~~ Rest in peace, sister Aaliyah.
* * *
Monday, 25 February 2008
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Demons
to start the journey I must pull away from all which pulls me back... back into myself, retreating to the safe comfort where the scratches can't hurt. To run away I must pull free of the tangle of chains, which has only bound me because I let it. It is time to own and overpower it, instead of it owning me.
the sweet silent words still ring in my ear...
Again when the tide is at its lowest & the night moonless, pitch black, the mercies of Allah find me, through His rope extending from the heavens.
the sweet silent words still ring in my ear...
* * *
Again when the tide is at its lowest & the night moonless, pitch black, the mercies of Allah find me, through His rope extending from the heavens.
* * *
" They said: Are you indeed Yusuf?
He said: I am Yusuf
and this is my brother;
Allah has indeed been gracious to us..."
He said: I am Yusuf
and this is my brother;
Allah has indeed been gracious to us..."
Holy Quran, 12:90
Yusuf, who had no less than half of all existing beauty.
The beauty of Yusuf (as) culminates in this verse -- his reunion with his brothers, & the highest flower of perfection of his divine beauty --
Nabi Yusuf (as) was unlike many prophets in his situation - but is much more like us all through it - and so is a guiding beacon & radiant example of the way we should try to live our lives.
The verse closes with his longed-for happy ending, & the words --
(c) Jan '08
Beauty has many forms: immediately the many petals of the story begin to unfold.
He had beauty of character; in his life he had been subjected to a great deal of suffering, pain & hardship at the hands of his family - the ones who were supposed to protect, shelter & support him - who instead inflicted the worst blows and betrayal; and yet he grew not bitter & resentful of them.
He had been left destitute, & his trust in Allah was a beauty.
His loyalty, obedience and gratitude to the Aziz was a beauty; his chastity and abstinence in the face of great temptation was a beauty.
His courage and patience in prison was a beauty, his piety in preferring a jail cell to the temptation of sin was beauty.
His humility was a beauty,
his justice and equity in meting out the grain was beauty,
his wisdom & good counsel for the king was beauty --
-- all types of beauty of spirit and form were manifested in him,
and for his efforts in that, Allah arranged his affair.
He had been left destitute, & his trust in Allah was a beauty.
His loyalty, obedience and gratitude to the Aziz was a beauty; his chastity and abstinence in the face of great temptation was a beauty.
His courage and patience in prison was a beauty, his piety in preferring a jail cell to the temptation of sin was beauty.
His humility was a beauty,
his justice and equity in meting out the grain was beauty,
his wisdom & good counsel for the king was beauty --
-- all types of beauty of spirit and form were manifested in him,
and for his efforts in that, Allah arranged his affair.
The beauty of Yusuf (as) culminates in this verse -- his reunion with his brothers, & the highest flower of perfection of his divine beauty --
his forgiveness of them, for all they had done.
Nabi Yusuf (as) was unlike many prophets in his situation - but is much more like us all through it - and so is a guiding beacon & radiant example of the way we should try to live our lives.
The verse closes with his longed-for happy ending, & the words --
"...surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is rewarded)
for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good."
* * *
.
.
for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good."
* * *
.
.
overcome
your
demons::
Forgive.
.
.
your
demons::
Forgive.
.
.
(c) Jan '08
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
the problem with my perception
For the longest time, I had considered reality to be grounded in the sense-perceived, material universe; and what is beyond that to be some deeper reality, albeit closer to truth.
The problem I had with that was in finding the motivation to pull away from what was still a reality, to move to the next.
What is actually the case, is this base state grounded in sensory perception of the material
is not reality.
it is not real. it is illusory, fleeting, wildly inaccurate or at best incomplete.
The journey is actually from the state of delusion, to the only thing that is real.
who in their right mind would be happy within a permanent dream state, no matter how good?
you should remember the illusion, when faced with the pull.
self-deception
is never welcome
with one who seeks Truth
By staring at the red light, becoming engrossed in its colour and form you lose sight of what it signifies - the impending danger, which should occupy your attention instead.
The danger is what is real - the red light, neither here nor there.
The problem I had with that was in finding the motivation to pull away from what was still a reality, to move to the next.
What is actually the case, is this base state grounded in sensory perception of the material
is not reality.
it is not real. it is illusory, fleeting, wildly inaccurate or at best incomplete.
The journey is actually from the state of delusion, to the only thing that is real.
who in their right mind would be happy within a permanent dream state, no matter how good?
you should remember the illusion, when faced with the pull.
self-deception
is never welcome
with one who seeks Truth
By staring at the red light, becoming engrossed in its colour and form you lose sight of what it signifies - the impending danger, which should occupy your attention instead.
