SIRAH: A man of paradise

 
One day, when Rasulullah (SAW) sat with his companions (RA),
he (SAW) said: "Just now a man of Paradise is coming to you."
Immediately a man from Ansar came there. His face and beard were wet
from ablution. He was carrying his shoes in his left hand.

On the next day, Rasulullah (SAW) said again: "Just now a man of
Paradise is coming to you." And the same man of Ansar appeared in the
same condition. On the third day, Rasulullah (SAW) repeated the
same words, and the same man again appeared in the same condition.

When Rasulullah (SAW) stood up, Abdullah bin 'Amr (RA) went after
that man. He asked him if he could spend three nights in his house.
In the man's house, Abdullah found out whenever this man went to bed,
he used to remember God, and he used to get up for prayer
in the morning. Abdullah never heard anything from his mouth except
words of truth and goodness.

After three nights, Abdullah (RA) told that man about what he
have heard from Rasulullah (SAW). Abdullah bin 'Amr said:
"Then I desired to stay with you to see what act of yours is that
I may follow the same. But I did not see you doing any extra-ordinary
work. What is the reason Rasulullah (SAW) has said a nice thing
about you?"

The man said: "The reality is what you have seen. However, I do not
keep any spite/grudge against anyone, and if  God has blessed
someone with any good thing, I am not  jealous of him."

Notes:

Sirah = Story of the life of the Prophet and Messenger of God, Muhammad (SAW).
Rasulullah = The Messenger of God, Muhammad (SAW).
SAW = Sallallahu 'alayhi wasalam (may God's blessing and peace be upon him)
RA = Radhiallahu 'anhu/'anha (may God be pleased with him/her).


Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad

SIRAH: To whom will You abandon me...?

 
In th 10-th year of Prophethood, when the pagans persisted with their
scoffs and scorns after the death of the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib,
the Prophet (SAW) went to Ta'if with his adopted son,  Zaid bin
Harithah (RA), to seek help from people there.

In Ta'if, the Prophet (SAW) met the chiefs and leaders of Thaqif
whom he invited to accept Islam. They were, however, rude and
discourteous in their behaviour to Rasulullah (SAW). Not being
content with their insolent reply, they even stirred up some rabble
of the town to harrass the Prophet. These riff-raffs followed
Rasulullah (SAW), abusing and shouting and throwing the stones on
him, until he was compelled to take refuge in an orchard.
These louts standing on either side of the path threw stones on him
until his feet were injured and smeared with blood. Their oppression
weighed so heavily upon the Prophet (SAW) that in a state of
depression a prayer complaining the succour of God, came to his lips:

"O God, to You I complain of my weakness, resoucelessness and
humiliation before the people. You are the Most Merciful, the Lord of
the weak and my Master. To whom will You abandon me? To stranger,
bearing ill will, or, an enemy given power over me? If  Your wrath is
not on me, I care not, for Your favour is abundant for me.
I seek refuge in the light of Your countenance by which all
darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is
set right, for I fear that Your anger should descend upon me or Your
displeasure light upon me. I need only Your pleasure and satisfaction
for only You enable me to do good and evade the evil. There is no
power and no might except in You."

God Almighty then sent the angel of mountains who sought the
Prophet's permission to join together the two hills between which
Ta'if was located, but Rasulullah (SAW) replied: "No, I hope God
will bring forth from their loins (descendants) people who will
worship Him alone, and associating nothing with Him."

Notes:

Sirah = Story of the life of the Prophet and Messenger of God, Muhammad (SAW).
Rasulullah = The Messenger of God, Muhammad (SAW).
SAW = Sallallahu 'alayhi wasalam (may God's blessing and peace be upon him)
RA = Radhiallahu 'anhu/'anha (may God be pleased with him/her).


Reference: Sirah An-Nabawiyah, Abul Hasan Ali An-Nadwi,
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
 

Hide and Seek

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Mystery & Suspense

This review may implicitly contain some spoiler...

This is a pretty good suspense movie. It's psychological thriller, an Alfred Hitchcock's type of movie. You will keep guessing who is behind all those murders in the house. And you won't guess it right until everything is revealed at the end. The setting of the house with the quiet forest background adds the eerie feeling.

Good acting by all the actors/actresses, DeNiro and Fanning especially.
Some of the deleted scenes are probably better left uncut.
And some of the alternate endings are somewhat mind-boggling!

Lessons learned:

1. Don't cheat on your husband (or wife)
2. Be open to your wife (or husband) about the marriage problem, don't keep it to yourself until it affects your mind badly.
3. Ask for psychological help if necessary, don't be so over-confident about solving your own problem by yourself in difficult situation.

Playing basketball in the backyard

Buat Kiki, Fia dan Rani