Goodbye to Depression

Every second person complains of stress, anxiety and depression. There are three main causes for this:

1. We have shifted our focus from Allah Ta`ala towards our abilities and resources, and towards people around us. Thus, when everything around us fails us, we lose hope in life and sink into a state of  depression. We have forgotten that our Allah Ta`ala alone has placed us in that condition and our Allah Ta`ala alone will remove us from that condition. Our attention and focus should constantly be directed towards the unlimited treasures of Allah Ta`ala and not towards our endless weakness.

 2. We worry and concern ourselves over such things that are beyond our reach, and neither are they in our control. We become overwhelmed thinking about matters that have already been decided by our Allah Ta`ala. Mortal man, however, fails to accept that he has absolutely no say in such issues. Hence we become so involved in matters and things that are beyond our control that we end up neglecting what is in our control. The end result is disorder and helplessness which leads to depression.

3. Sins also lead to depression. It is impossible to be happy if Allah Ta`ala is unhappy with us. Our evil actions are the fuel to the fire of destruction and depression. Righteous actions will fill the heart with happiness.

Taken from  Al-Haadi

Smile

Smile as the red sun rises

Another day has come forth

A chance for cleansed slates

Before Him in His court

My Waves of Pain are not Without Support ~ by Hazrat Hakeem Akhtar saheb

 

Siwa Tere koi sahara naheen hai
Siwa Tere koi hamara naheen hai

There is no reliance except You
There is no one for me except You

Samandar ka sahil, paharon ka daman
Bajuz "Aah!" ke kuch sahara naheen hai

The shores of the sea, the foothills of the mountains
There is no support except for the sigh "Aah!"*

Naheen khatm hoti hai mojain musalsal
Mere bahr-e-gham ka kinara naheen hai

The continuity of the waves come not to an end
My sea of pain** has no shore

Koi kashti-e-gham ka hai nakhuda bhi
Mere moj-e-gham be sahara naheen hai

Even a ship of pain has a captain
My waves of pain are not without support

Ye Akhtar ussi ka hai jo Aap ka hai
Naheen Aap ka jo hamara naheen hai

Akhtar belongs to he who belongs to You
He does not belong to You who does not belong to me

~Hazrat Moulana Hakeem Akhtar Saheb Daamat Barakaatuhum

*"Aah" symbolizes the sigh of love and longing by the seeker for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
** Pain here is referred to as the pain one feels when one is deeply in love yet separated from the lover.

Signs

It has been a while since this blog has been updated, and I must apologize for this. I will not dwell on the reasons, though there are indeed some.

Moving along...

On everyone's favourite forum, there was a thread that I really appreciated. -> Signs of Allah (SWT)

It is amazing to me that nature in all its forms can be the cause of a person turning to Allah and unfortunately turning away from Him as well.

A Muslim who would have visited the Galapagos Island in Darwin's stead would have had a completely different view of things. The Muslim would see the different finches, the flightless cormorant, the marine iguana and realize the Greatness of Allah Ta'aala's power. He would realize that wherever there is a creation of Allah, there is the provision for it as well as the right tool to procure it, even in such an inhabitable place like the island.

A Muslim who watches birds will look in awe when he realizes that Allah gifted every bird a certain beak which is perfect for the kind of food it eats. Take fishing birds for example. There are about 7 different types of beaks a bird that fishes can have, yet you will not see a pelican with a kingfisher's beak and vice versa. You will not see the beak of a flamingo on an avocet. And so on.

How is it that certain animals who eat poisonous leaves will know exactly what sort of clay will counter that poison? How is it certain monkeys know that the leaves of a certain plant will keep the insects from biting them? How is it that certain animals will know exactly where to go to lay their eggs when they have only been there for a few short moments after their birth?

How is it that a baby will instantly recognize its own mother without having seen her?

It is all from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala. 

Fading Fast

 Suhail lay on the dirty road, eyes staring up at the dark night sky.

A moment ago he had been walking, on his way to the market to buy yet another item his wife had forgotten to write on the grocery list. It was extremely necessary for her to have that item right now, in her opinion. Not one to fight and argue unnecessarily, he had once again left the house to return to the store he had already been to twice in that evening.

Two bangs had sounded, followed by stinging pain, and he had toppled onto his back.

He barely blinked when he saw three men run in his direction. Two kneeled down beside him; one grabbed his head roughly and pushed it up into the flash light that the other man was shining.

“You fool!” snarled one of the kneeling men after a moment. “He’s the wrong one!”

The other cursed before pulling out a gun, probably the same gun that was used before. “He might tell others,” he muttered.

“Leave him,” said the one who was standing. “You are so hopeless; you'll need all the bullets for our actual target.”

“If I am so bad, why didn’t you shoot? Huh?”

“I am worse,” was the reply with a shrug.

