WHY I HAVE AN EMPTY MIND?

Man finds nothing so intolerable as to be in a state of complete rest, without passions, without occupation, without diversion, without effort. Then he feels his nullity, loneliness, inadequacy, dependence, helplessness, emptiness."
--Blaise Pascal

James 4:7 states, "Submit therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives. God’s Word commands us:

Five ways we give control of our minds to Satan:

1.     By not daily meditating on God's word.

2.     Deliberately considering and living out sin in one's mind.

3.     Through willful ignorance of God's truth's and moral absolutes.

4.     By accepting any suggestion in the mind as if from God without questioning or checking to see if it lines up with God's Word or past light of God.

5.     Deliberately blanking one's mind so as to receive suggestions from Shaytan. 

Why is it so hard for us to tolerate emptiness in our minds? The prevalent belief that action always equals progress may be a contributing factor. We perceive emptiness as an undesired state, something to be feared. We feel uncomfortable with those moments when our minds seem devoid of any creative or productive activity. We rarely, if ever, simply sit with and allow the feeling of emptiness. And come up with… “ahhhhhhhhhhhh, why I have an empty mind!?

Nothing but your action…You submit yourself to God after having pondered and thought and realized that acting on His guidance will benefit you. And you surrender to Him willingly and cheerfully, not out of fear of anyone else, nor trying to please someone. You give up your desires and submit yourself to what God wants you to do. You should feel in your heart that what you are doing is right. How then does Satan gain control of our mind if it has clusters of  taqwa to Allah. But when we are not obeying Allah is nothing but wasting of time. An idle mind is the playground of the Devil plain and simple. The way you gain back control of your mind is by seeking the Rabb’s will in your use of time and then obeying him in that use of time. Remember when Satan provoked the first couple, Adam and his wife, Hawa (Eve) and it is clearly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures:

Allah said: “Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been.."

This is how Satan works and control the mind to be empty at all times we forget seeking refuge from Allah from the ousted Satan. That is why Allah revealed Sura An Nass: Say, “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, [1] the King of mankind, [2] the God of mankind, [3] from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws (when Allah's name is pronounced), [4] the one who whispers in the hearts of people, [5] whether from among the Jinn or Mankind.” [6]

According to Tafsir ibn Kathir, it has been reported from Abu Sa'id that: Muhammad used to seek protection from the evil eyes of the jinn and mankind. But when the Muawwidhatayn were revealed, he used them (for protection) and abandoned all else besides them. At-Tirmidhi, An-Nisai and ibn Majah recorded this. In the haddit, also mentioned that:

Narrated ‘Aisha: “Whenever Allah’s Apostle became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two suras) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings. (Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.6 Bk.6 No.535) 

Narrated ‘Aisha: “Whenever thy Prophet go went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. (Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.6 Bk.6 No.536). This is one way of protecting our mind from Shaytan.

Our faith is not based on air, it is not built on Jesus or the Holy Spirit or the Gospel as Christians does; our faith is based on believing to the Oneness of God taught by the prophet of Allah and found in the Holy Qur’an and the Haddith.  The Qur’an is the bases for what we believe or do not believe.  If a voice tells you to do something that does not agree with God’s Word, it is not of God and is to be rejected plain and simple. God speaking through Isaiah said,

"And when they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." (Isaiah 8:19-20)

Another way Satan gains control of our minds which really relates to what we have been discussing, is when we deliberately choose to sin.  Our flesh is in bondage to sin.  People struggle with lust and personal desires.  However, when a Muslim deliberately chooses to turn to drugs (snipping shabu) and pornography, they are with their will choosing to sin.  That is a doorway.  As a result Satan will take control of their minds and it will take more than confession of one's sin to get freed from the bondage of snipping shabu or pornography because now unclean spirits are also involved which are keeping the person in bondage.  A verse for the bible states that: "He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks a hedge a serpent will bite him."  You must now also ask Allah to cleanse you from the unclean spirits and free your mind from the bondage of Satan, then bind the unclean spirits and command them to leave in order to get free by saying “autho billahi mina shaytani rajeem”.  Those Muslims engage in selling pornographic  films that I have seen with are the first who have willfully turned to pornographic sights on their television or on web have found afterwards that regaining control of their minds is a real battle and is not possible in most cases without the help of other Muslims.  My advice is occupy yourself with God's will and stay away from pornographic sights.

