Coincidence?

Salaam brothers and sisters,

Is it a coincidence that you ask your friends for the reference of a hadith and the few days later you attend a lecture explaining that hadith?

Or when you read about the conquest of Makkah and the accompanying verse that was revealed (49:13), at the exact time your computer plays the same surah containing that verse?

Or when you get approached by christian missionaries and you don’t know where to start about islam? So you go back home unsatisfied and clueless, only to find a facebook video link on the “Divine book” a few days later which explains the islam beautifully.

Or when you excitedly tell a few brothers that you attended a talk by Yusuf Estes recently? Only to find out that one of them personally reverted after he randomly met Yusuf Estes in a shop in London and asked about Islam (Unbeknown to him who Yusuf Estes was at that time).

Or when you have doubts playing in your head about the legitimacy of Sufism? Only to be given a free taxi ride to the mosque by a sufi brother and explaining what Sufism is all about a few days later.

Or when you buy a little book a few days earlier in Manchester; the Ma’thurat (a beautiful compilation of wirid (litany) of Qur’anic verses and hadith, along with it’s spiritual benefits). After reading it with fervour on the train back from Manchester, you meet Dr Tariq Ramadan, the writer of the foreword of the book and grand son of the deceased compiler of the litany on the London tube the very next day. wAllahiOr when you are asked to write about Shaytan? You casually read the Qur’an and you just happen to come across the very verses explaining the origin of Shaytan.(7:11-22)

Or when you rejected and invitation from a friend, after feeling guilty you hope to meet him. The following afternoon, you stumbled upon him, unplanned.Or when you tell a friend that you wish to learn Arabic? The next day you randomly pick a mosque for fajr prayer. Only to meet your long lost Egyptian ustadh that you once learnt Arabic from 9 years ago.

Allahu akbar. Too many to be considered coincidences. And they say God does not exist, astaghfirullah. Each and every one I thank Allah and will always remember.

Predestination is a curious thing. How Allah readily puts everything into place at the precise space and time. Perfectly in balance. SubhanAllah.

“…you can see no fault in the creation of the Most gracious. Then look again, do you see any rifts?”( Al-Mulk 67:3)

Allah grants favours after favours to those who seek for it and trust Allah, in strange and unexpected ways. “And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts trust his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set measure for all things.”( At-Talaq 65:3)

All we have to do is just open our eyes, hearts and minds. Observe, pause and reflect on your life and on His creation. Read and ponder the Qur’an (careful not to interpret haphazardly) to realize the awe, grandeur and majesty of Allah and His favours He has granted us.

Then ask yourself. Allah tells us to do just that. 31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman, after realizing Allah’s bounties, ask yourself, “Which of Allah’s favours do you deny?”

Happy fasting,
Salaam

Jerk!

Salaam dear brothers and sisters, it's been a while no? Alhamdulillah, i've been busy with my parents coming here for my graduation alhamdulillah. Anyways, I just want to share my experience which happened last week if it's alright with you.

I was at the central mosque bookstore in london when this man appeared before me." I just gave da'wah to a drunken man, isn't it our duty to give da'wah? For he will drag me to hell with him if i didn't?" he stuttered to the shop keepers. He had a worried looked as though he had just committed a heinous crime, justifying his actions.

I was taken aback, there he was openly telling people this. At a first glance, he was this mad preacher, the clothes of a beggar, foul stench emanates from him, sweat dripped down his face, mangly, scruffy untidy,dirty, strange. Astaghfirullah, how i judged this man before knowing him. I nervously turned away in fear, disgust and reproach astaghfirullah.

I went into the prayer hall and sat in the corner, beside this egyptian brother. Lo and behold, a few minutes later, to my horror, there he was sitting down and facing me. I sat there awkward and uncomfortable. The whiswhas of shaitan, whispering into my ears, telling me to stand up and walk away.But alhamdulillah, i stayed.With a sincere smile, he gave salaam. "wa'alaikumsalam" i replied timidly. He had this permanent look in his eyes that you get when you are struck with a brilliant idea. Like the eyes of a mad scientist. Scary yet brilliant, astaghfirullah.

He and the other brother beside me began sharing beautiful stories about islam, about the Isra' Mi'raj, Prophet Adam As, Prophet Salleh AS, Rasulullah SAW. How he aspired to go for Hajj, how he yearns to read the qur'an excellently and understand it. How he cries every time he listens to a beautiful recitation. I listened intently, only to butt in with my little knowledge that i have.

But MashaAllah, this brother, a revert, was so enthusiastic, so sincere and pure that i asked myself,How dare i judged him by his exterior, how dare i think that i was better than him, when in fact he is pure of heart, what an evil person i am. Subhanallah. Uncontrollable tears flowed down my cheeks. Constantly wiping it off and putting on a smile while i continued listening to him quietly.

After an hour of sharing stories, it was time for the azan. We both got up, and i gave him a big mighty hug. No smell, honest. "I am sorry i talk too much akhi, thank you for listening, i usually drive people away you know" he apologised. When really, i should be apologising.

I performed the salah in self reflection, asking for Allah's forgiveness for my pride and judgement. Astaghfirullah.

(10) O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers). Al-Hujurat 49:10.

Sometimes we have to ask our selves, are we really better than other people? Do we really have the right to scoff and ridicule our brothers and sisters? Regardless of their appearances and actions.

May Allah forgive me.