The greatest love story in Islam! The story of Muhammad (saw) and Khadijah (RA)

A beautiful poem that I would love to share with my blog fam!

A sneak into the realms of  ancient Arabia

There lived the noblest woman of that area

A successful and flourishing entrepreneur

A symbol of elegance and ethical demeanor.

Her tradings were in a situation too critical
It was difficult for her in a society so patriarchal
She looked for a man to handle her affairs
A reliable person with no false graces and airs.

She entrusted her business to a trustworthy caretaker 

A man known for his truthfulness, 15 years younger 

 A trip abroad, he made her business grow manifold 

His sincerity and dedication appealed her to behold.

This woman of 40, who was the most sought after
Had turned down every prominent marriage offer

She had ceased to tread that road after being widowed 

She had no desire to love again or to be loved.

The emotions in her heart for a special one were re-kindled 

He mysteriously entered her heart and there forever dwelled
She sent him a straight marriage proposal, with no pretense 

She was saved for this man by her Creator, in true sense.

He was amazed to know that this woman of beauty and honor

Who had turned down the wealthy, wished to be his life-partner!

They married and lived together with love and dignity 

The most blessed union ever, protected by the Almighty!

They always looked at each-other wanting to satisfy and please
In spite of their age difference they were at complete ease
She respected him beyond words, spent her life and wealth on him
She loved to silently look at him, never raised her voice on him.


He cared for her in the best of manners in happiness and ailment
Fed her with his hands and stayed closer when she was pregnant
She mothered all his children - the most righteous progeny
When he lost his sons in infancy, she soothed his agony.


She was the best of his friends whom he loved with delight
She was his comforter and counselor who calmed him that night
When he ran into her arms crying “Cover me! Cover me!” “I am afraid this state of fear, would soon overpower me!”


Wrapped in her comfort, he narrated the incident of Hira "A voice I heard that terrified me with the word of Iqra I was squeezed when I  pleaded that I could never read I was asked in the Name of My Lord to Read! Read! Read!"


She consoled him saying, “By The One Who has control over my soul He has chosen you to be the prophet of this mankind as a whole! He can never humiliate the slave who is good for all people Of righteousness and truthfulness, you are an apt example!”


She then took him to her cousin, a scholar of old scriptures
Waraqah gave him glad tidings based on the said features
He confirmed that the experience was of Divine Truth
He was the chosen Last Messenger, The Sealing Prophet!


Then came the beginning of times, too testing and severe
Their Al Ameen, As Sadiq - now they termed him a liar!
Their opposition turned into hatred, they so despised him
He was banished from the city, and she accompanied him.


She supported his cause, sacrificing all her wealth
A life filled with hardships took a toll upon her health
She loved him the same till her very last breath
She was put to sleep forever through the Angel of Death.


While struggling to spread the Message, he lost his first believer
Standing for his cause of Truth, he lost his staunch supporter
He lost his friend, his counselor, his ultimate comforter
His world was brought to a standstill - he had lost his life-partner.


This loss was so terrible that he feared a lonely tomorrow
Of all the phases in Seerah, he called it “the year of sorrow”
He came across a necklace which this companion had worn
Tears welled up his blessed eyes, his heart did heavily mourn.


It signified his emotions that were to her so attached
He missed her so terribly, years after she had passed
With apparent jealousy pure Ayesha questioned him thus
“Was your love for that wife greater than it is for all of us?”


He understood her restlessness and replied to console “She believed in me, with all her mind and soul She accepted my Message when everyone rejected When I had no help, she comforted and supported.”


He married many later, but alive she was his only wife
Her companionship is the jewel that adorns all his life
She left him in this Duniya, as destined by Allaah
Assuring a promised reunion, in His eternal Jannah.
 
This love story, which is so endearing to recall
Glorified through centuries, greatest of them all!
These sacrifices many and the selfless love of Khadijah,
Remain cemented in the blessed heart of Muhammed Mustafa saw!

By Umm Hashir,
https://umme-hashir.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-greatest-love-story.html?m=1

The rise of Atheists among Muslims is on a Rise! Let's solve this before it gets too late...

Having come from a very conservative background, i am not the right person to talk about culture or favor culture in anyways, but i can always stand and fight for religion over culture. Like many of us know about the modernization of everything to polluting religion with liberalism and mixing up of trash (called culture) and subjecting the real teachings of Islam as "Strict Ruling" is something that the parents of today should focus on. This dangerous favoring of culture has become a hazard for the younger generation.

