Two entries have been selected by the judges as the best. The third is an honorable mention.
First Prize:
Brother Zohair Zaidi (age 17 yrs) Lewisville, Texas Submission 2
Second Prize:
Sister Salma Y. Hooshmand (Adult) Katy, Texas Submission 5
Honorable Mentions:
Sister Zahra Haider (age 11 yrs) The Colony, Texas Submission 1
Sister Syeda Rubab Azhar Zaidi (age 15 yrs) Submission 4
Brother Azam Abowath (age 14 yrs) Toronto, Canada Submission 3
Brother Roman Abidi Submission 6
Submission 1:
By Zahra Haider (age 11 yrs)
My Creative Writing Contest essay is on what if someone claimed to be Imam-e-Zamana and made people believe he was. Would it cause disputes, arguments, debates, break-ups and maybe even battles? Well, now I begin on my point of view.
Today I was out camping with some of my friends at a camping site with some strangers. As everyone here can tell my friends and I are Muslims. My name is Fatima and I’m here with my friends; Zahra, Leila, and my best friend, Rose, who was a convert. We were planning to camp for a week and today is just the second day.
Rose and I were out looking for some firewood, it was almost sundown. We were passing some of the strangers’ tents. It was dark out so we could see the shady figures of the strangers through their tent because they had candles inside. In one tent we saw a figure of a man sleeping, yet with a nightlight. We giggled. Then a figure of a dog appeared and it jumped on the man. The man screamed so hard we couldn’t help laughing. The man sat upright and seemed to be looking at the dog. Out of nowhere came a slap from the man at the dog. The dog squealed and crawled out whining. Since we were collecting wood we were wearing gloves so we wouldn’t get scratched. Rose made a kissing sound at the dog and it came faster than I expected. “Rose!” I said sternly, “You know we can’t!”
“We’re wearing gloves.” She replied smuckly.
“We’re wearing gloves.” I mimicked, but then gave a smile to show I was kidding. She petted the dog and looked at me slyly like she accomplished something.
“It’s soooo soft.” She whined, gesturing me over.
“How do you know? You’re wearing gloves.” Even though I still came over there. I reached down to pet her when all of a sudden her ears went up.
“Wrow.” The dog whined, tumbling over.
“Look what you did!” Rose said smartly.
I looked over at the tent with the TV, “Me? It was the antenna. Its’ signal vibrations hurt dogs.” I said, “Duh.”
“I didn’t even hit you that hard! You stupid dog!” the voice came from the tent with the sleeping man. Then he came out of the tent.
“Rose… maybe we should go now.”
“I don’t think so!” The man screamed, “I’m going to report you two for abuse!”
“Us? Us? Look who’s talking!” Rose said smuckly.
“Rose!” I screamed, exchanging looks, “Of course this very nice man wouldn’t abuse his poor dog.” I turned looking at him, “Would he?”
“Oh, uh, of course not, let me escort you ladies out of here.” He told us to follow him. We were walking just past the tent with the TV when he said, “This way to the Muslim camp site.” He looked embarrassed so he wrapped it up with a, “Toodledoo.”
He and his dog were walking into the tent with the TV when the shadows from the tents seemed to be fighting. The man with the dog jumped in surprise for he could see inside the tent from where he stood. He went in and got between what seemed to be men and said, “What is the matter with you guys?!” By this time I and Rose had stepped in front of the tent, looking inside in a spying way. When the two men seemed to be in a trance only blinking a few times, the man with the dog said, “Tom? Bill?” looking at one then the other. “Explain yourselves!”
Tom spoke first, “Jack, have you heard of that frod claiming to be the… the messiah?”
“HE IS NOT A FROD!” Bill interrupted.
“Yes,” Jack said ignoring Bill completely.
“And you don’t believe him, do you?!” Tom said.
“Well, who said I don’t?”
“I said!”
“What?”
“I mean… wait a minute, what?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ugh, what do you mean you don’t?”
“I never said I don’t.”
“What did you say then?”
All this time Bill was quiet but then suddenly he blurted out, “See, told you!”
“I said I don’t know, maybe maybe not.” Jack replied glaring at Bill.
“Let’s get out of here.” I said to Rose who was listening carefully.
“No, just wait a little more.” Rose whispered.
Grabbing her I said, “We’ve done enough, besides it’s almost Maghrib.”
All the way back we talked about if it was possible, that if he really was the messiah. The rest of the camping week we kept this a secret but when we went home the first thing we did was flip on the news. “TV already, girls?” my dad said smiling.
“It’s important.” We both replied at the same time.
“What could be so important that you can’t do after a shower, unpacking, and….” He noticed we were actually watching news so he got interested and came over. “HOLY…” He said a few minutes later, “Khadija,” (my mother’s name), “come here!”
She came rushing over, “Where did it bite you, Ahmad?!”
“What? Nothing bit me just look at this.” The headline was read and the coverage began: MAN CLAIMS TO BE THE MESSIAH.
People from all over the world are coming to New York to see this “Messiah”. He says, “Come my people, come here and worship my lord with me, for the Day of Judgment is coming.” He refuses to come for an interview with BBC but instead he speaks in public in front of thousands of people, hundreds of cameras, and tons of interviewers.
