Recently, while councelling, a friend and I, discussed the often destructive power of personal stories. We saw how debilitating it can be to see the events in our lives as reward and punishment. If I get this job it means I've finally healed my mistakes of past. If the tests reveal a maglignant or terminal dis-ease then it must mean I haven't been doing enough spiritual work.
You get the picture.
Trouble is, these stories seem to hold such a powerful grip on us. They feel hardwired in our brains and bodies. They trap us inside a vision of our lives that's painful and contracting. So - how do you shift out of such a story into the peace and possiblity of the present moment? That's where the lets Etch-A-Sketch comes in.
Once you're aware that a story is in play, think of that gray screen from childhood. Remember how you could create the most elaborate image on the screen and then just shake-shake-shake it away? Well, you can do the very same thing with an unhelpful story. It only seems hardwired, but isn't really.
The next time one shows up, make sure not to align with it, or fight it. Instead, take a big sighing breath and literally shake-shake-shake. Just as a gazelle in the wild shakes all the trauma out of its system after being chased by a lion, we, too, can cleanse and reset our body-mind.
Once the grip of the story releases, we're left in a state of gratitude, freeness, expansion and flow. From there, all good things happen!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Zehaal-e-miskeen makun taghaful, Duraye naina banaye batiyan.
Do not overlook my misery, by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales,
Ke taab-e-hijran nadaram ay jaan, Na leho kahe lagaye chatiyan.
My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart! why do you not take me to your bosom.
Shaban-e-hijran daraz chun zulf, Wa roz-e-waslat cho umer kotah.
Long like curls in the night of separation short like life on the day of our union.
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun, To kaise kaTun andheri ratiyan.
My dear, how will I pass the dark dungeon night without your face before.
Yakayak az dil do chashm-e-jadu, Basad farebam baburd taskin.
Suddenly, using a thousand tricks the enchanting eyes robbed me of my tranquil mind.
Kisay pari hai jo ja sunave, Piyare pi ko hamari batiyan,
Who would care to go and report this matter to my darling.
Cho shama sozan cho zaraa hairan, Hamesha giryan be ishq an meh.
Tossed and bewildered, like a flickering candle, I roam about in the fire of love.
Na nind naina na ang chaina, Na aap aaven na bhejen patiyan,
Sleepless eyes, restless body, neither comes she, nor any message.
Bahaq-e-roz-e-visaal-e-dilbar, Ke daad mara gharib Khusro.
In honour of the day I meet my beloved who has lured me so long, O Khusro!
Sapet man ke varaye rakhun, Jo jaye pauN piya ke khatiyan.
I shall keep my heart suppressed if ever I get a chance to get to her trick.
~ Amir Khusro
Do not overlook my misery, by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales,
Ke taab-e-hijran nadaram ay jaan, Na leho kahe lagaye chatiyan.
My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart! why do you not take me to your bosom.
Shaban-e-hijran daraz chun zulf, Wa roz-e-waslat cho umer kotah.
Long like curls in the night of separation short like life on the day of our union.
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun, To kaise kaTun andheri ratiyan.
My dear, how will I pass the dark dungeon night without your face before.
Yakayak az dil do chashm-e-jadu, Basad farebam baburd taskin.
Suddenly, using a thousand tricks the enchanting eyes robbed me of my tranquil mind.
Kisay pari hai jo ja sunave, Piyare pi ko hamari batiyan,
Who would care to go and report this matter to my darling.
Cho shama sozan cho zaraa hairan, Hamesha giryan be ishq an meh.
Tossed and bewildered, like a flickering candle, I roam about in the fire of love.
Na nind naina na ang chaina, Na aap aaven na bhejen patiyan,
Sleepless eyes, restless body, neither comes she, nor any message.
Bahaq-e-roz-e-visaal-e-dilbar, Ke daad mara gharib Khusro.
In honour of the day I meet my beloved who has lured me so long, O Khusro!
Sapet man ke varaye rakhun, Jo jaye pauN piya ke khatiyan.
I shall keep my heart suppressed if ever I get a chance to get to her trick.
~ Amir Khusro
Khabaram raseed imshab ki nigaar khuahi aamad;
Sar-e man fidaa-e raah-e ki sawaar khuahi aamad.
Ham-e aahwan-e sehra sar-e khud nihada bar kaf;
Ba-umeed aanki rozi bashikaar khuahi aamad.
Kashishi ki ishq daarad naguzaradat badinsaa;
Ba-janazah gar nayai ba-mazaar khuahi aamad.
Balabam raseed jaanam fabiya ki zindah maanam;
Pas azan ki man na-maanam bacha kar khuahi aaamad.
English Translation.
Tonight there came a news that you, oh beloved, would come – Be my head sacrificed to the road along which you will come riding! All the gazelles of the desert have put their heads on their hands In the hope that one day you will come to hunt them…. The attraction of love won’t leave you unmoved; Should you not come to my funeral, you’ll definitely come to my grave. My soul has come on my lips (e.g. I am on the point of expiring); Come so that I may remain alive - After I am no longer – for what purpose will you come?
Sar-e man fidaa-e raah-e ki sawaar khuahi aamad.
Ham-e aahwan-e sehra sar-e khud nihada bar kaf;
Ba-umeed aanki rozi bashikaar khuahi aamad.
Kashishi ki ishq daarad naguzaradat badinsaa;
Ba-janazah gar nayai ba-mazaar khuahi aamad.
Balabam raseed jaanam fabiya ki zindah maanam;
Pas azan ki man na-maanam bacha kar khuahi aaamad.
English Translation.
Tonight there came a news that you, oh beloved, would come – Be my head sacrificed to the road along which you will come riding! All the gazelles of the desert have put their heads on their hands In the hope that one day you will come to hunt them…. The attraction of love won’t leave you unmoved; Should you not come to my funeral, you’ll definitely come to my grave. My soul has come on my lips (e.g. I am on the point of expiring); Come so that I may remain alive - After I am no longer – for what purpose will you come?
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Releasing self
into Greater Self
I become subtle
and
Ascent in love
and
go with the flow,
calling all hearts to Joy.
Opening heart into Great Heart
I cry out,
and
change and evolve,
calling all hearts
to
The One.
Deepening peace into Great Peace
I surrender
and
free
and free my boundless self,
calling all Hearts to The Source ( Allah )
...
into Greater Self
I become subtle
and
Ascent in love
and
go with the flow,
calling all hearts to Joy.
Opening heart into Great Heart
I cry out,
and
change and evolve,
calling all hearts
to
The One.
Deepening peace into Great Peace
I surrender
and
free
and free my boundless self,
calling all Hearts to The Source ( Allah )
...
Monday, September 20, 2010
All of life is play-acting if we don't connect with our Source. We may think we are being sincere or 'real', but actually we are just being the limit of what we know how to be because this is all we can be if He doesn't show us otherwise. You can't use a veil to break a veil! That is why poverty is the only approach. Every moment is a small hypocrisy if we don't surrender it to Him in complete poverty, knowing our innate inability to be anything other than an imposter. We are only as sincere as our edges. We start off firmy boxed, self-assured, maintaining boundaries of persona and belonging, we think we know what we are, we think we know sincerity.
If he loves you, he starts to murder your attachment to anything other than Him, this includes conceptions of self, your edges shift, your sincerity expands but it is still not true. This is why grief is sweet, because when you rage against your edges and long to break into anything that is other than you, you realise the only way out is in total surrender. Don't be angry with Him for your State if you are still trying to manage your own outcomes. Be as real as you can, according to your edges, but never assume that this is anything more than a conception of honesty related to your level of clarity.
A person can only understand a word in accordance with their grasp of a language. A person can only express a word in accordance with their state. The reason why silence is our fitra/natural pre-disposition is because a word not expressed with poverty is kufr/covering. With our words, we build our persona's, we build our small realities. Intent can expand boundaries, aspiration keeps them firmly in place.
Yesterday I thought that I was real,/honest/sincere today I know that I am only as real/honest/sincere as my boundaries.
May Allah grant us the poverty to expand our boundaries.
If he loves you, he starts to murder your attachment to anything other than Him, this includes conceptions of self, your edges shift, your sincerity expands but it is still not true. This is why grief is sweet, because when you rage against your edges and long to break into anything that is other than you, you realise the only way out is in total surrender. Don't be angry with Him for your State if you are still trying to manage your own outcomes. Be as real as you can, according to your edges, but never assume that this is anything more than a conception of honesty related to your level of clarity.
A person can only understand a word in accordance with their grasp of a language. A person can only express a word in accordance with their state. The reason why silence is our fitra/natural pre-disposition is because a word not expressed with poverty is kufr/covering. With our words, we build our persona's, we build our small realities. Intent can expand boundaries, aspiration keeps them firmly in place.
Yesterday I thought that I was real,/honest/sincere today I know that I am only as real/honest/sincere as my boundaries.
May Allah grant us the poverty to expand our boundaries.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
"During prayer,
I am accustomed to turn to God
and recall the meaning of the words of the Tradition,
“The delight felt in the ritual prayer.”*
The window of my soul opens,
and from the purity of the unseen world,
the Book of God comes to me straight.
The Book, the rain of Divine Grace, and the Light
are falling into my house through a window
from my Real and Original Source.
The house without a window is hell;
to make a window is the essence of true religion.
Don't thrust your ax upon every thicket;
come, use your ax to cut open a window!"
Rumi
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hizb ul Bahr - Litany of the Sea in English
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Blessings of God and peace be upon our master Muhammad and his family. O God, O Exalted One, O Gentle One,
O AII-Knowing One, Thou art my Lord, and Thy knowledge is sufficient for me. What an excellent Lord is my Lord! What a wonderful sufficiency is my sufficiency! Thou plea to Thee is for protection, in movements and moments of rest, in words, desires, and passing thoughts, from doubts, suppositions and fancies-veilings, they, over hearts, occluding sight of the unseen. The faithful were tried; They were severely shaken. Then the hypocrites would say, with those of disease-ridden hearts, "God and His Messenger promised us only delusion. (Q. 33:11-12)
Even so, make us firm, aid US, and subject to us this sea, as Thou did subject the sea to Moses, and the fire to Ibrahim, and the mountains and iron to David, and the wind, the Satans, and the jinn to Solomon.
