Archive for January 2015

“And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah”

[al-Nahl 16:53].

Gratitude.
Many of us ignore it and many of us forget it. We often overlook the many blessings that Allah has showered us with. Even though they may be the smallest of blessings, in reality, they are bigger than one can imagine! Just imagine, we often take our eye sight for granted, could you imagine closing your eyes and when you open them you see nothing but darkness? Imagine the things we see in our every day lives and the things we EXPECT to see, could no longer be seen? What about your ability to hear? Not being able to listen to the beautiful sounds of nature, the recitation of the Qur'an or even the voice of your loved ones? We never take the time to realise just how valuable and precious our health is. We take it for granted and often neglect our bodies carelessly with bad eating habits and haram substances. We take our wealth for granted and we think that saving it and being stingy will increase us more with wealth. We forget that the comfortable bed we lie on and the roof that covers us from rain and cold is something that Allah has given us to protect us from discomfort and uneasiness. We also forget the true blessings of just being able to stand up in prayer and kneel down in sujood. Where many people wish to be able to perform their prayer like normal people, we take such a gift for granted. I want us all to reflect on our blessings from Allah and to really think about the favours He has bestowed on us. Forget about your friends or your family and what blessings Allah gave them, focus on yourselves and write down 10 things that you are truly, sincerely blessed with. Think about the things, if Allah were to take away from you, what you would feel? The more we show thanks to Allah, the more He will only increase us in His Favours and Blessings ! Subhana'Allah!

“Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing”

[(An-Nisa 4:147)]

“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe’”

[Ibraaheem 14:7]

We often complain even if we do not do it deliberately, we forget about all the true blessings that Allah has given us and how easily He could take them away. The next time you want to complain, turn that sigh of ingratitude into a "Alhamdulillah for everything" and not only will you feel more content, but you will realise how Generous and Merciful your Lord truly is. I had asked a few friends to list the things they were thankful for and they are listed below. Remembering the blessings you have and showing gratitude to Allah is something that increases joy and happiness and helps one get through depression. Let us try to remember on a daily basis the things that Allah has blessed us with and let us cherish those blessings and take advantage of them.

Things I am grateful for: Islam, Allah's guide, family, good life, sisters in Islam, my job, my health, knowledge that Allah grant me, good looking, good non muslim friends.

Thankful for:
1. Islaam
2. Knowing Arabic which at least gives me the basic ability to understand some of the Qur'an & sunnah
3. My health
4. Ability to access authentic knowledge
5. My family
6. My friends who remind me & teach me things of benefit
7. My education/job
8. A comfy home/bed
9. Access to Food/drink
10. My previous/current life experiences both good and "apparently" bad...

Alhamdulilah
I am grateful...
1. For Being a muslim
2. For the air that I breath
3. For the eyes to see
4. For the heart to feel
5. For the family to love
6. For the friends as my shoulders
7. For the life lesson that I have learnt
8. For the second chance in life I am blessed with
9. For the innovation in the worldly affairs
10. For the eeman I am still struggling to maintain

AlhamduliLlah m grateful for evrythng that. Has happened in my life bt aamong the favours of Allah let me point out ten of them. 1. Am grateful to Allah. For giving me health 2. Having a familY alhamduliLlah. 3. Am grateful with the wAy I was created 4. The rizq that Allah provides for. Me 5.Every time am in trouble Allah solves everything so I am grateful. 6. I am grateful that I am still breathing as everyday is a second chance. 7. I am grateful I am in the true religion of Allah and am still on deen AlhamduliLlah. 8. For the right and guided friends “sisters upon deen”. 9. For the good upbringing AlhamduliLlah. 10. Lastly am grateful for the swabr that Allah instills in me during trials

10 things I'm grateful for
~ Guidance of this Deen
~ Being alive
~ Sweetness of Family & loved ones
~Companionship of sisters upon d haqq
~ Home & Shelter
~ Acquired knowledge (deen n dunya)
~ Sound health
~ Trials that made me stronger
~ Beauty of rain, sunshine, breeze, moonlight,etc
~ Food & drinks for survival
~ The little things of life we take for granted

