A promise to the foremost

And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter). (10) These will be those Nearest to Allah: (11) In Gardens of Bliss: (12) A number of people from those of old (13) And a few from those of later times. (14) (They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones). (15) Reclining on them facing each other. (16) Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness). (17) With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains: (18) No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication: (19) And with fruits, any that they may select; (20) And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire. (21) And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes-- (22) Like unto Pearls well-guarded. (23) A Reward for the Deeds of their past (Life). (24) No frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill― (25) Only the saying "Peace! Peace."

Covering

“Man in early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of clothes again that is regressive back to ancient times''- Noble (Peace Prize Winner) from Yemen, Tawakul Karman

Compensation and destruction

The messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"Everyday two angels come down from heaven and one of them says, 'O, Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your cause and the other says 'O Allah! Destroy every Miser.'
[Sahih Al Bukhari 2/ 1442]

Updated repost: Safa and Marwa

Oh my mother Hagar!
The wife of Ibrahim
Running and searching to fed your dying babe
In distress
Running out of breathe
Feeling helpless
And feeling weak

Taking your faith to every mountain
In search of water for your boy
Your dying boy
Oh how the angel took pity on you
Striking the ground and causing water to flow

Fed your babe
All alone in the desert
Wasting away

But it was not the wish of your husband
To cause you such cruelty
He could not even turn back to you
As you pleaded for a reason
His heart was soft
But their was someone he loved more then you
For Allah?, you asked
And he said yes

For Ibrahim loved unconditionally
More then anyone in the world
The one who created the heavens and earth

When Allah spoke to him, he listened
He tested repeatedly his most faithful servant
And in turn Ibrahim is a friend to Allah

And now my mother
We run like you run
Retracing your steps
Not with a babe in our arms
But with our hearts filled

Asking for mercy
Praying that a mere ritual
Will grant us a place in paradise

But for you Hagar, my sweet mother
My faithful mother
I pray for you, a place beside your husband
Where you'll wear gold and never be cold
And never have to run again

____________________________________

Current pictures of Safa and Marwa courtesy of Ibn Hanif,

http://lifenatureandme.blogspot.com/2011/11/recent-photos-of-al-safa-and-al-marwah.html

Misfortunes

‘Do not detest the misfortunes that befall you, for what you detest may be the cause of your salvation and what you like may be the cause of your ruin.’~ Hasan Al-Basri(may Allah ta’ala be pleased with him)

http://sidramushtaq.wordpress.com/category/hasan-al-basri/

God doesn't tire

‎"I swear by God, He does not tire of your deeds, rather it is you who become tired; and the best religious acts are those that the worshiper performs consistently"-Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

My Lord has sufficed me -Imam Al Haddad (translated to english)

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me

from asking or choosing
For my du’a and my agonising supplication

is a witness to my poverty.
For this secret (reason) I make supplication

in times of ease and times of difficulty
I am a slave whose pride

is in his poverty and obligation
———-
O my Lord and my King

You know my state
And what has settled in my heart

of agonies and preoccupations
Save me with a gentleness

from You, O Lord of Lords
Oh save me, Most Generous

before I run out of patience (with myself)
———-
O One who is swift in sending aid

I ask for aid that will arrive to me swiftly
It will defeat all difficulty

and it will bring all that I hope for
O Near One Who answers

and All-Knowing and All-Hearing
I have attained realisation through my incapacity,

my submission and my brokenness
———-
I am still standing by the door, so please my Lord

have mercy on my standing
And in the valley of generosity, I am in i’tikaf (solitary retreat) 

So, Allah, make my retreat here permanent
And I’m abiding by good opinion (of You)

For it is my friend and ally
And it is the one that sits by me and keeps me company

All day and night
———-
There is a need in my soul, O Allah

so please fulfill it, O Best of Fulfillers
And comfort my secret and my heart

from its burning and its shrapnel
In pleasure and in happiness
 and
as long as You are pleased with me
For joy and expansion is my state

and my motto and my cover