#Abba does endurance

[prythianpages]

I've Been Waiting For You | Azriel

summary: Azriel finally meets the one he's been longing for. His mate.

warnings: mentions of death (since the suriel & reader are friends); some angst but also fluff because Az deserves to be happy ♡

a/n: This is part of my ABBA x ACOTAR series (masterlist) where I dedicate a song to a character (: The lyrics kind of reminded me of Alice & Jasper from twilight and how she had a vision of meeting him. This does go back and forth a lot in the beginning between past and present and came out longer than I thought it would. It's 9.6K words (which for me is long lol.) I apologize if there are any spelling errors. I've read this multiple times but somehow, always miss a couple.

As the moonlight dances upon the water's surface, the river transforms into a liquid ribbon of silver, weaving through the city of Starlight. Anticipation fills the air as Azriel walks across the bridge that spans the Sidra, his massive Illyrian wings glistening in midnight hues under the pale moonlight. 

Shadows play hide-and-seek as they travel through the night, drawn to the silhouette of a female figure. An intruder. Yet, Azriel's shadows dare to whisper something different into his ears.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Your voice, carried by the wind, reaches him like a sweet caress, daring to awaken something deep within him. Beautiful. His shadows respond with a frenzy, a whirl of darkness singing wild tales into his ears, urging him forward. Meanwhile, his brain screams at the potential threat.

More tendrils of darkness dart toward you, ignoring their master’s orders to return. You don’t seem bothered by them. In fact, you seem to welcome them as if they’re old friends of yours. 

Azriel swallows, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, unsure what to make of this. 

“Who are you?”

Finally, you turn around and Azriel feels like the wind has been knocked out of him when his gaze meets yours. In the midst of the surrounding darkness, your eyes gleam with an inexplicable brightness. Specs of silver glimmer in your eyes, mirroring the stars above, as they shine back at him.  

“That’s for you to decide,” you reply with a smile that carries both hope and a sense of knowing as you follow after him and take a step forward.

“But for now, I’d like to speak with your High Lady.”

Months before…

The brilliance of a thousand stars shine down on you and the night seems to hold its breath, as if it too, awaits the whispered prophecies from the celestial expanse above. Like always, you are itching to unveil them with your finely attuned senses. A gust of cool wind brushes through your hair, sending shivers down your exposed skin. Pulling your gaze away from the night sky, you turn in time to see a cloaked figure approaching like a shadow in the night.

Your lips curve into a smile. “Hello, friend.”

“y/n.” The Suriel greets you, hovering beside you. Then, not missing another beat, he says, “I told her Rhysand was her mate.”

Your eyes widen in surprise, a gasp escaping your lips. “You did not.”

“I did.” He grins back at you, flashing you his stained teeth.

You can’t help but laugh a little at your dear old friend. The Suriel lets out a rattled sound you discern as a laugh as he joins you. Always the one for dramatics. You still remember hearing about his first encounter with Feyre Archeron and how he told her to stay with the High Lord.

“I told her she must stay with the High Lord.”

“Did you specify which one?”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“I’m sure she handled it well,” you respond but your smile fades, giving way to a wistful expression. “She’s lucky. Not only is she made but the Cauldron has blessed her with a mate. The High Lord of the Night Court at that.”

The weight of his gaze settles upon you. You’re aware that your words carry a tinge of envy, a sentiment that feels unjust when considering everything Feyre has endured. The Suriel, ever perceptive, acknowledges this as well. He chooses not to remind you and indulges you instead.

“The Cauldron has blessed you as well, my child.”

“Have you seen it?”

Hope sparks in your eyes as you turn to face him. His eyes, pools of ancient wisdom, seem to pierce through the veils of time and secrets. You sense one of them unfolding. But he only gives you a teasing glimpse.

“Perhaps.” 

With a furrow in your brows, you lift your head back up to glare at the night sky. The stars seem to blink at you in a teasing manner, as if finding amusement in keeping this secret from you. 

“How come I haven’t seen it?”

“You will soon.” He reassures, following your gaze upwards. A dance of amusement swirls within the depths of his eyes.  “He’s waited centuries for you. Count your stars lucky that your waiting won’t be as long.”

Back to the present…

Velaris lived up to its name. A dream compared to the horrors of the city you grew up in. But as the city sparkles and comes to life at the darkening hour, all your attention is drawn to the male before you. He’s even more breathtaking in person. Everything about him is classically beautiful and the moon seems to agree, shining down on him and casting an ethereal glow on the golden-brown of his skin.

As Azriel continues to approach you, his wings fold gracefully behind him. His gaze is locked onto yours and though his eyes are cautious and analytical, there’s a warm shiver running down your spine. The desire to lose yourself in the hazel depths of his eyes becomes an irresistible pull.

Before you know it, the shadows brushing against your arms rise and come to rest against your eyes in a blindfold. Darkness engulfs you, and the sensation of weightlessness takes hold as Azriel winnows both of you. You land on a soft cushion–a chair. The dark tendrils leave your eyes and wrap around your wrists and legs, binding them together.

“Stay here.” Azriel says, the shadows wrapped around your limbs tightening in a silent warning.

A chuckle escapes from you and when your eyes meet his again, you flash him a mischievous smile. It widens when he’s the first to fold, quickly averting his gaze. He has no clue. You’re exactly where you want to be.

He leaves the room and your eyes finally take in your surroundings. Veiled curtains made of midnight blue silk drape the expansive windows, pulled back to allow moonlight to filter through. Shelves line the walls, housing collections of ancient artifacts and magical trinkets. A large desk, crafted from dark, polished wood rests before you. Your gaze fixates on the wall behind it, where a captivating portrait of the female you seek rests.

The door behind you swings open, and you turn to witness the graceful entrance of the female from the portrait. Feyre, the Cursebreaker and High Lady of the Night Court. She's a vision of night and beauty, her golden-brown hair cascading down her exposed back, revealing glimpses of moon phases etched along her spine.

“High Lady,” you say in greeting, bowing your head in respect.

Surprisingly, the High Lord doesn't accompany her. Instead, it's Azriel who trails behind her. Her calm blue eyes assess you as she takes a seat across from you. Azriel stands guard behind her and you feel his shadows watching your every breath. 

"And who might you be?"

“I’m y/n,” you respond, choosing your next words carefully. “An old friend of the Suriel’s. I’ve come to pledge my allegiance to you and offer my help.”

Something flickers in her blue eyes at the mention of the Suriel and her stoic expression falters, if only for a moment. You send her a sympathetic smile, your own heart aching at the mention of the fearsome creature you both held dear.

“Your help?” She echoes.

"She’s a seer," Azriel interjects, his voice setting your heart alight as there's no hint of disgust or apprehension in his tone.

Your kind is often regarded with hostility. He might not know your connection...yet. But he’s paid you enough attention to recognize your abilities and appears to be indifferent about them. If the Suriel were still alive, you know he’d laugh at your slight delusion.

"I am," you confirm. "And I know your sister is one too." You don’t miss the tension in Azriel’s body at the mention of the cauldron-made fae, but you don't dwell on it as you can also sense Feyre's protectiveness. "She has great potential. I can help her hone her skills. Together, we can—"

"No," Azriel growls protectively. His sharp interruption has you startling in your seat and hope deflates as you feel the intensity of his glare.

Feyre raises a hand, signaling him to stand back. “Why should I trust you?”

“Let me show you.”

Months before…

“By the Cauldron, what did you get yourself into?”

The Suriel grins mischievously, his tattered cloak barely clinging to his bony form. He graciously accepts the cloak you offer, a luxurious piece made of the softest velvet in the darkest shade of black you could find. A purr escapes him as he revels in its warmth. "Nothing," he responds coyly, the satisfaction evident in the bounce of his form as he hovers in the air.

You shoot him a pointed look, yearning to know what he was up to. You’re certain it was no good. “Sure,” you retort and then gesture toward the crackling fire you started. “I also made dinner.”

“You spoil me.”

“It’s what friends do.”

"Friend," he muses, the white pools of his eyes burning into your soul, as he turns to you. "As a friend, I should tell you that your dress is absolutely atrocious on you. Cobalt blue is more your color."

With a glare, you playfully throw the roasted chicken over the fire at his face. He effortlessly catches it with his mouth, cackling as he chews on the tender piece of meat.

"What do you know about fashion? All you do is thirst for robes."

“You forget that I am older than the bones of this world. I know everything about everything. I also cannot lie.”

"Doesn't stop you from hiding the truth," you respond cheekily, and he hums in agreement,

Silence falls as he seats himself beside you on the ground. He breaks it a couple of moments later. “Remember what I told you last time?”

You release a deep sigh because you do remember. The mere thought haunts you nearly every night, and you’re often burdened by the heavy weight of it. Your shoulders slump in response. “Why can't you do it yourself?”

“It is your fate, not mine,” he states simply, a reminder of the immutable laws of destiny.

“I’m not ready.” 

You don’t think you ever will be and suddenly, you’re that fragile sixteen year old again, who had to run away from the only place you called home to escape a cruel fate. The one who was left to navigate through her new onset of divine abilities alone.

That is, until, the fateful night you had thrown your cloak over a tree branch to dry. It had been stained by blood after a rough and almost deadly encounter with a stray naga so you had spent all morning cleaning it in the river nearby. Completely unaware of the Suriel you were summoning.

“You do not fear me?”

“That is mine,” you had said through clenched teeth with a deep rooted glare.

In the midst of your tug of war with the Suriel, your cloak tore in half. In that moment, you braced yourself for the dark creature's wrath. However, something in you captured his attention that day, and he chose not to unleash his fury upon you. He decided to take you under his wing instead.

He recognized your lineage without a single word spoken about it. He could sense your power coursing through your veins, waiting to be unraveled. After decades of patience and practicing, he was there to witness the formation of stars weaving themselves into the depths of your eyes. The mark of your seer abilities.

As always, the Suriel reads you like an open book. He can sense your insecurity, your hesitancy. But, in equal measure, he can sense your power, your potential.

“You will be,” he insists, his words carrying the unwavering certainty of the all-knowing creature he is. “You must guide and open the eyes of Elain Archeron the same way I did for you.”

Your throat tightens. “When?”

“Soon.”

And when you look up to gaze at the night sky, the stars align for you. A cascade of visions unfurls, pouring over you like a celestial waterfall. Your eyes become a myriad of galaxies and ears are teased with glimpses of conversations and whispers from the stars above. One moment, you’re in a forest, standing before a female figure crouched over a cloaked one. 

“The tracking…I knew of it.” 

Then, a rattling breath. “Leave this world a better place than how you found it.”

Abruptly, the scene shifts, and you stand in an enchanting city of starlight, gazing at the expansive river before you as anticipation fills the air. He comes for you. Azriel, the shadowsinger. The name resonates in the echoes of your mind.

Then, the final vision envelopes you, drawing you into the depths of mesmerizing hazel eyes. The voice that accompanies it is carried by the enchantment of night, gently caressing against your ears. 

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Mate. That is your mate. Azriel, the–

“Do you see it now?”

With a sharp intake of breath, you’re pulled from the downpour of your visions, only to find your senses clouded with tears that pool at the corners of your eyes. How cruel, you think, your heart twisting in agony. And though meeting your mate–your fated companion–was among your greatest dreams, you no longer want it. Not if it means you’ll lose your greatest companion.

You can live without knowing your mate. After all, you’re doing so at this very moment. The Suriel has been your friend for decades. Two souls brought together by their mutual loneliness. An all knowing creature and a seer. Together, you’re a powerful duo, navigating through the fated intricacies of Prythian. You’d be lost without him.

“Please don’t go,” you’re begging.

The Suriel smiles but it’s not his usual mischievous grin. This time, a tinge of sorrow lingers in the curve of his lips, casting his expression in a veil of sadness.

“I have to. It’s my time to go,” he says. “Just promise me one thing?”

“Anything.”

“That when it’s your time to shine, you’ll find Feyre. Help her make this world a better place.”

Back to Present

Feyre blinks back tears as she withdraws from your mind. She turns her head toward the Shadowsinger behind her, and for a moment, fear grips you. You allowed her to see the revelation of Azriel being your mate but only because it was deeply entwined with the other pertinent visions.

“Release her.”

The shadows release their grip on you and you let out a deep exhale in relief. But the inky tendrils don’t leave your side. They linger and hover over you and at this, Azriel’s eyebrows furrow.

Feyre extends her hand out toward you. Her blue eyes are warm, a gentle reassurance that she’d harbor your secret for you. A smile graces her lips, one that you're happy to reciprocate.

