Recap 2009: Contemplations

I was reading loveletters from Him this morning, and came across this verse… something to remind ourselves of this world and the lies behind it…

 

And when We said unto the angels: Fall down prostrate before Adam and they fell prostrate all save Iblis, he said: Shall I fall prostrate before that which Thou hast created of clay?

He said: Did You see this (creature) whom You have honoured above me, if You give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his descendants, save but a few.

He said: Go, and whosoever of them follow you - lo! Hell will be your payment, ample payment.

And excite any of them whom you can with thy voice, and urge your horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promises them only to deceive.

Lo! My (faithful) servants - over them you hast no power, and your Lord is sufficent as (their) guardian.

(al-Isra': 60-65)

 

Shaitan (a.k.a Satan). Who never fails to try and trap mankind into accompanying him in Naar Jahannam, no matter what. His lies and allurings are sometimes too great to ignore, and we succumb under his spell.

 

Looking back into the year, I realized that there are so many instances when I stumble down and manage to become his prey. The times when I was angry, other times when I was feeling too bored, and end up escaping the boredom by watching movies and spending hours on Japanese drama series. The occasions when I slipped and shared gossips of others among my friends.

 

These are just some of many mistakes I have made, succumbed to traps Shaitan laid on me. It will be a huge lie if I claim that I was ignorant of how I wasted my time on those movies and series. Nor will it do me any good, in the Day of Judgement, to see that I had wasted so much time when there is so much more I can do and so much that I should do.

 

Indeed, there is so much more one can do to be a better servant to Him. To be aware of Shaitan's trap and plan how to side step these traps and set personal goals in order to get closer to Allah are just some of many ways one can think of. We must make an attempt – no, we must spend every ounce of energy we have, trying to become a faithful servant. For indeed, our life will worth nothing in the end, if we fail.

 

The past had past. We cannot change them. Yet for the present, and the future, let us live with the awareness that this world is just a temporary dwelling place, and the day of Judgement will arrive. The day when our deeds will be examined one by one. The day when there will be so many regrets, and only His faithful servants rejoice in Allah's Mercy. Let us remember, that there will always be an enemy around us, always ready to pounce on us the moment we let our guard down and forget this. For his main aim is to drag us with him, on that Day, to burn in the hellfire.

 

So… let's strive on, and try to be a faithful servant, finding Allah's love and blessings. May Allah guide us all. (^_^)

 

>> Sorry for the not-so-good ending. It's written in a rush as I realized that I have less than an hour before my lab. Will review it again this evening, insyaAllah…

<< Story >> Trying To Be Me: Part 1

I'm sorry that I had been absent from blogsphere for so long… I'm giving a shot at story writing. A first attempt, after a really long break from story writing (I used to enjoy writing stories during secondary school – English essays and all). I cannot promise that it'll be good, but I'll give it my best shot. Here's the 1^st part. Feel free to comment on any improvements I should make...

The prayer room was noisy and crowded, as always. Sitting in small groups, the girls were all chatting and laughing with friends while waiting for the call of prayer in order to perform Zuhur together. Putting my shoes away, I searched for my own group of friends, my classmates for the past three years in university. "Oh, there they are…" with a smile on my face, I went up to them.

Before I could greet anyone, Ina, the assistant class rep turned to me, "Sha, are you coming tonight?"

Looking at the puzzled expression I wore after her incomplete question, Ina's close friend, Di adds, "We're going to throw a surprise birthday party for Lina tonight. At our place. Would you like to join in?"

"That would be nice. Sure. I wouldn't want to miss it." I said enthusiastically.

"Great. You don't mind sleeping there tonight right, because we're planning on holding the party at midnight. I've got a meeting to attend to at around nine. Hence a midnight party will be nice, for then everyone can come." Di carried on.

My enthusiasm was slightly ebbed by this new information. It is not that I don't enjoy my friends' company, but I was planning to revise on the lectures that we had for the day. I began having second thoughts of going to the party, my inner self debating on whether or not I should go.

I do love socializing with my friends, and the party will be a great place for catching up with them on what they have done during the holidays. That, and also the fact that I was unable to join in the recent community service activity that most of my coursemates had gone to, just weeks earlier. On the other hand, I was planning to study the many topics that had been covered by the lecturers earlier. I realized that I cannot study if people around me are playing around.

With these contemplations in my head, I went to perform Zuhur, asking Allah to help me make the right decision, one that I would not regret later. In the end, before the final lecture for the day, I turned to Ina, and said, "Ina, I'm not too sure whether I'm able to go or not. I'll reconfirm later." Nodding her head, Ina was about to say something else when the lecturer came in.

Ina quickly scribbled me a note: "Decide quickly. We're ordering the food after this."

