Sunday, 28 February 2010
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Asking for Allah’s Forgiveness
We have all be born weak and we easily fall into sin. But Allah is Ar Rahman and Ar Raheem. He tells us not to despair .
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah az-Zumar 39:53)
” And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He Knows what you do.” ( Surah Ash-Shura, 42, verse 25)
Narrated Shaddad bin Aus (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said: ” The most superior way of asking forgiveness from Allah (SWT) is:
“اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتَ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
The Prophet (SAW) then added: ” If somebody recites them during the day with firm faith in it, and he dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise, and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” [ Sahih Bukhari 8/6306 (O.P. 318) ]
And we are told again in the Holy Qur’an:
Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. (Surah Yusuf 12:87)
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah az-Zumar 39:53)
” And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He Knows what you do.” ( Surah Ash-Shura, 42, verse 25)
Narrated Shaddad bin Aus (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said: ” The most superior way of asking forgiveness from Allah (SWT) is:
“اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتَ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
The Prophet (SAW) then added: ” If somebody recites them during the day with firm faith in it, and he dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise, and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” [ Sahih Bukhari 8/6306 (O.P. 318) ]
And we are told again in the Holy Qur’an:
Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. (Surah Yusuf 12:87)
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Measuring Life!
Asalamu Alaykum1
I thought I will share this with you. Insha Allah, it will brighten your day!
Salaams
Xenia
Monday, 22 February 2010
This is your life! Go for Goal!
As Muslims we are aware that Allah SWT wills everything to happen or not happen and yet we each have the responsibility of choosing our own path of action. Have you ever met someone who talks about all the things that they would like to do, yet they achieve very little? It is not enough to have a wish to do something; we need to have a solid niyah backed up by an action plan in order to achieve our goals.
A “niyah” can also be called a “goal.” The overall intention can be whatever you would like it to be; first and foremost for a Muslim, however, would be to attain the pleasure of Allah SWT.
Within this large intention, we also take a variety of actions daily. These actions all become goals when we place energy and take action to achieve them. As simple as this may sound, we all know how easy it is to get off track when trying to achieve our goals. Life can be hectic and busy, and dealing with responsibilities can take its toll. So how do we get our focus back on to the things that are important to us?
One of my clients, Amira, is educated, runs her own business and is the mother of two boys. She is active in the community and volunteers regularly at the mosque. If you need something done, Amira is your person: she never says no. When she came to coaching, she was suffering from severe asthma that had been brought on by chronic stress. Her work was taking over her life and she felt on the verge of collapse. While her business was successful, it came at the cost of her family and her health. She came to coaching hoping to regain her balance.
Like Amira, many of us don’t realise that we need a change until things get out of control. The first step in this case is to explore what has gone out of balance. Once you have clarity on this, you will find out not only what needs to be done, but also where to start.
On the other hand, for you or for someone you know, life may be just fine. Nothing may seem to be wrong, but there isn’t much enthusiasm for life either. I have met many clients who feel guilty about taking care of their own needs and instead, they spend all their energies taking care of others to the extent that their own tanks often run empty. They know how to fulfil the needs of others, but have no idea where to start finding out what it is that they wish to achieve, let alone how to go about this.
Achieving personal fulfilment is important, for fulfilled women make fulfilled wives and mothers.
How do you begin to set goals if you are overwhelmed or have never done it before?
The following steps are designed to help you explore your life balance. Begin with drawing a large circle on a piece of paper.
Divide the circle into 6/8 slices (so it looks like a pie); depending on what you feel is appropriate. Then begin the exercise below. You will be working with the diagram throughout the exercise.
Step 1: Identify the areas of your life
The first step in looking for life balance is to first notice the areas that we focus our attention on. Take a few minutes to write down the important areas of your life, for example: work, family, finances etc. Place each area into one piece of the pie in the circle.
Step 2: Rate fulfilment
Step 2: Rate fulfilment
The next, most vital step is to gauge your fulfilment in each area of your life. Focus on one area at a time while asking yourself this question “on a scale from one to ten, how fulfilled am I in this area of my life?” Take your time in answering this question for each area. It will indicate to you how things are going. Mark this number on the corresponding pie by drawing a line where it is appropriate. Imagine that you are drawing a wheel inside the larger wheel.
Step 3: Notice the balance/lack of balance
Now that you have created your “wheel within a wheel” take a look at your diagram. What do you notice? How balanced is your life overall? What areas are taking up too much of your energy? Are there areas that are not getting enough? Is your life balanced the way you would like it to be? What are some of the changes that you would like to make? List them.
