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Friday, January 25, 2013

Reminder of the day: Salat Istikharah

When faced with tough issues, when faced with difficult decisions, when faced with unexpected events and choices to make, then thanks to Allah, we have been granted a way to seek a reply from Allah for these choices, under the form of a special salat, salat al Isitkharah ( صلاة الاستخارة).

Istikharah/Istikhaarah means seeking guidance (to the right decision), as to what Allaah knows is the best and most appropriate choice, by means of prayer or the du’aa’ narrated concerning Istikhaarah. 


The hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: 
“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all matters, just as he used to teach them soorahs from the Qur’aan. He said: ‘If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob. Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi. Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi 
(O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah  if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it).” 
Arabic version:
 اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ , وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ , وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ , وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ , وَأَنْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ , اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ , فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ , اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ , فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ . وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ ) رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي مَوَاضِعَ مِنْ صَحِيحِهِ (1166) وَفِي بَعْضِهَا ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ .

The answer to Salat Istikharah is not necessary a dream that the individual would have

Contrary to what many could believe, it it not necessary to dream something following the Salat Istikharah. The Ulamas are saying that the answer would be felt in the heart of the person, i.e. if you do a Salat Istikharah on a matter, you should then listen to your heart: do you find your heart at peace of doing it or not? this is the answer of your Istikharah.

Also, nothing prevents you after having made the Salat Istikharah to seek the advice of trustworthy people, then you make your final decision.

Finally, it is also important to note how are the events unfolding regarding the matter; if you see that the situation is getting harder and harder  then it might be a sign that you should not pursue the matter any further. If in the contrary you note that the matters are getting easier etc, then it is a good sign that you are heading towards the right decision.




Tuesday, January 22, 2013

My life is full of problems حياتي كلها مشاكل

I have read this kind of poem below over the net/ chain mails several years ago. The original text is in Arabic, on the form of a poetry. I do not know who was the original author of this unfortunately. This poem has the same concept of one of my previous entries, we had similar thoughts but different approach.

I just wanted to share it as it contains some valuable lessons we could learn. I have added also the Arabic and French versions of this for expanding the audience.

I particularly like to retain the fact that the neighbor's grass is NOT greener.

Of course, let no one contemplate suicide as a solution to his/her misery, certainly such desperate act would lead its owner to dwell in hell fire for ever. Suicide is completely forbidden in Islam. When facing difficulties, just seek the help of Allah, as simply as that. He is more than sufficient for you, won't you agree?


***



My life is full of problems, there are no solutions
Suicide is the only solution
I'll jump, and indeed, I jumped

This is the ninth floor, there is the happy couple husband and wife, known in the building ..
They argue, in fact they were never happy..

This is the eighth floor,
Is it not this young happy man and cheerful, known in the building?!
He cries.. he cries so much!

This is the seventh floor,
Is it not this the most active woman in the building?
What does she do?
What is this pale face?
And what are all these drugs?
She takes her medication,
She seems very sick...

This is the sixth floor,
Is it not our neighbor, a graduate Engineer for five years?
He still buys seven daily papers looking for a job!

This is the fifth floor,
This is our old neighbor ... He waits for someone to visit him and ask after him
He expects one of his married sons or daughters
But nobody has ever knocked on his door!
He seems so sad...

This is the fourth floor,
Is it not our beautiful neighbor, so elegant and smiling!?
She looks at a photo of her late husband, who died three years ago and she cries...

Before jumping out of the building, I thought I was the saddest person and the most miserable one in the world!
Now, I realize that everyone has their problems and sorrows that are unique to them
And after seeing all this I realized that my pain and misery were nothing in fact,

The people I saw during the jump are the ones looking at me now,
If everyone of us having a misfortune just thought that his/her neighbor had a much worse misfortune than his/her own,
It would make him/her a much happier person
So thank your Lord...

Did you get the message???
Do not be discouraged for a short disappearing life. For Allah, everything life holds is not even equal to the weight of the wing of a mosquito If the value of the world was equal to that of the wing of a mosquito by Allah, He would not have allowed any Kaafir even a drink of water from it." Narrated be Tirmidhi
And know that Allah is certainly with the patient people.

Bottom line:

.. if you find no way out, if the doors are closed, if you are unable to think, if the earth seems narrow despite its wideness, if if if ... then just stand up and call Allaaaah!

It is He Who Hears, it is He Who Answers, He is the Almighty.

