Bismillah,
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh Ya Muslimeen!!
I went through my old stuff tonight looking for a text book which I think I sold back...anyway that is not the point. As I was searching I found old journals that I have kept over the years. I think each and everyone of us needs to keep one! Journals reflect our state of mind...in the Muslim's perspective, it reflects our state of IMAN! As I read through them tonight, some made me smile, others made me think deeper and yet others reminded me of some heartaches I went through in life. I was never one to keep journals----I was a tomboy. I did not like diaries and I was not one to play with barbies. I started writing journals about the same time I started practicing Islam....at about age 17, just three years ago! It is kinda of funny thinking about how mature I have become over these few years subhana'Allah.
My writings there reflect ups and downs of my Imaan.....in fact at the beginning of my journal, I was somewhat low and in the middle, my Imaan peaked so HIGH and then it dropped soo LOW! which is probably why I stopped writing. Journals are a secret friend if you use it for the write reasons. Pick up a journal today and write an entry reflecting back at your day. What have you done to please Allah? what will you change tomorrow if you were given a second chance? How do you feel? You can also use journals to write for someone that you love. If our beloved prophet were to read your journals what would you put in there? what do you wish to tell Allah?
I used to do alot of entries when I was upset or angry at someone. I would write about the situation, how I felt and would sometimes (actually most of the time) end up crying and.......... voila I'd feel better after reading what I wrote! There are plenty of different reasons for keeping a journal, but one big one which I just thought about after seeing my old journals is keeping ones self on check. If you ever hear of "judge yourself before you're judged" this is a great way to do so. Hold yourself accountable for your daily activities, speech, and actions. After each entry make it your goal to improve yourself as time goes on. Also remember to be thankful to Allah for any good progress that you make on the way.
Now lets kind of review/list few good reasons why one should keep a journal.
1. Self reflection
2. A private conversation with God
3. Self improvements
4. Anger managing
5. Judge the soul
That is all I can think of now.....insha'Allah if I remember some more I'll add to that list.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Eid Mubarak...a note to my love!
Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
dear love,
I am left with grieve and heartache......I have watched you go so fast, I did not even have time to say goodbye. You've been a blessing to me ever since you stepped into my life. With school closed and all, I thought I'd enjoy time with you and get done with much but I guess I was wrong...dead wrong! I now know that indeed the day of judgement is near because of the time passing quickly. I think of you all the time and wish to witness your blessings next year. You've been a great companion and I shall miss you.....well I already did since I will not be able to wake up for sahoor tonight :( I will not be able to stand side by side with my brothers and sisters in prayer. All I can do now is pray and stay strong for your next visit.
Goodbye dear Ramadan,
Hello, Eid! Insha'Allah in less than 7 hours, we will pray Eid al-fitr prayer :D
May Allah accept it from us and you....for indeed this blessed month has left us. May Allah increase our Imaan. ameen
dear love,
I am left with grieve and heartache......I have watched you go so fast, I did not even have time to say goodbye. You've been a blessing to me ever since you stepped into my life. With school closed and all, I thought I'd enjoy time with you and get done with much but I guess I was wrong...dead wrong! I now know that indeed the day of judgement is near because of the time passing quickly. I think of you all the time and wish to witness your blessings next year. You've been a great companion and I shall miss you.....well I already did since I will not be able to wake up for sahoor tonight :( I will not be able to stand side by side with my brothers and sisters in prayer. All I can do now is pray and stay strong for your next visit.
Goodbye dear Ramadan,
Hello, Eid! Insha'Allah in less than 7 hours, we will pray Eid al-fitr prayer :D
May Allah accept it from us and you....for indeed this blessed month has left us. May Allah increase our Imaan. ameen
Thursday, August 25, 2011
back to prison....AKA school
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
School started already! yaay (actually I am not so happy)....but anywho, I wanted to say that I might not be able to do a lot of blogging. However, I assure you that I will do it every few weeks insha'Allah. Let's all remember to always be close to our Rab. School distracts us from our ibadah sometimes, let's remember to be steadfast. Also know that when we become a person of God, Allah makes us successful in our worldly battles. My message to all who're reading this is....you only need ONE friend, let that friend be the one who can give you all. Let the Lord be your best friend this school year and the world will be yours.
