MYSA Ramadan Intensive

MYSA Ramadan Intensive

Ramadan- A Time For Change

There is only one ayah about Ramadan in the Qur’an, just one and it is situated in Surah Baqarah, in the latter half of the surah. In Surah Baqarah, Allah says:

 

“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” [2:185]

When you read this ayah, the first thing Allah wants us to know about it is that it is the month of Qur’an- this book is better than any other book, this month is better than any other month. A couple of ayahs before this Allah talks about fasting in general because fasting was a tradition even before Ramadan was ordained. In a couple of ayahs before this in Surah Baqarah, Allah said…

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2)”

Allah describes Ramadan as a prescription, a prescription for our soul. During the entire year outside this month, we normally feed our bodies but very often our soul starves. But in this month, we do the opposite- we starve our bodies but we feed our soul. We feed our souls. And Allah the most merciful makes it very easy.

Allah opens every door of mercy, Allah gives us the perfect set up, the perfect layout, circumstances full of potential. The shayateen get chained. Normally the blame game is very easy to play but in this month there is no blame game. The focus is on the self. Allah helps us focus on ourselves. Zoom out and zone in on you, on us- that’s it. The gates of hell become closed and the gates of Jannah are open as Abu Hurairah narrates Rasulullah (sws)  saying. Its prime time. If there was any ideal time to change it was in this month, it is Ramadan. You see people come in and out- complete 180. You see people come into Ramadan barely praying, don’t wear hijab, and come out with hijab, giving up some of the things they love most, praying five times a day. The ibadah in this month is like nothing else. The reward in this month is like nothing else. The Du’a in this month is like nothing else.

If you want to change, and this should be every single one of us including myself, we want to change, we’ve spent this whole past year stumbling and falling on our knees, we’ve accumulated black dots all over our hearts, we come covered in sins again but this Ramadan, we beg Allah to change us. But before we can change we need to know how to talk to Allah, how to make dua’, how to return to Allah so that we can take small steps towards change.

Ramadan and The Quran

The month of Ramadan is the blessed month in which the Quran was revealed. It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said. “ The messenger of Allah peace be upon him was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he would study the Quran with him. Truly when Allah’s messenger peace be upon him would meet Jibril, he would be more generous than a fleeting wind” Subanallah every Ramadan even the prophet peace be upon him would read and  study the whole Quran. This is an important aspect because the prophet peace be upon him had the Quran memorized. It was already in his heart yet he still studied  every part of the Quran on this blessed month of Ramadan. We should take the example of the prophet peace be upon him because just because he had the Quran memorized does not mean he did not ever ponder back on its meaning! No the prophet peace be upon him studied and learned. The prophet peace be upon him continued to study the Quran until his passing. Now ask yourself is it just during Ramadan you read the Quran? Or do you read the Quran just the first week of Ramadan and than toss it? Or do you get frustrated because you don’t understand the Quran so you never read it?

If you are not reading the Quran regularly. Then yes the Quran is going to be very hard for you. Reading the Quran just ONCE a month out of a whole year is not the way it should be. We have 365 days in a year. Ramadan is 30 days. Most of us read the whole Quran and mash Allah that is awesome! But reading the Quran only 30 days out of the 365 days year round? We need to make a change. And that change will be this month inshallah. During the time of Ramadan, to make Quran apart of our lives we should make it a habit to read it whenever we are free. For example after isha most of us are at home. So instead of getting up right away and rushing off to do what we have to do like the face book or TV, We should take the time to ponder and recite the Quran. But don’t overwhelm yourself. If you never read the Quran start off by reading it every day for 5 minutes then as you get better increase the time inshallah. I promise if you just set a habit every day you will stick to it. Many excuses when it comes to the Quran ar: I don’t have time. But you have time to face book every day for hours? Or talk on the phone for hours? Text for hours? This is our holy book! This is the Quran that is going to speak upon us on the day of judgment

“Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection, it shall come as an intercessor for its companion.” [Muslim].