Put in subjection to us every sea of thine in earth and heaven, in this domain and the celestial, the sea of this world and the sea of the next. Render subservient to us every thing, "0 Thou, whose hand holds sovereignty over every thing" (Q. 23:88).
Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad
Help us, for Thou art the best of helpers. Open to us the hand of mercy, for Thou art the best of openers. Pardon us, for Thou art the best of pardoners.
Be compassionate toward us, for Thou art the best of those who show compassion.
Sustain us, for Thou art the best of sustainers. Guide us and rescue us from the unjust people.
Send us a gentle breeze, as Thou dost know how to do, and let it blow on us from the storehouses of Thy mercy. Let it bear us along as it by miraculous intervention, with security and well-being, in religion, worldly affairs, and the hereafter.
Thou art powerful over all things. God, facilitate for us our affairs, with ease of mind and body, with security and well-being in religious and worldly matters. Be a companion for us on our journey, and a substitute for our households.
Blot out the countenances of our enemies, and transform them where they stand, disabling them from leaving or coming to US. If We willed, We would blot out their eyes. Yet, they would race forward to the path. But how would they see? If We willed, We should transform them where they stand. Thus, they would be unable to leave or return (Q 36:66-67).
Ya' sin! By the Wise Qur' an! Surely thou art one of those sent on a straight path! A revelation sent down by the Mighty, the Merciful, that thou mightest warn a people whose fathers had not been warned. Yet, they do not take heed.
The declaration has been confirmed against the greater part of them. Yet they do not believe. We have circled their necks with chains up to the chin, but they hold their heads high. Before them have We placed a barrier, and behind them a barrier, and We have obscured their vision; so they see not (Q 36:1-8).
May their faces be deformed! May their faces be deformed! May their faces be deformed!
Let their faces be submissive before the Living, the Self-Subsistent, For he who is laden with wrong has already met frustration. Ta' sin, ha' mim, 'ayn sin qaf. (Q 27:1)
He has released the two seas that meet; Yet between them is a barrier [barzakh] that they do not overpass. ...(Q 55:19-20)
Ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim! (Q 40:1)
The affair has been decreed. The triumph has come. Over us they shall not triumph. Ha' mim!
[It is] the sending down of the Scripture from God, The Mighty, the AII-Knowing, Forgiver of sin,
Receiver of penitence, Severe in punishing, Forbearing. No god is there except Him. To Him is the returning. (Q 40:1-3)
In the name of God (bismillah) is our door. May [God] bless our walls. Ya' sin (Q 36:1) is our ceiling.
Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad (Q 19:1) is our sufficiency. Ha' mim 'ayn sin qaf (Q 42:1) is our shelter.
So God is sufficient for thee against them, for He hears all, knows all. [Repeat this thrice]
The veil of the throne has been dropped over us, and the eye of God is gazing at us. God is behind them, round about. Indeed, it is a glorious recital [Qur'an], inscribed on a guarded tablet [lawh mahfuz] (Q. 85:20-21). [Repeat this thrice]
My Protector is God, Who revealed the Book (from time to time), and He will choose and befriend the righteous. (Q. 7:196) [Repeat this thrice]
M y sufficiency is God. No god is there except Him. In Him have I put my trust, For He is Lord of the majestic throne (Q. 9:129). [Repeat this thrice]
In the name of God, with whose Name nothing in the earth or sky can do harm, for He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower. [Repeat this thrice] There is no force and no power except with God, the High, the Mighty.
-------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg6suVsXmQ8&feature=player_embedded#!
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Blessings of God and peace be upon our master Muhammad and his family. O God, O Exalted One, O Gentle One,
O AII-Knowing One, Thou art my Lord, and Thy knowledge is sufficient for me. What an excellent Lord is my Lord! What a wonderful sufficiency is my sufficiency! Thou plea to Thee is for protection, in movements and moments of rest, in words, desires, and passing thoughts, from doubts, suppositions and fancies-veilings, they, over hearts, occluding sight of the unseen. The faithful were tried; They were severely shaken. Then the hypocrites would say, with those of disease-ridden hearts, "God and His Messenger promised us only delusion. (Q. 33:11-12)
Even so, make us firm, aid US, and subject to us this sea, as Thou did subject the sea to Moses, and the fire to Ibrahim, and the mountains and iron to David, and the wind, the Satans, and the jinn to Solomon.
Put in subjection to us every sea of thine in earth and heaven, in this domain and the celestial, the sea of this world and the sea of the next. Render subservient to us every thing, "0 Thou, whose hand holds sovereignty over every thing" (Q. 23:88).
Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad
Help us, for Thou art the best of helpers. Open to us the hand of mercy, for Thou art the best of openers. Pardon us, for Thou art the best of pardoners.
Be compassionate toward us, for Thou art the best of those who show compassion.
Sustain us, for Thou art the best of sustainers. Guide us and rescue us from the unjust people.
Send us a gentle breeze, as Thou dost know how to do, and let it blow on us from the storehouses of Thy mercy. Let it bear us along as it by miraculous intervention, with security and well-being, in religion, worldly affairs, and the hereafter.
Thou art powerful over all things. God, facilitate for us our affairs, with ease of mind and body, with security and well-being in religious and worldly matters. Be a companion for us on our journey, and a substitute for our households.
Blot out the countenances of our enemies, and transform them where they stand, disabling them from leaving or coming to US. If We willed, We would blot out their eyes. Yet, they would race forward to the path. But how would they see? If We willed, We should transform them where they stand. Thus, they would be unable to leave or return (Q 36:66-67).
Ya' sin! By the Wise Qur' an! Surely thou art one of those sent on a straight path! A revelation sent down by the Mighty, the Merciful, that thou mightest warn a people whose fathers had not been warned. Yet, they do not take heed.
The declaration has been confirmed against the greater part of them. Yet they do not believe. We have circled their necks with chains up to the chin, but they hold their heads high. Before them have We placed a barrier, and behind them a barrier, and We have obscured their vision; so they see not (Q 36:1-8).
May their faces be deformed! May their faces be deformed! May their faces be deformed!
Let their faces be submissive before the Living, the Self-Subsistent, For he who is laden with wrong has already met frustration. Ta' sin, ha' mim, 'ayn sin qaf. (Q 27:1)
He has released the two seas that meet; Yet between them is a barrier [barzakh] that they do not overpass. ...(Q 55:19-20)
Ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim, ha' mim! (Q 40:1)
The affair has been decreed. The triumph has come. Over us they shall not triumph. Ha' mim!
[It is] the sending down of the Scripture from God, The Mighty, the AII-Knowing, Forgiver of sin,
Receiver of penitence, Severe in punishing, Forbearing. No god is there except Him. To Him is the returning. (Q 40:1-3)
In the name of God (bismillah) is our door. May [God] bless our walls. Ya' sin (Q 36:1) is our ceiling.
Kaf ha' ya' 'ayn sad (Q 19:1) is our sufficiency. Ha' mim 'ayn sin qaf (Q 42:1) is our shelter.
So God is sufficient for thee against them, for He hears all, knows all. [Repeat this thrice]
The veil of the throne has been dropped over us, and the eye of God is gazing at us. God is behind them, round about. Indeed, it is a glorious recital [Qur'an], inscribed on a guarded tablet [lawh mahfuz] (Q. 85:20-21). [Repeat this thrice]
My Protector is God, Who revealed the Book (from time to time), and He will choose and befriend the righteous. (Q. 7:196) [Repeat this thrice]
M y sufficiency is God. No god is there except Him. In Him have I put my trust, For He is Lord of the majestic throne (Q. 9:129). [Repeat this thrice]
In the name of God, with whose Name nothing in the earth or sky can do harm, for He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower. [Repeat this thrice] There is no force and no power except with God, the High, the Mighty.
-------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg6suVsXmQ8&feature=player_embedded#!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
O Allah!
O Light!
O TRUTH!
O Clarifier!
Infuse our hearts with Thy LIGHT
Grant us knowledge from Thy Knowledge
Guard us by Thy Guarding
Cause us to Listen to THEE
Give us understanding from THEE
Provide for us a livlihood out of Thy bounty wherewith
Thou wilt relieve us from Poverty and raise us from abasement.
O Allah!
Dispose fittingly for us this world and the next, and enable us to attain to the vision of Thy FACE in the Garden of Firdaus(Paradise).
Over All things THOU ARE Powerful. Q-(2;20)
O how excellent is the MASTER, and how wonderful the HELPER. Q-(8:40)
Amin
And
Most Important : Eid Mubarak to All.
- Atif Hussain
O Light!
O TRUTH!
O Clarifier!
Infuse our hearts with Thy LIGHT
Grant us knowledge from Thy Knowledge
Guard us by Thy Guarding
Cause us to Listen to THEE
Give us understanding from THEE
Provide for us a livlihood out of Thy bounty wherewith
Thou wilt relieve us from Poverty and raise us from abasement.
O Allah!
Dispose fittingly for us this world and the next, and enable us to attain to the vision of Thy FACE in the Garden of Firdaus(Paradise).
Over All things THOU ARE Powerful. Q-(2;20)
O how excellent is the MASTER, and how wonderful the HELPER. Q-(8:40)
Amin
And
Most Important : Eid Mubarak to All.