Just few little tips:
1. Get involved with your school MSA club
2. Have a Qur'an with at all times (so that you can read it when you have nothing to do---in between classes)
3. Be mindful of your prayers
4. choose your friends wisely
5. Smile at your Muslim brothers and sisters
6. Be kind to EVERYONE
7. Just be yourself.....
8. Make dua to Allah to make the school year easy for you
9. Study smart not hard
10. Spend time in the remembrance of Allah
------SUCCESS IS ON THE WAY!!!!-----
Ya Allah make this school year easy for us and let us learn something that will benefit us. Ya Allah, you're the best of those who are merciful, have mercy on us as we struggle with this dunya, Ya rab, forgive us for our short comings and make us those who succeed in dunya and Akhirah, oh Allah teach us that which we will benefit our ummah with. ameen
Remember Allah is with YOU and I through it all!! lets SMILE and BEAT this school year!! ;)
School started already! yaay (actually I am not so happy)....but anywho, I wanted to say that I might not be able to do a lot of blogging. However, I assure you that I will do it every few weeks insha'Allah. Let's all remember to always be close to our Rab. School distracts us from our ibadah sometimes, let's remember to be steadfast. Also know that when we become a person of God, Allah makes us successful in our worldly battles. My message to all who're reading this is....you only need ONE friend, let that friend be the one who can give you all. Let the Lord be your best friend this school year and the world will be yours.
Just few little tips:
1. Get involved with your school MSA club
2. Have a Qur'an with at all times (so that you can read it when you have nothing to do---in between classes)
3. Be mindful of your prayers
4. choose your friends wisely
5. Smile at your Muslim brothers and sisters
6. Be kind to EVERYONE
7. Just be yourself.....
8. Make dua to Allah to make the school year easy for you
9. Study smart not hard
10. Spend time in the remembrance of Allah
------SUCCESS IS ON THE WAY!!!!-----
Ya Allah make this school year easy for us and let us learn something that will benefit us. Ya Allah, you're the best of those who are merciful, have mercy on us as we struggle with this dunya, Ya rab, forgive us for our short comings and make us those who succeed in dunya and Akhirah, oh Allah teach us that which we will benefit our ummah with. ameen
Remember Allah is with YOU and I through it all!! lets SMILE and BEAT this school year!! ;)
you're beautiful JUST the way you're!!
Bismillah,
Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I haven't posted a lot these past days.....got busy with work and getting ready for back to school. Oh it is so sad that Ramadan is coming to an end. I was looking at the moon last night as my brother and I drove back from Tahajud and I could see it been so tiny, like the size of a banana. It will soon end and though there is Eid and a great festival, I am saddened to see it going like this. I feel like time just flew by so quickly!! anyway, this is not a post about me. This is a post from a sister to her fellow sisters :) listen up girls!! :D
In this day and age, there is a great deal of confusion among us sisters in Islam and in humanity. We think that beauty is all about physical apppearience . We try our out most best trying to fit in the standards of our society. We try to be the perfect size, have the perfect make up, look like the perfect super model....etc. So, we go ahead and spend dollars on makeup...to beautify ourselves and make ourselves more appealing to others especially to the opposite sex. We come to depend on how others see us and sometimes it leads us to exposing more of our bodies than we normally show.....trying to just fit in and be like everyone else.
The reality is, most of us spend nights crying over what someone said about our looks, trying to hide our imperfection behind the makeup we put on. So we forget that we have something more beautiful and pure than our own appearience, something that makes us unique and different, something that we don't do or say because it is part of the status qua---that something is our own unique personality!!
Our manners, our clean heart, our healthy talk, and our caring self is more beautiful than the make up we wear. Let everyone see us for who we're, what we strongly believe, our amazing intelligence and believe me the world will come smiling at our presence.
