Weak of heart, sound in mind,
The soul naturally pulling towards its source.
The body an earthly vessel,
Natural inclination towards this worldly aspiration.
A balanced creation sent on this earth
The caging of the soul within the earthly vessel.
A munificient Creator aware of the earthly pull,
Balances the forces in man's spiritual favour.
Through guidance divine, living, breathing examples,
Guides and guide books alike sent down in succession.
Hold on! There is also Satan's constant chatter,
Confusing the otherwise well balanced human soul.
Divine light sends down constant guidance,
A divine whispering right into the heart.
Man misguided, ungrateful too? Certainly not!
Deaf, dumb and blind as man shuts off the divine light.
The soul's whisperings guidance towards aright,
Supressed by the vessel's desires for this worldly delights.
Thus strive to open the soul to divine light,
Seek to hear, see and speak through divine guidance.
The secret to success is not to be found without,
From within must come the true guidance to right.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
The month of the Beloved...
“Rajab is the name of a river in Paradise whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Those who fast one day of (the month of) Rajab, Allah will satisfy them from that river.” Imam Kadhem (a.s)
We have just entered the sacred month of Rajab of the Islamic calendar, which along with the two following months (Sha’ban and Ramadan) signify the most important months of the year. The merits of these months are numerous and the recommended rites in them are in abundance.
Rajab is the month of multiplied savings for our abode in the Hereafter.
It is narrated from the holy Prophet Muhammad (P) to have said: “Behold! Those who fast one day of Rajab they deserve the Great Pleasure of Allah and will be destined from His Wrath, and will close one of the Gates of Hell.” It is also narrated from the holy Prophet (P): “Rajab is the month of repentance for my Community, so repent to Allah much.”
This month is also blessed by the birthday anniversary of Imam Baqir (a.s) on the 1st day (according to some narrations) and specially the birthday of Imam Ali (a.s) on the 13th of this month and the Mab’ath of the holy Prophet of Islam (P) on the 27th of this month.
Remember, however, this is a sacred month which means in as much as the rewards for good deeds in it are in abundance; the punishment of sinning is also more severe.
The following are just some of the main worshipping acts that are recommended in this sacred month.
1. Fasting:
Salem says: I met Imam Sadiq (a.s) in the month of Rajab, whilst there were only a few days left of it. When he saw me he asked: O Salem! Have you fasted at all in this month? I replied: No, by Allah, O son of the Prophet! The Imam said: “Verily, you have missed so much reward that only the All-Knowing Allah knows its amount… I said: O son of the Prophet! If I fast the remaining days of this month would I gain any reward? The Imam replied: O Salem! Those who fast the last day of Rajab that (fasting) will be a security for them from the agony of death….”
Fasting of the first day of Rajab destines the faster one year away from the Hell.
Fasting of three continuous days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) of Rajab has the reward of 900 years of worshipping (out of Rajab).
Fasting of the 13th, 14th and 15th of Rajab has rewards in abundance! (Pray to God to bless you for it)
Fasting of the last three days of Rajab (or at least the last day of it) will avail (Inshallah) from the agony of death, the fear of death and the punishment of the grave.
Note: If you have any Qada (lapsed or owing) fasting, make an intention for Qada and you will also enjoy the promised rewards of fasting in Rajab.
2. Salaat
Salaat is the means of nearness to God for every pious believer.
Every night of the month after the Isha Prayer, offer to two Rak’at Prayers. In every Rak’at, recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Kafiroon once and 3 times: Surah Ikhlaas
On the first Thursday evening of Rajab (10 July this year) there is a special Salaat called ‘Salaat Laylatul-Ragha’eb’. Refer to the books of Du’a for its performance.
Note: Those who have Qada prayers, still they can offer the above Salaats although they do not suffice for their obligatory Qada Salaat.
