SAFAH

Congratulations & glad tidings to those who have given up bad habits for the Sake of the Almighty & rekindled their link with Him.

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light.” If we give it some thought we may notice that a single speck of light can make the darkest of places a well lit environment in less than a second. This is a great example of what happiness is to dark times that we may be experiencing in our lives. During the darkest moments; in times in which we feel we will never feel better, like times that we may experience the loss of a job, or the loss of a loved one, we have to keep our faith in the notion that happiness still exists in our lives, and that the dark season which we are experiencing will soon pass. A time of darkness requires us all to be courageous and requires us all to believe when it seems as though believing will get us to nowhere. Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, all that we have to do is turn on the light, keep a positive attitude and keep pushing forward. Proud Muslimah

A blessing or punishment? Sometimes a sickness, disease, etc. comes in the form of a blessing and sometimes in the form of azaab (punishment). For a mu’min, it is a blessing and mercy if it causes him to turn towards Allah. I will give an example with an incident that took place few years ago. I went to visit a person who was suffering from cancer. On entering his room, I found him surrounded by 3 TV sets- one to his right, one to his left and one in front of him. This was, indeed very surprising… a sick person in extreme pain who could well be in his last moments, in such a situation. On inquiry, his relative explained, that due to him being confined in bed, it became necessary to turn him in these 3 positions; sometimes left; sometimes right otherwise flat on his back. The three sets were placed in such a manner so that he would not miss any part of the programme being watched. If in that sickness, which was meant to have brought us to the door of Allah we continue to indulge in sins and more so, then who do we blame for the problems which we thereafter have to face? Sickness that we undergo in this worldly life should not be seen as a misfortune but as an expression of Allah’s mercy and great blessing. As man commits sins all the time thus the difficulties and hardships he undergoes such as grief, sorrow, illness etc becomes a way by which he is cleansed of his sins in this world. Dear brothers and sisters indeed it is hard to bear any hardships whether it is physical, material, financial, mental etc. But we should learn to bear every kind of sickness or problems with patience (sabr) and put all our trust in Allah. Unfortunately today we are people with low Imaan, we tend as soon as we get a problem, start to curse, to rebel, to utter disgust words, to be ungrateful. We forget that Allah is testing us and we should always be thankful to Allah in all conditions. We should regard sickness as a gift and special sign of mercy. We should indeed not forget that these worldly hardships will be for few days only followed by eternal happiness and rewards. May allah protect us all from losing faith and trust in him… JazakAllah khair for reading Proud Muslimah

