Abbu. Best person ever.

The following text has been in my drafts for many years and now I am just going to publish it and maybe will improve it sometime later. 
_________

I have been trying to write this blog for so long but was afraid that I might not be able to do justice with what I really want to express. But um I still want to write it. 

So it was my final exam of BS Hons. I had to prepare for the exam, but my cell phone kept sending me notifications that phone memory is full and I should delete data from mobile. All I had in the phone memory was 92 messages of Abu g. I had already deleted everything else to save those messages. My phone kept on beeping and I started typing those messages on my laptop as these were all I had with me to hear what Abu has always been saying to me and my sisters. 

Apart from those messages, I want to mention a few things he used to say quite often to all of us that we may follow.

1- Ikhlaq. Ikhlaq. Ikhlaq..Ache Ikhlaq se achi koi cheez nai

2- Innallaha ma' as sabireen..Allah Sabar karne walon k sath hai

With the above reminders, we also used to get reminders for Namaz - 5 times a day. Yes.

Abu's messages:

Aoa Musalmano! Utho is yaqeen k sat Rehman ne reham kar dia, Kareem ne karam kar dia, Razaq ne rizq likh dia, Sami ne duaen sun lein, Baseer ne ashk-e-nadamat dekh liye, Quddos ne paak kar dia hai.
aik naye ehad se aik nayi suba ka agaz, duaoun k sath karain…Good morning. Muje apni duaoun me yad rakhiye ga

2/2/12

8:32 am

A Allah jab jab TU apni rehmaton k darwazy kholay or pukary ‘hy koi rehmt mangnay wala? Hy koi khushian mangne wala? Hai koi shifa mangne wala? Hai koi mere mehboob ki chahat mangne wala?” To meri ye dua hai k Ya Allah sari khushian sari rehmatainsari kamyabian sari barkatain sari nematain Nabi (SAWW) ki chahat us shakhs ko de de jo ye sms parhy or usko b jo dosroy logon ko b es khubsoorat dua me shamil kare. Beshak tu hi dua qabool karne wala hai. Ameen

28/1/12

2:09 pm

AOA Subah Bakhair

26/1/12

8:14 am

 :) AOA. :) Good morning. Have a nice day. God blessing, Best wishes for you and your family :)

25/1/12

8:57 am

AOA beshak dilon ka chain Allah ka zikar me hai. Zubah Bakhair :)

22/1/12

9:46 am

Sweet morning for you. Hamesha muskurate raho in sitaron ki tarah. AOA. Good Morning :)

19/1/12

8:13 am

Salame subah. Good morning. Have a nice day

18/1/2012

9:37 am

AOA :) lovely morning. Have a nice day. Suba bakhair :)

17/1/12

7:51 am

AOA Good morning. Have a nice day & best wishes for you and your family.

16/1/12

9:39 am

AOA Good morning. Have a nice day & best wishes for you and your family.

15/1/12

8:28 am

Muje malo zar ki hawas nahi…muje bas tu rizqe halal de..mere zehnme trei fikr ho meri sans me tera zikr ho..tera khauf meri nijat ho…sabhi khauf dil se nikal de…teri bargaah me ae khuda…meri roozo shab hy ye dua…to raheem hai to kareem hai…muje mushkilon se nikal de. (amen) AOa

14/1/12

7:27pm

AOa. Subah bakhair

14/1/12

10:08 am

1 sahabu ne ap SAWW se arz ki, ya rasool Allah hum ne ap ko dekha ap se bat ki or ap k sath khana khaya, kia hum se b koi ziada khush naseeb hoga is dunia me? App SAWW ne farmaya k tum ne muje dekha or suna to eman lae, meri ane wali ummat jo muje bina dekhe bine sune muj per eman lae gi wo tum se ziada khush naseeb hogi. Darood pak parh kar plz forward Karen. Allah pak ye msg bhejne wale ki har jaiz tamana poori kare. Amen

12/1/12

8:30am

AOA Good morning. Have a nice day & best wishes for you and your family. :)

11/1/12

8:34 am

Astagfar ko wazifa bana lo

10/1/12

9:38

AOA Good morning. Have a nice day, God Blessings & best wishes for you and your family.

10/1/12

8:29 am

Kainat me koi kisi ka is shidat se intizar nahi karta, jitna Allah apne bande ki toba ka karta hai.

9/1/12

Hazrat Ali….bahaduri=sabar…bala=na-umidi…….ustad= tajarba….faida=naik olaad…tohfa=dar-guzar…sarmaya=khud-etmadi…raaz=mout

31/12/11

I wish you happiest, sweetest, and lovely good morning :* God bless you and your family. Have a wonderful day

28/12/11

Namaz qaem karo. Or Allah ki rassi ko mazbuti se thame rakho, Quran parho jitna tum par sakte ho asani se.

