A story about Hadrat Anas bin Maalik (RA)

Once some guests came to visit Hadrat Anas bin Maaik (RA). He entertained them with a meal. The tablecloth became dirty and discoloured, due to some food having fallen on it. Hadrat Anas (RA) instructed the maid servant to cast it into the burning furnace. The servant did as she was commanded.

The guests were astonished at this command. When the tablecloth was thrown into the burning furnace, they awaited the appearance of smoke to indicate that the tablecloth was burning. But instead, when the tablecloth was removed from the fire, it was still intact and had become clean.

They asked him: “O companion of Rasollullah (SAW), why did this tablecloth not burn in the fire? And instead of burning, had become perfectly clean?”

Hadrat Anas (RA) replied: “The reason for the tablecloth not burning is that on various occasions Rasoolullah (SAW) cleansed his hands and lips with this cloth”

Lesson: when a tablecloth was granted this honour by the wiping of his blessed hands, one can just imagine what honour and nearness to Allah will be granted in both worlds to those who follow the Sunnah diligently.

May Allah grant us all the ability to follow the Sunnah, Ameen.

Source: Ma-aarif-e-Mathnavi Volume 1, by Hadrat Moulana Hakim Akhtar Saheb.

Weirdness personified

I’ve been tagged by dear Blue Pearl into doing this post about the weirdest things about me, so now I tag the following bloggers: Humayda, SS, Rose Water, Fadiosis, Mustika Sari, MuslimWife23, R (when I find your blog ;P), Sabeehah (when she eventually starts blogging, I give her till 2013 ;P) and anyone else who wants to be tagged! (I know I’m really delayed with this so apologies to anyone that has already done this post)

Asking my family was almost of no purpose coz they all answered “Everything” and then went off into peals of laughter. **on second thoughts maybe this does actually say something about me? **

Another 10-year old cousin said my teeth are rather big *hahahaha* but he withdrew his statement after a shouting from his mother!!

So besides my large teeth -

•  Can’t spell ‘attitude’ or ‘architect’ without using spell check. I’m not so sure whether this is weird or plain stupid.

• I eat terribly hot food. I mean really HOTT! Nando’s extra-hot is a must-have when I eat.

•  Hate it when anyone looks at my toes.

•  I claim I love reading books but don’t manage more than two a year?! Makes me wonder how strong my love really is. Does reading blogs count?

• I love different languages but can’t speak my home-language properly!

•  Can raise each eyebrow separately.

• My teeth are crooked even after two years of braces!

•  I can create a shallow pit in my shoulder (near the acromo-clavicular and gleno-humeral joints).

•  Eating ice-cream for breakfast is not strange for me neither is it abnormal to eat an entire slab of chocolate in one sitting.

•  I love butter. A few years ago, I could only take Panado’s after encapsulating it in butter. *sjoe! I'm glad that's over*

 

•  I have a driver’s licence but don’t drive.

 

•  Confuse my right and left.

•  I’m stuck – I suck at introspection.

Random

Dear readers!

Today I had my 1^st REAL experience of being a doctor. This time it was no playing “doctor-doctor” “doctor-patient” with my friends. This time we had to consult a real patient.

Fortunately, it was only IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses) and we were in groups. In addition, Sister S was there to overlook. *I wonder if the mothers (and babies) felt intimidated by 5 med-students consulting them? Maybe they felt special?*

Alhamdulillah, I really enjoyed my morning – May Allah keep it that way. Ameen.

I reminisced, yet again, my failure to be able to speak the native languages. Most people in Bloem speak Sotho and Afrikaans. In general my Afrikaans sucks and... well...Sotho... “ Dumela” (greeting) is as far as I can get! *language –crisis* 

Ps. I do realise that I owe 2 blog posts:

The weird stuff about me (tagged by Blue Pearl); and

The versatile blogger (awarded by Rose Water)

So watch this space 

The end of Summer Vacation!

I have only a few days left before I leave... (there are many ways to complete this sentence)... for Bloemfontein, InshAllah.

I won’t say I’m really looking forward to getting back but I guess it would be good to see my friends again and more-so to actually start this year! Everyone else at my home has gone back to work and my life these past few days has been somewhat stagnant. Pretty house-wife-ish, in fact. I spend my time helping our dear domestic worker, answering phone-calls, cleaning out cupboards and then waiting for everyone to return home! Gee, I’m not used to this!  

I feel like an over-recharged battery that is waiting to spark forward. Problem: I hope this spirit lasts for more than a week! I fear being totally flat as soon as I reach Bloem on Sunday.

Anyways, here’s a little something for us to think about:

Do you ever feel that people only notice the few things that you didn’t do but fail to notice the numerous things that you did? Don’t despair – Allah notices everything!

Seek recognition from Allah, not from people.