3. Supplication
There are numerous recommended supplications for the month of Rajab. Some of them are as follows:
Astaghferullah Wa As’aluho Tauba (I seek Allah’s forgiveness and ask Him for repentance)
After every Daily Prayer recite:
“Ya Man Arjooho Lekolle Khayr, Wa Aamano Sakhatahou Enda Kolle Shar. Ya Man Yo’tel-Katheera Bel-Qaleel. Ya Man Yo’tee Man Sa’alah. Ya Man Yo’tee Man Lam Yas’alhu Wa Man Lam Ya’refhu Tahannunan Menhu Wa Rahma. A’teni Be Mas’alati Eyyak Jami’a Khayre-Donya Wa Jami’a Khayrel-Akhera. Wasref Be Mas’alati Eyyak Jami’a Sharre-Donya Wa Sharrel-Akhera. Fa’ennahu Ghayro Manqosen Ma A’tayt Wa Zedni Men Fadhleka Ya Kareem.” Then say: “Ya Zaljalale Wal-Ekram. Ya Zal-Na’ma’e Wal-Jood. Ya Zal-Manne WaTaul, Harrem Shaybati Ala-Nar.”
Also on the 15th of Rajab, there is a special Du’a called Du’a Omme Dawood. Refer to the books of Du’a for the details of this Du’a.
4. Visitation (Ziyarat)
The first and foremost important Ziyarat in this month is Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s).
Visiting Imam Redha (a.s) also is very rewarding in this month.
Pilgrimage for Umrah is also very rewarding in this month.
May The Almighty Allah bless us all to respect this sacred month and accept our worshipping.
We have just entered the sacred month of Rajab of the Islamic calendar, which along with the two following months (Sha’ban and Ramadan) signify the most important months of the year. The merits of these months are numerous and the recommended rites in them are in abundance.
Rajab is the month of multiplied savings for our abode in the Hereafter.
It is narrated from the holy Prophet Muhammad (P) to have said: “Behold! Those who fast one day of Rajab they deserve the Great Pleasure of Allah and will be destined from His Wrath, and will close one of the Gates of Hell.” It is also narrated from the holy Prophet (P): “Rajab is the month of repentance for my Community, so repent to Allah much.”
This month is also blessed by the birthday anniversary of Imam Baqir (a.s) on the 1st day (according to some narrations) and specially the birthday of Imam Ali (a.s) on the 13th of this month and the Mab’ath of the holy Prophet of Islam (P) on the 27th of this month.
Remember, however, this is a sacred month which means in as much as the rewards for good deeds in it are in abundance; the punishment of sinning is also more severe.
The following are just some of the main worshipping acts that are recommended in this sacred month.
1. Fasting:
Salem says: I met Imam Sadiq (a.s) in the month of Rajab, whilst there were only a few days left of it. When he saw me he asked: O Salem! Have you fasted at all in this month? I replied: No, by Allah, O son of the Prophet! The Imam said: “Verily, you have missed so much reward that only the All-Knowing Allah knows its amount… I said: O son of the Prophet! If I fast the remaining days of this month would I gain any reward? The Imam replied: O Salem! Those who fast the last day of Rajab that (fasting) will be a security for them from the agony of death….”
Fasting of the first day of Rajab destines the faster one year away from the Hell.
Fasting of three continuous days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) of Rajab has the reward of 900 years of worshipping (out of Rajab).
Fasting of the 13th, 14th and 15th of Rajab has rewards in abundance! (Pray to God to bless you for it)
Fasting of the last three days of Rajab (or at least the last day of it) will avail (Inshallah) from the agony of death, the fear of death and the punishment of the grave.
Note: If you have any Qada (lapsed or owing) fasting, make an intention for Qada and you will also enjoy the promised rewards of fasting in Rajab.
2. Salaat
Salaat is the means of nearness to God for every pious believer.
Every night of the month after the Isha Prayer, offer to two Rak’at Prayers. In every Rak’at, recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Kafiroon once and 3 times: Surah Ikhlaas
On the first Thursday evening of Rajab (10 July this year) there is a special Salaat called ‘Salaat Laylatul-Ragha’eb’. Refer to the books of Du’a for its performance.
