Beautiful woman, who wanted to get married

There was this beautiful woman, who wanted to get married, but she wanted a very pious husband, so she said that she’ll marry the man who recites the whole Quran every single day, fasts for the whole year and stays awake and worships Allah all throughout the night.

She was a very beautiful woman, and a lot of suitors wanted to marry her, but they knew they couldn’t fulfil the conditions she set. Until this one man stepped forward and said he could fulfil them. So the Imam got both of them married.

After the first night of the marriage, the wife sees that the husband doesn’t recite the whole of the Quran, nor does he fast, nor does he stay awake in the worship of Allah, she decided to let it roll on for a few weeks to see if there were any changes, there weren’t, so she filed a complaint and asked for a divorce.

They are both taken in front of the judge, and the judge asked, ‘What were the conditions of the marriage?’ the man replied ‘They were for me to recite the whole Quran daily, keep fast for the whole year and to worship Allah all throughout the night.’

The Judge asked, ‘ did you fulfil them? The man calmly answered, ‘…yes.’

The judge answers, ‘you lie, your wife has said that you don’t, that’s why she’s asking for a divorce’.

But the man insisted that he had fulfilled the conditions, so the judge asked, ‘did you recite the full Quran everyday?’ The man answered yes. The Judge, baffled asked, ‘how? How can you do that?’ The man coolly answered, ‘I recite Surah Ikhlas three times a day and according to Prophet Muhammad (saw), reciting Surah Ikhlas three times is equivalent to reciting the whole Quran.’ The Judge was intrigued, so he asked, ‘how did you fast the whole year?’ The man answered, ‘ I fasted for the whole month of Ramadan, then kept another six fasts in the month of Shawwal, according to Prophet Muhammad (saw), keeping all of the fast of Ramadan then keeping six fasts in the month of Shawwal, is as if you have fasted for the whole year.’

The Judge remained silent, he couldn’t give a reply saying the man was wrong, so finally he asked, ‘ how did you stay awake all night and worship Allah, when your wife saw you sleeping?’ The Judge thought the man wouldn’t be able to answer this one, but the man, cool as a cucumber answered, ‘I prayed Salatul Isha with jamaat, then the next day prayed Salatul Fajr with jamaat, according to Prophet Muhammad (saw), the one who prays Salatul Isha and Salatul Fajr with jamaat, it is as if he had stayed up all night worshipping Allah.’

The Judge sat there looking at the man; the final verdict was about to be released…

He said to the man and his wife, ‘…go, just go, there is nothing wrong with this marriage’…

A preacher was once giving a sermon

A preacher was once giving a sermon to a large audience in the Masjid. In the course of it he said: "O People! I tell you the truth. If only you knew the power of the sentence Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful), you would say it before every action of yours. Whoever says these words before beginning any act will see wonders. One will even be able to walk on water."

A poor villager, who was sitting close to the pulpit, listened to this sermon attentively. Poor villager was a regular visitor to the Masjid although his journey from his home was a very difficult one because he had to cross a large river on the way. Poor villager did not have a boat and often had to wait until someone appeared who could transport him across. The route around the river was extremely long. However, when the poor villager heard this sermon, he realized that he had found the solution to his problem.

When Poor villager reached the river on his way back, he did not hesitate, but recited 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful)' and stepped onto the water. By the grace of Allah Subhana Wa Taala he was able to walk on the water and soon reached the other side. This became a regular practice for the poor villager, until one day, as he was crossing the river; it occurred to him that he had not thanked the preacher who had given him the solution to his problem. Poor villager decided to invite him to his house for a meal as a way of showing his gratitude to him.

The preacher accepted the invitation and both of them began walking back to the poor villager's house. On reaching the river, the poor villager recited 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful)' and stepped out onto the water, as was his normal routine. Poor villager expected the preacher to do the same. But when he looked behind, he found that the preacher was still standing on the bank looking at him in bewilderment. The man told him to recite 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful)' just as he had preached.

"My dear villager, I lack the faith/trust that you have," replied the preacher.

Moral of the Story: Teaching and acting on the words taught with trust is not the same. Also we must inculcate the habit of reciting 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful)' before everything that we say or do in this life. Imam Jafar Sadiq Aleh Salam has said, "Do not forsake Bismillah even if you write one line of poem."