So how can we not make time for the Quran? If only we knew how much the Quran will help us on the Day of Judgment we would never put it down. Another excuse people make is, I don’t understand what I’m reading or I struggle reciting the Quran. This is why we have Qurans that are  translated in English for us. To help us better understand what we are reading and even if you don’t understand what you are reading still READ and recite! The more we recite the more we will understand the words of Allah SWT. With every struggle while reciting the Quran you are getting rewarded. If your intention is to recite, to ponder the meaning of every ayah you will get rewarded. Aa’ishah (RA), relates that the Prophet peace be upon him said “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] See how merciful Allah SWT is! Even through struggle we get rewarded! Allah hu Akbar!! The prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.” [At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi]. Subahanllah just by reading one letter we are getting a hasanah. Imagine if we had the pure intention to recite the Quran every day at least once or twice throughout the week. Or even finish the whole Quran how much rewards we would be gaining? How much knowledge we would be learning? There is always so much to learn from the Quran. Now imagine how much the reward is during Ramadan? Ramadan is a time to read the Quran but we should ALWAYS be reading the Quran and memorizing as much as we can.

Let’s make Ramadan a time to recite the Quran every day, to understand the Quran more and inshallah in those 30 days we will make it a habit to continue the reading of the Quran even after Ramadan. May we be among the mumineen that hold firm to the Quran in our hearts. That never neglect the Quran and that always keep the Quran apart of our everyday lives inshallah. Let’s keep in mind that when we are reading the Quran we are having a conversation with Allah SWT. After all the Quran was sent down upon us for a reason, “It is a Book that We have sent down to you blessed, so that they may contemplate its verses and so that people of understanding may take heed.” [38:29]

What can I do?

Make Goals

As states above, Ramadan is the best time to change because it is all us with no distractions but in order to facilitate this change we must know what we want to change, our plan to do so and WRITE THEM DOWN. Many of us, go through Ramadans stating that we are going to change but never actually do because we forget what we planned to change from the get go, so if we write them down with a plan to change, we are more than likely to do so.

Here is a goal sheet, it is very clean and to the point, write down your goals, you plan, and keep this in a place where you will actually see it, https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1XKkVLDtebSKGBk0c0kJH4yLp8bo_FecDti6GQoYmu5c

When making goals we have to keep one thing in mind, adding is not the best option. If I had a cup with a bunch of holes in it and kept adding water, adding the water would be pointless right? Or if I had an abaya that was mega dirty and kept adding sequins, you would still notice the big Samosa stain, right? When coming up with your goals, think more on the fixing note, the purifying effect of Ramadan and then add. So I would suggest that we fix two major things such as anger or patience and then add one major thing, such as finishing the whole Quran during Ramadan or waking up for Qiyyam every night. Along the way, we can always add minor things that are less “burdensome” for lack of better words, such as taking a walk to get healthy or adding tasbeh after every prayer but 10 of each instead of 33 or saying surah ikhlas before we go to sleep.

Lastly, one thing to keep in mind is to not overdue do it. Yes, you want to take advantage of your Ramadan but you don’t want to be a mullah the first 10 days and be back to your old self for the rest of Ramadan. You want to be smart in what you add, don’t add a bunch of major things but add one or two and many smaller things, this will be easier to keep up with during and after Ramadan. You know yourself and what you can handle, you know if reading the whole Quran everyday three days, praying all sunnah and many nafls, praying taraweh every night and saying tasbeh over 20 twenty times a day is too much. We are all different and consistency us key.

Allah loves that which is consistent. So something else you can do, is grade yourself every 10 days, to gauge how you are doing and don’t forget to write this stuff down! :)

Maximize your time

Make sure not to waste your time during this month, have a daily planner or a to-do list, you don’t want to waste this time, you want to maximize this time! And sleeping all day is not something to put on your chart.  

Give

Give, whether it be items or actual money. Everything during Ramadan is multiplied, take advantage of this. Also, helping around in the house can count as a sadaqah, so don’t feel bad that you have to help your mom cook iftar (as long as it’s not a whole day affair) or clean the house.  

***Also a note on Zakat, if you do not give zakat before the Eid prayer, it does not count as Zakat but Sadaqah, so please make sure to get to eid prayer on time!  

Increase Dua

The Dua of a fasting person is accepted, so amp it up, inshaallah! Also, write your duas down, so you will remember them, inshaallah.

Dua List:

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Qbu8kOfi0MKMrsgJDmGPWX28-O7xOeAaLIYz-qhwtDw

Dua 101: https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1fYbXFj5zCSPgNn7P2JOoAcoPSloyhC2f1u8wN41eBq0

Stay positive

Be happy, it is the month of mercy and the best time to become the people we have always wanted to be. Enjoy your Ramadan, smiling and being kind is not haram but Sunnah. 

