Make the best of Opportunities… For They Pass like Clouds

Many of us begin each new day, new month and new year with a multitude of aspirations. Yet as time progresses throughout that day, month or year, sometimes, when we may be discouraged, we are tempted to believe that only the “lucky” people receive the best opportunities and that we just don’t have that luck. However, anyone can encounter numerous opportunities when we put in the work to step into the right place at the right time. As you engage your dreams for the New Year, how do you strike when the proverbial iron is hot?
It has been said, “Opportunities are like sunrises, if you wait too long you might miss it.”
Ali RA said, “Make the best of opportunities because they pass like clouds. Do not look for traces after having missed the opportunity of seen your actual quest.”

The reality is if we make dua and effort, everything and everyone that comes in our path, is in fact a means and opportunity to the destination we dream of reaching. When we look at life in retrospect, we will realise that ALLAH SWT in His Infinite Mercy was granting little opportunities, using them as stepping stones to reach our current destination. Indeed we need to heed the words of Ali bin Abi Taalib RA, known for his wisdom, “Make the best of opportunities, for they pass like clouds.”

In the reality of life in its entirety, our Beloved Rasool SAW advised us, “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death”
(Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Our Youth
When we are young we have strength, enthusiasm and drive and are ready and raring to take on the world. Ar Rasool SAW conveyed to us that a young person who grows up in the worship of ALLAH SWT, will be among the seven who are granted shade by ALLAH SWT when there no will be no shade but His. (Bukhari)

Our Health
No one can guarantee what tomorrow will bring. Our health is a blessing from ALLAH SWT that we tend to take for granted. Ar Rasool SAW said, “Whosoever begins the day experiencing family security and good health; and possessing provision for his day, it is as though he possessed the whole world.” (Tirmidhi)
Our Wealth
We should all strive to invest a portion of our wealth in the Hereafter. Helping the needy, providing for orphans, being a part of humanitarian efforts, all secure great reward for us in Jannah and is a great means of attaining ALLAH’s Pleasure.
ALLAH SWT has promised us that he will repay us more than whatever sum of money we spend for His sake: “Who is it that would loan ALLAH a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is ALLAH who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned. (Al Baqarah 2:245)
“The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about five things one of which is his wealth and how he earned it and spent it upon.”

Extracted from my articles from the Muslim Woman Magazine 2021 edition

Envision Your Purpose & Your Paradise.

~RSB ~Author, Journalist, International Motivational Speaker, Islamic Scholar, Tahfeedhul Quraan Student & teacher, Humanitarian, Archery Instructor, University Tutor, holds 3 degrees BA(English, Arabic, Islamic Studies) BA Hons IST(Cum Laude) MA IST.

A Fragrance of Love, A Glimmer of Hope, A Desire For Peace [LOVE+HOPE+PEACE

I listened to my first companion-my host set out the guidelines and protocol for the duration of our visit. I glanced at my second companion- my colleague who had been enthusiastic in accompanying me today and noted the slight weariness in her eyes, which most certainly must have been reflected in mines too.  One by one, we filed through the huge heavy metal gate…gate upon gate.  As one gate was systematically opened for us, another was slam-locked behind us…gate upon gate. And then finally many gates and corridors later we entered a foreign domain, a hidden world, a confined existence…the correctional facilities for women, a South African prison.

Alhamdulillah, during the blessed month of Ramadaan for the past few years, ALLAH SWT afforded me an opportunity- a paradigm shifting moment, to visit and address the Muslim female prisoners at one of South Africa’s detention facilities.  This article shares my very first experience 
The three wonderful and inspirational women, who invited me to be one of their guest speakers for the month of Ramadaan, are doing such phenomenally good work on a weekly basis at this particular ladies prison. Teaching the ladies the basics of Islam, encouraging them towards a better life and providing them with ALL that Islam promises- the seeds of love, hope and peace. 

While ‘cold, sterile, stoic and impersonal’ were my first impressions of the inside of the prison hallways, the nature of my host and the prison wardens we interacted with created a distinctly different atmosphere, ‘warm, unintrusive and polite’. As we walked down the corridors and passageways of the prison, amongst the prisoners (clad in navy blue and looking as normal…busy, purposeful and calm as you and I) we observed them go about their daily routine.  My host softly and eloquently answered my numerous questions. Some of them even before I had asked them, which definitely affirmed in my mind her insight and wisdom in the position ALLAH had afforded and favoured her with- her dawah work for the past nine years in this ladies correctional facility.

