#ardh

[narrativecradle]

A Pinnacle of Acting Excellence called Smita Patil

Smita Patil, a luminary of Indian cinema, remains an enduring symbol of talent, integrity, and artistry. With a career that spanned over a decade, Patil left an indelible mark on the silver screen, captivating audiences with her raw intensity, nuanced performances, and unwavering commitment to her craft. Smita Patil wasn’t just an actress; she was a transformative force who redefined the…

[subhashdagar123]

[desikanya]

Kumbh Mela 🏵️

The Mahakumbh is one of the world's most solemn and largest religious meetings, held with great dedication and spiritual passion. This once-in-twelve-year event is more than just a festival; it is a convergence of culture, faith, and spirituality that attracts millions of followers from all over the world.

During the Kumbh Mela, several ceremonies take place, including the traditional procession of Akharas known as ‘Peshwai’ on elephant backs, horses, and chariots, the shining swords and rituals of Naga Sadhus during ‘Shahi Snaan’, and many other cultural activities that attract millions of pilgrims to the event.

Origin of Kumbh Mela from the scriptures:

The story of Mahakumbh begins with the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) churning the ocean (Samudra Manthan) in search of the nectar of immortality (Amrit). The significance of Kumbh is centered on the account of the Samudra Manthan, which was performed by the gods and demons to gain the priceless Ratnas, or jewels, and amrita, or nectar of immortality. The mountain Mandrachala served as a churning stick, with Nagraja Vasuki acting as the rope. Lord Vishnu himself took the form of Kasava, or tortoise, and gave the foundation for the mountain Mandrachala, fearing that it would slip and sink into the ocean. The first to emerge from this churning was poison, which was consumed by Lord Shiva, who later became known as the Nilkantha.

After churning the ocean, Dhanvantri emerged carrying a pitcher of amrita, or the elixir of immortality. To make sure the Asuras don’t get it, Lord Vishnu asked Garuda Dev, to fly away from there with the pot of nectar. When Garuda Dev was carrying the pot, four drops of nectar fell at four places, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. Since then, these four places have become great pilgrimage sites.

In other texts, it is said that Indra’s son, Jayant, ran off with the pot. The Sun, his son Shani, Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along to protect him and the pot. As Jayant ran, the amrita spilled at four spots: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar. He ran for 12 days, and as one day of the Devas equals one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter. 

All four places are located on the banks of rivers — Haridwar has the Ganga, Prayagraj is the sangam or meeting point of Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswati, Ujjain has the Kshipra, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar the Godavari.

It is believed that taking a dip in these rivers during Kumbh, amid the specific alignment of the heavenly bodies, washes away one’s sins and accrues punya (spiritual merit).

The traditional Kumbh Mela is celebrated every three years, the Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela every six years in Haridwar and Allahabad (Prayag), and the Purna (full) Kumbh Mela every twelve years at four locations: Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, dependent on planetary motions. The Maha Kumbh Mela is held at Prayag after 144 years (after 12 ‘Purna Kumbh Melas’).

If we want to understand the historical reference, then you can find the mention of a big gathering like Kumbh Mela in the 19th century, but even before that, if we look at the basis of this gathering, then there used to be the festival of Magh Snan in which people used to bathe in holy rivers so that they could wash away their sins and attain salvation. In ancient texts like Rigveda, stories of Samudra Manthan and Amrit have been given, which help us to understand the basic basis of this festival. Then if we move ahead, in the time of the Gupta period and Mauryan period also, there were many such festivals.

We find the mention of Kumbh Mela. With time, Kumbh Mela became a symbol of unity and spiritual knowledge. At this conference, many saints, ascetics, and devotees started to meet. Kumbh Mela is held at four holy places. The first place is Prayagraj. Prayagraj is known for Triveni Sangam, where three holy rivers meet – Ganga, Yamun, and the hidden Saraswati River. The second place where Kumbh is held is Haridwar. Here, the holy river Ganga comes down from the mountains. Where people take a bath in the Ganga to purify their mind and soul.

Apart from the Ganga River, Haridwar is also known for its peace and spiritual energy. Then comes the third place which is Nashik. Nashik is located on the banks of the Godavari River. There are many religious beliefs and stories from the Puranas here too. The fourth Kumbh place is Ujjain. Ujjain is a city located on the banks of the Shipra River which has a religious and spiritual history. Bathing here also becomes a part of the spiritual journey of the people. It is decided at which of these four places the Kumbh Mela will be held, based on the astronomically aligned places.