- Atif Hussain
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Once the great Imam Al-Ghazali posed 6 questions to his students as follows;-
Q1 – “What is very close to us in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as our parents, spouse, close friends, our children and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘death’ because Allah SWT has promised us that those who lives will definitely die” (refer Sura Ali Imran 185)
"..Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception...-----[Quran 3 : 185]
Q2 – What is the furthest from us in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the country of China, the moon, the sun and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘our past’ because in whatever the circumstances , whoever we are and whatever vehicle we use we cannot go back into the past. So we have to always take care of today and the coming days with righteous deeds that is taught by Islam”
Q3 – “What is the biggest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the mountain, the earth, the sun and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘temptation (Nafs)’. So we must always be cautious with our temptation so as not to allow it to drive us to hell (Jahannam)” Refer Sura Al A’raf 179)
"Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hellfire: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).-------------[Quran 7 :179]
Q4 - “What is the heaviest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as iron, steel, the elephant and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is [b]‘being trustworthy [/B](Amanah)’ Al Ghazali explain “ The plants, trees, animals and the mountain could not accept the task of being the caliph of this world but human, with arrogance and conceit accepted the task and so much so many human beings are being thrown into hell (Jahannam) by Allah SWt because they have breached the trust others place on them. Refer Sura Al Ahzab 72)
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish;----------[Quran 33: 72]
Q5 - “What is the lightest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as cotton, dust, the wind and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘neglecting the salat (daily prayer’. Al Ghazali explain this is especially true as people are known to simply neglect the salat because they are having a business meeting , having to work etc
Q6 - “What is the sharpest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the sword, knife and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘human tongue’. Al Ghazali explains that with their tongues human arrogantly will offend and hurt the feeling of others.
The life of the heart is knowledge; so preserve it, The death of the heart is ignorance; so avoid it. Your best provision is true devotion; so provide it. This advice of mine is enough for you; so heed it. ------[ Imam al-Ghazâlî ]
Q1 – “What is very close to us in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as our parents, spouse, close friends, our children and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘death’ because Allah SWT has promised us that those who lives will definitely die” (refer Sura Ali Imran 185)
"..Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception...-----[Quran 3 : 185]
Q2 – What is the furthest from us in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the country of China, the moon, the sun and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘our past’ because in whatever the circumstances , whoever we are and whatever vehicle we use we cannot go back into the past. So we have to always take care of today and the coming days with righteous deeds that is taught by Islam”
Q3 – “What is the biggest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the mountain, the earth, the sun and etc.
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘temptation (Nafs)’. So we must always be cautious with our temptation so as not to allow it to drive us to hell (Jahannam)” Refer Sura Al A’raf 179)
"Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hellfire: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).-------------[Quran 7 :179]
Q4 - “What is the heaviest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as iron, steel, the elephant and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is [b]‘being trustworthy [/B](Amanah)’ Al Ghazali explain “ The plants, trees, animals and the mountain could not accept the task of being the caliph of this world but human, with arrogance and conceit accepted the task and so much so many human beings are being thrown into hell (Jahannam) by Allah SWt because they have breached the trust others place on them. Refer Sura Al Ahzab 72)
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish;----------[Quran 33: 72]
Q5 - “What is the lightest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as cotton, dust, the wind and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘neglecting the salat (daily prayer’. Al Ghazali explain this is especially true as people are known to simply neglect the salat because they are having a business meeting , having to work etc
Q6 - “What is the sharpest in this world?”
The students gave all kind of answers such as the sword, knife and etc...
Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘human tongue’. Al Ghazali explains that with their tongues human arrogantly will offend and hurt the feeling of others.
The life of the heart is knowledge; so preserve it, The death of the heart is ignorance; so avoid it. Your best provision is true devotion; so provide it. This advice of mine is enough for you; so heed it. ------[ Imam al-Ghazâlî ]
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Sufi was in seclusion, praying and saying supplications, suddenly he was immersed in an intense ecstatic feeling, and there shined a brilliant light, where a beautiful, deep, mesmerizing voice spoke to him: “O my servant! I have come to love you, and bring you close to my presence. I will permit to you that what I have forbidden for others….”
At this point, according to The Revelations, knowing that Allaah wouldn't favor one servant over the other, his heart illuminated that which his senses has darkened, and the sufi answered, “May Allaah damn you, enemy of Allaah!”
Instantly, the voice changed into an ugly, deafening roar and screamed, “You win this time, but we will meet again”
At this point, according to The Revelations, knowing that Allaah wouldn't favor one servant over the other, his heart illuminated that which his senses has darkened, and the sufi answered, “May Allaah damn you, enemy of Allaah!”
Instantly, the voice changed into an ugly, deafening roar and screamed, “You win this time, but we will meet again”
ملتفت فى الطريق لا يصل
“He who glances off shall not find”.
Dr. Ali Jomaa says, “If you are walking a road full of lights, colors, and attractive shopping displays, and then you stop at this shop and wander inside the other, a life maybe spent in this wandering, while age is uncertain. Al Imam A’ Shafey said: I’ve walked with the Sufis and learned from them that time is like a sword, if you don’t cut it, it cuts you.
He who glances off shall not find; an essential of good manners with Allaah, signifying the necessity that, whatever is done has to be out of pure devotion and direction to Allaah.
It is limiting to get stalled by observing the glamour of spiritual lights or secrets, the apparent realm or the hidden, the inspirations or any other, which are fruits of The Path - not the destination, not the goal. The True Destination, Allaah, has to always be in focus” ~
- Dr. Jomaa's
“He who glances off shall not find”.
Dr. Ali Jomaa says, “If you are walking a road full of lights, colors, and attractive shopping displays, and then you stop at this shop and wander inside the other, a life maybe spent in this wandering, while age is uncertain. Al Imam A’ Shafey said: I’ve walked with the Sufis and learned from them that time is like a sword, if you don’t cut it, it cuts you.
He who glances off shall not find; an essential of good manners with Allaah, signifying the necessity that, whatever is done has to be out of pure devotion and direction to Allaah.
It is limiting to get stalled by observing the glamour of spiritual lights or secrets, the apparent realm or the hidden, the inspirations or any other, which are fruits of The Path - not the destination, not the goal. The True Destination, Allaah, has to always be in focus” ~
- Dr. Jomaa's
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Regarding the two brothers who were lynched in Sialkot. Then know that it is a great event the likes of which cannot be found anywhere except the days of ignorance, or in the persecution of Sahaba (RA).
Through this event, know that the evidence of Allah has been set against us where we have proven to be unaware of the laws of Quran. For Allah says;
“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what you have done.” Surah Hujjurat, Ayat 6.
Then why didn’t we ascertain the guilt of those who were killed without a trial? Why upon the words of few obscure men we launched ourselves against the two brothers without giving them a chance to plead innocent or guilt? Why did we decide to punish them for an alleged offense in a manner that can only be ascribed as barbaric and that is not supported by Quran? Why did our law enforcement feel no need to verify the truth or contain the situation?
Also know that with this event we have lost our right to cry out against the mushrikeens who persecute our brothers and sisters in occupied lands. It seems that a Muslim is now sufficient to persecute another Muslim in his own homeland. Clearly we have forgot the following verse;
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” Surah Nisa Ayat 93.
and the hadith of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) where he says;
“The sanctity of Muslim blood is greater for Allah than the sanctity of the Kaaba, as is his honour and his property, and thinks only good of him.”
Know that in the gravity of the sin committed, justice must prevail for us to be saved from punishment in this world or the next. That justice must be followed by true repentance on behalf of all individuals of this ummah and a promise to submit fully to the teachings of Islam.
Let this not be the time in which, when overcome by emotions, we pray to Allah against our own selves. Know that making dua against our selves will only result in increase of such events. Realize that this is, rather, a time when we are in dire need of sincere dua. Know that our only hope to rise to the pinnacle from these ashes is based on our repentance, dua and brotherhood.
We each must play the roles assigned to us by Allah. For only when we will fulfill our roles, our condition will truly change. Know that goodness from each and every member of this ummah is not a pre-requisite for the establishment of islam in this world, or the success of our nation. The requirement of perfection (or striving for it) is only demanded by some of us but the rewards thereof are shared with the masses.
Forget the old adage of; what good will it brings If I change my ways. Instead follow the lead of the companions who, in spite of less numbers, were able to inspire huge nations because of the change they brought in themselves. Look at the way Allah described the Mominon in the following verse and aim for nothing else.
“They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.” Al-Imran Ayat 114
Know that in the end, it would not matter if your nation entered jannah but it would matter if you entered jannah or not. Let us blame none but ourselves for this event and take heed from the verses of Quran. Verily it is our collective and individual sins for which we are punished in this world or the next. Let us pray for those who have been unjustly killed. Let us strive for justice to their families. And, Let us hold ourselves accountable before we are held accountable by Allah.
Never give up hope and know from the depth of your heart that this nation of Pakistan is destined for great things. Come back to Islam my brothers and sisters and know that the pleasure in obedience of Allah is greater than the pleasure in his disobedience. And finally know that strength and mercy are a promise Allah has given in exchange for Taqwa.
“Verily, in this there is a plain Message for people who worship Allah” [Surah Al-Anbiyyah, Ayat 106]
Through this event, know that the evidence of Allah has been set against us where we have proven to be unaware of the laws of Quran. For Allah says;
“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what you have done.” Surah Hujjurat, Ayat 6.
Then why didn’t we ascertain the guilt of those who were killed without a trial? Why upon the words of few obscure men we launched ourselves against the two brothers without giving them a chance to plead innocent or guilt? Why did we decide to punish them for an alleged offense in a manner that can only be ascribed as barbaric and that is not supported by Quran? Why did our law enforcement feel no need to verify the truth or contain the situation?
Also know that with this event we have lost our right to cry out against the mushrikeens who persecute our brothers and sisters in occupied lands. It seems that a Muslim is now sufficient to persecute another Muslim in his own homeland. Clearly we have forgot the following verse;
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” Surah Nisa Ayat 93.
and the hadith of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) where he says;
“The sanctity of Muslim blood is greater for Allah than the sanctity of the Kaaba, as is his honour and his property, and thinks only good of him.”
