Keindahan BersamaMu

assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,

just wanted to share some pictures from the programme I have attended yesterday. inshaAllah when time permits, i will flood this blog with pictures from what i called "the environment of faith and true love" :)

The Greatest Love Story

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

“..Many of what we call “love stories” today are nothing more than stories of lust and desire, physical attraction disguised as love. Yet, I can find no love story more powerful, more spiritually uplifting, more awe-inspiring then that of the Prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and Khadijah radhiallahu 'anha..”

[this was written by a Midwestern Muslim, Hesham A. Hassaballa : Chicago, USA]

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She was one of the noblest women around and came from a very prominent family. She also was a prominent business women with a considerable amount of wealth, and quite beautiful on top of all that. To marry her would have been a great feat for any man–and indeed, many important and wealthy men had asked for her hand. But she rejected them all. A widow, she had lost the desire to marry again.

Until he came into her life.

He was young man of 25, 15 years her junior. And although he was also of a noble family, he was an orphan and was not a man of many means. He made a meager living tending sheep in the hills surrounding the city. But he had an impeccable moral character–he was widely known as one of the most honest men around. That is what attracted her to him: She was looking for someone honest who could conduct business for her, as she– a woman in a fiercely patriarchal society– could not do it herself. So he started working for her.

After he came back from his first business trip, she asked her servant, whom she sent with him, about the young man’s conduct. The servant amazed her by his report–this young man was the kindest, gentlest man the servant had ever met. And there was more. As they traveled in the heat of the desert, the servant noticed that a cloud had followed them the entire time, shading the young man from the blazing sun. The businesswoman was quite impressed with her new employee.

Not only that, this new employee proved to be an astute businessman. He sold his employer’s goods, and with the profits bought other merchandise that he sold again, thus profiting twice. All these good things stirred her soul. The embers of love in her heart that were extinguished re-kindled again, and she resolved to marry this young man despite their age difference.

So, she sent her sister to the young man. She asked him, “Why are you not married yet?”

“For lack of means,” he answered.

“What if I could offer you a wife of nobility, beauty, and wealth? Would you be interested?” she told him.

He replied in the affirmative, but when she mentioned her sister, the young employee chuckled in amazement.

“How could I marry her? She has turned down the most noble men in the city, much wealthier and prominent than me, a poor shepherd,” he said.

“Don’t you worry,” the sister replied, “I’ll take care of it.”

Not long after, Khadijah married the soon-to-be Prophet Muhammad, the young man who had caputured his heart with his kindness and impeccable character. It was the beginning of one of the most loving, happiest, and sacred marriages in all of human history. Though Khadijah was 40 years old, it did not bother the Prophet one bit. They loved each other truly and deeply. They were married for 25 years, and she bore him seven children: three sons (who all perished at young ages) and four daughters. Theirs was one of the greatest love stories of all.

But what makes this love story so special? Perhaps because this first marriage of the Prophet was ensconced in such a special love. Much has been made about the Prophet Muhammad’s multiple marriages. Some have even gone as far as smearing the Prophet as a womanizing philanderer (or even worse) citing the many wives he had taken after emigrating to Medina. But each of these marriages had a very practical explanation, and many of his spouses were older widows. By marrying these different women, the Prophet gave them care and protection in those turbulent times.

She believed in me when no one else did.

But with Khadijah, it was just about love and respect. After he married her he remained loyal to her until she breathed her last. He took no other wives during their long married life. His loyalty and undying commitment to her is an example of what true love is.

Khadijah, likewise, was a source of immense love, strength, and comfort for the Prophet Muhammad, and he leaned heavily on her on the most important night of his life, when the Angel Gabriel first came to him with a message from God.

As the story goes, while the Prophet Muhammad was meditating in cave of Hira, the Angel Gabriel came to him, revealed the first verses of the Qur’an, and declared to him that he was to be a prophet. The experience terrified the Prophet Muhammad, and he ran home, and sought refuge in his wife’s arms crying, “Cover me! Cover me!” Khadijah was startled by his terror, and after soothing and comforting him, the Prophet calmed down and related to her his experience. He feared he was going mad or being possessed.

Khadijah put all his fears to rest: “Do not worry,” she said, “for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah’s soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest, and you answer the call of those who are in distress.” She then took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a scholar well-versed in the Judeo-Christian scripture, and he confirmed to the Prophet that his experience was Divine, and he was to be the Last Prophet.

After his ministry began and the opposition of his people became harsh and brutal, Khadijah was always there to support the Prophet Muhammad, sacrificing all of her wealth to support her beloved husband and the cause of Islam. When the Prophet and his family were banished to the hills outside of Mecca, she went there with him. The three years of hardship and deprivation eventually led to her death. The Prophet Muhammad mourned her deeply, and even after her death, the Prophet would send food and support to Khadijah’s friends and relatives, out of love for his first wife.

Once, years after Khadijah died, he came across a necklace that she once wore. When he saw it, he remembered her and began to cry and mourn. His love for her never died, so much so, that his last wife, A’isha, became jealous of her. Once she asked the Prophet if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet replied: “She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.”

In a song about the Prophet sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and Khadjiah, Muslim rappers Native Deen sing: “We look for stories of love in places dark and cold/When we have a guiding light for the whole world to behold.” Many of what we call “love stories” today are nothing more than stories of lust and desire, physical attraction disguised as love. Yet, I can find no love story more powerful, more spiritually uplifting, more awe-inspiring then that of the Prophet Muhammad sallalahu 'alaihi wassalam and Khadijah radhiallahu 'anha.

