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Roots

Assalamu alaikum, peace be with you all

This morning I was reflecting on my life’s journey. Dear friends have come to visit (and their coming was a surprise and indeed just what I needed at a time when I was very unwell, Alhamdulillah = all praise and thanks are due to Allah!). I used to live with them before they moved back to their home country. They are Palestinian and I loved and admired and heartily entered that culture when I did live with them. Before that I lived in different parts of the world, always admiring and appreciating different cultures and taking into myself some good aspects of it. For example from living in India, I appreciated simplicity and a generous spirit to all who come to one’s home. Something I do want to add, and not to sound preachy, but something I have noticed with humility is that whatever good I have found in any culture, essentially I have found that value to be Islamic in that it is something our beloved Muhammed (peace be upon him) has manifested. He truly is as Allah describes him in the Quran, ‘rahmatan lil alameen’ = a mercy to the worlds.

21:107

Sahih International Interpretation;

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.

 
Quran Surah 21 (Al-Anbiya’, The prophets) : ayah 107
 

Now living in Canada, it is an amazing opportunity to experience and learn from a vast array of different cultures. So over the years of living here I have often wondered what my roots will be, where will I put them down, where will I build a home, and in what way or form. Especially now that my student days are over, I have been wondering about this.

But this morning a knowledge growing manifests; that indeed no matter where I live in this world or who I live with and in what type of culture, my culture will be Muslim. But my roots, ah, those I am planting in heaven bi ithnillahi ta’ala! (by the grace and will of Allah). May you also do the same my dear readers, and may we meet there inshaAllah (God willing)

May God’s protection and guiding light be with you always and may you be aware of it. May we all become better and better at answering that call.

 

Eagle soaring – adoration in the sky

I was reading this ayah tonight and it hit me that every Eagle I have every admired soaring, every humming bird vertically poised by super-speed wing beat, every bird I have ever loved to watch…this is why I love watching them. For they too are adoring the One, the Beautiful, the Perfect. Peace be with you all, assalamu alaikum

24:41

 
Transliteration

Alam tara anna Allaha yusabbihulahu man fee assamawati wal-ardiwattayru saffatin kullun qadAAalima salatahu watasbeehahu wallahuAAaleemun bima yafAAaloon

 
Yusuf Ali Interpretation

Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do.

Quran: Surat 24, An-Nur (The Light), ayah 41
 
 
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Du’a Noora

Peace be upon you all and the continued blessings of Ramadan!

The du’a noora (supplication of light) is one of my favourite du’a. Our beloved messenger peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, used to make this du’a while walking to the mosque (and maybe at other times). While reflecting on this du’a it occurred to me that what we are asking is that we be cloaked by the presence of God.

As Noor (light) is one of the ‘names’ of Allah, and indeed we are taught in the Quran that God is light upon light, in the profound ‘ayaa-un-noor’ (verse of light) *given below. What a beautiful and profound supplication. When Allah cloaks us and the presence of God is all around and in us, then we are truly in unity with the One, the Only God.

God’s blessings be upon you all. Make this du’a often, it will wash away from you all pain – sincere advice from your sister 🙂

Here is the du’a, taken from this site

Allaahummaj’al fee qalbee nooran, wa fee lisaanee nooran, wa fee sam’ee nooran, wa fee basaree nooran, wa min fawqee nooran, wa min tahtee nooran, wa ‘an yameenee nooran, wa ‘an shimaalee nooran, wa min ‘amaamee nooran, wa min khalfee nooran, waj’al fee nafsee nooran, wa ‘a’dhim lee nooran, wa ‘adhdhim lee nooran. Waj’al lee nooran, waj’alnee nooran. Allaahumma ‘a’tinee nooran, waj’al fee ‘asabee nooran, wa fee lahmee nooran, wa fee damee nooran, wa fee sha’ree nooran, wa fee basharee nooran.[1][Allaahummaj’al lee nooran fee qabree, wa nooran fee ‘idhaamee.][2][Wa zidnee nooran, wa zidnee nooran, wa zidnee nooran.][3]
[Wa hab lee nooran ‘alaa noor.] [4]

O Allah, place light in my heart, and on my tongue light, and in my ears light and in my sight light, and above me light, and below me light, and to my right light, and to my left light, and before me light and behind me light. Place in my soul light. Magnify for me light, and amplify for me light. Make for me light, and make me light. O Allaah, grant me light, and place light in my nerves, and in my body light and in my blood light and in my hair light and in my skin light.[1][O Allaah, make for me a light in my grave… and a light in my bones.] [2] [Increase me in light, increase me in light, increase me in light.] [3] [Grant me light upon light] [4]

[1] Up to this point was reported by Al-Bukhaari 11/116 (Hadith no. 6316) and by Muslim 1/526, 529-530 (Hadith no. 763)
[2] At-Tirmidhi 5/483 (Hadith no. 3419)
[3] Al-Bukhaari in Al-’Adaab Al-Mufrad (Hadith no. 695), p. 258. See also Al-Albaani, Sahih Al-’Adab Al-Mufrad (no. 536)
[4] Al-Bukhaari, cf. Al-Asqalaani, Fathul-Baari 11/118

 

*Here is the verse of light, it is aya number 35 of Surah number 24, Surah-an-Nur (the chapter called light)

24:35
Sahih International interpretation of the Arabic:

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

***

 

Islamic Meditation Program

This program is bringing ancient, deep and undeniably true and powerful teachings of Islamic spirituality into a medium that is accessible and understandable to people living in the modern context. Please spend the time watching brother Ihsan’s videos. Islam is a religion of love and light and immense peace. We all need this. We are liberated not by suffering, but by love.

http://www.islamicmeditation.com/main/

 

Do not speak

Do not speak too fast
   for I fear the speed of what you say
   will drown out what you want to.
 
