islamic-connection

[islamic-connection]

Reconnecting with Islam - Mental illness

Recently someone sent me an article which outlined things that you should not say to a muslim person suffering from a mental illness. They include things like “You don’t read enough salah” or “You’re a lazy muslim” or “It’s just Shaytaan” or “Here’s a good thikr to read, because Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” The person who wrote that article was way too kind to the people offering these responses. To me they all seem like cop-outs from people who don’t want to be actively involved in the healing of their loved ones. Some people offer these golden nuggets of advice without their advice being solicited in the first place.

There is no basis in Islam or the sunnah for these falsehoods. Understand that there is a fundamental difference between having an off day and suffering from mental illness. Maybe the mind of a sane person can understand the soothing properties of reciting the quran or listening to beautiful Qira’at. However, mental illness is another species of monster altogether.

If the soul is the source of one’s Imaan, then the brain is the spirit’s way of physically expressing that Imaan, through speech and actions. If the brain can interpret and understand the soul’s expression of faith, then it will cause every cell in a person’s body to vibrate with the frequency of the Shahaadah. Every beat of the heart will reverberate with the sound of the word “Allah”, the eyes will see past the observable qualities of things and see the Divinity in them, the ears will hear the Athaan and feel excitement to head to salah. But, my dear people, this is normalcy. The mind of a person with mental illness is a dark cave, a thousand km from the light, where demons dwell in the shadows. It is a place where the spirit is shackled and bound, and unable to express itself. A human being with a shackled spirit is an empty shell, or a glass with a crack in it, out of which seeps all the benefit of the things it does or says. Existence is replaced with survival for such people. In the Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, people with mental illness are still trying to fulfill their rudimentary needs, while the rest of humanity is aspiring to greater things like self-actualization or a greater connection with God. A clear mind will find it easy to worship Allah, but the mind of a mentally ill person is an endless maze of tangled and confused neuron pathways, in which any form of Ibaadah can easily get lost before it reaches the lips or the limbs. My desire to wake up for Tahajjud comes second to the synthesized coma that has been induced by my sleeping pills. My desire to turn the other cheek is drowned out by the memories of my traumas.

Do not tell me that I do not pray enough, because I invoke Yaa Muhaymin (Oh Protector) at least 100 times a day, because everything and everyone frightens me. Do not tell me that my mental illness is Shaytaan taking control of my mind, because the demons in my head would send Shaytaan running for the hills. Do not tell me that I am too lazy to be a good muslim, because my soul is full to the brim with my love for Allah, but my body has no desire for it.

Do not only pray for Allah to grant Shifaa to the mentally ill but be the conduit for His healing. If you love someone enough, then be active in their recovery. If you don’t love the person enough, then be silent on their suffering. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) lost his infant son Ibrahim, he was overwhelmed with grief. When one of the Ansar pointed out to the Nabi (Peace be upon him) that he was overcome by grief when he was the one who told the believers to restrain their grief, he (Peace be upon him) said: "Dear Ibrahim! We can't do anything for you. Divine Will can't be changed. Your father's eyes shed tears, and his heart is sad and grieved for your death. However, I will not say anything which may invite the wrath of Allah. If there had not been the true and certain promise of Allah that we too shall come after you, I would have wept more and become more grieved at the separation from you". The Nabi (Peace be upon him) went through a year of grief upon losing his beloved wife and uncle in succession. This proves that even the best of creation is not safe from mental illness. This shows that even the Beloved of Allah had to go through a long process to find healing. Yes, his healing was probably strengthened by a direct relationship with Allah. When he felt abandoned by Allah, Allah sent him direct revelation saying that his Lord had not abandoned nor forsaken him. The average person does not have that reassurance.

If you are suffering from a mental illness and feel as though your religiosity is at an all-time low, please be kind to yourself. Huddle around that tiny flame of Imaan that remains kindled in the dark parts of your brain. Keep it alive with whatever you can find around you. Burn the demons if you must, because if the flame dies then I’m afraid that Imaan might be irretrievably lost, in questions of “Why me?” and “Where were You when I needed You?” I was admitted to a psychiatric clinic during Ramadhaan and advised by my psychiatrist not to fast because hypoglycemia related to fasting can have a negative effect on the medications’ ability to work. I spoke to my religious guide, who is a doctor and he confirmed this. He told me that a muslim needs to be healthy in body and mind. Remember that the brain is an organ like any other; it overheats, it breaks, it gets diseased, it gets imbalanced all by no fault of your own. If your kidneys broke down, nobody would tell you that you just need to take walks in the forest instead of medication. If your kidneys were broken, nobody would tell you it’s because you’re a lazy muslim or that Shaytaan was possessing your kidney. The Nabi (Peace be upon him) said "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment." (Al-Bukhari). The cure lies in anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. The cure lies in therapy. Allah has made these cures for you. Go out and seek them. As I once mentioned, don’t make duaa for doctors to cure you, but rather make du’aa for Allah’s shifaa to come through your doctor/therapist.

