The story of 2 pots!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled,

"Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

This too my dear will pass away!

I had a very hectic day today
Seems nothing I did went my way.
I fretted and stewed and worried,
Rushed here and there, always hurried.

Then I recalled what my granny would say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."
Finally evening came and I was alone
With a little time to call my own.

I breathed a sigh into the air,
For now it seemed I hadn't a care.
But in my memory, I heard granny say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."

So, I snuggled in for a good nights rest
Vowing tomorrow just to do my best
For when troubles come they never stay
And good times seem to hurry away.
Granny was right when she would say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."

Enjoy the good times while they're here
And face the bad times without fear
For nothing on earth lasts forever
Each moment of life we must savor.
Live life and love while you may,
For this too, my dear, will pass away.

Dr Juma

Anyone looking for a new Dr Surgey should most deff check this Dr Juma out he seems qualified in all fields and by the look of his surgery he seems to be going for the homeopathic natural treatments!!!! The list of treatments he has advertised are as follows as... Ill type some of them up as I dont think the picture is big enough for you all to read them...

- Bewitched Pple
- Swollen Body
- Insanity
- Madness
- Women with pregnancy problems
- Demand Debts
- Misunderstandings with people
- Court Cases
- Casino Specialist
- Bad Luck
- Customer Attraction
- ETC (thats his comment not mine)

Seems like he is a Dr, Lawyer, Social Advisor, psychic all in one wow!

A Butterfly's Lesson

One day, a small opening appeared on a cocoon; a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.
Then, it seems to stop making any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could not go any further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a withered body, it was tiny and shrivelled wings.
The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body, and become firm.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Never been able to fly.
I asked for Strength...
And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
Iasked for Wisdom...
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity...
And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage…..
And God gave me obstacles to overcome.
I asked for Love...
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors...
And God gave me Opportunities.
“I received nothing I wanted...
But I received everything I needed."

FORGET FASHION THIS IS FREEDOM!

Forget fashion, this is freedom (The Daily Telegraph: 31/12/2003)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/31/wscarf131.xml

