Mind Wandering

  My mind wanders to a realm of dreams, my soul will one day leave, behind me will be the world, and in my presence will lie my Eternity.

So sometimes I sit, and let my thoughts run free.

Go high, reach the clouds and play, leaving off this world, and travelling to a place I hope will be my Destiny:

As I walk along the river, it shimmers like gold dust, as if the stars of the dunyaa had crushed and fallen upon this water to make it glimmer incredibly. I kneel down by this riverside, tucking my soft white flowing garments into my lap, and drink from the gold dust essence, a contenting coolness floods through my throat, like a breeze it soothes me, and the taste itself enchants me.

Something glitters green from the water, and I move in closer, to see.

Astounded, I blink and look again. Something of splendour astonishes me -my own reflection gazes back at me. The woman in the water gives an air of nobility, upon her head and resting in her silken black hair is a glistening emerald diamond, and from her face emanates a rare-found joy, her skin illuminating a glow of beauty.

I marvel at the stranger that is me.

Until a voice breaks my trance from behind me.

“Assalaamu alaikum” he softly speaks, and I turn to see this second handsome stranger greeting me. Tall, he stands in front of me, his stance firm and secure. And yet his posture also reveals a manner of humility.

I catch his gaze and slowly reply “wa alaikum assalaam warahmatullaah”, purely at ease with my new company.

Then I see his smile, the delight as it reaches his eyes, the affection that he fails to hide.

His face too radiates an unknown joy, an air of satisfaction and bliss.

And so, I feel a great warmth and tenderness overcome me, finding myself in turn taken by delight, knowing this stranger is my husband-to-be.

I watch as he puts a hand out to stroke the neck of his travelling companion. The beast itself is a beauty, a dark brown sleek-skinned mare, and from her head dangles a jewel, a large red ruby in contrast to her black plaited hair.

Then he looks on ahead, near the riverside and points towards my horse. “A fine beast” he says, and I turn to look at my own travelling companion.

I watch my stallion as he drinks from the river, his skin glossy and smooth, deep-black like a star-less night. He leans forward, his long hair resting on his shoulders, and an emerald green jewel like my own, shines from his head like a light.

“Would you like to go for a small ride?” The stranger asks, his voice tender and cool.

I smile, and turn to my stallion, beckoning him. He moves forward with confidence, each stride an illustration of pride, until he respectfully puts his head low and stands firm by my side…

Manuka Honey & Green Tea

One of the most important things in my daily diet is pure Manuka Honey and Green tea. Manuka Honey is highly beneficial for us to consume and if it’s also applied topically to cuts it can help since it has antibactierial properties. Although it is very expensive, almost £15 for a small jar that usually lasts me less than a fortnight, it is still important for me to include in my diet. I have severe Eczema, which means I have to take extra care of my daily routine including what I eat. Every morning I mix a teaspoon of honey with warm (boiled) water and drink it on an empty stomach. After half an hour I eat breakfast, lately i’ve been trying to eat apples for breakfast before I eat any Carb foods. I’ve found that drinking the “honey-water” as I call it, helps to reduce the inflammation of my Eczema.

I also try to drink green tea as it is meant to clean the body of toxins, and I have read that another reason for bad skin problems is the build-up of toxins in the body.

Books I Needed (14 June 2009)

I took these pictures nearly 2 years ago (14 June 2009) at a bookstall for an Islamic event. Not long after seeing the books, I finally bought them from an Islamic Bookstore, including The Three Fundamental Principles of Islam (Blue book shown) and Kitab at-Tawhid (Purple book shown).  I’ve been meaning to read through and study these books for a long time now, but i’ve been very lazy and only recently have I started reading the first book properly. My lack of time management and organisation skills meant i’ve been behind with everything. These books are vital and highly beneficial for every Muslim to read, the first book The Three Fundamental Principles of Islam explains the reasons for why Allah created mankind and what our duties are to Him. The second book, Kitab at-Tawhid explains the Monotheism and Oneness of Allah.