All the notions that anti-depressants numb your senses and ability to worship Allah are false. All the notions that anti-depressants affect your fertility are not scientifically proven. If anybody tries to use Islam to prevent you from taking them then they are in the wrong. The Nabi (Peace be upon him) did not qualify the hadeeth above by saying that it doesn’t apply to mental illness. There is no evidence in the Quraan and hadith that negate the existence of mental illness as actual physical ailments. Trust your instincts, trust the process. I have been on anti-depressants for years now, and they are the only reason that I am able to wake up in the morning. They have helped me get in touch with my creative side again. They have helped to untangle the chaotic neuron pathways in my mind, which has unclogged the congestion, and have allowed my spirit to break free of its shackles. My imaan is flourishing now more than any other time in my life. The demons are still there in dark corners of my mind, but my flame is burning brighter, and they are too afraid to come near it. Thikr, reading the quraan and praying are very soothing to the soul, and can bring contentment when done in the right way, but when none of it seems to work, then your tired and fraught mind needs help. Once you’ve started on your road to recovery, your reconnection to Islam will be a gradual one. Start by reading however many salahs you have energy for. Build yourself up to a level where 5 prayers a day becomes sustainable. Fajr can be difficult when you’re on sleeping pills, but Allah understands your struggles. Allah knows the difference between Shaytaan’s whisperings and mental illness. Most importantly Allah knows your intentions and hopes. He knows that you intend to reach a point of spiritual strength again, and are trying with all your might to get back to those heights. He loves you and is with you during this journey. He never left you, because you kept the flame alive. Tell yourself that He loves you.

To those who have loved ones that are suffering from any mental illness, know that Allah created the family unit, or community at a broader level, so that we may take care of one another. He didn’t create us in isolation. You have to ask yourself how crucial that loved one is to your existence or happiness. Try to picture your life without that person, because suicide is not the only thing that kills the mentally ill. Sometimes their disease can be the death of the person they used to be. Think of the lengths you would go to for that person if they had an ailment of any other body part. Why should this be any different? The research is out there, the professionals are out there. Mental illness is a thing. It’s real. There is no more room left for “denialism”. Do not force down anyone’s throat, the idea that in your day you just sucked it up and carried on. I sympathise with you for your troubles and traumas, and may Allah reward you for your perseverance, but this is not useful advice. Do you want to know how you can help? Listen, get to the root of the problem, ask what tangible help you can give (picking up groceries, cooking a meal for the person who is ill, be physically present). Telling a mentally ill person to turn to Allah with their problems, while true, is basically a nice way of washing your hands of your responsibility as a parent, child, sibling, family-member, friend. That person will automatically never turn to you for help again. Most importantly, remember that you do not have the right to an opinion on somebody’s struggles. You do not have the right to withhold medical treatment from them, if that is what they seek. Turn to Allah and the sunnah for guidance on how to help, but then show up! Nobody is forcing you to show up, but just know that if you don’t, then you’ll lose not only the person that they were, but also the person that they will become.

As a post script, reflect on this hadeeth below:

Narrated Abu Huraira narrayed that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes.” (Sahih al- Bukhari 5644). 

You do not have to remain upright. You will bend and break, your petals will disperse, but as long as your roots are strong you will rise again and regrow.

I wish for you strength, mental fortitude and the ability to feel Allah’s Love in your life.

Please forgive me for any offence this post might have caused. Any good that comes from it is from Allah, and any badness in it is from myself.

#mental illness #islam #Muslim #Imaan

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Reconnecting with Islam – Loving each other

Once a Believer has mastered prayer, fasting, has performed pilgrimage and figured out their relationship with their Maker, what then?

I struggle to believe that we’re all on this journey alone. I struggle to believe that Allah gave us all life so that we could live out our individual jihaads. I struggle to believe that the purpose of this life is to remain holed up in our homes, praying, fasting and loving the Creator and His Messenger. Imagine if the prophets of Allah kept their revelations to themselves and lived out their days as wise old men who lived in caves. Over 7 billion of us were created by the same Creator, with a tiny piece of a single soul breathed into us when we were in our mothers’ wombs. We are all a tiny part of one soul. I kind of feel that if I met every single person that exists, has existed and is still to exist, I would know the answer to why we were put here on this planet. If I could understand the fact that our souls belong together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, I would look at you as if you were an extension of me; as if you were me. Then I would love you as I love myself. Then I would understand the true meaning of empathy: Since you are me, I will not do to you what I would not want done to myself. However, I think concepts such as these would fly over some racist, misogynistic and bigoted people’s heads, because they’re already not all that smart to begin with. Instead I will appeal to their sense of Imaan to attempt to dispel these negative character traits.                                                        بسم ال الرحمن الرحيم Abu Hurairah (ra) reported: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم (said: Allah, Most High, has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic period and its boasting in ancestors. One is only a pious believer or a miserable sinner. You are sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. Let the people cease to boast about their ancestors. They (human flesh) are merely fuel to the Hellfire; or they will certainly be of less account with Allah than the beetle which rolls dung with its nose. You are the sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. The humility in that sentence. This is how low the human race is. Structurally our bones are made of the same material, our muscles are made of the same material. Our organs look alike, our blood is the same colour. God in his infinite wisdom gave some people melanin to help protect His creation that lived in sunnier climates. Those who lack it were given this mutation to survive in less sunny climates, because lighter skin helps to absorb UV rays needed for Vitamin D absorption. This natural difference in skin colour was a Mercy from Our Lord, and is not a measure of a person’s intelligence and spiritual capabilities.

As mentioned by Sheikh Omar Suleiman in his halqah on the 40 hadeeth for social justice, the hadeeth above is a paradigm shift and a serious fatwah against racism. It wasn’t meant to be a gradual move away from racism, but rather a forceful wake-up call for the muslim ummah to abandon their prejudices immediately and entirely. 

To understand racism, one must consider what qualities make one fit for a good dunya, and what qualities make one fit for a good aakhirah. What qualities make one loved by other men, and what qualities make one loved by Allah. The more forceful among us are respected by people, because most humans inevitably seek to be led. The wealthy and flamboyant are revered as status symbols in this world. Eventually the forceful and powerful begin to realise that the foundation of their power lies in the appeasement of their subjects. The minute they fail to take care of their subjects, they will be brought down from their heights and replaced. Therefore, it is in the forceful and arrogant leader’s best interest to decimate the dignity of their subjects, to further subjectify them and keep them in that subordinate position.  