The Muslim veil has become a hot political issue in France - but Stella White cannot see what the fuss is about. A Catholic from Kent, she explains the joys of the complete cover-up.
To liberated Westerners, the hijab, or veil, is a stain on womankind. It symbolises the crushing of the female spirit and is the mark of slavery, transforming a woman into a passive lump who is only allowed out of the house to buy her husband's dinner.
When faced with this piece-of-cloth-on-legs, English women will often meet the eyes peeking out of the hijab with an expression of pity and sadness. For them, the veil represents a living death. This might also be the feeling of the French authorities, who have decided to ban the hijab in schools, believing that no young girl should have to carry the burden of repression on her tender head.
Yet for many, including myself, the veil is not an instrument of coercion, but a means of liberation. Personally, I have never felt so free as I do when I am wearing it.
Before you presume that I am regurgitating propaganda from a culture that has brainwashed me, I should point out that I am a Catholic, not a Muslim. I am not from the mysterious East, but am a 32-year-old woman from boring Kent. Nor am I a prude: my life has included spells as an exotic dancer, kissogram and glamour model. Three of my best friends are strippers. I have had relationships with Muslim men, but none of them ever demanded I wear the hijab; in fact, they found my behaviour slightly embarrassing. There is nobody in my past that has coerced me to wear a veil. I do so simply because I love it.
I relish the privacy; the barrier that the hijab creates between myself and the harsh, frenetic world, especially in London. I find a great peace behind the veil: I don't feel invaded by nosy passers-by; the traffic, noise and crowds seem less overwhelming. I can retreat into my own safe world even as I walk and, on a practical level, I feel completely secure from unwanted advances.
The hijab is also a financial security system. Like most pedestrians in London, I can't afford to give money to every homeless person I see, but feel stressed and guilty when I walk past them. In my hijab, my conscience can hide. I also feel fairly safe from muggers. Thieves glance at me and probably think, "illegal immigrant; not worth the effort", presuming that my big carrier bags contain only weird, knobbly vegetables for my 16 children.
In my hijab, shopping is also cheaper. A small minority of Muslim traders operate a two-tier pricing system with the "one of us" price being considerably lower than the price for Westerners. If I want a bargain, I make sure I am "hijabbed-up".
The most amazing effect of wearing the veil is that you automatically seem to become a member of the Muslim community and are accorded all of the privileges and dignity of a Muslim woman. When I walk into a Muslim shop, a man will say to me, gently, "Salaam aleikum [peace be upon you]. How can I help you, madam?" On the bus, Muslim men from Africa, the Middle East or the Far East will move aside for me and say, "After you, sister."
The offices, bars and clubs of London are full of English girls in short skirts and strappy sandals, many of them looking for love. Women who wear the hijab, often despised by the West, actually feel sorry for these Western women who have to harm themselves with crippling high heels, skin-choking make-up and obsessive dieting in order to find a man.
My Iranian friend Mona is a successful businesswoman who goes out every day looking impeccable, with painted nails, stilettos, sharp suits and perfect make-up. "It was just so much easier when I was in Iran," she says. "You'd get up at nine, throw on your big black hooded dress and jump in the car. Now, I have to spend two or three hours getting done up every morning."
Too often, the hijab is dismissed as the preserve of Muslim fundamentalists. But in the Christian tradition, St Paul ordered women to cover their heads and, until the Sixties, no woman would be seen in an English church without a hat and gloves. Many English women wore hats out in the street or headscarves tied under their chin. Hindu and Sikh women are still expected to cover their heads loosely for their honour, or izzat, and Orthodox Jewish women have traditionally worn wigs over their real hair to conceal it from men who are not their husbands. Yet, among all these cultural groups, only Muslim women seem to have been described as weak or oppressed on account of their headgear.
Two of the most unlikely bedfellows are the woman who wears a hijab and the militant feminist. When women in the early Seventies began cropping their hair short, and wearing dungarees and comfortable shoes, they were rejecting the idea of suffering for fashion and were refusing to take part in the desperate ritual to attract spoilt, fussy males. Similarly, a woman in a hijab can retain her identity without being a slave to finicky Western notions of beauty.
A particularly sad article appeared in a popular women's magazine last week, entitled: "How to hate your body less." I showed it to my Arab friend Malika, who shook her head and said: "In my culture, men are so grateful when they marry a woman that they see her as a gorgeous princess, whatever shape or size she is."
Within the hijab, Muslim women know their power and their value. One Muslim man told me: "My wife is like a beautiful diamond. Would you leave a precious diamond to get scratched or stolen in the street? No, you would wrap it in velvet. And that is how the hijab protects my wife, who is more precious to me than any jewel."
Of course, if anybody tried to remove my veil or force me to wear it, I would react violently. I am privileged to live in a country in which I can wear whatever I want to. Not all women are so lucky. Personally, I have found in the hijab a kind of guardian angel. My mother, on the other hand, claims that I wear it because I can't be bothered to brush my hair.

Mus'ab Bin Umair

I read this beautiful story of one of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) and thought to share it with you all. Dont look and read it and say ahhhh that was so nice rather let us all read it and then take a close look at our own lives and see if we can find room to improve and strive in our deen Im sure we can! Lets see if we can think of ways to get closer to Allah and His beloved (saw) and if that means sacrificing some of the pleasures of this world then remember this life is only temporary and will soon come to an end!

Mus'ab Bin Umair

Big city, bright lights. Cars flash in fast lanes. Young Muslims are getting ready to hit the “night scene”. Branded shoes and designer clothes in place, clutching the latest mobile gizmos and sporting the trendiest watches, their perfume smells --- more than anything else – of money.

You can see them “hanging out” in groups, lolling in the bright lights of a megamall, lingering aimlessly in hypershops, buying a knick knack to drive away the boredom; even if it’s just for a second.

You can see them sipping cappucino at a Starbucks café …watching people go by, sharing a joke and laughing raucously; vacant eyes straying over to huge tv screens for the latest football score.

You can see them racing cars dangerously late into the night, music blasting from the stereos, startling passersby while they laugh in their faces. A standard sight.

Each time I see this all-too familiar scene, I find myself thinking of someone.
Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woollen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely. Someone who was his mother’s pampered son, he wore the best clothes his rich mother’s money could buy, his perfume scented the streets he walked through. The talk of Makkan matrons and maidens in their plush salons, the toast of his peers in the city’s clubs, the most flamboyant young man of the Quraysh, who left a life of pleasuring the Self to gain the pleasure of Allaah: Mus’ab bin Umair bin Hashim bin Abd Munaf who was also known as Mus’ab al Khair.

