I am so hurt. I am hurt for all the pain of innocent humans specifically in my country and at all the places in all the world wherever they are killed/suffered for whatever reason and people doing so called themselves proud Muslims.

I do complain when a non muslim does something terrible. But they are not on the right path. They are not Muslims. But when people do the killings and they are Muslim, it hurts me and my really great and peaceful religion really bad.

~*~ Kis duniya ka Islam hai yeh~*~

Mein kehta hoon insaan nahin
jo khud ko muslim kehte hein
jo kufr mitaney nikle hein
per qatl jo deen ko kerte hein

kya aurat, bachey, bazurg, jawan
nahin dikhte aqal ke maron ko
parhen kalma Nabi pyaarey ka
phir maaren Nabi k pyaaron ko

Islam to hai bas utna sa
k jitna inko suit kiya
dil kiya to jhooti shahadat di
dil kiya to sach ko jhoot kiya

Qaran uthaey hathon mein
aur sar pe sharaa ka parcham hai
eemaan dilon mein ho na ho
bandooq ki goli mein dum hai

jab chaha mimbar loot liye
jab chaha nimazi maar diyey
jab chaha school kiyey veeran
jab chaha baagh ujaar diyey

Per yeh to hamesha haq per hein
jisey yeh maren, taaweel buhut
woh muslim ho ya na muslim
hai inkey paas daleel buhut

aur kaun inhen samjhaye ga
in jhootey numberdaaron ko
Eemaan se khali roohon ko
eemaan ke thekedaron ko

Islam hai deen muhabbat ka
jisey nafrat mein rung daala hai
jiss deen ka tum dam bharte ho
uss deen ka naam uchhala hai

nasamjho, qatl-e-aam hai yeh
diya tum ne naam ibadat ka
tum maasoomon ki jaan bhi lo
aur rakho azm shahadat ka?

kya isko samajhna mushkil hai?
kitna seedha qanoon hai yeh.
ik jaan bhi nahaq li tum ne
to kul insaan ka khoon hai yeh

Aur tum ne kisko nahin mara
aur kiska lehaz yahan baqi
jab khoon baha ker sajde kiye
to rahi nimaz kahan baqi

jo lin tum ne, jo leni hein
kya qeemat hai un janon ki
bas Laanat hai tum logon per
hai laanat sab insaanon ki

After knowing that how several small things are having big impact on our lives, I thought that it is important to fulfill my duty to share my knowledge if it can help anybody learn anything better or teach me anything better.

PLEASE DON’T CONSIDER IT AUTHENTIC. I HAVE MOST BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND IS BELOW EVEN THE STUDENT LEVEL. I AM JUST SHARING MY UNDERSTANDING AND IT’S BASIS.

Couple of days ago a very good and pious friend of me mentioned that saying or placing “ya” with anyone except Allah is shirk. He also mentioned that people tend to get in longer and pointless conversations just because they don’t have sufficient knowledge and they don’t realize the real point of discussion.

Point of discussion in this post is Permissibility of saying Ya Muhammad SAW.

Saying Ya Muhammad SAW (I prefer Ya RasulAllah SAW) is jaiz/permissible. It is not obligatory/Fard, wajib or Sunnat but it is permissible and saying so is not shirk as long as you believe that

1. He is not the one having authority to fulfill a need or a prayer. Only Allah SWT is authority.
2. He cannot give you anything or respond to your prayer without Allah’s will.
3. He is not as present as Allah SWT. Allah’s presence is beyond the limits of time and space whereas our Prophet SAW are physically present in his grave and he listens to salutations made upon him anywhere and then there are angels specifically assigned to gather salutations on him from all over the universe and bring it to him ([Hafidhh Ibn-al-Qayyim, Jala-ul-Afhaan page 145, Mishkat chapter on Salaah al Nabi) .

After you understand what's  summarized above, you can continue reading for the evidence of permissibility confirming that it is not shirk. Please note that these references are taken from various blogs and forums and I am thankful for the knowledge shared.

Ref 1.

A small quote from Tuhfat uth-Thaakireen of Imam Shawkani [translation kindly provided by Sidi Rashad]
Fasl salawaat ul-Mansoosaat :

Section on the Prayers which have been ordained (By Allah in the Kitab and the Sunnah)
————-
Salat ud-Durri wal-Haaja
[The Prayer of Need]

Hadith number 253:
Yutawad-daa wa yusalli rakatayn thumma yad’oo [translation]Make wudu, and pray two rakah (cycles) of prayer and then make the following supplication:

Allahumma inni as’aluka, wa atawajjahu ilyaka bi-Nabiyyika Muhammad (saw) Nabiyyi-Rahma, Yaa Muhammad innee atawajjahu bika ilaa rabbiy fee haaajatee hathihi lituqdaa lee, Allahummah fashaf-fi-hu fee

[translation]O Allah! Verily I ask you, and turn to you through your Prophet Muhammad (saw) the Prophet of Mercy, O Muhammad verily I turn towards my Lord through you to my Lord in this need of mine, to fulfill it, O Allah intercede/cure this!

