Ihsaan to the End

I was scrubbing the kitchen top the other day and I was thinking to myself, that since I am made to leave this place and they are going to demolish this, then why bother scrubbing it properly. Sufficient that I just wipe a bit so as not to live in grease of the little time I have left. Do i need to even bother water the plants when it will wither even before they demolish the place. Or bother about the ants nest which are beginning to take place. Or bother anything about maintenance of the house.


But then I remembered this story. It is quite famous. It came in a few different versions. The one that I know is the main character is a carpenter. But there are other version that he is a boat maker or something to that effect. The one that the late Yasmin Ahmad coined for a petronas ad took the latter version.

Anyway, there was a carpenter who worked for another man. After sometime he got tired working for him. Perhaps if he retires and become his own boss, he could do much better. Or perhaps he could just retire and enjoy his time with his family.
Of course quitting totally would mean loss of income. But what the heck, he is tired working for other people! It is time to be liberated. So he announced his intention of retiring to his boss.
The owner was sad because he was a good employee. He then pleaded that the carpenter to do just one more house for him. The carpenter, half heatedly agreed. Irked because his heart was full of wanting to quit and felt that his boss was just trying to make things difficult for him.
So, reluctantly he build the house. Not taking much care of the finishing, materials nor workmanship. The result was a shabby house. Not his usual work. Thus he ended his working life with his employer with shabby work unlike his previous usual produce.
Upon completing it, the employer inspected the place and handed the key to the man and said, "This is your house, from us."
Thus the carpenter stared at his own work and regretted on how he chose to end.

This is Yasmin Ahmad's work.








Anyway, back to my main lamenting. Even though it was not me who wanted to leave the house but rather I was told to evacuate, the lesson remains, that I should be treating things the way that it should be treated until the end and the best i can.


This is ihsaan. Doing things in perfection.


Before I was practising, I have always thought that Islam encourages only Zuhood and not perfection which probably explain why many "practising" Muslims are satisfied with mediocre results. Rather, Islam demands ihsaan mostly in worship and also in our daily work and relation with others. Allah has mercy on those who are ihsaan.

Indeed the Mercy of Allah is near to those who do utmost good. [Al Aaraf 7:156] 

This knowledge made me, how shall I say it, bersemangat! To strive my very best in what I do. the best I can. (can't say the same about my arabic lessons though. :( ) May Alah help me. For a bit more reading on how to obtain Allah's mercy on my other blog HERE.


And there is this hadith, Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasalam said, 

"If the Hour starts to happen and in the hand of one of you is a palm shoot or seedling; then if he is able to plant it before the Hour happens, then let him plant it." As-Silsilah as-Saheehah

A good read HERE insya Allah.


And me moving is not even the end of the world.


May Allah have mercy on me and all of us.

We are Going on a House Hunt

We are going on a house hunt
We are not sure which one
What a beautiful time
We are not sad.

My house contract will be ending this coming 20th June. We wanted to continue staying because we loved it. Qadr Allah the landlord didn't want us. He in fact has bigger plans. he will demolished all his 6 villas to build flats on the very spot.

What a pity. the houses are very nice. Well maintained. Wonderful finishing. Well sized. It is almost ideal.

I guess we can see it coming. Our house is currently surrounded by the giant flats. The house is a dwarf compare to its surroundings. We also see potential parking hazard ver soon once the flats get occupied. Man it is beginning to be a trouble now. I am an expert in writing NO PARKING in arabic now and putting it on the respective windscreen.

Jack cried when we told the children. Awww he has a tender heart. Almost upon cue, I consoled him.

Begin

Insya Allah we will find another place. I love this place too. But it is temporary. All places are temporary. In fact everything is temporary. Allah has given us a nice place to enjoy temporarily, and we have occupied it to the best we could, it is time to move on. Let us pray that Allah will replace this house which is something better for us in dunya and akhirah.

End

Now, I am going out almost everyday hunting for the house. Am scrolling adverts. Stuck like glue on the monitor screen. Dive my head into the papers. The market doesn't look very exciting. the price is slightly up.

And worse nothing can match what we have now.

I need to read again what I told Jack.

Goto begin

May Allah replace us with a better house that will only bring us closer to Him.

Reading the Hadith Cautiously

I am trying to make a habit to bring  a book when we go out together - me and the kids or when lover is around. So I could read a story to them while we wait for the food. We have not finished the sahabah book yet so I have been taking the book everywhere.

So we read about Abu Ayub al Ansari the other day.I didn't manage to finish the book when the appetizer came, but continued reading. While we were munching the Apple Bees delicious boneless buffalo wing in honey and barbeque sauce  and the celery dipped in the sour cream, I got to this part of the hadith.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah reported,

Once while Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were sitting, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam came to them and said,

“What has  caused you two to sit here?”

They replied, “By He who has sent you with the truth, nothing has brought us out of our houses except hunger.” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said,

“By He who has sent me with the truth, nothing has brought me out other than this.”

So they went until they came to the house of a man from the Ansar (Abu Ayub al ansari), and the woman of the house received them. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said to her,

“Where is so and so?”