I would't get offended to mention this incident that got me thinking to do some research on these happenings in the Muslim families today. It happened one day when a colleague who happens to belong to a Muslim Family from France. As i mentioned here, happens to belong to a Muslim Family and not a Muslim. Pause! There is a lot of difference here, Yes! on that graceful day i went up to her assuming her to be a non-Muslim girl by faith and i asked her about a celebration that was to happen in the week for which we all had a holiday. And again I paused! When she answered me "I am not a so & so (the faith of the celebration i asked her) , My family is a Muslim, and i am nothing".

Whilst! I looked at her with a side No! and said "Okay" because this was the first time i heard something that was very different and i never witnessed this before. Because i knew "Atheists" i knew "Pagans" I knew they do not practice religion and they donot believe in the afterlife. But this was the first time i encountered something practically and then continued my journey of talking to other sisters in Islam and getting more information about the culture flag.

I started discussing about this issue with my Muslim friends who are Citizens here, an Arab friend told me about her American schoolmates, though she graduated her schooling from an Islamic School she would always find culture above religion because that is what the parents teach their children. Instead of Tarbiyah at home they believe in outsourcing Tarbiyah to missionary and public schools they advise their children to get along with friends and practice harmony, it all starts from birthday parties till it goes on to prom nights organized by schools. This is the very beginning of placing culture over religion. Parents often feel their kids are very young and start dressing them with more revealing clothes,  they are often made to wear something that makes the children forget the word "Haya", the children are advised not to feel alienated by covering themselves full and they are often reminded to get along well with their friends and perhaps making those tender minds completely forget the point that "Haya" /Modesty is a part of our eemaan.  This is the beginning of the end.

Having studied in a co-education environment throughout my education i am someone who strongly supports this sort of education. Clause! Yes i would support this because the studying of boys and girls together makes girls tough,  the concept of being oppressed or bullied in later stages of life can be handled well when an individual gets strong,  but what i try to explain here is, though my parents made us study in a co-ed school, they always reminded us to stay away from something that's not for us, when i was a grade two child my mother used to advise me to prefer playing with girls and make me talk about everything to her (She made me such that even today she calls me a radio, the moment i am home i blurt out my story of the entire day in ten minutes to her) Till date she happens to be my best friend in life though i have irritated her, troubled her, threw tantrums but I do miss her with all my heart.

Later in high school i was often reminded about "Haya" and in grade 10 i started practicing Hijab and never felt offended as i was applauded by my teachers because of my grades and the way i handled my school responsibilities by being the school captain and vice captain for two years, nothing stopped me from giving my best and achieving my dreams, achieving what i deserved.  But the basic ethics that were sown in my mind helped me in every possible way,  be it my engineering days or my corporate job wherein i was the lone woman Business Analyst handling a team of 21 developers and designers I was a dignified young woman in Hijab who always had my own boundaries,  I continued handling three core teams of Product Engineering with utmost modesty and respect inline with being strict and professional.  I was strong with my work ethics that when i sent out a resignation mail my IT head took two days to decide about accepting my papers for notice period or transfer me to the New Jersey office.  Because of these valuable ethics and religious tarbiyah did I manage to protect myself from any sort of exploitation or abuse or anything else. Even today i professionally handle many things, I fly across oceans, I visit countries, I work and I enjoy life but with Hijab, with Salath, with Qur'an. Every step we take, every decision we make we always remember the beautiful teachings that Islam has taught us. When Allah swt commands in the Holy Quran:

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. -Surat Noor: 31

And the same applies to men and well when Allah swt commands in the Holy Qur'an:

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do. -Surat Noor: 30

Your children are given to you as a trust from Allah swt and you will be held accountable for them. So, do not be stingy in their proper upbringing and in giving them proper guidance, Do not leave them to destruction by making them chose culture over religion. 

Always remember all that they do will be written down, and when their book is presented on the Day of Accountability – the contents will be based on your work! Ask yourself: what are you doing to ensure that your children’s book will reflect righteous deeds, good character and true success? 

 

Here are a few points that i would like to pen down about raising the future generation adhere to the teachings of Islam: 

 

• Pious and Productive mothers are the best examples of good upbringing of any child or any generation. 

   

• Take the Luqman(AS) way and teach them right from an early age that Allah is one and the only and He has no partners nor associates. Allah swt knows everything in the heavens and the earth and He is aware of everything we do.

   

• Since the very beginning start telling them about food and life, educate them about the difference between Halal and Haraam. Talk to them everyday looking into their eyes, practice warmth and remain calm, friendly and approachable and try your best to keep your phone/internet/social networking far away when your child is with you.

   

• Tell them about their Creator and always remind them about the Good and Bad, teach them about the arrogance of Iblis and guide them to stay away from Iblis and his evil intentions.

