Dream of Glad Tidings in the Transitionary Period

أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil,

In the name of Allah; The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.’

Date: April 13, 2024

Journal Entry: Bushra Lana (Good News)/An Intermediary Phase  

Once again, I had an insightful dream in the morning of 4^th Shawwal, 1445; a few days after celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

 I saw the last moment of my life as I was passing away; I seemed to be bidding farewell to my family. Then, in the dream, I started to see from the point of view perspective. My burial was taking place, and I was being pulled down into my grave. I could see everything getting darker around me as I observed the horizon and the four corners of the ground as I rested six feet deep under. After being covered completely, I felt the contraction of the side walls. I started to feel scared for my experience in Hereafter. However, there after it started to expand and became spacious. The ground to my right starts unveiling from the top to bottom illuminating my grave as it unpacked to a room like environment. There was a man whose face was as clear as crystal with a fair skin tone dressed in all pure white sitting upright against the wall on a couch. His hair was seemingly white and parted from the middle reaching his broad shoulders. Similarly, he had an aura due to his beard that was white as well which made his appearance shine like a pearl. I felt as if he had been waiting for me. He gets up to embrace and welcome me. I asked him if we had met before because he seemed to have a unique appearance yet familiarity with his presence. He told to me that we had met at the plain of the souls (Alam-e-Arwa), and that he has kept watch on me since and was familiar with the tailored trails and tribulations of my life. He assured me to rest with ease and tranquility as the journey from here on now will be smooth. I started to weep out of awe knowing very well of the fact that I didn’t deserve to be given this glad tiding, yet felt a joy never experienced before waking up from the dream.

Now, I only bring this to the attention of others to mention that the struggle to remain sound in one’s faith should be a continuous task, until our very last breath, as believers in the religion of Islam. It may take form as small deeds, if done correctly with consistency, which can allow us to progress spiritually by staying upright. I am nowhere near perfect, nor do I claim to be righteous or pious, but I do make efforts consistently for an inward spiritual growth and outward practice as per the religion of Islam. Yearning to attain proximity of God (عزَّ وجلَّ) and His Beloved (ﷺ) is something I try to sincerely strive for by enacting the way of those [The Prophets, The Truthful, The Martyrs & The Righteous (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all)] who had been successful in following the spiritual path that leads straight to God Almighty’s acceptance & pleasure. May Allah (swt) always keep us sincere and steadfast on Islam as our way of life and grant us a good end with the last of our words to be the Testimony of Faith [لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ – There is no deity worthy of worship save God (alone), and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His servant & final messenger]. I ask Allah (عزَّ وجلَّ) to make the transitionary phase that is a barrier (Barzakh) between this life and the Hereafter to be better than this temporal abode as we hope for our soul to register in ‘Illiyeen’, God-willingly, and reunite with those who we love in the Hereafter.

The sentiment after this experience that resonates with me is from the poem “The House of healing” by Abū Muḥammad ibn Abū Sāliḥ ʿAbdol-Qāder al-Gīlānī al-Ḥasanī wa’l-Ḥusaynī, also known as ‘Abd-ol-Qāder Gīlāni (Persian: عبدالقادر گیلانی‎; 23 March 1078 – 21 February 1166). Gilani was a 12th-century faqih, Islamic scholar, theologian, and mystic originally from Gilan, Iran.

[In Persian]:

تا ابد یا رب زتو من لطف ها دارم امید
از تو گر امّید بُرَّم از کجا دارم امید
زیستم عمر بسی چون دشمنان ،دشمن مگیر
بی وفائی کرده ام از تو وفا دارم امید
هم فقیرم هم غریبم ،بیکس و بیمار و زار
یک قدح زان شربت دار الشّفا دارم امید
منتهای کارتو دانم چو آمرزیدنست
زان سبب من رحمت بی منتها دارم امید
هرکسی امّید دارد از خدا وجز خدا
لیک عمری شد که از تو ،من تو را دارم امید
هم تو دیدی من چه ها کردم وپوشیدی زلطف
هم تو میدانی که از تو من چرا دارم امید
ذره ذره چون جدا گرداندم خاک لحد
بهرِ هر ذره زتو فضل خدا دارم امید
دمبدم بد گفته ام بد مانده ام بد کرده ام
با وجود این خطاها من عطا دارم امید
روشنی چشم من از گریه کم شد ای حبیب
این زمان از خاک کویت توتیا دارم امید

[English Translation]:

Until eternity, oh Lord, in Your Favours I have hope

If I lose hope in You, from where could I ever gain hope?

Much of my life I lived in defiance: See me not defiant

I have been unfaithful, but in Your Faithfulness I have hope

I am a pauper and a stranger, helpless, ailing and weak

In one cup’s medicine of the House of Healing, I have hope

I know that in the end Your Way is Forgiveness

Because of that, in Your Endless Mercy I have hope

Everyone places their hope in God, yet in others too

But for a lifetime I seek [only] You, and in You [alone] I have hope

You saw all I have done, yet You concealed with Graciousness

And You know well why I have hope in You

As, bit by bit, the grave’s soil takes me apart

With every bit, in God’s Grace I have hope

Repeatedly, I spoke and acted badly and remained the same

Despite of these transgressions, in Forgiveness I have hope

The light of my eyes has weakened from my tears, oh beloved

Now, from Your Place’s Healing Kohl, I have hope

This ghazal, “Dar-osh-shafa”, is a love-poem dedicated to God, Glorified and Exalted is He. ‘Abdol-Qader Gilani expresses his hope in the Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace of God. In the face of his mortality and fallibility, he expresses his regrets, but nevertheless places his trust and hope in God, Mighty and Majestic is He.

