A Beautiful Story About QURAN.

 Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word????

This is a beautiful story.

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just again trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try in.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an . You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out when you read time by time . That is the work of Allah in our lives...."

Love of A Mother

My mother only had one eye. I hated her, she was such an embarrassment. My mom ran a small shop at a flea market. She collected little weeds and such to sell anything for the money we needed, she cooked for students and teachers to support the family,she was such an embarrassment.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me?!

I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said: “Eeee, your mom only has one eye!” I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear.

So I confronted her that day and said, ” If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?!!!” My mother remained silent. I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.

I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of her house. I guess I felt a little bad, but at the same time, it felt good to think that I had said what I’d wanted to say all this time.

Maybe it was because my mom hadn’t punished me, but I didn’t think that I had hurt her feelings very badly.

That night, I woke up, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. My mom was crying there, so quietly, as if she was afraid that she might wake me. I took a look at her, and then turned away. Because of the thing I had said to her earlier, there was something pinching at me in the corner of my heart. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of her one eye. So I told myself that I would grow up and become successful, because I hated my one-eyed mom and our desperate poverty.

Then I studied really hard. I left my mother and came to Seoul and studied, and got accepted in the Seoul University with all the confidence I had. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then I had kids, too. Now I’m living happily as a successful man. I like it here because it’s a place that doesn’t remind me of my mom.

This happiness was getting bigger and bigger, when someone unexpected came to see me. “What?! Who’s this?!” It was my mother. Still with her one eye. It felt as if the whole sky was falling apart on me. My little girl ran away, scared of my mom’s eye.

And I asked her: “Who are you? I don’t know you!!!” as if I tried to make that real. I screamed at her “How dare you come to my house and scare my daughter! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!” And to this, my mother quietly answered: “Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address.” And she disappeared. Thank goodness she doesn’t recognize me. I was quite relieved. I told myself that I wasn’t going to care, or think about this for the rest of my life.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbors said that my mother had died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

My son…I think my life has been long enough now. And I won’t visit Seoul anymore but would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to come visit me once in a while? I miss you so much. And I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But, I decided not to go to the school. For you, I’m sorry that I only have one eye, and I was an embarrassment for you.

You see, when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye. So, I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did. The couple times that you were angry with me, I thought to myself: “It’s because he loves me.” I miss the times when you were still young around me. I miss you so much. I love you. You mean the world to me.

With my love to you..

Your mother

May Allah SWT grant jannah to all the self-sacrificing mothers in this world, ameen. A mother’s love is never ending, but is always taken for granted don’t you think?

Subhanallah its amazing cause what if the womb we were in as a babies got knocked slightly, say our mother had an accident and slipped, we would Allah forbid come out deformed right?

Its amazing how mothers take such good care of their child. The 9 months a mother goes through, the child could never ever repay her back.

How can we not love her ? After all she done so much for us. How do you feel about your mother? Love her? Hate her?

Can't be botherd with her? How much does the love of a mother cost? Would You Sacrifice For her? Do we really love her?

Will we look after her before she passes away? Brothers and sisters these are not hard questions. We Gotta love our mother no matter what. Are we one of them?

Advice: Don't aband your parents, after all they are our parents, they’ve done soo much for us.

Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) says in Hadith al-Qudsi: I swear by My Glory and power that if a (child who is) disobedient to his parents comes to me with all the good deeds of all the prophets, I will not accept them from him.
Such a powerful PROMISE by Allah notice the ‘I swear by My Glory’!

Brothers and Sisters when we are young we need the support of our parents. When parents are old they need the support of me and you. Could we ever dare to think about leaving our parents after all they have done soo much for us?

No entry into Jannah without the MOTHER BEING PLEASED .

Just P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and the Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: “you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved.”

Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.”

That’s what he planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. “Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, “My Servant, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my servant, will move the rock.”

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong .................................. just P.U.S.H!
When the job gets you down ............................................... just P.U.S.H!
When people don’t react the way you think they should ..... just P.U.S.H!
When your money is “gone” and the bills are due ............... just P.U.S.H!
When people just don’t understand you .............................. just P.U.S.H!

P + U + S + H = Pray + Until + Something + Happens

Did We Get A Bill From Allah?

A man reached 70 years of age and was affected by a disease which made him unable to urinate. The doctors told him that he needs an operation to cure the disease. He agreed to do the operation as the problem was giving him severe pain for days.

