.:Bullet Proof Read:.

Rose for my Kawla.

I learnt that it’s much easier to get back on track when you fall into sins from the weakness of desire rather than when you fall into error from arrogance.

The marked difference is that in the case of the former, you realise that you are doing wrong… but in the latter, you are defiant and forget accountability. Therefore we should strive to attain humility. In our deeds, in our interactions, even in our very own private thoughts. For without humility, our sins start appearing less grave than they really are… And soon, we act as though it is our command to Allah that sends His Mercy and Forgiveness upon us. May Allah, Most High, protect us from committing such a mockery.

How does one balance the state of humility beyond arrogance? Isn’t it possible that the one who acts humble before others is actually committing a boastful act that they might talk highly of him? Therefore it’s important to understand that humility is not that someone proclaims his weaknesses before an audience. Nor is it that he forces himself to bow his head wherever he walks. But it is a matter of the heart which stems from sincerity and ultimately is reflected upon the person naturally.

And so a slave of Allah may have his head held high amongst peers because he has the honour of a Muslim, yet he can be equally known for his humility towards them.

“…and no one is humble for the sake of Allah without Allah elevating him.” - Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam [Muslim]

And this is how one achieves the status of humble yet tall.

The deceiving icing… (dedicated to Mariya + her lovely pet spider)

I remember the day my uncle, Daddy’s oldest brother, passed away. We at home knew of it. Daddy didn’t. So when he came back from work, everyone was a bit apprehensive as to how to break the news to him. It was tacitly agreed that we’d at least let him be well seated. But my brother oh-so-casually went “Did you know…” and spilt the news - when he’d just entered!

Ahh, that broken look on his face. Perhaps only matched a few years later by our own when we found out he’d passed away.

But is there really a ”correct” way to break any bad news? We have in the ahadith, the story of Umm Sulaym whose praiseworthy way of informing her husband Abu Talhah of the death of their son sets forth as a prime example. A wise way, full of patience, befitting its context… that we can only hope to mirror.

Thing is some people take a less devastating piece of news and sugar-coat it to the extent of excluding certain details. And this, I protest. You’re insulting the recipient that they can’t handle the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. (”You can’t handle the twos!”)

Example. An employer isn’t satisfied with your performance lately. Dude, you’re in charge. Let this subordinate know exactly what he’s failed to do or what he’s doing wrong. Why assume that your fair criticism will be taken badly unless it’s anything but constructive?

Or gosh, the case of rejection. If you sincerely wish well, please, help the person improve. Some people think it’s better to let others down the nice way. But while you may not be lying, covering up the truth isn’t exactly polite either.

It almost starts sounding like the biased news media or a politician pushing through their agenda. Sorry. But it’s a load of conniving bull.

Anyway, back to the issue of conveying bad news. Yes, help the person accept it in the best way by buffering it with some good stuff. In the end though, ensure you’ve covered the main points, not covered them up. Lace the truth with icing… but please, let us have it with the best of the cupcake too.

[I was going to do a thing on how Islam is very clear and the relationship between the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam and his Companions was based on full trust and open honesty... but yeah, not quite sidi-fied to do so.]

Got date?
The blessed month of Ramadan teaches us to eat healthy.

A belated Ramadan Mubarak! The moon is still young though so there’s a whole lot more that can be done, may Allah help you.

Until my colleague came along recently, I was the youngest employee at work, with most others already in their Golden Age. It’s unsurprising then to hear of staff members or even volunteers getting down with illnesses associated with old age. No matter being somewhat accustomed to such news, it still saddens me. Especially when their conditions get worse.

On Monday, I was informed that one of our ex-imams’ health was deteriorating. After suffering from what they said was a mild stroke, he now can barely speak, and when he does his speech is hard to understand.

It broke my heart to think how one goes from being healthy (seriously, for their age, it’s amazing to see them up and about) to being so dependent upon others due to illness. How one day you could go from an active individual to being a complete vegetable. Bit scared? Well, you could always be a GOOD piece of vegetable…

Abu Hurairah said: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, remarked: ‘The example of a believer is like a fresh tender plant; from whichever direction the wind blows, it bends the plant. But when the wind dies down, it straightens up again. (Similarly a believer is tested by afflictions to strengthen his faith and heart, and he remains patient and firm). And an evil person is like a pine tree which remains hard and stiff until Allah breaks it whenever He wills.”