“I’ll gladly accept your help but let me speak with Elain first. You may stay here. There’s a spare room upstairs. Azriel will show you around.”

Following his High Lady’s orders, Azriel shows you around the grand estate. He’s a bit reserved around you and you don’t blame him. Both a blessing and a curse, your visions offer insight into his world, yet you're a mere stranger imposing on the family he protects fiercely.

And as he finally shows you to your room, the one right next to his, you can only hope that someday, he’ll welcome you too. After all, he is your mate.

Elain Archeron is infinitely beautiful. Inside and out. She is gentle and sweet and you see why some mistake her kindness for weakness. But it took only days for you to become well aware of the strength and power she harbors deep within.

While your abilities were limited to what the stars wanted to show you, you sensed that hers were limitless. With the right training, she could summon visions at her call, anticipate anyone's move. You wanted to help her achieve that and prove those people that saw her as something fragile wrong. Though reluctant toward your help at first, Elain was kind enough to listen to you and consider the advice you gave. It took some further convincing but you knew she was itching to unravel the depths of her powers too.

But it's proving to be a challenge. A hard and exhausting one. You're not surprised. It took you many years to become attuned to your powers. What is surprising, however, are Azriel's feelings for her. They're obvious and plain to see and could you blame him? Elain is wonderful...and you can't help but compare yourself to her. She's everything you're not.

Upon your arrival, you had been set on making Azriel fall for you. That was, until, you realized he was already entangled in the threads of another's heart. Could it be that the Suriel, in his all knowing wisdom, purposefully shielded you from such revelations about your mate? To delay the shattering of your dreams?

Now, you were just content to focus on your task at hand. To help Elain the way the Suriel did with you, even if Azriel was there as a safety net for her every session. Even if the way he was well attuned to every shift of her expression sent a sharp pain stabbing through your heart. He was blissfully unaware of your connection, clouded by his affection for Elain.

And you were tired of chasing after males. It's why you shot down Feyre's suggestion of confessing to Azriel. You dreamed of having a mate, pleaded to the Cauldron even. Now, you realize, that you want Azriel to like you for you. To chose you too the way Feyre did with Rhysand. If Elain was the person he chose at the moment, then so be it.

"I don't chase. I attract," you told Feyre. The same words you had uttered to the Suriel years ago after he poked fun at you over a failed romance. One of many, unfortunately.

"The only thing you'll attract with that attitude of of yours is a dark cloud of shadows," The Suriel had laughed at you, earning an icy glare from you.

But Feyre is much nicer about it than your dear old friend. She gives you an encouraging smile instead and wishes you luck on your upcoming session with Elain.

Your session with Elain ends terribly–with her screaming in pain and Azriel glaring at you and telling you to go, despite your attempts at apologizing. You spend the following days, weeks even, trying to make up for it. You slowed down in pace in your exercises with Elain, despite her protests. She held no animosity toward you at the dark turn that session had made.

You also buried yourself into any book you could find about seers in the magnificent Night Court library, grieving and longing for the Suriel. He would know what to do, and know exactly how to help. It’s the mere thought of him that fuels your determination to keep trying, despite how much you want to leave. It’s laughable almost, how in the midst of so many people, the sense of loneliness weighs heavier on you than it ever did in the solitude of Prythian's forests.

But perhaps, a break wouldn't be such a bad idea? You think as your gaze lands on an intriguing cover. It's a work of pure fiction. The ideal escape from reality. Retrieving it from its shelf, you settle into one of the plush chairs and immerse yourself into the words etched onto the pages.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

A nudge against your leg startles you awake, and as you blink away the remnants of sleep, your eyes widen at the sight of Azriel standing before you. Sleeping beauty, the words sink in, painting a soft blush over your cheeks.

“You missed dinner.”

“Oh.”

You turn your head, wincing at the dull ache in your neck from sleeping in an awkward position. The soft glow of the moon greets you through one of the library's windows. You don’t know when you had fallen asleep but you must’ve been out for hours. When you face Azriel again, your gaze drops to his hands, where he holds a carefully arranged plate of food. Your stomach growls as the scent hits you and your eyes linger on the generous serving of potatoes–your favorite–in comparison to the other vegetables and meat.

“Is that for me?” you ask, and immediately curse yourself for the seemingly silly question. You blame it on the lingering grasp of sleep, still reluctant to release its full grip on you.

"No, it's for the rats that come out at night," he replies, lips twitching upwards at the reaction it stirs from you. How the Suriel never scared you but a couple of hairy, smaller creatures do is beyond you. He places the plate on the small table beside you.

 "Yes, it's for you. A peace offering. For snapping at you."

"That was two weeks ago.”

"Bet you didn't see it coming," he teases, and you find yourself blinking in surprise. The Shadowsinger cracking a joke? It's a sight to behold. At least for you. 

Your eyes narrow. "Did Feyre send you?"

"No," Azriel replies simply, his tone carrying a sincerity that sets a flicker of hope alight in you. He then sighs. "I just realized I haven't been the most welcoming, that's all."

You smile in response and shift in your seat as you turn your body towards the food. The movement has the book in your lap falling. His hand reaches the book before yours could and the brush of your skin against his sends a delightful shudder through your body.

His eyes curiously look over the title and when he hands it back to you, you take note of the way he avoids looking at his scarred fingers. So you reach forward and brush your fingers against his again, letting them linger for a beat longer than before. Surprise flickers in his hazel eyes as he meets your gaze, but it vanishes as quickly as it appears.

“That book is one of my favorites," he says, his shadows dancing across his shoulders and peeking curiously at you. "I'm surprised you're into the mystery genre."

"Why?"

“Well, you’re hard to read sometimes. Like a mystery that refuses to be solved.”

An arched brow is your response, but the gleam in your eyes gives away more than you'd like. “Maybe I don’t want to be unraveled.”

Azriel's lips twitch upwards once more. “Maybe it just takes the right person.”

Bathed in the glow of sunlight, you and Elain sit across from one another on the soft bed of green grass. Meanwhile, Azriel leans against a tree, a couple of feet away. His gaze is intense as he watches you two. Too focused on not letting it faze you, you fail to catch the way it softens when he turns to you.

Azriel can’t help but frown when he catches you avoiding his gaze. He wonders if you still harbor some resentment toward the way he had snapped at you awhile back, even though he already apologized for it.

"Close your eyes and focus on your breath," he hears you instruct softly. "Feel the rhythm of the earth beneath you. Attune yourself to the heartbeat of the world around you. What do you hear?”

Elain closes her eyes in deep concentration. “I can hear the wind and the tremble of the grass beneath it. I can hear the wind carry all the way to the sea.”

“Good,” you say and though her eyes remain closed, you smile gently at her. A gesture that sends a rush of warmth through him.

“Now feel the whispers of the unseen.”

“I can’t.” Elain’s eyebrows furrow.

“Here, take my hands,” you say as you reach for hers. “Imagine a pool of water within you, calm and reflective. Use me as a vessel to carry you through it. I’ll guide you to where your visions will manifest.”

Elain does as told. The world stills around you two. You close your eyes. As Elain’s eyebrows relax, your own face contorts in concentration. Azriel feels himself tense when he realizes it’s not concentration etching onto your face–it’s pain. In a heartbeat, he’s kneeling before you and prying your hands apart.

“Stop!”

Your eyes snap open at the sudden disconnection, and Azriel is unsettled by the way you shrink back from him, panic widening your eyes.

“I’m not hurting her!”

But it’s not Elain he’s worried about. He hasn’t even spared her a glance. It’s you–you’re the one that’s hurt. Blood trickles down your nose and he’s urging you to lean forward, gently guiding you with his hands as Elain rushes for a towel.

“Are you okay?”

There’s a dull ache in your head but also one in your heart and you’re too disoriented to stop yourself from saying, “If you stop staring at me like that, I will be.”

Azriel releases a soft chuckle, his muscles relaxing in relief at the playful edge in your tone. Yet, his shadows, wanting to confirm you're okay themselves, flutter toward you in a delicate cloud of darkness.

"Like what?”

“Don’t make me answer that.”

And you’ve never felt more relief at the sight of Elain coming in between you with a towel in hand.

A sudden sound has you stirring from your sleep. Your hand instinctively slides under your pillow, fingers grasping for the dagger you always keep with you when sleeping. The sound comes again and your initially alarmed body relaxes as you recognize it as the sound of someone knocking. Wrapping a robe around your night shift, you head toward the door, expecting Elain on the other side. 

Upon opening your door, you’re surprised to find Azriel standing on the other side.

“You’re not going to Starfall?”

“Good morning to you too.”

Azriel’s eyes rake over your form, taking in your disheveled state. His lips curl into a faint smile. "It's noon," he observes in an amused manner.

Your eyes widen in disbelief, and you pivot your head toward the clock that hangs on the wall of your room. There, confirming his statement, the hands point a half hour past twelve. You overslept. You didn’t have any plans today and it seems your exhausted body took advantage of it.

“Is everything okay?”

His voice, laced with genuine concern, draws your attention back to him. The soft furrow of his brow and the warmth in his eyes catch you off guard. You hesitate. You don’t want to lie but you also don’t want to burden him with the truth.

So you settle for a, “Why?”

"I've noticed you haven't been sleeping much," he remarks, and before you can interrupt, he gestures toward his room, the one adjacent to yours. A silent acknowledgment that he's been more attentive than you realized. It pulls at the strings of your heart. "Or attending family dinners, and now Feyre tells me you're not going to Starfall?"

The weight of his observations presses on you. You didn’t think anyone had noticed.  "Why do you care?" you retort, your words sharper than intended, and a wince follows.

"Isolation is not a good coping method," he responds, his tone steady and unfazed by your sharpness. "Trust me, I know."

"I don't have a dress."  The words escape your lips, but even as you say them, you recognize the feebleness of the excuse.

“I’ll buy you one.”

Heat rises to your cheeks, and you feel a telltale blush spreading as the thought of Azriel buying you a dress takes root. He’s just being nice, you tell yourself. His gaze remains fixed on you, hazel eyes bright and gleaming with curiosity, as if daring you to come up with another excuse.

“Starfall is tomorrow.”

Azriel grins at you. It sends a flutter through your heart and you wonder if he can hear the erratic beat of it. 

“Better make haste and get dressed then. We’ve got a couple of hours before the shops close.”

You deliberately take extra time getting ready, a mix of anticipation and apprehension swirling within you as you prepare to spend time with Azriel. Half-expecting a hint of annoyance, you finally open the door to your room, only to find Azriel with a welcoming smile that has the bond in your chest humming. Still, you're met with silence at the other side.

You take a deep breath as he gestures for you to follow him. As you step outside, he offers his arm and winnows you, not wanting to waste anymore time. You both find yourselves in the bustling shopping plaza of Velaris, where the fragrance of blooming flowers and the animated chatter of people embrace you.

Elaborate Starfall-themed displays adorn the shops, enticing you inside. Suddenly, the sheer array overwhelms you, and an urge to step back washes over you. Azriel place a hand on your back, stopping you and guiding you towards one of the shops.

“Welcome!” A voice happily chirps. “How can I help you?”

A stunning female enters your line of sight, her gaze immediately fixating on the male standing behind you. Her lips curve into a captivating smile, causing a twinge of jealousy to flicker within you. It’s short lived as Azriel clears his throat, gently nudging you forward.

“We’re looking for a dress for her.” Azriel speaks for you.

“Splendid! What’s the special occasion?”

“Starfall.” Azriel answers.

The female’s eyes widen, her smile morphing into a strained one. “I’m afraid I’ve sold all my best work already.”

“Oh, that’s alright. Sorry for the trouble,” you quickly reply, attempting to conceal the relief in your voice. Turning to leave, Azriel's hands land on your shoulders, directing you back to face the female.

“I’m sure we can find something in here,” Azriel reassures with a polite smile, scanning the aisles of dresses. “Y/n isn't picky. Right?”

“I can be,” you mumble under your breath.

Azriel lets out a sound, what you discern as a muffled chuckle. He gives your shoulder a squeeze and then leans down toward your ear. “If I were you, I’d take advantage of the situation.”

You turn your head slightly and regret it immediately. It takes all your strength to hold back the shudder your body wants to give at his proximity. He’s so close you can feel his breath fanning against your neck and you wonder what it would feel like to have his lips pressed against that sensitive skin.

It surprises you how quickly you find your voice.

“I’m going to pick the most expensive one.”

“Go ahead,” Azriel says and you can hear the smirk in his voice without having to look at him. He doesn’t allow you to get another word in, urging you forward again to where the female patiently awaits for you.

