I can has my Eid prayer!

It was a beautiful Eid morning here in Karachi, Alhamdulillah. Of course, Eid is always something special but this year, I was blessed with so many more reasons to enjoy not only my Ramadan but also Eid, Alhamdulillah. I’d never gone for Eid prayers in my life, not even when we were in Saudi Arabia all those years and ever since I’d learned how important they were, I really wanted to attend them. Year after year, something would come up, one reason or the other and I couldn’t go.

In our extended family, it’s quite unheard of for ladies to go for prayer to masajid anyway, let alone offering the Eid prayer. Cultural traditions always took precedence over the Sunnah (people don’t know much about the Sunnah way to spend Eid anyway [see end of post for references]) so that the womenfolk believed staying home and laying out the breakfast was the only thing they were supposed to do, until the gents and young boys come home to greet them.

Of course, Allah’s Messenger (saw) was sent to show us the most excellent way to go about out daily lives and how could he not tell us about our Eid? He explicitly stated that all Muslims must come out to the Eid gathering so that they may witness the joyful meeting of Muslims. Even woman who were not able to pray (due to menses) were to come and take part, except that they wouldn’t stand for the actual prayer.

A day or two before Eid, I launched phase one of the Eid prayer project: Drop hints!
“Hey, I was wondering if we could maybe, perhaps, possibly venture out for Eid prayers this time?”
“Y’know, if we iron our clothes at night, we could actually be dressed and ready to perhaps join Abba (father) for Eid prayers!”
“A lot of ladies go to Eid prayer, it’s highly, highly recommended!”

And of course, asking Allah(swt) to be able to go was of absolute importance.

From my family, the reaction was mixed. My mother was non-committing, my sisters not very enthusiastic. As for my father, I knew he’d say ‘yes’ the moment I even hinted at going so that wasn’t a problem thankfully!

Phase two, marked by active campaigning to the point of being somewhat of a nuisance (that was a risk I was willing to take, having garnered some hope from phase one), was launched on the night of Eid after the moon was sighted. My parents were busy somewhere that night and couldn’t come home until around past 12 am. Although I kept telling my sisters we’d go for Eid prayers and that they should be ready, I was giving up hope, believing my mother would definitely tip towards ‘no way’ if she didn’t get to sleep enough… and the preparations that needed to be done! Well, I grabbed hold of some kitchen work that Amma needed to do when she got home and was finishing up just as she arrived. Yaaaay! Not only did it cut down her work substantially, she became so happy with it that I pushed my ‘Eid prayer’ case even further.

Well, the signs were really positive now, Alhumdolillah! I shifted gears and went a little giddy with excitement, egged on by a sister’s grumblings about how I was acting all ‘goody goody and sickly sweet’ but hey, that’s me!  So there we went, ironing like crazy… another sister even ironed my mother’s clothes quickly(making her even happier!)… starched and ironed my father’s kurta and we all shot off to bed. Three-and-a-half hours later, we were up and bathing, dressing for the Eid prayer!

It was so exciting, I can hardly describe the feeling. After quickly having something sweet, as is the Sunnah way, we drove to a masjid that’s part of a Qur’an learning and propagating institution. Well, of course it was a beautiful morning, Alhumdolillah! It was an experience itself to see people going off to different prayer areas, mostly men and boys of all ages, dressed in starched kurtas of different colors and wearing white prayer caps too.

In the masjid, few ladies had arrived in the ladies area at that time, as we were early. We came across a cleaning lady vacuuming a carpet and I was glad to see she was wearing lovely new clothes too. There was a waaz (sermon) before the Eid prayer and when it began, I knew for sure there’s no better way to spend Eid morning than in that setting, listening to the Ayaat (verses) of Allah and the relevant Hadith, filling up with gratitude to Allah(swt), praising Him and seeking His forgiveness for ourselves. The Imam has been blessed with Hikmah, Mashaa’Allah, because he was considerate and understanding regarding the length of his sermon and very concise in his speech. He revised the method of Eid prayer for the congregation until it was clear to everyone. He also spent a few minutes making sure all the prayer rows were in order, all the while mentioning why it was necessary that some time be spent on this important aspect of congregational prayer.

