AbsoTOtALutely Fantastic!
Ma Sha Allah…
AbsoTOtALutely Fantastic!
Ma Sha Allah…
فليتكَ تحلو والحياةُ مريرة
وليتكَ ترضى والأنامُ غضابُ
ألا ليتَ الذي بيني وبينكَ عامر
ٌ وبيني وبينَ العالمينَ خرابُ
إذا صحَّ منكَ الودُ فالكلُ هينٌ
وكلُ الذي فوقَ الترابِ ترابُ
يارب علمني ان احب الناس كما احب نفسي
وعلمني ان احاسب نفسي كما احاسب الناس
وعلمني ان التسامح هو اكبرمراتب القوة
وان حب الانتقام هو اول مظاهر الضعف
يارب اذا أسأت الى الناس فأعطني شجاعة الإعتذار
وإذا أساء لي الناس فأعطني شجاعة العفو
Allah grant us the ability to value His blessings.
I am a vagabond
Wayfaring the desert sands
You are an oasis
My life’s in your hands
I look upon a mountain
And you are it’s peak
You are the summit
Of every truth I seek
In the rivers and lakes
In the oceans and seas
You’re the blue in the sky
The greenery in the trees
I’m a smitten stargazer
You; the cosmos of my heart
You’re the entire universe;
Gods priceless verse of art
Here I am, yearning to be
The dust on your blessed shoe
I’m the beggar at your door
Your love is the alms I pursue
صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم
Abu Esa Hashim.
Part II – In Defence of Rasul Ullah (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم
“Fear not! O Muhammad”, she said. “In your Lord, we trust and must not despair,
You join ties with relatives, ease people’s burdens and treat your guests with utmost care”.
Your mission had now started; Islam was universal, for one and all,
The task was not an easy one, due to the opposition, very few listened and heeded the call.
The very first believers were keen and true,
Khadeejah (RA), Abu Bakr (RA), Zaid (RA) and Ali (RA) – your father’s nephew.
But the call to One God was not happily welcomed or could be seen,
Abu Talib was told, “Tell Muhammad to renounce his deen”.
If they were to put the sun in your right hand and the moon in your left you wouldn’t have given up,
Whether it meant you were tortured, beaten or accused of being corrupt.
It was such a shame; they titled you as a magician and poet instead of your beloved name,
“He’s a soothsayer”, did they claim. For causing disunity, only you did they blame.
You taught the purpose of life; life is not a game,
“I call you to One God; like all Messengers, without any wage nor fame”.
After ten years of Prophethood, you lost two companions, loyal and faithful,
They would always be joint at your hip; the first was your uncle Abu Talib,
Then Khadeejah (RA) your wife, who would have for you, even sacrificed her life.
Then, one dark night angel Jib’reel descended.
He took you on a long journey which was blessed and splendid.
From the sacred house in Makkah all the way to Jerusalem, then to the seven heavens and high above,
You travelled on al-Buraq with speed, flying high like a dove.
The very same night you returned home, safe, to Makkah,
With a gift from your Lord, to the believers, it was the Salah.
Now the time came to migrate to Madinah,
And it wasn’t long before the first battle, Badr, took place in the 2nd year of Hijrah.
The enemy was strong, 1000 men fully equipped to their teeth,
The Muslims were less, actually very few, but they were neither disheartened nor felt blue.
This was a lesson, in history, to be recorded,
Even if you are few but sincerely true, Allah’s help arrives and you will be rewarded.
The help of Allah came, and flocks of angels over the blue skies flew,
Supporting the believers, who were devoted and close to you.
Although ill-equipped, weak and poor, Muslims were granted victory,
This was a day celebrated and remembered in history.
If the believers obey you, O Muhammad SAW they will be triumphant,
As they were on the Day of Badr, cheerful and jubilant.
Contrarily, to the results seen, if your orders are not adhered with respect,
Like we saw in Uhud when some Companions (RA) did show sign of neglect,
You reprimanded them gently and told them this was incorrect.
It was here you lost your Uncle Hamza (RA), who was killed in retaliation,
The dhulm his body went through was harsh, such torture, such mutilation.
As time went by people began to see,
The grandeur of Islam, the brotherhood and unity.
Do they not know the story of Bilal (RA), a black, African slave, but oh, what he became…
A brother of the Arabs, treated equally, one and the same.
Do they not see how the radiant moon, with just a slight gesture,
Split in two, by your blessed index finger.
The stone and trees bear witness unto you,
But the hearts that turned hard, failed to recognise your message, saying this is a talk strange and new.
When lands are conquered; women are oppressed, and men are fought,
But on the conquest of Makkah – no killing was seen, no revenge was sought.
Throughout your moral life, you gave rights to humans, jinns and animals,
You taught respect for the environment and said be considerate to all, even the angels.
At Taif you were pelted, your blessed body was bruised as you bled,
Young children were ordered to throw stones at you, then they quickly fled.
It was the angel’s order that they should be destroyed,
But you said, “Nay! I have been sent as a Mercy – at all costs violence we should avoid!”
Your farewell message was powerful and concise,
To respect and revere the sanctity of every human life,
“Fulfil your children’s right and that of your wife”.
You taught us leadership and to spread companionship,
You showed compassion when a companion of yours would err and slip.
Your successors were Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA), Uthman (RA) and Ali (RA),
Who lead the people as you had taught them, firmly and justly, they guided rightly.
Through perfection, you attained such heights,
Through your beauty, you dispelled the night.
They (those who mock) fail to see your beauty,
Even though no sun, no moon, can compare to thee.
I would sacrifice my mother and father to see, just for one moment your noble face!
Free from imperfection, flaws, defects, full of light and grace.
