Foretold

Half-of-the-Universe-s-Stars-Are-Vagabonds-Aimlessly-Floating-Between-Galaxies-464399-2.jpg

As the world is blood bathed, the strings and drums they turn up their volume to drown out reality

And the story begins, somewhere in the middle.

When they drew a line on a map and called it “borders”, named it “country” and fenced down your “values” to a “nation”.

Then they teach you humanity, and you turn right and left based on some axis and hope it works out. To what they pointed out as your limit, or stretch it a bit further to a land you’ve visited. Or maybe where your blood kin stays for the time being and is in your conscious?

Or find it so difficult that you pull back your vision and diminish it so that everything else is out of focus ; except the only people you hold dear to.

And then when you feel betrayed somehow, run around serving your own deeds to find some purpose. Some use of existing, or find where you’d likely “belong to?” . Phrases coined from fiction and books, you gave some thought to… And what you cannot empathize with, you leave it, because your brain should “get it”.

And you’ve got to be ethical

An “educated” mind and too many words you’ve got to fit into your senses
Yet somehow when you measure them with reality it still adds up to zero.

And you turn your face towards someone who speaks a word of sense and then when they do,  their actions never measure up. They yell “revolution” for a better world,  a protest, then chit-chat, lo! turn away to the opening notes of distraction dressed to undress.

What does your conscience base on…

Believe in diversity yet think our minds can agree on solutions.

Make machines for our limited eyes and believe we see world-wide solutions

How many more contradictions?

When we know everyone stuff their pocket to get a piece of gold bread, and as if someone in need can free their needs for the global planet

I’ve turned around the world map and I’ve lost direction

To live in a world that screams for help yet accept the best as which comes in a compromised package of contradictions?

I still refuse to believe that good and evil will be this muddled. When innately we humans always search for “clear” in speculation or be it objects.

Yes if you look with me around the world map, all you see are ideas which mean nothing, because the world is still bathed in bloody famine. At  best, try to find a place in some jargon and fit me down into another label. Inanity, if it ends up still at nothing.

Back to square one.

But I’m done, I’ve lost hope in mankind. And everything else limited.

All the complains and the noises, all that I cannot take on just two shoulders.

So I looked up and noticed; after restriction, my chest expanded.

As limited as I am, the sky stretched above, and hasn’t ended…

Whoever created it, and is all above that, must have all answers.

I opened The Book, and sank into eons of wonders….

Explanation of the verse Light upon Light 24:35

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said regarding the saying of Allaah, The Most High:

اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

((Allaah is The Light of the heavens and the earth.

The similitude of His Light is as a niche wherein there is a lamp, the lamp is within a crystal, the crystal is as if of star like brilliance.

It is kindled from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west whose oil would almost glow forth, though no fire touched it.

Light upon light; Allaah guides to His Light whom He wills.

And Allaah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allaah is All-Knowing of everything.)) (An-Nūr: 35)

Ubay bin Ka’ab said: “It is like His light which is found in the heart of the Muslim.” And this is the very light which Allaah placed in the heart of His servant by way of awareness of Him and having love of Him as well as having Eemaan (true belief) in Him and in remembrance of Him. It is His light which He revealed to them and thus by means of it gave them life; and made them walk amongst the people with it. Its origin is found in their hearts; so its ingredient gains strength and so increases until it manifests upon their faces and their limbs and their bodies – rather even in their clothing and their dwellings, it is visualized by those of their stock – whilst the majority of the creation disapprove of it.

Then when The Day of Resurrection occurs, that light will emerge and will be on their right hand sides and running (shining) before them in the darkness of the Bridge – until they cross it. They will be upon it in accordance to ones strength or weakness in their hearts in the life of this world. So from them will be those whose light will be like the sun, whilst another will be like the moon and another like a star and another like a lamp and another will be given light which will obscure his own feet – illuminating for a moment and extinguishing the next. If this is the condition of his light in the life of this world; then at the Bridge he will be given the equivalent of that – rather it will be the very same light which will become visually apparent unto him.

Thus; whilst the hypocrites possessed no firmly established light in the life of this world; rather their light was outwardly apparent – not inwardly, they will be given light which will be apparent, yet its consequential inclination will be to darkness and disappearance.

Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic, struck a similitude for this light, as well as for its location and its carrier and its ingredient; of an example of a niche – and that is an aperture found in the wall – it accordingly is the example of the chest. In that niche is a crystal of the most clearest of crystals, such that it is likened to star like brilliance in terms of its whiteness and its clarity; and it is the example of the heart, it is likened to a crystal because it gathers the attributes which are to be found in the heart of the believer, and they are: clarity and gracious amiability and firm unyieldingness. So it sees the truth and guidance by way of its clarity and so by way of that it attains compassion and mercy and tenderness by way of its gracious amiability. It also strives against the enemies of Allaah, The Most High, and is severe upon them and is vehement in regards the truth – and so it is firm in its regard due to its firm unyieldingness.

