Angels, a Symbol of Mercy (Ahadith 2841 – 2851)

Bismillah.

The chapter of angels continues. Today’s ahadith mention some specific actions of Jibreel (`alayhissalaam) and other actions of angels in general. Most of them are self-explanatory but I will add some details and links for further information where necessary. Fix yourself a cup of tea and enjoy reading! :)

Gabriel, the teacher

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 443 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel used to meet him. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan to study the Holy Quran carefully together. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to become more generous than the fast wind when he met Gabriel.

Gabriel, the imam

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 444 :
Narrated by Ibn Shihab
Once Umar bin Abdul Aziz delayed the ‘Asr prayer a little. ‘Urwa said to him, “Gabriel descended and led the prayer in front of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)”. On that ‘Umar said, “O Urwa! Be sure of what you say.” “Urwa, “I heard Bashir bin Abi Masud narrating from Ibn Masud (radiallaahu `anhu) who heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, ‘Gabriel descended and led me in prayer; and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, counting with his fingers five prayers.”

Gabriel, the harbinger of good news

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 445 :
Narrated by Abu Dhar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Gabriel said to me, ‘Whoever amongst your followers die without having worshipped others besides Allah, will enter Paradise (or will not enter the (Hell) Fire).” The Prophet asked. “Even if he has committed illegal sexual intercourse or theft?” He replied, “Even then.”

This hadith, when studied with other similar ones brings us to this conclusion: a Muslim who never committed shirk won’t stay in hell-fire forever. Best case scenario: Allah forgives him for all his sins and mistakes and enters him into Paradise directly. Worst case scenario: Allah decides to punish him for his sins and then, after some time, removes him from hell-fire and enters him into Paradise, where he spends the remaining of his eternal life.

Angels, our keepers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 446 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Angels keep on descending from and ascending to the Heaven in turn, some at night and some by daytime, and all of them assemble together at the time of the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you over-night, ascent unto Allah Who asks them, and He knows the answer better than they, “How have you left My slaves?” They reply, “We have left them praying as we found them praying.” If anyone of you says “Amin” (during the Prayer at the end of the recitation of Surat-al-Faitiha), and the angels in Heaven say the same, and the two sayings coincide, all his past sins will be forgiven.”

Angels, a symbol of Mercy

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 447 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
I stuffed for the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) a pillow decorated with pictures (of animals) which looked like a Namruqa (i.e. a small cushion). He came and stood among the people with excitement apparent on his face. I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is wrong?” He said, “What is this pillow?” I said, “I have prepared this pillow for you, so that you may recline on it.” He said, “Don’t you know that angels do not enter a house wherein there are pictures; and whoever makes a picture will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and will be asked to give life to (what he has created)?”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 448 :
Narrated by Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu)
I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying; “Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 449 :
Narrated by Busr bin Said
That Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani narrated to him something in the presence of Said bin ‘Ubaidullah Al-Khaulani who was brought up in the house of Maimuna (radiallaahu `anhaa), the wife of the Prophet. Zaid narrated to them that Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a picture.” Busr said, “Later on Zaid bin Khalid fell ill and we called on him. To our surprise we saw a curtain decorated with pictures in his house. I said to Ubaidullah Al-Khaulani, “Didn’t he (i.e. Zaid) tell us about the (prohibition of) pictures?” He said, “But he excepted the embroidery on garments. Didn’t you hear him?” I said, “No.” He said, “Yes, he did.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 450 :
Narrated by Salim’s father (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come) and later on he said, “We, angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog.”

No angels = no mercy.

Read the ruling on images and pictures/toys around the house here.

Angels, our well-wishers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 451 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When the Imam, during the prayer, says, “Allah hears him who praises Him’, say: ‘O Allah! Our Lord! All the praises are for You’, for if the saying of anyone of you coincides with the saying of the angels, his past sins will be forgiven.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 452 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “As long as any-one of you is waiting for the prayer, he is considered to be praying actually, and the angels say, ‘O Allah! Be merciful to him and forgive him’, (and go on saying so) unless he leaves his place of praying or passes wind (i.e. breaks his ablution).”