If only we could see the unseen noor that haloes the poor imam who lives in a hut made out of mud, we would flock to learn how to be like him. If only we could see the abode waiting in Heaven for the destitute mother (whose husband was killed and whose child is about to die from starvation) because of her patience, perseverance and trust in her Maker, we would want to give up all our earthly possessions to see if we would bear our struggles that graciously. On the day of Judgement, the oppressor’s paths to heaven will be blocked by the people that they’ve wronged with their actions and/or speech. One by one, the oppressed will strip their oppressors bare of good deeds. The oppressor’s salaahs, fasts and zakaah will not avail them that day when the people that they’ve wronged come for their recompense.

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ - No one who has the weight of a seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise. Allah loves those who humble themselves, and when they look at another Believer, considers themselves lower than that other person. “He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbour beside him goes hungry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)”. “Abu Hurayra (rA) reported: A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah! There is a woman who prays, gives charity and fasts a great deal, but she harms her neighbours with her speech (by insulting them).” He said: “She is [bound to be] in the Hellfire.” The man said: "O Messenger of Allah! There is (another) woman who is well-known for how little she fasts and prays, but she gives charity from the dried yoghurt she makes and she does not harm her neighbours.” He said: “She is [bound to be] in Paradise.” (Ahmad, vol. 4, p. 166, Ibn Hibban, hadith no. 2054). Just to add that this hadeeth does not specify the colour, ethnicity or religion of the neighbour. All creatures are to be respected.

I could go on and on, because there are 1000s of hadeeth on the correct treatment of your fellow humans. But the thing that saddens me is how many Believers only give zakaah because it is obligatory, or show kindness outwardly, but bear hate for others deep in their hearts. Allah has left the masaakeen and fuqaraah in the care of those who have means. He has given them their circumstances as a test to their Imaan, and He has given us stewardship over them as a test of our Imaan. He didn’t create us apart from each other so that we can suffer in isolation, but He created us in each other’s spaces and lives, so that we can live in each other’s shadows, as victims of the same plight. 

I find myself at a loss for hope in humanity, because people can only see what is in it for them, when performing any acts of kindness for their fellow human. It is so much more than that! It is about knowing that, while Allah unfolds each human’s destiny as He wills, we all have a responsibility to each other. During Omar (RA)’s caliphate there was dire famine in Madina. He ate only what the poor and needy were eating until muslim governors from other regions came with food and supplies. Omar (RA) truly believed that as the Leader of the Believers, he was responsible for their circumstances and held himself accountable to Allah for his conduct. Do we, as regular people, believe that it is up to our government or aid agencies to feed the poor and needy? It is the duty of every Muslim with adequate means to give from their wealth, in order to eradicate poverty from society.

The Ansaar welcomed the Muhaajireen into their city, into their homes, and shared their livelihood with them. They didn’t bemoan the foreigners coming into their lives and taking their jobs. Imagine what would have happened to Islam if the Ansaar didn’t show them the kindness that they did. Would you show kindness to a muslim who appeared at your door, hungry, in need of shelter and knowledge? Would you volunteer to provide Islamic education to an under-privileged human being who was seeking deen?

I challenge everyone reading this to stop viewing charity and kindness as an obligation, but as a duty. I challenge you to consider that while you do every good deed for the pleasure of Allah, to remember that Allah needs nothing from you and is not pleased with the action, but pleased with your intention. Allah wants us to look at our fellow man and see a tiny slice of divinity in them and to humble ourselves to that divinity. At the lowest point in my life, by chance I crossed paths with a truly wonderful man, a sheikh who had never met me before, and whom I had never met before. In the midst of my tears and cries for help he reached for my hands and stared with his green eyes deeply into my eyes, smiled broadly and said “I see Allah in your eyes! Do you see him in mine?” Wallahi, I did. In his eyes I saw Allah using him as the conduit for His Shifa (Cure). This learned man, was asked by a complete stranger to read a humble du’aa for her while she was crumbling to pieces in a psychiatric clinic. He could’ve turned his nose up and said that I was not his responsibility, but he saw it as his duty to help me. I am immeasurably glad that he did. 

I challenge everyone reading this to figure out how you can uplift someone’s life, and to go out and do it, knowing that in the eyes of the person you are helping you will see Allah’s appreciation, and you will see a glimpse of the reward waiting for you. The person you’ve helped will see Allah in your eyes, working through you to alleviate their suffering just a little bit, and in doing so you will reinvigorate their imaan immeasurably as well.

#islam #Muslim #social justice

[islamic-connection]

Reconnecting with Imaan – reconnecting with Allah

The Imaan of the modern Believer is a beautiful thing: indescribable and completely unsubstantiated. It is rooted in a feeling so deep in our being that it cannot be physically located. Maybe the Imaan of the Believer is embedded in every cell of their bodies, instead of emanating from one particular point. Maybe Imaan doesn’t even exist on a cellular level. It is said that a fetus’s soul is blow into it 120 days after conception. Therefore, the soul must’ve existed on another plain where it was in Allah’s presence. Once joined with a physical shell and confined to the limited cognitive abilities of a human, maybe the soul loses much of its Imaan, but not all of it. Some remnants of His Majesty remain imprinted on our souls along with love for God.

These are all just musings of course, because if the soul had experienced Allah’s Majesty first-hand, how could it forget? Why must it be re-learned? Why must a reconnection be made, when surely the spiritual bond must be strong?

