The Gardens of Paradise

A collection of articles by the Blog Maintainers:

What’s Love?

In today’s society, being ‘religious’ is seen as a hindrance to human freedoms and evokes connotations such as being dry and unromantic. This misconception is even held within the Muslim community who consider the concept of love as being shameful and non-existent.

One sister once commented by saying that bearded brothers have ‘no game’. Perhaps the sister was pointing towards the actions of some brothers who, on becoming more practicing, begin to act in an awkward manner especially when around females. Some brothers believe that ‘piety’ is synonymous with weakness, feebleness and walking around while dragging one’s feet. The confident strides, the firm handshakes and sense of purpose is lost when that brother decides to turn around his life in conformity with Islamic ideals. This is in complete contrast with the character and behaviour of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who were confident, courageous, bold and did not act awkwardly on accepting Islam. In fact, Umar ibn al-Khattab once saw a group of men who began to act weak and dragged their feet and he beat them for this unacceptable behaviour.

Also the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was very romantic and intimate with his wives in the privacy of his home. Shaikh Waleed Basyouni discusses this aspect of the Prophets life in this humorous two part lecture titled “Was the Prophet (saw) romantic?”

Part 1-Was Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) Romantic?

Part 2-Was Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) Romantic?

(Hover your mouse over the link and a box should open up with the audio.)

Death

“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. ” (Surah آل عمران Aal-E-Imran:185)

Video taken from a Traffic Camera:

The following is a fictional narrative concerning the image above. It is written to emphasize the severity of the situation and point out to people the reality of death. Verily every soul shall taste death and only on the Day of Judgment shall we see our actions in front of us and we will then be admitted into Jannah or Jahannam to abide therein for eternity.

The Story:

As he waited for the signal to change, Ahmed went over the stuff that needed to get done that day. Put in a couple of hours worth of study, hit the gym and then finally head to his girlfriend’s house. After the exams next week, he was going to make sure he slept in every single day and do absolutely nothing. Going out to the movies with his buddies and just thriving on all the free time he had till the next semester were looking real good!

Had he but known these were his final steps being taken in this world, he might have had other more more important things to worry about. However man is ever unaware of the purpose of his creation and rarely thinks about his time after his death.

The signal finally changed to go and Ahmed briskly made his way to the other side of the street. With his bag hung limply over one shoulder and one of his hands tucked in his pocket, he walked across the street and noticed the beauty of the trees across the street.

As he picked up his stride and neared the sidewalk, two cars suddenly crashed into each other with the hideous sound of metal bodies becoming one. Frightened and filled with anxiety, Ahmed began to run and try to escape the carnage that was making its way towards him. His heart was beating so fast and every step he took was seemed slower than the last. Noo! he thought as he tried to outstrip his death. However, little did he know that he was in fact running towards his own demise.

Say (to them): “Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you then you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower…” (الجمعة Al-Jumua:

Had he just stayed put where he was, the car might have missed him but death was written for him that day and there was no turning back. With his tears streaming down his face, Ahmed ran screaming across to the other side with the hope of staying alive, even if it may be for just one more hour. As the car flipped over to its side, it hurled into Ahmed overtaking him completely and crushing his thin body…

Time

Have you ever thought of time? Have you ever thought of this concept that is continuously on the move without a glance in anyone’s direction. Time is something shared by all but yet held by none. Time is always with us but yet is always in constant movement. Time is such a valuable commodity that can be neither purchased, rented out or stored for later use. Sometimes we feel as if time has stopped while at other times the whole day flashes by in a flash. If you were to sum up your entire life and all that you did, your story will not be more than a couple of minutes.

Thus we should spend our lives working towards that which will be perpetual and not ephermal. Why focus entirely on the life of this world when the life of the hereafter is racing towards us with each passing second? Can you imagine a person racing towards that which is leaving him- this world, while ignoring that which is hastening towards him-the hereafter?

If an entire day passes you by without accomplishing something praiseworthy, then know that this will be a cause for regret on the Day you will be brought to account. Those minutes that don’t seem like a big deal add up to hours, days, weeks then years and finally lifetimes. Indeed it is in the time frame of life that our deeds are registered, our every action accounted for and ultimately our rewards dependent upon. The hustle and bustle of our daily routines will continue to keep us occupied until we are finally in our graves; only then will we realize how fast and deceptive this life really was. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion? Have you not heard the statement of Allah:

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children…” Surah Hadid (57:20)

Thus we should all try to start fresh today and make a resolution to make the most out of our day. Live in the moment and do not look forth to tomorrow for tomorrow never comes.

Abdullah Ibn Umar narrates: one day I was with the Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam). He then turned to me, held my shoulders with both of his blessed hands, and said:

“Be in this life like a stranger or a traveler.”

And whenever Ibn Umar narrated this to his disciples he would add: If you reach the evening, do not await (to be alive) by dawn, And if you reach dawn, do not await (to be alive) by evening. Take advantage of your Health before you fall sick. And take advantage of your life, before you die. Bukhari {Volume 8, Book 76, Number 425}

Do you not see your life is just a number of events that unfold one after another. We start class and say ‘can’t wait till its over.’ We start work and say ‘can’t wait till its over’ and our life runs its course like this until we realize that years have passed and we have nothing to show for. Live in the moment and make ready all you can for the most important day of your entire existence!

“[And take a provision (with you) for the journey; verily the best provision is Taqwa (piety and righteousness).] “

Al Baqarah 2:197

To Adventure!

When one travels, many lessons and morals are learned as well as seeing the various things that Allah has created in this world. Travel cleanses the mind, purifies the soul, enlightens the heart and forces one to contemplate the creation of Allah. It also brings happiness to the soul after having been clouded with the dust of the mindless routine of life that one falls into.

Seeing new lands and places, being acquainted with new faces and coming across different languages and colors all add to the thrill and excitement that one gets while traveling. Witnessing the wonders of the world and simply just taking in all the fascinating things that exotic places have to offer provide a sort of paradise on earth to the traveler. The traveler escapes his mindless routine of work and play and escapes into a world of the unknown, where each day is different than the last as he makes his way through the vastness of Allah’s creation.¹

Things as simple as sitting under the shade of a large tree in the hottest hour of the day instill serenity into the traveler and make his eman go up as he reflects upon the beauty of the creation of Allah. If the worldly life can bring moments of tranquility like this, then how about the gardens of eternity in which a fast rider could not cross the shade of one of its trees even if he traveled a hundred years in it?

I highly recommend traveling and guarantee that they will come back different; and because of this they will view the world through much more experienced eyes. Their paradigms will shift and their life will now be viewed through new fresher lenses.

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1. See “La Tahzan” by Aidth al-Qarni. Ideas taken from excerpt on travel.