Deep Thinking

Have you ever thought about the fact that you did not exist before you were conceived and then born into the world and that you have come into existence from mere nothingness?

Have you ever thought about the possibility that while you are asleep a sudden earthquake could raise your home, your office, and your city to the ground and that in a few seconds you could lose everything of the world you possess?

Have you ever thought about why people are so attached to a world from which they will soon depart when what they basically need is to strive for the Hereafter?

Have you ever thought of how your life passes away very quickly, and that you will grow old and become weak, and slowly lose your beauty, health and strength?

Have you ever thought about how one day you will find the angels of death appointed by Allah before you and that you will then leave this world?

Virtues of Fasting

• The reward for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.” [al-Bukhaaree]

• Also, Sahl ibn Sa’ said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it, so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and whoever enters it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty.” [Ibn Khuzaimah, Saheeh].

• Fasting is a shield against the Fire: “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire.” [Ahmad, Saheeh] and his saying (saws) “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further from his face.” [related by the group except for Abu Dawood]

• On the Day of Judgement, “Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.” [Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu’aim, Hasan]

• Fasting is a means for one’s sins to be forgiven. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “He who fasts Ramadhan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

• Fasting is an expiation for various sins, as mentioned in the Qur’aan, in verses: 2:196, 4:92, 5:89, 5:95 and 58:3-4.

• The supplication of the fasting person is answered: “There are in the month of Ramadhan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh]

• The fasting person will be among the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs: ‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee r.a.a. said: A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and said: O Messenger of Allah, what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhan, then amongst whom shall I be? He said: Amongst the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs. [Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]

• Fasting is a shield against one’s base desires, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told the youth: “O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield for him.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

Once we realize the greatness of fasting and what achievement it leads to, we must put all our efforts in performing the fast in the best manner possible. And since fasting is worship, it must be done solely for Allah’s sake, and no intention is accepted, other than pleasing Allah and seeking His Face with all one’s sincerity. Without a correct intention, no deed is of any value in the Hereafter.

We Muslims must constantly verify our intentions and consider why we perform fasting. Do we do so merely because it is the practice of our parents and friends, or do we do so because it is part of our tradition, or perhaps because we simply want to conform to our environment in order to avoid any problems? A Muslim who realizes that only that which is with Allah remains, and that He (swt) is the only One who grants and withholds, would not be of those to which the Prophet (s.a.w.) alluded in the Hadeeth: “On the Day of Judgement, a caller will cry out, ‘Whoever performed a deed for someone other than Allah may seek his reward from that for which he performed the deed’” [Saheeh al-Jami].

Seal of the Prophets

12^th Rabi’ Al-Awwal, year of 570 AD
When someone special was born, a Prophet to be
His grandfather Abdul Muttalib named him Muhammad, someone to praise
And that was the day when the idols fell to their face
He was born in Makkah, a much sacred place
His father Abdullah in Yathrib had already passed away
Alone he stayed with Aminah until sometime later
No one knew that this child was to grow up to be someone greater

Haalima Sadia his foster mother gave him nurture and care
What did she know, that in her heart his love would always be there
At the age of six, he returned to his dear mother
Then Aminah had passed away in Abwa, and he had no other
Abdul Muttalib decided to take Muhammad as his own
Only to realise that this boy was never alone
When The Holy Prophet turned eight, his grandfather died
His uncle, Abu Taalib had then decided to be his new guide

At the age of ten he started to take care of other people’s herds
The light of his face, Al-Sadique and Al-Amin were his spoken words
Lady Khadijah at age 40, by Muhammad’s strong character she was impressed
She became the bride of the twenty five years of age Messenger and was blessed
She gave away all her wealth to those in need
She gifted Muhammad, slave boy Zaid ibn Haaritha, who he freed
It wasn’t until ten years later that the Ka’aba was rebuilt
And to this day it is covered with a black and gold quilt

