FINALLY….
a ramble…..
rambling here and there …
forwards….
and backwards….
ultimately to the
One.
Lightning bolts illuminate this already Luminous City. Silhouetting the Abode of the Luminous Pearl SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Billowing dust swirls to form a delicately woven silk Hijab veiling all the eyes can see. Signs of rain, Insha’Allah. Autumnal rains. Strange for one accustomed to crunchy red-brown hues of leaves piling high to kick about; watching them flutter to the greedy ground awaiting for them to compost, completing another cyclic dance. Strange for one associating autumn with air so fresh the lungs expand with exquisite exhilaration. No falling leaves and lungs full of this Mubarak dust. SubhanAllah, the Creator’s artistic palette texturing His Domain as He Wills, while we, His servants, glory in the richness of His Glory.
The sky has been so deep….a luxurious velvet, ever transforming in such arrays of colour that only He could divine. Pigeons as silver ornaments effortlessly glide in these layers…..circling the Dome over and over and over, then momentarily perching on the parapets, soon to resume their perpetual playful salutations, mimicking the Angels by dipping their wings in adoration. Mind, heart and soul melt into this mesmerizing delight. This is love. Delirious, abandoned love.
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,
to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.
First to let go of life.
In the end, to take a step without feet;
to regard this world as invisible,
and to disregard what appears to be the self.
Heart, I said, what a gift it has been
to enter this circle of lovers,
to see beyond seeing itself,
to reach and feel within the breast.
Rumi, Rahmatullah alaihi.
Children adorned in sparkly creations, as glittery stars reflecting on mirrored glass. Games invented with grannies wheelchair; how many little ones can be squashed onto it and whizzed around to the accompaniment of merriment and joy. Folding chairs transformed into speeding vehicles, dodging wobbly kids on shoes with wheels. Crawling babes slither on shimmering marble. The aroma of Arabic coffee flavoured with spicy cardamom wafts on the breeze.
Images from the Masjid Nabawi with the new arrangement of being open 24/7. Such a blessing. The eastern ladies section is open for sisters, but as yet there has been no indication for any extra time in Rowdha Shareef. Insha’Allah may we all make Du’a for this to become a reality. As I walk past the Green Dome I do envy the brothers the intimacy they are blessed with. I have quietly sat with groups of sisters in the courtyard between Jannatul Baqi and our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, only to be approached by the Commission brothers who do all they can to move us on. Unfortunately their tactics win in the end. Many of us refused to react to their demands the other evening which infuriated this one brother, who eventually called on his walkie talkie for reinforcements to handle this recalcitrant group. Within seconds the matchbox car as I call it, stopped beside us and two more of the ‘vice squad’ got out along with two policemen!!!!!!! I tried in a very composed manner asking what harm we were doing as they were shouting for us to go to the ladies section. All they can say is that mixing in Islam is forbidden!!! Women are forbidden to loiter near our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam….get thee hence. Ggrrrr.
On another occasion during Ramdhan a similar scene was played out with the brother becoming so agitated by the presence of a few of us that he kicked the drink bottles of the sisters in front of me, and when none of us budged he grabbed the rug they were sitting on and tried to drag it from under them!!! When this did not achieve removing us he flung the corner of it over one sister. Another Grrrrrrrr.
Ya Haqq, shower dignity upon this most sacred of places, the very same dignity You blessed Ya Taibah with when You brought Your Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam here. Ya Haqq, make us of those who are satisfied with You alone, trusting that Haqq will eventually win, instilling our love for You so deeply that all that remains is that love, creating a barrier between injustice and this purity. Shaykh al-Shadhili Rahmatullah alaihi in his al-Hizb al-Kabir , the Great Litany says: “Make us worshipful servants to You in each and every circumstance.” Another scholar has said: “Do not focus on the conditions, but on the Creator of the conditions.”
Shaykh al-Mursi Rahmatullah alaihi clarifies this further by saying: “Those who remain unruffled and content in any circumstance are of two different kinds. One is the person who is in the circumstance for its sake. The other is the person who is in the circumstance for the sake of the One who transforms any circumstance at any moment (al-muhawwil). The first kind of person, who is content with circumstance for its own sake in what it gives him or her, is a servant who worships the circumstance. The second type of person, who is content with circumstance for the sake of the One who transformed the circumstance to be such as it is, is a servant who worships the One who transforms.”
Every circumstance wanes and vanishes; it is ephemeral and will pass away. One poet has said:
"Coming from nothing
Going to nothing
It’s called circumstance
Because it circles.
Everything that appears
By necessity disappears.
Look at the shadow as you stand
To what end does it come?
No matter how long it is,
It inevitably grows less and less."
May change soon be evident in circumstances here, and Sabr be showered upon us all, Ameen.
‘O Allah send complete peace and blessings upon our master Muhammad by whom our difficulties are resolved, worries are relieved, needs are fulfilled, by whom we obtain our hopes, receive a good ending to life, and by whose noble face the clouds give rain. Send peace and blessings upon his family and companions in every moment, in every breath by the number of every single thing which is in Your knowledge.’
Salat al-Tafrijiya from The Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam by Shaykh Muhammad Sadiq Alawi.
Update: Article saying the new hours have led to abuse of Masjid Nabawi. People rest and sleep while in Makkah, so I do not see why this should be an issue here.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
jazakallah for sharing this breeze from Madinah munawwarah…whatever the circumstances.
Wassalam.
Comment by umm yusuf — October 21, 2007 @ 2:46 am
BarakAllahu feeki, beautiful as usual. please pray that Allah a’za wa jal facilitates our needs for us, where can i buy the salawat book from?
Comment by faqir — October 21, 2007 @ 5:13 am
May all your salats be as blessed as those offered in the rowdah, sister. Insha’allah, one day the Saudi religious police will be staffed with gentler souls.
Comment by Baba — October 21, 2007 @ 5:31 am
Salaam Alaikum, Dearest Sister:
Your sweet rambling from the blessed city are like priceless pearls to us far away, and your perspective of circumstances that wane and vanish are jewels of truth. May Allah bless your heart with ever increasing love and wisdom, which are really the same thing.
Ya Haqq!
Comment by Irving — October 21, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
As salaamu alaikum dearest,
Grrr indeed….they seem to be so harsh and apply no discretion. I pray the hours for the ladies are extended to be near the Rowdah, ameen.
Wa’salaam
farhanah
Comment by Farhanah — October 21, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
Assalamu alaikum JazakumuLlahu khairan all…be back soon….Madinah has had problems with internet connections all day…and now it is hobbling along at such a slow speed….Insha’Allah it will improve later and I will respond in a more polite manner. I appreciate your visits!
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — October 22, 2007 @ 1:51 am
Assalamu alaikum,
true, Umm Yusuf….whatever the circumstances….so easy for the tongue to pronounce….may the deeper significance reside deeper in the heart, Insha’Allah.
Dear Faqir, I will pass your email address onto to one of the distributors for the KEY book.
Ameen Ameen Ameen Baba re the staff, may Allah Ta’ala make this a reality soon.
You are the one scattering pearls across the globe dear Irving Darvish…may the emtire Ummah be blessed with ever increasing love and wisdom, heralding changes from within to shine without for the world to see the TRUTH, Ameen.
:))) Ukhti Farhanah! Please do continue to pray for sisters to have more quality time near our Beloved SallAllahu laihi wasallam, and you being amongst them!!! Ameen
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — October 23, 2007 @ 4:44 am