…Be kinder than necessary, For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle….
Or as Plato puts it:
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
As-salamu’alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
I was just going through some old photographs last night and came across this one of a bird which I took on one of my trips in Istanbul.
This very bird flew alongside the boat we were in, from one side of the sea to the other. I remembered how I marvelled at its compelling form; its beauty and at its speed; its peaceful and calm disposition; and how Allah subhanahu wa’tala has made it so easy for birds to remain aloft. As He subhanahu wa’tala says in the Qur’an:
“Do they not see the birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them but Allah [none gave them the ability to fly but Allah]. Verily, in this are clear proofs and signs for people who believe (in the Oneness of Allah). (16:79)”
Whilst reminiscing over this picture, one of my favourite quotes came to mind:
“God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one”
~ Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Isn’t it amazing how we often find ourselves moving back and forth from one idea/reaction to it’s opposite! I find myself in this situation quite often actually, where at the time, I can be so adamant and convinced that one idea/reaction is right for me, yet days later (sometimes even minutes!), I change my mind to the complete opposite!
Just like Allah subhanahu wa’tala has given birds the ability to maintain aloft and balance themselves with their two wings; we as humans are given the gift of having two “wings” to help us keep that balance in place for us. Allah subhanahu wa’tala has given us the ability to learn, explore and deal with things in life through various ways and means, and quite often it is through the means of opposites. For example, the wing of fear and hope will always work together; when part of us is in fear, the other part will be in hope. The wing of darkness and light will always work together; the light will always show and help us in the darkness, and so on. Just like Rumi says, to give us two wings to fly and not one!
I’m sure Rumi’s quote can be interpreted in many ways, and the above is just a couple of my thoughts…..
To end, another profound quote on a similar topic which comes to mind is:
“The Heart, in its journey to Allah subhanahu wa’tala is like that of a bird:
Love is its head, and fear and hope are its two wings. When the
head and two wings are sound the bird flies gracefully; if the
head is severed, the bird dies; if the bird loses one of its wings, it
then becomes a target for every hunter or predator.”
~ Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawzi
“Truly amazing is the believer’s affair. Everything transpiring in his life is good for him. This is something that only occurs for the believer. If a blessing is his lot, he gives thanks for it, and this is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he patiently endures it, and this is good for him.”
~ Prophet Muhammad (sallaAllahu alayhi wasalam)
“To completely trust in God is to be like a child who knows deeply that even if he does not call for the mother, the mother is totally aware of his condition and is looking after him.”
~ Imam al-Ghazzali
“You disobey Him using His favors, yet disobedience does not make Him withhold His favors.
How can you love other than this Generous God? Or how could you disobey this Compassionate Lord?”~Imam al-Haddad
“A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you then a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah”
~ Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah
A heart-warming story which conveys a message of maintaining hope and trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost! He was stunned with grief and anger.
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, how could you do this to me!” he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.
“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Jazaka’llahu khayran to the beautiful sister who e-mailed me and shared this story!
©pic taken from ocean adventures
A beautiful reminder from Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah al-Iskandari’s Hikam:
“If you make intense supplication
and the timing of the answer is delayed,
do not despair of it.
His reply to you is guaranteed;
but in the way He chooses,
not the way you choose,
and at the moment He desires,
not the moment you desire.”
Also, a while back, one of our beloved teachers’ (may Allah bless and increase him) inspired me with the following:
“Al-Habib Ali al-Habashi said in one of his poems:
If your request is delayed there is no doubt
that in that delay maybe all you wish for. “
Allah subhanahu wa’ tala works in mysterious ways, and we must know that our call to Him is guaranteed. The fruits of being patient can indeed be beyond our imagination, as long as we endure the period Allah subhanahu wa’ tala wants us to be patient. However, being patient can be very tough, and as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (may Allah bless and preserve him) said in one of his talks that patience can be very bitter and we shouldn’t expect to see the fruits straight away!
May Allah subhanahu wa’ tala grants us the best of patience in all our affairs. Amin!
‘Do not detest the misfortunes that befall you, for what you detest may be the cause of your salvation and what you like may be the cause of your ruin.’
~ Hasan Al-Basri
(may Allah ta’ala be pleased with him)
You all remember the famous nursery rhyme “Row, row, row your boat?” (c’mon, we all were brought up singing this!) Well, our beloved teacher, Shaykh Afifi al-Akiti (May Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him) used this nursery rhyme as an analogy to explain life. Shaykh Afifi said:
Row, row, row your boat (hard work in this life)
Gently down the stream (your life is being directed by Qada’ and Qadar)
Merrily,merrily,merrily, merrily (enjoying life)
Life is but a dream (the reality of this life is summed up in this last verse!)
Hence, the Shaykh mentioned that “wisdom” is the lost camel (property) of the believer. Therefore, we take wisdom from whatever source it comes from, even if it is from our enemies. The Shaykh prayed to show things as how they actually are, and for us to know good when it is good, and to know bad when it is bad, without being distracted by the outer veil.
(Jazaka’llahu khayran to sidi Tun Wildan for narrating, and reminding me of this beautiful gem!)
A wonderful friend narrated the following to me; a beautiful, consoling and refreshing reminder.
“ Our bodies are on a lonely path, yet our souls are connected beyond the end. That is why your dhikr is your companion in this life and the next; treat it with familiarity and closeness, and it shall return the favour”
A beautiful and heart warming rendition masha’Allah tabarakAllah! May Allah ta’ala bless our dear brother in abundance, Amin!
Here is the translation of the qasida by our beloved shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad
Should you not gain your wants, my soul, then be not grieved;
But hasten to that banquet which your Lord’s bequeathed.
And when a thing for which you ask is slow to come,
Then know that often through delay are gifts received.
Find solace in privation and respect its due,
For only by contentment is the heart relieved.
And know that when the trials of life have rendered you
Despairing of all hope, and of all joy bereaved,
Then shake yourself and rouse yourself from heedlessness,
And make pure hope a meadow that you never leave.
Your Maker’s gifts take subtle and uncounted forms.
How fine the fabric of the world His hands have weaved.
The journey done, they came to the water of life,
And all the caravan drank deep, their thirst relieved.
Far be it from the host to leave them thirsty there,
His spring pours forth all generosity received.
My Lord, my trust in all Your purposes is strong,
That trust is now my shield; I’m safe, and undeceived.
All those who hope for grace from You will feel Your rain;
Too generous are You to leave my branch unleaved.
May blessings rest upon the loved one, Muhammad,
Who’s been my means to high degrees since I believed.
He is my fortress and my handhold, so my soul,
Hold fast, and travel to a joy still unconceived.
~ Shaykh Ali bin Husayn al-Habshi
Beautiful pictures are developed by negatives in a dark room, so if you ever see darkness in your life, assume that Allah ta’ala is making a beautiful hereafter for you…….
Healing Hearts 
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