This hadith has been extracted by Tirmidhi, al-Hakim in his Mustadrak and Nisa’I, and it is from the hadith of Uthman bin Hanif may Allah be pleased with him. He said a blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and said: O Messenger of Allah Pray for me! He (saw) said: If you wish I will pray for you, but if you wish, you have been patient and this is better for you. He preferred to be supplicated for. The Messenger (saw) instructed him to make Wudu, and to make a perfect Wudu – Nisai’s narration adds in some of the reports (turuq) to make Wudu and pray two Rakah and then the supplication (as above). It was also extracted by Ibn Majah , and al-Hakim in his mustadrak who stated that it is sahih (authentic) according to the criterion of the two shaykhs (Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari) and his narration had the addition: so he supplicated with this Dua and he arose and was able to see. Tirmidhi said the Hadith is Hasan Sahih (good and authentic) gharib (singular in chain) and we know this narration through this channel only from the Hadith of Abu Jafar and that is not al-Khatmi, these and other Imams have authenticated this narration, Nisa’I is alone in mentioneing the prayer, but Tabarani agreed with him and in mentions the same in some of his reports (turuq) it reports.

In the narration there is dalil (evidence) of the permissibility of Tawassul (taking a means) through the Messenger of Allah (saw) to Allah azza wa-jal with the firm belief (I’tiqad) that the only active agent (Faa’il) is Allah subhanahu wa’ta’aala, for verily He alone is the giver and the preventer, what He wishes, is, and what He does not wish never can be.

—— End Ref 1——–

Please not that it clearly states that “O Muhammad verily I turn towards my Lord through you” . He is not turning towards Prophet SAW but turning to Allah SWT who has actual authority of curing him but he is doing that “through” Prophet SAW.

This reference is normally enough for me and people like me as it comes directly from Prophet SAW. However, I am presenting more below.

Ref 2 (By Shaykh Muhammed Abu Ammar).

The sensitive issue of whether or not Muslims can say the words ‘Ya Rasool Allah’ or ‘Ya Muhammad!’ [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] needs to be clarified, since this issue divides the Muslim community and causes a great deal of friction among the Muslims throughout the world. Basically, there appears to be what we could label as two “schools of thought”. One insists that saying that stating “Ya Rasul Allah is ’shirk’ and that any Muslim proclaiming it in fact goes outside the pale of Islam. Now the other School believes that it is indeed permissible to say so – based on evidences from the Salaf, and the tafsirs of later day scholars. However, they do not insist that one must proclaim this – or that it is even a fard to do so, rather, it is permissible to do so. This is, and always has been, the stance of the Ahl al-Sunna.

Those who believe that it is impermissible to say Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] not only say that there are no evidences to support the permissibility, but also believe that the prefix of Ya, can only be used when that person [who is being called upon] is present, as opposed to being absent. The proclamation of Ya Muhammad, or Ya Rasul Allah [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] is not an innovation [bid'a] that crept in after the first three generations, but contrary to modern misconceptions, was initiated and practiced within these generations, as we shall see, Allah willing. Also, the fact that the later generations did proclaim Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] the death of the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant him peace], did not prevent them in doing so, even though there were great distances between them and Madina.

As we shall aim to demonstrate to the readers in this chapter, Insha’ Allah, that if it is wrong today [or even Kufr and shirk as some of our brothers declare], to proclaim Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] why then, did the Sahaba, Tab’ee in and the later generations of Muslims do so? Would those brothers who oppose the Muslims of saying Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] apply the same criteria to the first generations of this Umma as they do for the believers of today?

The permissibility of saying Ya! For someone who is not physically present.

One of the main arguments used against the believers on this issue, is the one of the impermisibility of using the prefix Ya [Oh!] to someone who is not physically present.

Innovation in the Language

This understanding of the Arabic language [that of not being able to use Ya! For an absent person] is an innovation [bid'a] in Arabic grammar. To the minority holding this view, it appears that this is the only way of accusing the majority of Muslims to be constantly committing an impermissible deed, or even shirk and kufr as others may profess.

We first would like to invite those who hold the above view, to examine one of the most respected classical dictionaries of the Arabic language, the Lasan al Arab of Ibn Manzur (d. 711 hijri). Ibn Manzur states that Ya! can be applied for either a person who is near, or far from the caller.

