Ar Rahman; Ar Raheem - Part 2

Bismillah

I am sorry to have kept you waiting for the part 2. There's just been so much going on and I need to prioritise BIIG time. But as promised in the earlier post here is the Brief explanation on Allah's Rahma (mercy) in relation to other aspects of Islam ;

I) Allah's Rahma in Relation to the Shariah Lesgislations of Do's and Don'ts : If you have ever noticed manmade laws aere not always merciful towards everyone. Example; paying a 200 AED fine just for a ticket that expired 10 minutes ago which you FORGOT to renew :P

Whereas Allah's Laws are full of Mercy for all mankind. Anything in Islam that Allah swt commands has mercy in it. Think about a caring mother denying something to her child out of mercy, It's not because she doesn't want her kid to be happy but she knows that the Bad in that particular thing outweighs the good. Now, think about The One Who is the Most Merciful when He forbids us something it is obviously because there's more harm in it than benefit. If you need proof you can google the harms of drinking alchohol, or eating pork or meat that's not slaughtered as per the Islamic rites.

And honestly, we forget about Allah's mercy so often that we keep questioning the commandments of Islam, the Do's and Don'ts and currently there are so many people who will mix their own philosophy of life with Islam to create a Custom-Made Islam to suit their needs. I mean, When you and I buy a laptop for example and see the instruction Manual, do we question on the instructions? Or do we question it like ''Oh let me put water on my laptop and see what happens?'' or ''I am just going to TRY it one time'' or ''Life's too short Let me Throw some water on it and see the nice sparks coming out of it'' .. Nope we don't because we know the manufacturing firm knows better about the product as they have created it. Then, whats up with questioning the instructions of Allah swt who has not only created us But everything that's ever been into existence?

II) Allah's Rahma in relation with the name Ar - Rab: Ar-Rab is often translated in english as ''The Lord'' whereas the meaning of this word is much more comprehensive thanks to the depth of Arabic Language. Rab is basically someone who nurtures you, takes care of you, looks after you, reforms you for better. When we see parents sometimes they reform their kids with mercy and sometimes when the kid repeats the same mistake over and over again, then they smack their butt or a little pinch on the ear although their intention is good it sometimes leaves the kid resentful temporarily. Allah swt who is Your Rab and My Rab is sooo merciful towards us that even when He has to reform us it is ALL WITH MERCY. It's not like I get 10 chances before He strikes me with something for not being a good muslim, no He is so Merciful that when you sincerely feel sorry and try again He is Happy about it.

III) Allah's Rahma in relation with the name Al-Ghafoor : According to Nouman Ali Khan, the term Ghafoor which means 'The Most Forgiving' comes from the word 'Ghafara' which in arabic means the act of covering something , for example their is a chair on the floor and when you cover it although you cannot see the chair you can still notice there's something underneath that cover, 'Ghafara' means covering something in such a fashion that you don't even notice that there's something underneath that cover its like you level the chair with the ground and nothing is noticable. How's the above explanation relevant? When Allah Al-Ghafoor forgives our sins, He Not only covers them for us, But He covers them in such a fashion that you wouldn't even realize that they ever were there.

Furthermore, you know there's this beauty when you know that someone is forgiving, that everytime you mess up you feel like apologizing to them because you know they will accept it. Example from my life, I have two friends one of them gave me the toughest time of my life to forgive me for doing something that she didn't like; that hurt her, after asking a few times I felt bitter and wanted to ask nomore since she was being so adamant about it. Another friend on the other hand is very quick to forgive so when I mess up with her it's easy for me to ask her because I know that she will forgive, no matter how many times I mess up with her I know I can still ask her to forgive me.

Allah swt is specially so merciful towards us that he does NOT hasten the punishment for us, even though we dwell in disobedience for years , repeating the same sins, not feeling even a bit of remorse like He did with Banu Isra'il. This however, does not mean that we can take it light and easy and keep on doing whatever we are doing. His mercy should make us amend our bad actions, not dwell in them because once the last breath ready to leave your mouth, you cannot repent that time.

IV) Allah's Rahma in relation to the name Al-Alim : Alim means The One Who Knows about Everything. You know how sometimes when something bad happens we talk to a couple of friends trying to tell them what we are going through, although they say they understand you, you still sometimes go a bit psycho saying ''No you don't know what I am going through''. Well its true they don't you know why because they are humans! But Allah, He knows EXACTLY what precise emotion you are going through and the knowledge of this brings such great comfort to the heart which is pretty much undescribale. I speak from experience and I am sure many others can relate too. The knowledge that HE KNOWS is a BIIIG Rahma in itself.