She shared with me the ways and workings of life at this particular prison, “Alhamdulillah during Ramadaan we are given the opportunity to do a little more for these ladies and ONLY during Ramadaan are certain privileges allowed.  This prison is perhaps the only one in this region that allocates a room for the Muslim ladies (approximately forty women of which twenty something share the room), to spend Ramadaan together.  Making it easier for the ladies to make the most of their Ramadaan, with regards to their fasting and ‘ibaadah.  However, the rest of the year is decidedly difficult for them as they do not live with other Muslim prisoners.  They are grouped with other prisoners who have been sentenced for a similar misdemeanour or crime.  Forty women share a relatively cramped cell, equipped with only one toilet and two showers.  Everyday between 6am and 3pm, the women are free to pursue certain interests and activities, like studying, attending the taleem halqas, sports etc.  However, between 3pm and 6am of the next morning they are locked up/confined to their cells.”
This was the very first moment when I felt my chest constrict, ALLAHUakbar! The realities of prison life seem difficult to fathom- 
forty women (very much like you and I dear reader) confined to a cell with only one toilet, for fifteen hours!

As my mind absorbed and digested all that I heard and observed and as we continued making our way to the room the women were residing in during Ramadaan, we saw the very clean and sterile kitchen.  During Ramadaan the ladies were allowed to prepare their Ramadaan meal of iftaar using the groceries which had been organised for them by these dedicated dawah workers. 

When, in passing, the sister showed us a door leading to the section for those prisoners who were allowed to keep their babies with them until they reached the age of two years, again I felt an internal pressure as my chest tightened with the thought of the reality and difficulty of that separation.  Every aspect of life in prison, including the circumstances leading to it, paints a very bleak, dark and hopeless picture, doesn’t it?  And then when we entered the “Radiant Ramadaan Room” as I have come to term it in my mind, the bleak, dark and hopeless picture was erased from the canvas of my mind, almost as if it had never existed, Subhanallah! For in the depth of the perceived darkness of a prison, I was witness to light- the light of Faith exuding Love+Hope+Peace.  

Glory be to ALLAH, Our Kind and Merciful Creator, whose Name reverberates throughout the world… bringing with it the fragrance of Love; the glimmer of Hope and the desire for Peace. And this is exactly what hit me, like a gale force of immeasurable magnitude; when I entered the room where these twenty something muslim women were spending their Ramadaan.  

From my very first step into that “Radiant Ramadaan Room”, by ALLAH, I felt a force of light engulf me; I saw my beautiful muslim mothers and sisters dressed in the hijaab, some reading Quran, some making zikrullah and others preparing for the taalim halaqah. And to my amazement I heard the radio- would you believe it, Radio Islam.
Subhanallah! Truly my beloved Nabi Muhammad SAW desperate desire for the message of Islam to reach every home, “baked and unbaked”, appears to be a magnificent reality, for in the darkness of the confined prison, there permeates the light of Islam.

When I sat with them in the taleem halaqah, I observed Muslim mothers and sisters- like you and I, of every race-black, white, coloured and Indian; Muslim mothers and sisters-like you and I, some born Muslim, others reverts; Muslim mothers and sisters-like you and I, being sentenced for different crimes from fraud to murder; Muslim mothers and sisters-like you and I, victims of life circumstances; Muslim mothers and sisters-like you and I, desperate for Allah’s Love, Allah’s Mercy, Allah’s Forgiveness. And from the onset of our programme tears flowed freely from these Muslim mothers and sisters, tears that felt as if it were being squeezed out of their hearts and once again I felt my chest constrict.  When I had completed my talk, they had questions to ask and messages to share.  If by now, dear reader, you have not yet felt a lump in your throat, I am positive that you will feel one forming after reading the rest of the article.

As I recall and write their words the tears flow down my cheeks as it so passionately flowed down theirs, Sister Ayesha from Somalia shared so beautifully, “Jazakallah ya ukhti, and Jazakallah to our wonderful Apa, you help us so much, you have done so much for us, that here in the prison we can hear Quran and we can still have our Islam.”

Young sister Amaal Bohumelo, who has reverted recently, wanted to know, “How do I make my mother accept and understand why I am a Muslim now? That I didn’t accept Islam because I wanted to hurt her and that I still love her and my family even though I am a Muslim.”

Sister Anisa, a white revert, shared how as a Muslim she had learnt to forgive those who had hurt her so badly that she couldn’t imagine ever forgiving them.

Sister Zurina’s words were such a plea from her heart, “My whole life was centred on protecting my children, but today I can’ protect them.  And I wonder if my duas for them will be accepted.  When I phoned my mother the first Sunday in Ramadaan, and she told me that my son had prayed his fajr salaah in the masjid, I had hope that maybe my duas were accepted.”

