SewQ (who also happens to blog at Islamic Homeschool Diary) initiated a ‘home appreciation day’ for today, with the idea of sharing what we love in our home. It doesn’t have to be picture perfect - just images of things you love in your home.
My contributions are far from picture perfect, but then this home is far from what the average definition of what the word ‘home’ is. When one feels that ‘home’ is the realm of the Hereafter, then why so much attention on appearances and fancy frills in this temporary prison cell of Dunya? Besides, I am within walking distance of our Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who lived in a mud huts with dried palm leaves as a ceiling so low he could touch it. Doors were rough woven sheets and animal hides, windows high small openings in the walls, which once when Sayyidatuna Aishah RadhiAllahu anha placed a curtain over one was told to remove it as our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was distracted by the pattern. He, SallAllahu alahi wasallam slept on palm mats, drank from water skins and ate from clay utensils. They did not have running water, kitchens or bathrooms, or whirring air conditioners for cooling. This is a palace compared to the noble housing then. A palace that once this speck may be dipped in Jannah, Insha’Allah Ameen Ameen Ameen, for a mere nano second its rustic features will be erased from memory. And if A’oudhabiLlah, this speck may be dipped in Jahannam then whatever luxury there may have been will also be permanently deleted. SubhanAllah.
The front door, offering privacy and security. I imagine this building was quite a mansion in its day, with the design greatly admired. All the doors in this much loved home have the markings of ‘attacks’. Times when the locks j-a-m s-h-u-t….
….as was the drama with this one. We had been here for only a few months and this speck was alone in the house for a few days. I used to use this room for drying the washing as there is no access to an outdoor area. At the time all washing was done by hand, and being a strenuous task the manner of dress was to say the least, skimpy. I had just taken a tub full of dripping things to hang when somehow this door SHUT! I was LOCKED in this small room knowing that ‘help’ was far away. I contemplated my options…jump from the first floor, and then what…skimpy attire and all….sit it out….it was the height of summer, already perspiring profusely..I could suck the moisture from the clothes…but how would I do Wudhu…my Salat…a wire coat hanger was all I had…so I began ‘operating’. Fortunately like most of the doors here, the wood was soft and pliable. Hours later with chips littering the floor I was out! Alhumdulillah. The next urgent task was to render all remaining locks on all other doors useless! Duct tape is a great asset, not only for this job of unique decorative details but for patching where termites have been banqueting! I was surprised when the door had to be refitted sometime later that the carpenter so skillfully added a new panel, relinquishing all the visible signs of my gouging with the coat hanger to the rubbish…it was very artistic!
I seemed to have inherited a paternal habit for recycling…this was a friends discarded dress, temporarily serving the purpose of a bathroom window curtain…until the fierce sunlight shreds it like previous ones. Most ‘curtains’ in this home are ‘have been something’.
So….I was about to say…Alhumdulillah for the little light that filters through this frosted glass. I love the patterns, I love thinking about the skills and techniques Allah Ta’ala has blessed mankind with in making all these things…I think about the one who painted this in such haste…not caring about the dribbles running all over the place…he was in Madinah! Does anything else matter? Maybe he was so engrossed in his Salawaat that such finer details were irrelevant…maybe he was so happy to simply be employed. This job may have meant meals for his family. Alhumdulillah for the faded wooden shutters blocking out some of the heat…..
Alhumdulillah ala kulli hal…. enough for now…I am off to visit my Beloved Neighbour SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and if for nothing else this is why I love and appreciate this humble home.
O Allah! Bless Muhammad, the family of Muhammad, his Companions, his children, his household, his progeny, his bleoved, his followers, his supproters, and all of us with them, O Merciful of the merciful. Ameen.
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.
Ah Jazakillah for playing along, sis. I can get a better idea of you now and imagine you in your home masha’allah. You are sooooooo lucky to be so near the masjid of Nabi Kareem (saw). Make your spare room ready - I want to move in!
Yes this is a prison in so many ways, but everything Allah has allowed me to have I cherish as it was loaned to me by The Most Beautiful and reminds me of Him.
All good is from Allah, the mistakes are ours alone.
xxx
Comment by QALBALLAH — June 9, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Peace be upon you all.
That was a great post. Maashaallaah sister you made me reflect on all that Allaah azza wa jal has granted us and I am graeful to you for this reminder. The world is a prison for a believer.
As for my two cents, you should edit the following: “the Prison Warden Subhanahu wa Ta’ala”. Perhaps, replace with one of the names of Allaah azza wa jal.
shukran jazeelan again for the wonderful post.
abdul lateef
Comment by abdul lateef — June 9, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
slmz sister
may Allah grant us all simplicity in our lives, after all we arent gonna take any of our material wealth with us anyway. may Allah remove any attachment we have to this dunya from our hearts.ameen. how i wish to be a neighbour of nabi e kareem saws as wwell one day insha’Allah, may Allah accept..
subhanAllah! wonderful post as usual
please remember us in ur special duas and pass slmz for me and my family as well. shukran for letting us into ur home; and the inspiration..
jazakallah khair
was salaam
Comment by sister in islam, south africa — June 9, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
It is a pleasure to read a post so elegantly written.
Simplicity is a centerpiece in Islam. It connects with humbleness in Salat, and enslaving oneself to Allah Ta’ala.
Comment by nq — June 9, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
dear sister,assalamoalaikum,this is not thefirst time that my reckless persuits of things mundane are checked by your thought provoking posts. But dear sister it is the timing which amazes me,leaves me stunned and on verge of tears.i thank u for both. jazakiallah
wassalam
Comment by saimah — June 10, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Assalamu Alaykum sis,
excellent post indeed.
I absolutely love this blog. Allah keep alive your live and increase it for this holy place!
please convery my salaams to the prophet peace be upon him with my name.
I would be very grateful sister.
wassalam
Comment by Safiyya — June 10, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
lovely ,mashallah !
Comment by umm yusuf — June 11, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Assalamu alaikum, Apologies to all for this delayed reply…Alhumdulillah Ala kulli Hal!!
Dear Qalballah, JazakiLlahu khairan for this very apt ‘injection’ of truth; Yes this is a prison in so many ways, but everything Allah has allowed me to have I cherish as it was loaned to me by The Most Beautiful and reminds me of Him.
And to Abdul Lateef…:)…your suggestion implemented
Ameen thumma Ameen Dear Sister in Islam, keep renewing your intention to be a neighbour!
:) nq…oh that our sacrifices mean humility in our Salat and being enslaved to Allah Ta’ala, Ameen!
You have been on my mind for many days Dear Sister Saimah, so comforting to see you again, may we all shed tears that yearn for nearness.
Ahlan wasahlan Dear Sister Safiyya…have added your name to the list, and JazakiLlahu khairan for your motivating words, have bookmarked you blog!
A big LOVERRRRLY to all that surrounds you and yours these days too Dear Umm Yusuf.
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — June 11, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Asalaam Alaikum Dear Sister AlMiskeenah! Beautifull post as usuall, this one really touched me subhanAllah. We are so attached to this material world as if we won’t see next morning sun, and we are so lazy in Ibadat as if we are going to live forever. SubhanAllah May Rabbul Alameen give us tawfeeq to have imagination like yours and abundance taqwa.(Ameeen) Please keep us in your humble dua’s and send our Salaam to our beloved and YOUR Neighbour (tears rolling down as I write this)Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and make dua’s that we too become close neighbour of YOUR Neighbour. Inshallah! Ameen Ameen thumma Ameen
wasalaam
Comment by Umm-e-Shiraaz — June 11, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
SubhanAllah -
This was amazing.
Chipkalee
hehehe
Thanks alot Aunty.
I wasn’t aware of the rod Sunnah.
x x xx x x xx x x
Comment by Super Star Sunflowers — June 11, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Assalamu alaikum Super Star Sunflowers!! Some have been planted in MADINAH!!!!!!!!! I will keep you informed!
We have resdent CHIPKALEES….Alhumdulillah in the air well…they make their presence known around Maghrib…funny how so many critters come out at night only…anyway this is the story I was mentioning…once with a group of French sisters…all youngish in the south of India when a chipkalee decided to come and give salam! They freaked out, having never seen one before…there was a cute three year old in the home we were in who was intrigued by their screaming and running for cover…I asked him if he was scared of chipkalees…whereupon he said. I only fear Allah Ta’ala!!!! This was SUCH a moving lesson for these sisters who changed their reactions immediately, thereafter placing more Tawakkul on Allah Ta’ala.
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — June 11, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
Wa ‘alaikumus Salam Dear Umm-e-Shiraaz…Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is a neighbour to us all if only we invite him into our hearts with more zeal, Insha’Allah!
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — June 11, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
you have such beutiful pictures of the haramain but why are we not able to download them?
Comment by amina — October 14, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Assalamu alaikum Dear Amina, you can download the pictures…right click, then ’save image as’…I have just tried it and it works. Insha’Allah you manage.
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — October 14, 2008 @ 11:24 pm