Note: Those who have Qada prayers, still they can offer the above Salaats although they do not suffice for their obligatory Qada Salaat.
3. Supplication
There are numerous recommended supplications for the month of Rajab. Some of them are as follows:
Astaghferullah Wa As’aluho Tauba (I seek Allah’s forgiveness and ask Him for repentance)
After every Daily Prayer recite:
“Ya Man Arjooho Lekolle Khayr, Wa Aamano Sakhatahou Enda Kolle Shar. Ya Man Yo’tel-Katheera Bel-Qaleel. Ya Man Yo’tee Man Sa’alah. Ya Man Yo’tee Man Lam Yas’alhu Wa Man Lam Ya’refhu Tahannunan Menhu Wa Rahma. A’teni Be Mas’alati Eyyak Jami’a Khayre-Donya Wa Jami’a Khayrel-Akhera. Wasref Be Mas’alati Eyyak Jami’a Sharre-Donya Wa Sharrel-Akhera. Fa’ennahu Ghayro Manqosen Ma A’tayt Wa Zedni Men Fadhleka Ya Kareem.” Then say: “Ya Zaljalale Wal-Ekram. Ya Zal-Na’ma’e Wal-Jood. Ya Zal-Manne WaTaul, Harrem Shaybati Ala-Nar.”
Also on the 15th of Rajab, there is a special Du’a called Du’a Omme Dawood. Refer to the books of Du’a for the details of this Du’a.
4. Visitation (Ziyarat)
The first and foremost important Ziyarat in this month is Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s).
Visiting Imam Redha (a.s) also is very rewarding in this month.
Pilgrimage for Umrah is also very rewarding in this month.
May The Almighty Allah bless us all to respect this sacred month and accept our worshipping.
Friday, 4 July 2008
An Important Rule Often Neglected 17
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani
958. The recommended precaution is that one should not join Takbiratul Ehram of the prayers with any preceding recitations, like, Iqamah or with a Dua which he may be reciting before the Takbir.
960. It is necessary that when a person pronounces Takbiratul Ehram, his body is steady, if he pronounces Takbiratul Ehram intentionally when his body is in motion, his Takbir is void.
964. It is Mustahab for a person pronouncing the first Takbir of the prayers, and also the Takbirs which occur during the prayers, to raise his hands parallel to his ears.
966. If after having pronounced Takbiratul Ehram, a person doubts whether he has pronounced it correctly, he should ignore his doubt at any stage.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Shadow of our real existence...
We all heard the story of Pinnochio. Every time he lied his nose would grow longer. Imagine this were true for all human beings. How many would make sure they always tell the truth? Most likely all of us. Now imagine our nose would also grow longer every time we sinned. How many would constantly critique our actions, making sure that what ever we do, we do not sin? Again most likely all of us.
So question, why didn't Allah manifest the consequence of sin as it seems this is the only means by which all of us will collectively seek to be virtuous beings.
A moments reflection will reveal that if every virtuous deed was manifestly rewarded immediately and if every evil deed was manifestly punished immediately, then both patience and faith will no longer have a need. Why?
Well that is because patience and faith are inseparably intertwined, i.e. one will not be able to wait for things to improve if one does not have faith. Yet if one does not need to exercise patience, one does not need to have faith. So if every good deed is rewarded immediately patience would not be needed and so in turn faith would also no longer be needed.
Now consider this, if patience and faith are no longer necessary, than how will the virtuous and the corrupt ever be separated? The reason the corrupt engage in sin is because they have no patience. They want immediate gain which is why they lie, cheat and steal. Yet they would not need to do this if every good deed was rewarded immediately. So we can see here that at any value a virtuous deed is now completely gone for even the wicked would engage in virtuous deeds.
So Allah has placed a veil. That veil is none other than this world, which is merely a shadow of our real existence, the hereafter. Thus it is this shadow that conceals the manifest consequences of good and evil and so it is here where the true believers are separated from the evil doers.
