A very special dua at the request of a very dear friend!

I was asked by a very dear friend to flood her wall by sharing my dua’s because it might give other people some ideas about what they should also be asking for etc. I believe that dua’s are something very special and private between you and your Allah-SWT. Most of the dua’s are way too personal to share. They are either both personal and private because they concern you or because they concern someone dear to you and/or their private matter. But there is this one specific dua that I would like to share, because there is no one on Earth who cannot benefit from it...

See if my beloved were to ask me to ask him for anything at all and he would do his utmost to give it to me. I would ask him for himself! I would say “I want you! I want you to give me your complete self with all your affections, love, kindness, attention and joy with its utmost intensity, forever and ever and ever till eternity, that ‘may even death NOT do us apart’” so how could I ask Allah-SWT for anything less?

Over here my Allah-SWT has promised me that HE-SWT will Grant me anything at all if I ask with good will, sincerity, earnestness and passionately. And I know that Allah-SWT is the ONLY ONE Who has the Power to actually do so. When I know for sure that I will in-sha-Allah get what I want (there are no two ways about it)! So I ask Allah-SWT for Himself...

I pray “O’ Allah-SWT I want YOU-SWT (in Your complete and absolute entirety)! I want YOU O’ Allah-SWT with Your-SWT absolute Affections, Mercy, Love, Generosity, Pride, Greatness, Happiness, and all the Goodness that is You-SWT, forever and ever and ever and ever and ever till eternity, that may death never do US apart and may I be amongst those of Your-SWT beloveds (Muqariboon) whom You-SWT are ever so Proud of and who are a source of Pride and Joy for Your-SWT Prophet-SAAW. Keep me amongst those whom You-SWT are forever happy with, and they are forever happy with You-SWT. Whom You-SWT are Pleased to meet and see always and they are allowed to happily behold You-SWT forever. May I never be without Your-SWT affections and attention for even a fleeting moment!” Ameen!

Believe me, Allah-SWT is more real than anyone of us! And HIS-SWT Affections and Attention are way more intense than anyone of us can ever perceive. But we do have the ability to feel them (as long as our Qalb/heart is purified to atleast some extent), just like we can feel the affections and love of our mother or any person who truly loves us even if a gazillion miles separate us. (May Allah-SWT allow us to purify our hearts with the remembrance of HIS-SWT Name and allow us to feel HIS-SWT Love. Ameen!)

TRUE FREEDOM LEADS TO TRULY EXPERIENCING THE PLEASURES OF LIFE

TRUE FREEDOM LEADS TO TRULY EXPERIENCING THE PLEASURES OF LIFE

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Zikr-Allaah and meditation is all about helping you achieve; breaking free from the box and re-iterating your belief in Allaah-SWT therefore bringing out seemingly superhuman abilities.

There is a saying of Hadhrat Ali-RAU that goes something like this:"man can achieve anything he wants, as long as he believes Allaah-SWT can do it for him!" and that my dear is the crux of Islam and the sum up of the purpose, direction and achievement of this worldly life. Allaah-SWT wants us to live to the max but without oppressing or hindering other people from doing so too! Live and let live, be merry and let others be merry too!

The stronger our belief in Allaah-SWT the more we voluntarily submit to HIM-SWT the more FRE we become! Our belief in Allaah-SWT is the only path to true Freedom. Since Allaah-SWT is all Powerful, all Aware, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Controller and Creator of everything, and always does what is best and can manifest betterment in anything for us. Then we can achieve absolutely any heights we desire by simply believing in Allaah-SWT in His-SWT absolute entirety (with all HIS-SWT aspects as mentioned to us by the Prophet-SW) being obedient to HIM-SWT and asking HIM-SWT (making dua). We can actually fly without wings, as done many a times by different Aulia to reveal the Miracles of believing in Allaah-SWT.

So those people who claim to love Allaah-SWT but insist that they are unable to submit to His-SWT Will and become obedient to Him-SWT and His-SWT Prophet-SAW – Claiming to be devout believers but un-practicing Muslims...

Sorry to burst their bubble, but their claim is false!

People do not improve or change because they do not WANT to improve or change.

But people who believe in something cannot help but practice what they believe.