Mus’ab was only a youth when he heard of the new Prophet who had arisen among the Quraysh and his Message of monotheism; Makkah talked of very little else in those days. His curiosity piqued by all the talk, Mus’ab decided to approach the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on his own to determine the truth of his Message.

One night, instead of joining his friends in their customary revelry, Mus’ab made his way to the house of Al-Arqaam Ibn Al-Arqaam which came to be known as Daar al Arqaam among the Muslims. It was here that the Prophet met with the growing band of Muslims, away from the eyes of the Quraysh. It was here that the Companions talked over the future of their faith, heard and recited newly revealed portions of the Qur’aan and prayed behind the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam to Allaah.

That night, Mus'ab sat down among the gathering of the faithful and heard the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam recite verses of the Qur’aan. From that moment on he forgot for ever his life of luxury and indolence, in the ecstasy of discovering the key to eternal life. Mus’ab’s path to the faith was not easy – his mother, Khunnas bint Maalik, a strong willed woman infamous for her sharp temper and sharper tongue – was his chief opponent. In order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with his mother, Mus’ab initially avoided telling her about his new faith. However, people found him frequenting Daar Al-Arqaam more than his usual haunts and saw him coming under the influence of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It wasn’t long before news of his conversion reached his mother.

Reacting with the imperiousness of her nature, her pride in her lineage and her age-old allegiance to the gods, she commanded Mus’ab to return and repent to the gods he had abandoned in his “foolishness”; and when he refused, she had him shackled and imprisoned in a corner of the house. Somehow, news of the first emigration of some Muslims to Abyssinia reached Mus’ab in his incarceration and his heart longed to join his brothers in the faith. Using his ingenuity, he managed to delude his mother and his guards and escaped to Abyssinia with other emigrants.

Later, he returned to Makkah with them for a short while and emigrated a second time, this time as the Prophet [SAW]’s chosen envoy to the new centre of faith: Yathrib. When Mus’ab returned from Abyssinia, his mother sought to imprison him yet again. But this time he vowed that if she attempted that, he would kill all those who came to her aid to lock him up. She knew the intensity of his determination better than anyone else and so she bade him a final farewell, crying bitterly: Go away, I am no longer your mother.
At this, Mus’ab went close to her and said: O Mother, I am advising you and my heart is with you, please bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Enraged, she swore: By the stars, I will never enter your religion, to degrade mystatus and weaken my senses! But Mus’ab entered Islaam in the spirit of the Qur’aan when it says: udkhuloo fi silme kaafah [enter into Islaam completely]. He forsook every semblance of satisfaction of the Self for the sake of Allaah – his dress was tattered, his food was simple, the bare earth was his bed.

One day he went out to meet some Muslims while they were sitting around the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam, and when they saw him they lowered their heads and shed silent tears at the sight of the pampered youth of their memory , moving about in wornout patches held together by thorns, which barely covered him.

After Mus’ab moved away from the gathering, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam recalled:
I saw Mus’ab, and there was no youth in Makkah more petted by his parents than he. Then he abandoned all that for the love of Allaah and His Prophet. Recognizing Mus’ab’s noble manners and patience, the Prophet [SAW] commissioned him to instruct the people of Yathrib who had pledged their allegiance to the Prophet at ‘Aqabah, to call others to Islaam and to prepare the city for the eventual migration of the Prophet [SAW]. At that time, there were among the Companions men of sterling character and nerves of steel, men who were older and more experienced in the ways of the world; yet he [SAW] chose Mus’ab as his representative. And Mus’ab proved worthy of the Prophet’s choice many times over, dealing with detractors with patience and sagacity. Mus’ab entered Yathrib as a guest of Sa’ad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went approached the citizens of Yathrib, explaining the message of Monotheism and reciting the Qur’aan.

Once Musa’ab and Sa’ad were sitting near a well in an orchard of Banee Zafar, when they were approached by Usayd ibn Khudayr brandishing a spear in obvious rage. Sa’ad whispered to Mus’ab: This is a chieftain of his people. May Allaah place the truth in his heart.
Mus’ab replied calmly: If he sits down, I will speak to him.
Usayd was angry at the success of Mus’ab’s mission and shouted angrily: Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive.