What am I going to do? Why is my life so messed up? Why can’t I find happiness? Why am I alone? Why do I feel stuck? Why do I have these problems?’… These questions only have meaning if we direct them to Allah. No one else can answer them. Consider the words of the Prophet Ya’qub (alayhis-salam, peace be upon him) when his son Yusuf (as) was secretly thrown into a well by his brothers. They then reported to their father that Yusuf had been killed by a wolf. And he turned away from them and said, “Oh, my sorrow over Yusuf,” and his eyes became white from grief, and he fell into silent melancholy. They said, “By Allah , you will not cease remembering Yusuf until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish.” He said, “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah , and I know from Allah that which you do not know. - Quran, Surat Yusuf, 12:84-86 “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah…” When you feel stuck, when you feel that no one understands your situation, when you’re in pain and you can’t even imagine a solution, only Allah has the answers. You can’t see a way forward, but He can. You don’t see your own worth, but He does. You can’t figure out the road to happiness, but He can show you. I remember a night in Arizona when I was twenty six years old. I lay on a cot in a small, frigid cell. There was snow outside and I had only a thin blanket. As I often did, I put on all my clothing in layers – three pants, three shirts, an army jacket and a pair of boots – and still I kept waking up shivering and shaking. Yet, even more than the physical discomfort, my spirit was tired. I had made mistakes in my youth and had been locked up for almost five years. I had become hard mentally and physically, but my heart was full of sorrow. I lay there that night and I thought, “I have nothing in life. I have accomplished nothing. I have no university degree, no wife, no children, and not even my freedom.” That was a bad time. But I had my faith, and I used to weep to Allah, asking Him to have mercy on me. I think I gave up on myself for a while, but I never gave up on Allah. It would not even have occurred to me to do so. I did cry to Him sometimes saying, “Why, Allah? Why? Why am I here, suffering like this?” But it wasn’t despair, only confusion. In my heart I knew that He heard me and that an answer would come. Shortly after that I received a letter from the parole board granting me early release. I had previously been told very clearly that I was not eligible. It was entirely unexpected, and if you are familiar with the American penal system, miraculous. But for Allah, nothing is impossible or even difficult. Within a few months I was free. I found a job a week after my release, and I excelled. I began writing, sitting at my desk every night after work and disciplining myself to work on poetry, stories and articles. Eventually I went back to school and began a new career, got married, bought a beautiful house, and one day had a child… What can I say except Alhamdulillah! SubhanAllah! What can I do except weep in gratitude for these blessings that I did nothing to earn, but were given to me by my Lord who loves me and cares about me, and wants good for me. I am so deeply touched and moved by the way Allah has answered my prayers from the depths of darkness. If I did anything to merit His blessings, perhaps it was only that I directed my pleas to Him. I knew that no one else could help me. This is a very emotional post for me to write. I want every Muslim to have this sense of Allah as their friend, as someone who cares for them deeply. I want to put that awareness into your heart like a gift. When I was in that cell I used to pray the same dua’ over and over, begging Allah repeatedly. If I had made such pleas to a human being they would have stopped hearing me long ago. When we’re needy with people it pushes them away, but when we’re needy with Allah He comes closer to us! He never tires of answering our need and forgiving us. I know of many similar stories of people who have hit rock bottom and have called upon Allah – or , not even knowing “Allah” by that name, have called to the Supreme Being, saying, “I know you hear me, tell me what I need to do, show me the way!” – and then, like a circle of sunlight piercing a cloud, something or someone comes into their lives to show them the way forward. When we’re out of ideas, surrounded by problems, and feeling totally alone… we’re not alone. Allah is with us. If we pray sincerely and strive, He will put light in our hearts and help us from directions we did not expect. Ask Allah sincerely, open yourself to Him, and accept what He gives you even when it goes against your own desires. The answers to your questions are there, with Allah, I promise you. All those terrible questions that you ask yourself in the silence of your mind, the answers are with Allah. By Wael Abdelgawad

A man should stand up for his wife when his family is wrong & remember that she gave up everything to be with him. Too often we allow our family members to trample over our wives leaving them in tears, helpless & even suicidal. The worst is when we forget that she is a human being just like we are & begin to trample over her ourselves. Where does she go? Who does she turn to besides the Almighty? He is watching, He will come to her rescue. Why can't each one strive to make life easy for the other instead of difficult? The world would be a better place. Gone are the days when a daughter in law was equivalent to an unpaid house maid! Shame upon those who look at her that way.

sin could be your weakness, but to force your dependants to sin with you is a heinous crime. A sin could be your weakness, but to be upset when your dependants choose not to sin with you is worse. To force others to please you & ignore what pleases the Almighty is lack of spirituality. Let's make mends.

The heart & mind are connected in an amazing way. They are a very powerful gift of the Almighty through which He tests us. To lead a happy life & ensure success in the hereafter too, we should never allow either of these to be controlled by others no matter who they are. The only exception is revelation from the Almighty via His Messenger pbuh. Many have regretted allowing others access to their hearts & minds.

Face each difficulty as an opportunity to greatness. Treat each difficulty and hardship as a calling from your lord to purify your soul and increase your ranks in the hereafter. The way you face and see each trial is half the battle. Realize that you cannot flee from trials, but you can pass all trials successfully with Allah's help. Know that each trial is an opportunity to get closer to Allah, for nothing in this world is more valuable than a moment spent in contemplation and worship of Allah. Oh Allah, give me eyes to see the benefits of each hardship, give me ears to only hear your messages in them, give me a heart to find contentment in your decree, and give me wisdom to turn hardships into blessings. If we face each hardship with the realization that one, we cannot escape what has been destined for us, and two, that any hardship no matter how painful it may be, it is to better us for the hereafter, and that it was decreed by Allah because he loves us. If we keep those thoughts in the forefront of our head, we have won the battle inshAllah! ─F.D