“Why talk in person with just one,” he says, “When you can talk in public to millions?” He wants all the people who want to live or die to go to heaven to come to him. Thousands of old, injured, sick, and some even already dead are boarding flights, trains, and subways to New York to get to him. He says, “I don’t forget anyone for I know everyone and not only if you have a problem come to me but also if you have an answer.”
“All right I’ll tell you all right now this man is a frod!” My father erupted. “He is a liar for I know Imam Mehdi (A.S.) would never base in New York!” I had to giggle at that.
The next day we all went strait to the TV. The next headline came on:
MAN WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH GOES TO JERUSALEM.
The man has decided to go to Jerusalem which upsets many people who are already in or already leaving for New York. He says, “Do not worry my people for I will not leave you here. We shall all go together and sail to Jerusalem.” He also said earlier that one of his people has lent him his Merchant Galleon, one of the largest ships to sail these seas. He is currently assigning everybody there own room and says, “Oh people those of you onboard will have your space those of you who don’t will journey with me when I return,”
There are debates, conflicts, and arguments all of which the U.S. president took place in. He said, “This man, he didn’t appear out of nowhere! He simply changed his disguise and claimed to be the prophet. Besides if he was the messiah he would have started out in Jerusalem in the first place. It’s not like he can walk on water.”
Ramla, a city inside of Jerusalem and Qiryat Gut, a city nearby are currently having a public debate over if the man should be allowed to enter the rest of Israel.
Israel’s president says, “If this gets anymore out of hand I am going to have a little talk with Egypt and Jordan’s president about having an answer on this issue!”
Submission 2:
By Zohair Zaidi (age 17 yrs)
What if … Imam Sadiq (AS) was not allowed to teach the public?
The wise old man sat and patiently listened to the tirade of the emotional youth. The youth gave a smear and said, "Again, it is your lies against our scholars. There is nothing great about your Imams. The Imams of the Ahlul-Sunnah are the greatest and most knowledgeable." The old man smiled and replied, "Do you know who was the teacher of your great Abu Hanifah?" The youth remained silent and looked down. "How would you like to see for yourself a world that is devoid of the teachings of the teacher of your Abu Hanfiah, one of our great Imams, Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (AS)?" The youth at first was startled at such an offer, then grinned and said, "I'm sure the world would be a better place without him." The old man took out a supplication book and took the hand of the youth and began reciting. The youth frowned, "Hey, what are you doing? Where are we…" Before the youth could finish, the cool night of city sky had turned into the warmth of a bright open sky in the middle of a desert. "Where are we?" the youth inquired. "This is the city of the Prophet, Medina," replied the wise old man. "But why does it look so... old?" asked the puzzled youth. "That is because we are in the 2 nd century a.h, during the time of Imam Sadiq. But this is not your normal history - this is how things would be if Imam Sadiq was not allowed to teach to the public. "But how did you…" The youth began. The old man smiled and replied, "Anything is possible, with the power of Allah, now come along, there is much for you to see." The wise man started towards what seemed to be a magnificent university. The grand size of the university made the youth eager to see the great scholars that must reside in there. The youth hurried to catch up. As they got closer, there was a noise that resembled the sounds of donkeys and horses fighting with each other. The boy could not stand it, "What is that terrible noise? " The wise man smiled, "Wait, and you shall see." The wise man led the youth up. Inside there were a sea of turbans and scholarly robes fluttering about, and the ruckus that he had heard was coming from them. They were screaming at each other as if they were enemies of one another. "There is no such predestination…” “..You are misguided," screamed the scholars at the other. The youth became scared at the scene that he saw, and then he saw an empty pulpit. "Why isn't anyone teaching them? The wise man replied, "That is because each of them thinks themselves to be the greatest scholar. Do you think it’s possible for over four thousand great scholars to bow their head before just one teacher?" The boy thought that such a thing would certainly be impossible. "Certainly not." The wise man smiled and said, "Well you are mistaken. Such was the personality of Imam Sadiq. If Imam Sadiq were allowed to teach here today, then you would see him sitting on that pulpit and you would see all these thousands of scholars silently, humbly, eagerly awaiting to hear the teachings that would come out of his mouth." The boy was amazed at such a feat. "But what about Abu Hanifah? Where is the great scholar?" The wise man pointed at an old man who was sitting next to the wall. The boy was puzzled, "Why isn't he with the scholars, why isn’t he teaching them?" The wise man replied, "Since he did not have those few years to learn under Imam Sadiq, he is nothing more than a layman." The boy was shocked and saddened at seeing whom he considered his greatest scholar, sitting aside as a nobody. "Come, there is much more to see.” The boy was not prepared to see the state of the Ummah that followed such scholars. As they made their way down onto the streets, the boy noticed something peculiar about the people on the street, most of them were young aged men like himself and they seemed to be roaming the streets aimlessly. There were hardly any women to be seen around, nor any children. The boy asked, "Where are all the women and children" The wise man replied softly, "It's such because during this time the philosophy of celibacy had infiltrated into the Muslim society." The youth was surprised at such