Astrological alignments for the occurrence of Kumbh Mela:

As it occurs in 12 years, the time depends on the position of satellite bodies, especially Jupiter. Jupiter takes about 12 years to complete one orbit around the Sun and the places are decided according to those 12 years. Kumbh Mela is held at every place once in 12 years. Kumbh Mela is held when Jupiter enters a specific zodiac sign and any kind of religious work is considered auspicious during this time.

When Jupiter is in Aquarius or Kumbh Rashi, and the Sun and Moon in Aries and Sagittarius respectively, Kumbh is held at Haridwar.

When Jupiter is in Tauras, and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn or Makar (thus, Makar Sankranti is also in this period) the Kumbh is held at Prayag.

When Jupiter is in Leo or Simha, and the Sun and Moon are in Cancer, the Kumbh is held at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, which is why they are also called the Simhastha Kumbh.

Significance and employment generation due to Kumbh Mela:

Saints and sages from the monasteries and religious personalities come, there are also events of Katha and Kirtan, many people from different states come who showcase different cultures here, you will also get to see the performance of their folk songs, dances and arts in this Kumbh Mela.

UNESCO has recognized the Kumbh Mela as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and this shows the cultural significance of Kumbh Mela for India.

The significance of Kumbh Mela is not limited only to the religious perspective, if we look at it from the economic perspective, during the Kumbh Mela, lakhs of people travel from one place to another, which gives a boost to the travel industry and provides huge support to the economy. If we try to understand it in terms of data, the government spent Rs 4200 crore to organize the Kumbh Mela 2019, but the economic value generated in this Kumbh Mela was Rs 1,20,000 crore, and at the same time, 6 lakh people got jobs in a single Kumbh Mela. If we talk only about the hospitality industry, then 1 lakh jobs were generated in these.

This year, the government spent around Rs 7000 crore and the economic value predicted to be generated is around Rs 2,00,000 crore.

[theacemagpie]

Mahakumbh Mela: The Once-In-144 year event, mixing Faith and Science!

aka- Me losing my mind over the science and logistics and geeking out about space for a full 15 paragraphs!

Before I start, I'll give a brief overview of what Kumbh Mela is for all my Non-Indian, Non-hindu friends and Indian-Hindus (like me) that didn't know much about this.

Kumbh Mela (or Kumbha Mela) is a major Hindu pilgrimage taken by devout followers every 12 years to mark one revolution of Brihaspati (Jupiter). There's several types of Kumbhs outside of the 12-yearly cycle that is the Ardh (half), celebrated every 6 years and Maha (major), celebrated every 144 years!

The last one is the one we have this year!!! It's been 144 years since that happened- ie. The last Mahakumbh in Prayagraj was in 1881!

Anyway there's religious and cultural significances that I'm not the best person to explain but you can read it in articles and all- IM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE AND THE COOLNESS OF THE EVENT!!

Okay so despite being a religious festival there's a significant amount of cool science here-

It takes Jupiter approximately 12 Earth years (4333 days) to travel once around the Sun. That's the event thats marked by each Kumbh mela, which means we can literally calculate the years when this happened all the way back to when this festival started!!!!

Also know why the Mahakumbh is every 144 years? It's cause there's 12 cycles of revolutions that's happened in those years making it extra culturally significant but ya know what that means?

Jupiter's been around the Sun about 12 times since 1881!!!!

Like cmon that's such a cool fact to know! I love that! Fck yeah I didn't need that information but I love that wooo!

The Kumbh Mela is also one of the largest peaceful gathering of people in the world and the world's largest congregation of religious pilgrims!

THERE WERE 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE IN 2019???!?!?!

50 fcking million! That's the largest public gathering of Hindus ever recorded- and guess what it's only estimated to increase.

Anyway yes this year from Jan 13th to Feb 26th is going to be insane in Allahabad. The amount of organization and logistics of planning and maintaining order with that huge a crowd is going to be insane!

It's approximated about 40 crore (400 million) people will show up to Prayagraj, Allahabad for this once in a lifetime event!

Sorry I'm just so geeking out over how huge this is. Like I'm an Atheist but the sheer devotion in that many people just woah!

Anyways yeah I doubt anyone cares but I thought this was cool and I had to geek out somewhere. I've probably missed a lot of stuff so feel free to add to this!