Ibn al-Qayyim went on to state:

Contained within the crystal is a lamp; and it is the light which is in the wick – and it is its carrier; and for that light there is an ingredient – and it is oil which has been pressed out of an olive that originates from the most equitable of places. The sun gleams upon it at the first portion of the day as well as its latter; hence its oil is from the most clearest of oils and the furthest of them from cloudiness, such that due to its clarity it virtually illuminates without flame – this is the ingredient of the light of the lamp.

Likewise is the ingredient of the light of the lamp which is in the heart of the believer, it is derived from the tree of revelation which is from the greatest of factors for blessing – and the furthest of them from misguidance. Rather of the affairs it is that which holds the middle-course – as well as its most just and its finest. It does not deviate with the deviation of the Christians, nor with the deviation of the Jews. Rather it is a balanced middle-course between two blameworthy extremes in every regard.[1]For this is the ingredient of the lamp of Eemaan in the heart of the believer.

So whilst that oil becomes intense in its clarity as such that it is virtually illuminated by itself – then it fuses with the flame – and so its illumination becomes yet more intense and the ingredient of the illumination of the flame becomes stronger due to it – that then is light upon light.

Such is the case of the believer; his heart is illuminated and virtually knows the truth by way of his natural disposition and his intellect. However he has no ingredient from himself – so the ingredient of revelation comes and so makes contact with his heart and so infuses with his joy; hence he increases in light by way of the revelation upon his light which Allaah, The Most High, had naturally placed within him. Thus there are gathered for him the light of revelation along with the light of natural disposition – light upon light.

Therefore he virtually speaks with the truth – even if he has not heard a narration to its effect, then he hears the narration in accordance to what his natural disposition had witnessed; and so it becomes light upon light. This is the distinction of the believer who encounters the truth with his natural disposition as a whole, then he hears of a detailed narration regarding it – and hence his Eemaan rises aloft from the testimony of the revelation and the natural disposition.

So let the intelligent one pay attention to this magnificent ayah; and its conformity to these noble implications. For He, The Glorified and Most High, has mentioned His light in the heavens and the earth; and His light in the hearts of His believing servants. The light which is comprehended and witnessed with the discernment; as well as the hearts; and by way of which the sights and the hearts are illuminated. Likewise the light which is felt and witnessed with the sights, that by way of which the lands of the world are illuminated – both the northern and the southern hemispheres.

For they are both two great lights – one of them is yet greater than the other.

(Taken from: Al-Waabil as-Sayyib wa Raafi al-Kalim at-Tayyib p.119-123)

When the reward equals fifty…

In ‘ad-Durar as-Saniyyah’ (8/91-95), Shaykh Hasan bin Husayn (a grandson of Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Wahhab) was asked about the hadith: “…the one who does this will have the reward of fifty.”So, he replied:

“First of all, you should know that the hadith in question was reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah from ‘Utbah bin Hakim, from ‘Amr bin Harithah, from Abi Umayyah ash-Sha’bani, from Abi Tha’labah al-Khushani who commented on the verse: {“O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the right guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who are in error…”} [al-Ma’idah; 105] He said:

“By Allah, I asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) about this, and he said: “Rather, what this means is enjoin the good and prevent the bad until you see people succumb to covetousness, follow their desires, become corrupted by the worldly life, every one impressed with his own opinion, and you see that there is nothing else you can do. At that point, take care of yourself and don’t worry about the affair of the general populace, because there are indeed ahead of you days that require patience. Whoever is patient during those days will be like someone holding to a burning coal. And the one who does this from them will have the reward of fifty men who do what he is doing.” The Companions asked: “Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of those with him?” He said: “The reward of fifty of you.”“

…If you know this, you will see that the reason such a person deserves this great reward and his virtue is made equal to fifty of the Companions is that he has no helpers or aides, according to al-Hafidh Sulayman al-Khattabi and Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman bin Rajab and others.

And the one who clings to the stable and Prophetic path during corrupt times and confusion in beliefs is a stranger, even if he is in the presence of loved ones. Obstacles are everywhere, wrongdoing is rampant, ugliness and corruption have emerged, the Religion has been transformed and changed, desires and misguidance are followed, there is nobody to accompany and assist you, it is rare to find aMuwahhid whose company to enjoy, people have become like withering straw, the winds of war and conflict have blown everywhere, the evil of the hypocrites has spread, the patience of the righteous has worn thin, the paths to good have been cut off, the paths to misguidance and destruction have been made easy, there seems to be no way out, and it all seems inescapable.