She lightly grasps your arm, leading you toward a rack of dresses in various styles and colors while Azriel makes himself comfortable on the couch by the fitting room. “You are a lucky lady,” she muses, her hands gracefully exploring the textures of her creations. “I’ve had this shop for centuries and you’re the first lady the Shadowsinger has brought to me.”

A blush warms your cheeks as you divert your attention to the array of beautiful dresses. Each one is a work of art, making you question her earlier claim about not having her best work available. If these weren't her finest creations, the thought of what her best work looked like leaves you intrigued.

The female, who’s name you learn is Willow, has you try on a couple of dresses that differ in styles. You’re reluctant to show Azriel each one but given he’s paying for it and the only other one in this shop, you feel like he should have some say.

“Do you like it?” Willow beams at you, admiring her work.

On the fifth dress, your hands run over the tulle of the vibrant yellow skirt. The fabric feels itchy against your skin, and the color is too bold for your taste. You swear you are not trying to be picky, despite what you told Azriel earlier. 

“I li–”

“Let’s try another?” Azriel cuts in as if sensing the lie that was about to unfold. He rises from his seat toward one of the racks and pulls out a dress that caught his eye earlier. “How about this one?”

He holds the dress out to you, smiling softly when you take it from him. It’s much simpler compared to the other dress you’ve tried on but still just as elegant. It’s also soft against your skin. Willow guides you back into the fitting room, deftly assisting you out of the vivid yellow dress and into the cobalt blue silk one.

“I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. Cobalt blue is more your color!" Willow says as she gushes over you.

Her choice of words leaves you momentarily stunned. Cobalt blue is more your color. The exact words the Suriel had spoken to you. Also, the exact same shade as Azriel's siphons. The Suriel must’ve enjoyed himself a lot when he said those words to you. That sneaky little creature... You can hear his laugh echoing through your mind.

As you finally emerge from the dressing room, Azriel can’t help but stare. The fabric drapes gracefully around you, accentuating curves he hadn't noticed before. Sensing his prolonged gaze, your eyes meet his. It was him quickly averting his gaze, a subtle flush coloring his cheeks. He clears his throat, attempting to regain his composure.

"This is the one. It looks…good on you," he manages to say, his voice slightly strained.

“It’s 500 gold marks.”

He picks up on the teasing in your tone and the way Willow shakes her head in reassurance at him. Still, he humors you and says, “I don’t care.”

He’d pay more than 500 gold marks just to make you happy.

Azriel battled with restless thoughts that night, unable to find solace in sleep. Each time he closed his eyes, the vivid image of you in that dress invaded his mind. He couldn’t wait to see you in that dress again. Maybe then, he’d have the courage to compliment you better.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the first guests arrived for the Starfall celebration, Azriel's eyes eagerly scanned the gathering crowd, seeking a glimpse of you. Just as a twinge of disappointment crept in, his shadows stirred, signaling your proximity. His wings twitched with anticipation, and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of you. You are absolutely stunning. Breathtaking. 

In an instant heartbeat, he’s pushing Cassian, who was ready to fly you up to the House of Wind, aside. With a warning look, Cassian steps away with a chuckle.

"You're here," he whispers, a blend of disbelief and relief saturating his breath.

“Well a very nice male spent a lot of money for me to be here.”

“Well I’m glad.” Azriel chuckles, eyes drinking you in again. Savoring you. “You’re beautiful.”

“So are you.”

Azriel flushes at the unexpected compliment and his shadows to come to life around him. He smiles at you. “Shall we?”

He waits for your nod before carefully hooking an arm beneath your knees, eyes never leaving yours. A thrill courses through him as he revels in the sensation of your arms around his neck, taking delight in the way you feel in his arms. His wings unfurl behind him, preparing for the short flight up. The sound has your eyes fluttering shut, arms tightening around him and face burying into his neck. He finds it absolutely endearing. He never wants to let you go.

Against his wishes, the flight up to the balcony was short. He sets you down, helping you regain your footing, a lingering touch before reluctantly releasing you. There’s still more guests he, unfortunately, has to fly up. It’s as if you sense his internal conflict because you’re turning around to face him, eyes bright and alight.

“Yes, Azriel. I’ll save you a dance.”

The way his name rolls off your tongue sends a thrill up his spine. He opens his mouth to say something but once again, you beat him to it.

"Thought I'd save you the question," you stated, an all-knowing grin gracing your features as you tapped the corner of one of your eyes. Ah, so you had a vision of him. He wonders about the other glimpses you might have seen.

He doesn’t have too much time to dwell on it as Elain is rushing toward you, showering you with compliments. He takes that as his cue to depart. He is determined to finish his tasks in bringing the remaining guests up as fast as he can so that he can return to you and that dance you promised.

Azriel finds himself stealing glances whenever he thinks you won’t notice. The sparkle in your eyes, the way the dress accentuates your features–he can't look away. Caught up in the melody of your laughter, provoked by something Elain said, Azriel and his shadows are too mesmerized in the beauty of you to notice Feyre approaching until she speaks.

"She’s beautiful," Feyre remarks, her eyes following the same path as Azriel's gaze.

A soft affirmation escapes Azriel's lips. "Yes."

Feyre, well aware of the answer, delves further. "You bought her that dress?"

“Yes.”

A mischievous gleam flickers in Feyre's eyes as she delivers her next statement. "You like her." 

Azriel's response slips out before he can even grasp the depth of his own admission. "Yes."

He turns to Feyre, his wide eyes betraying the shock of his own revelation. A slight pallor washes over his skin, and Feyre chuckles at his reaction. Sensing the tension in the air, she rests a reassuring arm on his shoulder. “I like her too,” she confesses.

Though, both of them recognize that Azriel's feelings for you run deeper and in more intricate ways than Feyre's own fondness.

“I offered her a place in this court. She said she’d think about it. Maybe you can convince her? The same way you convinced her to come to Starfall,” Feyre says and then with one last pat on his shoulder, she makes her way back toward Rhysand.

Still recovering from the revelation of his own feelings, it takes a while longer for the weight of Feyre’s words to sink in. A mixture of surprise, uncertainty, and a flicker of hope plays out across his features. You weren’t planning on staying? The thought of you leaving–leaving him stirs a feeling in his chest. His eyes seek you out again but you’re no longer standing beside Elain.  

In your place, stands Lucien and normally the sight would trigger dark emotions from him. But now? He feels nothing. There’s no sense of envy. His affections have shifted elsewhere.

Azriel’s shadows fall to the floor, slithering against the cool tile like serpents of the night. They lead the way directly to where you stand, by the champagne table. He makes his way toward you and you're downing the rest of the liquid in your glass.

“Azriel.” You smile at him.

“It’s time for you to fulfill the promise you made me.”

“Of course,” you reply, offering him your hand.

Azriel gracefully pulls you into his embrace. One hand wraps around yours while the other rests on your waist. The enchanting melody guides your movements as the two of you glide across the floor.

“Feyre told me she offered you a role in this court.”

Your eyes, wise and mysterious, meet his, and he feels your body tense under his hold. “What else did she tell you?”

“That you’d think about it,” he says, the rhythm of the dance allowing for a moment of ease to settle between you. “You should stay.”

“Why?”

A wistful expression colors your features and the soft glow of stars are reflected in your eyes. The music comes to a gradual end and you free yourself of his hold before the next song begins.

“There’s no one here for me.” You admit and then give a small laugh as you look down. There's a deep, haunting sadness to your laughter, striking a chord within him.

“I’m right here.” 

Lifting your head back up, your eyes search his for something with a glimmer of hope. An eternity seems to pass in your gaze. A frown settles over your lips and he feels a tinge of sadness. Whatever you sought, it seems you did not find it.

Suppressing the surge of emotions within him, his hand reaches for yours again. He guides you to somewhere more private, toward one of the balconies that is off limits to the guests. “Talk to me,” he says, his words carrying an invitation for you to unburden your heart.

Your hands grip onto the railing before you and attention is directed up towards the night sky. He mirrors your actions, resting his hands close to yours. So close he can feel your warmth but not close enough to touch.

"It feels weird being here," you sigh deeply. "My mother and I used to sneak out of Hewn City on Starfall just to catch a glimpse of these migrating spirits every year...until she realized what I was. She said I was a curse, said she would turn me into Keir and let him have his way with me if I didn't leave."

Azriel's fingers clench into a white knuckled grip at your words.

"Not that leaving a horrible city such as Hewn was exactly a punishment. It was probably for the best. Still didn't stop me from being scared. It was the first time in my life that I was actually alone. I learned how to survive."

"I met the Suriel a year later. He must've taken pity on me and would visit me without being summoned. Sometimes, it'd be to tease me with some gossip. Other times, to annoy and chide me for my mistakes. Most importantly, he taught me how to not only survive on my own but live alone. I don't know, it's probably silly but I just felt a lot less lonely when I was actually alone than I do here."

“It’s not silly. I used to feel that way too.” Azriel admits and after a moment of silence, he’s turning toward you.  “Am I not your friend?”

“I don’t know,” you find yourself saying again, uncertainty clouding your expression. Pausing, you tear your gaze from the night sky to look at him. “Do you want to be?”

“Yes,” Azriel smiles at you. And so much more. 

You smile back at him but it doesn’t last long. Turning your head to face directly ahead, you bite the inside of your cheek in hesitation, revealing to Azriel that there’s more troubling you than your sense of loneliness.

“What else?” 

“There’s nothing else.”

“y/n.”

“I feel like a failure.”

Azriel's eyes widen, his heart sinking to his stomach. “You’re not,” he reassures quickly.

“I–I just,” you stammer, the weight of self-doubt evident in your voice. “It’s nearing four months since I’ve arrived, and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface with Elain.”

“How long did it take you to harness your abilities?”

“Decades,” you respond, the admission carrying a hint of sheepishness. “But Elain is different. This is different. I don’t want to disappoint her. Disappoint Feyre. The world we know is crumbling apart, and we don’t have time. If–if we cannot fix it before it’s too late, I will have failed him.”

“Hey, look at me.”

When you don’t, Azriel lightly grips your chin, coaxing your gaze to him. “You’re here, aren’t you? You’re honoring his wish by just being here. Keep trying,” he encourages, wiping away your tears. “I’ll be here with you every step of the way. You’re not alone. We’ll face this together.”

“Together?”

He releases his hold on you, resting his hand once more on the rail. This time, it’s even closer to yours.

“Together,” he confirms, heart swarming with warmth when your hand bridges the gap between you and brushes against his. 

And finally, it seems your lonely days are through.

Azriel’s been in love before. Twice. Or at least, he thought it was love. One was unrequited, a silent ache he carried within. The other was forbidden, a love he had clung to with misguided hope. He was beginning to come to the begrudging conclusion that love was simply not meant for him.

Then, you came along. Strange as it seems, you've seemed to have brought back that old feeling to him, awakening something deep inside of him. And though he doesn't know what you did, he thinks--he hopes that you could be the one. The one to possibly release him from the chains of solitude and longing.

You've rarely left his mind since the night he met you. The echoes of your first words to him lingered in his mind long after your encounter, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Your voice was cloaked in both mystery and certainty, as though you held the threads of destiny within your grasp. It prompted him to ask who you were but your answer, “that’s for you to decide” only gave rise to more questions. 

Then, there was that smile. So beautiful, so hopeful. It etched itself into the recesses of his memory. It was a smile no one had ever bestowed upon him before and one he longed to see it again.

And he almost ruined it all–that day he snapped at you after a session gone wrong with Elain. Your intentions were always pure. He knew this. No one was at fault as everything that transpired between you and Elain was completely consensual. But the scream that tore through Elain sent him in a heightened frenzy. He had sworn to Rhysand and Feyre, his High Lord and High Lady, that he would protect Elain. Before he could properly assess the situation, he had roughly pushed you aside with a growl. The hurt that flashed in your eyes in response haunted him nearly every night.

You began to actively avoid his gaze and presence whenever possible, and guilt gnawed at him relentlessly. Even his shadows, missing your attention, seemed angry with him. Truth be told, he was angry with himself too. You had made friends with everyone. Everyone but him.

The following two weeks became a series of futile attempts at groveling, your obliviousness to it all cutting deeper than he cared to admit. The breaking point came when you missed dinner, and he knew it was time to set things right then. So he sent his shadows to look for you and when they reported back to him that you were sleeping in the library, he brought your dinner to you.

After that moment, the atmosphere between you two shifted. He became the chaser, gradually closing the distance between you.

You looked his way more, approached him with a newfound openness, and your conversations became more frequent. You teased him at times, even, with your cryptic words. But rather than frustrating him, it only made him seek you out more. He wanted to be the one to unravel the mystery that was you.

