The Flower and the Pearl

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

A flower and a pearl were engaged in conversation when sadness appeared on the flower.

The pearl asked: “Nothing accounts for sorrow in your talk; so why the sadness?"

The flower sighed: "Humans deal with us carelessly. They don't grow us for our sake; rather they want to draw pleasure from our fragrance and beautiful appearance. They use us for this purpose and thereafter discard us. They throw us on the street or in the garbage after we are dispossessed of our most valuable properties - our beauty and fragrance."

The flower, turning to the pearl, then requested: "Speak to me about your life! How do you live? How do you feel, buried deep in the sea?”

The pearl responded: "Whilst I do not have any of your distinctive colours and beautiful, sweet scents, human beings consider me to be very precious. They go to great lengths to procure me. They undertake long journeys, dive deep in the oceans, in their search for me.

You may be surprised to know that the deeper I am hidden away, the more beautiful and brilliant I become. This is what increases my value in their estimation. …I live in a thick shell isolated in the deep, dark seas – but I am happy and comfortable to remain in this safe environment, far from greedy, wanton and mischievous hands. …Despite the thick shell that conceals me, humans still consider me highly valuable."

Dear Reader, do you know what the flower and the pearl symbolize?

…The flower is that woman who reveals her beauty and her charms – who men use, abuse and discard. The pearl is the Muslimah who veils her beauty and keeps concealed and hidden, from wanton, evil gazes.

May Allah Ta’ala grant all Muslim women, deep appreciation for the Hijaab and Niqaab.

Lighter on the heart

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Reality

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

"The world appeared to be so glamorous.

Its reality dawned upon me only when I went to the grave;

That what I had seen all along was but a dream,

What I had heard all along was but a tale."

______________ 

“Death came and rendered the conscious, unconscious.

Death simply silenced the hue and cry of life."

Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)

Silence

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

The comfort of the heart

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Another story of friendship

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

From "For Friends" - Discourses of Maseehul Ummat, Hadhrat Moulana 

Muhammad Maseehullah Khan Saheb (RA), Part 10

'A friend is a rare species. Where is there a real friend today? 

Hadhratwala (R.A.) mentioned a story in this connection:

A buzurg arrived at the house of his buzurg-friend. He knocked on the door. His friend answered the knock and, after Salaams were exchanged, asked, 'What can I do for you?

The buzurg replied, 'I am in need of five hundred rupees.'

The friend went inside the house, took out five hundred rupees, and came to give it to the buzurg, who took the money and left. There was no cross questioning.

This buzurg friend then came back into the house, went to sit on the charpai (bed), and started weeping.

All of you know that a wife's relationship is very informal. ...So, when this buzurg husband started weeping the wife commented, 'Subhanallah! Just now, in a fit of passion, you readily took out five hundred rupees and gave it away. Now it seems you are grieving as to why you gave away the money! If that is the case, why did you give away the money in the first place?'

The buzurg replied composedly, 'Begum! This is not the case.'

'Then why are you weeping?', she asked.

He replied, 'I am weeping for the following reason: Tomorrow, on the day of Qiyamah, if Allah Ta'ala were to ask, 'Why was it necessary for your friend to come to your house for assistance? Why did you not make yourself aware of his need before-hand?' What answer will I give? That is what makes me weep!'

Ponder a while! This is the friendship of the Ahlullah! These personages are of use in this world, and they will be of use in the hereafter as well.

But you do not just do the same. On my say, don't go and just take out five hundred rupees and give it away. As I have said before: 

Most friends of today are not this type of friend, who could be termed a friend...."

nafs

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Friendship

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

From "For Friends" - Discourses of Maseehul Ummat, Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad 

Maseehullah Khan Saheb (RA), Part 10

"There are children sitting in front of me. They are busy making friends. 

Take note of what type of friendship you should have and with whom.

THE STORY

One youngster started coming home very late. Several days passed in this manner. One day the father asked, 'Son, you come home late every day. Where do you go?'

The son replied, 'Abbajan, I have a friend. I visit him every day. We sit and talk. 

That is why it gets so late.'

The father said, 'Really? Does one still find friends in this age? I was under the impression that friends existed in previous times. What use is a friend these days? Are there really such friends in this age?'

The son replied, 'Yes, Abba! He is such a friend, one who says that he will shed his blood where my perspiration drips!'

The father said, 'Very well. Tomorrow, when you go visit him, take me with.'

The following evening the father deliberately delayed setting off, with the result that it was past the normal time of his visit when they reached the friends house.

The front door was locked. The son knocked, and also called out to his friend. After having called out several times, the friend, from inside the house, asked, 'Who is it?'

The son replied, 'It is I, your friend (mentioning his name)'.

The friend said, 'Oho! You have come rather late.' He came and opened the door.

Before the son could say a word, this friend of his, the one who had said that he was prepared to shed his blood where the son's perspiration drips, quickly spoke, 'I slept rather late. I'm still feeling very drowsy. At this moment my tabiyet does not feel at all right. I ask to be forgiven.'

So saying, he closed the door and latched the chain again, and went back inside.

The father spoke, 'You had said that he is your friend. How has he turned out to be? Come. Let me show you. I have a friend living nearby. I have gone old, and so has he. I have not visited him for several years. Come. Let us go to him. Then you can judge for yourself.'

So saying, they set off again. When they reached the father's friend's house, the father called out to his friend. Immediately the friend replied from inside, 'Hang on. I'm coming! Its many years since you have visited me!'

Kindly note that the son's friend did not recognise the voice of his nightly visitor, 

but the father's friend immediately recognised who it was, even after 

a lapse of several years!

After a short delay the door opened, but what a spectacle the friend presented!

On his head was a dish, in his one hand he held a bag, and in the other hand a staff (lathi). After Salaam and formalities were over, the father asked his friend, pointing to the items he was carrying, 'What is all this?'

The friend replied, 'I thought to myself, My friend has come, after such a long time, at such an odd hour! He must be in some difficulty! 

It is possible that he is impoverished and hungry. So this dish contains some food. I shall feed him from this. 

Or, it may be possible that somebody he owes money to, has made life difficult for him.So, this bag contains some money to give to him. 

Or, it may be possible that some enemy is after him, and a fight is imminent. So, this lathi will serve some use. Dear friend! I'm somewhat old, but Ill still be able to dish out a shot or two!'

The father reassured him, 'There is no fight, there is no debt, and I am not famished. This here is my son. He has found himself a friend. I have seen this friend of his. So, now I have brought him to see my friend.'

Fajr

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Prescription for Establishing Fajr Salaah