So, the Muwahhid is in the midst of all this more noble than a red gem. Despite this, none respond to him and what he says. The banners of opposition have been rolled out against him, he is attacked with the arrows of enmity, the most spiteful eyes observe him, harm comes at him from every hypocrite, he has been made into a stranger, his heart is torn apart because of what has happened to the religion of Islam, falsehood has lit its fire, and its evil fills the sky.

With all of this, he follows the pure, straight religion, supported by the proofs and signs from Allah. So, tell me, by Allah: can this be except from one who has certainty and sincerity as high as a mountain in his heart, and has Tawhid, patience, faith, acceptance and submission to Allah’s Decree? And Allah has promised the patient an overwhelming reward: {“The patient will receive their reward without any limit…”} [az-Zumar; 10]

And some of the scholars – may Allah have Mercy on them – said: “Whoever follows the Qur’an and the Sunnah, migrates with his heart to Allah, and follows the footsteps of the Companions, the Companions will have nothing over him other than that they saw the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم).”

And in that era, they all had helpers, brothers, and people who stood by them. This is why ‘Ali bin al-Madini said, as mentioned by Ibn al-Jawzi in his book ‘Sifat as-Safwah’: “Nobody stood up for Islam after the Messenger of Allah the way Ahmad bin Hambal did.” He was asked: “O Aba al-Hasan, not even Abu Bakr?” He replied: “Abu Bakr had companions and helpers. Ahmad bin Hambal was accompanied by nobody.”

And al-Imam Ahmad reported from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So, glad tidings for the strangers.” He was asked: “Messenger of Allah, who are the strangers?” He replied: “Those who are outcasts from their tribes.” And this was narrated by Abu Bakr al-Ajuri with the wording: “Those who are righteous when the people are corrupt.” And others narrated this, and he also has the wording:“Those who flee for the sake of their religion from trials and tribulations.”

And at-Tirmidhi reported it from Kathir, from ‘Abdullah al-Muzani, from his father, from his grandfather, from the Prophet with the wording:“Those who correct what the people have corrupted of my Sunnah.” And al-Imam Ahmad reported it as well from Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas, and at-Tabarani reported from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar that the Prophet said: “Glad tidings to the strangers.” It was asked: “Who are the strangers?” He replied: “A tiny group of righteous people in the midst of a large number of corrupted people. Those who go against them are more than those who go along with them.” al-Awza’i explained this, saying: “Indeed, Islam does not fade away. Rather, Ahl as-Sunnah fade away, to the point that there will not remain in a particular land except one or two of them.”

And al-Bukhari reported from Mirdas as-Salami who said that the Messenger of Allah said: “The righteous will fade away one after the other, and only the useless remnants like straw or date fibers will remain. Allah will not care for them in the least.” And al-Hasan al-Basri would say to his companions: “O Ahl as-Sunnah! Be soft with each other, may Allah have Mercy on you, because you will be the first to fade away.” And Yusuf bin ‘Ubayd said: “There is nothing stranger than theSunnah, and what is stranger than it is the one who knows it…”

And Muslim reported in his ‘Sahih’ from Mu’aqqal bin Yasar that the Messenger of Allah said:“Worship during the time of tribulation and confusion is like migration to me.” And al-Hasan al-Basri said: “If a man from the first generation was to be resurrected today, he wouldn’t recognize anything from your Islam except the prayer.” He then said: “By Allah, as for the one who lives in the midst of these vices, sees the innovator calling to his innovation and the one infatuated with the worldly life calling to it, yet he remains protected by Allah with his heart yearning for this earlier generation, and he follows in their footsteps and traditions and way of life – such a person will have a great reward.”

And al-Mubarak bin Fudalah – one of the scholars of Hadith in al-Basrah – related that al-Hasan al-Basri was asked about a wealthy man living in luxury who had authority and would take people’s wealth claiming that there was nothing wrong with this, and a misguided innovatorKhariji who applied the verses about the kuffar on the Muslims. So, he said: “Your Sunnah, by Allah besides Whom none is worthy of worship. It is neither with the extreme or the negligent, the indulgent or the ignorant. So, be patient in sticking to it, as Ahl as-Sunnah are the fewest of people. They don’t indulge with the people of indulgence, and they don’t follow their desires along with the innovators. They were patient in sticking to their path until they met their Lord. So, be the same way, if Allah Wills.” He then said: “If a man saw these vices – this one calling him to itself, and that one calling him to itself – and he says ‘I don’t want anything but the Sunnah of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم),’ and he goes around seeking it out, such a person will have a great reward. So, be this way, if Allah Wills.”

