Status of the Hafiz- Part 2

Let us take a look at further aspects that separate those who are doing hifz from the rest of the youth. When everyone else is asleep during the early parts of the morning, that hifz student is already out of the house, in the path of knowledge. Then there is the actual reward of reading the Quran. For every single letter that is recited the recitor will receive a reward, and due to the large amount of recitation done by a student of the Quran, one can only imagine the rewards he/she will receive. A further benefit that a hafiz receives is the knowledge he receives while spending time in the company of his ustaad. This time is more valuable than other act which our youth indulge in today. It is also mentioned in a narration that on the day of qiyaamah, amongst those who will be granted shade beneath the Arsh of Allah will be a person who looked after his youth, and don’t you think that a child who spent his youth in the memorisation of the Quran has “looked after his youth”?

However it is not only the duty of a hafiz to fulfil the responsibilities of Quran, but that is the responsibility of the entire community. Today the Quran is been neglected by a large number of Muslims, and by neglected I don’t mean that they just don’t read Quran, but the Quran can be neglected on many fronts e.g.
1)    Not listening to the Quran
2)    Not reading the Quran (with proper tajweed)
3)    Not relying on Quran and not increasing one's imaan through it
4)    Not taking out time to reflect on the Quran and its teaching
5)    Not implementing Quraanic injunctions and not inculcating its teachings in our lives

With all this said I would like to discuss a matter of personal concern. I want to know where is the respect for the Quran, the people of Quran and the Ulumah disappeared to?

It is sad to see that people get so worked up when they hear of disrespect to the Quran in the USA etc. yet the disrespect the Quran itself and the people of Quran around them. I not saying don’t get angry, but is it not the same Quran that is being burnt there, and the Quran memorised by a hafiz the same? Most definitely it is, so how can you be so hypocritical on one side and get angry about the abuse to to Quran, while on the other hand you abuse a person who has that same Quran in his heart. A sad yet common practice among many today is to try and take out the faults of these scholars. By doing this they try to justify their own faults and some even go to the extent of overlooking their own faults, and focusing on the faults of the scholars. Firstly it is not a quality of a Muslim to look for faults in others and publicise them, secondly people should look within themselves first before looking at the faults of others, and lastly we all make mistakes even the learned, but this is not a reason for other people to justify their faults.

 

One must remember that just because an Aalim made a mistake it does not mean that you can do the same. The scholars are special servants of Allah and should be respected at all times.

Disrespect towards the learned is a sign of qiyaamah as narrated in this Hadith:

Muhammad (SAW) made Du’aa to Allah Taa’la by saying, ‘O Allah (Taa’la) let Me not be alive and may you (O Sahaabah!) also not be alive at such a time when the Aalim will not be followed and when no respect will be shown to the wise-learned ones. The people of that time will have hearts like the kuffaar and their tongues will be eloquently sweet like the tongue of the Arabs.”

 

The problem is that we do not truly appreciate the true value and blessing in Quran, we do not appreciate our Huffaz and scholars. Go to parts of the world where Quran is not as easily available, and countries where Huffaz are few in number then you will see true respect for the book of Allah. Through personal experience I can tell you that. In my travels to a foreign land, I was sitting in the back of taxi, and when the passenger in the front heard I was a hafiz, he stopped the car and made me sit in front. When I questioned him about this, he said how can his back face the Quran. This is true respect and love for Quran. How fortunate are we that we have Huffaz who can perform the taraweeh salaah. Go and ask people in parts of the world where there is no Huffaz what they won’t give just to have one night of taraweeh.  I know of incidents where in Saudi Arabia, the holiest lands on earth, the local people were eating with some South Africans, and they eat on the floor, and when they heard one of the South Africans was a hafiz, they actually refused to let him sit with them, but they gave him a chair to raise him of the ground so as not to be on the same level as the rest of them. This is the true respect and love that one should have for the words of Allah and those who have memorised it.

