
 
And Ismail’s rendition of a masjid bursts with unique and creative colour. May the witnessing of the crescent moon we anxiously await for, heralding the start of Ramadhan be as clear to all as Ismail has portrayed it here. Wishful thinking? ‘Khaled Al-Zuaq, member of the Arab Federation of Space Sciences and Astronomy stressed the need for a meeting of astronomers and religious scholars to bring an end to the row over moon-sighting and avoid errors.’ Today’s Arab News.
 
~*~ 
 
 
 
 
 

Two scanned photos from the Arabic daily, Al Watan, of the thousands of date laden trucks taking the years harvest throughout the Kingdom to meet the demand for dates for Iftar. SubhanAllah. And this is from only one producing area. SubhanAllah!

~*~
 
While this image could be an aerial view of a road map…but no. This is a detail of how worn and thread bare is a seam from a pair of pyjamas I made my son more than fifteen years ago! Shock and horror when I saw them on our recent visit, not believing that he would still be wearing them. He had refused to discard them telling those who wanted to trash them: "My mother made them." Two new pair are cut out ready to be sewn and sent in time for Eid, Insha’Allah.

 

 
 
 ~*~
 

‘Oh traveller of this world your destination is the grave
this journey for which you are preparing will last for only two days
Since the creation of this world, thousands and millions have arrived
No one is left, they have been engulfed in soil
Do not forget this… this will be everyones final abode
 
Oh traveller of this world your destination is the grave
With your own eyes…how many burials have you witnessed?
With your own hands…how many of the dead have you buried?
Of your own consequences…why are you so unaware?
 
These great mansions you have, they are of no use
These tall and lofty buildings that you have built, they are of no use
Only two metres of this vast earth will be your small home
 
Here today…Gone tomorrow…
You are not to stay in this world, your destination is to leave
This journey for which you are preparing will last for only two days’ 

 
 
 
 The view from where friends were staying last week, with Jabal Uhud ever present, but hidden in the background.
 
~*~ 
 
 
 
A copy of the statistics of this blog from Friday 15th-Friday 22nd August, with the page hits spiking considerably. From this traffic I feel there must be some clever reader out there who may be able to assist me with the design/layout of this blog. And who may beable to shed some light on this ‘crazy mind of its own font!’ GGRRRRRRRR. I have never been content with my limited knowledge of how to organize it, espcially the very weird category set up!  I would like the site to reflect a more professional format. I have tried, but always hestitate at the last moment fearing I will lose everything. Anyone???? Suggestions??? Insha’Allah.
~*~ 

“The path to God is a well trodden path underpinned by certain knowledge and paved with sincerity in ones absolute poverty in front of the Divine. Free of obscurities, its night is like its day.”

 

~*~
JazakumuLlahu khairan for all who have shared directly and indirectly to this ramble. May unlimited blessings be showered from HU Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala upon you all, 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.