She replied, “He went to fetch some drinking water for us.” So the man came carrying his bucket and he said, “Welcome. Nothing has visited the servants better than a prophet who has visited me today.” Then he hang his bucket near a palm tree, and climbed it and returned to them with a cluster of dates. So the Prophet sallallah alaihi wasalam said

“Why you didn’t pick (some of them)?”

The man replied, “I wanted you to choose with your own eyes.” Then he took a blade (to slaughter a sheep) and the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said,

“Do not slaughter the one that gives milk.”

So he slaughtered a sheep for them that day and they all ate. Then the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said

“You will be asked about this on the day of Judgment. Hunger caused you to come out of your homes and you did not return until you had eaten this meal. So this is from the delights.”

We knew the hadith from our at Takathur lesson so I was feeling a bit jittery reading it. haziq was  also looking worried.I read the hadith real slow as I and we actually were worried for we were enjoying the ni'mah more than the Prophet and the sahabahs were in the hadith.

Let me share it with you. Here is the full at Takathur notes in my wordpress.

May Allah forgive our sins - the one we know and we don't know. May we feed ourselves with halal and attain it through halal means also.

___________

Anyway in case you are wondering who Abu Ayub al Ansari is, he is the sahabah from the ansar, that Prophet Muhammad stayed in his house in Madinah when he made hijrah before the masjid an nabawi was completed.

Here is a short story about this great sahabah.

Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb, known as Abu Ayyub Al Ansari, came from the Banu Najjar, and was a dear and close companion of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

He enjoyed a great privilege many of the Ansar in Madinah dreamt of having.

When Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), reached Madinah after the Hijrah from Makkah, the Ansar of Madinah greeted him with great enthusiasm, love and longing. Their hearts betted for him and their eyes surrounded him with great admiration and love. They wanted to receive him with the most hospital reception they could give.

Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) entered Madinah on his camel. The chieftains of Madinah walked next to him, each and every one of them hoping to get the honor of Prophet Mohamed’s stay at his house. They stood in the way of the procession and addressed the Prophet saying " O Messenger of Allah, please do accept our hospitable accommodation, for we are influential people who are great in number and wealth. We can also guarantee your support and protection.”

Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) mildly urged them to get out of the way of the camel, for it was ordered by Allah to stop at a certain place.

The camel stopped at an open space in front of the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. But Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) did not get off the camel. After a few minutes, the camel started moving once again, however, it turned around, retraced its steps and kneeled in the same place where it stopped before. Abu Ayyub’s face shone with joy and satisfaction. He went out to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and greeted him with great enthusiasm. He took the Prophet's baggage in his arms and carried them so close to his heart as if he was carrying the most precious treasure in the world.

It was not the first meeting between Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari. They had met before when the Madinah delegation journeyed to Makkah to take the oath of allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH).

Abu Ayyub's house had two floors. He prepared the upper floor for Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) to stay in. however Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) preferred to stay on the lower one.

Night came and Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) went to sleep. Abu Ayyub ascended to his room, but when he closed the door, he shook with regret and told his wife:

"Woe to us! What have we done? The messenger of God is below and we are higher than him! Can we walk on top of the messenger of God? Are we standing between him and the Revelation? If so, we are doomed."

They were extremely worried, and had no idea what to do. They got some peace of mind when they moved to the other side of the building where they were not above Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

In the morning, Abu Ayyub said to the Prophet(PBUH):

"By God, we did not sleep all last night, neither myself nor Umm Ayyub."

"Why not, Abu Ayyub?" asked the Prophet.

Abu Ayyub told him how terrible they felt because he was staying below them.

"Don't worry, Abu Ayyub," said the Prophet. "We prefer the lower floor because we have a lot of visitors.”

"We submitted to the Prophet's wishes," Abu Ayyub related, "until one cold night, the roof was damaged and the water spilled on the upper floor. Umm Ayyub and I stared at the water. We only had one piece of velvet, which we used as a blanket. We used it to wipe the water fearing it would seep through to the Prophet. In the morning I went to him and said, 'I do not like to be above you,' and told him what had happened. He respected my wish and we exchanged floors."

The Prophet (PBUH) stayed in Abu Ayyub's house for about seven months until his mosque and his dwelling were built. Thus, he became the neighbor of Abu Ayyub.

Abu Ayyub loved Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) with all his heart and the Prophet also loved him dearly. There was no formality between them. The Prophet (PBUH) continued to regard Abu Ayyub's house as his own.

These are glimpses of Abu Ayyub's life during peacetime, but ever since the Quraish tribe began to fight against Islam, to raid Al-Madinah, the land of Hijrah, and to instigate tribes and organize armies to eliminate Islam, Abu Ayyub became a professional in warfare. He was in the front rows in Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq and the rest of the battles and wars. He devoted himself, his money, and property to Allah.

He did not stay away from any battle the Muslims fought from the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) till the time of Mu'awiyah unless he was engaged at the same time in another.

Even after Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) died, Abu Ayyub never turned his back on a battle that the Muslims were destined to fight in.

The slogan that he kept reciting to himself day and night, secretly and openly was that verse of the Qur’an “March forth, whether you are light or heavy”.