The Wahhabi Myth looks like it would be a good read, I might get that in the future.

I bought the book Beneficial Answers to Questions on Innovated Methodologies. It’s a very good book, and explains the common problems and mistakes many Muslims fall into regarding their Deen (religious way of life). It’s probably not clear in this picture, but it’s the book (with green and brown patterns) on the right side of the pic, above In Defense of Islam.

Bonds

My mum’s dad passed away a while ago, may Allah Have Mercy on his soul. I hadn’t seen him since I was about five years old, yet that night after hearing the news, I actually found myself crying. Maybe it was the hopes I had to meet him in the future that were squelched, or maybe it was a realisation that a part of me had left this world.

I felt that night, as if a part of me had gone missing, as if i’d lost something. I can’t recall any memories with my grandfather, but I can slightly recall his face, and I know there are similarities in my features and his. I have only ever had one grandparent present throughout my life, my mum’s mother. My dad’s parents were never present in my life. My dad’s mother passed away when he was 16 years old, a long time before he got married, so my mum never met her either. And my dad’s father, I met him once on a holiday back to our home country, I was 6 years old. He passed away a few years after that.

When I think of others, who have had fathers or mothers pass away. I know it can’t compare to the passing away of someone I hardly knew. I can’t imagine if my mum or dad passed away, how I would feel. May Allah Bless them and Protect them, ameen. No matter what my parents say, how much they nag or remain dissatisfied with me, my love is still unconditional for them as theirs is for me. It’s amazing how a mother or father will bear hardships for the sake of their family. They hold a love for their family, a bond that can’t be broken. I think this is what real love is, when you love someone unconditionally, you feel an instinctive duty to love and care about another, despite the difficulties you face.

Salvation

The door to Salvation and Success stands in front of me.

To open it, Knowledge is its Key.

The Hand to turn the handle is Good Deeds.

And Repentance and Rectification keeps the soul Shackled-Free.

Decay

Some hearts decay like leaves in cold water

Drowning in a lake of worldly affairs

What is the condition of my heart, and yours?

Like a decaying leaf, the sinful heart rots.

Two decaying leaves, can’t help each other,

nor can two dying hearts be good for each other.

 

Sinking Boat

Everyone is sinking in the same broken Boat.

The Ungrateful and impatient jump out to end their misery.

But the Grateful patiently sit in the drowning Boat.

Until they acquire a solution.

And only those who gain the knowledge on how to mend the Boat are saved.

The broken Boat is the state of Islaam practised today in the Ummah.

The knowledge needed to fix the instability is the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

And only those who acquire the knowledge of Qur’aan and Sunnah and implement it are saved.

And the best way to begin on that embarkment of knowledge is to first and foremost turn to Allaah in full sincerity and seek His Aid. [12/02/09]

For Fruits of Knowledge

For the Fruits of Knowledge

Don’t take Knowledge from the Bud

Nor take Knowledge from it’s Leaves

But take Knowledge  from it’s Roots

So that your Heart blossoms Truth [06/02/09]

Hearts of the Believers (Videos)

Quote 1-“Never do I argue with a man…”

“Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him or win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray -“Oh Allaah, Help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, And so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me, and if truth be on his side, I may follow him.”

Imaam ash Shaafi3ee Ra7imahullaah

Ramadaan -Heart Cleanser

The soul struggles with destroying the biggest idol of all.

There are times when the heart is enslaved. A willing victim to desires.

The heart moves where the desires rule, it hardens and falls, becomes dusty with whims, and coarse, rusty with sin.

Only when the heart is struck with the light of truth, does it soften and allow regret to sink in.

Tears of repentance and ibaadah cleanse it of desire-clad dust and prevents the sin-seeping rust.
The time for ultimate purification is near, the blessed month Ramadaan is nearly here.

The scent of great opportunity is lingering on my doorstep.

All I need to do is welcome this chance with open arms, and have nothing but Allaah to love and fear.