All the sisters had made such an indelible impression on me but I must admit that it was the words of Sister Shanaaz, that echoed over and over in my mind.  Punctuated by heartwrenching tears, she said, “I grew up in a good home and I had the best of Islamic and secular education.  I am a CA-chartered accountant. I used to even pray my salaah regularly, but I didn’t know my Allah.  I was leading a very materialistic life and I thought all my difficulties would be solved with more money and I made that my aim.  When the reality of my wrong action and its consequences hit me, I didn’t know what to expect in prison. I was weary and afraid.  But when I came here I learnt that ‘you can never be too good to be bad’ and when I met my fellow sisters in here I realised ‘you can never be too bad to be good.’ We have a sort of muslim sisterhood in here, we know that Allah loves us and make effort together towards Him. My sisters, ALLAH wants to see what we are worth. I make shukr to Allah that He put me here so that I could find Him, so that I could know Him and my husband has also found ALLAH through this, he now performs his five salaah and goes out in jamaat.  All of my family have been very supportive.”

Two and a half hours later and it felt like a lifetime of knowing and sharing with these ladies…  I recall meeting Sister Linda, a mature white lady who has not yet accepted Islam but comes every week for the taalim halaqah and has even kept all her fasts so far; I recall the outburst of excitement when I entered the room and my host placed the package of Muslim Women Magazines that Khudeja so generously donated  (Subhanallah! Khudeja you would have truly been overwhelmed); I recall the moment of genuine gratitude the ladies expressed to the two wonderful women (whose sincerity is so apparent and who also wish not to be named), who have made these weekly dawah and teaching visits such an integral part of their lives for the past nine and six years respectively; I recall the ladies sharing how they take turns in performing the five salaah including taraweeh so that those who are reverts can learn…May our Kind ALLAH grant them acceptance, steadfastness and nearness to Him,ameen.   

As I sit here unable to conclude (and really I should), I sit in awe of ALLAH: how He loves His creation, never wanting to forsake them; how He uses courageous women to inspire towards Al Islam, towards peace, hope and love.
Finally, I wish to share that the picture that now remains vividly etched in my mind is not bleak, dark and hopeless.  For even though the reality of life in prison will always be considered a test and a difficulty, I have been to the “Radiant Ramadaan Room” and I have witnessed the light that Imaan dissipates. 

Shedding with its light… a fragrance of love; a glimmer of hope and the desire for peace, SubhanALLAH!

…..My article extracted from the Muslim Woman Magazine…the September 2010 edition

Message From Gaza

“Last night was the worst night by far.
Please read and help share this with the world. Words you wouldn’t usually read.
By Khalid Elmezaini from Gaza.

“Last night was the worst night by far. Around 1 am the bombing was so intense that we decided to huddle together as a family in the living room away from the windows. Then a huge blast, so powerful it felt like the building was going to collapse. We hear screaming from the floor above us. We rush to the door, there is a woman carrying her 3 children running downstairs, “they hit our apartment” she screamed repeatedly. Was this a roof knock? Was her apartment really hit? Myself and 2 more ran upstairs to see, all we can see is smoke in her apartment, the bedrooms where her children sleep have smashed walls, a missile has hit her home. We couldn’t take chances. With the cloths on our backs we all ran downstairs to the ground floor. Do we leave? Where do we go? There is no place to go. And if we make a run for it they will target us, they always target moving groups. We decided that the 23 families should stay on the ground floor near the stairs. The children were crying, so were their mothers, it was chaotic. Then an even bigger bomb, louder than the first, the whole building shook, rubble flying onto our building, windows and glass smashing everywhere. We took our shahada, we were convinced this is our last night, that we wouldn’t make it. The bombing was intense, everywhere, north, south, east, west, it was random, every minute non-stop, we were just waiting our turn, like cattle for slaughter. 4 hours passed, non-stop shelling, then we can hear them coming, by their sound, the F16 fighter jets have arrived. By the time we made that realization, an explosion so powerful dropped us to the ground, rubble and smoke flew in, then quickly another closer one, then a third one a little further. All we could see are huge fire balls in the sky, light almost turning around corners. Moments later, a funny smell, we ran for any wet cloth, water on shirt and over the face will do. Time has passed, it was quiet for an hour. Was it over? The sun is now up, and we were happy to see it. We knew the zionist don’t hit as hard in day light as they do at night, where the cameras can’t capture the full scale of the destruction. We decided to go back to the lower level apartments, we were tired, we huddled and slept close to the door when deep down we knew that just like there is no where safe in Gaza, no place in our house is safer than any other.
Every house was hit, every building, every mosque, they have no targets, they do not know what they are doing.
This isn’t a fictional story, this is how we spent last night. And if the zionist think that this will scare us into submission, they need to think again, we only submit to Allah, we will never give up, we live and die with dignity and honour.”

