Random epiphanies
Every once in a while, by His will, Allah gives us a glimpse behind “The veil”. This “veil” is really just the product of our complete inability to comprehend Allah as He is. Sometimes it seems these come as a result of fasting and endless prayer, dhikr, etc. Other times it seems they just come, but in any case all success is from Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala.
I had one of these moments earlier, on my way home from Amscot. Pondering over the fact that the bank had to hold my money until tomorrow morning and I can’t afford to do laundry today I found myself correcting my poor attitude. The thing is, I told myself, this life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it..it’s all perception. At least I have money in the bank, and was able to take out enough to pay the rent, and at least I have clothes to wash. At this point my attitude improved immediately. I know, you might be thinking,”This is it? This is his epiphany?” No..but this is the thought process that lead to the epiphany.
Pondering on the power of perception I realized that that’s all there is, perception and Allah. We don’t live in this world as it is. The world is separate from our perception of it, yet all we know is our perception so as far as practicality is concerned the world “as is” for all intensive purposes does not actually exist. We change everything in this world with our perception, and so 10 people could look at the same object or situation and come away with 10 different understandings and experiences. Reality is subjective. Think back to Aristotle’s Theory of Forms, or the Buddha’s statement that the world is as we think it to be.
As for Allah Al Azim, He is completely above and outside of our perception. He is independent of it. This is why He is Al Haqq, The Reality. In fact, He is the ONLY Reality. He is unchanged, He is Himself regardless of how we perceive Him, or whether we even perceive Him in the first place.
Even we ourselves change according to our perception, so how can we be any more real than our thoughts and emotions and mental constructs? Allah SWT exists outside of concepts and constructs, we could never explain Him in such a way as to fit our mind because our mind is subjective and relative, and Allah SWT is completely unlike anything.
Allah is the one thing we cannot affect or change with our perception, whatsoever. If anyone thinks they have an understanding of the Almighty other than what He is in the way He has revealed Himself, indeed they would be lost. He is only one as He is, our mind does not change Him. And yet, that being said, if Allah sees to it to change us we are altogether powerless to resist Him. If we are in ignorance and Allah wills it that we should come to know Him, it is so and no one or nothing can change or stop it. Similarly, if He wills us to be astray we have no hope but Him to save us from our ignorance.
This is what brings me to a deeper understanding of Tawhid, the Oneness and Unity of Allah Al Zawajal. It could almost be said that with all of our changing attitudes, emotions and concepts, times the billions of people in the world today, there are just as many universes as perceptions, if we indeed see each perception as a different world. However, regardless of how many perceptions and dimensions our mind leads us into, Allah SWT is One. He does not change or divide for the sake of our perception. His vastness is such that He is beyond all of our states of being and understanding.
Even with this note, no one will read this and come away with the same understanding. Even the same person could read this and each time probably come away with something new, depending on their perception at that time. Allah is One, Allah is the Real, either we understand it or we don’t. Our perception will not change that, and that’s why when one develops a relationship with Allah it could never be put into words. Words, concepts and images reduce the true nature of a thing. Perception takes something out of its nature and brings it into a world of form and duality, and therefore it is a knowledge of the heart (qalb), not of the mind.
This is why Islam rejects images and idols, because a concept or image of God is not The Reality, The Reality transcends all of these.
72:2 “It shows the way to Enlightenment, so we have come to believe in it. And we shall never again ascribe a partner unto our Lord.”
May this note benefit you, inshallah. May we all gain knowledge and hidayah, and may our striving and the Rahmah of Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala join us among the righteous and admit us to Paradise. Ameen.
Annihilation or Liberation?
How can I describe the color of light to a blind man? The eyes improving slightly, some run recklessly to the reflection on the glass, slapping the exterior like moths burning to feel the warmth. The light itself so far hidden within the center of the flame, we seek and yet settle for what is seen only by the eyes. The heart can see what the eyes cannot, empty yourself and see life for the first time.