Another way Satan gains control of our minds is through neglect reading Qur’anic verses and uttering dikr. That is why it is advisable to read the book of law. This book of the law shall not depart from our mouth, but we shall meditate on it day and night, so that we may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then our way would be a prosperous one, and have success in life. 

In one ruwayah the Messenger of Allah sallallau alayhe wa salam has said: “These hearts rust just as iron rusts; and indeed they are polished through the recitation of the Qur’an.”  Irshadul Qulub; Page 78

Reading Qur’anic verses is always doing something with our mind, never surrendering or blanking it to anyone or waiting for something or someone to fill it. It should always be active, it is never passive.  What is the active thing the Qur’an tells us to do in reading it? It tells us to study and magnify upon God’s Word, meaning to think about, muse over:  "What is God's word teaching, telling me to do?, to do good and forbidding bad.  What is it trying to teach me? To be anxious all the time on law He has given us through prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa salam.  By reading Qur’anic verses we can actively use our mind to study and understand what the word of God is teaching us.

And the best dua : O’ Allah!  Surely You have revealed it (the Qur’an) with Truth and with the truth it descended.  O’ Allah!  Enhance my desire for it; and appoint it as a divine light for my eyes; and a healing for my breast; and make it (the Qur’an) that which removes my grief, sorrow and worries.  O’ Allah!  Through the Qur’an, beautify my tongue (that which I speak), and beautify my face, and strengthen my body, and make my scale of (good) deeds weighty, and grant me the ability to recite it as it should be recited in Your obedience - in the darkness of the night and the ends of the day, and raise me up with the Prophet, Muhammad and his family members - the chosen, glorified, the purified, by Your mercy.  O’ the Most Merciful of those who are able to show mercy”.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to Allah, and the peace of Allah, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard our hearts and our minds in Allah’s unlimited bounties of forgiveness. 

Now why we have an empty mind? We have an empty because we are lack of knowledge and our minds were filled with pleasures and material things. Perhaps, wrong way of worshipping Allah or habitual conforms to the norms of bid’a. This way is nothing to do but you are opening the door and that is to blank your mind while waiting for Satan to come and fill it, and fill it he will.

God never takes control of our minds. Because Allah gave us free independent will. God never violates the independent will of anyone.  Even we choose to stay out in Islam He does not take control of our minds.

 You, yourself will tell what you will for your life, but Allah never force you to do His will. We are always in control of ourselves and must choose to obey Him. He never requires us to yield our minds and bodies to Him to control and walk through like demon possession. That is what we mean by Muslim, to submit, surrender with God.

We seek God’s will for our lives while meditating upon His word. He then either directly through the Word reveals His will to us. We then choose with our will whether to obey Him or not. To have a relationship with Allah then means to walk in obedience to His revealed will to us individually. But notice we must make the choice; He never forces us to do anything.

When we choose not to obey God’s revealed will to us, this is disobedience, and this removes His protection over us and our minds become open to Satan’s control. Getting back to our original passage quoted in this article, in James 4:7 it states "Submit therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We have no power over Satan. The only power we have over Satan is Allah’s power, and His power is only available to us when we are walking in obedience to Him. When we are not choosing to walk in obedience to Allah, we cannot resist the devil and we become open and under His control, and Satan gains control over our minds.

How can ye reject the faith in Allah?- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return. (Al Baqara:28)

Ya… Rabb…Each time You work in my heart, each time You cut away, I will choose to believe, resist the devil and submit to You. If there be any pride, any wicked way in me, I pray it is revealed and cut away. Your Word in me is a living Word with power and authority. All things in me come into subjection to the Word implanted. I walk by faith and proclaim that my life will manifest the plan of Your heart. I have been made new in You. Amen

Your only alternative is: Close your mind to other train of thoughts, or open your mind and develop other train of thoughts. Always think Allah obey and believe in Him.

