Salaam and Welcome to this week’s reminder …
A fortnight ago, we spoke about the importance of ‘Awakening’ to the reality of our situation: – understanding that guidance comes only from Allah (Swt) and that before we can even begin our spitritual wayfaring we must come to terms with how and why we are journeying to Allah (Swt).
This week’s reminder will touch upon the essence of receiving a slightly different kind of hidaayah – guidance. For what I shall present to you, is a brief mention of a gift … a gift of honour, bestowed, only, by The Divine, The One and Only.
Through the grace and mercy of our Lord (Swt), He bestows upon us the opportunity to read, hear and be reminded of His blessings in a way that touches for the very roots of our soul. Have you ever been in a situation where you were reading, watching, listening, or speaking about something, when … in the space of a few seconds, a sense of comfort and ease suddenly dawned over you? Out of nowhere, you feel a load being lifted from your shoulders; a layer removed from your vision and a source of light enter into your heart like never before. And then in that single moment of time, you realise that the real beginning of your life … has just begun.
Just imagine wanting something so sacred, and yet not having to work as hard as you thought to seek it. Why? As The Only One capable of giving it, actually, wants the seeker to acquire it more than the seeker themself.
Divine Guidance is one thing, but Baa’ithun qawi – “Inspirational Urge” is something quite different: a precious gift and an unequivocal honour for those Whom He (Swt) Wills.
Inspirational Urge:
A couple of days ago, I had the blessed opportunity to sit in the company of a dear and beloved sister-in-Islam, a companion fillah – a friend Allah (Swt) blessed me with, purely for His Sake. We sat reminding one another of our spiritual journey towards Allah (Swt) and the significant states and stations that needed to be achieved. As we sat discussing and then reflecting upon our discussion, the topic of being inspired emerged. As my dear companion fillah sat next to me, listening so attentively, eyes focused – without the interruption of a blink – we gathered inspiration from the beautiful translation of Shaykh Abdur-Rahman AS-Sa ‘ad’s (may Allah have mercy upon him, ameen) poem – ‘The Exquisite Pearl: Journey to Allah and the home of The Hereafter’, something that had a profound affect upon my heart, was now about to touch her’s. I saw her eyes begin to widen; her posture like a frozen image and her mind begin to ponder over what was being said. The overwhelming nature of what she was hearing was clearly evident on her face; and I too sat feeling in awe of my Lord (Swt), once again.
The guidance of faith that we are fortunate enough to receive, though it is Allah’s (Swt) own doing, still requires us to have an atoms weight of want and desire to be guided, in order for it to actually take place. Similarly, receiving an inspirational urge requires the seeker to be in the ‘correct state of self’ in order to receive the precious gift.
Someone may love Allah (Swt) ands claim to want khushoo in their salah, however; they do not approach the salah until it’s in it’s last hour, they rush through making their ablution, they hasten to the salaah and somehow manage to complete it in less than three minutes. Similarly, someone that wants to seek nearness towards Allah (Swt), finds the time to read countless numbers of books, acrticles, browse the internet, text for hours etc whilst their Qur’an – Divine Words of ‘their Beloved’ – sits ‘preserved’ at the top of their bookself, simply gathering dust, and the servant only ever referring to it when they feel the need. Such servants are not true to their claims and are most certainly not being true to themselves.
If you knew an extremely wealthy person who owned an enormous amount of wealth and wanted to distribute it to as many people as possible, but the only thing you had to do was show up at their door, which was right next door to you, would you sit at home or would you present yourself at their doorstep? And if the wealthy person called out to you every single day to come and receive more of their wealth, wouldn’t you answer their call, every single day? I don’t think we’d find it an impossible task, do you?
Thus if we are really sincere about wanting to love Allah (Swt), seek nearness towards Him and be amongst His blessed servants, let us ask ourselves two questions: have we ‘presented’ ourselves to our Lord (Swt)? and if so in what state? For such a divine gift is only bestowed upon those that truly seek its fruits, by being in the correct situation to receive it. Whether that’s being in the company of the true lovers of Allah (Swt), making tawbah (repentance), waking up for tahujjud, reading The Words of The Most High, listening to or speaking about the remembrance of Allah (Swt), making dhikr, or any other action pleasing to Him (Swt). And know that the most beloved actions to our Lord (Swt) is that which is done consistently, though it may be small.
” Indeed your Lord has, in these days of yor life, divine gifts. So present yourself to them.” [At-Tabarani, al-Mu’jam al-Saghir, 19:234]
Let us turn to our Lord (Swt), not everyday, but every awakened moment of our lives, and present ourselves amongst those who are ever ready to receive, insha’Allah (if Allah Wills).
“By the soul and Him that formed it. Then inspired it with (knowledge of right and wrong. He has indeed prospered who purifies it. But he who pollutes it is ruined.” [91:9-10]
This precious gift is one that goes beyond expressions; one that surpasses comparison; and an unequivocal honour, direct from The Divine (Swt). So, be amongst the forerunners, those that strive with the very depths of their souls and yearn with every vessel in their hearts.
Fortunate are they who, ‘present themselves’ to Him (Swt), ever ready to receive one of the greatest of the Divine gifts … The inspirational urge.
© Akhawaatul Qalam - 'Sisters of the Pen' 