He never missed an expedition, except once. He refused to fight in an army, which was lead by a young Muslim assigned by the caliph. Abu Ayyub rejected this choice. This one and only mistake shook his innermost self, and he was always full of regrets as he repeated, “It is none of my concern whoever Ali appoints.” Ever since he made this mistake, he never missed a battle.

It sufficed him to live as a soldier in the Muslim army, fight under its slogan, and defend its sanctity.

The last battle Abu Ayyub took part in was the one prepared by Mu'awiyah and led by his son Yazid against Constantinople. Abu Ayyub at that time was a very old man, almost eighty years old. But that did not prevent him from joining the army and crossing the seas as a graze in the path of God. In this particular battle, he was wounded. The commander of the army went to check on him. He was breathing heavily as if his longing to meet Allah made him impatient with the few minutes left in his life. The commander, Yazid Ibn Mu’aawiyah, asked him, "Do you need anything, Abu Ayyub?"

I wonder if any of you can imagine what Abu Ayyub’s last wish was?

He asked Yazid to carry his body to the furthest point inside the enemy lands and bury him there, then to break through the enemy line until he reached his grave so that Abu Ayyub might hear the sound of the galloping Muslim horses clattering over it and realize that they have achieved victory. Do you think this is poetic verse? No, this not a poetic verse nor a whim of imagination. It really happened. It is a fact that the whole world witnessed one day, and stood there watching and listening, not believing that this could be true. Yazid carried out Abu Ayyub’s will to the fullest extent.

Finally, the body of this great warrior was buried in the heart of Constantinople — Istanbul nowadays.

taken from HERE.

Spoil Me

I was talking to Haziq about Mu'sab bin Umayr. The handsome young man of Quraysh.He was born in a rich family and was raised in a luxurious lifestyle. He wore only designer clothes, expensive perfumes and eat the finest of food. When he passed by, everyone will know that it was Mus'ab who just passed by just by the smell of the expensive perfume in the air.


Whenever prophet Muhammed (صلّی اللہ علیہ وآلہ واصحابہ وسلّم) talked of him, he said "There is nobody more handsome in Makkah than Mus‘ab. There is no person in the city better clothed and fed than Mus‘ab. There is no child brought up with more affection and love than him." 


But things turn to the opposite direction when he found the light of truth - Islam. His family discarded him and refused to do anything with him and left him a poor man. From riches to rags. But Mus'ab was steadfast. He held on to islam. He was a talented youngman with soft speech and charming personality. People get attracted to him when they speak to him. he was a also a fast learner. He was still in his young age, being send as a diplomat to Madinah to teach the people of Madinah about islam and to subsequently call people to islam.


I asked Haziq, how Haziq. How can a young man used to live in  luxury and raised a s a spoiled child,willing to throw all those and become poor and held on to this religion. This is what faith does to you. Steadfastness!


Because Mus'ab is a young man, I said to haziq also. This is what I want from young man liek you. Good speech. Diplomatic. And most importantly steadfast in religion! The bonus is he was handsome. His effort brought many people of Madinah into Islam. Masya Allah may Allah have mercy on Mus'ab and accept his shaheed.


Haziq was awed by this story. But then he said to me, "If you want me to be like Mus'ab, you must spoil me first."


hah! *Tarik telinga* You are spoil enough young man!


_________________________

This is a good article bringing in the perspective of the currrent youth nowadays.

Read

Big city, bright lights. Cars flash in fast lanes. Young Muslims are getting ready to hit the “night scene”. Branded shoes and designer clothes in place, clutching the latest mobile gizmos and sporting the trendiest watches, their perfume smells --- more than anything else – of money.


You can see them “hanging out” in groups, lolling in the bright lights of a megamall, lingering aimlessly in hypershops, buying a knick knack to drive away the boredom; even if it’s just for a second.


You can see them sipping cappucino at a Starbucks café …watching people go by, sharing a joke and laughing raucously; vacant eyes straying over to huge tv screens for the latest football score.


You can see them racing cars dangerously late into the night, music blasting from the stereos, startling passersby while they laugh in their faces. A standard sight.


Each time I see this all-too familiar scene, I find myself thinking of someone. Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woollen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely. Someone who was his mother’s pampered son, he  wore the best clothes his rich mother’s money could buy, his perfume scented the streets he walked through. The talk of Makkan matrons and maidens in their plush salons, the toast of his peers in the city’s clubs, the most flamboyant young man of the Quraysh, who left a life of pleasuring the Self to gain the pleasure of Allaah: Mus’ab bin Umair bin Hashim bin Abd Munaf who was also known  as Mus’ab al Khair.


Mus’ab was only a youth when he heard of the new Prophet who had arisen among the Quraysh and his Message of monotheism; Makkah talked of very little else in those days. His curiosity piqued by all the talk, Mus’ab decided to approach the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on his own to determine the truth of his Message.


One night, instead of joining his friends in their customary revelry, Mus’ab made his way to the house of Al-Arqaam Ibn Al-Arqaam which came to be known as Daar al Arqaam  among the Muslims. It was here that the Prophet met with the growing band of Muslims, away from the eyes of the Quraysh. It was here that the Companions talked over the future of their faith,  heard and recited newly revealed portions of the Qur’aan and prayed behind the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam to Allaah.