 

In conclusion, to those who Allah has blessed with the gift of the Quran take care of this gift. Live and die by Quran and be exemplary examples for others to follow. To those becoming hafiz, remember that this is a blessed task you have undertaken, you were chosen by Allah for the task of preserving the Quran. Becoming a hafiz is and should be the greatest aspiration for youth. Turn to Allah for help and ask him for guidance. Never give up as the rewards are endless and unimaginable.

To those who are not hafiz, respect those who are and learn from them. Spend time in the company of the pious and fulfil your quraanic duties. Make dua that Allah guides the Huffaz of today, and help them in their task. Take the duas of the pious, and remember it is never too late to start memorising the Quran.

A pious person one said, “One who carries the Quran, is carrying the banner of Islam”

ZAKARIYYA KAKA

 

Status of the Hafiz- Part 1

 “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (15:9)

*It is written in the Hadith: Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (Radhiyallaho anho) narrated that Rasulullah (SAW) said, ‘If the Qur’an is placed in a skin and then put in the fire, it will not get burned.’

All praise is due to Allah Ta’ala alone for the priceless bounty of the Qur’an-al-Kareem. May our lives be sacrificed for the Glorious Qur’an. Hence those who have been especially chosen by Allah Ta’ala as a means to protect and safeguard His pure Book are extremely fortunate indeed. These special people are the Huffaz (plural of Hafiz). They are a manifestation of Allah Ta’ala’s Majesty and Power, that Allah Ta’ala showered His mercy upon them and enabled them to commit the Glorious Qur’an to memory. Memorising a book as voluminous as the Qur’an-al-Kareem is indeed a miracle — a miracle of the Qur’an which Allah Ta’ala has made manifest through His special servants. An indeed these are the most special of his servants.

Let’s look at the status, position and benefits of been a hafiz. The wealth and bounties of all the earth put together cannot even equal to one ayah, yet how fortunate and blessed a hafiz is, as they are able to memorise the entire Quran, which on its own is a miracle. Another great benefit is the mere fact that on the day of qiyaamah, when everyone will be in turmoil, only certain people will be allowed to intercede on the behalf of others, and among these selected few is the Huffaz. This mere fact is an indication of the noble and great position that the guardians of the Quran hold in the court of Allah. They are also amongst the BEST of people, and this is not me who is saying this brothers and sisters, but the Nabi (saw) himself as he declared in the following Hadith: "The best among you is he who learns the Qur’an and teaches it" (Tirmizi). 

It also comes in a Hadith that on the day of qiyaamah the parent of that hafiz will be wearing a crown that will be brighter than the sun. If this is just the status of the parents, can we imagine the status of the Huffaz?  Other benefits that the hafiz will receive are narrated in the following Hadith.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Qur’an will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honor to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honor.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse you will gain one more hasanah (reward for good deed).”

To emphasis the status of a hafiz, or a person who has memorised some portions of the Quran, after the battle of Uhud, when the Nabi (saw) was burying the martyrs, he would wrap two of them in a single sheet and then bury them. However one instance the Prophet (saw) asked which of the two men was more learned in Quran. When he was told which of the two he was, he said to lower him down first and bury him slightly separately from the other companion. This mere act shows what great esteem the Prophet (saw) had for the people of the Quran.

However for me as a hafiz the greatest benefit of becoming a hafiz lies in this next Hadith; Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Verily Allah Ta’ala has family members among the people." "Who are is Family?" asked the Sahaaba (Radhiallahu Anhum). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The people of the Qur’an. They are the family of Allah and His special people!"

Subhanallah! What an honour has been bestowed upon the hafiz. To be a part of the “family” of Allah must be one of the highest positions that one can attain.

It is recorded that Ali (ra) the fourth khalipha in Islam once mentioned, “Had it not been for those people who recite Quran and perform Tahajud, then there would have been a tremor across the earth every morning.”

I now ask the question, “Can there be a greater privilege than been a hafiz?” I think not.

