This is Love…

From a talk given by Shaykh Habib Ali al-Jiffry last night (paraphrased).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was on a journey with some of his companions and his wife ‘Aisha (ra). He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) noticed from Aisha’s face she was getting weary from the journey, so to be with her in private and comfort her he told the rest of the companions to go on ahead. Habib said this is the haya (humilty/shyness) Muslims should have, intimacy between husband and wife is not something to be shown in public view, other cultures have different levels of haya, this is the Muslim etiquette.

So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) comforted ‘Aisha (ra) then asked if she wanted a race? She replied yes, and they raced. ‘Aisha (ra) narrates that she won. Sometime later, ‘Aisha (ra) says when she had put on a bit more weight, they raced again but this time Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) won. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said this is for that time.

Habib Ali said by saying “this os for that time” the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is showing ‘Aisha (ra) that he remembers every little intimate moment they shared, no matter how long ago it was. These moments are special.

Another narration Habib told us, again narrated by ‘Asiah (ra) herself (paraphrased) -

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and ‘Aisha (ra) had a disagreement, ‘Aisha was angry with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) suggetsed they call ‘Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr (ra), to mediate between them. So they went to Abu Bakr (ra) and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked ‘Aisha (ra) if she wanted to go first (Habib pointed out this in an example of the courtesy of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), even in a disagreement he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had the utmost adab). ‘Aisha (ra) replied “No, you go first but speak the truth!” Abu Bakr (ra) was shocked at this, how dare she speak to the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) like that?! He raised his hands to hit her and ‘Aisha (ra) ran behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) for protection. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to Abu Bakr (ra) “No Abu Bakr, we didn’t call you for this, we called you to arbitrate between us!”

‘Aisha (ra) knew despite being in an argument with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he is someone she can always turn to for mercy, he is a mercy to the whole world (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

 

All Logic

A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.

          Rabindranath Tagore

Master of the Self

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still”

Lao Tzu

Patience for the Sake of Allah




Like Moths to Fire

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The metaphor of me and you is that of a man who lights a fire and the grasshoppers and moths begin to fall into it and he chases them away from it. I pull you by your belts back from the Fire while you are doing your best to slip from my hand.”

Muslim (from Sunnipath website)

Signs of People Detached from the Dunya

al-Kattani, the student of al-Junayd (may Allah be pleased with them), said there are two signs of a person who has successfully detached his heart from the dunya.

One, when he loses something from the dunya he rejoices (one less thing he would be held accountable for on the Day of Judgement) and secondly he puts up with other peoples annoyances with patience (realises they were sent by Allah to test him).

Knowledge based Deen

The first three Surahs to be revealed were al-’Alaq (The Clot), al-Qalam (The Pen) and al-Muzammil (The Enshrouded One). 

(The chapters were not revealed in full though, for example only the first 5 ayaats of surah al-’Alaq were initially revealed)

Each Surah begins: al-’Alaq - “Read (recite) in the name of Your Lord“, al-Qalam - “Nun, By the Pen, and what they inscribe” and al-Muzammil - “O thou folded in garments! Stand (to prayer) by night..”

“Read”, “By the Pen”, Stand by night” - These early revelations convey to us that this deen is a religion of reading, writing and worship. A knowledge based deen, worship based on sound knowledge conveyed to us by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and preserved by Allah through the Scholars (may Allah be pleased with them).

The Book of Allah & My Family

It is narrated that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه و سلم) said:

“I am leaving you something, taking hold of which will prevent you from going astray: the Book of Allah and my family, the People of my House. So take care how you follow me regarding them.”

al-Tirmidhi

Allah bless and send salutations upon Your beloved Muhammad al-Mustafa (صلي الله عليه و سلم) and bless his family and his companions, grant them gifts that please their souls and make us from amongst those that accompany them in the next life, amin.

Engrossed with the Qur’an

The Sahabi Abu Sa’id (ra) narrates that Rasul Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Allah All Mighty says; “If anybody finds no time for My remembrance and for begging favours of Me, because of his remaining busy with the Holy Qur’an, I shall give him more than what I give to all those who beg favours of Me.

The superiority of the Word of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over the entire creation.”

In other words, compared to those who are begging favours of Allah, He will surely confer some better reward on a person who remains so occupied with committing the Qur’an to memory or learning and understanding it that he hardly gets time for du’a.

Fame and Obscurity

Fame is a chastisement that man desires and obscurity is a blessing which man is averse to.  Glad tidings to the one who obscures his remembrance .

Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal (may Allah be pleased with him)