Remember, remember...

I feel thoughtful, so I'm gonna use you guys reading this and the blog itself as a soundingboard for my thoughts and ideas... so bear with me!

The Prophet (SAW) once said " The world is prison for the believers and a paradise for the non-believers."Now put ur hands up if u agree with that statement..... All life is a test; my life, my pain, my struggle, my blessings, my dad, my sister (esp these 2!), my current cold, my hair.... its all a test. Its how you deal with the test thats the telling part....
I was reading through my Hadith Qudsi book and I came across some hadith I had not heard for a while and they got me thinking.... everyday I think I should become a better muslim, a better slave of Allah. Yet the next morning I wake up no better. But there is hope...
"A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying:When I have died, burn me, then crush me,and scatter [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else]. So they did that to him. Then He said to the earth: Produce what you have taken - and there he was! And He said to him: What induced you to do what you did? He said: Being afraid of You, O my Lord and because of that He forgave him."(Muslim, al-bukhari)

There is so much I take away from this hadith, and it gives me hope. The man obviously knew he lead a sinful life or atleast understood he lead a life that would be displeasing to Allah, and even though his belief in Allah underestimated Allah, he was still forgiven. WHY? Because he knew he had wronged and he feared Allah. And subhanallah it does give you hope doesnt it?
Life isnt about not making mistakes but about learning from them and repenting....
"When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My Mercy prevails over My Wrath"
Well that is reassuring, isnt it? I know I shall need some of that mercy on the DoJ.... ummm... actually I could do with a whole load of that mercy every day of my life to be honest!

And I can take heart from the fact that, alhamdulillah, I am a Muslim. I have knowledge about my deen, my religion. I know right from wrong. It could be a whole lot worse, I mean.... its definately better to know there is a straight path and what it is, than not to know a Siraat al-mustaqeen exists at all...Now thats scary. Not being blessed with Islam:
"For any to whom Allah gives not light, there is no light" (24;40) No light. Now that is truly scary. Alhamdulillah that I am a Muslim, alhamdulillah I have seen the light.
But there is a trap in itself.... not to be proud that you are a muslim, not to consider yourself great because you are a muslim -rather to understand this too is a mercy, a blessing, from Allah. Accept is as such and not to take it upon yourself, as a sign of your own greatness. This is a trap of the Shaitan. And its a clever trap. Pride is insidious. It creeps inside the heart of the unwary.
Allah says "Pride is My cloak, and greatness My robe, and he who competes with Me in respect of either of them I shall cast into the Hell-fire" (hadith Qudi:Abu Dawud;Ahmad)

My role in life is clear..."I have created jinns and men so that they may worship Me"(Quran 51:56). Simple and clear cut.... no debates here. DO as you are told by Allah and you shall be fine. Easier said than done, methinks.................

But here too Allah has been merciful with us, His slaves saying "Call upon Me, and I will respond to you." Thats nice, knowing that anytime, anywhere Allah is onhand to help me, guide me, save me.... who else can give me this 24/7 - forever there - guarantee?Answer: no one.

I'd like to end on a scary note... I'd like to blame all my sins, all my mistakes on the Shaitan because he is the deceiver - I mean, its all his fault anyway, right?! His sole purpose is to lead me astray..... but can I truly blame him?
Unfortunately, no.
Because every cross-roads I come to, I make the choice. All he does, the sadistic B*****d is whisper and persuade.... its me who makes that decision, me who does it....

"Satan says to man, 'Deny the Truth!'But as soon as [man]has denied the truth, [satan] says 'Behold!I am not responsible for you;behold I fear Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds!" (59;16)

You see -and here is the crux of the matter - Shaitan is a believer too....