Finally - Some people like me have issues, we sometimes feel hopelessness. Like there's no escape from a situation, we feel like whatever situation we are in, it is anything BUT mercy from Allah swt and Shaytan adds fuel to this small burning fire with negative thoughts. We should know that Eerything from Allah is ONLY mercy, He never wrongs his believers, He tests them because He Loves them. We sometimes tend to let our problems and issues in life affect our relationship with Allah swt. In times like these, we should go back to the Quran, to the stories of the Prophets and see what did they do when they were tested with a calamity. Take Yaqub (A.s) for example, The man loses his Son Yusuf and few years later another one too yet His Hope with Allah and his relation is not affected at all. The story of Yunus (A.s), Imagine being swalloed by a whale, I don't know about others I'd pretty much give up and wait for death to come and take my soul away. But, Yunus (a.s) doesn't lose hope instead he supplicates to his Lord.

All that I have mentioned in this post is first and foremost a reminder for myself. May you all benefit from it too. Inshallah. Today in the class sister E is gonna teach us about the ways of attaining Allah's special rahma, the notes will be updated here.

PS : Share the Khayr.

My Favorite Verse

‘’I feel like my sins are haunting me’’
‘’Don’t worry man, you have changed now’’
‘’But what if Allah swt doesn’t forgive me?’’
‘’He will accept anyone’s sincere repentance, He is Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’’

I convince a friend of mine knowing what she was going through. Not too long ago, in the deepest darkness at the back of my mind, a question prevailed that how can I or anyone be sure that Allah swt has forgiven them? There is a feeling of hopelessness that overtakes people like my friend and I who haven’t really been striving muslims all our lives and those who have recently been guided to Islam and have changed their personalities, left their old lifestyles for the pleasure of their Master - Allah swt. Allah, the most high assures to the somewhat confused/scared people like us,He says in Surah Zumar verse 53

“O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ar - Rahman ; Ar - Rahmeem

Bismillah,

Salamalaykum wr wb! :)

When we study about the Names and Attributes of Allah SWT at Al Huda classes that class is called 'The Greatest Delight'. When I initially started attending classes with them, I could not figure out why is it called The Greatest Delight. Sure, it is good to study the names and attributes of Allah SWT, but anyone can just memorize it and they are done. I tried it many times to myself, to memorize 99 names and just get done with it, and honestly it didn't work. At 9 or 10 names my train of memorization would stop, because all I wanted was the names and attributes because I knew it will get me hassanat.

But, Subhanallah, At our classes we study 1 name and attribute for sometimes upto 4 classes of approximately 1 hour each. Few of you might think how is it possible? Well, Alhamdulillah we have a super awesome teacher, who when we are studying the name gives examples from our real life situations and makes us ponder upon it. It is said that Once you learn the names and attributes of Allah, everything around you should remind you of Him. Like when you see somebody who has changed tremendously you ponder about the name Al-Hadi. When you see somebody changing from 1 stage slowly to another you ponder about the name Al-Lateef. You look at some amazing beauty, you must think of his name Al-Jameel and be awestruck, etc. Even when you do this pondering don't think you don't get hassanat, even this is an act of worship.

Anyhow, moving on, I'll be honest with you I haven't attended the past 3 classes because I wasn't well one week , I was in India, and I was just lazy. You know that feeling when the eman-o-meter goes down to '0'? Yeah, something of that sort. But, the good news is last night I attended the class and man! did I need that?! And... I wrote a lot of notes, for my wonderful readers :) May you All benefit from them, Inshallah.

So, what did I miss? The Intro; and the first type of 'Rahma' which is the General Rahma or Mercy. However, while searching for a picture to go with my post I found an interesting website which has in depth details on names and attributes of Allah SWT. Here's the link. I will be honest, I haven't really checked how great it is, you guys can check and let me know.

1. General Mercy or Rahma 'Amma - You can find that this kind of mercy is all around us. When we notice our surroundings, the nature, the animals. The way Allah swt shows his mercy to all of his creation. You can think about it and post in the comments section anything that pops up in your mind when you think about this kind of mercy.

2. Special Mercy or Rahma Khassa - This mercy is any kind of mercy that is related to the hereafter. So how to know if you or I have gotten this mercy or not? well here are some pointers; whoever receives this special kind of mercy, Allah will ;
- That person will be guided to the path of seeking knowledge
- He/She will be guided to good deeds
- They will be guided to worship Allah and Allah swt will beautiful this worship in their heart. What does it mean? well, you know how sometimes although we pray, it is out of laziness, after an hour's of procrastination, and well there really isn't any affect on us after that? Yeah! So when Allah swt beautifies our ibadah, we don't feel that way. There's no lethargy infact we look forward to it and it brings comfort to our heart.
- He/She will be firom upon the right guidance
- Allah swt will guide this person even with their decisions

Remember, we cannot measure His mercy. It is beyond that.Why do I say this? Because sometimes we unconsciously measure it when someone has a better job than us, or a better car that perhaps Allah swt is being more merciful towards them. If you recieve something from Allah, know that it IS mercy and even if you are deprived of something then know that it is mercy TOO. A believer always thinks good of Allah. But, how to do that?