Now we should be aware that every action, every word, every thought, is motivated by our virtues and vices. None can dispute this. For instance, it may be our sincerity that drives us to a certain action, or perhaps our ego, whatever the motivation may be, it will be from either the two warring parties, virtue or vice. This is the mother of all wars. A war in which its aftermath will be manifested at our death, revealing the condition of our soul and thus, the side we ultimately chose. A heavenly warrior of virtue beaming of light, or a hellish indescribable creature of vice, doomed to darkness.
Could this be why many scholars are reported to have highly emphasized to repeat the following prayer and sincerely ask for their end result to be brilliant and felicitous:
Allahummaj'al awaaqiba umoorina khayran (O Allah make the final consequences of our affairs to be good).
So question, why didn't Allah manifest the consequence of sin as it seems this is the only means by which all of us will collectively seek to be virtuous beings.
A moments reflection will reveal that if every virtuous deed was manifestly rewarded immediately and if every evil deed was manifestly punished immediately, then both patience and faith will no longer have a need. Why?
Well that is because patience and faith are inseparably intertwined, i.e. one will not be able to wait for things to improve if one does not have faith. Yet if one does not need to exercise patience, one does not need to have faith. So if every good deed is rewarded immediately patience would not be needed and so in turn faith would also no longer be needed.
Now consider this, if patience and faith are no longer necessary, than how will the virtuous and the corrupt ever be separated? The reason the corrupt engage in sin is because they have no patience. They want immediate gain which is why they lie, cheat and steal. Yet they would not need to do this if every good deed was rewarded immediately. So we can see here that at any value a virtuous deed is now completely gone for even the wicked would engage in virtuous deeds.
So Allah has placed a veil. That veil is none other than this world, which is merely a shadow of our real existence, the hereafter. Thus it is this shadow that conceals the manifest consequences of good and evil and so it is here where the true believers are separated from the evil doers.
Now we should be aware that every action, every word, every thought, is motivated by our virtues and vices. None can dispute this. For instance, it may be our sincerity that drives us to a certain action, or perhaps our ego, whatever the motivation may be, it will be from either the two warring parties, virtue or vice. This is the mother of all wars. A war in which its aftermath will be manifested at our death, revealing the condition of our soul and thus, the side we ultimately chose. A heavenly warrior of virtue beaming of light, or a hellish indescribable creature of vice, doomed to darkness.
Could this be why many scholars are reported to have highly emphasized to repeat the following prayer and sincerely ask for their end result to be brilliant and felicitous:
Allahummaj'al awaaqiba umoorina khayran (O Allah make the final consequences of our affairs to be good).
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Salawat Sweetens Honey
A bee came towards them and started circling above them for quite some time...
The Holy Prophet (s) addressing 'Ali ('a) said: Indeed this bee has made us his guests today. It said to me: I have placed for you some honey in that specific place. So send your brother Amir al-mu’minin to the place so that he may bring the same.
Thereupon Imam 'Ali ('a) stood up and brought the honey.
[Then] the Prophet (s) addressing the bee said:
O bee, surely your food is from the roses of flowers, and that is bitter [in taste]; so how does it change into sweet honey?
The bee replied: O Messenger of Allah, surely the sweetness of the honey comes from the blessing of mentioning your blessed name and the name [s] of your pure progeny; when we draw the nectar of the flowers we are inspired to invoke blessings upon you and your infallible progeny three times; therefore when we eat, the mention of salawat turns our honey sweet.
[Khazinat al-Jawahir was lama’aat al-Anwaar, p. 586]
Monday, 9 June 2008
Some food for thought from Lady Fatima ('aS)
[Musnad; p 336, tradition 9, narrated by Hafiz abu Na'im in Hilyatu'l awliya']
Hakim al-Nishaburi narrates from Ibn Abbas:
When Fatima fell mortally ill she said to Asma b. al-Umais, "Do you realise what a distressing time has arrived for me? I must be hidden from the eyes of the people when I am carried before them." Asma said, "I swear by my life, I will make a bier for you in the shape that I saw used in Abyssinia." Fatima asked for more details, so Asma obtained some fresh wood and made a bier (taabut), and this was the first time such a device had been used (in Islam). Fatima (A) smiled when she saw it, and this was the first time I had seen her smile since her father had passed away. When she died, we carried her in the same bier and buried her at night.
