for those striving out there

(copied from myislam_group@yahoogroups.com)

With His Name, the Most High
by A.Q. Alidost

Five miserable people
Five murky moods
The sixth one, you shall find out.
The seventh one, will surprise you.

First one, his head on his knees
Weeping with anguish
Turning as if in great stomach pain;

"What happened?" I asked.
"Oh! My world has ended." He sighed.
"It can't be that bad. What is it?" I enquired.
"She said no", he moaned.
"It's OK. You can find another wife." I smiled.
"No. No. Her mother said no.
We love each other so much.
I can't imagine living with another woman." He explained in pain.
"I'll pray for you, inshaAllah. Be strong. Love is a brick, it breaks your head and heart." I didn't know what else to say...

Second one, his knees on the ground
All strength was taken out of him
Could not stand up
"What?s wrong?" I asked.
"Oh! My world has ended." He sighed.
"It can't be that bad. What is it?" I enquired.
"I lost my job", he moaned.
"It's OK. You can find another job." I smiled.
"No. No. It was my fault.
No one will hire me." He explained in pain.
"I'll pray for you, inshaAllah. Be strong. The One who gave you teeth, will give you bread." I didn't know what else to say.

Third one, knees connected to her forehead
with her arm,
fist on the forehead
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Oh! My world has ended." She sighed.
"It can't be that bad. What is it?" I enquired.
"I lost my father", She cried.
"It's OK. We are from God, to Him we shall return." I whispered in calm.
"No. No. My mother and I are now so lonely." She explained in pain.
"I'll pray for you, inshaAllah. Be strong. The One who took your father, will be your protector." I didn't know what else to say.


Fourth one, head down, hands covering face
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Oh! My world has ended." He sighed.
"It can't be that bad. What is it?" I enquired.
"I am in such poverty", he moaned.
"It's OK. Hard work will pay off." I smiled.
"No. No. I work hard, with no results." He explained in pain.
"I'll pray for you, inshaAllah. Be strong. The One who gave you strength, will reward you." I didn't know what else to say.

By the time I reached the fifth one,
He was wiping his tears, smiling, taking a deep breath,
Looking up, eyes full of tears of joy, not despair.
Face forward, hands down, eyes open, chest up, shoulders relaxed.

"What happened?" I asked.

"My brother", he replied, "head on knees, knees on ground, forehead on fist, hand on face, face down or face up, none helped my mood."

"Then, what is your secret?" I was puzzled.

"When in pain, when is despair, when in agony,
Dive with your two knees, two palms, two toes, and your face,
all on the mud,
to your Creator,
the One who can unleash problems on you, or away from you."

He then paused a moment and said: "But the problem that mankind unleashes on himself those problems are the ones that shivers my heart." He said with caution.
"What was your problem?", I asked
"You don't worry about my problems, it has been taken care of."
"Are you sure?" I was confused.
"My heart is sure" He was calm.
"What makes you so sure?" I challenged.
"Look! Can't you see? Look! Over there, where I dived."
I turned back and there they were
Shining like bright stars,
Seven brilliant marks on the mud.

"Now. My brother, what about you?" He asked with a calm tone
"Problems of this world worried you?" He asked this time with sarcastic tone
"Have you thought of your problem under that mud?" He asked this time with a serious tone.

The last question
a spear to my thoughts.
So I became the sixth one in agony
Diving on the mud
Making my seven marks.

Now, my dear reader, why are you so calm?
For every worldly problem, there is a solution. No need to mourn those.
For the problem of the grave? Oh the problem of the grave!
Be the seventh one, make the seven marks.


This world is a difficult journey
An obstacle to overcome,
Especially in the place we live in,
Not everyday is bright and fun.

The Righteous Salaf were as fearful of their good deeds being squandered, or not being accepted, as the present generation is certain that their neglect would be forgiven.
[Hasan Al-Basri]