The three men left and Suhail was left in the middle of the road, wondering if anybody would be coming to help him… though he was sure it was too late anyways. The first bullet had hit somewhere around his spleen and the second hit his lungs. At this time of the night, not many walked by, and he felt too weak to move.

Resigned to his fate, he let his mind wander. His wife would be upset in half an hour, wondering why he was late. An hour later she would probably call his mother, thinking he had gone to visit his parents. He hoped they wouldn't argue, at least not tonight.

His children were already asleep. He wondered how they would feel when they found out their Papa was no longer there for them. The older one would cry… the younger one, would thankfully be too young to know Papa was not there.

He could not bear to think about his mother and father.

There were many things he had done that he wished he had not. There were many things he could have done but had not been able to. He wondered if he had ever been, even once in his life, the ideal husband, father and son.

But most importantly, the ideal slave to Allah Ta'aala.

He sighed as he closed his eyes. The time for all that could have been was gone and there was only the now that was fading fast.

I do believe in one Allah, and I do believe Muhammad Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam was His last prophet and messenger…

A smile came to his face as he remembered a verse he would hear often from his teacher.

Even though I am amassed with sins, where else can Your slave go, my Lord?

Your slave has come to Your door with hopes of Your Grace

*

He was found the next morning, cold and stiff, a peaceful smile on his unusually bright face.

~ Bint Mahmood

The Purpose of my Life, the Reliance of my Existence ~ by Hazrat Hakeem Akhtar saheb

A friend of mine had asked a while back for the meaning of this poem. I finally, Alhamdu Lillah, managed to translate it. I hope the translation is correct. If anyone notices any mistake, please mention in the comments. Jazakumullahu Khairan!

 

Hai issi tarah se mumkin Teri raah peh  guzarna
Kabhi dil peh sabr karna, kabhi dil se shukr karna

This is the only way to traverse upon Your path
Having patience within the heart, being grateful with the heart

Ye Teri raza mein jeena, ye Teri raza mein marna
Meri 'abdiyat peh Ya Rabb ye hai Tera fazl karna

To live with Your pleasure, to die with Your pleasure
This, my Lord, is Your grace upon my servitude

Yahi 'aashiqon ka shewa, yahi 'aashiqon ki 'aadat
Kabhi girya-o-bukaa hai, kabhi aah-e-sard bharna

This is the way of lovers, this is the habit of lovers
To weep and cry, to take deep sighs (of longing)

Yahi 'isqh ki 'alaamat, yahi 'ishq ki zamaanat
Kabhi zikr ho zubaan se, kabhi dil mein yaad karna

This is the sign of love, this is the security of love
To mention with the tongue, to remember in the heart

Meri zindagi ka haasil, meri zeest ka sahaara
Tere 'aashiqon mein jeena, Tere 'aashiqon mein marna

The purpose of my life, the reliance of my existence
(is) To live by Your lovers, to die by Your lovers

Mujhay kuch khabar naheen thi Tera dard kya hai Ya Rabb
Tere 'aashiqon se seekha Tere sang-e-dar peh marna

I had no idea what Your (pain of) love was, Oh Lord
I have learned from Your lovers how to die at Your doorstep

Yeh Teri ataa hai Ya Rabb, ye hai Tera jazb-e-pinha
Mera nala-e-nadaamat Tere sang-e-dar peh karna

This is Your blessing Oh Lord, this is Your hidden attraction
That my weeping of repentance is at Your doorstep

Mera har khataa peh rona hai yahi meri talaafi
Tere rahmaton ka sadqa mera jurm-o-'afw karna

Crying at my mistakes, this is my only recompense
My sins and their remission is by Your charitable mercy

Teri shaan-e-jazb hai ye, Teri banda parwari hai
Mere jaan-o-dil ka tujh ko hama waqt yaad karna

The glory of Your attraction is such, the cherishing of Your slaves is such
(that) My heart and soul be eternally in Your remembrance

Kissi ahl-e-dil ki suhbat jo milli kissi ko Akhtar
Usse aa gaya hai jeena, usse aa gaya hai marna

Oh Akhtar, know that he who associates with an 'ahl-e-dil'*
He now knows how to live, he now knows how to die

*ahl-e-dil means someone who is a 'person of the heart', meaning a lover of Allah Ta'aala. 

Concern for Acceptance

Once, Shaikhul Hind Moulana Mahmoodul Hasan (rahmatullahi alaih) was seen in deep thought while he was in prison (due to waging jihad against the English). On being asked the reason, he replied, “I don’t know if all of this is accepted or not.”

Despite their great efforts with sincerity, our elders always had their gaze on their hearts as to whether what they are doing is correct or not and whether it would be accepted in the court of Allah Ta’ala or not (Discourse of Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi rahimahullah).

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