[Musnad, p.429, trad.56, quoting from Mustadrak al-Sahihain]
It has also been narrated that: "A blind man came to Fatima (A), daughter of the Messenger of God (S), and Fatima veiled herself from him. The Prophet (S) asked why she had veiled herself from him, when he cannot see you. She replied, "O Messenger of God, he does not see me, but I can see him and (furthermore) he can smell fragrances." The Prophet (S) stated, "I bear witness that you are a portion of me."
[Musnad; p 336, tradition 10, quoting from al-Manaqib of Ibn Maghazali.]
Sunday, 1 June 2008
An Important Rule Often Neglected 16
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani
520. Question: At times the big companies in Europe discriminate —among those who come to them seeking jobs— between those who shave the beards and those who don’t shave them. If this is true, then is it permissible to be clean shaven in order to get the job?
Answer: Shaving the beard —whose prohibition is based on obligatory precaution— would not become permissible just by the desire to get a job with these companies.
521. Question: Is it permissible to shave the two sides of the face and leave the hair on the chin?
Answer: Shaving the beard is haram based on obligatory precaution, and this includes the hair that grows on the sides of the face. However, there is no problem in shaving the hair that grows on the cheeks.
Monday, 26 May 2008
An Old Woman of High Aspirations
Before the advent of Islam, once when the Holy Prophet (s) happen to visit Taaif, someone generously hosted him.
Later when the Prophet (s) was appointed as a Messenger of Allah, the said person was asked: ‘Do you know whom did Allah appoint as his Messenger to the people? ‘No.’ he replied. They said: ‘It is Muhammad bin ‘Abdillah, the orphan of Abu Talib, who, on such and such a day had been your guest in Taaif and you graciously hosted him.
Hearing this, the person comes in the presence of the Prophet (s), greets him, embraces Islam, and then says: ‘O Messenger of Allah, do you recognize me?’ The Prophet (s) says: ‘And who are you?’ The man says: ‘I am the owner of the house in which you had put up in Taaif during the age of ignorance (before the advent of Islam) on such and such a day and I hosted you.
The Holy Prophet (s) said: ‘You are welcome; ask what you what.’ The man said: ‘I want 200 sheep together with their shepherds. The Holy Prophet (s) ordered that he be given what he wanted.
Then addressing his companions he wished that the man would seek that which the old lady of Bani Israil sought from Prophet Musa (‘a).
The companions asked: ‘And what did the old lady of Bani Israil seek from Musa?’ The Prophet (s) said: ‘Surely Allah revealed to Prophet Musa (‘a) to carry the corpse of Prophet Yusuf (‘a) before he left Egypt for the holy land in Sham.
Thereupon Prophet Musa (‘a) asked about the whereabouts of the grave of Prophet Yusuf (‘a), and an old man approached him and said: If at all any one happens to know the whereabouts of the grave, it is such and such old woman.
Prophet Musa (‘a) asked her to be brought to him and when she came in his presence, he asked: ‘Do you know the place of the grave of Prophet Yusuf (‘a)?’ She said: ‘Yes.’ The Prophet said: ‘Therefore guide me towards the grave and I you will get whatever you ask.’
She said: ‘I shall not guide you towards it except you agree to what I want in return.’ The Prophet (‘a) said: ‘You shall get Paradise.’ She said: ‘No, except what I want.’ Thereupon Almighty Allah revealed to Prophet Musa (‘a) that agreeing to her request should not seem insurmountable to him.