FALL OUT OF LOVE (TAGLISH)

"It has been narrated by Amr Ibn Akhwas. He relates that it was commanded by the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam "Be kind towards your women. Take heed! You have rights over your women and your women also have rights over you. Their rights over you are that you provide food and clothing for them in good faith. Your rights over them are that they do not allow and nor do they give permission, for people to trespass into your house whose presence you dislike."

Kapag ang isang babae ay magsimulang makaramdam na nawala na ang wagas na pag-ibig niya sa kaniyang asawang lalaki, (fallen out of love) - lagas na pag-ibig, ikaw ay nahaharap sa napakalaking suliranin at sitwasyon. Ito ay mas mahirap kung nais mong maisalba ang inyong relasyon na matagal mong iningatan na huwag magkalamat subalit sa isang iglap ay biglang naglaho ang iyong pagmamahal kahit ang lalaki ay naging tapat at mapagmahal sa iyo. Ito ay isang emosyonal na pahirap sa iyong sarili upang manatili ang isang kasal kung saan hindi mo nararamdaman ang isang malalim, matibay na koneksyon sa iyong magasawa. Ang sinumang babae ang dumaranas sa kaniyang sarili ng ganitong damdamin ay hindi niya dapat ipagtagal sa kaniyang puso ang damdaming ito. Huwag mong hayaan na darating ang panahon at tumambad sa iyo na tuluyan nang nawala ang lalaking iyong pinakasalan at minahal ng lubos. In fact, you can reclaim the love you once felt for him and have an even more fulfilling marriage than you ever dreamt.

Kung sakaling naiisip mo sa iyong sarili na ikaw ay nawalan ng pagmamahal sa iyong asawang lalaki (fall out of  love, you need to take stock of the dynamic of the relationship in general. Isa-alang-alang kung paano ang mga bagay ay nagbago simula nang kayo ay ikasal at magsama. O, huwag mong pakaisipin na ikaw ay taken for granted na ng iyong asawa? Hindi ito makakbuti at makakaragdag pa ito ng lubusang pagkawala ng pagmamahal sa kaniya.

Ikaw ba ay nagdaramdam sa mga bagay na kaniyang nakaligtaan? Ito ang isang katanungan na dapat na hanapan ng rasyonal na kasagutan. Kung ikaw ay nakakaranas ng anuman sa mga bagay na ito, how you feel about him. Samakatuwid, ang unang hakbang sa pag-save ng iyong kasal ay dapat na pag-usapan ang isyung ito. Kailangan mong umupo at pag-usapan ng iyong asawa ang hinggil dito at ibahagi kung paano at ano ang iyong nararamdaman. Maging tapat ka at buksan mo ang tungkol sa kung ano ang iyong nararamdaman, kung ikaw ay galit sa kanya sa isang bagay o kung masamain mo sa kanya ito ay dapat na pinag-uusapan. Malamang ay hindi niya alam ang lalim ng damdamin ng pag-ibig sa isat-isa.

Kailangan mo ring simulan sa iyong sarili na ipakita sa iyong asawa ang isang positibong liwanag na makapagpapa-ala-ala sa kaniya ng mga hinahanap mong katangian simula ng inyong pagsasama, maaaring ang mga hinahanap mo ay hindi niya kayang tuguanan, kung kaya dapat mong tanggapin ang kaniyang pagkukulang, kahinaan sa mga bagay na iyong hinahangad na magmumula sa kaniya.

It's so easy to fall into a negativity trap when you are married for some time. Perhaps you've taken to dwelling on the things about your husband you find least appealing. 

Kung ito ang usapin mahirap manatili ang pag-ibig mo sa kaniya. Make a concerted effort to only see him in a positive way. I-pokus mo ang atensiyon sa katangian na inibig mo sa kaniya noong una pa man na kayo ay magkita at maging magsing-irog. Tanggapin mo kung ano mayroon siya at kung sino siya noon at sa kasalukuyan ng inyong pagsasama.

Let him know how much you appreciate those things about him. Kung magagawa mo ito you will notice that you'll start to see the man you married in him again and that will help you feel closer to him emotionally.

