السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Whenever we discuss about Laylatul Qadr, we are guided by many popular  ahadeeth on the "what" and the "when" of that Night of Power. Let us revisit some of them:

1) It is dedicated to nights of intense devotions
"The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) used to strive more in worship during Ramadhan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadhan than he strove in the earlier part of the month."  (Muslim)

2) A night full of rewards and goodness
"This month (of Ramadhan) has begun and there is a night in it better than one thousand month. (So,) any one deprived of its (blessings) is actually deprived of all goodness. Indeed, He is truly deprived who is kept away from its good."  (Ibn Rajah)

3) It occurs on the last 10 nights of Ramadhan
"Seek Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.''  (Bukhari)

4) It is a period of seclusion
"The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to engage himself in i'tikaf (seclusion for worship) during the last ten nights of Ramadhan till he passed away; his wives followed this practice after him." (Bukhari and Muslim)

5) It is a period of night vigils
"Whosoever performs Qiyam (night vigils) during Laylatul Qadr, with faith and being hopeful of Allah's reward, will have his former sins forgiven.''  (Bukhari and Muslim)

Generally, the stress made by Muslims is always about heightening our devotions during the last ten odd nights of Ramadhan in order for us to meet with Laylatul Qadr. However, let us step back for a moment. If our efforts are directed to these last ten odd nights only, would Laylatul Qadr occur during the odd days for those in the eastern hemisphere or western hemisphere of the globe? If Allah [s.w.t.] is about to grant us a continuous reward better than a thousand months, are we going to calculate meticulously on which nights we should be waking up for vigils? What if, hypothetically, Laylatul Qadr is not about a single night, but is about a concept of striving?

There is a beautiful divine wisdom that the exact date of Laylatul Qadr remains a secret. On that note, it is obnoxious to note that some Muslims (spiritual or otherwise) can claim to know exactly when this day falls when even that knowledge was eluded from the Beloved [s.a.w.]. The knowledge of its occurrence is restricted from men. The only way to find it is to put forth effort and to seek it - and to me, that is the real beauty of Laylatul Qadr. When something is hidden, it is a sign of its value. One who truly understands this will work to find the hidden treasure of this night.

This is exactly the methodology of "being" in Islam. It is a process and not a destination. In order to deserve this blessed Night, one needs to put in real effort to wake up every night searching for this amazing gift from Allah [s.w.t.]. It cannot, and should not, come easy, for after all, what is the sweetness and value in that? 

Indeed, finding Laylatul Qadr exacts and demands from us sacrifice, discipline, faith, effort and a real desire to really want to find it. Many people wishes to meet with this night, but only those with perseverance holds the patience and faith required to achieve it. As a result of one's striving since the first day of Ramadhan, only those who continue to truly keep going will be rewarded with Laylatul Qadr. 

My advice is: not to get too caught up with all the mathematics of finding Laylatul Qadr. Humbly strive for it every night, and insyaAllah, Allah [s.a.w.] will not waste any of your efforts nor disappoint you in your search, and will grant your meeting with Laylatul Qadr.

Only those who diligently search, will find. It will be easier to give up but it takes a real distinguished believer to hold on. What we do, defines us. The rest of our talk, is completely unnecessary.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

NB: This entry comes with a Warning - it is a banter and unlike our other posts, is not to be treated with utmost seriousness! If you are a (too) serious person by nature, do not proceed.

Since the month of Ramadhan is coming soon to a close, "mathematically speaking" (and it is never mathematical in matters of ibadah), you will find your achievements in Ramadhan rather mind-blowing!

