BaKhabar, December 2013, Page-3 [So You Want the Mercy of Allah! + Is there a PlayStation in Jannah?]

BaKhabar, Vol 6, Issue 12, December 2013

So You Want the Mercy of Allah!

- By Latiefa Achmat

I was speaking to a young man and through the conversation I heard him say, “I don’t make du`aa’ anymore.”
I asked him, “Why not?” and he replied, “I made du`aa’ for some things and I never got them so I just gave up!”
I asked him if he was happy in his life, he said, “Not really.” Then I asked him if he felt he needed the mercy of Allah in his life, and at that he replied very enthusiastically, “Of course I do!”
Now this made me think very deeply about some things in life. Is it right that we (mankind in general) go on expecting things from our Creator while we sit down passively, mostly just observing life and hardly doing anything for anyone else unless it somehow fits in with our scheme of things?
Is it right if a kid wants something from his mum and dad but he is doing and saying things they do not like, going out without their permission, dressing in an unacceptable way, not pulling his weight around the house, and so on, then he just come right out and ask for money, or new clothes, or whatever, and then grumble when they refuse, and perhaps adding how unfair life is and how very unreasonable they are?
Let’s look at it another way. Imagine you had someone you called your friend but this person spoke badly about you behind your back and only came hanging around when he wanted something—then one day he comes to you and asks a big favor. Most likely you would tell him to forget it and simply ignore him if he started complaining.
So we all acknowledge that on the human level life is a matter of give-and-take; it’s a matter of rights and responsibilities.
What about your relation with your Creator?
Is it right that we enjoy the bounty of this marvelous creation and, even though everything was created for the benefit of man, we go ahead and make use of things for our own benefit and comfort without thinking of others?
Is it right to fail to give others their rights and expect our rights, and often fail to take care of the creation that Allah provided for us?
How often do you use things that you know will pollute the environment—the same environment that Allah created for you?
We are dropping litter, using chemicals, and generally tapping into the wasteful and excessive way of life in the modern world, without really thinking seriously about our responsibility to yourself, those around us, the world, and our Creator.
Then when we get sick because of the polluted and chemical-filled environment, you turn in desperation to the Lord of all asking for help and healing. Then as soon as we are well again, you go back to the old habits of misusing, if not destroying, the environment.
How Merciful Allah is! Even though you keep making the same mistakes; even though you misuse yourself, others, and the world around you, He still comes to your aid! He, the Almighty, gives you enough opportunity to change, to see the errors of your ways and to make a fresh start.
Have you ever noticed how your body heals as does the environment? So where is your place in all this?
A person can drink alcohol and abuse his body until he gets liver disease—and then blame fate! Likewise a person could neglect the rights of his family and even abuse them when he is in the prime of his life and filled with strength, but when he gets old and is left alone and feeling lonely, he curses life and complains how difficult life is! Do you find that you sometimes do things like this?

     Allah's Mercy and a World Full of Dangers

Have you ever passed by a river that is polluted and said how awful it is that “mankind” destroys nature? But then haven’t you ever tipped chemicals down the sink that end up in the river system, and somewhere along the line, contributed to this awful state of pollution?
What I want to say is that you have to be willing to take your responsibilities seriously. The first step is to realize that Allah has called upon mankind to be the caretakers of this world.
Allah the Almighty said:
{You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin what is good, and forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah…} (Aal-`Imran 3:110)
We have to understand that the nature of this life is not just to make money and live a comfortable life of ease. We have to be willing to give: to give to those around us, our family and friends and our communities; to participate in the voice of society that calls for justice; to speak out against violations against mankind and the earth.
When toxic waste is dumped, what do you do? When logging companies are allowed to destroy one of the last remaining rainforests on earth, what do you do? When people are abused and oppressed, what do you do? If your answer is “nothing.” Then you should think again.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “
Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do so, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (hate it) in his heart, and that is the least of Faith. “(Muslim)
Allah created us to worship Him, and a part of that worship is to keep within His boundaries—the rules He has provided us with, knowing full well that whatever He has ordered us to keep away from is in fact bad for us.
So imagine a person who is selfish, stubborn, and harsh. He couldn’t care less about the effects of dumping their factory’s toxic waste into any place convenient (for them). He lives his life trying to make more and more money and gathering up material wealth; he doesn’t really care whose head he steps on to get up the social ladder, and basically he doesn’t really care about anyone except himself. If such a person prays to the Creator of all—should he expect his du`aa’ to be answered? Listen to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about this:
"Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the Faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, as He Almighty has said:
{O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. } (Al-Mu’minun 23:51)
And Allah the Almighty has said,
{O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you. } (Al-Baqarah 2:172)
Then he mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: O Lord! O Lord! While his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered? " (Muslim)
Then what about the person who isn’t as corrupt as the above-mentioned person, but in his own way demonstrates weakness and apathy.

     Accept Allah Into Your Life

Imagine someone who stops trying every time things get difficult; someone who takes on the habit of saying “I couldn’t be bothered” or “I’ll do it later” even though he knows what is right. He knows very well that he should pray and fast, but it just seems too tough in that moment, and he feels he can get his life in order later.
Whenever a problem arises, he takes the easy way out. You’ll never find him standing up for what is right, taking the side of an oppressed person, or in fact, doing any kind of noble deed. Then when he wants something, he prays and when his prayer isn’t answered when and how he wants, he gives up on that, too. Now does that make sense?
What does Allah want from you? Remember He gave you your life, your family and friends, a series of situations, and all the creation around you. Do you think He gave you all this just for fun and games? Or to realize the reality, understand yourself and your role in life, and appreciate your Creator and spread the message of truth wherever you are?
The mercy of Allah is ever present. It is you who must learn how to tap into that mercy and learn to live your life in a way that will make you deserving of that mercy. The same power that controls the universe promises to turn to you if you turn to Him! It’s like this because your Creator gave you freedom of choice, so you can try to face life either with His help or without it.
Source: http://bit.ly/18dmiQR

Is there a PlayStation in Jannah?