The Fast of Summer

Once, during the journey of Hajj, Hajaj bin Yusuf stopped at a place between Makka-tul-Mukarrama and Madina-tul-Munawwara and had the lunch prepared. He then instructed his guard to bring a guest. When the guard left the tent, he spotted a Bedouin lying down. He woke him up and said, come, Hajaj bin Yusuf is calling you. When the Bedouin came, Hajaj bin Yusuf said, accept my invitation, wash your hands and sit down with me to eat. The Bedouin replied, please forgive me, prior to your invitation I have already accepted the invitation of someone else that is more generous and gracious than you. Hajaj bin Yusuf asked, whose invitation ? The Bedouin replied, The invitation of Allah ta'ala who has invited me to keep a fast and hence I have had fast. Hajaj asked, you have fast in such scorching heat ? The Bedouin replied, yes, inorder to save myself from the blazing heat of Judgment Day. Hajaj said, please eat now and make up for the fast tomorrow. The Bedouin immediately replied, can you guarantee me that I will be alive till tomorrow ? Hajaj replied, I m afraid I can’t. The pious Bedouin said I m afraid I can’t eat, and then he went away. 

(Rauz ur Riyaheen P::212)

Scars of Love

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother, in the house, was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two.

The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.

His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs; and then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.”

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.

No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go.

In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you.

This teaches us that God loves us. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril -and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That’s when the tug-o-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not - and will not - let you go.

Don't we all

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.

Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a beggar. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."

"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm. I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money but it never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice. "Do you need any help?" I asked. He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.

We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a beggar in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true.

No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves. Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a beggar, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help." Don't we all?

Ya Allah! Shukran Katheeran

Azman was walking with his father on the pavement near the supermarket. Suddenly he saw a man who was struggling to walk with a stick. The man was tall and dressed in simple but clean clothes. He was wearing dark sunglasses even though it was nighttime.

Azman asked his father, "Ya Abee! [O my father !] Why is the man wearing dark glasses in the night? Why is he using a stick and moving it around?

His father followed his gaze and saw that it was a blind man.

His father said, "Ya ibnee! [O my son!] Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has not given him the gift of sight [absaar]. This man is blind. He cannot see. [Huwa La yastatee' an yanzur.]"

Azman was shocked and touched his eyes ['ai nain] and said, " Alhamdulillah. Ya Allah! Shukran for the eyes ['ai nain] that you have given me. May I only see what is good and halal with these eyes. ['ai nain] Ya Allah, make this man's life easy for him and guide him to the straight path. Ameen."

His father read the verse 78 from Surah Al Mu'minuun 23.

{Use the Qur'an to read this verse.]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind

Wa HuwallaZee An sha a Lakumus Sam 'a Wal abSaara [sight] Wal af idah.

Qaleelam [Little] Ma tashkuruun.

It is He who has created for you [the sense of ] hearing [ears], sight [absaara] [eyes] and hearts [understanding]. Little thanks you give.

There were tears in Azman's eyes ['ai nain] as he continued looking at the blind man. How thankful he felt that Allah has given him eyes ['ai nain] with which to see. [yanzur]

When he reached home, Azman put on a blindfold on his eyes ['ai nain] and tried to walk around. He started bumping into the furniture and the walls.He was slow and clumsy. Once he even fell down as he tripped over the stool. He could not see his mum's beautiful face or the beautiful flowers in the garden. All he saw was blackness.

He heard so many noises and almost became frightened. He could not see where the noise was coming from.

He was relieved to take off his blindfold. Suddenly, there was a burst of colour all around him. For the first time he really appreciated this beautiful gift of sight [absaar] from Allah.

Azman touched his eyes ['ai nain] again and said, "Ya Allah! Shukran Katheeran, [many thanks] for this sight [absaar] you have given me."

O Bilal, will you not come to visit me anymore

The Broken Hearted Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu

Hazrat Bilal Habshi radiallaho ta'ala anhu was the Mo'azzin (person calling the Azaan) of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. After Syria was conquered he went to Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu and said, "If you give permission, I want to leave Madinah and go to Jerusalem and lead a quiet life. Because the beloved whose blessed face was the cure for my aching heart is resting and has hidden his glowing face from us.

This has resulted in great restlessness and anxiety for me. A true lover can not bear to be away from his beloved. Whenever I look at any part of Masjid E Nabvi, the Mihraab or Mimbar, my heart cries out for my beloved. How can I explain to my broken heart? How can I comfort my dejected heart and soul? How can I satisfy my aching heart?"

Sometimes the path of true love means you have to be apart. But that is only when you have reached the pinnacle of love like Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu.

The broken hearted Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu was given permission by Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu to go to Syria. Who can know the love of Bilal better than Ameer Ul Mo'mineen? Only one broken hearted person can know the pain being felt by another with a broken heart, and this was the case with Ameer Ul Mo'mineen Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu. The love of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam has intoxicated the heart to such an extent that when he heard that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam had left this world, he drew his sword and said, "If anyone says that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam is dead, I will take his head off." Can you imagine the obsession and sincere love?

