FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call
it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual
inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing
being that was initially a seed
possessing the potential of becoming a
full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the
universe around it and then grows into a
tree. The same is true with spirituality,
the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an
integral part of, the very nature of, every
human being. To realize this spirituality,
Man must derive spiritual food from the
universe around him. A tree converts
carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons
from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a
spiritual personality.
—Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
CALL OF THE JUDGEMENT DAY
THE duas (supplications) that the Prophet has taught us are not some mysterious magical formulae which one utters to seek favours from God. These duas in reality are an expression of true submission to God. They are a result of deep contemplation and God-realization. They are a portrayal of the feelings of those who seek to live a God-oriented life; who derive spiritual lessons from all events and for whom the Hereafter is the ultimate goal.
Every evening is an illustration of the scenario after the first call of the Day of Judgement.
According to the Quran and Hadith, when the first clarion call of the Day of Judgement is sounded, all of mankind will fall unconscious. Following this, the second call will be a wake-up call when all mankind will gather in an assembly before the presence of God.
For a true believer, every evening is a likeness of the first call of the Day of Judgement. Every evening we witness the weary returning to their dwellings. The birds and the beasts also return to their homes. The sun returns to the West from its eastern position. All creatures big and small return to their destinations. This same scenario on a much larger scale will be reenacted after the first call of the Day of Judgement. Everything will leave its temporary abode and return to its permanent abode.
Every night, a God-conscious person envisages this scenario of the Day of Judgement. Retiring to bed will appear symbolically as sleeping in one’s grave. The silence of every home at night will appear like the silence of the graveyard. Now, we can understand the following dua of the Prophet:
Oh Lord! We have come to the evening in Your refuge, and we see the morning in Your refuge, and we live with Your Name and we die with Your Name, and we will return unto You. After the night when the new morning dawns it has the likeness of the second call of the Day of Judgement. Every morning people awake from their slumber and start with their worldly pursuits. Some run towards their businesses; some are hurrying for their family. Others are scurrying after wealth and some running after political power. On the Day of Judgement when mankind is raised from their graves, there will be a similar scenario. Only, all will be running towards the assembly before God.
Every morning is an illustration of the scenario of the second call of the Day of Judgement.
When a believer wakes up in the morning and stands before God in prayer, he feels like he is standing before God with the record of his deeds. He glorifies God, praising Him and asking for His forgiveness. Now, we can understand the following dua of the Prophet: All praise is for God, who gave us life after having taken it from us, unto Him is the resurrection.
In this world, the system of day and night created by God is a lesson for us to understand the Hereafter. Here, every day we witness life and death. In the Hereafter we will live forever. Every evening therefore is an illustration of the scenario after the first call of the Day of Judgement. Every morning is an illustration of the scenario of the second call of the Day of Judgement.