That night, Mus'ab sat down among the gathering of the faithful and heard the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam recite verses of the Qur’aan. From that moment on he forgot for ever his life of luxury and indolence, in the ecstasy of discovering the key to eternal life.

Mus’ab’s path to the faith was not easy – his mother, Khunnas bint Maalik, a strong willed woman infamous for her sharp temper and sharper tongue – was his chief opponent. In order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with his mother, Mus’ab initially avoided telling her about his new faith. However, people found him frequenting Daar Al-Arqaam more than his usual haunts and saw him coming under the influence of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It wasn’t long before news of his conversion reached his mother.
Reacting with the imperiousness of her nature, her pride in her lineage and her age-old allegiance to the gods, she commanded Mus’ab to return and repent to the gods he had abandoned in his “foolishness”; and when he refused, she had him shackled and imprisoned in a corner of the house.

Somehow, news of the first emigration of some Muslims to Abyssinia reached Mus’ab in his incarceration and his heart longed to join his brothers in the faith. Using his ingenuity, he managed to delude his mother and his guards and escaped to Abyssinia with other emigrants. Later, he returned to Makkah with them for a short while and emigrated a second time, this  time as the Prophet [SAW]’s chosen envoy to the new centre of faith: Yathrib.

When Mus’ab returned from Abyssinia, his mother sought to imprison him yet again. But this time he vowed that if she attempted that, he would kill all those who came to her aid to lock him up. She knew the intensity of his determination better than anyone else and so she bade him a final farewell, crying bitterly: Go away, I am no longer your mother.
At this, Mus’ab went close to her and said: O Mother, I am advising you and my heart is with you, please bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Enraged, she swore: By the stars, I will never enter your religion, to degrade my
status and weaken my senses!

But Mus’ab entered Islaam in the spirit of the Qur’aan when it says: udkhuloo fi silme kaafah [enter into Islaam completely]. He forsook every semblance of satisfaction of the Self for the sake of Allaah – his dress was tattered, his food was simple, the bare earth was his bed.

One day he went out to meet some Muslims while they were sitting around the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam, and when they saw him they lowered their heads and shed silent tears at the sight of the pampered youth of their memory , moving about in wornout patches held together by thorns, which barely covered him. After Mus’ab moved away from the gathering, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam recalled: I saw Mus’ab, and there was no youth in Makkah more petted by his parents than he. Then he
abandoned all that for the love of Allaah and His Prophet.

Recognizing Mus’ab’s noble manners and patience, the Prophet [SAW] commissioned him to instruct the people of Yathrib who had pledged their allegiance to the Prophet at ‘Aqabah, to call others to Islaam and to prepare the city for the eventual migration of the Prophet [SAW].

At that time, there were among the Companions men of sterling character and nerves of steel, men who were older and more experienced in the ways of the world; yet he [SAW] chose Mus’ab as his representative. And Mus’ab proved worthy of the Prophet’s choice many times over, dealing with detractors with patience and sagacity.

Mus’ab entered Yathrib as a guest of Sa’ad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went approached the citizens of Yathrib, explaining the message of Monotheism and reciting the Qur’aan. Once Musa’ab and Sa’ad were sitting near a well in an orchard of Banee Zafar, when they were approached by Usayd ibn Khudayr brandishing a spear in obvious rage. Sa’ad whispered to Mus’ab: This is a chieftain of his people. May Allaah place the truth in his heart.
Mus’ab replied calmly: If he sits down, I will speak to him.

Usayd was angry at the success of Mus’ab’s  mission and shouted angrily: Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive. At this, Musa’ab smiled and said softly: Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it; and if you dislike it we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave. Sticking his spear into the ground, Usayd sat down to hear them out. As Musa’ab began telling him about Islaam and
reciting portions of the Qur’aan to Usayd’s expression changed. The first words he uttered were : How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?
Mus’ab explained:  Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (shahadah), and perform prayers. Usayd testified that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger,  prayed two rakaats of salaah and was followed by another influential man: Sa’ad ibn Muaadh.

By the time the Prophet [SAW] emigrated, there was not a single household in Yathrib in which Mus’ab had not endeared himself and the Message of Islaam. In the subsequent pilgrimage, he led a company of 70 people went from Yathrib to pledge allegiance to the Prophet.

In a famous incident after the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured some Makkans and sought to ransom them. Mus’ab was passing by the ranks of  prisoners and stopped when saw his brother, Abu Azeez ibn Umayr  among them. However, instead of interceding on his behalf, he instructed his brother’s captor to bind him securely and to extract a large ransom for the prisoner, because “his mother is a very rich woman” When the brother sought to remind Mus’ab of his relationship, Mus’ab replied: I only recognize brotherhood of the faith, this man is my brother, not you!
At ‘Uhud, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam chose Mus’ab to bear the battle standard. In the melee that followed the archers descent from the hill where they were stationed, in violation of the Prophet [SAW]’s orders, the Makkans fought back fiercely. Taken unawares by the cavalry of the Quraysh attacking from the rear, the Muslim ranks scattered. Intent on harming the Prophet [SAW], the Makkans  searched for him while he was being guarded only by a handful of companions. Suddenly, someone shouted that the Prophet [SAW] was no more.