When the operation was completed the doctor gave him a bill which covered all the costs. After looking at the bill, the man started crying. Upon seeing this, the doctor said, "If the cost is too high then we could make some other arrangements for you." The old man replied, "I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because Allah (SWT) let me urinate for 70 years and HE never sent me a bill!"

SubhanAllah! The value of every good thing is realised only when its taken away!

And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful. Noble Qur'an (14:34)

Moral : We rarely thank Allah (SWT) for these things which are indeed great favors. Take a little pause and think for a while about the bounties of Allah Almighty within yourself. May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability to recognize His bounties and thank Him more often.

It is related by Abu Dawood (no. 4177), at-Tirmidhi (no. 1877) that Prophet Muhammad (sws) said: "He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah (SWT)."

Last Amazing Letter To His Wife

Ghazi Anwar Pasha was from amongst those great Mujahideen of Turkey who had spent all his life fighting against the enemies of Islam. Eventually he was martyred by the Russians. Only a day prior to this he sent a letter to his wife, Najiya Sultana. This letter was published by her in the Turkish newspapers, and after being transferred was published by her in the newspapers in India on the 22 April 1923. This letter is so touching and thought provoking that every young man should read it. An inspiring account of Mujahideen from the Ottaman period.

My Dearest Najiya,

My life companion and fountain of happiness and joy dearest Najiya. The Almighty Allah is your guardian. Your last letter is in front of me at this moment. Believe me, this letter of yours will always be close to my heart. I cannot see your face but in between the lines and words of your letter I can see your beautiful fingers which used to play with my hair in the dark interior of tent, occasionally your picture fills my eyes. You write that I have forgotten you and that i do not care for your love.

You say that I have broken your loving heart and playing with fire and blood in a distant forsaken and I am unmindful of a woman who spends the night anxiously counting the stars.

You also say that I like war and my sword. But little did you realise when writing these words of yours, which undoubtedly were written with sincerity, out of deep love and devotion for me, will my heart! How can I convince you [words are inadequate] that there is no one dearer to me in this world than you. You are the culmination of all my love and affection. I have never loved anyone before but you have stolen my heart.

Then what has separated me from you? O the joy of my heart! You can ask this question in a proper manner. Listen! I am not away from you because I desire material gains of wealth nor is it because I wish to establish a kingdom or throne for myself as my enemies have publicly intimated. The only reason that I am away from you is that Allah’s Obligatory Command has brought me here.

There is no greater fardh of Allah than Striving in the path of Allah. It is this command of Allah, the intention of fulfilling it entitles a person a place in Jannah.
Alhumdulillah I not only have the intention to fulfil this command but am actively carrying it out.

Your absence {judai}, like an arrow is cutting my heart into pieces every moment. Notwithstanding this I am happy in this separation as it is your true love, and your love which is the greatest test, a challenge to my intention and resolution of striving in the path of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’aala.

I thank Allah Ta’aala a thousand times that I have been victorious in this test and have been successful in putting Allah’s love and command before my life, love and the pleasure of my desire {nafs}. You also, my darling must thank Allah Ta’ala and be happy that your husband possesses such a strong Imaan that he can always sacrifice your love for the love of Allah.

My wife, Your Jihad is that you must put Allah’s love before your love and pleasure and you must make the bond of love between your husband and you stronger.

Look, never ever pray that your husband must come safe and sound from the path of Allah into your loving arms. This prayer is selfish and Allah will not be pleased. Rather let your prayer be this, that Allah accept the striving of your husband and bring him back successfully otherwise let his lips imbibe the cup of martyrdom. These lips you know my darling have never been touched or dirtied by alcohol, but have always been kept busy with reciting the Holy Qur’an and humming the glory and praises of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’aala.

Dearest Najiya! How blessed will that moment be when in the path of Allah this head which you affectionately called beautiful will be separated from the body which in your eyes was not a soldier’s body but a beloved’s body!

Anwar’s greatest wish is to be martyred and be judged on the day of Qiyammah with Hadrat Khalid bin Waleed {R.A.}, this world is a temporary one, death will definitely come, then why fear death? If death is definite, then why should a man die lying on a bed? Death in the path of Allah is not death but indeed life, everlasting life.

Najiaya listen to my will! If I am martyred you must marry by brother Noori Pasha. After you, the dearest peron to me is Noori. It is my wish that after my demise he will faithfully care for you during your lifetime. My next wish is that all the children you bear tell them about my life and send all of them out in the Path of Allah for the uplifment of Deen. Remember if you do not fulfil this wish of mine, I will be angry with you in Jannah.