Allah constantly guides us. Every time I stray, I remember that Allah's mercy is greater than His wrath. I also know that Allah guides us always especially when we start deviating from the straight path. I am very thankful for the constant blessings and reminders of the almighty. May He keep us on the straight path when we stray and may he forgive us when we err. The Qur'ân and Sunnah speak frequently and emphatically about the fact that a worshipper who repents and asks forgiveness for his sins will be forgiven and will not be asked about those sins again. In fact, Allah tells us that those sins will be exchanged for good deeds. Allah says: "Except those who repent and believe and work righteous deeds, for them Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [sûrah al-Furqân: 70] So when you err repent to Allah. Know that if you are sincere in your repentance, Allah will surely forgive you. Surely, Allah knows best our condition and He is always just. -F.D

Mufti Ismail Menk - Recognise the Greatness of Your Creator .

“What am I going to do? Why is my life so messed up? Why can't I find happiness? Why am I alone? Why do I feel stuck? Why do I have these problems?" These questions only have meaning if we direct them to Allah. No one else can answer them. When we're out of ideas, surrounded by problems, and feeling totally alone; we are not alone. Allah is with us. If we pray sincerely and strive, He will put light in our hearts and help us from sources we did not expect. Ask Allah sincerely, open yourself to Him and accept what He gives you even when it goes against your own desires. The answers to your questions are there with Allah, I promise you. All those terrible questions that you ask yourself in the silence of your mind, the answers are with Allah.

Allah is always there In your times of deep despair, Do you feel there is no hope? As the darkness closes in on you, Do you feel you cannot cope? As you struggle on through every trial, Do you say “When will it end?” As you cry yourself to sleep at night, Do you wish your spouse was there? When your body’s racked with aches and pains, Do you feel you are alone? When you think about the future, Do you fear the great unknown? There is someone who really cares, And He hears your every cry. His arms are reaching out to you, And on Him you can rely. When things close in around you, He sees your fear and doubt He wants to hold you in His arms, And He will never cast you out. As you stumble through the darkness, He will be your guiding light. He wants to wipe away your tears, For you are precious in His sight. Reach out right now to Allah, And let Him take complete control. He’ll take that heavy burden, And He’ll touch and make you whole. He’s reaching out His arms to you, And He wants to be your friend. Let Him take you in His loving arms, For His love will never end.

All my relatives do that but in this month female only..thats what i wanted to know is this bidah? im fighting against this and now mufti sahib allows it... one needs to make their mind up bidah or no bidah?