Knowing and believing are two completely separate things. And a Muslim is one who BELIEVES in Allaah-SWT and HIS-SWT Prophet-SW, not simply one who knows of them. Therefore “Non-practicing Muslim” is an oxymoron. One can be “a SOMEWHAT practicing Muslim”, making an effort to follow, as best as he can, at least the basic fundamentals for a Muslim (Salaat, Fasting, Zakaat, Sadqah, Hajj are the basic rituals that set a Muslim apart from a Non-Believer). And this would be so because of a bare minimum level of belief in Allaah-SWT and His-SWT Prophet-SW.

If one truly believed that Prophet Muhammad-SAW was an embodiment of Truth and never spoke anything but the truth, then that belief would atleast encourage one to know all that he-SW has shared with us, since Allaah-SWT has placed this inherent need in everyone to want to seek the TRUTH!

This need would bring us first and foremost to the first part of our Kalimah “la illaha ilAllaah” (There is no God but Allaah). Knowing this is THE TRUTH, we would instantly BELIEVE! (like the companions-RAU did).

After which we would like to know Who is this Allaah-SWT? and we are told that HE-SWT is the One and Only Creator and Lord of the Universe and all that has ever been created. HE-SWT is, was and will always be, even when there’s nothing! We are informed of 98 other attributes and are told that there are infinite more which we will discover after we die. And knowing this is THE TRUTH, we would instantly BELIEVE! (like the companions-RAU did).

After being informed of the Truth’s above we are lead to the Quran, which our very truthful Prophet-SW has informed us to be the Word of Allaah-SWT. And we are placed in direct communication with our Lord-SWT being informed by HIM-SWT about HIS-SWT likes and dislikes and what HE-SWT wants and expects of us. Knowing this too is THE TRUTH, we would instantly BELIEVE! (like the companions-RAU did).

And this BELIEF would instinctively make us submit, conform and abide out of IMMENSE LOVE for Allaah-SWT (for having Created us and Loving us and showing us Immense Mercy and allowing us to discover and feel the pleasures of life which would have been unknown to us otherwise) and INTENSE LOVE for the Prophet-SW (without whom-SW we would have never known Allaah-SWT and who-SW suffered endlessly to keep the TRUTH alive for us and all generations to come till the end of time).

Just like when we go to a very well recommended doctor, he listens to us with concern and diagnoses our disease with confidence. Reiterating our belief in his diagnose by highlighting symptoms we must be feeling which we failed to recognize or associate with this disease or problem. Then when he tells us we have to undergo minor surgery, but it must be done soon. He schedules the surgery for the next day and tells us to stop eating 8 hours before the procedure and stop drinking any liquids 5 hours before the procedure. We believe the doctor so we agree with the procedure and we believe that the procedure has to take place at the scheduled time so we abide by the instructions of the doctor and stop eating and drinking at the required times. This is the difference between knowing and believing. When one believes, they take the respective action. There are only two states a person can be in either “you believe” or “your are in doubt / you don’t believe”.

“I believe, but ...” is an oxymoron!

Belief, Love and Actions go hand in hand, otherwise it would be nothing but hypocrisy.

People who truly know Allaah-SWT cannot help but believe in HIM-SWT and instinctively fall in love with Allaah-SWT for HE-SWT is truly the only ONE worthy of our love. And when you love Allaah-SWT you cannot help but automatically change whether or not you consciously thought of doing so, for just our simply believing in Allaah-SWT pulls us out of the box and we are no longer inhibited or hindered by our previous actions, beliefs or limitations in our mind. The second we choose to BELIEVE in Allaah-SWT we seek forgiveness for all our past mistakes, we instantly make amends, we truly BELIEVE we are forgiven and we start from a blank new page to discover life and the pleasures thereof as permitted by Allaah-SWT.

This is not a judgment call, it’s a wakeup call!

We live with the choices we make, not only in this life, but also in the hereafter.

May Allaah-SWT allow us to make choices that bring us closer to HIM-SWT and earn us HIS-SWT Love, bringing us true happiness and success in both the worlds. Aameen!

USI - THE UNITED STATE OF ISLAM!

