Hope

This world has become a difficult place to live in. At times it seems as if every door is closed, we are trapped in something for which no escape seems possible. At such times is their something to give us hope? I was listening to this beautiful lecture which shed light on this topic. I hope it also helps you when you feel their is no hope left.

Female Integrity

What kind of times have come? Day by day i am more shocked and depressed. There was a time when females were synonymous with modesty. It was an understood thing that a wife would be loyal, would guard herself. It was implicit that the most important thing to a female would be her modesty.

BUT what is happening now? Wives are having extra marital affairs, girls are prettying themselves up in immodest fashions just to gain attention. And to top it all up it doesn't even shock anyone anymore. A true reflection of this degradation can be seen from the media. They are showing females in the most disgusting and immoral roles. Its amazing to see that this is being churned out of the so called *Islamic Republic of Pakistan*. I feel sick of this setup and immorality. It seems their is no escape, everywhere you turn its the same. *Sigh* world has become a messed messed up place and Pakistan seems to be at the center of that mess.

Patience & Forebearence

I met a friend recently who has been out of Pakistan for a few years and she made me realize how frustrated and impatient we as a nation have become and therefore i felt it was relevant to write something about this topic. Its true that in current times every step is full of difficulty and calamities, it is very easy to lose patience and become frustrated. Life can seem oppressive at times and it almost seems impossible to move on. It's at these times it's important to keep certain traditions and narrations in mind to help one get over the frustrations and disappointments and be patient.  Below i am relating some of these narrations:

Beware! Your patience should not be like those of ordinary people. Instead of remaining patient, they were more concerned with their exhibition of patience. This is Riyakari. The patience of muttaqi (pious) people should be such in which there is hope of reward in the hereafter. Arifs (those who have knowledge about the qualities of Allah) should be such that at the time of patience, they should enjoy their hardships because these hardships have been given by the Beloved who is aware of its result.

Allah the Most High said: “O you who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient.”

 He also said: “And give good news to the patient. Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: 'Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return.' Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.” 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) said: “There are three kinds of forbearance: Forbearance in misfortune, forbearance in obedience and forbearance against disobedience.”

Imam 'Ali (a.s.) the Commander of the Faithful said: “The role of patience in actions is like the role of the head among the organs of the body. If the head is gone the organs become useless and if patience is gone actions are useless.”

And seek assistance through patience and prayer; and most surely it is a hard thing, except for the humble ones (2:45), who know that they shall meet their Lord and that they shall return to Him (2:46). 

Imam As-Sādiq (a. s.) said: "Whenever ‘Alī (a.s.) faced a difficulty, he used to stand up for the prayer and then recite this verse: and seek assistance through patience and prayer." (al-Kāfī) 

Yeah things can seem very difficult at times BUT just remember these traditions and keep in mind the tragedy of Kerbala. How Imam Hussain(a.s) kept on moving even after he had to carry so many bodies, face so many enemies alone, he didn't give up but went ahead with his mission with patience and forbearance.

references:
Al-Mizan-Chapter 13
Living the Right Way by Ayatullah Jawad Tehraani 
WASIYATNAMA (Last Will & Testament) Ayatullah Shaikh Abdulla Mamkani (a.r.)'s will to his children, relatives, well-wishers and friends
 http://www.al-islam.org/short/wasiyatnama/38.htm

Dua by Imam Hussain(a.s)

This is such a short BUT beautiful dua. Each line holds a very deep meaning. Whenever you feel depressed, saddened by this world and hopeless of people just think about these moving words. They will surely help you understand and feel better...:)

In the morning of the day of Āshura the horsemen of the enemy launched an attack on the ranks of the Imam. The Imam(a.s) raised his hands in prayer and said: 


"O Lord! I depend on you in every affliction and am hopeful of Your blessing in every hardship.

In every difficulty with which I am faced, You are my only remedy and resort. 


There have been many embarrassments which weakened my heart and no remedy for it was available.


The friends did not assist me and the enemies rejoiced at my misfortune.


However, when I ceased to seek assistance from everyone except You and sought the remedy only from You, You provided me solace and relief and removed the difficulty.


Every blessing and goodness reaches us from You and everything should be sought from You only".


Ref:Supplication of Imam in the Morning of Ashura

Round and Round

Has life become like that of  a hamster that runs on a wheel but essentially stays at the same position. Are we going round and round yet not moving a step ahead? Are we at the same place that we started in the morning? Is our life passing this way?
Round and round we go...till when?!

World is a Prison

Holy Prophet(pbuh) has narrated : "This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever".
No matter how lovely this world might seem to many, its nothing compared to what would be offered in the hereafter.

 Imam Ali(a.s) has narrated  : "To continue, surely, the likeness of this world is that of a snake: it is soft to touch, and deadly poisonous. The ignorant child is distracted by it, and the one with understanding and intellect is cautious of it. So turn away from what fascinates you in it, for how little of it stays with you."

Keep such narrations in mind and do not be attracted by this world. Always view it as an evil thing. Only then will you be able to bear the tests and trials of this world with patience. After all who expects comfort from a prison or soothing effect from poison, right?!

Good disposition

I think having a good disposition is one of the great struggles of these days. Society has become such that we are faced with rude, arrogant, mean people at every turn of our lives. It becomes that much harder when its someone closer to us. Sometimes its our relatives themselves who behave in such a manner that it becomes difficult to maintain good akhlaq. We feel like lashing out, showing our frustration, being rude to them etc. BUT is this the way we should act? I know it's very hard, i only felt the need to write this because sometimes i struggle with this as well. Its obvious that the more closer and attached you are to someone the more power they get over you to hurt you.


Now let us look what Islam teaches us to do in such conditions. We can look at examples from the lives of Ahlul Bayt(s.a) and Quran to learn.

Once A man asked the Holy Prophet: “What is the best of all actions”? The Holy Prophet replied: “Akhlaq”.

The Holy Prophet(saww) has also said: " you should create within yourself the Akhlaq(behavior) of Allah". For example Allah(swt) is merciful: we should be merciful to others. Allah(swt) is forgiving: we should also forgive others when they are at fault. Allah(swt) treats even his enemies with love and magnanimity, we should also do likewise.

ref:On Akhlaq

In a tradition in which Holy Prophet(saww) narrates the true characteristics of a believer he says: ”(The complete true believer is one who) is sweeter than honey; and is stronger than the outside of a rock; and who does not expose the secrets that people confide in him; and if he himself finds out something about other people, he does not expose this information.”
ref:Characteristics of a True Believer– Part V

If we focus on the first part it talks about honey. This means that whoever comes in contact with honey feels a sweetness. Believers should be the same way. Imagine this: if honey was put in something sour, it would turn it sweet. This means that if we come in contact with unpleasant people, we should not let ourselves become unpleasant rather we should act like honey and counter affect their sourness. This is a very difficult thing, but as a wise friend said, practice makes perfect. So the next time, you meet someone rude or mean, think of it as a practice situation.

It may be hard BUT with practice may Allah(swt) give us taufeeq to be patient and kind to those who do wrong unto us....(ameen).