[Ibn Manzur al-Afriqi, Lasan al-Arab under the word 'Ya']

Since those Muslims who often claim that saying Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] is shirk, I now propose to examine the views of Ibn Taymiyya on this issue. Why? Well, it is mainly because these very brothers have given Ibn Taymiyya the noble title of Shaykh al Islam, and such, use him as an authority, if not, the foremost, in their attempts to practice Islam as the Salaf [pious predecessors] did.

Ibn Taymiyya writes: When someone calls upon someone else, saying Ya! it may be used in one of two ways – physically or by the knowledge of that person. An example of this is when the Messenger of Allah [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] warned the people at the time of Dajjal: “Yaa ‘ibaadillaahi Fathbutu…” (Oh servants of Allah! Keep your feet steadfast…) The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said this to the people who would be present at the time of Dajjal, and who were not yet born.

Another example, is when Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with Him, was walking through the plain of Karbalah, he said ‘Ya Abu ‘Abd Allah Hussayn, Fasbir! [Oh, (my son) Abu 'Abd Allah Hussayn! Be patient (when facing the enemy in this place]‘ This was because ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with Him, was informed by the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), that his son, Hussayn [May Allah be pleased with Him], would be martyred at Karbalah. Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with Him, called Hussayn despite the fact that he was not present with him, and even though Hussayn could not hear his Father ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with Him, but remained in his thoughts.

[Ibn Taymiyya, Minhaj-as-sunna, chapter Aswad-al-Qadeem]

The above example demonstrates, as provided by Ibn Taymiyya, that at least in one way, Ya can be used in the Arabic language to call someone who is not physically present, but who is present in the thoughts of the caller, as when Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with Him, remembered his son and called to him.

Evidence to support the permissibility of saying Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]

Hafidhh ibn al Qayyim writes that the Prophet of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Send salutations on me, but send more salutations on Friday. When you recite the salutation, your voice will reach me wherever you are. Some companions asked, ” even after your death?” The Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “Allah has made it unlawful for the earth to decompose my body”.

[Hafidhh Ibn-al-Qayyim, Jala-ul-Afhaan page 145]

Imam Nasa’i narrates that there are specific angels who visit the earth and whose sole duties are to go to the persons who sends salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), and then to take those salutations to the Prophet Muhammad, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)

[Mishkat chapter on Salaah al Nabi]

The above mentioned Ahadith, indicate that if anyone were to send salutations to the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), he himself would either hear the salutations, or an angel will convey them to him. In both cases, salutations will reach the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace).

The Salaf used to say Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]

Imam Bukhari, Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyya and Qadi Shawkani all posed the same question, that if a person’s foot becomes numb, what should he do? Their recommendations were the same, and included with their answer, the following hadith:

Some time after Rasul Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), had passed away, ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Umar [May Allah be pleased with Him] was in Najd where one day his foot became numb. As a remedy to alleviate the pain, a person said to him. “Remember the one whom you love the most!” Upon hearing this Ibn ‘Umar [May Allah be pleased with Him] said “Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]” and his foot made an immediate recovery from numbness.

[Imam Bukhari, Adab al Mufrad al Kalim al Tayyab; Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyya and Qadi Shawkani, Tuhfah al Dakireen chapter on Khadirat Rijluhu, and also Imam Nawawi's Kitab al Adkar]

Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyya writes, In the same way as ‘Abd Allah ibn Umar’s foot became numb and he remembered the one he loves the most, ‘Abd Allah Ibn Abbas’s foot also became numb. Someone also said to him to remember the one who he loves the most, whereupon ‘Abd Allah Ibn Abbas said Ya! Muhammad [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] and his foot immediately recovered from numbness.

[Hafidhh ibn Taymiyya, Al Kalim al Tayyib chapter on Khadirat Rijluhu]

Qadi Shawkani writes: If one is in trouble or is in distress, he should perform two nawafil rakats and then make a supplication. They should say ”Ya Muhammad!” [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] and Allah most High will grant them what they requested and their problems and troubles should be resolved. The scholars of hadith say that this hadith is authentic and Tirmidhi, Hakim, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and at-Tabarani record it.

[Qadi Shawkani, Tofah al Dhakireen chapter on Salaah al Hajah]

Hafidhh Ibn Kathir, Imam Tabari and Imam Ibn Athir all wrote [that]: During the Khilafa of Abu Bakr as- Siddique, may Allah be pleased with Him, there was a battle against the false Prophet Musaylima [of Najd]. When the battle commenced, the Muslims lost their footing at which point Khalid bin Walid, may Allah be pleased with Him, and the rest of the companions called out “Ya Muhammad!” [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] and proceeded to win the battle.