It was at this juncture that Mus’ab’s glorious life reached a fitting culmination: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad related from his father, who said: Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Qaami'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said:And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him . He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it, when
his left hand was cut off, he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying: And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. Then a third soldier
struck Mus’ab with his spear, and the spear went through him.

After the battle, the Prophet and his companions came to the plain of ‘Uhud to bury the martyrs, some of whose bodies had been mutilated by the marauding women of the Qur’aysh. Pausing when he saw Mus'ab, the Prophet [SAW] recited: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Then he [SAW] looked at the remains of his companions in the battlefield and said: The Prophet of Allaah witnesses that you are martyrs to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.

There wasn’t enough material to serve as a shroud for Mus’ab. Khabbaab ibn Al-Arat narrated: We emigrated with the Prophet for Allaah’s cause, so our reward became due with Allaah. Some of us passed away without enjoying anything in this life of his reward, and of them was Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, who was martyred on the Day of Uhud. He did not leave behind anything except a sheet of shredded woollen cloth. If we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered, and if
we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. The Prophet [SAW] said to us: Cover his head with it and put lemon grass over his feet.

It was this memory of Mus’ab in his martyr’s grave, that caused companions like Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf to cry in fear of having no share in the Hereafter, because they had been granted a life of plenty and ease right here in this world. Once his servant brought him a meal to break his fast and ibn ‘Awf burst into tears, remembering Mus’ab who had passed away without tasting the good of this world, to the certainty of eternal pleasure in the Hereafter.
As night falls, I think of the shadows lengthening across ‘Uhud where the martyrs lie buried, when visitors drive off leaving the plain quiet,  dark and peaceful. I think of the graves of the shuhadaa, resplendent with the dazzling light of the truly fortunate: those who are pleasing to Allaah and are pleased with Him.
In the neon dazzle of malls, where countless young Muslims strive daily in the trivial pursuit of pleasure, we would do well to bear the memory of Mus’ab radiyy Allaahu anhu in mind. It may keep us from getting lost in the light.

Baik Tak Payah

It is getting hot in this region nowadays. I went out and the temperature read 46 Celcius. Subhanallah it is hot.

I tried fasting. I am telling you, voluntary fasting is hard. It is hard because other people are not fasting. It is even harder when other people are not fasting and you are driving around in a smoldering weather like this. One gets lethargic really fast. It is as if the sun is draining all the energy in you.

Subhanallah I got so irritated. Felt like shouting to everyone. Everything. To the kids. My lover. The annoying people on the road. Slow things. fast things. Kulli shaik. Everything!

Macam ni baik tak payah puasa. Siap-silap tak dapat pahala apa pun.


But wait? Is this the correct attitude that we should have? Because of small flaw in us, we punish ourselves from the opportunity of making  a good deed. When we could have the chance of some reward and we could tame ourselves with sabr and we have many doors of repentance, and yet we prefer to take the short cut and cuts us from a deed altogether.

Don't we all use this excuse all the time? For other deeds. When I was not donning my hijab yet (Ya Rabb I seek your forgiveness for my heedlessness), I was always feeling why should I put on hijab when I am still doing many other numerous sins. I felt like a hypocrite. I had the idea that I should be all clean and pure, then only I will follow what Allah commanded me.

Who gave me this idea in the first place? Who gave me the idea that I can justify myself with such excuse? That I have to be sinless then only I will cover myself. Forgetting that, how can I be sinless when I continue to sin in the first place. And really, can we ever be totally sinless?

You know shaytan is a very cunning thing. He speaks your language and feeds you with what you want to hear. Make justification seemingly logical to one's mind if the mind is not thinking about Allah. Making us divert from focusing on our weakness and seeking Allah's help to fight .

Feeding us with ideas that either you are too young for hijab, too much of a hypocrite to become pious, people yang alim tu pun bukannya bagus sangat, there is still time why make tawbah now when you will only repeat the sins again anyway. Shaytan will make way to your heart convincing that you have too many sins, and you are beyond forgiveness, so why pray?

Who does not have weaknesses? And who does not fall into err?

This is what we need to strive against constantly while we are still alive in this dunya.

We try and try and try and seek Allah's help to give us tawfiq and hidayah so that the doors of deed are made easier on us.

Seek Allah's help for when you ask and raise your hands with a heart that is yearning for Him, He will be shy to refuse your wants.

Allah is Shy and Most Generous. He is Shy that when a man raises his hands to Him (in Du’aa), He does not allow him to put them empty in failure.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]

Mathematical Problem.

JackJack counted the number of letters in the first verse of Suratul Mulk. The reward of reading one letter in the quran is equal to 10 rewards. With his new mathematical knowledge of multiplication, he told me how much reward one can get just by reading the first verse alone.

And and and if you find it difficult to read, because you are a new learner or whatever the reason is, you will be rewarded double that.

Question : How many rewards will one get if they read the first verse of Suratul Mulk?
                 What will the reward be if they find it difficult to read?

