Agony of a piece of wood

A beautiful tradition reported by Al Hasan Al Basri on the authority
of Anas Ibn Malek is the following. He said: The Messenger of Allah
peace be upon him used to give the Friday sermon while standing near a
piece of wood against which he would lean his back. When the number of
people increased in the mosque he said: Make a pulpit of two steps for
me, which they did. Whenthe Prophet stood up to give the sermon on
Fridaythe said piece of wood moaned as if it expressed its sad feeling
of missing the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him. Anas comments: I
was in the mosque and heard the piece moan. It continued to moan until
the Prophetdescended to it and embraced it. Then it was silent. As a
matter of fact, whenever Al Hasan narrated this tradition he would cry
and say: O slaves of Allah! A piece of wood misses the Messenger of
Allah! It is you who should do so.

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Those who Fast will be Called from the Gate of al-Rayyaan

Allaah has enjoined upon the Muslims fasting the month of Ramadaan, and He has promised a great reward to those who fast. Because the virtue of fasting is so great, Allaah has not specified the reward for it, rather He said – in a hadeeth qudsi –
“… except for fasting, for it is for Me, and I shall reward for it.”
The virtues of the month of Ramadaan are many. For example, that which Allaah has promised those who fast, namely the gate of al-Rayyaan . This is the name which was narrated in the hadeeth whose authenticity is agreed upon. Sahl (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who used to fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection, and no onebut they will enter it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ They will get up, and none will enter it but them. When they have entered,it will be locked, and no one else will enter.” (al-Bukhaari, 1763; Muslim,1947).
Among the ahaadeeth which explain the reward for fasting are the following:
It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sinswill be forgiven.’ ” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Eemaan, 37).
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah says: “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; itis for Me and I shall reward for it.” Fasting is a shield and when one of you is fasting he avoidsexual relations with his wife and quarreling. If somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the unpleasant smell comingout from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk. The fasting person will have two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.’ ”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1771)
Secondly:
It is known that Paradise has many gates, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, andtheir wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate.”
[al-Ra’d 13:23]
“And those who kept their duty to their Lord (Al-Muttaqoon – the pious) will be led to Paradise in groups till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.”
[al-Zumar 39:73]
In the saheeh ahaadeeth itsays that there are eight gates:
It was narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there are eight gates, among which is a gate called al-Rayyaan, which none will enter but those who fast.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3017).
It was narrated from ‘Ubaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner orassociate, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, and a word which Allaah bestowed on Maryam and a spirit created by Him (cf. al-Nisa’ 4:171), and that Paradise is true and Hell is true, will have the right to be admitted by Allaah to Paradise through whichever of the eight gates he wishes, because of his good deeds.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3180; Muslim, 41)
One of the bounties that Allaah has bestowed upon this ummah is that He opens all the gates of Paradise during the monthof Ramadaan, not just one gate. Whoever says that there is a gate in Paradise called Baab al-Radwaan has to produce evidence for that.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3035; Muslim 1793)
We ask Allaah to make us among those who will enter Paradise. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Why is the legacy mentioned first in the aayah, “after payment of legacies that you mayhave bequeathed or debts” [al-Nisa’ 4:12]?

Why is the word wasiyah (legacy, will, bequest) mentioned in the
Qur'an before the word dayn (debt?) when we know that the debt must be
paid off before the legacy is given?
Praise be to Allaah.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "What is the reason
why the legacy is mentioned before the debt, when thedebt takes
precedence according to scholarly consensus, i.e., the debts of the
deceased must be paid off from his estate before his will is executed…
this may be answered in five ways:
1 – What is meant is that these two issues take precedence over the
issue of inheritance, and the order in which they are mentioned is not
indicative of which one is more important. Hence the bequest was
mentioned first.
2 – Because the legacy is less binding than debt, it is mentioned
first to showthat it is nevertheless important, as when Allaahsays
(interpretation of themeaning):
"What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a smallthing nor a big thing…"
[al-Kahf 18:49]
…
4 – The legacy is mentioned first because itis the share of the poor
and needy, and the debt is mentioned second because it is the share of
the lender who can seek itwith force and who has a strong argument to
support his case.
5 – Because the legacy is something that is initiated by the person,
it is mentioned first, whereas the debt is something that is well
established and clear whether he mentioned it or not.
See al-Jaami' li Ahkaam al-Qur'aan by al-Qurtubi, vol. 5, p. 74.
Some scholars added two extra points:
"The legacy is mentioned first because the legacy is an act of
kindness and upholding family ties, unlike the debt which usually
results from a kindof neglect. So the phrase starts with the legacy
because it is of greater virtue.
And it was said that the legacy is mentioned first because it is
something that is given for nothing in return, whereas the debt is
given in return for something. So payment ofthe legacy is harder for
the heirs than payment ofthe debt, and paying the legacy may be
thought of as a form of waste, unlike the debt which the heir will pay
with condifence."
See al-Tahqeeqaat al-Mardiyaah fi'l-Mabaahith al-Fardiyyah by Shaykh
Saalih al-Fawzaan, p. 27.