[Tarikh at Tabari, Tarikh Ibn Kathir and Tarikh Qamil by Imam Tabari, Hafidhh Ibn Kathir and Imam Ibn Athir and Ibn Jarir in Chapter Musaylima Kadhaab]

Hafidhh Ibn Kathir and Imam Tabari both write: During the Khilafah of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with Him, there was a famine outside the city of Madinah. A companion called Bilal bin Harith al Muzni, may Allah be pleased with Him, said to his people “The famine is very severe, [let us] sacrifice a goat”. Apart from a red bone nothing came from the goat [the goat was very thin due to famine and as such, there was no meat on the bones]. Bilal bin Harith, may Allah be pleased with Him, called out “Ya Muhammad!” [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]. The Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), then appeared in the dream of Bilal bin Harith and informed him that there will be rain.

[Tarikh Ibn Kathir and Ibn Jarir chapter of khilafah of 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with Him]

As-Sayyid Mawdudi writes: When Hajaj bin Yusuf had placed tax upon some new Muslims, they left Basra crying with their fuqaha [scholars] and they were all saying, Ya Muhammad!, Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]

[Sayyid Mawdudi, Khilafah wa Malukiyat, page 270 and Tarikh Ibn Athir]

Hafidhh Ibn Kathir and Imam Tabari both write that After the occasion of Karbala, Sayyida Zaynab, May Allah be well pleased with her, [the sister of Hussayn, may Allah be pleased with Him] and her company were taken as prisoners to Syria. When she passed the dead bodies she proclaimed: “Ya Muhammad!” [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] Your Hussayn is drenched in blood without a shroud or a grave, and Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace], your daughters are taken prisoners and your children have been killed

[Ibn Jarir and Tarikh Ibn Kathir in Chapter of Karbala*]

*For those of us, who have forgotten, Karbala took place in Iraq in 60AH. At that time Zaynab may Allah be well pleased with her, said ‘Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]

Imam Waqdi writes: During the khilafah of Abu Bakr Siddiq [may Allah be pleased with Him], there was a battle at Halb. Ka’ab. Abu Bakr [may Allah be pleased with Him] said “Ya Muhammad! Ya! Muhammad, [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] and shouted, “Oh Companions! Stay firm footed!”

['Allama Waqdi, Futoohusham, in the chapter on the Battle of Halb]

Imam Ibn Sa’ad writes: After the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), had passed away, Arwa bint ‘Abd al Muttalib, May Allah be well pleased with her, recited the: “Ya Rasul Allah! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace]. You were our place of hope.”

[Imam Ibn Sa'ad, Tabaqat Ibn Sa'ad, chapter on the Death of the Prophet]

Hafidhh Ibn al Qayyim writes: Muhammad bin ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with Him, relates: ‘I was sitting in the company of Abu Bakr bin Mujahid in Baghdad when Shaykh Shibli came before them. Whereupon Abu Bakr bin Mujahid stood up and hugged Shaykh Shibli, kissed his forehead and sat him by his side.’ Muhammad bin ‘Umar [May Allah be pleased with Him] enquired: “You are the Shaykh [Abu Bakr bin Mujahid] whilst the whole of Baghdad regards Shibli as Majnun [Mad] – why have you treated him with so much respect?” To this, Abu Bakr bin Mujahid replied “I have done nothing strange, I have treated him exactly as I have seen the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), treat him. In my dream I saw the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), kiss Shibli between his two eyes. I asked the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), “Why did you treat Shibli in this way?” to which he, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), replied “I love him because after every Salaah he recites the last verse of Surah Tauba after which he recites Sallal la ho ‘alayka Ya Muhammad! [Peace and blessings from Allah be upon you Oh Muhammad!) Three times.

[Hafidhh Ibn-al-Qayyim, Jala-al-Afham., page 80]

The above mentioned Ahadith clearly illustrate that the Companions and others of the Salaf used to say Ya Muhammad or Ya Rasul Allah! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] when they experienced difficulty, and that the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) did help us either by making supplication for their success or appearing in their dreams to comfort them. Those Companions who were ill and said Ya Rasul Allah [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] found that they would get better; and if they were in a battle which they were losing – they would soon win; and if they were facing a famine – they would soon have rain.

The last quotation from Hafidhh Ibn al-Qayyim shows that the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), loves the one who pronounces ‘Ya Muhammad!’ [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] to a considerable high degree. All these occurances took place many years after the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), passed away. So if it was kufr to say ‘Ya Muhammad!’ [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] today and after the lifetime of the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), the Prophet, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), would not have expressed any love for Shibli. Also, if this is an unreliable narration, why did Ibn al-Qayyim choose to quote it? Was he someone who supported shirk or kufr?

What has been said above supports the fact that it is not kufr or shirk to call out Ya Muhammad, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace).

