I have been extremely blessed to be able to travel. My latest trails have included cities in Italy and Spain. I saw UNESCO world heritage cathedrals and museums; and also the magnificent palace and the enchanting gardens of Al Hambra.

The majestic cathedrals in Florence and their detailed frescoes is an awesome sight to behold. Whilst the cool gardens full of green foliage provided a gorgeous landscape for the Moorish-inspired palaces and water fountains in Al Hambra.

After leaving Andalucia, I had a niggling thought that just would not leave my head.  
It seemed to me that the Muslims tried to replicate Jannah as depicted in the Quran. The lush green foliage; the gushing waters that flowed beneath; the spraying fountains that  hypnotically cascaded into elegantly sculptured ponds. What my eyes saw was what, I would argue, every Muslim's image of what Jannah is, given our limited perception, of course.  

When I recall the grandeur of the cathedrals and the monumental museums in Florence though they were grand in their own right, they felt hard and cold. It brought to my mind that the Renaissance artists and builders were not exposed to the beauty described in the Quran. Divinely beautiful they may be to the human eyes but they do not echo a deeper spiritual reality.

Immediately, I was overwhelmed by gratitude and grief. Gratitude for the Gift of Islam. Grief for the loss of true spirituality; the loss of Tauhid on some parts of Allah's SWT Earth. 

As Muslims we have a clarity of how Paradise looks like enough for us to yearn for it. As Muslims we have clarity in our worship of the One Most Merciful God to keep our minds clean from shirk.

Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah!

May Tauhid reign once again in these lands, aamiin.

#travellingwiththeQuran

Razia Zahra  Allaahumma baarik, aamiin! You are too kind, my dear Razia 💞

Success is the pursuit of an ideal state you wish to achieve. The clearer you can envisage that achievement, whatever it may be, the greater the chances of working towards it. It is the notion of having a set ambition and then focusing on the journey to get you there. It is about knowing where the goalposts are so you can shoot in that direction. Almost like a diligent student, knowing that at the end of toil and hardship they will attain the job or position they dream of.

I often think about the level of detail and description Allah portrays to us regarding Jannah: the fruits of which there will be no shortage nor depletion; the meat of birds; the rivers of wine, milk, and pure honey; the reclining couches; pleasant conversations between the inhabitants of Jannah; and the glow on the faces of those who will attain Jannah. These descriptions, in such colourful and graphic detail, not only motivate us to pursue the path to heaven but also give us a real sense of what succeeding looks like. 

When we are given descriptions of Jannah, don’t just gloss over them. To get the most out of them, reflect deeply on what true success will look like in an abode where sadness is not even a concept, never mind a reality. By reflecting on these verses, you will find yourself almost breathing, tasting, and smelling the fragrance of Jannah, its fruits and its rivers, or perhaps drinking from the special concoction of Tasneem (a highly exalted, pure, and refreshing spring or fountain in Jannah , specifically reserved as a supreme drink for those nearest to Allah.  (Al-Mutaffifin 83:27-28)

True success resides in that abode. Read its descriptions, reflect deeply on them, desire them, and pursue them relentlessly, as Allah says after describing Jannah: “Indeed, this is the great attainment. For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work” (37:60–61).

We pray Allah makes us among those whom Allah has described as: “Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance—that they are the attainers [of success]” (23:111).


Remember to reflect, reflect to remember!

I look forward to reading your reflections on this theme!

May Allah reward you! 
#TrueSuccess ​ ​

Jazza khallahu hyran for such beautiful reminder 

Preparing a Heaven So Beautiful

From verse 46 until the end of Surat Al-Rahman, we are given beautiful descriptions of heaven.  So many verses repeatedly providing us with precise details of rivers, springs, lush gardens, delicious fruits, beautiful clothing, resting and so much more. 

It is reported that Prophet Muhammad said: 'Allah the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which no eye has ever seen, and no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever perceived but it is testified by the Book of Allah. He then recited: 'No soul knows what comfort has been concealed from them, as a reward for what they did' (Sahih Muslim 2824a). So although we could never imagine the depth of the beauty of heaven, God gives us beautiful details to comfort us. 

And it reminded me of when a loved one longs to meet you because you have been away for some time, and they share with you all the beautiful things they are preparing for you so you can be comfortable and enjoy your time together. They share where you will be staying, what you will be doing and offer to cook your favourite foods! They tell you not to worry and that in sha Allah you will have a great time. And think of how loved and appreciated that makes you feel.

So imagine when Allah, The Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth, The Most Compassionate, prepares our homes for us in heaven with such love and care, with such precise detail that He tells us in the following verse we will recognize our homes in heaven so it doesn’t feel strange or unfamiliar even for one second: 'and admit them into Paradise, having made it known to them.' (Quran 47:6).

So that we know we belong in a heaven so vast it spans the skies and the earth.

So that we know every second of struggle, fear, or sadness will be replaced with multiples in ease and comfort as God describes heaven as ‘darassalam’ (the home of peace): '|And Allah invites ˹all˺ to the Home of Peace and guides whoever He wills to the Straight Path' (Quran 10:25).  A place where there is no fear or sadness: '..Enter the Garden(of Paradise) ; no fear is upon you, nor shall you grieve.' (Quran 7:49).

So we look forward to joy and eternal bliss. So we embody gratitude for a Loving Lord who beautifully and constantly reminds us of what awaits those who are mindful of Him.

May we be of them. Ameen.

Ameen! Beautiful jazakallah khair for this 