Cave Hira was the place where The Prophet worshipped Allah in secret
It was here that the meaning of life he tried to interpret
One day he heard a strange loud noise that made him heed
Angel Jibrail revealed the first revelation and told him to read
Muhammad couldn’t until he was embraced thrice by Jibrail
Then he said “Iqra”, the words he began to feel
“Read in the name of thy Lord! Who created man from a clot of blood”
This was it, this was when it begun – The Prophethood

Frightened and shaken he rushed on the pathway to home
Said “Zamilooni” to Khadijah, “Wrap me and keep me warm”
He told her of what had took place
She believed every word, and was first to accept Islam by Allah’s grace
For the next 23 years Islam was preached to all humankind
Some had accepted Islam, something unaccepted to find
But many people of Makkah hated this declaration
And subjected Muslims to abuse and misinformation

Still the number of Muslims continued to grow
And then came the year of Sorrow
A kind, generous and supportive uncle was no longer alive
Khadijah later passed away, a trustworthy and loyal wife
10^th year of Prophethood a miracle was presented
Yet the disbelievers misinterpreted
The moon split in two halves for everyone to see
Foolishly, the idolaters refused to agree

The Holy Prophet went on the Buraaq from Jerusalem
It was 27^th of the month of Rajab – Mi’raj-un-Nabee - Journey to the heavens
Allah Almighty granted a gift of five daily prayers to Muhammad
The Seal of the Prophets and he is Ahmed
In Yathrib Islam started to spread faster
Some Muslims emigrated to Yathrib just after
The idolaters wanted The Holy Prophet Muhammad dead and became hostile
In the 13^th year of Prophethood he entered Madinah with Abu Bakr by his side

The Ansaaris welcomed the Muslims and chanted welcoming poem, melodiously
Where his she camel rested was where Masjid Nabavi was built, successfully
Later on many battles faced the Muslim Ummah
Battle of Badr, Uhud, Trench, Khaybar, Hunain, Tabook and Mota
360 idols fell to the ground and Makkah was conquered
Muhammad knew that his time was near when Surah An-Nasr was discovered
His last speech at age 63 was given to humankind
One quarter of the world today follow Islam, The Holy Qur’an and The Sunnah he has left behind

May Allah (swt) be pleased with all the companions of The Holy Prophet, and Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final Messenger of Allah (swt).

Written By Neelam Ahmed

Do Angels Cry For Pakistan?

Unforgiveable

She laid still and quiet on spikes of grass, surrounded by yellow pale daffodil’s, only hearing the twittering of the birds and the crisp of bell pepper leaves. The sun casted its final shadows on her delicate and fragile cold body, while her mind spun gradually with flashes of images and thoughts of contrast to her reality. Her well worn fast beat to the heart turned slower. She stared directly at the gloomy overcast sky with unblinking almond eyes and dirt smudged across her face.

Suddenly with the flicker of her eyes, she turned gently to her right side and came into contact with the moonlit light. Her face showered itself with the full moon, the same moon she had come into contact with when she was a little girl. Like the ticking arm of the clock, her mind swam into unanswered questions and possibilities of life.

Sweat trickled in the middle of her palms with a simple question of forgiveness sparking in her mind. A voice in the distance yelled for her name, yet she laid facing the moon and ignoring the deep thick voice. It was only her, who trusted him with her beauty and grace. She saw him differently, more than the man he thought himself to be. She sacrificed what she could for him, she was his life…and now she is gone.

The thick voice in the distance turned louder and louder, she placed her ear against the soil with spikes of grass tickling her ear. The sound of thumping feet hurt her heart, like stabs of wounds easing through the veins within the heart. She forced her eyes shut, and wished to vanish forever. The wind blew strands of her hair that cling to her rose cold wet cheeks.

He had failed her and there was nothing that could change this…because he is unforgiveable...because life without 'passion' is unforgiveable.

Written By Neelam Ahmed

Born In Gaza

Death Came Knocking On My Door By Aaqib Ahmed