Subhanallah, temperatures have been nudging 50 during this past week.
The heat radiates from the walls and floors, the head seems as though it is on the boil, throat gags on dust, a whirring cacophony of air conditioners vibrates the entire City. We run from our air conditioned cars to our air conditioned homes, to our flashy drink coolers, and freezers full of an array of icy cold drinks. Plans are announced that the entire courtyard of Haram is to be covered with the gracious umbrellas already inside Masjid Nabawi Al-Shareef, for the comfort of worshippers.
Is this is the same city where there was no electricity not so long ago?
The same place where our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam, and his esteemed Companions Radhiallahu anhum, walked mile upon mile delivering the message of Islam, collected water from distant wells, milled flour, chopped wood, cooked with fire, harvested crops, tended flocks, fought battles. Traversing rugged terrain, many without shoes. Without food or water for days; in this searing heat.
Now, the same place, same functioning humans; seeking air, water and shade in this furnace.
In scorching wind and scalding water, and shadow of black smoke. Neither cool, nor refreshing.
This could very well be a current account of any Madani heading for the Masjid, performing Wudhu with the hot water, seeking a brief respite in a weak shadow posing as shade.
But this is Allah Ta’ala revealing just three of the numerous severe conditions to expect in Jahannam, Audhu bilAllah, Suarh Al-Waqi’ah verses 42-44.
La ilaha illallah. How hot is this day. O Allah, protect me from the heat of Jahannam.
Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu anhu, narrated: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "In very hot weather delay the Zuhr prayer till it becomes (a bit) cooler because the severity of heat is from the raging of hell-fire. The hell-fire of hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold." (Sahih Bukhari)
If we take heed of these poignant reminders one’s focus can be guided away from the physical discomforts of the conditions, and Insha’Allah turn to the Creator of the conditions.
Endeavouring to change the attention of the mind from the immediacy of "swimming in sweat and tanning in flouro," as some one described summer here, to how did our Illustrious Sahabah Radhiallahu anhum survive these same conditions. Without complaint. They knew that complaining is akin to voicing criticism of the Wisdom of the Planner of Everything.
The Sahabah Radhiallahu anhum, knew the reality of Jahannam, and Jannah. Their hearts were imbued with the Truth directly from their teachings with Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The reaction of being told details of how conditions are, for example Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam narrating that fire as we know it is merely one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell, immediately impacted on their heart, sinking to depths where understanding was instantly acted upon. We have access to this rich treasury of knowledge. May we too, allow our heart to be more receptive to the whole array of conditions Allah Ta’ala wisely presents us with. Ameen.
The Sahabah Radhiallahu anhum had Dunya in their hands and Deen in their hearts.
May we too beg from Allah Ta’ala to work towards the same resolve, and take the symbolic "heat and dust" of the Dunya from our heart, placing it in our hands, and taking the Deen from our hands, supplanting it firmly in our heart. Ameen.
May Allah Ta’ala bless all readers.
Dust Angels
Powdered The Humble.
Every vista
Shrouded in a gossamer gauze.
Mirror glaze concealed.
Shuffle tracks converge
On the sacred Abode of Peace.
Haram Raptors in
Ant like regiments
Meticulously,
Reveal ephemeral ribbon strips of shine
Uhud,
Today parading in a
Allah haze-grey creation.
Loves us
We love Uhud.
Prayer beads click.
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem
May Allah and His Beloved dearly accept,
This lucid light that you sincerely reflect,
From that Luminous City which you behold,
Whose heat and dust open vistas foretold.
In that Blessed Land where once walked Knights of Truth,
To whom I gladly offer my borrowed youth,
As I pass through this enclosure, lost in time,
To pause at every juncture and assess my crime.
Less am I, than the sweat that you secrete,
Less than the sacred dust beneath your feet.
My tears of hope are nearly dry,
As I wait for Him to cure my cry.
I see you sat beneath the Madinan date-palms,
Praising Him as you sing sweet psalms,
Of a life in honour to His sacred mould,
That ties us to Him with a rope of gold.
Please say a prayer…one worth countless more,
Than you or I would ever know,
In that esteemed company’s wondrous glow,
That I may once more reach that distant shore.
Ameen.
[SalAllahu Alaihi Wasallam]
Comment by I. Shan — June 16, 2006 @ 8:22 am
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Wamaghfiratuh,
Jazakallahu khairan for starting up this excellent and exciting blog ,we are very pleased that you have set this up.now every morning we excitedly come and listen to each fresh post.The pictures you post up in them are just simply enticing.Making my desire to see Madinah even more stronger,Alhamdulillah. We have printed some of the pictures out and have used them for letter heads because they are just beautiful.
Wasslamu alaikum Warahmatullah.
From Maryam Of DarulKhair Home school.
Twelve Years Old.
Comment by Darul Khair Home School — June 21, 2006 @ 8:22 pm
Assalamu alaikum
Dear Maryam,
Alhumdulillah that you are enjoying these humble whisperings. May we all keep making efforts to continually increase our love of Allah Ta’ala and Hia Habib SallAllahu alaikum wasallam, as share all with others,
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by Administrator — June 21, 2006 @ 8:34 pm