Somewhere down the line, his eyes stopped searching for Elain's. The private moments he sought with her became mere echoes of the past—no more lingering touches, exchanged glances, or pointless conversations. Instead, it was you who occupied the center of his attention, infiltrating his dreams and igniting desires he never knew he harbored.

You eased him like no other, effortlessly coaxing smiles and laughter from him. It was in these moments that the realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—he had never truly been in love during the first two instances. What he felt for you was different. He was unwilling to let his feelings linger in the shadows, as they had done before. He yearned for them to step into the light. To be acknowledged and acted upon openly.

He decided to wait until after Solstice to confess to you and hoped that your visions wouldn't give him away.

Laughter and clinks of wine glasses ring through the air. Azriel knows it’s time to open presents, his shadows singing loudly and overwhelming him with information. Cassian is sneaking a peak. Rhysand is rolling his eyes. Elain got Lucien a present. y/n is holding back tears.

Azriel tenses at the last bit of information, eyes immediately finding you. You’re seated beside Feyre–the two of you exchanging smiles. There’s an unwrapped present on your lap and his shadows dart toward it. It’s a small portrait of the Suriel. He hears you thank Feyre and he swears he can feel your ache of grief. He moves to stand from his seat but Elain stops him.

“Happy Solstice,” she says, holding out a small present. He takes the box albeit reluctantly but politely and opens it to find two tickets to an upcoming play. 

Elain smiles at the frown he’s trying to hide.

"Elain, I can't--"

“Y/n mentioned always wanting to go see a play. I thought maybe you could be the one to take her. After you confess."

His eyes search hers for any traces of hurt. He’s relieved when he finds none but the frown in his brow remains. “How–”

“She trained me well," Elain replies, eyes shining with an all knowing gleam he's seen in yours. "She deserves to be happy. You both do and something tells me that she’s the one you’ve been waiting for.”

Gods, you and Elain have been hanging out so much with one another that now she’s beginning to talk like you. There's a tightening in his chest, like a band about to snap at her words.

Azriel looks back at Elain in question but she only smiles at him once more before retreating back to where she was sitting previously. Next to Lucien, who also sends a smile his way.

Looking down at the tickets, he thinks of you again. His shadows stir, mirroring the strange sensation in his chest. It’s almost like a pull and his shadows guide him toward it, turning his head for him. Just in time to catch a glimpse of you quietly slipping away from the festivities. His steps quicken as he follows you, pulling his coat along with him.

The soft flakes of snow flutter down, a delicate dance in the winter night. Despite weeks of continuous snowfall, the enchanting beauty of it never fails to captivate you. It differs markedly from the unforgiving snowstorms you endured while wandering the Night Court's forests. Though just as cold, it prompts an involuntary shiver, a reaction to the biting chill in the air.

As the door behind you creaks open, a rush of warmth accompanies its movement. The scent of cedar invades your senses, growing more intense as you feel a fabric drape over your shoulders, bringing forth an intimate warmth.

"Hey," Azriel breathes, a visible puff of white escaping his lips.

"Hi," you smile back at him, your fingers instinctively reaching for the coat that draped over your shoulders. You can't help but notice the thin sweater he wears. "Won't you be cold, though?"

Azriel stops you, securing his coat back onto your smaller frame with a reassuring smile. “I grew up in a camp where it snowed a lot more than this. I’ll be fine.”

You look back up at the night sky. The stars are shining so bright. It makes you wonder if they ever tire. They seem to answer you as their radiant beams cast a celestial glow upon you. Your vision blurs in surrender.

“What are you seeing?” Azriel inquires, curious. He hopes it's not the confession he's aching to spill.

Your eyebrows knit together, and you close your eyes, immersing yourself in deciphering the messages woven between the stars. Upon opening your eyes, you turn to Azriel, a teasing smirk playing on your lips.

“You're going to get frostbite."

Azriel lets out an amused huff. "I don't care. As long as you're warm."

"We should head back inside," you suggest.

"No," Azriel insists, enfolding a wing around your form, anchoring you in place. His shadows can sense you don't want to go back inside yet. "I like being alone with you."

The wind nips at your cheeks, a sensation you welcome as it gives the perfect excuse for the blush creeping across your face. Tearing your gaze away from Azriel before he can discern his effect on you, you quietly share, "Nyx is going to say his first word in three days."

Azriel leans forward and you can feel his anticipation. A familial bet circulates among his uncles and aunts (save for Elain) regarding what the young heir’s first word will be. “What is it?”

“Cas.”

Azriel can't resist glancing back toward the house, his eyes narrowing with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. There, he catches a fleeting glimpse of Cassian playfully hoisting Nyx in the air, the two engaged in a lively game of chase around the living room. When he turns his attention back to you, mischief twinkles in your eyes.

“You’re lying.”

“You fell for it."

And that smile he’s been longing for since he met you graces your lips as you laugh. A sweet and beautiful sound that warms the winter air. Azriel's gaze dips toward your lips, captivated by the sound, before lifting back to meet your eyes. He leans in even closer.

“I fell for you.”

You also lean in, eyes never leaving his. "The answer is yes."

"What?"

Azriel nearly stumbles back, caught off guard, but you remain close, lifting a hand and cradling his cheek. It's surprisingly warm and he instinctively leans into your touch. His eyes widen. Did you—

“To you taking me on a date,” you reveal, your smile deepening, and he swears his shadows snicker in response. “The vision I just saw. It was of me and you at a theater. Next Friday at seven.”

“Next Friday at seven,” Azriel confirms, a tender affection lighting up his expression.

The air seems to shimmer with the promise of an enchanting future. You reach out, tugging at the bond in your chest. Once again, there is only silence. Yet, you can’t bring yourself to care anymore. Not when Azriel is gazing at you as though you are the very stars illuminating the night sky.

And then you're kissing him.

The snow crunches underfoot as Azriel moves, his usually keen senses dulled. His mind is elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of you. Even as the icy missiles fly past him, Azriel remains lost in the memories of shared glances and smiles and the way your lips felt so perfect against his last night.

For the first time in years, Azriel finds himself on the losing side of the annual snowball fight. Oddly, no disappointment lingers, even after meticulous planning for this anticipated victory. All he wants is to return home—to you.

Amidst the snowy chaos, revelation strikes him simultaneously with a snowball from Rhysand. The snap, the bond—everything falls into place. It all makes sense now. Your words when you first met. Elain’s words last night at Solstice. Why your presence thrilled and delighted him. Why he couldn't shake the feeling of love and adoration for you.

You are his mate. 

The one he had been longing and pleading for, and the realization left him breathless. He shakes the snow from his face and Rhysand blinks back at him in surprise. The High Lord had been expecting a glare but he only finds pure shock on Azriel’s face.

“Oh come on, I didn’t hit you that hard,” he teases.

“I have to go.”

“If you leave, you’re forfeiting,” warns Cassian, but the glint in his eye betrays a desire for Azriel to leave, eager for a victory.

“I yield,” Azriel says mindlessly, surprising even Rhysand. Feeling his friend's talons probing his mind, Azriel throws up his shields and disappears into his shadows, abandoning the snow-covered battlefield. He'll explain later.

For now, he has to find you.

His shadows winnow him back to the River house and he doesn’t have to look for long because there you are, making your way down the last step and standing in his path. There’s not much that surprises you but that has changed since meeting Azriel and this moment is no different. Your eyes are widening, mouth parting.

“Azriel," you say. "What are you doing here? I thought you were–”

“It’s you,” Azriel interrupts breathlessly as if he was running, chest rising and falling quickly in step with the erratic beating of his heart. He’s bridging the distance between you. “All this time. It’s been you.”

You swallow thickly. “You know?”

The glimmer of hope that had ignited during Starfall returns to your eyes, revealing a world he hadn’t realized existed. How could he have been so blind?

Azriel smiles at you and it’s as if that’s the last piece to the puzzle as the bond between you both comes to life, singing loudly against your chests. He pulls you flush against him and spins you around, eliciting a delightful squeal from you. Cradling your face in his hands, he kisses your forehead, then the corners of your eyes. He saves your lips for last, lingering in the sweet taste of them for a moment longer.

“You’re my mate,” he says quietly, leaning his forehead against yours.

“Yes,” you manage to whisper back, surrendering yourself to the depths of his mesmerizing hazel eyes, just like in the vision from months ago. And it’s not you who speaks again but Azriel.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

a/n: hope you all enjoyed this (: It took me longer to write than I thought because i'm used to writing more angst for Az than fluff but I wanted this to be different. It's canon that Elain found out that reader and Az were mates through a vision around the same time she decided to give Lucien a chance. I just want them all to be happy ♡ in terms of my ABBA x ACOTAR series, I think I'll work on another one for Cas next inspired by Honey, Honey. If you'd like to be tagged, just let me know!

tagging: @hellodarling1357

if you want to read more about Az x Seer reader, I wrote a couple of bonus scenes that didn't quite make the final cut. You can read them here.

#azriel x reader #azriel imagine #azriel shadowsinger #acotar imagine #azriel x you #azriel x y/n #azriel acotar #azriel fluff #azriel angst #azriel fanfic #acotar #acotar fanfiction #acotar x reader #acotar x y/n #abba x acotar

[angstyhikka]

(Translations are in image alt description)

Continue development of the Colliestrophy :3

His physical form is unstable, dangerous and very chaotic, as you can see. Limbs are twisted at unimaginable angles, joints seem to be missing at all or there are too many of them, facial features are distorted beyond recognition in seconds.

Colliestrophy, unlike Collie, is completely incapable of hiding and controlling his emotions. He is thrown from one extreme to another, one moment he is crying into three streams, and then he destroys everything around, and then he falls into hysterical fun and makes all the islands dance the Abba dance and maintain the appearance of fun, making sure that no one can sleep, so that there is daylight all day long, and so that everything in the area is so bright that it burns your eyes

There is a moment in the plot when Philip needed to hide Collie in a fragment of his old prison so that the boy would not die from the blood of the Titan. After which he mysteriously disappeared, hiding the glass in the hollow three. And so a month passes, and Philip still does not return. And Collie manages to wrap himself up in thoughts that his best and only friend, almost his brother, seems to have abandoned him, and he is left alone again. How else can you explain where Philip could have gone EXACTLY at the same hour when he sealed Collie and swore that they would run away from the Clathornes TOGETHER and hide?

And when Philip finally finds Collie, releases him and explains where he went and what he was doing, this only worsened the situation, and Collie, enraged and exhausted by languishing in the fragment, eventually turns into Colliestrophe.

In this state, he does not want to delve into his feelings. He's offended. He's in pain. And at the same time, he wants intimacy. Colliestrophe prefers to pretend that nothing happened. He maintains the illusion of their perfect life, until his confrontation with Hunter. Pretends everything is fine. He is doing everything to gain Philip’s favor now, and maybe he will allow him to merge with him. He is almost ready to do this against Philip's will. But he is afraid. Doesn't want to become a rapist. He understands that such a screw-up cannot be made up for by anything later. And so he only begs:

“I still want to try. Even if it hurts. I feel like if I don't get this from you, I'll just die. This all feels like the end of the world

- Collie, brother, this is not the end of the world, believe me. Life doesn't end when you get rejected. It's painful, but not fatal.

“Well, if it hurts anyway,” Colley sobs, “ThEeeeen...

And he buries his face in his elbow.

“But I don’t want,” almost in a whisper, which still thunders like a meteor shower, “for you to get hurt...”

In the end, everything will be resolved well, but it won’t be very soon, and who knows how much the heroes will suffer and what they will have to endure until Colliestrophe becomes just a Collie again.

(Dialogue was written by Ludwig aka LasyMit)

#toh anarchist au #anarchist au #colliestrophe #phillip wittebane #emperor belos #phill the demon king

[seharschronicles]

Story of Ibrahim AS - Chapter 5

After months of traveling, Ibrahim AS brought his wife and newborn baby to a desert in Arabia. There was nothing there. No buildings. No houses. Just a desolated, empty desert.

Now Ibrahim AS receives another command. He's told to leave them both here and return towards Palestine, to Sarah. It was difficult for Hajrah AS in the desert with the child. But for a moment, Let's forget about that. Let's just try to understand the task given to our father, Ibrahim, AS.

For years, no child was born in his family. He faced injustice in life, being mistreated by his father and family. After some time, a son was born. But what happened next? Ibrahim AS was then told to leave this child.

We've been reading for years that Ibrahim AS didn't sacrifice Ismail AS, but he did sacrifice him when he left him in the desert. It was a sacrifice, wasnt it?