Know that in the gravity of the sin committed, justice must prevail for us to be saved from punishment in this world or the next. That justice must be followed by true repentance on behalf of all individuals of this ummah and a promise to submit fully to the teachings of Islam.
Let this not be the time in which, when overcome by emotions, we pray to Allah against our own selves. Know that making dua against our selves will only result in increase of such events. Realize that this is, rather, a time when we are in dire need of sincere dua. Know that our only hope to rise to the pinnacle from these ashes is based on our repentance, dua and brotherhood.
We each must play the roles assigned to us by Allah. For only when we will fulfill our roles, our condition will truly change. Know that goodness from each and every member of this ummah is not a pre-requisite for the establishment of islam in this world, or the success of our nation. The requirement of perfection (or striving for it) is only demanded by some of us but the rewards thereof are shared with the masses.
Forget the old adage of; what good will it brings If I change my ways. Instead follow the lead of the companions who, in spite of less numbers, were able to inspire huge nations because of the change they brought in themselves. Look at the way Allah described the Mominon in the following verse and aim for nothing else.
“They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.” Al-Imran Ayat 114
Know that in the end, it would not matter if your nation entered jannah but it would matter if you entered jannah or not. Let us blame none but ourselves for this event and take heed from the verses of Quran. Verily it is our collective and individual sins for which we are punished in this world or the next. Let us pray for those who have been unjustly killed. Let us strive for justice to their families. And, Let us hold ourselves accountable before we are held accountable by Allah.
Never give up hope and know from the depth of your heart that this nation of Pakistan is destined for great things. Come back to Islam my brothers and sisters and know that the pleasure in obedience of Allah is greater than the pleasure in his disobedience. And finally know that strength and mercy are a promise Allah has given in exchange for Taqwa.
“Verily, in this there is a plain Message for people who worship Allah” [Surah Al-Anbiyyah, Ayat 106]
Monday, August 23, 2010
Kalam Moalana Ahmed Jaami
___________________________________________
Tanam Farsooda jaa para
Ze Hijra Ya Rasulullah
Dillam Paz Murda Aawara
Ze Isyaa. Ya Rasulullah!
My body is dissolving in your separation
And my soul is breaking into pieces. Ya Rasulullah!
Due to my sins, My heart is weak and becoming enticed. Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Choon Soo’e Mun Guzar Aari
Manne Miskeen Zanaa Daari
Fida-E-Naqsh-E-Nalainat
Kunam Ja. Ya Rasulullah!
When you pass by me
Then even in my immense poverty, ecstatically,
I must sacrifice my soul on your blessed sandal. Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Ze Jaame Hubb To Mustam
Ba Zanjeere To Dil Bustam
Nu’mi Goyam Ke Mun Bustum
Sukun Daa. Ya Rasulullah!
I am drowned in the taste of your love
And the chain of your love binds my heart.
Yet I don’t say that I know this language (of love). Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Ze Kharda Khaish Hairaanam
Siyaa Shud Roze Isyaanam
Pashemaanam, Pashemaanam, Pashemaanam. Ya Rasulullah!
I am worried due to my misdeeds;
And I feel that my sins have blackened my heart. Ya Rasulullah!
I am in distress! I am in distress! I am in distress! Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Choon Baazoo’e Shafaa’at Raa
Khushaa’I Bar Gunaagara
Makun Mahruume Jaami Raa
Daraa Aan. Ya Rasulullah!
Ya Rasulullah! When you spread your hands to intercede for the sinners,
Then do not deprive Jaami of your exalted intercession.
______________________________________________
bless us with your noor ya Rasul Allah. amin
___________________________________________
Tanam Farsooda jaa para
Ze Hijra Ya Rasulullah
Dillam Paz Murda Aawara
Ze Isyaa. Ya Rasulullah!
My body is dissolving in your separation
And my soul is breaking into pieces. Ya Rasulullah!
Due to my sins, My heart is weak and becoming enticed. Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Choon Soo’e Mun Guzar Aari
Manne Miskeen Zanaa Daari
Fida-E-Naqsh-E-Nalainat
Kunam Ja. Ya Rasulullah!
When you pass by me
Then even in my immense poverty, ecstatically,
I must sacrifice my soul on your blessed sandal. Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Ze Jaame Hubb To Mustam
Ba Zanjeere To Dil Bustam
Nu’mi Goyam Ke Mun Bustum
Sukun Daa. Ya Rasulullah!
I am drowned in the taste of your love
And the chain of your love binds my heart.
Yet I don’t say that I know this language (of love). Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Ze Kharda Khaish Hairaanam
Siyaa Shud Roze Isyaanam
Pashemaanam, Pashemaanam, Pashemaanam. Ya Rasulullah!
I am worried due to my misdeeds;
And I feel that my sins have blackened my heart. Ya Rasulullah!
I am in distress! I am in distress! I am in distress! Ya Rasulullah!
______________________________________________
Choon Baazoo’e Shafaa’at Raa
Khushaa’I Bar Gunaagara
Makun Mahruume Jaami Raa
Daraa Aan. Ya Rasulullah!
Ya Rasulullah! When you spread your hands to intercede for the sinners,
Then do not deprive Jaami of your exalted intercession.
______________________________________________
bless us with your noor ya Rasul Allah. amin
lost heart
Why has the humanity been placed upon a tiny planet, in a large galaxy, and that galaxy placed within millions of others?
Answer:
Because each human being carries within the most precious instrument every engineered by Allah i.e. the human heart! There are no records of where we have come from, the only record is kept within the sea of Ishq and it only grows from the mud of Adam. This marvel of Divine Engineering had to be hidden, like a treasure in depth of cosmos, away from snatching of the thieves.
*every engineered / please read as: ever engineered
....
Answer:
Because each human being carries within the most precious instrument every engineered by Allah i.e. the human heart! There are no records of where we have come from, the only record is kept within the sea of Ishq and it only grows from the mud of Adam. This marvel of Divine Engineering had to be hidden, like a treasure in depth of cosmos, away from snatching of the thieves.
*every engineered / please read as: ever engineered
....
Sunday, August 22, 2010
when i prostrate upon the earth it cried out,
O you who prostrate only for show!
You have ruined even me!
When i prostrate upon the earth it cried out,
Oh you of false heart filled with idols,
what value can your bowing possibly have?
Prostrate that would make the earth shake,
Are what pulpits ache for.
Faces that would shine with marks of prostration,
Where they have gone?
Hearts that would tremble in fear of Allah?
Where have they gone?
The gathering have dispered,
Those seeking You have left.
The cries of the night and dawn are no more,
Find them with a lamp in a daylight, you will not.
indeed todays life and priorities have changed as things other then Allah seems important to people. Muslims can never savor the delicious taste of worship when their hearts are devoted to a thousand other things rather than being solely devoted to Allah.
Do remember this faqir in your prayers
Jazak Allah
O you who prostrate only for show!
You have ruined even me!
When i prostrate upon the earth it cried out,
Oh you of false heart filled with idols,
what value can your bowing possibly have?
Prostrate that would make the earth shake,
Are what pulpits ache for.
Faces that would shine with marks of prostration,
Where they have gone?
Hearts that would tremble in fear of Allah?
Where have they gone?
The gathering have dispered,
Those seeking You have left.
The cries of the night and dawn are no more,
Find them with a lamp in a daylight, you will not.
indeed todays life and priorities have changed as things other then Allah seems important to people. Muslims can never savor the delicious taste of worship when their hearts are devoted to a thousand other things rather than being solely devoted to Allah.
Do remember this faqir in your prayers
Jazak Allah
A mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog.
So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther, so the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear for the hunter.
At this point, the magician gave up. He turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse."
~ From Heart of the Enlightened By Anthony De Mello
So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther, so the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear for the hunter.
At this point, the magician gave up. He turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse."
~ From Heart of the Enlightened By Anthony De Mello
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Meeting of Love and Intellect
A person is either compelled to obey a master because of intense love toward the master or because that person understands the wisdom behind the master’s commands on an intellectual level. The same holds true for the relationship between a servant and Allah. One’s obedience to the Creator is either rooted in deep love or in intellectual understanding of the shariah, and the difference between the two is that of night and day.
The intellect is handicapped in the spiritual path of tasawwuf because the destination is only reachable on the wings of love. Intellect is cunning and therefore can appear in a thousand disguises whereas love is pure and simple and therefore does not deceive. The person who attains the blessed gift of love for Allah is indeed fortunate.
Do Remember this Faqir in your prayer.
The intellect is handicapped in the spiritual path of tasawwuf because the destination is only reachable on the wings of love. Intellect is cunning and therefore can appear in a thousand disguises whereas love is pure and simple and therefore does not deceive. The person who attains the blessed gift of love for Allah is indeed fortunate.
Do Remember this Faqir in your prayer.
Lesson of Grave
People need to detach themselves from this life’s false and misleading attractions because all is reduced to the same dust in the end. The greatest and most prominent people who have walked the earth have all met with the same end where, upon their death, they were lowered into a cramped earthen tomb for insects to devour their bodies.
Those yet living must take heed and learn a valuable lesson from this while there is still time. They must be firm and willing in their desire to seek forgiveness for their past mistakes and start anew.
- Atif Hussain
Those yet living must take heed and learn a valuable lesson from this while there is still time. They must be firm and willing in their desire to seek forgiveness for their past mistakes and start anew.
- Atif Hussain
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Open your eyes
Open your eyes. What do you see? Do you see the crowds of people walking around? Look at their faces. Curious looks, snobs, anger, expressionless looks, looks of concentration. Did you notice the person that was smiling at you? Look again. See the trees waving to you in greetings?
