Start With The Self.

One day a neighbor came to visit Hafsah al Ashkabadi,
she said; " Aunt Hafsah, my life is full of troubles, I feel totally despondent."

Aunt Hafsah replied; " My daughter, pay no heed to such feelings of despair, times of difficulty are temporary and are sure to pass."

A few months later the neighbor returned, and said; " Aunt Hafsah, you were right! the difficult times have passed. I feel totally at peace, life seems wonderful."

Aunt Hafsah, smiled and responded; " My daughter, savor these days , of bliss for they are sure to pass;

'Just like the seasons change, so does a persons situation, sometimes we experience joy, at other times sorrow. We should express gratitude to Allah in every situation, and remain steadfast, in our worship. We should never let times of difficulty make us despondent, nor should we allow the times of ease to make us forgetful. But remember that whatever situation, Allah chooses for us it is for the best."

Written By Julaybib.


May Allah give us the Tawfiq to Praise and remember him in every situation Ameen.

It had been several months since an old woman had moved into the neighborhood, where Hafsah al Ashkabadi lived. Over the course of those months.The old woman acquired a reputation for being mean and rude, to both her neighbors and passersby. Everyone on the street avoided her and almost daily this old woman would be engaged in an argument with someone.

Aunt Hafsah took pity on the old woman, poor thing lives on her own at her old age. And absolutely no one comes to visit her She said to herself.

The following morning Aunt Hafsah, armed with a bowl of rice pudding, went and knocked on the old ladys door.

The door opened and the old Woman Peered out; " What is it? what do you want?;she bellowed angrily.

"I just cooked some rice pudding I thought I would bring a bowl over for you;" responded Aunt Hafsah.

Seeing the dish in Aunt Hafsah's hand, and surprised at the kind gesture the Old Womans voice softened; " Oh yes do come in,"

They sat down at the kitchen table, and during the next few hours as they chatted the old woman, slowly opened her heart. The old woman had been widowed a year earlier, and was abandoned by her children, and left to fend for herself. It was this experience, coupled with loneliness that had made this old Woman, bitter and angry.

Aunt Hafsah started visiting the lonely old woman daily, and within a few weeks the Old womans demeanor changed. She suddenly started being nice and friendly towards all her neighbors.

The Old woman was never a bitter person at heart, it was circumstances that had made her bitter. All it took to help her get rid of the bitterness was a friendly gesture and a bowl full of rice pudding.


Written by Julaybib.

Something to ponder.

we daily encounter individuals, whose behavior and lack of manners we find unpalatable. Yet we assume the worst about individuals, with out giving them the benefit of the doubt. For all we know they maybe going through all kinds of difficulties in their personal lives that causes them to react in a harsh manner towards others.

on the flipside we ourselves when going through difficulties take our frustration out on completely innocent individuals, and end up alienating them.


May Allah guide us to all that is good and protect us from all that is harmful ameen.


P.s. I humbly request your duas.

Salaam.

In a village near the city of Ashkabad, there once lived a young shephered boy called Zahid.

Every morning before the crack of dawn, Zahid would gather the Sheep belonging to the local villagers and set of for the mountains, and at evening time before sunset he would return to the village. Although Zahid enjoyed his work, being all by himself on the mountains, and without a soul to speak too, he would often feel very lonely.

One day Zahid came up with a novel idea, to help relieve his boredom and lonelines. Now the local villagers would regularly journey through the mountain pass, to purchase necessities from Ashkabad City.

He decided to place a wooden barrel on the footpath and he would daily fetch water from a local stream and fill up that barrel. So that travellers would be able to quench their thirst. He posted a note on the barrell, which read; ' Remember to stop by and say hello, Zahid.'

He said, to himself okay the villagers will remember that I am up here in the mountains and perhaps they will stop by for a chat, my days will pass quicker and my feelings of loneliness will be alleviated.

Weeks passed by and every evening when Zahid checked the barrel of water he would find it empty. yet no one had come to visit poor Zahid, up in the mountain.