The danger is what is real - the red light, neither here nor there.
* * *
with thanks to
Light Within Me
Light Within Me
Monday, 10 December 2007
beginnings:: muddled
what is this life
that i cling to
what meaning does it have,
comfortable as it is?
when all is said and done, what will remain
of this pulling, warm, oblivious stupour...
drunk on life, foggy-headed
I fight within myself
alice calls desperately "wake up!"
against the sweet soothing lul
torn between the choices, my weak resolve scatters
lost, muddled, I sit,
not knowing down from up.
that i cling to
what meaning does it have,
comfortable as it is?
when all is said and done, what will remain
of this pulling, warm, oblivious stupour...
drunk on life, foggy-headed
I fight within myself
alice calls desperately "wake up!"
against the sweet soothing lul
torn between the choices, my weak resolve scatters
lost, muddled, I sit,
not knowing down from up.
* * *
Saturday, 8 December 2007
FAITH
what is the purpose of faith
faith is just to believe
in what is there
what is there irrespective of belief
faith is to know
what reality is
but what would you do with that knowledge?
to learn for its own sake splutters and stalls
in the face of drawn-out journeying
it is not motivation enough
so
what is motivation
what is the reason
to improve & learn?
the world is reasonless
except for
the all-penetrating, endless
breath of the divine which holds it
and gives it shape
if you search
it should only be
for this breath
if you search
it will only be
for your own sake
what is around you?
better understand it to know
what it is worth pursuing
knowledge of.
He
loves
YOU
faith is just to believe
in what is there
what is there irrespective of belief
faith is to know
what reality is
but what would you do with that knowledge?
to learn for its own sake splutters and stalls
in the face of drawn-out journeying
it is not motivation enough
so
what is motivation
what is the reason
to improve & learn?
the world is reasonless
except for
the all-penetrating, endless
breath of the divine which holds it
and gives it shape
if you search
it should only be
for this breath
if you search
it will only be
for your own sake
what is around you?
better understand it to know
what it is worth pursuing
knowledge of.
He
loves
YOU
Sunday, 4 November 2007
How to Strengthen your Iman
Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani, Imam of the Friday Prayers at the Sayeda Masuma haram in Qum, was asked how young people in the west might go about increasing their iman.
His answer was simple. He told us:
* * *
The Start of Faith: Establishing your beliefs beyond any doubt
The way to progress
Seeking knowledge of God, above and beyond any other form of knowledge
* * *
Nahjul Balaghah sermon 1: what is it to Deny God Attributes?
To Deny Him Attributes II
To Deny Him Attributes III
* * *
Ideas from the book "Man & Destiny":: Virtual
Virtual II
Virtual III
Virtual IV
* * *
His answer was simple. He told us:
There are three things you should do.
- Pray at the very first time of the prescribed time for prayers
- Read at least a quarter of a Juz' of Quran every day
- Carry a notepad with you wherever you go, and record your bad deeds throughout the day. At the end of the day review what you have written, and ask forgiveness for the sins you have committed.
* * *
The Start of Faith: Establishing your beliefs beyond any doubt
The way to progress
Seeking knowledge of God, above and beyond any other form of knowledge
* * *
Nahjul Balaghah sermon 1: what is it to Deny God Attributes?
To Deny Him Attributes II
To Deny Him Attributes III
* * *
Ideas from the book "Man & Destiny":: Virtual
Virtual II
Virtual III
Virtual IV
* * *
Qum, Iran
August 2006
August 2006
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Invitations & Welcomes
When the door opens, know that the owner of the house has opened it for you. If you choose to come, it is possible through their permission and not otherwise. Don't let shame & self-awareness make you forget -- it is not on your own merit for you to feel deep & uncomfortable shame at its lack; it has always been at the grace and mercy of the resident.
The scholar-prince of believers invited you first - before all, before you yourself were his follower. His speciality in thought, answers in the face of abundant & colourful ideologies, his rational & logical approaches, historical & narrated through his fathers, his diplomacy, wisdom & means & method of survival & habitation amongst unbelievers & class society, his humility & maintenance of the perfection of Islamic behaviour despite plots & hostility -- this Imam who first called, & has called as many times as the Prophet, held lessons for your situation; an example & guide for your life. Your delay in realisation did not prevent his re-invitation, & his gentle beckon remains, sweeter than ever, ready for your approach.
Hand picked by him are his visitors - like flowers. This son of the Prophet is my Imam: he watches over me, teaches me, & draws me close when I need him, if I am willing to come.
* * *
Iran, Mashhad
July 07
July 07
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