ignorance, "Why doesn't anybody guide them?" The wise man again smiled and said, "There was such a man who did. Yet he in this world that you see is not allowed to speak, thus such ignorance which otherwise would have been dispelled has now spread.” The boy thought and whispered, "Imam Sadiq…" The wise man smiled and continued walking towards the other building. As they got close to the door, the wise man questioned the youth, "Do you remember in your history classes about what was notable about the Muslims of this time?" The boy thought for a moment then exclaimed, "Oh yes! The Muslims of this time were known for their studies and advancement in the fields of science. The wise man smiled and said, "Yes indeed. Here is one such laboratory…" The youth, who was a lover of chemistry, eagerly pushed through the door to see the great scientists. But the scene of what he saw dispelled the image that he had hoped to see. Instead of great scholarly men conducting experiments, he witnessed a room filled with long bearded men with weary eyes, all hovered over pieces of metal reciting weird incantations. The boys eyes filled with fear, "What are they doing?" he asked the wise man. He replied, "They are what are called alchemists, trying to change those metal scraps into gold.” The boy was confused, "But what about all the talk of the scientific method, experiments, and discoveries? Where is the great Jabir ibn Hayyan?" The wise man sadly replied, "They are all within this room, yet they did not have the opportunity to learn at the hands of the true Alchemist, who would have turned their scraps of knowledge into true treasures of gold for the world to see." The boy did not reply as he knew he was talking about none other than Imam Sadiq once more. "Come on lets go, there is one more stop we have to make." said the wise man as he began onto the streets once more. The wise man smiled and continued walking towards another part of the town. Ahead of them the twain saw great white buildings with crosses all along them. Suddenly, a creepy man began walking along side, chanting “La illaha, La illaha.” The boy ignored him for awhile until he could not take it, “Get away from me!” The man grinned and said, “There is no God!” and gave a hideous laugh. The boy ran forward, the wise man said softly, “That’s Abd-al-Malik, the atheist, no one dares to debate him because they all lose, only one man can defeat him.” The boy knew who. Silently, they walked towards the great white buildings they had seen from afar. When they got closer, the boy began to realize what they were - churches! "My God! Why are all these churches here?" The wise man did not say anything as he led him into one of them. There was a stream of people inside wearing the clothes of Muslims who were coming up to the Priests and asking to accept their faith. The boy this time could not take this anymore and began to weep, "WHY? Why are they doing this? Why would they ever leave the religion of truth?" The wise man gently replied, "It is because the foundations of reason and intellect were destroyed amongst the Muslims, no one could save them” The boy taking one last glance at the despicable scene in front of him finally said, "I've seen enough, please take me away from this nightmare!" The wise man once more recited a supplication and no sooner had time passed when the youth found himself back in the room where they once had been debating. "Now, you were saying?" the wise man questioned the boy with a smile. The boy humbly replied, "There is no doubt in my heart anymore, o wise man, indeed the Muslim Ummah and the religion of Islam would have suffered a loss that has no bounds if the great Imam Sadiq were not allowed to teach the people. Nay! Humanity itself would have been in eternal darkness if not for the teachings of Imam Sadiq in science and philosophy.” The wise man smiled and said, “Peace be upon him.”
Work Cited
Sachedina, Hasnain. "Imam Ja’Far Al-Sadiq's Contribution to the Sciences." ImamReza. 30 Dec. 2006 <http://imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=3393>.
Unknown. "Debates of Imam Sadiq." ImamReza. 30 Dec. 2006 <http://imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=386>.
Submission 3:
By Azam Abowath (age 14 yrs) Toronto, Canada
What if… A Change in Islamic History
What if… if not for this, then what? What would be? Our minds continuously ask numerous questions on how different things may be if such events took place or such an action was made. Here, in this short essay I will look at a battle that took place in Islamic history – how it affected our lives today and how it may have affected us if something else were to happen.
The Battle of the Trench was another big hit on the enemy of Islam. The Quraysh were infuriated at the fact that Islam was sprouting greatly, so they joined together with tribes from North-western Arabia, including two banished Jewish tribes. They formed an army of ten thousand and were ready to break apart the Muslims. The strongest point of the army was cavalry – it seems like a strong force, but it ended up being the reason they lost.
The Muslims, who consisted of three thousand men had found out about the strength of the enemy, and with advice from Salman the Persian they dug deep and wide trenches to keep horses from crossing. The battle rose on 627 CE and the Muslims were victorious.
The reason this battle held such an impact was because following it was the Hudaybiya treaty. The treaty was created a year after the battle when the Muslims (Including the prophet of Islam himself) traveled to Makkah for pilgrimage. In the outskirts of the holy city they were stopped by the Quraysh, but because nobody wanted bloodshed they signed the treaty. A year after the treaty was signed; it was ended when two tribes, one of which was an ally of the Muslims held a skirmish and blood was spilled.
In the time span the treaty was held, many converted and entered the fold of Islam. So with an army of ten thousand, Nabi (s.a.w) traveled to Makkah and conquered the city. The Polytheists witnessed and acknowledged the mercy and kindness of the Muslims, shortly they all entered Islam.