Indeed the many things we take for granted are the very things we should be thankful for. Allah always gives but we rarely praise Him or Thank Him the way He should be praised or thanked. If you are able to pray your 5 daily prayers standing, this in itself is one of the biggest blessings from Allah. If you are able to eat, breath, sleep, see, hear without difficulty, then indeed these are huge bounties from Allah. Just imagine yourself without these things that you need to survive with on a daily basis? I am sure you can't even imagine because we all take these things for granted (AstughfurAllah). Human beings are quite something! When we lose something, then we cry and remember how much we missed that thing we had, but when he have it, we forget that it is a blessing and that we truly should be thankful for it! I remind myself first and foremost to always take heed to the things Allah has given me without me even asking for and May Allah make us never heedless for His countless blessings and may He always make up grateful for His Favours and may He increase us in thanks and gratitude! ameen!

In the wake of recent events of what is going on around the globe, one who knows nothing about Islam and who follows ONLY what the media dictates, can not escape the preconceptions of Islam being a religion of terror and violence.

Many ignorant Islamaphobes harassing Muslims, spreading false information about Islam, and even going to extents of killing innocent Muslims all because of their own arrogance to refuse to seek the truth. Since the incident that occurred in Paris, many non-Muslims have been trying to learn more about Islam and who was Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). There are many individuals who will very well enjoy educating themselves solely through FOX news (lol) and any other biased one-sided news channel and through these news channels are how Islamphobes are born. Those lazy individuals who do not know anything else except what their news anchor teaches them, are the ones who are only harming themselves. However, there are a good portion of individuals who are actually keen on seeking the REAL truth about Islam and who was the REAL Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). They know that there is more to these false lies and accusations that the media has formulated. Isn't ironic how media makes up all these lies and rumours based on their OWN understanding and their OWN perception of something instead of actually going to the ACTUAL source to clarify and to seek the truth? The media will just tell you what you want to hear but they themselves know NOT A THING about anything they are talking about! If you ask a reporter or a journalist what does tawheed mean or what the five pillars of Islam and 6 pillars of faith, they will have NO CLUE! They would not even know what it takes to become a Muslim (unless they are intelligent enough to open up their mouth to ASK an actual practising Muslim!) What a shame!

Though I could surely write a long paragraph about what Islam is and Who is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), I thought it would be more engaging for me to share some short beneficial clips to help clear up your misconceptions because these people obviously can do it better than I can!

after watching these short clips, here are more verses from the Qur'an and from aHadith (prophetic teachings and sayings) about our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and what he used to preach . Please do not be biased just because you think what you hear and see on the news is correct. Open your heart and your mind and you will find the truth! :

“O Messenger of Allah! It is a great Mercy of God that you are gentle and kind towards them; for, had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would all have broken away from you”(Quran 3:159).

"The Prophet (pbuh) resembled a prophet who was harmed by his people. He wiped the blood from his face and said: ‘O God! Forgive my people, for they know not!" (Bukhari #3290)

"God has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds."(Bukhari & Ahmed)

"The Prophet (pbuh) did not swear at anyone, nor was he rude, nor did he curse anyone. If he desired to reprimand someone, he would say: ‘What is wrong with him, may dust be cast in his face!" (Bukhari #5684)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah is kind and likes kindness in all things” (Bukhari, 6601)

“He who wishes to have his provision enlarged and his term of life prolonged should treat his relatives well” (Bukhari, 5985)

Bahz b. Hakim, on his father’s authority, said that his grandfather told him that he had asked Allah’s Messengerﷺto whom he should show kindness and that the Prophetﷺhad replied: “Your mother.” He asked who came next and he replied: “Your mother.” He asked who came next and he replied for the third time: “Your mother.” He again asked who came next and heﷺreplied: “Your father, then your relatives in order of relationship” (Abu Dawud, 5120)

“The best house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is well treated, and the worst house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is badly treated” (Ibn Majah, 3679)

Another person said to the Prophetﷺ: “0 Messenger of Allah! My relatives are such that although I cooperate with them, they cut me off; I am kind to them but they ill treat me.” The Prophet ﷺ said this in reply: “So long as you continue as you are, God will always help you and He will protect you against their mischief” (Muslim, 4640)

"Let us go to resolve the situation and make peace between them."(Bukhari #2547)

