I am in prostration

I am in prostration
In absolute submission
Of servile gratitude.
A non entity;
A spec on the face of a spec in eternity;
Before a Merciful Master
Who acknowledges my insignificance
By granting me an intellect -
Lifting me from off the heap
Of assorted life forms
To honour me with a title -
Ashraf ul Maqlookhat.

How then can I raise my head?
For it will mean a moment lost
– a moment of worship – lost -
When a lifetime of thankfulness
Is worth a drop in an ocean.

Tell me..... how can I raise my head?
When I know I have just a little time left
To make up for the years of
Ignorant negligence –
Years of ghaflat.

I cannot.

Therefore........ I am in prostration
In absolute submission
In servile gratitude -
For He, Whom I worship
Can change each moment of my devotion
Into an eternity of adoration,
Inshallah.

on the 18th of Zilhij.......

The test gets tougher each day –
The dividing line between the right and wrong gets faint by the minute
Confusion reigns – both friend and foe flaunt identical faces.
This is difficult.
I am not going to think too deeply.

I close my mind.
Busy myself in ‘petty intricacies’ of being ‘religious’
‘Waters shouldn't mix – my wudhu is batil’
Yet a brother sleeps hungry and sister dies of starvation.
‘Not my neighbour – What can I do?’
I console my clamouring mind.
Oppressors are extolled while injustice reigns,
Innocents are exploited – and I watch it all – Silent.
Is my life ‘batil’?
I wonder.

Today is Yaum e Ghadeer – and I, the follower of Ahlul bait
Proclaim loudly my allegiance to Imam Ali (as).
Yet it's actions that speak louder than words:
What do my actions speak?
I wonder.

'Testing' Times

I am doing my test – second time round –
– because I failed the last time.
I am not prepared – I might fail again.
At my time in life that is a frightening prospect – I might fail.

I am tired. I like my comfort zone – the fixed and familiar.
And now – I must stir the coals, rekindle old fires,
Probe and prod my memories
archived in the corners of my brain.
O the pain of reliving past failures.
All in the name of Research.
It’s preparation – I’m doing a test.

Why me? Why now?
Just when I had found my niche; feathered it
It’s exam time once more.

My friend says: tests bring with them rich experiences
– struggle and anguish are befitting teachers, she says.
She says I’ll survive – but will I pass?
There lies the root of my agony.

All people live ....... a few make the difference.

Through our journey of life
we meet all kinds of people.
Of them all, some are good.
A few are extraordinary - they are Special.

Special because they are not simply
good themselves –
but they bring forth the goodness
that is in all those around them.

Like stars they radiate warmth and positive energy
in all directions, wherever they may be.

Afshan

A man is what a man does ..............

An act becomes infinitely more worthy
when it is done for the pleasure of Allah (swt).
The size of the act is of no significance –
a smile given, a word spoken, a kind gesture, a pure intention –
is sufficient to raise you and place you
amongst the pious –
if it is done to please Allah (swt).

Make Allah’s (swt) pleasure a habit –
it will be source solace and strength
in your hour of need.

Afshan

I also think that .............

A pious person is like a flower
whose fragrance of peace and contentment
spreads all around him
like a breath of freshness that enlivens
the withered, the wasted –

You can bring back to life
everything that is fading around you

You can define the reason for living
by making a conscious effort in the way of Allah (swt) –
By embracing piety.

Afshan

I think .............

Desire for change is the seed
that grows into the tree of success.
Every step you take
towards becoming a better ‘You’
is step towards victory.

The one who consciously ensures
that everyday is a step forward,
is the uncontested winner in the game of life.
Therefore, never stop in your quest for excellence.

Afshan