Eh? Well, seriously, a believer is supposed to balance in preparing himself in this life - on one hand he regards this day as possibly his last when it comes to worship, and on the other hand, he expects himself to possibly live the longest human life in terms of working in this world.

So what does that mean when it comes to health?

It means preparing yourself spiritually through practical worship:

1. Supplication: Asking Allah for the best of health.

2. Prepared in steadfastness and patience should any (serious) illness befall you.

- So much actually falls under this. Besides the basic and optional rituals akin to a Muslim’s life, what’s needed is adequate knowledge of the religion. Simply because you need to know your Lord to put full trust in Him that this is what He’s decreed and He Knows best what is good for you. Interestingly too, medicine is considered to be a valid field of Islamic knowledge.

At the same time it also means preparing yourself physically through working with this world:

1. Learning about/taking interest in health issues where it does/might concern you.

2. Implementing sensible, known measures - well-balanced diet, exercising, plentiful of good food recommendations in the Sunnah and general Islamic world, etc.

3. Check-ups! Know how your body is doing. What needs to be done more, what has to be avoided, etc.

I know I’ve arranged the above advice in such an order but obviously these steps go hand-in-hand, and usually the du’a comes after the efforts. Seriously, when you take practical preventive steps, your exclamation of “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un” (To Allah we belong and to Him we return) when some bad befalls you would be so very sincere and effective.

Perhaps just a few months back, I wouldn’t be the sort to give such cheesy advice, especially knowing the younger crowd that comes along here… I used to think my mum was overly paranoid with all her medicines, health programmes/talks and everything. To me, it’s like you’re healthy now, take advantage of it and live life! (As a Muslim should of course.)

But lately, I’ve come to realise that taking these steps is a measure of your gratitude towards that very health that Allah has granted you. It’s more than merely saying thanks to Allah. It’s more than simply performing more worship in good health while you neglect to maintain that condition. And it certainly is much more beneficial to you and even your loved ones - as your health affects them too - than simply praying, “O Allah keep me in the pink of health.”

Vital connection: I said a chain (a chain) would do you good.

Ever had one of those days where from the moment you wake up, everything seems to go wrong? Or sometimes it starts off well then takes a sharp turn for the worst? Ever then realise that “Ahh, it must’ve been that thing I did in the morning.”?

It happens. Because whatever you do in this world has an effect - direct or otherwise - on whatever happens to you - either in this world or the Hereafter, or both. What you do just before leaving the house for work/school matters. Just a minor tiff between you and a family member can be enough to wreck your whole day. Start it off with a smiley farewell and the day sails smoothly. Because everything’s inter-connected.

You will be treated as you treat others. People fail to realise this in the long term.

“Righteousness never wears out, sins are not forgotten, debts are not laid to rest; so do the best you can for as you treat others, so shall you be treated.” - Abu ad-Darda’ (#773, az-Zuhd)

Just as the Impact and Effect of Sins are obvious, so are the fruits of good deeds. For example, see the link between as-Salah and al-Falah? Even when that consequence from good spells out a test, a believer will recognise that as an opportunity to exercise the best of patience.

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.” (Muslim)

It really takes a heart of gratitude to see this.

Gratitude teaches man to see with God’s eye the blessings veiled in affliction.

When your iman is high, you see Allah’s Laws and Wisdom in everything. When you find it hard to make sense of something, when you face difficulty in putting two and two together, when you give up on trying to understand, when knowledge is blocked… that’s when you know your iman is low. And you need to turn up the power of dhikr.

Abū Hurayrah Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam said that Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā says: My servant does not draw near to Me by anything better than what I have made obligatory (fard) on him, and he will continue to draw near to Me with optional (nawāfil) acts of worship until I love him. And when I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he takes, and his feet with which he walks. If he asks of Me, I shall certainly grant him his request, and if he seeks My protection, I shall certainly protect him. (Bukhārī)

Oh yeah. I hope this post is coherent enough. ;-)

You know with love come strange currencies.

And here is my appeal…

These days I visit my own blog a lot mainly to get easy access to the Free Talha Ahsan campaign website. However everytime I visit this very page, I tend to scroll a bit further down to look at the picture of the pink demons (found in We won!). There’s just something about that image. Sure, it could be that I simply loved the first installation of Doom - I’d play the game time and time again until I got literally sick. But it’s really about how it’s so cute (come on, imagine the plush toy, all pinky, furry and cuddly!) and gory at the same time. Irony is so appealing in a paradoxical world.