Maalik, the guardian of hell-fire

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 453 :
Narrated by Yali (radiallaahu `anhu)
I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) reciting the following Verse on the pulpit: “They will call: O Mali……’ and Sufyan said that ‘Abdullah recited it: ‘They will call: O Mali..’. (43.77)

The ayah reads:

And they will call, “O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!” He will say, “Indeed, you will remain.”

The angel Maalik is said to have no mercy in his heart (figure of speech, not sure if angels have hearts.. just saying). The people in hell-fire will call out to him and he won’t even respond for forty years, let alone do their bidding. Plus, he’s said to have never smiled. That says a lot about him.

Why should we care about Maalik and his personality, you ask? The relationship between him and the dwellers of hell-fire is almost the same as that of a boss and his employees. Having a good boss despite the troubles and difficulties of work makes for an overall good experience. But if the boss is heartless, the torture is multiplied! So having a merciless guard over hell adds to the punishment of those dwelling in it. It gives them hopelessness, and that’s the greatest torture of them all. May Allah protect us all!

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Beginning of Time, Creation of the Seven Earths and Prostration of the Sun (Ahadith 2814 – 2819)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 416 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book* which is with Him on His Throne, “My Mercy overpowers My Anger.”

*Al-Lawh al-Mahfooz [The Preserved Tablet]

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 417 :
Narrated by Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Al-Harith
From Abu Salama bin ‘Abdur-Rahman who had a dispute with some people on a piece of land, and so he went to ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) and told her about it. She said, “O Abu Salama, avoid the land, for Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Any person who takes even a span of land unjustly, his neck shall be encircled with it down seven earths.’ “

For perspective: the total weight of (one) Earth is 5.972 × 10^24 kg. Save your pretty neck, be just.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 418 :
Narrated by Salim’s father
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Any person who takes a piece of land unjustly will sink down the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.”

Allah has mentioned these seven earths in the Quran:

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا

“It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.” [65:12]

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 419 :
Narrated by Abu Bakra (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said. “The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: three are in succession Dhul-Qa’ da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar* which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban.”

*Rajab was called “Rajab of Mudar” because the tribe Mudar used to respect this month.

Among the creation of Allah is Time. It started when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. Evolutionists date the universe back to 13.77 billion years and the Bible says it’s only 6000 years old, but Allah knows best when it all actually happened.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 420 :
Narrated by Said bin Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail (radiallaahu `anhu)
That Arwa sued him before Marwan for a right, which she claimed, he had deprived her of. On that Said (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “How should I deprive her of her right? I testify that I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, ‘If anyone takes a span of land unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.”

Sa’eed bin Zaid (radiallaahu `anhu) was among the ten blessed companions who were promised Paradise during their lives. He accepted Islam in the very early days and was married to Fatima bint Khattab (Umar’s sister who played an important role in his acceptance of Islam – we all know that story!). Sa`eed (radiallaahu `anhu) participated in all the major battles and campaigns led by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) with the exception of Badr because the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had sent him and Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah (radiallaahu `anhu) on a reconnaissance mission a few days before it.

Once, a woman called “Awra binti Uways”, whose land was next to his land, went to Marwan bin Hakam, the governor of Madinah and complained about him. She said,

“Said bin Zayd occupied some of my land. Take it from him and give it to me.”

The governor sent a few people to investigate the issue. Said (radiallaahu `anhu) was in his land in Aqiq. The delegation mentioned him about the complaint. Said (radiallaahu `anhu), whose place in Paradise was definite when he was alive, realized that he was wronged. He said to them,

“Let me report you something that I heard from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam): The Messenger of Allah said, ‘If a person seizes a land that does not belong to him, that land will be wrapped around his neck on the Day of Judgment even if he is under the seventh floor of the earth. A person who dies for his property is regarded as a martyr.'”

Then, Said (radiallaahu `anhu) vowed that he did not violate the land of the woman. Then, he raised his hands and prayed as follows:

“O Allah! If this woman is lying, blind her eyes before she dies and make her well a grave for her!”

