As Salaamu 'alaykum and peace to all,
Friday Reflection: Secret Twenty from Life is an Open Secret Ramadan Special: Motivational and Inspirational Story about Seeking Night of Power during Ramadan
My Friday's gift (September 11th 2009) to all my readers and friends out there is Secret 20 (from 25 secrets of Ramadan) from my latest book: Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special. Please share this story with your family and friends, and as usual, kindly share them in its entirety!
Salaams and Love always,
Sis Zabrina
Secret Twenty
~ Four things come not back. The spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity ~ Arabian Proverb
Just the other day, I was driving when I suddenly saw many cars on the street carrying a common flag with stickers bearing different numbers on both sides of their doors and car hoods.
Ahhh… treasure hunters!
I smiled as I observed how the drivers were driving slowly but in full alert nevertheless, and their passengers had their eyes switching between the streets in front of them and the maps they had in their hands. Occasionally, I saw hands flying everywhere, eagerly waving and fingers pointing to certain directions as if giving instructions to their drivers.
It was clear that they are all on a very important 'mission' here.
They reminded me of what Bill Clinton used to say,
Keep your eyes on the prize and don't turn back.
Yes, don't turn back if we want to get the prize, right? Be focused and stay focused on the goal that we have.
And never turn back or quit.
Now, these treasure hunters sure looked like they took heed of President Clinton's advice. They were charging like Spanish Fighting Bulls that have matadors waving their cloths in front of them!
And that was why I have always loved looking at these participants of treasure hunt competitions.
By just using the clues provided, they enthusiastically scout the designated areas with the final goal of getting their hands on that one priceless ultimate reward that is being offered by the organizers.
Suddenly it hit me.
Today, at this very moment, I have now technically just entered the exciting once a year event of The Greatest Treasure Hunt myself!
Yeay!!
And this is no normal event my friends, as it has been going on every single year without fail for the past 1429 years!
What? 1429 years?
Yup, you better believe it. 1429 years!
And the entry to this treasure hunt is automatic too. As long as we hold a passport that has the Muslim Seal of Shahadah stamped on it, we are in!
Great, huh?
And you know something more exciting?
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) participated in this hunt too. Yes, he did; just like you and me.
Now, are you curious to know what this event is?
Here is a clue from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who once told us,
"Seek the Night of Power on the last ten nights of Ramadan… “ (Al-Bukhari)
A-ha! The answers are all over the place in just this one hadith, alhamdulillah!
If I were to be assigned to make a poster to announce this event, I think this is what I will put on the poster-
Join Us at The 1429th Annual Greatest Treasure Hunt Event of the Year!
When : Month of Ramadan
Time : Night time only
Duration : Last Ten Nights
Instruction : Search for the Night of Power
Wow, the Night of Power? What a name, you agree?
Power…. a Night full of Power… I must admit, the name sure has a very nice ummpphh to it!
Then, I got curious- why was the night named Night of Power? What is so powerful about that one particular night?
It was then when I remembered a verse from The Organiser of the event, Allah the Almighty answering my curiosity,
Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power. And what will convey to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. In it the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord's authority with every ordinance. It is Peace – until the coming of the dawn. (Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)
Subhan Allah… this is very interesting indeed, you agree?
I started imagining how so much fun it would be to start searching for this Night of Power that is better than one thousand months? A night when the angels and Spirits, the citizens of the Kingdom in the sky, would come down all the way from up there and transcend to us on this earth bringing with them all ordinance and decree? And how there will be peace on earth from the moment they descend until the break of dawn…
Ya Allah… How exciting is that?
Let us ask ourselves this question- what is one thousand months?
Is that not equal to 83.4 years? Isn't that a huge, enormous and gigantic bargain for us?
You know my friends, reality check is this- many, if not most of us may not even live to that golden age of 80, you agree? Allahu 'alam.
Of course, I know some interpretations say that it doesn't mean one thousand months. But, the point is that it means that it is a very long period of time.
When and where can we find one is equal to eighty three, you agree my brothers and sisters? I cannot even start to imagine the extent of reward and virtue this night promises.
But does that matter? Does it matter if I, a servant of Allah, am unable to comprehend in totality His greatness?
What I need to know is simply that my Lord is giving away 'something miraculous' on this particular night; the gift that is ultra special.
And I, Zabrina, hereby confess that I truly love special unique gifts. Yup, I definitely do!
So, I know in my heart that I have to look for ways on how to seek for this ultra special gift.
And do you want to know what did our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did during this magnificent event to ensure that he (peace be upon him) too, received this ultra special gift?
Lady Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that,
When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) would begin, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Subhan Allah… he (peace be upon him), the beloved of Allah, the one who has been guaranteed His paradise would pray and keep awake all night, deprived himself from sleep to increase his chances in getting the blessings of the Night of Power!
