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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Signs of Allah in Birds

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Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing
holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for
people who have faith." (Surat an-Nahl: 79)
A bird uses great energy when it takes flight because it has to lift
all its body with its tiny wings. Yet, once it is up in the air, Allah
has made it easy for it to remain aloft without expending too much
effort. Birds can fly for a long time by allowing themselves to rely
on the wind. This way, they hardly tire since they consume very little
energy. When the effect produced by the wind diminishes, they begin to
flap their wings again. By means of this feature Allah has given
birds, they can cover very long distances and migrate to
remotedestinations.
It is interesting that birds' legs, so slender and little in
comparison to their bodies, can carry their entire bodies. It is
amazing that so many muscles, veins and nerves can exist in such a
slender leg! If birds' legs were thicker and relatively morebulky, it
would be more difficult for them to fly.
Almost all birds sleep on one leg.This does not upset their balance
since their body weight is concentrated on this one leg. Allah has
created birds with the features that enable them to maintain such a
delicate balance.
The eyes of water fowl have been created for clear underwater vision.
While we can't keep our eyes open underwater for even 45 seconds,
water birds can easily catch insects and molluscs in water as they
plunge their heads into it. Since this is the only way for them to
feed themselves, they must have clear vision underwater. For
thisreason, Allah has created a special structure in their eyes, which
permits seeing underwater.