And Muwarraq said: “The one who clings firmly to the obedience of Allah when others put it to the side is like the one who sticks around when everyone else has retreated.” Abu as-Sa’adat Ibn al-Athir said in ‘an-Nihayah’: “This means that if people abandon obedience to Allah and turn away from it, the person who holds tightly to it will have the same reward as one who stays firm in a battle after everyone has run away.””

(This was written over two hundred years ago. How much more would this apply today)

Taken from iskandrani.wordpress.com

Denial…

Capture

I’ve been trying to wake up from what felt like a dream
And yet I am trying to preserve that feeling, fleeing from anyone who would
bring me to reality…

It was everything I thought it would be.
And it was more…
As if the wind spoke to me when it touched me
And as the cold wrapped it’s arms around
Welcoming me like a soothing welcome home, it still was nothing
compared to what I saw when I looked around

The hills stood up grand, bearing it’s ghosts…
looking old and beautiful and I asked each one of them
“Was it you whom my beloved prophet walked on…”
“Did his blessed feet touch here, did he rest his back there…”

was it here his blood drops fell, was this where he made wuloo…
I was in a trance, and I couldn’t believe people lived their normal lives
Because I was living a dream, a poem I didn’t write…a feeling, I knew, wouldn’t last

I couldnt take it in and I had to leave it…
All the hills, rocks and sand that spoke of legacies didn’t satisfy me
As I knew my empty heart was still searching the faith the desert held
The khushoo with which they lay silently whispering their salah…
And it’s anguish upon anguish to have turned my back returning
to the abyss of darkness, enemity, filth and pain…

And I’ve left my heart, which ran away hiding
Deep into the folds of the hills on the road to madhinah

And I refuse to return…

 

Tawheed al-Asma was-Sifat (names and attributes)

Pertains to:
Attributing to Allah what he and his messenger attributed to him of names and attributes. Denying from him that which he and his messenger denied. We only attribute to Allah what is in the Qur’an and Sunnah .

Those who deny this tawheed, AL-MUATILAH, comes in 3 groups

1. The likes of the Quraysh who denied the name of Allah – Ar-Rahman
In the treaty of Hudaybiyah the Quraysh refused the name Ar-Rahman. They said we only know Rahman al Yamamah who was Musaylimah. Thus, Allah placed upon him “the liar” everytime his name is mentioned.

2. The Jahmiyyah, the first who corrupted this area by denying sama’, basar, ‘ilm, and the names. The Jahmiyyah in general denied all of the names and attributes of Allah. Consequently this lead them to believe that we will not see Allah in the life after, that Allah is not above His Throne, that Allah does not have the attribute of kalam (speech), the attributes of yadd (‘Hand’) and wajh (‘face’), etc.. In Kitab as-Sunnah by al-Khallal there’s a narration of Imam Ahmad stating that the Jahmiyyah are all disbelievers. “They should be forced to repent, and if they do not do so, then they should be killed!”

a. The first group of Jahmiyyah claimed that if we approve these (attributes) then that is imitating the creator to creations so we just deny it. This can cause you to deny the existence of Allah. He can exist in your mind but in reality if you deny his attributes he is not really in existence. However, this concept is from falsehood. For instance, a desk. If it has no length and no wood and no corners and its not here and its not on the earth and in the world and not out of the world, then where does it exist? Thus, people who believe in this really believe that Allah exists in their minds only. Some of the Jahmiyyah who deny the names and attributes reached people to the point of claming that Allah is in everything (Itihadiyah) and everything is in Allah (Hulool). Ibn Arabi was one of them. This concept is dangerous. From here we learn an important lesson. This concept caused them to believe that the pharaoh was right when he said he is Allah, because Allah is in everything and he did not say anything wrong.

b. The second group of Jahmiyyah deny both the affirmation and negation of Allah’s attributes. So for instance, they say Allah is not in the universe and not out of the universe. Allah is not connected to the universe and he is not suspended of the universe. He is not above the universe and under it. That is the peak of denying Allah. Ar-Razi is the latest of asha’irah among those who said this.

Both groups are kuffar. Ibn al-Qayyim said 500 scholars declared they are kuffar. Ibn Taymiyyah, in his books, narrated the quotes of scholars saying they are kafir. Ibn al-Mubarak said we can quote Jews and Christians, BUT not the Jahmiyyah. Some scholars said there is a difference between their belief and the ignorant people.

3. Mu’tazilah
While the Jahmiyyah deny Allah’s names and attributes, the Mu’tazilah deny Allah’s attributes. The Mu’tazilah were a group that tried to merge Greek philosophy with Islam. They say Allah is All-Hearing but has no hearing faculties, Allah is All-Seeing but has no seeing faculties. They abandoned Hassan al Basri’s lessons by saying that tawheed is to deny the attributes of Allah. They consider Ahlus Sunnah who say Allah is above the throne is a kafir because they say Ahlus Sunnah places Allah in a certain place. When asked, “Where is Allah?” They say Allah is in the universe. When asked what Istawa means, they say Allah is supreme over it by his power. The reason they deny the attributes is because they believe that if Allah has attributes it is like giving Allah a physical format.