There are specific things you can do to fall in love with your husband all over again. If you don't address the issue of how you're feeling about your husband, you'll eventually reach a point where divorce will seem like the only option. Kaya, don’t let it happens. Narito ang ilang mga payo;

1. Maging isang solusyon-seeker, hindi isang hukom. Kung nararamdaman niya na  gusto mo ay akusahan siya na nsa kaniya ang problema at nangangailangan ng pagpapayo magiging masakit para sakaniya ito. Ipabatid s akaniya na kinakailanga mo ang tulong niya sa problemang ito, kaya, kayong dalawa ang lulutas nito at tanungin siya kung willing siyang tulungan ka. Tadaan nais ng mga kalalakihan na sila ang lumutas ng anumang suliranin, ayaw nilang isipin na sila ang problema.

2. Maging tapat tungkol sa mga bagay na kailangan mo upang gumana sa iyong relasyon, at huwag palabasin na nararapat na siya ang nangangailangan na gamutin ito. Ipaalam sa kaniya na nais mong maging mabuting kabiyak sa kaniya at ang pag-usapan ito ay makakatulong sa panunumbalik ng inyong pagmamahalan. Kung kaya mong akuin sa harap niya na mayroon kang pagkukulang, magaan para sa kaniya na akuin na mahalaga ang kontribusyon niya sa problema at bukas ang isip niyang malaman kung papaano ito mababago.

3.Siguraduhin mo sa kaniya. Maraming sa mga tao ang pakiramdam na ang pag-usapan ito ay nangangahulugan  na ito ang simula ng pagtatapos ng kanilang pagsasama. Kung kinakailangan ng counseling na siyang nararapat gawin ito sa lalong madalingpanahon. Let him know that if that were true, you wouldn't want counseling in the first place - it's because you love him and treasure your relationship that you want to learn how to be a better partner for him, and you're willing to make some changes in order to do that. 

At this point, he should feel better about the idea. But if he still refuses to go, go on your own. Remember that his refusal is likely rooted in fear. If he sees you going and feeling better, and handling your issues in a better way (still without blame or judgment towards him), he will likely decide that it's safe to give it a try.

The Paradoxical Contempt

The Paradoxical Contempt was first published by  Eisa Rene Saturno Batallones on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 8:12am through FB.

“O you who believe! Men shall not scoff (mock) at other men. For those whom they scoff at may be better than them. Nor shall women scoff at other women. For those whom they scoff at may be better than them. Nor shall you slander each other. Nor shall you revile each other by way of abhorrent nicknames. Woeful is the ungodly name after attaining faith. Thus whoever does not repent for this, it is these who are wrongdoers [G odless in hearth] (49:11)

.
Alarming! The present generation of Filipino Muslim Ummah glorifying the intense of flamboyant, flashy conversation, never instigated the true essence of communicating with brothers and sisters Muslim with HIKMA but acrimony hails even yell for in it, triggers and awakens my desire of condemning with forceful attack par beyond with the havoc catastrophe of faith by convincing my self and the rest of the readers to contemplate to this short epistle that can eradicate the mayhem of the dying legacy of the entire Filipino Muslim community.

I cried for reform and inculcate within ourselves that this paradoxical contempt in every actions, predominantly shackle our heart and it must be petered out for the sake of Islamic Creed. Thus, in deliberation of thoughts HUMILITY is hard to achieve because arrogance is one of SATAN’S prime weapons against humanity ( it worked from him right?) It takes a tremendous amount of inner strength and self confidence. To be HUMBLE you simple cannot rely on other people or outside forces. It must come from within. It is truly a personal feat. And we do not like doing things on our own. But it becomes easier to conquer our inclinations to ARROGANCE when we internalize reliance on GOD, and we allow ourselves to truly love those around us. For their sakes, for the sake of GOD, we will lower ourselves. To treat people with kindness and respect we need HUMILITY. In this way, each attempt of goodness of character plays into and augments the other.

Hence, we must discover the egalitarianism   (cleanliness, equality, classlessness), social justice and inclusiveness that defined Prophetic community of Muslims (Mu’minin) would alleviate much of the discord that plagues Filipino DU’AT and the entire Filipino Muslim communities today.

