If YMP were book characters [Part 1]

If YMP were book characters, they would make the most epic, marvellous and exciting book. Since, YMP have people from several different backgrounds and places, and people of various different accents, there would be a wide range of diversity discussed in the book, which would perfectly highlight the true meaning of sisterhood. How, in Islam, everyone is the same, regardless of colour, background, culture, race etc.

Anyway, so I had this idea. I wanted to turn the YMP crew into book characters, meaning write a description about each of their personalities. And who knows, one day, our author, Safaa, may kindly put these in a book for us. :)

Bear in mind, I've never met these wonderful people, but  I feel like I've known then forever. And thats the beauty of YMP! You could be sitting in Bradford, in the comfort of your own home, yet still be assisting in organising conferences etc going on in Riyadh. So, hope the YMP enjoys reading this, as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)

Anka Baker, aka, Summaiyah. The girl with the sweet-tooth (teeth). Although, I must say, she seems to do an awesome job when it comes to burning off those calories (mashaAllah tabarakAllah). I wish I knew the secret! Anka is famous for her absolute love and obsession with Nutella. So much so, that Nutella has become a representation of Anka. You see Nutella, you remember Anka. :) Moreover, she makes the most scrumptious cakes, and desi desserts. If YMP was a bakery, she would be the next top baker!

Safoofi, aka, Safaa. Wait, thats Safaa with two 'a's, just in case any of you read that as 'Safa' and not 'Safaaaa.' Anyhoo. Safaa is notorious for her incredible writing skills, and her ambiance. You won't attend a halaal-party except that Safaa will be rocking the dance floor. The sound of her voice is enough to make you smile. When Safaa arrives, you know its time to get the party started! Moreover, Safaa is a girls of big dreams who like a butterfly, wants to reach great heights.

Feroze, aka, Hafsah. The girl with the most awesome american-riyadh-arab accent in the world! If you want some advice, be it on Qur'an or anything else, then Hafsah is just an audio note away! Hafsah dislikes the smile emoticon on Whatsapp, as she assumes its too fake. Nevertheless, her favourite emoticon is the little, cute monkey face, which she loves to use when something is extremely hilarious - you know, like the constant mention of her obsession with Webinars. [Sidenote: She isn't *really* obsessed with webinars - lets just say - she knows what I'm talking about! *inserts fake whatsapp smiley*]

Haff, aka, Hafsah Chinoy. Oh boy, do I love this girl! She is a leader in the making. Someone who doesn't watch things happen, but makes things happen. Where would YMP be without her. If there is anyone from YMP that inspires me to keep fit, its Haff. I haven't told her yet, but I love her variety of different Salads and healthy food she posts on FB. Ahhh - if we were all just that much disciplined!

Nisa, aka, the girl who may surprise with the most beautiful messages from time to time! They say, such beautiful actions are done by beautiful souls. Nisa, meaning woman, is a great representation of a woman in Islam. She has the most "I can so relate to this!" posts on FB, which serve to be great reminders. Oh and lets not forget her wonderful range of nail polishes!

Samshine, aka, Sameera. You know when you meet someone and you instantly click? Like immediately? Its like you've known them forever? Yes, thats Sameera. The one person you can constantly go on about your dreams to, and she will happily smile along with you, encourage you, and seal it with a Du'aa for you, which will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Strangely, Samshine and myself seem to be so sync! She'll write something about something, that I was just thinking sometime ago, and I'll be like: "Wow, this sure is freaky!"

Nimrah, aka, the one who comes up with the most epic lines of poetry. She's like one of my biggest fans on Instagram (woop!), and is the next poet/author in the making. She is someone who carries a wicked sense of humour, and is also a book worm. Her poetry will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Want a read? Here you go..

"And he whispered,
How much do you love me?
I gazed up to him, and replied,
Kaiku damm karre?"

Hahahaha, yeah, you can stop laughing now!

Since my legs are aaaaching now for sitting in one place for so long, I shall write-up descriptions for the rest of my beloved crew in Part 2, inshaAllah. Watch this space. :)

Living in Madinah [Just a dream?]

