The Departure and The Arrival

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Let me start by giving you all a situation to imagine. You’ve been away from home since a very long time (let’s say 7-8 months). You were being held up with work, assignments and deadlines. On the other hand, your friends or colleagues or people around you are in a complete bliss. It’s been really frustrating but somehow manage to stay on track, avoid distractions and finally you’ve pulled it through. After a long wait, the day arrives when you head back home. Neither can you stop looking at the tickets nor can you stop thinking about your family. And you can’t wait to be treated like royalty! :P And obviously, your mum has prepared your favourite food (my mom would usually prepare macaroni. A LOT of macaroni :P), your siblings clean their bed for you and you know that as soon as you get home, you’ll be at peace, you’ll be pampered, all your wishes would be your family’s command. You’d be absolutely thrilled throughout the journey! Your departure is filled with excitement that’s only doubled upon your arrival.

Okay so now you’re done spending gala time at home and it’s time for you to return back to the dreaded place of workloads and expectations. You know you’re not going to be receiving any pampering there and you just have to eat the usual dal chawal (that’s like the Indian version of toast and butter). And you’re just back to killing your wishes again. How would you be throughout the journey? Would you have the heart of leaving a place of bliss for a place of horror? Uh huh. Your departure is agonizing and it only gets even more painful on your arrival.

So this is your departure and arrival in this world. But what about your departure FROM this world? What’s your journey going to be like? Sure your body remains in this world, but your soul? Well it got to face The One who created it and the consequences of the actions and feelings that were feeding on it. And when it does? All of the deeds you’ve committed throughout your life, the things you strove for, the way they’ve affected your soul and if they got you closer to your Lord or took you away from Him will flash before your very own eyes. 

Because Allah swt says in Surah Naziyat, verse 35:

يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا سَعَىٰ

“That Day (Day of Judgement) man shall remember what he strove for.”

When we depart from this world, there’s just one arrival destination. To our Lord, our Creator. Waiting for our deeds to be weighed on the scale so that we can be dealt with justly. Each and every soul in this world has to go through this evaluation. And we will be admitted into the abode we truly deserve and That is the place we’re going to be in for eternity.

In this modern, contemporary world, enhancing the outer appearance has taken precedence over nurturing the soul. We spend days and months or even several years dedicating ourselves to the gym, beauty treatments, dieting, but what are we really feeding the soul what it NEEDS to be fed? Are we taking care of the soul the way it NEEDS to be taken care of?

In a day of 24 hours, how many hours or even minutes do we spend on pondering about our soul? It goes through all sorts of crap and trash. When there’s a physical wound, we visit a physician, sometimes we visit a number of them only to compare their diagnosis. We care so much about our physical frame, forgetting that the healing actually resides in a deeper part of our body. The part where the spirit exists. Have we ever made an effort to heal the wounds of our spirit? Our soul? Our heart? There was a quote I came across recently, it read: “Stab the body and it heals but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime”. 

After an exhausting day, all we sit down with is a cup of coffee and wish for a massage (for once, you may even get that) but how many us focus on revitalising our soul? The amalgam of emotions we experience throughout the day takes a toll on our gentle soul more than the body and this goes unnoticed very easily…

Allah azza wa jal has given us the therapy to heal and nourish the heart and the soul in His Book. Allah says in Surah Ra’d, verse 28:

أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest”

Now, what does it mean by remembering Allah?

Most of us think that to remember Allah is to recite duas and azkars in Arabic or to keep repeating the terms – “Subhan Allah” “Alhamdullilah” “La Ilaha Illa Allah” “Allahu Akbar” “Astaghfirullah”. Well what’s the point of reciting these terms when it’s only the lips that move and not the heart?

Remembering Allah is to:

Remember the blessings that He has bestowed you with. Even the drop of water that quenches your thirst or the first morsel of food that satisfies your hunger, considering the fact that there are countless number of people who cry out for basic necessities. This remembrance leads to gratitude. The element that increases your blessings. (Surah Ibrahim, verse 7)

Remember The Power He possess. And when this sinks in your heart, it leads to the unshakable trust in Allah, no matter what you go through. Even if you’ve had a bad day, you turn to His remembrance to find solace and comfort. 

Remember His favours upon you. The greatest of which is making you a Muslim and granting you knowledge. The job that gets you tired and frustrated is the job that several others strive for. Parents whose concern gets you irritated at times, is being craved by thousands who’ve lost their parents. The kids who get on your nerves, are being yearned for by many couples. The remembrance of Allah’s favours increases love for Him.

Remember His Omniscience in the open and the hidden for it serves as an impetus for our chastity.

Remember His magnitude and greatness for it causes one’s humility and submission towards Him.

Remember His forgiveness and generosity that serves as our sources of hope and repentance.