You may wonder how anything would be different if the Muslims were to lose. Firstly many sahaba, and unfortunately, quite possibly the nabi (s.a.w) would have been killed. If they were killed, there would not be many people, or even nobody to teach and spread Islam. If they were not to lead the Muslims, the Hudaybiya treaty would not have been possible.
As said, the treaty was the reason why numerous people converted into Islam. Therefore the size of the army would have been very small, and the conquest of Makkah might not have taken place. Even if the Muslims did take over the city, the polytheists would fight back after seeing the small size of the army. They would not join Islam because of all the post battle hatred lingering in the air. Remember, when the Muslims entered Makkah, they did not kill anyone regardless of how large their army was. They could have killed the Polytheists for all the pain caused but yet, they did not.
Islam would not spread as quickly and as far or even not at all as it did if the battle was lost.
However, this would only be a possibility, but regardless of all the reasons shown above, Islam would still spread all across the world as Allah had promised; even if it were to take countless years upon years.
Would I be a Muslim right now and writing this? Would many of my friends or family be Muslims? I can’t tell that, but on the most part, unfortunately we might not have been. If that one Sahabi was killed, or his or her descendant who was responsible to meet my ancestor or somebody else who met my ancestor and converted them into Islam, I might not have been a Muslim. Just the loss of one person could have been so very crucial. Converting one person could be the cause of an entire nation of Muslims.
Bibliography
Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum - The Sealed Nectar (A biography of the Nabi (s.a.w) )
Submission 4:
By Syeda Rubab Azhar Zaidi (age 15 yrs)
The Awaited One
It is a concept that has been mirrored in the hearts of the believers for as long as mankind has been capable of exercising it; it is the rope that pulls the traveler back up the mountainside; even after his feet have made a fatal slip. The incredible flame within every heart, which lights the spiritual pathway that ultimately leads a believer to the destination of taqwa; in the English language, 'hope' is the name we give it. In the creed of the Ja'fari Shi'a, we have not merely a word to express this incredible sentiment; we have a personality as well. His name is Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (ATF), and he is the final beam of light sent for the guidance of humanity, as well as the upkeep of this crucial notion of ‘hope’ and the harmonious guidance upon the path of belief.
It is noteworthy to mention, however, that the birth of this awaited beacon did not occur without sufficient difficulty… In fact, as history attests, every measure was made to prevent it. Knowing that the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS) was to be the supreme revolutionary who would bring destruction to corrupt rulers such as themselves, the Abbasid authorities of the time kept the11 th Imam confined in an army base that was subject to pillaging and unwarranted inspection by them at any time. The women of the Imam’s household were constantly spied on and harassed to ensure that none showed signs of bearing the Ahlul Bayt’s (AS) final guiding light. By way of a miraculous dream and concealed signs of pregnancy, however, a Roman slave named Lady Nargis (AS) was acquired for the household of the Imam, and she hence became the esteemed woman who would, on the 15 th Shaban of 255 hijri, give birth to Sahibuz Zamaan (ATF). (4)
Now upon examining the birth of al-Mahdi (ATF), we begin to see a crossroads develop in the views of the adherents of Islam. As per countless ahadith from the most reliable sources of both, the Shi’a as well as the Sunni hold belief in the coming of a final revolutionary, who will be aided by Prophet Isa (AS) in restoring peace and Islamic truths to every corner of the globe. Both sects agree that he will be of the Prophet’s descendants and share the Prophet’s name while resembling him also in appearance. There are many, however, who believe that Sahibuz Zamaan (ATF) has NOT yet been born; that the popular Shi’a belief of his birth is a doubtful fabrication nao’zubillah and that the theory of occultation is improbable.
In light of these views, therefore, let us take a closer look at these skepticisms and change our footing a bit; let’s imagine for a while that our beliefs are as dreamt up as the doubters presume. Let us ask ourselves a daring question… What if al-Mahdi (AS) had not been born?
This question is an interesting one, as it has in fact already been answered in the ahadith of Rasullalah (SAW). Our Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:
"The stars are amnesty for the inhabitants of the heavens, and if the stars go away, the inhabitants of the heavens will be destroyed. And my Ahlul-Bayt (AS) are amnesty for the inhabitants of the earth, and if my Ahlul-Bayt (AS) go away, the inhabitants of the earth will be destroyed." (1)
Now what is most interesting about this hadith is not its mere factuality, it is rather the sources from which it is derived, among which are at least five notable Sunni references. What we can gather from this statement of the Prophet is not only undisputable proof of the necessity of a yet-living Imam, but also the idea that without a beam of light from the
lantern of the Ahlul Bayt (AS), this world would be destroyed. But let us be even more investigative, for the sake of argument, and pretend this hadith is not as such confirmed.
Let’s pretend the life of our Sahibuz Zaman (AS) could still be disputed; what would happen then?
In order to truly comprehend the depth of this question, it is necessary to attack it backwards and examine it in this manner: what role DOES the living existence of our Imam (ATF) play within the lives of Muslims, and why do we need to believe in him?