At this, Musa’ab smiled and said softly: Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it; and if you dislike it we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave. Sticking his spear into the ground, Usayd sat down to hear them out. As Musa’ab began telling him about Islaam and reciting portions of the Qur’aan to Usayd’s expression changed. The first words he uttered were : How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?

Mus’ab explained: Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (shahadah), and perform prayers. Usayd testified that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, prayed two rakaats of salaah and was followed by another influential man: Sa’ad ibn Muaadh. By the time the Prophet [SAW] emigrated, there was not a single household in Yathrib in which Mus’ab had not endeared himself and the Message of Islaam. In the subsequent pilgrimage, he led a company of 70 people went from Yathrib to pledge allegiance to the Prophet. In a famous incident after the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured some Makkans and sought to ransom them. Mus’ab was passing by the ranks of prisoners and stopped when saw his brother, Abu Azeez ibn Umayr among them. However, instead of interceding on his behalf, he instructed his brother’s captor to bind him securely and to extract a large ransom for the prisoner, because “his mother is a very rich woman” When the brother sought to remind Mus’ab of his relationship, Mus’ab replied: I only recognize brotherhood of the faith, this man is my brother, not you!

At ‘Uhud, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam chose Mus’ab to bear the battle standard. In the melee that followed the archers descent from the hill where they were stationed, in violation of the Prophet [SAW]’s orders, the Makkans fought back fiercely. Taken unawares by the cavalry of the Quraysh attacking from the rear, the Muslim ranks scattered. Intent on harming the Prophet [SAW], the Makkans searched for him while he was being guarded only by a handful of companions. Suddenly, someone shouted that the Prophet [SAW] was no more. It was at this juncture that Mus’ab’s glorious life reached a fitting culmination: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad related from his father, who said: Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Qaami'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said:
And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him . He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it, when his left hand was cut off, he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying: And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. Then a third soldier struck Mus’ab with his spear, and the spear went through him. (picture of Uhud above)

After the battle, the Prophet and his companions came to the plain of ‘Uhud to bury the martyrs, some of whose bodies had been mutilated by the marauding women of the Qur’aysh. Pausing when he saw Mus'ab, the Prophet [SAW] recited: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Then he [SAW] looked at the remains of his companions in the battlefield and said: The Prophet of Allaah witnesses that you are martyrs to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.

There wasn’t enough material to serve as a shroud for Mus’ab. Khabbaab ibn Al-Arat narrated: We emigrated with the Prophet for Allaah’s cause, so our reward became due with Allaah. Some of us passed away without enjoying anything in this life of his reward, and of them was Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, who was martyred on the Day of Uhud. He did not leave behind anything except a sheet of shredded woollen cloth. If we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered, and ifwe covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. The Prophet [SAW] said to us: Cover his head with it and put lemon grass over his feet. It was this memory of Mus’ab in his martyr’s grave, that caused companions like Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf to cry in fear of having no share in the Hereafter, because they had been granted a life of plenty and ease right here in this world. Once his servant brought him a meal to break his fast and ibn ‘Awf burst into tears, remembering Mus’ab who had passed away without tasting the good of this world, to the certainty of eternal pleasure in the Hereafter.

As night falls, I think of the shadows lengthening across ‘Uhud where the martyrs lie buried, when visitors drive off leaving the plain quiet, dark and peaceful. I think of the graves of the shuhadaa, resplendent with the dazzling light of the truly fortunate: those who are pleasing to Allaah and are pleased with Him.

In the neon dazzle of malls, where countless young Muslims strive daily in the trivial pursuit of pleasure, we would do well to bear the memory of Mus’ab radiyy Allaahu anhu in mind. It may keep us from getting lost in the light.

Patience is Beautiful!

Im sure have all heard the saying 'Patience is beautiful' but how many of us have actually thought about that saying? Well the other day I really thought about it and let me explain why!

About 2 weeks ago I had a bad car accident where a woman who said she was confused drove straight into the side of my car bashing my whole door in so much so that I can no longer open it from the outside. As you can imagine that really shook me up... here I am driving nicely down the road and suddenly whammmm a woman driving in the opposite direction suddenly decides she wants to turn her car around and smacks straight into the side of mine. From the corner of my eyes I suddenly see this van drive straight into me and my little pegeot.