Zahid feeling quite upset, decided to teach the villagers a lesson. One morning
after filling up the barrell with water he added a jug of lemon juice.

when the travellers stopped by at the water barrel to quench their thirst, finding the taste of the water to be bitter, one by one all of them came to visit and complained; " Zahid what did you put in that barrel of water, it tastes very bitter;"

Through out that day Zahid had numerous visitors, and Zahid gave the same response. " When the water tasted sweet, no one came to visit, and now that it tastes bitter, everyone comes to complain, how strange is your behavior."

Written By Julaybib.


Something to Ponder.

Is this not the case with us, we may live on the same street as someone for years, and never knock on their door to say hello. When it comes to complaining we feel no such reservations similarly we may fail to keep in contact with relatives. we never have time to visit them. When it comes to picking an argument because we feel slighted, we suddenly find the time.

Also in our daily contact, with people our behavior is just the same. when someone does us a good turn, we quickly forget, yet we are able to hold a grudge for years.

May Allah guide us to all that is good and protect us from all that is harmful ameen.


P.S. By the way this thread is getting awfully lonely, so perhaps people have stopped reading it, because it has become too long.So if you are still reading it and wish for me to continue.......Please stop by and say 'Hello'.

Salam,

OK, bro take five and a big Hello from me....here have a read..

One day, a poor boy, by the name Amir from Reyhan, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dinar left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.

However,he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied "Mother Hafsah has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Amir left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in Allah was strong. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, Rauwdah, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Amir was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town, Ashkabad, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Amir requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She fear to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Amir. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:

"SubhanAllah, Alhmadulillah.. that Your grace has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

Moral of the story.....
Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may escape but what's in your heart will remain forever. ..and that is being kind...to all!

the following is a story i heard in my masjid for jummah a few weeks ago. it bought tears my eyes and each time iv narrated it its make me cry again

there was a little boy from a third world country who was being raised by his elderly mother. his mother only had one eye and due to her old age she looked scary. this would cause the young kid alot of embarrassment and was to ashamed to tell anyone that she was his mother.

his mum happend to work at the same school as he attented and due to being a single parent she worked double shift to support him and send him to school. dispite being at the same school no one knew she was his mother as he never spoke to her whilst at school

one day he was in his class and his mother walked in. she went to her and said 'you left your pack lunch at home iv come to give it you'. his class mates started jeering and laughing at his mother due to her one eye. he was overcome with humilation and ran out the class.

later on when his mum returned home from work,without saying 'hello' or 'how was your day' the boy shouted 'how dare you come and embarass me like that. i hate you i wish you was dead' he then stormed out

the young boy went on to complete his school and higher studies and finally attained his diploma. he then moved to singapore and settled down with his wife and two kids

one day his door bell rang and his 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter opened the door. at the door was a old woman with one eye. the kids got scared and starting crying. the dad came and said to the 'woman' 'how dare you come here and scare my kids. why did you come no one invited you. go away'. the woman simply replied 'sorry i think i got the wrong door'

a few months later he recieved a letter from his school inviting him for a school reunion. he decided to go and told his family he is going on a business trip. he didnt want his family to know he had a mother. after meeting his old friends and teachers he decided to go to his house and see the 'old woman'. when he arrived his neighbours informed him the woman at died. he entered the house and found a letter addressed '

'to my dearest son'

im sorry that i was a constant embarassment to you and couldnt be the mother you wanted me to be. bringing you up hard as you was a naughty child .but i you was always the apple in my eyes .when your father died it made things hard and thus i had to take double shift work to support you. when you was just a kid i used to warn to about going to a certain place to go and play but you didnt listen. one day he went there and got in to an accident in which you lost an eye. when i saw you like this i used to get so upset and felt so much pain. i just couldnt see my baby like that. so i decided to give my eye to you. when i found out you had children i was over joyed with the fact i was a grandmother and cound resist to come and see my grandchildren. im sorry i scared them when i came. im sorry for everything. i love you. my dearest son'

your mother

Salam,

...sure makes me cry this morning too..! Here, have a look at this .....hope this story will make you glad that we still have ppl who cares for their parents...

An elderly man, sidi Ibrahim…from a small town of Rauwdah came to visit his son, Amir in the city of Reyhan recently. Amir in his late twenties is a physician with his wife and son. Sidi Ibrahim, having spent most of his life at his birthplace, hardly understands a splatter of Arabic forget English. But he doesn't care. I have come here to spend a few days with my son and his family. I don't have to go out and socialize with the city people,' he said. But Amir is very excited about his father's rare visit to Reyhan. He wants to make the best of it. He and his wife want to show him around the city. And yes, Amir enjoys those evening hours too, when he and his father go out and sit in a good cafe, @Al Majleez sipping their favorite desi tea.