Avoid the Temptation by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) ‘I recall from my childhood days, someone saying :“...For temptation will lead you into trouble and make you cry.” - And indeed this is exactly what happens when one gives into the temptation to engage in any Haraam. …Ask those who have given into the demands of nafs and shaytaan, about the repercussions of their sins. …They will say: Trouble, trouble and more trouble. Tears, tears and more tears. Temptations will always be there. If there was no temptation, then there would have been no such thing as Taqwa. The demand is to resist, to stay away, to abstain. Not to do sins is so much easier than ‘doing’ sins.’ Haraam Attractions and Distractions In an accident, or due to a slip or fall, if the joint of the shoulder or leg is dislocated, traction is normally the means adopted in the healing process. The sinful, immoral attractions and distractions which form the entertainment of those who have forgotten Allah Ta’ala are such, that they dislocate the joints of Imaan. …The traction for indulgence in sins is sincere taubah (sincere repentance), distancing oneself from sins and from venues of sins; together with attending good, Deeni programmes and associating with the pious. …There are so many, so many, who have gone towards some Haraam (forbidden) attraction, never to return therefrom : So many have lost their identity as Muslims, and sometimes they have even lost their Imaan and suffer the loss of their Aakhirah. Thousands have died engaging in Haraam entertainment; whether at the casinos, discos, raves, prostitute quarters, massage parlours, in adultery, etc. One earthquake, one tsunami, one gale-force wind, one fire, and death comes upon thousands – many of whom are also engaged in sins. What guarantee do we have that we won’t be singled out this holiday, for our return to Allah Ta’ala? So think… And think again! What would be the condition of that person who comes face to face with the Angel of Death whilst engaged in gambling, drink, dance, raves, adultery or fornication? …Which Muslim wants to return to Allah Ta’ala in a state of sin? Such matters should not be taken lightly. (Allah Ta’ala protect us all.) This holiday period is a time of great test and trial : Invitation to sins, promotion of sins, temptation to sins, enticement and encouragement towards all kinds of Haraam is the order of the day. Beach partying, intermingling and courting, immodest dress, loud music and dance, smoking and drinking and drug-taking then become even the programme and timetable for many Muslims. …Salaah becomes a forgotten duty for holiday-makers. The Islamic dress and identity are discarded so that there is freedom to engage in more sinful activities. Shaytaan’s trump card to Haraam entertainment is even held up by Muslims, who also invite to Haraam just as the non-Muslims do. …Inna Lillahiwa-innailayhira`ji-oon. Is this what we were created for? Allah Ta’ala asks, “Did you think that We created you for nothing, and that you will not be brought back to Us?” [surah Mu`minoon23 : 115] The shocking behaviour of our Muslim youth (and even many Muslim adults) leaves us numb, disturbed, distressed and deeply, deeply grieved … What shocks does the heart have to contend with. The Muslim youth are supposed to be tomorrow’s leaders for the Ummah, are expected to be the representatives of Deen, inviting the non-Muslims to Islam, with the modesty and purity of thought, speech, dress and actions which should be characteristic of every Muslim. Deen and Shariah do not stifle us, do not deprive us of pleasure and enjoyment, do not deny us happiness and celebration. Deen and Shariah accommodate leisure and pleasure. Islam is beautiful. Most beautiful. Islam is not ‘dry’. It is enjoyable. …Allah Ta’ala has only placed certain boundaries through His Divine prohibitions for our own benefit, safety and well-being. So let us make the effort and avoid the temptations towards sins. Let us not walk the route towards sins. Let us keep clear of the venues of sins like how we would if we had fore-knowledge that there will be an earthquake, tsunami or bomb-blast devastating such places. …We fear for our lives. The greater need is to fear for our Imaan and that of our children’s Imaan. Let us not forget that we are Muslims. Let us not forget our relationship with Allah Ta’ala. Let us not forget that death can visit very unexpectedly. Let us not forget that there is accountability. Let us not forget Jannat. Let us not forget Jahannum. This world is a prison for the Believer and a paradise for the disbeliever. … What will be ‘good’ for the disbelievers will not be good for the Believers. If they find enjoyment in Haraam, the Muslim will find HARM in that same Haraam. Every person is given the choice. A person either makes a wise decision or an unwise decision. If we adopt Taqwa, we restrain and abstain from disobedience to Allah Ta’ala, then when we leave this world, we leave behind a prison. When we leave this world, we leave free. When the disbeliever leaves this world, he leaves behind his paradise. When he leaves this world, he enters a prison; wherein there is no release, no bail, no escape and no parole. This worldly life is short. Very short. Understand the reality :Every passing second is delivering us closer and closer to the bridge of death. And there is no choice. We have to cross that bridge. My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (DB) says in poetry: “Strange is the visa of life; It can be cancelled at any time. The duration of its validity is unknown And its extension too, impossible. Time is running out. The journey is long. The life after this is eternal. There is no return to this world. …What preparation have you made? What provision have you procured? Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhiwaSallam) said : “The intelligent one is he who suppresses his desires and practises for what is after death, and the foolish one is he who makes his nafs follow its desires and (he) places (baseless) hope on Allah.” Imam Shafi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) summed up this life very simply and aptly: “This worldly life is a just a moment; let it be a moment of obedience.”

