By Aamir Shamsi Another tear rolls down my cheek, I feel it meandering its way down, Joining the others to form a stream. I slowly close my crimson drenched eyes, Feeling the shatter inside my chest; The vessel has nally begun to leak. 'In life you will meet all kinds of people' I hear my father's words ringing in my ears. But no matter how prepared you think you are, It will never be enough for this kind of betrayal. Treated appallingly in more ways than one, Their selshness has made me frail and feeble. Pain encapsulates the very depths of my soul, But not burdened with more than it can bare. For it is just another test from Allah, To determine the true from the false. He will be my guardian as I tell myself: 'Remain steadfast with patience and control'. It is indeed a time of erosion and despair But I thank Allah as what He does is for the best. The stronger the hardship, the stronger the faith, The grander the reward, the dearer you are to Him. But if it is so, I am not worthy of such affection; He loves me more than I deserve and is fair. He will answer my call and help what is broken to mend As I know with every afiction there will be relief. Never will I be alone or far from His support and care, For he saved me from a greater misery and destruction. He is enough and there is no better to look after me, Closer to me than myself, my protecting friend. THE PEARLS OF ISLAM REMINDER SERIES Monday 16th April 2012 24 Jumada Al-Awwal 1433 Volume 6 Issue 4 !"#$%&$'()&"*)$ $ $ $ $$ $ $$$ $ $$ $$+,$-.#/.0$1.&0/* $ $ $ $ $ $$$$$ $$$ 2340$5.670$2899$ Z3 Rubee A'Thunee 143Z$ !"#$%&"'()"'$"*( +,"(-".'/*(01(2*/.#( :";<*)$=$%&&<)$92$ How do I know fhof7 8ecouse I'm siffing here siffing fhrough bIogs I foIIow, Focebook profiIes I offen reod, scroIIing fhru windows of peopIe's Iives( ond yeo, we've oII gof probIems. Yeo, fhere's somefhing or onofher fhof's jusf nof righf. Yeo, we're oII sfruggIing wifh somefhing -(&$11$34/5("6.#7( 8'09"%(,".'57(50'%(1'$"%&*,$:7("#:5;(:039"5*7('"/"%5/"**(&$35.50'*,$:7(#"'3$/"**(<.'7('.=.>$%>(%.54? roI disosfer. Or moybe jusf o popercuf. We're oII focing some sfruggIe ?( *0#"5,$%>( 8$>7( *0#"5,$%>( *#.//(845(*0#"5,$%>($#:0'5.%5(%0%"5,"/"**@( And yef we're sfiII sfonding.( You're scrimping fo moke fhof poycheck Iosf, you're doing whof you con fo keep your fomiIy fo- gefher, you're puIIing oII?%$>,5"'*( 50( :.**( 5,.5( "6.#A( .%&( 10'( *0#"( $%( 05,"'( :.'5*( 01( 5,"( <0'/&( -( you're fighfing foofh ond noiI jusf fo sfoy oIive. We're oII fighfing whofever fhe demons moy be, buf we're sfiII sfonding. ( Sfonding becouse you've musfered some sfrengfh ond grif fo fighf for your righf fo be you, sfond- $%>( 8"3.4*"( ;04( 9%0<( ;04'( /$1"7( ;04'( *.%$5;7( .%&( 5,"( /$="*( 01( ;04'( /0="&( 0%"*( .'"( <0'5,( 1$>,5$%>( 10'@(You don'f quife undersfond, buf somehow you've mode if fhrough fo see onofher doy. ( B45(<,"'"(&0"*($5(.//(30#"(1'0#C(+,"(5'$./7(5,"(*5'"%>5,7(5,"(*0/4? 5$0%C( D'0#( E0&7( ;04'( F0'&( G//.,( )H+( $%( <,0*"( ,.%&*( $*( .//( 5,.5( /$"*( $%( ;04'( ,".'5*( .%&( #$%&*A( .//( 5,.5( /$"*( $%( 5,"( I".="%*( .%&( 5,"( J.'5,@(I"(<,0(9%0<*(;04(8"55"'(5,.%(;04(9%0<(;04'*"/="*(<,.5(;04( 3.%(.%&(;04(3.%%05(8".'@(I"(<,0*"(:'0#$*"($*(50(*411$3"(;04'("="';( %""&@( "AIIoh does nof chorge o souI excepf [wifh fhof wifhin] ifs copocify. 25( <$//( ,.="( K5,"( 30%*"L4"%3"( 01M( <,.5( K>00&M( $5( ,.*( >.$%"&7( .%&( $5( <$//(8".'(K5,"(30%*"L4"%3"(01M(<,.5(K"=$/M($5(,.*(".'%"&@(NO4'(F0'&7( &0(%05($#:0*"(8/.#"(4:0%(4*($1(<"(,.="(10'>055"%(0'("''"&@(O4'(F0'&7(.%&(/.;(%05(4:0%(4*(.(84'&"%( /$9"(5,.5(<,$3,(P04(/.$&(4:0%(5,0*"(8"10'"(4*@(O4'(F0'&7(.%&(84'&"%(4*(%05(<$5,(5,.5(<,$3,(<"(,.="( %0(.8$/$5;(50(8".'@(G%&(:.'&0%(4*A(.%&(10'>$="(4*A(.%&(,.="(#"'3;(4:0%(4*@(P04(.'"(04'(:'05"350'7(*0( give us vicfory over fhe disbeIieving peopIe" [Qur'on Z:Z8o]( )0( ;04( *5.%&$%>( 5,"'"( -( 8"( ;04( $%( Q.:.%( '"84$/&$%>( ;04'( ,0#"*( .%&( ;04'( /$="*A( 8"( ;04( $%( F$8;.( 0'( 0o;o fighfing for your freedom, or moybe you're jusf o gorden voriefy universify sfudenf sfruggIing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ufficienf for us is AIIoh , ond [He is] fhe besf Disposer of offoirs." [from Qur'on, 3:I73]( P04(.'"(*5$//(*5.%&$%>A(8"3.4*"(E0&($*(.<"*0#"@(G//.,4(G98.'@(