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Faatir— The Originator, The Creator, the Initiator— on six occasions in the Quran. He is the One who initiates and creates. Al-Faatir is the one who starts and finishes the complete creation with perfection!

The Initiator, the Creator and Originator

Faatir comes from the root faa-Taa-raa which points to three main meanings. The first main meaning is to initiate and start and the second is to create. The third main meaning is to break apart or cleft asunder.

This root appears 20 times in the Quran in six derived forms. Examples of these forms are faTara (“He has created”), infaTarat (“is cleft asunder”), fuToorin (“flaw”) and munfaTirun (“will break apart”).

Linguistically, fatara al-shay’ means “he began the thing.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: I did not understand what faatir al-samawaati wa’l-ard (Creator of the heavens and the earth) meant until two Bedouins came to me with a dispute about a well, and one of them said Ana fatartuha (I started it), meaning that he was the one who dug it first.

Abu’l-‘Abbaas said that he heard Ibn al-A‘raabi say: Ana awwal man fatara hadha (I am the first one who started this), meaning the first one to begin it [Taaj al-‘Aroos, 1/3347]
This means that the root faTara and faaTir may be used to refer to others than Allah ‘azza wa jall, however Allah is the only true Faatir as each and every thing is started by His will and power only.

Al-Faatir Himself says: Their messengers said, “Can there be doubt about Allah , Creator of the heavens and earth?..[Quran, 14:10].. Say, “O Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ. [Quran, 39:46]

The great excellence

In the Quran Allah starts a surah with: [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four … [Quran, 35:1] Allah Al-Faatir teaches us beautiful lessons we can learn from this chapter: surah Faatir. 
He ‘azza wa jall opens strongly stating it is He who is the Creator of the heavens and earth and therefore both praise and thanks belongs to Him.
Further in the surah Allah says: We gave the Book as an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants; among them is the one who wrongs himself, and among them is also the one who takes a middle course, and of them is the one who is foremost in virtuous deeds by Allah’s permission; this is the great excellence. [Quran, 35:32]
Here Al-Faatir explains to us how of all of the creation, He chose a selection to be blessed with belief in Him, with Al-Islam. He then describes how we can classify ourselves into three groups, all of which are among the believers.
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣri explained: the wrongful one is the one whose ill-deeds have overtaken his good deeds, the foremost one is the one whose good-deeds have overtaken his ill-deeds, and the middle-coursed one is the one whose good-deeds and ill-deeds are equivalent. This teaches us that true success, or excellence, lies not in materialism but in your good deeds outweighing your bad deeds.

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Feel true praise and thanks.
Allah ‘azza wa jall starts surah Faatir with: Alhamdulillaahi faaTiris samaawaati wal ardh – [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth..[Quran 35:1] You firmly believe He is the Creator, but how often do you really praise Him and how strong is your thanks to Him, for all He gave you?  Most important is that you say each alhamdulillah, with a strong conviction that He is your Creator, the Originator of all you see, feel, taste and touch!
Recognize His work all around you and be thankful for all that He created for you to make use of in this world. [He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby [Quran, 42:11].

2. Realize how blessed you are with Islam.
Halfway surah Faatir Allah says: We gave the Book as an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants… [Quran, 35:32] Do you see the Quran as your inheritance? How much effort do you make to practise the Book Al-Faatir chose to reveal to you? Realize that as a Muslim you are blessed with the greatest bounty: belief. If you are weak in practising Islam still realize that you are part of His chosen slaves among His enourmous creation and let this motivate you to work harder. If you are already steadfast in your religion, keep reminding yourself this is from Al-Faatir only.

3. Seek love and protection at the source.
The most destructive quest is that for love and protection from the wrong sources. How many people have been consumed by their obsessive love for others instead of loving their Creator and disappointed and broken by their realization the creation could not protect them? Al-Faatir is the one who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and He is the only one who can protect you and love you like no other. Say, “Is it other than Allah I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and the earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?”[Quran, 6:14]
So bow to Him and seek Him only in ease and hardship! Like Yusuf ‘alayhi sallam beautifully supplicated: Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous [Quran, 12:101]

4. Call upon Al-Faatir.
A beautiful way to praise and thank Him is to stick to the adhkaar of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for example the morning and evening remembrance- a set of supplications to be said after fajr and after the ‘asr prayer.* One of them  is:

‎“اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَاطِرَ السَّماوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَى نَفْسِي سُوءاً، أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَى مُسْلِمٍ”.

