Poor Frog

Once upon a time, there was a mouse, which, whilst passing a pond witnessed a frog emerge from the depth of the pond. Astonished by this unusual sight, the mouse began to converse with the frog and through this, a very warm and friendly conversation took place. A very close friendship grew between the two of them, until it developed into a love relationship.

By mutual arrangement, they appointed a specific time at which they could meet each other in the mornings daily and converse with each other for a long time. At these special meetings they use to enlighten each other with their own opinions regarding certain topics or they use to entertain each other with exciting stories regarding their past. Their hearts opened up to each other and were joy filled at the sight of one another.

One day the mouse said to the frog “You are swimming around in the water while I am left all alone on the dry earth. I suffer the pangs of sorrow over being parted from you. When lonely, I come to the edge of the water to call to you, but while you are in the water, even the voice of a lover cannot be heard. I cannot be at peace by meeting you for such a short time each day.”

The mouse replied, “O beloved frog: I cannot live a moment of my life peacefully without seeing your face. By day, the sight of you is my life: by night the thought of you is my tranquillity and sleep. It will be very courteous on your part that you will permit me the pleasure of meeting you time upon time at every opportunity possible.”
The mouse carried on by saying “My respected friend, I am a creature that can live on land alone, whereas you can live on land and in water. But how is it possible for you to know inside the water that I have the desire to meet you?”

For quite a while they pondered upon this and consulted each other until finally, the mouse put an opinion forward. This opinion was that one end of a piece of string is to be tied to the foot of the frog and the other end is to be tied to the foot of the mouse. Thus, when the mouse has a desire to meet the frog he will just need to pull the string and the frog will respond by returning to the surface of the water.

The frog considered the mouse’s suggestion to be a bad one and said in his heart, “This evil one, wishes to tie me up and make me live like a prisoner.”
Despite disliking the mouse’s suggestion, the frog found an inclination within himself to accept to the request.

The two of them, by pulling the string were able to meet each other repeatedly each day until destruction struck them one morning. A vulture seeing it’s pray i.e. the mouse, from high above soared down upon the mouse, it also unknowingly, lifted the frog out of the water where until now he was safe and comfortable. This was due to the fact that the string held the mouse and the frog together. Unfortunately, what fate awaited the mouse befell the frog as well. The vulture killed them both and devoured them. If the frog remained in the water and had not formed a friendship with the evil mouse, nothing would have happened to him and he would not have been the prey of the vulture.

Hadrat Rumi Rahmatullahe alayhi uses this story as an example to draw our attention to the harms and effects of having bad company. It is a very good story with a powerful moral lesson.

Hadrat Rumi Rahmatullahe alayhi says:
“In this story we see the soul, the self and the shaytaan. The self represents the mouse, the soul represents the frog and the vulture represents the shaytaan.
The self, in order to satisfy its desires engages the soul in evil practises, endeavours to tie it with a string so that the soul indulges in these evil practises as well. When the soul reluctantly obeys the desires of the self and befriends the self, it allows the shaytaan to pull it whenever it wishes. In this way the soul is also humiliated because of the contact with the self. Hence, when shaytaan will go to hell, the self, who was in its beak, will also go to hell and so will the soul which was tied to the self.

In this day and age, we live in the midst of bad people and evil company. By befriending these evildoers, we will eventually be affected by their foul doings and will also indulge in these sins. By indulging in things that are wrong, we will only become more and more sinful and we will be dragged with the evildoers into Jahannam, which is the totally the opposite direction to where we should be heading.

Whereas if we are to befriend the pious, we will be affected by their good deeds and we will eventually get in to Jannat.

My dear respected readers, we have been given two choices only, but the big question is, which one will we choose? In this world we are not forced to do anything, we act upon our desires.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to choose what is right and may he the Almighty grant us protection from one’s self and from shaytaan.
Ameen.

Come Home to Allah

When your weary body finds solace upon the earth’s embrace,
And your head rests in tranquil grace,
Whisper Subhana Rabbi al a’la, in whispers so profound,
For your Lord alone to hear the sacred sound.

It is Allah, welcoming you home, His embrace so wide,
For it’s been a while since you last came to His side.
It is Allah, speaking to you, His words profound and true,
Did We not find you lost, and guide you too?

So, why not be grateful, in every prayer you make,
For Allah is with us, make no mistake.
It is Allah, comforting you in times of despair,
Do not be sad, for I am always there.

