I wanted to share a extract from a talk that I had recently listened to by the late Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki.
Alhamdulillah - if only we can take the time to reflect and internalise these sorts of messages -
then insha Allah, we too can become Aashiq-e-Sawdiq (True Lovers of Allah-Ta'ala; and His Rasul (sallahu alaihi wasalam),. then, we will realise our purpose in this dunya - and live our lives, actually reflecting this.
then, every possible minute and second will be spent in zikr - and in longing to meet our creator, our Rabb.
Ameen.
" We, the human race, living on this earth, are under the perception that we belong here. That this is our residence and home.
We don’t know, and we don’t want to know the fact that we are on a train.
And the train is going through stations – to another final destination.And this world is only one of these stops, and one of these stations.
But we do not belong here.
We have a ticket that has 3 slips. We live in the womb for 9 months, and then when we come out – one slip is thrown away from the ticket. And then we live in dunya for a while, and this station, and when we are dying the second slip of the ticket is torn out. And then we have one slip left – and that will be torn out either in hell-fire or jannah….and that will be the final destination.
We do not belong here. We are travelling.
And that is why the prophet (sallahu alaihi wasalam) said:“Be in this world as if you are a traveller”. And rasullal Allah says the analogy of me in this dunya is like somebody who is travelling in the desert, and then saw a tree. So he took some shade under this tree and took some rest, and then continued with the journey.
That is dunya. We spend a few moments under this tree, and then we keep on moving.
Can we stop time?
Time is revolving and is eroding off our existence. The movement of time is an erosion of our existence in this dunya. It is ripping away and tearing apart from our own existence. With every second that passes by – it has taken part of us.
We do not belong here. And we need to believe in the fact that we do not belong here. And we need to prepare for death.
What are the objectives of talking about Al-Aakhirah?
Number one – it is part of imaan. It is a pillar of faith.
Second reason – why do we have all of these problems around us?
Why do we have a muslim who drinks? And a muslim who commits zina? And a muslim who deals with riba? And a muslim who lies?
Why? What are we missing?
Listen carefully, very carefully…..to this saying of Sayidinna Aisha (ra) – in this short sentence she is giving us a programme of individual and social change. In one sentence – if we were to apply, we would see immense/ huge change in our lives.
Sayidinna Aisha (ra) says: “If the first thing revealed in quraan was – Do not drink, the people would have said – we are never going to stop drinking. And if the first thing that was revealed in quraan, was telling the people not to commit fornication and adultery – the people would have said, we are never going to stop fornication and adultery. But the first things that were revealed in quraan was that which mentions hell-fire and paradise.”
Until the hearts were attached to Allah (subahana wataála) – then the orders of halaal and haram came down.
Until all of these veils of darkness were lifted from in front of our eyes…..then the orders from Allah (subhanawata’ala) came down on halaal and haram.
We are not suffering from a problem of ignorance only. That is not the only problem….even though it is a problem, it is not the only problem…..
Because everyone knows that alcohol is haram. Why do some people drink it? Everyone knows that interest/ riba is haram. Why do people deal with interest? Everyone knows that the importance of salaah and fasting…..how come some people don’t do it? Everyone knows the importance of ful-filling the pillar of haj…..how come the people are not doing Al-haj?
It’s not only a problem of ignorance. A major problem is Insufficient imaan.
The heart is rough – like a rock. The hearts are not soft.
And what will soften these tough and harsh and rough hearts is Al-Aakhirah….talking about the unseen.
Because Rasullal Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasalam) says: “If you know what I know – you will cry a lot, and laugh a little.”
…..if you know the reality of Al-Aakhirah.
Ali ibn Talib said: “It wouldn’t make a difference if I see jannah in front of me – I wouldn’t love it more. And even if I see hell-fire in front of me – I wouldn’t fear it more.
What he is saying, is that he has absorbed the meaning of jannah and jahannum so much – that even if he sees it, it wouldn’t make a difference.
He is living in dunya, as if he is seeing Jannah in front of him, and hell-fire in front of him.
That is IMAAN – when you reach to this level."
From the lecture by Shaheed, insha Allah - Anwar Al-Awalai: The Hereafter
shaykh anwar al awlaki had some of the best lectures, masha'Allah. i benefitted greatly from them.
"We do not belong here.And we need to believe in the fact that we do not belong here. And we need to prepare for death."
^ those are words that are really worth remembering and need to be drilled into one's heart, especially considering the state of some places e.g. dubai. look at all the money that is wasted hoarding more money and becoming a big global attraction which is known for hosting great parties and the like... all under the name of an islamic country? it's all going to go to waste... why not give money to your muslim brothers and sisters in less wealthy countries? build homes for the poor, provide clean water to drink in places where such a resource isn't readily available, construct more mosques, set up schools for children, etc. there are so many rewarding things you can do with that kind of money that will benefit both sides greatly.
i'm not trying to single out dubai at all. that was the only example i could think of right now. i think i've painted my picture well enough, though.
much of our time is spent focusing on worldly factors and not enough time is spent bettering ourselves and helping others for the sake of our status in the akhirah and, most importantly, the pleasure of allah swt... something a lot of us are guilty of, including myself.
may allah guide us and help us build ourselves further as pious, charitable muslim characters.
^ To my knowledge, these reports are valid.....there is no evidence (that I am aware of), to prove otherwise
And while I am wary of the media, and the falsehoods that are propagated - I think we have to watch ourselves from becoming overly-suspicious....which tbh, in todays times, is becoming more and more of a challenge.
the Adhaan of our birth belongs to the prayer of our death........ and that's how short life is!
Jazakallah khair for these reminders, dear.
Although no adhaan was sounded when I was born, I suppose the adhaan that I heard when I reverted to Islam WOULD count. That was my new birth.... till the time I die... a very short and brief period. Indeed!!!
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Jazakallahu khair sis for this wonderful reminder ... the hereafter series is brilliant i love istening to the lecture "tour of jannah"
The life of this world is our journey, NOT destination !!! So... Be always the Best Traveller... who always wish to go back to our Final Home... in Jannah !!! ♥
Suppose you use a horse for transportation as people have done in the past. One of your friends invites you to his house and you get there by riding your horse.
Now, what would happen if your friend totally ignores you and starts feeding and looking after the horse only?
You will feel confused as yourself, the rider, was suppose to be the guest, not the horse that you rode on.
The above situation sounds abnormal but that is exactly what we are doing today.
Allah has given us a body and a soul.
The soul rides on the body to pass through this world.
In other words, the body is like the horse and the soul is like the rider of the horse.
Today, we are continuously busy in feeding and looking after the body but totally ignored the well being of our souls. As a result, our souls have become so weak without the spiritual food that it is not strong enough to even push us to go to the Masjid or wake up for Fajr prayer.
Thus, it is essential that we strengthen our soul with the spiritual food as shown by Islam, such as keeping the company of the pious, recitation of the Holy Quran, Dhikr of Allah and contemplating over the Greatness of Allah.
There is nothing more guaranteed in this life, than death.
Spend your time investing in your Aakhirah, my brothers and sisters.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Who knows how many breathes are still left in us.
To say that we are LIVING each day, is a misnomer.
We are DYING each day.
Every minute that passes - is life lost, one minute CLOSER to our final destination.
There you are standing before Allah Taa’la, the whole of mankind in anticipation. Hell to your left and Paradise your right. From the first man until the last, everybody is present. What is to be of them on this Day?
Not a word is spoken. Everybody is naked but unusually today, no one actually cares about anybody else. There’s only one question running through everyone’s mind, what will be their eternal abode?
The Qur’an states:
“And they will be set before your Lord in (lines as) rows, (and Allah will say): “Now indeed you have come to us as We created you first. Nay, but you thought that We had appointed no meeting for you (with us).” (Surah 18, Verse 48)
You stand there very frightened. As a Muslim, you hardly prayed your Salaah. In Ramadhan, you didn’t feel like keeping fasts. Zakaat was never on your mind. Even though you had enough money for Hajj, a trip to the Caribbean always seemed much more appealing.
You look down and wish that this silence continues forever and ever. Then suddenly, very unexpectedly, your name is called. Abdullah! Son of Adam, your heart begins to beat faster and faster. You are now trembling. Your turn has now come.
It is time for the truth; did you live in this world as a true believer? Did you believe in the oneness of Allah and follow the teachings of our Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam? If so, then there is no doubt that Paradise is your eternal abode, but for those who ascribed partners with Allah and neglected the teachings of our Holy Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him, then, Hell is their only dwelling. There will be no injustice on this day.
Slowly, tears begin to role down your face. Even before you receive the book of deeds, you know you have no chance. You had so many chances to revive yourself in the world, but you continued to commit sins, one after another. Many signs were brought before you clearly proving the oneness of Allah, but you rejected each sign, one after another. How is Allah going to give you another chance? Chances were given in the world. You continued sinning but were not punished; now you must face punishment for those unpunished sins committed. Then, the book (of deeds) is given to you in your left hand. You may have passed all the exams in school, but you now have failed the most important one, Life.
The Qur’an states:
“And We have fastened every mans deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.” “(It will be said to him): “Read your book.” (Surah 17, Verses 13,14)
Allah Taa’la states:
“And the Book (ones record) will be placed (in the right hand for a believer in the Oneness of Allah, and in the left hand for a disbeliever in the oneness of Allah), and you will see the ‘Mujrimun (sinners), fearful of that which is (recorded) therein. They will say: Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!” And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and Your Lord treats no one with injustice.” (Surah 18, Verse 49)
You bend down on your knees and beg for mercy. “Please Allah! Only one more chance, only one more chance! You open the Book which had been placed in your left hand. You are shaking as you open the book knowing full well that it has recorded every single deed and every sin. You know full well that no injustice has been done by Allah.
You open the book and every detail is inside. As soon as your eyes glance upon the first sin on the page you have opened, you begin to cry. You close the book and start to regret. But this is no time to regret. Your chance has now gone. You shout once more, “ALLAH! CAN I HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE!!!??”
The Qur’an states regarding the misguided:
When those who were followed will disown those who were following and they will see the punishment and all ties with them will be cut
And those people who were following will say if only there was a returning for us we would disown them just as they disowned us in this way Allah will show them their actions as a source of remorse against themselves and they will not be coming out of the fire of hell. (Surah 2, Verse 166-167)
The heat of the fire of Hell is burning in your mind. How will you be punished? How long will you be punished for? Every time you wanted to do good in the world, Shaytaan took you away from the straight path and you were deceived very easily. You can blame no one but yourself.
Allah Taa’la states:
And Satan will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of Truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me.” (Surah 14, Verse 22)
How deceiving Shaytaan was? How powerful were his whispers and how weak was your Imaan?
Whatever he whispered into your ears, you immediately followed him. You disobeyed Allah and followed what you thought was the right path, but you were truly on the wrong path, treading upon the path that would lead you to inevitable destruction, the path that will lead you into Hell fire on this day. You thought arrogantly and lived as though you would live in the world forever. You ignored the fact that everybody to enter the world would eventually die one day and be judged.
Allah Taa’la states in the Qur’an:
“Everyone is going to taste death.” (Surah 21, Verse 33)
Only seconds remain. The Hell fire is waiting. Your time has now come, but all you think of is that one more chance. With that one more chance, you would go back in the world and never commit another sin again. Chances, many chances were only given in the world but now it’s too late. You are thrown into the scorching fire.
My dear respected readers, do you want to end up like brother Abdullah? Does his life sound familiar compared to yours?
Is obeying Allah, Praying Salaah and pleasing Him not in our daily schedule?
Here in this life is our only chance and time to change.
Remember, no chance will be given once you pass away. Repenting will be of no avail on that day. The Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him mentions in one Hadith:
“The one who repents from sin is like one who has no sin.” (Ibn Majah)
There is an extremely wretched place for those who disobey Allah and the Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him. However, those who are pious and are on the Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (right path) will be the ones that will be triumphant on that day and these are the people that will earn a great reward. Allah Taa’la states in the Qur’an:
“Verily, the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons) who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers (Paradise).” (Surah 54, Verse 54)
From all the hard work that you do in this world dear readers, Allah Taa’la will never let that work go to waste. Instead, gardens and rivers will be awaiting that person and the book of deeds will be placed in the believer’s right hand. As for those who do not believe, Allah Taa’la says:
“The Day they will be dragged in the Fire on their faces (it will be said to them): “Taste you the touch of Hell.” (Surah 54, Verse 48)
May Allah Taa’la give us all the ability to avoid or discard the path of the Shaytaan and follow the right path shown by our Holy Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him. Ameen
Alhamdulilah. May Allah swa accept all his good deeds and grant him eternal happiness in the hereafter. May Allah swa give peace & comfort to his family Ameen.
True legend left us with his precious gems - knowledge.
May Allah swa help us all to become better Muslims Ameen
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