However, still people will insist, despite of all the above, that to say Ya Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) is shirk, and will deduce to the fact that this is a form of worshipping someone besides Allah. They often put forward the following ayat of the Qur’an:

“And the mosques are only for Allah, so worship none with Allah”
[Surah al Jinn verse 18]

This is just a doubt and a misunderstanding of the grammatical use of the words Tad`u/Yad`u in the Arabic language – since Tad’u and Yad’u have been used in two different contexts in the Qur’an: in the context of worship and also in the context of calling.

In the above verse it has been used in the context of worship and we agree that anyone who worships something besides Allah is a kafir and a mushrik. However, when a Muslim says Ya Rasul Allah! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] he is not worshipping the Messenger of Allah, but merely calling him, as Ibrahim, peace be upon him, called all the people to Hajj [Tafsir Ibn Kathir under Surah Hajj] and as ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with Him, called Sariah. This type of calling is not worship, of which an example is provided in the Qur’an when Allah commanded Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to call the dead birds [Surah Al- Baqara, verse 260]

This should demonstrate that the word ‘call’ is not always used in the context of worship. Whoever says Ya Muhammad! [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] cannot be called either a kafir or mushrik because he is calling with the love of the Prophet Muhammad, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), as was the case when the salaf called upon the Messenger of Allah, (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). His intention is not the intention to worship him.
—— End Ref 2——–

Here I have presented what I know and believe and Allah knows the best.

This happened to me (Abubakar A. Khaliq) directly and it was just the evening before yesterday. Here goes the true incident.

We had worst snow storm in DC metro area (Gaithersburg) on weekend and it continued through Wednesday, till Thursday morning. I went to work on Thursday and while leaving from work my wife called me telling that we don’t have enough milk at home for my 20 months old Kid, Armaghan Ali. I asked my co-worker John to stop at Grocery store before he drops me at my home. When I reached the grocery store, It was almost empty. There was NO MILK OF ANY KIND. I called my wife, telling her that they don’t have milk, and she told me that remaining milk may work for tonight hardly. I could feel in her voice that situation is even worse. But I could not do anything since there was 5 feet snow every where and I had ride to home only, that too because of John. I was HELPLESS, and to a great extent hopeless.

In the way, I thought about an email that my father (M. A. Khaliq) sent me last year. Then I spoke to myself “but that was just an email”. Then I thought, only if that could happen for me today . Yes, I practically had not a fragment of doubt that something will be happening like the one mentioned in that email. So I made up my mind to call Nitin, another fellow and friend, next day and ask him to drop some milk at home around lunch time=.

I came home, I said my wife that let me change then I’ll tell you about my plan for tomorrow’s milk. I was heading to change my dress when door knocked. It was my neighbor, Javed Iqbal, having a gallon of milk and bread at my door telling me that he just thought about bringing those for us because of weather. I was SHOCKED. I couldn’t think or speak of anything and I had tears in my eyes. I thanked him and My heart was thanking Allah, submitting to his powers and greatness.

I don’t know the story of Javed Iqbal that why and how he brought the milk. But really, you should read the below email which was sent to me last year and I considered it just another email.

May Allah keep you all safe.

Here is that email

———————————————————————-

Allah listens to our prayers. A nice story testing FAITH -.

A young man had been to Wednesday Night Class of Quranic Studies.
The Muslim (Scholar) had shared about listening to Allah and obeying
Allah through intuition.
The young man couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Does Allah still speak to
people through intuition?’


After Lessons, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and
they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how
Allah had led them in different ways and that at the end you’ll know it
was Allah
(SWT) Who h as directed you.

It was about ten o’clock when the young man started driving home.
Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, ‘Allah…If you still speak
to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey.’

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest
thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.  He shook his head and said
out loud, ‘Allah is that you?’ He didn’t get a reply and started on
toward home.  But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk came into
his head. ‘Okay, Allah, in case that is you, I will buy the milk.’ It
didn’t seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the
milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, ‘Turn Down that
street.’ This is crazy he thought, and drove on past the intersection.
Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next
intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he
said out loud, ‘Okay, Allah, I will.’

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He
pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi-commercial
area of town. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst of
neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses
looked dark like the people were already in bed.


Again, he sensed something, ‘Go and give the milk to the people in the
house across the street.’ The young man looked at the house. It was
dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep.
He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. ‘Allah,
this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are
going to be mad and I will look stupid.’ Again, he felt like he should
go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, ‘Okay Allah (SWT), if this is you, I will
go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look
like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will
count for something, but if they don’t answer right away, I am out of here.’

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise
inside. A man’s voice yelled out, ‘Who is it? What do you want?’ Then
the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he
just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn’t
seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.
‘What is it?’

