A Little Stronger Than Yesterday [Heart Food]



"his heart would have melted out of the love for Allah.."

I was just reflecting over life in general today (as usual). I was thinking about how I've come to learn so much from the experiences I've been through. How, if I were never to have gone through them, I would never have learnt, never have understood the beautiful lessons my Lord was trying to teach me. Sometimes I look back, and smile. I smile because at that very moment I was feeling pain, feeling so much hurt, that moment I had tears rolling down my cheek, that moment I was despairing, was actually the moment that allowed me to become stronger and wiser today, all by the will of Allah.

Life may not be going so good for many of us. We may be at a point in our lives where we feel lost, trapped, drowned in fear. We may be in a circumstance where we feel we never deserved to be in. Someone we loved may have just walked out of our life. Yet, each heart ache, each tear is contributing towards a stronger YOU.

Strength lies in you believing that your life is but a test. It is strongly believing that although your life is not going the way you want it to go, it's going exactly the way your Lord has planned it to go, and *that* is much better for you. The plan of Allah for you is perfect. Because He is perfect, and whatever He does He does it with perfection.

Although...

Many of us can't see it at that very moment. We can't look beyond the surface when we are in a difficult situation - however small.

Everything is a big blur.

We sit confused, drained from over-thinking, confused, helpless and hopless. We feel like this IS it. How possibly could this situation be resolved?

Only to come to realise, moments, days, months, perhaps even years later, the blessing in that situation.

That moment was all worth it.

It was.

No matter how hard you try to wipe it away from you memory, your difficult times will come back to you. For some, it will strengthen their faith, for others it will cause their heart to weep, and for the minority it will give them a little more strength, a little more courage, it will spark in them an inspiration, so that others will somehow benefit from their life's yet untold story.

As one wise scholar said:

"Had Allah lifted the veil for his slave and shown him how He handles his affairs for him, and how Allah is more keen for the benefit of the slave than his own self, his heart would have melted out of the love for Allah and would have been torn to pieces out of thankfulness to Allah. Therefore if the pains of this world tire you, do not grieve. For it may be that Allah wishes to hear your voice by way of duaa. So pour out your desires in prostration and forget about it and know, that verily Allah does not forget." - Ibn al Qayyim

Poem: The Healing Heart

It's never easy to let go,

To let go of that which you loved,

That which you chased, which you admired,

That which filled the emptiness inside your heart,

That thing you longed, you yearned to have,

The void within your soul -

Felt completed with you.

But the loss of separation pained me more.

Until,

I realised that truly you do not deserve,

A place within my heart which is only reserved for God,

A place no individual, no possession, no desire could ever fill,

Without one day leaving, causing heart ache and heart break,

The hole within me could only be filled by the one who Created it,

No love can seep its way through,

Without causing me destruction,

Cos only the love of God is fit for this empty space.

My heart longed that which would one day die,

Whether that was money, fame, popularity, or that guy,

Soon, there is an ending to that which is in this fleeting world,

You live, you die, and then you're resurrected back to life,

Whereas -

God never dies.

So chasing after something,

Which one day will leave this world,

Is like chasing an illusion,

Which looks appealing, but will one day disappear,

When reality strikes.

So let nothing complete you except your yearning for God,

Your yearning to attain His love,

His forgiveness,

His reward.

Because then, there will be no separation,

No broken heart.

Because you'll be yearning for something,

That will never perish,

That is Allah.

So stop. Just stop chasing the world,

And rush to the one who Created it.

Who gave you gifts, bounties and blessings,

No other being could ever grant,

And when you feel empty,

Remember His divine words,

"Indeed in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest."

It is only then that you feel whole again.

Dhul Hijjah - Preparing for the best 10 days of the year

So tonight marks the beginning of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

There was an article I came across that explained the virtues of these 10 extremely important and blessed days of the year, and I'd like to share it with you all as I found it very beneficial. May Allah reward the sister who wrote it. Please share to maximise benefit. :)

http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/dhul%20hijjah.htm

Additional to that, I wanted to remind you all to prepare for these ten days just as you prepared or would prepare for the last ten days of Ramadhan. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and so you and I should be motivated and driven in making the most of these days which hold such great value.

Here are some tips to help you set your goals and targets:

1) Make a list - If you're someone who easily forgets what they plan to do and has an extremely bad memory - (just like me!) then it is usually helpful to jot down the things you want to do. I've always found that when I write down my goals and targets or type them up and stick them on my wall, I actually end up completing the task and a lot better too. Write down at least five good deeds you want to do in these ten days, or perhaps write a deed for each day - that's ten good deeds in ten days and double the reward :)

2) Don't overburden yourself - I used to be one of those who would become so extremely passionate about doing something, that I'd do more than what was in my capability and then I'd come to a point where I'd lose all my motivation. So pick small, consistent deeds which you know you are capable of doing and something you will be able to do consistently. As Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:  The best deeds are those we are consistent with, even if they are small deeds.” (Bukari)

3) Do it with Ihsaan - Whatever you do, do it with Ihsaan, meaning excellence. Don't settle for less. Rather strive to perfect your deed and remember to do it purely for the sake of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Actions are by intentions.." (Bukhari)

Blessed is He the best of Creators

I am in awe of the sky. So many times when I have been feeling low, down, and gloomy I’ve just had to glance at the sky above me and all of a sudden I‘d be reminded of the greatness of Allah. It’s because I remember the countless times Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an about how He raised the sky as a canopy and how from the sky He sends down rain for vegetation and growth. It’s like, I get this sense of peace in my heart when I look above me and realise that there is someone who is so Great, who is so Perfect, so Kind, so amazing, so much so that He has the ability to create something as vast, as intricate, as awe-inspiring as colossal as what I am looking at right now. Or perhaps it’s the thought that if the sky is such a flawless and beautiful creation, then how must be my Lord, the CREATOR of this creation? I don’t know how you cannot look at the sky - such a serene sight even on a cold winters day, and yet not believe that some *being* created it? How could you possibly deny that there is a creator of such marvelling beauty?