None of us have to look like Jessica Alba or Beyonce because the truth is no matter how much we try we will not be like them-so why not embrace our beautiful selves and shine. I swear to God, trying to look beautiful with makeup, latest clothes with amazing brand names will only make us broke! And that aint beautiful. Unless and until we see ourselves worthy and perfect as we've been created, we will never be satisfied. Actually we'll never be happy. Because we're constantly conscious about our looks and that takes the enjoyment out of our daily experiences.
...believe me when I say I know it all. I used to wake up an hour before school just beautifying myself, making sure there aren't any flaws with my 'perfect makeup'. When I arrived school, I'd run to the restroom and check how I still look, if my mascara is still in place and so on and so forth. I wanted others to like me because I am dressed right, 'made-up' right, and I talk right. I wanted to fit in and be like everyone else. However, by my junior year of high school I came to realize that maybe I am not supposed to be like everyone else. Maybe I am supposed to be me. So, the first day of my junior year after summer ended, I walked in school with no make up, wearing my Abayah and hijab properly. Like usual I went to the restroom and stood by the mirror----I felt the urge to go back home and put on my make up because in my head I looked awful!! But I told myself that if people and my 'friends' really liked me for who I was, then they will not mind me dressed up like the way I was. Everyone asked if I was sick that day and when I said no...they replied "well, what wrong" and I ended up saying, I just stopped putting on make up!
I have lost some friends and I have realized that there is more to me than my appearance. Even though, I ended up not fitting in and spent prom night at home I was happy. I was content and felt amazing about myself. I was not confirming to the "norms" I was being myself and the few people who accepted me for that proved to be my only true friends. I am not saying the road is easy nor am I saying you will fit right in......but all I am saying is it aint worth it if you can't be happy with your self.
These are some beauty tips for my sisters out there----you will be BEAUTIFUL inside and out if you only follow this and your company of friends will be those who compete with you in doing righteous good deed!! AKA your Jannah mates. Lets now start applying this 'perfect' make up shall we??
Dear reader, on this 26th day of Ramadan I ask Allah ta'ala to bless you, guide you, protect you, be pleased with you and grant you Jannah! If there is good in anything I said, indeed it is from Allah ta'ala and if I said anything wrong indeed it is from my weak soul and the misguidance of Shaytan the accursed.
Dear sisters, if you are reading this.....know that you're a pearl of Islam. It is your beauty the shines through this world as you walk upon it with your Hijab on...making a statement, a declaration of faith with your head held up high. There is no happiness in the disobedience of God but there is great happiness in His obedience. Remember YOU'ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU'RE!!! a perfect creation of Rab al-alameen <3
Shout out to all my beautiful sisterssssssss!!!! :D
Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
I haven't posted a lot these past days.....got busy with work and getting ready for back to school. Oh it is so sad that Ramadan is coming to an end. I was looking at the moon last night as my brother and I drove back from Tahajud and I could see it been so tiny, like the size of a banana. It will soon end and though there is Eid and a great festival, I am saddened to see it going like this. I feel like time just flew by so quickly!! anyway, this is not a post about me. This is a post from a sister to her fellow sisters :) listen up girls!! :D
In this day and age, there is a great deal of confusion among us sisters in Islam and in humanity. We think that beauty is all about physical apppearience . We try our out most best trying to fit in the standards of our society. We try to be the perfect size, have the perfect make up, look like the perfect super model....etc. So, we go ahead and spend dollars on makeup...to beautify ourselves and make ourselves more appealing to others especially to the opposite sex. We come to depend on how others see us and sometimes it leads us to exposing more of our bodies than we normally show.....trying to just fit in and be like everyone else.
The reality is, most of us spend nights crying over what someone said about our looks, trying to hide our imperfection behind the makeup we put on. So we forget that we have something more beautiful and pure than our own appearience, something that makes us unique and different, something that we don't do or say because it is part of the status qua---that something is our own unique personality!!
