Knock Knock...

*When death knocked upon a bedroom door. Who is there? The sleeping one cried. I'm Malakul Mawt, let me inside. *

*At once, the man began to shiver,* *As one sweating in deadly fever,* *He shouted to his sleeping wife,* *Don't let him take away my life.* *Please go away, O Angel of Death! Leave me alone; I'm not ready yet. * *My family on me depends,* *Give me a chance, * *O please prepense! * *The angel knocked again and again, * *Friend! I'll take your life without a pain,* *This your soul Allah requires. I come not with my own desire. * *Bewildered, the man began to cry, * *O Angel I'm so afraid to die, * *I'll give you gold and be your slave. * *Don't send me to the unlit grave. * *Let me in, O Friend! The Angel said, Open the door; get up from your bed,* *If you do not allow me in,* *I will walk through it, like a Jinn.* *The man held a gun in his right hand,* *Ready to defy the Angel's stand.* *I'll point my gun, towards your head. * *You dare come in; I'll shoot you dead.* *By now the Angel was in the room,* *Saying, O Friend! Prepare for your doom. * *Foolish man, Angels never die,* *Put down yourgun and do not sigh.* *Why are you afraid! Tell me O man. To die according to Allah's plan? * *Come smile at me, do not be grim, * *Be Happy to return to Him.* *O Angel! I bow my head in shame,* *I had no time to take Allah's Name. From morning till dusk, I made my wealth, Not even caring for my health. * *Allah's command I never obeyed, * *Nor five times a day I ever prayed. * *A Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,* *But no time had I to repent. The Hajj was already FARD on me,* *But I would not part with my money.* *All charities I did ignore,* *Taking usury more and more.* *O Angel! I appeal to you,* *Spare my life for a year or two.* *The Laws of Quran I will obey,* *I'll begin SALAT this very day. My Fast and Hajj, I will complete,* *And keep away from self-conceit.* *I will refrain from usury,* *And give all my wealth to charity,* *We Angels do what Allah demands,* *We cannot go against His commands. Death is ordained for everyone,* *Father, mother, daughter or son.* *I'm afraid this moment is your last,* *Now be reminded, of your past,* *I do understand your fears,* *But it is now too late for tears. You lived in this world, two score and more,* *Never did you, your people adore.* *Your parents, you did not obey,* *Hungry beggars, you turned away.* *Instead of making more Muslims,* *You made your children non-Muslims. You ignored the Mua'dhin Adhaan,* *Nor did you read the Holy Quran.* *Breaking promises all your life,* *Backbiting friends, and causing strife.* *From hoarded goods, great profits you made, And your poor workers, you under paid. * *Horses and cards were your leisure, * *Moneymaking was your pleasure. * *You ate vitamins and grew more fat, * *With the very sick, you never sat. * *A pint of blood you never gave. Which could a little baby save? * *O Human, you have done enough wrong,* *You bought good properties for a song. * *When the farmers appealed to you,* *You did not have mercy, this true.* * * *Paradise for you? I cannot tell. Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.* *There is no time for you to repent,* *I'll take your soul for which I am sent.* *

The ending however, is very sad,* *Eventually the man became mad* *With a cry, he jumped out of bed. And suddenly, he fell down dead.* * * *O Reader! Take moral from here,* *You never know, your end may be near.* *Change your living and make amends* *For heaven, on your deeds depends.* * *

End of the Road -Ramadan & Eid-Ul-Fitr

It was a very sad time to see that the month of Ramadan was over. Insha'Allah I will see it in 11 months time.

Ramadan emerged first to be my companion, as the each day went, it became a really good freind, then a brother and then it was routed into my heart and soul, I was finally breathing Ramadan.

I embraced Ramadan this time like no other, May Allah accept my Fast, Salat, Duas and Tawbah. It taught me a lot about myself and others around me, the temporal World we live in and the the World that we can only imagine. It brought me to be lot more patient not so much with others but more with myself foremost, as Sabr with others will come through the Sabr of oneself.

Reading the Qur'an, recitation and translation aided my understanding and love for the words of Allah (swt). My love for humanity and all that Allah has created grew, not just the things I know but also the things I did not know or was ignorant albeit subconsciously.

The fasting was not just a hardship for the stomach but one for the mind too, it was one of control for me. I rarely used energy to speak about things that did not concern me and that I did speak about, I had the intention for good cause. It was not just the speech, but everything, one hearing, their sight and limbs can also play a role, and my observation of my own actions and its affect on others and through observing other piuos people around me aided me.

These are all something which I have the intention to carry forward to my day to day life not for the one month of Ramadan. Ramadan for me was me training to become a better fighter, better man, one that can centre himself and think in a balanced frame of mind.