Before we look at the wisdom behind Islam’s strong emphasis on human relations, we ought to realize ourselves that we live in a society that is very much of odds, on a popular level, with these exhortations. Our corrupt culture icons virtually fees us intravenously from our youth the message that civility is out of fashion, politeness in unhip, manners are not in. We are trained to admire characters with flippant, devil may care attitudes. SARCASM is conflated with wit. MODESTY is a virtue to be derided with outrage. COURTESY is viewed as social backward. SHYNESS is considered a defect that probably needs drug to remedy it. If you do not believe me and someone say this is PALPAK or SABLAY, just take any of these character descriptions and imagine for a minute in your mind, you will find, no doubt, a whole series of ways the Islamic attitudes have been mocked by our own selves and a legion of style in which Qur’an condemned attitudes have been made glamorous, because we were influenced by the flash of television and movie scenes.

The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “The believer with the most complete faith is the one with best behavior” (Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

Shinning example for the SEERAH and Muslim history demonstrate Islamic models of pluralism evoking every individual Muslim not to harm his brothers, his sisters by much of unflattering concoctions lexis and we must observed and respect the so called cultural indifferences (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) the different dialects and call into question the contemporary segregationist and negative attitude towards the one who is seeking an INTELLECTUAL PROPETY RIGHTS not to void  but at least to listen in his plea and investigate with the spirit of tolerance  and inclusiveness that defined much in uniting our communities  and contracting the solid vision for the future.

This is what makes every one of us worthy of the goodness and dignity that Allah, subhanahu wa ta’allah, has honored us with, and it was qualifies us to bear the weighty responsibility of freedom and vicegerency   that HE has bestowed and burdened us with.

Allah says: “O humankind! Have a conscious fear of your Lord, the one who is created you from a single sole, and created from it its mate, and from them both spread  abroad a multitude of men and women” (4:1)

Just imagine a community of Muslims in Philippines full of people who support one another, human beings who strive to maintain the dignity of their fellows, creatures with soft hearts, men and women who humble themselves before GOD and men, men and women who care enough to listen, who really care. We can make that country. It begins with you and me. 

LET’S  MIND OUR MANNERS,  SHALL WE?

TULA

Filipinas Kong Mahal
Tula ni: Ka Basyo
January 14, 2011

Aking nakikita at nararamdaman
hapis na buhay ng aking mga kababayan
sa gitnang silangan sila'y nakipagsapalaran
maiahon ang salat at dukhang pamumuhay

mga kababayan ko’y inalilang lubos
ng mga arabo, hapon at amerikano
trato sa kanila’y parang basahang trapo
naging pabigat sa puso at dibdib ko

nais kong pukawin ang sambayanang Filipino
sa munting tulang ito maiparating ko sa inyo
ang aking layunin na magkaisa tayo
upang maitaas ang antas ng ating pagkatao

mga ninuno natin ay buong tapang na nanindigan
iwinagayway ang bandila upang makipaglaban
sa mga dayuhan dala ay pawang karahasan
at gawing alipin ang buong sambyanan

at sa oras ng aking pamamahinga’t pagninilay-nilay
ako’y nababahala sa aking nasasaksihan
mangagawang Filipino sa knilang pakikipagsapalaran
ninakaw ang karapatan dangal ay niyurakan

nasaan na ang nangakong sila'y manunungkulan
sasagot sa karaingan ng mga kapos palad kong kababayan
ang Embahada’t Konsolado ay walang pakialam
sa mga nangyayari sila'y nagbubulag-bulagan

hindi na ako umaayon sa sinabi ni Gat Jose Rizal
na ang mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan
ang bansang itinangi ng puso ko't isipan
binababoy ng mga Pulitiko patuloy na yinuyurakan

Iisa lamang ang sagot sa ganitong kalakaran
Takot sa Diyos ay ipamulat sa mga kabataan
Na kung sakaling sila'y lalaki't manunungkulan
Maiiwasan ang pangungurakot at magkamal ng kayaman

Magkapit bisig tayo O mga kapatid kong Muslim
Halina’t isa puso yaring tunay na adhikain
Ipalaganap ang Islam sa minamahal nating bayan
Upang sa hinaharap ay ating makamtan
Ang kasaganaan, at mayroong ligtas na kapaligiran