I sighed inwardly. Deciding to let the mater rest for a while, I focused on to the Lecturer in front. Today we're learning matters regarding Public Health. The definitions, needs and who is involved.

Thoroughly absorbed and enjoying the lecture, before I knew it, the class had ended. I gathered my things, still unable to decide.

"… So… can you guys buy them? Buy 84 sticks. That should be enough for all of us, I guess." I overheard Siti talking to Hakim as I walked by, heading towards home.

"Can everyone have the chicken satay? I love chicken satay. Plus it is easier if we order just one type of satay…" Hakim said as I went to greet Siti. 'Oh no… don't tell me that the guys are coming too…' I groaned to myself.

To be continued…

.:: Start Writing Again ::.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful...

As some of you may notice, I have kept this 'Writing Den' of mine quite silent these couple of weeks (or maybe months) save for a few articles copied from other sources. Insya-Allah, I'll be writing up my posts again, starting tomorrow.

A huge apology to my friends and followers whom, I feel, I have somewhat let down due to the lack of articles. Please pray that I may maintain consistency in writing in here, and that what I do in here is always for Allah alone, for none have the right to be partnered with Him.

May Allah grant his blessings upon us all..

A Powerful Story: Reflect and Ponder!

Very powerful story: it's worth to spend 5 minutes.


There were only 15 minutes left before Solat-ul Isha {The night prayer}.

He quickly made Wudhu {purification washing of the face, hands, head, ears, and feet} and then, performed Solat-ul Maghrib {The dusk prayer}.

While making Tasbih {praising of ALLAH}, he again remembered his grandmother and was
embarrassed by how he had prayed.

His grandmother prayed with such tranquillity and peace.

He began making Dua{suplications} and went down to make Sajdah{prostration} and stayed like that
for a while.

He had been at work all day and was tired, so tired.

He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting.

He was sweating profusely.

He looked around.

It was very crowded.

Every direction he looked in was filled with people.

Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and
some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting.

Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was.

His heart was about to burst.

It was the Day of Judgment.

When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the

Day of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago..

Could this be something his mind made up?

No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this.

The interrogation was still going on.

He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name
had been called.

No one could answer him.

All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and
made a passageway for him.

Two angels grabbed his arms and led him forward.

He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd.

The angels brought him to the centre and left him there.

His head was bent down and his whole life was passing in front of his
eyes like a movie.

He opened his eyes but saw only another world.

The people were all helping others.

He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his
wealth in the way of Islam.

His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set
while the other was being cleared.

He pleaded his case,

'I too was always on this path..

I helped others.

I spread the words of Allah.

I performed my Solah{prayers} .

I fasted in the month of Ramadhan.

Whatever ALLAH ordered us to do, I did.

Whatever HE ordered us not to do, I did not.'

He began to cry and think about how much he loved ALLAH.

He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what
ALLAH deserved and his only protector was ALLAH... He was sweating like
never before and was shaking all over.

His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.

At last, the decision was made.

The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd.



His legs felt like they were going to collapse.

He closed his eyes as they began

To read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam{the worst Hell Fire}.

His name was read first.

He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn't be,

'How could I go to Jahannam{the worst Hell Fire}?

I served others all my life,

I spread the words of ALLAH to others'.

His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat.

The two angels took him by the arms.

As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward
the blazing flames of Jahannam{the worst Hell Fire}.

He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him.

He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped
his father, his fasts, prayers, the Noble Qur'an that he read, he was
asking if none of them would help him.

The Jahannam angels continued to drag him.

They had gotten closer to the Hellfire.

He looked back and these were his last pleas.

Had not Rasulullah [S.A.W.] {Messanger of ALLAH Muhammad Peace be upon him} said;

'How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day,
so too does the Solah performed five times cleanse someone of their
sins'?

He began yelling,

'My prayers? My prayers? My prayers.?'

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam{The Worst Hell Fire}.

The flames of the Fire were burning his face.

He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had
nothing left in him.

One of the angels pushed him in.

He found himself in the air and falling towards the Flames.

He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm
and pulled him back.

He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard.

He wiped some dust off himself and asked him,

'Who are you?'

The old man replied,

'I am your prayers'.

'Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire!

You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in'.

The old man smiled and shook his head,

'You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?'

At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah{prostation} .

He was in a sweat.

He listened to the voices coming from outside.

He heard the Adhan{call for prayer} for Solat-ul Isha{the night prayer}.

He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu{purification washing of the face, hands, head, ears, and feet}.



Pass this on to your friends and family.... ...

Maybe, you can help someone open their eyes.

And who knows?

Maybe, this is a good deed that can help you during the day of judgement.

(INSHA-ALLAH)

>> recieved this from an email.. i decide to share it here for us all to ponder