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 Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.''


`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.''

Toss Me

I'd like to narrate you the story of a sahabah whose name is Al Baraa' ibn Malik. You can read the full version below. But what I like to highlight about him is oneof his acts of courage.

It was on a fierce battle at the place where they later called "The Garden of Death". It was called such because of the large number of deaths during the battle. It was a fierce battle. This occured at the time after Prophet Muhammad's salllahu alaihi salam death. At the time when apostasy emerged. The time when false prophets are beginning to gain followers.

There was Musaylimah the Kazab - Musaylimah the Liar, the false prophet. he had gathered himself enough followers to establish an army.

This is the time of the first Khalifah - Abu Bakr As Sidq. he sent an army to fight The False Prophet and it was a fierce fight whre the Muslims had to restrategise numerous times.

When sometime at the end of the fight, the enemies began to retreat and locked themselves out at the Garden. They locked themsleves inside the garden and the Muslim army counldnt get to them. The enemies started raining arrows on to the Muslim army from the other side of the wall...

Meanwhile there was Al Baraa'. Al Baraa' the brave hero. He said to the Muslims, "Toss me."

AlBaraa (radhi allahtala anhu) said, "Toss me over the wall, I will fight through the entire army and open the door, or die shaheed." They mounted him onto his shield and catapulted him with their spears over the wall into an army of thousands. AlBaraa (radhi allahtala anhu) fought through them and opened the door and the Muslim army defeated Musaylima and his army.

AlBaraa (radhi allahtala anhu) was injured so bad (more than 80 sword and arrow wounds) that they he had to be nursed back to health in Medina for many months.
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I heard this story perhaps two years ago. But it reminded me of the scene in LOTR when Gimli asked to be tossed.



So now you know who did it first.

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Read the full story of one of the greatest sahabahs ever lived. May Allah make this ummah courageous and have the yaqeen of meeting Allah.


His skin's color was pale and his hair was knotted. But it was his skinny frame that made those who did not know him turn away from him in disapproval. Yet it was he who had defeated one hundred of the knights in duels, to say nothing of those whom he had slain in battle.

He was the courageous, ferocious champion at arms of whom the second Caliph 'Umar Ibnul-Khattaab had written to his deputies in the provinces: "Do not put Al-Baraa' in charge of any army. He is so courageous and fierce in the battle field, he may jeopardize the safety of his men without knowing." Such was Al-Baraa' Ibn Maalik Al-Ansaari brother of Anas Ibn Maalik the servant of Prophet Muhammad . If we were to tell every story of his heroic deeds, it would take much time. One event, which we shall describe, will give an idea of similar actions of his.

This story begins in the hours after the death of the Prophet . The Arab tribes of the desert, when they heard the news, abandoned their faith in droves, until none remained within the fold of Islam, save the people of Makkah, Madeenah, Taa'if, and scattered bands of those whose hearts Allaah had made steadfast.

Abu Bakr the first caliph, stood firm in the face of this destructive upheaval. With the Muhajiroon (emigrants) and Ansaar (Supporters of the prophet ) he prepared eleven armed forces, and had each of them march behind a leader carrying the banner of Islam. They were sent to the distant corners of Arabia to turn the renegades back to the path of truth, and to use the threat of force with those who insisted upon corruption.

The fiercest of the apostates, and the greatest in number, were the tribe of Banu Haneefah. A false prophet named Musaylimah had arisen to lead them. He had gathered a force of forty thousand of his own tribe and their allies. Many of them were tough, seasoned warriors, most of them followed him not because they believed in him, but because of the old tradition of tribal affiliations followed by the pagan Arabs. Some of them said: "I bear witness that Musaylimah is a liar, and Muhammad is truthful. But a liar from Rabee’ah is more beloved to me than a truthful one form Mudhar (the Prophet's tribe)."

The first Muslim force which set out to deal with Musaylimah was led by Ikrimah . It was defeated and routed by the forces, of the renegades. Later, Abu Bakr sent another army, this time led by the hero, Khaalid Ibnul-Waleed . In the vanguard of this army were the most prominent companions of the Muhajiroon and the Ansaar, and among them were Al-Baraa' and other notable Muslim champions-at-arms.

The two armies clashed on the field of Al-Yamamah in Najd, and, it was not long before the forces of Musaylimah gained the upper hand, and the Muslim forces were shaken badly. They began to retreat from their positions, until the forces of Musaylimah entered the encampment of Khaalid Ibnul-Waleed . They would have killed Khaalid's wife, if one of them had not granted her his protection. At the point the Muslims realized the danger inherited in losing this crucial battle. They knew that if they were defeated by Musaylimah, Islam would lose its strength, and Allaah would no longer be worshiped in the Arabian Peninsula. People would turn back to idolatry and be lost. Khaalid rallied the Muslim forces and placed each group under a separate banner so that he could keep track of the gains or losses made in battle.

This battle was the bloodiest and most ferocious yet experienced by the Muslims. It dragged on and the forces of Musaylimah stood firm, unshaken by the amount of their losses. The heroic deeds of the Muslims in this battle were of the type about which epic poetry is written.