O Muhammad ﷺ! Your beauty is astounding,
My heart yearns to see you, the thought of that moment makes it beat fast and pounding.
I hope to see You on Qiyamah, and drink the holy water from your blessed pool,
I pray I am not deprived, as I know I am unworthy.
Or then at the scales, I will be in need of your intercession,
If I don’t meet you there, I hope to see you at the bridge, before my final destination.
(Last plea) Forgive me, Ya Rasul Ullah! I am very weak,
Because of my sins, I have lost courage and cannot speak,
But from this day, I shall try, till the very moment I die,
To defend your honour and your dignity, I shall stamp on the tongue of all that speak against you and blatantly lie!
~ Written in honour and memory of the Beloved (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)
Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Pleasure).
18th Rabiul Awwal 1436
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم
The eyes weep, the heart bleeds, but our love for you, O Rasool Ullah (SAW) will never die, In Sha Allah.
Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) is always in our hearts and on our mind.
His (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s remembrance keeps our tongues moist.Eyes that are blind, hearts that are hard will never recognise your beauty.
Your kindness came like rain, that cares not, on whom it falls upon.
With the light of your sincerity, you broke the clouds of tyranny. .
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم
May The Choicest Blessings and the Mercy of God Be Upon Muhammad – A Mercy To Mankind.
Year 570 CE you were born in the holy city of Makkah,
Wherein lies the beauty built by Ibraheem (AS) and Ismaeel (AS) – the exalted Ka’bah.
It had been 600 years since the Prophet Eesa (AS), this period is also known in the Qur’an as ‘Fatrah’.
You came at a time when the world was in darkness, people were lost, misguided and swimming in ignorance.
How auspicious that moment was for us all,
When the beloved Aminah (RA) conceived and gave birth to such a blessed soul.
The world was illuminated brightly, and the 1000-year-old fire was extinguished suddenly.
The extravagant castles of Shaam could be seen, Oh, what a time this must have been.
The shadow of your father, the honourable Abdullah (RA), had already left this world.
This was the just the start of your hardships, through which you were tumbled and turned.
It was at the tender age of six, your mother’s gentle touch was no longer felt,
Heart-wrenching. Heartbreaking. Heart left to melt.
Then came along the gallant Abdul Muttalib who took you into his care,
Oh, Muhammad! Such an upbringing of pain and grief is seldom and very rare.
But Allah gives the most difficult of battles to those,
Who are selected by Him and for his mission He chose.
After a year or two Abdul Muttalib met his Lord – ache upon ache.
Such pain left you lonely and full of tears,
But this was part of Allah’s plan; to make you strong and without fears.
Now you stayed with your uncle, an orphan, aged eight,
Abu Talib was his name, he loved you and the affection he showed was great.
You herded sheep and became a shepherd,
You became known for truthfulness and honesty – a man of his word.
You later grew into a fine man and started to trade,
Which attracted the attention of Khadeejah (RA) – whose husband you were later made.
You lived happily and had six children,
Four blessed daughters; two beloved sons who died as infants.
Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom, Fatimah (RA),
Little Qasim, and how can we forget Abdullah? (RA)
As time went by, and evil began to spread,
A lot of thoughts started going through your head.
You looked at people, as they worshipped idols carved from their own hands,
And over trivial issues, how a clan would fight with other clans.
The people of Arabia mercilessly buried their baby daughters alive,
And they did not ever fulfil the rights of their children and wives.
People deprived the poor and didn’t give the weak their rights,
Men merrily drank wine and gambled throughout the night,
Shedding blood and killing was prevalent,
The sanctity of human life had become totally irrelevant.
Little did they know how their lives were about to be turned,
As the light of Prophethood shone, glimmering bright, like a lantern you burned.
One day in Mount Hira as you were meditating,
An angel descended and started communicating.
“Read! O Muhammad, Read!” Were the first words said,
You were scared and frightened and quickly rushed ahead.
Upon reaching home, sweating and panicking you screamed,
“O Khadeejah! Wrap me quick”; a large blanket, warm and thick.
Alarmed, petrified and terrified, as any wife would be,
She obeyed instantly, as she was first the believer (in Islam) to be.
(To be cont…)
Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Pleasure).
12th Rabiul Awwal 1436 – Written in memory of the Beloved (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) on the date of His SAW demise.
The eyes weep, the heart bleeds, but our love for you, O Rasool Ullah SAW will never die. In Sha Allah. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is always in our hearts and on our mind. His SAW’s remembrance keeps our tongues moist.
In the name of Allah, the Just
.
The truth is the truth; right is right,
To me it is clear – black and white.
At times you feel odd and at times you feel alone,
Tired, troubled and torn.
You may not seem intelligent or even very bright,
But speaking the truth will raise you in Allah’s sight.
It may cause a dispute; it may end up in a fight,
As the truth is bitter and certainly not welcomed with delight.
Sometimes you feel scared and just want to run,
But remember – that’s the cowards way, son.
You’d rather speak with courage and great might,
Go on, give them a fright! They might understand, this matter isn’t light.
We must use our intellect and insight,
To stick up for the truth and keep our left shoulder light.
As the dazzling day ends followed along by the dark night,
Similarly, it is clear what is wrong and what is right.
So dear friend, as I now end,
I hope my words didn’t bite, this is my last and final plight….
Please, stand firmly for truth and for justice and for what is right.
Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure)
18 Safar 1436
(Written in memory of my late father, Haji NazirAhmed Daud Satia RH, one year after his demise. I believe he taught me courage, justice, morals, values and principles – Alhumdu Lillah. Out of sight, but not out of mind, Abba. Your voice has left us, but your legacy of justice remains In Sha Allah).