Farewell, my dearest! I don’t know why my inner feelings tell me that after this letter I will never be able to write another letter to you. It is no wonder that I may be martyred tomorrow.

Look! make sabr, on my death be happy and do not mourn, because my death in the path of Allah is an honour for you. Najiya! I beg leave of you and in the world of thought I am embracing you.

Insya Allah we will meet in Jannah and thereafter we will never part.

Your Anwar,
Ghazi Anwar Pasha was martyred in the following day.

Why Should I Marry Her?

Once, there was a very handsome, pious, well educated young man, whose parents compelled him to get married. They had seen so many marriage proposals, and he had turned them all down. The parents thought that, it was becoming a little ridiculous or suspected that he may have someone else in mind.

However every time the parents left the girl's house, the young man would always say 'she is not the one for me'.

The young man only wanted a girl who was religious and practicing, however one evening his mother arranged for him, to meet a girl, who was religious, and practicing. On that evening, the young man, and girl, were left to talk, and ask each other questions. (As one would expect). The young man, being a gentleman that he was allowed, the lady to ask first.

The young girl asked the young man so many questions, she asked about his life, his education, his friends, his family, his habits, his hobbies, his lifestyle, his enjoyment, his pastime, his experiences, even his shoe size. The young man replied to all of her questions, politely, without tiring, and with a smile. The young girl took up nearly all of the time, over an hour, and felt bad, and asked the young man: "Do you have any questions for me?"

The young man said, "It's ok". I only have 3 questions. The young girl thought, "Wow, only 3 questions okay, shoot". The young man's first question was, "Whom do you love the most ?" She said, "This is an easy question; my mother", she replied and smiled.

Second question, he asked, "You said that you read a lot of Qur'an, could you tell me which surahs you know the meaning of?"

Hearing this she went red and embarrassed and said, I do not know the meaning of any yet, but I am hoping to learn few soon insha'allah. I've just been a bit busy.

The third question the young man asked was, "I have been approached for my hand in marriage, by girls that are more prettier than you, so why should I marry you?"

Hearing this the young girl was outraged, she stormed off to her parents with fury, and said I do not want to marry this man, he is insulting my beauty, and intelligence. And the young man and his parents, were once again, left without an agreement of marriage. This time, the young mans parents were really angry, and said what did you do to anger that girl, the family was so nice, pleasant, and they were religious like you wanted. "What did you ask the girl??" Tell us!

The young man said, "Firstly I asked her, whom do you love the most? She said, her mother."

The parents said "So, what is wrong with that??" The young man said, ''No one, is Muslim, until he loves Allah, and his/her messenger (saw) more than anyone else in the world. If a woman loves Allah and the Prophet (pbuh) more than anyone, she will love me and respect me, and stay faithful to me, because of that love, and fear for Allah (swt), and we can share this love, because this love is greater than lust for beauty".

The young man said, "Then I asked, you read a lot of Qur'an, can you tell me the meaning of any surah? And she said no, because I haven't had time yet." So I thought of that hadith: 'ALL humans, are dead except for those who have knowledge'. She has lived 20 years by now and didn't had any time, to seek knowledge of Qur'an. How can I marry a woman, who does not know her rights, and responsibilities, and what will she teach my children, except how to be negligent, because the woman is the madrasah (school) and the best of teachers to her children.

"The third question I asked her was, that a lot of girls, more prettier than her, had approached me for marriage, so why should I choose you? Upon this, she stormed off, getting angry". The young man's parents said "That was a horrible thing to ask, why did you do ask that question, we are going back there to apologise". The young man said "I said this for a specific purpose, to test whether she could control her anger or not. The Prophet (saw) said: 'Do not get angry, do not get angry, do not get angry' when asked how to become pious; because anger is from Syaitan. If a woman can't control her anger with a stranger she has just met, do you think she will be able to control it with her husband??".

A wise man said : Real men don’t love the most beautiful girl in the world. They love the girl who can make their world the most beautiful.

Be A Thankful Person...

Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. the legendary Wimbledon player was a prominent African American Tennis player who was born and raised in USA, was dying of AIDS. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease?"

To this Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. replied: The world over.