Allah Almighty heard the cry of the oppressed and accepted his prayer. The woman who slandered him became blind after a while. Then, she fell into the well in her garden while she was wandering around her house. The well became her grave.

Said (radiallaahu `anhu), who was mentioned by respect and mercy by the believers due to his exemplary life and his unbreakable connection with the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and who was a man of Paradise, died in the 51st year of the Migration at the age of 80.

Think before throwing a false accusation at someone. And think twice before throwing it at someone who is a beloved of Allah. If he/she prays against you, who will save you from Allah?

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 421 :
Narrated by Abu Dhar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked me at sunset, “Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?” I replied, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” He said, “It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah: “And the sun Runs its fixed course For a term (decreed). that is The Decree of (Allah) The Exalted in Might, The All-Knowing.” (36.38)

Prostration beneath the Throne is a matter of the unseen, and no one knows how it is except Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. He, may He be glorified and exalted, has told us that all created things prostrate to Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“See you not that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and many of mankind? But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified” [al-Hajj 22:18].

No one knows how this prostration is or when it happens or its real nature except Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.

Al-Khattaabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

It cannot be denied that it halts beneath the Throne, in a manner that we cannot see or comprehend; rather this is speaking about a matter of the unseen. So we should not disbelieve in it or ask how it happens, because our knowledge cannot comprehend it.

End quote from A‘laam al-Hadeeth Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari (p. 1893)

Read further on this issue here if you’re interested.

Entering Paradise in Chains! (Hadith No. 2650)

Bismillah.

Back again!

Ahadith 2648 – 2649 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 252 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
When it was the day (of the battle) of Badr, prisoners of war were brought including Al-Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) who was undressed. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) looked for a shirt for him. It was found that the shirt of ‘Abdullah bin Ubai would do, so the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) let him wear it. That was the reason why the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) took off and gave his own shirt to ‘Abdullah. (The narrator adds, “He had done the Prophet some favor for which the Prophet liked to reward him.”)

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 253 :
Narrated by Sahl (radiallaahu `anhu)
On the day (of the battle) of Khaibar the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be given victory (by Allah) and who loves Allah and His Apostle and is loved by Allah and His Apostle.” So, the people wondered all that night as to who would receive the flag and in the morning everyone hoped that he would be that person. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, “Where is ‘Ali?” He was told that ‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu) was suffering from eye-trouble, so he applied saliva to his eyes and invoked Allah to cure him. He at once got cured as if he had no ailment. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave him the flag. ‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Should I fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslim)?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Go to them patiently and calmly till you enter the land. Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them what is enjoined upon them, for, by Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels.”

Today’s Hadith:

In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad Ibn `Ataa’illah As-Sakandari says:

He knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him, so He mandated obedience, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation. The Lord wonders about people, driven into heaven through chains.

This means that Allah the Almighty, Glory be His, knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him to perform obedience of their own will, so He mandated obedience compulsorily, by threatening them punishment if they do not, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation and intimidation. He thus gradually led them to what guides them to eternal pleasure and elevates them to high levels.

In other words, according to Ibn `Ataa’illah, Allah the Almighty knew that most people cannot see what is good for them and what may make them happy because of their psychological desires and instinctive needs. He also knew that if He leaves them to the guidance of their reason and the incentives of their natural disposition (i.e. fitrah) which are inherent in their human entities, they would be overcome by their whims and lustful desires.

In the same vein, they would turn away from contemplating over what is dictated by sound reason and what is ordained by beneficial knowledge. Therefore, out of the Mercy and Kindness of the Almighty Lord, He drove them to the path of guidance and happiness through orders and ordainments and pushed them towards what is beneficial for them through commitment and obligation.

This is similar to the father who disciplines a child and obliges him to unpleasant difficult tasks that are to his disliking, and only when he grows up does he discover their value. He discovers that only when his own immature mental faculties failed to realize what was good for his own self his father turned his words of guidance and pieces of advice into orders and obligations.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 254 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains.”

