A Beard Made of Love

A Beard Made of Love

It is related that two religious fundamentalists once came to visit our
Master. They had bristly whiskers and Master invited
them to stay for lunch. One of them sought to provoke the Master by asking how
he could become a Sufi?

Master said, "Cut off your beard."

"But," protested the man, "what about him?" pointing to the other one, the Sheikh
of Sheikhs, who had a long white beard.

"Ah!" The Master said, "But his is not a beard of religion. His is a beard of love."

"Grow a beard made of love, O darvish
and claim the name of lover,
or do not pretend to the circle of the Friend."

Friendship for Allah's Sake

Man is liable to imitate and copy those whom he befriends.
If one's friends engage in virtuous deeds,
this would prompt him to imitate their good qualities.
Whereas, if one's friends indulge in bad practices,
then it is very likely for him to get accustomed with their bad characteristics
and eventually incorporate them in his behavior, knowingly or unknowingly!

Such is also true concerning one's religion and beliefs
as Allah's Messenger * is reported to have said,
'Man is on the religion of his companions,
so let one of you choose whom he befriends.'
[Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Tirmidhee]

We are commanded to be very careful when choosing associates. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) cited an extraordinary comparison between righteous company and evil association. He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) mentioned, 'Verily, the example of a good companion in comparison to an evil one is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellow. From the first you would either get a gift of his musk's scent, buy some from him, or enjoy its good smell, while the bellow will either burn your clothes, or give you a bad, nasty smell thereof.' [Agreed upon]

We, thus, find our pious predecessors so concerned and careful about their friends that they would invoke Allah to grant them righteous associates. It is
related in Saheeh al-Bukharee that Alqamah said, I went to ash-Shaam and offered two Rak'ahs prayer and then I said, 'O Allah, bless me with a good pious companion.' Then I went to some people and sat with them. An old man came and sat beside me. I asked, 'Who is he?' They replied, 'Abu ad-Darda.' I said to him, 'I prayed to Allah to bless me with a pious companion and He sent you to me. He asked me, 'From where are you?' I replied, 'From the people of al-Koofa.' [Saheeh al-Bukharee (5/86)]

Along these lines, a Muslim should be very much concerned to understand the Islamic perspective of friendship and characteristics of a good companion, in order to choose the right person to associate with. Following are some guidelines deduced from the teachings of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, which designate the characteristics of a Muslim's friends.








Friendship for Allah's Sake
A Muslim's primary concern before choosing friends should be to seek the Pleasure of Allah in the friendship. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, 'Whoever loves for Allah, and hates for Allah, gives for Allah and withholds for Allah, has completed his faith.' [Abu Dawood]

Friendship that is based upon the sincere purpose of seeking Allah's Pleasure brings about the love of Allah for the slave. Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, 'A man
went to visit a brother of his in another village. Allah sent an Angel to wait for him on the road. When the man came, the Angel asked him, 'Where do you intend to go?' He said, 'I am going to visit a brother of mine who lives in this village.' The Angel asked, 'Have you done him any favor (for which you are now seeking repayment)?' He said, 'No, I just love him for the sake of Allah.' The Angel told him, 'I am a messenger to you from Allah, sent to tell you that He (Allah) Loves you as you love your brother for His sake.' [Saheeh Muslim]

From the benefits of such a virtuous friendship is that on the Day of Judgment, when, '…the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil (or molten lead, etc.) and the mountains will be like flakes
of wool. And no friend will ask of a friend.' [(70): 8-10] 'That day shall a man flee from his brother. And from his mother and his father, and from his wife and children.' [(81): 34-37] 'Allah, the Exalted, will declare on the Day of Resurrection, 'Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My Grace? This Day, I shall shade them under My Shade, when there is only My Shade.' [Saheeh Muslim]

Why read Quran if you don't understand Arabic?

Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word???? This is a beautiful story.

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives."