At kung sakaling, ako'y manungkulan
sa senado ako ay padparin ng aking kapalaran
imumungkahi ko, ilagay sa kurikulum ang Islam
upang mapag-aralan, gawing batas at batayan
ng lugmok na bansang Filipinas kong minamahal

Tanging ang gabay ni Allah ang sagot sa mga karaingan
Tiwala'y huwag aalisin sapagkat Siya ang Diyos na maalam
Kung ang bawat Filipino sa Kaniya'y sasamba't magpupugay
mapaparam ang lahat ng hilahil dusa't kapighatian.

Gumising ka O Bayang Filipinas, sinabing lupain ng gito at bulaklak
mga talulot nito'y naluray at nalagas, pilitin nating ihasik ang butong
nagkalat, arugain ito na ang pagsibol nito'y maging banayad,
upang ang mga talulot ay magsilbing halimuyak, 
ng sa ganoon ay makabangon ang Filipinas sa dusa at sa hirap.

IKHLAS (SINCERITY OR PURITY OF INTENTION)

In the Name of Allah, 

The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Ikhlas has been interpreted as being upright, sincere, and pure; being distant from show and ostentation in one’s intention and conduct; and being closed to whatever clouds or fouls the heart. Purity of intention, straightforwardness in thought, pursuit of no worldly purposes in one’s relationship with God, and loyalty in servanthood to God are also included here.

Ikhlas requires that one pursue nothing worldly while worshiping and obeying God, that one fulfills the duty of servanthood only because God orders it, and that one remains silent concerning any personal experiences of God’s special treatment and special gifts and seek only His approval and pleasure.

Sincerity is one of the most significant qualities of those most faithful or loyal to God; loyalty is regarded as a source, and sincerity as a sweet water originating from it. The most eloquent of humanity, upon him be peace and blessings, declared that one who drinks uninterruptedly from this water for forty days will find channels of wisdom opened from his or her heart to his or her tongue, and that such a person will always speak wisdom.

Loyalty or faithfulness is the primary attribute of Prophet-hood, and sincerity is its most lustrous dimension. Sincerity is innate in the Prophets; all other people try to obtain it during their lifetime. Among them, for example, the Qur’an describes the Prophet Moses as one made sincere (19:51).

Faithfulness and sincerity were as intrinsic and essential to the Prophets as air and water are to the lives of those who communicate the Prophets’ message to others in every age. In addition, they were the Prophets’ most important sources of power. The Prophets were convinced that they could not take one step forward without sincerity, and the representatives of the cause of Prophethood must believe that they will be able to achieve nothing without it. Faithfulness and sincerity are two wings or two deep oceans extending from Divine Favor and Grace to an individual’s heart. One who can sail in these oceans or fly with these wings will reach the destination, for they are under God’s protection. God values that which is done to please Him, regard-less of its apparent size or importance, not the quantity of deeds. Therefore, He values a small deed done with sincerity over many deeds done without sincerity.

Sincerity is an attitude of the heart, and God views an individual according to his or her heart’s inclination. The Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, declares: Assuredly, God does not consider your bodies, nor your appearances. Rather, He considers your hearts. Sincerity is a mysterious Divine credit granted to those who are pure-hearten in order to increase what is little and to deepen what is shallow, and to give finite (limited) worship infinite reward. One can use it to purchase the most valuable things in the markets of this world and the next, for it is esteemed, welcomed, and respected where others suffer great misery. This mysterious power of sincerity caused God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, to declare: Be sincere in your religion; little work (with sincerity) is enough for you, and: Be sincere in your deeds, for God only accepts what is done with sincerity.

If we consider a deed to be a body, sincerity is its soul. If a deed represents one wing of pair of wings, sincerity is the other. A body without soul is of no worth, and nothing can fly with only one wing. How fine are Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi’s words:

You should be sincere in all your deeds,

So that the Majestic Lord may accept them.

Sincerity is the wing of the bird of the acts of obedience.

Without a wing, how can you fly to the abode of prosperity?