It is a shining example of what an ideal marriage is. :)

Story of our Great Mother of Believers

Bismillahi walhamdulillahi ‘alaa rasulillah,

Once Aisha asked him if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:

"She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." It had been related by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on one occasion, when Khadijah was still alive, Jibril came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, and his first wife, Khadijah, had both died in the same year, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his small community of believers endured a time of great hardship and persecution at the hands of the Quraish. Indeed the Prophet, who was now fifty years old, name this year 'the Year of Sorrow.'

(from the book Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Ibn Kathir)

story of Umar bin Abdil Aziz

If you have the position of authority in your community, the first thing you should do is surround yourself with rigtheous people.

When Umar bin Abdil Aziz became the khalifah, the first thing he did was fired all the people and he appointed few rigtheous slaves of Allah. And they would go to his house and he would tell them do not talk to me about anything except the hereafter, and they would stay at his house all night long untill fajr. He also hired Umar bin Muahajar and he told him when you see me doing something wrong hold me and shake me and tell me,

" fear Allah Ya Omar indeed you will die!!!"

About Du'aa

There are people whose du'a is always answered. They are:

1. The oppressed
2. Parents
3. Travellers -bashir, you are in this category everyday!
   
4. The sick

Du'a can be answered in three ways. They are:

1. We receive what we prayed for.
2. We don't recieve what we prayed for because it is not in our destiny and Allah knows better - the duah goes up to Allah and 'intercepts' and 'nullifies' a qadr of Allah on it's way down; something such as a trial or an affliction. So instead of your duah being answered, it has instead nullified or stopped an affliction that was destined for you and Allahu Alim.
3. Our du'a is answered in Jannah. Moreover, we are going to wish that everything we prayed could be answered in Jannah because it is going to be infiniti times better there!

Build Wisely

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a d! edicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow.

Build wisely!

something to ponder :)

a deep stare into the flame of the burning fuse of a firecracker triggered my imagination around the word "spark": spontaneous, fiery, wild and unpretentious events of our lives. the whole chemical reaction, triggered by a single heat source will eventually produce colorful lights, that brighten even the loneliest nights.

"a journey begins with a single step.." ...a deeper look into this words of wisdom left us with the question of "how to begin a journey", eventually. should we plan the journey? or should we just follow where our heart leads us ? to me, a journey will only be meaningful if you touched, smelled, smiled, laughed, cried, and think along the way. to me, in order to enjoy this, i should let myself go, and savor the moment along the journey. nothing should be pre-planned.

just like the sparks from the burning firecracker, a spontaneous self will bring about the true you, that will mature as you age. you will make mistakes, of course, but you shall learn from them. further, random sparks tends to shine brighter than candles, right? :)

Make Death What You Seek

bismillahirrahmanirraheem..

Uthman inb Affan once said "To worry about the duniyah leaves a shade of darkness over the heart and to worry about the akhirah illuminates the heart"

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The bullets hit your hearts like the stings of a bee

You fall on your face as all you can see,

Are the Gardens so wide when you're put in the ground
You've been searching for years and now you have found,

The Ultimate Prize, so sacred, so sweet
Your bargain with your Lord is finally complete,

Because you are all martyrs without fear or grief
Who gave all you had for your precious belief,

You promised Him your souls and He promised you much more
Now you can enjoy what He's kept in store,

An endless reward for those who stood by
The covenant they made that towards death they would fly,

While graves burn the sinners and squeeze them so tight
You're shown your places in the Garden, so spacious and bright,

On the Day when Great Terror shall steal all their words
Your souls will rest in the hearts of green birds,

Under the Great Throne with beauty beyond measure
At you ar-Rahmaan laughs, expressing His Pleasure,

Sufficient is this as a heavenly prize
But prepared for you is that never before seen by the eyes,

On your head is placed a crown, one jewel of which is worth
More than all of the jewels contained in this Earth,

You are brought to a gathering with companions so beautiful The Prophets, the righteous and those who were truthful,

Al-Firdaws, where those of the Right Hand shall meet
Where the soil is white musk, so smooth and so sweet,

You scoop up a handful and throw it in the air
You are relaxed by the rivers flowing everywhere,

Water, milk and honey gushing forth non-stop
So thick and delicious you want to devour each drop,

You drink so much you almost end up falling
Into the flowing current, then you hear voices calling,

You turn and behold! The voices are singing
Coming from Maidens so fair and enchanting,

These are the Hoorees with round and firm chests
Pure untouched virgins, they're better than the best,

Seventy-two in all, with large eyes of dark hue
Each one created especially for you,

They call out your name asking where you are
But to their disappointment, from the battles you are far,

Your heart is intoxicated by the pleasures of this life Fear (of death) has wounded your manhood like a sharp knife,

A knife sharpened by the callers to Hell's every door
Who pulled the sword from your hand and threw it to the floor,

And given you women, children and money instead
Convincing you 'this is better than ending up dead,'

But no! They are alive, rejoicing and provided for!
When asked what they desire, they will answer no more!

So be from the cream of this heavenly crop!
Shake off your fear and let your doubts drop!

Pick up the sword and grab your horse's reins tight!
Throw off your armor and jump into the fight!

Make your path be none other than Islaam's high peak
Whose mountain is climbled by making death what you seek!