The child inside us

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:34:00 GMT

"Put this work aside, I want to sleep."
"I'm not done with TV. Delay visiting your uncle."
"Tell them about your accomplishments, how I like to be praised."

These are some examples of what wanders in ourselves consciously and unconsciously!

The human being is a wondrous creature, exalted be the Creator!
In him are instincts and motives that puzzle and astonish.
Among the greatest of mysteries in mankind is the "self."

This self is more like a child.
Its desires are endless and it is really selfish. It loves comfort, hates effort, and fears sacrifices.

It begs you to do what it likes, even if this act violates the laws of the Creator.
It screams loudly when you think of a good long-term deed because it only sees its own desires.

Different people have different ways of dealing with their selves.

On one side, there are people who would spoil themselves.
You'd see them running towards their selves' desires of wealth, showoff, and even taking revenge against others. When they're advised to stay away from something bad, they reply saying, "I just feel like it, I cannot resist it." Sometimes, they just maneuver in the answer to hide their self desires.

Those are the ones who worship their own selves and are prisoners of desires and lusts. They do not know that they wrong their selves this way by going after immediate desires for the cost of permanent misery in the hereafter.

On the other bright side, there are those who own their selves. They provide their selves's rights, but they're careful not to allow over the cliff desires. They struggle against inner self desires preventing them from doing good (and costly) deeds. Those are the ones who do good to their selves by preventing immediate desires for the sake of permanent bliss.

Thus is the case with children. Despite that parents need to give children a good space of freedom of action and learning, they are required to guide them and even intervene to prevent children from things that may hurt them.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:
"For, unto him who shall have transgressed the bounds of what is right * and preferred the life of this world * that blazing fire will truly be the goal! * But unto him who shall have stood in fear of his Sustainer's Presence, and held back his inner self from base desires, * paradise will truly be the goal! "
[79: 37 to 41]

May Allah make us all among those who own themselves and win the good of this world and the hereafter.

This article is a translation of my original Arabic article

The cat's story!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:04:00 GMT

Few days ago, I received an SMS from my Father who's in Oman (I'm in the U.S. studying). The message had news that someone has passed away!
My heart was beating fast while I continued through the message. Then I was surprised to find out it is about the death of my cousins' cat! And that my teenage cousin cried!

For seconds, feelings of surprise and relief mixed inside me that it was not the news of one of my relatives passing away. More seconds passed while I was thinking how the message frightened me for the death of a cat!

But then I remembered the story of this cat!
This cat was not one of those spoiled hairy ones. It was not the most beautiful, nor a cat raised as a hobby. This cat was only a "streets' cat." Three years ago, a bunch of heartless kids harassed it and caused a deep wound in its eye. The poor cat was suddenly unable to take care of itself because of this.
My cousin was watching this. He felt sorry for the cat and took care of it since then. The cat passed away recently in the veterinary after not being able to eat for a problem in its teeth.

Then I remembered the saying of Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be on him): "While a man was traveling, he felt very thirsty. He found a well and went down to have a drink. When he came out he found a thirsty dog. He said to himself, "This dog is as thirsty as I was." He then went back inside the well and used his shoe to bring out some water for the dog. Allah was pleased with him and forgave his sins because of he had done." [Recorded by Al-Bukhari]

So my dear cousins, may Allah be pleased with you for your kindness towards this poor and weak animal.

If this was the reward of taking care of animals in our beautiful religion, how would the reward of taking care of human beings be?
I ask Allah to give us all hearts merciful towards our Muslim brothers & sisters, all people, and all creatures.

Our beloved Prophet may Allah be pleased with him said, "Allah will show no mercy to those who do not show mercy to others"

Reflections: Islam and life

The child inside us

The cat's story!