We reply to this by saying: Denying the attributes of Allah for that reason precludes to denying the names of Allah as well, and the result is the same.

2. There is nothing like Him.

Proofs:

 لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

“Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.” [ash-Shuraa 42:11]

 

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
“And there is none comparable unto Him.” [al-Ikhlas 112:4]

فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“And do not set up rivals to Allah when ye know (better).” [al-Baqarah 2:22] (Meaning Allah has no likes or anyone comparable to him.)

هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا
“Knowest thou one that can be named along with Him?” [Maryam 19:65] (Meaning is there someone or something similar to Allah?)

There is none close or similar to Allah. We therefore believe in that which Allah attributes to Himself. It necessitates that we likewise believe in what his messenger attributed to him. We do not compare (tashbeeh) it to any of his creations, nor say its like any of his creations (Tamtheel).

It is essential to comprehend the names and attributes of Allah in full meaning. Although we may claim there is nothing like Allah, we must be aware of what brings people astray falsely denying His attributes. Deviant sects went astray by claiming if we give him these attributes then He is like His creations. However, they fail to realize that when it is firm in your belief that there is none like Allah because Allah describes Himself as such, then that area of doubt in believing in the attributes of Allah becomes clear.

This is a reply to those who are (mushabiha) who claim Allah is like his creations, who do not distinguish between the creator and his creation. On the otherhand, there are those (mu’atilah) who went to an extreme. Though they declare that Allah is not like His creation, they likewise deny Allah’s attributes or even his names in an effort to stay away from imitating Allah to His creations.

Both (mu’atilah) and (Mushabiha) went to two radical extremes. Mu’atilah went to an extreme trying to stay away from imitating Allah to his creations and Mushabiha went to an extreme in approving the attributes.

Ahlus Sunnah came in the middle saying we believe what Allah attributes to himself in a way that best suits Him with no comparison or imitation to his creation, nor with denial of those attributes.

A reply to those who imitate allah to his creations (tashbeeh):

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ

“Naught is as His likeness;”

A reply for those who deny his attributes:

وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

“and He is the Hearer, the Seer” [ash-Shuraa 42:11]

It’s said:

Those who deny the attributes worship nothing.
Those who compare Allah attributes to creations worship a statue
And a true muwahid worships Allah Allah, the eternally Besought of all.

 

Word to word taken from:  http://adviceforparadise.com/articles/B/

Tawheed Al ruboobiyyah (lordship)

Tawheed Al ruboobiyyah (lordship)

Pertains to:
You believe His is one in his actions.
He is the only creator.
He is the provider.
He brings life.
He brings death.
He brings the rain.
Allah is the creator of all that.

Most of the universe by fitrah agree to this even the mushrikoon, yet its not enough.
Even though the mushrikeen believed in this, it is not enough.

Even though it is by fitrah, some groups denied this. Their fitrah became tainted. And went against the great vast majority of the world who believe in Allah.

There are 4 categories who disbelieve in this fitrah of belief in Allah.
1. From those groups are what are called (dahriyoon)
They believe the world maintains itself.
Allah says:

وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

“And they say: There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and naught destroyeth us save time; when they have no knowledge whatsoever of (all) that; they do but guess.” [al-Jathiyah 45:24]

Among this category are like atheists or communist who say: “There is no god and life is materialistic.”

Ibn al-Qayyim ( رحمه الله‎‎ ) said these are two categories:
a- who believe Allah created the universe and the universe got out of hand that it burned or destroyed Allah.
b- Another is that believe this world created itself by itself.

2. Another group is (tabae’yoon)
This is referring to those who believe that nature created everything. Nature to them has two meanings:
Things like physical things such as trees were created by trees, flowers were created by flowers, the sky created the sky…etc
However, we know that nothing can create itself. Zero only produces and results in zero. Some naturalists do not attribute it to characteristics of the same creation but rather to external characteristics like heat, cold, solid, liquid…etc However, if the matter itself cannot create itself like the first opinion, how can an attribute or character create it?

3. Another group went against fitrah by saying that life was created by coincidence.
Elements and matters gathered and brought the world and life together with no creator. This is analogous to saying a printing shop exploded and the letters came one after another, and each letter fell into a specific spot forming sentences, forming an authored book. We know this is an impossibility, but this is how they believe the world was created. How can one say that about the universe, the seasons, the snow the rain, the trees, life and death?