A story about Zikr

A certain devotee was one night making the Zikr of Allah’s name in complete sincerity so much so that from this Zikr his saliva too was tasting sweet. Shaytaan said to him: “O Saint! Be silent. Why are you reciting this Zikr so profusely? It is of no benefit. After all, you do not get any reply from Allah’s side. So what benefit is there in one-sided love?”

Hearing these words of deceit from Shaytaan, the pious man became broken-hearted and depressed. He postponed the rest of his Zikr and went to sleep.

That night he saw in a dream that Hadrat Khidr (as) came to him, asking him: “Why were you negligent of Zikr this night?”

The pious man replied: “from Allah’s side there was no reply of ‘Labbaik’. From this I got the impression that my Zikr was not accepted by Him”.

Hazrat Khidr (as) said: “Allah has sent a message to you. He has said: Tell this servant of mine: ‘O My servant, your saying ‘Allah’ is My reply of ‘Labbaik’ (I am present)’”

In other words, when your first ‘Allah’ is accepted by Allah, then only are you granted the ability to say ‘Allah’ a second time. Thus this second ‘Allah’ is “Labbaik from My side”.

Lesson: at the time of making Zikr, it should be borne in mind that it is when our first ‘Allah’ is accepted then only the second Zikr of ‘Allah’ follows. And this second Zikr must be accepted before the third on follows...         

Blessed is this gift for the Zaakireen. May Allah grant us the ability to make Zikr up to the last breath of our lives, Ameen.

What would you do in this case? (Number 3)

You (and your predominantly female family) are getting off your car, when you notice a bearded-kurta-&-topee man constantly stare at you (and your family). He seems to move around so that he can get a better ‘view’.  Do you:

(More than one option may be chosen)

1. Get back into the car and drive off
2. Curse your failure to wear Niqab
3. Glare at him (AKA the stiff look)
4. Audibly announce: "Believing men should lower their gaze"
5. Take your scarf and pull it over your face
6. Mumble and grumble under your breath
7. Other (please specify) 

A rant

Dear readers, I hate to be of the type that complains about everything but after attending the Mayyit (funeral) of my dear aunt (may Allah grant her Jannah), I have renewed irritation. So here goes my very own dos and don’ts of attending a Mayyit. (This is intended for ladies of South Africa).

1. The purpose of attending a Mayyit is to offer condolences to the family, remind yourself of approaching death & the unpredictability of life and to make Du’aa for the deceased. Do not sit there and stare at all the people that are grieving and contemplate on who you think is ‘feeling it the most’. WTH.

Solution: Please take one of the many Qura’ns and read it as Ithaale-thawaab for the deceased.

2. I realize that in today’s rat-race of a life, one often only meets people at hatches, matches and dispatches... but really! Do not loudly whisper about the health, education status and emotional well-being of all your long-lost friends. This is not the time! In addition, it is not the time to announce “How you came to know about the Mayyit” and “who dropped you off at the house and how you intend finding your way home”.

Solution: Make Dhikr and please leave these unnecessary panchaat stories for later. Take note of your long-lost friends and give them a call the next day to catch up on details.

3. Keeping quiet must really be a challenge but try to control yourself when the Mayyit has just been lifted up. It totally pisses me (sorry for the bad word) that the Mayyit has barely reached the end of the drive-way road and there goes the noise. No more whispers. Now it’s loud talking amidst tears, oohs and shames. Why must it be that someone must start a loud recitation of the Qur’an before our wonderful sympathy-offerers shooooosh?

FYI this is terribly RUDE.

Solution: KEEP QUIET and read something. Make Du’aa. This is the time for asking for forgiveness for the deceased.

4. A Mayyit was never and will never be a ceremony. So do not sit and wait to be served food. Especially if you are from the same city, please go home and have your next meal. Is it really necessary for people to go and have large meals prepared for you?

(In SA, food is served but is intended for the immediate family & people coming from far- away places.)

Solution: Food should be sent to the deceased house (as mentioned in Hadith) and not eaten from there!



5. It is both unnecessary and contrary to Sunnah for every Fathima, Ayesha and Maryam to request ‘seeing the face’.

Solution: Please refrain from doing this.

6. Personal hygiene and dressing neatly is definitely an important aspect of Islam – but NB NB NB – this does not mean you must wear your latest Swarovski/ excessively gaudy Abaya. !!! . This is a Mayyit and is by no means an opportunity for ostentatious parading.

Solution: Figure out yourself. And forget the make-up for the day as well.



7. When attending a Mayyit you ought to remember that you still remain a guest in that house. You can be as untidy as you wish in your own house but please do your bit (when @ a Mayyit house) and keep the bathrooms/ wudu areas etc as clean as possible. (It was particularly frustrating to see my aunt’s [well-known for her almost OCD-clean habits] house being messed up)



8. And finally, learn how to offer sympathy. Stop asking people to stop crying – crying is only a natural emotion and it is within limits allowed in Islam. Telling a grieving person “it’s very hard” is also not the best. Try to encourage them to display patience and to accept the will of Allah.

Solution: learn how to offer sympathy or keep quiet.