Thaabit Ibn Qays standard-bearer of the Ansaar, rubbed himself with embalming spices girded himself with a shroud, and dug a shallow trench. He stood there, defending the standard of his people until he fell as a martyr.

Zayd Ibnul-Khattaab, the brother of 'Umar charged forth, calling to the Muslims: "Grit your teeth, strike the enemy and move forward. I am taking a vow of silence and will not speak until Musaylimah is defeated or I meet my creator and tell Him that I died while doing my best." Then he charged forward, engaging in combat until he was slain.

These heroic acts were insignificant before the action of Al-Baraa'. As the battle reached the height of its furry, Khaalid Ibnul-Waleed turned to Al-Baraa' and said: "Lead the assault on them, knight of the Ansaar."

Al-Baraa' turned to his people and cried: "Onward, Ansaar! Let not any of you think that you may return to Al-Madeenah. You have no place to go home. There is only Allaah, and Paradise!”

In one body they charged the ranks of the renegades, with Al-Baraa' cutting through the enemy of Allaah that the tide of battle turned against Musaylimah and his forces. They took refuge in an orchard which became known to history as the Orchard of Death, because of the great number of fighters who were slain there on that day.

The orchard was vast, with high walls and Musaylimah and his thousands of forces locked the entrance. They were able to take shelter behind the walls as if they were in a fortress, and rained their arrows down upon the Muslims. Al-Baraa' came forth, and told his people: "Put me on a shield, raise it on your lances, and toss me over the wall near to the gate. I will open the gates to you, or die as a martyr."

Within moments he was sitting on a shield, with his slight body which weighed little, and dozens of lances lifted him, then tossed him into the Orchard of death. Like a thunderbolt from on high, he descended on the enemy, and killed ten of them before he was able to open the gate. The Muslims poured in through the gates and over the wall, felling with their sword the renegade forces by the thousands, until they reached Musaylimah and killed him.

As for Al-Baraa' he was carried off the field with more than eighty sword and arrow wounds. Khaalid Ibnul-Waleed stayed with him for a month, nursing him until Allaah restored his health, just as He had granted the Muslims victory because of him.

Al-Baraa' continued to long for death as a martyr, a fate, which had eluded him at the battle of Al-Yamamah. In his longing for his fate, and for reunion with his beloved Prophet he committed himself to one battle after another. At the battle of Tustar in Persia, the Muslims who had besieged the Persians became more desperate, they lowered over the wall chains with huge grappling hooks which had been heated until they were red hot. On them, they would impale the Muslims, and would raise the victims up. One of the hooks caught Anas, the brother or Al-Baraa' . When Al-Baraa' realized what was happening to his brother, he scaled the wall of the fortress until he was able to seize the chain and remove the hook form his brother's body. His hand started to burn and give off smoke, but he did not give up until he had saved his brother. Then he fell to the ground, with nothing left of his hand but bare bones.

During this battle, Al-Baraa' prayed to Allaah to grant him death as a martyr. Allaah granted him his request, and he finally fell, overjoyed that he was to meet his Lord.

Reading the Sahabah Stories

One of the intermittent things we did when we went for the umrah journey is that I read out aloud to them the story of the sahabahs. There were many idle times time to kill. There was waiting time at the immigration, at the restaraunt waiting for food, at the hotel in between solah time in haram or whenever.

I decided to bring a book about the sahabahs. The reason being was because I rarely could cover this topic in the halaqah. They have short chapters. They are not very academic because they are stories. So its the easiest and most effective especially that we were on the move.

The book I used - Portraits From the Lives of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam Volume 1 & 2 - Abdur Rahman Al Basha. I personally find this one the best book for sahabah.

Haziq particularly enjoyed it alot. I personally recommend you to read, discuss and go through the seeraah and the stories of the sahabah especially with your boys the budding teenagers. Boys usually need someone - a figure - that they can look up to and emulate. Boys like to hear and know about men - real men.

OK we have different biography that we can introduce them too. The highly successful people. We can talk to them about Steve Jobs, Bill gates, Nelson Mendela, Malcolm X, Company CEO or whoever. I have nothing against telling them about non muslim leader. There are things we can learn from all.

However, I personally would make more gravity on conveying the Muslim heroes more and the non muslims as supplement only. If we keep shoving them worldly personalities that are successful in the world only - then the only success they believe is the worldly one. The ultimate objective is the greatest success which is the afterlife.

Not that we cannot have both. Why not? We do ask for hasanat in this world and after. So have balance. And balance must beaccording to the ratio of life of the hereafter against life of the world. You are better in maths than me. Go figure.

Anyway, try different angles to what spark our boys' (and girls) interest. Leadership, battles, strategists, linguists, businessman, courage, steadfast, strength, knowledge and so forth.

I am not sure what spark Haziq really. he seem to like any battle stories. That is why he prefers the seeraah of Madeenah and the battles during Khalifah Abu Bakar and Umar. I personally prefer seerah in Makkah. But hey this is not about me.

You could identify the personality that suits your children most and slowly live it. The teenagers will relate to this I think. Sya and Jack just take take this as stories but Haziq is already at the age of thinking another layer deeper into their personalities.

