Sunday, August 25, 2013

'Attaar

In the Arabic culture of old, the spice seller called the 'Attaar, was seen as somewhat a player due to much interaction with women, who were the majority of his customers.

One such 'Attaar was riding into a marketplace on his mule, carrying his product with him, and true enough, he was swarmed by women even before he get to where he was going. They crowded him and his animal, asking him about prices and product.

Unfortunately none of them were attractive, in fact they were all far from it.

Without descending from his mule, he said

واذا الوحوش حشرات
And when the wild beasts were gathered (Takweer : 5)

A woman heard him, and without missing a beat said,

وضرب لنا مثلا نسىي خلقه
And he presents us an example and forgets his own creation (Yaseen :78)

-Al adkhiyah, ibn al Jawzi

Friday, August 16, 2013

Stand Up for What is Right

Sometime a couple of years ago, Haziq and some of his friends were into pen tapping frenzy. Its merely tapping the pen onto anything to make rhythm of sound. Its quite catchy.

Three of them including Haziq decided to participate in a talent show routine. After sometime practising they got themselves a new member.

Now this new member is a loud-bullying type of person. Somehow something happen between him and another member that I called Ahmad al Yemeni. Than this new a member whom i now called Abdullah al diktatori, with all this assumed power kick al yemeni out of the team a few days before the contest.

Haziq al Malizi and another chap Farz al Seyloni was stumped but because they did nitbwant confrontation with al diktatori they kept their mouth shut went on practising. 

Al Yemeni did ask Haziq to  get him back in the team but he didnt know what to do, so left it at that.

They contested and got second place.

Then i had a real adult conversation with hadith. 

The bad people are strong now, because those who are on the right are not bothered and just weak. While you are the majority, you still could not stand against al diktatori because both of you want to avoid confrontation.

But he is so argumentative.

True. And you allowed your friend be kicked out. There is a difference between hating argument and standing up for the wronged ones.

Just look around you now, we are weak because for a long time we allowed oppressors to reign. Trust me, its dark now but its only getting darker for the result in the future is our cowardice now. 

 فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ

Then take admonition o you with eyes (to see)

Unfortunately standing up for the truth requires alot of hardship but there is honour in that.

Stand up for the truth even if you are the only one doing so.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Love Others as You Love Yourself

We went through this hadith which is the 13th hadith in the Imam Nawawi's collection of 40 hadith. We learned and recapped briefly on how much the ansar were helping the muhaijireen particularly during the early immigration to Madinah.

Who would not be at awe on how much they will go to help. Sharing houses is perhaps most basic thing that they will do willingly, but some also offered half of their wealth and offered one of their wives. Almost unthinkable. 

Then i was going through surah al Hashr: 59 and came to this ayat 8-11

(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say)

And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful. 

And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful. 

I stopped short at

وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ

And

 وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا  


The first one Allah says there is no jealousy in the breasts of the ansar over the muhajireen. And the second one is they (ansar) asking from allah not to put hatred in their hearts.

Subhanallah! This is something I may find very difficult to do. To really help someone and go all out for it and not to mention, on top of that to have no ill feeling towards them.

I clearly am far away.