bismi-lLah wa-lhamdu li-lLah wa-shshalatu wa-ssalamu 'ala rasuli-lLah wa 'ala alihi wa ashhabihi wa ma-wwalah, amma ba'd, assalamu 'alaikum.
hope we'd think just like him.......... The final call? Sikander Ziad Hashmi, I wake up every morning. Within the first 30 minutes of waking up, Im checking my e-mail and browsing the net. Its a routine. Before leaving for a journey, I know that I wont get net access for a while, so I check my e-mail thoroughly and spend some extra time checking some stuff online, since I wont be able to do so for the next little while. In the same way, I study throughout the semester (a routine), but when its exam-eve, I take the extra moment to solidify the data in my mind for the exam. In both these instances, Im pretty sure that Ill either be going on a journey or will be faced with an exam the next day, thus I take the time to prepare. Alhamdulillah, through the blessing of Allah (SW) and the efforts of my parents, I have become accustomed to offering my 5 daily salat. Yet, it also has become a routine of sorts. Im used to praying so I pray. Many of those prayers are spent thinking about what I have to do next, while others speed-by while lost in thought about some other matter or pursuit. Although they are not the ideal salat, Insha-Allah, it is hoped that Allah (SW) will accept my duty of daily salat as being discharged, even with these semi-conscious prayers (which aren't supposed to be that way). However, in contrast with the two examples in the beginning, I can never be sure if a salat will be my last. During ta`leem this afternoon, a hadith caught my attention. The Prophet (SAW) is reported (by many narrators) to have said, Offer each salat (with) such (devotion) as if it were the last salat of your life. My thoughts suddenly rushed over to Southeast Asia and the tsunami disaster. Many Muslims perished (may Allah grant them all a place in Jannah). While walking out of the masjid, how many would have thought that they had just offered their last salat and that they will soon be swept to sea? We can try to sweep it under the rug as much as we want, but the fact remains that (as Ive said before), our birth certificates dont carry expiry dates. The `Asr I have just prayed or the Maghrib Im about to offer (Insha-Allah) may very well be my final call to Allah (SW) before He calls me back. Before leaving for a journey or prior to an exam, I know that I better take the extra minutes to prepare and do it well, for I wont get another chance in the near future. But when offering my salat, I dont even know if Ill suddenly find myself in an unexpected journey - from which there is no turning back. Isnt it ironic that I tend to sacrifice that which will (hopefully) help me in the Hereafter - when it all really counts - in exchange for short-term concerns that wont help one bit in the Hereafter, and may even turn out to be a disadvantage for me? Man, Im such a fool. May Allah (SW) help me and all of us in streamlining our thoughts towards Allah during our salat, and help us make each of our prayers as if theyre our last. Ameen. Leo Imanov Abdu-lLah AllahsSlave ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/