It is Allah, the Divine Healer of your pain,
Verily, with hardship, ease will follow, like gentle rain.
So, why not be patient, in every trial you face,
For in your Sujood, you’ll find your sacred space.

As you pour your heart out in prostration so deep,
Sharing your aching limbs, and secrets you keep,
Your Lord will reply, with love in His voice,
“Come home, my dear, in My embrace, rejoice.

Come home, and you will find healing’s embrace,
Come home, and you’ll be loved, in My endless grace,
Come home, and you’ll be nourished, heart and soul,
And you’ll wonder why you left, as the seasons roll.”

Shaykh Hussain Ahmed Madani

Sheikhul Islam Hadhrat Maulana Sayyid Hussein Ahmad Madani Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was a descendant of Rasulullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). His father’s name was Sayyid Habibullah Sahib. He was a headmaster of a school. Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) commenced his Nazirah (reading of Quran) at a very early age. He completed approximately five juz of his Nazirah by his mother.
Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani’s mother was a very pious woman. She would recite Surah Ikhlas 200 times daily and offer that as Isaale Thawab to Rasulullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). He completed the remainder of his Nazirah by his father. Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) had two brothers, Maulana Ahmad and Maulana Muhammad Siddique. They were elder than Hadhrat Maulana and were already studying in Darul Uloom Deoband.

His father decided to send Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) to Darul Uloom Deoband with his two brothers to study there. Hadhrat Maulana studied his Darsi Nizami (general syllabus) in Darul Uloom Deoband and qualified at the very young age of 21. Maulana’s Father, Sayyid Habibullah Sahib, was bayat to Hadhrat Maulana Fazlurahman Ganj Moradabadi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). Allah Ta’ala had blessed Hadhrat Maulana Fazlurahman Sahib with a very long life. He had passed away at the age of 105. He was a very great saint and pious person.

When Maulana Fazlurahman passed away, Sayyid Habibullah said, “Now there is no enjoyment for us to stay in India” and made the intention to migrate to Madinah Munawwarah. That was the place where they originally came from because they are Sayyids, descendants of Rasulullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam), and for 19 generations they were in Hindustan.

When they left for Madinah Munawwarah, Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) and the ustadh of Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), went to leave him at the station. At the time of leaving him he emphasized, “Never ever leave dars and tadrees (teaching)!”

When Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) came to Madinah Munawwarah, upon the instruction of his ustadh, he started teaching. Initially he had difficulty in the Arabic language. This was due to him not being an Arab, but within a short period of time, he got a grip of the Arabic language and slowly his class began expanding.

Ulama from different places such as Madinah Munawwarah, Syria, Yemen etc. started sitting in his discourses. Hadhrat Maulana conducted lessons in Hadith for approximately 18 years in Masjid Nabawi (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Once he and his brother decided to go to Gangoh to visit Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). It was during this visit that Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) bestowed them with khilaafat.

They then returned to Madinah Munawwarah. Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) continued with his discourses in Masjid Nabawi (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and it was during this time that Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) came for Hajj. He stayed in Madinah Munawwarah by Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). It was only then that Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) came to learn of Sheikhul Hind’s plan to liberate India.

Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was then arrested thereafter and taken to Jeddah and thereafter taken to Malta. Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) had so much love and reliance upon his ustadh that he was prepared to sacrifice his comfort teaching in Madinah Munawwarah and handed himself over voluntarily to be arrested in order to be with his ustadh so that he could make the khidmat of Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi).

He remained with Sheikhul Hind in Malta for approximately three years. One can imagine what a great sacrifice this was. With such a sacrifice how could such a person not get barakah in his uloom? Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) and Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) were freed together from Malta.

After Sheikhul Hind passed away, Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was in the forefront of the liberation struggle. He was the essence of this entire movement. Sheikhul Hind started this struggle at an old age towards the end of his life and thereafter Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) followed it up until India was liberated.

When India was liberated, Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) left everything aside but he carried on with his Dars and Tadrees. Normally what happens after a person takes part in a liberation struggle and they achieve their objective is that the issue of position and status plays its role. However, Maulana wasn’t interested in such things. His objective was the liberation of India and since it was liberated his objective was achieved. If he wanted he could have received the highest position that any person could have received but Maulana left all of that and went to Darul Uloom Deoband and dedicated himself to teaching.