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She is asking about the zakaah on white gold, and about a house that is haunted by the jinn

She is asking about the zakaah on white gold, and about a house that
is haunted by the jinn
~
1 – In shops and gold souqs they sell a metal which is white like
silver; some people call it white gold and some call it platinum. Do I
have to pay zakaah on it, and is the rate of zakaah on it the same as
zakaah on yellow gold?
2 – There is a certain markthat appears on the forehead of some men,
which people call the signof prayer. My husband does not have this
mark even though he prays all the prayers regularly in the mosque and
is very religious. Is this mark what is referred to by the aayah
(interpretation of the meaning): "The mark of them (i.e. of their
Faith)is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration
(during prayers)" [al-Fath 48:29]? Why don't all men get this mark,
and why don't women get it? Does its absence mean anything?
3 – We have been living in a rented apartment for five years, and we
have felt and noticed many things that make us think that the
apartment is inhabited by jinn. In the last few days I have seen a
glass cup in the kitchen, flying and throwing itself against the wall,
crashing to the ground in pieces of glass. We don't know what to do.
4 – I am a Muslim woman and like many others I amfilled with grief at
what America and the Jews are doing to the Muslims. I donot know what
is my duty before Allaah with regard to this matter, and what I can do
so that I will be free of blame before Allaah. Is there anyspecific
thing that I shoulddo?
Praise be to Allaah.
1 – If it is gold or silver, then zakaah has to be paid on it. To be
certain ofwhat it is, you should consult the experts in thatfield.
2 – This mark does not necessarily appear on the forehead of every
person who prays. Rather people vary in the nature of their skin, and
the fact that it appears does not mean that a person is righteous.The
well-known view among the mufassireen is that the phrase "The markof
them (i.e. of their Faith)is on their faces" refers to the light of
obedience.
3 – You have to read Soorat al-Baqarah in the house once a day for three days.
4 – Strive in making du'aa'for your brothers there, that Allaah may
answer your prayers; and give charity to them as much as you can.

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How to deal with papers on which Allaah’s name is mentioned

What is the sharia's rulingabout personal names found in newspapers
etc that include either the prophet's name or Allah's name (Abdullah,
AbdulKarim)? How may these papers be disposed of or destroyed?
Praise be to Allaah.
These papers on which Allaah's name is mentioned should be keptand
protected against being handled with disrespect until you have
finished with them. Whenyou have finished with them and no longer have
any need of them, they should be buried in a clean place, or burnt, or
kept in a place where they will be protected against disrespect, such
asin a cupboard or on shelves, etc

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Meaning of the word Pokemon

What is Meaning of the word Pokemon ?
Praise be to Allaah.
We have heard many suggestion as to the meaning of this world, which
may be exaggerations made up by some people, or they may rumours
spread by competitors.
The correct view is that this is a name that comes from Japan. It is
taken from the (English) words "Pocket monster" and means an animal
that is small enough to fit in one's pocket. "Pokemon" is an
abbreviation of these two words.
And Allaah knows best.

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Should he give water toa thirsty man when he fears that he himself may become thirsty in the desert?