This hadith refers to the prisoners of Badr from among the polytheists who were captured and then, when they had the chance to know Islam and interact with Muslims, reverted to Islam. As they did not know anything about the goodness and blessing that were awaiting them through staying for a while amidst the Muslims and under the protection of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him); a matter which eventually led them to embrace Islam and become faithful believers in Allah the Almighty and His blessed Messenger.

Remarkably, one should realize that the said chains of obligation are not restricted only to the compulsory rulings that are mandated by Allah the Almighty upon His servants. Rather, these chains of obligation may be represented in trials and calamities that may drive those who are afflicted with them to an end of happiness and welfare which they would have never reached or gained access to except through the scourges of such calamities.

Indeed, the Battle of Badr to which Muslims were brought step by step is a typical example of these chains of obligation which are mentioned in the above hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Eventually, the end result of these chains was nothing but a unique victory which led to many other great victories in the battles that followed. In these battles, Muslims gained spoils many times as much as the spoils they had desired to seize from the caravan which they set out in the first place to intercept and which managed to evade capture as is indicated in the books on earlier Muslim history. In this connection, Allah the Almighty says in the Ever-Glorious Qur’an what may mean,

{Yet, behold! God had promised you [believers], then that one of the two hosts that you had come upon would fall to you. And you wished that the unarmed one, the trade caravan, would be yours. Yet God intended to establish the religion of truth [in the land] – in accordance with His words – and to cut off the very last remnant of the disbelievers.} (Al-Anfal 8:7)

Accordingly, as true Muslims, we have to obey Allah the Almighty and carry out all His obligations and ordinances out of certainty that only through this we will pursue our interests and find our happiness. We have to realize that all we are ordered to do and/or forbidden from is meant only to guarantee our happiness and welfare in this present life as well as the Hereafter.

Then, Ibn `Ataa’illah gave emphasis to this through the following word of wisdom which reads,

He has obligated you to serve Him but in doing so He has only obligated you to enter His Paradise.

This means that Almighty Allah apparently obliged you to serve Him, and in reality is only obliging you to enter His heaven, for He made deeds cause for entry to heaven. What is meant here and in the aforementioned word of wisdom is stating that Allah is Rich beyond His creation: their obedience does not benefit Him, and their disobedience does not harm Him. All orders and mandates in reality bring benefit to them, and He is the Most Wealthy, the Most Gracious.

Allah Almighty says in His Ever-Glorious Qur’an what may mean,

{…For it is God alone Who is the Self-Sufficient. And it is you who are the poor.} (Muhammad 47:38)

and,

{O mankind! It is you who are the poor, utterly in need of God. And it is God alone Who is the Self-Sufficient, the All-Praised.} (Fatir 35:15)

Finally and to sum up, the above two words of wisdom by Ibn `Ataa’illah As-Sakandari mean that Allah the Almighty knew that most of His slaves are not self-motivated in seeking Him; so, He obligated for them obedience to Him. He pushed them towards Him with the chains of obligation. And that He, Glory be His, has obligated them to serve Him but in doing so He has only obligated them to go to His everlasting Heaven.

Source: OnIslam.Net

A Charitable Life (Hadith No. 2536)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 141 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Charity is obligatory everyday on every joint of a human being. If one helps a person in matters concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, all this will be regarded charity. A good word, and every step one takes to offer the compulsory congregational prayer, is regarded as charity; and guiding somebody on the road is regarded as charity.”

Taking this and numerous other narrations about charity and its rewards, I’ve come to the conclusion that a Muslim’s life is a charitable life. A lot of the small good deeds that we do, even without thinking, are counted as charity. Why is that a big deal, you ask? What’s the difference between getting rewarded for a regular ‘good deed’ and a ‘charity’? Well it’s simple, charity brings enormous rewards, as discussed in some of the previous posts:

“If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly-earned money — and Allah accepts only the honestly-earned money — Allah takes it in His right (hand) and then enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it); as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain.” [Vol. 2, Book 24, No. 491]

You don’t have to be a billionaire supporting various causes, charities and trusts to be charitable. You just need to be a humble Muslim, helping others with your words and deeds being your nature. :)

In words of Talib al-Habib:

Shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the Earth
Let your kindness come like rain that cares not whom it falls upon
And let ocean deep your wisdom be,
Your heart a lantern spreading peace
Give yourself in love of Him, be like al-Habib
(Al-Habib)

The Ramblings of an Unstirred Heart

This is a guest post by Sr. Amara Zulfiqar, co-owner at Writer’s Guild.

