Baby Steps..

Since this is the month of mercy and forgiveness, dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah should be made in abaundance. Not to say we shouldn't in the remaining months, but that we should increase in it especially during Ramadhan for its great and many rewards. Keeping that in mind, here's a nice place to start inshaaAllaah..

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ 

SubhaanAllaahi wa Bihamdihi

(Glory be to Allaah and Praise Him)

Whoever says the above 100 times during the day, his sins are wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea.

 --Sahih Bukhari

SubhaanAllaah. So heavy on the scales, and yet so easy to implement. It's the small steps we take, and make a habit out of that make the biggest difference in the long run. Let's make the intention to act on those baby steps starting this Ramadhan.. starting today, this second inshaaAllaah.

It's That Time of Year Again.. *Alhamdulillah*

Abu Hurairah(radhiAllaahu anhu) related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) quoted Allaah as saying, "Every act of Adam's descendants is for themselves, except fasting. It is meant for me Alone, and I alone will give the reward for it." --Sahih Muslim  

"You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you – so that perhaps you will be godfearing."

--Qur'aan (2:183)

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu Anhu) related that the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him) said,"If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he would not be able to make up for it."

--Bukhari

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts during Ramadhn with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadhan with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Laylat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven."

--Bukhari & Muslim

May Allaah t'Aala accept our fasting and our prayers in this beautiful month of Ramadhan. May He also shower us with His infinite blessings and mercy.

*Ameen*

Ramadhan Mubarak Everyone!

I Answer to the King..

“With my veil, I put my faith on display — rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks. I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don’t see a body. You view me only for what I am: …a servant of my Creator. You see, as a Muslim woman, I’ve been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don’t answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to the King.”

--Yasmin Mogahed

Such a beautiful excerpt from a very well written article subhaanAllaah. You can find the rest of the article here inshaaAllaah.

May Allaah t'Aala grant us all the strength to stay firm on His religion. *Ameen*

Beautiful Nasheed..

Here's a random post. I am absolutely in love with this nasheed at the moment. The munshid is Nassir Al-Saeed who is also a Qari, subhaanAllaah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZegS3wdt8o

Tawakkul (Reliance on Allaah)..

"The firmer man’s belief, the higher the degree of reliance on Allah."

 

– - Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimullaah)

Faith is Not by Embellishment..

Faith (îmân) is not by embellishment or wishful thinking, but it is what settles in the heart and is verified through your works. Whoever says good but does not do good will have his words compared to his deeds by Allaah. Whoever says good and does good will have his words raised by his deeds. This is because Allah ‘azza wa jal said:

"To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it." [Sûrah Al-Fâtir: 10] "

Ibn Battah in Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ Vol. 3 p120, and Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî in Iqtidâ’ Al-’Ilm Al-’Amal no.56.