5 Crore children start playing Tennis,
50 Lakh learn to play Tennis,
5 Lakh learn professional Tennis,
50,000 come to the circuit,
5000 reach the Grand Slam titles,
50 reach Wimbledon,
4 to semi final,
2 to the finals,

When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?"
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

Be thankful to GOD for 99.99% of good things in life.

When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?' - Sydney J. Harris

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Learn from your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith in GOD and drop the fear.

Dad, Let's Accept The Truth

One day, a rich father took his beloved son to a near by village on a trip. He actually wanted to show him how poor someone can be. They spent few days on the farm of a poor Muslim family.

On the way home, the father asked his son: "Dear, did you see how poor they are? How miserable their life is, can you tell me all that you have learned from this trip?"

The son replied: "Yes dad! I have learned something what you couldn't teach me for so many years and nor did my teachers at school."

"Dear dad! We have a pool, but they have rivers, we have lanterns at night, but they have stars. We have costly cars which are fuel dependant, but they have horses which are free. We have to breath the polluted air, but they don't have to. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have guards to protect us, but they have friends. We have encyclopedias, but they have one magnificent and glorious book called Qur'an."

Then he added: "Thanks dad, for showing me how poor really we are. Surely we have big things but not great things. We are rich from outside but miserably poor inside."

"Dear dad, lets live a life with some standards instead of living a standard life. I see with my heart what I can't with my eyes. Dad...let's accept the truth before it's too late.."

Daddy – Can I have $10?

 A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old daughter waiting for him at the door.

“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, sure, what is it?” replied the man.

“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?”
“That’s none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.

“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little girl.
“If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.”

“Oh, ” the little girl replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?”

The father was furious.

“If the only reason you want to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you’re being so selfish. I work long, hard hours everyday and don’t have time for such childish games.”

The little girl quietly went to her room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little girl’s questioning. How dare she ask such questions only to get some money.

After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his daughter. May be there was something she really needed to buy with that $10.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often.

The man went to the door of the little girl’s room and opened the door. “Are you asleep daughter?” he asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the daughter.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here’s that $10.00 you asked for.”

The little girl sat straight up, beaming. “Oh, thank you daddy!” he yelled. Then, reaching under her pillow, she pulled out some more crumpled up bills.

The man, seeing that the girl already had money, started to get angry again. The little girl slowly counted out her money, then looked up at the man.

“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father grumbled. “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little girl replied.

“Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?”

Moral of the story - No matter how busy you are, make sure you have time for your children...

Our Life...

One day of the many days. There was a man traveling on a trip with his wife and kids. And on the way he met someone standing in the roadway.

So he asked him: Who are you? He said: I am the money.
So the man asked his wife and kids: Should we ask him to ride with us?

They said together: Yes, of course because with the money it can help us if we wanted to do anything, and if we wanted to get anything we desired, so they took the money to ride with them.

And the vehicle continued its way until the man met someone else on the road.
So the Father asked: Who are you? He said: I am the high position and power.
So the father asked his wife and kids: Should we ask him to ride with us?

So they all answered together in one voice: Yes, of course because with the high position and power we have the ability to do anything we want and own anything we desired.

So they took the high position and power with them and the vehicle continued to finish its trip.

And likewise he met in the same manner many people which give the pleasures and desires of this life, UNTIL..They met one person on the way..

The Father asks him: Who are you? He said: I am the Deen (Islam).

So the father, wife, and kids said all together in one voice: No, no, this isn't the time, we desire the pleasures of this life and dunyah, and the Deen will prevent us and ban us from these things and it will take control over us, and we will be worn-out from being loyal to it and its learning. And the halal and the Haram, and this thing prayer and that thing hijab, and this fasting, and and and and and etc. It will be a burden upon us!!!

But what is certain is that we will definitely return for you to pick you up but only after we enjoy this life and everything in it.

So sadly they left him behind and the vehicle continued its trip.

And out of no where something appeared in the middle of the road. It was a check point in the road and it had a sign saying STOP!!!

And they found a man gesturing for the father to get out of the vehicle.

So the man said to the father: The trip has ended as far as you are concerned!!! And it is upon you to get out and come with me.

The father was shocked with fear and didn't say a word.

So the man said to him: I am searching for the DEEN (Islam), is he with you?

He answered: No I left him not too far back. So if you can let me go back, I can get him for you.

You do not have the ability to go back, your trip has ended and there is no going back now..returning is impossible said the man.

But I have the money, the high position and power, my wife, my kids, and and and and and and on.