It’s okay if you want to refresh yourself with lemonade or coffee (or teaaaa :P) but that’s not what’s going to give you peace and comfort. Unless you resort to the remembrance of Allah, understand that your soul needs to be rejuvenated as much as your body, you’re going to go through the same old tiring, tedious and monotonous routine every day, adding up to your frustration and anxiety. 

Now, why is it that you need to care for your soul as much as you care for your body or even more and constantly remember Allah, His blessings, favour, mercy and His might?

Because just like I mentioned in the beginning, the thoughts, emotions and actions that has been feeding on your soul in this dunya is going to be evaluated the day you meet your Lord. You will be judged on the state of your soul and not the state of your body. 

How do you know what kind of actions are going to lead you to which destination in the Hereafter?

Allah says, in Surah Naziyat, verse 37-41:

فَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغَىٰ

وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

“Then as for him who transgressed,

And preferred the life of this world,

Shall have his abode in Hell.”

The Arabic word طَغَىٰ is translated as transgression. Its root – ط غ ي gives the meaning – “to exceed a limit”, “exceed the bound” or “deviate”. When we cross the bounds/limits that Allah swt has laid for us, repeatedly disobey Allah, commit sins, the fitnah or temptations of this world begins to lure us and we start preferring (آثَرَ) the life of this world over the Hereafter. In such a state, we follow our desires, give in to temptations, forget about The Lord Almighty and pave our way for a painful and humiliating afterlife and destine ourselves to the Hell fire.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

“But he who feared standing before his Rabb and curbed his evil desires,

Shall have his home in Paradise”

The word مقام is translated as “position” or “rank” or “standing”. And this can mean 2 things. One, those people who fear the position of their Lord and believe that Allah’s position is the Highest. He is Al Azeez (The Almighty). He is The One who has power and authority over all things. Two, those people who fear standing in front of Allah (On the Judgement Day). Because it is on this day when Allah will ‘personally’ deal with all of mankind and hold them accountable for each and every deed they committed in this dunya. 

Secondly, the Arabic word الْهَوَىٰ is used for evil desires or lust. There’s no doubt that Allah has placed الْهَوَىٰ in every human being. And that is where He swt tests us. Our goal should be to fight or curb these desires that go against the bounds laid by Allah, in other words the desires that lead to طغيان (transgression). 

The Prophet (saws) has been reported saying, “The Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hell fire is surrounded by temptations” (Sahih Muslim). And for those who abide by this teaching of Allah, will have Jannah in their possession for eternity. Subhan Allah. 

The Quran is indeed the ultimate source of guidance and the best manual there is for attaining a successful life in this world and the Hereafter. 

And going down the recent world events, the day of judgement is just round the corner. Allah azza wa jal gives us this warning in Surah Anbiya, verse 1:

اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ

“Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning; yet they heed not and they turn away”.

So my dear brothers and sisters, If not until now, then now it is. :)

Let’s turn towards our Lord, our Rabb not only in times of need and distress but also during ease and happiness. May Allah azza wa jal help us all in seeking solace and comfort through His Book and His remembrance, and bless us with Jannah, Ameen. :)

Assalam Alaykum.

You Are Not Alone...

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu!

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon all of you!

Has it ever been that sometimes you have an uproar of emotions and you find it hard to express yourselves? Have you ever felt so depressed about your life that you think it’s better for you to stay isolated? During such times you may feel that no amount of prayers or patience can calm you down or help you overcome your depression… You just lose all hopes that your life is going to be any better and you sulk in grief. You feel the whole world is having a whale of a time and here you are crying your eyes out. 

These emotions have persuaded me to write this article so that anybody going through this period don’t feel they’re alone and are the only ones in the world drowned in agony. If you’re going through any of these emotions then consider this as an amazing opportunity given to you by Allah (swt) Himself to make your life more meaningful and worth living… ;)

I cannot think of anything but this beautiful verse from Surah Baqarah to start with…

يأيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءَامنُواْ استَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبرِ و الصَّلوةِ ^ج  إنَّ اللهَ مَعَ اصّٰبِرين

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Verse 153)

وَلَنَبلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىءٍ مِّنَ ﭐلخَوفِ وَ ﭐلجُوعِ وَ نَقصٍ مِّنَ ﭐلأَموٰالِ وَﭐلأنفُسِ وَ ﭐلثَمَرٰتِ وَ بَشِّرِ 

ﭐلصّٰبِرين

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Verse 155)

ﭐلَّذينَ إِذَآ أَصٰبَتهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالواْ إِنَّا للّٰه وَ إِنَّآ إلَيهِ رٰجِعُون

“Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we will return.” (Verse 156)

أُولْٰئِكَ عَلَيهِم صَلَوٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِم وَ رَحمَةٌ وَ أُوْلٰئِكَ هُمُ ﭐلمُهتَدُون

“Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the (rightly) guided.” (Verse 157)

For those of us who’re depressed and in a state where we feel nothing in this world can comfort us, we need to take a step back and reflect on these beautiful verses from the Quran. But before I do that, let’s reflect on the wisdom of Allah azza wa jal…

Now whenever we feel sad or are lost into a gloomy world, we tend to ask ourselves certain questions like “Why me?” “What did I do wrong?” “Is this a punishment?” “Didn’t Allah say He wouldn’t burden anybody more than what they can bear? Then why is He causing this pain to me?”