Anyways Allah is so kind that we all came out unhurt and alhamdulillah most importantly I went to the hopital to check up with the midwife and to see if baby inside was still ok and Alhamdulillah turns out its a tough little cookie as it was fine with the Mercy and Care of Allah alhamdulillah! My little nephew in the back of the car was also ok alhamdulillah and for some reason found the whole incident quite amusing he must have thought it was like bumper cars or something!

Anyways back to why Patience is beautiful. My insurance company have given me a hired car to use while my car is being fixed up. Now anyone who knows me should know that although alhamdulillah I can drive and I love cars I dont actually like to drive them much especially new ones I am not used to.

The insurance company gave me a brand new Ford Focus which is literally brand new having done only 30 miles. Although my husband is over the moon and loves being the experienced driver that he is masha'Allah I was not so.

Firstly I was already nervous from the crash and still a bit shaken up let alone having to get used to a new car where I have to get used to a new clutch, biting point etc. Anyways the other day I braved it up and decided to drive it around a bit to get used to it. Its a much wider and bigger car than my little old banger and as its new its very smooth so it feels like the car is in control of you rather than you being in control of the car. lol. With my pegeot everything was quite stiff which may not be normal but its the only car Ive ever really driven so thats all im used to and when you drive it as its stiff you feel as if you are in control etc.

So here I am driving this new car up a hill when I stop at a traffic light and lo and behold my car stalls. I think to myself 'Oh no great now im gonna roll back and hit the car benind or if not that im gonna hold everyone one up in my lane and annoy everyone'. I look in my mirror and see that the woman behind me is not bothered as she has just stopped in the road to let passengers out of her car so she doesnt mind that im not moving and she doesnt mind that there are people behind her also. I remember thinking 'Oh phewww at least she looks pleasant hopefully she will bare with my new driving' ...... How wrong could I have been????? As soon as she had let the pple out of her car she obviously wanted to get going which is only natural.
I had my hazzard lights on to show that there was somthing wrong and that im not just stopped for fun enjoying holding everyone up. So I re-started my car again and managed to stall again. Anyways this lady who looked quite pleasant as she was waiting behind me now decided to switch lanes (fare enough even I would have) and drive on. However while doing so she slowed down to look at me scowling and cursing pulling the most im sorry to say most horrific face which actually looked quite frightening as if she was a demon from a horror movie. I thought about it after as the look on her face was so ugly that it really made me think...What had changed from the pleasant looking lady to this hideous monster driving past????.... the answer is Patience she had lost her patience and had become ugly! Im not trying to be nasty to her im just being honest and it was a great lesson for myself teaching me that patience really is beautiful in so many ways and this is one of them. So next time im about to lose my cool I shall remember the look on her face and insha'Allah think twice before turning into the monster she did!

So for those of you who are behing a driver who may be slowing you down remember that it may not be their fault as im sure they dont like to be stuck in the middle of the road any more than you do and instead make dua that Allah makes it easy for them to continue their journey insha'Allah by doing so may the beauty of patience shine from your faces ameen!

Imran Through My Eyes - By Brother Farzad.

I received a touching email which made the tears flow from my eyes today from brother Farzad who was a friend of Imrans (may Allah have Mercy on his soul ameen) for a great many years. He had written a short piece on brother Imran title ... Imran Through My Eyes and wanted to share it with you all. I hope this post helps those of you who never knew Imran try and imagine the wonderful and kind person he was and for those of you who did know him no doubt it will bring tears to your eyes and the memories come back.

IMRAN THOUGH MY EYES BY BROTHER FARZAD

I met Imran whiles at Green Hill College he was our Ameer for the Islamic society within the college. As time went by I realized that this brother has great leadership qualities within him and those who followed him were pleased with his decision in all that was good.

He organized, facilitated, supported and sacrificed his time and effort in trying to establish the Islamic Society at the college. He organized jumah prayers, Islamic seminars, weekly study circles and many other things for the sake of Allah. Often I used to see him working on the college computers designing posters, leaflets or preparing him self for a lecture whilst others were browsing the internet downloading music, nasheeds, chatting on msn……… things that either harmed them individually or benefited them individually but with Imran he always had something else in his mind something better something that would benefit others.