:) :) :) 

The Promised: Truth and Support

The Promised: Truth and Support

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, A glimpse of her Life

Sometimes, you cross people’s path and the memory of that person is forever engrained within you. The beauty of their manners and the beauty of their character is something that you constantly remember. One such women whose beauty radiates from her character is Khadijah (R) the daughter of Khuwaylid. Her lineage traced back and connected with the Prophet’s, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, a couple generations back.

She was elite amongst her society. She was the daughter of the chiefton of the time- Khuwaylid. She was a very successful women for her time, running her own business which in the Pre-Islamic, Jahilliyah times, was a pretty big deal. It was a man’s world back then and so for her to be a business woman and have wealth was a pretty surprising thing. The way she ran her business was that she would hire men to go trade in various other places such as Al-Shaam or Hijaz and they would bring the profits back to her. However, many of these men would cheat her and keep some of the profit to themselves and there was really no way she could figure out how much they were keeping. At the time, they didn’t have budget keeping or account keeping software to maintain financial records. Thus, many of the times the profit wasn’t all that great.  Then, she heard of a man who was known to be ‘As-Saddiq Al-Ameen’ –the honest and the trustworthy. She offers him a job as a trader to go to other places and trade on her behalf and sends one of her slaves with this man who was no other than Muhammed (sws). Her slave, Maysarah, travels with Muhammad (sws) and notices how amazing this man is. He is amazed by his honesty, his character, and his dealings with the people.  When they return back, Maysarah tells Khadijah about the journey and about the amazing nature of Muhammed (sws) and everything that had taken place on the trip. Before this point, Khadijah was already impressed with the man Muhammad (sws), but after this, it was something greater. Never had Khadijah made a profit more than when Muhammad (sws) came back. His character was something else. After Maysarah’s account she starts to feel something for him and love starts to grow within her for this amazing man. She sends her cousin to inquire and see if Muhammad (sws) is interested in marriage. Khadiijah’s cousin asks Muhammad (sws) if he is interested in marriage and if he would be willing to marry a lady that was beautiful and from a noble family and Muhammad (sws) questioned who? Upon the cousin’s reply that it was Khadijah, he replied that he would as long as she was willing too.

In this proposal, an important lesson to highlight is the difference in status of Khadijah and Muhammed (sws)  and how it was insignificant when it came to Khadijah’s choice. She was elite, she was ‘something’ in her society, she had rejected many proposals already, her father had a very high standing. Usually when you see a celebrity on tv, it seems like any normal human being could never stand a chance to even get to talk with them for two seconds but the character of Khadija was such that her wealth had not gotten to her head. She was still kind and the fact that Muhammed  (sws) worked for her and the fact that he used to be a shepherd did not matter to her. It didn’t make a difference. She wasn’t awed by anything superficial from him but rather she was in awe of his character. In Islam, we are told how important good character is and how heavy our manners will weigh on the scale and thus when we search for our other half, we must search for a good, pious character over anything else.

The marriage of Muhammad (sws) and Khadija was set. And for the next few years, nothing really major occurs in the Prophet’s life. During this time, Khadija and Muhammad (sws) have six children, three of the sons which passed away at an early age. These years are a time where the family is being established and a marriage is being strengthened. One day however, while Muhammed  (sws) was up in the Cave of Hira, as was common of him to do to go and meditate, a life-changing event occurs. Most Muslims know the basics of the story where Angel Jibreel, comes and squeezes the Prophet (sws), telling him to read. However, the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him was illiterate and he was so frightened, the Angel squeezed him so hard that he thought he was going to die. At this point the first ayahs of the Qur’an were revealed. This event shook the Prophet (sws) and he came back frightened and just shook up. The first person he runs to is not his immediate family or his ‘bros’ or anything- he runs back to his wife, back to his best friend –Khadijah.

He runs back to her and says “Zambiluni, Zambiluni”, “Cover me, Cover me”. She wraps him and waits until he calms down. Then tells her what just took place. Upon this, she doesn’t just ward him off or you know when we hear something out of the ordinary, we don’t really give comfort but rather make it seem insignificant, but this woman comforts the Prophet (sws). She soothes him and tells him that Allah would never abandon him, and would protect him. She reminded him that he took care of people, relieved people’s burdens, fed the needy, that he was a good man. You see her giving support and comforting words at a moment when the Prophet’s (sws)  life was about to change. And you see this support throughout the life of the Messenger of Allah.