4. Firawn’ioon
He denied Allah. They know Allah in their internal souls but deny it publicly.

General Reply to these types of disbelievers
A General reply to all of them is a debate between Abu Hanifah and other individuals who disbelieved in Allah.

Abu Hanifah said before the debate (interpretation the dialogue), “I want to tell you about a story. ” They said, “What??” He said, “A ship in dijlah river came to shore with no captain and carried the equipment from the first shore and took it by itself to the other shore days and days away then it took its merchandise off with no captain.” They said, “It is impossible, no one can believe this. A ship with no captain cannot do all that. No way.” Abu Hanifah said, “If that’s impossible in one ship how can u say this about the universe runs without a sustainer – Allah?” They were stunned and the debate ended before it started.

Some did not disbelieve in this tawheed but did shirk in it.
1. Majoos — The majoos claim there are 2 lords (brightness and darkness) one for the good things and one for the bad things.

2. The Christians — They believe Allah is three.

3. Al-Tharieh — The ones who think the sun and moon and stars have an effect in some things.

4. Al-Qadariyyah– That humans create good and bad so he can deserve the reward for good he does and punishment he does. In order for him to be punished he must have created his own actions.

5. Mushrikeen — Some polytheists claim their lords can bring good and bad. Like the soul of one who died can bring good or bad or respond in itself.

Taken word-to-word from: https://adviceforparadise.com/articles/2003/01/20/elucidation-aqeedah-tahawiyyah-1-2/

“The ‘#MeToo’ Harbinger”

(By Tarek Mahenna)
Letter from Tarek:

“The ‘#MeToo’ Harbinger”

Commenting on the statement of Allah that {“those who follow lusts wish for you to go far astray,”} (4:27) Sayyid Qutb wrote the following:

“It’s enough to observe the reality of life in the societies which have been ‘liberated’ from the shackles of religion, morality, and modesty. Chaotic sexual behavior was the first strike of the ax which shattered the ancient civilizations. It shattered Greek civilization, it shattered Roman civilization, it shattered Persian civilization, and the same chaos is shattering today’s Western civilization. The effects are apparent in the degenerations suffered by France, and they’ve started to appear in America, Sweden, Britain, and other modern civilized nations.”

After then listing examples & statistics illustrating the moral degeneration of French society, he wrote that “such was the decline of France. Such did it lose every war it waged. And such does it gradually retreat from the scene of civilization & even existence, day after day, manifesting Allah’s unchanging pattern which sometimes seems slow in coming relative to our own hastiness. As for the younger nations in which these effects aren’t yet as apparent, here are some examples of what occurs in them…”

After then listing examples & statistics illustrating the moral degeneration of Swedish society, he wrote that “the situation in America is no less severe. The harbingers of doom appear in it one after another, and the American nation in its prime pays no attention to them. But despite its external appearance of vigor, the elements of its internal collapse are fast at work.”

After then listing examples & statistics illustrating the moral degeneration of American society, he summarized that “what happened was that rather than resist the proliferation of these destructive elements, America instead fully submitted to them, thereby setting itself upon the very path previously traversed by the Romans!”

These prescient words were written by Sayyid around six decades ago. What would he say today?

Waiting

The wall of victory would stand tall

It would then be seen by all

It wouldn’t leave a trace of doubt

Or even a ridge of confusion

And it would be marked in bold

Kill oppression around the globe

No injustice anymore (what’s that like…)

A leading example for all

It happened and it will again happen

And I may not witness that  dawn

Already

Traces of night like wispy clouds

Quivering, disappearing, crumbling slow

Ya Rabb, oh on that wall

Sign my name

So my blood would witness

Glory long foretold…

 

O hearts… O beloved

There is no honor
nor is there dignity
until islam thunders
and scours down
the mountain raising dust
O my beloved
can you see the horizon
tell me, do you not see
glad tidings rising
like smoke in the distance
His promise is true
shake off the darkness
that settled into hearts
making it heavy
heavy from flying free
free yourself for Allah
And you wouldn’t see
The sky same again
As if the wings of angels
and the heaviness of their sujood
weights upon your shoulders
Remember when your prophet
Remember how he was siezed
And how he was asked to recite
And how he said he couldn’t
and by Allah’s ism the words
Engraved into his heart
Until he promised to perish or find victoy
with the message upon him,
wether they place the moon and sun on his hands
that he wouldn’t give up
don’t give up
for one day Allah may enable you to climb
The loftly mountains and see
the rahmahh rain upon the east and west
Allah’s promise is true
don’t give up.
This is humiliation you are in
And there are tears of longing
Don’t neglect the calling

O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life…. (8:24)

So climb your mounts
And He calls you
He promises you, Trust Allah
Go back to how we began
For we are an ummah that move ahead
By going back, way back to our roots
As if, nostalgia takes you