Step 4: Set three goals in each area
Now is the time to focus your energy on what you want. Take a little time to focus on three things that you would like to achieve in each area of your life. Think about goals that have a variety of time frames. The first can be a short term goal to be achieved in a few weeks or months. The second can be a medium term goal with a timeline of one to three years. Finally, there will be your long term goals. This part of the exercise is designed to encourage you to focus on creating a future that inspires you. Write your goals down.
You may have a good idea of the area that you would like to begin working on. I invite you to pick the area that will make the biggest difference to your life and begin focusing on this important area.For Amira, the immediate realisation was that her health was being neglected. Since then, she has cut back her working hours and she is exercising regularly. Her health has improved significantly. This was her short term goal, but it is a significant step towards achieving success in all areas of her life.
In the next issue of SISTERS, Sayeda focuses on SMART goal setting to work towards your goals. Watch this space!
Sayeda Habib is a life coach who has featured in Rapport Magazine, ARY Digital Television, and has been a presenter on the Islam Channel. To get in touch with Sayeda log on to www.makelifehappen.com, call 0845 077 4027 or email her atSayeda@makelifehappen.com
Sisters Magazine
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Our world!
“How so?” I hear you ask.
For a start, one of the major environmental impacts of the clothing industry is the copious amounts of agricultural chemicals used to grow crops such as cotton. As one of the main culprits, cotton uses approximately 11% of the world’s pesticides, even though it is grown on only 2.4% of the world’s arable land. According to some estimates, it takes almost a third of a pound of fertilisers and pesticides to grow enough cotton for one t-shirt! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates some of the chemicals used in cotton farming as toxic or carcinogenic (cancer-forming), posing a danger to both the environment and the health of farm workers.
Another area of concern to consumers is the skin irritation or textile allergies associated with synthetic fabrics in particular. Synthetic materials, like polyester, nylon and acrylic, are often the main culprits in textile allergies. The irritation is either related to the fabric itself, the dye used in the manufacturing process, the finish of the garment, or remnants of harsh chemicals after laundering. Some of the allergic effects associated with fabrics include skin rashes, itchiness and even shortness of breath. Wearing out the earth - A guide to ‘greening’ your wardrobe Dermatologists recommend either 100% cotton or cotton-mix fabrics since these are softer on the skin. Baby clothing, in particular, should be 100% cotton.
From this brief survey of the health and environmental impacts of the clothing industry, both on the farm and the factory, we begin to understand the need to take a closer look at the fine print on that clothing label.
Starting from your own closet
However, before you even set a foot in the shops, the first place to look when ‘greening’ your wardrobe is inside. Know what you have in your wardrobe and consider whether you really need to buy an item. Must you buy your umpteenth black scarf which you will inevitably want to match with yet another black abaya, since none of your existing twelve black abayas are quite the same shade of black?
Ultimately, the greenest clothing are those that you already own.Take a leaf from the three R’s of recycling - reduce, re-use and recycle - and apply this to the contents of your wardrobe. Give away clothes that you are not wearing (reduce), add something different to spruce up old garments, such as sewing on new buttons (re-use) and mend your garments before tossing it out at the first sign of a fraying hemline (recycle). One of our exemplars, Aa’ishah t the beloved young wife of the Prophet r, used to mend her clothes and also loaned one of her dresses to a lady to wear during her marriage.
Pass it on
Coming from a family of seven sisters, I grew accustomed to hand-me-downs, which usually came with some excitement. Finally, you could wear your elder sister’s baby blue top that you could only admire from afar before! Or the shiny leather coat, inherited from your mother, which is suddenly back in fashion, making you quite a trendsetter among the sisters.
How about having a hijab-swopping afternoon tea? Who knows, one of the sisters might want a pink scarf which she could select from the multitude of headscarves acquired during your ‘pink’ phase - dusty pink, tie-dyed pink, striped pink - while you might just need a yellow scarf which another sister has outgrown.Towards greener laundry
After carefully revamping your existing wardrobe, and without even opening your wallet, you now need to look at how you care for your clothes. Apparently, the greatest eco-burden from clothes is not in their production or manufacturing or even their distribution, but specifically how we use and launder our clothes. Laundering, if done incorrectly, can damage and cause our clothes to wear out faster. We need to wash clothes according to the specifications on garments, using gentle, enviro-friendly products and sun dry rather than dry clean clothes, preferably turning them inside out as this will help prevent fading of garments.
