Soul Talk

A mother who had placed high expectations that her son would be the final winner broke down in tears and her hands which were lifted in dua just dropped!


Peace and harmony pervade the animal kingdom. This amazes me. Probably because God Almighty has not bestowed two elements which He has bestowed in abundance on humans…. high hopes and high expectations.


A day before Eid, half of India was probably glued to their televisions, waiting with bated breath to find out who would be the “Voice of India.” The clock struck 12 and the mouse ran down, but fans of this channel which judged the singing talents of Indian youngsters threw away the good old advice-“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”!


The battle between three youngsters, all between 17 to 20 years, seemed like a battle of life and death. Yes! Competition is essential. But the stress that it placed on the youngsters to perform and prove conveyed a disturbing trend.


When the countdown to the final results began, parents of these youngsters were the most stressed. While a father clenched his teeth, a mother was doing her duas constantly.


The performance of these singers was being judged by experts, and, in addition, Indian and international voters decided the fate and future of these competitors.


As the runners-up were announced, there was a sigh of relief, but the climax of the final winner gave away the weakness of human nature. It was a case study in how we humans judge others, assume our judgment is perfect, bracket a person in a particular category and then applause over our judgment of others.


A mother who had placed high expectations that her son would be the final winner broke down in tears and her hands which were lifted in dua just dropped! It is quite natural for a mother to wish good for her son or daughter and expect that he or she will outshine others. But each human being has his or her own limited capacity and ability. This can be improved through hard work and extra efforts. But do your best and leave the rest to God.


Most misunderstandings, disruptions and disharmony in relationships, be they between friends, relatives, husbands, wives, children and parents occur because of the fact that one is not able to accept the other as he or she is. Of course, parents, spouses, friends all have the right to correct and point out aspects they may not like about each other. But be gentle… the Prophet’s (Pbuh) way:


Anas Ibn Malik was a domestic servant in the house of the Prophet. In praise of his employer he said, ‘I served the Prophet for ten years. He never rebuked me during that period. He did not even say as much as uff (a word that express annoyance and anger). After I finished an assignment, he never asked me about the way I accomplished it and never suggested a better way than the way I did it. Sometimes I did not execute an assignment and he would not ask me to give reasons for the failure.’ (Tirmidhi).


All of us have our flaws and fancies. But all of us are ultimately “Just Me”.


The sooner we realise the better for the peace and harmony within ourselves and the world around us as this beautiful poem puts it:

Accept me as I am-I have no guarantee.
A claim to perfection I have not.
Perfect I cannot be.
I, like you.....am human.
Prone to make mistakes.
Failure is not a character flaw,
Just a part of the human makeup.
I live, I laugh and I also learn.
My knowledge is incomplete.
I am searching all the time,
in waking hours as well as sleep.
I have a long road to travel,
as well as you do.
We learn our lessons on the way.
Wisdom we shall accrue.
Accept me as I am
Because I am ....me.
And You are you.
That is my only guarantee.

When Allah created a man (Adam and Eve), He also created Satan, Jinns and Angels, in order to maintain the balance in the world! Allah knew very well that a man, whom he has created, would go astray following Satan’s advice and ruin his life! So, Allah wanted a man should lead his life peacefully, in the world, not going astray listening to Satan’s advice! Allah wanted to follow closely a man to lead a righteous path by remembering Him! And, He in turn, to guard him in all possible ways, day and night, being so close to him!


It is for the man’s benefit, Allah says in the Qur’an, to pray to Him or Worship Him! As long as a man remembers Him, day in and day out, he is away from Satan! Satan will not come near a man while a man is meditating or doing prayer! These days, a man wishes to follow the Western culture blindly! Though the Western culture has good points, but it has also brought bad elements!


“Islam” means submission of oneself entirely to the will of Almighty “Allah” and accept the teachings of His book, the Qur’an and follow the traditions of His Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh)! The Almighty “Allah” is the Creator, Sustainer and Guardian of all living and non- living (i.e each and every thing on this Universe)! The truth is that when Allah asks a man to serve Him and only Him: it is for the good of man himself! Allah does not want a man to become a slave of Satan or the slave of his passion or desires or other human beings! Since Allah has created a man, He does not want a man to fall a prey of evil forces on earth! It has become a duty of Allah Himself to see that His created man must flourish on earth, un-hindered!


A man is full of sin and likely to go astray because of temptations! Allah being the protector and a friend of man, He leads him out of darkness into light! While meditating, a man puts all his burdens upon Allah only (i.e all his worries and tensions of life) and becomes light hearted and tension free! A man’s worries and heartaches are taken care of by Allah Himself at the end!

Tawbah (Repentance) represents, as its most primary level, an abandonment of sin and re-orientation to a life of obedience.


Every one of us irrespective of the personal faith we profess and daily practice we do, are fully aware that our actions bring results either in the way of success or failure. When we fail, we look back to find out its causes. If there is time still left to undo the wrong, we change our course and bring a new lease to the work in hand. But often it so happens in life that there is no way to go back to amend the wrong. On our introspection, we learn a lesson and would attempt to avoid the same pit fall in course of life. But human memory is short and we tend to forget such events and again fall in the trap. If the downward trend is severe and bringing complete break-down of our affairs, we turn to people of wisdom, more matured and experienced and successful ones for advice, be it sages, saints, doctors, teachers, aalims, amils, astrologers, friends and good Samaritans.


Islam is a natural religion based on the rule of law, as per the natural events and nature of human beings. It regulates human thoughts, emotions and keeps it in tune with the nature and “Sunnah of Allah” (God).


Foremost aspect of Islam is total surrender to Allah, the God of Mercy. Forgiveness, Compassion and Beneficent are the attributes that Allah governs us with and has also laid down laws of nature and for man. Man has to turn to Him and Him alone all the time to achieve success, peace and happiness both in this life and life hereafter.


Allah has shown what is Satanic and evil thoughts, which cause destruction, embarrassment, humiliation and suffering to man, an avowed open enemy.


Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil sows discord among them: Lo! the devil is for man an open foe (Surah Bani Israil)


Repentance is to give up the waywardness in our behaviour, to shun evil and return to the commands of Allah and His messenger. Tawbah (Repentance) represents, as its most primary level, an abandonment of sin and reorientation to a life of obedience. One should become aware of the existence of sin. For which, knowledge of right and wrong is necessary. Thus, one has to enter the religion of Islam to see the wisdom and light of knowledge. When one becomes aware of the light of knowledge, then a person discovers his own self. Discovery of one’s own self leads to the discovery of the greater self. That will lead to righteousness. Allah assures of forgiveness again and again in the Qur’an.


Then Lo! Thy Lord - for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repent and amend - Lo! (for them) thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Mercuful (Surah An Nahl - The Bee).


(The writer is Editor of Sufi World)