He was in a very good mood. Let's go to a five star hotel's cafe tonight,' he told his father. It was a beautiful evening. As usual they were offered some samosas, peanuts, pakoras etc as accompaniments with their tea. The elderly man being almost toothless was not much interested in eating. But that evening when they got up to leave, he simply took a handful of chana (roasted grams) and pakoras and stuffed it in the fold of his shirt. He might have thought about munching on them, sitting in the car.

While walking in the lobby, sidi Ibrahim missed a step and stumbled. Down he went, scattering the chana and pakoras on the plush carpet. No problem. Now try to visualize that scenario. Someone else in his son's place would have been mortified, embarrassed to death. He might have cursed not his father but his own self for causing this awkward situation. 'Never again will I take my old man to such hotels', he would have vowed. No sidi, not this son. Gently, with a smile, Amir helped his father get back on his feet. Instead of feeling irritated or angry, he was amused. Amir found the whole incident very funny and hilarious. Laughing, they both went home and on the way they decided to return to the same place the following Sunday.

Sidi Ibrahim liked the place. He liked the chana and the pakoras too. A few days back, at a friend's place they both described this event and made everybody laugh. Weren't you embarrassed? Somebody asked Amir. Oh, come on now' replied Amir. 'He is my father. He talks in his native language, prefers to wear a native shirt even to a posh city hotel, takes chana and pakoras from the cafe to eat later, does whatever he feels like.... So what? Why should I feel embarrassed with his nature and habits? Nobody has a right to stop him from doing whatever he feels comfortable with, as long as it is not harmful to others.' The son doesn't care what the staff in the hotel thought about that incident. He says 'they should be concerned only with their bills and tips. I am concerned about my father's happiness.' Amir’s wife too totally agrees with the husband on this issue. She feels there are enough other qualities in her father- in-law to feel proud of. Accept them .

Moral of the story……….

The above incident is not mentioned just to show the love and devotion of Amir, a son for his father, Sidi Ibrahim. More than love it is a matter of understanding and a healthy respect for the other person's lifestyle. A seventy plus elderly man doesn't want to change his lifestyle now. He likes the way he eats or dresses or talks. In Sidi Ibrahim’s eyes there is nothing wrong with the old ways of living. And the son, Amir says, ok, fine. Every body has a right to live as per his wish. Now at Sidi Ibrahim’s age, why forced to learn to eat with a fork and knife, if he doesn't want to? Amir should feel bad if his father is doing something morally wrong or indulging in some harmful activities. But otherwise it is fine. Amir is not going to try to change his father at this stage. He said this ‘He is my father. I love him and respect him.’

Hey folks, do we think this way?

A foolish man may be known by six things: Anger without cause, speech without profit, change without progress, inquiry without object, putting trust in a stranger, and mistaking foes for friends.

Arabic Proverb

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.


The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.


Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.


The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.


As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.


One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.


As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.


The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."


Lessons: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
People will forget what you said...
People will forget what you did...
But people will never forget how you made them feel...
Make someone happy, share a kind word today.
A good word is charity. (Bukhari, Muslim)

One evening an old man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves"inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old man simply replied, "The one you feed."


~author unknown

A king's caravan came across a beggar sleeping along the caravan's path. The king was very angry that someone should lay sprawled in his way and so kicked him and then said disdainfully said to the beggar, who was now awake, "Do you know who I am!?" The beggar looked up and said, "We have not been introduced, but you have kicked me the same way that a donkey kicks."

Fancy clothes and a big entourage of a king is no basis for status and honor, but character and deeds. It so happened that the king was so impressed with the man's fast wit and honesty that he decided to employ him as an advisor.

We should ask Allah to put in our hearts the desire to ask Him for good character and habits. Moreover we should take account of ourselves and our actions every day to evaluate what we are doing and where our lives are going. Hadrat Umar used to say,

Take account of yourself before you are taken account of

We should therefore dedicate some time for isolation and reflection in which we remember Allah, beg for His forgiveness and ask Him to guide us. May Allah guide us and give us the character by which we can lead our lives as His chosen servants.