O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the evident , Maker of the heavens and the earth (faaTiras samaawaati wal ardh) , Lord of everything and its Possessor , I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You . I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil of Satan and his helpers . (I seek refuge in You) from bringing evil upon my soul and from harming any Muslim [At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawood]. Memorize this beautiful dua’, make it part of your daily routine and revive the sunnah!O Allah, Al-Faatir, we know that You originate, initiate, and create. Make us of the shaakireen (thankful ones) and of the ones whose good deeds outweigh the bad deeds. Guide us in seeking You only for protection, in directing our love to You first and foremost, and make us call upon You with conviction morning and evening, ameen!

[tamamita]

Salaam, fellow Shia here!

Was scrolling through your blog (coz wow! A shia! And also I'm depressed and should be going to bed)

And saw the Christmas ask you got

Idk about Muslims celebrating Christmas, but we do celebrate Jesus's bday, right? Dahwal Ardh! 25th Zilqad!

Prophet Isa (Jesus) shares his Islamic bday with Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and Dahwal Ardh?

So that's Jesus' bday that we do celebrate :)

OH I TOTALLY FORGOT, you're right, we do celebrate Jesus the Prophet's (a) birthday and I recall reciting a particular du'a during that time. I guess it's not equally emphasised as compared to Eid al-Ghadeer and Eid al-Thaqalayn, which is why I didn't remember it all that well.

May the Shafa'at of Fatima az-Zahra (s.a) be with you in your times of difficulty, my friend.

Ya Ali (a) madad!

[white-poppie]

Hi cutie! I have a question only an Hindi person can answer... I'd like to know some idiomatic expressions for someone you deeply love, or idiomatic phrases to express that to someone you love romantically. Its for a school project (it isn't, I just found an old draft and I thought it could use some flavor)

OOOO That is so cool!! Hindi and Urdu romantic phrases hit diff I swear, here you go. Do tell me how your project went:

Meri Jaan (मेरी जान) - my life

Aankhon ka Tara (आँखों का तारा) - The star of my eyes [can be used platonically or romantically, my mum used to call me that when I was small.]

Dil ka tukda (दिल का टुकड़े) - a piece of one's heart

Ardhang/ Ardhangini (अर्धांग/अर्धांगिनी) - Used for spouse Ardhang is male, Ardhangini is female; both of which mean the half oneself-- the better half [ Ardh mean half and aag means part of a whole in sanskrit]

Chaand Sitaare tod laana (चाँद सितारे तोड़ लाना) - to bring the moon and stars down for someone [ahah this is a little funny these days, but a lot of lovers in olden times used to proclaim that "I'll bring down the moon and stars for you."]

Saaton janmon ka saath (सातों जन्मों का साथ) - to be together for seven lifetimes, to be soulmates [Only when the bride and the groom take the 7 vows keeping the holy pyre as the witness, they are married. The bride and the groom hold their hands and take seven rounds around Agni (fire) and promise to be with each other for eternity]

dilbar (दिलबर) - beloved

Jaan hatheli par rakhna (जान हथेली पर रखना) - to put one's life on the palm of one's hand, to risk everything for love

Dil ka sukoon (दिल का सुकून) - peace of heart

Tum meri sari duaaon ke jawaab ho (तुम मेरी सारी दुआओं के जवाब हो) - You are the answer to all my prayers.

[surohsopsisofclouds]

can you draw astronaut cookie

ask and ye shall receive, one Astronaut Cookie!

[narrativecradle]

Unforgettable Antagonist: The Brilliance of Sadashiv Amrapurkar

Sadashiv Amrapurkar wasn’t your typical Bollywood hero. His wasn’t a face that launched a thousand ships, but rather one that sent shivers down spines and etched itself into cinematic memory. While Bollywood thrived on larger-than-life heroes, Amrapurkar carved a distinct niche, captivating audiences for over three decades with his portrayals of iconic villains. His career, spanning more than 300…

[highassi]

Sante m’mungon ifije ma shum se net tjera.

N’fakt shum ma shum.

S’kam qesh ma me shpirt qysh se ke ik e m’ke lan.

Hala flas me ty sikur t’kam afer.

Hala t’them “Naten e mir shpirti jem, flesh rehat” pernat.

Vec njashtu m’xen gjumi.

Vecse tesh e shkruj por nuk ta nisi.

Nuk mundem.