Ibn Abbas said:

‘The Prophet (pbuh) was the most generous of people. He was most generous during Ramadhan when he met Gabriel (pbuh); he would meet him every night during Ramadhan to practice and review the Qur’an with him. The Messenger of God (pbuh) was so generous, that he was faster than the swiftest wind in this regard. (Bukhari #6)

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”

[al-Noor 24:31]

As I browse some of my social media accounts, I can't help but notice the hot topic that keeps circulating around which has caught a lot of (unnecessary) attention...and that is "Adam Saleh" "3MH" and any other group this young man is in. In order to write about this, I had to familiarize myself with this individual. I watched a few of his youtube videos to try to better understand what all this Adam "hype" is all about. What really stuck out to me the most was the amazing amount of female Muslim followers whom all seem to be in their early to late teens. I noticed that a lot of these young Muslimahs were very excited and shamelessly professing their admiration for Adam and his friends. Now, I am not here to lecture anyone about what is halal and haram because that is not the purpose of this post because we already know that it is impermissible in Islam to touch/talk/flirt with a non-mahram (male or woman not permissible for us unless marriage occurs) whether it is shaking hands, hugging, kissing on the cheek and/or any other type of physical and verbal contact.

It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”
(Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486. Shaykh al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5045, that this hadeeth is saheeh. )

‘Aa’ishah said: Whoever among the believing women agreed to that had passed the test, and when the women agreed to that, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to them: “Go, for you have given your oath of allegiance.’ No, by Allaah, the hand of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched the hand of any woman, rather they would give their oath of allegiance with words only.” And ‘Aa’ishah said: “By Allaah, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) only took the oath of allegiance from the women in the manner prescribed by Allaah, and the hand of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched the hand of any woman. When he had taken their oath of allegiance he would say, ‘I have accepted your oath of allegiance verbally.’”

(narrated by Muslim, 1866)

But I wanted to remind us all about the true gift of Islam. The beautiful thing about Islam is that Allah has placed the believing Muslim woman on a pedestal and He has given her honour, dignity, and protection above other women. We can not deny that Islam has given us rights which most women in today's society do not have. We are considered as princesses and queens even without having to earn the title because of lineage. We are royalty because Allah has made us that way and He has blessed us with the beautiful gift of modesty and shyness. We are protected pearls preserved in our shells for Allah and the special mate that Allah has chosen for us! Allahu Akbar! How beautiful!! I never realised the true worth of a woman until I reverted to Islam. Subhana'Allah. All I knew was a society where women were seen as sex objects and were treated according to the way they looked and not for who they truly were or for their intellect.

In the Western society (most) young women are brainwashed by the media to lose their dignity and honour by acting like untamed animals around young men. Society by the help of shaitan has molded young men into human idols to be worshiped by these young women. These poor young women know nothing to do except to follow the lives of these boys and become obsessed with them. Little do these girls know that these boys they are going "ga-ga" over, do not even know their full names, their place of birth, their date of birth, their last names, or their favourite colour! Yet the girls know everything about them and would give their lives for them (audhubillah!) they are trapped in their own bubble and have these fantasy stories in their minds that one day they will get married to them and settle down and live happily ever after! Surely these girls have nothing better to do than to fill up their time with daydreaming and fantasies that would never come true. Most of the Western teens have fallen into such a trap, not just in this present day but I was exposed to it even when I was a young teen!

Alhamdulillah for Islam and how our religion teaches us to value ourselves with true modesty and obedience to our Lord. We are a protected pearls who are valued for what we are and not what we look like. Our intelligence and capabilities to contribute to society are what makes us valued and unique. We are always treated with respect by our family and friends because that is what our Lord commands from each and every one of us. We save ourselves for the special man who will come and sweep us off our feet and who will respect us, value us, and treat us like the princess/queen that we are. We do not need to run around chasing random boys who will not give us the time of day. Alhamdulillah we do not need to throw ourselves at young men who would not even help our dying aunt in the hospital or pay for our university tuition. We have men who know how to protect us from harm and who would never allow any strange men to contaminate our purity by hugging us, shaking hands with us or even talking to us! The Muslimah values the commands of Allah and she loves to do things that please her Lord. She keeps things halal and she knows her boundaries. She never transgresses her limits and she understands her value in the household and in society! Allahu Akbar! How beautiful is the Muslim woman! Allah has truly made us a creation that supersedes other women ( don't deny it, you know it's true!).