MESSAGE FROM GAZA…LET US INCREASE OUR ISTHIGFAAR AND DUA AND ASK MASAJID TO CONTINUE WITH QUNOOT E NAAZILAH”

Let His Love lead the way, in the blessings & obedience of ALLAH endeavour to live you day…RSB

Sweet Sorrow…A Sister’s Sojourn to Syria (Part 1)

How does a wish transform into an opportunity? How does a desire apparate into reality? Undoubtedly, it is only through ALLAH, from ALLAH and always with ALLAH…SubhanALLAH!
I recall that moment a few months ago, when a certain video did the rounds on our social media; a video that perturbed our minds and transmitted waves of worry into our already grieving hearts over the condition of our Syrian brothers, sisters and children. It was the video from Jordan wherein we witnessed Christian missionaries comforting and caring for our Muslim sisters. The extent of their humanatarian services were surprising indeed…for they were seen compassionately washing our mothers’ and sisters’ feet. As we South African sisters painfully shared and discussed the ramifications such missionary work could lead to and as we yearned to be closer and better abled to assist our Syrian sisters and while many sisters expressed a burning desire to go to Syria, one woman’s sincere and humble dua reached the court of ALLAH and ALLAH accepted her, her family and group’s desperate dua to sojourn to Syria, in the service of their humanity.

In a quiet town, a few hours from Kwa Zulu Natal, ‘in the middle of nowhere’, a sister’s ache for Syria amplified within her grieving heart after watching the aforementioned worrying video. She found solace on her Musalla, as our beloved Nabi SAW has so beautifully urged us to. She raised her hands in desperate dua, offering herself to ALLAH, in service of humanity, in service of His creation, in service to Syria. And so began the sojourn of Sister Salma Vawda- a mother of two, an author of children’s Islamic books and a former writer for The Muslim Woman Magazine together with her husband, brothers- one of whom is Moulana Abdool Rashid Goga, sister in law, nephew and close friends to the sacred yet savaged land of Shaam.

Interviewing Salma was a deeply humbling and inspiring opportunity, for throughout she constantly conveyed hers, and the group she represented, sentiments, “ALLAH’s Hand was in everything. Everything only transpired through His Will.” With the ‘Syria My Responsibility’ campaign being close to our hearts, I bid you to traverse with me through the experiences and emotions of a sister’s sojourn to Syria…

“After watching that video and turning to ALLAH with this desperate desire to somehow assist our sisters in Syria, I spoke to my brother Moulana Abdool Rashid and shared with him that many ladies whom I interacted with on the social media were making plans to go and I too anxiously wanted to be a part of that contingent. His first concern was the absence of mahrams. And he encouragingly reminded me, “In doing a good deed, if we defy ALLAH’s laws, how can we expect ALLAH’s blessings in what we are doing.” Noting my desperation to go, he offered to assist and lead the mission. These words were the initial source of strength for our entire trip, being in the awareness of ALLAH and constantly seeking His Assistance, Alhumdulillah. Backed by Moulana’s knowledge, language skills and strength our group was formed.

While I have always been passionate about Palestine, it seemed the timing was never right. Yet this time everything seemed to be in place, through the Mercy of ALLAH.
After mashura Moulana contacted brother Yacoob Vahed of the Al Imdaad Foundation and he put us in contact with sister Nalan Dal and Sister Khatija from the iHH in Istanbul, Turkey. With language posing a problem for us, we requested an interpreter and together with a letter of motivation, stating our intended mission, the iHH offered to host us and drew up a program for our time there.

From the onset Sister Nalan told us that the refugee camps in Turkey were government controlled and we won’t be allowed in. She also stressed that as females, considering the risks and dangers, we wouldn’t be allowed into Syria and the refugee camps there. So we knew we would only visit hospitals and orphanages.  We know now that there are different types of refugees. Refugees who left Syria and are in Turkey, living in Turkey’s, government controlled camps. Some living in parks and on beachfronts in make shift tents. And some who are better off, living in rented houses in bordering towns like Reyhanli and Kilis. iHH took us to meet with refugees they are assisting. On the other hand you have the refugees who left their homes and are living in camps within Syria close to the borders, in hope of being safer.  Here is where the real need lies, yet you can’t do much here. Due to the staggering numbers in these camps, fifteen thousand- little children, women and men. The iHH workers advised us not to hand out anything should we go to the refugee camps, as we would then have literally hundreds of people behind us. You must understand they left home with only what they could carry, families of six or seven members, now getting two meals a day from the NGO’s controlling specific camps. To witness the reality of their situation of so many people living in one camp, food, water, sanitation…it is heartbreaking.
And so this life-altering, paradigm-shifting experience commenced…