The street beat
Now, we can finally hit the shops. If you have to buy, try to buy organic. Since these fabrics have been grown without a reliance on synthetic chemicals, no genetically modified seed has been used. Natural inputs are the norm and you can be assured that both your health and the wellbeing of the planet have been considered. Some crops which carry the organic label include cotton, wool, linen and hemp. Not only clothes, but accessories such as bags are also being manufactured from organic fabrics. Furthermore, organic textiles are being produced by small scale organic farmers, lending much needed support to this sector. The organic production process is also meticulous about manufacturing procedures.
Fair trade
Clothing production, in many instances, is usually poorly paid, with workers enduring appalling working conditions. Thus, Muslim support of fair trade initiatives will “ensure that producers receive a fair price that guarantees a living income and decent working conditions with longer term contracts that provide greater security and ensure more sustainable development” (Islamic Relief ). Thus, when checking out the ‘green credentials’ of a potential buy, you need to scrutinise the production, manufacturing and distribution process. Is your product made locally, or did it have to be shipped in from some faraway location, exacting a further toll on the environment by ‘squandering’ valuable energy resources.
Already, alhamdulillah, we are seeing initiatives by Muslim-owned businesses to ‘green’ their products by choosing only natural fibres, choosing manufacturers with best practices, and striving to reduce packaging and thus keep their carbon footprint down.To become eco-fashionable, you need to be smart, savvy and green about the making, wearing and caring of your clothes.
FIVE STEPS TO CREATING AN ECO-FRIENDLY WARDROBE
· First, consider whether you really need to buy an item, re-use what you have, liven it up and care for it to ensure that you get the longest wear out of it.
· Now, buy only what you absolutely need and love. Try and follow the next three steps to ensure that you are not wearing out the environment, and emptying your purse unnecessarily.
1. Buy organic if possible.
2. Buy classic garments which you can wear in many different ways.
3. Shop locally and opt for products that carry the Fair Trade label to ensure that the clothes you are buying have been produced in a socially-responsible manner.
Source: http://www.urbansprout.co.za/green_your_clothing
Najma Mohamed is an environmental researcher and writer based in Cape Town,South Africa. She is currently enrolled for her PhD in Islam and Environmental Education.
Sisters Nagazine
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Huma Imam shares how a chance meeting with someone opened her eyes to the unacknowledged miracles within us.
He fidgeted uncomfortably on his seat as he nudged his elbow to discreetly push back the loop of a plastic tube that was sticking out from the side of his wheel-chair. I lowered my head and pretended to re-check my audio-recorder in order to give him time to adjust himself, without the embarrassment of being observed.
Brother Salim* is a paraplegic and he is paralysed from the waist down. I was meeting him for an interview for a local newspaper about life in a wheel-chair. Before our scheduled interview, he had kindly sent me books and videos describing the details of his physical condition as well as the everyday challenges faced by people with paraplegia and quadriplegia. Therefore, I was aware of the purpose of that plastic tube that showed up accidentally. That tube was part of a urinary catheter.
The interview went fine, but I returned home a changed person. His story kept resonating in my mind. A sea diving accident had turned his life around: from an energetic air traffic controller to a sedate office worker; from a newly married man to a divorcee; from a physically fit athlete to a wheel-chair bound invalid.
"Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return" (Al Baqarah: 156).
Our Creator tests all of us in different ways. I prayed to Allah (SWT) to grant him patience, and to lighten his burden. I also supplicated to Him to keep me protected from such trials.
But that meeting had awoken another sensation inside me, a feeling that perhaps began as a faint quiver in my core on first seeing him, then grew to an intense throbbing with the blood flowing in every vein, till it reached a point that rattled and shook my very soul: a humbling sense of gratitude.
"Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny?" (Ar-Rahman:13).
My mind was crowded with questions. Have I ever consciously expressed gratitude to Allah (SWT) for my ability to move? Have I truly appreciated my Creator for giving me a perfect body? Have I ever realised that even when I'm sitting, my legs continue to work for me by providing balance? Have I ever thanked my Lord for the ability to effortlessly relieve myself?
Yes, to be able to answer the call of nature in privacy and with dignity is a great blessing of Allah (SWT), something I had never realised before. Brother Salim, due to his condition caused by damage to the spinal cord, is unable to feel when he needs to go to the bathroom so he has to wear a catheter. And when he does go to the toilet, he requires the help of a nurse to clean him.