Just as Allah hand-picked from his creation, special individuals to be Prophets (as), so too has Allah specifically chosen certain individuals to become Huffaz. He has chosen these people as guardians of His word, he has chosen these people to lead the ummah in salaah, he has chosen these people to be part of His “family”, he has made these people among the elite few to be granted permission to intercede on behalf of others on the day of Qiyaamah and the parents of that hafiz will wear a crown as bright as the sun on the day of Qiyaamah. Do you think that Allah will bestow such a great honour and privilege on just any person? I don’t think so. The hafiz is most certainly different from others. Allah has chosen an elite few to look after such a great amaanah. Blessed are those who Allah has chosen to be the guardians and protectors of his speech and his book.

It is also important to note that even though Allah has given the gift of Quran to a few, they have the greatest responsibility, in looking after it, preserving it and living by it, and always remember that this gift can be taken away from you at any moment and be given to someone more deserving.

 

ZAKARIYYA KAKA

Poem:

A poem by Aaisha Vawda on the journey of Hifz 

It has been a dream

For as long as you can remember.
Ten years ago, you began a journey.
Tentative steps to fulfil an ambition. You strived through difficulty,
And then
As promised
The ease that followed.

Years passed

You wondered if you would ever fulfil this desire.
But you did not give up.

Each step brought you closer to the finish line…

 

Awakened a desire to turn this dream into a reality.

You heard the whispers that it’s impossible.
Not this kind of dream
And definitely not you.
You don’t deserve it.
It is only for those
Whom your Creator has Hand-Picked.
The ones who will become part of His Family.
The ones who  will be deserving of such honourable titles,
The  ones who will carry His Flawless Book
Protectors of His Noble Word

The whispers

Motivated you to work harder
To fulfil this dream.

And so you continued…

Closer and closer
To the finish line…
To discover that this journey never ends…

Now your journey begins...

Poem: Unlike Them

A poem taken from the Wordpress blog Seeking Sincerity

They’re pretty, they’re smart,
And their gorgeous hairdos
Sure make fashion statements without a doubt,
While I’m covered up in this garment, “ugly and loose”.

When they walk, they attract huge crowds,
Their speech leaves people amused,
They shine in the spotlight, loud and proud,
While I sit silent and dumb, “feeling refused”.

Everybody loves to befriend them,
Cause of their popularity.
While I’m “a victim of shame,”
Laughed at, getting only looks of pity.

They’re known by their names,
While even to know my name people are afraid.
They get roses, gifts and ice-creams,
While I get called like, sometimes a “ninja,” sometimes a “towelhead”.

They go for parties, looking their best,
And on dates, they forget everything else,
Hand-in-hand with their lovers, filled with zest.
While I always must lower my gaze.

They think I love their life and hate mine,
That, like them, I too wanna be famous and cool.
But the truth is I’m just fine,
Cause my religion is simply beautiful.

I might seem “lonely” and “deprived”,
But honestly, I’ve got everything I could ever want.
The freedom Islam has given me makes me feel complete and satisfied.
It’s they who have gone astray, lost and are bound.

Bound by this world,
By its money, fame and transient pleasures,
Deceived by Satan’s tricks; all bleak and cold,
Cause what are we but mortal creatures?

They don’t realize life is a test
The result of which we shall get in the next,
Because they’re not Muslims like you and me,
But Hindu, Christian, Atheist, Buddhist, or Pharisee.

Either caught in the web of so-called “reincarnation,”
Or maybe thinking Christ died for them,
Or not even believing in Creation,
Or engaged in mere lip-service, playing pretend.

They might brag about their clothes and guys,
And strut their stuff;
But only to pay a heavy price for their choice so unwise,
Choosing this world over the next is sure strange enough.

Well I choose to be unlike them;
Because, unlike them, I’m blessed with the truth;
Unlike them, I choose my Lord’s pleasure over deceptive fame;
And, unlike them, I choose to strive in His Path until my last breath.

Poem: The Taste of Death

A poem by Sara Bawany

What if your day had arrived?
Imagine if your entire life was a lie.
Assess yourself as your sins flash by;
You’re wasting your youth and you don’t know why.
Tears flow, but there’s no time left to cry -
You’ve got one last breath, one last sigh.

The Angel of Death has come too soon;
He snatches your soul with a startling boom.
In an instant, you know that you are doomed.
“Kullu nafsin dhaa iqatul maut. Thumma ilayna tur ja’oon.”
He warned you, He warned you; did He not warn you?
Hunched over, you’re miserable in a state of gloom.
Did you really believe that you were immune?

You’re made to enter your grave alone,
Compressed beneath your worldly throne.
Munkar and Nakir arrive; you’re now in the test zone.
“Who is Your Lord? Prophet? Book?” “I don’t know,” you moan.
Eternal punishment begins; it’s too late to atone
With the pressure of your sins squeezing your bones.
For ages to come, this pit will be your home.

You lived among many but you died alone, here with no allies,
Yet you know that you haven’t reached your final demise,
And when the Day of Judgment finally arrives,
When the trumpet is blown, out of your grave you arise.
The records prove you’re condemned; why were you so unwise?
Every beat of your heart echoes screams and cries.
Your shameful book of deeds can never be revised.

Before you, hellfire is set ablaze;
Its sparks leap to and fro in a craze.
The doomed are shocked and paralyzed in a haze,
Sorely regretting all the wasted nights and days.
The message of Allah had been clearly conveyed,
But all you did was go far, far astray.

"كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ"

What is Death?

A scholar once said: ‘Death is like an arrow in flight – your life ends the moment it reaches its destination’…

We have all been granted a great blessing and that is LIFE. Many of us take this Ni'mat for granted as we are so engrossed in life that we actually don't realise that this life is not going to last forever.

 

*“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children” (57:20)

 

We are so involved in the amusement of this world, that love for this dunya takes over our heart. We are so distracted by the enjoyment and pleasure of this world that we fail to realise our true purpose in this dunya. We have to realise the basic truth: that all of us will die one day, we will all return to our Lord to account for our deeds. Allah says : كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ

 – Every soul shall taste death (3:185).

And this death will take us from this life of temporary existence to a life of Eternity, either of pleasure or of torment.

Are we ready to die? Have we prepared for this inevitable journey? Have we prepared for the final destination? Are we ready for the life hereafter? Ready for such a journey in which we will be alone, without money, status, position, loved ones or friends. Alone in our grave, where none will give us company but our good deeds?

Who Is Your Lord?

What Is Your Religion?

Who Is This Man? [You Will Be Shown A Picture Of Nabi (SAW)]

 

Will we be able to answer to these questions with ease?

How do we prepare for this journey? Allah, the Merciful gives us the answer Himself:

* "And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa" (2:197)

*"And the day we die, the drive will be on that Day to your Lord" (75:30)

 

Are we ready to face our Lord? The truth is that most of us are not. When death will come some will beg of Allah to spare them.

 

* "My Lord send me back" (23:99)

And what is the reason? They will say:

*"So that I may do good in that which I have left behind" (23:100).

 

But pay heed! That day has not come as yet. Why not perform those good deeds while we are able to do so, when the angel has not yet come, so that we do not have to ask for more time, which will not be granted.

 

Let’s weep for ourselves, before we are wept for.

Let’s hold ourselves accountable, before we are held accountable.

Let’s compel ourselves to read our Salah, before the Salah is read for us!

*"Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. But the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever " (55:26-7)

O Allah! Make the agonies of death easy on us, when death comes. Make us firm during that moment when the tongue becomes heavy, the eyes closed, and the shrouds being prepared. Afterwards, take us to Paradise with your mercy. Ameen.

 

*Ayesha Amra*

They Call Me "Orphan"

On 24 February, Sunday, the Islamic schools were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to adopt an orphanage and treat the kids there for the day. This was an event organised by the ISMSA (Muslim Students Association). Alhamdulillah, the day went well as the atmosphere was surrounded with Allah's Muhabbat and Rahma. The feelings that these children arouse in us, and the smiles they brought to our faces could not compare to anything.

Although the day was quite successful and humbling, there was just one thing that seriously made my blood boil. Throughout the 5 hours that we were there interacting with the kids, my friends and I noticed something quite disturbing- most of the students and guides who were there kept referring to the kids as 'orphans' to their faces. Statements such as "come take an orphan to play with" and "all the orphans come on this side" were being used right in front of these kids with no worry or hesitation.

At first, my friends and I just assumed that we were being paranoid about the whole situation, but however, our concerns were confirmed when we overheard the bigger girls from the orphanage discussing the issue and being totally raged by the cruel and harsh word being hauled at them

Where do we get this idea that we can mistreat the less-fortunate? Why do we feel that, because we are giving them our time and money, we are superior to them and we can show disrespect to their feelings? How would we feel if we were in the same situation and people kept reminding us of our misfortune by labelling us a "orphan"? Are these kids not human beings just like you and I? What would the Prophet (SAW) think of our appalling behaviour?

We all know that the Prophet (SAW), himself, was an orphan yet he was the best of mankind. People respected him, they loved him, they envied him, and most importantly, they referred to him and called him with utmost respect.

We should understand that injustice and oppression to the orphans brings severe punishment in this world as well as Hereafter. In the same way kind and gentle behaviour towards them earns countless rewards in this world, as well as the Hereafter. Especially blessed by Allah are those who protect the orphans and take the responsibility of being guardians to them. Numerous traditions have been recorded concerning this. A few of these are quoted below.

Hazrat Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (AS) says: 

"One who maintains the orphans, Allah makes Paradise Wajib upon him, in the same way as he makes Hell Wajib upon those who usurp the property of the orphans."

The Holy Prophet (SAW) says: 

"I and one who maintains an orphan would be together in Paradise in the presence of Allah, in the same way as these two fingers are together."

And he pointed out to his index and the middle finger joined together.

According to a tradition, The Holy Prophet (SAW) and one who maintains an orphan, will not be separated nor would there be any barrier between them in Paradise.

The Prophet (SAW) has also stated: 

"If anyone from you becomes the guardian of an orphan and deals kindly with them, and he fulfils these actions satisfactorily, and he strokes the head of the orphan with sympathy, then Allah necessarily writes good deeds equivalent to the hair covered by his hand and forgives sins equal to the number of hair, and raises his position in grades equal to the hair of the orphan's head."

Elsewhere the Holy Prophet (SAW) has been reported to have said: 

"When an orphan cries the Heaven shudders, then Almighty Allah says, 'O Angels, Is this the same orphan whose father has been buried in the earth?' The Angels reply, '(O Allah) You are the All-Knowing.'

Then Allah would say, 'O My Angel be a witness. Whoever consoles this orphan and makes him happy, I will make him happy on the day of Qiyamat.'"

All the hadith above emphasise the status of an orphan and how important it is to be kind to them and to look after them. We should refrain from being the cause of their pain or sadness.

Let's start from today, let's achieve our Jannah by being kind to and showing love and mercy towards an orphan.

 

ѕнιяα.ѕυ∂ι ♡♥

Poem: They Call Me "Orphan"

They call me orphan.

What is this harsh word?

Ngazalwa uba mina?

Angiyiyo ingane na?

They look down on me,

they pity me.

They call me orphan.

What is this harsh word?

Nami ngifana nawe nje.

You shower me with gifts

"this poor orphan child",they say.

Is it really worth it?...

You label me with this sorrowful title

That title...

A constant reminder

of what I don't have.

They call me "orphan"

Does this define me?

My name is Halima.

I am a child.

A human being.

Just like you!

By Najma Canthitoo, Khadijah Desai and Shira Sudi.(dedicated to Queen Bee)

A Slit for Bieber..?