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, ‘Here, I brought this to you.’
The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway. Then from down the
hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was
following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears
streaming down his face.  The man began speaking and half crying, ‘We were just praying.
We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn’t
have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking Allah (SWT)
to show me how to get some milk.’

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, ‘I ask him to send an Angel with
some milk.  Are you an Angel?’


The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he
had on him and put in the man’s hand. He turned and walked back toward
his car and the tears were streaming down his face.
He knew that Allah (SWT) still answers prayers.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that Allah (SWT) asks us to do, that
Enable us to understand His words clearer and better than ever.
Please listen, and obey!

———————————————————————-

I thought that maybe this is a good time for me and my family to get together with muslims of USA and know them more. So we decided to go

Saturday morning was heavily clouded and as expected, it started pouring around mid-day. That was the time when we are waiting for our last bus on the route. Talking about the route, not having a car is always a pain. This time, it involved a bus, a train, another train and then another bus.

When we reached SFA at Bowie, it was already raining. Rushing towards entrance, trying to get least effected by rain, we couldn’t help noticing the large number of people already there and still coming. I don’t think I saw this number at Eid Prayer, maybe because there are several small centers catering for prayer and this park was to accomodate all Muslims of DC and Maryland.

Things were really nice irrespective of all the rain coming down from heavens above. We could see muslims from every region of the world. As expected, people talking in Punjabi and Urdu were of more interest for my wife and kid on their first gathering among muslims. There were bazars with bangles, jewelry, and dresses from almost all regions. Then there was an area full of stalls serving all kind of Halal Food. You could any kind of food from region specific items to typical fast foods.

Some of the portions of the park were closed due to rain that was getting heavier every moment. All other areas were full of kids and elders alike. Most of the people were interested in rides involving some kind of free fall or all kinds of weird angles of hanging in the air. For us, Due to Armaghan, we enjoyed every ride bu just watching others and hearing them scream

By the way, did I mention that our rides in parks of Pakistan are more frightening then what they have got here? Seriously, couple of new rides in Joyland are too good to handle

Anyways, we could enjoy the train that circles almost all the park and we enjoyed heavy lunch and after all that we were ready to leave. These 9 hours, 6 in travel and 3 in park, were fun even without enjoying the rides in rain as everyone else was doing.

I really like the concept and efforts of ICNA/ISNA to arrange this kind of events to make muslims of US get closer to each other and know each other better. I hope to see more events like this in future but in less rain

Some filling all the empty space in my apartment and my heart with all the happiness of the world. My sister’s wedding and then my wife and my son coming to US with me, those were probably the happiest days of my life.

Then there were some bringing lot of Fun and Joy, just a weekend but full of fun. Naeem and Family travelling 12 hours from Boston to Gaithersburg, just to have fun, that was really great:) Those 3 days are also a memory, a happy one.

And then, there are humans who leave us. Us, who are dearest to them. Never want to leave, never ready to go, Yet they leave us crying. Nothing they can do, and nothing we can. On Tuesday, they talk to us for hours. On Thursday, my brother calls me telling me that he is no more. All of a sudden, My Father-in-law left us crying in most desperate moments of life. Daughter still not able to believe that he is gone. Just after a month when she left home to come to this foreign land. She is broken and I am trying in vain to save her from tears and sadness. We both, knowing that we will not be able to be their ON TIME, were trying to figure out the fastest way of reaching back. I hate the distance between US and Pakistan and it has never been that far far away. I never felt so helpless in my entire life. Oh Allah, why do humans leave? Why the dearest ones? Why so early and why so suddenly? Why when we are so far away?

Among the ones bringing happiness and the ones being the tears in our eyes, there are humans of another kind. The ones who are there and we don’t feel how important they are.
Ones like my CEO Nandan, Who says me to do just as I want to. He knows that his product is going to suffer if I leave suddenly for Pakistan. But he also understands the gravity of the tragedy and the loss of my family.
My friend and colleague Mukta who, without spending a minute, came with me to my home after hearing the news. Who took care of my child when I managed to break this tragic news to my wife. Arranging the travel agent to facilitate us with the same night travel arrangements and then leaving us at airport in evening, she was everywhere supporting us.

And then there is Nitin. My friend, ex apartment mate and colleague. Saving money for his car, moving to his apartment in 2 weeks, and when he knows about tragedy, he offers me his everything. If it was not him, I could not even think about arranging the tickets for that night. Without waiting for a single word, without saying a single word, offering all of his savings, He proved himself to be more human than many around. I might be able to repay his money in few months but can I ever repay rightfully for what he did?

These two months made me realized many things in a much better details. I know the value of moments. Value of smiles and burden of tears, I’ve never understood better before. I don’t know how much life I have. But being a human, I don’t want to leave like humans do and I don’t want any one else around me to leave me. But I know I have no control over what’s nature and what’s written. But whatever time is left, I want to live it happily, with my Family, my friends and with humans.