The man said to him: They will not benefit you nor will they protect you in front of Allah. Not one bit!

And you will leave all of this, and not one of them will help you except for The Deen (Islam) you know? The one which YOU left back in the road.

So the father asked: And who are you exactly? I AM DEATH.

The one which you were needless of and didn't take into account in your trip!!

The father looked at his vehicle and found his wife taking control of it and continuing the trip with all of its passengers but him.

And none of them stayed with him, and none of them helped him in any way.

His Majesty said:

 

"Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious."

Qur'an 9:24
 

Repent The Day Before You Die...

Anfal, a rich young girl, sat waiting impatiently at the doctor’s clinic to get the results of a medical test. She was in a hurry to attend a party and feared she might be late for her appointment with the hairdresser. She never thought the result would be anything important. It was just a precaution insisted upon by her family.

She had never suffered any serious illness, apart from the odd ache in her never suffered any serious illness, apart from the odd ache in her limbs. Then, it was her turn to see the doctor. She hurried inside to get it over with as quickly as possible. She was surprised to see the doctor look sad and concerned as he asked, “Is this yours?” She answered, “No, it is my daughter’s.”

She wanted to know the truth and thought that perhaps he would hide the truth, if she told him it was her own. He asked her to have a seat, so she sat feeling somewhat afraid. She looked at him anxiously, as he said,“Why did not you send a man to get the results?”

Anfal said, “It was on my way so there was no need to send someone else.”The doctor looked sadly at her and said, “You seem to be an educated girl. You understand the nature of life.”He stopped talking, and she began to tremble.

She asked, “What do you mean doctor?”The doctor said, “The result indicates that there is a blood disease.” He looked down at his papers and remained silent. Anfal had to ask him to give her more information. She cried in fear, “Is it cancer?”He did not look at her, but a cloud of sadness covered his face. It was as if he was sentencing her to death.She said in a broken voice, “I am finished then.”

The doctor knew then that she had lied, but it was too late to hide the truth. He looked kindly at her and said, “I am sorry for you. Why did you lie? Anyway life and death are matters within Allah’s power. Many sick people live long and many healthy ones die.”Anfal felt as if she were drowning, as if a hard fist was cruelly squeezing her heart. She tried hard to regain her strength and said, “I do apologize. Thank you doctor.”

The doctor encouraged her saying, “Be strong and optimistic. Medical science is constantly progressing. Some of today’s incurable sicknesses can be cured tomorrow I still have hope. Leave me your telephone number.” She repeated the number automatically without knowing what she was saying. Feeling great shock and bitterness, she again thanked the doctor and left.

At home she kept the truth to herself. She did not know how to share it. Anyway, everyone was busy, getting ready for the party. Her mother asked, “Have you been to the doctor? Why did not you go to the hairdresser?” It was just a by-the-way question, needing no answer. She briefly said, “I am not going to the party !”She went upstairs into her room and locked the door.She stretched out on her bed fully clothed and listened to her family’s voices, as if they were coming from a far away place. The wind seemed to her to be a funeral sad tune, lamenting her approaching death.

The bedroom seemed strange to her as she would be leaving it soon. What about the house? It would not remember her. She was just a guest. Others would take her room and soon forget her. She tried to cry but tears did not help. She looked around her in pain. Those curtains that she had tried so hard to get, would stay after her.

It would not have mattered if they had been made of the roughest fabric, she would leave them for others. She wished she had not troubled herself for such things. She wished she had saved her time and money for more useful things, which could have been helpful to her in her difficulty.She wondered, “What is useful to me?”

She was young, beautiful and rich with everything her heart could desire. Could anything help her and save her from death? She had always longed for an official job with a good salary. She had it, but could it save her from death?

An idea struck her. She hurried to the phone while everyone was away. She dialed the doctor’s number and asked eagerly, “If I travel abroad can I find a cure?”He said, “There is nothing new abroad. It is a waste of money.”She put the phone down and sat on a nearby chair.Her salary would not change matters.

She walked through the house’s rooms as if saying her farewells. She paced the small garden and looked at the trees. She whispered, “I wish these trees knew I am leaving them, those stones, walls…I wish these doors knew my hands will soon no longer open them. I wish those flowers, that I planted and watered knew. How often the thorns and hard stones tore my hands! How often I watered those dying flowers with my tears when there was no water.