   

• Refrain from practicing Shirk and too much of influence of Saints and Personalities, Children and generation of today know the truth and the logic that the dead will never come back to life and answer their prayers, so teach them the correct teachings of Islam, tell them to call upon the Almighty always and teach them about His attributes and creation, who has created us and who will resurrect us again on the Day of Resurrection. 

   

• Practice taking them to the Masjids, halaqah's, talks and encourage them to pray with you. Do not ask them to pray by themselves, stand and pray with them, teach them and practice prayers whilst there will come a day where the same children will start practicing prayers even without your reminders.

   

• If it's a girl child make sure you cover her and teach her appropriately about clothing in Islam, practice Hijab and reciprocate the same to your child and they will start doing it without hesitation when the time is right for them (My mother had influenced me completely and continues to do this even today) and if it is a boy child make sure you teach him to respect and be kind to women, start respecting his mother and helping her more often such that he continues to respect and help his woman in the future.

   

• Make sure you teach your children about Haya and educate them to cover properly and teach them the etiquette of changing clothes, going to washrooms, eating habits, being kind and generous, obeying elders, respect to parents and teachers, cleanliness, manners and discipline.

It was narrated that Aa'ishah, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) said:The Messenger of Allah swt said: "Verily Allah loves kindness in all things". - Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6024.

Tell them the importance of Jummah prayer and practice the reading of Qur'an everyday. Hence one of the early generations said to his children's teacher: Let the first thing you do in setting my children straight be mending your own ways, for their faults will be connected to your faults; in their eyes, what is good will be what you do and what is bad will be what you do and what is bad will be what you refrain from. -Tareekh Dimashq, 38/271-272.

•  When you make a promise make sure you adhere to the promise no matter how small it is or how big it is. With this the children learn to keep their promises right from a tender age always teach them that Truth alone prevails falsehood leads to the Hell-Fire.

Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned. -Surat Al-Isra: 34

Those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the contract. -Surat Ar-Rad: 20

Allah has decreed for fulfilling promises great benefits in this world and in the Hereafter, in addition to the obvious benefits of creating a righteous and stable society. Among these benefits are the following:

Fulfilling promises is one of the attributes of the pious according to the Book of Allah, and it one of the greatest means of attaining taqwa (piety, consciousness of Allah). Allah says:

But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allah - then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him. -Surat Al-Imran: 76

• Respect your parents and kinship by maintaining good ties with them and helping the needy. Be kind to the orphans and set examples of helping the ones in need. Be kind to animals and birds and teach your children what the Qur'an says about hurting fellow human beings.

Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. -Surat Al-Maidah: 32

They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it." -Surat Al-Baqarah: 215

Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense [the religion]? For that is the one who drives away the orphan. -Surat Al Ma’un: 1-2

And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive. -Surat Al-Insan: 8

And come not near to the orphans property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength. And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily! the covenant, will be questioned about. -Surat Al-Isra: 34

• Read them stories of Prophets and teach them Islamic Etiquettes and make it a routine habit, also called as the bed-time stories. Stories are so fascinating and beautiful that children want to hear them more often, when you end a story tell them the moral of the same.

   

• There is a time in the month of December to January where we get to see beautiful decorations everywhere and the children love decorations, light, coloring, art, so whilst when it is Eid start decorating your houses and teach them Eid is a celebration, tell them the importance of Eid, Eid-ul-Fitr and the 30 days fasting that we practice and do, we end up celebrating Eid with new clothes, food, decoration, gifts and many more, same with Eid-ul-Adha (even more a perfect time to tell them the importance of sacrifice and Hajj as they love hearing the story of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail).

   

• Recite Takbeer again and again and play it in your house on the Day of Eid.

   

• Last but not the least please shun the unlimited exposure of telivision and internet and the accessibility of mobile phones, tablets, laptops to the tender minds.

Like many concerned parents, westernization of culture is getting the children of today far far away from the real teachings of Islam, it is good to be concerned about a child's upbringing right from a tender age, those who are reading this article on my blog,  I would congratulate you for the beautiful thought of upbringing your child in a more Islamic way, this thought is actually a blessing of Allah swt upon you for the guidance of your children to Islam, and I ask Allah swt  to make me and you steadfast in adhering to this religion until we meet Him when He is pleased with us. I also congratulate you for your keenness to give your children a good upbringing. With Islam we can turn Can'ts into Cans, we can turn dreams into plans and execute them without having to embrace culture and proudly say "We are Muslims, We are the Ummah of Prophet (pbuh)". May Allah swt protect us and bless our families. Aameen. FiAmanillah.

BarakaAllahu Feekum! Ma'as-salaama.