Letter from a captive to his wife [6/04/2008]

In the Name of Allah, ar-Rahmaan, ar-Raheem.

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuh,

Firstly, I pray that this letter reaches you, and if it does, I pray that it reaches you in the best of Imaan and Tawheed.

I’m finding it extremely difficult to write this letter, simply because I just don’t know where to start. There’s so much to say in such little time and difficult circumstances, so forgive me if the content of this letter seems all over the place.

I want to start by saying marrying you was definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made in this dunya. And I have enjoyed every day, month and year with you.

A lot has happened in the past year or so, and after I was arrested much of our plans were shattered by the Kuffaar (may Allah curse them). But Allah says, “they plot and plan, but Allah is the best of planners.” Perhaps my arrest was for the best of both of us, and our children – to strengthen our Imaan, return to our Lord in worship (exclusively) and remind us of how insignificant this dunya is.

I am now in a position where I do not know when I will see you next. In fact, there’s a possibility that I may never see you again, if the Kuffaar trump up more charges against me. But do not be disheartened. We accept whatever Allah has decreed and destined for us – the good and the bad of al-Qadr.

What if I were to pass away today, what would you do? You would have to continue with your life. And what about before we were married, weren’t you able to cope with life? You do not need or rely on me. It is Allah we need and rely upon. So whether I’m with you or not, Allah will continue to provide for us and look after our affairs. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.

On the Day of Judgement you will flee from me and your children, as every person on that Day will have enough to worry about for themselves. You need to focus and prepare for this Day more than anything else, because that Day could be tomorrow, next week or in a few months.

Continue studying the Deen, focusing on your Salaat and prayers, distinguishing yourself from the Kuffaar (even by your dress), carrying da’wah, working to establish Allah’s Deen and memorising from the Book of Allah. Always be around good company (practising sisters who are obedient to Allah and to their husbands) and be with the Jamaa’ah that is following the manhaj of the Messenger (SAW) and his Companions. Remember that Shaytaan is with the individual.

One of the best investments we have in this dunya is our children. Teach them to read the Qur’aan, and teach them what is halaal and haraam. You and I (inshallah) will both get the reward for every good deed they do, even after we pass away! And make sure they always eat halaal. Check every label and product. A child that grows up eating haraam will be disobedient and rebellious to Allah, and even to you!

My dear wife, to me you are the most beautiful woman of this dunya today – not just by your looks but also by your character. I have every bit of faith in you. And you have been the best friend, companion, wife and partner. You are a precious jewel that is simply irreplaceable. You are, inshallah, as the Aayah states:

“…Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property, etc.)…”
[EMQ - An-Nisaa - 4:34)

You are upright, honourable, dignified, beautiful and charismatic. You have always been obedient to me, fulfilled my rights and guarded your chastity and my property. And every time I look to your face it brings happiness to my heart. The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:

“The best woman is one who pleases you when you look at her, obeys you when you order her, and guards herself (her chastity) and your wealth in your absence.” (Tabaraani)

I have enjoyed every moment with you – whether by sitting by your side, having a cup of tea, dinner with the family, eating at our favourite restaurants, discussing the da’wah, singing nasheeds, reading Qur’aan, going to talks, or taking the kids to the park. I even used to enjoy winding you up sometimes! I miss everything about you – your smile, character, beauty, friendship, cooking, taste in fashion, and attention to detail.

Please forgive me for every time I have hurt you or been discourteous towards you. There have been many times when you have been under much stress, particularly when the bills have pilled up over many weeks. It really breaks me when I see you distressed, and sometimes I even feel incompetent, because it is my responsibility to pay the bills, do the shopping and make sure you feel safe, secure and tranquil. I sometimes feel I have failed you as your husband, but I’m sure you are aware that the life I lead as a daa’ie is not an ordinary one. You know my priorities are to Allah and His Deen, particularly in this time of crisis, in which the Shariah is not being implemented, we have no Ameer ul-Mu’mineen and Muslim land is under occupation. But I believe because you have been so patient and helped me with my responsibilities, Allah has always helped us find a way out of our difficulties. And whenever I became busy with the dunya and neglected my duty of commanding good and forbidding evil, those were the times when we would argue and face hardship.

The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: “Any woman who dies and her husband is pleased with her will enter Paradise.” (Ahmad)

I want you to know that I am very pleased with you, and I pray that Allah enters you into Jannat ul-Firdaws, inshallah. Not many women are able to attain their husband’s pleasure, but you have done it. You have the golden opportunity to reach the highest level in Jannah. You are married to a man who was imprisoned by the Kuffaar for his Deen, and if you remain steadfast and patient you will earn a great reward in the Akhirah, inshallah.

I have the opportunity to attain shahaadah (if I die behind bars), and I want you to enjoy with me the privileges of the Shaheed, if Allah accepts me. We will have, in Jannah, the house we have always dreamed of. Which prince, king or celebrity today has a palace 60 miles high and wide, that is made of gold bricks and pearls? Which king today has 80,000 servants? Can you imagine that? Never having to cook and clean or do the ironing again. After such a prospect, how could any woman contemplate on abandoning her husband while he is in prison or in jihad? Such a woman can only be described as foolish, to say the least!

The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said that there is no barrier between Allah and the oppressed person who supplicates to Him.