The Wash Cycles for the Heart by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) Once, on viewing the Mataaf from one of the upper levels of Masjidul Haraam, the scene of thousands of people engaged in Tawaaf, brought to my mind the following analogy: The sight of those thousands of people moving around the Baitullah reminded me of the wash cycles of the washing machine. And indeed, we find that parallels can be drawn between the Tawaaf and the work of the washing machine. The purpose of the washing machine is to wash our clothes clean. …We place dirty clothes into the drum of the machine and we add the detergent, bleach, softner. With a press of the Start button, the drum starts to spin, water pours in and the machine does its work of extracting the dirt, repeatedly, until the final rinse. Once the drum stops, the clothes are taken out, hung up to dry, and when dry, they are ironed – with the end result being well pressed, crease-free, clean clothing. Tawaaf has some resemblance to the purpose and work of the washing machine; except that we are not washing dirty clothes; rather we are washing our hearts – our spiritual hearts. Like dirty clothes are placed into the washing machine, we place our dirty hearts into the Tawaaf – hearts which are stained with all kinds of sins, including the ‘tough’ stains of major sins. …What is not found in this heart? So much has soiled and spoilt our hearts : Pride, Jealousy, Malice, Vanity, Hubbe Dunya, Hubbe Jah and the deep, dirty stains of lustful gazes, backbiting, and other such evils have blotted our hearts, have smeared and blackened them. Before washing badly stained clothing, a stain remover is used. Accordingly, the stain remover of regret and remorse over our sins, and the sincere intention that what is past being really past, is applied to our hearts. The Hajre Aswad can be likened to the ‘START’ button. The intention of Tawaaf and the raising of the hands with ‘Bismillah Allahu Akbar wa-lillahil Hamd’, signify the commencement of the Tawaaf. Simultaneously the washing of the heart commences. The detergents of Istighfaar, Durood Shareef, and Zikrullah, then contribute to the cleansing of the heart. Just as water gushes into the drum, Allah Ta’ala’s Tajalli, His Special Mercy and Noor, which is cascading onto the Baitullah, drench those who are in Tawaaf. These are the ones who are the first to benefit and they benefit more than all others. Their hearts too are being soaked with this Noor, similar to how the dirty clothes become soaked with water. The detergent of sincere Istighfaar and Taubah wash the heart. …The amount of detergent a person needs for washing his clothes, depends on the size of the load. So if our hearts are heavily loaded with sins, then naturally, the demand will be of plenty of Taubah and Istighfaar. If we want our hearts to be white, the bleach of Zikrullah is added to the Tawaaf, just as bleach is used when a person wants his white clothes to be as white as possible. If we want our hearts to be soft, then the softner of Durood Shareef is also released into the washing of our hearts. Each round of Baitullah is similar to the wash and rinses that the dirty clothing go through for a good, clean wash. Round and round, each cycle is completed with Istighfaar and Taubah, Durood Shareef, Dua and Zikrullah. Together with that Tajalli, the dirt of the heart is being extracted, until the final rinse and spin – the 7th round. Now the heart is clean and purified. …If we entered the Tawaaf with full concentration on Allah Ta’ala, and complete focus of the great privilege of Tawaaf of Baitullah – which is in reality Tawaaf of Rabbul-Bait, then we will experience that beautiful Noor and that Tajalli. Naturally, for the full benefit of Tawaaf, the gaze has to be controlled. If a person has ‘khauf-e-Khuda’ and he has ‘Azmat’ of Baitullah, he will not raise his glance towards strange women; he will not cast an evil gaze – in the Tawaaf and out of Tawaaf. …If during Tawaaf, the person is engaging in lustful gazes and other sins, there will be just an accumulation of darkness and dirt. Once the heart is washed, it is taken out of the Tawaaf – clean and bright and white. After completion of the 2 Rakaats of Waajibut Tawaaf, the person proceeds to the Multazam, where he places his chest against the wall. That pressing of his chest, is akin to pressing and ironing the “creases” of his heart; similar to how clothes are ironed, making them ‘crease-free’. The tears shed at the Multazam are like droplets of sweet musk which now fragrance that heart. SubhanAllah, what a sparkling heart, emitting the sweetest of scents… Whilst we will sense it – Insha-Allah - we will have to thereafter look after this cleanliness and this sparkle. We have to make sure that we fulfill the rights of that Taubah, by making amends on our shortcomings in Huqooqullah (the rights of Allah Ta’ala) and Huqooqul Ibaad (the rights of the servants of Allah Ta’ala). Whatever is outstanding of Salaah, Zakaah, fasts, will have to be made up for, and whatever is due to people will have to be returned to them, or forgiveness secured from them. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the Taufeeq of making such Tawaafs, which only increase our hearts in purity and whiteness, which increase that Qurb (proximity) to the Owner of the House.