With my mind wandering elsewhere, I quickly rushed through my fardh of Maghrib, not even worrying about the sunnah and nafl I was leaving out. And as for Dua.. There was just no time. Perhaps I could make Istighfaar later on. I mean, Allah is the Most Forgiving, so surely, I would be forgiven for this.

I rushed to the living room, switched on the television, eager to watch the Live Justin Bieber Concert which would be starting any moment now.

Does this sound familiar?? How many of us are guilty of ignoring our religious duties so that we don't miss our favourite movie, episode or show in which our favourite drop-dead gorgeous star acts???

We, as humans, are not perfect. That is why we have role models or "idols" whom we look up to and sometimes imitate because, to us, they are the greatest thing ever.

The issue with this, however, is that, nowadays, the youth choose self-centred, obnoxious and mindless celebrities to be their role models. They practically worship everything about these superstars.

One celebrity who has made it big in the entertainment industry is singer, Justin Bieber. The young superstar came into the spotlight and stole young girls' hearts with his singing and his looks. With millions of fans (called the Beliebers), Justin Bieber is practically one of the most worshipped and idolised young personalities in the world.

Justin Bieber fans have been known to act wild and outlandish when it comes to supporting their idol. However, some fans may have taken methods to the extreme with messages they sent Bieber on Twitter asking him to stop smoking marijuana. It was reported that Bieber fans were asked to slit their wrists to protest the music icon's choice to use marijuana as a recreational drug.

The fans were less than pleased when pictures surfaced online of Justin Bieber smoking marijuana while in California.

To show their displeasure, Bieber fans were asked jokingly on Twitter to send in pictures of them cutting themselves in protest of Justin Bieber using marijuana.

The initial posts were made as an incredibly harmful, disgusting prank. A user posted a message stating, "Let's start a cut yourself for Bieber campaign. Tweet a bunch of pics of people cutting themselves and claim we did it because Bieber was smoking weed. See if we can get some little girls to cut themselves."

Although the Twitter post was initially sent as a joke, Bieber fans took it literally and began to tweet pictures of themselves with slashed wrists and bloody blades. The fans even created the #CutForBieber hashtag.

Just think about it... millions of young people out there, all placing a sharp blade to their wrist, cutting themselves, all in the name of Justin Bieber, their supposed "role model" who was caught doing drugs!!

This incident is one of the many gruesome and outrageous acts done by people out of love and in support of their favourite celebrity. And, Unfortunately, this foolish way of thinking has creeped into the lives of many Muslims also. In Muslim homes today, you find pictures of these celebrities on the walls, duvet covers are of these rock stars, a 100 CD's of the latest Rock songs, a million DVD's of the latest movies with the hottest movie stars, and the in wardrobes.. All the clothes are inspired by these celebrities.

We have the best of religions and the best of Role models, Prophet Muhammed (SAW), so then, why the need to imitate other nations and cultures? Why the need to adopt and imitate these worthless people as our role models?

Hadhrat Ibn Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, `Whoever imitates a nation (in its ways and culture) becomes one of them.' (Abu Dawood)

By adopting even the appearance of the non-Muslims, that in itself is association with them and is therefore sinful.

Why do we Muslims, being the best of Ummah, feel that we need to follow others to be successful or happy? We should learn to lead by example, and let others follow in our footsteps, instead of following the West in all their corrupt way.

So...if you find yourself wanting to be a reckless idiot and cutting your wrist or doing some other crazy thing for a worthless celebrity.... Then go right ahead...but, after having cut yourself, just think... WAS IT WORTH IT ??!  The blood loss,the pain,the disgust...

 

Justin Bieber (or any other celebrity for that matter) doesn't even know you exist! He doesn't know your name, he doesn't know how much you suffered for him. He doesn't care! You just a fan who helps him make a living. Don't be fooled when he says 'My fans...I love you!...you make me!'

Basically.. Just Be.. Yourself :)

 

ѕнιяα.ѕυ∂ι ♡♥