….

Sa shum kisha dasht me e kthy kohen mrapa.

Mos t’me kishe shkatrru n’kyt mnyr.

Ndoshta s’asht dasht me t’kthy mesazhin at nat e as me dal me ty n’at takim.

Por kur e mendoj ti prap do tmkishe mungu tan’ jeten mos t’kisha njoft.

Te ti kam gjet qetsi.

Ti m’ke kerku sa her kam mungu e m’ke ardh mrapa sa her kam dasht me ba a thu se jam tu u largu po un prej tejet s’kisha mujt kurr me ik.

Hala skam ik.

Ti mke dhan t’shtymen e mke hedh aqe lerg, e un kam met 1 cep t’qytetit tu prit se noshta Zoti ka me ta tregu rrugen me ardh me m’gjet prap.

Me m’prit 1 dit kur n’rrug t’kaloj me m’pa syt a me m’ni edhe iher zanin.

Mu hala m’ngrihet gjaku sa her shof diken me tipare t’ngjasheme me ty.

Jo tiparet tuja se syt e buzqeshjen tane s’mundet me i perngja askush.

Ato sy qe i kam pa me miliona her e at’ goj qe e kam ba me qesh sa her flitsha.

T’pakten jam mundu.

Jam mundu me shiju c’do moment t’qeshunet bashk.

Po tesh po e ve re qe ndoshta asht’ dasht me qesh ma shum.

Asht dasht’ me t’puth ma shum kur kam pas mundsi e kur tmkishe pyt ta kisha kthy krejt thjesht “se du” e “se t’du”

Asht dasht me ba ma shum foto me ty qe t’kisha pas ma shum kujtime me i puth pernat para se me fjet.

…

Mram t’kam pa n’anderr.

T’pash sikur 1 mesazh ma nise.

M’the t’kam n’mend tan’ kohen e tan’ dita m’shkoj tu ju lut zotit qe t’ket ken 1 mesazh i vertet prej tejet.

E manej u qova prej shtratit e vazhdova diten teme me 1 boshllek.

Jam tu u qu heret perdit a e din?

E cuditshme e?

Po se tash mxen gjumi shum heret.

Un vec ty tkisha qe mbashe me fol aqe shum sa me e hup sensin e ores.

Po tash qysh kur ti ike e m’le un mezi pres me shku n’shtrat, me nez at’ telefonin e vjeter e me gjet 1 foto t’tanen, me t’pa n’sy e me t’puth.

Manej mbylli syt e mundohem me imagjinu sikur nij zanin tan tu m’than “Naten Drita jeme, flesh rehat❤️ Tdu shum!

E pa ta than edhe un ty, un nuk gjej qetsi.

[eduardss]

Jeta osht shum e shkurt per me prit diqka qe kurr s'ka me ardh

[tabutesakina]

Daabat al-Ardh: The Awakening of the Earth’s Beast

Imagine this: a silence so deep it hums, a moment suspended on the brink of revelation. From somewhere unseen, perhaps from beneath the very soil we walk on, an ancient force begins to stir. Known as Daabat al-Ardh, this “Beast of the Earth” is no ordinary creature. It’s something far older, primal, a voice long suppressed in the earth's bones.

Some say Daabat al-Ardh is more than flesh, more than spirit. It is the unfiltered truth of creation, the last living echo of nature's balance. Its purpose is not chaos, but clarity—a fierce, unrelenting clarity that humanity has all but forgotten.

The Ground Beneath Us Awakens

Consider this creature neither monstrous nor benign, but as the earth itself, distilled into a being—an ancient force as wise as it is wild. What does it look like, this beast of the end times? Is it immense, casting shadows over all it touches, or something more elusive, slipping through cracks in our understanding? Perhaps Daabat al-Ardh’s true power lies in its gaze, or in its presence, one that confronts each person with an undeniable truth about who they really are.

When it rises, it does so with purpose. This is not a creature born to terrorize or ravage; it is, instead, a being that marks. As it moves through the world, it brands people with a sign—an unyielding stamp of identity that no one can deny. This mark is more than a symbol; it’s a seal of one’s essence, an unmasking of every hidden deed and unspoken thought. And this is Daabat al-Ardh’s gift and curse—to expose what lies beneath the surface.

