SATSUKA: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

MY FRIDAY TRIP TO RAS AL KHAIMAH - 29 May 2009 - MY WONDERFUL BROTHERS AND SISTER

Mohammad, Abdullah, Ibrahim, and Aisha.

The gang who visited! I am in the middle!

Ibrahim's other teacher who is doing an awesome job!

Youssef, Abdullah and I, right after Al Asr salat in Ras Al Khaimah.

Am I having a good time yet?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I'm not too sure what the exact and true story is about this place, but I know there is some financial scandal involved here. It is not my intention to wallow in the misery of another person, so I am not interested in the story. The only reason I post these pics is to show an awesome piece of [unfinished] architecture, Arab style! It will be a sight when [if?] it is ever completed. I often drive past this place on the Dubai road, just as one leaves Al Ain.

AYAT UL-KURSI

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never fathom anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great [2:255].

AYAT-ul-Kursi (Qur’an, 2:255) is the most magnificent verse of the Qur’an.

Ubayy Bin Ka’b says once the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked me, “O Abu Mundhir, do you know which verse of the Qur’an with you is the most magnificent?” I submitted: “Allah-o-la-illaaha illa huwal-hayyul Qaiyum…” (2:255).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) thumped my chest as a gesture of appreciation and said: “Congratulations on your knowledge (of the Qur’an), O Abu Mundhir!” (Sahih Muslim)

Abu Hurairah narrates: Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) appointed me to guard the Sadqa Fitr (alms given during Ramadan before Eid). One night an intruder came and started collecting the food. I caught hold of him and said: “I will produce you before the Prophet (peace be upon him)” but the intruder pleaded: “I am a poor man and have number of children to support. I am badly in need of help and succor.” On hearing this woeful tale I let him go.
In the morning the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked me: “Abu Hurairah what happened to your thief last night?” I answered, “O Messenger of Allah! He pleaded his dire necessity and complained about his large family. As such I felt pity for him and let him go.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “He has lied, he will come back again.”

I was sure he would come again as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had said, and therefore I kept watch and waited for him. The thief did come again and started gathering food. I caught him again and said that I would definitely take him to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

On this he requested that he was a needy person and had a large family to support and that he may be let off and promised that he would not come back. I felt pity for him once more and let him go.

Next morning the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “Abu Hurairah what about your prisoner of last night? I answered: “O Messenger of Allah, he pleaded his dire necessity and the fact that he had a large family, and therefore I felt pity for him and let him go.” He (peace be upon him) said: “He told you a lie and will come back again!”

So I maintained a watch for him a third time. He did come to steal food (from the alms store) Abu Hurairah says: “I caught hold of him and said; I shall certainly take you to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and this is the last of the three times you promised that you will not come back, (but you have broken your promise and came back).”

He pleaded: “Please let me go and I will in return teach you some phrases which will bring benefit and mercy from Allah.” I asked him: “What are those?” He said: “When you go to bed (during night) recite the verse (Ayat-ul-Kursi, 2:255). (As a result of its blessings) Allah will appoint a guard to protect you, and Satan will not be able to come near to you till morning.”

So I allowed him to go. Next morning when I visited the Prophet (peace be upon him) he asked me: “What did you do with your prisoner last night?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, he said that he would teach me some phrases through which I would receive benefit and mercy of Allah. On this I let him go.” He (peace be upon him) asked, “What are those phrases?” I said: “He told me, when you go to your bed for sleep, recite the verse ‘Ayat-ul-Kursi’ from beginning to end, and told me that Allah would post a guard on me and Satan would not be able to come near me till the morning.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “This time he told you the truth although he is a liar. Abu Hurairah, do you know with whom you were speaking during these three nights?” I answered; “No.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It was Satan (the devil).”

Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) also said that whoever recites Ayat-ul-Kursi after every Fardh (obligatory) Salah, nothing can keep him away from entering Paradise except death. (Al-Bukhari)

MY FRIDAY TRIP TO RAS AL KHAIMAH - 29 May 2009 - PREPARING FOR JUMMA PRAYERS

The one above is me.

The last bit of incense, then we hit the road to the masjid! The air is filled with expectation and excitement. It truly is a pleasure to be a part of the ummah of the Prophet Mohammad [pbuh].

Friday, May 29, 2009

MY FRIDAY TRIP TO RAS AL KHAIMAH - 29 May 2009 - PREPARING FOR JUMMA PRAYERS

It is the custom here in the UAE to incense yourself and others before the congregational prayers on Friday afternoons. Here you can see the incense burner, filled with bakhoor. The oldest brother in the family incensed everyone. You stand over the burner, with the incense smoke filling your kandoora, until the smoke comes out of your sleeves. The idea is to smell good and to be clean for the congregation. This is what our Prophet [pbuh] commanded us. Afterward, everybody used cologne, and then we were off to the local masjid for the prayers.