Frequently we used to speak about the situation of the Muslims within and outside college and he would always reply saying “Farzad we are not doing enough” I always sensed a feeling of guilt and responsibility that he carried within himself for the Muslims and the situation that they are facing.

After successfully establishing the Islamic Society his humble heart appointed brother Marwan as his successor vowing to help and support him as much as he can.

I never saw Imran greeting me or anyone else except with a smile. He was soft in his speech, gentle in his dealings with Muslims and non Muslims, his character was a Sunnah his manners were a Sunnah ……….. … Sadness fills the heart when I think about him with a sense of loss that I cannot explain but feel. I can’t say any more apart from begging you oh Allah to have mercy on his gentle soul.

The last time I met Imran was roughly two months ago in Harrow at an Islamic seminar in Byron Hall……….. I shook his hand and hugged him not knowing that it would be our last greeting, he smiled at me not knowing that it was his last smile, I asked about his family whom he always spoke very highly off specially his dearest mother (whom only Allah knows the pain in her heart). Before we departed I said to him: “I will see you soon Imran” he replied “Inshallah” not knowing what lay ahead.

The day I read the text about his death my whole body froze staring at my phone unsure if it was true. Then when the news of his death was confirmed I remember weeping as if my own brother has passed away. Crying and begging Allah to have mercy on Imran. That night I could not sleep most of the night thinking about Imran over and over and over again.

When Allah loves a servant of his he calls Jibrael a.s and says: I love So-and-so, therefore love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: So Jibrael loves him. Then he (Jibrael) calls out in heaven, saying: Allah loves So-and-so, therefore love him. And the inhabitants of heaven love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: Then acceptance is established for him on earth. Muslim, Bukhari, Malik and at-Tirmidhi.

May Allah unite and raise Imrans soul with the prophets, the pious, the truthful and the martyrs. He benefited many in this life may he benefit from their deeds in the next life. Ameen.

Dua for Our Brother Imran Saithna

Yesterday evening I spent much time thinking of our brother and how it was his first night in the grave and how he faced the questioning angels subhana'Allah. Deep in my heart I made dua for him and as today being a the first whole day of his life in the grave I make sincere dua to Allah to give him ease in his grave ameen.
A few of us who knew him sat together and remembered some of the important lessons we learnt from him and all of us recalled how he was constantly concerned about being good to others and helping others and learning from others some advice which we should all follow insha'Allah!

'May Allah have Mercy on him, Forgive him, and comfort him in his grave and grant him the company of beautiful angels who will insure his time in barzakh is filled with light which goes beyond the horizon and may his soul be met by angels who stand in total amazment and envy at the love and welcome he will receive from Allah and Jannah. May Allah provide him with such company that he will not fear anything any more, may he feel at rest and ease, may he enjoy the company of the riteous and benefit from the sweet smells of Jannah. May he receive the warm welcome of our Rabb Allah and may he truly be happy now and at bliss in the company of his beloved creator. May his meeting with Allah be a great pleasure for Allah and for Imran Ameen.'

Brother Imran Saithna!

Today is the Janaza, Funeral of someone who should be an inspiration for us all! A young, devoted Muslim who was dedicated in helping others, caring for others, feeling for others when it seemed no one else would, someone who put everyone else first and if there was room his needs at the end his name is Imran Saithna!

He was known, admired and loved my many infact almost everyone who met could not help but have a likening for him as he would always greet everyone, the young, the old, Muslims and non Muslims with a warm greeting and a gentle smile.

He is one of those people who you can truly say spent a good amount of time of his youth although he has also died in his youth late 20s in the way of Islam and pleasing Allah!

Many will remember him from days in a college in London called Harrow College where he fought almost single handedly to aquire a prayer room for the muslims students, and how he worled hard on buiding up the Islamic Society there. Others will remember him for numerous events he helped organise, others still will remember him for working on the Muslim Youth Helpline, others far away in Kashmir will remember him for flying out there after the devasatating earthquake so that he could help those in need... others will remember him for many things which I could go on and on about.... he will be missed as a brother, a friend, a carer for humanity a doer of good and mostly he will be missed as a son.

He was one of those people that would help others and even after leaving them they would stay on his mind eating his brain trying to find the best solution for their problems. He was such an empathatic person that seeing others in pain or distress would leave him distressed and concerned for weeks after until he knew they were ok. A clear demonstration of this is his visit to Kashmir when even after he returned here he would constantly think about those he had left behind.

He recently went on Hajj and only arrived back here weeks before death came upon him I pray that Allah accepted his hajj and grants him among the highest place in Jannah ameen.

Today is his Janaza infact as I type this up the his funeral prayer is due to take place in roughly half an hour and due to circumstances I was unable to attend although I wish so much I could have.

Many of you read this many not have known him but I ask you all to pray for him and his family who have suffered a great loss!

Imran himself had his own blog which I must say is far more inspirational and interesting that this one here. I recommend you all to go through it there is plenty of material on it to keep you busy for time to come.

Infact in his first ever post he wrote he mentions how that maybe one day after he has gone his blog may prove to be an inspiration for others SUBHANALLAH. I have no doubt that it will do exactly that... I have pasted his first post below...

Monday, July 14, 2003

I begin in the Name of Allah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
I guess i am starting this blog on the recommendation of a good friend, with the intention of keeping a journal of the things that touch me and affect my life. Who knows that maybe once i am gone, it will be a source of inspiration for those i leave behind, insha'Allah

GEM aka Ibn Abdul Qayum

http://www.my-life-in-my-words.blogspot.com/

Im sure there are many people who could on about how this young brother affected their lives. He also loved to write poetry an example of which ill end off with and many of which you can find on his blog.

Please remember our dear brother in all of your duas ameen.

Ruba’iyat XIX

I’ll take the blows upon my chin
I’ll rise, I’ll fight and I will win
I will be happy someday soon
I will leave behind this life of sin.

Smiling as I whistle and loosely croon
Living the beat of my new found tune
Tasting the elixir of the other side
A life with only patience hewn.

Remembering all the times I cried
Ashamed of all the lies I lied
I see a new dawn rising now
The beautiful sun my final bride.
Before my fate I humbly bow
The new fields afore I dutifully plough
Sowing my seeds to reap tomorrow
Word by word I renew my vow.

(by Imran Saithna (Allah have Mercy on him))

Baby!

My wonderful wonderful friend Waranga wrote this poem from her heart for me and Im ever so touched! I shall always treasure it insha'Allah and when baby is old enough shall share it with him/her and let them know it came from their aunty Waranga!

Jazaka'Allahu Khayr Waranga for your lovely poem which really touched my heart masha'Allah


BABY

From the expression of love comes a gift beyond the scales,
bewildered by the small taste of mercy,
which leaves it's softness almost forever,
Unaware, for so many day's, you were'nt here,
encased diamond, wrapped in my comfort,
The energy, so unique in it's effect,
takes months to settle, otherwise no rest would be mine,
Entering a foreign land which I've been crowned in,
Surprise me again!
I'm learning your language though it contains no words which describe
it's meaning,
so I'll wait for you to explain in your special way.

Why Why Why..hmmm Or Is It Just ME?

I know I have been away for ages the funny thing is almost every day if not every other day I come on to this blog as if expecting there to be a new post on it lol then I realise 'Ah yes im the one who should be posting'!

Ive been busy doing all sorts of different things and to be honest have been a bit lazy when it has come to blogging mostly as there is nothing Ive felt passionate enough to write about!

One more thing, bit of good news I have yet to share is that Im am actualy expecting now Alhamdululillah! Yup thats right All Praise is due to the Almighty who has allowed me and blessed me with carrying a little bundle of joy and I am now 21 weeks pregnan and 1 day masha'Allah! I ask you all to keep us in your prayers and thoughts and ask you all to pray that this baby will be healthy ameen!

Subhana'Allah funny what babies can do to you how they change your mood so quickly! I had started writing this blog a few moments ago feeling quite upset, frustrated and irritated enough to come and share my thoughts with my few but lovely readers and I side tracked to the baby news and now alhamdulillah I dont feel so bad it makes me wonder if I should go on about my origional post over after all!?! Although I think I should as I know ill just be back later to do it for now I think ill end of here since Ive already managed to calm myself down and feel so much better!

So the title of this blog Why Why Why..hmmm Or Is It Just ME? will have to wait to be published shortly!