Therefore Prophet Musa (‘a) said: ‘Alright, you would have what you want.’ Thereupon she said: ‘I would like to be with you in the same station that you would have in Paradise on the Day of Judgment.’
Narrating this the Holy Prophet (s) said: ‘why didn’t this man seek that which the old woman of Bani Israil sought?’
Friday, 23 May 2008
[Ultimate Love = Action = True Love]
...moments of reflection!
A traitor a deserved term, a foolish traitor perhaps a better one. For look at what has become to the oath of allegiance to Thee, a fallen leaf at the mercy of the wind, so weak, so vulnerable, that the cheap allurements of the material world is capable of purchasing our loyalty from Thee.
O the insult, to Thee and ourselves, that love can be compromised so easily, yet certainly love purchased is a love that never was. For how can it be love without loyalty to Thee? How can it be love when sincere time with Thee is all but minimal? And how can it be love when the actual yearning for proximity is to other than Thee? O we cry when others are unjust to our own selves, yet we commit the same crime to Thee!
O the betrayal, punishment therefore our deserved fate, yet forgiveness is Thou offer! How? To a traitor that will no doubt betray again, a traitor who turns to Thee in times of need while neglecting Thee in times of ease, yet Thou still helps! How? And how do we repay this undeserved reprieve? Do we stand before Thee shamefully? Or do we foolishly and audaciously abuse Thou Compassion with our continued neglect? O what a miserable condition an honest reflection unveils, that our declaration of love to Thee fails to move far beyond words.
moments of reflection...
True love begins when one ceases to put themselves before the object of their alleged affection. For otherwise how can it be love unless it is the love for the self? Yet where is the nobility in that? Surely love and nobility can only intertwine through self sacrifice. No amount of colourful words nor even intent can ever compensate. As what greater testimony of love is there if one has given the self away?
A traitor a deserved term, a foolish traitor perhaps a better one. For look at what has become to the oath of allegiance to Thee, a fallen leaf at the mercy of the wind, so weak, so vulnerable, that the cheap allurements of the material world is capable of purchasing our loyalty from Thee.
O the insult, to Thee and ourselves, that love can be compromised so easily, yet certainly love purchased is a love that never was. For how can it be love without loyalty to Thee? How can it be love when sincere time with Thee is all but minimal? And how can it be love when the actual yearning for proximity is to other than Thee? O we cry when others are unjust to our own selves, yet we commit the same crime to Thee!
O the betrayal, punishment therefore our deserved fate, yet forgiveness is Thou offer! How? To a traitor that will no doubt betray again, a traitor who turns to Thee in times of need while neglecting Thee in times of ease, yet Thou still helps! How? And how do we repay this undeserved reprieve? Do we stand before Thee shamefully? Or do we foolishly and audaciously abuse Thou Compassion with our continued neglect? O what a miserable condition an honest reflection unveils, that our declaration of love to Thee fails to move far beyond words.
moments of reflection...
True love begins when one ceases to put themselves before the object of their alleged affection. For otherwise how can it be love unless it is the love for the self? Yet where is the nobility in that? Surely love and nobility can only intertwine through self sacrifice. No amount of colourful words nor even intent can ever compensate. As what greater testimony of love is there if one has given the self away?
Friday, 16 May 2008
An Important Rule Often Neglected 15
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani
1127. It is also Mustahab that while reciting qunut, a person keeps his hands in front of his face, turning the palms facing the sky, and keeping both, the hands and the fingers, close together. It is Mustahab to look at the palms in qunut.
1129. It is Mustahab that qunut is recited loudly. However, if a person is offering prayers in congregation, and if the Imam can hear his voice, it will not be Mustahab for him to recite qunut loudly.
1130. If a person does not recite qunut intentionally, there is no qadha for it. And if he forgets it, and remembers before reaching Ruku, it is Mustahab that he should stand up and recite it. And if he remembers while performing Ruku, it is Mustahab that he should perform its qadha after Ruku. And if he remembers it while performing Sajdah, it is Mustahab that he should perform its qadha after Salam.
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