* source from the sermons of ...Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi

The slipping of one’s tongue is much worse than that of the feet. If the feet slip then one can simply get back up, but matters get dangerously out of hand if the tongue slips and says something wrong.

Hadrat Hasan Basri (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) would often remark in his gathering that a little girl had taught him an important lesson. When asked how he replied, “Once it was raining and people were walking cautiously through the mud. I saw a little girl approaching and cautioned her to be careful lest she slip in the mud. The girl looked at me and said, ‘If I slip I can always get up, but what will happen to the Muslim nation if you slip and fall? You have to be careful because you are our leader and guardian.’” Hence Hadrat Hasan Basri would often say that a little girl taught him about steadfastness.

Hadrat Yahya bin Ma’adh (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) would often say that the heart is like a cauldron whereas the tongue is like the spoon. Just as the spoon takes out whatever is in the cauldron, the true nature of whatever is in the heart comes out onto the tongue. Consequently if the heart is pure the tongue will speak well of everything and if the heart is spoiled with sin the tongue will only speak ill.

* source from the sermons of ...Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi

Someone asked the famous saint, Sultan Ibrahim Ibn Adham

"why is it that we make du'a, yet they are not responded to?"

He replied:

"Because you know Allah, yet you do not obey Him.

And you know the Prophet, but do not follow his sunnah.

And you know the Quran, but you do not act upon it.

And you eat from the blessing of Allah, but you do not express gratitude for it.

And you know paradise, yet you do not strive for it.

And you know the fire of hell, yet you do not run away from it.

And you know shaytan, but you do not fight him,but instead you obey him.

And you know death, but you do not prepare yourselves for it.

And you bury the dead, but do not learn a lesson from it.

And you fail to look at your own faults, and instead you busy yourselves with the faults of others.


May Allah give us all the tawfiq to act upon the above advice, ameen.

Nu’aym bin Hammaad(RA) Narrattes.

‘Abdullah bin Al-Mubaarak(RA) used to often stay at home, so he was asked, “Don’t you get lonely?” He replied, “How could I get lonely when I am with the Prophet – Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him (i.e. I read his hadeeth)?”


Also on the authority of Nu’aym bin Hammaad (RA)

It was once said to ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mubaarak (RA), “O Abu ‘Abd Al-Rahmaan, you often sit alone at home.” He said, “I am alone? I am with the Prophet (salallahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) – and his Companions.” Meaning: reading hadeeth.



Shaqeeq bin Ibraaheem (RA) Narrates.

It was once said to ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mubaarak (RA), “After you have prayed with us you don’t sit with us?”

He replied, “I go and sit with the Sahaabah and the Taabi’een.”

We said, “And how can you sit with the Sahaabah and Taabi’een (when they have all passed away)?”

He replied, “I go and read the knowledge I have collected, I find their narrations and deeds. What would I do with you? You sit around backbiting people.”




Something to ponder.

There are times when many of us encounter difficulties in life, we feel all alone and despondent.

Let us at such times turn to Allah by reciting the Quran, spend time with the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaiyhi wasallam) by studying the seerah.

Read the works of the Pious saints and Scholars and imagine that they are directly addressing us.

May Allah protect us from despair and despondency, and may he give us the tawfiq to spend more time with the Quran, studying the Seerah, and reading the works of the pious.

Salaam.

Although I posted this somewhere else, I will reposted it again for the Benefit of those who missed it.

*A man from a respectable background came to Balkh , accompanied by his wife and daughters. Shortly after their arrival the man fell ill and later died, leaving his wife and daughters.Without his support they became poor and suffered.So fearing the mockery of enemies, she fled Balkh with her daughters to another town.

On the day she arrived the weather was very cold, so she left her daughters in a mosque and went out in search of food. She passed by two groups of people. One was gathered around a Muslim who was the Sheikh and the other group around a Zoroastrian (majusi) who was the security officer of the city. She first went to the Sheikh and described her situation saying, " I am a woman of respectable family, with daughters whom I have left in the local mosque, I have come in search of food." He asked her, " Bring me proof that you are from a respectable family." She replied, I am a stranger in this town and do not have anyone to testify for me." She departed from him broken hearted.

