Presence.

Presence. Something that I've been thinking a lot about recently in the way that we as Muslims dismiss the presence of Allah swt and the Imam of our time, Imam Mahdi (AS). I attended a lecture recently where the speaker made some inappropriate references or made taboo jokes in order to appeal to our generation, mentioning no names as a lot of speakers have started to direct messages towards us in this way unfortunately. I say unfortunately because how have we come to this stage where we can't simply listen to a lecture on our religion that is straight to the point without some unnecessary added humour? Can't we just listen and take knowledge? Is Islam really a topic that we should take so lightly? There is laughter in the audience whilst I find myself gathering these thoughts, no signs of positive emotion on my face, looking blankly at the speaker. Maybe this makes me boring, maybe this simply makes me a little more aware of the presence that is not physical like the rest of the bodies that fill the room.

I simply feel like some public speakers wouldn't give such talks if Allah swt was physically present, if our Imam was physically present. But that's just the thing, they are present. In some of my posts I fear that I'm coming across as rude or dismissive of the different opinions that you guys might have, but I don't mean to insult anybody with my posts and I definitely don't mean to portray myself as the perfect Muslim as each thing that I say is a reminder to myself first and foremost, may Allah forgive me if what I say is wrong. So I will continue to say that our Lord and our Imam are always present. They are present when you are lay in bed at prayer time thinking "I can't be bothered getting up yet, I'll pray a little later".  They are present when you're spending too much time watching the wrong things on TV or Netflix. They are present when your conversation is one which they would be disgusted by if you thought that they could 'physically' see/witness it. When you get dressed in the morning, choosing fashion over or without modesty, They are present. When you do wake for Fajr, but can't be bothered to present yourself well in front of your Lord so you pray lazily in pyjamas instead, They are present. They are present when you're gathered with your friends at Maghrib time in a shisha lounge or simply a restaurant that is serving alcohol amongst your food. They are present at weddings, where you only turn the music off when the Sheikh enters the room. They are present at events when you only slip your hijab loosely over your hair when the Sheikh enters the room. Do you think that Allah only sees through the eyes of the Sheikh? Ya Allah. Don't you see, feel, know that there is never a moment that Allah swt is not observing your modesty, your behaviour?

Another talk that I attended a while ago actually spoke of the presence of our Imam, and I appreciate that I may simply come across as dull for not appreciating a good joke, but I wasn't very much humoured when people said that if Imam Mahdi (AS) physically entered the room at that moment, they would take a selfie. They would go over and say hi and shake his hand. Little things like this, are we really in any position where we have the confidence, the nerve to face our Imam? Have we perfected ourselves enough in the eyes of our Creator to even look our Imam in the eye? Is our knowledge even close to being sufficient to converse with our Imam, to answer his questions? I know that I definitely couldn't say 'yes' to any of those questions and I pray that I am always increasing in closeness to Allah swt by building myself in the way that he wishes, despite the kind of world that I am growing up in, that we are all growing up in.

Allah has chosen you to be on this path, don't ever take advantage by forgetting that. The Qur'an states;

 So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.   

"فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ"

[2:152]

And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.

"وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ "

[59:19]

I hope that this post benefits you and makes you think of your actions, if you can't sincerely say "Bismillah" before doing something, hold back from doing it. You will be rewarded and Allah swt will remember you. And if you are guilty of any of the above then remember that verily, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful; the best amongst the sinners are those who repent. 

Eltemase Dua

 اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