My.mini.gemboard.instructor

[Muhammad Alshareef]

Bismillah.
I was reading a book and this gem came to mind. I wanted to write it before i forgot:

Regarding punishing killer storms, it is mentioned: "The basic rule of storms is that they continue until they're out of energy. They run out of energy when the imbalance that created them is corrected!"
I was like "SUBHAN ALLAH!". Do you know what the Arabic word for imbalance is? Dhulm!

...and the punishing killer storm, a punishment from Allah, will not cease until the imbalance is corrected. Subhan Allah! The punishment will not stop until balance - justice - is restored. It will not stop until humanity returns to the balance of justice: alubodiyyah lillaah!

والسماء رفعها ووضع الميزان
55:7 And the Heaven He raised high, and He set up the Balance (of Justice)

[Umm Reem]

Bismillah.
I was reading a book and this gem came to mind. I wanted to write it before i forgot:

Regarding punishing killer storms, it is mentioned: "The basic rule of storms is that they continue until they're out of energy. They run out of energy when the imbalance that created them is corrected!"
I was like "SUBHAN ALLAH!". Do you know what the Arabic word for imbalance is? Dhulm!

...and the punishing killer storm, a punishment from Allah, will not cease until the imbalance is corrected. Subhan Allah! The punishment will not stop until balance - justice - is restored. It will not stop until humanity returns to the balance of justice: alubodiyyah lillaah!

والسماء رفعها ووضع الميزان
55:7 And the Heaven He raised high, and He set up the Balance (of Justice)

SubhanAllah amazing...JazakAllah khair shaikh for sharing this with us.

[Muhammad Alshareef]

*Gem*
When a weather man comes on TV and warns people of a destructive punishing hurricane. Emergency evacuations are in effect. What are the reactions of people to his warning?

a. They take heed of the warning and prepare accordingly, thus saving themselves and their loved ones.

b. They ignore the message and go on living life as normal. When emergency personnal command them to leave their homes, they resist. These people are destroyed for their heedlessness. Their home is torn from the earth or they drown or freeze to death.

c. a third group ridicules the weatherman! They call him a lunatic, they say his prophecies of the past have been wrong, they have 'doubt' about the seriousness of the situation. This third group (like the 2nd group who were heedless) or not only destroyed, but they get an extra punishment of 'I told you so!'

... now when a Messenger from Allah comes, what he is basically warning the people of is upcoming destructive punishing weather! He is not ridiculing them, out of his love he wants them to protect themselves.

The people react in these three ways: those who take heed and are saved, those who are negligent, and those who actively mock and ridicule.

When it comes to weather, we all know that (a) is the one with intelligence, we admire him. How then regarding one's Deen? How foolish it is to be negligent of a warning that has NO DOUBT!!! Because unlike a weatherman, a Messenger of Allah is getting news from the creator of the heavens and earth. His prediction has absolutely NO DOUBT!!!

Subhan Allah! Which category are WE in? Have we stockpiled with good deeds or are we 'waiting' to see what happens?

[al ilm noor]

Here's something I recently thought of...I guess it's a gem, I'm not sure.
Allah asks us in Surat al-Takwir:
"fa aina tadh haboon" "Where then, are you going?"
As humans, we use two physiological systems to orient ourselves, or find direction, in 3-D space. One is the vestibular system in the ears, the other is vision in the eyes. I started thinking, subhan Allah, if our ears and/or eyes are impaired, then we fumble around and cannot orient ourselves in the right direction. Likewise, on the level of the nafs, if we don't use our ears to hear and obey the command of Allah swt, and if we don't use our eyes to see His signs, then we will never be able to find our way on the Straight Path! Subhan Allah..

[Muhammad Alshareef]

ٌRegarding Patterns (of destructive behavior):

Through the tests of life, again and again, Allah ta'ala gives us chance after chance after chance to recognize our destructive human patterns of disobedienc to Allah, patterns that bring corruption to our souls and the earth we live on.

Scientifically speaking, the more tests of life one goes through without understanding the 'lesson' and without changing their destructve ungrateful behavior, the pattern of behavior - however destructive - becomes stronger and stronger and stronger. Meaning, if the person does not do tawbah, their destructive behavior - scientifically speaking - will swallow them alive.

That is scientifically known; Islamically we know that the heart develops a black dot and if Tawbah is not done, then the dot remains - rusting their heart until it finally seals it ... deaf, dumb and blind the person becomes.

If this happens, scientifically speaking, that destructive behavior becomes ones IDENTITY (it's how they identify themselves to others 'I'm gay or Iam not Muslim anymore') and it becomes their belief that they have focused references for. No amount of pain or pleasure will be able to break the person out of this when it becomes this strong ... they will live (and die) with this identity.

....unless they repent to Allah and their heart cracks the shell of disobedience with an earthquake of sincerity. One must never lose hope that the rust can be washed away!

wAllahu ta'ala a'lam

[Muhammad Alshareef]

Embarresment is not a motivation for Ibaadah to be done consistently.
For example, if you go to someone's house asking for donation and they are embarresed, it does not mean they will consistently donate to your cause. Or if you make fun of them for not coming to the Masjid, it will not translate in them coming consistently to the Masjid (even if it works now and then).

What embarresment is is a 'quick fix' but it is not sincerely done for Allah.

When the eyes of humans are not looking, or if an excuse can get that person off the hook of embarresment (recall the 'i'm sick' or 'i have exams' hurricane of excuses) ... when no one is looking they will NOT perform that Ibaadah, the Ibaadah will be abandoned.

Ibaadah MUST be done for Allah, to win Allah's pleasure. When the Ibaadah is missed (say one misses a salah or doesn't lower their gaze, etc.) they should truthfully say to themselves: "In reality I had no intention before I set out today to do this action for the sake of Allah! And that is NOT my identity! THAT IS NOT ME! I am a Muslim and I LOVE Allah and I want Allah to love me and I shall continue to come closer to Allah through my obedience!!!"

And good news for those who do strive to come closer to Allah ... Allah will more then meet you half way! :D Alhamdulillah RAbbil 'Aalaameen!

Al-'Ankabut [29:69] وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

29:69 And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.

[(S)/-\|F][ ullah]

That is scientifically known; Islamically we know that the heart develops a black dot and if Tawbah is not done, then the dot remains - rusting their heart until it finally seals it ... deaf, dumb and blind the person becomes.

If this happens, scientifically speaking, that destructive behavior becomes ones IDENTITY (it's how they identify themselves to others 'I'm gay or Iam not Muslim anymore') and it becomes their belief that they have focused references for. No amount of pain or pleasure will be able to break the person out of this when it becomes this strong ... they will live (and die) with this identity.

....unless they repent to Allah and their heart cracks the shell of disobedience with an earthquake of sincerity. One must never lose hope that the rust can be washed away!

wAllahu ta'ala a'lam

Reading the above, reminded me of the Hadith I used for my 10 minute Khutbah:


Sahih Al Bukhari
Volume 3, Book 34, Number 335:
Narrated Ata bin Yasar:

I met Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As and asked him, "Tell me about the description of Allah's Apostle which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old Testament.") He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran as follows:

"O Prophet ! We have sent you as a witness (for Allah's True religion) And a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), And a warner (to the unbelievers) And guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger (i.e. Apostle). I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who depends upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a noise-maker in the markets And you do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah will not let him (the Prophet) Die till he makes straight the crooked people by making them say: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah," With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts."

[ummi3]

One of the deepest gems I got from the class: I'd rather be a prisoner of Allah, bound and gagged by the covenent we all made with Him, than an escaped convict on the run!