Article by: AMEER MUHAMMAD AKRAM AWAN (during 2005-2009)

The Muslim Ummah has been without a ‘Caliph’ ever since the downfall of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Even though it was only in name, but at least some form of Caliphate existed during the Turkish Ottoman Empire, whereas now all we have is presidents and kings. While it is necessary for the Muslims to have an Ameer or Caliph, from whom all other Muslim rulers take guidance and support. This process continued till the end of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. To break up this centralization the West put in tremendous efforts. After the last Turkish Sultan the Muslim Nation had been deprived of this great blessing. Although there was a Caliphate movement from the subcontinent and other Muslim countries also made attempts, but their attempts were futile and in turn the ‘Caliphate’ System ended.

After a long interval the situation changed drastically and in Afghanistan, there was a revolt against the government of King Zahir Shah. Then after various other changes, there was finally the Russian attack, which was the beginning of the Jihad. It must be remembered that with the Afghan nation, Muslims from all over the world participated in this Jihad. These educated and aware youth, who were brought up in comfort and luxury fought in the harsh mountainous terrain of Afghanistan and embraced ‘Martyrdom’. As a result, the history of the world changed. The Russia, of which it was known that once it penetrates the boundaries, there is no turning Russia back. This invincible Russia came crumbling down with such intensity, that all the central Asian States that it had kept under control for the last seventy-five years, cropped up as independent states and started a fresh. Although this was only achieved after enormous bloodshed and the sacrifice of countless lives and much honor, but the price of freedom is always blood, it is never attained on a silver platter.

Now Afghanistan entered its second phase. The forces that fought against Russia, mainly comprised of seven major groups, headed by their own commanders and leaders. Probably four were fighting for the cause of Islam, while the other three fought for the Afghan cause. After the withdrawal of Russia, the problem of the formation of the Government arose, these groups decided upon a coalition and democracy after long drawn discussions. But the strange part was that all these Mujahidin had fought only for the implementation of Islam. Therefore this brought about the third phase. The majority of the Mujahids consisted of the students (tulbah) from Madrasas, who started a new movement. Here it is worth mentioning that only five people founded this movement. One of whom was nominated the Ameer and is the present Ameer-ul-Momineen Mullah Omar (Salamaho-Taala). These students launched a movement, which turned into Jihad against their teachers and commanders, who were defeated one after the other. And ninety percent of the land came under the fold of Islam and thus Mullah Omar’s status changed from an Ameer to Ameer-ul-Momineen.

The Muslim Nation was finally blessed with a form of Caliphate, which it had been deprived of for quite sometime, even though presently it is contained within the parameters of Afghanistan. Now the circumstances have taken a toll again, and a major catastrophe took place in America, which can definitely be called one of the grave disasters of history. Due to which America being enraged, plans to attack Afghanistan either to destroy or at least change the present Islamic form of Governance to a form of Administration of their choice. This is only one aspect, but there is also another side to this issue. Which is that it is possible that the American attack may trigger the realization of the need of the revival of Caliphate amongst the Muslims. And if Ameer-ul-Momineen Mullah Omar decides to nominate his representatives in different Muslim countries, on the hands of whom people begin to pledge allegiance, then will the Governments be able to stop this uprising? If this mission is initiated from the tribal areas and enters Pakistan from there, then what will be done? Or what if a similar situation arises in the Central Asian countries or the Muslim Countries of the Far East? It is possible that America’s hasty decision might bring about the formation of a USI (United State of Islam). Perhaps this will not be appreciated by America, but America and other Western Governments will not be able to prevent it. Since in various Islamic States, such Muslims are present who have not seen the Ameer-ul-Momineen, but have pledged their allegiance to him.

In my opinion, the Government of Pakistan needs to impart the above information to America.

DO UNTO OTHERS ...

written by Ra'ana Khan

Up until today I had heard “Do unto others what you would want them to do to you!” This quote had appealed to me much, but as I went through life, I realised there was something not quite right with it!

It was a simple enough rule to apply to ones life, and should have been enough to keep one humbly satisfied. But no matter how hard one tried to follow the rule, some amount of discontentment kept sucking at ones internal peace. And strangely enough instead of becoming increasingly humble, deep down inside I felt a kind of arrogance brewing. I know, this absurdity makes no sense, but I explored my inner-self enough to finally manage to hunt down why this was so. The reason for this strange discontentment and even stranger arrogance is far simpler than the implementation of the rule itself.