Since I became a Muslimah, I have really realised how women are truly supposed to be treated and valued by men and society (not the Western society lol). When I was a non-Muslim, I always thought that the less dignity you had, the more you were valued. It is just the way the Western world treats women. We can not deny it no matter how much we tried. It is evident all around the billboards, television shows, even your every day flyers in the mail! Women are seen as sex objects and are expected to run around gallivanting and throwing themselves onto men or anywhere they can make money by losing their sense of dignity and with no sense of shame whatsoever! Of course not ALL Western women are like this, but it is safe to say that a good majority have fallen into this large melting pot of shamelessness. It should really make us think and reflect upon the Commands of the Almighty! How He has favored us above other creations and have not made us to act like animals on a rampage!

My dear deen queens, I wrote this post only because I felt obligated to remind us all (me included of course) the true status of the Muslim woman. I wanted to show you all that we are chosen by Allah and to represent Islam by being modest, truthful, pure, and shy. We should never imitate anything that is not from Islam! We should never try to be someone we are not and we should always remember our worth ! Our shyness and modesty are what makes us truly beautiful! We should never throw that away for any boy or man who is not willing to approach us in the manner prescribed by Allah the Almighty! We need to have that mentality of that woman who knows her status in Islam. She is not a cheap price for ANY or EVERY man. Her royalty can not be bought or bargained for because she belongs to the man who fears Allah and has high values and expectations of his Muslim wife. Never underestimate your value o' sister in Islam! Know your worth and know who you are in the Sight of Allah ! Remember He has created us to worship Him alone!

In such a fast paced society like today, it is hard to remember where we stand in this world. We need to remember that we were not created for this worldly life but for Jannah ! The gardens in which beneath the rivers flow and everything is perfect and easy! We should busy ourselves with knowing what Allah Loves and Hates and so we can strive for that instead of striving for what the creation loves and hates. We should never idolize any creations of Allah because that is pure shirk (audhubillah!). We should remember that we are running through this world chasing after the Hereafter and not for this temporary worldly life! May Allah grant us understanding of His deen and may He open our hearts to knowing how beautiful and blessed we are to be Muslims! Ameen !

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested.

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:2-3]

One of the beauties of being a Muslim is that our lives are never free from tests and trials. Many of us go through hardships on a daily basis while some of us handle them better than others, a good majority of us handle them with grief, sorrow and uneasiness.

Lately, I have been going through many trials and tests that have really humbled me and made me realize just how weak of a human being I am. The hardships I am trying to overcome may not be something difficult or hard for others, but Subhana'Allah, Allah tests His creations according to each their own weaknesses and their capabilities. Everybody's tests are different and the Wisdom of Allah is UNLIMITED! He Knows what we can handle and He Knows us better than our own selves. Allahu Akbar!

"...Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned" (2:286)

Initially, I had become really annoyed and impatient with the things that I was overcome by (may Allah rectify my character and increase me in patience ameen!), but then I realised it was a time for me to turn to my Lord and to call upon Him for help and ease. It is hard for us to handle our hardships with patience and humility. I really struggle with this but at the same time I am also trying to realise that everything that happens to us, is already written for us and I must endure it and remember that these tests and trials are meant to shape my character into something that Allah Loves. When we are inflicted with something out of the ordinary and when we go through things that are out of our comfort zone, it is really an opportunity for us to self reflect on our character and our sins. I believe that these hardships sent to us from Allah are meant to make us stronger and to make us realise that we are also very weak individuals and we can not do anything on our own without the Help of our Lord! The tests and trials that Allah sends us are because He Loves us ALLAHU AKBAR! And they are for us to turn to Him and remain STEADFAST after He has helped us through the trials and tests.

Day after day, I realise just how much this dunya is made to be a test. It is not something that is made to be enjoyed and it is by far no way meant to be a permanent abode of happiness. Every day is a struggle and we must really work hard to fight our desires and try our best to obey Allah's Commands! Remember the tests that Allah gives us is so that we can earn more reward and it can humble us into someone who can be better Muslims and insha'Allah it will be the chance for us to meet Allah with a clean and pure heart.