French Version:

Ma vie est pleine de problèmes, il n’y a pas de solutions
Le suicide est la seule solution
Je vais bondir, et en effet, j’ai bondi

C'est le neuvième étage, c’est ce couple heureux du mari et de sa femme, connus dans le bâtiment..
Ils se disputent, ils n’étaient en fait jamais heureux

C’est le huitième étage
N'est-ce pas ce jeune homme gai et joyeux, connu dans le bâtiment ?!
Il pleure..il pleure très fort!

C’est le septième étage
N'est-ce pas là la femme la plus active du bâtiment
Que fait-elle?
Quel est ce visage pâle?
Et que sont tous ces médicaments
Elle prend ses médicaments..
Elle semble très malade

C'est le sixième étage,
N'est-ce pas là notre voisin, diplômé ingénieur depuis cinq ans
Il achète toujours sept quotidiens pour chercher du travail!

C’est le cinquième étage
C'est notre voisin vieux... Il attend que quelqu’un lui rende visite et demande après lui
Il attend ses fils et ses filles mariés
Mais personne n’a jamais frappé à sa porte!
Il semble triste

C’est le quatrième étage
N'est-ce pas notre belle voisine élégante et souriante!
Elle regarde une photo de son défunt mari, mort depuis trois ans et elle pleure

Avant de sauter de l'immeuble, je pensais être la personne la plus triste et la plus misérable au monde
Maintenant, je me suis rendu compte que chacun a ses problèmes et ses peines qui lui sont propre
Et après avoir vu tout cela j’ai compris que ma douleur et ma misère n'était rien du tout, en fin de compte

Les gens que j’ai vus pendant le saut me regardent maintenant
Si chacun d'entre nous ayant un malheur pensait juste que son prochain avait un malheur beaucoup plus grave que le sien,
Il deviendrait une personne beaucoup plus heureuse
Alors remercie ton Seigneur

Avez-vous compris le message???

Ne sois pas découragé pour une vie éphémère. Pour Dieu, tout ce qu’elle peut contenir n'est même pas égal au poids de l'aile d’un moustique Si la valeur du monde était égale à celle de l'aile d'un moustique par Allah, Il n'aurait pas permis à un Kafir même pas une gorgée d'eau à partir de celui-ci. "Rapporté par Tirmidhi
Et sache que Dieu est avec les gens patients

Conclusion:

..si tu ne trouves pas d'issue, si les portes se ferment, si tu es incapable de penser, si la terre te paraît étroite, si si ...alors releve toi et appelle Allaaah !

C'est Lui qui Entend, c'est Lui qui Répond, c'est Lui le Tout-puissant.

Arabic Version:


حياتي كلها مشاكل
ليس لها حلول
الإنتحار هو الحل الوحيد
سأقفز
وبالفعل قفزت


انه الطابق التاسع .. انه الزوج والزوجة السعيدان المعروفان في المبنى
انهما يتشاجران
لم يكونا سعيدين أبداً
  
انه الطابق الثامن
أليس هذا الشاب الضحوك المعروف في المبنى ..؟!
انه يبكي .. يبكي بشدة !
انه الطابق السابع
أليست هذه المرأة الأكثر نشاطاً في المبنى
ماذا تفعل؟
ما هذا الوجه الشاحب
وما كل هذه الأدوية
أنها تأخذ أدويتها
تبدو مريضة جداً

انه الطابق السادس..
أليس هذا جارنا المهندس لقد تخرج منذ خمس سنوات
مازال يشترى سبع صحف يوميا ليبحث عن عمل !!
  

انه الطابق الخامس
انه جارنا العجوز ... ينتظر أحداً يزوره ويسأل عن أحواله
انه ينتظر بناته أولاده المتزوجين
ولكن بابه لم يدق يوماً !!
يبدو حزينا


انه الطابق الرابع
أليست هذه جارتنا الأنيقة الجميلة المتبسمة ..!
انها تنظر إلى صورة زوجها الراحل منذ ثلاث سنين وتبكي

  
قبل أن أقفز من المبنى اعتقدت بأنني الشخص الأكثر حزناً وبؤساً
الأن أدركت أن لكل شخص مشاكله وأحزانه الخاصة
وبعدما شاهدت كل هذا وجدت أن حزني وبؤسي في الحقيقة لم يكن سيئاً على الإطلاق
الناس الذين رأيتهم وانا أقفز ينظرون إلي الآن !
لو ان كل واحد منا فكر ان لغيره مصيبة أعظم من مصيبته
لكان سعيدا
فاحمد ربك
هل وصلتكم الرسالة ؟؟؟
لا تبتئس لدنيا فانية .. كل ما فيها لا يساوي عند الله جناح بعوضة
واعلم ان الله مع الصابرين