According to Abdullah bin Abbas, it is narrated that:

Ibrahim (AS) took his son Ismail and his mother along, towards the upper part of the place where later the Kaaba was built, near the Zamzam well, to a shaded place where signs of living were not visible for a long distance, neither was there any arrangement for water, nor was there anyone's presence. Ibrahim (AS) left a bag with them containing some dates and a water flask, then he tied his luggage and returned from where he came. Ismail's mother ran after him and started asking:

"O Ibrahim! Why are you leaving us alone in this valley, where there is no one to console or help us, and no other thing?' She kept repeating this question, and Ibrahim (AS) did not even look back to answer, until finally when she asked, 'Has Allah commanded you to do this?' Ibrahim (AS) replied: 'Yes,. To which Hajrah AS replied... 'Then He will not waste us away.' And it is also narrated that she said, 'Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.'

After saying this, Ibrahim AS walked away. Back to his and Sarah's world.

But what do you think? Was he happy to leave? No. He must have traveled alone for months to reach Palestine. Imagine: Allah gave you children after years, and then says to leave this child. Not leaving it with its mother or with relatives where there are comforts. No. Leave it in the desert where there isn't even water.

There were no cell phones. Nothing he could have used to inquire whether Hajrah AS and Ismail AS were fine after he left. How hurt must he be?

We focus on the event of sacrifice and say, "Yes, it was just a dream." Ibrahim AS came and started to sacrifice his son, but Allah put a sheep under the knife, so Ismail was saved from sacrifice.

But Ismail had already been sacrificed. Ibrahim had sacrificed his own son when he left him.

The lesson to learn here is: It's painful to leave something for the sake of Allah. It can't be without pain. The heart does become empty.

We believe that those good people who trust in Allah and leave things for Allah are not troubled by leaving, or their faith is so strong that it doesn't affect them. But that's not the case.

There is and will always be pain. And you will have to endure it. Help will come. But only after you are put through that pain.

#allah #islamdaily #quran #islamicreminder #lessons from quran #ayah from quran #islam #motivating quotes #prophetsaw #islamicquotes #islamquotes #islampost #islamicreminders #deen daily #deenislam #deenoverdunya

[coolksaposts]

New American Standard Bible The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

ContextHeirs with Christ …15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.…

Romans 8:15-17

John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--

Romans 8:10-17

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 8:10-17 If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.

[bakumatsu-assassin]

Personal Head Cannon - Tragedies and Failures

Within the lore of Assassin's Creed, it becomes evident that many of the main protagonists endure significant hardships and personal losses throughout their respective journeys. These unfortunate events are frequently connected to the operational strategies and core principles of the Assassin Brotherhood. Unlike organizations aligned with governments or societal hierarchies, the Assassins maintain their status as a clandestine and autonomous group, guided by their unique principles and objectives.

Frequently, Assassins are portrayed as assuming the roles of judge, jury, and executioner in their pursuit of justice, often sidestepping conventional legal systems and procedures. This tendency of the Assassins to act as unofficial arbiters of justice, bypassing traditional legal processes, contributes to a sense of distrust among the general population. The term "Assassin" typically does not inspire trust or confidence in the eyes of many.

As a result, the Assassins have often found themselves in a disadvantaged position when pitted against the Templars, who hold recognized positions within society. This has led to many Assassins experiencing significant personal losses and numerous defeats.

For instance, Altair Ibn-La'Ahad endured the loss of his wife and eldest son. Additionally, he confronted the daunting challenge of reclaiming leadership of the Brotherhood from Abbas. His final days were spent in solitude, succumbing to old age within the forgotten crypt beneath Masyaf.

Ezio Auditore, after delving into Altair's memories using the memory disks in "Assassin's Creed: Revelations," made the decision to retire from his role as an Assassin. He chose to dedicate his remaining years to the pursuit of peace, free from the conflicts and burdens of his former life.

However, the good fortune that Ezio enjoyed did not extend to future generations within the Assassin Brotherhood.

Edward Kenway, who transitioned from a life of piracy to become an Assassin, devoted himself to raising his son. Tragically, his journey took a harrowing turn when he fell victim to Reginald Birch, a former ally from their privateer days who later became a formidable adversary. Following Edward's demise, his son, Haytham Kenway, was kidnapped and groomed within the Templar Order.

Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, embarked on a mission to support the American Revolution with the primary aim of safeguarding his village and its inhabitants. Yet, his path was fraught with heart-wrenching trials. One of the most profound betrayals he endured was at the hands of the very Founding Fathers he sought to assist, a betrayal that added to his growing burden of sorrow.

Connor also grappled with the loss of his mentor and father figure, Achilles Davenport, whose guidance had been a guiding light in his life and an integral part of his Assassin training. This loss left a void that Connor struggled to fill. Perhaps the most agonizing ordeal he faced was the painful necessity of confronting and ultimately ending the life of his own father, Haytham Kenway, who had chosen a path in opposition to Connor's ideals. Additionally, he had to cope with the tragic loss of his best friend, Kanen'tó:kon, in a harrowing confrontation. In the end, he found himself with nothing.

Jacob and Evie Frye, after successfully getting rid of the Templar influence in London, had a goal to create a new generation of Assassins to ensure the city's future safety and success. Unfortunately, things took a dark turn when Jack the Ripper, a notorious figure, started causing chaos in London.

What made this situation even more upsetting was the revelation that Jack the Ripper had once been trained by the Brotherhood, meaning he was a former member who had abandoned their principles, choosing violence and terror instead. The fact that someone who was once an ally had become a ruthless serial killer added complexity and moral dilemmas to the situation.

Confronted with Jack the Ripper's reign of terror, the London Assassins faced an extremely tough situation. They had to make a hard and morally complicated decision to hide the fact that Jack had been a member of their organization in the past. This choice was driven by several factors, including the desire to protect the Brotherhood's reputation and the fear of potential consequences from the authorities.

Just before the 21st century, a significant event in the world of Assassin's Creed brought about a dangerous time for the Assassin Brotherhood. They were trying to adapt to the modern world and fit into contemporary society while seeking new ways to pursue their ideals. Unfortunately, this effort went terribly wrong, leading to serious consequences.

During the Purge of 2000, the Assassins became the targets of a carefully planned global campaign orchestrated by the Templars. This relentless operation aimed to systematically locate and eliminate Assassin members all over the world, with the ultimate goal of erasing their presence and wiping out their influence.

Tragically, the Assassin Brotherhood's trust in certain individuals turned out to be a double-edged sword. What was meant to be a source of support and cooperation became a fatal weakness. Sadly, the people they had devoted themselves to protecting started to develop fear and suspicion toward them, eventually turning against the Assassins. This erosion of trust and the resulting backlash presented an immense challenge to the Assassins and their fundamental mission.

This is why the Assassins are frequently at a disadvantage. In the world of Assassin's Creed, choosing the life of an Assassin typically leads to a constant struggle, where you're either evading the law for the rest of your days or, ultimately, facing a tragic end.

#personal headcanon #lets be real here #being an Assassin in the AC verse would suck badly #nothing good ever comes from wearing an edgy hood

[labbaik-ya-hussain-as]

*I sometimes ponder late at night.*.

I sometimes ponder late at night۔

How do the stars shine so bright۔

The more the darkness the more they light.

It reminds me all of Hussain’s(a.s) might.

How in those trials he stood so upright?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Removing that dagger from his Akbar’s chest.

Was that my Hussain’s gravest test ?

Or was it digging the sands to put Asghar at rest.

Or the parting from a daughter sobbing and distressed.

The last hug from Sakina was how tight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Was it more heartbreaking to give Qasim(a.s) permission.

Or not allowing Abbas(a.s) his lifelong mission.

His children possessed with fear and hunger.

While he must now leave the camps forever.

How can sacrifices reach such height?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Qasim’s peices or Abbas’s alam?

Or lifting the body of his young son?

Did he feel worse or did he feel better?

When a messenger brought his Sugra’s(sa) letter.

Obliged to reply, what did he write?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

They killed his Abbas(as) they killed his Akbar(as).

They slaughtered and denied water to his Asghar(as).

In such adversaries, a tranquil soul !

Yearning to fulfil his ultimate goal.

How was his face so calm and bright?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

These griefs and sorrows are so intense.

The pains of Hussain(a.s) are beyond our sense.

One cannot even bear to write.

A Being endowed with Divine’s might.

How did he endure the restraint in fight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

How could Zainab(sa) not cry for her sons?

How painful were those Ashura drums?

How did hell not break from the clouds?

While the bodies laid without shrouds.

How did Sajjad(a.s) bear that sight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Should she bury herself with her daughter’s body?

Or go to the grave of her baby’s body?

Karbala has Asghar(as), Shaam has Sakina. (sa)

What will Rabab(sa) now do in Madina ?

How did a mother deal with her plight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

How does this mourning perpetually grow?

New tributes, new eulogies continue to flow.

A heat in hearts with such strong glow.

Which tears even fall short to show.

How does this miracle keep inspiring insight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Wings are given to an angel from heaven!

No sons in destiny? Rahib you get seven!

“O Hurr, by me and by my Lord you are forgiven!”

Is there a jurisdiction to Hussain’s(as) provision?

What secrets do these events highlight?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

Had Hussain(as) not been our life’s syllabus.

To the realities of existence we would’ve been oblivious.

His remembrance is what provides some stimulus.

These days and nights are otherwise so frivolous.

When with our Maula(as) shall we unite?

I sometimes ponder late at night.

When will our LORD Your Mahdi appear.

“To them it seems far, to us near“ *

So whenever our Lord YOU send Your Heir.

By Your Hussain let ‘ali hasan breathe that air.

How beautiful would it be to see God’s Light(atf) !

I sometimes ponder late at night.

----

* Holy Quran -(Al Ma’arij 70: 6&7) and Dua Ahad’s ending.

*«إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيداً وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيباً.»

“Surely, they think it to be far off, and We see it near.” -

Ali hasan Bhagat

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Saturday, September 9, 2023

august 27_september 9

VENERABLE PIMEN THE GREAT  (450).

Saint Pimen the Great was born about the year 340 in Egypt. He went to one of the Egyptian monasteries with his two brothers, Anoub and Paisius, and all three received monastic tonsure. The brothers were such strict ascetics that when their mother came to the monastery to see her children, they did not come out to her from their cells. The mother stood there for a long time and wept. Then Saint Pimen said to her through the closed door of the cell, “Do you wish to see us now, or in the future life?” Saint Pimen promised that if she would endure the sorrow of not seeing her children in this life, then surely she would see them in the next. The mother was humbled and returned home.

Fame of Saint Pimen’s deeds and virtues spread throughout the land. Once, the governor of the district wanted to see him. Saint Pimen, shunning fame, thought to himself, “If dignitaries start coming to me and show me respect, then many other people will also start coming to me and disturb my quiet, and I shall be deprived of the grace of humility, which I have acquired only with the help of God.” So he refused to see the governor, asking him not to come.

For many of the monks, Saint Pimen was a spiritual guide and instructor. They wrote down his answers to serve for the edification of others besides themselves. A certain monk asked, “If I see my brother sinning, should I conceal his fault?” The Elder answered, “If we reproach the sins of brothers, then God will reproach our sins. If you see a brother sinning, do not believe your eyes. Know that your own sin is like a beam of wood, but the sin of your brother is like a splinter (Mt. 7:3-5), and then you will not enter into distress or temptation.”

Another monk said to the saint, “I have sinned grievously and I want to spend three years at repentance. Is that enough time?” The Elder replied, “That is a long time.” The monk continued to ask how long the saint wished him to repent. Perhaps only a year? Saint Pimen said, “That is a long time.” The other brethren asked, “Should he repent for forty days?” The Elder answered, “I think that if a man repents from the depths of his heart and has a firm intention not to return to the sin, then God will accept three days of repentance.”

When asked how to get rid of persistent evil thoughts, the saint replied, “This is like a man who has fire on his left side, and a vessel full of water on his right side. If he starts burning from the fire, he takes water from the vessel and extinguishes the fire. The fire represents the evil thoughts placed in the heart of man by the Enemy of our salvation, which can enkindle sinful desires within man like a spark in a hut. The water is the force of prayer which impels a man toward God.”

Saint Pimen was strict in his fasting and sometimes would not partake of food for a week or more. He advised others to eat every day, but without eating their fill. Abba Pimen heard of a certain monk who went for a week without eating, but had lost his temper. The saint lamented that the monk was able to fast for an entire week, but was unable to abstain from anger for even a single day.

To the question of whether it is better to speak or be silent, the Elder said, “Whoever speaks on account of God, does well, and whoever is silent on account of God, that one also does well.”