When the Prophet (sws)  received his mission to spread the message, she didn’t hesitate one bit. Khadijah was the first person to become Muslim. She stood by his side no matter what. In the beginning when it seemed like everyone he knew turned on him, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, Khadija (R) stood by him. Three years before the Hijrah took place, after twenty five years of marriage, Khadijah (R) passes away. The Prophet of Allah (sws), sat by her bedside as she breathed her last and was so upset and grieved at the loss of his beloved, of his best friend that the year was known as the Year of Sorrow in his life (also due to the passing of his Uncle, Abu Talib). The profound pain that he felt at the passing of Khadija (R) was unbelievable and even years later he would remember her and talk about her. He would go visit her relatives and stay in touch with her friends. “Only the love of the Most Beloved (Allah) could heal the pain of losing his most beloved in this dunya (Khadijah ).”

May Allah give us the ability to follow the example of Khadija, who supported and cared for and comforted our beloved Nabi in his most difficult times. May Allah help us become more supportive and caring towards others and disattach us from the luxuries from this dunya and attach us to the path of the Akhirah.

Khadija- The First Muslim

Khadija was the first Muslim. This in itself is a lesson for us all, and we should take from her steadfastness to truth. When she saw and heard the truth, she accepted the truth, believed in the truth and stuck with the truth. We as Muslims need to do the same.

When we see or hear the truth, we need to accept the truth but in order to accept the truth, we have to admit that we were wrong. Today, knowledge is everywhere, a click away, of course we need to use caution, but we can go through fifty youtube videos, hundreds of blogs, and know that “such and such” is haram but we will still be, “Wellll…..” and sometimes we will even convince ourselves that although we know what we are doing is wrong, we are right. Our brains and intellect is so powerful but it can either work for us or against us. So first, we need to accept the truth.

Accepting the truth is one thing, but we need to believe in it. And although this seems like the same thing, it is not. We need to walk the talk. We can talk a lot, but what do our actions say? Many people say that they would die for the Prophet (sws) but if someone were to ask who is willing to live for the Prophet (sws), the room will be emptied. Islam isn’t about dying, it is about living. Being a Muslim, is not about risking your life, but living the life. We say that we accept the truth, but do we believe enough to follow what we have accepted?  

Lastly, we need to stick to the truth. Being a Muslim is not a Ramadan feeling or an Iman high. Of course throughout our lives, our iman is going to waiver, it is going to be like a “baby rollercoaster”, it should not be some super coaster that starts in the stars and plunges to the depths of the ocean. We should not go from a sheikh to a gangster on a daily basis, this is not Islam. When we accept and believe in truth, we need to stick with this truth through thick and thin. Sometimes we can believe full heartedly in every word of truth, but once we hear some crazy fatwah that works in our manner, we suddenly change our beliefs. We can’t pray all five prayers for for one month, Ramadan, and then go back to praying nothing in hopes of living to the next Ramadan to make up for the missed prayers. This is not basketball of football, we don’t have a season off as Muslims, and it is longer than a baseball season, it is an everyday thing, from the day you are born, to the day you enter Jannah, inshaallah.  

We need to accept, believe, and stick with it.

Khadija and her support

            There was no one that loved the Khadija more than the Prophet (sws) peace be upon him. They both showed a sense of support to one another. In one narration when the Prophet (sws) used to go up to the cave and mediate and sit for weeks all by himself. Khadija used to climb up to the cave and bring him food, and water. She never complained to him that he was away for too long. She supported the Prophet peace be upon him and looked after him.  When the revelation came to the Prophet peace be upon him she knew that people would want to drive him out and treat him harshly. Khadija bought slaves to protect the Prophet peace be upon him and she supported the Prophet peace be upon him through thick and thin. she never left his side. Even after her death the Prophet (sws) still remembered her. Her memory always lingered on for years to come until his death..