Exactly my point dear brothers and sisters. When Allah (swt) Himself stated in the 

Quran in Surah Baqarah, verse 286

“لا يُكَلِّفُ الله نَفساً إلاّ وُسعَهَا”

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that which it can bear”

then how can He cause you pain that you cannot tolerate? Na’uzubillah are we trying to say that Allah’s claim is wrong?

How can we forget the Hadith that says, “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a person, He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah)

And another Hadith narrated by Umar bin Khattab (رضى الله عنه): “Some prisoners were brought to Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم), and there was a woman among the prisoners who was searching (for her child). When she found her child, she embraced him and put him to her breast. Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said to us, ‘Do you think that this woman would throw her child in the fire?’ We said, ‘No, by Allah, not if she is able not to.’ He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, ‘Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this woman is to her child.’”  (Agreed upon)

How on earth can we doubt the Mercy of Allah (swt) and His wisdom when we’re going a tough period? Don’t you think if you’re facing pain then there must be a reason behind it? And most possibly the reason might be to bring us closer to Allah (swt)? Cause you feel you cannot share your feelings with anybody, the thought of it makes you cry your eyes out and you wouldn’t want anybody to feel you’re weak and to judge you so now who better than Allah (swt) to turn towards to…? He who doesn’t judge anybody who express their weakness before Him. He who is always ready to aid you. He who loves you more than a mother could love her child. He who’s mercy surpasses everything in this world.

One of my articles “Why Me?” deals with similar feelings but this article will focus more on those facing depression and feel they might never be able to come out of it.

Now moving on to the verses from Surah Baqarah that I had mentioned earlier…

What I feel is these 4 verses answers all the questions that anybody going through depression will have. Why am I facing this? How do I deal with this and what will I get out of this? Now let’s see what Allah (swt) wants you to know through these verses…

The first question is, “why am I facing this?”

Let’s see verse 155.

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.”

Allah (swt) tells us that we must be tested with trials to differentiate between those who are truthful and those who are liars, between those who are patient and those who are impatient (Surah Ankabut, verse 2). This is Allah’s wisdom. This is the lesson and benefit of trials. So these difficult times are not for you to go away from Allah azza wa jal and live your life in seclusion. It is these times that give us the opportunity to strengthen our imaan and to prove our loyalty towards Allah (swt).

These trials divide people into 2 categories – the impatient and the patient.

The impatient has to deal with losses in this world and the Hereafter. They will lose the reward attained for obeying Allah (swt) by being patient. This person’s Imaan decreases. They miss out the opportunity of having patience, gratitude, and being satisfied and pleased with the decree of Allah. Rather they become displeased and angry. This attitude shows their immaturity.

As for the one who Allah guides to patience during times of calamity, they restrain their speech and actions of dissatisfaction that leads to the displeasure of Allah. They understand that the reward for being patient is greater than the trials they’re going through. In this sense, the calamity actually becomes a blessing for that person because it becomes a means to achieve something that is better and more beneficial than which was lost.

It is up to us to decide which category of people we want to fall into. Do we want to turn a calamity into a blessing or into a pitfall?

Moving on to the second question, “how do I deal with this?”

They respond to these calamities by saying,

“إِنَّا للّٰه وَ إِنَّآ إلَيهِ رٰجِعُون”

(Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed our return is to Him)

This means we are owned by Allah, and we are under His command and control. So when we are tested with calamities, we must realize it is the Most Merciful running His sovereignty. It is very important to realize that the calamities that befall us are from The All-Wise, The One who has more compassion for His slaves than they even have for themselves. This realization will make us satisfied with Allah (swt) and our hearts will soften out of the love Allah (swt) has for us because we know it is good for us even if we do not understand why. While we are owned by Allah, we will also return to Him on the Judgement Day. Then everyone will be dealt according to their deeds performed in this world. So if we bear patience and seek Allah’s mercy, we will find our great reward with Him. But if we are impatient, dissatisfied, and displeased with His decree, the only thing we will get is dissatisfaction and the missed-out opportunity of the reward of patience.

