Falling in Love with Him

I love that Valentine's Day fell on a Jumaah.

Regardless of what you think about its origins, it's definitely a day when people think about love. Whether you're for Valentine's Day or against it, the thought of love is inescapable on this day. Be it 14th February or not, love should be celebrated; especially His love for us and our love for Him. You won't see a Hollywood movie about it nor a series of novels either. I think that's a terrible shame because it's the kind of love that beautifies and amplifies any other type of love; the kind of love that helps us make sense of who we are and the importance of those in our lives who have entered, stayed or walked away. A love that gives a deeper meaning to the things we do. A love that heals when this world and everything in it, including ourselves, breaks us.

Who better to love than the Most Loving One and the Beloved (pbuh)? The One who continues to shower us with blessings despite our tendency to take His love and mercy for granted. The Beloved one who showed us how to love Him back.

The poem below was written by Rumi and through it he reminds us that Satan is a thief. He takes our time and attention away from remembering God and from doing beneficial things and he "steals" Paradise from us by making us fear the follies of worldly life instead of God. Rumi also reminds us that when we are in the presence of Allah's love, life will not be easy. He will bless us with many wonderful things like family, wealth and success but he will also give us trials and hardships to purify our hearts and intentions and to draw us closer towards Him. If it weren't for times of hardship most of us would not truly turn to Him or even know who He really is.

"The Fire has been surrounded by lusts and desires and the Paradise by hardships." - Prophet Muhammad,  peace and blessings be upon him (Sahih Muslim and Bukhari)

And a purified heart is the best gift anyone could ever receive as Judgement Day will be "the day wherein neither wealth nor son will avail a person except the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (26:88-89)

Have you fallen in love with Him yet? What are you waiting for?

Peace and love on a blessed day called Jumaah!

Who is at My Door?

by Jalaluddin Rumi

He said, "Who is at my door?"

I said, "Your humble servant."

He said, "What business do you have?"

I said, "To greet you, O Lord."

He said, "How long will you journey on?"

I said, "Until you stop me."

He said, "How long will you boil in the fire?"

I said, "Until I am pure."

"This is my oath of love.

For the sake of love

I gave up wealth and position."

He said, "You have pleaded your case 

but you have no witness."

I said, "My tears are my witness;

the pallor of my face is my proof.'

He said, "Your witness has no credibility;

your eyes are too wet to see."

I said, "By the splendour of your justice 

my eyes are clear and faultless."

He said, "What do you seek?"

I said, "To have you as my constant friend."

He said, "What do you want from me?"

I said, "Your abundant grace."

He said, "Who was your companion on the journey?

I said, "The thought of you, O King."

He said, "What called you here?"

I said, "The fragrance of your wine."

He said, "What brings you the most fulfillment?"

I said, "The company of the Emperor."

He said, "What do you find there?"

I said, "A hundred miracles."

He said, "Why is the palace deserted?"

I said, "They all fear the thief."

He said, "Who is the thief?"

I said, "The one who keeps me from You."

He said, "Where is there safety?"

I said, "In service and renunciation."

He said, "What is there to renounce?"

I said, "The hope of salvation."

He said, "Where is there calamity?"

I said, "In the presence of your love."

He said, "How do you benefit from this life?"

I said, "By keeping true to myself."

Now it is time for silence.

If I told you about His true essence

You would fly from your self and be gone,

and neither door nor roof could hold you back!