Our manners, our clean heart, our healthy talk, and our caring self is more beautiful than the make up we wear. Let everyone see us for who we're, what we strongly believe, our amazing intelligence and believe me the world will come smiling at our presence.
None of us have to look like Jessica Alba or Beyonce because the truth is no matter how much we try we will not be like them-so why not embrace our beautiful selves and shine. I swear to God, trying to look beautiful with makeup, latest clothes with amazing brand names will only make us broke! And that aint beautiful. Unless and until we see ourselves worthy and perfect as we've been created, we will never be satisfied. Actually we'll never be happy. Because we're constantly conscious about our looks and that takes the enjoyment out of our daily experiences.
...believe me when I say I know it all. I used to wake up an hour before school just beautifying myself, making sure there aren't any flaws with my 'perfect makeup'. When I arrived school, I'd run to the restroom and check how I still look, if my mascara is still in place and so on and so forth. I wanted others to like me because I am dressed right, 'made-up' right, and I talk right. I wanted to fit in and be like everyone else. However, by my junior year of high school I came to realize that maybe I am not supposed to be like everyone else. Maybe I am supposed to be me. So, the first day of my junior year after summer ended, I walked in school with no make up, wearing my Abayah and hijab properly. Like usual I went to the restroom and stood by the mirror----I felt the urge to go back home and put on my make up because in my head I looked awful!! But I told myself that if people and my 'friends' really liked me for who I was, then they will not mind me dressed up like the way I was. Everyone asked if I was sick that day and when I said no...they replied "well, what wrong" and I ended up saying, I just stopped putting on make up!
I have lost some friends and I have realized that there is more to me than my appearance. Even though, I ended up not fitting in and spent prom night at home I was happy. I was content and felt amazing about myself. I was not confirming to the "norms" I was being myself and the few people who accepted me for that proved to be my only true friends. I am not saying the road is easy nor am I saying you will fit right in......but all I am saying is it aint worth it if you can't be happy with your self.
These are some beauty tips for my sisters out there----you will be BEAUTIFUL inside and out if you only follow this and your company of friends will be those who compete with you in doing righteous good deed!! AKA your Jannah mates. Lets now start applying this 'perfect' make up shall we??
Dear reader, on this 26th day of Ramadan I ask Allah ta'ala to bless you, guide you, protect you, be pleased with you and grant you Jannah! If there is good in anything I said, indeed it is from Allah ta'ala and if I said anything wrong indeed it is from my weak soul and the misguidance of Shaytan the accursed.
Dear sisters, if you are reading this.....know that you're a pearl of Islam. It is your beauty the shines through this world as you walk upon it with your Hijab on...making a statement, a declaration of faith with your head held up high. There is no happiness in the disobedience of God but there is great happiness in His obedience. Remember YOU'ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU'RE!!! a perfect creation of Rab al-alameen <3
Shout out to all my beautiful sisterssssssss!!!! :D
Monday, August 8, 2011
thou shalt not break a promise!!!
Assalamu alaikum you guys,
I just want to rant about something tonight. Two traits I hate in someone is ..lie and breaking promises. It really hurts me to know that someone I know or care about lied or in some cases broke a promise they made. You know, my own sister told me many many times that I trust people really quickly. She often said that....good people in this world are becoming extinct and that everyone is selfish! I used to tell her that she has trust issues....and that she needs to give people a chance. But my own theory came to hunt me and every time I give someone my trust, I welcome them in my life as well as heart-they break my trust! Yes they break it! They disappoint me and I am often left with....nothing! I hate to think that I cannot trust people, my whole life is built on trust. I really dislike people who lie to me!
I'd like it if everyone just kept their word, told the truth, and understood what it feels like to be lied to! I learned this lesson the hard way, but the sad thing is I learn this lesson over and over again because I am too naive. I have come to the conclusion to only trust my Lord and those who really fear Him. Wallahi, this dunya is just plain old disgusting! I wish that the people of today were like the sahabah. You know, like those who lived and breathed Islam!! I hate to be pissed or angry.....but I am!!!! subhana'Allah- I am really hurt right now and I dont want to name names or talk about the specifics. I just want everyone reading this to at least learn one thing-be trustworthy! Never ever break a promise you make and never lie to others.
