Love Is In The Air

It’s the time of year again, that lovebirds have been waiting for, the most awaited day of the year, February 14th!

Elaborately made up, beautifully adorned girls flutter around like bright butterflies hoping to find the most sought after guy, to be presented with gifts. A little heart or even a red rose would do, as long as it qualifies them to be paired up with someone.

On the other hand, guys dressed in their carefully chosen casual outfits, drenched in the most masculine cologne (a smell that could bruise your veins from within) seem busy shortlisting the most appropriate match for them, seeking to propose to the girl of their dreams. Finally, it is the day of enacting their well rehearsed scenarios with her.

Oh yes, it’s Valentine’s Day again!

Deception To Reality

Then We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblis. He was not of those who prostrated. [Allah] said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” [Satan] said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”[Allah] said, “Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased. [Satan] said, “Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” [Allah] said, “Indeed, you are of those reprieved.” [Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Surah Al Araaf-22

We know that Iblis, due to his exceptional worship was elevated to the high status of being with the angels. He had the ma’arifa(recognition) of his Creator. Despite that when Allah(subhanahu wa ta’alaa)commanded him to prostrate to Adam (alaihi salaam) he refused. What was his sin? It was his disobedience and rejection of Allah’s(subhanahu wa ta’alaa) command by not prostrating to Adam, whether or not his intelligence justified it.

Love You, Love You Not, Love You

‘I love you for the sake of Allah,’ my classmate at the markaz said to me, smiling warmly. It was the first time I had heard this and having no knowledge of what the expression implied I gave her a meek smile, not knowing how to reply while feeling awkward about it. It sounded unrealistic because how can someone who hardly knows you, ‘love’ you?

As a person brought up in a society where religion occupies only a little niche in your life that is separated from your ‘actual’ life, I couldn’t understand this new concept of loving someone for the sake of Allah. Anyway, soon I adapted to the terminology but was still unable to relate to the feeling deep down in myself.

People of ‘at least’

When I was a child, I remember adults often asking me “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The interrogator would then offer answers for me to choose from, such as doctor or engineer, as if it was inconceivable to have any other ambition.

Throughout our lives, we are made to believe that to be worthwhile we must have materialistic aspirations. I feel this constant conditioning transforms an intellectual into a programmed dummy, making a person a slave to stereotypical thinking, fed by the worthless and ignorant trendsetters of society.

Deadly Delusions

What comes to your mind when you read the title ‘Deadly Delusions’?

Deadly specifies something being fatal, lethal, or even poisonous. Delusion refers to an illusion, a mirage or a hallucination; something that doesn’t exist and is a deception. Together, deadly delusions imply fatal deceptions that are prone to destroy someone.

Let’s try to understand the strategies of the one causing these deadly delusions in our lives through the words of The Most Wise, the Creator. I am assuming, by now, you would’ve guessed who the source of this fatal deception is. Yes, it is our mutual enemy, Shaitan (Satan).

To warn us against him Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) explains the story of Adam in many places in the Quran.

A New Beginning for a Better End

Staring at the keyboard for what seemed like a long time, I was wondering to myself about what to write for my new article which was based on the New Year.

After reasoning with myself, I concluded that I had to penetrate under the skin of the concept and must feel it ardently to be able to express myself. But would I go through all that just so I could come up with something interesting and worth reading? My mind argued. Was it only about being able to express myself just so I could create a well articulated essay?

Take a Chill Pill

‘Life is so hard!’ An expression heard too often. The question is ‘How can we make life easier, simpler yet fruitful and beneficial?’

We’re so busy chasing after our “dreams” that we forget that “dreams” are not reality! They are after all just delusions. And, when one dream is realized, another is yearning to be fulfilled, until finally our time on this earth is up.

People exhaust themselves in order to lead a ‘chilled’ life, running after mundane pleasures, but in most cases they never really get to enjoy what they gather from this world….can one call this, success?

My Reason For Living

“What is your reason for living or the purpose of your life?” When you ask most people this fundamental and important question, they will not tell you what they have concluded through observation or analytical reasoning. Rather, in most cases, they will simply tell you what someone else has said, or they will tell you what is commonly assumed by other people.

If I ask anyone why they work, they will probably say because it’s a necessity, in order to support themselves, or to provide for the needs of their families. If I ask anyone why they sleep, why they wash or why they dress, they will answer with appropriate answers.

Then why, when we ask the question “what is the purpose of life?” do we get so manydifferent answers? Is it because we are confused, or we really don’t know? Are just stumbling in the dark but rather than say “I don’t know” we just offer any answer we have been programmed to give?