As I seek to imagine the answer to this question, I would like to begin my approach from a secular standpoint.
According to an article in the November issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry,
Dutch researchers concluded that the trait of optimism could be an effective long-term determinant of elderly subjects dying from cardiovascular disease and all other types of death in general. The more positive the subjects, the more likely they were to survive for longer lengths of time, even if they showed signs of a short life expectancy otherwise. Additionally, this study resulted in the finding that hopelessness was associated with an increased incidence or progression of disease. (2)
To put it very simply, hope saves lives, and it is scientifically proven to be a crucial factor in the maintenance of healthy, stress-free human beings.
As I stated in my very introduction, Imam Mahdi (ATF) symbolizes the concept of hope for Shi’a Muslims. Now, in the context of the aforementioned secular research, we can arrive at the incredible conclusion that belief in al-Mahdi (ATF) is life-saving- but of course, to any true Shi’a, this sentiment goes without saying. But if that, coupled with the earlier hadith telling us that the world would be destroyed in the absence of the Ahlul Bayt (AS), isn’t enough to get you thinking, let me approach the question from a philosophical standpoint and really break it down.
The presence of Sahibuz Zamaan (ATF) is important for the role it plays in beautifying the soul of every believer. A belief in al-Mahdi (ATF) is what keeps the Shi’a of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and all the other oppressed lands from dying with the burden of hopelessness life gives them every day. It enables them to hold a soul-deep belief in ayah 7 of Suratul Talaq:
"Allah brings about ease after difficulty."
In book Greater Sins Volume I, Ayatullah Abdul Husain Dastghaib Shirazi lists ‘yaas’, or ‘despair’, as the second worst sin mankind is capable of; second only to shirk, and cites the Qur’anic proofs of the mercy of Allah (SWT) as reason for considering ‘hopelessness’ to be haraam. (3)
In the context of these implications, what more can be said than that to bear disbelief in the ultimate hope and Hujjatullah (ATF); to doubt the existence of Sahibuz Zaman (ATF), is downright sinful?
If al-Mahdi (ATF) had not been born, I daresay the Islamic Revolution of 1979 would not have been successful. In the absence of al-Mahdi (ATF), the passion and faith the true Shi’a of today put into the service and obedience of Allah (SWT) as they prepare themselves for the arrival of the Mahdi (ATF) at any moment, would be replaced by the materialism and ignorance which clouds the spiritual vision of so many of our fellow human beings who have nothing similar to hope for. If we believers did not have the hope of his emergence as a medicine for our dejected sentiments, we would be absolutely destitute in health as well as spiritual wealth. The thought of Sahibuz Zaman (ATF) is what gets the Shi’a youth of today up on our feet and asking: what can we do for the sake of the ummah; what can we do to gain the favor of the Imam (ATF) of our time? The thought of al-Mahdi (ATF) breathes life into the soul of Islam, breathes hope into the soul of every believer, and breathes existence into the world itself.
Works Cited:
1) * Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p671, Tradition #1145
* Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, p14
* Manaqib Ahmad, and many more such as al-Tabarani, etc.
* al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p234
2) "Optimism Associated With Lowered Risk Of Dying From Heart Disease." Science Daily. 04 Nov 2004. 31 Dec 2007 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041104011325.htm>.
3) Dastaghaib Shirazi, Abdul Husain. Greater Sins Volume I . Mumbai : ISLAMIC STUDY CIRCLE, 2004.
4) Abbas, Ali. "Special Specifications of Imam al-Mahdi (AS)." A Shi'ite Encyclopedia. Jan 2001. 31 Dec 2007 < http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter2/3.html>.
Submission 5:
By Salma Y. Hooshmand
What if?
What if the Almighty Creator had not inspired me to perform one of the greatest miracles mankind has witnessed?
I did not become a hero by chance; it was not a case of simply “being at the right place at the right time”. That day, I was chosen to participate in a Grand Plan, a Divine Arrangement, although I didn’t realize it at that time. Each seemingly insignificant element of the Arrangement acted autonomously, oblivious to its simultaneous contribution to the larger unit. Our individual efforts formed a synchronized unison; but the synchronized unison was not formed by our efforts--the miracle was not ours to claim. Our cooperative harmony in this Grand Plan was a manifestation of the Planner’s Unity. We were motivated to perform as one entity, reflecting His Oneness. We were witness to the implementation of Destiny. I am honored to have been a part of it. Playing a small role in such a lofty incident was, ironically, the most humbling experience of my life.
I remember that day clearly; the day I was to fulfill my mission; the day I became a savior, a protector, a warrior…by the will of God…
* * *
It was only midmorning, but the desert sun blazed forcefully, scorching the arid landscape unmercifully.
I remained relatively cool in the shadowy darkness of my home. I planned to spend the entire hot afternoon relaxing languidly. At night, when the inferno subsided, I would venture outside and hunt for food.
As I rested, balanced on the brink of consciousness, I reflected upon my life. It was simple, yet I was content. I was blessed with youth and strength. Recently, however, a puzzling sense of restlessness--an adventurous urge--had affected me. I often wondered, what is my purpose in life? Why am I here? How could my ordinary existence ever reflect my Extraordinary Creator…?