You never know who you gunna hurt! its better to keep your word! anyway all iam tryina SAY IS.....I wholeheartedly HATE anyone who breaks a promise !!!
May Allah subhanahu wata'ala help me and everyone else, may Allah protect us all from those who are of no benefit to us! ameen
“Promises are like the full moon, if they are not kept at once they diminish day by day”
I just want to rant about something tonight. Two traits I hate in someone is ..lie and breaking promises. It really hurts me to know that someone I know or care about lied or in some cases broke a promise they made. You know, my own sister told me many many times that I trust people really quickly. She often said that....good people in this world are becoming extinct and that everyone is selfish! I used to tell her that she has trust issues....and that she needs to give people a chance. But my own theory came to hunt me and every time I give someone my trust, I welcome them in my life as well as heart-they break my trust! Yes they break it! They disappoint me and I am often left with....nothing! I hate to think that I cannot trust people, my whole life is built on trust. I really dislike people who lie to me!
I'd like it if everyone just kept their word, told the truth, and understood what it feels like to be lied to! I learned this lesson the hard way, but the sad thing is I learn this lesson over and over again because I am too naive. I have come to the conclusion to only trust my Lord and those who really fear Him. Wallahi, this dunya is just plain old disgusting! I wish that the people of today were like the sahabah. You know, like those who lived and breathed Islam!! I hate to be pissed or angry.....but I am!!!! subhana'Allah- I am really hurt right now and I dont want to name names or talk about the specifics. I just want everyone reading this to at least learn one thing-be trustworthy! Never ever break a promise you make and never lie to others.
You never know who you gunna hurt! its better to keep your word! anyway all iam tryina SAY IS.....I wholeheartedly HATE anyone who breaks a promise !!!
May Allah subhanahu wata'ala help me and everyone else, may Allah protect us all from those who are of no benefit to us! ameen
“Promises are like the full moon, if they are not kept at once they diminish day by day”
Saturday, August 6, 2011
been there, done that..........its all history now
Bismillah,
Assalamu alaikum ya Shabab (youth) ;) insha'Allah all is well with everyone.
OK, so my day at work is done and I am feeling GREAT! Alhamdulillah, today was very very easy! I am not saying it was different than other days....work was busy like all Saturday at the mall..but I did not feel extra tired because I was fasting, in fact it made me forget and made time fly by real quick! Wallahi, it didnt turn out to be what I expected it. It was just fabulous! I had iftar with couple of sisters and some non-Muslim co-workers. They asked questions about Islam and about Ramadan....and alhamdulilah if it was not for this blessed month, those questions would have not been asked. Well, there goes.....Allah works in mysterious ways:)
Insha'Allah tomorrow will be different, I work too but I get off 15 minutes before Iftar.....I'll make it to the masjid and break my fast with hundreds of Muslim brothers and sisters :D I will also be able to pray taraweeh at the masjid. Oh how I cannot wait!! Ya'Allah make things easy for my brothers and sisters around the world! ameen
Every day has it is own blessing.....you just gotta look deep to find it!
Can you count your blessings?? can ya?
Assalamu alaikum ya Shabab (youth) ;) insha'Allah all is well with everyone.
OK, so my day at work is done and I am feeling GREAT! Alhamdulillah, today was very very easy! I am not saying it was different than other days....work was busy like all Saturday at the mall..but I did not feel extra tired because I was fasting, in fact it made me forget and made time fly by real quick! Wallahi, it didnt turn out to be what I expected it. It was just fabulous! I had iftar with couple of sisters and some non-Muslim co-workers. They asked questions about Islam and about Ramadan....and alhamdulilah if it was not for this blessed month, those questions would have not been asked. Well, there goes.....Allah works in mysterious ways:)
Insha'Allah tomorrow will be different, I work too but I get off 15 minutes before Iftar.....I'll make it to the masjid and break my fast with hundreds of Muslim brothers and sisters :D I will also be able to pray taraweeh at the masjid. Oh how I cannot wait!! Ya'Allah make things easy for my brothers and sisters around the world! ameen
Every day has it is own blessing.....you just gotta look deep to find it!
