Soul searching

We have another 12 days to complete our fastings before we celebrate the Ed Mubarak. Besides Nuzul Quran, the last 10 days of the fasting months are the climax of Ramadhan as one of the nights will be "Lailatul Qadr".

I love to quote Dr. Uthman El Muhammady who said that Ramadhan is the "Spiritual Spring" or in bahasa " Musim Bebunga Kerohanian".

I also wish to share the story of "Beautiful Bowl, Sweet Honey and a Strand of Hair"
as to inspire us to search for our soul and help to replenish it with purity and sincerity . Hopefully, our good intentions will be reflected through our speeches and actions. Anyway, please mind my translation and I seek forgiveness in advance incase there is any mistake.

One day, Fatimah ( Rasulullah's daughter) served sweet honey in a beautiful bowl to Rasulullah SAW and his four close friends, Abu Bakar, Umar, Uthman and Ali. A strand of hair was accidentaly dropped in the bowl. Rasulullah SAW proposed to his friends to make comparison based on the beautiful bowl, sweet honey and a strand of hair. So, each of them came up with the comparisons.

Abu Bakar : Faith is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, those who are faithfuls are sweeter than the sweet honey and to keep the faith is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Umar : Government is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, the Ruler is sweeter than the sweet honey and to govern with fair and justice is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Uthman : Knowledge is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, knowledge seekers are sweeter than the sweet honey and to practice the knowledge is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Ali : Guest is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, welcoming the guest is sweeter than the sweet honey and to satisfy the guest through out the stay is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Fatimah : Muslimah is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, Muslimah with hijab and purdah is sweeter than the sweet honey, to get the real Muslimah is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Rasulullah SAW : Those who gain guidance from Allah is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, those who practice the good deeds is sweeter than the sweet honey and sincerity in the practice is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Jibrail : To construct and strenghten the pillars of religion is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, to surrender oneself, wealth and time towards the religion is sweeter than the sweet honey and to sustain it till death is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.

Allah SWT : Paradise is more beautiful than the beautiful bowl, bliss in Paradise is sweeter than the sweet honey and the pathway to the Paradise is far more difficult than to cross over a strand of hair.