I remember a saying of one of our pious predecessors: "If a man is able to drink and expel a sip of water with ease, gratitude becomes due on him." Putting all other infinite attributes aside, I pondered and focused over just this one aspect of my body's blessings and it left me in awe.
"And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty" (Al-Jathiya: 4).
As a child I had been taught to utter the words of dhikr before and after going to the bathroom. I knew their meanings, but over the years, the remembrance had become a mindless reflex action. That is, until that day. Today, when I utter the word "Ghufranaka" as I leave the washroom, my mind is attentive and aware of the meaning, and my heart is humbled and filled with gratitude at the realisation that many have to suffer the pain of indignity and shame for this natural function of the human body.
Realisation is the first step towards true thankfulness. "No blessing is bestowed on a slave and he realises that it is from Allah, but the reward of giving gratitude for it is written for him..." (Patience and Gratitude by Ibn Al-Qayyim).
I owe my Creator the highest gratitude, so I aim to busy myself with ways of expressing it. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: "There is a (compulsory) Sadaqa to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allah) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqa, and every step taken on one's way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also Sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqa" (Bukhari).
--------------------------
* Name changed to protect the privacy of the individual
Huma Imam is a U.A.E. based freelance writer with qualifications in Home Sciences. She has experience in voluntary work with Islamic centres and occasionally speaks at sisters' halaqas.
www.buysisters.com
He fidgeted uncomfortably on his seat as he nudged his elbow to discreetly push back the loop of a plastic tube that was sticking out from the side of his wheel-chair. I lowered my head and pretended to re-check my audio-recorder in order to give him time to adjust himself, without the embarrassment of being observed.
Brother Salim* is a paraplegic and he is paralysed from the waist down. I was meeting him for an interview for a local newspaper about life in a wheel-chair. Before our scheduled interview, he had kindly sent me books and videos describing the details of his physical condition as well as the everyday challenges faced by people with paraplegia and quadriplegia. Therefore, I was aware of the purpose of that plastic tube that showed up accidentally. That tube was part of a urinary catheter.
The interview went fine, but I returned home a changed person. His story kept resonating in my mind. A sea diving accident had turned his life around: from an energetic air traffic controller to a sedate office worker; from a newly married man to a divorcee; from a physically fit athlete to a wheel-chair bound invalid.
"Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return" (Al Baqarah: 156).
Our Creator tests all of us in different ways. I prayed to Allah (SWT) to grant him patience, and to lighten his burden. I also supplicated to Him to keep me protected from such trials.
But that meeting had awoken another sensation inside me, a feeling that perhaps began as a faint quiver in my core on first seeing him, then grew to an intense throbbing with the blood flowing in every vein, till it reached a point that rattled and shook my very soul: a humbling sense of gratitude.
"Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny?" (Ar-Rahman:13).
My mind was crowded with questions. Have I ever consciously expressed gratitude to Allah (SWT) for my ability to move? Have I truly appreciated my Creator for giving me a perfect body? Have I ever realised that even when I'm sitting, my legs continue to work for me by providing balance? Have I ever thanked my Lord for the ability to effortlessly relieve myself?
Yes, to be able to answer the call of nature in privacy and with dignity is a great blessing of Allah (SWT), something I had never realised before. Brother Salim, due to his condition caused by damage to the spinal cord, is unable to feel when he needs to go to the bathroom so he has to wear a catheter. And when he does go to the toilet, he requires the help of a nurse to clean him.
I remember a saying of one of our pious predecessors: "If a man is able to drink and expel a sip of water with ease, gratitude becomes due on him." Putting all other infinite attributes aside, I pondered and focused over just this one aspect of my body's blessings and it left me in awe.
"And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty" (Al-Jathiya: 4).
As a child I had been taught to utter the words of dhikr before and after going to the bathroom. I knew their meanings, but over the years, the remembrance had become a mindless reflex action. That is, until that day. Today, when I utter the word "Ghufranaka" as I leave the washroom, my mind is attentive and aware of the meaning, and my heart is humbled and filled with gratitude at the realisation that many have to suffer the pain of indignity and shame for this natural function of the human body.
Realisation is the first step towards true thankfulness. "No blessing is bestowed on a slave and he realises that it is from Allah, but the reward of giving gratitude for it is written for him..." (Patience and Gratitude by Ibn Al-Qayyim).
I owe my Creator the highest gratitude, so I aim to busy myself with ways of expressing it. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: "There is a (compulsory) Sadaqa to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allah) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqa, and every step taken on one's way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also Sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqa" (Bukhari).