I awoke abruptly with a sense of urgency. The air of the late afternoon was heavy and suffocating; the walls of my home, exhausted now from their exertion, could no longer deflect the penetrating heat. My heart began pounding and my senses sharpened with awareness. I felt a presence. It was not an ordinary creature of the desert—not a rodent or a bird—but a human. It was a man. His footsteps were silent as he passed the threshold into my home. He peered around cautiously, almost fearfully. He did not notice me, crouched in my shadowy corner. He turned slowly back to the entrance and beckoned to someone outside.
Another man entered. He looked directly at me, almost expectantly. I froze momentarily—not from fear; on the contrary, the man radiated a non-threatening aura of sensitivity—but in awe. This was no ordinary man—his presence completely overshadowed that of his predecessor. This was a Great Man. His clothes were dusty and bedraggled, as though he had been traveling the unforgiving desert for many days. As he unwound the protective cloth from around his head, revealing his face, I noticed that his lips were parched. His mouth was curved in a gentle smile. Who is this man? Does he know me? I wondered. His outward appearance indicated that he might be weary, but as I gazed into his warm, intelligent eyes I realized that they were ablaze with life and spirit. His slow, controlled movements veiled an enduring strength. His presence emitted a unique combination of compassion and energy. He looked into my eyes, silently requesting my permission to enter my home. I granted it with a slight nod.
He moved with grace, carefully seating himself in a shadowy nook, as the other man ushered a large camel into my home, crowding the small space.
The Great Man removed the water bag that hung over his shoulder and pulled off the cork. He offered me a drink, but I declined. What kind of host are you? I scolded myself. You should proffer refreshments for your guests, not the other way around! He then offered the water bag to the other man.
I watched as both men poured a little of the water into their palms and began to wash themselves--their hands, face, and arms—in preparation of the ritual prayer. The Great Man glanced my way, as if seeking permission to pray in my home. I nodded and continued observing the two men, fascinated.
The Great Man began his communion in a pleasant, melodious voice. “In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful…” As he prayed, his features softened. He concentrated so intently, and was absorbed so utterly, that I wondered if he would even notice if the earth shook beneath him. His eyes remained downcast, but even if they were wide open, I doubted that they would have seen anything. As he conversed with the Creator, his face was bright, and a vibrant energy pervaded my home. In those unearthly moments, he was elevated beyond time and place, and he invited me to go along with him.
And I went. We briefly journeyed into Eternity together that day. For The Great Man, it was a familiar place, one that he visited frequently. For me, it was new, but in a familiar way. It was like coming back home to where I belonged. In those limited moments I was given a glimpse of the limitless sea of Love and Knowledge. I came away with a greater understanding of the Almighty, of myself, and of the divine personality who had taken me with him. He was the one who has been honored above creation. And I had been his companion for those precious moments.
When he completed his prayer, the bright light that surrounded him subsided, but a warm, comforting glow remained. I felt slightly breathless, still in awe of the journey I had experienced. I glanced at the other man, who had prayed behind the Great Man, and wondered if he had also come with us; if he had encountered what I had.
The other man was worried. He peered out of the entrance of my home uneasily. As time passed, he became more and more anxious. I understood that these two men were hiding; that they were somehow in imminent danger. The Great Man remained calm. Faith in the Almighty was engraved in his soul, and he never hesitated or doubted his position. I looked into his eyes and I glimpsed Eternity—a reflection of the Eternity I had just visited.
The thought came to me slowly, initially hovering at the threshold of my consciousness. Once I embraced it, albeit hesitantly, it became an overpowering obsession. I have to help the Great Man. I have to protect him from the danger that lurks outside.
What could I do? I was a lowly, humble, simple creature. How could I protect the Great Man?
I wandered toward the entrance of my home. The opening was neither large nor small, but there was nothing to screen the interior from the hazards of the outside. I slowly walked the perimeter of the entrance, hoping for an inspiration. Nothing. There was nothing I could do.
I felt miserable. I was a failure. The Great Man had shown me Eternity, and I could do nothing to help him.
But he did not ask for your help, a little voice inside me called.
No, he had not asked for my help…he had requested the help of the Almighty in his prayer.
Yes, the voice within me replied. So you must do your duty towards the Almighty.
Of course! The Almighty put me here for a reason, at this time, at this place. The Great Man was my guest, in my home! Oh my Lord, the Almighty, my Creator, I called fervently. Please guide me, for Your sake, and for the sake of the Great Man You have brought here…
I knew what needed to be done. I took a deep breath and focused on my task. I would use my special rope to barricade the entrance of my home.
It was slow, tedious work, but a sense of exigency overwhelmed me. There wasn’t much time. I must hurry. I didn’t panic though—a divine force urged me on, yet kept me calm and steady.
The fortification was halfway completed. I painstakingly secured each inch with several layers of my special rope. The construction was sturdy, the best quality I had ever produced. My muscles were beginning to ache and my joints were strained.
Suddenly, I heard a commotion outside my home. Men shouted. Horses and camels halted at the foot of the hill beneath my home.
I froze in horror. No! I need more time! Please God, please, help me…
I exerted myself, concentrating all of my energy. I labored at lightening speed. The barrier was completed in the last moment. With a final burst of power, I spread my body in the center of the barricade, my back exposed to the outside. I provided one more layer of protection for the Great Man inside. I perched there, waiting, thoroughly drained. I heaved in gulps of air, and my eyes watered from exhaustion.
The assailants approached the entrance. From inside my home, I heard the other man whisper nervously to the Great Man, “They are very close, if one of them turns, we will be seen!”
The Great Man responded calmly, “Why worry about two when God is the third? Grieve not; surely God is with us.”
* * *
And that was that. The Divine Arrangement had triumphed into an unforgettable, undeniable victory.
What if I had not been there to carry out the commandment of the Almighty? What if I wasn’t able to use my special rope to build the barricade to protect the Great Man?
Then there would have been another creature, another agent, another soldier to perform the task. After all, it was not I, a simple spider, who performed the miracle. It was the miracle of God.
Submission 6:
By Roman Abidi
A Broken Tasbih
A tasbih(rosary) is a beautiful thing. One hundred beads strung together with a single
string each representing one of the beautiful names of the almighty all the beads lined
up shoulder to shoulder. One bead by itself is alone, insignificant and hollow. But when
all the beads are joined together it is complete, strong and becomes an instrument for
the remembrance of God (dhikrAllah).
It was my mother who taught me how to pray. I would lie beside her at night as she
made me repeat verse after verse and surah after surah. I never forgot those Surahs. I
never forgot those verses. And I never forgot my mother's favours upon me. And most
importantly I never forgot the lessons she taught me.
When I was young, I would sit next to my mother as she prayed imitating her. I
remember once I decided to grab the tasbih and put it around my neck like a necklace.
She looked at me her eyes filled with a mother's love and said, "A tasbih is not
something to play with. If it breaks it will bring bad luck."
One day when my mother wasn't around I managed to get a hold of my tasbih and
intended to play with it to my hearts content, but instead, the tasbih broke. I didn't
know what to do. I did the only reasonable thing that came to my mind. I hid the beads
and the string that held it together under my bed and hoped my mom wouldn't notice.
She did notice of course. She asked me why my tasbih wasn't in my janemaaz. I
pretended I didn't know why. I was embarrassed to tell her I broke it despite her
warnings not to play with it.
After a few of days of guilt and embarrassment, I finally gathered the courage to tell her
what I had done. And to my surprise, she wasn't angry at me. If anything she was proud
that I had decided to come clean. Afterwards she helped me put the tasbih back
together again. We sat there together she showed me how to take the string and
organize the beads one by one until finally once again it was whole. I felt much better.
My tasbih was whole again. Did I learn a lesson? I think I did. I look back in retrospect
and realize that my mother could have easily fixed the tasbih but she made me sit next
to her and we both worked on it together. I dutifully handed her each bead one by one
being careful that I don’t break or lose one of them due to my negligence and she took
the string and carefully linked them together.
I look at the Muslim ummah today fragmented into insignificant pieces. I read the verse
of the Quran that declares Muslims as the best of nations. (Quran 3:110) I feel the same
way I felt with the broken tasbih in my hands. I feel hopeless. I am just as much
responsible for this as anyone else. After all, what have I done to unite Muslims? The
answer for most of is not much at all.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us repeatedly not to break up
into pieces, not to hate our own brothers and sisters in faith and to hold on to the rope
of Allah.
"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not
divided among yourselves; ..." (Quran 3:103)
And we let him down. There is good news and there is bad news. The bad news is there
are many hindrances to Muslim unity. On the other hand, the good news is, if we try we
can overcome these hindrances. The root of all these hindrances is a lack of
understanding on our part of the meaning of unity.
The first and foremost problem towards Muslim unity is that we have an expectation of
uniformity. Unity is the state of quality of being in harmony with each other.
Uniformity on the other hand demands that we are the same as each other in totality.
When we hear the word unity we are actually thinking of uniformity. This leads to the
formation of the ‘other’. We like to think that the ‘other’ doesn't know what they are
talking about and that it will be really easy to make them change. When this fails we get
frustrated. To our surprise people behave rationally. They aren't just different for the
sake of being different. Unity and uniformity are completely different ideas. The
former is possible without having the latter. In other words, unity is not accepting the
beliefs of the other sect, but rather working together for a common cause.
How do we deal with the other? Islam shows us the answer to this as well. In one of his
letters Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) advises Malik al Ashtar how to deal with the other. He says,
“Remember, Malik, that amongst your subjects there are two kinds of people: those
that have the same religion as you have; these are brothers to you, and those who have
religions other than that of yours, they are human beings like you.” (Nahjul Balagha,
Letter 53) It is important to note that in order to co‐exist peacefully as human beings he
does not insist on having the same faith.
A second hindrance to Muslim unity is Ignorance. Not just ignorance of the other, but
also ignorance of the self. We have stopped reading the Quran. We don't even know
enough about ourselves and our own history and as a result if someone mentions
something we have never heard of, we immediately feel the need to repel. We don't
take in to account our own ignorance in the field, nor do we take in to account that at
least the other person has taken the time to look this up themselves. Imam Jafar as
Sadiq (a) says in his description of ignorance, “The lowest quality of an ignorant man is
that he lays claim to knowledge which he does not deserve; his most common
characteristic is ignorance of his own ignorance, and the most extreme aspect of his
ignorance is to reject knowledge.” (Lantern of the Path, Section 9)
There are some of us who are ignorant about the beliefs of others, yet we are accepting
of the fact that we aren't knowledgeable and thus won't pass judgements on the faith of
others. Yet there exist perhaps amongst us another class of people who are ignorant
themselves, yet they refuse to acknowledge that ignorance and are quick to pass
judgements on others. There is a story narrated about Uthman ibn Makhzun where a
woman of the Ansar cried over his grave and said, “May heaven be pleasant for you!”
Even though Uthman ibn Makhzun was an eminent man and the Prophet (pbuh) cried
heavily at his death the Prophet (pbuh) was displeased by this statement. He turned to
the woman with a displeased look and said, “How did you know? Why did you make a
statement out of ignorance? Have you received a revelation or do you know the
account of God’s creatures?”(Usd al Ghaba, under Uthman ibn Makhzun) A similar
event is recorded regarding the death of Sa’d ibn Mu’adh in which Sa’d’s mother said a
similar statement and the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Be silent; do not make a decision with
certainty in God’s affairs.” (Bihar al Anwar, vol 3, p. 165) While this may seem like a
small thing, instead it is something that is of great significance. Because we don't know
our own beliefs fully we only notice the differences between us and the other. In
reality, the number of similarities is far greater than the number of differences, but the
problem is we lay emphasis on the differences and ignore the similarities.
A third hindrance is the culture of hate. Instead of focusing on our own spirituality we
feel it is necessary to dedicate our lives to proving others wrong. This is not to say that
everyone is right and we don't need to do dawah to our own interpretation of Islam.
Two things happen as a result of this; 1) we ourselves don’t develop in our spirituality
and 2) we run the risk of offending or hurting someone who could be a true believer.
The Holy Prophet [pbuh] said: "He who grieves a true Muslim cannot then compensate
for it by offering him the entire world because it is not sufficient compensation (unless
he repents and appeases the said person)." (Bihar‐ul‐Anwar, vol. 75, p. 150) We need to
learn to invite people to the religion without using words. How do you do that, you ask?
It’s easy through our character and actions. Meaning that surely if you are on the right
path, then you won't have to 'prove' the other person wrong with words. After all,
actions speak much louder than words. A great man has said, "He who incites hatred
amongst Shia and Sunni is neither Shia nor Sunni." While the quote refers to Shia and
Sunni it can and should be applied to any other situations also.
The last hindrance which I will write about is this tendency we have to let others think
for us. Too often we stop thinking for ourselves about what makes sense and let others
do the thinking for us. This is particularly dangerous and something which is considered
unislamic. If we look at the example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at the dawn of
Islam in Arabia we see on one hand the people of the Jahiliyya insisting on the ways of
their ancestors and on the other hand we see the Prophet (pbuh) repeatedly insisting on
these people thinking for themselves. Many among the Quraysh would spread false
rumors about the Prophet (pbuh) and we see the early converts were smart enough
(and brave enough) to think for themselves. We accept without questioning sweeping
generalizations which often hardly have any truth behind them. Things like, "they have
twisted interpretations of the Quran." Islam holds the belief that every man and
woman is born with the innate ability (fitra) to decipher what is good versus what is bad
(right and wrong). The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Every child is born on the fitra
and it is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian.” (Muwatta Imam Malik, Book
16, Number 16.16.53) In other words we need to put aside our arrogance and learn to
talk out our differences.
The real accomplishment is to realize there are many truths but follow only one. The
person in the other sect follows that sect because he/she sees a proof in that truth. It
might be a higher truth than the one you are at or a lower truth. If indeed you are at
the higher truth, then you should be able to understand the reality of the lower truth
and be able to speak to people at this level so that they see that the level you are at is a
higher truth without offending them or scaring them away. True guidance comes with
total sincerity of the heart and divine succor.
The decision lies in our hand whether we want to be a slave to these hindrances or if we
are willing to break past them. So let's take the first step to Muslim unity by first
changing ourselves. The believers like the broken tasbih beads are useless when they
are scattered. It is only when they hold on to the rope of Allah (swt) all together that
they will succeed. Let's put aside our egos and return to the Quran and the path shown
to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his progeny so that we may
remake this broken Muslim ummah. After all, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) has said, "The one who got up in the morning without having any thought of other
Muslims in his mind is not a Muslim." (Bihar al Anwar, Volume 74 Page 337) Let us
make Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) proud when thinks of us. This is my ummah and
those are my followers. Look how they stand shoulder to shoulder. See how their
hearts are tied together in brotherhood/sisterhood only for the sake of Allah (swt).
Look how they too like the tasbih have become an instrument for the remembrance of
God (dhikrAllah).