Bismilllahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Aasiya
Throughout my life there were many things that I had forgotten along the way, and likewise, many things that I knew I would always remember.
It’s become a trend for people to capture their memories. Anything that they can. And as much as I abhor the action, I know that no one takes selfies of the blood and sweat. They only want pictures of their success.
So in order to get that, they push themselves. We push ourselves. We push ourselves because we have to. Not because we like it. The relentless climb, the pain and anguish of taking it to the next level, nobody takes pictures of that. Nobody wants to remember. We just want to remember the view from the top. The breathtaking moment at the edge of the world. That’s what keeps us climbing. That’s what’s worth it in the end.
But as much of blood and effort put into anything…as Insaan, we need to least revisit the inevitable.
That too shall pass. This too will pass. Every moment. Every passing second. Every success. Every joy. Every fail. Every pain. Every thought about future plans. Every wonder about when it will make sense. Every discomfort. Every solace. Every everything.
Everything will pass. And it really will be the start of a new time. A new place.
A change for the complete better.
“It’s so good to see you,” I said, almost tearing up as I hugged my sister-in-law, so grateful that she was here at my new house. It had been so long. It was the first time she had come to my place and I felt so glad that she was back. Zaynah was someone who I knew would be difficult to forget. I’m sure my brother-in-law was the happiest about her being back. I could see it from the smiles he now permanently had on his face. It wasn’t just him. She had really brought the light to our dark lives, and the weird part was that she didn’t even know it.
She was the most humble and loving person. She smiled modestly as I pulled out a stool for her and Ziyaad’s new wife, Nabeela.
Our family was growing and I was so glad that Ziyaad had settled down again. With his decreasing appetite, I had been getting worried, but when Muhammed told me that he was getting married, I knew that he would be on his way to snapping back. His past had been trying and testing but he had come through with flying colours. I actually couldn’t believe how much he had grown. From the little, irresponsible and almost annoying brother-in-law, I could see that he was finally finding his feet.
And of course, my new sister-in-law was lovely. A bit reserved, but with her doll-like features and pretty smile I knew that she would fit in well with this family. It had been a long road for us but somehow, the light had that had come through lit up our entire world.
“‘Siya,” Mo’s voice called from just outside the lounge door. “Molvi is here. And Salma is awake.”
I excused myself and walked up at my two favorites, smiling at them both. I grabbed my Salma Dolly from Mo as we went out to see my brother.
It was the first time he had come to our new place, and I could see that he was impressed with our change. And of course he wasn’t only talking about our change of house. He had always been so passionate about Deen and embracing simplicity… we really took it to heart. As Salma grew, we knew that we wanted to live a life that was better, so Muhammed and I had decided to embark on an entire change of lifestyle. The truth was, we didn’t want to become blind to the reality. From all his and Waseem’s lectures to us, something had hit home. Where they were coming from, they knew what the dangers of getting too caught up in this world was.
“Just join us for three days, Uncle Cass,” he was saying to my father-in-law convincingly as he greeted him. “I promise you. It will change your life.”
I shook my head in amusement as I listened from afar, quite thrilled that my brother could be so convincing. That was Umar. Always was and still is. He could probably charm a cockroach. I could still hear him going on, now about something else.
Our entire family was at our place today and our house was bustling. Umar and Yusuf were both here with their wives and kids, and the yard was like a playground of smiles and laughter. Salma gurgled joyfully at the sound of the kids, knowing that they shouts and high-pitched voices meant lots of fun. I smiled as I walked past the men’s lounge, hearing Umar speaking to my father-in-law passionately about what he was best at speaking of. My father-in-law had been recovering well, and whilst doing so, he had become the most generous person in the past year, by sending funds all over the world for good causes. Umar, however, thought that he might be ready for a different kind of spending.
In places like Palestine, he was saying, money is being raised for them all over the world, but their true plight has nothing to do with finances. The true plight was that the western culture was creeping in from every direction. It was taking over their lives like it is here.
And though Umar told us that life in Palestine was quite different than what I had expected it to be, what shocked me was the plan that was in place.
A Palestinian had told some Jamaat brothers that the initial plan was to remove all the Muslims from Palestine, but this was not possible. So of course, the back-up plan is to make the Muslims live among the Jews and adopt their ways. He mentioned that the Jews are prepared to give them the best jobs and opportunities provided that they don’t practice Islam. And of course, you can especially see this among the younger generation, who have adopted Western hairstyles and lost most of their native language.
What was like a punch in the stomach for me was when it was said that this plan is worse than war. With war and death, their Jannah is made. Here, with this plan, the entire Islamic identity is lost. These people were Arab… descendants of the Sahabah, and they were nothing like those pious people who they had come from.
There were plenty of heartbreaking incidents which makes one understand the value of an Islamic environment. From people not fasting to the Western night-life and the shamelessness of the youth. It was really sad, and all I could do when I had heard this was make shukar. Shukar for our Ulema. Shukar for this country. Shukar that we had Imaan.
Allah had guided us in our darkest hour. He must have really seen something in us to bring us to where we were and the least we could do was be grateful, and obey His commands. So of course, something had to let. Something had to change.
And that’s when we decided. Simpler house, bigger home. Less chrome and more warmth. It was a change that was well needed. New house, new lifestyle and new beginnings.