If you feel this email is worth reading, please forward to your contacts/friends. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH & his family) says: *"The one who guides to good will be rewarded equally"*

The Elephant Story

Here’s something hypothetical. Read it first and then close your eyes and see the hilarity of the whole thing.

Imagine there is this big hall which is pitch dark. Imagine the darkness to be so dark that you can’t see a thing. And inside this hall imagine an elephant. Imagine many doors to this room and all doors are closed. Imagine a group of people trying to analyse the elephant. Imagine all these people knowing the elephant for itself but understanding only a certain part of the body to be the true representative of the elephant.

So when one enters the room and knows only the tail, he would go feeling all the parts until he finds the tail. Once he has found the tail, he is happy and keeps feeling the tail and only the tail and tells himself that `this is the elephant’. Familiarity and solace he has found in the tail! He would know the tail so intimately but he can only acknowledge the tail and tail only as a representation of the elephant. Then there are the other guys who would do the same with the head, the legs, the whole body, the trunk, the tusk. Imagine all these people feeling the elephant; each one feeling with great love and reverence, the part known only to him as the `the elephant’.

That the elephant might be made up of all the parts together is not witnessed or observed. Because they might have to accept the other parts of the elephant if they witness or observe it, their preference to stick to the known part is a proper way for each of them. So only the part that is familiar to them would do. None of these people saw or want to see the elephant as a whole for fear they might lose their belief in the part they believe in! None of them want to acknowledge the elephant as one unit but rather they compartmentalise their beliefs. They find comfort in these little compartments.

So when the time came to acknowledge the elephant as a whole, all the representatives of the respective parts began to fight with each other wanting to prove that their part of the elephant is the true representative and all the while the elephant as a whole stood straight, for all to see oblivious to the commotion that was being created for it knew it was ‘the’ elephant, period. Imagine all the representatives pitching against each other to prove their respective part is superior to the other and therefore is the elephant.

Just like the elephant story, Islam is being compartmentalised these days. I think we have 72 sects or so in existence! Sure, each of these sects acknowledge Allah and the Prophet (SAW) but in their own style and rhythm. Muslims are losing focus of the true preaching of Allah and the Prophet. And we Sufis are losing that lovely Sufi spirit. And that’s a shame.

Aren’t we supposed to be wise, learned, perceptive, intelligent, clever, prudent, sensible judicious? Aren’t we meant to be cheerful, happy, jolly, joyful, lively and always in good spirits and aren’t we meant to be charming, enchanting, captivating, attractive? Aren’t we supposed to be loveable dreamers of Islam? Haven’t Sufis been influential in spreading Islam around the world for the past many centuries? I am sure the Sufi saints did not shrug off non-believers and banish them to hell in the process. Our dear Prophet (pbh) is a prime and solid example of this and so were his Sahabas. Sheik Nazim is living proof of this can-do, can-be attitude. They have given us the way and all we need to do is to follow the path.


What are we waiting for?


Salams

Soraya Usuf

Pursuit of True Happiness

We must remind ourselves as well...that, neither the heart or soul reside in the mind. Nor can they be properly understood by the intellect.

There was once a story of a man crying on the side of a road, praying to find true happiness. When God sent an old man to inquire of him the reason for such tears, he replied that he was lost and that his life had been wasted in the pursuit of true happiness. The old man asked him to describe the shape, size and dimensions of these objects so desired and that perhaps, he might be able to help him to find them.

The man answered that this was the very problem. He did not know how to describe them, to which the old man replied; at least now, we know why you are lost.

The moral of the story is that many of us are like this man, pursue our fancies through a veneer of sophisticated ideas, arguments and imaginings through veils of uncertainty. But, if we take the time, stop and listen to our heart and ask sincerely - every cloud will part and guidance becomes evident.

Allah Razy Olsun,

-Abdullah Serif

This shall too pass

Once upon a time, a great Shah of Persia decided to have a special jewel encrusted ring made for his personal use. On the ring, he wanted to engrave a few words which would give him great comfort in times of distress. He offered huge rewards for anyone who could suggest the best words of wisdom to him for his purpose.

