-: Editorial
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Dear brothers and sisters, Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the conception of the Islamic Unity Society and the release of its first publication in September 1995. What started off as a bimonthly, single-page newsletter, informing students about various events, has now developed into a 24-page quarterly magazine called the Voice of lJnity. We thank Allah (SWT) for granting us the opportunity to serve Him in this way. This edition of the Voice of tJnity is based on the theme of Hajj - the holy pilgrimage. Some of us have been blessed with the privilege of partaking in this grand journey, the return towards Allah (SWT). But this is a journey which we as Muslims have already embarked upon, regardless of whether we have performed Hajj or not. Everyday we strive towards attaining proximity to our Creator, be it in Manchester or in Makkah, at home or in bayt-Allah. We are constantly crying out to Allah (SWT), pleading for His mercy and forgiveness. We are continuously wresting with Satan and our treacherous soul. Yet many of us have not even smelt the sweet fragrances of Arafah, Mina or Makkah. The deep philosophy of Hajj spans far beyond the realm of religious 6ituals. Its personal and social implications are applicable to us all, not just to those who have performed the pilgrimage rites. Allah (SWT) declares in the Holy Qur'5n:
"And He is with you wherever you arel and Allah sees what you do." (57:4) Allah (SWT)'s grace is not confined to those who circumambulate the Ka'bah. In this edition, we hope to shed light on some of the lessons that can be drawn from the symbolism of Hajj in order to develop a more coherent understanding of its applications in daily life.
Web:
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Tel: Fax:
08709 22O 647 O2O76402372
Voice of Unity
Committee Br Abbas Al-Masuadi Br Musa Naqvi
Voice of Unitv 6 Wilmslow Rd.
Sr Motahare Yadegarfar Sr Noor Al-Safar Sr Farah Al-Safar Sr Sarah Al-Bachari Sr Noor Abbas
Unit 203 Manchester
M14 5TP
Br Hussain Hamid
Registered charity no. 106691_0
Editor:
Br Ali Mawlawi
Voice of Unity is a publication of the lslamic Unity
Graphics: Br Hamed Heshmati
Society.
Mailbox Letters to Editor FAQs: Freque ntly Asked Questions on Haii
Feature: Inner Haii - Personal and Social
Applications lnterview: Media under the spotligihtKarbala documentary Poetry: Have you been on the Pilgrimage?
10
Extra: Recipe + Dates to Remember
!1,
Gift: Detachable poster
t2
My Lord and l: Recom mended acts of the
t4
month
We conclude with an excerpt from Imam al-SajjSd (AS)'s supplication on the day of Arafah: "Give me refuge from that which will keep me far from Thee, come between me and my share from Thee, and bar me from that which I strive for in Thee!" Wassalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah Voice of Unity Committee
Brai nteasers: Crosswords
15
Diary: My intimate return to mY Lord
16
Special: Paltalk Online Summer Course with sh i a ri Shtpath.com
18
Careers: lnterview techniques for a iob
20
Book Review: Islam in Focus
22
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xx Letters to the Editor x* Bismillah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem Dear editor, First and foremost, Eid mubarak to you all, may Allah (swt) grant us with a divine invitation to His holy Kaaba, and bless you with tawfiq and success in all aspects of life. May he illuminate our hearts with guiding wisdom, purity of intention and steadfast patience. Congratulations to the IUS on its coming 10th anniversary! May all the tiresome effoft and dedication of those who created, assembled and carried this blessed organization be manifested into heavenly fruits of your labour in the hereafter, in the presence of the pure and righteous, Inshallah the IUS beacon will continue to support and guide the youth for many prosperous years to come, and strengthen further the bond of unity within the ummah. Keep up the good work! No doubt maintaining such high standards and visions is only befitting for the preservation of islam in its true form,
It was truly encouraging to see the two afticles on clinical depression in the last issue. They were very informative in their founded intellectual nature, and once more provide a declaration of support to all those suffering from depression, in silence, that they are in no way to be treated as outcasts. Rather, this line of support for them reflects a compassionate concern from fellow muslims, and mashallah is uplifting in our individual and common struggle to elevate our selves and our society as the Prophet (saw) would be proud of. I think we must continue to show understanding and raise awareness of such issues in the social arena as this lends hope where in some cases there seems to be no way out. The last issue of VOU was a pleasure to read in that its general tone reflected nothing but solidarity, strength and unity of Allah (swt) and His creation. I was impressed that the variety of featured topics linked and complemented each other so well, reflecting the diversity in general and specialist knowledge of IUS members and contributors. Due praise to all writers and especially to sr. Sakina Ahmed for sharing her poem, which All the best to the new IUS committee, may Allah (swt) grant you tawfiq and guidance in your effofts, and reward you for your services to Islam and the ummah. The new online communication centre looks very promising and importantly not too difficult to navigatel Thank you for your hard work.
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If you have any com-
ments, criticisms or suggestions about the content of Voice of Unity, please email the editor at: editor@ius.org.uk
,g&,
-: FAQs : -
Br Musa Naqvi
pilgrimage to Mecca? Q. What is Hajj?
Hajj means travelling for the purpose of visiting the Ka'bah (the sacred place in Makkah to which Muslims turn in prayer), in order to perform the rites (manasik), i.e. the actions and words reported in traditions of the Prophet's Hajj, The Hajj occurs annually between the eighth and thirteenth days of the last month of the Muslim year/ DhulHijjah. Q, When was Hajj first prescribed?
