To Mum, the Strength of a Woman, and the story of Ayub alayhi salam.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind

There’s something about a woman, can’t put my finger on it. Something that just…endures. Endures pain, endures the tough times, and endures for others. A pregnant woman, a die-hard mum, a tolerant wife. The pain threshold must be really high. Emotional and physical –wise. I dedicate this to my Mother.

I will never know the pain you suffered through out the years, the emotional rejection for our sake. Toiling day and night for our pleasure, bending for our comfort. When you bore me, the eight hours in that pain and got back the most stubborn child, ungrateful teenager in return and yet you still stayed through the tough years to see me grow. The rudeness, the arguments, the never ending stress caused between mothers and their daughters, is only one I look back in remorse.
Growing now, living now as you did then, I appreciate what you went through. I appreciate what you taught. I appreciate who you are.
This life is short and I can’t help remembering crying at about eight or nine when I asked you and abo will die one day? And you said yes. And I couldn’t believe that there would be life without you. Without your hugs and your reassurance. My head and heart doesn’t let me dwell on that thought for long, I just cannot…They say there’s no love on earth like the love of a mother.
In this difficult time, this time of uncertainty, I only pray I could love you just the same.

The Prophet (peace and blessing be
upon him) instructs us to: “Pray to God for
forgiveness and sound well-being. No
blessing other than faith is better than
well-being."
Sahih Al-Bukhari

Related by Ahmad: Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: "God has not created a disease without creating a cure for it, which may be known to some and unknown to others."

“Rabbu inni massani-yadh-urru wa ‘anta arhamur-Raahimeen"
O my Rabb(Lord, Sustainer, Cherisher, Master), Surely, distress has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful ones.
-Surah al-Anbiya; 21:83 (Chapter of the Prophets) –what Prophet Ayyub alayhis salam (Job peace be upon him) recited when he was afflicted with various calamities but only displayed patience…

Here is his story…

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a prosperous man with firm faith in Allah. He possessed vast farms, enormous wealth, many cattle and valuable property but these things did not make him arrogant. His wealth provided him with a medium by means of which he sought Allah's grace.

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a pattern of humility and faith in Allah. He was very patient. He suffered from a number of calamities but did not utter a single word of complaint. One day his big farm was attacked by the thieves. They killed many of his servants and carried away forcibly all his cattle. The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) did not feel sorry at this loss and thanked Allah.

After some time the roof of the house fell down and many members of his family were crushed. The Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was much shocked but he held fast to his faith in Allah. He neither shed a tear nor heaved a sigh. He prostrated before the Almighty. He remarked that possessions and children were the gifts from Allah. If He had taken His things, it was useless to lament over their loss.

After a few years Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) suffered from skin disease. His parts of body were covered with loathsome sores. He had many ugly looking ulcers on his face and hands. The sores were full of worms. It is narrated that he picked up those worms which fell from his abscess and praised Allah for creating them.

Above all, his false friends attributed his calamities to his sins. They ridiculed and looked down upon him. All the persons deserted him with the exception of his faithful wife, Rahima. She also grew tired of him in the long run and prayed for his death. She cursed her husband for retaining integrity in Allah. When Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was in an extremely pathetic condition he prayed:

"Truly adversity has afflicted me and You are Most Merciful of all who show mercy." (Surah 21: Verse 83)

Allah accepted his prayer. The Holy Quran affirms:
"Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the worshippers." (Surah 21: Verse

Allah turned to him with mercy. He was commanded to strike the earth with his foot. He complied with the order and water from the spring gushed forth. He took a bath with the water and got cured from his evil disease. After this he was restored to prosperity. The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) knelt and prayed expressing a deep sense of gratitude to Allah. He never forgot His favours, mercy and love.

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was one of the celebrated Prophets. His example illustrates: that those who remain patient under the stress of all circumstances, are never deprived of high rewards. The Holy Quran affirms:
"And surely we try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and crops, but give glad-tidings to the steadfast, who when a misfortune befalls them, say lo! we are Allah's (possession of Allah) and to Him shall we surely return. · Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly-guided." (Surah 2 : Verse 155-157)

When you have
taken a decision, put
your trust in Allah.
Surah Al-’lmran
3:159-160

ISLAM FROM THE LIPS OF THE PROPHET sallalahu alayhi wasalam

Many have been introduced to Islam in a not so positive way, it has indeed been a scapegoat more so these recent years. So what is it really? An incident that happened with the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him explains simply what it is. A pure religion that is about surrendering oneself to worship only one God, not a man, not an idol, a Supreme Being.
A while before the Muhammad Salalahu alayhi wasallam departed from this world, someone special came down to find out whether the Message had been fully conveyed. This would be the last Prophet out of all hundreds of thousands of them sent all over the world to different peoples, since the time of Adam peace and blessings be upon him. He would be the only one sent to the entire world. His time of death was drawing near and Omar Radhiallahu anhu narrates this hadith:
One day while we were sitting with the messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasalam there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the prophet (peace and blessings be on him). Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs (this was a serious breach of privacy. The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam was greatly loved by the Companions who were so very protective of him. To have a stranger so close to the leader of all Muslims rose the levels of tension.),
He said: “O Muhammed, tell me about Islam”.
The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammed is the messenger of Allah, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat, to fast in Ramadhan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.”
He said: “You have spoken rightly” and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly. (no one spoke to the Prophet in that manner as if they were testing him, so this was a shock as the Companions looked on). He said “Then tell me about eman.”
He said: “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and evil thereof.”
He said, “You have spoken rightly” He said, “Then tell me about ihsaan.”
He said: “It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.”
He said: “Then tell me about the Hour.”
He said: “The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.”
He said: “Then tell me about its Signs.”
He said: “The slave-girl will give birth to her mistress (this has been interpreted to illustrate the disrespect children will have to their parents that the daughter becomes mistress over her mother. Another interpretation has been the use of surrogate mothers, being paid to carry another’s –usually higher class or much wealthier-child) and that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute herdsman competing in constructing lofty buildings.”(As in Dubai the descendants of modest Bedouins are now competing to cover the skyline, also been interpreted to show the intellect of these rich competing with each other, from New York to Johannesburg to show how civilised they are from the height of their buildings.”
Then he took himself off and I stayed for a time, Then he said: “O Omar, do you know who the questioner was?
I said: “Allah and His messenger know best.”
He said: "He was Jibreel (Gabriel), who came to you to teach you your religion.”