So we are naturally attracted to strangeness. Everyone loves the hadith about al-Ghuraba - the Strangers. Outside of such a definition though, the strange can be dangerous and harmful (the linked article sheds light on the types of strangeness). Muslims love things that are out of the ordinary. This is where the problem sometimes lies. Just as strange incidents cause sensationalism in the media, strangeness can cause for deviant beliefs and practices amongst Muslims. Like, why do sunnah dhikr when you could have strange dhikr that’s accompanied/explained by bone structures and word dissections? Right? Uhh, no. May Allah guide and protect us :/

It’s become such a problem that the rest of us feel so wary of performing every new deed we learn of. “Wait, why is that word in that piece of du’a? Isn’t that word used by such-and-such a group?!”

These problems combine to give birth to extremism. Where one side can never “talk” to the other side. It’s funny, really. The ones who get all riled up about “deviants” online are the same to hang out with them in real life without even a remote flinch of an attitude. Talk about the MPD-ish Muslim. But I digress :P.

You know how it’s deemed bad/silly (boo!) when you talk about a problem but fail to post a solution(s) as well? (Like, move on, sister. We all know where all these BID’AH practices stem from. How about we talk about changes for a change??) Well, lately, I’ve begged to differ. When you discuss a certain problem, especially when you realise its roots, you may gain a new perspective, a better understanding from someone who has seen it differently. This, my fellow brothers and sisters, might actually lead to a more concrete solution rather than totally shutting up about the situation simply because you can’t articulate quite like a heroic solver. It is through mashwarah (consultation) that things really get resolved in the most effective way, bi idhnillah.

But that’s what’s strange, you see. People want to change this and that. But they fail to change themselves… to use the methods employed by the first Muslims when changing anything.

My personal advice here is to Seek to Understand. Then to be Understood. (it’s one of the 7 habits!). Everytime that we come across a brother or sister with a weird practice, we mustn’t assume he/she is just like the other brother/sister we met a while back. Start objectively, on a fresh page, to sincerely see where they are coming from. To understand them before making them understand you and the truth you bring.

May Allah help us in all our efforts - to put sincerity in them first and foremost.

- bLOOGIE ;-)

Die, you pinky monster! DIE!

It feels good to win. When Italy won the cup last Sunday, it was sweet victory, albeit that controversial headbutt. But what was one aspect the Muslims would chat about regarding that “one heck of a header”? They’d say, “He could’ve controlled himself.” Control himself from the anger that was burning within him, the pride, the ego that would be bruised if he didn’t react as such. So who won in that instance? The answer is clear. Shaytan did.

All right. Some of you are getting excited from the mere mention of the World Cup incident. So before you let your itching fingers post a comment about whether Zidane is a practising Muslim (may Allah guide him and us), let me assure you that I could care less about what you have to say with regards to that :P.

The point here is when we know shaytan has deceived us, tricked us or (easily enough) led us into sin… what do we do? Well, hopefully, we’ll realise our mistake and seek forgiveness from Allah. But sometimes when we dwell on the fact that it was shaytan’s work, that his whispers are to blame… we fall into the trap of glorifying his apparently successful actions. We might mutter under our breaths, “Dang that shaytan!”

Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad, that a person who was riding behind the Prophet said, “The Prophet’s animal tripped, so I said, `Cursed Shaytan.’The Prophet said,
“Do not say, ‘Cursed Shaytan,’ for if you say these words, Satan becomes arrogant and says, ‘With my strength I made him fall.’ When you say, ‘Bismillah,’ Satan will become as small as a fly.”

[Ahmad 5:59]

Further, An-Nasa’i recorded in his book Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and also Ibn Marduwyah in his Tafsir that Usamah bin `Umayr said, “I was riding behind the Prophet…” and he mentioned the rest of the above Hadith. The Prophet said in this narration,

“Do not say these words, because then Satan becomes larger; as large as a house. Rather, say, ‘Bismillah,’ because Satan then becomes as small as a fly.”

Or we might expose the sin to a friend (which in itself is wrong!*) and add words that we think humble ourselves before others - by blaming shaytan with harsh words. You have to realise one thing, even though the devil’s work is evil, that’s exactly it. When you acknowledge in any way that he has done it… you might as well praise him. Seriously. Instead you should just focus on how to correct yourself, to seek forgiveness from your Maker and to repent to Him. He will deal with shaytan… Busy yourself with what you’re told to and are able to do.