Most scholars hold that
Hajj was prescribed in the
sixth year after
Hijrah
(migration of the ProPhet ISAWW] from Makkah to Medina for it was then that the following verse concerning it was revealed i "And perform properly the Hajj and lJmrah in the service of Allah' (Al-Baqarah: 194) Q. What do Muslims wear during Hajj, the
When undertaking the pilgrimage, Muslims shed all signs of their wealth and societal distinctions by donning simple white garments,
commonly called ihrEm. The required pilgrimage dress for men is two white cloths, one of which covers the body from the waist down, and one that is gathered around the shoulder. Women usually wear a simple white dress and headscarf, or their own native dress. The ihram is a symbol of purity and equality; and signifies that the pilgrim is in a state of devotion. Q. What is the TawEf and what is its significance? Tawaf resembles the angels circumambulating the Throne of Allah i "And you shall see the Angels going round about the Throne glorifying the praise of their Lord". The Tawaf is showing love to Allah, that His servant has for Him, by going around the Ka'bah, the house of Allah. The Tawaf of the Ka'bah is a
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VQeksw$,k*y
-: FAQs : proclamation of sacrifice the believer makes in the way of Allah to seek his pleasure.
instance and the satans from among humans on the third i
a. What is the
Q. What is Sa'i and its significance? The Sa'r between the two mountains of al-Safa and alMarwa is a historical recreation of the event when Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) ran back and forth be-
tween these mountains,
nsta nce.
signifi-
cance of Qurbani?
The Qurbanr or the sacrifice of an animal has been traditional among the nations of many people. The concept has its origins from the dawn of hu-
all
manity when HabTl and QEbil offered sacrifices in order to please their Lord. The concept of Qurbani represents that the individual should be prepared and ready to sacrifice
even what is dearest
to
him/her for the sake of Allah (SWT). Sacrifice is symbolic of love and commitment towards an ideal. The slaughtering of the animal in Mina, however, enlivens the event of the sacrifice between the Prophets Ibrahlm and Isma'il (AS).
alone, in search of water for
her child Isma'il.
a. Why does one shave
However,
their hair on Hajj?
the purpose of Sa'i isn't just to serve as a historical reconstruction but rather it reveals to us the lessons of dedica-
The event of the shaving of the hair is known as the Halq. This represents the removal of all the evil and vice and purification of the heart from egotism, vanity and pride.
tion and patience through the examples of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his wife.
Karbala, City of Martyrs, Continued from page 9
Islam in Manchester and when I talked to the director
of the centre he
recom-
mended me to get in touch with t[e producer.
Were you satisfied with the documentary? As a whole, I felt, and having talked to several people who saw it, that it was a balanced documentary, and they enjoyed watching it. Also a few others mentioned that it was an interesting programme and it captured many different people from different cultural backgrounds. Obviously with regards to the 90 seconds of scenes where people were shown hitting their heads and backs with blades, people generally tended to squirm at such scenes and I felt the same. On the whole, I thought it was a fair representation of Ashura and also
the Channel 4 website had accurate information on the event.
Why was the ending focusing on the blade hitting?
The stoning of the three Jamarat is symbolic as it repre-
We have to be realistic. Although it is a minority Shia practice, we cannot deny it exists. Maybe out of the millions that were there in Karbala only two thousand were
the nafs-al-'ammarah, (the largest despot) in one instance, trampling on Iblis and those
comments
a. Why is the
'Satan'
stoned thrice?
sents the trampling
of
involved.
However, the mere shaving of one must cleanse their heart of its negative aspects that are deeply embedded in the core of the human heart:
like him (Jinn) on the second
the hair is not enough;
"The last thing that will come out of the hearts of the truthful (people) is the love of status"
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Do you have any other for the maga-
zine?
I
would
beyond
just like to say that the Ashura com-
memorations, there is a lot of work that needs to be done in Iraq and we need to focus on projects that will assist ordi-
nary communities living
Iraq.
in
-: Feature:
VQfr,gpw#,
-
very year, during the Hajj season, flocks of believers soar towards the holy sanctuary in hopes of having the cups of divine love and grace thrust upon their parched lips. "Ihe people go to it (Hajj) as beasts or pigeons go towards spring water,"' Hajj is a time of self-realization and introspection, but it is also a time of Muslim unity. There is an outer Hajj which is comprised of many physical movements, the main one being a magnetic draw towards the focal
point; the Ka'bah.
However, is there also an inner Hajj, which is a reflection of the outer Hajj, and that every person/ hajjt and non-hajji alike, may pertorm. The human being may choose to either stunt his soul, or allow it to blossom.2 God willing, in this article we will explore aspects of the outer Hajj that we can apply to our own selves, in aiding this
spiritual bloom. We will also delve into issues relating to the united Muslim front. I just wish to mention that this article does not do justice to the profound mystical and philosophical interpretations of Hajj, but we can only hope to capture tiny glimpses of this marvellous journey.
Br Ali Habash
The starting point for all pilgrims
is
"Mrqat", where the ihr6m is worn in place of a person's regular clothing. To me, the ihram carries two profound meanings; equality and death. Let us first look at equality. Clothing represents status and distinction. The hajjl must undress himself from the garments of distinction, and must instead clothe himself with the robes of equality. "Be a particle and join the mass; as a drop, enter the ocean."3 Allah does not tolerate the superiority complexes that some of us have dressed ourselves with. Oh Muslimtn, instead, decorate yourselves with mutual lovel Wear your ihram; be simple, real, and equal! Allah doesn't send you to heaven based on how flashy your
jeans are, how high your heels are/ or how tight your shirt is! It doesn't make a difference to Allah whether you wear Nike shoes
or pink
bunny slippers! "The most honourable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty)."4 Wearing ihram is the act of realising that we are all born equal, and that our differences in wealth and dress should not cause social fragmentation. We are
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united nation, striving together to gain Allah's satisfaction !
