Sonata Village, Whanganui. ( early July 2012) |
as salam dear readers. It has been quite a while since I last update this little writing room of mine. Hope that everyone is in Allah's blessing and guidance inshaAllah. Been somewhere around New Zealand, due to some commitments that I need to fulfill. Anyways, it has been a meaningful and thoughtful journey alhamdulillah, though travelling in winter made you feel as if you are in freezer everywhere, but the warmth of the ukhuwwah of the people around me, has melted my heart more than anything I could think of. This heart has been quite in cold and numb condition due to the busyness of academic weeks, thus I am so thankful to have some time out, out of norm, out of routine for a while for some peace of mind. Do you now that a human heart could easily twist much much easier than boiling water? We might think sometimes we enjoyed doing something we like, but at times when we stop doing it, we would realize how much exhausted we are, because our heart is declining in its sincerity or losing the touch of that purest intention that we once have. And we as human, tend to forget, and ignore our feelings for many reasons, and one of the reason that I am most scared of is we forget because we are deceived by our nafs' (desires) and the shaytan's whisper. Nauzubillah.
today I am going to answer a question from a reader, wanting to know how we, as Muslims, could be consistent or in other words istiqamah in taking care of our iman, our faith to Allah. My answer is that it's difficult thing to dobut it's not impossible. Subhanallah, a feeling of wanting to take good care of iman is a bless from Allah. Alhamdulillah. I would share with you a few ways which I hope will be helpful inshaAllah, but do feel free to suggest more if there's anything I am forgetting.
One of the way is by reflection. To always be aware of our doings, our words, our senses, what they have been looking, hearing, talking the whole day. Reflecting how much good deeds that we have done in a day? How much ibadah have we did, how many pages of Quran have we read and try to understand (by reading tafsir). How many zikr have we done during our free time? Reflection is a powerful tool, an important indicator for us to improve ourselves. Why not take a few minutes before you go to bed, to really think of what have been done the whole day, what you should and should not do, and the most crucial thing is what you could do the next day to improve. Make it a routine. I do admit that this is not an easy thing to do, but at least have some time (any time of the day) to really think what are you actually doing, is it gonna be useful during the Judgement Day, will it be blessed by Allah? There are also times when something unexpected happen or come to us, thus before we think of any complaining words, why not reflect and think of the solutions or reasons instead of worrying and be depressed. And one important tips to know whether you should continue with anything that you want to do is, to test whether you can read Bismillah before doing it. Obviously you won't read Bismillah before you are going to sing karaoke right? Em.
The other important thing is to always make effort to be close to Allah. By performing your ibadah like prayer, Quran recitation, qiamullail could also mean ---> (wake up early in the morning, could be 15 minutes before Subuh prayer and do tahajjud prayer, is not that difficult right?) dhuha, zikr, fasting and many others. Why ibadah is necessary in our lives? Why did Allah ask us to pray? Well, the answer is simple.
Because we are Allah's servants, and He is our master, who have full control of our everything and we are capable of nothing, without His willing.
Ibadah is also a sign of gratitude, being grateful for all of His blessings, e.g. until this very second for example, you still capable of seeing, have perfect eyes to read and have perfect and wise mind to understand this writing. Who did that if not Allah, the most powerful creator of all. How could we not obey Him, how could we turn away from Him by abandoning His orders in Quran and Sunnah. Who are we to be so arrogant? Dear friends, I do know and admit that shaytan will always try to deviate our intentions in performing ibadah, to not be sincere, or consistent, but we should always pray for the strength to perform all of the ibadah from Allah, never ever give up. He's the source of our strength. Indeed Allah will look at your effort, not the outcome, because the outcome only belong for Him to decide. By doing ibadah, just for the sake of Allah, we are also submitting ourselves to Islam, to be in total submission in Allah's order. That's what Islam really mean, total submission, to practice Islam as a whole, and not only a few portions which we 'like'.
Next one, through heart purification.
The Prophet, Muhammad p.b.u.h said :
"Surely there is in the body a small piece of flesh, if it is good, the whole body is good, and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted, and that is surely the heart".
Narrated by Bukhari, in his Sahih.
We have carried this small flesh in our body for our lifetime, it has been broken, mended and broken again. Sometimes it could make us feel like this life is a bed of roses. But have ever take time to think how to purify our hearts? We might not even think before this, that it is necessary. But the heart is where all of the attitudes come from, all the intentions are based, all the kindness or badness that we have done. It is all depending on our hearts. Indeed how could we ever be sure that our heart is clean enough when shaytan is always whispering to it each and every second, everytime we forget Allah. Even myself, I do not think I remember Allah enough in all my doings but still I am trying to improve each day, to always feel Allah is watching, listening and knowing every single intention that come across in our heart. Thus, there's absolutely no reason not to take good care of our heart. To answer how do we take good care of it; this is one of the meaningful video to remind us. InshaAllah.
And last but not least, to always pray to Allah for taqwa. Because taqwa is the only way that will help us to take good care of our iman. Taqwa is God conscious, to always be careful in our doings and to feel as if like we are walking on broken pieces of glass, very very carefully avoiding the sharp edges of glass. The glass is like the sins that we try to prevent from doing or anything that could make us forget Allah s.w.t.
“… Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is [he who is] the most Righteous (the highest station of Taqwa) of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted [with all things].”
(Surah al-Hujurat 49:13)
“… And for those who fear Allah (Taqwa or high God-consciousness), He [ever] prepares a way out. And He provides for him from [sources] he never could expect. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is [Allah] for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.”
(Surah at-Talaq 65:2-3)
Tomorrow will be the last day of my trimester break. To have new resolution and to renew intention.
May Allah bless, always.
Piha Beach, Auckland. (July 2012)
Farahfareen,
the terrace, kelburn.
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