Sure, inevitably there is this “battle” against shaytan… and the believers are promised victory by following the guide that is the Qur’an. But it is an ongoing battle, and alongside the devil are our own desires, peer pressure and worldly temptations in general. So what a ride we are in for if we choose to approach this battlefield called life from that aspect. Rather, the Muslim’s life is a dash for mercy, a race to redemption, the continuous marathon to Jannah.

I fear that we as Muslims are so prone to mere rhetoric these days. Words that are seemingly heroic - to curse shaytan, the oppressors, the world - but are truly empty. Words that bring false comfort. To ease the blame of our own sins. And to lessen the guilt of our inactions. For ourselves and for our brothers and sisters locally, and worldwide.

When is the battle really won then?

In this life of poverty, hardship and trials, Abdullah asked his father one
day, “Abi when will we ever relax?” His father, one of the greatest
revivers of the Sunnah, a role model for all Muslims, looked him in the eye
and said, “With the first step we take into Jannah.”
[Memoirs from the life of Imam Ahmad]

A recap of Surah al-Mu’minun gives us a glimpse of the qualities of the successful. You may agree with me that the application of this particular ayah is severely lacking:

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive.

[al-Mu'minun: 8]

Oh, the reminders. The reminders.

* Sins and its effects on the one who commits it. Refer to point #9 for the hadith on exposing sins. The whole article is beneficial too.

PS. About the image. I was thinking about DOOM 3 and battling “demons” but yea, forgot to incorporate it into this piece (more obviously), heh. But it still makes sense.

Can’t cry hard enough.

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُواْ اللّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَى مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَAnd those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah ? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.
(Surah ali Imran: 135)

`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Anas bin Malik said, “I was told that when the Ayah,

[وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَـحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُواْ اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ]

(And those who, when they have committed Fahishah or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins,) was revealed, Iblis (Shayatan) cried.”
[in Tafsir ibn Kathir]

The second most saddest day for the Shaytan is Yaum al-’Arafah.

Talhah (radhiallahu ‘anh) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “ Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaytan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.”
[Mishkat]

All of Shaytan’s work would have gone to waste. The hujjaj emerge with a pristine, clean slate, like newborns. Those who fasted on the day would be cleansed of sins.

This is the sort of regret we should feel - the realisation of the futility of our desires and following them. On the other hand, if we work hard, with our good deeds… Allah does not cause them to be lost. It is us who forsake our own efforts.

You know how when you start to slack, you either wish to hide and fade away into nothing… or you want to tell the whole world. That hey, “my shaytan is better than yours”. The competition of who’s weaker… rather than the race to Allah’s mercy? The delusion of humility and the fake cover-up… If only we truly knew the extent of our weaknesses.

If the epitome of evil, the devil himself, can cry at the reality of Allah’s mercy… What of us who are in desperate need of His mercy?

On the authority of Anas (ra) who related that he heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said:
“O people weep, for you cannot weep then make yourself weep. Indeed the inhabitants of the hellfire will weep until their tears pour down their cheeks as if they were streams until the tears are used up and then blood will pour down, and the eyes will be covered with ulcers”

Weep while you can. And let Shaytan cry too, but to a different tune.

Ours is the portal of hope. - Rumi

Indeed, Allah is the Most Merciful.

Awwww, look at the cute little fishie whose memory lasts only a mere 3 seconds! Not quite. Scientific studies have proven the goldfish can retain a memory of up to three months.

The human memory is far more superior obviously. Yes, seriously. We’re the creatures with that extra bit of ‘aql, right? You may say it through gritted teeth but it’s how it is, and how it should be. May Allah save us.

A quick research (goo goo gle) presents the different levels of memory: sensory, short-term and long-term.The sensory memory is what allows us to take in new information about the immediate environment but lasts less than a second. Which is a good thing because we don’t want to remember every little detail of everything we see, hear, touch, feel or taste… Do we? Well if we do want to retain particular information for a longer time, we’d have to bring it to another level.

The short-term memory, sometimes referred to as the working memory, lasts longer than the sensory memory but is able to store much less, limited information. “Short-term memory is the work bench of our consciousness, and includes our awareness of the sensations, feelings and thoughts that are experienced.”

Finally, the long-term memory would be what we’re all more familiar with. It’s the permanent storage with a huge capacity… The only catch lies in its retrieval which as we know, can be quite a chore, if not extremely frustrating, at times. Some theories have it that everything we’ve ever learned or experienced is right up there, we just have to figure out how to get it out.

Reference (and read more about it): Here.
[Disclaimer: You might get better, more accurate info from the site, really.]