Many people wonder why I always go on about this dream of moving to Madinah one day. How I would love to reside and live in the city of Rasulullah (salallahu alayhi wasallam). I've had this 'dream' for a while now. In fact, ever since I was young I've always had in my mind, this idea of 'making hijrah' or moving to Saudi Arabia. Yep, its always been Saudi and nowhere else!

However, as I have grown in my knowledge and experience, I have come to realise that no country is perfect. Whether you're living in the United Kingdom, or whether you living in Makkah - also known as 'The Mother of all Cities' - there will always be flaws and difficulties you have to encounter. There will be things you dislike. When you're young, you kind of put all the negativity you hear to the side and try and focus on what you want, and how you imagine the place to be. However, by meeting people who live there, or have moved there, and after hearing their stories and discussing it with them, you come to the conclusion that wherever you are in the world, there are going to be certain things about it that you will like and certain things you will dislike. That's because, no place in this dunya is perfect, nor will it be perfect forever, because that is only Jannah - the perfect and eternal place where their will be nothing you dislike. Everything will be amazing there, flawless. So regardless of where we are in the world, our main focus should be in pleasing Allah - whether your in the east or the west.

With that being said, I still have my reasons for wanting to move to Madinah. After thinking about it, and pondering over it, and finally having the opportunity to visit it, I can say that Madinah did certainly capture my heart. Recently, I have been researching about the virtues of Madinah, and I have found that many hadith portray how beloved Madinah was to the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam). How he would hasten to want to enter it, and how he spoke of its great merit and virtues. It is where Islam began to propagate, where the rules of the Shariah were established, and where the most amazing individuals and giants lived!

Hence, Madinah is a place, not only which is blessed, but one which is packed with Islamic history, because that is where the religion of Islam truly began to prosper. For me, wanting to move to Madinah or Riyadh which is also in Saudi and also somewhere I would consider, is not based on the view that it these places are perfect, but rather, the view that it is a place where Islam can be easily practiced, and where there ere more opportunities to learn Arabic and the seen first hand, at the feet of the scholars.. Moreover, living in Madinah or Riyadh doesn't have to be permanent, but perhaps a place to build the foundation or basis, more so for the next generation, inshaAllah.

Wouldn't it be lovely to allow your children to grow up in an environment where they can hear the call to prayer 5 times a day, where they are just steps away from the beloved Masjid of their beloved Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) and where they can touch, feel, taste Islam?? A place where they can walk on the same grounds, their role-models, walked upon more than 1400 years ago?

Many people however, do ask: "If everyone moves to Makkah and Madinah or Riyadh or wherever, who will give dawah to those in the West?" My answer: "Establish your foundations and then go and spread Islam." In other words, if you think you are able to learn, study and truly grasp the Arabic language in the west, then thats amazing! Do it. However, if your a person, who likes a different experience, who likes to travel, perhaps your someone who enjoy listening to the Adhaan being called 5 times a day, and learning Arabic first hand by fluent, Arabic speakers, whilst being surrounded by the language - then let Madinah be one of your options. Learn your deen, build your healthy foundations, and then go spread it to the world. :)

Now, of course, I wouldn't just limit my choice to Madinah only, even though its a preference. Although, I would love to live in Madinah for a few years, and study there,  I do also have an inclination towards Malaysia and Riyadh. Mainly, because of the amazing things I have heard about the character of its inhabitants, and how Islam is practiced so openly and widely there. Not to forget the countless opportunities they have for one to study Islam - whether its at a famous university, or at a small institute or centre. The opportunities are vast!

And Riyadh, because some of the most beloved people in my life live there, whom I yearn to meet, and they have told me some great stuff about it MashaAllah TaabarakAllah.