Not of Heaven, Not of Hell

Unlike angels who descend from the heavens or demons that crawl from the abyss, Daabat al-Ardh rises from the earth itself. It is neither ethereal nor infernal. This creature is an elemental force, an echo of the universe’s beginnings, a reminder that the earth beneath us has witnessed every act, every lie, every truth. Its form is a mystery, perhaps shifting, perhaps elusive, yet undeniably real.

In its eyes, there is no malice, no mercy—only the weight of ages. And in that gaze, it brings the greatest paradox: a creature that seems both savage and serene, both terrifying and just. For Daabat al-Ardh comes with a singular mission: to set the record straight. Its presence peels away illusion like the earth cracking open, laying bare the truths we’d rather keep buried.

The Beast as Mirror: Facing the Unseen Self

In a world built on half-truths and shadows, Daabat al-Ardh stands as a mirror—a mirror that shows each person exactly who they are. Imagine standing before a being that reflects every choice you’ve made, every path taken or ignored. In its mark, there’s no escaping what you are; it simply is. And therein lies the essence of Daabat al-Ardh’s mission: to make clear the hidden and to brand each person according to their truest self.

The ancients sensed something profound in Daabat al-Ardh, not just as a harbinger, but as the earth’s own voice. Its arrival signals that time itself has run out, that the world is ready to face itself without pretense or mask. For some, this will be a triumph; for others, a reckoning beyond anything they could prepare for.

An Ancient Warning, Now Realized

There’s an almost mythic quality to Daabat al-Ardh. It’s as if all the warnings and prophecies whispered across millennia were pointing to this moment. Not a creature of horror, but one of destiny, carrying the weight of ages on its shoulders. And when it speaks, it does not rage or tremble. Instead, it bears witness. It’s as if the earth itself has risen to declare, "I have seen it all, and I shall mark it so."

This beast is a force of unbridled truth, an entity that reminds humanity that it cannot evade what it has sown. Daabat al-Ardh's mark is not a punishment; it is a revelation, a cosmic accounting of every action, each with its own consequence. For in the end, Daabat al-Ardh doesn’t bring the final judgment; it brings the final unveiling.

A Final, Unflinching Revelation

There is no more room for evasion or denial. Daabat al-Ardh stands as the final messenger of clarity, a figure of absolute truth emerging from the ground we’ve walked upon for ages. To those who meet it, there will be no more facades, no more hiding places. It sees all, knows all, and brings every hidden thing into the light.

And so, Daabat al-Ardh becomes not just the beast of revelation, but the ultimate voice of the earth itself—a force that has waited patiently through countless ages, bearing witness to all, and finally rising to render a truth no soul can deny.

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Faatir— The Originator, The Creator, the Initiator— on six occasions in the Quran. He is the One who initiates and creates. Al-Faatir is the one who starts and finishes the complete creation with perfection!

The Initiator, the Creator and Originator

Faatir comes from the root faa-Taa-raa which points to three main meanings. The first main meaning is to initiate and start and the second is to create. The third main meaning is to break apart or cleft asunder.

This root appears 20 times in the Quran in six derived forms. Examples of these forms are faTara (“He has created”), infaTarat (“is cleft asunder”), fuToorin (“flaw”) and munfaTirun (“will break apart”).

Linguistically, fatara al-shay’ means “he began the thing.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: I did not understand what faatir al-samawaati wa’l-ard (Creator of the heavens and the earth) meant until two Bedouins came to me with a dispute about a well, and one of them said Ana fatartuha (I started it), meaning that he was the one who dug it first.

Abu’l-‘Abbaas said that he heard Ibn al-A‘raabi say: Ana awwal man fatara hadha (I am the first one who started this), meaning the first one to begin it [Taaj al-‘Aroos, 1/3347] This means that the root faTara and faaTir may be used to refer to others than Allah ‘azza wa jall, however Allah is the only true Faatir as each and every thing is started by His will and power only.

Al-Faatir Himself says: Their messengers said, “Can there be doubt about Allah , Creator of the heavens and earth?..[Quran, 14:10].. Say, “O Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ. [Quran, 39:46] The great excellence

In the Quran Allah starts a surah with: [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four . . . [Quran, 35:1] Allah Al-Faatir teaches us beautiful lessons we can learn from this chapter: surah Faatir. He ‘azza wa jall opens strongly stating it is He who is the Creator of the heavens and earth and therefore both praise and thanks belongs to Him. Further in the surah Allah says: We gave the Book as an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants; among them is the one who wrongs himself, and among them is also the one who takes a middle course, and of them is the one who is foremost in virtuous deeds by Allah’s permission; this is the great excellence. [Quran, 35:32] Here Al-Faatir explains to us how of all of the creation, He chose a selection to be blessed with belief in Him, with Al-Islam. He then describes how we can classify ourselves into three groups, all of which are among the believers. Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣri explained: the wrongful one is the one whose ill-deeds have overtaken his good deeds, the foremost one is the one whose good-deeds have overtaken his ill-deeds, and the middle-coursed one is the one whose good-deeds and ill-deeds are equivalent. This teaches us that true success, or excellence, lies not in materialism but in your good deeds outweighing your bad deeds.

How Can You Live by This Name? 1. Feel true praise and thanks. Allah ‘azza wa jall starts surah Faatir with: Alhamdulillaahi faaTiris samaawaati wal ardh – [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth..[Quran 35:1] You firmly believe He is the Creator, but how often do you really praise Him and how strong is your thanks to Him, for all He gave you?  Most important is that you say each alhamdulillah, with a strong conviction that He is your Creator, the Originator of all you see, feel, taste and touch! Recognize His work all around you and be thankful for all that He created for you to make use of in this world. [He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby [Quran, 42:11].

2. Realize how blessed you are with Islam. Halfway surah Faatir Allah says: We gave the Book as an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants… [Quran, 35:32] Do you see the Quran as your inheritance? How much effort do you make to practise the Book Al-Faatir chose to reveal to you? Realize that as a Muslim you are blessed with the greatest bounty: belief. If you are weak in practising Islam still realize that you are part of His chosen slaves among His enourmous creation and let this motivate you to work harder. If you are already steadfast in your religion, keep reminding yourself this is from Al-Faatir only.

3. Seek love and protection at the source. The most destructive quest is that for love and protection from the wrong sources. How many people have been consumed by their obsessive love for others instead of loving their Creator and disappointed and broken by their realization the creation could not protect them? Al-Faatir is the one who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and He is the only one who can protect you and love you like no other. Say, “Is it other than Allah I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and the earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?”[Quran, 6:14] So bow to Him and seek Him only in ease and hardship! Like Yusuf ‘alayhi sallam beautifully supplicated: Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous [Quran, 12:101]

4. Call upon Al-Faatir. A beautiful way to praise and thank Him is to stick to the adhkaar of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for example the morning and evening remembrance- a set of supplications to be said after fajr and after the ‘asr prayer.* One of them  is:

“اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَاطِرَ السَّماوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَى نَفْسِي سُوءاً، أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَى مُسْلِمٍ”.

O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the evident , Maker of the heavens and the earth (faaTiras samaawaati wal ardh) , Lord of everything and its Possessor , I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You . I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil of Satan and his helpers . (I seek refuge in You) from bringing evil upon my soul and from harming any Muslim [At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawood]. Memorize this beautiful dua’, make it part of your daily routine and revive the sunnah! O Allah, Al-Faatir, we know that You originate, initiate, and create. Make us of the shaakireen (thankful ones) and of the ones whose good deeds outweigh the bad deeds. Guide us in seeking You only for protection, in directing our love to You first and foremost, and make us call upon You with conviction morning and evening, ameen!

[alboholic]

Ka me ardhe ni dite e ti ki me dashte me m'pa,

po s'mundesh me e ngjalle ato qe ti vet e ke vra.

[ismidi]

Do’a yang Ikhlas

Bermonolog malam hari tadi menjadi evaluasi sekaligus refleksi. Beberapa minggu terakhir ini menjadi bahan renungan karena banyak keinginan yang belum tercapai selama bertahun-tahun berdoa.  Mengingat kalau Allah berjanji akan selalu mengabulkan do’a kita sebagai hamba di waktu terbaik-Nya begitu dengan cara-Nya yang indah. Tepat pagi ini, aku sudah tidak melafalkan do’a yang sama seperti sebelumnya tetapi meminta untuk dikurangi kecintaan terhadap dunia serta ditambahkan kapasitas diri untuk bisa berperan sebagai khalifah fil ardh. Selang beberapa jam, jalan untuk mencapai itu terbuka jalannya tanpa dugaan sedikitpun. Kaget sambil pengen nangis haru, semoga ini menjadi jalan kontribusi terbaik.

[surohsopsisofclouds]

Fucking. Send art requests. I need stuff to draw. Anything Cookie Run or TSBS please.