Wajib prayers:
17 rakaats per day x 30 days = 510 rakaats

Sunnah prayers (before/after):
14 rakaats (Syafi'i mazhab) per day x 30 days = 420 rakaats

Other supererogatory prayers/qiyammullail:
16 rakaats per day (assumptions made) x 30 days = 480 rakaats

Terawih prayers:
1 day 20 rakaats x 30 days = 600 rakaats

Witr prayers:
1 day 3 rakaats (min) x 30 days = 90 rakaats

[Total rakaats of prayers performed = 2,100 rakaats]

Congregational rewards:
2,100 rakaats x 27 rewards [minimum] = 56,700 rewards

Seclusion in the mosque:
Infinity

Waiting for prayers while in a state of purity:
Infinity

Fasting:
30 days - Reward is only with Allah

Hearing Imam recites and khatm Qur'an:
1 reward per alphabet ~ infinity

Reciting the Qur'an:
1 reward per alphabet ~ infinity
plus reward for recitation

Memorizing the Qur'an:
Infinity

Charity:
Infinity

Obligatory Zakat:
Infinity

Doa:
Granted

Sunnah deeds:
Rewarded as an obligatory deeds

Sincerity in Ramadhan:
Up to 700 times the reward for a single act, or more.
For example: 56,700 x 700 = 39,690,000

and then, there are others ....

But there is no need to argue with me on the exact calculation, for I am no expert in Math and only Allah [s.w.t.] knows how He will reward His servants. But I hope the above calculation gives you an indication and a bigger picture of your vast potential in this blessed month, and hope that you can measure how much you have achieved thus far, Alhamdulillah!

For those who have tried and persevered (not mathematically), then the coming 'Eid is indeed a celebration of success you can look forward to, insya-Allah. May The Almighty [s.w.t.] grants you more success.

For those who have not, there is still some catch-up time available. Let us intensify the remaining few nights left in Ramadhan. Let it coincide with you finding Laylatul Qadr. Do not let it pass you by.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Allah [s.w.t.] says: "Indeed! We revealed the Quran on the Night of Al-Qadr. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Al-Qadr is? The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand. Peace it is, till the rising of dawn."  [al-Qadr 97:1-5]

These last 10 nights of Ramadhan is a golden opportunity for Muslims to search for the gift of Laylatul Qadr. Particularly when it is a gift from our Creator, out of His Love for His creations. A close companion of the Beloved {s.a.w.] demonstrated this noble spirit and he is none other than Abu Darda [r.a.]

A companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.) cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. One day, the orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was hanging over his property and thus belonged to him. The companion refuted the claim and went to the Beloved [s.a.w.], who measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belonged to the companion. Upon hearing the Prophet's decision, the orphan began to cry profusely. Seeing this, the Beloved (s.a.w.) offered the companion, “Would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Paradise?”  However, the companion was in such a state of anger that he stormed off - and hence missed the golden opportunity offered by the Prophet [s.a.w.]. 

But someone else saw the opportunity and seized it. Abu Darda (r.a.) went to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and asked, “O Messenger of Allah! If I buy that tree from him and gave it to the orphan, shall I have a tree in Paradise?”  The Beloved (s.a.w.) replied, “Yes.”

He immediately purchased that lone tree from the companion, in exchange for his own entire garden. He went home and asked his family to evacuate the garden by saying: “Leave this garden. We’ve sold it to Allah!”

When Abu Darda [r.a.] was later martyred in the Battle of Uhud, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) stood over his slain body and remarked, “How many shady palm trees does Abu Darda now have in paradise?”

Abu Darda [r.a.] did not miss his opportunity with Allah [s.w.t.], and I pray that we will not miss our opportunity of standing in night vigil before Allah (s.w.t.) on Laylatul Qadr. 

While you are at it, do extent a prayer for me, for all of us here, for the Ummah, for the oppressed, for the underprivileged, for those whose lives were taken away suddenly from them, for those who were unjustly treated in this world - because prayers are the strongest weapon of a true believer, who is humble enough to acknowledge his utter dependence on his Lord. Be sure your actions always reflect your faith, and not your emotions. As Muslims, we are assured, without a shadow of a doubt, that Allah [s.w.t.] will replace our worldly sufferings and injustices with something better beyond our reckoning.

And we put our absolute Trust in the Judgment and Wisdom of The Almighty [s.w.t.].

Amin, ya Rabb!

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

I was at Sultan Mosque tonight and while enjoying the windy breeze awaiting the azan for Isya', overheard small cries of infants/toddlers from the women's section on the second floor. A friend whom I was with, narrated how his sister was chastised just the other day by fellow Muslimahs at Mydin Mosque for the same thing. They chided her for being "rude", "inconsiderate" and that "they should have just stayed at home." In effect, these Muslimahs practically chased her and her child away from the mosque. It reminded me when I was an Imam previously, on many occassions my congregation was more perturbed about having children in the congregation than me as the Imam myself!

Firstly, it is perplexing that she was castigated and chided by mothers, who themselves perhaps not too long ago, had to care for their own young children. Secondly, a mosque is NOT the property or rights of any individuals (mosque management committee members included) but it is the House of Allah - a sacred entity belonging to everyone equally. Thirdly, it is disconcerting that we go to the mosques to offer our service to our Lord but acts and treats His creations with absolute disdain, lacking in respect, compassion and empathy. 

Mothers who bring their children to the mosques should be appreciated, respected, welcomed and celebrated. They help to instill in their children, love for the Houses of Allah [s.w.t.]. At a time when all parents worry about how their children will turn out when they grow older, this small seeds of faith planted in their children at such a young and tender age, will assist them, should they go wayward in their adult life later, to return back to the mosques which they are familiar when they were younger.

What would the Prophet [s.a.w.] have done if faced by this situation? In order to elucidate this, let us turn back the clock to about 1,400 years ago. A bedouin urinated in the mosque and the people rushed to beat him. Instead, the Beloved [s.a.w.] ordered them to leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over the place where he urinated. He [s.a.w.] then said, “You have been sent to make things easy (for the people) and you have not been sent to make things difficult for them.”  [Bukhari]

This illustrates for us the perfect example of how our behavior should have been. It demonstrates that when any unwanted incident takes place, we should keep our cool and show tolerance and patience. We should find means that would alleviate rather than aggravate the problem. Imagine how nervous the mother and child will be when the congregation stares at them for the noises that the child made. We can be so unwelcoming and harsh to others, without realizing it!

Where is our sense of tolerance and patience? Where is our feeling of compassion and mercy? When and where will we show it, if not in the mosques, of all places? The Beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “He who does not show mercy to others, will not be shown mercy.”  [Bukhari]

And he (s.a.w.) understood the anxiety and agony that a mother goes through at such times. That is why he said: “Initially when I entered the prayer, I intended to prolong it. But then I heard the crying of a child, so I shortened it knowing the difficulty his mother will have with him crying.”  [Bukhari]

Let us imagine this: if, as a kid, I was scolded for "playing" in the mosque, do you think I would take kindly to any future suggestions by my parents to go to the mosques? And if many of us experience this enough, then as adults, we should not lament why young Muslims avoid our mosques like a plaque!

But more importantly, if our khusyuk during prayers are disrupted by the mere cries of toddlers or the walking of young kids around us: then, I opine and conclude that the problem is not with them but with our own selves, and all that we lack. Such nasty comments and actions by others are simply a reflection of their own lack of appreciation of their prayers and their own inability to attain khusyuk during prayers - and the most convenient first knee-jerk reaction is to blame others for it. 

Therefore, heighten your relationship with your Lord so that your every action is just between you and Him alone. Aim for yourself, that no amount of distractions can rob you from your intimacy with Him [s.w.t.]. Only then, that deed is an intimate conversation between a slave and his/her Lord.

Love,
The Alchemist. 

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

The Beloved [s.a.w.] said: "The one who fasts has two pleasures: when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord, due to his fasting." [Bukhari, Muslim] Surely, these are not the only two pleasures experienced by a believer, but they are intimately exclusive to the fasting Muslim and no one else.  

1) The first pleasure
This refers to the period of Iftar after striving for a full day of hunger, thirst, the exercise of self-restraint, of patience and obedience to Allah [s.w.t.] This pleasure comes every Maghrib prayers as we break our fast with the sumptuous spread prepared by the family. 

There are many reasons why this is a moment of joy: firstly, to be able to eat with the dearest people in our lives (our family), but most of all, it is to have succeeded in gaining control over the demands of our own body and ascendancy of our everyday habits - a chance to transform the mundane into a heightened transcendental existence. It is a spiritual joy: a joy of triumph over syaitan, over our own passions and most base desires. Iftar is therefore a celebration of having accomplished in fulfilling Allah's commands.

2) The second pleasure
This occurs when the believer meets his Lord after a lifetime of obediently curbing his desires through the deed of fasting and seeking Allah’s Pleasure by it. It is afforded by his gratitude to his Lord for having blessed him with His Mercy to succeed by fasting.

This is an experience of joy by which all the pains and sorrows that used to burden us in our lifetimes are overshadowed by the ultimate joy of His Rewards. In a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira [r.a.], the Beloved [s.a.w.] said, "Allah, The High and Exalted He is, said, 'I have prepared for My pious servants things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or (even) imagined by a human being.' [Bukhari]  And Allah [s.w.t.] says: "No living being knows what comfort of the eyes has been kept hidden from them, as a recompense (in Paradise) for their (righteous) deeds!"  [Sajdah 32:17]

We know from the collation of the descriptions of Paradise from the Qur'an, the rewards may range from eternal life of pleasure, gardens, wealth, properties, palaces, servants, rivers of milk and honey to natural springs etc. but above all, we will get the Pleasure and Good Will of our Lord, Most Supreme, Most Majestic! That suffices everything. All our disappointments, failures, broken heartedness, sadness that we experience in this life is eclipsed by this beautiful and hopeful promise.

We must strive to enhance our awareness and appreciation of the greater purpose of what our fast really means. The physical fasting is but a small step toward the bigger dimension of the sum of its parts. The struggle of maintaining the thirst, hunger and tiredness of the day to complete the fast is celebrated by the first bite of dates and water when we break our fast. That is pleasure.

But this worldly pleasure is merely a precursor to a more colossal pleasure that awaits as a result of that strive. As much as we wish to know more for our own certainty, its unfathomably immense nature leads us to accept the promise out of faith, at least for now. The Beloved [s.a.w.] said: "Never mind what Allah has told you; what He has not told you is even greater.”  (Muslim)

That should be enough to convince us. That should be enough to spur us. That should be enough to keep us continuously on that path of positive transformation.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Hope you are spending this beautiful Sunday morning with your family and your loved ones. Alhamdulillah, today is already the 8th day of Ramadhan. Congratulations to everyone for making it pass the week. We pray that Allah [s.w.t.] gives us strength to continue making the best of the remaining month, Amin.

In the book written by Jalal ad-din al-Suyuti, "Tarikh al-Khulafa'" (The History of the Caliphs), it was recorded that Qadi Shurayh narrated: "When Ali was setting out for Siffin, he found that he was missing his coat of armour. When the war was over and he returned to Kufah, he saw the coat in the hands of a Jew. He said to the Jew "This armour is mine. I have not sold it or given it away" but the Jew replied "It is my armour and it is in my hands. Let us go to the Judge!"

In court, Caliph Sayyidina 'Ali [k.w.] sat with the other common litigants and gave his case "This armour which this Jew has, is my armour and I did not sell it nor give it away." Qadi Shurayh asked the Jew and he insisted "This is my armour and it is in my possession." Shurayh asked: "Do you have any evidence Amir-ul-Mu'mineen?" and Ali replied "Yes, Qanbar and my son, Hasan, will witness that the armour is mine" but the Qadi ruled that a son's evidence is not admissible in court for fear of possible bias and gave judgement in favor of the Jewish man. When the Jew saw the unparalelled equality in Islam, he declared: "The Amir-ul-Mu'mineen brought me before his Qadi and the Qadi judged against him. I witness that this is the truth, and I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger."  SubhanAllah!

Allah [s.w.t.] says in the Qur'an: "Let there be a group among you who will invite others to do good deeds, command them to obey the Law, and prohibit them from committing sins. These people will have eternal happiness." ['ali-'Imran 3:104]. That is the da'wah of Sayyidina 'Ali [k.w.]: through a deep sense of equal justice and humility of his character, he managed to convince others of the beauty of Islam.

At times, our concept of da'wah is dubious, at best. Mostly, I observed, young Muslims tend to debate about the Faith with others and argue about who is right or wrong. Personally, I suspect that our community loves instant gratification, an inferiority sense of entitlement and does not engage in strategic long-term planning. You can see through campaigns such as the Hijab Movement or the Wear White Movement last week - both of which fell short of their desired outcomes. I am not discussing the merits/demerits of these campaigns, but clearly, the methodology and execution failed miserably. Either way, the campaign only made wearing hijabs more challenging and caused an increased awareness and record number attendees to the Pink Dot event.

Winning a debate about God will not move someone's heart into accepting God. Enjoining good and forbidding evil does not mean you demand from others what you want for yourself, while at the same time denounce, adjudge or castigate someone else's life choices.

Inviting others to the path is, first and foremost, a state of being: we need to be the person whom we invite others to be. We need to exemplify and manifest our Faith through how we act, how we speak, how we think and how we feel because at every moment, we represent Allah [s.w.t.] as His khalifah on His earth. 

That was the way as shown by Sayyidina Ali [k.w.]. That is how I hoped you will be inspired, insyaAllah.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

The tests from Allah [s.w.t.] comes in various forms. At times, we are tested with challenges and difficulties - and the antidote is to bear them with beautiful patience. At other times, we are tested with goodness such as wealth, intelligence or success - and the believer increases his gratitude.

It has been popularly said that two things define you: your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything. Sayyidina 'Uthman ibn 'Affan [r.a.] is a shining example of success in the face of both tests. He has a very defining history but today we shall limit the discussion to one aspect of his personality through his acceptance speech upon being appointed as the 3rd Caliph of Islam. He said:

“You are in a transient realm which you will soon leave, but now you have some of your life left, so hasten before death comes to do the best you can, for death may come to you at any time, morning or evening. This world is very deceiving, so let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Syaitan) deceive you about Allah - "O mankind! Certainly the promise of Allah is true. Let not this present life deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah."  [Fatir 35:3]

This maiden speech as Caliph not only defined his caliphate-ship, but the constant thought of his transient nature defines his personality as well. He was generous, unassuming and a kind man. He was known for his humility, modesty, and piety. Sayyidina Uthman [r.a.] would often spend the nights in prayer and he was known to fast often, sometimes on alternate days. In spite of his wealth, he lived simply and would often sleep wrapped in a blanket on the sands of the mosque. 

Again, with constant thoughts of death, he wisely invested in the Hereafter. When the Beloved Prophet [s.a.w.] came to Madinah and built a mosque, Sayyidina Uthman [r.a.] purchased a house nearby so the mosque could be expanded to accommodate the growing Muslim community. During Tabuk, he provided the Muslims with 950 camels, 100 horses, 200 ounces of gold and 1,000 dinars to help finance the expedition! Due to this, the Prophet [s.a.w.] declared: "From this day on, nothing will harm 'Uthman regardless of what he does."  [at-Tirmidhi] When the Muslim community was poor, weak and struggling in Madinah during its early years and had to pay exorbitant prices for water from a well, he bought the well for the free use of the people. 

However in his later life, he was tested with a great challenge. When rebels besieged him in his own  house, he was denied any access to the water which he paid and to the mosque which he built. Yet, he faced them with great courage, firm resolve and fortitude.

What are our learning points from this short narration?

1- Just like Sayyidina Uthman [r.a.], we should always put things in proper perspective: that this life is temporary and our permanent life is in the Hereafter. So, when we are besotted with disappointments in life, take respite in our better future in Jannah.

2- Let that perspective direct the way we behave and act in this life. Sayyidina Uthman [r.a.] invested much of his life, energy, wealth, blood and sweat both for this life and for the Hereafter. That balanced outlook in life ensures success for him.

3- Remain real, simple and humble. Despite coming from an affluent family, his concern was only on his state of piety: obedience to Allah [s.w.t.] and to the Prophet [s.a.w.]. The rest of life's offerings, be it wealth, status or power are only life's illusions. Do not be deceived by these temporary deceptions.

4- Put your expectations and attachments to The One. If all that you are and all that you do are directed only to The Almighty, and you are not dependent on anyone's validation or approval, then you have set yourself for zero disappointments in this life or the next. Allah [s.w.t.] will never betray your trust in Him. 

So, in this blessed month of Ramadhan, let us take inspiration from Sayyidina Uthman [r.a.] and start devoting more time in preparing for our Hereafter. Increase your devotions through knowledge, through deeds and through being of benefit to mankind. 

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. You are the sum values of your daily struggles and successes.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

May you have a blessed Friday, everyone! For Muslims, Friday is a day of 'Eid. It is a day in which Allah [s.w.t.] is abundantly giving us opportunities to earn as much rewards as we can, so let us not squander it. 

Our topic for today begins with a hadith related by Abdullah bin Umar (r.a.) whom narrated that one day, the Beloved Prophet [s.a.w.], went out and entered the mosque with Abu Bakr and 'Umar, one on his right hand and the other on his left, holding their hands. Then he said: "We will be raised thus on the Day of Resurrection." [at-Tirmidhi]. MasyaAllah - the closeness and intimacy between them as friends is truly beautiful! Let us today speak of Sayyidina 'Umar al-Khattab [r.a.], through the event of his reversion to Islam.

Abu Huraira [r.a.] narrated that the Beloved Prophet [s.a.w.] said: "People are like mines of silver and gold; the best of them in the days of Ignorance (jahilliyah) are the best of them in Islam when they attain knowledge.” [Muslim, Mishkat] And so, one day, he made a prayer: "Oh Allah! Strengthen Islam with whoever is more beloved to you, Umar ibn al Khattab or Abu Jahl ibn Hisham."  Allah granted his prayers and Sayyidina Umar embraced Islam the next day. The fact that the Prophet (s.a.w.) made dua for these two staunch enemies of Islam demonstrates to us that he could see the potential within them for change. 

At that time Umar was one of the opponents of the Prophet and the Muslims. One day, on his way to Dar-ul-Arqam with the intention of murdering the Prophet, a passer-by informed him that his sister and her husband had embraced Islam. Upon arriving at her house, Umar found them reciting the verses of the Qur'an. He started beating his brother-in-law severely. When his sister came to rescue her husband, he also beat her until she started bleeding. He then asked her to give him what she was reciting. His sister replied in the negative and said "You are unclean, and no unclean person can touch the Scripture." Umar gave in, took ablution and read the following verse: 

"Verily, I am Allah: there is no God but Me; so serve only Me, and establish regular prayer for My remembrance."  (Ta-Ha 20:14)

He was so struck by the beauty of the verses that he accepted Islam that day. He immediately went to the Prophet [s.a.w.] and declared his faith in front of the Prophet and his companions. Soon after, he prayed openly in the vicinity of the Ka'abah for the very first time, which gave confidence to other Muslims to declare their faith openly. The Quraish, who watched these events in great anger, did not dare to challenge Sayyidina Umar [r.a.]. Sayyidina Umar's conversion to Islam granted power to the Muslims and to the Islamic faith in Mecca. It was after this event that Muslims offered prayers openly in Masjid al-Haram for the first time. Due to this, he was given the title of "Al-Faruq" by the Beloved Prophet [s.a.w.]

There are many lessons we can learn from Sayyidina Umar [r.a.], but based on just this one event, the following shines through: 

1- The Qur'an has the ability to melt hearts. Read it, understand it, embrace it. If it could change the heart of an enemy to Islam, it can mould your hearts too;
2- No matter what your plans are, if your intention is pure and your heart is open to the Truth, Allah will guide you to His Path;
3- If a Muslim is firm in his belief, he will not be afraid to practice his faith openly; and
4- Do not give up hope to change for the better. In this case, an enemy of Islam became its protector and leader.

The story of Sayyidina 'Umar [r.a.] is truly an inspirational story about Hope. Sometimes we give up hope returning to Allah because we feel like we have committed too much wrongdoings. We lose hope because all we see are our own sins, but we blind ourselves from His Mercy and His Forgiveness. Yet Allah [s.w.t.] says: "Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."  [az-Zumar 39:53]

After all, Sayyidina 'Umar [r.a.] was on his way to murder the Beloved Prophet [s.a.w.], but he is now buried right next to him! So keep on striving and always aim for a better change.

Hence, my beloved students, never give up on yourself and never give up on others. May you always be under the protection, love and guidance of Allah [s.w.t.] and His Beloved [s.a.w.].

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Once, Sayyidina Amr bin al-Aas (r.a.) asked the Beloved of Allah (s.a.w), “Who is the most beloved person to you?” He said, “A'isha,” Sayyidina Amr bin al-Aas asked, “Amongst men?” He replied, “Her father, Abu Bakr.”  [Bukhari]

What makes Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq the beloved of the Prophet? He was indeed the first amongst men to embrace the message of Islam, he was the Prophet's closest companion and was chosen to Hijrah together to Medina, he was made the Imam when the Prophet was ill and he was also selflessly generous with his wealth in the cause of Islam. He was always present for the Prophet and was the quickest to come to his defense, and to affirm and believe everything which came from him.

In the final phases of the Prophet's life, he said: “There is no one among the people who has been more generous to me with his life and his property than Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhaafa, and if I was to take an intimate friend, I would take Abu Bakr as my intimate friend. But, the friendship of Islam is better. Block off every door in this Masjid except the door of Abu Bakr.”  [Bukhari]

While many remember him as the first Caliph of Islam, I prefer to remember this great man, first and foremost, as the passionate, dedicated and loyal best friend of the Beloved (s.a.w) - virtues which are difficult to find in these times. He said: “There was not a Prophet except that he had two ministers (wazeeraan) from the people of heaven and two from the people of earth. As for my ministers from the people of heaven they are Jibril and Mikail, and from the people of earth they are Abu Bakr and Umar.”  [at-Tirmidhi]

However, what truly humbles me the most is contained in the following hadith about the person of Abu Bakr at his most fundamental. Once the Prophet (s.a.w.) asked the congregation right after the Fajr prayers: “Who began this day fasting?” Abu Bakr said: “I did.” The Prophet said: “Who participated in a funeral procession today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. The Prophet said: “Who fed a needy person today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. He  said: “Who visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. Then the Prophet said: “These things cannot all meet in a single person but that he will enter Paradise.”  [Muslim]

MasyaAllah! These questions were asked of him right after the morning Fajr prayers! What have we done today since our own Fajr prayers?

I have always maintained that Islam is not a difficult religion - but the difficulty is caused by our own selves and the choice of how we wish to understand the faith. Islam is a religion of Hope. It was introduced at a place and time where civility and morality of what it takes to be human was at rock-bottom - but Islam re-instills confidence and optimism back to the people.  

Here, Sayyidina Abu Bakr's example of how he lives his life was truly simple, real, practical and honest - leading to the Prophet's assurance of Paradise. If we wish for that same end, our learning points from this hadith are:

1- Fast regularly: This is an intimate and exclusive servitude between a slave and his Lord. When he overcomes his base desires, he rectifies his deeds and actions. Beauty emanates from his thoughts, his speeches and his actions.

2- Think of death constantly: Attending the jenazah prayers and sending the deceased to his burial place is a stark reminder of the temporality and vulnerability of our existence - making us more sensitive and conscious of our life's decisions.

3- Identify yourself with the underprivileged: Feeding the orphans, the poor or the needy, as an example, is a manifestation of our faith. What is Faith without Actions? In another hadith by Bukhari, the Prophet explicitly states that a person who looks after the poor is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah.

4- Be a beacon of hope: Visiting the sick to alleviate his misery means that we, as Muslims, must be the bearer of peace, joy, hope and everything that is positive, to ourselves and to everyone around us. Smile, being a sunnah, must be our adornment if we see ourselves as hopeful and joyful believers. 

Consequently, strive to do good deeds in this blessed month, but now hopefully with a more profound appreciation of what drives you into action. Let us endeavor to be an "Abu Bakr" to ourselves and to our friends - and hope that we will find the Pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.) in the process.

I leave you with this final hadith of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq [r.a.]: "The Prophet said: "Whoever is among the people of prayer will be called (to Paradise) from the door of prayer. Whoever is among the people of jihad will be called from the door of jihad. Whoever is among the people of sadaqah will be called from the door of sadaqah. Whoever is among the people of fasting is called from the door of fasting and the door of Ar-Rayaan." Abu Bakr then asked "Is anyone called from all of those doors, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: “Yes, and I hope that you will be amongst them, Abu Bakr.”  [Bukhari]

Be inspired by the life of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq [r.a.]. Be as beautiful as the Prophet's beloved, and his love will also be with you. And the love of the Beloved (s.a.w.) will surely suffice you.

Love,
The Alchemist.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

I was reading a book of poems by Mawlana Jalalluddin Rumi yesterday after returning home from terawih prayers and stumbled across a poem describing the virtues of fasting. An abstract of the first few stanzas of the instructional poem goes like this:

"There's a hidden sweetness in the stomach's emptiness.
We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music.
If the brain and the belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire."

The poem seems to corroborate the advice given by our beloved Prophet s.a.w. who said: "The worst vessel the son of Adam ever fills is his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink and a third for his breath."  [at-Tirmidhi]

The Persian scholar Sahl al-Tustari was asked about a man who ate once a day and he replied, “This is the way of the prophets.” Asked about someone who eats twice a day, he said, “This is the way of the righteous.” Finally, he was asked about someone who eats three meals a day and he replied, “Build for him a trough!” 

This blessed month of Ramadhan is a most opportune time for us to reflect on the blessings of food and satiety. Fasting allows us to experience once a year what many throughout the world experience almost daily. Hunger, for them, is not a choice - it is their fact of life. Yet, on the other side of their world, we consume more than we need, we take pride in our frivolities to do so and we post food-photos online for the world to see. 

One of the blessings of Ramadhan is that it provides us with an opportunity, when our own self-induced hunger should bring us closer to those whose hunger is caused by circumstance and not by choice. As a result, we become more empathetic and are spurred into charitable actions.

Imam al-Ghazzali mentions in his Ihya' Ulum ad-Din, one of the benefits of our hunger is that it makes us more responsive and generous by giving food to orphans and to the poor, so that on the Day of Resurrection we would dwell in the shade of His Generosity s.w.t. The beloved Prophet s.a.w. said: "Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward."  [at-Tirmidhi] It is that rare moment in which feeding others in need, supersedes our own hunger and greed. This is another reason to celebrate the month of Ramadhan.

These virtuous acts points to the unity of the global Islamic community. There is a network of us all across the globe, all doing the same thing at the same time. However disparate our lives, whatever freedoms we enjoy – or otherwise – however different our experiences, someone else is probably feeling exactly the same way you and I feel. This, I find to be incredibly moving and life-affirming.  

Being hungry in this blessed month truly appeals to me. It reduces me to the person who I need to be. It provides me with a reality jolt to my physical and spiritual senses.

I humbly pray, for me and for all of you, that this physical hunger and thirst will deliver a burst of hungering and thirsting for Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate. 

Amin, ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

Love,
The Alchemist.