Pearls of Islam Reminder Series You Are Never Alone
By Aamir Shamsi
Times will come in the life of a believer where we will be tested in this world whether it is through a "loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toils)" [2:155] but we must always remember that we are never alone and that we should and need to turn to Allah in these times.
Trials and tribulations can not only change the course of your life but also make you feel very down and lost. Nothing remains the same and although an oxymoron, those who have been in such a situation like I have will understand when I say life can be consumed by emptiness. Although it is important to understand the many reasons why calamities befall us and how to cope with them, we must never forget that we will always have the one that loves us more than a mother loves her child (Muslim) close by to bring some solace to our hearts. In order to bring about this comfort we must make du'a, build a connection with Allah and believe that everything that happens is for the best.
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Du'a is the weapon of the believer for it can change the fate of our lives. And it is for this reason, as well as the fact that it shows our need for Allah, that it is highly encouraged in Islam. So we should ask our Lord to alleviate our pain, to make things easier and to grant us peace and happiness with His decree, even though in some situations it is extremely difficult to accept what has happened and to want to move on from it, for it is only He that has the power to make things better.
Connect with Allah
As the creation of Allah, we are all connected with our Lord through our souls. He is our provider, our sustainer and our support. But it is our responsibility to nourish this connection for "Verily in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest" [13:29]. We can do so by reciting Quran, reading our salat with concentration and regular dhikr. The stronger our connection with Allah the greater the comfort our hearts will receive for it is then when we truly feel Allah's protection over us and this will make the difficult times that much easier for us.
Everything that happens is for the best
Allah loves us so much that everything that happens that is not a direct result of our own actions is for the best for us - "but it may be that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows and you know not" [2:216]. Having this belief at all times and being thankful for all that comes your way is a real test of our faith but also an undeniable fact. If adopted in our mindset it will ease our pain for we will understand it is for our best and so the true believer would not want it any other way than what Allah sees best.
All the above can be summarised with my favourite du'a that one should regularly recite: "Hasbunallahu Wa'Nimal Wakeel" Allah is enough for me and there is no better to look after me.
"When you feel all alone in this world And there's nobody to count your tears Just remember, no matter where you are Allah knows, Allah knows" - Nasheed by Zain Bhikha ! ! Monday 31st October 2011 4 Dhul - Hijjah 1432 Volume 4 Issue 1