: The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said :

“Whoever Allah wants good for him, he puts them to test. He puts them through difficulties. Like a diamond or some metal that has to be burnt and then that which is bad from it is removed so that you have that which is the pure diamond or the pure gold or whatever. Put them to tests, trials and difficulties.” (As recorded in Bukhari and Muslim)

Most of the things that happen to us, we automatically think it is for the worst but Allah says:

"..But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." (2:216)

Also, this hadith and Qur'an verse are both such eye openers as to what we can learn from going through tests and trials! Subhana'Allah...If we were not tested by Allah, then we would never know what kind of person we are! Allah tests us to see who of us is faithful and true and who turns to His Lord during the trialing times of hardship! Alhamdulillah we have Allah to turn to unlike the disbeliever who turns to the alcohol bottle, drugs, and parties just to escape temporarily only to repeat the same deadly cycle day after day! Allahu Akbar! How Islam is such a blessing, where we can cry to our Lord with our pain and suffering and He will Respond with His Mercy. Only if we believe and if we have true tawakkul (trust in Allah). May Allah give us all tawakkul and firm conviction that He will help us get through it all! AMEEN!!

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said :

‘The greater reward is with the greater trial or the greater the trial or difficulty of test or hardship is then the greater the reward. And when Allah loves a person He will tests them. So he who will be pleased and then He will be pleased. He who is displeased, then He will be displeased.'(Sahaba’s name not clear) ‘The people as long as they are in good health, good shape, good condition they are covered. You don’t know their true character because they are in good situation, they are in good circumstance. As long as they are in a good circumstances they are covered. But if a trial or difficulty or a hardship comes upon them, then you will see their reality. They will go to their reality. The Mu’min will run to his Imaan, the Mu’min will run to his belief, the believer will run to his belief, his Imaan and the hypocrite will run to his hypocrisy, and the hypocrite will run to his hypocrisy. “Without being shaken, you don’t not know what comes to the top and what goes to the bottom. Without being shaken you don’t know a man from those who are faking; you won’t know women from those who are faking. You won’t know those who truly believe from those who don’t. Those who make a claim on their tongue and is not really in their hearts and from their limbs from those who are willing to die for this matter. This can only be shown by trials, the tribulations and tests and difficulties.” (As narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah)

“Allaah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allaah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghayb (Unseen)”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:179]

Sometimes when I am tested, I wonder why Allah has tested me. I try hard to think about the blessings through my trials and that I will be rewarded more than I could ever imagine if I only stay patient and true to Allah, the Almighty. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves every day for the blessings we have and that we must continue to strive to be better. Remembering that every test is meant to purify us and to earn us reward. I know it is easier said than done, because for me, sometimes my mental state overpowers me and it is hard for me at that moment to remember Allah. I think that is my true test..because most of us, when we get caught up in the moments of our tests and trials, we are so absorbed in our problems, we forget that Allah was the One who put us in it in the first place! Subhana'Allah...O' what a test this life is ! A constant struggle to maintain happy during our trialing times during loss, illness, and mental unrest. But Alhamdulillah for the Qur'an and Sunnah that teaches us and reminds us how to handle ourselves in each and every situation:

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient).Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”

[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief or harm or distress – not even a thorn that pricks him – but Allaah will expiate for some of his sins because of that.” (Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5641)

What to take from this post is that we should constantly be striving to purify our hearts and to always remember that tests and trials are not meant to harm us but only to make us better and to purify us. Allah does not inflict His believers with harm and He is most Just! Don't let the moment you are on your death bed or the last minute of your breath on earth be the first time you reflect upon your sins and your relationship with Allah! Remember Allah has created us only for us to worship Him alone! We must always strive to be better and to use the hardships and trials inflicted upon us to help humble us and to purify our hearts so that we can meet Allah and He will Pleased with us.

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]

“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [al-An’aam 6:162]

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” [al-Mu’minoon 23:115]

May Allah make us turn to Him alone and may He give us the ability to trust Him and may He forgive us and purify us through all the hardships and trials. Ameen!

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