If you are patient, Allah (swt) is with you. You are under His protection. No harm can get to you when The Owner of this world and the Hereafter is by your side. Your every prayer and every tear is heard and seen by Him. All your actions are watched by Him. He (swt) will never leave you alone even for a blink of an eye. All you need to do is follow His advice and trust Him. And wait for things to take a turn that will make your life much more beautiful and meaningful than it was before.  

Coming to the third question, “what will I get out of this?”

What you will earn is much greater than everything you’re going through. Following what Allah (swt) has advised us to do in times of difficulty is definitely not easy. This is a task that cannot be performed by everyone. And that is the entire purpose of Him testing you! If He, The Wise, The All Knowing, your Creator is asking you to trust Him at times when you see no light, no direction then there must be a great treasure awaiting you at the end of this trial. He is making you go through this struggle because He knows you’re capable to overcoming this in ways nobody else can. You have the power to beat the odds and earn a better life for yourself. Allah (swt) wants you to come of out this trial much stronger and more wiser than you already were. That’s why He is making you go through what I would call – a training process.

This reminds me of a great saying of Ibn ul Qayyim (رحمه الله),

“From the perfection of Allah’s ihsan is that He allows His slave to taste the bitterness of break before the sweetness of the mend. So He does not break His believing slave except to mend him. And He does not withhold from him except to give him. And He does not test him (with hardship) except to cure him.”

When you’re cracking with pain, don’t build a graveyard in your heart. Go to the sink and make wudu. Let the water run through every crack, let it cleanse you. Pull out your rug and turn towards the Kabah. Let every ‘Allahu Akbar’ echo in your heart, reminding you that your pain will be taken care of. Pour out your heavy heart in front of Him when your forehead is on the ground. Cry your heart out when you raise your hands in dua. Ask Allah (swt) for His Help. Ask Him to comfort you. Ask Him to grant you patience to deal with your struggles. Allah (swt) will never let you go empty handed.  

One of the most beautiful things in life is when you sit down and make genuine dua to Allah (swt). Your heart will feel at ease as your worries melt away and Allah’s words become apparent, “Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him.” (65:3)

Ask yourselves. When was the last time you woke up in the middle of the night or the last third of the night to pray to Allah (swt)? When was the last time you tried to work on your relationship with Allah azza wa jal? You know what my dear brothers and sisters? This is your perfect ooportunity to strengthen your connection with Allah (swt). Wake up just 10 minutes before Fajr. We know that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) told us that it is the last third of the night when Allah azza wa jal descends to the lowest part of the Heavens and He asks “Which one of My servants is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Which one of My servants is seeking My mercy so that I may be merciful to them? Which one of My servants is asking of me that I may give to them?” Start your day with it and experience this amazing spiritual feeling and a blessing that Allah (swt) has given us.

I would end my article with one of the most powerful and beautiful verse of the Quran,

ألأ بِذِكرِ ﭐلله تَطمَئِنُّ ﭐلقُلُوب

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”

-    Surah Ra’d, verse 28

Assalam Alaykum.

What's your Identity?

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu!

May the peace, mercy and blessings of The Almighty be upon you!

First of all, it feels so good to be back to writing articles again, Alhamdullilah!

But in the past one year, I came across different kinds of people, different environment, different lifestyles and different beliefs. All of it had one thing in common and that is I-N-F-L-U-E-N-C-E. I’ve written a similar article but In sha Allah this article will provide a deeper insight and a wider perspective of how grave this matter is. A lot can be said about the subject, but I will keep my article restricted to the Muslim youth.

Undoubtedly the Muslim youth today are being deluded by the worldly entertainment. Some of you might just shut down their systems and stop reading this article already (:P). No, this is not just another article about how the youth is misled by the fitnah around them and how they’re disappointing their parents and how that’s leading them to hell fire. No. According to me, there’s a much more important issue that needs to be solved. And that’s the identity of a Muslim. Unless we deal with the identity crises faced by the Muslim youth, we cannot jump on to topics about how they need to be warriors in this world. I’m not saying that the youth shouldn’t be taught about the aakhirah or sins or rewards but I think it’s all about priority.

Cause until the Muslim youth are proud of their Deen, are not afraid of expressing their religion in speech and in action and are confident about their identity, they’re least expected to take the other teachings of Islam seriously.

Why aren’t we confident about our identity? We are we afraid to follow Deen in public? Why do we hesitate and become reluctant when it comes to offering Salah in a public place? What is happening to us?

Peer pressure. I had to mention that ofcourse. You know you’re falling into peer pressure when you’re being pushed or encouraged to do or follow your peers for which you feel uncomfortable. If you’re being forced to do something like that, then they’re not really your friends. And that group isn’t where you belong. When you accept to do what your peers force you to do, then you end up being a product of their entertainment. Answer this. Is your worth so low that you can compromise your beliefs for a person? Be strong and be firm; never compromise your faith. A flag blows in the direction of the wind. But the pole remains firm in its place. Question is, are we like the flag, or the pole?

But the most important and fundamental cause is something else.

We as Muslims have lost the foundations of our faith and if the foundation is destroyed, how can we build knowledge upon it?

And the foundation of our faith is the unshakable belief and trust on Allah azza wa jal. This sole foundation guides the rest of our affairs. When our Iman is low, our control over our heart becomes weak, which causes the Shaytan to take over, making our desires strong and we lose the fight against evil – regardless of how much knowledge we have.

Now, what does this do to us?

Some of us may feel it’s okay to follow their peers simply because they wouldn’t want to feel lonely or left out in the group. But do we realize what is this actually doing to us? This fear of rejection makes us forget who we really are and whom should we be actually pleasing. We try to be a person that’s not really us and utlimately lose focus in life. Trying to be that new person becomes our aim. We end up losing our identity causing us to be depressed with no peace in the mind or in the heart and it lowers our self-esteem. Will you be happy losing your identity just to be a part of a group where you don’t belong?

In pleasing the creations of the Almighty, we end up disobeying the Creator Himself. We will realize the beauty of pleasing Allah only after obeying Him, whole heartedly. Sometimes we may not feel the inner desire to attain the qualities that please Allah (swt). We may think that it’s enough to survive in this world, establish friendships to keep away from being lonely and reach the worldly goals we desire. Allah has revealed the kind of moral behavior that pleases Him; but sometimes our narrow goals prevent us from caring about trying to win Allah’s favour and mercy. Thereby we prefer to be among those who strive for the ordinary, the mediocre; worldly goals.

However, the basic purpose of human creation is quite different, and of a higher order than these worldly ambitions. Allah reveals us in the Qur’an what this purpose is in Surah Mulk, verse 2;

“(He) created death and life to test which of you is best in action…”

In another verse, He asks this question of those who are unaware of this purpose and choose to live a shallow, superficial life:

Did you suppose that We created you for amusement and that you would not return to Us? (Surah al-Muminun, verse 115)

When our return is to Allah (swt), why should we waste our lives trying to do something that is not in obedience to Allah, The Almighty?

So what do we do now?

Allah (swt) says in Surah Zukhruf, verse 36;

“He who turns away from the remembrance (Reminder) of the

Compassionate (Allah), We assign a shaitan for him, who becomes his

intimate companion”

And once the Shaytan becomes a person’s close companion, he decorates all his negative actions for him and make them appear good. Anytime a person swings from the remembrance of Allah, he becomes a ball in the hands of Shaytan.

To go on a journey of Imaan and to build that foundation of faith, we need to have four qualities:

1. To busy your tongue and heart with the remembrance of Allah.

2. To hold tight your heart to Allah (check your actions all the time)

3. Control your nafs. Reflect on your desires.

4. Purify the niyyah (intention) all the time.

It is vital that we choose our identity and strive for the qualities of the title (a true believer) that we aspire to attain. May Allah azza wa jal grant us the ability to travel on the Straight Path and allow us to reach the best abode—Jannah. Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum.

Just Do It

Assalam Alaykum!

May the peace, mercy and blessings of the Almighty be upon you! :)

Ever found it difficult to forgive someone? Ever found it difficult to control your anger? Or to control yourself when you’re frustrated and disappointed? Ever found it difficult not to back answer your mom…?

In your childhood, your parents must have promised to get you a cycle or a doll if you aced your exams. Later during your teenage, your parents might have promised to get you the latest tab or phone if you stood first in class. And Subhan Allah just for the sake of getting the toys or the electronics, we did achieve the impossible (:P)

What if I said this to you now… There’s a two day holiday spot for you. The place has sparkling lights, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, flowing rivers, abundant clothing and beautiful soundly-constructed high mansions. There’s also a sea and which has pebbles that look like pearls and sapphire. And the soil gives out a pleasant fragrance. The only problem is out of every 5 people, only 1 gets to go. In addition to that there’s a condition. You will have to spend an entire day without electronics. And yes, that includes your AC’s as well. :P

For the sake of the extravagant and lavish lifestyle, would you let go of comfort for a day…?

If yes, would you let go of your temper and start being cordial towards your family and friends for the sake of The One who prepared the eternal bliss that awaits you…? (By the way that was the description of the lowest level of Jannah and there’s more to it)

Do you want to know how merciful is The One who has prepared a Garden of eternal beauty for you? How much He loves you?

Whenever a person sins, the sea, the earth seek permission from Allah, to drown or suck that person. They ask Allah, “Ya Allah! How long are you going to tolerate this person? How long are you going to tolerate this Zulm?” Even the angels of Allah cannot bear it. They say, “Ya Allah! Give us permission to destroy this person.” But does Allah give away the sinner…? What do you think Allah, the Most Merciful, The Most Loving, The Most Generous, The Most Kind would have said? Allah (swt) tells them, “If they are your slaves, you do whatever you want to do with them. But if they are my slaves, then it is between them and Me. If they come back to Me in the day time, I will accept them. If they come back to Me in the night time, I will accept them.”