The following words of Bayazid al-Bistami are also very apt:

I worshiped my Lord for thirty years with all my strength. Then I heard a voice saying: O Bayazid! The treasures of God Almighty are full of acts of worship. If you intend to reach Him, see yourself as small at the door of God and be sincere in your deeds.

For some, sincerity involves hiding from others when per-forming supererogatory deeds and avoiding all show and ostentation. For others, it means that whether one is or is not seen while performing religious deeds is not important. Still for others, it means being so involved in worship or religious deeds in consideration of God’s pleasure that one does not even remember whether one should be sincere or not.

Self-supervision is an essential dimension of sincerity, and a truly sincere person does not consider any possible spiritual pleasure that may be derived, or speculate upon whether it will ensure entrance to Paradise. Sincerity is a mystery between God and a servant, and God puts it in the hearts of those He loves. One whose heart is awakened to sincerity does not worry about being praised or accused, exalted or debased, aware or unaware of deeds, or being rewarded. Such a person does not change, and behaves in the same way in public and in private.

May this small effort intrigues the heart of every individuals to be more persistent in doing 'ibada with ikhlas  so that Allah sanctify us and bless us in all our endeavor to have a fruitful life. May Allah guides us in straight path ...amen. salam.

 

Greeting Cards for Hajj 2011

The Kaaba (Arabic: الكعبة‎ al-Kaʿbah IPA: [ʔælˈkæʕbɐ], English: The Cube)^[ is a cuboid-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam.^[2] The Qur'an states that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham and his son Ishmael, after Ishmael had settled in Arabia.^[3] The building has a mosque built around it, the Masjid al-Haram. All Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are.

Throwing pebbles  or stoning of the jamarat (Arabic: رمي الجمرات ‎) is part of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Muslim pilgrims fling pebbles at three walls called jamarat in the city of Mina just east of Mecca. It is one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in the Hajj.

Medina (English pronunciation: /mɛˈdiːnə/; Arabic: المدينة المنورة‎, al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, “the radiant city” (officially), or المدينة al-Madīnah; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and it is historically significant for being his home after the Hijrah. 

The ritual re-enacts Abraham's (Ibrāhīm) pilgrimage to Mecca as explained by the Muslim historian al-Azraqi:

When he [Abraham] left Mina and was brought down to (the defile called) al-Aqaba, the Devil appeared to him at Stone-Heap of the Defile. Gabriel said to him: "Pelt him!" so Abraham threw seven stones at him so that he disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him at the Middle Stone-Heap. Gabriel said to him: "Pelt him!" so he pelted him with seven stones so that he disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him at the Little Stone-Heap. Gabriel said to him: "Pelt him!" so he pelted him with seven stones like the little stones for throwing with a sling. So the Devil withdrew from him.

The Abraj Al-Bait Towers also known as the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower is a complex topped out in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The building holds and will break several world records in the construction world, including: the tallest hotel in the world, constructed with the tallest clock tower in the world and displaying the world's largest clock face,^[2] the world's largest building floor area, and will become the second tallest building in the world upon completion, surpassed only by Dubai's Burj Khalifa upon its opening in 2012. The building complex is meters away from the world's largest mosque and Islam's most sacred site, the Masjid al Haram. The developer and contractor of the complex is the Saudi Binladin Group, the Kingdom's largest construction company.

One of the doors entrance of Masjid Al haram situated in front of the main gate south. This entrance will lead the pilgrims till the roof top of Masjid Al Haram, 

The tallest tower in the complex stands as the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, and the tallest and largest hotel in the world, with a height of 601 meters (1,972 feet). It is the fourth tallest building under construction. Upon its official opening the structure would have the largest floor area of any structure in the world with 1,500,000 m² (16,150,000 sq ft) of floorspace. This is the same as Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, in the United Arab Emirates which is also under construction. It will also surpass the Emirates Park Towers in Dubai as the world's tallest hotel. The site of the complex is located across the street to the south from an entrance to the Masjid al Haram mosque, which houses the Kaaba. In order to start construction, the historic Ottoman Ajyad Fortress had to be first completely demolished. 

A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end. A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers. 

In Makka, they bore every Mountain to be the passage in order to go places easily for the benefits of the millions of pilgrims during Hajj.

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