.:Bullet Proof Read:.

I guess I never did explain why I gave up on blogging the project, or why my project failed in the first place. It’s just a personal essay, but I felt I had chosen a topic way off my league… Something that if I self-studied, I would misinterpret beyond horror. And it wouldn’t be all that worth it. Lame excuse? Maybe. But here’s a poem to make up for it…

Open the envelope
An eye of wide surprise
Information overload
A cry of time’s demise

Too much detail
Continuous, grossly disfigured
A simple word
Void, impeccably weird

Til conveniently brain-dead
A mind vacant and hollow
Vague attempts feed it
Yet afraid of overflow

Alas, refusal of knowledge
Excuses, excuses galore
O my wasted privilege
Your departure I adore.

- Umm Waraqah

Just something I posted on the Islamic Talk forums (Muslimah’s section)…

as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I was trying to think of something good to post here (as requested ) and I started recalling this wonderful thread back in CG’s sisters’ section started by our dear Shajaa3ah on the 3 things you would (choose to/must) have with you on a deserted island.

Subsequently I thought of the ideal answer… I don’t remember if the Qur’an (a mushaf) was part of the “given”… But yea, that is the ideal answer, the Qur’an. I personally had some additional book titles up that I would’ve loved to be stuck with.

But what I got to thinking about was this… The Quran and all these Islamic books… so much of it embodies practical teachings that are highly social. What good does it do then to have the wealth of knowledge with you and yet not be able to use most of it? Simply because there is no one to implement it with? This is not to say that Islam is not applicable in a one-man land, the perfect deen is for everyone, in any one situation, alhamdulillah. But it just seems like such a highly unlikely scenario where the first thing on your mind is to get that mushaf. Forced into an extreme situation like that, you’d probably think about other people first and foremost. This doesn’t necessarily mean you lose faith and forget to ask of Allah… but the possiblity of you asking Him to help you to safety would probably imply “get me back to where the people are” more than anything else. In fact, reading the Quran there in such a peaceful manner, contemplating its meanings, might just trigger that huge urge to get back into society… in the best way ever.

We’re social creatures I guess. Being left alone, abandoned, boycotted is never a fun thing. I don’t envision us having the patience the like of Prophet Ayyub ‘alayhis salam when everyone deserted him (may Allah increase us in sabr). The sad thing is, we’re in a situation where we have so many people around us, masha Allah, and we do not truly appreciate this fact. At this point, I’m sure some of you are thinking, with people like THESE around me??? I’d rather be alone!! My response to you would be in these 2 aspects:

1. If these people are bad, you should feel thankful for Allah’s guidance. Remember that Allah is able to bring you to that low state at any time (na’udhubillah, may He keep us guided), and work hard to keep His guidance.

2. If these people are bad, you must be doing something wrong. Because it is upon you, as a fellow human and a believer, to enjoin good and to forbid evil. So look within yourselves and question your efforts for this deen. Or has everything been so personal and private for you that you might as well be living alone… And yet, you know too well that you can never live alone?

Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, the best of mankind, lived amongst the people, he was very much aware of those around him, and he reacted, he responded to these people. You start to think about the times when he sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam would retreat and spend time meditating on his own, in seclusion.

Unfortunately, some of us seem to be permanently living in a cave meditating, while neglecting the glaring fact that there are people in that cave with us, walking around in the dark aimlessly, bumping into every dark corner, hurting themselves and others. We bear the torch and yet we only allow it to glow around us. How then can we feel safe from an impending stampede of misguidance flailing in the dark? How then can we feel safe from another torch bearer who decides to burn the filth that refuses to share his light and insists on staying in the dark… Your light is so dim among the filth that he cannot distinguish you.

We live our lives in this world as though we’re in this alone. We’re not. Until you get stuck on that island by yourself, pay attention to the people around you. In each and every one of them lies a great reward waiting, beckoning for you to come get it.Work on it. Strive. Even the smallest effort counts.

May Allah help us and guide us always, ameen.