You have to make an active connection between the Decree of Allah swt with His Mercy :
Allah knows better than you do about the thing in which there's mercy for you. Also, remember that Allah decree is surrounded by His Mercy. Whats the proof?
Think about this, At the time of Firawn or Pharoh he was so out of his mind when he got to know that one of the boys from his nation is going to defeat him that he decided to kill all the boys born every year. The Banu Israil were of course psyched out because they were the pampered people and always wanted slaves to take care of them, so they did not find it acceptable that all boys be killed. So Pharoh decided, that he is gonna kill all baby boys born every alternate year. So the year in which no boys were supposed to be killed, Haroon (AS) was born, the next year when the boys were supposed to be killed Musa (AS) was born. Now, how do we see this situation? As a bad one of course. Now, Musa (AS) mother could hide him somewhere in the house, make sure nobody sees him, keeps him in a small place, after all he was a small baby and could have been hidden anywhere. But Allah SWT inspires her to put Musa (AS) in a BOX, and then put it in the water. Atleast, if Musa (AS) was with her, she could spend her life whole and own life protecting Him, but putting him in a box and then in water looked like a sure shot invitation to death. Yet, she put her faith in it and did as inspired. Where's the mercy in this Decree of Allah?

The mercy in this decree of Allah swt is, while his mother was worried for his safety. Allah SWT's decree made it possible for Musa (AS) to be raised in the Most SAFEST places of that time. Pharoh's palace was AS Safe AS a person could get. See the beauty? we can even recall some of the events in our own lives which at first seemed like something so bad, yet with it came some good in it. I have had instances where I hated something that happened in my life to a great extent, but now when I look at it, I know it was for the best.

Any decree, any situation, anything that you even hate, just know there's Allah's decree in it which by default means there is some mercy in it which also kinda means that you can't winge about it. It is a reminder for me before anybody else. Any decree that even if you don't like might become your means of attaining jannah..NOTHING THAT THE MOST MERCIFUL DECREES FOR HIS SLAVES WILL BE BAD. That's the belief we all need to engrave in our minds. Remember that when Allah swt deals with us, it is 100% mercy. Any decree that happpens from now on, we must remember to associate Allah's mercy with it. And not everyone will understand it.

We have to remember that Allah is more merciful than any human being, hence don't make conditional dua. Don't think ''Oh how can I ask for Jannatul Firdaws? I am such a sinner, I will be fine even if I stay at the lowest levels in Jannah'' because Allah's mercy is beyond measure. So when you ask of Him something, out His mercy He can give you anything that you ask for, even if it looks like a far fetched dua. And when we are complaining about any situation that happened with the decree of Allah to a human being, it is as of you are complaining about the Most Merciful which is why Qadr Allah should always be associated with his name and attribute Ar- Rahman - Ar Raheem.

I still have more notes to go, Inshallah I will post the following tomorrow ;

Allah swt's Mercy in relation to the Shariah
Allah swt's Mercy in relation with the name Ar-Rub
Allah swt's Mercy in relation with the name Al-Alim
Allah swt's Mercy in relation with the name Al-Ghafoor

And! Remember to 'Share' the Khayr.

Taraweeh Terror - Taraweeh Tales Part 2

As promised, here's another glimpse of one of the Taraweeh Times.. If you don't know what I am talking about then you need to go here.

I wish the poster that I posted in this blog entry was pasted on every masjid's entrance. However! There's one rule missing that is ''You CANNOT CANNOT reserve the seats for Anyone''. It's the Masjid, generally built by the Awkaf or by the community as a whole.

If I am doing any of my salah in the masjid, then be assured to encounter my obsession of praying in the first row. A and I are nerds like that and we just don't compromise on it, even if it means reaching at the masjid even before the call for prayer is called out. Also, because we are very greedy and the first row-ers get more hassanats. So the 1st day as we reached to the masjid, that is Shamsi, Anee and I, I started throwing a first row tantrum constantly mumbling to myself how we should have come earlier and pretty much tested the girl's patience.

The 2nd day, we reached there early and I was beaming to myself. It felt soo good to enter in the masjid while the first row was still not occupied. YAY-ing to myself we proceeded towards the first row, everyone adjusted themselves, got our spot right under the fan, things just couldn't get any better. I was content, finally. Because, first row also meant not headbumping to someone's feet and feeling someone's head bumping at your feet, no running kids in front of you. As a sigh of happiness escaped my mouth, I heard a lady calling us from a distance coming towards our side and it goes like this ;

She - Excuse me, Please don't sit here. This place is for the aunties.

Me - But, we came here before.

