Sunday, March 12, 2006

Car Park Ticket

We all have had that moment in life when we had to 'pop' into the town centre to do a little bit of shopping. It's one of those things in life that you just have to do.

For some people, strolling down into the town centre and doing shopping is like a fun activity or shopping; for me it's something I try and prolong for as long as possible... But there are some things that just have to be done.

Being Sunday, I had a little time on my hand and built up the courage to drive to the town centre and park in the Haymarket Theatre. There is a flat rate for parking at the Haymarket Theatre on Sundays and therefore people prefer parking there as they can shop for longer without having to worry about returning to their car before a specific time.

While I was on my way into the car park there was another car leaving; the car stopped and opened its window to offer me his parking ticket as it was valid for the entire day. "I won't be needing this ticket anymore, you can use it if you please" was what he said. I thought for a moment and refused...

POINT

Sometimes we forget that Islam is a way of Life, a religion that is present in every act and action we do; a religion that categorises every deed and deems it either acceptable or unacceptable in the eyes of Allah.

It was tempting to take that ticket and park my car in the Haymarket; there seemed to be nothing wrong it doing so; he offered me the ticket, willingly, and I could have made use for it.

But... I remembered an incident of Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi:

As far as I recall, there was a disciple of Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf that came to His Khankah to visit him with his children. The disciple, through some talk, mentioned to Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali that he had paid only half price for his child’s ticket in order to get to the Khankah because despite being an adult he only looked like a child and therefore was able to pass off as a child at the ticket counter.

After hearing this Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi became perplexed and disturbed and told his disciple that he had not understood the basis and principles of Islam and therefore he was not even fit for Khilaafah (being his disciple).

It is an incident that should make us realise the true meaning of Islam; an incident that should make us realise that Islam is much more than just offering charity, praying Salaah and making supplications. It was upon the above act that the disciple lost his Khilaafah.

May Allah forgive all of our sins; those we commit knowingly and unknowingly; those we perform in the light of the day or the darkness of the night; those committed openly or in hiding and may He give us the true understand of our Religion, Islam. Aameen.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ameen to the duahs
Jazakallah for sharing your experience and that event with Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi with us.

Hope your health is doing much better than previously now.

Request for duas
Wasalam

Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaikum,

Hmmm, lemme just sort all that out in my head....

I understand now. Little things in life that we don't realise can make a lot of difference to our status in the eyes of Allah. Now i know that it's best to do everything after one has thought twice about it. Thinking from the Islamic pint of view and the non-islamic point of view.

I understand now.

Jazakumullah Khair for posting that, may Allah Ta'ala elevate your status. Ameen.

Dua me yaad

Wassalam

mujahidah an nafs said...

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmtullah,

Jazakallah khair. Mashallah a great post with very importanat lessns to learn. May Allah Ta'ala bles u with the inlcination to do only that which pleases Him. Ameen.

Duas

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

Zain said...

As Salaamu Alaykum,

Brother Ahmed

Jazakallah for your comments. Alhumdulillah health is much better although I do have pains, they're not as bad as before.

Please do make Dua for me. Insha Allah will call you later on.

Sister XmuslimahX

Jazakallah for the comment and Ameen to the Duas.

May Allah give us all the ability to think before taken any actions, and may He give us the understanding of what is truly correct and incorrect. Aameen.

Sister Umm Zahra

Jazakallah for the comments and Ameen to the Duas. It is truly amazing when we realise that the things we think are minor really hold weight in the sight of Allah.

It is as a poet has said:
"Do not think less of minor sins, for indeed mountains are formed from pebbles"

May Allah give us the inclination to stay away from the minor sins as well as the major sins. Aameen.

Please do rememeber me in your Duas also.

Sister Mujahidah an Nafs

Jazakallah for the comments and Aameen to the Duas. May Allah Ta'ala bless us all with the inclination to that which pleases Him. Aameen.

I remember reading on a few blogs that your health was not too well, I pray that Allah grants you a quick recovery and He makes this period of illness a means of forgiveness. May He grant you with the gift of Sabr and Shukr not only is this period of illness but throughout your life. Aameen.

Please remember me in your Duas.

Wasalaam

Zain said...

As Salaamu Alaykum brotherhood,

Jazakallah for dropping by. Please remember me in your Duas.

Wasalaam