Many people came forward, but none of their words where to the Kings liking.

Then a dervish visited the palace and said..."Oh King! Let me tell you of the words that have always given me great comfort in my time of distress and sorrow"

He told the King.. the words touched the him so much he head them engraved on his ring and would always look at them when he felt sad or experienced difficulty...and immediately his heart would be filled with a new spirit of patience courage and faith....

Those words..... "This too shall pass"

To Judge or not to Judge!

To Judge or Not to Judge
Salma Remani

One night there was a woman at the airport who had to wait for several hours before catching her next flight. While she waited she bought a book and a pack of biscuits to spend the time. She looked for a place to sit and waited.

She was deep into her book, when suddenly she realized that there was a young man sitting next to her who was stretching his hand, with no concern whatsoever, and grabbing the pack of cookies lying between them. He started to eat them one by one.

Not wanting to make a fuss about it she decided to ignore him. The woman, slightly bothered, ate the cookies and watched the clock, while the young and shameless thief of biscuits was also finishing them. The woman started to get really angry at this point and thought "If I wasn't such a good and educated person, I would have given this daring man a black eye by now."

Every time she ate a biscuit, he had one too. The dialogue between their eyes continued and when only one biscuit was left, she wondered what was he going to do. Softly and with a nervous smile, the young man grabbed the last biscuit and broke it in two. He offered one half to the woman while he ate the other half.

Briskly she took the biscuit and thought, "What an insolent man! How uneducated! He didn't even thank me!" She had never met anybody so fresh and sighed relieved to hear her flight announced. She grabbed her bags and went towards the boarding gate refusing to look back to where that insolent thief was seated.

After boarding the plane and nicely seated, she looked for her book which was nearly finished by now. While looking into her bag she was totally surprised to find her pack of biscuits nearly intact. "If my biscuits are here", she thought feeling terribly, "those others were his and he tried to share them with me." Too late to apologize to the young man, she realized with pain, that it was her who had been insolent, uneducated and a thief, and not him.

How many times in our lives, had we know with certainty that something happened in a certain way, only to discover later that it wasn't true?

No matter how great a man's evil, in his heart there is a seed of goodness. If only we can reach it and make it grow, it will bear fruit.

How many times has our lack of trust within us made us judge other people unfairly with our conceited ideas, often far away from reality?

When Life Seems Too Much to Handle

An old story that most of us have read before, but, it is still very beautiful and thought provoking.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class & had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Credit: Salma Remani

Sufi Quotes

HAKIM JAMI
Luxuriant Growth

If the scissors are not used daily on the beard, it will not be long before they begin pretending to be the head.

The One

Love reaches its omega when it transcends itself

Becoming one with the object itself

Producing the unity of being

The burden of the nose

I saw a man prostrating in his prayers and told him, ‘ You lay the burden of your nose to ground and think it is as excuse for your requirement of your prayers?’

Real Love

Ordinary human love is capable of raising man to the experience of real love.

The Beggar

A beggar went to someone’s door and begged for food.

‘There is no one here’, came the reply.

‘I don’t need anyone’, said the beggar. ‘I need the food!’.

The Dry Clouds

The dry clouds waterless have no rain giving quality.

Pride

Do not boast that you have no pride, as it is less visible an ant’s foot on a black stone on a moonless black night.

And do not think that it is easier to bring it out from within since it is easier to extract a mountain from the earth with a needle.

The greatest sorrow

Before Nushirvan (a famous Persian emperor) the Just, wise sages discussed the heaviest sorrow that prevails on humans.

One of them said it was illness and suffering.

Other said it was old age with poverty.

And last one said it was approaching death with lack of work.

At the end the last one was accepted.

Sufi Story - Tests in Life - Beautiful Teapot

Life is full of moments that pass us by. Sometimes we hardly notice when something really significant is happening and at other times we catch hold of it and learn and grow from it. These stories are everyday occurences that perhaps each one of us has faced at some time, they all hold some truth; some lessons that we can benefit from InshAllah!

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.

"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Let me alone', but he only smiled, 'Not yet.'

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said,'Not yet.'

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better', I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and I couldn't believe it was me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'

'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up.

I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.

I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any colour in your life.

And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you'.

Allah knows what He's doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will, which we can never escape.

Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it~~~

It's strange how the seemingly unimportant things in life can often prove to be significant trials~~~

*Allahumma inna na'oodhoo bika min ilmin laa yanfa'
O Allah, we seek your protection from knowledge that brings no benefit
... wa min qalbin laa yakhsha'
and from a heart which does not fear you
... wa min 'aynin laa tadma'
and from an eye which does not tear
...wa min dua'aain laa yusma'
and from a dua which is not heard... Ameen

May Allah (S) bring you out of the darkness of illusion into the light of knowledge, adorn your manners with gentleness, and grant you deeds that are accepted in HIS Presence. Ameen

InnaAllah ma'as sabireen
Fountains Of Noor Team

The woman with no Hands and no Feet

As I sit and and think of my struggles
and the ego that i must defeat
I suddenly stop to remember
the woman with no hands and no feet.

Holding out her hand-less limbs
Begging for some charity
knowing she has no other choice
For sadly, this her destiny

How did she come to be?
was it an accident or fate?
As the world carelessly walks on by
Do they see her pain, stop and contemplate?

Contemplate the fact
we have so much to be thankful for
but our eyes and mind our clouded
by our egos want for more

With a roof over our heads
and clothes on our back
food and water to keep us nourished
but still....thankfulness to Allah we lack.

Just see with your eyes
what is true struggle and deprivation
and acknowledge how blessed we are
To be saved from poverty and starvation.

So when we are faced with a test
and the want for what is beyond our reach
Let us be filled with abundant gratitude
For at least,

we still have our hands and our feet.

Prayer in Love

"A lover offers his prayers in a hidden language,
wherein no letters exist.
It is not for everyone-
Only the aching heart of a lover can know this prayer.
With tears from his eyes and blood from his heart,
He purifies himself with Wudu.
The tongue does not move, nor do the lips flutter-
A very special prayer is this."

-Sultan Bahu

Kid & his Apple Tree - Sufi Story

Kid & his Apple Tree
Salma Remani

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, and took a nap in its shadow.

He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by and the little boy had grown up and no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me", the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid and I don't play around trees any more," the boy replied. "I want toys.

I need money to buy them." "Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them. Then, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.The boy never came back after he picked the apples and the tree felt sad.

One day, many years later, the boy who had now turned into a man returned. The tree was excited and said, "Come and play with me." The boy replied, "I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family and we need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"

"Sorry, I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house". So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" said the man. "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you", the tree said. "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite," the man replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on". "I am too old for that now," the man said. "I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years," the man replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest." The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

Now, replace the tree in the story with parents. When we are young, we love to play with our Mum and Dad; but when we grow up, we leave them, only to come to them whenever we need support - material or emotional, or when we are in trouble. And no matter what, our parents always are there by our side and give us everything they can just to make us happy.

Always, we take them fo granted and don"t appreciate all they do for us, until its too late.

It's the same with our divine parent too.

Whenever we are beset with problems, we cry out to Him for help, how many times do we think of Him when everything is going pleasant and beautiful in our lives?

Something to think about.

“Everything in the universe is a pitcher brimming with wisdom and beauty.” - Rumi

What seperates us from God?

"In fact, what separates man from divine Reality is but a thin partition: God is infinitely close to man, but man is infinitely far from God.

This partition, for man is a mountain; man stands in front of a mountain which he must remove with his own hands.

He digs away the earth, but in vain, the mountain remains; man however goes on digging, in the name of God.

And the mountain vanishes.

It was never there."