Day 1: Wed 28/8/2013
Due to our late arival on Tuesday from Istanbul our day started at 11h30. We were hosted by the humanitarian relief agency in Turkey called iHH. Our interpreter was a young lady called Nehal and we were taken from Hatay to the border town of Reyhanli. There we were briefed at the iHH office by a senior member, brother Shuaib who had traversed almost 1200km of Syria by foot. He explained the atrocities of Syrian government committed against ordinary civilians, which had lead to the uprising. After reading Zohr we had a Turkish lunch at a restaurant that was across the road from a building that had been bombed just three months ago by Assad regime. Our first visit was to a massive warehouse and bread making facility owned by iHH. Here we saw tons of boxes filled with food items donated from all parts of the world including Islamic Relief and Al Imdaad.  Members of our group symbolically carried the 50kg bags of flour from the truck and assisted with the packing of the bread that was going to be distributed to the Syrians. Whilst at this place a ten year old boy by the name of Malik came to meet us. He had only one leg and was walking with crutches. This was the first moment, in a line of many to come, that brought tears to our eyes, as Malik shared his story and thereafter sang a protest song against the regime.

We then visited a make shift hospital with small rooms of two beds. Ya ALLAH, all the patients were paralysed from the hip down. Our men met patients with gun shot wounds to the neck and spine that lead to their paralysis. This was our first contact with resistance fighters . All of them aged between the ages of eighteen and thirty; all of whom had lost their brothers and fathers and were now injured and left alone; looked after by a distant relative or friend. A young man by the name of Farhad shared with us how his two elder brothers were killed and that he was expecting the same, SubhanALLAH. He called us ‘Mother’ and invited us to go back with him to meet his mother, who cooked daily for many people. When we showed the sign of peace with two fingers they said to us “No” and showed us rather only one finger, the shahada finger. Their Imaan and conviction was moving. At this hospital we encountered two ladies, whose houses were bombed and as the roof caved in, it completely severed the one’s both legs from the knee down and the other’s one hand and one leg. It was intensely heart breaking knowing that we could do absolutely nothing for them.

Day 2 : 29/8/2013
The men were taken into Syria and we were on our own, accompanied by Nehaal and Saleem.Our day started with a visit to another make- shift ‘hospice’. A family had given up the front portion of their home to accommodate ladies seeking medical attention at Reyhanli hospitals. Two rooms filled with beds and storage units for their meagre belongings. We encountered one lady paralyzed from the waist down laying quietly in her bed, another making dhikr and an elderly blind mother who was also cripple. It was something about her hug that pulled at our heart strings. Her daughter shared that they would be returning to their home in Hamaa the next day. We just wondered at the difficulty of their journey that lay ahead. For us it was heart-warming to see how selfless people were in offering their homes to fellow muslims.

Thereafter we went to a school for Syrian refugee children, sponsored by Syrians who have migrated to Canada. With a student role of five hundred children between the ages of six and fifteen, those children who were taking part in a graduation Jalsa the next day were only present at the school. The stage was set and the kids were busy practicing while we met with the Principal. She was a pleasant, warm and motherly figure and enlightened us about the school and we offered gifts the eighty students who would complete their Quraan. We were given a preview of the items of their jalsah, distributed the burkahs and topees we had brought with us, as well some items our own pre school children had made for the Syrian kids. It was moments of happiness and light-heartedness. We then visited a Hifdh madressa. While most of the students had already been dismissed for the day, we were given a tour where they shared that some children completed hifdh within three months and the ‘slower kids within’ eight months, SubhanALLAH. The facility caters for five times salaah, taraweeh and adult classes, with students up to fifty yrs old coming to learn how to read Quraan. We met with three young teachers in complete hijab, all of whom are haafidhaas. After discussing the beauty of the Quran and requesting their duas for our huffadh back home, they earnestly invited us to make iftaar with them as it was Thursday and they would be hosting a mass iftaar at the Madressa. We said we would make mashura with the men and left them with the hope of our return.
Left for day two was a visit to an orphanage, that took care of twenty five children. The administrator shared with us that the landlord had recently doubled the rent. So the day before they had to send twenty children away to other orphanages. But still at the home was a widow and her three children. She had just come in three days before. She had lost her husband eight months ago. When we went into the house she was all smiles and welcomed us, offering Syrian coffee and wanting to know all about us, opposed to us asking the questions. Seeing her attempt at being happy, none of us felt like asking her sad and difficult questions. We just offered the support of the South African people. When it was time for salaah, we found there was no water and for the first time in my life, I made wudhu with half a glass of water that I had carried.  As we were leaving her she shared with us that she was just waiting for confirmation for another orphanage to take them in. On parting she sobbed, causing us to do the same. Her parting dua and words to us was ‘Illal liqaa fil Jannah- Till we meet again in Jannah’, which broke us also. Yet, it was the best dua we could receive, Alhumdulillah.”