--- For E Islam, by Umm Ismail

Some years back my 11 year old son asked me if I thought there would be a PlayStation in Jannah(Paradise), because really, if there wasn’t going to be one, then he didn’t know if he still wanted to go there. While I was gratified to be thought so knowledgeable, I was also aware that my reputation as Oracle-In-Chief was now at stake.

So naturally I thought very carefully about how to respond.

His query reminded me of another, a few decades earlier. I attended Madressah(Islamic School) with an older aunt who graciously conceded to teaching me privately in the afternoons after school. When I started high school, she told me I would have to start wearing the hijab soon. Now this was the 80’s – South Africa was in the grip of the last, bloody, grasp of institutional apartheid, the Rainbow nation hadn’t yet been born, and a head-scarfed girl at my school wasn’t an option.
So being 12 and opinionated, I asked her why, and whether I would have to wear it at school as well. I knew of other girls who wore it, then instantly discarded it at the school gate for the duration of the school day, only to put it on again when they went home. She replied that it would indeed be all right since hijab was for one’s protection, and at school girls were protected (from what, I wondered!).

If wearing hijab was compulsory, my teen brain reasoned, then surely there had to be a proper reason. I also questioned why would it be ok to wear the hijab on one side of the school gate and unnecessary on the other side? Silently, I promptly decided never to wear hijab - until aeons later, at 17, when it made perfect sense!

When our children question us about Islamic principles, ethics or concepts, we often find it difficult to address their concerns head-on. We either react with self-righteous indignation, or sometimes we’re just amiably dismissive, while pointedly informing them about what’s allowed and what’s not.

Our children however, are not pint-sized, programmable versions of adults, who after a few basic instructions – pray 5 times daily, learn all your Surahs(Quranic Verses), and don’t forget the eating dua (prayer) – will then happily be on their way. Utterly complete human beings, endowed with a healthy curiosity and a growing intellect, they need to be engaged, debated with and have their sometimes misguided views, challenged. Their insecurities, preposterous or profound have to be entertained too.
The Quran constantly encourages us to ponder and use our ‘aql (intellect):
“And We have certainly left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason.” (Quran:29:35) and again
“And it is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Then will you not reason?” (Quran23:80).
Despite this, we consistently choose not to heed to seek reasoning, nor do we expect our children to. Indeed we expect them, ironically, to do as their forefathers didand inherit the faith we sometimes wear with weary familiarity. Why?

Perhaps it is because we assume that wanting to understand the essence of a Divine instruction is to question its validity. Perhaps, more often than not, we ourselves don’t understand its logic and wisdom. But does this have to be so?

As Hazrat Ali (RA) taught us, and echoed by educationist Ken Robinson, we raise our children for a time other than our own, in fact for a future as yet, quite undetermined. In order for them to grow into the Caretakers that Allah SWT intended, their faith must grow organically; because faith, unlike Granny’s antique cups, cannot be passed down to future generations.

Their first steps into the world of meaning and values must be infused with the continued appreciation of the Divine Presence. This primal awareness as created beings starts with the athaan (call to prayer) in the new-born’s ear, settles in the heart as a fledgling seed, to be delicately nurtured with love and patient understanding (and a healthy dose of humour). Not for nothing did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spend the first 13 years in Mecca nurturing this seed – its blossoming is what enabled that collective cathartic moment years later when the Muslims were ordered to wash the stain of alcohol out of their lives …. In the words of my teen, how awesome was that?

If we want our children to be of those who “strive hard with their property and their persons” (9:88), who “invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong” (3:104), and whom Allah SWT “will love and who will love Him” (5:54), we will need to encourage them to find the answers to their questions from within the Quraan. Let us from the beginning encourage our children to reflect on and be amazed by the universe outside of (and within) us and then weave into that the Qur’anic ethos. This will enable them to view and practice Islam with understanding and love rather than Islam being viewed as sets of mechanical actions or regurgitation of the verses of the Quraan without passion and affection.

There is NO excuse today not to make the effort to educate ourselves. Books, the internet, YouTube, community classes, all abound. Indeed, it’s our emphatic duty as parents to be exemplary in the desire for authenticity, to “ponder and reflect” together with our children, and to seek out well-researched, thoughtful answers to their queries like why exactly are we here, If Allah SWT is so merciful, why do people suffer, what happens to good atheists, and …. is there a PlayStation in Jannah?

So back to my son. I explained that not having made that trip, I obviously couldn’t give him any specifics, but what I could say for sure was that Jannah is where we will be unimaginably happy and content. I asked him to recall his most satisfying memory, and to multiply that by a gazillion (words like gazillion always make an impact) – and if that included a PlayStation, then a version of a PlayStation would be awaiting him. He nodded sagely and never mentioned it again, satisfied that his mother clearly was the go-to person when weighty matters preoccupied the mind.

He’s 15 now, and the other day he sheepishly recalled that incident and exclaimed, “Mum, can you believe I actually thought Jannah was going to be full of PlayStations and games”, and giggling mischievously, he added, “now I know it’s going to be full of beautiful girls!” - and disappeared before I could feign shock-horror.
Sigh … I suspect the “lower your gaze” talk is already overdue ….
Source: http://eislam.co.za

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