So how does this information about information-storing benefit us? Well for one thing, there’re interesting facts that we can relate to (if you read further on the link):
Items in the long-term memory are richly interconnected. When new information is added to the long-term memory, it is associated with a lot of existing information that bears a relationship with it.

One way I appreciate the different levels of memory is how you can choose to lose the memory before it commits to your long-term memory. This is especially so in bad experiences where, for example, someone angers you… You could remember the experience but only in a reflective way - feelings not included.

The memory is indeed important to the Muslim. Besides Qur’an memorisation, Islamic knowledge deserves a whole lot of space in our large long-term memory. It is said that when you go further in memorisation - as you memorise surah to surah, juzz to juzz - you actually strengthen your memory. I’d read about a hafidh who said that as time went by, memorisation proved easy for him and he was memorising at a pace of 5 juzz per 2 weeks! Masha Allah.

Tips for Strengthening One’s Memory
Spiritual

• Abstain from sins
• Remember Allah much
• Supplication…
  اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ فَهْمَ الَنَّبِيِّن وَ حِفْظَا الْمُرْسَلِيِّن الْمُقَرِّبِين
  O Allah! I ask You for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to You.
  More study du’as.

[Ahh, it's so the 3-step formula to everything else too]

Foods

• Raisins
• Honey
• Not eating too much! [Tis spiritual too]

Psychological

• Read it, might find it practical.

And if you’re all set for it, go ahead, take this Memory Test.

Well with that, I’m off to study! Please make du’a for my exams. Jazakum Allahu khair.

A job that slowly kills you.
(yea, everyone tried to get that coffee stain off)

So I bought this book and after having read just a few pages, I made so many mental nods (of agreement), I know I’m gonna love it… It’d be a great help, insha Allah.

I found out about it from this article though:
The Obnoxious Co-Worker: Is it you?

Read it yet? Ok. So how do you if it’s maybe you who’s annoying people out of their minds? As Muslims, we should make frequent self-checks and have the best of humility… and the ulama have advised us to view ourselves as worse off than the next person. (That’s really easy if you’re even part honest)

Al-Qurash said, Idris informed me on the authority of his grandfather
Wahb b. Munabbih, that Luqman said to his son, Oh my son! A man’s ‘aql
is not complete until he possesses ten characteristics; he is safe from
arrogance, he eats only what is necessary and he spends his excess
wealth.  Modesty is more beloved to him than nobility, and humility is
more beloved to him than prestige.  He is not bored by searching for
knowledge throughout his life, nor is he wearied by people asking him
[to fulfill] their needs.  He considers what little others do to be
great, and he considers what much good he does to be insignificant. The
tenth characteristic, which distinguishes him, and is worth the highest
mention, is that he regards everyone on earth as better than him, and
that he is the worst amongst them. If he sees someone better than him,
he rejoices and hopes that he may follow his example, and if he sees
someone worse than him, he says, ‘Perhaps this man will be saved,
and I will perish.’

At this point is his ‘aql complete.

Beautiful.It’s always about how the other person sees things, and views you. You say potato-ish business, you know? You might be smiling to your brother in such great hopes for that reward (sadaqah) but if all your brother sees is a frown, it DOES matter. Or try the way you compose an email… You may think it’s polite (hey as far as you’re concerned, you minded your Ps and Qs!) but the recipient might beg to differ. So on top of the self-evaluation, get others to give you feedback.

As ‘Umar al-Khattab radiyallahu ‘anh said, “Be grateful to the one who points out your defects.”

While we may have knowledge, our implementation is always weak. It’s worst though when we excuse this fact (for ourselves) to advise someone else because it’s always enjoin good and forbid evil, right? Teach even if all you know is one ayah. Correct someone even if you may be committing the same wrong. Yea, the works. But please, have extra care when it comes to applying a hadith you just learnt on an individual. Often times, the admonitions are for the masses and are in general. You may remind people and quote these statements but to make it sound like you’re reducing and condemning that person to that statement alone is not only wrong… But will backfire on you.

We so desperately need to learn the adab of enjoining good and forbidding evil.

And at the end of it all.
Since it starts off with a book and all. I just noticed how some articles would have a line at the end telling the writer’s designation and such. So you’d start off reading an article by some majhool (unknown to you), it’s interesting then bam! You see what the author does for a living and your perception is changed! Well, it influences me at least… sometimes. Like, you know, a fab article on the women in Islam written by an atheistic professor of engineering.

No, I’ve never come across one.