Sister Salma’s experiences in the few days she spent in Turkey and Syria could chronicle an entire journal, leave alone a single article. So not to lose the essence of her experience and message, we urge you to read part two of Sweet Sorrow…A Sister’s Sojourn to Syria, as we learn of many others she and her group had encountered and their ‘petrifying’ moments of actually entering into the war-zone that sacred Shaam has now become.

Extracted from my article in the SA based print mag- The Muslim Woman Magazine, 2013 Edition 9

With intent on aspiring and inspiring towards the ‎​L♥√ع and Pleasure of ALLAH subhanawa’ta’ala,
Rehana Shah-Bulbulia, the author of ‘Falling In Love With Muhammad SAW’, blogs here
And tweets as @muslimahatpeace

“Isbiru Wasawbiru Warawbitu”

A Thousand screams pierce the night
Peaceful slumber comes to beautiful Shaam no more
Not many homes remain alight
Everything and everyone are now casualties of war

The Muslim Ummah’s Heart
Cries rivers and oceans of tears…
Rivers & oceans to match the very blood…
Which flows through As Shaam because of Butcher Assad’s spears

Syria has been transformed into a human torture cage
Bomb and Bulldoze
Kill and Butcher
Massacre and Ruin
Assad’s offensive dares to eliminate Muslims of every age

But the Truth and Reality asserted from up High
Is that the Syrians stand not in isolation
Assuredly this atrocity includes you & I
For we the Muslim Ummah are One Body, One Nation

With Al-Quraan, we rouse, we embolden, we reassure
O Muslims we WILL seize courage
O Muslims we WILL endure
“Isbiru Wasawbiru Warawbitu’

A Thousand hands are raised
As a thousand tears fall
“O Allah grant us patience and victory
Instill courage in us all
We beg and beseech Thee, again and again
For ONLY You are our Protector, our Helping Friend”

Say nothing an afflict us
Except as Allah Willed
We have the greatest weapon
Our Imaan has been instilled

“Endure, be patient and guard the borders”
The Muslim world will one day…be free Syria
Palestine, Afghanistan, and Kashmir
The reward will guaranteed be…victory
With Al Quraan we rouse, we embolden, we reassure
O Muslims we WILL seize courage
O Muslims we WILL endure
“Isbiru Wasawbiru Warawbitu”

Where is the Love?

Sitting in the car on a crazy weekday morning amidst the chaotic bumper- to- bumper traffic, I observe the very unique driving methods of our local taxi drivers here in SA and some hand signals that would probably never be published in our Learners Driving Manuals. I listen to the eight o clock news on the radio. “ Eighty year old grandmother raped as the rape statistics increase; the butchering of innocent civilians in Syria continue and another bomb pierces the silence in Gaza, ” I switch off the radio as I feel my breakfast threaten to abandon me and try to change the direction of my thoughts in an attempt to wash down these feelings and… my breakfast.

A question plagues my mind and, I would like to put this question forward to you, from one human being to another, ” Where is the love?” The reverberation of this question plagues me like a deadly disease and so I write in hope, hope that if I convey my feelings and message to you, the effects of this mind numbing “disease” could be put into remission even if it cannot be immediately cured. Everyday, every minute, every second, somewhere and in some way evil is being perpetrated. Evils of such depth that I think even the devil himself, must cringe when he hears about it. And who are the perpetrators of this evil, human beings like you and I. But what is even more tragic on a personal and individual level is the fact that our emotions and reactions as emotional and caring human beings have become largely aneasthized. Perhaps due to the inundation on a daily basis of such grotesque crimes filtering our lives via the media. Not to mention the magnetic morbid fascination with the news in following these stories. Perhaps we are searching to find the ‘whys’behind these crimes or some level of understanding regarding how a human being like you and I can perpertrate an act worse than an animal. For even animals mostly kill for food or survival.

By writing this article, I hope to boost a resurgence of reality and its effects into both you and I; a resurgence that could propel us to act and not just merely react.