us be as light as possible in this world, so as to secure our hereafter. The simplicity of the Ka'bah is also a reminder that the focus is on selfpurification, and that the hajji shouldn't be swayed by the marvels of the places that he visits. Any remnant of selfcenteredness that you may be carrying is to crumble while in the state of tawaf. The Ka'bah is the focal point, NOT YOU! A sense of unity is once again displayed, where millions of believers orbit around the
The only guarantee in life is death. A day will come
when your soul will
be
wrenched out of your body. On such a day, you will be wearing a white shroud. Oh human, you are a forgetful creature, so gaze upon the assembly of believers who are wearing this very white shroud (the ihrEm), and be reminded of your own inevitable destination! Let's die twice my beloved friends!l Before we physically die, let us kill our egos, so that when we do die, we will forever be alive! Let us not be like those who are 'neither dead, nor alive.'s True life cannot come to pass unless one kills their sense of "I-ness." Be a martyr in the
Ka'bah as though they are one body. No two people are going in different directions. Oh Ummah of Muhammad, let us be like these hujjaj; let us together, IN UNISON, make the world hear our cries for social justice!
worthwhile to mention that while in a state of ihram, certain acts are forbidden, Do not use perfume,
m
a
change! Do not wear make up, be yourselfl Do not sit in
At this point, I
will
briefly allude to the internal Ka'bah so as to perhaps arouse some research and thought. "The heart is the sanctuary of AIIah, therefore, do not settle therein anything hut AIIah."7 Your heart is a house and you are the owner. There is always a guest in this house, and if they stay for long, you will trust them enough so as to hand them the keys to the doors of your heart. He, who has the key, controls the house. So who would you like
sun's
power!
Let's talk about the
Ka'bah for a bit. Have you every wondered why it looks so simple? It has no architectural beauty; it's an empty cube, nothing more. Yet, after thousands of years, MILLIONS of people still buzz around it as the bees buzz around their hive. Subhan-Allahl This is the house of God, yet it is far from lavish! I think He is trying to tell us something. Let
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black female slave! This
The final issue I wish to touch on is the concept of sacrifice. At Hajj, we are re-
It is
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The superficial social barriers that we construct are to be totally demolished. One such barrier is caused by racial differences. To insult a painting is to insult the painter. If we belittle someone based on their race or ethnicity, we are belittling their creator! So many of the Hajj rituals are in memory of woman/ the mother of Isma'Tl (AS) is a great heroine of humanity, she is Hajar. "The ideal immigrant is the one who behaves like HEjar,'A Let us realize the value of every person/ and let us not allow cultural tendencies to interfere with religious principles and injunctions!
seek His home, the realization of the self I Throughout the Hajj, one is reminded of death, and one of the most prominent reminders is the clothing of the pilgrims; the ihram. "Exercise death before you die - go to Hajjl"6
the shade, feel the
Ponder over this!
a
way of Allah by submitting your will to His will. Leave your home, your â‚Ź9o, and
smell divine love for
your guest to be? The choice is yours, but let me just say that if Allah is your guest and your heart is the house, then your heart has become a Ka'bah. Now there is no limit to how much tawaf you may do! "f am not contained in the earth nor in the heavens, but I am contained in the soft and tranquil heart of My believing servant.'ts
I
Volume 10
inded of
th
is
th roug h
Prophet Ibrahim (AS)'s test, where he was to slaughter his son/ as per the commands of God. Think with me for a moment, here is a man/ a rebel in the way of God, who has
unconditionally obeyed his beloved creator throughout his long life, through thick and thin. Now, his hairs are
grey, he has become withered and old, and he wishes for only one thing, a blessed and pure progeny. Lo and behold, Allah has granted him Isma'Il (AS), a gift from The Merciful Provider.
Continued on page 19
- : lnterview: -
Vtei;e-e,
lnterviewed
bY
eJ L;t )J
Br Hussain Hamid
Imam Husayn (AS), he also wanted to know about the suffering of the Iraqi people.
How long had it been since you went back to Karbala (Iraq)? We went to Karbala in February of the year 2004 to witness the commemoration of Imam Husayn (AS), and we stayed there for about 3 weeks. It was the first time I had visited the city for 27 years, the Year was 1977 ' How did it feel going back? I had mixed feelings because it was the first trip after the fall of Saddam Hussein, and it was interesting to see how things were in Iraq, I wanted to see some of my family relations there. I also wanted to see what kind of help the people wanted or needed in certain areas' to see if there was anything we can do to help' Who did you take with You? I took a vicar with me from Leeds who was interested to know about Ashura and the life of
What were your expectations of Karbala? I am not sure if I did have any expectations, I knew it was going to be a busy time, the first Ashura commemoration after the fall of Saddam Hussein. It was reported that some 5 million people had been to Karbala just after the fall of Saddam Hussein. I expected a lot of people to be charged and emotional in this period of time, so many things happened during that time - the explosions in Karbala and around Karbala. We did have objectives in going to Karbala, as you may be aware that I was involved in the documentary filmed on Ashura by Channel 4.
What was the atmosphere like being able to commemorate the tragedy of Karbala after so many Years of restriction? The atmosphere we witnessed was there before Ashura - when it was the 7th or Bth of Muharam and we stayed in the home of some relatives. We did notice that there were pil-
grims from Iran, the Indian subcontinent, Pakiitan and obviously the local Arab population' The atmosphere was that people wanted to
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show their allegiance and respect and visiting the shrine of Imam Husayn and Hadhrat Abbas peace be upon them both. Wherever we went,
there were various processions during the day and
night leading up to the 10th of Muharam as each day was assigned to a certain figure.
What did you aim to
achieve by going back?
There were different
To some extent, my expectation is that it will take a very long time for things that went wrong to be corrected. I was hoping that those homes that were made into prisons and tortu
re centres
cou
ld
be
turned into museums, so the memory could be preserved.
This is unlikely to
happen unless campaigning organisations are effective in raising fu nds.
aims
that we wanted to achieve by going back; one of the first ones was being able to participate in the commemoration of Imam Husayn (AS). We did go to the south of Iraq to witness the poverty and tyranny that was present on the Iraqi marshes and we wanted to see how we could help with community projects. We were also involved in the filming of the TV documentary by Channel 4, and in visiting my wife's family home to understand what happened to her 3 brothers. We went to the cemeteries which held the remains of many of the victims of the early years of Saddam's oppression.