Can you count your blessings?? can ya?
The hungry wolf :p
Bismillah,
Today's fasting is really hard for me-I am too hungry and too dang lazy! insha'Allah it brings loads of reward! It is also going to be the first day of work while fasting.....so I hope it turns us well. I will be having my Iftar at the break room probably by myself or with some co-works. I am a bit nervous since my job requires alot of walking and stuff. But I trust in Allah and I am pretty sure He will ease the situation for me. I hope this day just becomes a day for me to remember.....it is definitely test for my patience. However, with Allah anything is possible....I will blog about how my day went later tonight when I get off work insha'Allah.
Hopefully I will have something good to say about it :)
Until then, hang on tight and remember me in your duas :D
Friday, August 5, 2011
kiss it goodbye
Bismillah,
Assalaamu alaikum,
Since I did not go to taraweeh and I am sorta home "alone" I thought I'd do more blogging tonight. Before I start though, I just wanted to mention that it is Sooooooo true when people say "you think alot when you're alone." I like to record my thoughts and read them at a latter time as a reminder. so here goes...
A lot of times we're busy and busy and busy with Dunya, whether it is school, work, family or all combined. Our only concern becomes what is at hand..worrying about tomorrow and so on. This goes on to the point where we might "steal" from our prayers! Wallahi, literary steal from our salah-our divine link! subhana'Allah. And when I say "steal" I mean it the way prophet mohamed (PBUH) meant it. We pray without giving much thought to our sajood, Ruku' and everything else.
For many of us including and especially me, we have become prisoners of this world. We love it, we're attached to it and we want it more than anything! but ya know I think its time for us to kiss it goodbye!! No, I am not kidding-I am actually dead serious! See, when we turn to Akhirah and to Allah, this Dunya becomes like a drop of water in the ocean. It will come and run after us....it will become attached to us and it will want us but we will not want it back because we have in mind something far more precious!-eternal bliss in the garden of Aden! subhana'Allah.....
However, I think it is hard to kiss it goodbye because this Dunya is full of glitter and all sorts of temptation. Man, The words of Allah are true because indeed this world is a test! it is the hardest test one will EVER take and passing it requires constancy, dedication, commitment and much more. Yet again, we have the answers.....we have all the answers, the key to that special garden-Jannah! It is just upon ourselves to help our soul search for what it really wants. Pleasures that have deadlines or eternal bliss? Money and fame or united with the prophet (PBUH) and his companions? A worrisome heart or a content heart?
Ones again, the choice is ours and Allah has gives us a great intelligence to choose between two paths. Making this choice is super hard for the youth.....especially the teenagers. Not because of their hormones mind you, but because of the continual growth of their frontal lobe. This is the part of the brain which is not yet completely developed in teens. They dont have the proper insight to choose that which is best for them except those whom Allah bestowed His mercy upon. May Allah make us of them.
In Islam though, we know "youth years" are particularly very important. We a great story on the people of the cave. Some guys who were the youth of a town and yet knew when to flee in order to preserve tawhid. They wanted to get away from shirk.....yes I said shirk! and now, what is happening to our youth huh?? They know more about pop culture than they know of the oneness of Allah!! We're busy with memorizing lyrics and have completely forgotten to learn about our creator.
