Originally published at SaqibSaab’s blog
Imam Suhaib Webb in his Purification of the Soul set mentions a reflection about the similar California wildfires of September 2005. He says…
(paraphrased)
Remember about two years ago, the San Diego wildfires? How many human beings did it take to control the fire? In fact, what did they finally say on the news? They said, “Actually, we contained it. And our hope is it will just burn out on its own. We can’t stop it.”
Helicopters. Volunteers. Volunteers for the volunteers. More than 12,000 trucks. Millions of gallons of water. And still they couldn’t control it. The Prophet (SAW) said in a sound Hadith:
“The Hellfire is made up of seventy parts; and the fire of this dunya is only one part from the seventy.”
And this includes the sun. So what is the Hellfire, akhi? What is the magnitude of the Hellfire? If it took that many people, and that much equipment, to put out a fire in this dunya, which is only one part of the seventy parts of the fire of the Akhira, then what’s it gonna take to put out the Hellfire?
That’s the question. And if we answer that question, we can become familiar with Allah’s Mercy. Because the Hellfire is real. One Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) said the heat you feel in the time of Dhuhr is part of the heat of the Hellfire itself.
So how to put out the fire of Hell?
Rasulullah (SAW) said in a sound Hadith narrated by Abu Huraya, “The Hellfire will not touch the man who cries from the fear of Allah until the milk goes back into the udder.”
What does this mean O brother or sister?
They’re spending millions of dollars, millions in equipment, millions in chemicals to put out that fire. The fire of Jahannam is seventy times more than that, but the Muslim who gives one drop to Allah (SWT), min khashikyatihi. One drop out of reverence to Allah (SWT) sincerely for Allah (SWT). One drop, min khashiya tillah can put out the whole Jahannam for the person.
But where are the drops? Where are the tears out of the fear of Allah (SWT)?
Courtesy of Imam Suhaib’s/Awakening Media’s Purification of the Soul CD set, boyee!
im trying to find out if my friend Ahmed Lewis in San Diago is ok….has not returned my mail…….anyone know?
I remember a few years back during the Hereafter series, there was a strong fire through the hills on the way driving there. Imam Suhaib referenced the fires and he had all of us close our eyes, and had 2 volunteers [sister/brother] walk around the 2 sections and he told us that the volunteers would touch individuals at random with the fire of the ligthers.
I knew it was just the fire from the lighter [ie- not that hot], and that the organizers wouldn’t do something that could be hazardous, but subhanAllah, even knowing this consciously, I was reallly worried I would get touched by it. I was scared… and it made me realize the reality of the hellfire- that if I don’t know if this fire is going to touch me, this small cigarette lighter fire in the dunya in a controlled, safe environment… what about the fact that I don’t know about me and the hellfire in the akhira?
I turned on the TV scared to see what was happening. After seeing the flames approaching those beautiful homes. Sweet home! I could not stop my tears as I kept listening to the broadcast, thinking to myself about the destruction. I was all focused on the building and the owners, praying for everyone out there when I was interrupted by an announcement that was being made “please vacate your houses/homes. We can replace houses but we cannot replace human beings”. This was true we can never replace human beings. The broadcaster continued to explain that there was not much hope since the wind was too strong making it even harder for the firefighters.
The wind! Wind ! wind ! Who is behind the wind? How can we stop the wind? What tools do we need?
There was only one answer.
God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.” (39:62, 63)
He is God; there is no god but He, He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. He is God, there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-Holy, the All-Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the All-Preserver, the All-Mighty, the All-Compeller, the All-Sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (59:22-24)
MAY ALLAH SWT PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE AFFECTED.I PRAY THAT EVERYONE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OUR THERE ARE SAFE AND MAY ALLAH SWT MAKE IT EASY FOR ALL YOU TO OVERCOME THIS DISASTER.AMEEN
I turned on the TV scared to see what was happening. After seeing the flames approaching those beautiful homes. Sweet home! I could not stop my tears as I kept listening to the broadcast, thinking to myself about the destruction. I was all focused on the building and the owners, praying for everyone out there when I was interrupted by an announcement that was being made “please vacate your houses/homes. We can replace houses but we cannot replace human beings”. This was true we can never replace human beings. The broadcaster continued to explain that there was not much hope since the wind was too strong making it even harder for the firefighters.
The wind! Wind ! wind ! Who is behind the wind? How can we stop the wind? What tools do we need?
There was only one answer.
God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.” (39:62, 63)
He is God; there is no god but He, He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. He is God, there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-Holy, the All-Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the All-Preserver, the All-Mighty, the All-Compeller, the All-Sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (59:22-24)
MAY ALLAH SWT PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE AFFECTED.I PRAY THAT EVERYONE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OUR THERE ARE SAFE AND MAY ALLAH SWT MAKE IT EASY FOR ALL YOU TO OVERCOME THIS DISASTER.AMEEN
Subhanallaah.
May Allah subhan Tallah be with all of us ,today as we see every one being concerned about the wild fires in san diego where all the million dollar houses have burnt into ashes ,what about the muslim brothers and sisters who are being bombarded every day ,our beautifull religon teaches us of unity and faith are we as a muslim nantion unite as imam said we have to be example of what our book says and change the perception of what people think about us we have to live our lifes accordingly to the teachings of our book and belive that Allah is the most mercifull and the religon is not that hard to follow thats the only way to avoid the hell fire which will keep on burning the sinners
i had returned to visit the america i had left in the eve of two wars, engulfing its soul and with it the lives of many. the country that had sheltered, fed and clothed so many nations has had denied so many the same. i wanted to see america realize that the mercy of God is for all, not just for them, His justice ever present, not blind, His blessings to be found on every face, not just the dollar bill. american heart is still untouched by the misery of those it unjustly took, uneffaced by the toils of its lessor citizens and wrapped around an old world naivette, unaffected by the winds of change that are blowing hard on its face. its schools barren, its market places full of commerce, its men gone.