What are your hopes and expectations for the future of lraq after having been back? I was hoping for a better future in Iraq where the tyrannies of the past would be corrected, I feel strongly that there has to be truth telling and an administration of justice for those who did wrong.
Do you feel comfortable going back regularly and
do you plan to? To be honest I feel comfort-
able going back to certain parts of Iraq. I don't plan to
go back to Iraq and live there after having lived outside of Iraq since the age of 7, although if the security situa-
tion is better, then one can think about going back to resettle.
What would you say to other Iraqis in the same position? I don't think any two Iraqis
are in the same position;
every individual has to look at his own position. The reality is they can't just give up their existing life and go back to
settle. I think they can help by being in their countries of residence and assist in different ways.
How was your experience with the media? I did have a relatively modest amount of experience with the media before going back
to
raq.
There were some radio programmes who wanted to know I
about what I to do in Iraq and also some TV interviews, It took 4 or 5 months of involvement in filming in va rious wanted
places
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in the
UK,
Bag hdad a nd Ka rba la. I thought there was a story to be told and it was an opportunity to be involved in the story of Iraq.
How did the documentary makers deal with you? The Channel 4 documentary involved a lot of work. They had to film 30 second shots which were repeated several times in order to produce the perfect one. They must have recorded 300-350 hours and had to reduce that to t hour and 30 minutes. So it wasn't an easy choice for them to pick which clips to show. Were you confident in saying what you said on TV? I don't really think that I said
something extraordinary in this sense, I just said what I really felt like saying at that moment. There were a lot of things which I hoped the documentary people would show but were edited out. I mean the choice of editing was not mine because myself and my wife's story was one small part of the whole documentary.
Why did they
approach you? Actually they didn't approach me directly because they went to various centres in London and Manchester. They wanted an Iraqi family who wanted to go back to Iraq and be involved, So I heard about this at Dar al Continued on page 5,
-:
Poetry:
Vaie.w qs}i l:-r-,I
-
Prophet lbraheem vanquished this evil, Refusing to give in to Satan's temptationBut Allah (SWT) saved lsmaeel with His intervention, ,&r
Rsexery*sry' { &&a$*rnn}
6,ollcrn,
&}.&t{sr
...1,''i
Morrh l9f I
Have you been on the pilgrimage? Have you been?:
ii
i
', And right to this day it does suffiqe. Symbolic sign of Pilgrimage complete, The hair or the nails must now be cut neat.
..:r,lrrr::tr::trtfi,gX:116:MeCCA.tieWfn:,fOf
the Day
Of Eid,
must succeed
Oh, the wonders to be seen! The ancient Ka'bah. black and gold-
How many stories can be told! From lbraheem's (AS) time to the present day, How many pilgrims have passed your way!
Millions have travelled through the ages untoldSome young and strong, some weak and old. All that come have one goal in mindCloseness to Allah (SWT); as round they wind Asking His blessings on family and friends, Hoping His Mercy on them He extends; Begging forgiveness, repenting past deeds, Hoping their good acts successfully lead To bringing them safely
to Heaven's Gate-
Do many good deeds before it's too latel And as they go round, seven times in all, Prophet lbraheem they recallHe, Hajer, and lsmaeel here were
brought,.
l
The reason for which he earnestly sou$ht.
Again peltingthe Devil with all of their might.
Before long, Almighty Allah (SVVT) madg crcAr To build the Ka'bah was why he was here.
Then, pilgrimage over, their duties completed,
This he did, and from far and wide The pilgrims flock to be at its side; And as they come, their chant is clear:
" Here I am, O Lord! 0 Lord, I arn here!" Near lbraheem's Station they ofJer a p,rayer
The pilgrims all vow, one day, to repeat it. But first to l\4ount Hira their journey may lead, Where Prophet Mohammed (SAWW) was inspired to "Read!" To teach man by the pen that which he knew notRevelations from Allah (SWT) which could not be forgot, But were inscribed in his mind from the first to the last'
Between Safa and Marwa they make their way,
Recited, and written, with nothing outcast. From round the Ka'bah the idols he threw:
Where Hajer sought water that long ago day.
Hubal, their chief, and the others too.
With Zam Zam's clear water their thirst they dispelLike Hajer, the first to drink from this well
No more worshiP of statues of stone,
And remember the same, whose footprint is there'
Which Allah (SWT) disclosed at lsmeel's feet-
But belief in the One God, and One God Alone. Then go the pilgrims to the City of Light,
The water still gushes forth crystal clear, sweet.
Where Prophet and followers were treated arighu To visit his tomb and al-Baqee' nearby,
Then to Mount Arafat the pilgrims go, In robes as white as purest snow,
Where many dear relatives and others lie ln their fond memory to offer a prayer,
To stand before Allah (SWT), earnestly begging
And hope- Allah willing!- again to come there.
Forgiveness for sins and all they are lacking. On
10
to Mina to throw stones at the Devil-
Oh yes! On the pilgrimage I've certainly been,
And Praise be to Allah (SWT) for all that I've seen!
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- r Recipe & Dates
to Remember
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INGREDI ENTS . t', 1 large aubergine (eggplant) ,..,:,t,. ,, I clove garlic. crushed ' .. 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste and paprika) ,', ltablespoonsalt
Sr l,loorAbbas
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r-,,, I tablespoon lemon juice 3 tablespoons natural yoghurt 2 tablespoons olive oil for garnishing
,t'
ksheet $y€n to 180"C for 5 minutes. Place a whole aubergine an a bake for 45 minutes until outer rhell is crirp and inner ir soft. S€t adde fto cool for 2O minutet. &,,,1,;Splli oFe* tft* aubergine by cutting in the centre, and scoop out the flsh lnto a bowl. Dircard the skin. 3l Add th* garlic salt, lemon juice. tahini. yo,ghurt and mash by hand uring a i*rk until a smc*th pur# i* echieved. Serve with pitta bread at noom temperatam. S*c*rate with pariley. olives. olive oil and lemon juice.