We then offered the Eid prayer behind the Imam – I couldn’t believe I was actually getting the opportunity and really it was a station of humility for me just then… when Allah(swt) accepts His slave’s dua, it shows how His slaves are really at His Mercy and in need of all that He bestows upon them. Also, we are not such that we deserve even an iota of what Allah(swt) grants us, so whatever comes our way, even after we ask for it, is a great, great honour and not “what I should have been granted long ago!” or “it’s about time now!”. SubhanAllah!

After the Eid prayer, there was the traditional Eid khutbah (address) where the Imam generally touched on similar points as in the waaz earlier. The khutbah was in Arabic exclusively, as is the prescribed way but, Alhumdolillah, with all the experience from Towards The Light , I can now understand enough Arabic to be able to follow short talks like the khutbah quite easily all the way to the end. That’s another great blessing to be thankful for.

The Imam made a long prayer, praising Allah(swt), asking for His forgiveness for mistakes and sins as well praying for the betterment of the Muslims’ situation worldwide. It was like in Hajj… being united with the Muslims all over the world, each praying for his fellow-Muslim, wherever he may be.

After the khutbah, people started exiting the masjid and I got the chance to see the vast assembly that had come in. Cute little girls and boys, dressed in brightly colored clothes, even babies, all there with their families. It was heartwarming, really. We met up with some relatives outside too, men only of course, who must have been surprised to see us girls, heheh! The sun was shining bright but there was a light breeze too… perfectly in tune with how I felt… excited yet calm and happy altogether! Alhumdolillah. I think my family enjoyed it a lot too though, especially after my maternal uncle invited us for a quick breakfast at his home nearby.

There was such a lot of goodwill and joy in the air. I mean, where was I all this while, missing such joy and exhilaration on Eid mornings? We’d just sleepily dress and set the table, waiting for our father to come home and then, after breakfast, watch some TV or something. No way! Not anymore InshAllah! I’ve dropped hints for next Eid already… why settle for a crumb when you can have a great big chunk of the cake?

References:

Eid prayer for women

Is it better for woman to go out to the Eid prayers or to stay at home?

Time for a U-turn

The Prophet(pbuh) said, “The one who holds Allah in remembrance as compared to one who does not, is like a living man as compared to one who has died.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Ever felt like you’re missing something? Like you need to be somewhere while you’re busy wasting time some place else? Ever felt like you’re on the wrong road and you need to take a U-turn quickly, back to the crossroads?

It’s cliche but our lives can very rightly be compared to a long stretch of road – a highway. No road is perfectly smooth all the way, there are good bits and there are bumps too. Sometimes, there are portions of uncarpeted road that really shake you up. It’s easy to grumble whenever you hit a bump in the road but to derive a real meaning from it is the difficult part. What did that have to do with wasting time, “missing” something, feeling unsure about yourself? There’s a very simple connection really.

For a few days now, I’ve been feeling very restless, often slightly sad. When I wake up in the morning, I’m not as cheerful as I was earlier. I go through my day like a machine – college, hospital, college, home, meals, sleep. Even bedtime has suddenly become very strange – it’s like I’ve stopped feeling any emotion. The reason for such distress is obvious – I’ve stopped making active effort to remember Allah. I’ll hum to myself but I won’t do Dhikr. I’ll yawn off to sleep but I won’t remember Allah as I should. Most of all, I’m not thinking deeply about anything at all – like the foam on the sea, I float on the surface, not satisfying my soul’s desire to reflect on my passing time.

I feel so guilty now at having done what I did that repenting and returning suddenly seems so difficult. How many times have you been through this yourself? The truth is, we’re all on the same road and we experience such trying times at different points. Yesterday, I felt my Iman growing strong and today, I can’t look myself in the mirror for having sunk so low in my own eyes.

What can be done now? Should I continue on the wrong path or take a U-turn? Where are the directions? Will Allah accept my late return? Will my Iman grow strong again?

“Say: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Do not despair of the Mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Zumar 39: Verse 53)

This ayah gave me confidence and renewed my faith in the guidance of Allah through His Words. It taught me that whatever thoughts of “It’s too late now, I won’t be accepted in Allah’s Mercy again, might as well go on in this miserable existence” come to our mind are from Shaitan and reality is indeed very optimistic.

Now, is that enough? Should we simply stop after that ayah or is there a need to take practical steps to avoid another slip? And how will I climb the Iman ladder now that I’ve found it Alhamdolillah? The next ayah answers that directly.

“And turn in repentance and obedience with true Faith to your Lord and submit to Him before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped. And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord, before the torment comes on you suddenly, while you perceive not.” (Surah Zumar 39: Verses 54-55)

So, feeling sad or restless with one’s declining Iman is a mercy - a chance to change our lives and be reborn from the ashes. The bump in the road is not always a low-point.  For now, I need to go work to regain what I’ve lost, InshAllah. I’ll share  my experiences here InshAllah so that when you hit that road bump, you know exactly where you are and where you need to be. A Muslim’s life is not a deserted highway, Alhamdolillah!

Ramadan, Ramadan, Ramadan

Assalam-o-alaikum!

Ramadan Kareem! May Allah accept from me and from you (fast, prayers)!

This beautiful month that we’re currently going through is truly a blessing from Allah. Some might see it as interruption of their normal routine and having to go hungry and without water for long hours – but that’s just one way of looking at it, and it’s certainly not Islam’s point of view! This month gives us the opportunity, through that change in routine, to stop and reflect upon our lives and priorities. For eleven months, we’re stuck in a more-or-less fixed routine that eventually makes us lose sight of the big picture – in fact, few even know there’s a ‘big picture’ to life at all!

Alhamdolillah for Ramadan! This month is like a large alerting sign on a highway – “Watch out! Remember Allah before you reach the end of your journey” – and it removes that drowsiness that comes upon the lone driver on a long journey. Ramadan really and truly opens your eyes to a higher goal in life, to connect everything to Allah. Even people who’re not close to the Quran and do not practice Islam in their lives, do feel there’s something special about this month. As for those who do recognize the value of this month and sincerely fast, pray and try to purify themselves, this month is a true gem!

For me, Ramadan this year feels really special. All praise and gratitude be to Allah, I’m thinking more and more about the goal of life and the Day of Judgment. Every moment is a gift from Allah to keep on doing good, to keep adding to our accounts deeds that will help us on the Day of Accountability. This time that we have right now is like the preparation time before giving an exam – those who have sense will prepare well ahead and will prepare well for the date they know is sure to arrive. As for those who live in a state of denial and have a half-hearted approach towards preparing, their nervous state and total disarray on the exam day is something any student can imagine. Similarly, we are currently in the preparation state – how serious are you about your exam?

I just finished reading two books, “Gems and Jewels” and “The Precious Pearls” by Darussalam publishers. The tidbits and lessons from Islamic history and sayings of scholars in “Gems and Jewels” were quite eye-opening. “The Precious Pearls”, a book about the ten companions who were given the glad tidings of Paradise by the Prophet(saw), is equally amazing. What hit me, in both these books, was the amazing and inspiring conviction of faith that raised the ranks of men and women in the Sight of Allah. They believed 100% what they received from the Prophet(saw) and they were prepared to give away their wealth, bear physical injuries and even sacrifice their lives in the Way of Islam. To read about these people and their services for mankind really made me reflect, “What have I done for Islam? How has my Islam made a different to my life? Am I making a difference to humanity? What am I doing to further the message of Islam?”

If I can find solutions to these questions this Ramadan, I will have gained a treasure!

The Blind Man’s Son

“Doctor, please have a look at my son. He can’t see properly and keeps bumping into things.”

