Dear brothers and sisters
Salam alaikum.
Last week my brother in islam emailed me to complain about the difficulties that he has gone through .He quoted , It is hard being a good muslim in the west because around every corner is Haraam but I am thankful and will always be thankful to be a Muslim it is the greatest blessing in the world. I am still struggling to be the best Muslim and follow in the way of the Prophet (PBUH). I constantly ask Allah(SWT) to help me erase the evil within my own Nafs and protect me from the Shaaytan but it is a constant struggle........... need Allah(SWT) to turn my heart and make me steadfast to the Deen, and I need sustenance and independence. I had a job but I was ungrateful and quit and I think Allah(SWT) is teaching me a lesson that I shouldn't of quit and I need to be grateful for every blessing. I just need to be a better Muslim,
Let me remind you and i of the content of this poem written by the grand son of imam Ali may ALLAH be pleased be with and all prophet successors and his companions;
The stranger is not the stranger to Yemen or Shaam [Syria]
But the stranger is the stranger to the grave and the coffin
Verily the stranger has rights for his absence
Over the residents of the dwellings & homelands.
Don't chase away the outlander in his state of unfamiliarity
For time is also chasing him with hardship & distress
My travels are far and my provisions will not suffice me
My strength has weakened and death is calling unto me.
I still have sins which I know not of
Allāh knows of them; those made in secret & in manifest
How merciful has Allāh been to me by giving me respite
And I have increased in sins but Allāh has always shielded me
The hours of my days pass by without regret
No crying, no fear, no sadness
I am the one who closes the doors with fatigue
On disobedience, & The Eye of Allāh watches over me…
O that which was written in a moment of heedlessness
O the sorrow which remains in my heart is burning me.
Leave me to bewail myself and weep
And pass the time in sadness and remembrance.
Leave off your Blaming of me O you who do so…
If you were but to know my situation you would have excused me…
Let me cry out tears that have no ending to them
For there will be no lesson that will set me free
It is As though I am with that family, laying…
Upon the mattress with their hands turning me over.
And they came to me with a doctor that he may cure me…
But of today I think not that medicine will benefit me..
My sufferings increased and death began to pull at me…
From every vein, without ease or comfort…
My soul was then removed from me with a gurgle…
And my saliva became bitter at that point…
They then shut my eyes and left me…
After a long moment of despair… they hurried to the purchase of the shroud
And he who was dearest to me got up in a hurry…
To summon the person who was to wash me…
He said: O my people we have attained a washer who is skillful,
Clever, bright & intelligent…
So then one of the men came and removed my clothing…
He undressed me and uncovered my body…
They then placed me on top of a board
And the sound of water above me, [the water that] began to clean me
He poured the water on top of me and washed me…
Three times, before calling out to the people for the shroud…
They shrouded me in a sleeveless garment…
And my provisions became the balm in which they embalmed me
They bore me towards my journey out of this world, oh how sorrowful!
Will be this journey for which I have no provisions to take along with me?
Upon their shoulders, they carried me, Four…
Men, and behind me are those who come to bid me farewell
They set me before the mihrab then turned away from me
Behind the imām they went and he prayed on me then bade me farewell
They prayed over me a prayer consisting of neither rukoo' nor sujood
Asking that Allāh may have Mercy upon me.
They lowered me into my grave slowly
And one of them came forward to place me in the lahd
He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me
And the tears spilled from his eyes awashing me
Then he stood, honoring me, firm and resolute
And lined the bricks on my body then left me
And he said “Throw the dirt upon him and reap
The great rewards from Ar-Rahmaan, the Most Gracious”
In the darkness of the grave, no mother is there nor
Is there an affectionate father, or a brother to comfort me
Alone… The only inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
Am I on parting the world bearing no deeds to provision me?
And a sight which beheld my eye struck terror into me.
From a place of terror it came and startled me…
Munkar and Nakeer, what shall I say to them?
The thought of them strikes terror into me, it causes me fear
And they made me to sit and put forth their questions
I have none other than You now, O Lord, to deliver me!
So bestow upon me from Your Mercy, O Lord, how I hope in You!!
For verily I am fettered in my sins, I am confined by them
The relatives have divided my wealth amongst them after leaving me.
And my sins are now upon my back, burdening me
My wife has taken another husband in my place
And she has appointed him as overseer over my wealth and my home
She has made my children into servants to bid unto her needs
And my wealth has become to them a worthless means of enjoyment
So let not this World and its adornments deceive you.
And look at its [evil] effects in your family and homeland
And look at the one who collects the wealth of this Dunya in abundance
Will he depart from this world bearing other than the death shroud and balm?
Take from the dunya that which suffices you and be contented with that
Even if you were to have naught but good health
O you who sows good, you will reap the fruit of your efforts.
O you who sows evil you will find yourselves overcome with grief
O soul of mine, abstain from sinning and attain instead
Deeds which are beautiful, for which Allāh may be merciful towards me
O soul of mine, Woe upon you! Turn towards your lord in Repentance, and do that which is good
So that you will be recompensed after your death with that which is delightful
Lastly sending prayers upon the Chosen one, Our Sayyid (leader)
All praise is unto Allāh, May he fill our days and nights with that which is Good, with forgiveness
Salam alaikum.
Last week my brother in islam emailed me to complain about the difficulties that he has gone through .He quoted , It is hard being a good muslim in the west because around every corner is Haraam but I am thankful and will always be thankful to be a Muslim it is the greatest blessing in the world. I am still struggling to be the best Muslim and follow in the way of the Prophet (PBUH). I constantly ask Allah(SWT) to help me erase the evil within my own Nafs and protect me from the Shaaytan but it is a constant struggle........... need Allah(SWT) to turn my heart and make me steadfast to the Deen, and I need sustenance and independence. I had a job but I was ungrateful and quit and I think Allah(SWT) is teaching me a lesson that I shouldn't of quit and I need to be grateful for every blessing. I just need to be a better Muslim,
Let me remind you and i of the content of this poem written by the grand son of imam Ali may ALLAH be pleased be with and all prophet successors and his companions;
The stranger is not the stranger to Yemen or Shaam [Syria]
But the stranger is the stranger to the grave and the coffin
Verily the stranger has rights for his absence
Over the residents of the dwellings & homelands.
Don't chase away the outlander in his state of unfamiliarity
For time is also chasing him with hardship & distress
My travels are far and my provisions will not suffice me
My strength has weakened and death is calling unto me.
I still have sins which I know not of
Allāh knows of them; those made in secret & in manifest
How merciful has Allāh been to me by giving me respite
And I have increased in sins but Allāh has always shielded me
The hours of my days pass by without regret
No crying, no fear, no sadness
I am the one who closes the doors with fatigue
On disobedience, & The Eye of Allāh watches over me…
O that which was written in a moment of heedlessness
O the sorrow which remains in my heart is burning me.
Leave me to bewail myself and weep
And pass the time in sadness and remembrance.
Leave off your Blaming of me O you who do so…
If you were but to know my situation you would have excused me…
Let me cry out tears that have no ending to them
For there will be no lesson that will set me free
It is As though I am with that family, laying…
Upon the mattress with their hands turning me over.
And they came to me with a doctor that he may cure me…
But of today I think not that medicine will benefit me..
My sufferings increased and death began to pull at me…
From every vein, without ease or comfort…
My soul was then removed from me with a gurgle…
And my saliva became bitter at that point…
They then shut my eyes and left me…
After a long moment of despair… they hurried to the purchase of the shroud
And he who was dearest to me got up in a hurry…
To summon the person who was to wash me…
He said: O my people we have attained a washer who is skillful,
Clever, bright & intelligent…
So then one of the men came and removed my clothing…
He undressed me and uncovered my body…
They then placed me on top of a board
And the sound of water above me, [the water that] began to clean me
He poured the water on top of me and washed me…
Three times, before calling out to the people for the shroud…
They shrouded me in a sleeveless garment…
And my provisions became the balm in which they embalmed me
They bore me towards my journey out of this world, oh how sorrowful!
Will be this journey for which I have no provisions to take along with me?
Upon their shoulders, they carried me, Four…
Men, and behind me are those who come to bid me farewell
They set me before the mihrab then turned away from me
Behind the imām they went and he prayed on me then bade me farewell
They prayed over me a prayer consisting of neither rukoo' nor sujood
Asking that Allāh may have Mercy upon me.
They lowered me into my grave slowly
And one of them came forward to place me in the lahd
He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me
And the tears spilled from his eyes awashing me
Then he stood, honoring me, firm and resolute
And lined the bricks on my body then left me
And he said “Throw the dirt upon him and reap
The great rewards from Ar-Rahmaan, the Most Gracious”
In the darkness of the grave, no mother is there nor
Is there an affectionate father, or a brother to comfort me
Alone… The only inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
Am I on parting the world bearing no deeds to provision me?
And a sight which beheld my eye struck terror into me.
From a place of terror it came and startled me…
Munkar and Nakeer, what shall I say to them?
The thought of them strikes terror into me, it causes me fear
And they made me to sit and put forth their questions
I have none other than You now, O Lord, to deliver me!
So bestow upon me from Your Mercy, O Lord, how I hope in You!!
For verily I am fettered in my sins, I am confined by them
The relatives have divided my wealth amongst them after leaving me.
And my sins are now upon my back, burdening me
My wife has taken another husband in my place
And she has appointed him as overseer over my wealth and my home
She has made my children into servants to bid unto her needs
And my wealth has become to them a worthless means of enjoyment
So let not this World and its adornments deceive you.
And look at its [evil] effects in your family and homeland
And look at the one who collects the wealth of this Dunya in abundance
Will he depart from this world bearing other than the death shroud and balm?
Take from the dunya that which suffices you and be contented with that
Even if you were to have naught but good health
O you who sows good, you will reap the fruit of your efforts.
O you who sows evil you will find yourselves overcome with grief
O soul of mine, abstain from sinning and attain instead
Deeds which are beautiful, for which Allāh may be merciful towards me
O soul of mine, Woe upon you! Turn towards your lord in Repentance, and do that which is good
So that you will be recompensed after your death with that which is delightful
Lastly sending prayers upon the Chosen one, Our Sayyid (leader)
All praise is unto Allāh, May he fill our days and nights with that which is Good, with forgiveness