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Saturday 21 June 2008

Istiqamah (steadfastness)

Istiqamah (steadfastness)

Asalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu!

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, we suffer and struggle sooo much for this life, revising till the break of dawn for our exams, chasing after our desires and needs, working till the late hours of the night for decent wages. We struggle so much for this life.

Determination is a great thing, to have the willpower and strength to do somethig but why do we leave this determination when it comes to Islam? Why do we forget our Deen??? Where does that determination go when Fajr comes in? Where is that willpower when we must lower our gaze? Where is that strength of mind when others question our Deen???

Dear sisters and brothers of the Ummah, we are in this world for a very SHORT period, whereas the hereafter (the Akhirah) is eternal. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what we get in exams, how much we earn, what car we drive or how big our houses are. All these trivial things will not help us attain Jannah! Only our actions which we carried out will avail.

Lets look at the hardships Bilal radi Allahu anhu, the Mu’addhin of Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa salam suffered. He did not doubt Allah, betray Allah or renounce his Islamic obligations... not even ONCE!!!! But us! We watch silly old soaps and when Magrib time arrives, we say, “o.k., just another 5 more minutes!”

As Muslims our first and foremost responsibility is to Allah, not to our TV’s!!!

Bilal radi Allahu anhu was one of the most illustrious sahabah the Ummah has seen, he was the Mu’addhin of the Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa salam.

Bilal was an Abyssinian slave and belonged to a disbeliever in Mecca.

His conversion to Islam naturally brought the wrath of his owner and the other disbelievers of Mecca, and therefore he was persecuted mercilessly by him and other disbelievers.

Ummayah bin Khalaf, one of the worst enemies of Islam, would make Bilal radi Allahu anhu lie down on the burning sand of Mecca at midday and would place a heavy stone on his chest, so heavy that poor Bilal r.a couldn’t even move a limb or a muscle, finding it hard to breathe even!
Ummayah bin Khalaf would then say to him:
“Renounce Islam or swelter and die.”

Even under these brutal afflictions, Bilal r.a. would proudly exclaim:
“Ahad” – The One (Allah). “Ahad” – The One (Allah).
And this happened day in, day out, on a constant basis!

This is not all brothers and sisters!!!!

The torturers would get tired carrying out this gruesome punishment, so Ummayah would take turns with Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab and others. They would compete with one another in afflicting Bilal, but Bilal radi Allahu anhu not budge.

For such love he had for Allah and His Messenger salallahu alayhi wa salam that once he tasted the sweetness of Imaan, he would not remove its beauty from his heart!

These persecutions carried on until Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu bought Bilal radi Allahu anhu freedom, and Bilal became a free Muslim.


This shows Bilal r.a’s love and devotion to Allah. Allah was so dear to him that no amount of persecution could distract him from reciting Allah’s Blessed name.

The urchins of Mecca would drag him in the hills of Mecca, with his words “Ahad! Ahad!” would echo in Mecca Mukarramah

SubhanAllah, look how Allah the Almighty rewarded Bilal radi Allahu anhu for his steadfastness! Allah the Almighty gave Bilal radi Allahu anhu the honour of becoming the Prophet’s salallahu alayhi wa salam Mu’addhin! Bilal was to remain with him (salallahu alayhi wa salam) at home and abroad to call out the Athaan for Salah.

SubhanAllah just imagine! Being in such blessed company 24/7!!!

After the Prophet's salallahu alayhi wa salam death, it became very hard for Bilal radi Allahu anhu to continue his stay in Madinah where he would miss his beloved Nabi salallahu alayhi wa salam. Every step, every corner reminded Bilal radi Allahu anhu of the time he spent with the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam. Bilal therefore left Madinah, and decided to pass the rest of his life striving in the path of Allah. Once he saw the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam in his dream saying to him:
“O Bilal! How is it that you never visit me?”

No sooner did Bilal get up and set out for Madinah, on reaching there he met the Prophet's salallahu alayhi wa salam grandsons Hasan and Husain radi Allahu anhuma who requested Bilal radi Allahu anhu to call out the Athaan, Bilal radi Allahu anhu could not refuse them, for they were very dear to him.

As Bilal radi Allahu anhu called out the Athaan, the people of Madinah cried out openly, bursting in tears due to the anguish at the memory of the days of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam, even the women came out from their houses weeping.

Bilal left Madinah after a few days, and died in Damascus in 20 A.H.

Look my dear brothers and sisters! Look at the tribulations Bilal radi Allahu anhu faced for Islam, Alhumdulilah, Islam is widely accepted in our society and we don’t have to face such torture. Is it tooo much to ask to pray on time? To fast in Ramadhan? To keep and revive the Sunnah of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam in our lives??


Wassalaam, Mehak!

5 comments:

Abu Ubaidah said...

Mashallah, Very good post. May Allah grant you and those who read your post Istiqamat and Tawfiq. Keep up the good work!

Wassalaam.

Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaykum,

mashallah! A very well written post. May Allah 'azza wa jal give us Istiqamah in our lives so we dont feel the need to question Him everytime we bring affliction via our own hands. Ameen.

Amatullah said...

Assalamu 'Alaykum,

Jazakillahu khair sis for the beautiful post. May Allah make us among those who are steadfast on the Deen, Ameen.

Wassalamu 'Alaykum

Anonymous said...

wow! Sallaaam my 'dear sister Mehak!!' great post masha'Allah,
keep them coming!(",)

Umm_Umaarah said...

Walaikum Asalaam Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu dearest Brothers n Sisters of the Ummah!

JazakAllah Khairun 4 ur kind words, Indeed all praise is rather due to Allah Azza Wa Jal, Who has made me able to share such knowledge with u, InshAllah may it be the first of many to come.

Indeed, we should make dua to Allah Subhana' wa'taala, to make us steadfast in His beautiful Deen n make us able 2 spread the knowledge we acquire, even if it be one ayah! ameen!!!

The path 2 Allah is like a ladder, NEVER STOP CLIMBING that ladder 4 u might fall back down into jahilliyah! x

Keep the Ummah in your duas, Wassalaam, XXX SISTER IN ISLAM XXX


Saheeh al-Bukhari