He also said, “If man seems to be silent, but his heart condemns others, then he is always speaking. There may be a man who talks all day long, but he is actually silent, because he says nothing unprofitable.”

The saint said, “It is useful to observe three things: to fear God, to pray often, and to do good for one’s neighbor.”

“Wickedness never eradicates wickedness. If someone does evil to you, do good to them, and your goodness will conquer their wickedness.”

Once, after Saint Pimen and his disciples arrived at the monastery of Scetis, he learned that the Elder living there was annoyed at his arrival and was also jealous of him, because monks were leaving the Elder to see Abba Pimen.

In order to console the hermit, the saint went to him with his brethren, taking food with them as a present. The Elder refused to receive them, however. Then Saint Pimen said, “We shall not depart from here until we are permitted to see the holy Elder.” He remained standing at the door of the cell in the heat. Seeing Saint Pimen’s humility and patience, the Elder received him graciously and said, “Not only is what I have heard about you true, but I see that your works are a hundred times greater.”

He possessed such great humility that he often sighed and said, “I shall be cast down to that place where Satan was cast down!”

Once, a monk from another country came to the saint to receive his guidance. He began to speak about sublime matters difficult to grasp. The saint turned away from him and was silent. They explained to the bewildered monk that the saint did not like to speak of lofty matters. Then the monk began to ask him about the struggle with passions of soul. The saint turned to him with a joyful face, “Now you have spoken well, and I will answer.” For a long while he provided instruction on how one ought to struggle with the passions and conquer them.

Saint Pimen died at age 110, about the year 450. Soon after his death, he was acknowledged as a saint pleasing to God. He was called “the Great” as a sign of his great humility, uprightness, ascetic struggles, and self-denying service to God.

THE PRIESTMARTYR KUKSHA AND THE MONK PIMEN THE FASTER OF THE KIEV NEAR CAVE. (1144)

Words are redundant where deeds speak clearly for themselves. The holy Martyr Kuksha was one of the elders of the Kiev Cave Monastery.

He set out to bring Orthodoxy to pagan Vyatich tribes and baptized many of them into the Holy Church.

He was a great wonderworker and preacher.

The blessed man and his disciple were taken captives by the pagans and endured terrible tortures from them. Finally, the martyrs were beheaded.

At the same time, the Holy Righteous Pimen the Faster was struggling at the Cave Monastery. For his asceticism, the Lord granted him the gift of healing and prophecy.

The martyrdom of St. Kuksha had been revealed to St. Pimen before it occurred. On the day of his death, St. Pimen stood in the middle of the monastery church and loudly proclaimed, ‘Our brother Kuksha has been killed this day.’

St. Pimen himself reposed that very day together with his spiritual son Kuksha.

Source: Kiev cave Lavra

GALATIANS 5:22-6:2

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

MATTHEW 4:25-5:12

25 Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #easternorthodoxchurch #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #bible #wisdom #Saints

[cassianus]

Abba Isaac, as a man transformed by the grace of God, becomes as teacher as Christ is Teacher. He comes in love and humility offering freely and tenderly renewed health to the others and arousing within them the appetite and desire for Life. He does this respecting the mystery and uniqueness of each person; understanding that he must allow others to take their own path to freedom. Abba Isaac guides but does not constrain what must be given room to grow and breath. Even if he knows you better than you know yourself, Abba Isaac realizes that you must come to see these realities yourself; you must come to see the beauty of God's grace and what he has made you to be. You must be allowed to knit together your life and learn where to find hope. Abba Isaac lays out clearly the trials that we will face but leaves us to face them when and how they come to us. His gift to us is to teach us to diagnose our own sickness, see where are passions lie, use our own experience to map out the path the set before us. As teacher he leads us to the Kingdom of freedom in Christ in order that we might drink from the living springs of water that well up within us. And all of this Isaac gives in order that we might lead and nourish others; that like Christ we might live and die constantly in order that others might live.

“You do not save man with advice and exhortations from outside. Nor do you offer him freedom by telling him, "Do whatever you want."

Wordlessly, like a sun of tender love and a fresh breeze of courage, your love needs to be able to give him health and arouse within him his own person appetite for life.

This happens with Abba Isaac. He is wholly on fire, and passes on the mystery of cooling fire, the mystery of the Church. A love proceeds from his being which provides the other with a space for freedom; it gives him possibilities for realizing his own self.

He embraces the other in leaving him free in his entirety.

He knows you. He understand you. He leaves you free to move, to get to know your being and your endurance, the nature of things and their beauty.

In this life and this environment freedom is not just a permissible state of affairs, but an indispensable presupposition. "It behooves us to observe our liturgy in complete freedom, far from every childish and disquieting thought."

He speaks calmly and simply. Clearly and in hints. So that each person can take a thread, a strand of wool to knit his own garment to fit the body of his own being; to warm his bones and hatch out his hope.

He informs us of the trials facing those who engage in the struggle at the various stages of spiritual life. And he concludes: "You may comprehend the subtle pathways of your mind by the kinds of trials that beset you." "Examine in which of these passions you are alive, and then you will know in which parts you are alive to the world, and in which you are dead."

He leaves us to understand for ourselves where we stand, to diagnose our own sickness: "Blessed is the man who knows his own weakness, because this knowledge becomes to him the foundation, the root and the beginning of all goodness." He helps us to flee for refuge to Him who is strong: "Whoever subjects himself to God is near to having all things subject to him."

He leads us by the hand towards the true knowledge of man, which is the fount of the knowledge of all things: "When a man knows himself, the knowledge of all things is granted to him."

"Whoever desires to learn these things, let him make his way on to the past indicated above; let his doing of them follow up his consideration of them!" "For the testimony of his own understanding is sufficient to persuade him above endless words having no experience behind them."

"Our intellect . . . is able of itself to move toward the good uninstructed." And he urges: "Be diligent to enter into the treasury that is within you, and you will see the treasury of heaven: for these are one and the same." "Be peaceful within yourself, and heaven and earth will be at peace with you."

"And when in actuality a man has come to these things, he himself will learn by himself, and will need no one else to teach him."

That is where the true teacher leads us: to the "kingdom of freedom", to the point where we do not need a teacher. Where we find the spring which flows, or is able to flow, within us. Where we drink from our own spring. Where our whole being becomes a flowing spring.

Spiritual knowledge and contemplation "immaterially manifests itself within the soul by the grace of God, suddenly and unexpectedly, and it is revealed from within. For 'the Kingdom of the heavens is within you.'

Then you quench your own thirst and the thirst of others. You learn to be active and still. You find relaxation in toil, and renewal in old age, in the passing of time. And the ocean of eternal life in the ultimate death and immobility of everything. "He regards fearful death as a joy."

Thus you teach and keep silent, you are nourished and nourish, you live and die constantly. All in the same action. And this action raises up the true man and reveals him as god-man by grace, as a true light.”

Archimandrite Vasileios

Abbot of Iveron Monastery, Mount Athos

Abba Issac the Syrian

An Approach to His World

[dailytafsirofquran]

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayah 78-81

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

5:78 Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud and `Isa, son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing (beyond the bounds).

5:79 They used not to forbid one another from the evil they committed.

Vile indeed was what they used to do.

5:80 You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their friends.

Evil indeed is that which they have sent forward before themselves; for that (reason) Allah is wrath with them, and in torment they will abide.

5:81 And had they believed in Allah, and in the Prophet and in what has been revealed to him, never would they have taken them as friends; but many of them are rebellious.

Allah Cursed the Disbelievers Among the Children of Israel

Allah says;

Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud and `Isa, son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing (beyond the bounds).

Allah states that He has cursed the disbelievers among the Children of Israel long ago, and revealed this fact to His Prophets Dawud and `Isa, son of Maryam. He cursed them because they disobeyed Allah and transgressed against His creatures.

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said, "They were cursed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the

Zabur (Psalms) and the Furqan (Qur'an).'' Allah then states that during their time, their habit was that,  

They used not to forbid one another from the evil they committed.

They did not forbid each other from committing sins and the prohibitions. Allah chastised them for this behavior, so that their behavior would not be imitated.

Allah said,

Vile indeed was what they used to do.

Hadiths that Order Enjoining Righteousness and Forbidding Evil

There are many Hadiths that order enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman said that the Prophet said,

By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, or Allah will send a punishment on you from Him. Then, you will supplicate to Him, but He will not accept your supplication.

At-Tirmidhi also recorded it and said, "This Hadith is Hasan.''

Muslim recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah said,

He among you who witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand, if he cannot do that, then by his tongue, if he cannot do even that, then with his heart, and this is the weakest faith.

Abu Dawud said that Al-Urs, (meaning Ibn Amirah), said that the Prophet said,

When sin is committed on the earth, then whoever witnesses it and hates - (once he said): forbids it, will be like those who did not witness it. Whoever was absent from it, but agreed with it, will be like those who witness it.

Only Abu Dawud recorded this Hadith. Abu Dawud recorded that one of the Companions said that the

Prophet said,

The people will not perish until they do not leave -or- have any excuse for themselves.

Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah gave a speech once and said,

Behold! Fear from people should not prevent one from saying the truth if he knows it.

Abu Sa`id then cried and said, "By Allah! We have seen some errors, but we feared (the people).''

Another Hadith that Abu Sa`id narrated states that the Messenger of Allah said,

The best Jihad is a word of truth proclaimed before an unjust ruler.

Recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah.

At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib from this route of narration.''

Imam Ahmad recorded that Hudhayfah said that the Prophet said,

It is not required of the Muslim that he humiliate himself. They said, `How does one humiliate himself?'' he said;

He takes on trials that he is not capable of enduring. This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-

Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih Gharib.''

Censuring the Hypocrites

Allah said,

You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their friends.

Mujahid said that this Ayah refers to the hypocrites.

Allah's statement,

Evil indeed is that which they have sent forward before themselves; by giving their loyalty and support to the disbelievers, instead of the believers. This evil act caused them to have hypocrisy in their hearts and brought them the anger of Allah, that will remain with them until the Day of Return.

Allah said;

for that (reason) Allah is wrath with them. because of what they did.

Allah next said that,

in torment they will abide. on the Day of Resurrection.

Allah's statement,

And had they believed in Allah, and in the Prophet and in what has been revealed to him, never would they have taken them as friends.

meaning, had they sincerely believed in Allah, His Messenger and the Qur'an, they would not have committed the evil act of supporting the disbelievers in secret and being enemies with those who believe in Allah, the Prophet and what was revealed to him,

but many of them are rebellious.

disobedient to Allah and His Messenger and defiant of the Ayat of His revelation that He sent down.

#god #allah #islam #quran #ayat #hadith #dua #religion #pray #prayer #salah #muslim #muslimah #hijab #revert #revert to islam #convert #convert to islam #help #revert help #islam help #revert help team #welcome to islam #how to convert to islam

[basicsofislam]

THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET (PBUH) : Superiority of belief

We believed in the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) without seeing him; on the other hand, the companions believed in him by seeing. Is our belief superior or is the belief of companions superior?

The birth of every human is based on (divine) providence and wisdom. Humans do not decide the time period they live in. The time period which is prescribed for us by Allah is the most auspicious time for us. For, living in the time of the companions does not and cannot necessarily mean that we were to be a companion. There is also a possibility to become a person like Abu Jahl of that time. Is there a guarantee for us to endure the torment that was inflicted upon the family of Yasir, whose bodies were split into two by being pulled away from their feet and then to die with belief?      

Some people that will come at the end of time are praised and described as “my brother” by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the aim of this is to attract attention to the terrific mischiefs of the end of time and to praise people who protect their belief in the time of disorder and mischief. The issue of being superior to the companions is related to some personal virtues. Otherwise, in general terms, the grace of the companions cannot be surpassed.

Here are the reasons why the grace of the companions in general terms cannot be reached:

Companions cannot be surpassed in terms of the effect of the conversation of prophethood.