I came across a couple of hadith I read regarding Madinah and its virtues. Thought I'd share some with you all. Oh, and some amazing, breathtakingly beautiful and stunning pics of Madinah. Enjoy! :)


Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "I was ordered to migrate to a town which will swallow (conquer) other towns and is called Yathrib and that is Medina, and it turns out (bad) persons as a furnace removes the impurities of iron. [Bukhari]

Narrated Sad: I heard the Prophet saying, "None plots against the people of Medina but that he will be dissolved (destroyed) like the salt is dissolved in water. ]Bukhari]

 Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "O Allah! Bestow on Medina twice the blessings You bestowed on Makkah." [Bukhari]

 Narrated Anas: Whenever the Prophet returned from a journey and observed the walls of Medina, he would make his Mount go fast, and if he was on an animal (i.e. a horse), he would make it gallop because of his love for Medina.  [Bukhari]

A burden had been lifted..

Imaan lifted the screen of her laptop, switched it on, and waited as usual for her internet to load, before logging into her email.

Today was the day of Arafah. A day where millions had gathered in a blessed land, to perform the rituals of Hajj and to celebrate the great sacrifice of Ibrahim (as) which he performed thousands of years ago.

Behind her, her father was sat, his eyes fixed to the TV. He was watching the millions of people gathered on Arafah, people of all colours, races and ethnicity, some walking, others praying, and others invoking their Lord. It was an awe-inspiring sight. A sight which sparked a sense of joy and happiness. A sense of gratitude for being part of such a huge, simple yet beautiful Ummah.

Imaan turned back to her screen, and scrolled through the hundreds of emails she had received. Most of them were university emails regarding the assignment she had been stressing over for days.

Sisters Magazine       Don't miss this exclusive offer!
Croydon University  Assignment task: reply
Croydon University  Assignment task: reply
Sarah Ibraheem:              Really Sorry
Croydon University  Assignment task: reply

Suddenly, her eye caught sight of a familiar yet distant name. Imaan squinted her eyes to make sure she had read correctly. Sarah?... she whispered to herself. She clicked on the email wondering where she had heard of that name before. For a moment, she thought it was her instructor, who was also called Sarah, but as she began to read the email, it all began to come back to her. She read the email once, still not able to sink it in what she was reading, and then again, and then a third time.

It read:

Assalamu 'Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh 

This message may come out the blue but I just wanted to ask for you forgiveness incase I have upset you or hurt you in anyway. I pray you are well and studies are going well for you.

Really sorry

Sarah Ibraheem

Imaan froze. She wasn't expecting this. In fact, she never expected this. Ever since the huge conflict between her and Sara, ever since the enmity had grown between them, Imaan never expected Sara would ever forgive her. It would haunt Imaan, as she lay in bed every single night. Will Allah forgive me? she would think. "O Allah, let Sarah forgive me, so that I may attain your forgiveness!" was her cry in the depth of the night when her Lord would descend to the nearest heaven to hear her call. Even then, Imaan never thought the day would come.

It had been a year since her and Sarah had broken up. So many things had happened. Things that were too heartbreaking to repeat. She knew she had hurt Sarah and her entire family, she knew she was in the wrong, but she also knew Sarah was too. The final words Sarah shouted to her on that day which she thought was the final time she would speak to her once-upon-a-time best friend were: "Don't ever speak to me again, Imaan. Ever. You've ruined me and my family. Don't email me call me, nothing!"

And although Imaan vowed she would never do so; since that day she carried a huge and heavy burden upon her. A burden she knew she'd have to pay the price of on the Day of Judgement.  It was what worried her the most. It wasn't the fact that she was no longer in touch with her childhood best friend, someone she looked upon as her own sister, but it was the fact that she had hurt another soul, and needed to seek forgiveness.

But that morning on the day of Arafah, she received a surprise, and an answer to a Du'aa. With tears of joy in her eyes, she replied to the email swiftly and excitedly:

Walaykum Asalaam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu :)

Hope you're well!

I don't know how many times I've wanted to message you saying sorry, Sarah, but every time I came close to it, something always stopped me...

Please forgive me for all the ways I did hurt, upset and anger you. I don't want to be standing on the Day of Judgement without having cleared any wrong I did to you or anyone else.