When the time came for distribution of awards and honors to those who partook in the liberation struggle, then the call was also made for Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). This was a very prestigious honor whereby his name would have become elevated throughout the world. Yet, Maulana declined to go forward to accept such an award. He explained his refusal by simply mentioning that this was against the way of our pious predecessors. This is a prime example of Ikhlas (sincerity). He took part in the struggle solely for the pleasure of Allah and not because of attaining a position in society.

Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani’s (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) very outstanding quality was hospitality. One person had observed that on an average there would be at least 50 people in the house of Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). In 1946, one person by the name of Sanul Haqq Siddiqui met Hadhrat Maulana. While staying at Maulana Madani’s home, Sanaul Haqq Siddiqui mentions regarding the first night that while he was trying to sleep, at about midnight the people were waking up and the sounds of “Allah, Allah” could be heard from Maulana’s house.

The following morning he had mentioned to Maulana, “It’s a real pleasure for me to stay here. My islah could be made very quickly and I could inculcate all the good habits and qualities that all those people who stay around you have; waking up for tahajjud in the middle of the night, making zikr and so forth but the only thing is that my nature can not tolerate it. I must have my sleep at night. By everyone waking up in the middle of the night, I can’t sleep and I can not keep up to their standards.” So Maulana understood and arranged a separate room for him to sleep.

Maulana did not impose upon him the trend that was taking place there. He then stated that one night a very strange thing happened. He says that he happened to be walking around the whole day and thus he became very tired and went to sleep. And whilst he was sleeping he noticed that someone was pressing his legs. He was in the midst of enjoying this treatment when suddenly he just happened to turn and he saw none other than Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) himself pressing his legs. He woke up in a shock and actually held Maulana’s hand and said, “What are you doing!” Hadhrat Maulana replied and said, “You are tired. The whole day your were walking around. I feel pity for you and here I got a chance to make some khidmat for you and here you are stopping me for which I am very upset because you are depriving me of thawaab.”

Here Sheikhul Islam is making the khidmat of an ordinary visitor who can’t even wake up for tahajjud and zikr whereby separate arrangements had to be made for him and still too with all that comfort Sheikhul Islam goes to press his legs.

Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was the Sheikhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Deoband for approximately 28 years. One can imagine the level of his discourses especially after having taught in Masjid un Nabawi (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) for 18 years before that. There, different types of students would come to him from the different parts of the world and after that he taught at Darul Uloom Deoband for another 28 years.

He was accustomed to a hectic way of life. As a politician he would travel the length and breadth of India and when he would reach Deoband, no matter what time of the day or night, be it the middle of the night, when the bell would ring then the students of Daur-e-Hadith would have to come to attend their classes. After his long arduous journeys as a politician, without any sleep, he would come to the classroom and conduct his lesson on Bukhari Sharif. Considering all this it is mentioned that his lessons were a detailed Dars. Even after the lesson he would conduct a question and answer session for the students in case they had any question to ask. Then too, very patiently he would listen to the students and answer them in complete detail. Once the students were completely satisfied and contented only then would he terminate the lesson and go. How fitting is the poem of the poet boasting about his forefathers,

Oh Jareer, these are my forefathers,
So bring forth of their likeness
When the assemblies unite us.

One noteworthy point about Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) is that whenever he would travel around India he would never travel in first class or second class. He would always travel in the third class. One can imagine how often he would have to travel as a politician, continuously traversing the different regions of India for years on end. Some allegations were made that the Congress was paying Hadhrat Maulana but this is incorrect, as Maulana wouldn’t take even a single cent.

It was Hadhrat Maulana’s habit to always travel in the third class compartment and would never travel in the first class or second class. This in itself is proof because if one has to see the conditions of the third class compartments then they would understand the reality of this situation. In the third class compartment, rarely does a person find a seat. For hours on end he would have to remain standing. Then to he would be lucky to find a sufficient place to stand comfortably being surrounding by hoards of people. If Hadhrat Maulana wished, he could have booked first or second-class tickets at the expense of the Congress, but he never did that.

Hadhrat Maulana reached a high position in regards to Sulook as well. In spite of him being a great politician, many people had ascended the heights of spirituality under his guidance. When he passed away, he had approximately 167 khulafaa.

It is also mentioned that one of his habits were that whenever he was invited for any program, he would make sure that there were no acts of Bid’ah or un-Islamic activity taking place. If he were invited to a Nikah also, he would make sure that no innovated traditions taking place there. This was especially rampant in the customs of India. Upon witnessing such nikahs in India one would wonder if the participants were Muslim or not. It was also special habit that he would only attend such a Nikah where the husband agreed to give the wife Mehr Fatimi.

Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) passed away in 1957 at the age of 81. He was buried in Darul Uloom Deoband next to his ustadh Sheikhul Hind (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). The name of the graveyard there is Maqbar-e-Qasimi.

May Allah Ta’ala fill the qabr of Hadhrat Maulana Hussein Madani (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) with noor and allow us to benefit from his roohaniyah. Ameen.

Source: Al Mahmood

Story of an Idolator

Abdul Wahid b. Zaid (mercy be upon him) who belonged to a lineage of saints said, “We were once sailing in a boat. A gush of wind blew away our boat to an island where we saw a man busy adoring an idol. We asked him what he was worshipping. He pointed towards the idol. We said to him that this idol was made with his own hands. How could he worship it? The God whom we worship creates all such things Himself, and so deserves to be worshipped, alone.”

He then asked us, who do you worship? We told him, “We worship the Great God (Allah) who lives in the highest heaven. He alone controls the heavens and the earth. All other creatures whether human or animal depend on Him for their sustenance.” He further asked how we came to know about this Glorious God. We replied, “He sent His final Messenger (Peace be Upon him) to the whole of mankind to teach them about His Greatness.” He proceeded to enquire “Let me know of the place where this Prophet of God is?” We replied, “After the Prophet had completed his mission by conveying the message of God he died and returned to his Lord”.

He continued to ask, “Did this Messenger of God leave behind a thing for your guidance?” We explained, “Yes, he left behind a Book (the Qur’an), which was revealed by God. He asked to see the book. We offered him the Holy Qur’an. He told us he was unable to read and so we recited a few verses for him instead. During the course of its recital he repeatedly wept until we stopped. He finally asserted, “This can only be from Allah, the Most High”, and immediately confirmed his Faith in Allah and His Messenger.

We informed him about the duties of Islam and also explained some verses of the Holy Qur’an. After the late night prayer we went to bed and the man continued to ask questions. “Does Allah sleep at night? he wondered aloud as we lay comfortably in our beds. “Our Exalted God is Everliving and Everlasting. He does not sleep or rest!” we exclaimed. On hearing this he cried, “What disobedient slaves you are! Your Lord keeps awake, whereas you sleep!” We were dumbstruck by his remark. When we were about to return from this island, he begged us to take him with us to allow him to learn more. We agreed.

On reaching the city of ‘Aabadan, says Abdul Wahid, I said to my companions, “This man is our brother, therefore we should provide him with some livelihood”. Some dirhams were offered to him but he refused to accept them and exclaimed, “What is this?” We replied, “These are some dirhams for your expenditure.” He said, “It is enough that.you have shown me the right path. I was upon error and Allah guided me. I did not even worship him yet He neither destroyed nor killed me. I am so grateful to Him and you.

After a few days, we were told that he was about to breathe his last. We went to see him and asked him if there was any need of his to be satisfied. He said no and that he was happy with all that he had gained from Allah. Abdul Wahid said, ” I was all of asudden, overcome by sleep and hence slept there.

While sleeping, I saw a very fertile grden wherein was avery fine vault; a throne occupied by a very beautiful girl, a beauty that I had never seen before. She said to me , ‘By Allah, I returned him to His Lord quickly’, By seeing her in such a state I became very anxious. He addeded, ”When I woke up , the man had passed away. We managed to bury him immediately.”

Again at night, said Abdul Wahid; ”I witnessed the same garden, the same vault and the same girl sitting besides the man who had died. She was recitting the following Qur’anic verse, the transalation of which is ”And the Angels vist them from each door and send them their compliments, glad tiddings for peace and safety against each kind of misfortune. All this is the fruit of your contentment (and steadfastness for the religion of Islam). There is therefore a good reward for you in the Hereafter.”

This story of the idolator shows the Greatness of Allah and His Mercy towards the man who previously worshipped idols. He sent the people to the island as a means to guide the idolator and thus rewarded him a magnificent rewardin the hereafter.
”O Master of the world ! Whom Thou giveth to, nobody can withhold and whom Thou giveth not, no one can confer upon him.”

Justify the words

“Whenever you wish to say or write something, think to yourself that I need to present these words in court. If you are able to justify the words, then say them – otherwise, remain silent.”

Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani

Humility and Forgiveness

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled amidst rolling hills, there lived a wise and kind-hearted old man named Hasan. He was known throughout the village for his gentle nature and his unwavering faith in Allah.