She - Yes, But they have been coming and sitting here ONLY for the whole of Ramadan

Me - But, there's no reservation in the masjid

She - Please just move a row behind this one

Me - But this is not even fair, the chairs are going to block more space than people standing in the first row. Chairs should be kept towards the end of the room. *Fuming like mad*

Out of NOWHERE *reaches for my hand*

Shamsi - Accha, okay fine we'll go the other row

Me - *SHOCKED* what are you saying man! why should we go?! we came here first?!

Shamsi - Leave it man, be patient

Me - *complaining out loud* This is SO not FAIR!

Shamsi - We'll get hassanaat for being patient too man

As we were about to leave the GANGSTA AUNTIES walk in, while they were mumbling to themselves how they have always prayed in THAT SPOT. I can go to the metro and sit in the same place everytime, but that doesn't mean if someone's sitting there I'll ask them to get up! This was plain TARAWEEH TERROR. Hats off to Shami and Anee's patience, Although they were mad they could keep their cool, I couldn't help but throw the biggest attitude and piercing stare in their direction.

As the Imam started the tafseer of the verses we were about to read in the Taraweeh, My anger was calmed down and I could just feel nothing but happiness to be enjoying the tafseer and the chance to pray with the people who value the most in my life - My friends. And, Ofcourse to make up our moods after Taraweeh, we purchased some books at the masjid's mobile book stand, and then bought ourselves some Quality Wall's ice cream :D

Oh well something interesting happened there too, nevermind wait for the next entry ;)

Taraweeh Tales 1

As the sirens for iftar went off in the masjids around Shamsi's house I started relishing the hot fried food items , I chose to start with Mirchi's and When I saw my glass empty I gave her a look and she immediately filled it with Thumbsup. God! I love how well my friends know me, her bhabi was quite astonished i think with the amount of food shamsi and I were eating, enjoying, and cherishing.. She got up after a few minutes when the call for prayer was made. But, Us? well.. Let's just say we decided to pray after sometime because hey those mirchis and samosas must Never be left on their own. Who'd take care of them otherwise? We being the devoted volunteers of AJFA (Abandoned Junk Food Association), took care of the mirchis, samosas and chips on the dastar and we didn't dare leave any of them alone. We made sure they had a good and safe place to stay in a.k.a. our tummies :P

The Auto Walla dude was scheduled to arrive at 7:45 pm, We would then go to pick up Anee and from there on go to attend the taraweeh prayers at a very awesome masjid. I call it awesome because not all masjids in hyderabad have a women's musalla. So by the time we were done taking care of the Abandoned food the clock was at 7:30, as painful as it was to depart from that wonderful iftar we had to force ourselves to do it and by the time we did our maghrib the clock seemed quite angry at us as it turned 7:42. I mean, hello! I love to take my time when I pray and shamsi was getting calls from the auto walla that he is waiting for us under her house.

Hearing all the rushy phone calls I quickly finished my prayer only to find out that I couldn't find the headscarf over my abaya. Shamsi started rushing all the more ''Move it shireen!!!!'' and I was all over the room after about 2 minutes when I finally found my scarf, I quickly wrapped it around and in the meanwhile Shamsi and I started started moving towards the stairs that lead us to the ground floor few steps after which is the gate of her house. I had to wear my shoes and my socks, but Shamsi being shamsi would not allow me such liberty especially when I have already caused the delay. So, what did she do?

ME - It's just gonna take 2 minutes man!! please I cannot walk in that rain water on the ground, I would HATE IT!

Her- Shireen! we are already running late!!

ME - Please baap! please!!!

Shamsi - *takes my shoes in the hand and takes a flight downstairs yelling at me to come down and wear my shoes in the auto*

ME - *stunned shocked with socks left in my hand* :

So yeah, I had to walk on the wet ground until I reached the auto. Once I sat in the it started moving, I was angry by the practical joke that just happened I stared at shamsi in a fit of anger and bloodshot eyes *insert dramatic music here* she looks at me and starts grinning. The grin then quickly turns into laughter and I try real hard to purse my lips together and not laugh but before I knew it. It Happened and I started laughing with her while wearing socks in our open air vehicle... :P

A Letter to my heart

You've been broken before yet you don't understand

You give yourself back to the very same hand

Why Don't you realize you are better than this?

Is it the agony caused by the one you love that you miss?

It's not the first time and certainly it won't be last,

My silly heart do you ever learn from your past?

Don't go away when I try to give you reason

People change these days just like a season

Why must you be the creator of your own pain?

Whoever you love will just break you again and again.

Please Keep yourself where you are supposed to be,

In Remembrance of Allah, The Most exatled is He.

Please define love for me

I am not talking about the romantic love here... but what does it mean to love a friend? Because I honestly feel when you love someone you do things for them even if they don't make sense to you. What really is important is whatever action I am about to do if it makes them happy I would do it so long as it it does not oppose my religious commitments..