Point? In relation to the above bit, “Look to what’s being said, not who’s saying it.”

An Iron Age grave. If only the bones could speak.

When I was a kid, I was totally ignorant of the true ‘aqidah. I had the vaguest idea of the Hereafter (let alone my Rabb) and would quickly latch on to the ideas presented on TV. One particular movie I remember proposed the belief of rebirth… So this guy died and went through the whole process of rebirth but he’d missed out on the most important part - the “injection” to make him forget about his past life. So he was born into the world as a new person and slowly picked up memories from his previous life. He typically meets his wife, falls in love with her, etc. I kinda thought it was pretty cool… Living different lives, knowing what it was like before. I know. Ridiculous to the T. May Allah forgive me :-/.

Having such ideas running wild in my head without certainty about Islam, I’d start wishing that someone from the dead could just come back and tell us, “YES, Islam IS the true religion!” Years later, as I began taking the deen seriously, learning and implementing, alhamdulillah, I had full conviction that Islam is the Truth, the Straight Path, the Only religion in the sight of Allah… And I dropped all bogus ideas of needing a zombie to come tell me my deen.

But sometimes, in these trying times, when the going gets rough, the little wish for the dead to return with a message would creep up on me again… But this time, to tell me, to warn me, that the punishment in the grave is indeed severe, the true horror of it. Just because… you know… They’ve actually experienced what Allah says in His Book. It’s those times when you feel so low, nothing really moves you, there’s no stopping you from that next sin…

But is that really necessary? Would the fear of Allah increase with such an admonition? I fear not. Allah, the All-Knowing, has given us enough warning. And if such warnings suffice for the best of the believers, it should suffice for us. Certainly, if those words aren’t enough for us, then nothing could move us. We read in the Qur’an how the ones doomed to the Fire will wish to be returned to the earth to do good but how vain will that request be then…

وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيداً ثُمَّ لاَ يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَلاَ هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
And (remember) the Day when We shall raise up from each nation a witness (their Messenger), then, those who have disbelieved will not be given leave (to put forward excuses), nor will they be allowed (to return to the world) to repent and ask for Allah’s Forgiveness (of their sins, etc.).’
(Surah an-Nahl: 84)

The truth is the Warning has been sent, the Warner sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam conveyed it so clearly… Even they will admit as such.

قَالُوا بَلَى قَدْ جَاءنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ
They will say: “Yes indeed; a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: ‘Allah never sent down anything (of revelation), you are only in great error.’”
(Surah al-Mulk: 9)

If we keep wishing for the impossible (that the dead could come warn us), we will be like the ones mentioned in the above verses who never found any warning satisfactory. May Allah protect us from that.

But still, you’d find that Allah, the Most Merciful, guides His slaves through such “scary warnings” - through dreams. How many of our brothers are moved to the deen because they had nightmares of how they’d turn out? I remember a brother telling about his dream where he was standing on a field… with many others around. But they were so far away from him, he’d felt so left out, so isolated from the group. It’d felt like the Last Day… And he didn’t belong. Subhan Allah.

These, coupled with certain tragedies like maybe an accident that’s described as “a brush with death”, are the closest you’d ever get to a real glimpse of what is to come.

It’s kinda ironic when you think about it. The modern world attributes certain matters to the “supernatural” and claims such beliefs are backward… But they are the ones still waiting, waiting for that one final warning that’ll come when it’s much too late. How unfortunate then…

So keep a heads up. Turn to the Qur’an, the sunnah, the beautiful writings of the great scholars and you’ll find abundant, more than enough, admonitions. Admonition to rightfully inspire you into action, into protecting yourself and your family from the Fire. Anything else is a lame excuse.

The Poem.
If only the dead could warn us!
The truth of the afterlife
How nothing here
Would matter at all

If only the dead could warn us!
The pain of the underground life
How suffering on earth
Would seem heavenly

But if the dead could really
Would I really
Be spooked to change
Drastic as it may be?

I need the feeling
Sinking,
Heart to the toes
Gets me down on my fore
Realisation, please
Come hit me
Straight
The warnings just
Aren’t what they were
like before.

- Me.

PS. My deepest apologies for the long delay in this post. I’ve been inconsistent in posting (and will be more so in the next few weeks) so please keep your checks to a minimal - to save you the hassle insha Allah, heh :$. I believe sites like Bloglines help you track updates to blogs so instead of having to manually check every blog for new posts, you can simply subscribe to them and be informed whenever there is any update :-). Barakallahu feekum.