One hot summer day, a group of young children gathered around Hasan, eager to hear one of his insightful stories. Smiling, Hasan obliged and began to narrate a tale.

“There was once a small sparrow named Malik,” Hasan began. “Malik lived in a beautiful garden filled with lush trees and blooming flowers. He had a melodious voice and loved singing praises to Allah. Each morning, Malik would perch on a tree branch and greet the dawn with his enchanting melodies.”

“One day, as Malik sang his heart out, a proud peacock named Zafar passed by. Zafar was known for his magnificent feathers and believed himself to be the most beautiful bird in the garden. He couldn’t stand the idea of Malik’s sweet songs overshadowing his own beauty.”

“Filled with envy, Zafar approached Malik and said, ‘How dare you sing so joyfully? Your voice is nothing compared to my majestic presence! Stop singing at once!'”

“Malik, taken aback by Zafar’s words, replied humbly, ‘Brother Zafar, I sing not to outshine anyone, but to express my gratitude to Allah for the gift of life. My purpose is to bring joy and peace to the hearts of those who listen.'”

“Zafar scoffed and flew away, leaving Malik disheartened. Despite the encounter, Malik continued to sing his melodious songs each day, undeterred by the peacock’s criticism.”

“One evening, a heavy storm approached the village. The rain poured down relentlessly, and strong winds swept across the garden. The trees swayed dangerously, their branches ready to snap. In the midst of this chaos, Malik, seeking shelter, noticed Zafar perched on a precarious branch that was about to break.”

“Without hesitation, Malik fluttered towards Zafar and urged him to find a safer place. ‘Quickly, brother Zafar! This branch won’t hold much longer,’ Malik warned.”

“But Zafar, filled with regret for his past behavior, trembled in fear. ‘I was arrogant and foolish,’ Zafar confessed. ‘I judged you based on appearance and failed to recognize your true worth. Now, I am trapped because of my own pride.'”

“Understanding Zafar’s predicament, Malik called upon Allah for help. With a final burst of strength, Malik pecked at the branch, causing it to break and sending Zafar tumbling into safety.”

“Grateful and humbled, Zafar realized the error of his ways. ‘Malik, I apologize for my jealousy and arrogance. Your selflessness has saved me, despite my unkindness towards you. From this day forward, I vow to appreciate the beauty in others and treat all creatures with kindness.'”

Hasan paused, looking at the captivated faces of the children. “You see, my dear children, this story teaches us the importance of humility and recognizing the inherent value in every living being. Allah has bestowed unique talents and qualities upon each of us, and it is not for us to judge or belittle others. True beauty lies in the purity of the heart and the goodness of one’s character.”

The children nodded, absorbing the moral lesson conveyed by Hasan’s story. They left Hasan’s side with newfound understanding and a determination to be kind and humble in their own lives, just as Malik and Zafar had learned to be.

Importance of Durood

Importance of Durood – Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat

Benefits of Reciting Durood

Benefits of reciting Durood

In the sacred land of Makkah

In the sacred land where dreams ascend,
Where pilgrims embark, their souls to mend,
In the realm of Hajj, where hearts unite,
A journey divine, in the realm of light.

From distant corners, they gather as one,
A multitude diverse, under the blazing sun,
Leaving behind the mundane and mundane,
To seek redemption, in Allah’s domain.

With ihram draped, a white cloak so pure,
They walk together, in steps secure,
Through the desert’s heat and arid sand,
In pursuit of blessings, they faithfully stand.

Makkah, the sanctuary, a sight divine,
The Kaaba stands tall, a beacon to align,
Circling the House, their spirits soar,
Tawaf, a rite and prayer, they forever adore.

Oh, Hajj, a sacred voyage of the soul,
Where unity and devotion make us whole,
In this holy land, a tapestry unfurls,
A symphony of hearts, where Allah’s love swirls.

Oh, blessed journey, a sacred embrace,
A spiritual homecoming, a divine chase,
Hajj, the pilgrimage of love and grace,
May its blessings shine, on every face.

Dua for Returning Haji

Say the following words when meeting the Haji after their return from the blessed journey
قَبِلَ اللهُ حَجَّكَ وَ غَفَرَ ذَنْبَكَ وَ اَخْلَفَ نَفَقَتَكَ

May Allah accept your Hajj, forgive your sins and recompense your expenses.

(at-Tabrani)
Source: at Tazkiyah

Back to Duas index

1 2 3 4 5 113