.k$rry tr6y *nd
Preparation time:
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Shahadst Imsnta l-Jawod (AS) Shahadat Inrcnr al-tsaqir (AS)
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flhul *Iifrnfl Jout4ftl €St - Fast on the irst I davs of thrs ntonth - &r the nights of the first ten davs, bel*e*n n':aghnb arrd ' isha s*15h, pray 2 units as iolio',';s
-
" ln each unit ;"ecrte S0rah al-Fitiha and ai-lkhlis follorned ['; vers€ 1,12 in Sfltah al-A'rif i7. ld2i D* nran'y tasbihdt and supphcate to Aiiah iS'vtTi often. lt rs hrghly reconrnrendecl to stav awake on the nrght of the lOth tn *rder to read du .1' and ask
Allah fSi{T) for forgiveness.
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Reconrn':ended to pra-v a ? unit salSh and to fast on this day. to read du'6'Nudbah and to reste zrvarah to lnunr Ali rASl
''tid d,{F{ish$itde a{& qnfrrrt flitqfl *fr ffiSruery - ReconrnaftH to fast and pray a 2 rxrit prayer" Read &r'5'by lman Ja'fa b. lrtuhamnrad *+ Sadq {AS}"
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Hrghly reconsn*rded to last fronr fre lst to the 9lh of thrs mcnth. Th* hdy Prophet {SAV\$rt has said that thcse who pray two wrts saldh on the first d*y of the year ilst MrAarranr)and keeps fast. it :s l:ke *te pers${lv"fro does gmd deeds throqghout the year. R*cite ziyirah of lnrinr Husayn iASl and pray night pray€rs. On the l0th of f*s npnh qAshura) recrte ziyirai Ashlsa and \4'arith, and pray nxrstahab prayers Also recsnnlended to aitend nqalis to renen{:er and leam frsn the bag€d_y.
-
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Reconxte*ded to pray $1 units duriry *re 24 hs:rs of thrs iiay" Recit* ziyir* of ln€m Husayn i,4$i. kTear a nng on S€ rqftt hand ad recite ay*r* of Arlra'ee* xd p*rforn ? unrts salih.
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I Issuel t
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-: Brainteasers:
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/> Not all Muslims can do this but those who 'can should (5) 10> The name of a city meaning "lots of angels" begins with these letters (3)
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9> A drink that could be a medicine but not
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On. of the reasons Allah (SWT) created us was to do this. (5)
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P3> Allah (SWT), in the Qur'dn, is referred to .'by this pronoun. (2) Send in your Answers to: Voice of Unity, 6 Wilmslow Rd. Unit 203, Manchester, M14 STP; and you could be the lucky winner. Don't forget to put down your name and details so we can contact you in case your name comes out of the hat!
15
VrQXe;Q @J
-:Diary:-
Lu-t.\J
e
Sr Noor Abbas
Tawaf The Prophet
Ibrihim and his sons (AS) built the holy Ka'bah by the command of Allah (SWT) in the holy city of Mecca so that Muslims can come from all around the world and worship Allah (SWT) overtly in unison. It is
also known as the Ancient House and Allah's House (bayt A[tah). Allah (SWT) has permitted us to use this holy site for His worship alone' hence Muslims come from far distant places to perform tawEf - or the circumbulation of the holy Ka'bah - it is worship and a salutation to the holy site. As I entered lhe haram al-Meccr it was as if I had returned home. I stood in complete shock and mixed emotions in front of the holy Ka'bah, the house of Allah (SWT), consumed, more than anything by one emotion and thought - the feeling of privilege, I felt so privileged. I knew many Muslims who were longing to be standing where I was standing. "Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah"'" my tongue could not stop releasing those words, As I circumbulated the holy Ka'bah surrounded by thousands and thousands of fellow Muslim brothers and sisters I felt an enormous sense of pride for the
16
Islamic ummah. I felt proud to be a small unit of such a great structure, as if I were a small brick that was part of a huge beautiful palace. Where else in the world would you see people from all sorts of backgrounds, colours, creeds and nationalities, all united in worship and peace under the banner - the banner of Islam - all equal in front of our most merciful creator- Allah (SWT). During [awaf, all were worshiping Allah (SWT) in unison for surely He is the only one worthY of worshiP'
I then suddenly felt a huge sense of sorrow and sadness, my eyes filled with tears and my heart felt as though it had dropped, as I remembered the true state of the Islamic ummah. Thoughts came into my mind, "Now is the best opportunity to unite!" My thoughts continued over and over again, I remembered the suffering and I asked myself "why do we not unite and struggle against our true open enemies," as Allah (SWT) states in the Holy Qu'ran: "Hold tight to AIIah's rope and do not disunite" My thoughts continued to echo in my mind as I gazed at the Muslims performing tawaf in unity and wondered if we would all still be so united when Hajj was all over, My thoughts continued in my head, "Why do we not unite and perform jihad against our true enemies? The ones occupying our lands, the ones destroying homes, killing innocent men, woman and children, the ones who only follow their own desires - the desires of Shaytan - the enemies of Islam?" I wanted to use a loud speaker to tell all
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VAi@ &$ l:::-
-:Diary:the Muslims in Hajj, "We can potentially be the most powerful nation on earth, the nation that orders good and forbids evil, but only if we unite."
