Reaching Out...2-Delicate Breeze!

With your Name!
I live in the towns, the cities, the countries. I travel the highways, the roads, the streets. I visit the markets, the hospitals, the graveyards. And in this hustle bustle, feel tired of the deceptions of Your enemies, knitted to trap Your friends. Though I can not claim to be one of Your friends, to be a devotee, but still...want to be with them! Want to protect the flickering candle-flame inside, which lights up my heart with Your love; love of everything which is good, love of justice and truth. I am looking for a shelter; a safe haven. Some way of getting to You and helping others make this world a better place to live in.

If one really looks around, out of his gloominess and despair, he is bound to find many signs that his Creator is really Reaching Out to him. Wants to save him, and others, from disaster. Wants to pull him towards the high heavens, peaceful life.
But for that to happen, man and the society will have to make an effort, will have to take the first step, will have to reach that intention, the resolution.....will have to raise their hand to grab the help and....the rest will follow. Certainly! It does need FAITH that, the rest will follow. That's what all our being-sent-down and being tested, is all about...!
These helps are of different types, natures, significance and uses...
In a Hadith-e-Qudsee (a Divine Tradition) it has been narrated that Prophet Dawood (David) (AS) was told in a revelation:

إنّ لله فی أیّام دهرِکُم نفحات ألا! أن ترصّدوا بها" 

"Surely! Certain breezes blow in your lives, which belong to Allah. Beware of them, and attain them!! (be in their way and utilize them well)." (Bihar-ul-Anwar, V. 77)
These breezes of blessings and help, DO blow! But they take different forms.Some are particular physical locations in the world, which have a Divine and Holy mark and environment. Some are special points in time, all around the year, or a few times every year, or some once a year. And some other forms too. What is important, is that, if we want to make the most of it, want to find a safe haven, want to make this world a better place for all, we will have to feel these delicate winds that blow and are all around us. Lets be attentive and realize! Seize the opportunities!
We will be discussing some of them (with the Help of Almighty-Insha Allah) in the coming posts. So please keep reading, following and contribute with your feed backs.

Reaching Out...1

بسم الله 

Looking around us and asking: Why do we live in the first place? What ‘are’ we doing here? One gets to some very obvious answers, found all around him… We live to enjoy ourselves; to eat, drink, travel, watch, talk, play… Yeah! We live for this!! But do we achieve enjoyment; the contentment inside?

This is the point where materialistic solutions end, and a Momen looks up to find the answers. “But how will I get to You? I live in a jungle of impurities, and sins. It’s darkness all around me? How will I find the way to You? And even if I do Your enemies, Satan and the most dangerous one, my ‘self’; they won’t let me break these chains and fly to You….”

In today’s world of materialistic labyrinths, it is no doubt difficult to find fresh air of spirituality and holiness to inhale into our souls. And as the days pass by, it becomes more and more difficult ‘cause distractions get closer and closer and a Momen would utter these words. It’s a sign that he is looking for something and is not satisfied with the current state; the current formulae of life, fed by the materialistic cultures do not answer the thirst of his soul…

On the other hand, he is continuously informed about how a real Momen, a believer, should be. And he feels lost! What can he do? How can he fight the urge and attraction, and keep to the right path? “So where are You? Where is Your help?” He asks with tears in his eyes and his palms spread as he begs for a few drops of rain, a new ray of light…

“I am never away!! It’s me who is looking for his creation who is lost in the world. I am close to you, but you have run away from me. If you want help I will. I have already sent down my help, my troops, my signs, my shelters which are available for all those who want to travel towards me…”

وَ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنهَدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا (سوره العنکبوت آیه ۶۹)

“And those who strive hard for us, We will most certainly guide them to Our ways”

Therefore, though difficult, but a seeker should never feel disappointed as he has not been ignored and the help is available and one can find it all around himself.

In this series of posts, Insha Allah we will try to discuss some of the things readily and easily available, for those who want to get closer to the only Owner and Manager of this universe… Unlike others, we will try to focus on those subjects that we find in the basic religious sources, and not personal ideas and conceptions… Needless to stress I would certainly welcome any comments, feedback or discussions regarding these topics.

Reaching Out...3-Masjid (Mosque)

باسمه تعالی

It has been narrated that Ali ‘bn Abi Talib (may Allah send Blessings on them) used to say:

“The one, who frequently goes to the Mosque, achieves one of the eight (things):

1.     A brother in [the way of] Allah [i.e. the brotherhood between them is for Holy purposes and aims, and not for futile ones];

2.     Knowledge which is new and fruitful [or one which he did not have before but gets to it…];

3.     A strong and obvious sign [Ayah];

4.     Will listen to a word which will guide him towards the right direction;

5.     An awaited [or an awaiting] blessing [or graciousness];

6.     A word which will keep him from going astray, or;

7.     Will leave a sin due to, either fear;

8.      Or shame.”

(Wasael-ush-Shiah Vol. 5, P. 197; Also narrated, with slight variations, in: Amali-e-Sheikh Sudooq; Amali-e-Sheikh Toosi; Behar-ul-Anwar)

Arabic text:

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنِ اخْتَلَفَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ أَصَابَ إِحْدَى الثَّمَانِ أَخاً مُسْتَفَاداً فِي اللَّهِ أَوْ عِلْماً مُسْتَطْرَفاً أَوْ آيَةً مُحْكَمَةً أَوْ يَسْمَعَ كَلِمَةً تَدُلُّهُ عَلَى هُدًى أَوْ رَحْمَةً مُنْتَظَرَةً أَوْ كَلِمَةً تَرُدُّهُ عَنْ رَدًى أَوْ يَتْرُكَ ذَنْباً خَشْيَةً أَوْ حَيَاء

(وسائل الشیعة ج ۵ ص ۱۹۷)