I looked up from my study group in the Eye ward to see a man enter the room with a young boy. The father could not have been older than forty and the son looked to be about eight years old. The first thing I noticed about the father was that he seemed to have a “cloudy” left eye but as I pointed it out to my friend, she corrected me. “He’s blind,” she said softly. It was a painful truth – the man held his son’s shoulder and when he talked, he did not really look at the doctor.

The small room was quite crowded with patients and the doctor quickly sent away the father. “Go register him outside and get his eyesight checked,” said the doctor without a second look. He had other patients waiting for him.

My heart went out to the poor father and son. Leaving our class, my friend and I hurried out to make sure they made it to the registration desk. The innocent little boy who couldn’t see properly and, with his mouth hanging open slightly, tried to make sense of his hazy world was our major concern. The duo got through the registration, free at this government-run hospital in the heart of Karachi and then proceeded to the makeshift eye testing chart on the other end of the Hall. We were relieved, thinking it would be smooth for them now.

“Don’t come here! Go to the pediatric department OPD there!” said the doctor’s assistant impatiently, at the eye-testing desk. My friend and I were horrified by the pathetic manner in which this poor father and son were being treated. All the while, the father would enquire where to go and then encourage his son to lead the way… a young eight-year-old in desperate need of assistance.

We followed them into the Pediatric OPD off the hall. More disappointment awaited the father and as he became agitated, we knew we had to intervene. The help-desk informed us that that the father and son would have to return next week for a two-hour test and could not just take up some one else’s turn today.

“But you don’t know how difficult it is for me to get here! Can’t I please just meet Mr. Edhi?” the worried father pleaded, referring to the senior Professor of the Eye ward, who was famous for his expertise. “I just need to get my child’s retina checked please!”

A young father with his innocent son – all he wanted was to make sure his son would not suffer the same fate and lose his sight. We tried to do explain to him that he would have to return the next week, early in the morning, for an appointment. It was impossible not to sympathize with their situation – the father was a government employee as a wireless operator in the police department. His son was in grade one, with a bright and friendly little face.

“I just want to get his retina checked. Okay, I’ll come back next week at 8:30 am. Will you be able to help me please?” the father asked us, hope and worry etched in his tone. We provided reassurances – it was all we could do. A quick on the eye-chart had revealed the son had an astonishingly low visual acuity…6/60 in both eyes. The next test would reveal what had to be done. For now, they had to return with nothing achieved.

“They all want to meet the professor. They don’t want to consult with us,” said a doctor who’d witnessed the scene. He was half-right – patients sometimes focus on one thing only but in this case, I wondered whether doctors (and we students, as future doctors) needed to think about where we were going wrong. True, there were many deserving patients in the hall who were there first but who could help the blind man’s son?

He prayed for us for helping him through but it was him that we should have been thankful to, I now feel. Looking at those two, whose heart could not have melted? The greatest concern that a parent has is the welfare of his or her child and this handicapped father was battling for his son’s eyes.

They hobbled away to the exit – the blind father and his young son, each strengthening the other, making their way through the thick crowd.

(The above took place on 7th August, 2008 at the Eye OPD in Civil Hospital, Karachi. Please pray for the welfare of the the father and son!)

Towards the Light – Summer Course 2008

 

This is the promo flyer for the Towards the Light summer course 2008 which will commence soon at Khayban-e-Sehr, Phase 6, DHA, Karachi. I’ll be volunteering there as well, InshAllah, as a teacher so I’ll be looking forward to seeing blog readers or siblings and childrens of the readers, as students! There’s a lot planned for the young girls to make for an Iman-building and refreshing three weeks, dotted with activities and interactive forums. There’s also an outdoor exercise for community service so that no matter what we do, we do not forget our responsbilities towards our fellow humanbeings.

I’ll be back to blog again soon, InshAllah, just as soon as I get over this last week of exams, InshAllah.

Assalam-o-alaikum!

Ameera