Imaan

Her fingers hovered over the keys on the keyboard. She wanted to write more. She wanted to tell her that she had recently got engaged, and that she had moved to a different city. She wanted to tell her everything that they both would dream about when they were children, but she knew that would be pushing it. Regardless of how much she was aching to write more, she stopped herself and immediately clicked 'sent.'

Imaan logged out of her email, and turned to the TV screen. The Muslims standing on the plains of Arafah were now forming straight rows to get ready for Salaah. She watched with tears in her eyes, unexplainable tears. And as she saw them all fall into sujood, she couldn't resist but do the same. She switched off the TV, and fell into Sajdah. 

A prostration of thanks. As she did, as she felt her head touch the ground, she felt like a huge weight was being lifted. One that would cause her to shed so many tears and caused her so much grief and worry.

The burden had been lifted. No longer did she have to worry about not seeking forgiveness from a soul she hurt. No longer did she have to go through sleepless nights thinking about having to be accountable on the Day of Judgement for her behaviour towards Sarah. It was a clear, fresh start. A clean slate for her and for Sarah. Finally they could push the past to the back of their minds, and focus on their future, as they both embarked on their separate path, and their separate lives. Yet, one thing always made Imaan smile, that perhaps they couldn't  and wouldn't  best friends again in this dunya, but what was true, was that they could, if they both made it, be best friends again in Jannah.

And thats what forgiveness does.

It gives the person another chance.

it lifts the weight which feels heavy upon your chest.

And it is a breath of fresh air. Allowing you to leave your past where it belongs, and to focus on your future.

What a special gift, on a special day. Alhamdulilah ya rabb.

A Forgotten Heroin [Nusaybah Bint Kaab]

Picture taken from occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com

Umm Ammaarah, also known as Nusaybah Bint Kaab is a true heroin in Islam. A warrior whose love for Allah and His Messenger outshone every other love.

I want you to imagine this scene.

It was the Battle of Uhud, and Nusaybah Ibn Ka'b was standing besides Fatimah bint Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). They, and a few other sahaabiyat had volunteered to treat the wounded and injured warriors in this battle.

There was moment in the battle when Nusaybah decided to approach the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in order to serve him a vessel of water. As she came near, she saw the disbelievers chanting that the Prophet had been killed. She says, that as soon as she heard and saw the Prophet being attacked, she dropped her vessel of water and then her gaze fell upon one of the Muslims, who was running away from the battle-field instead of defending the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). So she used her strength and grabbed his armour and sword and stripped it off him due to her fury. She then got the sword and charged into where the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was being attacked. She narrates that she never knew how to use a sword, and had never used one in her life. Yet, she wielded the sword left and right as to strike anyone who would come close to the Prophet of Allah.

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says, that at that moment, he saw Umm Amaarah wielding her sword right and left in order to defend him. So he praised her for this.

One of the disbelievers known as Abdullah Ibn Qamee'a, ran into the crowd and struck Nusaybah between her neck and shoulder, and she suffered from a deep cut The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) upon seeing this said. "O, Ibn Umm Ammaarah! Ummuk, Ummuk!" Meaning, O the son of Nusaybah, (Habeeb), your mother, your Mother!

After the Battle, whilst Nusaybah is laying down, healing from her deep wound and in pain, she turns to the Prophet (Salallahu alayhi wasallam), and says: "Make Du'aa that we get your companionship in Jannah." Rasulullah (Salallahu alayi wasallam) raises his hands and says: "O Allah make them ( the family) my companions in Jannah." Umm Ammaarah (Nusaybah) then smiled and said: "I swear by Allah, I don't care what happens to me now in Dunya!"

‪#‎ForgottenHeroins‬

The Mother I Long to Be [Poem]

People may call me 'traditional' or 'backwards',
They may even say I'm too young -
To be dreaming about they day I hold,
My little one.

Yet, as I continue to learn and grow,
I come to realise, that a child is like a seed you sow.
With much love, warmth and exposure to deen,
With nurturing and 2 years of wean,
By the permission of its Creator,
It will submit to its Lord, 

With a heart that is keen.