Subhan Allah, do you see the love of Allah?

Is it so hard for you to gulp down your anger for the sake of the Lord who loves you to the extent that He shushes the angels when they speak against you, the Lord who loves you so much that even though you disobey Him, He still wants to give you another chance?

Allah azza wa jal says in Surah Al Imran, verse 15 “…For those who fear Allah, will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally…”

See what Allah (swt) has for you when you fear Him and do things for His sake?

But let me share something with you. This is something whose benefits Wallahi you’ll experience in this life as well. Be it controlling your anger, being patient with your siblings, taking in your parents scoldings and treating with them with kindness and respect, wearing your hijab, offering salah, being kind to your school mates or colleagues or letting go of someone who might have hurted you intentionally or unintentionally, just do it for the sake of Allah. Allah (swt) will bring that difference into your life. Cause when you do something for the sake of Allah, that becomes an ibadah; you are worshipping Allah (swt) and thereby earning the blessings of Allah (swt). Subhan Allah you’re being rewarded for just diverting your intention!

And Subhan Allah when you start following this one magic rule, every struggle in your life will seem like a piece of cake. You are not only being rewarded for every struggle but Allah (swt) will replace something better for you before you even know it. I’ve experienced every bit of it and I’m sure you will too In sha Allah! :)

Since it’s the month of Ramadan, it becomes even more easier for us to do good and leave the bad for the sake of Allah! Let’s avail this opportunity and utilize it to the best in gaining the Mercy and Blessings of the Almighty Allah. 

Assalam Alaykum 

Limited Sale; Unlimited Rewards

Assalam Alaykum!

May the peace, blessings and mercy of the Almighty be upon all! 

I did mention I would share a lil secret that would make all your struggles seem like a piece of cake. But since Ramadan has arrived, I thought to put up an article on that as soon as possible. In sha Allah my next article will be on how to ease all your problems and struggles. :)

Let me start with some facts about the fasting hours in 2014:

Australia – 9.5 hours

India – 12 hours

UAE – 14 hours

Saudi Arabia – 15 hours

Egypt – 16 hours

Iran – 17 hours

Canada – 19 hours

Britain – 20.5 hours

Iceland – 21 hours

Easy, isn’t it? Uh huh. How many of you thought that isn’t an easy task…? Well I thought the same until I came across a verse from the Quran, “Allah intends for you ease, and does not want to make things difficult for you” (Surah Baqarah, verse 185) and Allah (swt) also says, “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty” (Surah Mai’dah, verse 6)

Then why did He give us a task that’s not quite easy to do? Then I thought to myself, how can I deny a fact stated by Allah (swt) Himself? There must be some wisdom behind it. And when I did realize the reason, my heart filled with gratitude for Allah azza wa jal.

Yes! Allah wants ease for you. We might only be thinking about the fasting hours. But Allah (swt) has a bigger and better plan for us. Allah (swt) wants to make your life easier. Your life won’t be easy until you have Guidance and you won’t have Guidance until you have Taqwa. And the purpose of Ramadan is to attain Taqwa! Since this is Ramadan season you must memorized this verse where Allah (swt) says in Surah Baqarah, “The month of Ramadhan (is that) in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and (wants) for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”

Allah wants to make your life easy! That is why He chose you to witness another Ramadan in your life. Subhan Allah, Allah (swt) has given us another chance to better our lives!

But question arises, if fasting increases taqwa then why fasting only in Ramadan is obligatory and not on any other day?

The best part about Ramadan is that the shaytan is chained. Wallahi if shaytan was around during Ramadan, we wouldn’t observe siyam for a week. We’d start giving up on fasting, forget about working on our good deeds and gaining taqwa.

Another point that can be brought out is a lil detail about taqwa. How many times did Allah azza wa jal mention taqwa in the Quran…?

Over 200 times.

And how many times did Allah azza wa jal mention Ramadan in the Quran…?

Just one ayah in the Quran.

The reason is obvious isn’t it…? When your mom asks you to switch off TV, do you do it in the first instant or do you avoid her talks? When your mom asks you to leave your phone aside, do you it instantly or continue using the phone?

The fact that Allah mentioned taqwa over 200 times in the Quran is because we don’t develop taqwa easily. It takes work. Added to that with shaytan being around and increasing our desires into the Haram direction, it isn’t easy to develop taqwa.

The whole purpose of Ramadan is to develop what you don’t do even after being said over 200 times. With the shaytan gone, we avoid the things Allah has forbidden and follow the things that Allah (swt) has commanded thereby increasing God consciousness; taqwa.

Ramadan is our training program. The things that tempt us and the things that we’re attracted to; we’re ready to let go off those things in Ramadan. In the process, our heart is getting stronger; we start doing things for the sake of Allah. In this yearly program we let our heart win over the desires of our body. Allah is helping us prepare ourselves. And the taqwa that we develop is going to act like our shield for the rest 11 months.

What better way to attain taqwa? ;)

When Allah (swt) has made it so much easier for us to get closer to them, gave us an opportunity to keep away from haram, let’s do our best to gain unlimited rewards, In sha Allah :)

Assalam Alaykum

You May Want to Change That...

Assalam Alaykum!

May the peace, mercy and blessings of the Almighty be upon all of you! J

I’ll begin by elaborating more on why did I choose this particular title for my article…

I have seen some people covering their cars with a sheet when they aren’t using it. Sometimes it looks as if they’re putting a perfect Hijab for those cars! The reason is pretty obvious isn’t it? Of course they want to protect it.

I have also seen (I’m sure you must have too) the shopkeepers closing their shops by lowering their metal shutters and also locking it. Do they leave even an inch open? Nope. Perfectionists. They will secure their shops before they leave. Not just the shopkeepers but also the security guards at the malls switch on the burglar alarms even though they’re on duty. Do they secure one part of the mall and leave the other part open for their visitors? Nope. They don’t. Why? Obviously the stuffs inside are so “precious” and “valuable” that they cannot risk leaving it without security.

Question arises for you. Are you, O Muslimahs, any less than those stuffs? Those material, invaluable, non-living stuffs? If such materialistic things are given tight security, covered so that it doesn’t tempt anyone to loot them, how much should you be careful about yourselves? What would you call precious and valuable? You or those cars that probably follows Hijab more than us?

Of course it is undeniable that many Muslim ladies follow Hijab. And Subhan Allah it is so over whelming to see the increasing number of Muslimahs. But, there are certain things I’ve seen for myself that makes me want to share the real criteria and purpose of Hijab. And as the title states, some of you may want to change your definition of Hijab…

Hijab is not the 10 cm cloth one wraps around their head. Hijab is not the lil hair popping out of one’s scarf. Hijab is definitely not the extremely tight abaya one wears. Hijab is not the stilettoes one wears that attracts even the ladies.

So, what is Hijab? I’ll let the Quran speak for itself, after all it’s called ‘Guidance’ for a reason…

Allah azza wa jal lays down the criteria for Hijab in Surah Noor, verse 31:

§  قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَ يَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَهُنَّ

“Say to the believing women that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste)…”

§  وَ لاَ يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَ لْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلىَ جُيُوْبِهِنَّ

“...and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms...”

Here we come across the term:

               I.      ‘Khumur’ – This is the plural of ‘khimar’ which means something with which a women conceals her head.

Question arises, why did Allah azza wa jal ask us to place the ‘khimar’ over our bosom then?

According to the commentators of the Quran, the women of Medina in the pre-Islamic era used to put their ‘khumur’ over the head with the two ends tucked behind and tied at the back of the neck, in the process exposing their ears and neck. By saying that, “place the khumur over the bosoms,” Almighty Allah ordered the women to let the two ends of their headgear extend onto their bosoms so that they conceal their ears, the neck, and the upper part of the bosom.

§  يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ, قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ وَ بَنَاتِكَ وَ نِسآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ: يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلاَبِيْبِهِنَّ...

“O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers that: they should let down upon themselves their jalabib.”

Here we have another term:

              II.      ‘Jalabib’ – This is the plural of ‘jilbab’ which means a loose outer garment.

This means that the Islamic dress code for women does not only consist of a scarf that covers the head, the neck and the bosom; it also includes the overall dress that should be long and loose.

So, for instance, the combination of a tight, short sweater with tight-fitting jeans with a scarf over the head does not fulfill the requirements of the Islamic dress code.

Another question arises in my mind and a funny one at that. :P

What happens to the shopping malls and the supermarkets when there’s a special occasion? Is there tight security or is everybody welcomed without having to go through the metal detector…?

Then how on earth can you walk around without your protection, without your hijab during a wedding or a birthday party or ‘dawats’ (so typical in Indian families)

Wallahi this makes me question a person’s intellect. -_-

Sisters! Just like the security for shopping malls increases during special occasions, you need to observe hijab during the special occasions as well! By the way hijab is the jilbab+khimar! Not just the scarf over a super shiny outfit.

I know this isn’t easy. When the rest of the world decks up and each and every person around you look like they’re gonna win the Miss World crown, it doesn’t matter. You are a creation of Allah. You are beautiful no matter what race you come from. And the fact that you are protecting and guarding the beauty Allah azza wa jal gifted you with, you already surpass the not-so-ever-lasting beauty of the Miss Worlds and Universes. Yes, you won’t realize it now. But imagine on the Day of Judgement, your face will light up with noor because you obeyed Allah azza wa jal, followed His commands and stayed away from those things He has forbidden… Do you wish for the temporary beauty in this world or the everlasting beauty in the Hereafter…?

In sha Allah in my next article I will share with you a lil secret that will make all your struggles seem like a piece of cake… ;)

Until then,

Assalam Alaykum. :)

Reward Reward All The Way! - Exclusive for Muslimahs

Assalam Alaykum!

May the peace and the blessings of Allah the Almighty be upon you!

The soft gentle breeze caressing your face… The sky is immensely blue with white silvery clouds gliding almost imperceptibly against it… The air crisp and cool… Isn’t it a beautiful day? No it isn’t. As in most countries, the temperature is soaring high. Inspite of the heat, we keep up with our day to day activities. And inspite of the heat, we do our best to keep up with our Salah. And as for the Muslimahs, we do our best to keep up with our Hijab… Well most of us do, isn’t it?

Here’s the thing. The heat on Earth or let’s say the heat in this world might be a lil above 50 degrees… But imagine the heat in the Hell fire! Allah (SWT) mentions in Surah Baqarah, verse 24 that the fuel of the Hell fire are men and stones! Imagine that! One of the names of the Hell fire is سَقَرْ (Saqar). Saqar simply means ‘burn’ and it has been mentioned 4 times in the Quran. But let’s look into its root meaning to see it’s intricacy.

The root meaning of Saqar means to ‘injure’ and ‘to change the form of something by heat’ and ‘to scorch something’. The use of Saqar gives 2 meanings:

1.   Extreme heat that will cause alteration in the complexion and skin. (Have you ever had a skin burn?)

2.  Extreme heat that will cause pain. (Have you ever received a headache after a long day in the heat?)

Allah azza wa jal asks us in Surah Muddathir,

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ

“And what will make you know (exactly) what Saqar is?” (74:27)

Then He gives us the definition of Saqar:

لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ

“It spares not, nor does it leave!” (74:28)

لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ

“Burning and blackening the skins!” (74:29)

So Saqar does not let anything remain. Everything that goes into this fire will be burned.

So that’s how hot Jahannum is and it’s just one description of it… Ofcourse it isn’t that hot here. So why not deal with the heat in this life and get to experience the bliss in the Hereafter…?

Imagine a day in Jannah… A caller will refer to you as a Jannati (people of Jannah) and tell you that Allah wants to meet you… Imagine that day! Allah, the Lord of the worlds! The One whom you had worshipped and obeyed all your life! The One you used to talk to in dua! The one you cried to when you were feeling lost and confused! The One in whom you seeked refuge! The One whom you trusted more than yourself! The One who’s mercy and forgiveness made you a Jannati! And He wants to meet you! Subhan Allah!

And then when you reach your destination, where the rest of the people of Paradise are gathered, pulpits of lights will emerge… pulpits of pearls, gemstones, gold and silver. And then Allah, The Blessed and The Exalted will order His Chair to be brought. And when you are comfortable and secure in your places, the caller will call out, “O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!” And you will say, “What is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?”

And suddenly a light will shine that will encompass all of Jannah. And when you raise your head, behold! The Majestic, The Compeller, The Exalted, The Almighty has come to meet you and He will say, “O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!”. All our life we greeted our fellow Muslims and now, Allah Himself is exchanging words of peace with you! And this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: “O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour!”.

And then the moment you were waiting for all your life… The People of Jannah will ask Allah to show His Face. Then Allah – The Mighty and Majestic will remove His covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah had not willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that Allah will speak to them and say: “Do you remember the day that you did this and that?” and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the worldy life, so he will say: “O Lord! Will you not forgive me?”. So, Allah will say: “Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.”

Is wearing Hijab too much to ask for to experience this amazing meeting with Allah…?

Sisters! Let not shaytan distract you from your obligations! Hijab is infact protecting you not only from the evil eyes but also from extreme weather. Health officials have perfectly described the ‘Islamic dress code’ by recommending that the best form of clothing to wear should be good quality, loose fitting clothing that cover the maximum amount of skin. The headscarf provides protection from both extremes of temperatures and guards the vital organs from sustaining damage from each of the extremes. The Islamic dress maintains a state of balance within the human body that helps keep it healthy through out its lifetime.

This proves that there are always valid reasons behind any divine rulings and regulations given to mankind and it is clear that the wisdom of Allah in prescribing such rulings related to hijab and the Islamic dress code provides protection not only from sociological and psychological issues but from a health perspective too.

So dear sisters! Let us all make the best use of this summer to please Allah so that we gain the rewards not only in this life but in the Hereafter as well! In sha Allah!