--------------------------
* Name changed to protect the privacy of the individual
Huma Imam is a U.A.E. based freelance writer with qualifications in Home Sciences. She has experience in voluntary work with Islamic centres and occasionally speaks at sisters' halaqas.
www.buysisters.com
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Save Our Family
Assalamu'Alikum
Click here to save our families: http://bit.ly/saveourfamily
if anyone wants to re-upload the video here is the link they can download it from
http://files.me.com/kawsarahmeduk/2c6d7d.mov
Convert a lemon into a sweet drink
Convert a lemon into a sweet drink
Excerpt from the Book " Don't be Sad"
An intelligent and skillful person transforms losses into profits; whereas, the unskilled person aggravates his own predicament, often making two disasters out of one.
The Prophet (pbuh) was compelled to leave Makkah, but rather than quit his mission, he continued it in Madeenah -- the city that took its place in history with lightning speed.
Imam Abmad ibn Hanbal was severely tortured and flogged, and yet he emerged triumphant from that ordeal, becoming the Imam of the Sunnah. Imam Ibn Taymiyah was put into prison; he later came out an even more accomplished scholar than he was before. Imam As-Sarakhsi was held as a prisoner, kept at the bottom of an unused well; he managed therein to produce twenty volumes on Islamic jurisprudence. Ibn Atheer became crippled, after which he wrote Jam `ey al-Usool and An-Nihayah, two of the most famous books in the Science of Hadith. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi was banished from Baghdad. Then, through his travels, he became proficient in the seven recitations of the Qur'an. Maalik ibn ar-Rayb was on hisdeathbed when he recited his most famous and beautiful poem, which is appreciated until this day. When Abi Dhu'aib al-Hadhali's children died before him, he eulogized them with a poem that the world listened to and admired.
Therefore, if you are afflicted with a misfortune, look on the bright side. If someone were to hand you a glass full of squeezed lemons, add to it a handful of sugar. And if someone gives you a snake as a gift, keep its precious skin and leave the rest.
And it may be that you dislike a thing that is good for you...(Qur 'an 2: 216)
Before its violent revolution, France imprisoned two brilliant poets: one an optimist, the other a pessimist. They both squeezed their heads through the bars of their cell windows. The optimist then stared at the stars and laughed, while the pessimist looked at the dirt of a neighboring road and wept. Look at the other side of a tragedy - a circumstance of pure evil does not exist, and in all situations one can find goodness and profit and reward from Allah.
Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him...(Qur'an 27:62)
From Whom do the weak and the oppressed seek victory? Who does everyone beseech? He is Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him.
Therefore it is most advisable for you and I to invoke Him during times of both hardship and ease, to seek shelter with Him in difficult times, and to plead at His doorstep with tears of repentance; then will His help and relief quickly arrive.
(Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him... (Qur'an 27: 62)
He saves the one who is drowning, gives victory to the oppressed, guides the misguided, cures the sick, and provides relief to the afflicted.
And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only... (Qur 'an 29: 65)
As for the various supplications one makes to remove hardship, I refer you to the books of the Sunnah. In them, you will learn prophetic supplications with which you can call to Allah, supplicate to Him, and seek His aid. If you have found Him, then you have found everything. And if you lose your faith in Him, then you have lost everything. By supplicating to Him you are performing one of the highest forms of worship. If you are persistent and sincere in your supplication, you will achieve freedom from worry and anxiety. All ropes are cut loose save His, and all doors are shut save His. He is near; He hears all and answers those who supplicate to Him.
If you are living through affliction and pain, remember Allah, call out His name, and ask Him for help. Place your forehead on the ground and mention His praises, so that you can obtain true freedom. Raise your hands in supplication, and ask of Him constantly. Cling to His door, have good thoughts about Him, and wait for His help - you will then find true happiness and success.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
The Muslim Woman and her Mind!!!
Excerpt from the Book " The Ideal Muslimah"
She takes care of her mind by pursuing knowledge
The sensitive Muslim woman takes care of her mind just as she takes care of her body, because the
former is no less important than the latter.
The Muslim woman is responsible just as a man is, so she is also required to seek knowledge, whether it is "religious" or "secular", that will be of benefit to her. When she recites the ayah ( . . . But say, `O my
Lord! Advance me in knowledge.') (Qur'an 20:114) and hears the hadith, "Seeking knowledge is a
duty on every Muslim," she knows that the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah are directed at men
and women equally, and that she is also obliged to seek the kinds of knowledge that have been made
obligatory for individuals and communities (fard `ayn and fard kifayah) to pursue them from the time
that this obligation was made known to the Muslim society.