If a person is walking in the desert and he has some water, but he
fears that he may become thirsty later on, and there is someone who is
thirsty now, does he have to givehim water or not?
Praise be to Allaah.
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami was asked this question and he replied:
Two views were mentioned in al-Majmoo', in (the chapter called)
al-Muqaddam, and I do not know of anyone who stated that one of them
was more correct than theother. The one which appears to be more
correct is that he should give water to the one who is thirsty at that
time, if there is the fear that he will die of thirst, because his
death is certain, unlike the one who has the water, who has the chance
of finding more water later on. But if he is in an arid land where he
despairs of finding water and he thinks it most likely that death is
inevitable if he gives away the water thathe has with him, then the
matter is subject to further discussion, and it is more likely that
giving the water in this case is not obligatory. The same applies if
the thirsty person fears that he may lose a limb or become sicketc.
because of his thirst, and the one who has the water fears that he may
die later on, then it is also more likely to be correct that he does
not have to give away the water.

Is it permissible to offer a sacrifice in gratitude to Allaah for a specific blessing?

Is it permissible for a person who has bought a car or a house to
offer a sacrifice in gratitude to Allaah?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The blessings that Allaah bestows upon people are many, and His bounty
andgenerosity towards them are vast. A blessing can only be responded
to by giving thanks and appreciating it. Allaah, may He be glorified
and exalted, has enjoined giving thanks to Him, for He is Appreciative
and loves those who give thanks.
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"So eat of the lawful and good food which Allaah has provided for you.
And be grateful for the Graces of Allaah, if it is He Whom you
worship"
[al-Nahl 16:144]
"seek your provision fromAllaah (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and
be grateful to Him. To Him(Alone) you will be brought back"
[al-'Ankaboot 29:17]
Part of being grateful to Allaah is seeking to draw closer to Him by
means ofdifferent kinds of acts of worship and to endear oneself to
Him by means of good deeds such as prayer, zakaah, fasting and so on.
Another part of being grateful to Allaah is givingthanks to Him by
means of sacrifice rituals, which means offering a sacrifice for the
sake of Allaah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
his commentary on the verse "Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and
sacrifice (to Him only)" [al-Kawthar 108:2]:
What is meant is that prayer and sacrifice are the best of the things
by means of which one may draw closer to Allaah, and the usage of the
word fa (translated here as "therefore") points to the reason, i.e.,
doing that – prayer and sacrifice – in gratitude for that which Allaah
has given him of al-Kawthar (a river in Paradise) and much goodness.
So he should give thanks to the One Who has blessed him and worship
Him, and the twogreatest types of worship are these two acts of
worship; indeed, prayer is the ultimate act of worship. It is as if He
is saying to him: We have given you al-Kawthar and a great deal of
goodness, and We have blessed you with that because you have been
doing these two acts of worship in gratitude for Our blessing to you;
these are the reasons why We have bestowed these blessings upon you,
so do these two things for Us, for prayer and sacrifice are surrounded
by blessings that come before them and after them. The best financial
act of worship is sacrifice and the best physical act of worship is
prayer, and the benefits that a slave of Allaah may gain from prayer
cannot be compared to any othertype of worship, as is known by those
whose hearts are alive and those of high aspirations. Adding to it the
benefits of offering sacrifice, whichis a sign of devotion to Allaah
and thinking positively of Him, and having strong certainty and faith
about that which is in the hand of Allaah is something wonderful, if
that is accompanied by faith and sincerity. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) obeyed the command of his Lord and
prayed and sacrificed a great deal to Him; he even sacrificed
sixty-three camels with his own hand during the Farewell Pilgrimage,
and he used to offer sacrifices on the Eids and at other times. End
quote.
Majmoo' al-Fataawa 916/532).
If Allaah bestows a great blessing upon a person – and all His
blessing are great – then it is mustahabb for him to give thanks to
Allaah for itby showing kindness to people, so he should offer a
sacrifice and make food and invite his brothers and friends, and give
charity to those who are in need.
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (26/180-181):
It is mustahabb to give thanks anew when new blessings come, by
speaking words of praise. Gratitude for that may also be expressed by
doing acts of worship, which includes offering a sacrifice or inviting
peopleto a meal. The fuqaha' have mentioned the kindsof meals that may
be offered when blessing arerenewed, such as the wakeerah which is
made for a new home, or naqee'ah which is made on the return of an
absentloved one, and hidhaaq which is done when a child completes a
reading of the Qur'aan.
The view of the Hanbalis, the more correct view among the Shaafa'is,
is that these meals are mustahabb.
Ibn Qudaamah said: Theseinvitations – other than the wedding feast
(waleemah) and 'aqeeqah– are something good, but they are like
invitations that are given for no reason; if the person who does them
intends thereby to give thanks to Allaah for His blessing and to feed
his brothers and offer food, then he will have the reward for that in
sha Allaah.