Lets go over the rule itself, since the resulting attitude is a direct consequence. “Do unto others what you would want them to do to you!” Basically what’s being asked of you is to be good to others, because you want them to be good to you. So when you begin to implement this rule to yourselves what you are doing is trying your best to change for the better, because you would want others to change for the better too. So you’re being good because you are hoping for others to be good to you. The harder you are trying to put aside all your negative instincts like revenge, anger, irritation, etc and the harder you are trying to cut people slack, the more that ‘hope’ of returned goodwill is turning into expectation. And here is where the crux of the problem lies. We do good to others, and then we expect them to do good to us. So our focus and expectation of reward is stuck on other helpless imperfect mortals who may or may not be following the same rule. It is here where the seed of arrogance starts to bury itself into our souls. When we are not reciprocated with goodness, we try to over come our irritation or negative feelings towards the person by rising above. And in doing so we actually ‘rise above,’ we rise above them! In our minds we begin to slowly place our self, little by little above person by person, on a mini pedestal, which is perhaps not so mini by the end of it.

As we ‘rise above’ the persons around us, in our minds, the irritation begins to wither away leaving behind this feeling we wrongly perceive as contentment. This contentment is in fact just an illusion, it’s called gloating in the glorified image that we have created of ourselves in our minds. And each time that we are good to someone, yet again we have given ourselves reason to be proud. We speak to people nicely, people who may be of a lesser educational or financial background, and we feel we have been ‘good’ in doing so. We believe we are humble and down to earth because we have been kind to those, who in our minds are below us. Thus we ‘rise above’ and the seed of arrogance grows to a plant, to a tree.

What an entirely bizarre situation to be in. You set out to better yourself, and end up being perhaps far worse and far shallower than you were to begin with. I could not understand what exactly the flaw was in the law, until I heard the following; “Do unto others, what you would want Allah^-SWT to do to you!” And this changed my world, understanding, perception and capacity to love and forgive.

“Do unto others, what you would want Allah^-SWT to do to you!” … If I were to make a list of what I would want Allah^-SWT to do to me, I thought that list would be endless. But I was quite wrong. It is perhaps so short that I cannot even call it a list!

I want Allah^-SWT to love me unconditionally and forgive me without accountability, as if I never sinned!

And thus my life is simplified and I am at utmost peace. I continue to love everyone unconditionally (as best as I can) & pray for them. But forgive them I cannot, because for forgiveness comes only after the acknowledgment of they’re wrong doing, and I refuse to acknowledge that, because I don’t want my wrong doings acknowledged by Allah^-SWT either!

A faint picture of the coming era

Original article by Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan dated March 2010

I clearly remember when the ‘Taliban’ government was established in Afghanistan and Pakistan also recognized it. That was the first time, the Afghan nation was disarmed. And an exemplary state of peace was achieved without arms. This happened after great turmoil. And this happened miraculously. All sort of crimes ended, although the Taliban were busy in Jihad and internal war. Most of Afghanistan was under their governance and Mullah Umar was their leader. Over here it is imperative to recognize that some people in Pakistan have either named themselves Taliban, or this name has been delegated to them. The majority of these people are criminals who, on the behest of foreign agencies, for their lust of riches are murdering innocents and carrying out bomb blasts and no one is safe from their harm. Neither am I talking about them nor do I think that they are on the right, in fact according to our Interior Minister, they are not Taliban in the least.

I am talking of the Taliban, who are True Muslims in their nature and essence, who speak and follow the Truth. These are they who were and still are Mujahids, and continue to fight against the foreign powers. It is them who established a rule over Afghanistan and then gave it the face of Khilafat-e-Islami, and accepted Mullah Umar as the Khalifa. And thus the land of Afghanistan witnessed commendable peace. The objection of our intellectuals, that institutions could not be formed, carries weight. Although, while criticizing, they tend to forget, that the Taliban were a product of Jihad and were still engaged in it, yet irrespective of that they managed to provide exemplary justice. As a result of which ideal peace was established. The Governor and the members of the government were living normal lives alongside the ordinary citizen, and were available to the public at all times. There was peace in the entire country except, the Punjsher Valley, where they were fighting against Ahmad Shah Masud, when the unpleasant incident took place in America, which is well-known as nine eleven. This proved to be such a massive occurrence that, it altered the course of history.

On the face of it, it was just an explosion, two aircrafts slammed into buildings, which were destroyed. But the after effects of this continue to be felt years later, even today the world is resonating with the impact of the incident. It is said that more or less around five thousand people were killed, but in the aftermath of this event, the world was engulfed by the repercussion, due to which millions of people of various Countries, have been ruthlessly annihilated. This not only includes Afghanistan, but Pakistan too has been colossally damaged and continues to suffer. May Allah protect us. Ameen!

Anyway a situation was created, Al-Qaeda and Usama Bin Laden were implicated, it is beside the point whether this was correct or not, but as a result of which America asked the Afghan government to handover Usama Bin Laden, who at the time was residing in Afghanistan. The Afghan government was of the viewpoint that they should be provided concrete evidence for they will not handover Usama Bin Laden on mere implication. At this America, arrogant over its triumph, was enraged that how dare Afghanistan make such a demand, Afghanistan should have submitted to their will without any ifs and buts.

All this was but on the face of things, evident to the entire world. But contrary to this, the reality was something else. In my opinion it was that America had assessed in the few years, that if this government were allowed to continue, then the world would have recognized it and Americans as a nation might also have accepted it and would have thus begun to convert to Islam, making Islam prevail and their self created culture would be buried. I heard these words being spoken by the then American President Bush “They were going to finish our culture from all over the Globe!” And this is an aspect that our intellectuals have not been able to recognize even today, but America had realized this then.

The situation kept getting tense; America’s insistence increased and it also began to amass the world powers, whereas, Afghanistan continued to stand firm on its principle viewpoint, and thus the situation kept getting worse till such a point that America attacked Afghanistan. Even at the time, I was of the opinion that Al-Qaeda was a fictitious organization (unheard of before 9/11) created by America to spread a scare. The tragedy of 9/11 was the planned outcome of the American government and the Jews, in order to pave the way for an attack on Afghanistan. Now books have published on this topic and the Iraq war, even in America itself, out of which a few have reached me. Anyway America in collaboration with forces of 38 countries attacked Afghanistan. And this was not a small matter, if anyone takes time out to delve, they will realize what a calamity this was. This was such a colossal explosion, the waves of which have engulfed the entire world, and continue to do so and even after a decade or more, there is no relief from its negative effects.

American air force was massively bombarding Afghanistan, when a team from the American media, came to me inquiring about the incident of 9/11. I expressed the same viewpoint that I hold today, and I remember that the American interviewer blushed to his ears, enraged. I inquired if he were a Jew to which he responded in the negative saying “but I am an American!” So I fed him some sweetmeat to instill some calm in him and gave him the rest to feed to the others for the same purpose. One of his questions was that “soon the Afghan government will fall and American forces will take over, what then?” So I replied, “That is when the war will begin! Today America is hailing fire from the skies, but to capture it will have to fight on ground. And only when you land, will the war begin.”

Irrespective of all this I wished that Mullah Umar had wisely taken a more diplomatic stance, saving this newly established poor Islamic state from clashing with the disbelievers. But hats off to the strength of his faith, who insisted that “I’ll live upholding the Truth or else I may be martyred, either way I’ll be blessed with the Mercy of Allah-SWT”. Anyway, war took place, the Afghan government fell, and America and its allies took over, and the web of fire was spun all over the Country. Those who had suffered tyranny and cruelty for over a decade (before Talibanization), their lives, wealth and honour were yet again in the claws of tyrant America and its allies.

Mullah Umar who, even during his stay in the Presidential house continued like a humble villager and for his breakfast he’d be sitting on a mat having only tea and rusk, was commuting from village to village on a motor bike. Our ex-President Pervez Musharaf used to mock him saying that Mullah Umar ran away on a motor bike. But Mullah Umar and his motorbike are still trekking in those villages, while President Musharaf has himself fled. In this entire episode, the point to ponder is, the strength of faith and confidence Mullah Umar has on Allah-SWT, that “even if America attacks us, my Allah is with me! I am striving in conformity to HIS Prophet-SAW, and Allah-SWT Willing America will face defeat. ” This statement was beyond everyones comprehension at the time, and rather seemed like the words of a madman. But today, years later, not only America but its 38 allies too are facing this defeat. And that man of Allah is coming out victorious. All this is a marvel, a miracle of the blessings of Muhammad-SAW, there is no other explanation.

