City of the Heart

At times I’d want to know You more
And head out looking for ways
There is no shortage of evidence
No end to the signs
But what good are eyes when the heart is blind?

An hour of heedlessness can undo a year’s worth of worship
Be vigilant and guard night and day, the city of your heart
Your tongue - a tool for His remembrance
Ears – to attend to His call
Eyes – to reflect on His creation, His signs
And limbs to carry you to His obedience
When left unattended, your city is open to attack

Be vigilant and guard night and day, the city of your heart
So call upon the Almighty making your religion pure for Him
Sincerity itself is a grant, return to Him pleading for it!

Poor

Slaves so poor, created to strive for the Master.
In His benevolence, He grants us in abundance,
A morsel of bread, a slice of meat
Pages of knowledge, mind to retain and heart to feel
Body to hold together and fulfill obligation
A Messenger as a mercy, and a Book as a guidance
Brothers, sisters, parents and families for support…and much more,
Yet we forget…

“O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise.”

[Qur'an 35:15]

[PhotoCredits:GettyImages]

All the world's a stage

All the world’s a stage
and the death of the stage performer
is his contentment with the cheers
and clapping of ephemeral hands
“…so serve Allah, offering Him sincere devotion.” [Qur’an 39:2]

Virtue

Reliance as that of Ibrahim and the gratitude of Daud
The forbearance of Muhammad (s.a.w), the chastity of Yusuf
The repentance of Dhun-Nun, and the recovery of Ayub
The treasures of Suleman and the ears of Musa
The da'wa and hands of Nuh, the two children of Yaqub
The knowledge of Khidr, and the dominion of Dhul-qarnain
The youth of the companions of the Cave and the Ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w)
The obedience of sons like Ismail and Yahya, the miracles of Zakariyya and Isa
Our women like Maryam, Asia, Khadija, Ayesha, Jawayria, Zainab, Safiyya, Saudah, Umm Habeebah, Umm Salamah, Umm Kulthum and Fatima, may Allah be pleased with them all
Companions like AbuBakr, Omar, Uthman, Ali, Zubayr, Talha, Hamza, Abu Ubaidah, Salman, Shuaib, and all those who fought in Badr
To build as a result a society like that of Medina

A life of submission, sincerity, and remorse for our past,
Firmness in our present and hopes for the future
Righteous followers and just rulers
Charitable people, abundance of provision
And hearts which tremble before the Most Gracious in prayer
Minds which memorise
And bodies which instruct and call to the path that is straight
The path of those whom He hath favored
Not of those whose portion was wrath, nor of those who went astray

[PhotoCredits: GettyImages]