Moving in was fun Daily spending hours and hours on craigslist, watching for garage sales, cheap furniture, electronics, etc…. Then emailing all the good offers and then knowing that everything that you want is sold and every time you are the lazy one…, seriously that was fun. I mean you just read a post, you email them and you know that you are few minutes late

Khair, I managed to finalize a dining table some how. Bed I finalized to get from my old place from Office. Crib and beddings for my baby I finalized to buy from my CEO. The worst and the most time consuming was TV. I could not find a single TV which was reasonably cheap and for which i was not late and still it was in a good working condition.

Got keys on Thursday and moved the Baby Furniture and Dining Set on the same day using my CTO’s truck. Actually he was helping me a lot in all the movement. That dining table, damn! it was HEAVY. I had to bring it up from basement alone and uffff, It was a pain. Once it was up, me and Nandan (my CTO and company owner) managed to fit it in the truck with all 6 chairs and a uniquely designed comfort chair. This chair was in for free and I like it too much.

Major part of shifting was due on Saturday. Decided to use a UHaul truck to move the bed and my luggage. My friends were there to help me. I took the electric instruments of Jan from the office to disassemble the bed. Took a toolkit from Hemant to finish it up. Nitin was there to help me disassemble and carry things out. And last, but not the least, was Mukta.

This wonderful girl has a wonderful car. Just like her, her civic is also small(looks so) but has a lot of potential which you don’t imagine in the first look. The way we managed to fit complete bed and two side tables in car, I never expected that before. Mukta advised me not to use the UHaul and try the cars instead. This saved me another 50+ bucks

Last trip included Hemant’s car as well and we could move the luggage with a heavy Futon Mattress.

After just putting it all at apartment, we left for lunch. Then had some other things to do. It was almost 9 PM when we got back. Muks and Nitin looked tired so I let them go and my self had another task in front of me.

I decided to do everything within that night. I assembled the best, then that heavy dining table. Then I had to disassemble the crib to move it in bed room and them assemble it back. After all was done I had dinner and slept (around 2 AM).

Woke up around 6 AM. After prayer, started with unpacking the luggage and arrange all the small things. By 10, I was done with everything. Apartment looked good with some furniture in it. Small, clean, spacious and organized… I like it.

Rest of the day was laundry. Afternoon, the couple with TV and DVD player reached. In 80 bucks, I had 1 mint condition Toshiba 20” FST CRT TV with a mint condition Panasonic DVD Player. Still, no cable.

Now the last thing for now is cable and internet. Comcast guy is coming in Morning

Vision systems group was the company that sponsored my visa. I knew that it was a consulting company and they place people on projects and they earn money from other companies and give a portion of that money as salary to their employee. When I joined them, I had few situations that turned me over and within my second week here, I was thinking about leaving them and making my own way. Among all other things that turned me over, the major factor was lie. They wanted me to modify my resume so that they can sell me better. They wanted me to include fake projects and fake durations. As a result, I had a 6.5 yrs of on resume experience comparing to my actual 4.5 years only.

Why would I do that? I am here to make a healthy yet honest living. Should I start it with a lie? I couldn’t handle it and tried a couple of things on my own. By the kindness and grace of Allah, within a week I was able to get my H1 transferred to an actual software company which hired me for whatever I am. It is true that I am getting a very low salary as compared to many of my friends, but I am happy that its an honest living and there are no lies involved.

And after 3 months, what happens? That company is under investigations for frauds and scams revolving around H1B visas and employments. More details are here: http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0902/090212desmoines.htm 

It is true that I am safe. It is true that this company might be getting what it actually deserves. But is that all? What about 1000s of consultants who work for that company? Are they still on payroll? What about 20s of consultants on bench (without pay)? Are they going to get a project? What about the people working on corp-to-corp contracts? If VSG goes down, are contracts valid? What about people who have their green cards in final stages? what about people who just got an apartment and were planning to bring family? what about people whose families just got their visa approved and were ready to join in?

Who is responsible for all these sufferings? ICE, who never took an action in all those years? VSG, who was doing this for so many years without any fear? Or my friends who were not lucky enough to get out of the bloody traps of the bastard parasites?

