Yes, you read it right.
Islam tells us that this life is an examination and none of us likes or enjoys examination.
We are not geared for that.
We hate examinations and it is a great burden on our psyche.
Yet Islam is not a torture.
It is merely an examination.
It is perfectly alright to take time in between the problems of life to indulge in little bit of joy.
So go ahead and steal those precious moments of Halal enjoyment.
Of course this is not an invitation to forget Akhirah.
That is one point.
Another point is that most of the brothers and sisters do not need my advice in this regard - to enjoy.
I am sure and I certainly pray for it that most of my brothers and sisters are enjoying life more than me.
To tell you the truth many of our Elders are getting much more Khidmah from the young generation that is willing to do Khidmah.
That is the enjoyment for our Elders.
Remember the journeys of Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahab DB and Pir Zulfiqar Sahab DB?
I am an academician and I had the possibility of enormous amount of travel, though I did not or could not make use of it.
But even if I would have made the best use of it even then the travels of the type of these two Elders would not have been possible for me.
So what is the point of encouraging to enjoy?
Now that is a good question.
The pressures of modern life have created an imbalance in our lives.
Enjoyment is a way to achieve some balance in our lives.
Yeah I suppose there alot of Halal ways, to have enjoyment Insha'Allah.
Young people want to have an adventure, here some of the ways for those in the U.K.
There are Muslims out there, who travel and pray Jumah in a different Town every week with the intention being to connect with their fellow muslims, this way they are able to visit different places have a day out, and a meal. Enjoy something that is different to the monotony of every day life.
Amongst the non-muslims and even some muslims when a musician or a group of musicians come on a tour of the U.K. they follow them around from town to town attending all their shows.
What some Muslims do is when an Aalim comes on a tour of the U.K. they follow him from town to town attending all his lectures, many find it an uplifting spiritually experience.
There various Islahi Majlis taking place in towns across the country every day of the week what some Muslims do is attend a majlis in one different town every week.
There others who go from town to town delivering Miswaks, and Tasbihs and booklets to be handed out for free.
So indeed as Brother Maripat pointed out there are numerous ways to enjoy life in halal manner.
I have given a thought to such things ya akhi.
In fact I do hear a lot about such attitudes in Majalis too.
For example they say that implement Sunnah for the pleasure of Allah swt.
But I feel it becomes slightly pedantic.
For example Allah swt says that eat and drink from the good things that we have given you.
After that if we still say in words 'Ya Allah I eat and drink for your pleasure' then it sounds a bit pedantic.
Of course no harm in saying that but honestly speaking we don't have to do that.
The moment we have intentions to implement Islam it is already for the pleasure of Allah swt.
Well that was exactly my feeling when in my early twenties, I first heard about making Intention before beginning each and every task. It just seemed overly pedantic and cumbersome.
Now nearly a couple of decades later, I wish I had been fully able to comprehend the Power Of Intention I think my life would have been filled with many blessings if only I had understood, it is my regret that I was never taught such things as a child.
I think it is perhaps that our lives are devoid of Barakah and many of our endeavours come to naught as an Ummah is that our actions are devoid of Making an intention for the sake of Allah.
As I heard Shaykh Hamza Yusuf state; young children used to be taught the benefit of intention in childhood.
With Intention every deed becomes full of blessings and insurmountable obstacles are easily removed and difficult tasks easily accomplished by the grace of Allah.
(1) Our personal problems - these are serious enough for each one of us to keep us busy all of our life.
(2) Family problems, these form a slightly different set. These are as time and energy consuming as the first set.
(3) Problems of our local society. Only few people are felicitous enough to bear this burden. You are felicitous if you have such people around you.
(4) National problems, these affect us. some times so seriously. Think of people in politically disturbed lands.
(5) Problems of Ummah. These might look the most distant ones yet these are so effective in disturbing our peace of mind.
Inview of the presence of this overwhelming complex of problems it looks impossible that we can enjoy life, let alone keep enjoying.
Yet my suggestion remains the same. Islam is a blessing and the windows of joy might be small but these windows are not forbidden.
I shall end up with a negative exmple. One of my aunts once told the following misfortune : I have never sat any one of my children on my lap and played with him or her. This is one of the most obnoxious complains that I have ever come across in my life. This is a plain thanklessness to Allah swt. In the hectic and busy life it is perfectly possible to say a few words of love and affection to your kids.