That ought to make me, this soul who at times by accident and at times is fully aware that she crosses the line of guidance given by her Lord; and whose days and nights are intertwined with activities that would create both her Lord’s love and anger; be more steadfast during my Tarawih Prayers and Late Night Prayers during this Ramadan, right?
Insha Allah….
I asked myself this question- if the beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), strived so hard, denying himself sleep by keeping awake all night, stood in Prayers and devotion at night hoping to get Allah's pardon, hoping to be forgiven by Allah when he never did anything wrong at all as he is perfect; hoping to receive the blessings brought down during this very night, I asked myself- who am I? Who am I - this insignificant speck of a dust, who commits too many acts of wrongs and sins; who is constantly battling between desires and wants of this world verses what Allah has instructed her to do; who keeps on falling into the same hole over and over again despite knowing all along it is right there!Who at times listens to His enemy instead of Him- who am I, to think I should be on my thick comfortable cozy mattress sleeping soundly, under my warm cotton silk blanket dozing off deeply? Who am I to think that I don't need to be awake to read His words and recite His remembrance? Who am I to think that I don't need to stand on my two feet to pray to Him, to seek for His forgiveness, to beg for His mercy, to cry for all the sins I did, to plead for His love, to appeal for entrance to His Paradise, to ask from Him to fulfill all my needs, to talk to Him my Lord, my Creator, my Helper, my Beloved?
Who do I think I am, really… Who?
Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah… Ya Allah… Ya Allah… Ya Allah….
Please forgive me, forgive me please….
As I thought about myself, and the things I have done in my life, I know that this year, I must work on it. This year I must search harder and this year I must make every effort to find this one credibly honorable night.
I must!
What about you my friends? Do we want to continue to be on the sideline, just looking and observing at the participants of this yearly event of The Greatest Treasure Hunt even though we know of its reward; even if we know we have sins like the foams of sea; or are we going jump right into it, be a player and look for this great Night, the Night of Power, the Night when all our sins will be forgiven, the night when His blessings, His mercy and His love are being sprayed and showered all over the earth until the crack of dawn….
Which one are we going to be? Which one are you going to be? And most important question for me is- which one am I going to be?
Which one?
---------------
Secret 20: The Night of Power taken from one of the 25 stories in Sis Zabrina's book: Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special. Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special carries 25 motivational and inspirational stories specifically tailored for the month of Ramadan when Muslims worldwide are required to observe the act of fasting from dawn until sunset for a period of one month. This special month brings along with it many benefits and blessings that are sometimes forgotten. Thus, the stories in this book serve as a reminder as to what Ramadan is truly about. All stories are written in a simple, chatty, humorous and witty way that promises to touch your heart, tease your mind, soothe your soul and make you reflect along the way.
If you are curious to know what Ramadan is about, this is the book for you.
If you want to know why Ramadan is important, your curiosity stops here.
If you feel you have lost the essence of Ramadan, this book shall remind you.
If you think fasting is only about not eating and drinking, you need to read this book.
If you dream of becoming a better person this Ramadan, flip the pages of this book.
If you wish to improve spiritually this Ramadan, find them all here within the pages.
If you are seeking for the blessings of Ramadan, this book has secrets to share.
If someone you love needs a reminder of Ramadan, send this book to him or her as a gift.
Life is an Open Secret. Always has been. Always will be.
A must-have motivational and inspirational book for you and the ones you love!
Copyright (c) 2009 Sis Zabrina
Sis Zabrina also known as Zabrina A. Bakar, is a Life Storyteller, motivational and inspirational writer and speaker; and author and creator of National Bestseller Islamic Motivational Book Life Open Secret book series http://wwww.LifeOpenSecret.com. She maintains an active blog at http://www.WisdomThruWords.blogspot.com. and social networking platform a Web 2.0 at http://www.LifeStoryteller.ning.com
Copyright © Sis Zabrina 2009
Sis Zabrina
Life Storyteller
Author of Life is an Open Secret Islamic Motivational Book Series:
Life is an Open Secret- Think about It
Life is an Open Secret- You, Me and We
Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special
Hidup Bukan Rahsia http://www.lifeopensecret.com
-18 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary life experiences-
Now blogging at http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
~ Life Storyteller Blog: Your Source for Islamic Motivational and Inspirational Stories~
Tags : motivational stories, islamic stories, inspirational stories, spiritual stories, storyteller, muslim, islam, life is an open secret, motivational book, motivational quotes, short stories
Sis Zabrina, also known as Zabrina A. Bakar, is a Life Storyteller, motivational and inspirational writer and speaker; and author of Islamic motivational book series Life is an Open Secret http://www.lifeopensecret.com She maintains an active blog at http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
and her personal Social Networking Platform http://www.LifeStoryteller.ning.com
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