Poetic Justice

There’s a famous phrase, “The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

The idea behind it struck me of a deeper understanding, as a thinker, which I can relate to being a gnostic & a believer in the religion of Islam. The relevance of this phrase can be attached to the omniscience of God Almighty: One & Only. It’s quite intriguing and enlightening for those who are in pursuit of seeking knowledge in a broader spectrum. It’s a misconception that religion cannot coexist with the pursuits of learning and developing our senses as we further evolve. In fact, in Islam, the emphasis on attaining knowledge is of high importance. Indeed, knowledge is power. However, the difference between seekers of true knowledge and those who attain it for worldly gains are based on whether it’s linked with the actual source. In the case of believers, it ties with God [The Resourceful]. He [The Exalted] has power over His creation. And, to really attain knowledge is befitting in our standard to live in accordance to our true purpose as His creation; the state of a believer is in humility after recognizing the might of higher being that hearts of men and women are fearful and in love with; Allah (God) [The Magnificent]. On the contrary, it’s tagged with the risks along with it for those who are manipulative & selfish. Our egos are diabolical, that’s just the nature of the course set in the path for human beings since the beginning of time. Either we deviate or stay intact with the realm of ‘The Truth’. Thus, the danger lies in seeking for the sake of everything except God.

To conclude this in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”. Therefore, it’s important to establish an understanding of the intention and true purpose behind attaining knowledge. Not all knowledge is beneficial, as it can plant seeds of arrogance during the process. However, if it behooves one’s intellect accordingly. The implementation of it will project itself in their conduct, and so it will continue to be beneficial for him or her for the sake of liberating themselves in good influence.

[1]

I against I, war mentality with the self.

That’s how champions are made.

But this isn’t about winning a competition or battle on the front lines.

Shifting focus from causing damage by any means,

To rather finding alternatives to heal

Gentleness is preferred over harshness by The Almighty,

Nowadays, even our tongues are sharper than steel

Bruising and leaving cuts deep under the skin of those who are vulnerable

Defeating the purpose of plurality & uplifting one another in felicity

Imagine if deteriorating each other wasn’t our second nature,

& not be self-absorbed by dehumanizing for the sake of dominance.

Existence of a perfect world is a fool man’s ideal,

Asking for paradise on Earth.

Though, it can flourish through human cognizance.

Speak good or remain silent.

But toughness is essential to overcome violence

And, that’s through raising our voices to reform and direct.

{2}

Transmission of speech through the expression of writings carved in stones during early ages,

To propounding calligraphy conveying messages in the form of ink on scrolls in retrospect

Fast forward to carrying introspective dialect digitally,

Still can’t fathom the mastery of the pen lifted above the seven Heavens.

Salute to all the legends fought in vain for justice;

All the successors in righteousness,

Saladin to Malcolm X.

May God’s blessing and peace be upon them.

Prophets, Messiah, Saints & Heroes who stood against oppressors

Strengthening faith with courage and establishing peace

Force needed to quench the enmity of Naysayers

Mastermind like the constable,
Trying to justify the weight of these words on pages in solidarity with moral injustice.

Dissolution of tyranny which springs doom on this planet;

War crime affairs; a global phenomenon that only makes matters worst

Innocence suffering at the hands of malice

Free Palestine, Kashmir & all those who suffer under oppression

The double standard in society

Face to face with these fascists,

They can’t escape their damnation from The Most Just.

(3)

Passing of eras from the beginning into medieval times, and now in moderation;

Salvation is there to balance the scale from evil, and it knows no defeat.

True liberation in its purest form is seeking guidance through acknowledging God Alone,

And fulfilling our purpose as His creation.

To the seekers carving their way in the search for themselves

Be it the Believers or Atheists, Idealists or Rationalist, Philosophers or Scientists

The chase for unraveling mysteries of discovering the path which leads to knowledge

But how much of it is beneficial if it’s not linked in accordance with the ‘Truth’.

Human psyche; sprout of the intellect

The fraction which is common among all

But the denominator is by One & Only: The Most-High.

The Ultimatum & Diminisher of man’s ego.

Humanity goes as far as we go

to show love and give respect to one another.

Regardless of their belief system, social status or the pigment of the skin color.

Just as the sunrise utter light after the dawn from darkness to brightness;

So, can we begin making changes in ourselves

For once it’s grasped, it can be contagious

Allowing its effect to reach masses.

What can we do?

To say we are living in the year 2017; where people from each society have excelled far beyond their capabilities. Yet some fail to recognize that mental health/illness is a subject of matter that needs awareness and attention, rather than it playing out to be a notion that carries a social stigma. Just so it happens to not be a part of a phenomenon on an individual scale, doesn’t mean it ain’t real. How can we sincerely hope for the betterment of those that suffers through mental heath issues, when we are not willing to go there. Yes, “there” is that place we can allow ourselves to get the access to if we put ourselves in their situation, and open our mind to see the world through their lenses. Comprende? Perhaps, it can be simply described in a terminology commonly known as, empathy. We need to start being more understanding of our environment and with the people that we keep interactions in our lives. More so, for our loved ones that we take for granted sometimes. In order for things to pivot completely in the direction of fulfillment,  we need to carry on being the source of enlightenment that they deserve to see at times when they seek positivity as a necessity. All it takes is courage!