I have only lightly touched this topic inorder to expatiate the enormity of this carnage. The attack of America and its allies on the newly established Afghan government, this incident has altered the course of history and its effects have been felt by the entire world. I am not getting into the debate of who suffered what, but its evident to all that due to this, major changes took place and the world is continuing to jolt. Now just visualize that America and its allies are packing up to evacuate, one day they have to leave and not because they have completed their mission, but infact they have been defeated. And that humble villager commuting on his motor bike is about to stand victorious. Which by the Grace of Allah-SWT has already been achieved, only the materialization of which is to take place.

With this background a picture is developing, that Americas attack will be trivial to the bang of America’s defeat, and that too achieved at the hands of a resourceless humble villager. Just wonder what the repercussions and how far reaching they would be. In my opinion the entire sub-continent; Pakistan and Hindustan, and central Asian states will be in the direct influence of it. And a massive revolution will take place, which will bring with it Truth, justice, peace and honesty. The blood of innocents and martyrs will finally show its colours. Once again Islam, peace and wellbeing will be revived, which will by the Will of Allah-SWT effect the human society of the entire world.

Every wise-man can see a faint picture of this according to his own capacity. A massive event is about to take place which will happen by the Grace of Allah-SWT, and perhaps my pen is incapable of painting its true picture. But one thing is absolutely clear that this is going to be the end of all kind of tyranny and finally honesty and justice will come victorious and Truth shall prevail. In my opinion the world is standing at the edge of an enormous positive change. Just think, ponder and visualise, what picture do you perceive?

A Promise is a Promise, but ...

“Please help me keep my promise”

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Someone once said to me “never give up on me” – and I promised I won’t. The same person also told me that when one goes to heaven they are allowed to take 7 persons along with them. Being, more sure than I am of my ending up in heaven, the person said “please take me with you”. I don’t know what I said being shocked at the assumption that I would be going to heaven at all. But in my heart I promised that if by the Grace, Will and absolute Mercy of Allah-SWT I did end up there, I would for sure add the person to the top of my list of 7... If only it were that simple though!

As life and learning move along, apparently this is true, that if someone has graciously managed to earn the access to heaven through Allah-SWT immense Mercy, they will be allowed to take some fortunate ones along with them. It made me think. I have never done anything good ever, with the intention of earning an entry to heaven. Somehow that has never crossed my mind. Infact I don’t even know most of the details of heaven or hell. I have a strangely limited memory bank and somehow it never really retains details of these topics. I just want Allah-SWT’s Love and I want HIM-SWT to be happy with me.

Heaven – is just something you get to live in when Allah-SWT is happy with you so that you can be near HIM-SWT ... the point is not to live in Heaven though, the point is to be near HIM-SWT. HE-SWT likes to keep those near HIM-SWT in the afterlife, the ones who wanted to be near HIM-SWT in this life too. It’s pretty uncomplicated you know.

So when I’m asked to take someone to heaven, with the assumption that I am going there to begin with. What I hear is: “could you please take me closer to Allah-SWT” ... and what I see is: ‘a heart craving Allah-SWT’s love’ ... and what I can do is: ‘show them the only way I know how’.

And the only way I know how is through zikr-Allah done under the guidance and attention of my Spiritual Teacher and Guide, Hadhrat Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan (if I could, I would add endless adjectives to show my respect and love for him I would, for if it wasn’t for him and his guidance I was oblivious of Allah-SWT’s Love and out to condemn myself to hell in this life and the hereafter).

I have come to realise that I have this inherent need to help others and an even deeper one to keep promises. Every time I think of this promise I feel helpless and I feel my hands tied, because there is a little loop-hole and a little prerequisite required for the fulfilment of this promise on both sides.

