Ramadan Reflection #5

Jaabir ibn Abdullah narrated that Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "On the Day of Resurrection  when people who have suffered affliction are given their reward, those who are healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world." 

[Tirmidhi]

In other words, when people see how much reward is given to those who suffered in life, they will wish that they had suffered terribly, so that it might become a cause for forgiveness for them in the Hereafter. SubhaanAllaah. Whatever pain we suffer in this life is not in vain. It is not wasted. Allaah sees our suffering and will compensate us more than we can imagine, as long as we are patient and keep faith in Him.

Ramadan Reflection #4

"So let my enemies say what they will. For my sins are many, and perhaps because of their backbiting and slander, my sins will be lightened and instead fall upon their shoulders." 

- Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimullaah)

Many of us backbite and gossip without thinking. We are so accustomed to it that we assume it to be a minor matter. Backbiting and slander are considered amongst the worst of major sins.

We ask Allaah to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. Ameen.

Ramadan Reflection #3

"Don't let this Ramadan be just a holiday of rituals. Don't finish reading the Qur'aan without it transforming you. Don't feed your body at Suhoor, but starve your heart of Qiyam. Don't reduce this downpour of mercy to just a month of sweets and lavish iftars. Seek Him, you will find. Take a sincere step towards change, transformation, redemption. If you do, you will find Him in front of you. Find Him this month. He's been there all along. Closer than your jugular vein. Look, and you'll find. Walk, and you'll arrive."

--Yasmin Mogahed

Such inspiring words subhanAllaah. InshaAllaah lets all strive to make sincere changes (be it in the tiniest possible way) this Ramadan. May Allaah give us the tawfiq and hidayah to make sincere changes in our lives and bring us closer to that which He loves.*Ameen*

Ramadan Reflection #2

Reported Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales, and do not count others' faults, do not spy, do not be envious of one another, do not desert (cut your relation) with one another, and do not hate one another. And be brothers (as Allaah had ordered you)." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Let's stop being judgemental of people. We never know what the other person is going through. Who are we to judge anyway. Allaah is the best judge. Why not leave it to Him?

Surah Waqiah by Ibraheem Al-Jibreen

An amazing recitation mashaAllaah along with the translation for this powerful Surah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FrlRBx2Qew

Ramadan Reflection #1

So I haven't updates this blog in months *cries*. I've been thinking about doing so for a while now. Considering that it is Ramadan, I figured what better time to hop back on that bandwagon than now inshaAllaah? Seeing that this blessed month is the perfect time for renewal and to start afresh, here's me 'seizing the opportunity' inshaAllaah.

Ammar Ibn Yasir (radhiAllaahu anhu) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) say, 'Indeed  a man will walk away from his as-Salaah (Prayer) and there will not be anything written for him of reward except a tenth of his prayers, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or fourth, or a third, or half.'"  

[Abu Dawud, An-Nasaaii, Ibn Maajah, Ahmad]

"A man will have recorded for him of his prayers only when he is mindfully focused." 

-Sufyan ath-Thawri (rahimullaah)

SubhaanAllaah. How many times do we find ourselves actually focused on either our own recitation or the Imaam's? Allaah being so Merciful has enjoined 5 daily prayers on us to worship. That's 5 down from 50. Are we so easily distracted that we cannot take a few minutes out of our day to SOLELY focus on worshipping Him? Why is it that we can focus our attention on anything else if need be, but when it comes time for Salaah, we have a million things besides the ONE that matters, racing through our minds?

May Allaah give increase our khusoo' (focus) and grant us the ability to better our Salaah. *Ameen*.

Tackling Low Emaan..

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Huraira (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

 

“Allaah (subhaanahu wa t'Aala) says I am closer to my slave than his supposition of which he keeps of me. And when he/she does dhikr of Allaah, I am with him/her. If he does dhikr in his heart, I do his dhik near MY proximity (closeness) and if he does dhikr in a gathering, I mention him in a gathering Afdhal (better) than it."

 

--Sahih Bukhari

So I've been meaning to just sit down and jot down some ideas on how to increase our emaan in times of low emaan. Of course as human beings, we do experience dips in emaan every now and then. It all depends on how we pick ourselves back up. The main thing is to realize and acknowledge that we are at a low-point. Once we acknowledge this, Insha'Allah we can take steps to recover from it. Some ways in in increasing our emaan may be:

• Increase the recitation of the Qur'aan
• Understand the tafseer behind the words in the Qur'aan
• Attend Islamic lectures or classes (This, I personally find is always a big booster)
• Fast the sunnah fasts of Monday and Thursday
• Fast the 'White days' or the 14th, 15th, and 16th of each Islamic month.
• Be sincere with your deeds (niyaah/intention)
• Must, must, must keep the waajib (obligatory) prayers going.
• Maybe read the seerah of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)
• Why not read about all the Prophets (peace be upon them all)
• Make du'a. Lot's and lot's and lot's of du'a to increase our emaan and make us better Muslims

On that note, May Allaah continue to increase our knowledge and sincerity in His deen for His sake. And may He continue to strengthen our emaan and guide us on the right path. *Ameen*