Concentrate now on your hearing. What do you hear? Traffic? Discussions on the latest gossip? People on the cellular phones that are trying to compete with the noise? Cursing and swearing? Or the radio / television of your neighbors? But do you hear the songs of praises the birds in the day sings for you, or the lullaby the insects orchestrate for you in the night?
Now smell the air. Exhausts? Odors you feel repulsive? Smell again. Concentrate this time. You will find the fragrance of the perfect blossom.
Focus your senses to your skin. Feel the heat? The humidity? But did you not also notice the breeze that is gently trying to cool you? Feel the frost of the winter, biting through all your insulation. Again feel the warmth that the sun is wrapping around you in a warm embrace. And the warmth that is already within you that your heart is circulating.
There is always comfort around us if you know where to look. There is too much distractions in this society. Focus your senses in the correct way and you will find a release.
Jazak Allah
Concentrate now on your hearing. What do you hear? Traffic? Discussions on the latest gossip? People on the cellular phones that are trying to compete with the noise? Cursing and swearing? Or the radio / television of your neighbors? But do you hear the songs of praises the birds in the day sings for you, or the lullaby the insects orchestrate for you in the night?
Now smell the air. Exhausts? Odors you feel repulsive? Smell again. Concentrate this time. You will find the fragrance of the perfect blossom.
Focus your senses to your skin. Feel the heat? The humidity? But did you not also notice the breeze that is gently trying to cool you? Feel the frost of the winter, biting through all your insulation. Again feel the warmth that the sun is wrapping around you in a warm embrace. And the warmth that is already within you that your heart is circulating.
There is always comfort around us if you know where to look. There is too much distractions in this society. Focus your senses in the correct way and you will find a release.
Jazak Allah
triple filter test
A scholar in middle ages, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," the scholar replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," the scholar continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.
That's why I call it the triple filter test.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and.."
"All right," said the scholar. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," the scholar continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded the scholar, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former)"
One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," the scholar replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," the scholar continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.
That's why I call it the triple filter test.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and.."
"All right," said the scholar. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," the scholar continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded the scholar, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former)"
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
the shepherd
Once upon a time, there lived an old man whose only occupation was caring for and loving his only son who was a handsome young man. The old man invested all his money on his son's education. The young man went away for a few years and acquired an education at a well known university under the great scholars of that age.
The day had arrived for the son to return from his studies and the old man waited at the door for his son. When the son came and met his father, the old man looked into his eyes and felt great disappointment. "What have you learnt my son?" he asked, "I have learnt everything there was to be learnt, father", he said. "But have you learnt what cannot be taught?" asked the father. "Go, my son and learn what cannot be taught", said the old man.
The young man went back to his master and asked him to teach him what cannot be taught.
"Go away to the mountains with these four hundred sheep and come back when they are one thousand", said the master.
The young man went to the mountains and became a shepherd. There for the first time he encountered a silence. He had no one to talk to. The sheep did not understand his language. In his desperation, he would talk to them but they would look back at him as if to say he was stupid. Slowly but surely he began to forget all his worldly knowledge, his ego, his pride and he became quiet like the sheep and great wisdom and humility came to him.
At the end of two years when the number of sheep had grown to one thousand,he returned to his master and fell on his feet.
"Now you have learnt whatcannot be taught," said the master.
( May Allah bless us with such knowledge. Ameen )
The day had arrived for the son to return from his studies and the old man waited at the door for his son. When the son came and met his father, the old man looked into his eyes and felt great disappointment. "What have you learnt my son?" he asked, "I have learnt everything there was to be learnt, father", he said. "But have you learnt what cannot be taught?" asked the father. "Go, my son and learn what cannot be taught", said the old man.
The young man went back to his master and asked him to teach him what cannot be taught.
"Go away to the mountains with these four hundred sheep and come back when they are one thousand", said the master.
The young man went to the mountains and became a shepherd. There for the first time he encountered a silence. He had no one to talk to. The sheep did not understand his language. In his desperation, he would talk to them but they would look back at him as if to say he was stupid. Slowly but surely he began to forget all his worldly knowledge, his ego, his pride and he became quiet like the sheep and great wisdom and humility came to him.
At the end of two years when the number of sheep had grown to one thousand,he returned to his master and fell on his feet.
"Now you have learnt whatcannot be taught," said the master.
( May Allah bless us with such knowledge. Ameen )
May Allah The Sublime grant you success—Know that regular fasting amongst the ones who fast is that of their corporeal form (i.e. abstaining from eating and drinking) while the specialized fasting of the Muqinin (The People of Certainty) is the fasting of:
1. The Qalb (Heart) in abstaining from the preoccupations & musings of the world
2. The ears, the eyes and the tongue in abstaining from transgression of the Hadd (Divine Limits)
3. The hands and feet in abstaining from exerting force upon, and striving towards the causes and instruments of the Nahy (Divine Prohibitions)
Do remember this sinner in your prayers.
Jazak Allah
1. The Qalb (Heart) in abstaining from the preoccupations & musings of the world
2. The ears, the eyes and the tongue in abstaining from transgression of the Hadd (Divine Limits)
3. The hands and feet in abstaining from exerting force upon, and striving towards the causes and instruments of the Nahy (Divine Prohibitions)
Do remember this sinner in your prayers.
Jazak Allah
O my God, I have reached this month in a state in which I cannot remove from myself the things that I dislike, nor can I achieve that to which I aspire. These matters are not in my hands but in Yours. . . O my God! I ask for faith that will bring enthusiasm to my heart and an unshakable certitude free from doubt so that I may know that nothing will come to me other than that which You have intended for me, and make me content with what You have given me as my portion.
Peace be upon you Oh Ramdhan Kareem :)
Ameen
Peace be upon you Oh Ramdhan Kareem :)
Ameen
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
"Qurratu Aini bika Ya Rasoolallah" (Ya Rasoolallah! You are the coolness of my eyes).
Once, the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) entered the Masjid and sat down near a pillar. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) was seated beside him. Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) then stood up and commenced with the Azaan. When he said: "Ash hadu Ana Muhammadur Rasoolullah", Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) placed both the thumb nails on to his eyes and said "Qurratu Aini bika Ya Rasoolallah" (Ya Rasoolallah! You are the coolness of my eyes). When Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) completed the Azaan, the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "O Abu Bakr! Whosoever does like you have done, Almighty Allah will forgive all his sins."
(Tafseer Roohul Bayaan)
Once, the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) entered the Masjid and sat down near a pillar. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) was seated beside him. Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) then stood up and commenced with the Azaan. When he said: "Ash hadu Ana Muhammadur Rasoolullah", Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) placed both the thumb nails on to his eyes and said "Qurratu Aini bika Ya Rasoolallah" (Ya Rasoolallah! You are the coolness of my eyes). When Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) completed the Azaan, the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "O Abu Bakr! Whosoever does like you have done, Almighty Allah will forgive all his sins."
(Tafseer Roohul Bayaan)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Imam Shafi'i ( may God's mercy on him) said,
Al- Busti says in his famous poem:
Imam Ismail al Maqqari says in a poem counseling his son:
" the world is but a moment; so make it (a moment) of obedience"
Al- Busti says in his famous poem:
Increase in worldly things is to a man but diminishment.
And his profits in other than sheer goodness
are nothing but loss.
Imam Ismail al Maqqari says in a poem counseling his son:
Till when will you dwell in illusion and distraction?
How long will you sleep and not awake?
Will you spend all that you have in the love of that
Which God set lower than the wing of gnat?
If Qarun's fortune from it you should obtain,
it would still be but a morsel on your mouth
and a cloth on your body.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hu's He THEN?
He Who (Hu) loves you
And has scent you to a copious garden
A garden within
Where roses
Flower kings and
Prostrating flowers
Sway with love
To and from the Rose maker.
Their labour of love
A fragrance so pure...
That even ants
Move upon the dust
Of compassionate footprints...
Within this universal garden of love
So Hu's He THEN?...
I cannot describe,
I cannot describe...
Huuuuuuu.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
If I were to be told to pack up today and leave this world, I will not have many regrets. I'd just make a silent wish that someone else carry on and finish my work, blow a kiss in the general direction of the ever-spinning Earth, and leave, laughing at my usual flustered hurry.
Coming, God!
Hold that train! Oh no, I left my watch behind! Haha. Can I go back, and come back at a later moment? Your one moment and my lifetime, God?!
(there's nothin other then this comes in mind)
Coming, God!
Hold that train! Oh no, I left my watch behind! Haha. Can I go back, and come back at a later moment? Your one moment and my lifetime, God?!
(there's nothin other then this comes in mind)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Honor..
Practicing honor is one's ability to withhold oneself from behaving in any way that harms another, that takes from another.
only i can truly withhold myself from the desire to take what rightfully belongs to another, for even my body is chained, my heart can keep an evil intact. And if i put to death, i would have died in a state of holding that desire.
this is what i felt that what honor to mean as yet..
only i can truly withhold myself from the desire to take what rightfully belongs to another, for even my body is chained, my heart can keep an evil intact. And if i put to death, i would have died in a state of holding that desire.
this is what i felt that what honor to mean as yet..
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
i have decided that time has come in my life where i start living out my knowledge. After all, wise men such as Hazart Ali(r.a) say that knowledge without practice consumes a person. what is the point of knowledge, truly, if we dont use it or pass it on - through demonstration???
May Allah bless us and guide us to truth and reality :)
Ameen
May Allah bless us and guide us to truth and reality :)
Ameen
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
O my love, do not forget your beloved,
come back from your life in the wilderness
The birds have flown home, why do you not do the same?