Rami al-Jamarit
-
Mina Stoning the devils at Mina, or stoning monuments symbolising the Devil, is a physical
show of jihad al-nafs - the jihad which is the hardest of all, the one against our inner desires and whispers. There are three devils to stone, the small, middle and big devils, all related to the story of Ibr6him (AS) and the greatest sacrifice offered to Allah (SWT) as a show of full submission and servitude to Him. Collecting pebbles at Muzdalifah was like collecting some good deeds in life, ready to be thrown in the face of the devil on the Day of Judgment. As I got closer and closer to the jamardt it was as if it was raining heavily with stones, stones flying from every direction. At one point I thought that people had all mistaken me
for the devil and were stoning
me! I felt so squashed, that at one point I was suffocating and needed air to breath, I was surrounded by people just pushing to get closer to the jamarat in order to stone it, I cried for help and just when I thought I could no longer cope, miraculously out of nowhere a gush of fresh air blew into my face and there was suddenly space all around me. I then knew that Allah (SWT) was listening to my cries of help, for He is the All-Knower and AllHearing, answering the cries of those who need His help.
As I threw the pebbles at the 3ymbolic devil I felt an enormous sense of resentment, anger and hate - hate for humanity's number one enemy - Shaytdn. As I threw the small pebbles at the jamar5t I recollected all the many deceptions that Shayt5n had cunningly made me fall into.
I remembered the evil ways and cunningness of this hell;destined
-r
creature. I threw the'' pebbles with much struggle and hardship, the same struggle and hardship
prevalent, and the begging of compassion and mercy could be seen everywhere. Today was the day of Arafat, for Hajj is surely Arafat.
Shayt-n.
The scene at Arafat penetrated so deep into my heart that I don't think that I will ever forget it. It is hard to explain in words, but I can only compare it to one
that I go through every single day - 24/7, slruggling against myself - an internal war constantly being waged between myself and the evil whispers of This was surely one of the most emotional parts of the journey of Hajj, Although stoning the devils was physically extremely tiring and exhausting, spiritually and mentally it was the most relaxing form of worship - I felt euphoric with every release of a pebble, and as I watched it hit the jamarat it was as if I had beaten Shay[En. It was clearer to me now more than ever before who my true enemy was. In a blink of an eye I remembered the many past nations who had fallen victim to Shaytdn and I felt determined not to fall with them.
Arafat sions
- the day of
confes-
Standing on the plains of Arafat on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is a day of reflection. Muslims stand worshipping in awe, reflecting on their past
actions and begging Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. Mus-
lims spend all the time there in full worship, just as the Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) has taught us.
Despite the fact that I was surrounded by about 2 million other Muslims, all with me at the same place and at the same time, I had never felt so alone in my life. I was surrounded by people but
all
I
could contemplate was my
Lord Allah (SWT) and I. People stood in silence and awe. It was surely an eerie scene, for today
we were standing on the plains of Arafat, today was the day of confessions. Tearful faces were abundant, cries of repentance (tawba) and regretfulness were
thing...Resurrection Day (Yawm al-Qiyyamah). All in white cotton
ihrEms as though they were death shrouds...all facing one direction...all praying to our one
most merciful and most compassionate creator, the Lord of the
heavens and earth
-
Allah
(SWT). Today people were confessing. For surely it is in Hajj that our beloved Allah (SWT), out of His infinite mercy, forgives us our sins and insha-Allah makes us pure again/ as sinless and pure as a new born child. I begged for the door of tawba to be opened for myself and all believers everywhere, for it is Allah (SWT), out of His infinite mercy, compassion and wisdom, that He has created tawba for mankind what a precious blessingl Today I felt content and comfortable in body, soul and mind, I was in my niche and my inner fitrah was at home, nothing else mattered - I had returned to Allah (SWT). I felt at peace with myself, my surroundings and my Lord, it was a day of healing,
The iournev back to Allah At Mina we stoned the devil, but true believers are able to overcome the whispers and hence stone the devil constantly in their
lives, Arafat to me symbolised
life after death. The short journey of Hajj before Arafat was
just the journey of life
- and how
truly short our lives are. At Arafat it seemed as though I was lucky enough to put myself on
- I was judging myself and asking for forgiveness.
trial
Continued on page 23
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I Issuel I
tr
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V
-:Special:-
',9&,,
This issue s speri*l fâ&#x201A;Źaturâ&#x201A;Ź
W@&MK&WW$wMM
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Brtlussain Hamid
',,,I do not believe in a God because, if God existed he would not stand by and alIow all of the killing and oppression which
is taking place around the world,,,'
There are unfortunately many who hold the above viewpoint that stems from a complete misunderstanding of the purpose of creation and our existence. God willing I will be able to shed a little light on the subject. Allah has created us and put us on this earth to worship him and strive in his way. Through this we may develop the attributes Allah has given us and thus build our souls reaching a level of purity where we are truly able to understand our existence. This is the purpose of creation; for once one knows himself truly, he will know Allah,
'He who truly knows himself, has known his Lord'(1) And in Hadith-Qudsi Allah tells us: 'I created mankind so that he may know me' (2)
And so indeed the purpose of our existence is
18
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Volume 10
VQ w# v
-:Special:to know our Lord, but in this Allah has not compelled us. 'There is no compulsion in religion'(3) We are free to choose which path to take, whether it is one whose goal is material or spiritual, this is up to us. To put it simply, we have free will. And so when an oppressor oppresses, or a murderer murders, this is not Allah, this
is mankind exercising his freewill. Allah did not create this evil but it is man's refusal to accept that which is good.
in the development and progress of man. Instead of questioning 'why?' we should ask Allah to give us the ability to live through such hardships and emerge from them stronger people. In this life we are being put to test, not Allah, and so to even contemplate 'why no intervention' is irrelevant. If Allah was on trial it may be fine to do so, but as we know Allah is not, and we are the ones who are.
'Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought'(4)
But then one may askt why this free will? As
I
noted, we are not forced
to know Allah. But let's take the negative view of the matter; imagine we were forced. What would be the point in our existence then? We would be as robots, all programmed to do one thing with no choice, no free will. This test we are all living now would be nullified, as there
would be no accountability and no punishment.
In that
scenario we may all enter heaven, but we would not appreciate it. Compare a child born a millionaire to one
Allah's intervention, were it to always happen, would make existence meaningless, just like an exam where all the answers are given.
Finally we pray to Allah to give us the ability to purify ourselves, and to reach the level of knowing him. Wal Hamdulillahi Rabbil Alimeen.
reward.
Social
Continued from page 7
Thirteen years later, after the bonds of love and friendship have been knit ever so tightly between father and son, this loving man is told in a prophetic dream to slaughter his own son! How do you think he felt at this time? He took
his son to an area,
and
quickly mentioned to him the dream. This boy of thirteen unhesitatingly says,'yes father, kill me, and do as you are told, surely you will find me patient.' So in sum/ as the slaughter is being carried out, Allah through his divine grace replaces Isma'Il (AS) with a ram, and Ibrahim (AS) is given the glad tidings of having passed a most cumbersome trial. So who is your Isma'il? What are you willing to give up for God's sake? I'll give you a hint: anything that stands between you and your Allah is to be slaughtered. Be brave, be like your spiritual father...be Ibrahlm
!
All in all, in Hajj, we see lessons on all fronts. There are spiritual secrets that we can derive from the pilgrimage, but there are also social lessons that we must apply. Oh seekers of truth, go and drink from thls divine river bed I
Perform your Hajj...be free!
References:
that was born poor and
strived in life to become rich. The one who worked through hardship would certainly have a greater appreciation of his wealth. Similarly, if we were to skip this test, we would not have an appreciation of the
Inner Hajj, Personal and Applications
(1) Bihar al Anwar, Muhammad References:
Baqir Majlisi, Vol. 2, Pg 32
(2)
Bihar al Anwar, Muhammad 1 Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon
344 (3) Holy Qur'an 12:2561 (4) Holy Qur'an [30:a1] Baqir Majlisi, Vol. 87, Pg
x* Note: the core uti_.]:,yut_,w,ritte1 by Br Montathar Msayib and put together by Br Hussain
Hamid.
1
2 Holy eur,an (91:7_8) 3 Hajj: Ati Shariati 4 Holy eur.an (a9:13) 5 Holy Qur'an (87:13) B at-Mahajjat ut-Baydhaa,; vot.5 9 Prophet Muhammad (SAWW)
Nations who find themselves
being ruled unjustly,
and
;jr*Aar-:ryslfff,Str'
struggle and fight corruption,
It would be a mistake if we overlooked the roles played by hardships are strengthened.
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tu
\"f
''}b&**!iqr l&$h&
&-1
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?*-**rW&;**a*r*ws*s&.l**e*w,kf
Volumel0
19
-: careers
:-
tiird advice Before your interview find out everything you can about the company (read their annual report which can be obtained by telephoning
them). Re-read your application, thin king through your own career and the questions they might ask you. You should try to antici-
pate the general questions which they will ask and also prepare some questions to ask them.
To do well at the interview you will need to convince the interviewer you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company's organisational structure and the team in which you will work. You should dress smartly for the interview and should leave home earlier than you need to on the day of the interview - you may be delayed by traffic or for other reasons. Be courteous to all employees of the company. At the interview itself you must be positive about yourself and your abilities - but do not waffle or exaggerate certain aspects about yourself. When you are being interviewed it is very important that you give out the right signals, in terms of body language. You should always look attentive, establish good eye contact and sit in an upright 20
Vo*g'g 4&}
L::-.;
Sr Batool AlRazzak
position - so do not slouch in your chair or fiddle with anything such as pens/ buttons etc.
ons you may be asked Before attending an interview you should think
about your responses to the following questions. Your answers may depend on the job or company in question, so you should go through your responses just before each interview,
Why do you want this iob?
Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects which have attracted you to applying for this position, Do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question. What qualities do you think will be required for this job? Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include key skills such as leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, and ana-
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Urgi9ea'tr
-:Careers:lytical skills.
What can you contribute? This is your chance to shine. Tell them your about achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for.
Why do you want to work for this company? Emphasise the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These sort of questions will not impress your interviewer!!
What interests you about the company's service? Your research into the company should
It*V
and keep control of the meeting. If you are leading a group activity the observer will be interested in seeing how good you are at delegating tasks and how much of the work you keep for yourself.
If you're not getting the job offers you desire then you need to look carefully at your interview performance. You should try and get as much feedback as possible from the people who have interviewed you. If you have been unsuccessful in obtaining a job, ring up the interviewers and ask them where they think you fell down and how they think you could do better. Once you have got feedback you can modify your interview technique and hopefully do better at the next interview.
aid you in answering this question.
What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot? Tread carefully here! Again do not men-
tion money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges,
It is good practice to write your interviewers thank you letters soon after you have had any interviews. This will make you stand out from everyone else who has been interviewed - as very few people (if any) will write a letter to say thank you.
you the interview/job Being unprepared
for the interview
you should always prepare thoroughly before any interview (this will also make you feel more confident at the interview). Saying unfavourable things about previous employers - not only is this backbiting but also the employer will be wondering what you will say about them when you leave their employment. Not being able to communicate clearly and effectively. Being aggressive or acting in a superior way - nobody likes this and this is totally against the characteristics of a true Muslim. Making excuses for failings.
Group tests are used by an employer to see how you react in a group. They will want to see if you help or hinder the group reach its objectives. An observer will be watching to see
how you take criticism, whether you take on leadership roles and involve less communicative group members. If you chair the meeting the observer will be checking on how you plan
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VtQige. *ua,t Lu:) /
-: Book Review r -
,, *,& :l'..,,1:'.,i:,.t:t
...........