3/12/11

5:25pm

AOA, Good morning, Best wishes 4 you and your family. Every garden must have a rose. Every sweet face must have a smile. Every flower must have dew. @,I in this world, have lovely daughters, just like you .

25/11/11

9:51am

Believe in God, Have Patience. 

My phone didn't let me open remaining messages and I couldn't save those and above is the only asset that I have from him to which I can refer to in my whole life.

Only Yours

إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

It is You we worship and You we ask for help. [1:5, Quran]

This verse is translated as above, but the word إِيَّاك also has the meaning of 'only' in it which is not mentioned in translations usually. I am sharing this because I am so in love with this word and also because I love the beauty of Arabic language. I remember seeing hand written letters where it ended with ‘Only yours’ with the loved one name on it. I always get that ecstatic feeling on the word إِيَّاك which one would normally get on seeing the words ‘Only yours’ at the end of a letter :)

Long due note

Mere pyare Abu ji,

Your choti is all grownup. I just wanted to thank you for the countless things you have done for us that I never thanked you for. I am sorry I am writing it now when you are gone.

Told Abu to smile and heard 
HA Ha Ho Ho sounds instead

Thank you Abu ji for getting 6 of us educated. We wouldn't have been able to do anything if you hadn't stuck up for our Education. Thank you for making us stay in hostels and for bringing us milk & fruits. Thank you for dropping us to school on bike and for going with me for admissions in hot summers. Thank you for telling us about your student life. Thank you for 'Taleem-o-trabiat". I do read books now. Thank you for providing the best facilities in the world. Thank you for bringing computer. We were happiest. Thank you for telling us almost everyday that good manners are most important of all. Thank you for white table and chairs. We still have the small chairs. Thank you for letting me have your phone. Thank you for all the Namaz reminders and for all the 'good morning' messages. I was kicked out of class once because of smiling at your message. Thank you for typing 'AOA' before every text even if it said 'Motor band kar do'. Thank you for taking us to Saif-ul-Malook. Thank you for taking us to Chinar hotel. Thank you for making sure we learn how to compromise. Thank you for making us feel we are no less than having sons. Thank you for giving us all the confidence and for helping us to become independent.

Above all, thank you for all the love that I can never repay.

Yours,

Hachoo

30 Simple Sunnahs to follow

I am glad we already do most of things mentioned below.Let's try more.

1. Smile often
2. Recite Masnoon Dua for waking up
3. Use Miswak
4. Say the Dua for entering washroom
5. Read Shahada after performing Ablution
6. Say the Dua after leaving washroom
7. Reply to Azan
8. Recite Ayat al-kursi after Namaz
9. Wash hands before eating
10. Say Bismillah before eating
11. Drink honey water before breakfast
12. Eat an odd number of dates
13. Eat with your right hand
14. Rinse mouth after eating
15. Drink water sitting
16. Drink water in three sips
17. Say Alhamdulilah after eating or drinking
18. Say the Dua for drinking milk
19. Comb your hair beginning from right side
20. Say the Dua for wearing new clothes
21. Take off and put on your shoes beginning with the right
22. Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ when going upstairs
23. Say ‘SubhanAllah’ when coming down the stairs
24. Say Salam to those you know and those you don’t know
25. Make Ablution before sleeping
26. Apply surma before sleeping
27. Read or listen to Surah Al-Mulk before sleeping
28. Dust your bed before sleeping
29. Cut your nails within 40 days
30. Take bath on Friday

Favorite Verses

During my Quran course, we were required to pen down 5 rules for ourselves after completing each juz. I used to write my favorite verse from the respective juz with that. Arabic version of these verses is so beautiful if you understand Arabic. Here is the translation of those verses anyway:-

1. Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. [2:117]
2. And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me… [2:186]
3. .. and whoever believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it..[2:256]
4. And whoever holds firmly to Allah has [indeed] been guided to a straight path.[3:101]
5. …and sufficient is Allah as an ally, and sufficient is Allah as a helper..[4:45]
6. .. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.[4:171]
7. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent. [5:120]
8. So whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam..[6:125]
9. - then know that Allah is your protector. Excellent is the protector, and Excellent is the helper. [8:40]
10. … and remember Allah much that you may be successful.[8:45]
11. …and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.[10:107]
12. And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. [11:7]
13. And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah , you could not enumerate them..[14:34]
14. Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is. [16:40]
15. Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward. [17:9]
16. .. and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. [19:4]
17. ..and hold fast to Allah . He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. [22:78]
18. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things. [24:35]
19. And grant me a reputation of honor among later generations. [26:84]
20. Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah ? Little do you remember. [27:62]
21. And whoever submits his face to Allah while he is a doer of good - then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of [all] matters. [31:22]
22. ..But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers. [34:39]
23. His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is. [36:82]
24. Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [39:53]
25. And He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty..[42:26]
26. And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition. [47:2]
27. Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is bringing about a matter. [55:29]
28. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. [65:3]
29. ..and their Lord will give them a purifying drink. [76:21]
30. For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. [94:5-6]

Inter-Views

My interviews always remind me of the joke where the interviewer asks the candidate, 'what is your weakness' and the candidate responds with ‘honesty’. Interviewer goes like, I don’t think being honest is a weakness and the candidate replies, 'I don’t give a shit to what you think'. Anyhow, here I am, stating some of my not-so-required honest encounters. 

The one where I didn't know it’s an interview:

This was the one where I thought I was having a meeting with a coach and I spoke my heart out about the subject I specialized in, my teachers, my institution and everything I could possibly talk about. I could have simply not said the names when he asked me if there are any teachers that I don’t like but Noo.

The one where I kept on talking about the things I can't do:

I had to fill a form which had 4 spaces to mention one's weaknesses, and I filled all of them. WHO DOES THAT!!

The one where I was told it’s just about interests and hobbies:

Interviewer: So you have got 4 GPA in both micro and macro economics, were you really good in these subjects?

Me: I was just okay, umm, our teacher was really good, um in terms of giving good grades.

Interviewer: And what about statistics?

Me: (In my head: O God, how do I explain it was the same teacher) I was okay. Umm the teachers were really good, we had short courses and they would just give good grades.

Interviewer: This essay, you wrote only 2 paragraphs. Why is that?

Me: I ran out of time, left essays for the last and started off with English portion with marking random options. (And I went quite after this)

Interviewer: One of your references said, you are an all rounder. So what interests do you have apart from academics?

Me: What? Me? All rounder. One of MY references said that? Oh I have no Idea. (I did tell him about my interests later, but the phase where I started thinking about who would have said that. phew)

Don’t judge the way other people connect to God!

I have seen people telling others that the way they are using to connect to god is not right and there are better ways etc. Anyhow, I came across a story in the book, The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak,which I absolutely loved. Here it is:

“Allow me to tell you a story.” And here is what he told us: One day Moses was walking in the mountains on his own when he saw a shepherd in the distance. The man was on his knees with his hands spread out to the sky, praying. Moses was delighted. But when he got closer, he was equally stunned to hear the shepherd’s prayer. “Oh, my beloved God, I love Thee more than Thou can know. I will do anything for Thee, just say the word. Even if Thou asked me to slaughter the fattest sheep in my flock in Thy name, I would do so without hesitation. Thou would roast it and put its tail fat in Thy rice to make it more tasty.” Moses inched toward the shepherd, listening attentively. “Afterward I would wash Thy feet and clean Thine ears and pick Thy lice for Thee. That is how much I love Thee.”

Having heard enough, Moses interrupted the shepherd, yelling, “Stop, you ignorant man! What do you think you are doing? Do you think God eats rice? Do you think God has feet for you to wash? This is not prayer. It is sheer blasphemy.” Dazed and ashamed, the shepherd apologized repeatedly and promised to pray as decent people did. Moses taught him several prayers that afternoon. Then he went on his way, utterly pleased with himself. But that night Moses heard a voice. It was God’s. “Oh, Moses, what have you done? You scolded that poor shepherd and failed to realize how dear he was to Me. He might not be saying the right things in the right way, but he was sincere. His heart was pure and his intentions good. I was pleased with him. His words might have been blasphemy to your ears, but to Me they were sweet blasphemy.”

Moses immediately understood his mistake. The next day, early in the morning, he went back to the mountains to see the shepherd. He found him praying again, except this time he was praying in the way he had been instructed. In his determination to get the prayer right, he was stammering, bereft of the excitement and passion of his earlier prayer. Regretting what he had done to him, Moses patted the shepherd’s back and said: “My friend, I was wrong. Please forgive me. Keep praying in your own way. That is more precious in God’s eyes.” The shepherd was astonished to hear this, but even deeper was his relief. Nevertheless, he did not want to go back to his old prayers. Neither did he abide by the formal prayers that Moses had taught him. He had now found a new way of communicating with God. Though satisfied and blessed in his naïve devotion, he was now past that stage—beyond his sweet blasphemy.

“So you see, don’t judge the way other people connect to God,” concluded Shams. “To each his own way and his own prayer. God does not take us at our word. He looks deep into our hearts. It is not the ceremonies or rituals that make a difference, but whether our hearts are sufficiently pure or not.”