Some things people around here do for halaal enjoyment which also have numerous deeni or wordly benefits and are extremely cheap (probably less than £20 per person per year):
Go camping/mountain trekking
Farm visits
Get an allotment
Local sports hall for badminton, indoor football, indoor cricket etc
Many forests and woods around the uk, go for a walk in them with the family/friends.
Get a pet (I have my beloved chickens lol)
Visit a zoo or castle or even a museum
Geology/nature walks
Fishing
Scout/teamwork/bushcraft skill building (learn about knots, orieterring, wild foraging etc)
Cycling/canoeing/outdoor activities
There are also a number of indoor/outdoor teamwork building and communication building games people can play which kids absolutley love but even adults enjoy. If anyone is interested I may be able to give further explanations on each one. Some of these are amongst my personal favourites:
Pass the Ball Game
Blindfold Snakes
Hidden Numbers
Tennis Ball Transfer
Team Plank Skiing
Elastic band structure building
Duct Tape Raft
Toxic Waste
Th Umm Game
Story Starters & Enders
In The News Today
Image Description
Just Listen
For/Against
Interview introductions
Image Analysis
Connect the Dots
Mood conducting
Full Presentation
Cluck Substitution
Capture the flag
Blindfold Obstacle course
Even with all the misery of the world in general and ummah in particular Allah has blessed us with so much. الحمد لله
Yes akhi, it is so nice to get connected with old friends and I too was pleased to see faizan once again.
Ryder wrote:
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Thanks ya akhi.
In fact I wish that we could discuss the merits of various modes of relaxing.
We are living in hedonistic times and the entertainment and leisure are two avenues where the non-Islamic ways of life are poaching on the Muslim youth. I hope you get what I am trying to say.
When our youth is entices with music and movies then offering them the joy of extra Nawafil is not a very attractive proposition on our part.
After the Saffronites captured power in India for the second time the events have taken such a turn that the title of this thread is no more valid.
Yet yesterday I got this idea that I should relax and enjoy, as a therapy.
For long I have been functioning at higher than my peak capability.
This has taken its toll on my health and that falls in the category of sin.
Clearly it is difficult for me to invite brothers and sisters to join me in joy.
And then there is this strange status of joy and enjoyment in Islam.
Our peak of enjoyment in the calendar is in Eid-ul-Fitr.
What is the enjoyment that day? A few sweet dishes.
The children do indulge in some Mela type activities but these are not part of the official celebrations and are sparse.
On one Eid a fellow professor remarked that Muslim festivals are boring.
For Sufis, Madarsa people, Tablighis the height of enjoyment might be a Naat or a Hamd recited in a tone.
And that is about all.
Strangely even tourism and holiday in Islam is supposed to be to get admonition - the Noble Qur'an says that visit the sites of old people to get admonition how Allah SWT dealt with erring people.
Of course site seeing is not exactly Haraam.
And to tell you the truth I now and then I visit places and indulge in food and fool around with friends.
1. Imam al-Shafaee said
There is a verse in the Quran that every wrongdoer should be terrified of"
He was asked "which verse is that"
He replied
"And your lord never forgets" Surah Maryam : 64
The above is a very important comforting message for the persecuted community.
2. It is related by Uqbah bin ‘Aamir that the Apostle of God said: “When you see that God is conferring upon someone His favor in this world he is desirous of [like wealth, honor and comfort] in spite of his evil conduct, know that, for him, it is Istedraj. After saying it, the Prophet recited the following verse of the Quran: Then, when they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We opened unto them the gate of all things till, even as they were rejoicing in that which they were given, We seized them unawares, and to, they were dumbfounded.
[vi : 44] -Musnad-i-Ahmad
(We witnessed how Sanjay gandhi was seized. How Indira was seized. And many other powerfuls were seized in the past).
If we do analysis, it is clearly visible how advani, joshi and Co. were all seized.
And to tell you the truth I now and then I visit places and indulge in food and fool around with friends.
And this is perfectly halal, Sir, and it should be normalized. Mufti Anas miyan took his wife to Kashmir and the Maldives and that sent a message to visibly deeni people that if we are fulfilling our religious obligations, and we have the means, there is nothing wrong with traveling for the sake of leisure, and dining out with friends and family to relax and unwind.
Because some among us who are heedless in our deen over indulge in these things, the more religious among us feel it is our duty to refrain from such halal avenues even in moderation, just to maintain a (false) sense of balance.
I for one am very happy that you've decided to take some time off to unwind and relax and recharge. We hope to see you soon on your return, invigorated and ready to take up the next assignment.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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