Love overwhelms me again and again,
I am yours and you are... mine
O Farid,
I will sacrifice myself, just to see him one more time
The spinning wheel of love, the unspun balls of grief
The more I spin them, they more they seem to double
My spinning wheel is priceless, as I spin, so my love grows stronger,
And at every turn of the wheel,
I remember you
What good is my life, without you, my dear love
The heart strings of my memory resound in every pore, every vein of my being
This is the time to return, my love and leave your independence
My eyes are longing for you and asking every traveller where you might be
My useless eyes are exhausted, looking out for you, my love
O independent one, come back now, my eyes are weak from looking for you
Come O crow,
I will feed you fancies if you come and sit on my roof
Give me news of my beloved and
I will honour you
Come and sit on my roof my beloved may come
O Farid,
I strain night and day to see the path you have taken,
Eid has come, but my beloved has not, may
God look after him
Adornments do not seem right, nothing is pleasing to my sight
The happy ones sleep peacefully while
I spend my nights in grief
I will celebrate Eid when my love comes back, without him
Eid is empty
Pierced by the arrow of loss, people call me mad
For God’s sake,
Come back,
or else this life is over.
Everyone taunts me, ‘where is your love?’
‘ He has left you and taken to the road’
What can I answer?
I weep alone
At every turn of the spinning wheel,
I remember you
Come back to the courtyard, to this one who longs for you
My spinning wheel is colourful, it is the vehicle of your remembrance
You are far from my eyes, but close to my heart and
I yearn for you
The strands of sorrow seem to have no end,
and
as I spin, they double Who will put an end to my sorrow?
I long for you.
I am bound to Ranjha, but my father is pressing me (to marry a Khera)
The Kheras are spreading lies,
I take on myself these accusations against Ranjha
People say he is just a buffalo herdsman, but for me,
he is my Mecca People say that love is easy,
but love spares nothing and no-one
Bulleh Shah bears witness to the truth, that
Shah Inayat is the perfect teacher...
...
..
.
.
.
by Farid.
there are matters that do not even need our actions. they appear to us, and then they dissolve. We do nothing more than observe them. let them come, and let them go. do not think that you are the lord of every bit of your life.
there are other people in this space where we co-exist. let them be. That is your freedom. Do not choose the version of freedom that enslaved minds envision: a situation where they face nothing. That is the vision of freedom of one who is essentially a captive of their own entity.
there are other people in this space where we co-exist. let them be. That is your freedom. Do not choose the version of freedom that enslaved minds envision: a situation where they face nothing. That is the vision of freedom of one who is essentially a captive of their own entity.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
If the shaykh says to you
"O my son take this cup and empty the ocean."
What is your job?
To take the cup and empty the ocean.
That means don't let your ego to give you wrong information.
If your shaykh says to you that your trust, that
diamond of Sayyidina Jibreel, is in far east and you are in far west. Don't say "I cannot" you duty is to go. Find a way.
don't fight; don't argue' don't criticize. Keep patient and peaceful, tranquility, contentment.
Jazak Allah
"O my son take this cup and empty the ocean."
What is your job?
To take the cup and empty the ocean.
That means don't let your ego to give you wrong information.
If your shaykh says to you that your trust, that
diamond of Sayyidina Jibreel, is in far east and you are in far west. Don't say "I cannot" you duty is to go. Find a way.
don't fight; don't argue' don't criticize. Keep patient and peaceful, tranquility, contentment.
Jazak Allah
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
An unspeakable restlessness has gripped me.
And within it, the slightest shimmers of comfort.
I feel as though I am walking alone in a wilderness... in an utter aloneness... bewildered, but not quite. Sad, but not deeply. Moved - and yes that I am!
Sometimes I doubt if I am really grounded in reality. The world does something else, and I see something else. What I see then eventually comes true. The distance between my seeing and its realization, though, sometimes seems to stretch.
And within it, the slightest shimmers of comfort.
I feel as though I am walking alone in a wilderness... in an utter aloneness... bewildered, but not quite. Sad, but not deeply. Moved - and yes that I am!
Sometimes I doubt if I am really grounded in reality. The world does something else, and I see something else. What I see then eventually comes true. The distance between my seeing and its realization, though, sometimes seems to stretch.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Listen to your heart
EXACTLY
at the moment when it speaks! :)
Do exactly as it says!
You missed again, man!
How unlearned!
You did not pay heed again, right? None of your signs shall come from the outside. You *must* live your principles NOW and in entirety.
DO. NOT. BE. FOOLED. BY. THE. RELAXATION. THAT. IS. GRANTED. TO. YOU.
You will end up amongst blind fools, banging their heads against walls within which they shall find themselves confined! Do not be fooled at all. This time calls upon your highest ethic, your sacrifice of self-interest, your avoidance of that which is convenient and tempting. Do not be fooled at all. All lies are to come to an end. Very soon, you shall see.
there are matters that do not even need our actions.
they appear to us, and then they dissolve.
we do nothing more than observe them.
Let them come, and let them go.
Do not think that you are the lord of every bit of your life.
There are other people in this space where we co-exist.
Let them be.
That is your freedom.
Do not choose the version of freedom that enslaved minds envision: a situation where they face nothing.
they appear to us, and then they dissolve.
we do nothing more than observe them.
Let them come, and let them go.
Do not think that you are the lord of every bit of your life.
There are other people in this space where we co-exist.
Let them be.
That is your freedom.
Do not choose the version of freedom that enslaved minds envision: a situation where they face nothing.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
the best first thing a human mind can do is to observe, to follow closely by wonder - and then question. In questions are theiranswers, and they reveal over Space when Time so intends.
a mind which wonders is a mind that wanders, in a beatific idleness. the beauty of a blue, blue night cannot be caught, much less the secret feelings it arises in the hearts and minds of the amused young.
"Where has this world come from?"
"Am I part of this, or is this in some way separate from me?"
"How many stars are there in this constellation?"
"What if I die, do I go up there?"
And then the occasional childlike: "Do fairies really descend in the night, and put that toffee under my head? Why not ice-cream? Fairies can do everything!"
a mind which wonders is a mind that wanders, in a beatific idleness. the beauty of a blue, blue night cannot be caught, much less the secret feelings it arises in the hearts and minds of the amused young.
"Where has this world come from?"
"Am I part of this, or is this in some way separate from me?"
"How many stars are there in this constellation?"
"What if I die, do I go up there?"
And then the occasional childlike: "Do fairies really descend in the night, and put that toffee under my head? Why not ice-cream? Fairies can do everything!"
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Nebulous..
I am like a palace under construction that is opening its eyes, becoming gradually conscious... and is astounded and awed at once to observe at what's going on: The massive work at hand, the design, the beauty, the gestalt of the whole process of construction overwhelms my awakening consciousness. Here I see a beautiful window, and I am captured by the beauty of what I am looking like and at. There I see a loose pile of bricks, and am horrified at what seems to be a disorderly incompletion.
My being swerves between a love and fear of myself - and by extension, for the Architect. I have moments of absolute certainty about my beauty, and instances of utter doubts of the project.
The benevolence of the Universe that was so clearly visible to me had suddenly hidden, leaving my heart with an inexplicable feeling of contraction. I was wondering what happened? What wrong have I done - for, thanks to my culture, I indulge in the self blame-game more often than I'd like?
Then occurred to me a new analogy, a word: Nebulous.
My being swerves between a love and fear of myself - and by extension, for the Architect. I have moments of absolute certainty about my beauty, and instances of utter doubts of the project.
The benevolence of the Universe that was so clearly visible to me had suddenly hidden, leaving my heart with an inexplicable feeling of contraction. I was wondering what happened? What wrong have I done - for, thanks to my culture, I indulge in the self blame-game more often than I'd like?
Then occurred to me a new analogy, a word: Nebulous.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Do not keep the company of anyone whose state does not awaken yours, or words direct you to Allah. You might be doing badly, and be shown your goodness by keeping the company of someone even worse. - Ibn ‘Ata’ Illah’s
“The Hikam,” taught in Sunnipath’s.
Islamic Spirituality:
In other words, one may mistakenly believe that he is righteous while sitting among those who are worse than him. Hence, one should spend time with those who are more pious and refrain from the company of the heedless.
“The Hikam,” taught in Sunnipath’s.
Islamic Spirituality:
In other words, one may mistakenly believe that he is righteous while sitting among those who are worse than him. Hence, one should spend time with those who are more pious and refrain from the company of the heedless.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
O wondrous ecstatic eyes,
O wondrous long locks,
O wondrous wine worshipper,
O wondrous mischievous sweetheart.
As he draws the sword,
I bow my head in prostration so as to be killed,
O wondrous is ...his beneficence,
O wondrous my submission.
O wondrous amorous teasing,
O wondrous beguiling,
O wondrous tilted cap,
O wondrous tormentor.
Do not reveal the Truth;
in this world blasphemy prevails,
Khusrau;
O wondrous source of mystery,
O wondrous knower of secrets
-
Ameer khusrau
Saturday, March 13, 2010
I am amazed at he who knows death is certain, yet he laughs
I am amazed at he who knows that the Fire is true, yet he rejoices
I am amazed at he who witnesses how life changes the condition of the people, yet he feels safe
I am amazed at the one who knows that Qadr is true, yet he tires himself, vigorously seeking the bounties of life
-
Anonymous
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Knowledge for Knowledge
From Jaabir (radiyAllâhu 'anhu) who said that Allâh's Rasul Nabi E Kareem Hazrat Mohammed (salAllâhu 'aliahi wa'sallam) said:
"Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. Since whoever does that, then: The Fire! The Fire!" (27)
Consider, May Allâh have mercy on you, the admonition and the less
on contained in what Ibn Abee Haatim ar-Raazee narrates, he said: I entered into Damascus upon the students of hadîth and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo'ee.
I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearance amazed me and I heard him saying:
'Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time:
when you are present you are not known;
when you are absent you are not missed;
when you are seen your advice is not sought;
when you say something your saying is not accepted;
and when you have some knowledge you are not given anything for it.
I also advise you with five things:
when you are treated unjustly then do not behave unjustly;
when you are praised then do not become happy;
when you are criticised do not be upset;
when you are not believed then do not become angry;
and if they act deceitfully towards you do not act deceitfully towards them.'