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Can a person be considered as a shaheed if he dies whilst on a business tripby sea?

Can a person be considered as a shaheed (martyr) if he dies whilst on
a business trip by sea?
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked
about a man who traveled by sea for the purpose of trade, and he was
drowned – did he dieas a shaheed?
He replied, yes, he died as a shaheed, so long as he was not
travelling for sinful purposes. For it wasnarrated in a saheeh report
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"The one who drowns is ashaheed, the one who dies of a stomach disease
is a shaheed, the one whois burnt to death is a shaheed, the one who
dies of the plague is a shaheed, the woman whodies giving birth is a
shaheed, and the one who is crushed by a collapsing building is a
shaheed." And people killed in other ways were also mentioned.
Travelling by sea for the purpose of trade is permissible, if one
thinks it is most likely to be safe.If it is not safe then he should
not travel for the purpose of trade; if he didthat [i.e., traveled
when it was not safe to do so], then he has contributed to his own
death, and in such a case we cannot saythat he was a shaheed. And
Allaah knows best

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The reward of patience is praiseworthy

Hazrat Abu Hasan Siraaj R.A. says: I was performing tawaaf once while
on Haj; when I saw a very pretty woman, shining in her beauty. I
looked at her and said:"By Allah, this beauty and fine complexion must
surely be because she never experienced any grief or sorrow."
When I said this she overheard me and said:"Sir, it is that what you
think? By Allah, I am bent down under all the sorrows and grief that
have come my way. My heart and mind is filled with so much grief and
allalong there has been no one can who share these with me."
I asked: "And how is that, lady?"
She replied: "My husband once slaughtered a goat as a Qurbaani
offering, while I was breast feedingmy infant child. My two young sons
were playing around me. When I went to cook the meat, the one son said
to the other: 'Come, let me show you how father slaughtered the goat.'
The other said: 'Well show me.' The first one then made the second
once lie down andcut his throat, as his father had slaughtered the
goat. When he realized what had happened, he ran away into the
mountains; where he was attacked bya wolf and eaten up.
The father went in search for him; searching from place to place until
he died of extreme thirst. In the mean time I was at home frantic with
worry waiting for news of him. I put down my infant child and went to
the door to inquire about anyone who might have news of my husband.
The child crawled to the fireplace where a pot was boiling. The child
touched it and the boiling pot fell upon the baby, burning it to death
in such a ghastly manner that the child�s meat became separated from
the bones.
When my married daughter heard all this, in the house of her
husband,she fell down of shock. Thus I was left alone to bear all
that."
I asked her: "And how, lady; did you manage all these misfortunes with
patience?"
She replied: "Whoever ponders on the difference between patience and
impatience, finds a world of difference between the two. The reward of
patience is praiseworthy; whereas for impatience there is nothing."
Then she recited some lines of poetry before walking away:
Patience did I exercise,
For that was my strongestpillar;
And should impatience have helped me,
Then I would have tried her.
Such patience did I on have that;
Had my trails descended on mountain high,
In broken rocks they would have ended.
Indeed did I control my eyes,
Those tears not fall;
And now within my heart alone,
My tears do roll.
------------
May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability to be patient! Ameen!

