Old Audio and Print Material
on www.IslamicSolutions.Com
Dr. Pasha
(Bringing Islam to the World One Concept at a Time!
Taking the Qur'an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It --
And which One Does Not?)
Going Back 10 or 15 Years
I did listen to a few minutes of some old audio on www.IslamicSolutions.Com here and there.
Going back 10 or 15 years.
Jaw-dropping stuff, to say the least, even if I have to say it myself. But that is exactly how I felt, numb with disbelief.
Not because it is my work and I was the one who did it. But because of sheer wonder and disbelief that such totally amazing stuff could have come out of the mouth of someone so totally flawed, sinful and ignorant as myself.
The ideas were gripping and the approach just as it should or could be. Almost meticulously crafted, even though everything was spontaneous and unscripted and extempore – and raw and first draft, most of it anyway.
Part of Never-Ending Wonders of The Qur’an
But it is all part of the never-ending wonders of the Qur’an. For, the concepts as well as the language were derived directly from that eternal flame: the Qur’an.
These were snatches – no more than a few minutes – from old, old Qur’an programs that I was listening to.
Allah says he will guard and protect the Qur’an himself – and maybe this is all part of that.
Innaa Nahnu Nazzalnaz Zikra wa Innaa Lahu La-Haafizoon.
Paraphrase:
“We sent down the Dhikr – Qur’an – and we shall guard,
protect and preserve it.”
And that means not only the text and language of the Qur’an, but all things of any significance, utility or importance associated with the Qur’an.
And that will be in every age and every place.
Commissioning Sinners to Do God’s Work
But someone like myself having anything to do with it? How unlikely is that?
Not too unlikely at all – if you really come to think of it.
It was a long time ago that a particular Hadith of Sayyidina Muhammad, Sallallahu Alahi wa Sallam, began to haunt me – like many other A-haadeeth. The general sense of that particular Hadith is this:
“Allah will commission even a 'sinner’ to come forward and help this Deen.”
I dare not cite the exact Arabic expression here, it is just too strong, stark and scary. I would rather stay with the rough English expression “sinner” for the time being.
I am grateful to Allah that whatever talent or skill he gave me, he decided to use it in the service of his Deen – and his Khalq.
Idol Worshippers to Serve the Ka’abah
Just like the early 20th Century poet-philosopher Iqbal, one of the greatest poets and thinkers this world has ever known in any language or culture, once said;
Paasbaan Mil Gayay Ka’abay Ko Sanam Khaanay Say.
“The story of Islam is that God finds people even from idol-infested temples to come forward and guard, protect, defend and serve his house, the Kaa’ba, at Makkah.”
I expect neither reward, nor compensation nor commendation – from any source. I do it because I am made to do it. And it is almost as if I have no role in it.
I see the tracks glistening in the bright moonlight. I hear the sound and I watch the train rumble by. I am not the driver. I am not even a passenger on that train. Just a man standing on the side and watching this incredible machine roll by.
But yet, paradoxically, I have something to do with it – I don’t fully understand what or how. But I know I am.
A Slave on a Plantation
It is all so completely compulsive, involuntary and on autopilot – from beginning to end. Just like a slave chugging along on his chores, in a vast plantation, on his bent back – slavishly – from before sunrise till late after sunset.
And slaves do what they do, not because they have a choice or a say in the matter, but for the simple reason that they must, on pain of the most severe and unfailing punishment for failure. And certainly not because there is a paycheck and a medal waiting for them at the end of the day.
Slaves do get food and shelter and a few rags to cover their nakedness. And Allah knows, I have been given more than my share of all three. My food is abundant; my shelter vast; and my clothes more than I can get to routinely.
Audio and Print Material on www.IslamicSolutions.Com
So, I did what I did – with all that audio and print material, much of it on www.IslamicSolutions.Com but a good bit of it also lost to all us courtesy “Good Muslims” everywhere, God Bless Them! – because I was made to do it. No different from whatever little I continue to do now.
And, of course, I am referring to “good things” – if any. And these Qur’an Programs and some of those writings were good things, Alhamdulillah. May Allah make them so and may he bless them with his look of approval and acceptance.
Because any and all things bad I did in the past or am doing now, presently, they all come from me. I alone am responsible for them.
Ghalib: Greatest Poet Ever?
As Ghalib once put it:
I think this is how it goes:
Na Sitaa-ish Ki Tamannaa, Na Silay Ki Parvah,
Gar Nahin Hain Mayray Ash-'aar Main Ma’anay Nah Sahee.
Paraphrase:
“I have no expectations of any approval or reward.
If my poems have no meaning in them so be it.”
Ghalib was one of the greatest poets of all time in any language or culture. And he wrote in two languages, Farsi and Urdu, equally masterfully – in mid-19th Century.
But contrary to what Ghalib said, in a bout of petulance no doubt, I say, Alhamdulillah, Allah seems to have put both some form and some content in my old Qur’an Programs – and in my writings – that may be of some use to people – to Allah’s Khalq – which my ancestors have commanded me to serve, and which I was always terrified figuring out how to do it. Not the least because I did not see myself capable of doing it in any shape or form.
So, yes, these old audio tapes – we always avoided video as much as we could and most sedulously so – do appear useful by the Grace of God Almighty.
Here Is What We Must Do Now
And here is what I want done now:
Those who come to associate with us in our work, Working for Allah that is, by which we generally mean Taking the Qur’an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It – and Which One Does Not, these people – every single one of them, male as well as female, has a primary and definitive obligation to go through all our audio tapes – and also go through all our written material – much of it on www.IslamicSolutions.Com.
Going through this audio and print literature systematically, and with a clean heart and pure motivation, will, Inshallah, God Willing, give them the grounding in both the theory and methodology of this work – Islam if you will, which is what we really mean when we say Working for Allah – without which it is doubtful they will ever really become part of this work in any true and meaningful sense and at any level.
So, that is my first request, hope and expectation.
And Then There Is This Du’a
The second is a most heartfelt Du’a for those who spearheaded this effort at any level and in any form – the effort to organize these programs; to tape and record them; to document them; to edit and review them; to put them on www.IslamicSolutions.Com; and to continue to monitor and update them and keep them fresh and available and handy.
My Du’a is may the most merciful God grant them – men, women and children – every blessing of this world and the next world. They are truly the salt of this earth. They are picked by God’s Grace to do God’s Work in these difficult times.
They are God’s Friends – such as they are – for, they have chosen God over all else they could have, and everybody else has.
Good News for Those Working for Allah
And I give them the Good News that the Qur’an has for them:
Laa Khawufun 'Alaihim wa Laa Hum Yahzanoon.
“Neither fear nor grief shall come to them.”
But I do also add a piece of advice to them – no call it a Warning really:
Beware of the Devil – Shaitan. Both Ins (human) and Jinn. For, the Devil will target them and attack them in every way and from every side that he can, just like the Qur’an says he will.
Because they have joined the effort to Take the Qur’an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It.
And there is not a thing that the Devil – Shaitan – hates and fears more than the Qur’an – and those associated with it and working for it.
END
