Paradise

I really love this piece of blog by En. Ahmad Sirajudin (late), I wish to treasure it in my blog and have my friends to read it. Hopefully it will bring the same feeling of gladness and hopes for everyone of you.. I do hope for the same, any corner in His paradise, enough for me to be with my family and friends whom I love so much..

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Paradise

From the Quran and the Hadith (Saying of the Prophet) I get the impression that paradise is a place filled with gardens, orchards, rivers and stately mansions of dwellers of paradise. The gardens are not only pleasing to the eyes but produce fragrance that appeal to the senses. The orchards abound with fruits of all types, you name it, its there. Grapevines, dates, berries , citrus and melons all ready for picking. I think my favorite fruit, durian, is also in the list because it says "all types".Three are rivers overflowing with milk. There are rivers overflowing with honey and wine too! You won't get drunk drinking it.

The dwellers of paradise are of the same age - 33 years old. So its kind of hard to tell between grandpa and grandson. Folks in paradise converse in Arabic. I think the language is simply "installed" into them like computers. Their memories and their experience of the once long gone earthly days survive death and continue in their consciousness in paradise. So there is a lot of things to talk about to pass the time. Prophet Muhammad says everybody in paradise experiences a sense of bliss and well being. There is no sickness, no death, living forever. Its hard for us today to comprehend time that goes on and on without end.

A family on earth remains a family in paradise assuming that nobody drops off to hell during the grueling test on Judgment Day. A man in paradise who so inclined towards a second wife may chose a "maiden of paradise" the Quran describes "maids of modest gaze, most beautiful of eyes"
(Al-Saffat, 48) There is no procreation in paradise. No seed is ensued during sexual activity. Otherwise paradise will be full of children!

Above all, the best thing in paradise is the opportunity and the privilege to "Gaze at the countenance of Allah" - the Creator of all things.

Today I have a place I consider my own little private paradise. It is my back yard where I take my afternoon naps under the shade of cempaka trees. During flowering seasons, the trees produce fragrance too, but I think it is not as good as that in real paradise. As I doze off to sleep, with half closed eyes, I watch the cloud through breaks in the branches where little birds hop and chirp in merriment. The breeze that blows is refreshing. All that I ask from Allah is a place like this in any corner of His paradise. Any corner will do as long as it is not in hell

Posted by Ahmad Sirajudin at 8:14 PM

I'm me..

I'm a little bit of her,
Little bit of him.

I'm a little bit of my brothers,
Little bit of my sisters.

I'm a little bit of my friends,
Little bit of my foes.

I'm a little bit of this world,
Little bit of me.

At the school gate..

I was waiting for Nadeera at her school gate this evening. Around me, there were other mothers and fathers waiting for their kids too. Few mothers talking to each other, but as usual, I didn't pay attention to others (need to improve on this?..hmm..), I just stood quietly waiting for her. When the school bell rang, the usual rush, kids everywhere walking quickly and some running to the gate. Excited maybe, to finally finish the day or maybe, happy to see their 'comfort' waiting at the gate.

Among the noise of the kids laughing and talking (or screaming), somehow I overheard a mother telling to her talking partner, "See, I sent her to school all tidy and neat, look at how she turned out at the end of the day" and making all the remarks on how her 'tudung' is not properly done, how her dress is not straight, and her shoes is not tight.. I saw that little girl walking towards the mother, when suddenly when she reached her, the mother gave a smack on her head and started fussing about how undone she looks.. Was I surprised by this?! Definitely!..

What did she see when she saw her daughter at the gate this evening? I can't tell you what she saw. But I can tell you what I saw when I see my daughter this evening at the school gate. I saw a six year old (who thinks she is already seven, well not yet Nadeera, not until 27th August ok.. don't grow up too fast!), running and half jumping with a big smile on her face. Yes, she ran towards me, she let go of her friend's hand to run to me. Am I glad? Yes, definitely.. To see my daughter ran towards me like she has not seen me in months! Is she all clean? NO! She had stain, a black stain on her 'tudung' I bet it is from her small fingers scratching her head, maybe, trying to figure out an answer for a question. She had some hair coming through from the side of the 'tudung' as well.. her dress, of course it is not straight, the side has come up to the front. Haha.. Well, it is a tough life in there! Can't blame you for not showing up a bit more presentable little girl!

I hope, I pray that mothers out there don't go smacking their kids' head like that.. It hurts their ego more than their head!

Helps.

I received helps from everywhere at times of need. I have received help from strangers, ever since I was a little girl. Moreover from family and friends. The most recent, I got in contact with a stranger which in a way helped me to clarify the truth about a tragedy that has a huge impact in my life and has changed my journey.
Thinking of it, make me feel so grateful for His help. I believe that it is all Allah's will. He steered me. But, I too wonder... Do I give enough in return for the many helps I received? I hope I do. If not, I want to... And I will make sure, I will be the one giving help to strangers (of course family and friends too).
For the stranger, I did not get the chance to say thank you. I know you have passed. I will remember you. Thank you.