Ibn Abee Haatim said: So I took that as my benefit from Damascus.
So consider, May Allâh protect us and you from the evils of the soul, how sincere desire for knowledge and benefit led him to listen to one who certainly possessed less knowledge than himself in order to benefit his understanding and to acquire some knowledge.
- Atif Hussain
From Jaabir (radiyAllâhu 'anhu) who said that Allâh's Rasul Nabi E Kareem Hazrat Mohammed (salAllâhu 'aliahi wa'sallam) said:
"Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. Since whoever does that, then: The Fire! The Fire!" (27)
Consider, May Allâh have mercy on you, the admonition and the less
on contained in what Ibn Abee Haatim ar-Raazee narrates, he said: I entered into Damascus upon the students of hadîth and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo'ee.
I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearance amazed me and I heard him saying:
'Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time:
when you are present you are not known;
when you are absent you are not missed;
when you are seen your advice is not sought;
when you say something your saying is not accepted;
and when you have some knowledge you are not given anything for it.
I also advise you with five things:
when you are treated unjustly then do not behave unjustly;
when you are praised then do not become happy;
when you are criticised do not be upset;
when you are not believed then do not become angry;
and if they act deceitfully towards you do not act deceitfully towards them.'
Ibn Abee Haatim said: So I took that as my benefit from Damascus.
So consider, May Allâh protect us and you from the evils of the soul, how sincere desire for knowledge and benefit led him to listen to one who certainly possessed less knowledge than himself in order to benefit his understanding and to acquire some knowledge.
- Atif Hussain
Saturday, March 6, 2010
listen...
listen.
listen closely.
what did I tell you?
You must see the flaw:
you are asserting the principles that you are not living.
the key is to live your principles!
For your own sake!
listen!
the doors of the Source are closed to those who do not integrate.
In fact, the door is created out of dis-integration!
layers of your SELF are the thresholds!
Do not split, do not scatter yourself over space and time.
Fear not, desire not!
Do not be amongst the fools.
Do not be misled.
listen!
Hold on to the rope of Allah.
Hu alone is the One Who shall not disappoint you.
Do not forget Hu as your purpose of being.
listen closely.
what did I tell you?
You must see the flaw:
you are asserting the principles that you are not living.
the key is to live your principles!
For your own sake!
listen!
the doors of the Source are closed to those who do not integrate.
In fact, the door is created out of dis-integration!
layers of your SELF are the thresholds!
Do not split, do not scatter yourself over space and time.
Fear not, desire not!
Do not be amongst the fools.
Do not be misled.
listen!
Hold on to the rope of Allah.
Hu alone is the One Who shall not disappoint you.
Do not forget Hu as your purpose of being.
Monday, March 1, 2010
the light at the end of the tunnel is fading.
the faster I run, the farther it becomes.
Soon everything is swallowed by an eerie darkness.
I hear laughing -
an evil cackle echoes all around me.
A familiar voice.
Is that me?
Words...
I can't clearly make them out.
"Forever...lost..."
then
silence...
A distant rumble...
Closer...
Crashing waves.
Water surrounds me.
Rising,
I try to stay afloat.
I'm flailing like a fish on land.
It's no use.
I'm drowning.
I can no longer hear,speak, think.
I've reached the end.
*
when I wrote this, the lines:
fading.
darkness.
voice.
Words...
silence.
Crashing
Rising,
flailing
drowing.
end.
were all off to the right... tried to make them make sense if read alone, but I don't think it worked out too well.. Oh well, whatever...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I learned several things at once:
Decisions are not to be based on our relationships with others, but on our relationship with Being.
Anger is no good, on Self or the Other.
The best basis of action is to do the appropriate thing.
If I hurt the Universe, or plan to, it will hurt me.
I planned to abandon my Universe, my Universe showed it will leave me stranded.
I am loved, but being ungrateful.
I need to be truthful; and at the same time, stop imagining.
If I am consistently led to imagining ill, then the key question is where is the discontent coming from?
Perhaps
I should remove myself from my circumstances.
There is violence in the air, and I absorb illness from my surroundings.
Yesterday, a couple of people expressed to me an almost similar discontent; that quite buzzing feeling.
So I will go, but not at the cost of breaking hearts.
If I break expectations, it must be for Allah's sake, not my private agenda.
In taking action for Allah is blessing; in serving self's interest is hell.
This is all for the good, and the better.
I must align my perceptions quickly, for the Universe is under a great shift - the NOW moment is out to abolish the past and the future.
The Matrix indeed is being reloaded.
The Universe is really a mirror of my being. What I do to it, it does to me!
This is very insightful spiritual lesson that I was meant to have.
Having learned these, my strange mental condition - "constriction" as its technically called in spirituality - nearly abolished. I feel an expansion of the heart, a calmness.
Someone said,
"Sometimes we try to move a giant tree, when Allah only expects us to plant a seed."
So I sit, I wait for the seed to show what it will grow into.
If it dies, so it is by the will of Allah.
I am not at odds with my Universe anymore.
May my heart be in peace!
Decisions are not to be based on our relationships with others, but on our relationship with Being.
Anger is no good, on Self or the Other.
The best basis of action is to do the appropriate thing.
If I hurt the Universe, or plan to, it will hurt me.
I planned to abandon my Universe, my Universe showed it will leave me stranded.
I am loved, but being ungrateful.
I need to be truthful; and at the same time, stop imagining.
If I am consistently led to imagining ill, then the key question is where is the discontent coming from?
Perhaps
I should remove myself from my circumstances.
There is violence in the air, and I absorb illness from my surroundings.
Yesterday, a couple of people expressed to me an almost similar discontent; that quite buzzing feeling.
So I will go, but not at the cost of breaking hearts.
If I break expectations, it must be for Allah's sake, not my private agenda.
In taking action for Allah is blessing; in serving self's interest is hell.
This is all for the good, and the better.
I must align my perceptions quickly, for the Universe is under a great shift - the NOW moment is out to abolish the past and the future.
The Matrix indeed is being reloaded.
The Universe is really a mirror of my being. What I do to it, it does to me!
This is very insightful spiritual lesson that I was meant to have.
Having learned these, my strange mental condition - "constriction" as its technically called in spirituality - nearly abolished. I feel an expansion of the heart, a calmness.
Someone said,
"Sometimes we try to move a giant tree, when Allah only expects us to plant a seed."
So I sit, I wait for the seed to show what it will grow into.
If it dies, so it is by the will of Allah.
I am not at odds with my Universe anymore.
May my heart be in peace!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Dullard Sage
Lost in myself
I reappeared
I know not where
a drop that rose
from the sea and fell
and dissolved again;
a shadow that stretched
itself out at dawn,
when the sun
reached noon
I disappeared.
I have no news
of my coming or passing away--
the whole thing happened quicker than a breath;
ask no questions of the moth.
In the candle flame of his face
I have forgotten all the answers.
In the way of love
there must be knowledge and ignorance
so
I have become both a dullard and a sage;
one must be an eye and yet not see so
I am blind and yet
I still perceive,
Dust be on my head if
I can say where
I in bewilderment have wandered:
Attar watched his heart
transcend both worlds and under its shadow
now is gone mad with love.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Farid ud-Din Attar
...!!
cold dark nites, stars twinklin in the dark sheet..
the dim falme of the candle, its existance in this cold wind..
where has all my restlesnes gone..
or i stand on the border of peace..
what is the romance in this cold dark nite..
the spel on the stars , the majestic delight..
a festival of celebrated dreams and old memories..
i see it through the misty window panes..
who has come..
my soul is alive
my veins rejoicing the moment..
songs and balads that come to my domain again..
radiance, warmth, love, ecstasy in this cold dark nite..
this foggy air , the nebulous reprsie.
the tunes of the songs we sang together on the boats..
the tunes, the melody we gave to the seas..
am i an unfathommable ocean of hope and faith?
my soul mellows down..
my veins feel..
let this moment b lived forever..
for i m immortal, i ignite..
in this falme so radiant and divine..
pure ,sacred..
i m a temple or a shrine..
lost in the domain of my ecstasy..
the dim falme of the candle, its existance in this cold wind..
where has all my restlesnes gone..
or i stand on the border of peace..
what is the romance in this cold dark nite..
the spel on the stars , the majestic delight..
a festival of celebrated dreams and old memories..
i see it through the misty window panes..
who has come..
my soul is alive
my veins rejoicing the moment..
songs and balads that come to my domain again..
radiance, warmth, love, ecstasy in this cold dark nite..
this foggy air , the nebulous reprsie.
the tunes of the songs we sang together on the boats..
the tunes, the melody we gave to the seas..
am i an unfathommable ocean of hope and faith?
my soul mellows down..
my veins feel..
let this moment b lived forever..
for i m immortal, i ignite..
in this falme so radiant and divine..
pure ,sacred..
i m a temple or a shrine..
lost in the domain of my ecstasy..
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
love by Maulana Jalal uddin Rumi
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,
to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.
First, to let go of life.
In the end, to take a step without feet;
to regard this world as invisible,
and to disregard what appears to be the self.
Heart, I said,
what a gift it has been to enter this circle of lovers,
to see beyond seeing itself,
to reach and feel within the breast.
My self revolted against me, and I thought I was either going to die, or end my own life. Either way, someone I deeply care about would not be around much longer.
That was not a happy thought.
I wanted to run away.
To go elsewhere. To start another life.
And yet the calm internal voice said, "If you persist, you will arrive." It's just one of things that you know. You just know.
I knew I was under great metamorphosis. I also knew it was all for the great better. I knew it would "end." I knew my ego was putting up a great resistance, killing me from inside. And I also knew that if somehow I could not manage this state, I could end up dead or dangerous. So I briefly reverted to medicine to calm my mind - and then even gave that up. Let the pain do what it's meant to do: LEAVE ME!