What causes this level of emotion and passion? The companions were those who had witnessed Hazrat Jibrael alaihis salaam bringing the verses of the Qur'an and for whose reformation and improvement the leader of the Angels would bring verses. None of these walking examples of the Qur'an grabbed Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu by the hand to stop him. None of them tried to stand in his path. The shock of the departure of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam shook and scattered the harmony of the mind and brain. However, this same Prophet of Mercy sallalaho alaihe wasallam had also trained him and moulded him into what he was today. It was the height of devotion and love that shook the walls of wisdom and sanity for a few moments. It was also love and devotion that covered itself with a quiet blanket later on.

That Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu, who could not control himself due to grief at the departure of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam, is the same Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu that also controlled the whole ummah. He took on the extraordinary responsibility of being a deputy of a Prophet and guiding and helping the nation and the religion towards greatness.

Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhu knew exactly what Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu was going through and knew the state of his heart. He gave permission and Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu left for Syria. But the heart never left Madinah. His remembrance and his thoughts were always lost in Rasool Allah (sallalaho alaihe wasallam) and always yearning for him.

My Heart Is Attached To Your Memories In Such A Way
Now There Is No Chance Of Me Being Alone Ever.

Seeing the state of Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu night and day, those with sincerity and love decided to do something to ease his mind and soothe his pain. Therefore they arranged for him to be married, and his Nikah was performed in due course. But, how could Hazrat Bilal deny and forget the bright glow and the showers of mercy in the city of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam?

One night he was asleep and Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam came to him in his dream. The Mercy to the Worlds sallalaho alaihe wasallam asked him, "O Bilal, will you not come to visit me anymore?" Allah! Allah! Who knows what affect these words had on this devotee but Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu immediately got up and his heart and soul were singing with joy and happiness.

How could Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu rest now? Immediately he got up and set of for the blessed city of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. When he entered Madinah he saw that it was the same streets of mercy and light. The same calm wind of pleasure and happiness. But the centre and the reason for this amazing environment was nowhere to be seen. He hurried to the resting-place of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam with a fast beating heart, wounded passion, tears in his eyes and presented his salutations (salaam). He embraced the blessed resting-place of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam and cried and cried. The heart and soul of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam, his grandsons, Hazrat Imam Hasan and Hazrat Imam Hussein radiallaho ta'ala anhuma saw this slave of their grandfather and were reminded about the time when he was amongst them.

Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu used to play with them when they were young boys, he would carry them on his shoulders, and would hold their fingers and walk with them. They both ran forward and embraced Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu, and said, "O beloved Mo'azzin of the Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam! Will we never hear the Azaan that we used to hear when our grandfather was amongst us? It is time for Namaz, please give Azaan today."

Hazrat Bilal was now in a predicament. He could not refuse an order from the leaders of the youth of Paradise, but for giving Azaan, Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu needed the beauty and elegance of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam in front of him. Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu stood to give Azaan, and as soon as the first words of the Azaan were carried into the streets of Madinah, hearts trembled. It was like a spear through the hearts of people. The voice of Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu immediately bought to life the era of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Allah o Akbar! Everyone remembered that glorious time when Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam was amongst them. Everyone that heard the Azaan of Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu, dropped what they were doing and ran to the  Masjid. The era of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam had returned.

The Azaan of Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu ignited the embers of love of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam that had been restrained and subdued. The flames of love roared to life, there was a deafening noise and chaos in the streets of Madinah, people stopped working in the fields, veiled ladies lost their senses and ran out into the streets of Madinah out of love for Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Allah! Allah!

When Hazrat Bilal radiallaho ta'ala anhu said "Ash-hado Al-Laa Ilaha Illal-Laah" his voice trembled, because when he used to give Azaan before, when he would say "Ash-hado Anna Muhammadur Rasool Allah", he would point his forefinger at Muhammad Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Today when this Aashiq E Rasool sallalaho alaihe wasallam said those words and opened his eyes, he found his beloved {our holy prophet (sal-lal-laho-tala-alaihi-wasalm)} right in front of him looking at him in the same way as he(sal-lal-laho-tala-alaihi-wasalm) use to when he(sal-lal-laho-tala-alaihi-wasalm) has not taken the veil, his voice stopped and Hazrat Bilal was unable to complete the Azaan. He lost his senses, fainted and fell to the floor. Allah O Akbar!

What a True Ashique Hazrat Bilal is and will be...(subhanAllah)