Yes, they cannot be surpassed in terms of the conversation of the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) with them. For, the conversation of prophethood of the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) has a quality that nobody has. The conversation of the prophet is an elixir. A person who listens to his conversation for one minute and be honored with it changes with that elixir. ( See Tafsiru'l-Qurani'l-Azim, IV, 305; Hayatu’s-Sahaba III, 141, 279, 281, 282 (As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) likened a good person to someone who sells musk and stated that a person had the same religion as his friend. The Companions are his friends who smelled the scent of prophethood and was inspired by his talks.) See also Jawahiru'l-Bukhari p. 231; Sharhu'l-Aqidati’t-Tahawiya II, 691-692; It is stated that the privilege of having talks with the Messenger of Allah makes the first Companions superior to those coming after them because the latter are not equal to the former. (The situation of those who never had any talks with him is obvious.) To become a sahaba (companion) means to talk, to accompany, to be friends and to be obedient. al-Qamusu'l-Muhit, I, 93; as-Sawaiqu'l-Muhriqa p. 212; Sharhu'l-Maqasid, V, 319. ) Such an individual becomes a companion of him. He turns into diamond from coal. Such a person is honored with the lights of truth that are gained in the ways of sainthood for many years. Such a person is colored by the light of the sun of prophethood. For, in every conversation of him, there is a quality of coloring. The companions who are the students of the prophet are colored with the paint of the greatest prophet in terms of his spiritual level, sainthood and prophethood. From this perspective, that spiritual paint cannot be applied in that manner and quality after the age of prophethood. Those who came later on, though even if they are Muslims and believers, cannot have that quality. ( Ibn-i Abbas (RA) says their one hour spending together with the Prophet is better than your forty years.  see Sharhu'l-Aqidati’t-Tahawiya II, 693. [3] Subulus-Salam, IV, 127. ) They cannot be caught up with in terms of virtue which is gained in that way. Besides, the conversation of the Apostle of Allah is reflected on the mirror of their hearts, that sun penetrates into their hearts without a veil and into their spiritual senses. Here there are two parties: one of them one is the party that reflects and the other is the party that has a manifestation of that reflection. The qualities of the reflecting one pass to those who are honored and to their mirrors. They also become a kind of sun; they become stars that are lit by the light of the sun of prophethood and become the lights of truth. With this honoring and mirroring and their obedience to him by turning their visions along with the greatest light of prophethood, the companions reach the highest levels.

After the death of the Apostle of Allah, some people like Jalaladdin Suyuti saw and talked with the prophet (PBUH) in the state of yaqaza, which is in between sleep and wakefulness. However, their conversation did not have a prophetic aspect but made with the aspect of sainthood.  The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) appeared to them in the form of a saint. For, with the death of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), revelation and the prophethood ended. It is not possible to see him in the form of prophethood after his death and to become a companion.

So, the degree of prophethood is higher than the degree of sainthood; in the same way, there is a difference of conversation between a prophet and a saint.

The Virtue and Honor that are present in the conversation of Prophethood is very great.

As-Sanani, who is one the great scholars of Zaydis (A.H. 1059-1182) explains the aspect of auspiciousness of companions of the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) in several ways as follows:

The first one is that the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) informs in his glorious hadiths that his age is the most auspicious time period. It is clearly understood that the people that are mentioned in this and similar hadiths are the ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who lived in his time and gathered around him like the parts of a body and thus becoming parts of a machinery just like in a factory. People who came after them are called “Tabi’in”; the followers of companions. They are also followed by people who come next. ( Subulus-Salam, IV, 127. )  

The second one: all scholars agree that companions are superior individually. Some of them also think that all companions are more virtuous than the people of other ages.  People who fought in the battle of Badr and those who were present in Hudaybiyya are more virtuous than the people who came after them whether they are companions or not. According to the second view, all companions are more virtuous than all of those who came after them. ( ibid, IV, 127; see also al-Jami'Li Ahkami'l-Quran IV, 170, Sharhu'l-Aqidati’t-Tahawiya II, 691 etc. Ibn Qutayba, Abdullah b. Muslim, Ta'wilu Mukhtalifi'l-Hadith, Beirut, 1985, p. 107-108. )

What is understood from here is that all scholars of Islam who study on hadiths along with its commentators and interpreters have a common agreement on the virtuousness of companions from the point of view of Islamic jurisprudence. ( Kalam and religious methodology scholars stated their views about caliphate regarding the issue. )

Companions cannot be surpassed in terms of the environment of prophethood which trained them.

The environment has an important effect in training humans. The Companions who are the friends of the Apostle of Allah are mostly at the highest level of virtue because there was a great revolution at that time and all beauty of righteousness and trueness became clear with the revolution of Islam along with the revelation of the whole ugliness of the evil and superstitions. This became possible with the clear separation of the party of righteousness and trueness from the party of evil and superstition. On the one hand, a rightful prophet and on the other hand, the Pharaoh of Islamic ummah, Abu Jahl, and those who claim prophethood; on the one hand, there was endless mercy and compassion and on the other hnad, there existed the hardness and wildness of burying one’s own daughter without any mercy ; on the one hand, a prophet (PBUH) who is at the summit of perfection and his companions and on the other hand, the leaders of unbelief who were active in every kind of disgrace and polytheists of the lower of the low.  

In such an environment, companions who had endless perfection of morality, would certainly follow the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) who is the best example of trueness, goodness and declarer of rightness and the best example of his cause. They were dyed with his paint because this is the only thing to be done in such an environment.

The Era of Bliss is like  very rainy fertile land.

In one of his hadiths, the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) tells about the environment of prophethood by giving an example from the characteristics of the physical environment: Abu Musa (RA) reported the following from the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) :

“The guidance and knowledge that Allah sent with me is like the abundant rain falling on the ground. Some of the places that rain falls on are good. They accept the water, absorb it and produce grass and plants. Some of the places that rain falls on are arid; they hold the water on the surface; they do not absorb it. Thus, Allah makes that water beneficial for people. They drink it and give it to their animals, and make them graze. Some of the places that rain falls on are flat deserts that do not hold water on the surface and do not produce any grass. This metaphor represents the people who learn, teach and benefit from what I have brought and those who does not heed knowledge and guidance and do not accept the guidance of Allah who sent me.” ( Riyadu’s-Salihin, p. 149, no: 162; Majma'ut-Tafasir (Lubabu’t-Ta'wil). III, 483. )

#Allah #god #islam #quran #muslim #revert #revert islam #convert islam #convert help #reverthelp #revert help #revert help team #help #islam help #salah #dua #prayer #pray #reminder #religion #mohammad #muslimah #hijab #new muslim #new revert #new convert #how to convert to islam #convert to islam #welcome to islam

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

5th June >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Pentecost 

(Liturgical Colour: Red)

First Reading

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

   Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34

R/ Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth. or R/ Alleluia!

Bless the Lord, my soul!    Lord God, how great you are, How many are your works, O Lord!    The earth is full of your riches.

R/ Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth. or R/ Alleluia!

You take back your spirit, they die,    returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created;    and you renew the face of the earth.

R/ Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth. or R/ Alleluia!

May the glory of the Lord last for ever!    May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to him.    I find my joy in the Lord.

R/ Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth. or R/ Alleluia!

Second Reading

Romans 8:8-17

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God.

People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

   So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.

   Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Sequence

Veni, sancte Spiritus

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor, Come with treasures which endure Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best, Thou, the soul’s delightful guest, Dost refreshing peace bestow

Thou in toil art comfort sweet Pleasant coolness in the heat Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine, Visit thou these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill:

If thou take thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew On our dryness pour thy dew Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will Melt the frozen, warm the chill Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend:

Give us comfort when we die Give us life with thee on high Give us joys that never end.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!

Either:

Gospel

John 14:15-16,23-26

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever.

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words. And my word is not my own: it is the word of the one who sent me. I have said these things to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

Gospel

John 20:19-23

As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: receive the Holy Spirit.

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[jfarvin]

https://youtu.be/ZyMD6swmuUE?si=qIT2jQCo-sHJuD9y Romans 5:3-53 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Time and time again, I may lose sight of You, briefly and again, and again, repeatedly, You make known to me Your presence. 

 I can't help myself, You are worthy of all my praise.  

Slipping, sliding, I reach for You, and You are there. You're always there, You never leave.

You steady me with Your righteous right hand.

Glory and honor to You, my Lord and my God.

I never want to lose sight of You, Lord, never... ever...

For I know You dwell in my praises.

Praise will be on my lips, always...

Glory, honor, and praise be unto You, Lord...

ToDa, Abba, ToDa

jfa

#again and again

[uncommonlypastel]

2:33 PM - Dec 13, 2023

Today, I stumbled upon Abba's song called Angel Eyes and it reminded me of the reality I might face. It is the fear I'm not ready to face. One day, I'll be seeing you both, happy and untroubled. Just like us before, it's you and him against the world. I'll witness the way you look at him is like the way you looked at me before. Full of spark and joy.

"Last night, I was taking a walk along the river And I saw him together with a young girl And the look that he gave her made me shiver 'Cause he always used to look at me that way"

"Sometimes when I'm lonely, I sit and think about him And it hurts to remember all the good times When I thought I could never live without him And I wonder, does it have to be the same Every time? When I see him, will it bring back all the pain?"

I'm not in good shape. I yearn to cry, but my tears have run dry. It seems my existence is solely to endure each day as if I'm waiting for a positive turn of events. Every path, perspective, and plan I undertake brings your memory to mind. The unanswered questions and what-ifs consume me. I vividly recall the night you told me that I would never be enough. Up to this day, I still keep questioning the universe, of all the people in this world, why does it have to be me who needs to experience these things.

[dfroza]

“The truth is that anyone who does not have the Spirit of the Anointed living within does not belong to God.”

“The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family.”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 8th chapter of the letter of Romans:

Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death. God did something the law could never do. You see, human flesh took its toll on God’s law. In and of itself, the law is not weak; but the flesh weakens it. So to condemn the sin that was ruling in the flesh, God sent His own Son, bearing the likeness of sinful flesh, as a sin offering. Now we are able to live up to the justice demanded by the law. But that ability has not come from living by our fallen human nature; it has come because we walk according to the movement of the Spirit in our lives.

If you live your life animated by the flesh—namely, your fallen, corrupt nature—then your mind is focused on the matters of the flesh. But if you live your life animated by the Spirit—namely, God’s indwelling presence—then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. You see, a mind focused on the flesh is declaring war against God; it defies the authority of God’s law and is incapable of following His path. So it is clear that God takes no pleasure in those who live oriented to the flesh.

But you do not live in the flesh. You live in the Spirit, assuming, of course, that the Spirit of God lives inside of you. The truth is that anyone who does not have the Spirit of the Anointed living within does not belong to God. If the Anointed One lives within you, even though the body is as good as dead because of the effects of sin, the Spirit is infusing you with life now that you are right with God. If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.

So, my brothers and sisters, you owe the flesh nothing! You do not need to live according to its ways, so abandon its oppressive regime. For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children. You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy. Through that prayer, God’s Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children. If we are God’s children, that means we are His heirs along with the Anointed, set to inherit everything that is His. If we share His sufferings, we know that we will ultimately share in His glory.

Now I’m sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. For all of creation is waiting, yearning for the time when the children of God will be revealed. You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God’s. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. And there is more; it’s not just creation—all of us are groaning together too. Though we have already tasted the firstfruits of the Spirit, we are longing for the total redemption of our bodies that comes when our adoption as children of God is complete— for we have been saved in this hope and for this future. But hope does not involve what we already have or see. For who goes around hoping for what he already has? But if we wait expectantly for things we have never seen, then we hope with true perseverance and eager anticipation.

A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words. Don’t you know that He who pursues and explores the human heart intimately knows the Spirit’s mind because He pleads to God for His saints to align their lives with the will of God? We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory.

So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him? Can anyone be so bold as to level a charge against God’s chosen? Especially since God’s “not guilty” verdict is already declared. Who has the authority to condemn? Jesus the Anointed who died, but more importantly, conquered death when He was raised to sit at the right hand of God where He pleads on our behalf. So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God’s Anointed? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. As the psalm says,

On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly;

we are like sheep awaiting slaughter.

But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him who loved us. For I have every confidence that nothing—not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing—can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord.

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 8 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation:

The power of sin and death has been eclipsed by the power of the Spirit. The Spirit breathes life into our mortal, sin-infested bodies—thanks to what Jesus has done for us. By sending His Son in “the likeness of sinful flesh,” God judges sin finally and completely. The sins of the world are concentrated and condemned in the flesh of Jesus as He hangs on the cross. So now there is no condemnation remaining for those who’ve entered into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

As Paul ponders the story of redemption, he finds in the family unit a beautiful image of what salvation means. Those who enter into God’s salvation are adopted into God’s family. Before we receive the gift of God’s grace, we are homeless orphans searching for some place to belong. But now all that has changed. The Father reaches out through His Son to all those orphaned by sin and death, and He brings them into His family. We are adopted into His forever family and fully enfranchised as His heirs.

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 59th chapter of the book of Isaiah:

The Eternal One’s reach is not so short that He cannot save you.

His ear is not so deaf that He cannot hear you.

Your persistent wrongdoing has come between you and your God;

since you constantly reject and push God away,

He had to turn aside and ignore your cries.