Among a time you never saw

And you are in the midst of them

 

But your heart has seen the dust of Badr

And the rocks of Uhud

If you stop and listen
Free your soul, and know this
your eyes are longing to see
Yourself among the jewels rejoicing
Rising to the sky
In white shrouds and green wings
Smiling and well pleased, Radiant
On the flight home

… to Allah, to Allah, to Allah…

 

Life Lessons

“For every news there is a fact, i.e. for everything there is an appointed term (and it is also said that for every deed there is a recompense) and you will come to know.” (6:67)

 

If you ask me, I’ll just stare at you
Like I stare at the blank screen
If you ask me, my heart would speak
And I cannot verbalize that language
Of struggling beats, tightness in my chest
As if I’d explode, at the absurdity of it all

I wonder, at the prophets who faded
Among people while they lived
Their words, like a mantra, to them; deaf
Nothing new, just not passing through
What else would I say, if you cannot understand

Silent befits me. Like an old dress I am fond of
My companion who has accompanied me till now
And silence; it hasn’t failed me , but abandoning it did.
Allah put in me speech, and I’ve exhausted it
And my reality is known by Him and that suffices me

It is He, who knows my silence and knows my speech
It is He, who alone understands like no one else
It is He, who would know to blame me, with justice
Or let me off…with His mercy
And my speech failed me

What else do I have left
Other than my dependance on Him
Which is like the wind
And this breeze has rested with me
surrounds me
And it’s a strange contentment
And it’s a longing wait

From above the seven heavens, He decreed this
From above, He is Knowing, and never lax
From above, the clouds speak words my heart see
And it says to me, wait a bit more, a bit more
And watch His Promise unfold

And the sky expands, and it stretched before me
And this life distanced itself like fading smoke
Like everything else this life is made of
A wave of the hand, and it disperses away
Like every fleeting memory it’s made of

Yes, silence is a treasure. And this is all I’ve got to say
Allah knows, Allah knows, Allah knows
And sufficient is Allah as the Helper

“It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then he raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed (your life period) be fulfilled, then in the end unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you what you used to do.

He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.

Then they are returned to Allah, their Maula [True Master (God), the Just Lord (to reward them)]. Surely, His is the judgement and He is the Swiftest in taking account.

(6:60-62)

 

 

 

 

 

Isle : The story that is you.

I feel positive and hopeful at the moment, and I hope it prevails. At a time like this, I’d like to share a story that helps me at dark times to get up from where I fall ( If I remember it)…

Note: This story is not my invention. I don’t remember where I first heard it from. But I hold onto it as a very positive thought I like to ponder on now and then. I am not a very good storyteller, but let me try:….

Once there was an island that rested in a vast ocean. Lets say this island was called “Isle”. Around Isle, there were lots of other islands very nearby. Nobody lived in this area, it was all barren lands. Seaweeds grew on one island, and they spread forming a mesh over all the islands near it. So soon, Isle was covered with seaweed too.

Then one day, a farmer came to this area. He saw Isle and noticed..something about it was special. This island, as he noticed, had potential. He went back to get his tools and came back. He thought Isle had potential in its soil where other islands in that area didn’t. So the farmer first cut off all the weeds around Isle.

Isle felt isolated. It was cut out from it’s friends (the other islands). The seaweeds did make it feel miserable, but now it just felt so lonely and it made Isle more miserable. What did the farmer want?

As if cutting off the weeds and isolating Isle wasn’t enough, the farmer started plowing and digging on Isle. Riding his tractor and flattening it. It hurt Isle, it was pure torture. The spades and the tractor hurt Isle every night and day, it was being tortured beyond reason. “ Why ? Why? Why? Why was the farmer attacking me?” Isle though helplessly. Isle had no idea why she was so unfairly tortured rather than the other islands.

But then after all those nights of loneliness and misery, a single small little plant grew on Isle. The farmer had started watering Isle each day. And soon, Isle was filled with plants, flowers and trees…and after sometime, animals and grass. Isle wasn’t only having company, but Isle shined out from the rest of the seaweed-filled islands around her. Isle was beautiful and brilliant, with BETTER companions who benefited her and she could mutually benefit them in return. The farmer was right; Isle was special and now everyone envied her. Singing birds animals, plants and the farmer, Isle had lots of wonderful friends too.

So what is the moral of this story? Here it is:

Isle had no idea why she was isolated, then tortured. Lots of times in life, we all face unfair treatment, isolation and then when you feel like it cannot get worse, you face torture upon your misery.

But like Isle, could it be that we don’t realize that we are being built? That we are being tested and nurtured, undergoing a huge change for something brighter and brilliant? Yeah Isle was just an island, but likewise, we are only humans, another existence this world created by a higher power.

“Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then We fashioned the drop into a clot, then We fashioned the clot into a little lump, then We fashioned the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!” [23:12-14]

And there is a lot going on in the world, so many things we cannot see or touch or understand… but as hard as it is to accept, it might be for a bigger better reason in the end, it’s just a matter of how you perceive it later..and it is a blessing to not know and still be patient.

The loneliness: what if Isle had been left with the weeds? Would the plants the flowers and the trees and grass all grow so beautifully still? Would she have had the peace, the satisfaction, or the cheerfulness that surrounded her? No it wouldn’t be so. But Isle didn’t understand that back then. It only registered how lonely it was.

Such is our minds…

We might get lonely, or get cut off from people, get ridiculed, teased, abused or isolated. Might it be that we are forced to leave them, get away from them, so that we can become better people? So that we get better companions? So that we find happiness in other better ways? Note that as intelligent humans are, it has its limits. We really do not know what is good for us, because unlike the farmer who stands up on the island and sees below, the laid out earth may not see a bit further ahead.

What is to happen beyond this point in life is not in our knowledge, and what had come to pass, we might never understand why, but it all happened for a reason. Its just a matter of time and the freedom of your own mind to understand that. Be comfortable with not knowing why things happen, but content with the One who causes them. Trust Allah.

 

For one who wants to seek guidance, you may find guidance in the most strangest of places. Be it in fiction. Allah is so Merciful He scattered haqq everywhere, so that the seeker finds truth in something ugly or something beautiful.

Just like how musk is in the lower genitals of the doe, how ambergris comes from the stomach of whales, something beautiful maybe hidden in an unexpected place.

Like how Morpheus says: “Neo, sooner or later you’re going to realize, just as I did, that there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path”

The trick is to keep your heart, open to Allah.

So no matter what we go through, we have a choice to mold it in our minds in anyway we want given the power to believe in it.  The power of a human mind, is still a mysterious wonder that has so many unexplored corners in it.And Allah has given us guides, and shown us in every aspect of life how our journey is made so much more easier, and nothing that is deprived of blessing, be it intelligence, will avail any benefit…and do not forget your heart. so why should we choose the hard path, ignorance or our own destruction, by ourselves against us?

Pain is never easy to forget, and one way or another, everyone goes through it. Then again…after a while all we’ll know is that we DID feel pain..but we forget what it actually felt like…such are the ways our minds are programmed. And Allah is able of all things.

Found in: 110 Ahadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith)
Hadith no: 37
Narrated: Anas
that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: One of the most miserable people in the world will be brought from among the people of Paradise. Allah will say (to the angels): Dip him once in Paradise. So they will dip him once in it. Then Allah (SWT) will ask him: Did you ever face any distress or a thing you hate. He would say: No, by Your Glory! Never did I face anything unpleasant. Then one of the most affluent people of the world will be brought from Hell. Allah will command (the angels:) Dip him once in it. Then He will ask him: 0 son of Adam! Did you ever enjoy any comfort? (that is, a dip in Hell can make one forget the meaning of comfort). (This Hadith is sound and reported in Musnad Ahmad).

Its all a matter of how you see it, how you reflect back, look into yourself, realizations of truth and reality… makes you a winner or a loser.

We all have our part to play in this world, we had the potential to survive it, so we are here to live. And whether we make our character a villian, a comedian or a hero, we have been given the choice. Whoever desires this world, he shall have it. Whoevere desires what would not perish and remain forever, he shall have it.

And no person can ever die except by Allah’s Leave and at an appointed term. And whoever desires a reward in (this) world, We shall give him of it; and whoever desires a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give him thereof. And We shall reward the grateful. (3:145)

 

Its bigger than me or you, we are all a part of something bigger, its bigger than our problems, our lives, which changes, keeps changing and its easy to realize that when you free your soul enough to soar up and look down in bird-eye view at everything around you.

 

Its all a matter of believing and faith…to be commenced into reality with actions.

So turn your gaze upwards, and keep on walking O traveller
Your Guide will guide you and He will lead you
What comfort it is to know you are an ignorant passenger
Let go and give up, submit and give in, To Him To Him To Him
Oh ignorant traveler
Who is indebted forever and in love with the One driving you
Look at the stars above you, since they were created the North star has remained
To show the way and adorn as lights that doesn’t require your maintaining
Oh ignorant passenger, depend on the One who drives you to your abode
Who else is better as a Trustee, Who else is better to depend on
And He isn’t comparable to anyone
So be tranquil with haqq O souls, soar towards Your Lord
Please Him and seek every nook and cranny to find Him
Close your eyes and say; He says “Kun” and its “Fayakun”

I hope I remember and am reminded when I slip…