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The lady who spoke nothing besides the Quran

An elderly Arab lady was sitting at the trunk of a tree, on the way to
Haj. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) happened to pass that way. He
was also heading for Baitullah,for Hajj, and to the Sacred tomb of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu �layhi Wasallam). Seeing this lady very
disturbed and ina state of despair, (distressed) he spoke to her. The
discussion is recorded as follows:
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah
The lady: "The word from a merciful Lord is Peace" (Surah 36 Aayat
58). She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, MostHigh,
Himself.
She said further: "Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide
for them." (Surah 7 Aayat 186). She meant that she has lost her way.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Where are you coming from?
The lady: "Glorified be He who carried His servant by night from the
Musjid-e-Aqsa (invioble place of worship) to the Musjid-e-Haraam" (Far
distant place of worship) (Surah17 Aayat1). She meant that she had
come from Musjid-e-Aqsa.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): How long are you in this place?
The lady: "For three nights" (Surah 19 Aayat10).
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What arrangements are made for your food?
The lady: "And who (Allah) feedeth me and watereth me" (Surah 26 Aayat
79). She meant thatsomehow or the other, her food is provided to her
by Allah.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Is there anywater for Wudhu?
The lady: "And ye find notwater, then go to high clean soil and (make
tayammum) rub your faces and hands." (therewith) (Surah 4 Aayat43).
She meant that she makes tayammum, due tonot finding water.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Here is some food. Partake of it.
The lady: "Strictly observethe fast till nightfall" (Surah 2 Aayat
187). She indicated that she is fasting.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): This is not the month of Ramadaan.
The lady: "And he who does good of his own accord (for him) lo! Allah
is responsive, aware". (Surah 2 Aayat158) meaning that I have observed
an optional (nafl) fast.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): It is permitted to break the fast
when in a journey.
The lady: "And that ye fastis better for you, if you did but know."
(Surah 2 Aayat 184)
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Speak like how I speak.
The lady: "He (man) uttereth no word but there is with him an observer
ready" (Surah 50Aayat 18). She meant thatsince every word of a person
is observed and recorded, she is taking precaution by speaking only in
the words of the Holy Quran.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Which clan do you belong to?
The lady: "Follow not thatwhereof thou hast no knowledge, lo! The
hearing and the sight and heart of each of these it will be asked"
(Surah 17 Aayat36). She meant those things that you have no knowledge
of, nor do they concern you, you are wasting your strength (senses) by
enquiring about them.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Forgive me.I have certainly made a mistake.
The lady: "Have no fear this day. May Allah forgiveyou" (Surah 12 Aayat 92)
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Would you like to travel on my
cameland meet your caravan?
The lady: "And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it" (Surah 2Aayat
197). Meaning that if you will do this good deeds towards me, Allah
will recompense you for it.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Well, then you may mount it.
Saying this he made the camel to sit down.
The lady: "Tell the believing men (when confronted by women) to lower
their gaze". (Surah 24 Aayat 30).
Hadhrat Abdullah understood and (turned) looked away. While she was
mounting, the camel jerked and her clothes gotestrangled in the saddle
(dorsers) and she proclaimed: "whatever of misfortune striketh you,
itis what your hands have earned." (Surah 42 Aayat 30).
In other words she was drawing Hadhrat Abdullahbin Mubarak's (RA)
attention towards this mishap. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA)
understood and he tied the legs of the camel and he straightened the
strapsof the saddle (or dorser).
She applauded him for hisproficiency and capability by saying "And we
made Sulaiman to understand" (Surah 21 Aayat 79). When the journey was
about to begin, the lady recited the Aayats which are read when
undertaking a journey"Glorified be he who hath subdued these unto us,
and we were not capable (of subduing them). And lo, unto our Lord we
are returning." (Surah 43 Aayat 13).
Hadhrat Abdullh bin Mubarak (RA) held the bridle (or nose string) of
the camel. He began to hum the (Huddi) famous Arabic song for
travelling, and he started walking very fast.
The lady: "Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice" (Surah 31
Aayath 19) ...