My true name is Nothing, my enemy tells me otherwise. Depriving myself with hunger is the only true food, My body starves to nourish the spirit. Two loves cannot live in the same heart, I am shamed by my infidelity. Striving to lower my gaze, I am taken with an ocean of forms that are other than my Beloved. Every moment I steal leads me further away, further and further until I am imprisoned by I and Me.
I spread out my mat, in hopes that my Love will notice my longing, acknowledging my calls with a moment of forgetfulness. Forgetfulness of everything I know, everything I hold to be “real”. There is only one Reality. May I follow my namesake, and destroy the idols within my soul.
What is real love 1 a Sufi perspective
A great talk by Sheikh Hisham Kibbani of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. MashaAllah.
Be the change you want to see
Abu Musa reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “You will not be true believers until you are merciful with one another.” They said: “O, Messenger of Allah, we are all merciful!” He said: “It is not that you should be merciful to each other, but you should also merciful in general.” [Note: Agreed upon, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab and Muslim in Al-Fada`l]
‘Loving-kindness is drawn to the saint, as medicine goes
to the pain it must cure.
Where there is pain, the remedy follows:
wherever the lowlands are, the water goes.
If you want the water of mercy, make yourself low;
then drink the wine of mercy and be drunk.
Mercy upon mercy rises to your head like a flood.
Don’t settle on a single mercy, O son.
Bring the sky beneath your feet
and listen to celestial music everywhere’
Mevlana Jalaludin Rumi(2.1938-1942)
Daily Wird (devotion) example
A general outline of my own daily Wird, in hopes of inspiring the reader that they may also benefit inshallah.
Upon waking: “Alhumdulillahil lazi Ahyana Ba’da ma Amatana Wa Ilaihin-nushur” (All praises due to Allah, who revived us to life after giving us death, and to Him we shall have to return)
“Alhumdulillahi Rabil ‘alamin” (All praise due to Allah, Lord of the worlds)
Also before bed, after witr prayer:
Zikr ul-Fatima (Subhanallah, Alhumdulillah, Allah hu akbar) x33
“Allahuma bismika amuta wa ahya” (Oh Allah, with your name I die and I live)
“Bismillahil lazi la ilaha illa huwa” (In the name of Allah, there is no god except Him)
“Allahuma Anta hassanta khalqi fa-hassin khuluqi” (Oh Allah, you have made my physical shape beautiful, so beautify my character too)
“Allahuma a’inni ‘ala zikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibadatika” (Oh Allah, help me at your rememberance, thanks, and good worship)
“Bismillahi a’uzu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhaziru” (In the name of Allah, I seek refuge with Allah and with His power from every evil that I may find or the fear of which ever haunts me)
“Ya Rabbi lakal hamdu kama yanbaghili jalali wajhika wa’azimi sultanika” (Oh my Lord, all praises be to You as it should be due to your Might and the Greatness of your Power)
“Rabbigh-firli waliwali dayya walil mu’minina yauma yaqumul-hisabu Rabbir hamhuma kama rabbayani saghiran” (Oh my Lord, forgive me, my parents, and Muslims in the hereafter. Oh Lord, show mercy on them as they have nourished me when I was young)
Surah Fatihah
Surah Kafirun
Surah Ikhlas
Surah Falaq
Surah Nas
Rabbana ( “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar.”
“Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.” (2:201) )
Ayatul Kursi (2:255)
Durud Sharif (sending prayers to Prophet Muhammad saws and Prophet Ibrahim as)
Reflection on the 99 beautiful names of Allah-#17, Ar-Razzāq.
Just a few things I’ve been thinking about lately..I’ve been wanting to write this blog for a little while now, but I’ve been very busy. Yet as always, the show must go on.
Disclaimer: I am not, I repeat, I am NOT a scholar of Islam. Please do not take this as an official statement of Islamic doctrine. This is just some of my own reflecting, in relation to my own practice of Islam. I hope this benefits whoever reads it.
Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Rahim, In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
The first name I would like to reflect on is #17:
الرزاق
Ar-Razzāq
The Ever Providing
I had a discussion with my fiancé about how over-eating and being miserly with money are diseases of the heart the other day. To be fair, this wasn’t all based on original thought. I had the general idea, but seeing a video a good friend of mine made on the topic helped to put the thoughts into words.
The reason I say they are diseases of the heart is that these behaviors stem from fear and uncertainty. It’s often been said that fear and faith cannot live in the same heart. This fear comes from a lack of faith, uncertainty that Allah will provide for your needs. We are told in the Qu’ran ul kareem that Allah is our only sustainer, and that everything we will gain in this dunya is already alotted for us before we’re even born. And yet, we worry about where our next buck or our next meal is coming from. We all do it, don’t get me wrong. I’m not writing this to place myself on a high horse. I’m simply trying to show how these behaviors come from a lack of faith, and harden the heart to Allah. Doesn’t this mean that avoiding these behaviors will then help to soften the heart?
Consider this Hadith:
On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying:
“No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”
[Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’I, Ibn Majah – Hadith sahih]
Now think of all the vessels on this earth. There’s some very bad ones, filled with some very bad things. And of all of these, our stomach is the worse. There’s a lot to be said about that.
Is it not safe to assume that Rasulallah (Saws) had deep wisdom in proclaiming this? I find it a bit shallow to assume the reason he said this had no spiritual benefit whatsoever. Nor does he speak from whim. It is nothing but Revelation revealed. (Surat al-Najm: 3-4)
Let us all reflect on this aspect of our Lord. Isn’t saying “Ash hadu la illa ha il Allah” saying we believe in ALL his attributes? I find that for myself, part of growing in this deen is applying this reflection to my daily habits. I’m not 100%, I’m human, I’m fallible. However, I make the effort. I do the work, and when I do I see the benefits. So why not try this way of eating, keeping in mind that it’s to increase our belief, to increase our trust in Allah? That he is our only sustainer, and Ar-Razzāq, The Ever Providing?
Same goes for the hoarding of money. Now of course, this does not mean to be frivolous and irresponsible, after all we will be asked how we spent our money on the day of Qiyam. However, to withhold money from our dependents, go hungry, and otherwise inconvenience ourselves out of fear of poverty is another effect of a lack of faith in this aspect of Allah.
In the Qu’ran, Allah tells us that some of the unbelievers used to kill their own children for fear of poverty! Though as Muslims we would not do the same, this same fear afflicts many of us today.
“kill not your children because of poverty — We provide sustenance for you and for them”
[al-An’aam 6:151]
“And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin”
[al-Isra’ 17:31]
I do not have to go too far back to recall stories in the news about single mothers dropping their babies in dumpsters and the like, based on the fear that they could not provide for them. As Always, Allah’s wisdom is endless, and the Qu’ran once again proves itself and its validity.
Also,
“Verily, Allaah is the All‑Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong”
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:58]
“And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus or grave). All is in a Clear Book (Al‑Lawh Al‑Mahfooz — the Book of Decrees with Allaah)”
“Who is he that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision? Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and (they) flee (from the truth)”
[al-Mulk 67:21]
“And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At‑Tayyibaat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment”
[al-Isra’ 17:70]
Now consider this news story:
a report on the BBC website on 1/9/2004 said:
Official statistics show that thirty-three thousand people killed themselves last year in Japan. Japanese officials say that one of the reasons for this rise in the suicide rate is the economic recession that Japan is facing, which is regarded as the worst in fifty years. This has led to an unprecedented rise in unemployment as well as a rise in cases of depression, especially among middle-aged men. End quote.
We must integrate this belief into our life, for obvious reasons.
Sufyan Thawri said: “The strongest weapon of Satan to entrap man is the fear of poverty.”
Au’zu billahi min ar shaitan ir rajim. I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed one. I ask Allah to cleanse our hearts and to increase our iman. Ameen.
May this benefit you and Jazak Allah khair, may Allah reward you for reading.
The Quest for Marifa 