For your hands are covered with blood;

your fingers are sticky with all manner of crimes;

Your lips drip vicious lies;

your tongue mutters all manner of wickedness.

Everyone misuses the judicial system,

clogging it with twisted accusations and misleading testimony.

With empty charges and baseless lies

they conceive trouble and give birth to injustice.

They concoct and create the most poisonous things;

it’s as if they hatch vipers’ eggs or weave spiders’ webs.

Eat their eggs and die; crush one and a viper is hatched—

yet more poison, hurt, and distrust.

There is nothing of value in their creations—

the webs they weave are not fit to clothe or cover anyone.

The products they make are nothing but trouble;

violence comes naturally to them.

Their feet race to do evil;

they rush to shed innocent blood;

Their thoughts are bent toward injustice;

destruction and trouble line the roads of their lives.

They never travel the path of peace;

no justice is found where they have been.

They set a course down crooked roads;

no one who follows their lead has a chance of knowing peace.

People: That’s why we can’t make things right;

good and true can’t gain any ground on us.

We look earnestly for a bright spot, but there isn’t

even a glimmer of hope; it’s darkness all around.

We are left to stumble along, grabbing at whatever seems solid,

like the blind finding their way down a strange and threatening street.

In broad daylight—when we should have sight—we stumble and fall as in the dark.

We are already like the dead among those brimming with health.

We growl like bears and moan like doves.

We hope that maybe, just maybe, it will all turn out right;

But it doesn’t. We look for liberation, but it’s too far away.

For our wrongdoing runs too deep before You.

Our sins stack up against us—sure evidence of our guilt.

For our offenses are always with us; they are insidious and lasting, as You know.

Our guilt says it all. We know it, too.

We took You for nothing, and did just the opposite of Your commands.

We broke our promises to You, ignored and rejected You.

We hatched up schemes to oppress others and rebel, to twist the truth for our gain

while presenting it as honest-to-God fact.

When justice calls, we turn it away.

Righteousness knows to keep its distance,

For truth stumbles in the public square,

and honesty is not allowed to enter.

There is no truth-telling anymore,

and anyone who tries to do right finds he is the next target.

It’s true. The Eternal One saw it all

and was understandably perturbed at the absence of justice.

God looked long and hard, but there wasn’t a single person

who tried to put a stop to the injustice and lies.

So God took action. His own strong arm reached out and brought salvation.

His own righteousness—good and pure—sustained Him.

But God’s equipment was that of no ordinary warrior:

He strapped on righteousness as His breastplate,

And put on the helmet of salvation.

Wrapped in vengeance for clothing and passion as a cloak, God prepared for war.

Finally, God determined they must get what they’ve earned:

fury to those who oppose Him, vengeance against those who are against Him.

To the ends of the known world, God will go to render justice.

This is how people from east to west will come to respect the name

and honor the glory of the Eternal.

For He will come on like a torrential flood driven by the Eternal’s winds.

Eternal One: The Redeemer will come to make Zion right again,

to rescue those of Jacob’s holy line who turn their backs on wrongdoing.

This is what the Eternal One declares.

Eternal One: This is My covenant promise to them: My Spirit, which rests on and moves in you, and My words, which I have placed within you, will continue to be spoken among you and move you to action. And not only you, but so it will be for your children and their children too. And so on through the generations for all time.

The Book (Scroll) of Isaiah, Chapter 59 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

Reactions vary to the awful events that sweep over Judah in the wake of the Babylonian invasion. Some people think that the God of Israel is defeated. This is exactly what the Babylonians hope the people will think and say; it makes the job of the tyrants and their deputies that much easier. So when the prophet announces that Israel’s God can and will rescue His displaced people, many reason that God may want to rescue them but cannot, for He is no match for the might of Babylon. Others are apparently wondering if God simply couldn’t hear their cries for help in the first place. Is Babylon too powerful? Are the exiles too far from home to be heard? The prophet knows the fears that reside in anxious hearts; but more than that, he knows the truth.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Thursday, August 24 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the peace of inner illumination in Son Light:

"I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient." - Hudson Taylor

====

It is written in our Scriptures: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6). Note that the verb translated "be anxious" here (i.e.,μεριμνάω) comes from a root word (μερίζω) that means to be fragmented or divided into parts and pieces.

Being anxious is therefore the uneasy state of being distracted, unfocused and divided within yourself. When we worry we heed voices of fear and begin to feel 'double-minded,' (i.e., δίψυχος), unstable, and unable to think clearly; we get restless and find it difficult to deeply breathe. We start to feel out of control, fearful that something bad will happen despite all our efforts or wishes to the contrary; we sense doom; we lose heart; we go dark...

The Scripture here admonishes us to pray when we are tempted to be anxious by focusing on something for which we are grateful. Doing so will instill the "peace of God" (שלום יהוה) that rises above all worldly thinking to keep watch over your heart and your thoughts through Yeshua the Messiah (Phil. 4:7). We gain the "light of life," that is, inner illumination from God, so that we can remain steadfast and unmovable in our faith, despite the temptation to look for relief from our struggles apart from God.

Remember that Yeshua is the central character of every episode of your life. Faith sees his presence, unbelief does not. Most of us live within the continuum of blindness and seeing... "Lord I believe; help Thou my unbelief."

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Isaiah 26:3 Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa26-3-lesson.pdf

Hebrew audio:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa26-3-jjp.mp3

8.23.23 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:

I realized then, and know now, that there is some greater Power out there, or within me, that is pure love and goodness, even if the humans in my life aren’t. There is a Power beyond what I can see and understand.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

August 24, 2023

Thou Hast Rejected Knowledge

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)

This lament over the ancient apostasy of Israel embodies an agelong principle that surely applies to those nations today that once professed Christianity but are now dominated by humanism. Our own nation is experiencing an awful scourge of moral anarchy among our children and young people, and the reason why is because their parents and grandparents have largely “forgotten the law of thy God.”

America—particularly its intellectual leadership—has “rejected knowledge,” so its people are being “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This ignorance exists despite an abundance of supposed actual knowledge (i.e., “science”) in our educational institutions, for such facts are almost universally taught in a secular context. Our teachers have forgotten that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

Even in evangelical and fundamentalist churches and schools today, there’s often too little emphasis on knowledge and too much on experience. Christian faith is not “feeling”; it’s volitional commitment to a true intellectual understanding of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” said Christ (Luke 13:5). The Greek word for “repent” means “change your mind!” One can only believe right if he first thinks right, and this requires true knowledge.

Listen again to Hosea’s warning: “The LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy [i.e., kindness], nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). “They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). HMM

[besser-entertainment]

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[dan6085]

Abba was one of the most successful and influential pop groups of the 1970s and early 1980s, and their music continues to be popular today. Here are 20 of their most significant and successful songs, in no particular order:

1. "Dancing Queen" - This upbeat and catchy disco hit from 1976 is perhaps Abba's most famous song. It reached number one in several countries and has become an enduring pop classic.

2. "Mamma Mia" - Also released in 1976, this song features Abba's signature layered harmonies and catchy, upbeat melodies. It has since become the title of a successful stage musical and movie.

3. "Waterloo" - Abba's breakthrough hit from 1974, "Waterloo" won the Eurovision Song Contest and launched the group's international career.

4. "Take a Chance on Me" - This 1978 hit features a memorable opening riff and a catchy chorus that showcases Abba's signature harmonies.

5. "The Winner Takes It All" - A more melancholy ballad from 1980, this song is often considered one of Abba's best. It features powerful vocals from lead singer Agnetha Fältskog and emotional lyrics about a failing relationship.

6. "SOS" - Released in 1975, "SOS" was Abba's first major international hit. It features a memorable piano riff and a catchy chorus thatcombines both upbeat pop and emotional balladry.

7. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" - Another emotional ballad from 1977, this song explores the pain of a relationship ending. It features powerful vocal performances from both Agnetha and Björn Ulvaeus.

8. "Fernando" - Originally written in Swedish for a solo project by member Anni-Frid Lyngstad, this song was later translated into English and recorded by Abba. It became a huge international hit in 1976, and its memorable melody and romantic lyrics have made it a classic.

9. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" - This disco hit from 1979 features pulsing synths, catchy hooks, and a powerful vocal performance from Agnetha.

10. "Money, Money, Money" - Released in 1976, this song features playful lyrics about the struggles of making ends meet. Its catchy chorus and upbeat melody have made it a fan favorite.

11. "Super Trouper" - The title track from Abba's 1980 album, "Super Trouper" is a catchy and upbeat pop song that features a memorable chorus and layered harmonies.

12. "Chiquitita" - This 1979 hit features a heartfelt vocal performance from Anni-Frid and emotional lyrics about supporting a friend in need.

13. "One of Us" - Another emotional ballad from1981, "One of Us" features introspective lyrics about the end of a relationship and a powerful vocal performance from Agnetha.

14. "Voulez-Vous" - This disco hit from 1979 features a funky bassline and catchy hooks, making it a dancefloor favorite.

15. "Lay All Your Love on Me" - Released in 1981, this song features a catchy synth riff and a powerful vocal performance from Björn.

16. "Thank You for the Music" - A tribute to the power of music, this upbeat and catchy track is often considered one of Abba's most joyful songs.

17. "I Have a Dream" - Originally written for a charity event, this heartfelt ballad from 1979 features a memorable chorus and uplifting lyrics.

18. "Does Your Mother Know" - This 1979 hit features a catchy guitar riff and playful lyrics about a younger man pursuing an older woman.

19. "Honey, Honey" - Released in 1974, "Honey, Honey" features a catchy chorus and upbeat melody that typify Abba's early sound.

20. "Dum Dum Diddle" - A lesser-known track from Abba's early catalog, "Dum Dum Diddle" features catchy hooks and layered harmonies that showcase the group's pop sensibilities.

Overall, these 20 songs showcase the range and depth of Abba's music, from their early pop hits to theirlater, more emotional ballads. Abba's signature sound, with its layered harmonies, catchy hooks, and upbeat melodies, has made their music enduringly popular, and their influence can be heard in countless pop acts that have followed in their footsteps. Their songs have also been featured in movies, musicals, and other cultural touchstones, cementing their status as one of the most important pop groups of all time.

Abba was known for their energetic and visually engaging live performances, which often featured elaborate costumes, choreography, and stage sets. Here are some of their most memorable live performances:

1. "Eurovision Song Contest" (1974) - Abba's performance of "Waterloo" at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England, marked their international breakthrough and helped launch their career.

2. "ABBA: The Movie" (1977) - This documentary film captured Abba's 1977 tour of Australia and included live performances of many of their greatest hits, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the band.

3. "Dick Cavett Meets ABBA" (1981) - This television special featured an interview with the band as well as live performances of "The Winner Takes It All," "On and On and On," and "Super Trouper."

4. "ABBA in Japan" (1980) - Abba's concerts in Japan were some of the most visually stunning of their career, featuring elaborate costumes and stage sets that included a giant disco ball and a moving platform that transported the band across the stage.

5. "ABBA: The Concert" (1986) - This live album and concert film captured Abba's final concert, which took place in 1982 in front of a packed stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. The concert featured many of their greatest hits and showcased the band's signature harmonies and energetic performances.

6. "Live at Wembley Arena" (1979) - This concert film was recorded during Abba's 1979 tour and features live performances of many of their biggest hits, including "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me," and "Knowing Me, Knowing You." The film also includes behind-the-scenes footage of the band preparing for the show.

7. "ABBA: The Tour" (1979) - This tour, which took Abba to the United States, Canada, and Europe, was one of the largest and most ambitious of their career. The concerts featured elaborate costumes and sets, as well as a live band and backing singers to help recreate the sound of their studio recordings.

8. "ABBA: Live in Concert" (1986) - This concert film features live performances of many of Abba's greatest hits, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the band preparing for the show. The film was recorded during their 1979 tour and showcases the band's signature harmonies and energetic performances.

9. "ABBA: The Visitors TV Special" (1981) - This television special was recorded in Sweden and features live performances of several tracks from Abba's final studio album, "The Visitors." The show also includes behind-the-scenes footage of the band rehearsing and preparing for the show.

10. "ABBA: The Movie Premiere" (1977) - This event, which marked the premiere of the "ABBA: The Movie" documentary, was a star-studded affair that featured a live performance by the band in front of a packed crowd at the Sydney Opera House. The concert included many of their biggest hits, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the band preparing for the show.

Overall, Abba's live performances were a significant part of their success, and helped cement their status as one of the most popular and influential pop groups of all time. Their energetic and visually engaging shows, combined with their signature harmonies and catchy melodies, made them a must-see act for fans around the world.