a story

"Without asking a single question, my father opens the door and to my
surprise, he wraps his armsaround my shoulders. The old clock starts
ringing its alarm. It startles him, brings him to a halt for a
minute-—but then, with great relief, he kisses me; which makes me
mumble, Were you waiting up for me? Really? Oh. Sorry, dad.I guess I
was lost."

--
- - - - - - -

Story of an idolator

Abdul Wahid b. Zaid (mercy be upon him) whobelonged 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 animaldepend on Him for their
sustenance." He further asked how we came to know about this Glorious
God. We replied, "He sent His final Messenger (Peacebe 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 Prophethad 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 askedto 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 befrom
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 prayerwe went to bed and the man continued to ask
questions. "Does Allah sleep at night? he wondered aloud as we
laycomfortably 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, hebegged 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 gratefulto Him and
you.
After a few days, we weretold 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 happywith all that he had gained
from Allah. Abdul Wahid said, "I was all of a sudden, overcome by
sleep and hence slept there. While sleeping, I saw a very fertile
garden wherein was a very 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 added, ''WhenI 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 reciting
the following Qur'anic verse, the translation of which is''And the
Angels visit them from each door and send them their compliments, glad
tidings 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 reward in thehereafter.
''O Master of the world ! Whom Thou giveth to, nobody can withhold and
whom Thou giveth not, no one can confer upon him.''

--
- - - - - - -

Commentary on the verse in which Allaah says: “Verily, Allaah will not change the (good) condition of a people aslong as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins andby being ungrateful anddisobedient to Allaah)” [al

Commentary on the verse in which Allaah says: "Verily, Allaah will not
change the (good) condition of a people aslong as they do not change
their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins andby being
ungrateful anddisobedient to Allaah)" [al-Ra'd 13:11]
-
What is the meaning of the words of Allaah, may He be blessed and
exalted, in Soorat al-Ra'd (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily,
Allaah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as
they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (bycommitting
sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allaah)" [al-Ra'd
13:11]?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This is an important verse which indicates that Allaah, may He be
blessed and exalted, in His perfect justice and wisdom does not change
the condition of the people from good to bad or from bad to good, from
ease to hardship or from hardshipto ease, unless they change their
condition themselves. So if they are in a state of righteousnessand
goodness and they change, Allaah will changethings for them with
punishment, calamities, hardship, drought, famine,disunity and other
kinds of punishments as appropriate requital. Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning): "And your Lord is not at all unjust to
(His) slaves" [Fussilat 41:46].
Or He may give them respite and give them time so that they might
truen to the right path, but if they do not then they will be seized
unexpectedly, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): "So, when
they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened
for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of
their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We
took them (inpunishment), and lo! Theywere plunged into destruction
with deep regrets and sorrows" [al-An'aam 6:44]., meaning despairing
of all goodness -- we seek refuge in Allaah from the punishment and
wrath of Allaah. Or they may be given respite until the Dayof
Resurrection, when their punishment will be more severe, as Allaah
says (interpretation of themeaning):
"Consider not that Allaah is unaware of that which the Zâlimûn
(polytheists, wrongdoers) do, but He gives them respite up to aDay
when the eyes will stare in horror"[Ibraaheem 14:42], meaning that
they are given respite until after death, and that will be a greater
and more severe punishment.
Or they may be in a state of evil and sin, then they repent to Allaah
and turn back to Him, and they regret their sins and adhere to
obedience, so Allaah changes their state of wretchedness, hardshipand
poverty to ease, unityand righteousness because of their good deeds
and their repentance to Allaah, mayHe be glorified and exalted. It
says in another verse (interpretation of the meaning): "That is so
because Allaah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a
peopleuntil they change what is in their ownselves" [al-Anfaal 8:53].
This versetells us that if they are in a state of ease, comfort and
goodness, then they change and turn to sin, their situation will be
changed -- there is no power and no strength except with Allaah -- or
they may be given respite, as stated above. The opposite is also true:
if they were in a state of evil and sin, or disbelief and misguidance,
then they repent, regret their sin and adhere to obedience to Allaah,
Allaah will change their situation from bad to good; He will change
theirdisunity into unity and harmony; He will change their hardship to
ease, well being and plenty; He will change their situationfrom
draught, famine, , lack of water and so on torainfall, fertile land
and other kinds of goodness. End quote.

--
- - - - - - -

Nothing, Only Love

He comes to you with barbs in his skin
and blood on his cheek.
He comes with eyes of loam and gold.
He comes to you again andagain,
as a youth and a man.
He has never forgotten you.
He comes with burns on his back
but standing straight,
hiding his scars and his shame,
wearing a half-thawed grin.
He has never stopped thanking you.
He comes with no answers,
with nothing, only love,
a heart like a sun,
and a soul like an African rain.
Will you open your arms to him
and hold him so tightly
that when you let go
he falls down laughing
happy to be alive,
happy to be a father and a man,
happy for you
and for the first time, yearsago
that he heard your voice
like the whisper
of a summer wind?

--
- - - - - - -