However, I swear by Allah aint nothing more calming than the recitation of the Qur'an. The more one learns about Allah, the more one becomes a stranger. A person with knowledge of who Allah is cares less about what this world has to offer...and gives much thought to the meeting with Allah. We need to have a goal....not only should we long for Jannah, but we should also long for the meeting with Allah. Wallahi, no mind or heart can imagine how such meeting would go about. The meeting that will take place when Allah calls upon the people of Jannah to show His noble face. Imagine seeing your creator for the first time! Imagine how it would feel to be able to actually look at Allah's beautiful face. Subhana'Allah......no matter how we try we cannot imagine it because our minds cannot comprehend that. But we're promised that day if we serve and worship Allah like He should be worshiped.
So, go ahead---------KISS this DUNYA goodBYE!---------
-Longing to belong-
Bismillah, Assalamu alaikum everyone.....
I have not written a poem for awhile.......there was so much on my head today and I thought I'd just sit and write some lines. It seems like I dont have an end or a clear conclusion to my poem...well, at least it feels like that writing it. However, it reflects my state of mind and thought as of right now-its not complete. This journey does not have an end until the end comes. So............for now it is just ⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫
..✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.✫☻/ღ˚ •。* ♥♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/▌*˛˚ Longing 2 belong-
/ \ ˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥♥ ˚
Sitting right in front of the screen
All she could think of was a scene
One that is yet to come
On a day when she'll be all alone-no dad and no Mom
Just her facing her one and only Lord
Looking at what deeds she has stored
Will her soul be blessed
or will it be cursed?
Her nafs ponders upon this as she sees time fly by
Life seems like scattered seeds but all she wants is to ask why?
However, she knows the answer to the question
Her head is telling her to let herself out of this situation
This state of disobedience will only end when she makes a prostration
clearing her intention
aiming for that long destination
Wallahi, it takes courage and dedication
To be able to completely free oneself from the traps of this dunya
To be able to take the journey to a place called Akhira
Where only those who know and served their Lord get a ticket
To enter a garden of bliss in which they'll have all they want without limit
To be able to long for where you really belong!
clearing her intention
aiming for that long destination
Wallahi, it takes courage and dedication
To be able to completely free oneself from the traps of this dunya
To be able to take the journey to a place called Akhira
Where only those who know and served their Lord get a ticket
To enter a garden of bliss in which they'll have all they want without limit
To be able to long for where you really belong!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
-A conversation with God-
Bismillah, in the name of Allah,
Assalamu alaikum, peace be upon you all!
Ever have so many private things to say and ya feel like aint nobody there to listen? Or maybe you just want to spill out to the one who you're so sure will listen and will not be so quick to judge you? Alhamdulillah as Muslims we have salah....a divine link with our creator. This happens five times a day....but sometimes, some of us wake up in the last third of the night to have one on one conversation with Allah ta'ala. This is different from the rest of the prayers...in this a Muslim sacrifices his/her sleep and prostrates to God almighty with humbleness and gratitude. Its in these moments where one would cry out his/her heart to Allah and they are so certain that He is there listening to their every cry. This carries no hypocrisy nor does it have any showing off associated with it. In the last third of the night, it is just a servant and his/her master-just YOU and ALLAH!
There is so much benefit to praying salah tahajud.....but one thing is for sure, you'll have less to worry about during the day. You might ask why is that? well, it is because after a night of concentrated prayer, you will be content, calm and surprisingly happy. Just try it for yourself one night......pray and see how different your day is. I swear by Allah, you'll witness a great deal of calmness and happiness that you never felt before. It is like waking up in the middle of roses and a garden full of all that you ever loved!! Your happiness will spread to everyone around you and it will keep on spreading!
Just imagine yourself, going to school or work early in the morning after a night of Ibadah (worship), a night filled with prayer and supplication and a night of closeness to Allah ta'ala! You go to your first class or your office with a big smile on your face- your boss smiles back at you as if he/she could literary see the noor on your face! You're feeling something bigger than happiness.....a feeling you're unable to describe, but you're loving every minute of it! It seems like nothing can annoy you and that your day keeps on getting better and better! not only are you able to continuely remember your Lord, you're also able to make every minute a minute of Ibadah. You've found yourself in love.......in love with Allah. He is constantly in your mind, all you talk about is Him and what He loves. You long to be with Him as time goes by....each night waking up for that special conversation! You're a warrior...choosing your battle-losing sometimes, but you always get back up with the grace and mercy of your Lord. This Dunya is just like a waiting room to you....you've got a goal and a destination. May Allah make the journey easy for you and all of us. Ameen
My dear warrior, know that you're not alone in this battle......you are part of an Ummah dedicated to serving the Lord of al-alameen! Keep your chin up high and clear your intention, you're bound to succeed insha'Allah.