Perhaps this is why we were created. The same reason that Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise: To see if we still choose Allah even when we have lost much of that imprint. To see if that imprint is strong enough to overcome the innate human desire to find substantial proof for every belief that we hold. This is the crux of faith: That I believe even in the absence of proof.

The last credible account of a meeting between a human and God happened nigh on 1400 years ago. When people asked for proof of that meeting, Muhammad (PBUH) told them of a caravan arriving from Syria that he saw as he flew past it on his way to Masjid-ul-Aqsa. Every prophet (AS) had his miracles to draw followers to the faith. We hear of these miracles (fires becoming cool and comfortable, the ability to communicate with animals, parting the seas, splitting the moon, resurrecting the dead etc.), but we’ve never seen the likes of these. We’ve only heard accounts from people who met people who knew people who saw them. So why does the modern Believer believe?

We’ve been studying our origins since the beginning of time. Who put us here, how and why? Philosophers since time immemorial have ended up in textbooks and/or going to chopping blocks because of these questions. Even the staunchest atheist cannot answer the question. So, if we’re all walking around without concrete proof of our origins, wouldn’t it make sense to listen to the men who, every five thousand years or so, had come to us with a message of a divine order to the universe, from the Hands of a Divine Power. Scientists agree that the Big bang required a tremendous source of energy to have occurred. Does this disprove the existence of a Divine Power? No, it strengthens the notion that one exists. Consider the power of that Source of energy, that source of all life. Surely that Source of all life is worthy of love and praise?

Does such a Divine Power require a pronoun? No, it does not. If titles such as Destroyer, King, Lord and Master are masculine, then The Provider, The Loving, The Patient, The Subtle, The Generous, The Forbearing can all be considered feminine. The Divine Source of all life transcends our restrictive gender-based conceptions, or capital letters really. The real language of belief, the grammar, the punctuation, exist in the poetry of our hearts when we rest our gazes on the countless stars in the night sky, the vibrant cerise colour of bougainvillea or the otherworldly Northern lights. We sound out the word Allah with a capital A as our minds capitulate to the Power that created it all. We thank Him when He destroys evil and when He protects us from our enemies. We thank Her when the earth is fertile, when life-giving rains paint the ground, and when we’ve wronged ourselves and seek forgiveness. Allah is One, and Able to both Destroy and Create, to Love and Punish, to be Hidden and Omnipresent.

Divine (As Samaawiyya) Power (Al Quwwa) are attributes of Allah, so would we be so wrong if we considered Allah the Divine Power?

I think many people struggle to believe in Allah because of these attributes assigned to Allah which have very human connotations. Subhaana Rabbika Rabbil ‘Izzati 'Amma Yasifoon (Allah is Perfect and Higher than all that they ascribe to him). The Destroyer sounds scary and invokes fear. The Forgiving sounds meak and unintimidating. We need to forget all that we know of language in its human sense when we consider the attributes of Allah.

The same way that animals return to migratory grounds based on instinct, the spirit of the Believer desperately yearns to return to Allah, and goes on a perilous and painful journey to get there, through instinct. A Believer’s imaan is his or her instinct. The ability to love one another, be generous with each other, to be just and fair with each other, comes directly from the Source. We are all a tiny piece of the Source that yearns to recognize itself in other people, like the phrase ‘Namaste’ (I recognize and honour the divinity in you, as it is within me.)

Many people think that Imaan is the following of the other obligatory commands of Allah (prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage), and yet it is a pillar on its own. Imaan is the Submission to the Divine Power, Its existence and Its Sovereignty over all living things. Submission comes from love and fear in equal measures, so as not to be so afraid that we cannot love Allah, or so unintimidated that we forget to humble ourselves before Allah’s Majesty. Mastering Imaan is so deeply rooted in how you identify Allah personally in your heart and mind. What does the Divine Power present Itself as in your mind? With Whom do you communicate formally 5 times a day and many more times a day informally? Whose Love do you seek in all of your good deeds, and Whose Forgiveness do you seek for all of your bad ones? What does Allah ‘look’ like to you? Have you heard Allah’s guidance in your head? The frequency as subtle as a whisper, but as momentous as if it were the sound of a million bells going off in your head all at once? Have you ever felt Allah’s protection? Like falling off a wall 5m long and walking away without a scratch because you landed in invisible ‘arms’? Without figuring this out first, how can you properly connect with all the other 4 pillars of Islam?

I don’t have the answers to this question, but at the very least I hope it causes you to stop and think.

I apologise if the content of this post has offended you in any way. These are just my humble thoughts.

#islam #muslim #Allah #god #faith #imaan

[islamic-connection]

Connecting with Salah Part 2: The Blessings of understanding the Salah

                                                  بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Niyah for salah: “Oh Allah I am making … rakaahs of (fardh/sunnah/nafl/witr/) salaahtul (tahajjud/haajaat/istikhaara etc) for your pleasure, facing qiblah”. It is well known with any religious act, that it is the intention that reaches Allah, and not the act. This is mentioned in the quraan, regarding qurbani: 'Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you' (Quran 22:37). What you are doing is reading Arabic words from the quraan, on a prayer mat and physically moving up and down. This is the outwardly act. The inward intention is only known to you and Allah. So if Allah is All-Knowing of your intention, why the need to say it out? Because the mere mentioning of the words “for your pleasure Allah” is a strong and solid reminder of what our intention behind all our acts should be. You might say that your intention in performing salah is to enter Jannah. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, however this intention shifts the focus only on what is in it for you, instead of where the focus should be: seeking the pleasure of Allah, always and in all things. Allah is completely self-sufficient and requires nothing tangible from us. But what little you give through your sincere intentions will earn you manifold rewards on this earth and in the Hereafter. Therefore, start with making your intention for salah that you would like to earn Allah’s favour, but to do it with Ikhlaas (sincerity) you have to mean it. You cannot say it with your tongue, while picturing your palace in Jannah, ignoring the Only One who can grant you Jannah, let alone the palace.