The Muslim woman understands the high value that has been placed on knowledge since the earliest
days of Islam. The women of the Ansar asked the Prophet (PBUH): "Appoint a special day for us when
we can learn from you, for the men have taken all your time and left nothing for us." He told them,
"Your time is in the house of so-and-so [one of the women]." So he came to them at that place and
taught them there."
The Muslim women had a keen desire for knowledge, and they never felt too shy to ask questions about
the teachings (ahkam) of Islam, because they were asking about the truth, and ( Allah is not ashamed
[to tell you] the truth) (Qur'an 33:53). Many reports illustrate the confidence and maturity with which
the early Muslim posed questions to the Prophet (PBUH), this great teacher, seeking to understand their
religion more fully.
Islam has made the pursuit of knowledge obligatory on women and men alike, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim."In other words, it is a duty on every person, man or woman, who utters the words of the shahadah, so it comes as no surprise to see Muslim women thirsting for knowledge, devoting themselves to its pursuit. Muslim women of all times and places have understood the importance of seeking beneficial knowledge, and the positive effects this has on their
own characters and on their children, families and societies. So they seek knowledge enthusiastically,
hoping to learn whatever will benefit them in this world and the next.
Xenia's Note: Asalamu Alaykum. Just a thought on the matter of knowledge. We all get so busy sometimes and held back from our duty of seeking knowledge. But by acquiring the correct necessary knowledge we can do so much better as Muslimahs, mothers, wives, and we can share what we learn, hoping for the good pleasure of Allah (swt).
Knowledge is a stream that we should all be thirsty to drink from.
"Rabbi zidni 'Ilma'"
" O Allah, Please Increase us in knowledge". Ameen
She takes care of her mind by pursuing knowledge
The sensitive Muslim woman takes care of her mind just as she takes care of her body, because the
former is no less important than the latter.
The Muslim woman is responsible just as a man is, so she is also required to seek knowledge, whether it is "religious" or "secular", that will be of benefit to her. When she recites the ayah ( . . . But say, `O my
Lord! Advance me in knowledge.') (Qur'an 20:114) and hears the hadith, "Seeking knowledge is a
duty on every Muslim," she knows that the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah are directed at men
and women equally, and that she is also obliged to seek the kinds of knowledge that have been made
obligatory for individuals and communities (fard `ayn and fard kifayah) to pursue them from the time
that this obligation was made known to the Muslim society.
The Muslim woman understands the high value that has been placed on knowledge since the earliest
days of Islam. The women of the Ansar asked the Prophet (PBUH): "Appoint a special day for us when
we can learn from you, for the men have taken all your time and left nothing for us." He told them,
"Your time is in the house of so-and-so [one of the women]." So he came to them at that place and
taught them there."
The Muslim women had a keen desire for knowledge, and they never felt too shy to ask questions about
the teachings (ahkam) of Islam, because they were asking about the truth, and ( Allah is not ashamed
[to tell you] the truth) (Qur'an 33:53). Many reports illustrate the confidence and maturity with which
the early Muslim posed questions to the Prophet (PBUH), this great teacher, seeking to understand their
religion more fully.
Islam has made the pursuit of knowledge obligatory on women and men alike, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim."In other words, it is a duty on every person, man or woman, who utters the words of the shahadah, so it comes as no surprise to see Muslim women thirsting for knowledge, devoting themselves to its pursuit. Muslim women of all times and places have understood the importance of seeking beneficial knowledge, and the positive effects this has on their
own characters and on their children, families and societies. So they seek knowledge enthusiastically,
hoping to learn whatever will benefit them in this world and the next.
Xenia's Note: Asalamu Alaykum. Just a thought on the matter of knowledge. We all get so busy sometimes and held back from our duty of seeking knowledge. But by acquiring the correct necessary knowledge we can do so much better as Muslimahs, mothers, wives, and we can share what we learn, hoping for the good pleasure of Allah (swt).
Knowledge is a stream that we should all be thirsty to drink from.
"Rabbi zidni 'Ilma'"
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Doing good to others gives comfort to the heart
The first person who benefits from an act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person.
If you find yourself to be in difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort. Give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions.
An act of charity is like perfume it benefits the user, the seller, and the buyer. Furthermore, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression, an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine.
Even when you smile upon meeting others, you are giving charity. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
"Do not dismiss certain acts of kindness by deeming them to be insignificant, even if (such an act) is to meet your brother with a smiling face (for that is a deed which might weigh heavily in your scale of deeds)."