The silence of God Have you ever wondered why God is with us in the beginning, we walk with Him and feel His presence, but eventually we go in a period of drought, whereby our prayers are like crops with no rain. They don't seem to yield any results. Our seeking of Him continues, yet we seem to not be able to find Him. No matter our call, He is silent. He seems distant. We feel we are alone again in the battles of this life. But that's far from the truth. I'm sure you have wondered why silence. After all, now that we are walking in His path we need His constant guidance. We need the comfort and reassurance that we are walking in His path. This is the time we really need Him. But that's not true. Your search of Him gave you lots of knowledge. It made you strong and tough. It allowed you to understand God and ultimately find Him. Now that you have found Him, He will allow you to walk a period of time without Him so you can understand Him more. This is a period of time to build your character and understand your need of God. It may be counter intuitive to think that God's silence is good for us. After all, why wouldn't I want the guidance of the ultimate master. But the answer lies deep inside our soul. Think of silence as a period of personal development. It is a time of testing by God. This is the time to see our true character. Your striving was for you to find the truth; to find God, now God is wanting to know how long you are willing to strive for Him. This is a period where you will explore the darkest and deepest places of your soul. You will struggle and search for answers until you understand that He is always present. Know that silence is trust from God that we will succeed on the task at hand. It is through silence that we learn valuable life lessons and position ourselves for greatness that is destined for us. His silence is really His gift to you. His silence prepares you for better and greater things to come. His silence is His way of building you character. You will ultimately understand the meaning of His silence when you mature in faith. Written by: F.D

Unknown call to muslimah This is a very nice story which will InshAllaah make you all aware on this matter, especially for young Muslims! After finishing Salatul ‘Ishaa, a Muslimah sat on her Salah mat to make Du’aa. Once after she finished making du'aa to her Lord, her mobile rang. She picked up saying : ”Assalamu 'alaykum Wa Wahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.” A voice of a young man replied : ”Wa'alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuhu! Can I speak to (so and so) please?” The Muslim girl said: ”Sorry brother, you have dialed the wrong number”...Then she hung up. After few minutes, her mobile rang again. She picked it up, it was the young man who called her few minutes ago. He told her : ”I called again to apologize for disturbing you! You seem to be a good girl! Can I know you better?” The girl was shocked for few seconds but then she replied: ”Brother… Fear Allah! you are suppose to be at Masjid praying salatul ‘Ishaa but here you are going after girls to flirt with them at night! Here you are disobeying your Lord instead of obeying HIM! Shame on you!!!” After saying these words, she immediately hang up. Few days later, he called her again: ”Assalamu 'alaykum Wa Wahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu sister, please don't hang up! I want to apologize again and inform you that I went back to pray all my 5 daily prayers at Masjid! All praises to Allah and thank you for waking me up from my neglectfulness! Please, can I know the name of the one through whom Allah guided me? I really need someone like you in my life to strengthen my Iman and support me to stay on the right path! Please help me sister, may Allah reward you for that!” She didn't reply and started to think : ”Should she accept to help him to stay on the right path? Should she accept that he will be in touch with her from time to time to help him strengthen his Imaan?” She heard a satanic voice whispering: ”He is a good guy now! Why are you so worried about it?! Let him call you... you both have pure intention! He really needs you! If you refuse his suggestion, he will go astray and it will be your fault!! “ She was about to tell him her name but suddenly a little voice whispered: ”Allah is watching you”… It was her conscience which woke her up from making a big mistake! “Sorry brother!” she replied finally: ”If you are sincere in your repentance then you will find people who are better than me to help you! Even I need someone who helps me to stay at the right path more than you! At Masjid, you will surely find many righteous brothers who would be good company which will help you to get closer to Allah! Please, if you really fear your Lord now and afraid of HIS punishment, then do not call this number ever again! Assalamu 'alaykum Wa Wahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu!” Then she hang up and she went back to her Salah mat rising her hands to make this Duaa: “O' Allah, Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm on your Deen and save me from the evil of Fitnah, Ameen!”

Formula for Unlimited Blessings by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) The Story of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya (Radiyallahu anha), the foster mother of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) is well-known. The custom of the Arabs who lived in the towns was to entrust their young children in the care of the Bedouin women, who earned a living by being wet nurses. For the town Arabs, this time afforded their children the healthy environment of the desert; facilitating good health, strength and an opportunity to master the rich, untainted speech of the Bedouins. Thus, it was the good fortune of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya(Radiyallahu anha), that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) was destined for her. In the many books on the Seerah, we read Hazrat Halima’s(Radiyallahu anha) personal account of how she, her husband and baby travelled in the company of other women, in search of children to suckle. It was a time of famine and drought and theirs was a state of hunger and want, to the extent that she could not even feed her baby. On reaching Makkah Mukarramah, none of the women were prepared to accept Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) once they were told that he was an orphan. Their hope was to secure a child whose father would reward them generously. Whilst the other women were successful in their quest,Hazrat Halima(Radiyallahu anha) was not. Before departing from Makkah Mukkarramah, she decided to take the orphaned baby, rather than have none to take home. There was no other choice that she had. Hazrat Halima (Radiyallahu anha)relates herself, that the moment she lifted him into her arms, she found to her great surprise, that she had sufficient milk to feed him, as well as her own little baby. And she thereafter related the good fortune that came their way whilst taking care of the little Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) : Their she-camel was suddenly blessed with plentiful of milk; her lean, slow donkey was suddenly blessed with strength and speed; their barren land was blessed with plentiful of grass for their animals to feed on. And like this, prosperity filled their home due to the presence and blessings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam). Reflecting over this, we learn so much: Just the physical body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) coming into the arms of Hazrat Halima (Radiyallahu anha) as a little baby, caused such blessings to pour into their lives. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) was not able to give lengthy speeches in the arms of Hazrat Halima; nor was his character, his dealings, his relationships with people, his honesty and his truthfulness, his charity and his sincerity, his nobility and forgiveness, and other beautiful characteristics apparent at that time when she took the little baby into her arms. At this stage, it was only the physical body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) as a baby … yet look at the tremendous Barakah. Blessings in their lives, in their home, in their time and crops, in their animals and their food … Barakah in everything . If so many blessings came with just lifting and carrying the physical body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam), then what would we say about the Barakaat and the blessings that a person will see and experience in his own life if he has to bring the teachings of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in his life? What kind of blessings will he experience? …And what kind of blessings will the Ummah of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) experience if they have to bring into their lives, the beautiful Sunnah? We will experience the same Barakaat that Allah Ta’ala gave to Hazrat Halima and thereafter what became even more manifest in the lives of the Companions of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam). Look at their condition : Most of the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (RA) were extremely poor, undergoing extreme difficulties, tests and trials. But with the implementation of the teachings of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in their lives, look at the Barakaat that Allah Ta’ala gave to them : The Persian Empire at their feet, the Roman Empire at their feet – something that could not be even imagined at one time but the Prophecies of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) were seen and experienced by them. Of course they did not just sit and do nothing. They did what they had to do - they fulfilled their part of the contract.They made their Salaah, they gave their Zakaah, they kept their fasts, they performed Hajj if it was Fardh, they were kind, they were charitable, they were honest, they were truthful; each one brought the beautiful, noble character of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in his or her life. …They went forth in Jihad with Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) and after his demise also, they spread the message of Islam and the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in the world – and then look at the Barakaat that came pouring into their lives… “Barakaat minnas sa’maa’i wal ardh”(Blessings from the heavens and the earth). Thus, if someone looks at that incident of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya (Radiyallahu anha), and the blessings of just taking Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) into her arms as a baby, then we draw the lesson : Barakaat is sure to follow, in abundance, if we only bring into our lives the beautiful Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam). So simple. Let those who wish to enjoy blessings, bring alive the Sunnah.