I can't wait for the time that I put more gravity on Sya's teenage interest and I will share here Insya Allah.

learning about sahabah is crucial for they are the ones that Prophet salllahu alaihi salam said are the best of generations after him. They are real people who are also exposed to mistakes and sins. We can learn from their struggle and their strive and how they go through their life in the worship of Allah and Insya Allah we also can become like them.

They are described as "Monks by night and knights by day."

What drives their discipline? What are their understanding? What are their motivation? Do they breathe the same air? See the same sun? Shade under the same moon? Do they belong to the same world?

A loooonnnnngggg project to be done. Time? Where is my time? May Allah expand my time for Him.

Ihsan

Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah and his tawfiq and hidayah, Allah has allowed us to go to umrah his year. We got back safely last Friday Alhamdulillah.

When we came back from one of the solat jamaah in Haram, Haziq exclaimed, you know standing in the jamaah today when we raised our hands for takbiratul ihram and stood straight in a line, I felt that we were ready for war. In unity all of us. i felt so charged up.

I don't know whether this is the after effect of Lord of The Ring battle, or that we have been reading about the sahabah throughout our journey or the overwhelming feeling of being in the haram itself.

Indeed Haziq, to go to the masjid for you is already a jihad, to stand there is another jihad and the solah on its own is a battle of khushoo'.

In hadith Jibrael narrated by Umar radialllahu anhu,

in the conversation between Jibrael and Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam, Jibrael asked the Prophet,

“Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, ” It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.”

Have you, when you stand before your Lord in your prayers, feel that? That you are really standing before Him and that He is watching your every move. That He is in front of you inspecting you?

Unlike the commander of war who would inspect his lines of men, when Allah looks, He can see your heart and all the secrets you hide. He knows who you are standing for and who you fear. He knows whether your heart is saying what you make apparent. He knows your yearns and He knows your cries.

And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). (Al Mulk 67: 13)

And that He doesn't stop watching you after that.

He knows when you smile but it is hate that you feel in the heart. He knows your strive that you are fighting to follow His command. He can really see in your heart whether you are submitting to Him whole heartedly.

Your heart is exposed to Him. There is nothing, just nothing you can conceal! We are so weak Ya Rabb. Open to us Your Mervy Ya Rabb.

Lâ ilâha illa Anta Subhanaka. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (Al Anbiya 21: 87)

Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (Al AaRaf 7: 23)

Sya is Eleven

Masya Allah! tabarakallah! Time flies really fast as the saying goes. Sya is already in her double digit age.

First of all Alhamdulillah, Sya is not into acting like big girls. Yeah she likes to do her hair and all that, and we sort of encourage her by praising her but not by overdoing it. We encourage her because girls like to hear praises. We encourage her to look nice at home and to not feel the need to do it outside the home. I would usually remind lover to praise her too. Not that lover does not like doing it, but men need reminders in this sort of thing I think.

And let me tell you this, girls like to hear their father praising them. This is crucial for their positive self esteem and self confidence. When they have praises from the man who matters most in their life, they do not need to quench this need from strange men outside,Insya Allah, May Allah protect our daughters.

OK about Sya. Sya is a reminder to me, that all children are different. Their different interest from the family's norm (when it is allowed by the deen), does not mean they are strange. Sya has not much interest in Maths and science like I do and like her abang. This is frustrating. Because the world in general, gauge cleverness based on the school's academic report especially maths and science. Not that she is downright terrible in the subjects, but she never score in them nor is she getting the concept really quick. When she does get after drilling, she would forget it by next week. Insya Allah khayr.

her memorisation has been going on steadily. Some of her friends have leapt tremendously but it's ok. We must balance encouragement and threat. encouragement by 90%. The competition is more against your nafs. I personally find memorisation has helped Sya in her studies even more. She is more able to focus and remember. Insya Allah khayr. These are bonus of memorising the quran, not the ultimate motif.

Sya is more into crafts and sewing little things. This is a problem in my household because I find crafts messy. yeah sure many people make nice crafts, but they are still a mess in my opinion. I like functional things. I do not fancy many things put on display. Displayed things to me should be in good size and especially nice. Strewn small things only collect dusts and difficult to maintain.

Having said that, I am exploring what she likes and encouraging the way I can, bebelling because of the messiness and gritting my teeth because I do not favour it.

Sya is a very caring person and likes to put people's needs first before others. She is willing to do things for her brothers and me of course. She is so willing, such that I had to tell Haziq off for making her do things for him. She always have her friend's needs in her mind and love to make stuff for them. She would either paint something for them when they are not well, make stuffed toy for them.

She swims well and take up rollerblading easily as well. So I will Insya Allah continue to send her to swimming classes. I have many berangan ideas for her through this.

Her room is still messy though. Yeah, even though I am not an organised person myself, but I cannot stand other people's messiness. :P

She has been steadfast on her choice of the way to dress so far. Alhamdulillah.

I ask Allah that this carry on through trial times of teenagehood and adult life and that Allah grant her strength of mind to be a Muslimah as Allah wants Muslimah to be.

She is slowly growing up into a big girl. May Allah protect her from the fitna of this world.

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