Quest for Iman and Ihsan...

Spiritual High

wannabemuhsina — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 07:48:25 +0000

I remember days that passed when, reading the Quraan over and over again was my biggest hobby, I didn’t care for books or television, just the Quraan. I’d lose my self in it’s rhythm, revisit tales of life in far off lands times gone by. I’d lose myself in the company of Prophets (PBUH) and righteous men and women of past.

I’d dream of Paradise, of wearing green silk, witting back and chilling with friends and family and living in a palace that I couldn’t really visiualise but knew was to be imaginably the most grandiose thing, ever. In those days, the Quran was like my best friend, on a bad I’d flick through pages at random and every-time, I had the feeling that Allah has guided me to that page, chapter and verses. they spoke to me about my woes, soothed my mind and inspired me to carry on. It made me feel special, as if this great book was revealed and written for my purpose. This was my guide. In those days, I was the happiest person on earth. I wasn’t rich and didn’t have much comforts but I had the best friend in a the book of Allah.

And, then I became neglectful, slowly I drifted away from My friend. My life was no longer under my control but was run by the dictates of work and uni. I began to pray less and think of Allah less and as one thing lead to another, Islam was no longer the central feature of my existence. I was moved by material motivations, I wanted the best and blingiest of things and was surrounded by people who fed this worldly hunger. a hunger which was never fulfilled, each time I made purchase, I was reminded of all the things that I didn’t have, thing that I must want, though the need was clearly obvious.

This neither made me happy or made sense. Who cared? I didn’t. I never judge people on the basis of what they wore or had, why did I assume that others did the same of me? What’s the point in hoarding all of these things, that wear and I couldn’t take with me anyway? Things that didn’t even give me lasting happens. What made me happy, apart from my family? What was it?

My mind searches through the files of my past and then, I’m reminded of my old friend, the friend that has never given up on me nor let me down. The friend that was always ready to calm me down and eased my ailing heart. That told me the most beautiful stories of some of the greatest people that have ever lived. A friend that connected me to the One that created me. I picked up a copy of my Quran, dusted it off and began to read.

I’m still reaching out.

The most noble….

wannabemuhsina — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:53:13 +0000

“Verily the most noble among you is the one with the most Taqwaa.”

Soorah al-Hujuraat, (49):13.

Hmmmm!

Strangers!

wannabemuhsina — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:06:46 +0000

Salaams,

In my last post, I posted the hadith of Jibril / Gabriel where he visited and quizzed the Prophet (saw) about the basic teachings of Islam, and the categories of Iman and Ihsan. We’ve learnt that Ihsaan is the highest level of believe. A person who has Ihsaan (Perfection of faith) is called a Muhsin. The original Muhsineen were The Prophet (saw) and his Companions (ra). The strangers! The term strangers comes from the hadith of the Messenger (saw) where he says, Islaam began as a stranger, and it will return to it’s original state of strangeness. And then, he (saw) went on to say, so give glad tidings to the strangers, give them glad tidings of Jannah, paradise. This hadith and the concept of strangeness is presented here, in a talk by Shaikh Khaled Yassin.

Enjoy!

What are your thoughts on the video? What difficulties do you face in fully implementing Islams teachings in your life? How did / will you overcome these?

Islam, Imaan, Ihsaan

wannabemuhsina — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:48:36 +0000

On the authority of ‘Umar, radiyallahu ‘anhu, who said:

“While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him.

He sat down close by the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, rested his knee against his thighs, and said, O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam.” Said the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it).” Said he (the man), “You have spoken truly.”

We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, “Inform me about iman (faith).” He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, “It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” He said, “You have spoken truly.”

Then he (the man) said, “Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, ” It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.” He said, “Inform me about the Hour.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner.” So he said, “Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming).” Said he, “They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings.” Thereupon the man went off.

I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, “O ‘Umar, do you know who that questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He said, “That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion.”"

The above hadith explains the tenets of the Islamic faith, Islam, Iman and Ihsaan. Each level of believe and devotion being higher than the one that precedes it. The Mu’min [one who posses Imaan] is more righteous than the Muslim [one who submits to the will of Allah] but is on a lower spiritual level than the Muhsin [One who has Ihsan - Perfection].

Islam is submission, Imaan is believe and action upon it and Ihsaan is the incresed righteousness that causes one to worship and regard Allah as though he can be seen and if we can’t see him that He can see us. If we’re in a constant state of awareness of Allah, would we be as sinful?

First Post!

wannabemuhsina — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:25:46 +0000

Assalamu Alaikum Warahamatullahi Wa Barakatuhu!You can read the ’about’ page for this blogs background, I will be posting be posting weekly hadiths and notes from that I attend / listen to lecture based on the Islamic Aqeedah. Or anything else that inspires me, Insha Allah.

I feel keeping a journal of my spiritual journey and struggle will help keep me more focused and stay on track. Insha Allah. I am not a wannabe scholar or teacher, these posts are more for my benefit than anything else, I’d appreciate the feedback and commentary. Anything good from these posts are from Allah the All Wise and errors are due to my short comings. May Allah guide us all and keep us on the righteous path. The path of those He has blessed. Ameen.