I hate these body shoppers and I really pray for all the people who are trapped by them. I disliked VSG when it was about me. Now I hate VSG when I see my friends upset just because of they are kind of trapped in to this situation that still has no clear ending.

lo waqt hua phir gin-ne ka
gaye saal ki khushyon k lamhey
aur gayee ruton k sab aansoo
aur waqt ki kaali aandhi mein
hamen raah dikhatey sab jugnu

aur bhooley kaun sitaron ko
un naye puraney yaaron ko
jo her mushkil mein saath rahey
jo sab rahon per sath chaley

Aur iss ginti mein shamil hein
jo jaag k kaatin raaten sab
jo sajni se kin baaten sab
jo maan ney sunaayee woh lori
aur saari duaen behna ki
aur apney des se doori bhi
jo hijr bani, majboori bhi

ger tumko lagey k yeh sab kuchh
gaye saal k saath na reh jaye
to yeh sab kuchh
tum gin-na apni ungliyon pe
phir muthi ko bund ker lena
aur pehli subha naye saal ki ho
to khol k apni muthi ko
in sab ko bhi sath hi le chalna

Khair, every spell is to break and every time is to end. It took a couple of days but finally I was back to normal.

Coming to what else has been happening around me, The most enjoyable one was my trip to Philadelphia on last weekend. I wanted to blog about that right away but thanx to DELL, I could not Will tell this DELL story later.

Trip to Philly

A very good person and my old friend, old only because of age , invited me to visit him at his home. He is a very nice and very well educated person, definitely no match for an ignorant like me

So, Professor Joseph M. Scandura, who was inviting me to visit him since my first day in US,  finally made me agree on a weekend with him. This was the first time we were meeting so we were both very excited. I left from Gaithersburg at 0630 in morning. Reached chinatown of Philly around 1030. called him and he was there to pick me up in 15 minutes.

Philly is really an historical place but I did not have enough time to visit the places. He took the special route towards home to show me park and museum and whatever possible during that time. When we reached to his home, It was really good. That location and such a good house on top of a hill. It felt really good.

Alice, Joe’s wife, was there to welcome us. She looks much younger than Professor and is a pretty women. She was so like a typical mom worrying about what to cook for me and how was my travel and all that. She must be a very good mom, I can imagine that.

Having a butter cake with blue berries was nice. But the slice was too big to finish. And yes, It was heavy I enjoyed how much was possible for me. Alice told me that she’ll be cooking some veggie special Italian food just for me. I am not very good at trying new cuisines but could not say no to her.

When she left for some shopping at super store, Me an Joe had lot of chit chat. Including his research, world economy and situation of Pakistan, we discussed so many things. I also helped him setting up his scanner.

Then we decided to go out and walk around the streets. When we went out, Professor showed me his bike and I could not help myself from trying it. I was on a  bike after 10/11 years and it felt so good. So we both decided to take a hike on bike. He is very healthy for his age. There were places where I could not climb on bike but it was too easy for him.

It was almost freezing and surroundings were clean and beautiful. I enjoyed that bike ride tooo much. If I didn’t have to come back, I could spend a lot more time biking. It was mostly a hill station kind place in suburbs of Philly so perhaps you can imagine the enjoyment.

When we came back, It was almost 1600. Alice had the lunch kum dinnner ready for us And then the moment came. Toughest for me, trying a new cuisine, I finally choked. I could not eat that, It was too different to handle for me. I felt really embarrassed when I had to say it. She put a lot of effort in it and I kinda wasted it. I am really a bad kid

But then I had tuna fish Fried tuna fish, out of a cane, with black pepper sprinkled on top was tasty for me. So, I managed to kill some of my appetite.

They insisted a lot to make me stay over night but I had some promises with some friends for next day so I had to come back. He dropped me near bus at 1700 and rest of the trip was usual till I reached DC.

Some moments from my weekend at Philadelphia:

Thank you professor for such a good time.

On my way back to Gaithersburg, when I was to wait for RedLine metro at Gallery Place Station at china town DC, I visited the AT&T store there. I had some doubts in mind due to my short stay in US and not enough credit history, but still I asked them if I could get an IPhone 3G. To my surprise, they agreed to give me one

So, finally, I have an IPhone 3G and my own number now. Will think about writing some details about this gadget later.

Yeh apney des ki Eid nahin
yeh begani si lagti hai
aankhon mein andherey hein dil mein
kuchh veerani si lagti hai

na maan ne uthaya aaj subha
na bhai sey larey nahaney per
na behna ne eidi maangi hai
masjid se wapas aaney per

na galey mila koi hamsaya
na phone pe baaten yaaron se
na gosht bana aur na baanta
na miley hein rishtey daron se

jo sajni hum se sajti thi
usey sajney ka ehsaas nahin
hai jaan hamari door buhut
aur jaan ki jaan bhi paas nahin

din eid ka hoga khushyon ka
par unka jo apnon ke sath rahen
hum pardesi kya eid karen
jahan aik se din aur raat rahen

majboor, akeley Eid ke din
haye aag lage majboori ko
jo Eid ke maani badal gayee
Rub door karey iss doori ko