Come journey with me through the memories of our world’s history. I take you back to a night in the horrendous days of the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. A night where a family: a mother, father and young children awaited their doom. I want you to listen within your mind, listen to the silence of their fear. I want you to listen to the attack of the Serb soldiers as they barraged their way into this family’s home. I want you to listen to the mother’s screams of anguish as they shoot her husband; as they batter her kids to death. I want you listen to the silent tears that cascade down her cheeks as they systematically rape her and her daughters and take her last dignity away. Years later, atrocities of such nature continue to plague human existence; where every conceivable human right has been infringed upon… so I ask you Where is the Love?

Come journey with me through the sanctity of what is known as the family institute. An institute which is supposed to be based on love, support and caring. I want you to see with your mind’s eye the situations that bring about the need for organizations like Childline, Helpline, Nisaa- organizations for abused women and children. I want you to envision a little innocent girl cowering in a corner. Her every heartbeat is a moment of fear. Did she do anything today to warrant her father’s physical abuse? Will he in his drunken stupor only hit her and her mother today or will he perhaps be angrier than usual and rape them too?

Come journey with me through the recent documented increase in femicide-where a woman’s intimate partner, the one who professes to love her, viciously snatches away her right to live… by murdering her. Ironically Valentines’ Day here in South Africa shared frightening statistics of more than four women, besides model Reeva Steenkamp, being murdered by their intimate partners.
Women murdered on the commercialised day of love, by the very men they loved. And so I reiterate, Where is the Love?

The horror of my words are not based on a fictitious riveting novel or movie… they are someone’s reality. Has the anaesthetic worn off? Has these victims’ pain become real to us? In DESPERATION, In INCREDUILITY, I ask you again Where is the Love?

As our morbid love-hate relationship with these tragic news stories continue and as we voice and vent our anger, dismay and disgust, what can we do to change the sad route mankind has mapped for ourselves? Is there any hope of us human beings rediscovering our humanity?
I cannot believe that the ‘best of creation.’ while liable to err, aren’t also capable of reason, logic and compassion.

So the thread of hope still lingers in my mind that we are indeed humane beings created by a Benevolent Almighty and if we encourage one another, alert one another to react in a befitting manner to this mortifying reality and finally pray for the Almighty’s Help and Guidance, the love can be found. I leave you to reflect on love and the beautiful words of a woman of our time who shared her love and humanity with the world, Mother Theresa. She is quoted to have said: “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered and it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does NOT delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It ALWAYS protects; ALWAYS trusts; ALWAYS hopes and ALWAYS perseveres.”

Here’s hoping that South Africa as a nation and the world as a fraternity… with a past and present carrying enough baggage to keep us hating, rediscovers our humanity sometime in the near future and finds the reality of where the love really is.

Here’s me Rehana Shah Bulbulia, aka @muslimahatpeace, praying for WorldPeace.

Two Sides to Every Story… The Other Side-The Radio Islam MTN Awards

All Praises truly belong to Our Kind, Our Merciful, Our Benevolent ALLAH. And complete and perfect peace be upon our most beautiful example Nabi Muhammad SAW. I write this in a state of sadness at how easily lies, ‘false-truths’, gossip and slander disperses…yet it continues to remain a challenge for the truth to emerge.

I had written the following letter, not in response yet in a hope to enlighten and inform, that there are always two sides to every story. Before passing judgement and taking on the role of prosecutor, judge and executor perhaps it would be in our ‘spiritual’ interest to hear the other side. The newspaper, for their personal reasons, did not print the letter that follows, ALLAH knows best.

Yet I feel compelled by the deep desire to vindicate the people, Ulema and organisation that have, without a doubt, brought a love for learning this beautiful deen of Islam into thousands of homes across the globe; for being the good companion of hundreds of lonely aged people. Do any of us have the right to judge others? Or better yet, even judge ourselves? Have we been given basharat- the glad tidings of Jannah? I say to you my fellow Muslim…even if the sins of another are true and you have witnessed it with your own eyes and yet when you share it with others…according to our beloved Nabi SAW it is still gossip, a heinous sin. And if it is false, an untruth, a lie…it is then slander, an even worse sin.

The following letter had been penned and submitted the very week of the first slanderous article and sadly, worse slander has followed. I desire not to fall into their catergory of dishonouring another Muslim, it is enough that they know who they are and so does ALLAH.

As our beloved Nabi SAW once said, while lovingly gazing at Baitullah, “How honoured you are! How sacred you are! But more honoured, more sacred in the eyes of ALLAH, is the name, possessions, life and honour of a Muslim.” (Muntakhab)
This letter and post is for the Pleasure of ALLAH; to honour those who endeavour to honour ALLAH’s name and deen, who with their weaknesses and imperfections perservere to give da’wah to Muslim and non-Muslim, in the example of Nabi Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam, who was mercy not just for the Muslims, but for the entire of humanity, for ALL of mankind.
Herewith follows the letter…

I would firstly like to begin by praising the Almighty and officially congratulating Radio Islam and all its role players in what attests to be an outstanding achievement, even the competition agreed… eight awards at the MTN Radio Awards!