What do you want to say?
   That you are lonely, and deep needs
   need filling by empty blabbering.
 
Where have you come from and where are you going?
Where have you come from and where are you going?
 
Isn’t that enough to speak about
   And ‘ere speaking, it needs deep thinking.
  true listening. It needs you to be quiet.
 
So you can hear what God has never stopped saying.
 
***
copyright Joymanifest 2013

‘the highest part of it is fruitful and the lowest part of it is gushing forth with bounty’

Assalamu alaikum, Peace be with you all,

It is sad the miracle of the Quran doesn’t come through in translation. That is why we Muslims say the Quran cannot be translated, only interpreted in another language. The absolute beauty, profoundness, majesty, …the light…that is the arabic doesn’t come close to coming through. Now that I am formally studying classical arabic, I catch a glimpse of what the original text is, and Subhahanallah (Glory be to God!), by God, I swear, it transports me! It is as if another world is opened.

I came across this passage of how one of the compatriots of Muhammed (peace be upon him), a staunch enemy of Islam before he embraced it (and then a firm defender of the faith, like so many others) and best known for his skill in oratory and poetry, how he described the quran. It was given at the end of this post by Maryam AmirEbrahimi, itself well worth reading. I wanted to share it;

This is the Book that, in response to Abu Jahl who said: “Say to Muhammad something that would convince your people that you oppose him,” Al-Walid ibn Al-Mughirah replied: “And what can I possibly say? There is not a single man who is more knowledgeable of poetry or prose than I, or even that of the Jinn, and by Allah, what he says (the Qur’an) bears no resemblance to these things. By Allah, what he says has a sweetness to it, and a charm upon it; the highest part of it is fruitful and the lowest part of it is gushing forth with bounty; it dominates and cannot be dominated, and it crushes all that is under it.” (Reported by al at-Tabari in ‘Jami’ al-Bayan’ 29/156)

May you continue to strengthen your relationship with the Quran in this month of its celebration.

Allah bless and protect and forgive us all! And please please make du’a for me that I master the Arabic language!

oh the Quran!

The beautiful sounds of the recitation of the quran during the long prayers of these peaceful Ramadan nightsease my soul and energize my heart.

They waft over me like waves of incense,are as solid as my mother’s arms that held me in infancy. Their timeless rhyme and profound rhythm captures my attention and controls my heart.

Turning, turning, turning back to the One, back to where I came from, Reminding, reminding, reminding…sounds of home ease my soul’s on its foray in to this transient world. Reminding me of my eternal home. Reminding me of who is waiting there for my return.

The above prose is my simple way of trying to communicate the deep peace and joy of listening to the Quran. Last night we were blessed by such a profound and beautiful recitation during the prayer. The prayer was conducted by students on campus, so it was a student who recited (students take turns to lead the prayer), and only a short passage was recited. But it was soulful, slow, melodic, profound, each word pronounced correctly, each word felt. Ah, this is how to honour the Quran! All who listened were transported, and the veils on the heart were lifted. We had found our way home. I wish I could share a recording of it. Since I can’t I’ll post a youtube below. I chose the chapter 12, ‘Yusuf’ (the arabic version for Joseph) one of my most beloved chapters, and telling the beautiful story of Joseph (peace be upon him)

Peace be with you all

***

Joymanifest (c) 2013.

Chasing the new moon of Ramadan 1434

Assalamu alaikum!

Peace be upon you my dear readers. Every year I hope to see the new moon of Ramadan. There is something magical about being able to spot the new moon in the few minutes that thin crescent will be visible before it sets a few minutes after the sun. So this year for the first time I formed my own ‘hilal’ committee (hilal is the arabic word meaning ‘thin crescent’) and drove out to try to see the moon from various good vantage points in the city. Why you ask, did I not do this before? Well, Vancouver is not unfamous for its rain, and indeed this is a rare year where we have had blue skies running the past few weeks. Below are some pictures…unfortunately the blue skies gave way to sunset time cloud cover over the horizon so I did not spot the moon the first night, instead caught a beautiful sunset

 

Image

 

The second night, I did see it and glory be to God, it was beautiful! But I could not get a picture, for by the time I reached a place I could park the car the moon had gone behind cloud. I spotted it in a teeny glimpse while driving and it was magical. I wish I could have shared that with you.

But what I can share is this picture; of the hilal of the third night of Ramadan. Alhamdulillah! What a feeling to witness it and know one is in the blessed month. To gaze at that moon and know it was the same moon that saw the beloved prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) watching it so many centuries ago. Our beloved, the prophet (peace be upon him) used to make a beautiful supplication or ‘du’a’ when he saw the moon. I repeat it as do many Muslims. He is reported to have said;

‘O Moon, as you do worship God, so do I’

 As we believe, every natural object is in a constant state of worship, simply by virtue of fulfilling its natural laws and purpose if not by more.

And O Moon, as you do worship God, so do I! May the peace and blessing of this blessed month continue to envelope you.

Image

 

 

 

Stand with Malala!

Malala Yousafzai will be speaking at the UN this week, please sign her petition calling for education for all children across the world. Apparently it will only cost the governments of the world the equivalent of what it costs to build two nuclear power plants to do this (according to Avaaz bulletin) !

 

https://secure.aworldatschool.org/page/s/stand-with-malala

Asking

This poem I have read before but can’t remember where. I believe it is an old Muslim poem. I found it again here in this wonderful article on one of Allah’s names, ‘as-Samad’ = ‘The Eternal Refuge’. I’d encourage you all to read the article, and below is the poem.

God’s peace and mercy be with you all always

 

Do not ask the son of Adam for your needs

But ask the One whose doors do not close

Allah is angry when you do not ask

And the son of Adam, if asked, is angry

 

Peace to you all