Reading Omer’s article “Work Hard for the Rest of your Life” inspired me to pour my heart out with respect to faith. Please excuse me if anyone is offended by the content of the article. That was never the intention. I am an average girl who doesn’t cover up, not because I don’t believe in it but because I’ve somehow never felt the need. I believe my faith was stronger a few months ago and I’ve made mistakes, some knowingly, others unknowingly. Despite all of that I know I’m one of the very few people who are blessed because I know Allah loves me. I always manage to get out of things even if it is at the last minute but somehow Allah always comes to my rescue whether I’ve asked for His help or not (I always do though).

On the outlook, I’m a very worldly person and perhaps very worldly wise as well. I don’t like interfering in people’s matters for the simple reason that it’s not my problem and people don’t like meddlers. I will help people close to me to the extent that I’m not imposing myself on them because again, I don’t want to suffocate them. The reason why I’ve started on this note is because I wanted to define what “average” meant when I said I’m an average girl. I have these flaws along with many others. Others might have different flaws but at the end of the day that is what makes us human: to err.

Technically, when you make mistakes and realise them, it draws you closer to Allah and makes you more God-fearing. That is the natural, the logical outcome. But what if you don’t feel the remorse of committing thought-out, intentional sins but you know you should, and to compensate for them, you revert to the Quran, read it for meaning so that somehow your heart is true when it asks for forgiveness. And yet, the heart lacks the light. What if you pray five times a day to seek that light and yet it escapes you? You are doing all the right things, taking the right steps, why then does the heart not find light?

I am not complaining. I know something is amiss. And that something is lacking in me. I have to figure that out and nobody can figure it out for me. But these are the dilemmas of an average person. They are caught between a material reality and the religious implications of following such a reality.

As far as working hard is concerned, I do not believe it is true that there is a single person who is not in some capacity trying to get salvation and spiritual insight. Some find that in helping others, some are exceptional to their parents, and still others are good at making people happy. Whatever the means, the end remains the same: filling the spiritual void which in turn pleases Allah. But again it all boils down to one thing: it is more what the society requires out of you rather than the religion. Your priorities are what only you can set straight.

I was fortunate enough to have a discussion with one of my friends the other day on sinning. I was discussing how I can’t pray because I have sinned so much that I feel like a hypocrite standing on the prayer mat. I mean how can I face Allah when I have committed so many sins knowingly? I have incessantly lied, slandered, gossiped and much more. I have rebelled in the most sinful ways to get back at people, not because I was angry at Allah but because I was disappointed in people. And yet in doing so I displeased Allah. I seek forgiveness and yet, again, my forgiveness lacks that truth and sincerity it should have. So I feel I am not sincere or pure enough to stand in front of Allah and seek His forgiveness or His pleasure in some way. I remember once calling one of my friends Faustus, Faustus who had sinned so much that he never asked for forgiveness because he believed he wouldn’t get it. Later I realised, I am Faustus.

And on this my friend told me that is exactly what Shaitan wants you believe. That there is no remorse, there is no way out and your sins are so grave that there is no redemption. And I realised that is exactly what I had been feeling all along. That I will not be forgiven which is why my seeking forgiveness lacked the sincerity that it should have.

It is strange how when I was reading Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, this had occurred to me. That how stupid can a person be not to believe in the mercy of God. And yet perhaps the shame and disappointment you feel is so great that I found myself in a similar position. I had also conjured up my own Mephistopheles. Fortunately for me, I received my guiding light before it was too late. It’s a beginning, perhaps starting from scratch.

“Why this is hell, nor am I out of it.

Think’st thou that I, who saw the face of God,

And tasted the eternal joys of Heaven,

Am not tormented with ten thousand hells

In being deprived of everlasting bliss?”

 

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Chritopher Marlowe