I wish they knew the meaning of my departure. These fruiting trees were tiny when I planted them. I did my best to help them flourish until they grew up healthy and fruitful. Will they know I am soon leaving? Will they remember my days in their company? What about these seats, I used to rest on. Will they miss my presence? Will they be ready for someone else to settle on them? My writing desk felt my writing in tears and in smiles, does it know I am leaving? Will it miss my pen and papers in its drawers?

I wish they all knew I am leaving. I wish I had known I was leaving, then I would not have cared so much for this life. I would not have felt proud and arrogant…Had I known I were a guest in this world I would not have been cheated or tempted by its luxuries… Had I known this I would have been aware that leaving a simple life is easier than leaving a luxurious one… Had I lived a simple life, I would not have found it difficult to cross from this world to the next. My family is now enjoying the party…how often I longed for such parties, how much I cared for fashion and hairstyles! Can they help me now?”

Anfal threw herself down on the nearest chair as if she had realized a truth previously unknown to her. She said, “What shall I take with me? Nothing but the coffin and my deeds. What kind of deeds will go with me on my long journey? Nothing! Yes, nothing!” She remembered her friend Sarah, who used to advise her and guide her to the right path of Allah.

She used to remind her of the Qur’anic verse: …and make provision, for the provision is the guarding of oneself. (AI-Baqarah:239)

She had never considered the importance of good deeds. Now she was in need of such deeds to present to Allah. She would stand to give her account, but what would she say? How could she expect Allah’s mercy when she disobeyed His orders? How could she ask for forgiveness when she never even thought of obeying Him in her life’s affairs?

She wished she had read the Holy Qur’an instead of all those cheap novels. She wished she had gained some knowledge of her religion instead of reading film-star magazines. She continued wishing she had done few things, and not done other things. She wished she had not angered this person or that, and had never lied or gossiped about anyone. She wished she had not been proud and despised the poor.

She said, “I wish I could start my life all over again to make-up for my errors and to obey Allah’s orders. I worshipped my desires and ignored my Creator. I wish I could live for a while to make up for my sins.”

She remembered a Qur’anic verse, her grandfather used to recite: Until when death overtakes one of them he says: Send me back, my Lord. Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! It is a mere word that he speaks, and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised. (AI-Mominoon:99)

Here she said, “Oh God, I do mean it…”

Tears burst from her eyes. She cried bitterly in repentance, not pain. She decided to obey Allah in all His orders if she lived a bit longer. The phone rang and she walked towards it lazily. Tears in her eyes she said, “Yes?”

Someone said, “Can I speak to Miss Anfal?” She knew the speaker. It was her doctor.

She said, “Yes, speaking.”The doctor said cheerfully, “Congratulations my daughter! There is nothing wrong with you. Thank God!”

She was stunned with surprise. She did not know what to say. “No disease? How? You are joking, doctor!”

The doctor said, “May Allah protect me I am not joking. I have just got an apology from the analyst. He explained that there was a mix-up with the names. Your name was written instead of someone else. I have your medical report here in front of me. You are quite well. Be thankful to Allah my daughter.”

Excitedly she said, “Thanks be to Allah, Thank you doctor.”

She put the phone down, feeling as if she was new born. She knew she was safe for a while, but death would certainly come one day. She had no time to waste. However long she lived she was a guest. The first thing she did was to perform her prayer, which she had neglected for a long time. She promised Allah to obey His orders to pray, fast, and stick to wearing decent clothes. She would also give up whatever Allah had forbidden. In order not to forget this, she wrote the Qur’anic verse on a placard and hung it on the wall. On the other side she wrote a wise saying:

“Repent the day before you die. Because you do not know when you will die, then always be repentant.”

Long Story..But Worth The Read..

This is a story about a man named Rashed. He tells his story as follows...

I was not more than thirty years old when my wife gave birth to my first child. I still remember that night.

I had stayed out all night long with my friends, as was my habit. It was a night filled with useless talk, and worse, with backbiting, gossiping, and making fun of people. I was mostly the one who made people laugh; I would mock others and my friends would laugh and laugh. I remember on that night that I'd made them laugh a lot. I had an amazing ability to imitate others – I could change the sound of my voice until I sounded exactly like the person I was mocking. No one was safe from my biting mockery, even my friends; some people started avoiding me just to be safe from my tongue. I remember on that night, I had made fun of a blind man who I'd seen begging in the market. What was worse, I had put my foot out in front him – he tripped and fell, and started turning his head around, not knowing what to say.