She then went to the Zoroastrian and explained her situation to him, telling him about her noble background and her orphaned daughters who were waiting her return.The Zoroastrian stood up and sent some womenfolk to bring her daughters and took all of them to his house. There he showered them with honour and generosity. He fed them fine food and clothed them in rich garments.

That night the Sheikh saw in a dream the day of Resurrection and the banners were unfurled around the Prophet ( Peace be Upon him). Ahead of him, was a green palace made of emeralds, its balconies of pearls and rubies and domes of pearls and corals. He asked the Prophet (Peace be Upon him), " Messenger of Allah, for him is this palace?" The Prophet ( Peace be Upon him) replied, " For
a Muslim." The Sheikh replied, " I am a Muslim!" The Prophet( Peace and blessings be upon Him) said "prove to me that you are a Muslim?" At that the Sheikh was dumbstruck. The Prophet (Peace be Upon him) then said, " You asked a woman to produce proof of her respectability, my question to you is can you prove that you are a Muslim?" At this the Sheikh woke up and felt great remorse for his treatment of the woman

In the morning he immediately set out to find the woman. He learned she was staying with the Zoroastrian. So he called for him when the Zoroastrian arrived, the Sheikh requested that he sends the woman and her daughters to him. The Zoroastrian said, "Under no circumstances! I have received great blessings from her." The sheikh said " take a thousand dinars from me and bring them to me." He shouted impossible! the one who showed you the palace in your dream has made it for me .Are you surprised because I am not a Muslim? BY Allah I did not sleep last night, before I and my family had accepted Islam at that noble womans hand, and I dreamt something similar to you.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) asked me,"Is that noble woman and her daughters with you?" I replied yes messenger of Allah ." The prophet(peace be upon him replied this palace is for you and your family."At that the Sheikh became sorrowful at a missed opportunity in gaining a lofty position in paradise, due to his neglect of that noble woman and her daughters.

Allah's Messenger (sallahu alaihi wasallaam) has said, " The one who strives on behalf of the widow and the needy is like a warrior in the path of Allah." (Bukhari and Muslim) May Allah guide us to what is right for indeed, He is Generous, the most Kind,the most Merciful.

Shaykh Ahmed Ali 'Stories of The Pious'

Here is another story, which I have decided to repost.

There was once a pious old maid servant, who worked for the King. One day she was cleaning the Royal bedroom, feeling extremely tired, she looked at the Kings bed, covered in silken, sheets, and pillows stuffed with feathers. She thought to herself I wonder what it feels like to, sleep in such a luxurious bed. She decided that she would take a short nap, after all who was going to see her, The King and his courtiers were away on a hunting trip.

The bed was so comfortable that she fell a sleep straight away. Lo and behold five minutes later the King returned, entering his chambers, he was extremely angry, to find the old maid servant asleep in his bed. She apologised profusely, "Your Majesty I am sorry, I had only laid to rest for five minutes." The King was in no mood to listen he said "old Woman for sleeping five minutes in the bed of the King, and transgressing the boundaries, the punishment is fifty lashes, how dare you behave so impudently."

The poor old Woman was strung up in chains, the King ordered one of his officers to carry out the punishment. As she was being lashed, she burst out in laughter, the King getting angrier told his officer to strike her even harder, but the more she was struck the greater her laughter.

The King and his courtiers were perplexed by the Old maid servants behavior .
He said " Old woman you're being punished yet you laugh uncontrollably, truly you are insane." The old woman replied, "you're Majesty the reason I am laughing is that a thought came in to my head as I was being struck. For being neglectful, and becoming enamored with the charms of the Duniya, and sleeping in the bed of the King, for just five minutes my punishment is fifty lashes. You have spent you're entire life in neglect, and transgression, what will be the punishment , for your impudence when you stand before the King of Kings on the day of reckoning. She further said, " truly the one who has fallen in love with the charms of such a disloyal maiden as the Duniya is the one who is insane." Upon hearing this the king was struck with fear and started trembling profusely.

Something to Ponder.

What answer shall we give on the day of Qiyamah. when all our enrgys are exhausted in pursuit of, worldly pleasures and status.

May Allah guide us all especially a hypocrite and sinner like me Ameen.