My side- I need to try my utmost to seek Allah-SWT’s Mercy and Grace for His-SWT Love and Approval. I need to put in my best to correct myself and attempt to become the kind of person my Allah-SWT would like me to be. To seek HIS-SWT Forgiveness and try my level best to never return to those acts of defiance again. I know I’ll never be perfect, never even be close to perfection. But at least my Allah-SWT will know that I tried ... and that I tried so hard. Then it doesn’t matter how badly I failed, I know my Allah-SWT will continue to love me anyway, and allow me to pass irrespectively. This is my end of the deal, to Allah-SWT, to me and to my friend (whom I made the promise).

Friend’s side – need to make at least an ounce of an effort to keep alive at least a remote spark of light in his/her spiritual heart, because that is the bare minimum prerequisite for a person to be allowed into heaven. And since the purification of the heart is an ongoing continuous process, just like cleansing one’s body, zikr-Allah is the easiest way, I know how, to maintain it. Just like one cannot take a bath once a month and assume that the body is cleansed for the month, or brush their teeth once and think that’s enough for the 24 hours, zikr-Allah too has to be done at least twice a day to achieve a bare minimum state of purification of the spiritual heart.

So all I’m trying to say here is: “Please help me keep my promise”

I’m trying my level best to keep my promise, but you have to help me a little by keeping your end of the deal!

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Basic method of Meditation for calling out to Allah-SWT (zikr-Allah) (to be done for atleast 5-10 min twice a day, the longer you do this the better it is for you, in the morning and evening):

1. Sit in a comfortable relaxed position.

2. Close your eyes.

3. Concentrate on your breathing.

4. Inhale deeply and exhale with deliberate force.

5. When you inhale recite the word ‘Allah’ in your heart.

6. Visualize the word ‘Allah’, descending on you in the form of light and penetrating into your soul, going straight into your heart (Qalb).

7. When you exhale, recite the word ‘Hoo’ in your heart.

8. Visualize the light that seeped into your heart now coming out of your heart and flowing out with your breath, only to come back and strike at your heart again.

9. Continue this exercise until you feel that you want to stop.

10. Now you may stop the deliberate breathing, and come back to your natural pace.

11. Continue the exercise for a few minutes in shallow, passive normal breathing.

CALIPH OMAR-RAU’S JUSTICE

CALIPH OMAR-RAU’S JUSTICE

4.135 O You who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest You swerve, and if You distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that You do.

Everybody in the world is yearning for peace. Even military bodies are established for the establishment of this peace – But according to Islam – which in itself meaning “peace” – says – peace cannot be established unless Justice is established:

5.8 O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Next to righteousness, Good Conduct, Character and Morality all these good characteristics must be linked with Justice – Otherwise these characteristics have no meaning. It constitutes hypocrisy.

So my Subject to day is Justice in Islam.

Although there have been many incidents that happened during the time of Rasoolullah (S) in this regard, let me relate to you an incident which happened long after the demise of our Holy Prophet (S) to prove how much of his teachings, his character and his life had influenced and ingrained into the community of the first generation of Muslims. This was the period of the 2^nd Caliph of Islam – Hazrath Omar Khathab (R).

One day Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) after the mid-day prayer was giving a sermon in the mosque, a Jewish Lady walks in with a baby in her arms. and she said:

“O Amirul Mu’mineen, Commander of the Faithful, I have come to you seeking Justice.

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) replied: Dear lady, that is what we dispense here – please tell me what your problem is.”

She said: “Over a year ago – while walking along the road at night, I was accosted by a young man, who was in a state of drunkenness – I was helpless – he harmed and committed an offence on me to outrage my modesty – and today I am here with a baby in my arms. I had undergone untold sufferings during this past year – and at last managed to trace the offender – He was none other than your son “Abu Sahmah”.

Everybody was stunned – there was pin drop silence in the congregation. Then

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) asked: “Are you certain that it was my son Abu Sahmah who was drunk and who committed the offence on you?”

The Jewish Lady said: “I am very certain O Ameerul Mu’mineen- I had verified it, confirmed it and made quite certain before I came here to present my case.”

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) tells the congregation “ None of you should leave this place, until I return.”

The congregation was dumbfounded. The Son of the mightiest Caliph of the Muslim empire is being accused of drunkenness and rape.

