Winter's End

Today marks the last day of Winter in Australia. I'm kind of sad because it's my second favourite season, my favourite being Autumn. In Sydney, Winter is cold but not freezing; there's morning dew but no snow; drizzle but no storms. Two layers of clothing suffices.

Winter is a time of stability. Its cooler temperatures and long nights facilitate introspection. Outside it's cool and and cloudy, inside it's warm and cosy. Thus, unlike Summer, one can stay indoors all day without feeling like one is missing out on something. 

For some, however, Winter is a time of dread. There is an illness called Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately abbreviated as SAD. SAD occurs when people who are otherwise healthy throughout the year develop symptoms of depression during either the winter or the summer. Thus, SAD is also known as 'Winter blues' or 'Summertime blues.' 

In contrast, for Muslims, Winter is a great time of the year. It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: “Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in” (al-Haythami). Moreover, Imam Ahmad relates from the narrations of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, may God be pleased with them, from the Prophet, that he said, “Winter is the springtime of the believer” (Bayhaqi). Winter is like springtime because just as cows fatten up during the Spring by eating lush grass, the believer 'fattens up' during the Winter by lots of worship.

mam Ahmad relates from the narrations of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, that he said, “Winter is the springtime of the believer.” [1] - See more at: http://www.newislamicdirections.com/nid/notes/the_virtues_of_winter#sthash.EW2aPZqF.dpuf

 
With these points in mind, I've compiled a short poem to celebrate Winter.


Winter

Wintery days

You've come and gone

Short days

Long nights

You've sung your song

Of cool breezes

Morning frost

And chilly nights
Hours worshipping in candlelight

Wrapped up in a blanket
On a woollen rug

A dark grey hug

Rainy August days
Time to mend one's ways

To Park or Not to Park?

A Muslim man drives to the local mosque to attend the Jumu’ah* salah. He is running late, looks for parking—nothing around. So he parks the car in a place on the street that is partially blocking a driveway. A minute later the home owner opens the garage to reverse the car out of the driveway as he has an appointment to get to. To his shock he cannot drive the car out onto the road because of the car partially blocking the driveway. Infuriated, he calls the police. The police turn up, and write a parking fine for the vehicle. 

The Muslim man returns to find an infuriated owner and an unimpressed police officer. 

“Sorry, I ...” 

The police officer interrupts: “Don’t apologise, you don’t block other people’s drive ways. Does your God teach you to block people’s drive ways? Doesn’t your god teach you to respect the rights of others?” 

In hindsight, the Muslim man would realise that the amount of time that the home owner was late for his appointment was more critical for that person than the amount of time he was late for the prayer. The man may also come to realise that God will forgive one for missing an appointment with Him, but a person may not forgive one for making him or her miss his or her appointment.

A solution to the problem may be this. The mosque attendees who come early should try to park a little farther from the mosque. This would allow those coming later to find parking spaces near to the mosque. Those coming late would not become frantic in trying to find parking and in desperation park somewhere they shouldn't. Moreover, God surely will reward those coming early who park farther from the mosque for their act of charity. 

The moral of the story is this: respecting the rights of others is just as much a religious act as prayer is.

*Jumu'ah is the Friday Prayer, prayed in congregation after noon.

Poems and Aphorisms 1

Mirrors

We're all mirrors;
what you see is what you've got

Live

Before you judge become sin free

Enter Heaven’s gate thoughtless, carefree

Argue not with fate, all errors are destined

Be content; leave planning aside for the Day we’ll be questioned

Attention seekers beware

Acting for other than God leaves your cupboard bare

It’s a one-way ticket, no way back;

Know God and live life to the max.

Rain

When the Heavens open,

Soothing descends.

Cure for Satanic whispers.

Embrace the melancholy,

Make yourself at home,

Recline in the cool breeze,

As it massages your pain.

“Pitter-patter”

Let the sound be cotton-wool for your worries,

Soak your thoughts in its wet bandages,

Heal the wounds of yesterday.

When the rain stops

Heaven’s blessings descend

In coloured streams,

Reminders of treasure.