"Surrender!" said my wise friend. I knew I must, but my ego roared in anger. After all, it had served me for a long time, but I have grown now. I walked that thin line between surrendering to what is, and surrendering to another's ego - and could not remember how to FORGET to see the difference between the two.How to see One? How to see that all things come from and return to One?
I decided to surrender, not knowing how to, but knowing that responsibility of self is the only true choice of the free.
To be specific, I chose to control what I could, and let go of the rest.I also realized that there are many things I have to take control of in my life, and I decided to do that, step by step.
But it was all such a toil, and I realized that I cannot go ahead with myself if I keep denying myself as the basic unit of my existence. What does that mean?
That means that I am not to give up shaping my life - and enjoy the beauty of this very work. But that I cannot deny my essence. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil I had eaten the fruit. But my soul no longer accepts the enslavement.
When Friend said to me, "You are a free spirit!" it was as though a lid lifted off, and my soul steamed up and up!
I surrendered first to my hardship, and then to my essence. My hardship came to me for my essence is free.
When I started writing this, I thought I was going to write something short, lyrical, and mysterious. But now I am going to write the story - plain and simple as it is.
So. Well. This is I am. Right now. Comfortable with ambiguity. Certain of my unsureness. Yet in command.
I have surrendered to my condition, and in return, I am given what I was promised: my true self. I cannot explain my joy at this simple freedom: the freedom to choose my response, and to act it out.
But it is not a theoretical or worse - a delusional freedom. The results are immediate. In my work recently, I could see that I was not attracting energy. This is very unusual for me, for I have always had a verve for life and my project that others have found infectious. I know it, so I am neither shy nor humble - it is as it is. Yet I sensed that I was no longer projecting this love for life, but a darkness.
The simple act of me accepting myself has given me the freedom to love my life and work again- and that has once again attracted energy. Above all, after a long time, I have learned to say, "No."No.
No one else defines me. I know who I am. It does not matter if I do not know where I am going. Do you know where you are going? No. That's not the point at all. The point was to know
WHO. I. AM.
The surrender that I was not making was my acceptance of who I am. It was the ego's insistence to stay involved in the little and the old. It sometimes seems fair, and it could very well be a part of our story. This is not a matter to be negotiated with the Writer of our story, for if we trust Allah, there is a better story for us than one we write for ourselves - because this latter one fails.
How liberating to be who you are, independent of others' definitions and demarcations of you!
And it is in this state that one enjoys true freedom and responsibility.
.....
That was not a happy thought.
I wanted to run away.
To go elsewhere. To start another life.
And yet the calm internal voice said, "If you persist, you will arrive." It's just one of things that you know. You just know.
I knew I was under great metamorphosis. I also knew it was all for the great better. I knew it would "end." I knew my ego was putting up a great resistance, killing me from inside. And I also knew that if somehow I could not manage this state, I could end up dead or dangerous. So I briefly reverted to medicine to calm my mind - and then even gave that up. Let the pain do what it's meant to do: LEAVE ME!
"Surrender!" said my wise friend. I knew I must, but my ego roared in anger. After all, it had served me for a long time, but I have grown now. I walked that thin line between surrendering to what is, and surrendering to another's ego - and could not remember how to FORGET to see the difference between the two.How to see One? How to see that all things come from and return to One?
I decided to surrender, not knowing how to, but knowing that responsibility of self is the only true choice of the free.
To be specific, I chose to control what I could, and let go of the rest.I also realized that there are many things I have to take control of in my life, and I decided to do that, step by step.
But it was all such a toil, and I realized that I cannot go ahead with myself if I keep denying myself as the basic unit of my existence. What does that mean?
That means that I am not to give up shaping my life - and enjoy the beauty of this very work. But that I cannot deny my essence. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil I had eaten the fruit. But my soul no longer accepts the enslavement.
When Friend said to me, "You are a free spirit!" it was as though a lid lifted off, and my soul steamed up and up!
I surrendered first to my hardship, and then to my essence. My hardship came to me for my essence is free.
When I started writing this, I thought I was going to write something short, lyrical, and mysterious. But now I am going to write the story - plain and simple as it is.
So. Well. This is I am. Right now. Comfortable with ambiguity. Certain of my unsureness. Yet in command.
I have surrendered to my condition, and in return, I am given what I was promised: my true self. I cannot explain my joy at this simple freedom: the freedom to choose my response, and to act it out.
But it is not a theoretical or worse - a delusional freedom. The results are immediate. In my work recently, I could see that I was not attracting energy. This is very unusual for me, for I have always had a verve for life and my project that others have found infectious. I know it, so I am neither shy nor humble - it is as it is. Yet I sensed that I was no longer projecting this love for life, but a darkness.
The simple act of me accepting myself has given me the freedom to love my life and work again- and that has once again attracted energy. Above all, after a long time, I have learned to say, "No."No.
No one else defines me. I know who I am. It does not matter if I do not know where I am going. Do you know where you are going? No. That's not the point at all. The point was to know
WHO. I. AM.
The surrender that I was not making was my acceptance of who I am. It was the ego's insistence to stay involved in the little and the old. It sometimes seems fair, and it could very well be a part of our story. This is not a matter to be negotiated with the Writer of our story, for if we trust Allah, there is a better story for us than one we write for ourselves - because this latter one fails.
How liberating to be who you are, independent of others' definitions and demarcations of you!
And it is in this state that one enjoys true freedom and responsibility.
.....
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
O Allah..
O Allah!
Bestow complete blessings and perfect peace on Sayyidina Muhammad and for his sake may all our difficulties be removed, all calamities and agonies prevented; all needs fulfilled; all our cherished desires obtained; and a felicitous end to earthly life attained (with Imaan); and (give us) rain-showering clouds through the generous countenance of the Prophet, and (bestow blessings and peace as well) on his family and companions in every moment and every breath, as many times as is in Your Knowledge (that is unlimited blessings).
Amin..
EId Malid Nabi (S.A.W.W) Mubarak to all of you ..
Jazak Allah
Bestow complete blessings and perfect peace on Sayyidina Muhammad and for his sake may all our difficulties be removed, all calamities and agonies prevented; all needs fulfilled; all our cherished desires obtained; and a felicitous end to earthly life attained (with Imaan); and (give us) rain-showering clouds through the generous countenance of the Prophet, and (bestow blessings and peace as well) on his family and companions in every moment and every breath, as many times as is in Your Knowledge (that is unlimited blessings).
Amin..
EId Malid Nabi (S.A.W.W) Mubarak to all of you ..
Jazak Allah
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
When you enter the Room of Now, do close the Door of Past behind you. If not, you will be consumed, and the Corridors of Future will be annihilated with you.
Open your eyes!
See the great dance this illusion is in!
See Creation at its being!
See how every moment shapes itself, and nothing is the same forever!
Sense who you are be-ing!
Be fascinated!
Yet know that a human heart's flight is even beyond, beyond this illusion! You have no moment to lose in the illusion, for you are to transcend it!
Do not fear loss, there is no such thing.
Do not be afraid: the distractions are just to tease you to realize the significance of the Path; they are part of the entrapment of this maze.
You transcend,
you transcend.
Open your eyes!
See the great dance this illusion is in!
See Creation at its being!
See how every moment shapes itself, and nothing is the same forever!
Sense who you are be-ing!
Be fascinated!
Yet know that a human heart's flight is even beyond, beyond this illusion! You have no moment to lose in the illusion, for you are to transcend it!
Do not fear loss, there is no such thing.
Do not be afraid: the distractions are just to tease you to realize the significance of the Path; they are part of the entrapment of this maze.
You transcend,
you transcend.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Light and Darkness
When the first man was complete he was asked to look over his right shoulder. There were three lights. He asked the first light its name and where it resided.
"I am Intelligence"
it said "
and I live in your head"
He asked the second light the same question" I am Conscious and I reside in your eyes"
He looked at the third light and had to shield his eyes from the glow: "Who are you and where do you live?" he asked
The Light answered "I am Compassion and I live in your heart"
On the other side of Prophet Adam (AS) stood three darknesses
He forced himself to ask the first darkness its name. "I am Arrogance and I live in your head"
"This is Impossible" cried Adam(AS) "for that is where Intelligence lives " "Only until I enter; than there is no room for intelligence" said the darkness"
And who are you?" Adam (AS) asked the second darkness
"My name is Insatiable Ambition and I reside in your eyes"
"That is where Conscious lives" said Adam(AS)
"Not when I am there" uttered Ambition."And You ... who are You? the third darkness was questioned
"I am known as Envy and I occupy space in your heart"
"Compassion is in my heart" said Adam(AS)"
When I enter your heart," whispered Envy with a smile " Compassion departs"
The Greatest Gift God has given is the gift of worship; to worship Him. But He has allowed us free will to decide whether we want to do it or not.
"I am Intelligence"
it said "
and I live in your head"
He asked the second light the same question" I am Conscious and I reside in your eyes"
He looked at the third light and had to shield his eyes from the glow: "Who are you and where do you live?" he asked
The Light answered "I am Compassion and I live in your heart"
On the other side of Prophet Adam (AS) stood three darknesses
He forced himself to ask the first darkness its name. "I am Arrogance and I live in your head"
"This is Impossible" cried Adam(AS) "for that is where Intelligence lives " "Only until I enter; than there is no room for intelligence" said the darkness"
And who are you?" Adam (AS) asked the second darkness
"My name is Insatiable Ambition and I reside in your eyes"
"That is where Conscious lives" said Adam(AS)
"Not when I am there" uttered Ambition."And You ... who are You? the third darkness was questioned
"I am known as Envy and I occupy space in your heart"
"Compassion is in my heart" said Adam(AS)"
When I enter your heart," whispered Envy with a smile " Compassion departs"
The Greatest Gift God has given is the gift of worship; to worship Him. But He has allowed us free will to decide whether we want to do it or not.
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