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) goes home and finds his son having his meals – he says : “Son, this may be your last meal – quickly finish it and come with me to go to the mosque.”

Abu Sahmah was stunned – he could not eat and neither could he swallow what was in his mouth. The father then asks – “Abu Sahmah, about a year ago were you in a drunken state?” – No answer.

“Whilst in this state did you commit an offence on a Jewish lady to outrage her modesty?” – No Answer.

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) New that his son was guilty of the offense. He grabs him by the hand and drags him to the mosque.

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) now asks the Jewish Lady in the presence of the congregation: “Is this the Abu Sahmah you were referring to?”

The Jewish Lady said: “Yes, O Amirul Mu’mineen, this is the very sameAbu Sahma who commited the offense on me to outrage my modesty.”

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) said without hesitation : Under Islamic Law, I declare that he be given 80 Lashes for drunkenness and 100 Lashes for harming a woman. And both punishments should be given now.”

Look at the laws around us and around the world – Whatever the offense you may commit under the influence of liquor you can go scot free – because they say, that you were intoxicated and you did not know what you were doing.

Islam takes a completely different stand : When you were in the process of consuming the liquor you were conscious.

The Proximate Cause in legal parlance using Latin terminology – it is – Causa Causans – The causes of all causes, The proximate that sets in motion a train of events – in this case it is the intoxicant – The first punishment is for taking the prohibited intoxicant – 80 Lashes.

Thereafter, you are punished severely for every crime you may commit under the influence of liquor – This is Justice in Islam.

Now, When the order was given for the implementation of both the punishments – Immediately the congregation protested. They said: “He is a young boy, He cannot bear both the punishments – Just break up the punishments – and give it to him in instalments.”

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) : said: “No, Both the punishments will go together.”

His son was taken to the courtyard – and his arms were raised and tied onto two poles. He gives the whip to the executioner and says – “I want you to give him the hardest whipping ever given to any human being – or else I will take the whip away from you.”

The crowd was stunned, speechless.

The whipping now began – one by one – the hardest whipping ever – The skin on the back split open – blood started spurting everywhere – whip after whip – pieces of flesh started flying everywhere.

People sat there and stared dumb-founded.

On the 179^th Lash The boy was about to collapse - Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) stopped the lashing – went upto his son and said:

“I do not think that you will survive this punishment – but when you pass away and when you meet my prophet (S) tell him that your father Omar had established the law of the Quran on earth. Tell him that he had established the Sunnah of the Prophet on Earth,”

As he said it, the boy collapsed and breathed his last.

Inna Lillaahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon.

The body was brought down from the scaffold - Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) went and sat on the ground lifted his son’s head with both hands and placed it on his lap. Then tears started streaming down the face of Hazrath Omar Khathab (R).

The People said: “O Omar, we told you not to give both the punishments together, we told you he will not survive the punishment, You did not listen to us – now why are you crying?”

Hazrath Omar Khathab (R) said: O people, you have misunderstood these tears of mind. These tears are streaming down for Four Reasons:

1. These are Tears of Happiness – that I have established the laws of Allah – because of the fear of Allah.

2. These are Tears of Happiness -= that I have established the Great Sunnah – The tradition of the Holy Prophet (S).

3. These are Tears of Happiness because I have saved my son from Eternal Hell Fire.

4. and lastly, He is my son, I will never see him again and hence this tear.

People were thunderstruck – There was pin drop silence.

The body of Abu Sahmah was taken, washed, shrouded and taken for burial.

After the burial – remember there was One Lash remaining – you do not lash a body after death – So Umar (R) ordered that the last lash be given on the grave.

If the rulers can establish this Justice – We guarantee you that definitely there will be peace. Even if people are starving they will not rebel – because they know, that you too are starving.

Just reflect on what is happening around us – What is happening around the world – think, reflect, ponder, meditate and try to understand.

The Verse from the Holy Quran that I read out to you at the beginning:

“O You who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest You swerve, and if You distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that You do.”

May Allah in His Mercy guide us all along the right path, the path of those on whom he has bestowed his favours and not on the path of those who gave incurred his wrath or gone astray. Ameen

وآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا اَن ِالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْن

السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته