Unloyal Children

The wise man asked me to close my eyes and imagine. I’ve never felt comfortable trying to imagine things I’ve been asked to, however, I assumed that this time this process is going to take me somewhere. Imagine you are the caregiver and guardian of a house; you live with your children, you love them unconditionally and in unimaginable amounts; all you want to do and aim to do is to ensure that you use all your power an capabilities to protect them and give them the life they want which will take them successfully to their hereafter. One night, a group of ignorant kidnappers and tyrants attack this house, your house, together with your children. You are shooed out of the house and you stand outside the house every day and night, seeing your children. Your children look out of the window each day; they cry and wail because of the oppression they are going through from those tyrants. You watch them helplessly, you want to help them so bad but you can’t. I opened my eyes with my chest heavy with the pain and sorrow of just imagining such a situation hypothetically. Oh my God!, I thought, I would never wish such a terrible position for any human being, let alone someone I know or myself! Seeing your children screaming for your help and not being able to do anything! Worse than death I’d imagine, I replied to the wise man, but I’d think that it’s a bit of a far fetched situation.

Far-fetched? I hadn’t thought of it thoroughly at all. How can it be a far-fetched situation when the most pious man alive today has been going through this very situation for more than 1000 years? Every minute of those years, Imam Al Mahdi (ajj) has been seeing and hearing us encounter all kinds of oppression, in millions of forms and patterns, being prone and tempted by all types of worldly temptations. He has been hearing our calls for his appearance and arrival and with every call, he asks God to give him the patience there is to bear with having to hear us and not do anything yet. But why can’t he do anything? Why can’t he appear when he is hearing his children go through pain?

He knows that this question will come in our minds, that is why he explains the answer to us in his own words.

ولو أن أشياعنا – وفقهم الله لطاعته – على اجتماع من القلوب في الوفاء بالعهد عليهم ، لما تأخر عنهم اليمن بلقائنا ، ولتعجلت لهم السعادة بمشاهدتنا على حق المعرفة وصدقها منهم بنا . فما يحبسنا عنهم إلا ما يتصل بنا مما نكرهه ولا تؤثره منهم . والله المستعان وهو حسبنا ونعم الوكيل ، وصلاته على سيدنا البشير النذير محمد وآله الطاهرين وسلم

His saying suggests that first, his children’s news is always reaching him. Our news is always reaching them. However small or big the action, it reaches him. I only realised the seriousness of this when I was told the similarity of this to a news program. An explosion here, a kidnapping there, a plane crash here, a war breakout there. We’ve had enough at this point; we put away the newspaper and get along with our lives. Imam Al Mahdi (ajj) does not have this option, he can’t put away the newspaper because the news never stops coming and with every newspaper, he prays that its contents will this time be better than the one before. I’m sure my children must have at least stopped their bad habits by 1% at least, he prays, but the newspaper always says otherwise.

It is this news that makes him helpless. On some Wednesday nights, he hears the news that 15 of his children are praying a special prayer to bring his appearance. The pain in his heart eases slightly. Some of them are waking up, he thinks. The prayer isn’t reaching. Some of them are smiling while praying while remembering a funny forward they got in their inbox today, some are planning on how they are going to save enough for the new BMW, some are trying to decide who they should support in tonight’s match, one is actually concentrating....he is praying and really thinking of the Imam (ajj). The pain in the Imam (ajj)’s heart eases a bit more. But this prayer doesn’t reach either. The same man who was a minute ago praying wholeheartedly is now sipping tea while having some of his brother’s flesh. The pain in the Imam (ajj)’s heart is back to its initial state. Next time maybe, he hopes.

Every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala. What on earth does that mean? I’ve been thinking since my parents told me that in my childhood. Ashura isn’t over. Just like his grandfather cried out that day and got no response from his martyred companions, Imam Al Mahdi (ajj) is crying out the same. He too gets no response. But they’re not dead, he wonders, they’re not martyred. They’re talking and walking and are as alive as ever. What is their excuse for not answering my call? No, do excuse them. Excuse them because their hearts, souls and minds are dead. The people you see who are alive and walking aren’t people, they are dead structures moving around and if you appear today, you won’t see any of them martyred by you like your grandfather did.

I will keep calling till they wake up, he says....is there no one to help us? (hal min naseren yansuruna?)

Saved by Sahifa Al Sajjadiya

I'm always saved by a book. Whether I'm feeling sort of effy, whether I have a pounding headache, when I wake up and before I sleep, I'm saved by it. When I'm afraid of death or when I encounter what I'm afraid of, I know that the book will save me.

I've been feeling terribly guilty since yesterday night. I realised how much I've been taking from the book but haven't really bothered to learn more about its writer or to thank its writer for the life tool he has given me for that matter. The Sahifa Al Sajjadiya which I'm talking about is a collection of prayers that say exactly what I feel (or what I didn't even know I was feeling) in whatever situation I go through.

I have previously written about a grandson of the Prophet (pbuh) who sacrificed his life for the sake of God and mankind. A grandson who went thirsty for days and fought alone and by himself against hundreds of thousands to stop the oppression and dictatorship of a tyrant. Imam Al Husain (A.S) did not live after that day but you won't ever hear that he was anxious of this fact. This was because he knew he was
leaving a son, Imam Ali Zain Al Abidin (A.S), at the time very sick, who will later make sure that his plight and rememberance will never go to waste and that the lessons of sacrifice and living for others will continue to be taught.

Imam Zain Al Abiden (A.S) used duaa and prayers as a main tool of teaching these lessons. I would think he who has seen his father, uncle, brothers, cousins and companions slaughtered infront of him would be too preoccupied with his own sadness. I would think he who was living at the time of the same tyrant who killed his loved ones would be preoccupied with taking revenge and thoughts of hatred to the murderer of his family. I would think I would hear the same stories I hear in movies and read in books and autobiographies. However, Imam Zain Al Abiden (A.S) shows me through his Sahifa Al Sajadiya how wrong my thoughts and presumptions are. If anything, everything he saw and went through made him only more compassionate and empathetic for others. To the extent where he writes out my prayers for me and anyone else seeking to move closer to God.

He tells me what I feel, better than I tell myself. He doesn't just give me the solution to my situation. He reassures me when I'm sick and when I'm sad and always shows me the bright side of things. He thanks God on my behalf for the bright side.

I would think that the son of the Prophet (pbuh) and the best of humankind would know that I'm not as thankful and faithful as him. I would think he would put a different prayer for me to say than the one he would say because of his knowing of how less appreciative and grateful of blessings I am, and how sinful and absent-minded I tend to be. But the Imam proves me wrong here too. He gives me the benefit of the doubt, he assumes that I would be more grateful than I am and always repenting for my sins. At the same time, the Imam (A.S) understands and never judges. He knows that I would feel down when I'm ill, that I would have debts on me, that I would have my fears and temptations. He knows all this but he doesn't judge or criticise, he picks me up from the oppression I have caused for myself and helps me find my way out.

Before being sorry to him for not seeking out to learn more about him, I am sorry to myself. For I have been the one who has been most at loss for not doing so earlier.

Why Paolo Coelho is the Don...

This quote of his just did it!

'In our ''civilized'' society, we men are becoming endangered species. Testosterone is going down to the drain. There are still males capable of reproducing species, but where is the warrior, hunter, adventurer? Great loss'

Isn't that just such an accurate statement that can not be said any better?! Men have become endangered species, thus the continuous instability of the Middle East and Islamic countries, thus the continuous killing of our children, thus the continuous fitna between us! Terrorism and dictatorship continues everywhere because there are no men to fight for the truth and the oppressed.

You walk outside and see men with their wives all makeuped and beautified next to them in the best situation if not half naked that is. Where has the real masculinity gone? How come men are so happy to present their wives' beauty for the world to see! Masculinity is being defined by going to the gym and having six packs. But ask a man with his strong physical muscles to lower his gaze when a woman passes by and he is a weak little teen tiny gross chicken.

How will the Mahdi (a.s) and Prophet Isa (pbuh) appear to help us if all our men are too busy satisfying their animal needs and desires?! We are postponing the appearance of the truth and the true Islam and true democracy with our own hands.

Hijab Rehab!

Amazing blog!

Really really needed these days. Day by day you're getting shocked of so-called 'hijabis' out there: tight clothes, make up, camel humps under the sheilas like they got a brain tumour growing (sign of end of days by the way)* , fringes popping out, you name it! Sometimes really a disgrace that I'm a hijabi too!

http://hegab-rehab.blogspot.com/

*The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stated that in later generations of his ummah there would be "women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed."

Words of Imam Hussain on Ashura..

"If the religion of Muhammed (P.B.U.H) cannot be saved, except by the sacrifice of my head, then O swords, come and take it"

Imam Hussein (as.)

His mouth dry of thirst, his brothers, sons, companions all martyred and lying on the ground beside him, he didn't look back, he didn't hesitate, he didn't think twice before fighting alone and by himself against an army of thousands to save Islam in the same form the Prophet (P.B.U.H) spread it till this day.

Sermon of Imam Hussein to the Army of Yazid

Listen to me and do not make haste to kill me so that I may tell you what I must, and apprise you of the reason of my coming to Iraq . If you accept my excuse, believe in what I say, and behave towards me fairly, you will level for yourselves the path of prosperity, and then you will have no reason to kill me. And even if you do not accept my excuse and deviate from the path of justice, you must ponder over the pros and cons of the matter before you kill me, and should not undertake such a delicate task rashly and without deliberation. My supporter is the Almighty Allah Who revealed the Qur'an. Allah guards His deserving slaves.

Am I not the son of your Prophet's daughter? Is the wasi (vicegerent) of your Prophet and his cousin and the first person, who expressed belief in Allah and confirmed what was brought by His Prophet, not my father? Is the Doyen of Martyrs, Hamza bin 'Abd al-Muttalib, not the uncle of my father? Is the martyr Jafar bin Abi Talib who has two wings and flies with Allah's angles not my uncle? Have you not heard that the Holy Prophet has said about me and my brother.. "These two sons of mine are the Chiefs of the young men of Paradise ". If you think that whatever I am saying is true so much the better. I swear by Allah that I know Allah hates the liars, and I have never told a lie. And even if you do not believe in my words and refute me, there are, still some companions of the Holy Prophet amongst you who, when asked, will apprise you of the facts. Ask Jaabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari, Abu Sa'id Khudari, Nahl bin Saadi, Zayd bin Arqam or Anas bin Malik, so that they may tell you that they have heard these words from the Holy Prophet about me and my brother. Is this tradition itself not sufficient to restrain you from killing me? If you are doubtful about this tradition can you doubt even this that I am the son of your Prophet's daughter? I swear by Allah that between East and West there is no son of the daughter of a Prophet except me either amongst you or amongst others.

You should tell honestly whether I have killed anyone from amongst you so that you may take revenge! Is it that I have appropriated your wealth and you are claiming it? Have I injured you for which you have risen to compensate? (None of them, however, came forward to give a reply to what the Imam said He was, therefore, obliged to call some of them by their names and addressed them in these words): O Shabath bin Rabie, Hajjar bin Abjar, Qays bin Ashath and Yazid bin Harith! Did you yourselves not write letters to me saying: 'The fruits have become ripe and the lands are green and fresh and the soldiers of Iraq are ready to sacrifice their lives for you and you should, therefore, proceed to Iraq as early as possible?'.

I will not swear allegiance to these people like weak and mean persons and will not flee the battlefield like slaves while fighting against the rascals. I seek refuge in Allah from the mischief of you people and of every arrogant person who does not believe in the Day of Judgement'.

A Constant Pain in the Heart...

O people of Yathrib

May you never stay therein

Al-Hussein was killed, so my tears now rain,

His body is in Karbala , covered with blood

While his head is on a spear displayed…

Verses recited by the poet Bishr b. Hadhlam outside the Mosque of the Prophet on being informed on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (as.)

A constant pain in the heart on the tenth of Muharram. Indeed the tragedy fell on Ashura, the tenth of Muharram. A bold seventy two rose against over thirty thousand. Imam Hussein (as.) alongside relative and loyal companion laid down their lives in the way of Allah (swt). He fought to preserve the sacred message of his Grandfather Muhammad the Final Messenger (SAW.)

Within fifty years of the Prophet's death his Ummah was in a state of crisis. A Godless tyrant had taken the reins of power and the Ummayad regime's propaganda machine had rendered the minds of people paralysed. Falsehood was deformed into truth.

It was on this day that faith stood against ignorance. The Prince of the Youth of Heaven confronted the tyrannical, hegemonic and hereditary prince of the lowest of the low. This day the master of martyrs Imam Hussain (as.) exposed the dark, treacherous and most ugly face of Yazid for generations to come.

Imam Hussein rose against tyranny. He refused to give allegiance to Yazid . He sparked a revolution which destroyed the Ummayad's claimed victory and liberated people from fear and tyranny.

It took the spilt blood from the Prophet's sacred slain to wash away impurity from the soul of Islam and into it was breathed an eternal spirit of steadfastness against injustice and corruption and deviation from the path of Allah (SWT). The falling standard of Islam was raised lofty by Hussain (as) and his companions through patience and sacrifice. Truly the world was shown religion and the will of God have precedence.

Blast of the Month..

More than 100 dead in Baghdad Blasts...no month can pass in Iraq where there's no blast, no new orphans and widows and graves. Just when you think of a possibility of your country's situation getting better, just when you're attempting to start to dream of living peacefully, you're reminded that you shouldn't have such a dream. There should be a new explosion to always keep you on your toes. No Iraqi's mind should rest in peace. No Iraqi should assume that he's definitely going back home that day. Some Iraqis die and other Iraqis have to watch and wait for their turn. No Iraqi should have sweet dreams. Not in Iraq atleast.

More than 100 dead. More than 100 families will be short of one person tonight. More than 100 children will be orphans tonight. Then they'll be added to a list of orphans for people to sponsor. They'll each have a sheet with their photo, information about them and how their fathers died. Then someone faraway will look at the orphan's paper for a second and decide whether the orphan is cute enough to be sponsored. If he is, he won't sleep hungry tomorrow night, he'll wear new clothes in a month maybe, maybe he'll finally sleep on a mattress like he used to a long time ago, maybe he'll smell better if he's cute enough. But if he's not cute enough, nothing will change. And his fate will wait till the next person looks at his paper and photo. Will this next person find him cute?