"So blessed be Allah,the Best of Creators" (Mu'minoon)

Tafseer Bite - [A visual gem from Surah Infitar]

 

The word Infitar comes from the root word “Fatara” or “Faatir” which literally means to tear something across horizontally. However, in classical Arabic “it is usually used to describe tearing sheets of cloth. From this ayah we learn how Allah speaks to us based on what our eyes see and what our minds think. He uses imagery. So when we visualize a cloth being torn length wise, we then compare that to the sky, and how on that Day, it will be torn similarly. The sky will literally be stripped away. See how the Qur’an is full of gems for us to collect? How, if we really thought and reflected upon it, we would learn so much?

A Journey of a lifetime: Hajj - [The Final Sermon of Rasulullah, Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam]

The days of Hajj are dawning upon us, those who have been invited by their Lord are preparing and getting ready to embark on this overwhelming journey of a lifetime. Those who have not received an invite this year, are too preparing themselves for the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, about which the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) spoke. He (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

“No good deed done on other days is superior to what is done on these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even struggling (jihad) in the cause of Allah?” The Prophet said, “Not even struggling in the cause of Allah, except in the case of a man who goes out with his life and wealth in danger and returns with nothing.”

Not only are these days so precious because of their virtues and the immense reward that lies in them but also because it was on one of these days that the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) made his final sermon. It was on the day of Hajj, the first and last Hajj our Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) performed, that Islam was perfected. It was completed.

In light of this, I wanted to remind myself and yourselves of some important lessons we can learn from the last sermon. It was a sermon that brought tears to the eyes and still does. For when we read it, we grow in our love of Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Sallam) and are reminded of his wisdom and eloquence. We also feel a sense of sadness, because we know that this was the last sermon our beloved delivered before he returned back to our Lord. It is in this sermon that the most important, vital messages of our Deen were conveyed. It was this sermon that was filled with many lessons for the entire mankind.

And so,

After praising and thanking Allah, the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) began his sermon:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

It was whilst he, Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam, was delivering this Khutbah on the plains of Arafah, where millions will be gathering in just a couple of days, that the following ayah was revealed.

“…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion..” (5:3)

I want you and I to work together in deriving as many lessons from this Khutbah. I want us to reflect, ponder and contemplate on these ‘final words’ of the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). I want us to really internalize the message that is being conveyed and remind ourselves of our duties to Allah and to His creation.

So, as a part of this post, I thought it would be good and engaging to get you all involved and share one point you learn from this Khutbah. One point of reflection. And together lets get into the Hajj spirit.

Tafseer bites [Intro and a gem]

Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

Ok, so I just had this sudden thought after going over my Tafseer notes today. I tought to myself, SubhanAllah, so many of the things I have learnt by listening to tafseer of certain Surahs and ayahs, have been extremely imaan-boosting and mindblowing, that I wanted you to benefit from it too. Sometimes it can be hard fitting in time everyday to go over a Tafseer book, or listen to an audio, and it's good to make a it constant thing that you do, so I thought since I like writing, and Tafseer, I thought it would be useful to share some Tafseer 'bites' with you. Just some gems  - short and sweet inshaAllah :) That way you will be gradually building on you knowledge of the Qur'an and these small gems derived from the Qur'an will allow you to build a stronger relationship with it bi'ithnillah.

So today, I wanted to share with you a gem and linguistic miracle in the Qur'an which is found in the second ayah of Surah Baqarah. Allah says:

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah

Now, the gem I want to highlight is in the word "Dhaalika". In the Arabic language "Dhaalika" translates to mean "that" in the English language (althought the translation in most copies reads "THIS is the Book" ) I used to read this ayah all the time and never once did I think that there was actually a reason why Allah chose the word "Dhaalika" which means "that" and not "Haadha" which means "this". And the reason is that when you say for example,  "THAT star is up in the sky" you are actually pointing to the fact that the stat is far away right? Even in the English language you would use "that" to point to something that is high, and far away. Converesely, the word "this" would be used to point to something near. So for example, I would say "THIS laptop is not working" - when I say that, I am actually referring to the laptop being present with me and close to me.

Now, for the amazing wisdom behind this :)

Allah, Al-Hakeem, uses the word "Dhaalika" (that) because He, just by using this one word instead of another, is telling us that the Book, the Qur'an, the divine speech of Allah, is something that not only is far away from us - in Al-Lawhil-Mahfudh (the preserved tablet), but it is also far away, as in it is high, in the sense that it is, higher and far greater than any other book in authority. SubhanAllah! Two points we learn about the Qur'an from just word with in Surah Baqarah...already!

Doesn't this give you a sudden Imaan rush? The fact that Allah has structured His book so carefully. Every letter, every word has been placed in it's order, out of deep wisdom and understanding by the Creator alone? If this was a made up book then how possibly could it be so perfectly structured, so eloquent, so fluent and filled with so much detail? How could every word have a deeper reason?

The Qur'an is the true book of guidance and only by deeply looking into it and studying it will or hearts will with love of it and will our hearts desire to read it and memorise it.

I ask Allah to grant us understanding of the deen and allow us to understand the Qur'an and its deeper meanings. Ameen!