I went back to my house, late as usual, and I found my wife waiting for me. She was in a terrible state, and said in a quivering voice, "Rashed... where were you?"

"Where would I be, on Mars?" I said sarcastically, "With my friends of course."

She was visibly exhausted, and holding back tears, she said, "Rashed, I'm so tired. It seems the baby is going to come soon." A silent tear fell on her cheek.

I felt that I had neglected my wife. I should have taken care of her and not stayed out so much all those nights... especially since she was in her ninth month. I quickly took her to the hospital; she went into the delivery room, and suffered through long hours of pain.

I waited patiently for her to give birth… but her delivery was difficult, and I waited a long time until I got tired. So I went home and left my phone number with the hospital so they could call with the good news. An hour later, they called me to congratulate me on the birth of Salem. I went to the hospital immediately. As soon as they saw me, they asked me to go see the doctor who had overlooked my wife's delivery.
"What doctor?" I cried out, "I just want to see my son Salem!"

"First go see the doctor," they said.

I went to the doctor, and she started talking to me about trials, and about being satisfied with Allah's decree. Then she said, "Your son has a serious deformity in his eyes, and it seems that he has no vision." I lowered my head while I fought back tears... I remembered that blind man begging in the market who I'd tripped and made others laugh at.

Subhan Allah, you get what you give! I stayed brooding quietly for a while... I didn't know what to say. Then I remembered by wife and son. I thanked the doctor for her kindness, and went to go see my wife. My wife wasn't sad. She believed in the decree of Allah... she was content... How often had she advised me to stop mocking people! "Don't backbite people," she always used to repeat... We left the hospital, and Salem came with us.

In reality, I didn't pay much attention to him. I pretended that he wasn't in the house with us. When he started crying loudly, I'd escape to the living room to sleep there. My wife took good care of him, and loved him a lot. As for myself, I didn't hate him, but I couldn't love him either.

Salem grew. He started to crawl, and had a strange way of crawling. When he was almost one year old, he started trying to walk, and we discovered that he was crippled. I felt like he was an even greater burden on me. After him, my wife gave birth to Umar and Khaled. The years passed, and Salem grew, and his brothers grew. I never liked to sit at home, I was always out with my friends... in reality, I was like a plaything at their disposal [entertaining them whenever they wanted].

My wife never gave up on my reform. She always made Du'aa for my guidance. She never got angry with my reckless behavior, but she would get really sad if she saw me neglecting Salem and paying attention to the rest of his brothers. Salem grew, and my worries grew with him. I didn't mind when my wife asked to enroll him in a special school for the handicapped.

I didn't really feel the passing of the years. My days were all the same. Work and sleep and food and staying out with friends. One Friday, I woke up at 11 am. This was early for me. I was invited to a gathering, so I got dressed and perfumed, and was about to go out. I passed by our living room, and was startled by the sight of Salem – he was sobbing! This was the first time I had noticed Salem crying since he was a baby. Ten years had passed, and I hadn't paid attention to him. I tried to ignore him now, but I couldn't take it... I heard him calling out to his mother while I was in the room. I turned towards him, and went closer. "Salem! Why are you crying?" I asked.

When he heard my voice, he stopped crying. Then when he realized how close I was, he started feeling around him with his small hands. What was wrong with him? I discovered that he was trying to move away from me! It was as if he was saying, "Now, you've decided to notice me? Where have you been for the last ten years?" I followed him... he had gone into his room. At first, he refused to tell me why he'd been crying. I tried to be gentle with him... Salem started to tell me why he'd been crying, while I listened and trembled.

Do you know what the reason was?! His brother Umar, the one who used to take him to the masjid, was late. And because it was Jumu'ah prayer, Salem was afraid he wouldn't find a place in the first row. He called out to Umar... and he called out to his mother... but nobody answered, so he cried. I sat there looking at the tears flowing from his blind eyes. I couldn't bear the rest of his words. I put my hand over his mouth and said, "Is this why you were crying, Salem!"

"Yes," he said.

I forgot about my friends, I forgot about the gathering, and I said, "Don't be sad, Salem. Do you know who's going to take you to the masjid today?"

"Umar, of course," he said, "... but he's always late."

"No," I said, "I'm going to take you."

Salem was shocked... he couldn't believe it. He thought I was mocking him. His tears came and he started crying. I wiped his tears with my hand and then took hold of his hand. I wanted to take him to the masjid by car. He refused and said, "The masjid is near... I want to walk there." Yes, by Allah, he said this to me.

I couldn't remember when was the last time I had entered the masjid , but it was the first time I felt fear and regret for what I'd neglected in the long years that had passed. The masjid was filled with worshippers, but I still found a place for Salem in the first row. We listened to the Jumu'ah khutbah together, and he prayed next to me. But really, I was the one praying next to him.

After the prayer, Salem asked me for a Qura'an. I was surprised! How was he going to read when he was blind? I almost ignored his request, but I decided to humor him out of fear of hurting his feelings. I passed him a Qura'an. He asked me to open the Qura'an to Surat al-Kahf. I started flipping through the pages and looking through the index until I found it. He took the Qura'an from me, put it in front of him, and started reading the Surah... with his eyes closed... Ya Allah! He had the whole Surah memorized.

I was ashamed of myself. I picked up a Qura'an... I felt my limbs tremble... I read and I read. I asked Allah to forgive me and to guide me. I couldn't take it... I started crying like a child. There were still some people in the masjid praying sunnah... I was embarrassed by their presence, so I tried to hold my tears. My crying turned into whimpering and long, sobbing breaths. The only thing I felt was a small hand reaching out to my face, and then wiping the tears away. It was Salem! I pulled him to my chest... I looked at him. I said to myself... you're not the blind one, but I am, for having drifted after immoral people who were pulling me to hellfire. We went back home. My wife was extremely worried about Salem, but her worry turned into tears [of joy] when she found out I had prayed Jumu'ah with Salem.

From that day on, I never missed the congregational prayer in the masjid. I left my bad friends... and I made righteous friends among people I met at the masjid. I tasted the sweetness of Iman with them. I learned things from them that distracted me from this world. I never missed out on gatherings of remembrance [halaqas], or on the witr prayer. I recited the entire Qura'an, several times, in one month. I moistened my tongue with the remembrance of Allah, that He might forgive my backbiting and mocking of the people. I felt closer to my family. The looks of fear and pity that had occupied my wife's eyes disappeared. A smile now never parted from the face of my son Salem. Anyone who saw him would have felt that he owned the world and everything in it. I praised and thanked Allah a lot for His blessings.

One day, my righteous friends decided to go to a far away location for da'wah. I hesitated about going. I prayed istikharah, and consulted with my wife. I thought she would refuse... but the opposite happened! She was extremely happy, and even encouraged me... because in the past, she had seen me traveling without consulting her, for the purpose of sin and evil. I went to Salem, and told him I would be traveling. With tears, he wrapped me up in his small arms...

I was away from home for three and a half months. In that period, whenever I got a chance, I called my wife and talked to my children. I missed them so much... and oh, how I missed Salem! I wanted to hear his voice... he was the only one who hadn't talked to me since I'd traveled. He was either at school or at the masjid whenever I called them.Whenever I would tell my wife how much I missed him, she would laugh happily, joyfully, except for the last time I called her. I didn't hear her expected laugh. Her voice changed. I said to her, "Give my Salaam to Salem," and she said, "Insha'Allah," and was quiet.

At last, I went back home. I knocked on the door. I hoped that it was Salem who would open up for me, but was surprised to find my son Khaled, who was not more than four years old. I picked him up in my arms while he squealed, "Baba! Baba!" I don't know why my heart tensed when I entered the house.

I sought refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan... I approached my wife... her face was different. As if she was pretending to be happy. I inspected her closely then said, "What's wrong with you?" "Nothing," she said. Suddenly, I remembered Salem. "Where's Salem?" I asked. She lowered her head. She didn't answer. Hot tears fell on her cheeks.

"Salem! Where's Salem?" I cried out.

At that moment, I only heard the sound of my son Khaled talking in his own way, saying, "Baba... Thalem went to pawadise... with Allah..."

My wife couldn't take it. She broke down crying. She almost fell to the floor, and left the room. Later, I found out that Salem had contracted a fever two weeks before I'd returned, so my wife took him to the hospital... the fever got more and more severe, and didn't leave him... until his soul left his body...

And if this earth closes in on you in spite of its vastness, and your soul closes is on you because of what it's carrying… call out, "Oh Allah!" If solutions run out, and paths are constricted, and ropes are cut off, and your hopes are no more… call out, "Oh Allah." Allah wished to guide Salem's father on the hands of Salem, before Salem's death.

How merciful is Allah! Indeed...