The Spiritual Drip by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) In a Majlis of my Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), Hazrat requested one of his mureeds to recite a verse of his poetry. Each time, the verse was rendered, the person was told to read it again. This went on for one solid hour – that is, the repetition of the one verse; but the effect on the hearts was seen in the tears that were shed by those who were present. The verse, translated, is : “If you hide and commit sins, Someone is watching from above (Allah Ta’ala)…” A person who in not acquainted with the aim and objective would say that listening to the same verse repeatedly, for an entire hour, would be boring, tiresome, uninspiring … but not so for those who are sincerely seeking the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. The true believer understands that anything good repeated benefits him. “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the Believer.” [surah Zaariyaat 51 : 55] An analogy came to mind when giving thought to the above experience: The likeness of the repetition of this one verse of poetry and its benefit upon the hearts of all those who were present at the time, is like that of a ‘drip’. A person is admitted into hospital due to various reasons: dehydration, loss of blood, surgery, childbirth, an accident, etc. Many a time, there is a need for the use of a drip. The ‘drip’ is called ‘drip’ because its work is to administer fluid slowly, drop-by-drop, directly into a vein. Thus, one drop at a time, enters the person’s system… until the drip is empty. This process is a slow process, taking, sometimes, a number of hours - yet the drip is described as a very efficient process whereby the entire body quickly receives the supply of medication which it requires. Moreover, a drip chamber controls the process whereby the fluid flows into the vein without air entering the bloodstream because if air is introduced into the bloodstream, this can lead to health complications, which could even be fatal. If it is a blood transfusion, the patient receives healthy blood through a drip. Depending on how much of blood is required, the process can run into hours. If it is dehydration, then the drip is used to hydrate the patient with a solution of glucose and electrolytes because glucose boosts the energy system once it enters the blood stream. If due to some other ailment, accordingly, the drip is used to supply the medication or nutrients needed. No sane patient will complain that the process is too long, he is becoming bored, and the drip should be removed because it is a tedious experience… The person knows his health is dependent on the drip. Now if we have to look at our own condition as Muslims, as an Ummah, we find that we have lost so much of spiritual blood, or we are so severely dehydrated spiritually, that these sessions or Majaalis of the Mashaa`ik are like short term ‘hospitalization’ where we are attached to a drip – the drip being the Suhbah of the Mashaa`ik, their advice and tawajjuh and duas, by which we hydrate our Imaan which is withering away, or we regain the spiritual blood that we have lost due to our own negligence and indulgence in sins. The repetition of Qur`aan Shareef, Ahaadeeth and the poetry of the Ahlullah are the medication or nutrients which are supplied to our souls through this spiritual ‘drip’ and which, in turn, keep us spiritually alive. If we do not take this recourse – of attaching ourselves to a spiritual ‘drip’ – a Shaykh-e-Kaamil, we can find ourselves in a critical and spiritually life-threatening condition. May Allah Ta’ala protect us. These Majaalis of the Mashaa`ik are to be appreciated – more especially in these times of fitnah, where indulgence in sins has led to severe spiritual dehydration, loss of spiritual blood and has led to a domino effect of corruption and immorality throughout the world. Our weakness is evident at every turn, except for those who continuously supply their soul with the nourishment of Taqwa via these spiritual drips. Allah Ta’ala has confirmed this in the Qur`aan Shareef: “O You who Believe, Fear Allah and join the company of the Truthful ones (the pious, the Auliya Allah).” [surah Taubah 9 : 119] Hazrat Maulana Maseehullah (Rahmatullahi alaih) had explained very beautifully, that this Ayah (verse) draws attention to three important matters : Imaan, Taqwa and Suhbah. And Hazrat Maulana (RA) elaborated, saying that for the nourishment, growth, health and preservation of Imaan, Taqwa is required. Without Taqwa, one’s Imaan will weaken, will decline … will wilt and wither away. However, for the nourishment, development, growth and progress of Taqwa, the Suhbah (companionship) of the pious is indispensable. It is absolutely essential. Allah Ta’ala commands us to keep the company of the ‘Siddiqeen’, the truthful ones – because they are truthful in their piety. They have the reality of what they project. Another point that we are informed of was that if air is introduced in the bloodstream, this would lead to health complications which can be fatal as well. Similarly when a person keeps such company and attends such majaalis, but entertains in his heart insincerity, or in his good efforts, the person begins to suffer the infection of ujub or kibr, or the person becomes jealous of others and allows malice to breed in his heart – then this is that poison which can lead to spiritual death, despite being in the right environment and company. Allah Ta’ala grant us all Ikhlaas and full benefit in the efforts we make to keep company with His Friends.

How can success be achieved when the call to success is ignored? "Hayya alal Falaah!"

We won't judge your closeness to the Almighty based on your dress but your choice of dress itself judges your own distance from the Almighty.

A strong person is not the one who doesn't cry. A strong person is one who is quiet and sheds tears for a moment, and then picks up her sword and fights again..