J tlu^ in Focus by Hammudah 'Abd al 'AtI is a beautiful book that truly defines Islam and writes in ink what the Muslim heart has yearned so urgently to hear. One of the themes 'Abd al 'AtJ explores is that concerning Hajj, he first sets the foundation by. reminding us that it is the'final pillar', and that
it is incumbent upon every able Muslim. He
then begins to explore the beauty and significance of Hajj. That it is the 'greatest regular conference of peace known in the history of mankind'where'peace is the dominant theme'. He says also that'it is a reminder of the grand assembly on the Day of Judgment where people will stand equal before Allah (SWT)'. And through acquainting the pilgrims with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s environment and of Abraham (AS) and Ishmael (AS)'s, the pilgrims can 'derive warm inspirations and strengthen their faith'. Moreover, it is a demonstration of the universality of Islam. 'There is no royalty but loyalty of all to Allah (SWT). There is no aristocracy, but humility and devotion'. Hammudah 'Abd al 'Ati then focuses on the reason for kissing the black stone and clarifies that it is not an act of worship but it is done simply as a token of the pilgrims''respect or symbol of love for the Prophet'. What is so remarkable is that the author then
22
Sr Malika Barakat
goes on to compare the expression to that of 'a good patriot returning from exile or a fighting soldier coming back from the battlefield' who may do certain things such as kiss the earth of his'beloved homeland'.
In this way both Muslim and Non-Muslim alike
is heart rendered and intrigued by the power of such a holy journey. Further on 'Abd al 'Ati explores the ziy5rah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and does so with vivid and enlightening context. He also mentions the reasons for the sacrifice of Ishmael and the evidence supporting the fact it was Ishmael and not Isaac who was to be sacrificed, The significance of these, we learn, is
yet again very impressive, Reading this account, I was deeply touched by the warm-hearted analysis that was spectacular in its coherence, and the effort that was made in ensuring that it was accessible and intriguing to a diverse audience of Muslims and Non-Muslims. I highly recommend it to those seeking a better understanding and want a clarification of the background events that took place resulting in the great pilgrimage, Hajj.
May Allah (SWT) reward him for his contribution in giving a better understanding of our Islam,
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Lantern of the path : (SWT), for:
My Intimate Return to My Lord, Continued from page 77
But on the Day of Judgment, which Arafat can be compared to, I will not be judging myself, we will all be judged by the most just, the one who is severe in punishment yet most mer-
ciful and
'mini' journey of life returning back to Allah
$n*s*lf { ri'ayalt}
Whoever guards his heart from heedlessness, protects his self from appetites, and guards his intellect from ignorance, will be admitted into the company of the vigilant. Then he who guards his knowledge from fancies, his faith from innovation, and his property from the forbidden is among the righteous, The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said, 'It is a duty for every Muslimt man and woman, to seek knowledge,' that is, knowledge of the self. Therefore it is neces-
sary for the self to be in all states either expressing his gratitude or proffering his excuse for lack of gratitude. If this is acceptable to Allah (SWT) it is a favour upon him, and if not it is justice upon him. For every self it is necessary to work that it may succeed in its acts of obedience, and for its protection in its efforts to abstain from doing harm.
The basis of all this is recognition of total need and dependence on Allah (SWT), caution and obedience. The key to it is in delegating your affair to Allah (SWT), cutting off expectation by always remembering death, and seeing that you are standing in the presence of the All Compelling. This gives you rest from confinement, rescue from the enemy, and peace for the self. The means to sincerity in obedience is harmony, and the root of that rests upon considering life as being only as long as a day.
The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said, 'This world lasts but an hour, so spend it in obedience to Allah (SWT).' The door to all of this is always to withdraw from the world by means of constant reflection. The means to this withdrawal is contentment, and abandoning such existential matters that do not concern you. The means to reflection is emptiness fdesirelessness], and the buttress of emptiness is abstinence. The completion of abstinence is precaution, and the door to precaution is fear. The proof of fear is glorification of Allah (SWT), adherence to obeying His commands with sincerity, fear and caution, and holding back from the forbidden; and the guide to this is knowledge. Almighty Allah (SWT) said, "Those of His servants who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah." (35:28)
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After Hajj
I Issuel I Volumel0
I
began to feel some of its benefits, I determined to submit my life purely for the pleasure of Allah (SWT), for I had surely experienced the training camp of a lifetime!
felt spiritually uplifted, content, and
..'ge
compassion-
ate. Hajj is surely a
&*"r*trdimg
"To Allah we belong, and to AIIah we shall all surely return,"
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"Start Hajj with Mecca and cornplcto it with
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T?'lankfa*lness
With every breath you take, a thanksgiving is incumbent upon you, indeed, a thousand thanks or more. The lowest level of gratitude is to see that the blessing comes from Allah (SWT) irrespective of the cause for it, and without the heart being attached to that cause. It consists of being satisfied with what is glven; it means not disobeying Him with regard to His blessing, or opposing Him in any of His commands and prohibitions because of His blessing. Be a grateful bondsman to Allah (SWT) in every way, and you will find that Allah (SWT) is a generous Lord in every way. If there were a way of worshipping Allah (SWT) for His sincerest bondsman to follow more excellent than giving thanks at every instance, He would have ascribed to them the name of this worship above the rest of creation. Since there is no form of worship better than that, He has singled out this kind of worship from other kinds of worship, and has singled out those who practice this kind of worship, say-
ing, "Very few (3a:13)
of my
servants are grateful."
Complete thankfulness is to sincerely repent your in-
ability to convey the least amount of gratitude, and expressing this by means of your sincere glorification of Allah (SWT). This is because fitting thanks is itself a blessing bestowed upon the bondsman for which he must also give thanks; it is of greater merit and of a higher state than the original blessing which caused him to respond with thanks in the first place. Therefore, every time one gives thanks one is obliged to give yet greater thanks, and so on ad infinitum, and this while absorbed in His blessings and unable to achieve the ultimate state of gratitude. For how can the bondsman match with gratitude the blessings of Allah (SWT), and when will he match his own action with Allah (SWT)'s while all along the bondsman is weak and has no power whatsoever, except from Allah (SWT)?
Allah (SWT) is not in need of the obedience of His bondsmen, for He has the power to increase blessings forever. Therefore be a grateful bondsman to Allah (SWT), and in this manner you will see wonders. 23