Assalamu alaikum, peace be upon you all!
Ever have so many private things to say and ya feel like aint nobody there to listen? Or maybe you just want to spill out to the one who you're so sure will listen and will not be so quick to judge you? Alhamdulillah as Muslims we have salah....a divine link with our creator. This happens five times a day....but sometimes, some of us wake up in the last third of the night to have one on one conversation with Allah ta'ala. This is different from the rest of the prayers...in this a Muslim sacrifices his/her sleep and prostrates to God almighty with humbleness and gratitude. Its in these moments where one would cry out his/her heart to Allah and they are so certain that He is there listening to their every cry. This carries no hypocrisy nor does it have any showing off associated with it. In the last third of the night, it is just a servant and his/her master-just YOU and ALLAH!
There is so much benefit to praying salah tahajud.....but one thing is for sure, you'll have less to worry about during the day. You might ask why is that? well, it is because after a night of concentrated prayer, you will be content, calm and surprisingly happy. Just try it for yourself one night......pray and see how different your day is. I swear by Allah, you'll witness a great deal of calmness and happiness that you never felt before. It is like waking up in the middle of roses and a garden full of all that you ever loved!! Your happiness will spread to everyone around you and it will keep on spreading!
Just imagine yourself, going to school or work early in the morning after a night of Ibadah (worship), a night filled with prayer and supplication and a night of closeness to Allah ta'ala! You go to your first class or your office with a big smile on your face- your boss smiles back at you as if he/she could literary see the noor on your face! You're feeling something bigger than happiness.....a feeling you're unable to describe, but you're loving every minute of it! It seems like nothing can annoy you and that your day keeps on getting better and better! not only are you able to continuely remember your Lord, you're also able to make every minute a minute of Ibadah. You've found yourself in love.......in love with Allah. He is constantly in your mind, all you talk about is Him and what He loves. You long to be with Him as time goes by....each night waking up for that special conversation! You're a warrior...choosing your battle-losing sometimes, but you always get back up with the grace and mercy of your Lord. This Dunya is just like a waiting room to you....you've got a goal and a destination. May Allah make the journey easy for you and all of us. Ameen
My dear warrior, know that you're not alone in this battle......you are part of an Ummah dedicated to serving the Lord of al-alameen! Keep your chin up high and clear your intention, you're bound to succeed insha'Allah.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Ramdan Kareem!!
Assalamu alaikum:) peace be upon all of you!!
Ramdan is hereeeeeee :) yaaaaaay...it has been three days already alhamdulillah. I just wish a blessed month full of love, forgiveness, and mercy to everyone who is fasting. This is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed, so lets all take advantage of it and read the book of Allah as much as we can. I hope to post more Islamic posts this month insha'Allah....so stay tunedd!!! :D
I got these ten goals to set for Ramadan list from turntoislam.com (if you havent checked this website out, now is the time!) :)
Ramdan is hereeeeeee :) yaaaaaay...it has been three days already alhamdulillah. I just wish a blessed month full of love, forgiveness, and mercy to everyone who is fasting. This is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed, so lets all take advantage of it and read the book of Allah as much as we can. I hope to post more Islamic posts this month insha'Allah....so stay tunedd!!! :D
I got these ten goals to set for Ramadan list from turntoislam.com (if you havent checked this website out, now is the time!) :)
1. Eat, drink and be moderate
Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box
It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.
At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.
7. Call/email your relatives
You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."
Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8. Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.
Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box
It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.
At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.
7. Call/email your relatives
You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."
Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8. Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)