However, I write this letter in response to a disturbing piece of sensationalism and somewhat ‘artistic’ journalism. Even though our respected scholar Moulana Ebrahim Bham tackled this, quite successfully too, over the airwaves of Radio Islam, I feel that perhaps ‘a print for a print’ is also required. My aim is only to inform and enlighten, as ‘should’ be the role of media.

Without mentioning the name of the newspaper, who employs such ‘artistic’ journalism, meaning that no actual interview transpired with ANY of the key players or in fact any role players regarding the MTN Awards; conveniently ‘downloading’ the pictures from the internet while portraying the winners to be in fact posing for the newspaper article; and the ‘not so subtle’ mockery and tainting of Radio Islam’s name and achievements.

Community of Lenasia and readers of all community newspapers, pamphlets, newsletters and ‘punchaat columns’, sadly some papers only fall into the latter. Nevertheless, do think you can handle hearing the other side? It might not make for juicy gossip, but it is something that’s going to cause your mouths to drop in awe and admiration rather than tssk tssking in shock…

Living as Muslims in an intergrated society, we take example from our greatest role model, our beloved Nabi Muhammad PBUH, who taught us the manner of living in an intergrated environment through the written agreement pledged between the Muslims, Jews and Christians upon emigrating to Madinah: To respect one another’s religion, goods and property; to live in harmony and assist one another in times of war.
When the Messenger of ALLAH PBUH conquered Makkah, the Muslims at that time were only 12 000 in number. While a few years later, when he delivered his final sermon in Arafaat, they were a phenomenal figure of 124 000. (Hayatus Sahabah) Yet there were no wars fought after the conquest of Makkah; none of these people, in fact none of any people, had accepted Islam at the point of a sword. They accepted Islam by viewing the exemplary character of the Muslims; by witnessing the embodiment of true Islam and by interacting with Muslims on a day to day basis.

Thus living, working and, yes playing, in the backyard of the Rainbow Nation, we cannot remove ourselves from arenas that allow us as Muslims, as Indians, and yes even as Lenasians to showcase what we are capable of and of course, the beauty of our principles and what we believe in.

So when Radio Islam was nominated and, through consultation and prayer, decided to attend a type of function that none of the role players usually frequent, it was with a definite purpose in mind…to be representatives of what they believe in and what they aspire to achieve…not for just mere worldly accolades and awards BUT for the propogation of the beautiful deen of Islam.
In no way apologetic, they conformed to their beliefs…men and women dressed in Sunnah (the Islamic Garb), such that even their liason, a non Muslim lady adorned herself too with an abaya and scarf, out of respect and in honouring her guests; men and women who seated themselves at separate tables; men who removed themselves from activities of the night as they prayed their salaah openly in a foyer in congregation at the venue; where out of respect of the minority group present, that is the Muslims, no alcohol was served at their tables and their food was catered and verified by a Muslim Halaal Certified body…
Needless to say the famous personalities of radio throughout South Africa were impressed not only by Radio Islam’s achievements but by their interaction with them too. Actually, I too am impressed and well, so should you Lenasians, Indians and Muslims be.

For in a world where people cower in corners, afraid to present their beliefs for fear of ridicule or branding, here in sunny ‘ol SA, under the umbrella of the very diverse and Rainbow Nation we have the opportunity to strive to be the very best we can be…in our different religions, diverse communities and chosen professions and vocations.

This is JUST… the other side of the story!

Stay Informed, Enlightened and in Peace!
Rehana Shah-Bulbulia
Proudly Muslim & Proudly South African
Free-Lance Journalist, Writer at The Muslim Woman Magazine, Motivational Speaker, Religious Teacher, Author of the book Falling In Love With Muhammad SAW, and of course, wife of the MTN- Award winner of ‘On Air-Packaging’
21 April 2012 /29 Jamaadul Ulaa 1433

After all is said and done, it is only ALLAH’s judgement of us that counts and we hope and pray for His Mercy. To those who continue to slander innocent Muslims, as these ‘great sinners’ will have to meet ALLAH, so will you and I; to those who have been slandered, draw solace and take example from Abu Bakr As Siddeeq RA, who when informed of slander and gossip against him, responded sincerely, “If what they say of me is true, May ALLAH forgive me and if what they say of me is false may ALLAH forgive them”…..And truly ALLAH Knows best!