On the other hand, when you frown upon meeting others, you are displaying a sign of enmity, an act that is so detrimental to brotherhood that only Allah knows the full extent of its evil effects.
The Prophet (pbuh) informed us that the prostitute who once gave a handful of water to a dog was rewarded for that deed with Paradise, which is as wide as the heavens and the earth. This is because the Giver of rewards is Forgiving, Rich, and Worthy of Praise.
O' you, who are threatened by misery, fear and grief, occupy yourself in the betterment of others. Help others in different way through charity, hospitality, sympathy, and support. And in doing so, you will find all of the happiness that you desire.
We who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification, and has in his mind no.favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return; except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High. He surely will be pleased [when he enters Paradise]. (Qur'an 92: 18-21)
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Pray for a little girl named Bar`ah
At this age, Bar`ah memorized the whole Quran with tajweed, she was very intelligent, her teacher use to tell her she should be in middle school not primary school.
Her family was small and committed to Islam and its teachings…. suddenly one day the mother started feeling sever abdominal pain, after tests and checkups she found out that she has cancer but in its late stages.
The mother thought she should tell her daughter, specially if she wakes up one day and didn’t find her mother beside her… so she told her: “Bar`ah I will go to paradise ahead of you, but I want you to read the Quran you memorized every day since it will protect you in this life…”
The little girl didn’t really understand what her mother was trying to tell her… but she started feeling the change in her mother’s status, especially when she was transferred to stay in hospital on a permanent bases. The little girl use to come to the hospital after her school and recite the Quran for her mother till the evening when her father used to take her home.
One day the hospital called the husband and informed him that the his wife’s condition was very bad and he needed to come as fast as he can, so the father picked Bar`ah from her school and headed to the hospital, when they arrived he asked her to stay in the car… so that she wouldn’t get shocked if her mother passed away.
The father got out of his car, with tears filled in his eyes and while crossing the road to enter the hospital, he was hit by a speeding car and died in front of his daughter who came crying to her father…!
The tragedy of Bar`ah is not over yet… the news of her father’s death was hidden from the mother, but after 5 days the mother passed away leaving Bar`ah alone in this life. She become alone without her parents, and her parents’ friends decided to find her relatives in Egypt so that they can take care of her.
Suddenly, Bar`ah started having sever pain like her mother, after a few tests and checkups it was confirmed it was cancer… at the surprise of every one she said: “Alhamdu Lillah, now I will meet my parents.”
All of the family friends were shocked and surprised, this little girl being faced with calamity after calamity and she is patient and satisfied with what Allah ordained for her!
People started hearing about Bar`ah and her story, and a Saudi decided to take care of her… he sent her to the UK for treatment of this disease.
One of the Islamic channels (Al Hafiz – The protector) got in contact with this little girl and asked her to recite the Quran… and this is her beautiful voice with recitation…
They contacted her again before she went into a coma and she made dua for her parents and sang a nasheed…
The days passed by and the cancer spread all over her body, the doctors decided to amputate her legs, and she is patient and satisfied with Allah’s ordains… after a few days the CANCER spread to her brain, upon which doctors decided for another urgent brain surgery… and now her body is in a UK hospital in full COMA…
So pray for her health and speedy recovery…
Another recitation…
Source: Brother Qaiyyum
Xenia's Note: It is heartbreaking reading such tragedy. But Allah knows and we do not. Play make dua and do not forget to thank Allah (swt) for all your blessings.
Xenia's Note: It is heartbreaking reading such tragedy. But Allah knows and we do not. Play make dua and do not forget to thank Allah (swt) for all your blessings.
Friday, 5 February 2010
More on the Muslim woman's appearance
extremes or making a wanton display of herself. She presents a pleasing appearance to her husband,
children, mahram relatives and other Muslim women, and people feel comfortable with her. She does
not put them off with an ugly or untidy appearance and she always checks herself and takes care of
herself, in accordance with the teachings of Islam, which asks its followers to look good in ways that are
permitted.
( Say: Who has forbidden the beautiful [gifts] of Allah, which He has produced for His
servants, and the things, cleans and pure, [which He has provided] for sustenance? . . .)
(Qur'an 7:32)
Al-Qurtubi said: "Makhul reported from `A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her): `A group of
the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) were waiting at the door for him, so he prepared to go
out to meet them. There was a vessel of water in the house, and he peered into it, smoothing his
beard and his hair. (`A'ishah said) I asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, even you do this?" He
said, "Yes, when a man goes out to meet his brothers, let him prepare himself properly, for Allah
(SWT) is beautiful and loves beauty."