May Allah unite us in Jannah and keep us firm to the haq, and make us die as Muslims. Remember me in your du’aa and look after the amaanah I have entrusted you with.

O Allah destroy all of those who have separated me from my wife and children! O Allah put them in chains of fire and make them walk on their faces on the Day of Resurrection! O Allah divide their families, ruin their lives and give them a slow and painful death!

O Allah destroy the filthy Taaghout who thought he had the right to judge me and steal Your attributes! O Allah make him choke on his own saliva and burn him in Hell.

O Allah, make us submissive to You and obey You in hardship and ease.

“Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqoon.”
[EMQ - Al-Furqan - 25:74]

“Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manaasik (all the rituals), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.”
[EMQ - Al-Baqarah - 2:128]

Essense Of Taqwa

The Essence of Taqwa

Indeed Allah(swt) has honoured the Muslimah by commanding her to wear the khimar and Jilbab. This commandment from Allah(swt) is a protection for her and her honour.

As Allah(swt) says:

"Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful!"

[EMQ - Al-Ahzaab - 33:59]

This commandment from Allah(swt) makes it fard for the Muslimah to cover herself properly and not display her beauty to others, other than her mahram(family) and her husband.

She covers herself because she knows that she must conceal the blessings that Allah(swt) has bestowed on her. This covering is an act of worship a way the Muslimah protects herself.

She wears the niqaab - even though it is not fard for her to wear, she will do it willingly for the Sake of Allah and she knows it pleases her Lord! She conceals herself like a pearl enclosed in an oyster - this gives her the grace and protection she requires for herself and it makes her happy.

Her presence is soft and graceful, she has tranquility in her heart and is happy with what she has. When she is seen she brings happiness to those whom she loves and those who love her because of her character and how she carries herself.

Her speech is gentle, in which she takes thought in her words and actions. Even when she forgets she is humble and realises her mistakes and knows that she is not perfect but she must still try her best to be a good Muslimah.

"Truly, Allaah has vessels from amongst the people of the earth, and the vessels of your Lord are the hearts of his righteous slaves, and the most beloved of them to Him are the softest and most tender ones".

[Recorded in Ibn Majah and At Tabarani]

By covering she earns the love and respect of her husband, who admires and loves her for what she does and that he knows without a doubt that she belongs to him and is only his to look at. He is pleased with her character and knows that he can trust her, he values her and appreciates her as his wife, friend and the mother of his children and has for her a special place in his heart that he occupies with her memories and good deeds.

She seeks to please her husband as she knows by pleasing him, she is pleasing Allah(swt). By obeying him she obeys Allah(swt). She is looked and cared for by her husband like a treasured pearl - who is fragile and sensitive, he holds much value for her because he adores her and she helps him in his struggle and dawah.

A true Muslimah always seeks to earn the pleasure of her Lord, this she does by learning, studying, understanding, having a good circle of friends, she recites the Book of Allah(swt) and she implements it in her daily life, she follows the sunnah and hopes for the best reward for her and her husband from Allah(swt).

She will remind her husband if he errors and will share with him his good times and bad. She eases for him his worries by speaking to him and encouraging him to do voluntary acts. They will both wake up for the night prayer and pray together - this they both know will bring them happiness and tranquility in their marriage.

She fears Allah and she does not talk if there is no need. As she knows that the woman is weak in terms of talking, and gossiping so she keeps herself away from such places and people.

She knows that she must seek the pleasure of Allah(swt) and she will do that in the best way she can. She does not hesitate in making decisions when it come to pleasing Allah(swt) as she knows that it will bring sukoon to her heart.

A Muslimah knows that she must only please Allah(swt) first and no one else.

The Messenger Muhammad(saw) said:

“Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah at the risk of displeasing the people, Allah will take care of him and protect him from them. But whoever seeks the pleasure of the people at the risk of displeasing Allah, Allah will abandon him to the care of people”

[Tirimidhi]

She obeys her husband because Allah asks her to, she makes much effort for her husband in order to please him as she loves him greatly and seeks the blessings in her marriage.
In its 'Ibaadah aspect, marriage is an act pleasing to Allah because it is in accordance with his commandments that husband and wife love each other and help each other to make efforts to continue the human race and rear and nurse their children to become true servants of Allah.

"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect."
[EMQ - Ar-Rum - 30:21]

The Muslimah is the pillar for her Believing husband, she helps him with his work and wishes for him to succeed in the Dunya and Akhirah. She supports him through all the difficulties, the hard times and the times of ease. She reminds him of the Messenger Muhammad(saw) and the companions(ra) their struggle and hardship. She reminds him of the reward that awaits for him and the words of Allah(swt):

“So verily, with every hardship there is relief, Verily, with the hardship there is relief. So when you have finished, then stand up for Allâh’s worship. And to your Lord turn your invocations“.

[EMQ - Ash-Sharh - 94:5-8]

- for the difficulties that he is going through for the sake of Allah(swt) and prays for the best reward from their Lord! Her aim is to attain Paradise for her and her husband so that they can be together in the hereafter too.

Therefore she is indeed a treasured pearl, most deserved to be looked after and given that special security too. She is the pearl and comfort of her family, her husbands eyes and his heart.

Most Importantly that she fears Allah(swt) and therefore she is The Essence of Taqwa.