The Reality of Our Existence

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahhi wabarakatuh

Apa khabar everyone? I hope semua sihat, Alhamdulillah. We're all busy, kan? Pasal kan exam... inda papa, insyaAllah, soon it will be over. Sabar saja tia dulu. And we're really sorry for making you come and visit this page (if ada orang visit lah ah!:P) but nada jua update... Oh well, another sabar factor to add on! :D

So, with nothing specific in mind to write about here, I thought I'd share something useful, insyaAllah. Beneficial lah at least, yes?

"The diversions of this world are often so enticing that those who are enjoying them do not see life for what it really is. That is why it is so rare, and actually nice when it happens, to see a ruler or king (or a person, in our case) who perceives the reality of life.

Al-Asma'o reported that the ruler Ar-Rashid once ordered for many delicacies to be prepared for him. He wanted to have a nice party for himself, so he had a hall decorated for him, and he invited the famous poet Abul-'Atahiyyah.

When the party had begun, Ar-Rashid looked at Abul-'Atahiyyah and said, "Describe the pleasures of the world that we are enjoying." It was often the case that kings and rulers requested poets to compose impromptu verses for them. Abul-'Atahiyyah began thus:

Live in comfort as long as you please,

Under the shades of high and wonderful castles.

"Wonderful, wonderful. Please continue," said Ar-Rashid.

Abul-'Atahiyyah continued:

All that you desired is brought to you

Quickly, both in the morning and in the evening.

"Wonderful, wonderful," chimed in Ar-Rashid. "Please continue."

He resumed thus:

Then when the souls are parting,

Through the breast with a croaking sound,

It is then that one comes to know:

I have lived nothing but a life of deception.

Ar-Rashid began to weep profusely, and some of those who are present looked reproachfully at Abul-'Atahiyyah and said, "The Leader of the Believers has invited you here to make him happy, yet all that you have succeeded in doing is making him sad."

"Leave him alone," said Ar-Rashid with a sigh. "He simply noticed that we were in a state of blindness, and disliked adding to it even more blindness." "

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More of something like this next time? InsyaAllah.

Salam :)

Ref: Muhammad Abduh Mughawiri