For there is no job in this world more precious than a mother,
No job in the world that results in higher wages,
Than to spend your sleepless nights and tiring days,
In raising the child of your better other.

To know that you have been trusted with a a valuable gift,
One that you carried for 9 months long,
And then cradled in your arms, singing it a song -Of a Praise to the One who caused it to form,
From a tiny embryo to a human did it transform.

The coolness of our eyes, I hope for.
A coolness to all the world.

For, the Mother I long to be, is the mothers my heroes were,
My own mother, mama, ummi, whom words cannot do justice for.
To Umm Sulaim, the mother of Anas Ibn Malik,
Who raised Anas without panic,
Raising him in the company of the most blessed,
May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

To Taymiyyah, the mother of Taqiyudeen,
Who yearned to raise the next leader, next scholar,
Of the Muslimeen.
Pleasing Allah was a her ultimate goal,
Leaving a legacy, which would benefit her soul.

The Mother I long to be, is one of a mothering nature,
The one who longs to raise the next leaders,
The next bearers of the Qur'an,
So that together in Paradise, we can walk in,
Hand in Hand.

To all those, who call me backwards,
Take my words and read them well,
Raising a child is but a privilege,
A blessing, of which many are not aware.

So cherish your gift, with the utmost love and care.
Guiding its steps,
Paving it a road,
To a happy, eternal, end.


Inspired by the verse in the Qur'an: And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." [25:74]

"He'll read and ascend the ranks of Paradise by it..."

Imam al-Jazari’s praise for the Qur’an bearer – taken from the Muqaddimah of ‘Tayyibat al-Nashr.’

وبعد: فالإنسان ليس يشرف *** إلا بما يحفظه ويعرف
A person is not honoured or raised
Except by what he knows and has memorised

لذاك كان حاملو القرآن *** أشراف الأمة أولى الإحسان
For that reason the bearers of Qur’an
Are the nobles of this Ummah and its righteous

وإنهم في الناس أهل الله *** وإن ربنا بهم يباهي
And they are the people of Allah amongst Mankind *
And indeed our Lord has boasted of them

وقال في القرآن عنهم وكفى *** بأنه أورثه من اصطفى
He spoke of them in the Qur’an, and it is sufficient
That He gives it (the Qur’an) to those He has chosen **

وهو في الأخرى شافع مشفع *** فيه وفوله عليه يسمع
And in the Hereafter, it is an ardent intercessor
And its statement is something surely heard

يعطى به الملك مع الخلد إذا *** توجه تاج الكرامة كذا
By it a person is given the dominion and immortality
And likewise, he is given the crown of honour

يقرا ويرقى درج الجنان *** وأبواه منه يكسيان
He’ll read and ascend the ranks of Paradise by it
And his parents will also be clothed by it ***

فليحرص السعيد في تحصيله *** ولا يمل قط من ترتيله
So let a person strive to attain it
And let him never tire of its recitation.

Do not marry 7 types of women ~

1. Al-Annaanah:
The woman who whines, moans and complains and ‘ties a band around her head’ all the time (i.e. complains of a headache or some illness but in reality she is not sick, rather she is faking).

2. Al-Mannaanah:
The woman who bestows favours, gifts, etc. upon her husband then (at that time or the future) says; “I did such and such for you or on your behalf or because of you.

3. Al-Hannaanah:
The women who yearns or craves for her former husband or children of the former husband.

4. Kay’atul-Qafaa:
The women who has a brand mark on the nape of her neck (i.e. has a bad reputation or doubts about her).

5. Al-Haddaaqah:
The women who cast her eyes at things (i.e. always looking at something to purchase, then desires it and requires her husband to buy it (No Matter What).

6. Al-Barraaqah:
The women who spends much of her day enhancing her face and beautifying it to such an extent that it will seem like it was manufactured.

7. Al-Shaddaaqah:
The woman who talks excessively..

Taken from the Book: ‘A Concise Manual of Marriage’ by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen