FOOTPRINTS….
Do not tread arrogantly about the earth: you cannot break it open, nor match the mountains in height. (17:37)
The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth… (25:63)
It is He who has made the earth manageable for you, travel its regions…. (67:15)
Imagine how the pattern of our footprints would appear across, above and below the globe if we could see them as indelible tracks documenting every step we have taken. With all the places we have prostrated, recited Qur’an, been immersed in Dhikru Allahor or Amal Saliheen shining a little brighter….all being a witness on That Day. Every single footprint bearing witness!
Imagine the design tracing the journeys of Adam, Ibrahim (whose footprints below are the ones in Maqam Ibrahim Alaihis Salam beside the Ka’abah. These are from when he and Ismail Alaihuma Salam were builbing the Ka’abah)
Nuh, Sulaiman, Yusuf, and all previous Prophets Alaihumus Salam.
And even more heart-stirring, imagine the footprints of our Beloved Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his faithful companions RadhiAllahu anhum. Such blessed brilliance would be a glaring blaze, a blinding incandescence emanating from every step our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took would be a light eclipsing the entire creation, SubhanAllah!! It is recorded in the Shamaa-il Tirmidhi that our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s walk ‘seemed as if he was descending from a high place’, as was every aspect of his eminent being. Footprints of light, from the one without a shadow SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, descending from the Source of Light. SubhanAllah!!
If your blessed foot had not honoured the earth
Ablution with soil would not purify anyone.
The Mubarak footprint of The Rider of the Lightning Mount SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, when he was in Al-Quds Al-Shareef during Al-Mi’raj
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I was recently sent the following from one of the dear readers of all you dear readers:
“One night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking in the Blessed City of Madinah with my Beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam. Across the beautiful sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of my life when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat. My heart was grieved by this immensely. I turned to my Beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam and, with tears in my eyes, humbly asked, “Ya Rasoolullah, SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam you promised me that if I followed you, you would walk with me always, and never leave my side. But I have noticed that during the most trying times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me.” My Beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam held me close and whispered with his sweet, fragrant breath, “My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
This opened the flood gates to many of my Jahiliyyah memories; that deleted time of my ignorance of Divine Guidance. The slate having subsequently being wiped clean once my heart was pierced with Hidayah…but certainly the memories remain even if the footprints from that era are no longer etched in my account.
Two aspects float about inside my head. One was how I grew up with the ‘Christian’ version of ‘Footprints’ all around me. Grandmothers had faded prints in flowery frames on faded flowery wallpapered walls, neighbours had it written on scrolls, friends gifted it as bookmarks, church fairs sold it burnt on wooden platters, bouquets delivered to hospitals had it written on attached cards and inspirational books included it along with the famous 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd. But it was Isa Alaihis Salam (Jesus) whose footprints were in the sand.
And the second aspect that unfetters the mind allowing it wander, as did the feet way back then, is the reliving of some of the rambling I have been blessed to do throughout my life. The most thrilling and extraordinary rambles were a lead up to my heart being pierced with the greatest gift of all….Hidayah.
While mostly as a solitary figure, imprinting my years of footprints on many alien, isolated and potentially hostile places on the planet, it was as if I was ‘accompanied’ and protected as I searched for the Truth. Millions of my footprints were here:
Mt Kailash, in the far west of Tibet, where I did multiple circumambulations of this sacred destination for both Hindus and Buddhists…..and here:
Mt Rinjani on the island of Lombok, Indonesia. (I long ago ‘released’ all the photos I took of my journeys…these are from google image searches, where you can find so many stunning examples, as well as fascinating details about these two places.)
And millions more of my footprints were added to the north, south, east and west as I searched.
In retrospect I was being partly dipped in the lessons referred to in the Ayat above, as well as so many other teachings. Whilst at the mercy of these giant pegs holding the earth in its place, one can be nothing but humbled as all traces of arrogance vanish with the elements, the solitude, the rawness of survival, the total reliance on The One Who gives and takes breath being the only companion with every footprint. It was no surprise to be embraced by Him, Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, to willingly, lovingly and totally submit to Him after such footprints were ardently seeking Him. Alhumdulillah, all praise is for Allah the Almighty.
O Allah! All praise is for You. You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and everything that they contain. All praise is for You, You are the King of the heavens and the earth and all the creatures who dwell in them. All praise is for You, You are the Radiance of the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in them. All praise is for You, You are the sole reality. Your promise is irrevocable. And there is no doubt that we will meet You.
O Allah! Keep my both feet steady on Your path, and let them not stray away from Your obedience and all that You command and all that earns Your pleasure.
O Allah! Guide my feet in this world and in the Hereafter and keep them steady on the Sirat on the day when feet will slip and stumble.
O Allah! Send peace and blessings on Your Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam equal to the number of footprints that have trod Your earth from Your entire creation, from the beginning of time till the end of time, multiplied by Your unlimited and unknown calculations.
O Allah! Bless him and his family and companions with blessings that cannot be counted in numbers, cannot be "proximated" in space of time, cannot be consumed in terms of having nothing remaining. Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.
And the magnificent, Mubarak and honoured Jabal Nur. I request your Du’a that before my ‘rambling’ time is over that it becomes a reality to leave my humble footprints here. Ameen. Insha’Allah some time this winter. Who is ready to leave their mark and maybe helped to be carried if it is difficult??
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.