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45 years of searching the truth

Story of Wanda and how she became a Muslim - very inspiring for all.
I was raised in a Christian environment, but from about the age of 7
or 8 I openly refused to accept the idea that God and Christ were one
in the same--nor did I accept thetrinity.
There were six children and my parents. No one else thought as I did,
so you can imagine how very interesting "Bible Study" got at home. My
mother was so shocked by my steadfastness, but nothing she said could
change my mind. As shy as I was, I stood my ground and refused to
accept my families' beliefs. For whatever reason, I simply could not
accept the Christian concepts to the point I got nothing out of the
studies.
When I was fourteen, I decided I wanted to search for what I could not
find in Christianity. I was literally starving spiritually for
something Ihad no name for, but felt it existed somewhere.
I visited other religions--studied with some of them, but there was
always that point where I was aware they were not for me. I just about
visitedevery church/religion you could think of and they allfell short
of the concept I had in my mind and heartfor My true religion. The one
religion I kept searching for was that which I could serve with all my
heart and soul totally, fully, truly and uncondionally beyond a shadow
of a doubt.
I was an oddball among my family and my peers. All during my childhood
strange things happened to me that could not be explained by ordinary
standards. I stood out likea sore thumb. I stopped going to church
except forspecial family funcions and funerals. I prayed to God often,
and tried to live my life each day to the best of my abilities with
God's guidance. I prayed to God to show me where I belonged. I asked
Him where did I belong? I prayed for yearsand years, and would you
believe I finally got my answer? Almost 4 years ago, I got an
unsolicited letter out of the blue froma man who got my name from a
penpal list sent to him by his sister-in-law.
I answered his first letter and from then on, it all was very
interesting. I could read from the flavorof his letters that he was
Muslim; he acknowledgedthis fact. I noticed his beliefs were a lot
like my own and over time,he told me that without knowing it,I
basically lived my life as a believer. We had so much in common when
it came to serving God.
He sent me literature. The first piece of literature was so very
beautiful, I could hardly stand the overwhelming emotion that came
forth as I read it. It touched me to the point that I could not
holdback my tears. I was so shaken by it; I have no words to explain
what was in my heart at that time. I thorouhly studied all the
literature sent thereafter, and it had the same emotional affect upon
me.
There came a point in my studies where I hungered to know more and
more, so I bought my own Holy Quran. I needed to read this Book from
whence allthis beauty and truth flowed. I have never beenable to
simply take someone's word for anything. Religion is definitely not
something to embark upon with"blind" faith; I have always felt the
need to seek truth and knowledgefor myself.
The first day I got the Holy Quran [English translaton], I read the
opening, Al-Fatihah. It was short, but so very beautiful and so
powerful!!! That year I read the entire Holy Quran. I learned the Five
Pillars of Islam and the SixArticles of Faith.
At the age of 45, Allah finally told me where I belonged. I accepted
Islam openly and fully. That which I sought, but had not the name of,
was in fact Islam. I eagerly embraced it fully and as natural as the
air I am blessed to breathe each day I wake. My soul was starving for
Islam, and myheart yearned for it. Islamhas never felt like a stranger
to me. By the Grace, Love and Mercy of Allah, I AM HOME!!!! AMEEN!
As far as I know, I am the first in my generational family line to
become Muslim. Needless to say, my family members were not happy
campers! It was like a single republican [me] being in the midst of
generations of democrats! All praise be to Allah, One of my two sons
embraced Islam a year later.
In closing, I would like to include a part of something I wrote to a
friend who recently apologized for some very harsh/bitter things he
saidwith regard to Muslims/Islam as a result of the 9-11-01 bombings
in the U.S. These words sum up all that I feel for Islam:
"I embraced Islam because I have basically lived my life in this
manner anyway--all my life. ....

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Wind carried the man to where he belonged

Once the angel of death (Hadrat Izra'il) appeared in the form of human
being in the court of Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) and gazed
continously at a person present there for some time. When the angel of
death vanished, that person asked Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon
him): "Who was that person?" He told him that that was the angel of
death. He remarked: "The angel of death had gazed at me in such a
manner asif he had determined to take my life." Prophet Sulaiman
(peace be upon him) asked him: "What doyou want?" He requested him to
drop him in India. Prophet Sulaiman commanded the air to carry him up
and drop him in India. Consequently the air carried him to India
(which was very far from where he was). The angel of death came to
Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him). He asked him "Why did you fix
your gaze at that person?" Angel of death told: "I wondered that the
Almighty Allah had commanded me to take the life of this personin
India whereas he is sitting here in your presence."
Narrated on the authority of Khuthaima (RA). From the book "The
spectacle ofDeath" by K. M. Islam
May Allah give us the reality of death. Let us all prepare for it
before it's too late.

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