I smiled at Muhammed as I moved on to the ladies section, silently exchanging words that didn’t have to be spoken. He had grown so much. He understood that it had taken so much of me to forgive and let us move on, and I understood that a man couldn’t be ignored in a marriage. I could see his change in the way he acted and reacted.
And of course, it was all part and parcel of the journey that lay ahead for us.Being accepted for Hajj was one of the most exciting things for us, and we were looking forward to that so much. Allah Ta’ala had given Muhammed more than he had bargained for when he embarked on his change of life.
Nabi (SAW) said: “If a person sees a woman and he immediately turns away from her, Allah shall give that man strength and guidance for such worship that he will immediately feels it’s pleasure and sweetness.” (Mishkaat)
The Barakah and everything we were being blessed with was amazing, and what was more was amazing how much our relationship had evolved. I couldn’t be more grateful that we had come so far. Instead of those sharp and hurtful words, we had learnt to talk and smile. We learnt to love and laugh. To forgive and overlook.
I realized that mistakes happen. People lie and people cheat. People do bad things.
But people can change. Oh yes, they can. And of course, through it all, the biggest realization that I never did get before this.
You might be hurting… but this too shall pass. That pain won’t kill you. It will only make you grow. This too shall pass.
And it’s all part of this journey.
But this life is not really life. How can life be something with , if it ends? How can we ever call it living, if there is death still to come?
Life, we say. There’s just something amazing about it. The same attribute that may sometimes hurt us can also give us the most immense relief.
Nothing here lasts.
So basically, that breathtakingly beautiful flower in my garden will wither tomorrow. Eventually, my youth and energy will leave. But, the despair we feel today will also change tomorrow. Agony will die. Yes, laughter won’t last forever but neither will tears. The heart will, eventually, heal itself to become something stronger. It will forget the pain and suffering of this world, and eventually move on to what awaits it. Like every moment I so hated or treasured… This too shall pass.
The thing about this world was just that. There was no escaping it. Every happiness will pass. Even when we think we’re stuck in the deepest of doom, that too shall pass. Every exhilarating moment will pass. Every single second. Every worry. Every fear.
And as it all comes to pass, there’s a deep message there for us. That nothing is forever. Nothing is real. Everything here has to end.
For sure, the real life is the one that comes after death is over.
So, take the plunge. Make the change. Shift the focus. Once you are at peace with whatever is dealt to you —a calm, serene world—can exist inside. Your sanctuary that you have built throughout your journey is within yourself, and how you face every test.
Once you have it, and you’ve earned that, you can go ahead. You can move forward.
No matter who or what leaves your life… Know that your eternity… Your priceless Jannah… Can never be taken away.
That will be true living. That will be the endless one.
And that… my friends, that shall never pass.
“O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me.
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
And those who have believed and done righteous deeds – We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.” (Surah Ankabut: verse 56-58)
And so we have it, dear readers. Sorry for the delay, I just wanted to make sure I got everything in, hehe.
We’ve finally come to the end. And I wish I could say that I’ve conveyed what I needed to, but there’s so much more that I wish I could have said. So many lessons that I don’t even know if I did justice to.
The main inspiration for this blog was a message that runs deep and true. The blog was rough and dodgy when I started, but that was to appeal to a different type of audience . The messages here are simple. We need to know the reality of this world. It’s never too late to change. It’s never the end of the road when you have made a mistake. This world is a temporary abode that should never be our main focus.
There are many more lessons along the way, and I pray that I can firstly practise on them.
Lets try. Lets make an effort. Instead of spending our energies in acquiring and attaining the comforts of the Duniyaa, why can’t our motivation be to strive for the Aakhirah? So what if I don’t have that castle-like house, SUV car, glammed-up husband, multiple children and model-like figure?
The thing is that we lose out on the valuable moments in life and fail to see the true wealth we are blessed with, because we forget that a Mu’min has the promise of Jannah to look forward to. What he does not receive in temporary Duniyaa, he most certainly will receive tenfold in everlasting Aakhirah… Insha Allah.
In this day and age, we don’t have that piety and strength to be as simple as the Sahabah. But strike the balance. Love what you have, and look to others below you in Duniyaa. Realize how much your Lord has blessed you, and turn your eyes away from what is not for you. Ask Allah Ta’ala for the best of both worlds, and understand what is the most important.
So much of pain, heartache, misery and dissatisfaction may be avoided if we change our mindsets. So much can be fixed if only we bring this into our life.
I leave you with a proverb that hits home for most of us. Remember that our Rizq is determined by Allah, and nothing we do can ever change that.
What is destined for you will reach you,even if it be between two mountains,and what is not destined for you will not reach you,even if it be between your two lips.(Arab proverb)
May Allah enable us to practise and propagate.
May this be a mean of change and guidance, let us also not forget to bring the Sunnah Tareekah on Nabi (SAW) into our lives. Indeed, his (SAW) way of life is the way to success.
Practice, share and earn multiple rewards in shaa Allah.
#RevivetheSunnahofEating
#RevivetheSunnahofDrinking
#Revive theSunnahofSpeakingGood
#RevivetheSunnahofSmiling
#RevivetheSunnahofMiswaak
#RevivetheSunnahofDu’aas
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