السلام عليكم ورحمة الله تعالى وبركاته،
This is for those people who say: "What century do you live in? We are living in 2014!"
My answer to them is: Who said Islam is only for our grandfathers and great grandfathers? Where in the Quran does it say that this sacred Kitab has only been revealed for the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)، the sahabah (رضي الله تعالى عنهم اجمعين), and the taabi'een (رحمهم الله تعالى), and then you may follow your own modern Islam? No one and no where! That's the only possible answer!
Many people have passed who were true examples of pious muslims, true Waliyullahs, men and women, in every time period, and still do exist until today, but keep themselves hidden. Every time period had its own difficulties, own dangers and challenges. There wasn't a single time when it was easy to be a true believer. Every rose is covered in thorns, and in the path to every precious thing there is struggle. Nothing can be achieved without hardships may it be regarding this dunya or the akhirah. If achieving wealth, degrees, honor in this dunya is so difficult, imagine how difficult achieving Jannah will be...and where does the wealth, honor of this world stand in front of Jannah..!
لا يستويان ابدًا!!!ا
This earth has seen such examples of true friends of ALLAH swt.
People who cried in the nights in front of ALLAH swt when everyone was sleeping.
People who fasted every other day without fail and anyone knowing.
People who secretly gave thousands of darahim in the path of ALLAH swt.
People who have kept their lips continuously in motion with the name of ALLAH swt.
People who didn't fear anyone in saying the truth for the sake of ALLAH swt.
People who gave up their lives in the worship of ALLAH swt and spreading Islam.
People who were happy with two pairs of clothing, small homes, simple lives.
People who left everything in the dunya and purchased them for the akhirah.
Its not impossible, nothing is impossible, even the word impossible has Im possible in it!
3 years back, our ustadh stopped the lesson in the middle and sent this small bottle from under the curtain and told us to smell the content of this bottle. When we took the bottle we found about an inch of sand in it, and one by one all of us smelled it. Ya rabbi, the smell was soooooo beautiful, I don't think any smell of the dunya, may it be a million dollar perfume can compare! After we sent it back to the ustadh, he asked us what we think it is...then he told us this is the sand of the grave of one the shuyookh that passed away the other day. He told us that the blood that fell from his body had such a beautiful scent to it that all people around him were crying in shock. People were ripping parts of the newspaper on which this shaikhs blood had fallen and were taking it home.
He said that they dug grave after grave but every time they would dig one, beautiful scents started to spread in the air, and the smell of the sand was so great the people from far far away were coming to smell it and take some home. In the end when the grave yard workers realized that this scent is a sign from ALLAH swt of this shaikhs acceptance and high status, they had no choice but to bury him there, and block it from people so they wouldn't be able to take any sand home.
About 2 years ago, we got the sad news that one of our female teachers has passed away. She was handicapped and would still come and study every single day, and walk all the way through the hall and sit for hours in class even though she was very ill. Right after she graduated and started teaching she asked for 3 days absence as she wanted to make up her missed prayers of the past. She spent those whole three days making up every one of her prayers. On the third day while she was resting, she started to call out to her family saying "I see Jannah, I see Jannah!" Then she read the kalimah and passed away.
Just a few days ago one of my asatizahs sister passed away. Another ustadh went to visit her husband who he found in a horrible state crying continuously. He told my other ustadh that her brother saw her in his dream, he asked her how was she treated. He said she saw her smile beautifully and say "My rabb gave me a bouquet of flowers, dressed me up like a bride, and then told me to enter jannah"! Subhanallah ta'ala! Her husband then told my ustadh that she spent her whole life teaching Quran as she was a Hafizah. He said I have never seen her go to the market or go to a wedding hall. Her life revolved around ALLAH swt, and the Quran. She would not leave a single chance she got to talk about the greatness of ALLAH swt with people.
Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala! May ALLAH swt grant me and you all such a beautiful death, and take us all on husnul Khatimah. May he accept us, make us amongst his pious awliya.
Aameen thumma aameen.
Its never too late! We can too become true believers and live our lives like the awliyaa. Yes it does require lots of sacrifice, patience, and struggle, but if we take a step towards ALLAH swt, he shall come running to us.
ALLAH swt says in a Hadeeth Qudsi:
….and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he
sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him..." [Bukhari]