Next, recite Allahu-Akbar. If I asked you what this meant, what would you say?

A)    Allah is Great

B)    Allah is Greater

C)    Allah is the Greatest

If you answered ‘B’, you would be correct. The Arabic word for ‘Great’ is عظيم (‘atheem’), the Arabic word for ‘Greatest’ is أعظم (‘A’tham). The word أكبر means ‘Greater’ or ‘Better’. Google it if you don’t believe me. Yes, الله أعظم (“Allah is the greatest), however in the context of beginning your salah, going into rukooh, going into sujood, getting up from sujood, standing back up and so forth, we say الله أكبر (“Allah is greater…than all your worldly pursuits, your worldly thoughts and concerns or your desire of Jannah.”) When you hear الله أكبر at the start and end of the Athaan, this means “Allah is greater than your business, your employment, your TV show, your cooking, your studying, your travelling.” Because Allah is. Without Allah’s blessings and bounty, you would have none of the things you hold so dear. Allah is greater than any material thing you could imagine. So leave what you are doing and go to salah.

When the Imaam says الله أكبر it is like a general calling his soldiers to attention, for the reason why they have gathered. Servant, you are here because Allah is greater than anything your mind can conceive. The repeated refrain throughout salaah is meant to draw your drifting attention span back to Allah. For although your worries and anxieties are weighing heavily on you, Allah is greater than them. Your sneakers are nicer than any of the other shoes on the rack in the masjid, but Allah is Greater than your ego.

Next, recite the Qiyaam du’aa: سُبْـحانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمْـدِكَ وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُـكَ وَتَعـالى جَـدُّكَ وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُك                                                                   Which means: “Glory be to Allah and praise be to Allah, Your name is Exhalted, and there is no God other than You.” As mentioned in a previous post, any supplication must begin with glorifying and praising Allah as He deserves.

Next, after reciting بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (which many believe is actually part of Surah Fatiha) one has to recite Surah Fatiha, a fardh of salah which, if absent, will nullify your salah.

Let’s look at a short tafseer of Surahtul Fatiha (The Opening of the Quraan). This short surah encapsulates all the guidance and wisdom required to be a Believer, a Submitter.

I seek Allah’s Protection from Shaytaan the accursed, In the name of Allah the Beneficent, The Merciful.

Verse 1: “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.” Ruler, King, Master of the infinite universe whose dimensions are unfathomable. Every star, every planet, every moon, every comet, every meteor, and the vast lightyears between them, and all the living things that dwell on them.

Verse 2: “The Beneficent, The Most Merciful.” Beneficent means Generous, or One who brings about good. Everything you have is a result of Allah’s Generosity to His Creation. There is no other more merciful than Allah, who has more mercy than even your mother does. There is no sin, besides shirk that Allah cannot forgive. It is a sin to assume that Allah cannot forgive you, as this means that you deny one of Allah’s most important attributes.

Verse 3: “Master of the Day of Judgement.” This verse serves to remind us of the Appointed Day that is to come, and the fear that we should have regarding what state we will be in when that day approaches. Additionally, it teaches us that only Allah is Master of the Appointed Day, the arrival of which only Allah is aware of. The Angel Israfeel stands waiting for Allah’s instruction to blow the metaphoric horn to signify that the Appointed Day has arrived. The swelling of the sun, the crumbling of mountains, the resurrection of the dead will all take place at Allah’s will. Judgement of what is right and wrong, good deeds and the bad, is in Allah’s hands. This reminds us that if we wish to reach the Appointed Day in a good state, we should do what pleases the Master, and not mere mortals or our own egos. Surah Ar Rahmaan says that all creation shall perish, and all that will remain is the divine countenance of our Lord.

Verse 4: “You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.” This verse is a strong reminder to refrain from shirk or anything that comes dangerously close to it. Allah is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and easily accessible (as close to you as your jugular vein). Surah Al Inshirah states: “At the end of the day when your activities are done, stand in prayer and direct your longing to your Lord.” There are no intermediaries between Allah and His creation. Do not pray for any doctor to cure you, but take the medication and ask Allah (Ash Shaafi) to cure you. Do not pray to empty coffins or pictures of saints for their intercession on your behalf. The verse is so simple and easy to understand, with no room for grey areas.

Verse 5: “Show us the straight path.” Do you know what the amazing thing about salah is? Allah had already showed us the straight path some 1400 years ago, when the quraan was revealed and the hadeeth were taught to muslims. After you recite Surahtul Fatiha, the very next surah you read is a direct answer from Allah to this plee for guidance, a lamp in the darkness. Alhamdulillah! It means “Oh Allah, show me the path to your door!” “Oh Allah, my love for You is the bridge, and my good deeds are the bricks on the straight path which my feet can walk on to Your door!” “Oh Allah do not turn me away from Your Door, because You have never and never will give up on us.” “Oh Allah, do not let my fear of You be an obstacle in the straight path to your Door, but rather the ores at my side, the wind in my sails.”

Verse 6: “Not the path of those who earn Your anger, nor of those who go astray.” Again, the quraan is full of surahs that mention which sins earn the wrath of Allah, and so are the volumes of hadeeth on every topic imaginable. The images of Pharoah (the Prophet Moses’s adopted brother), Abu Lahab and his wife come to mind. Those who oppress the ones who are dependent on them in some form out of a sense of power. Those who transgress against those who have a right over them. Those who oppress the Awliyah (beloved of Allah), those who disbelieve in Allah, and those who attribute partners to Allah. Ego is akin to shirk, if one believes that they are self-sufficient in all their needs. We pray that Allah makes clear to us what causes His anger and protects us from being among them.

AAMEEN

Next, you read a 2nd surah. There are a multitude of tafseer available for every surah in the quraan, which explain the circumstances in which the surah was revealed as well as the exact transliteration, however here are some surahs that most of us know and recite in our salah, as well as a brief transliteration. This might help guide you as to which surah to follow Surah Fatiha with based on your particular need.

Surah Ikhlaas – A brief surah which reminds you of Allah’s Oneness and self-sufficiency. This surah is good for quelling one’s ego or any feelings that you are all you need to fulfil your own desires.

Surahtul Falaq – A short surah that which invokes Allah’s protection from black magic and the evil energy cast on you by someone who envies you.

Surahtun Naas – A short surah which invokes Allah’s protection from the unseen evil from that which Allah created. That does not mean that Allah created evil, or evil situations to throw you in, but rather that He created all creatures with the potential for great good, and great evil, and with this surah we ask Him for protection from evil from among men and jin-kind.

Surahtul Kaafiroon – A short surah invoking Allah’s protection from the disbelievers, and the persecution they might inflict on those who believe. Right wing white-supremacy comes to mind. However, this surah also teaches us tolerance. “To them is their religion, and to me is mine”.

Surahtul Kauthar – A surah that reminds you that Allah is the source of all your abundance, and that he deserves a kingly sacrifice for all of the abundance that He provides. Lastly in it, Allah tells our Nabi (PBUH) that his enemies will have no posterity. Their hatred of him ended when they died. A lot of our Nabi (PBUH)’s enemies had children who were devout muslims. Today, 1400 years later, there are over a billion muslims in the world. This shows that your enemies will not have an eternal impact on your life. The good that you leave behind on this earth as muslims will endure. Your enemies will not.

Surah An Nasr (Ithaa jaa…) – This surah talks about the conquest of Makkah, and the multitude of people who became muslims. Over 1 billion muslims in the world, from a handful 1400 years ago. When you read this surah, be thankful that Allah granted the muslims conquest over the Quraish so that it could grow wings and fly, or take root and grow, instead of being cut down in its youth. Remember the struggle that our Nabi (PBUH) and all his companions endured in order for us to reach the straight path. He (PBUH) carried all one billion of us on his back, and will continue to do so till the day of Judgement.

Surah Al Masad – This surah talks about Abu Lahab and his wife, and are a clear example of those who earn Allah’s wrath and who go astray.

Surah Maa’oon – This is the surah of small kindness. It relates the punishment for those who pray, or do good deeds, only to make a spectacle of them in front of others. They are the ones who pray without sincerity, turn away the poor and orphaned and withhold small kindnesses. Another reminder of those who are not on the straight path.

Surah Al ‘Asr – This is such a short but beautiful reminder of mental darkness. ‘Asr means dusk, but not in the literal sense. As mental and emotional dusk settles, we realise that we are at a loss. Yet in this surah Allah shows us how we can climb out of this darkness. Perhaps this surah also means that at the breaking of dusk, when we reflect on how we spent our waking hours, we are at a loss for accounting for the time.

Surah Al Takaathur – There are many authentic hadeeth that report that one must think that death will soon be upon them every time they pray (as it might likely be). This surah talks about how worldly competition diverts us, until we visit graveyards, and only then do we truly understand how much benefit such competition and diversion has accumulated for us.

Surah Ad Duhaa – This surah was revealed to the Nabi (SAW) when he went through a long period of time without any revelation from Allah, which made the Kuffaar doubt the authenticity of his claim to be Prophet. This surah was sent as a comfort to our Nabi (SAW) that he was not forsaken by Allah at any point, and a reminder of how Allah found him (PBUH) lost and guided him, or found him (PBUH) orphaned and provided for him. It was a reminder to do the same for other orphans and lost/misguided. Weren’t we all lost or misguided at some point in our lives? Has Allah not guided us all? Insha Allah, you find these posts to be guiding in some form or the other.

Surah Al Inshirah – This surah goes hand in hand with Ad Duhaa. It is another du’aa for those who feel forsaken. It talks of how Allah cleansed his (PBUH) heart and raised his reputation in this world and the Hereafter for him. This surah is particularly powerful when one feels distanced from Allah, by one’s own doing. Allah reminds you that He has never forsaken you. Turn to him and he will come flooding into your heart and mind. Allah tells us that with every hardship is ease, side by side, hand in hand, and not one after the other. In every difficulty, Allah has sent a means of ease to make the burden easier to bear. He asks that when you have completed all your tasks and chores for the day, that you turn to Baitullah and direct your longing to Him alone.

There is an exhaustive list, but these are just some of the shorter surahs which I like to use, that can relate to a lot of forms of guidance that I tend to need. This is why knowledge of the tafseer is of the utmost importance when it comes to understanding your salah better.

Again, the refrain of “Allah is Greater” than all my problems and needs. We move into rukooh which is a bow and utter the words “Subhaana Rabbiyal Atheem” (Glory be to Allah. My Lord, The Greatest). Then almost as if inspired and emboldened by Allah’s love and mercy, we rise proudly again with the words “Sami’allahu liman hamida” (Allah hears the one who praises Him) and “Rabbanaa walakal hamd” (Oh my Rabb, Praise is Yours.”). There can be no doubt that Allah hears the supplication of the one who appeals to Him, and will grant him or her what He deems is right, when He deems that the time is right.

Allahu Akbar – Allah is greater than you, and does not need your praise, but deserves it for all the blessings He has given you.

Next to bring yourself as low to the ground in prostration to your Rabb as is physically possible. Down on the ground eyes closed, recite “Subhaana rabbiyal a’laa” (Glory be to our Rabb, whose Greatness is incomprehensible). While down on the ground, eyes closed, let your mind get lost trying to comprehend Allah’s greatness. Picture every star, every stunning nebula, the rings of Saturn, the Giant swirling Storm on Jupiter, the vast solar flares as they leave the sun’s surface. Before you know it you realise that you lost yourself in a one or even two minute long sujood. Then we recite rabbighfirlee warhamdi (Oh my Rabb, forgive me and have mercy on me). Then back into sujood. Next contemplate the atom which has infinitesimal electrons circling equally minute protons. Picture the tiniest ant underground to the largest whale in the seas. Picture the serene snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and the deep trenches of the ocean where the strangest and most mysterious creatures live. Think of the human heart and how it channels oxygen to your entire body, think of the mysterious mind and all of the secrets it holds, think of the kidneys and the tiny mechanisms that filter out impurities from our blood. Think of the tiny white blood cells that protect you from foreign invaders. Allah is the Master of everything on the earth and in the skies, in the heavens and underground. Allah is Master of all that is seen and unseen. Trust me, when you master this, you will never want to get up from sujood.

Tashahud (Compliments/Salutations)

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَ عَلٰى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ

 "Salutations to God and prayers and good deeds. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of God and his blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger." This is the Hanafi and Hanbali Tashahud. The Shaafi version differs slightly in the first line, as follows: لتحيات المباركات الصلوات الطيبات لله ("Blessed salutations, prayers and good deeds to God).

Al Nawawi said that the sunnah was to point your finger in the direction of the qiblah during Shahadahm and intend when pointing to affirm the Oneness of Allaah and exclusive devotion to Him.  

Next we recite a durood of our choice, most preferably Durood-e-Ibraheem which, according to an Al-Bukhaari narration, the Nabi (PBUH) instructed his followers to recite, including the salutations and blessings upon himself (PBUH) and his family. According to a scholar Ibnu al-Mulaqqan, Aa’isha (RA) stated that the Nabi (SAW) would end his witr salaah with prayers upon the Prophet of Allah.

One might send salutations to all the Umbiyaa (AS), but there are so many to recount that it would take a long time. Therefore we send blessings and salutations to Khaleelullah (AS) and Habeebullah (PBUH).

Lastly, the salaah is completed with a duaa for forgiveness. A common one used is outlined in the picture below. It means: “O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly and no one forgives sins but You, so grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me, for You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”. Asking for forgiveness is not a meaningless task that we perform in salah. It is an exercise is humility and self-awareness. The opportunity to ask Allah for forgiveness is greater than any of us can imagine. Therefore, dig deep and be honest with yourself when you say these words to Allah. There is no need to profess your sins to the world. They should remain between you and Allah, but you should confess them to him in these humble moments, with sincerity. The path to forgiveness involves the promise to never do the sin again and to ask Allah to keep you steadfast in this promise. Without owning up to your sins, how can you promise never to do them again, and hence be forgiven?

This concludes the post on connecting with salah. There was no sunnah regarding du’aa after salaah, however this is a personal du’aa between you and Allah. Sufficient durood and praise of Allah is done during salaah, however du’aas such as Aayatul Qursi are good to end off your salaah, as well as the following du’aas:

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ - Oh my Rabb, accept this service from me. For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ - Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.

 رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ - Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.

 رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ - Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.

 I hope this was beneficial. In the beginning I printed a lot of these supplications using large font and put them on my musallah as I read salah. Initially you would need to look at them to get the meanings, and your salah will take a bit longer, because you have to ponder over the meaning once you’ve read the Arabic, but eventually the English translation flows through your mind as the Arabic words leave your tongue.

 May this post be beneficial Insha Allah.

#islam #muslim #prayer #connection

[islamic-connection]

Connecting with Salah: Part 1 - Understanding the purpose of salah

                                               بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salah is the 2nd of 5 pillars of Islam, which is obligatory upon every muslim 5 times a day. This is distinguishable from the more informal worship, which does not have a format or language and is known as du’aa. The term salah (plural: salawaat) means prayer in Arabic. The Persian equivalent (namaaz) is used widely in Iran and the Indo-Pak regions, as well as in the rest of Asia.

Salah was enjoined upon the followers of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) by Allah during his Me’raj (Ascension journey). The current format of salah was not prescribed in the quraan nor in the hadith, but rather was decided by consensus among the muslims at the time.

Non-Arabic speaking muslims around the globe are at a severe disadvantage in terms of their worship of Allah, given that they were never fully taught the history of salah, the meaning of the invocations uttered during salah or the very purpose of salah. Therefore, it has become rather routine and has lost a lot of its meaning for many of us. Yet, reconnecting with one’s salah is so easy to do.

I began my journey to reconnect with salah a long time ago, and I am still on that journey, and I decided to share my journey in the hopes that it might help others.

 Step 1: Preparing for salah

Perform one’s ablutions (wudhu). I won’t go into the format of wudhu, as I believe that all muslims are familiar with this. I will however delve into the history behind wudhu and the translation of the supplications made during wudhu.

According to Sunni muslims, the fardh (compulsory) acts of ablution are mentioned in the Quraan (Chapter 5 (Al-Maa’idah): Verse 6): “O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.” The other acts (washing your wrists, rinsing the mouth, nostrils, khilaal of the fingers, toes and beard are all sunnah acts (non-compulsory acts which were habitual for Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him] which are to be emulated). The wudhu is preceded by the niyah (intention):  بسم الله والحمد لله (In the name of Allah and all praise is due to Allah). This act reminds one that wudhu is performed in Allah’s name, as it was prescribed by Allah. Regarding Muslims being required to be clean when handling and reading the Qur'an, the Qur'an says: "Which none shall touch but those who are clean." and "For God loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean." Therefore, we begin with this supplication to convey to Allah that we perform wudhu for His pleasure and to purify ourselves to worship Him.

During wudhu we make the following supplication:

“O Allah, forgive my sins, make my dwelling large, and bless whatever you give me.” Usually I say this when I am rinsing my arms, as I usually receive physical blessings in my hand. Also beneficial is to ask Allah to cleanse you of all of the sins of the limbs as you are washing them. Oh Allah, please cleanse these hands from the evil that they have touched or performed, Oh Allah, please cleanse this mouth from all the evil which it has uttered or tasted. Oh Allah please cleanse these feet from all the evil places they have taken me to. Oh Allah please cleanse these eyes from all the evil they’ve seen, these ears from all the evil they’ve heard. Oh Allah cleanse this mind from all the evil thoughts, etc. This forces you to recount your deeds for the day, both good and bad. If you think about it, before any important meeting or gathering, you go out of your way to gild yourself. Why should conversing with your Rabb be any different? Be clean when you address your Lord, in both body and mind. Make sure your location is cleaned, as you would clean your home for a guest. When finishing wudhu, recite:                        اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ “O Allah, make me among those who turn to You in repentance, and make me among those who are purified.”

Why am I performing salah?

You might consider it an obligation on you to do so, which it is, but salah is so much more than that! It is a conversation with your Rabb, it is a way to remain in constant remembrance of Allah throughout your day, which increases your taqwah and centres your life around Allah and Imaan. Most importantly, salah is a manner of praising Allah for every blessing. This brings to light something very important, when it comes to asking for a favour from a benefactor that you are wholly dependent on. Usually it begins with praising the Benefactor using attributes worthy of that Benefactor. Allah has innumerable attributes fitting to any need, given that every need arises from, and is ultimately fulfilled by Him. However, we know of 99 of them which we may call upon. The second step is expressing gratefulness for every blessing in your life, from the beating of your heart which allows you to continue breathing, the safe and clean environment in which you are performing your prayer, to literally anything else. After praising Allah as He deserves, and expressing gratitude, it is natural that you will turn to your Benefactor to ask for more blessings. Allah loves this. Allah loves being called upon by His servants to fulfil their needs and desires. Also, naturally, salah is the perfect opportunity to make your humble requests. 5 wishes a day, is what you’re being offered! Alhamdulillah!

So, take 5 minutes while sitting on your prayer mat before salah, to contemplate how to praise Allah as He deserves, consider what you are specifically grateful for at that moment, and also what you beg of your ultimate Benefactor. This puts you in the correct frame of mind for a conversation with your Rabb and removes your focus from whatever worldly thing is occupying your mind, to the conversation at hand. Remember that when the Nabi (Peace be upon him) was asked how one can earn Allah’s love, his response was “Love me and Allah will love you”. Therefore it is important to incorporate durood of our Nabi (Peace be upon him) into any supplication or prayer. While the Nabi (PBUH) cannot answer your prayers, nor is he required to carry your prayer to Allah, we acknowledge him as the best and dearest of creation to Allah, and salute him as the one who taught us how to love Allah and live righteously.

Remind yourself that the prayer of a distracted worshipper is insincere and is ignored by Allah. Ibn Al Qayyim (Raheematullah) said: “Allah continues to turn towards His slave so long as the slave is focusing on his prayer, but if his mind or gaze wanders, Allah, may He be exalted, turns away from him.” This is why we are told to keep our gaze fixed on the ground, so as not to be distracted by other sounds, sights or events. Al-Bukhaari (751) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (RA) said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about looking around whilst praying, and he said: “That is something that the Shaytaan steals from a person’s prayer.”  However, a wandering mind is only human. It is natural, for non-Arabic speakers, to be distracted by other thoughts given our limited understanding of the words we are uttering, the same way you can plan your schedule or think while driving. Our brain prioritises thoughts, given that not much brain-power is required for reciting words that the brain cannot interpret. This is easily remedied by understanding the meanings of the surahs and supplications used in salah (which I will try to cover later on Insha Allah), however a trick that I have found quite useful, is to observe the thoughts running through your mind during salah and turn the thoughts into du’aas relating to them. If you are thinking about a deadline at work, ask Allah to give you the clarity of mind and the energy to complete it. If you are thinking about someone who has wronged you, ask Allah to help make the person desist. If you are thinking about a transgression that you are guilty of (as guilt often weighs heaviest on us) ask Allah to forgive you and give you the courage to ask for forgiveness from the person you have wronged. Imam Al Ghazali Raheematullah narrated that The Nabi (PBUH) said that Allah does not accept the Prayers of an individual until his heart achieves in it what his body has achieved. In my mind, this statement implies that the mind is exercised and used to worship Allah, just as the body is physically used. Therefore salah must not become like those tasks which can be unconsciously done, like driving. You must not reach the end of your salah and wonder where your mind has been for the past 10 minutes, or how you got from standing up to sitting down.

Next up will be understanding the purpose of the actual physical postures and prayer supplications, Insha Allah.

#islam #salah #prayer #mindfulness #muslim