I had some
reservations about joining Al Huda classes. I had met Dr Farhat Hashmi
and respected her but never had the desire to investigate further. Yet,
there was a curiosity about Islam that had developed in me over the past
few years. There was no doubt in my mind that the Holy Quran was the
truth but when faced with questions and allegations about my faith, I
did not have sufficient knowledge to defend what I had grown up to
believe in. My impotency perturbed me. There was a yearning inside me,
a sense of the ticking of valuable time.
So it was
that one day, I found myself walking into a gathering where the
introduction of a new course had already begun by the scholar herself. I
became interested, but was not sure I could commit myself to a two-year
diploma course. But the next day I went again. I kept going every day
till finally a month later, I registered myself.
With the
Quran, Dr Farhat Hashmi taught me how to love Allah and His Creation,
and how to forgive people�s ignorance and their imperfections. No wonder
my relationships improved!
I found
myself seeking inwards, reflecting. I learnt so much about myself: as I
recognized my talents, and identified my own weaknesses and how to
overcome them. This was the meaning of jihad: a genuine struggle
within the self to become better. The many Prophets of past were my
role-models who inspired me to rise above the base.
My thinking
became more positive as I absorbed the strength of tawakkul.
And We will
surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth
and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,Who, when
disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to
Him we will return."
(Al Baqarah, verses 155-156)
I
knew the magic words would make the best come out of the worst
situation.
My
priorities changed too: time was limited and there was a purpose in
everything. Nothing was meaningless.
Who
remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and
give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying],
"Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above
such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
(Al-'Imran, verse 191)
Inane
conversations and pursuits were replaced by classes, revisions and tests
balanced with the house, children and husband. Every minute was
accounted for. The melodious recitation of Quran filled my ears and my
soul so that all other tunes grated in my ears. I no longer had
patience for charity balls and dinner parties, the frivolity of it all
seemed so useless and immature.
The
following verses of the Quran have often been my companion in times of
upset in my life but reading them with more meaning at Al Huda gave a
deeper interpretation. In my opinion, they give a complete agenda for
life which is why I particularly want to share them.
Then We
revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham,
inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with
Allah�.
Invite to
the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with
them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has
strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.
�But if you
are patient - it is better for those who are patient.
And be
patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allah. And
do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they
conspire.
Indeed,
Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.
(An-Nahl, verses 123 � 128)
I have
realized that patience (controlling negative reaction) and Ehsan
(giving more than the due of another) are the weapons with which one can
win any battle. Though an eye for an eye is permitted, the sweetness of
patiently leaving the matter to Allah is often more healing.
Since I
have been a student there, I know that Al Huda is managed by a sincerity
to know the truth.
There shall
be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion.
(Al Baqarah, verse 256)
Therefore,
Al Huda encourages one to gather wisdom from different sources. Our
teachers were constantly changed, and we were encouraged to listen to
lectures, talks and recitations and read books by other scholars. The
main aim was closeness to Allah and no one else.
Dr Farhat
Hashmi taught us never to condemn others. I will always remember the
essence of humanity the learned teacher passed on to us when she said
that while sitting at the Dubai airport she observed people of different
color and faiths, pondering over the fact that they were all His
creation and as such dear to him. If this is not the message of Peace
then what is?
Nobody ever
asked me to wear hijab at Al Huda. This is very contrary to the
impression outsiders have of this institute. Nobody brainwashes you but
by the time you reach the 18thjuzz where the Divine Command
for personal modesty and hijab is mentioned, you find that it is
but natural. You have changed sufficiently within for it to manifest
itself on the outside. The decision does, however, impose great social
responsibility because it is a statement of piety.
As I was
nearing the end of the course, the verses calling to a sincere penitence
from the heart seemed so appropriate. These verses went straight to the
heart:
Say, "O My
servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not
despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed,
it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
But there
is a condition attached to this forgiveness:
And
return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the
punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
And follow
the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord before the
punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive,
(Az
Zumar, verses 53-55)
The Quran
is an invitation to come closer to Allah; it is about learning the
meaning of life. It is the message that has been passed on by Prophets
and saints in all ages, but most did not believe.
And
if only they upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has
been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed
[provision] from above them and from beneath their feet.
(Al-Ma'idah, verse 66)
I would
not trade my two years at Al Huda for any thing. To sum up the special
blessings of that year in a few lines is impossible, but in a nut shell,
I found all that I ever wanted and more. Prostrating before Allah, I
found the peace that I was craving for. It was like coming back home.
The yearning would cease. I felt complete. This is what my Quran gave
me: when its nur (light) touches your life, you cannot live in
darkness any more. It changes everything. When the haze of ignorance or
misinformation is replaced by Truth, the exquisite taste of discovery is
pure ecstasy. Confusion is replaced by true knowledge and you wonder how
insufficient and limited our wisdom has been. How wasted have all those
years of not knowing been, and the difference knowing could have made.