The Muslim does all of this in accordance with the Islamic ideal of moderation, avoiding the extremes of either exaggeration or negligence:
( Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just
[balance] between those [extremes].) (Qur'an 25:67)
Paying attention to one's appearance should not make a Muslim woman fall into the trap of wanton
display (tabarruj) and showing her beauty to anyone other than her husband and mahram relatives. She
should not upset the balance which is the basis of all Islamic teaching, for the Muslim woman always
aims at moderation in all things, and is on the alert to prevent any one aspect of her life from taking over
at the expense of another.
One of the worst excesses that many modern Muslim women have fallen into is the habit of showing off expensive outfits at wedding parties, which have become fashion shows where competition is rife and is
taken to extremes far beyond the realms of common sense and moderation. This phenomenon becomes
clearest when the bride herself wears all her outfits, which may number as many as ten, one after the
other: each time she changes, she comes out and shows it off to the other women present, exactly like
the fashion models in the West. It does not even occur to the women among whom this habit is common,
that there may be women present who are financially unable to buy such outfits, and who may be feeling
depressed and jealous, or even hostile towards the bride and her family, and other rich people. Nothing
of this sort would happen if brides were more moderate, and just wore one or two outfits at their
wedding parties. This is better than that extravagant showing-off which is contradictory to the balanced,
moderate spirit of Islam.
No doubt the Muslim woman who has surrounded herself with the teachings of this great religion is
spared and protected from such foolish errors, because she has adopted its principles of moderation
So long as this taking care of one's outward appearance does not go to extremes, then it is part of the beauty that Allah (SWT) has allowed for His servants and encouraged them to adopt:
( O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat
and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.
Say, Who has forbidden the beautiful [gifts] of Allah, which He has produced for His
servants, and the things, clean and pure, [which He has provided] for sustenance? Say:
They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, [and] purely for them on the Day
of Judgement. Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who understand.) (Qur'an
7:31-32)
Excerpt from the Book " The Ideal Muslimah"
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Leave the future alone until it comes
Be not hasty and rushed for things that have yet to come to pass. Do you think is wise to pick fruits before they become ripe? Tomorrow is on-existent, having no reality today, so why should you busy yourself with it? Why should you have apprehensions about future disasters? Why should you be engrossed by their thoughts, especially since you do not know whether they will even see tomorrow?
The important thing to know is that tomorrow is from the world of the unseen, a bridge that we do not cross until it comes. Who knows, perhaps we might never reach that bridge, or the bridge might collapse before we reach it, or we may actually reach and cross it.
For us to be engrossed in expectations about the future is looked down upon in our religion since it leads to our having a long-term attachment to this world, an attachment that the good believer shuns.
Many people of this world are unduly fearful of future poverty, hunger, disease, and disaster: such thinking is inspired by the devil.
" Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha [evil deeds, illegal sexual intercourse, sins, etc.], whereas Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Bounty..." (Qur'an 2:268)
Many are those who cry because they see themselves starving tomorrow, falling sick after a month, or because they fear that the world will come to an end after a year. Someone who has no clue as to when he will die(which is all of us) should not busy himself with such thoughts.
Since you are absorbed in the toils of today, leave tomorrow until it comes. Beware of becoming unduly attached to future prospects in this world.
From the Book " Don't be Sad"
Monday, 1 February 2010
PARABLE OF THE PENCIL
From the Book: 100 Moral stories
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world.
Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in
someone’s hand.”
Two: “You will experience a painful
sharpening from time to time, but
you’ll need it to become a better
pencil.”
Three: “You will be able to correct
any mistakes you might make.”
Four: “The most important part of
you will always be what's inside.”
And Five: “On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the
condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you
will become the best person you can be.
One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s
hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.”
Two: “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various
problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.”
Three: “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
Four: “The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.”
And Five: “On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the
situation, you must continue to do your duties.”
Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only
you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that
your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world.
Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in
someone’s hand.”
Two: “You will experience a painful
sharpening from time to time, but
you’ll need it to become a better
pencil.”
Three: “You will be able to correct
any mistakes you might make.”
Four: “The most important part of
you will always be what's inside.”
And Five: “On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the
condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you
will become the best person you can be.
One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s
hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.”
Two: “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various
problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.”
Three: “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
Four: “The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.”
And Five: “On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the
situation, you must continue to do your duties.”
Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only
you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that
your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
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