            We should always look at this beautiful couple as an example in our everyday lives. Khadija never left the side of the Prophet peace be upon him even though they lived harshly or because of how much people hated the Prophet peace be upon him. Nowadays, we lack support to one another. Everything is about competition and jelousy. We bring each other down and when someone is trying to do good we bring out their past and their faults. We never let go! We keep brining each other down. Support is so important to one another especially when it comes to close family and friends. We all say “we love each other” but really where is the love in the support to one another?     

 

            We should take this example of Khadija and the Prophet peace be upon him. They showed infinite love to one another and they loved and supported each other for the sake of Allah; not for the sake of competition or jealousy. When you want to support someone it should be coming from the heart. Support equals “ I will be there for you, I will help you every step of the way”. The love of brotherhood and sisterhood has fallen down stream. The lack of support and help for one another has lost its real meaning.

 We need to rebuild our love and support for our Ummah because this is the only way we will succeed.

The Promised: The Balancing Act

The Promised: The Balancing Act

Fatimah- Who was she and what is her story?

 “The Prophet had a special love for Fatimah. He once said: "Whoever pleased Fatimah has indeed pleased God and whoever has caused her to be angry has indeed angered God. Fatimah is a part of me. Whatever pleases her pleases me and whatever angers her angers me."

Fatimah Az-ahraah: It was said that Fatimah was given the name az-ahraah because Fatimah, may God be pleased with her, was given the title of "az-Zahraah" which means "the Resplendent One". That was because of her beaming face which seemed to radiate light. It is said that when she stood for Prayer, the mihrab would reflect the light of her countenance. She was also called "al-Batul" because of her asceticism. Instead of spending her time in the company of women, much of her time would be spent in Salat, in reading the Quran and in other acts of ibadah.” She was also known as As-Siddiqa, meaning the honest.

Fatimah az Zahra was born five years before revelation came down. This beautiful little girl was very attached to her father, the last messenger, the mercy to mankind- Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam. She grows up seeing her father’s status in the Makkan society- loved by a small group of people who accepted Islam but despised and hated by the Quraysh. She, too, just being related through family is loved by a small group of people but hated just as Rasulullah (sws). When we are young, we love to feel accepted by our society but this young women, grew up being hated at times, watching her father get attacked at times, yet she grows up not wanting the pleasure of people but pleasure through truth. She grows up fearless and ready to stand up against injustice.

There are many situations in the Prophet’s (sws) life in Makkah where the character of Fatima (R) is established. One time, when Rasulullah (sws) was praying and in sujood, a group from the Quraysh came and dumped intestines onto his head. At this Fatima becomes enraged and extremely angry. She stands up and yells angrily at the Quraysh for what they had done to her father. When injustice occurred, she spoke out and stood up for her beloved father. In another instance, Rasulullah (sws) was making tawaff and the Quraysh started mocking him, eventually hitting him. Upon seeing this, Fatima starts shouting for help. Abu Bakr hears her and comes over to protect the Prophet (sws) but eventually gets hit as well. Once again, she stands up for her father, and when he needs help she is right there by his side. In another instance, the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him had come home covered in dust from head to shoulders. Fatima began to clean the dust off of him and starts to weep. She starts to cry and weep as she’s cleaning the dust from her poor father. And Rasulullah, may peace and blessings be upon him, comforts his daughter and tells her “Don’t worry, Allah will take care of your father.”

As she grows older, Fatima experiences many of the hardships and struggles that the early Muslims faced. After being exiled from Makkah, Fatima goes with her father and the other Muslims and suffers through the harsh winters and the intense heat of the summers. These constant difficulties never made her question why or want more when she grew up. When we experience a difficult childhood, we have hope in that when we grow up, we will be in a better situation. If you lived a poor childhood, you desire an adulthood where money is not a problem. But in the example of Fatima, you see this women’s hardship not just when she’s little but continue as she grows up and marries.

Every struggle, though, molds her into a more beautiful Muslimah.

Fatimah lived with her father in Medina. Throughout those years many people came to ask for her hand. Two of the marriage proposes were turned down. Then one day Ali the son of Abu Talib came to the Prophet peace be upon him to ask for Fatimah’s hand in marriage he was very shy. The Prophet peace be upon him approved. Fatimah and Ali were married at the beginning of the second year of hijrah. She was about 19 and Ali was about 21.  From then Fatimah’s life began with Ali. It was no different from the way she lived with her father. Her and Ali lived in poverty, with many hardships. Fatimah was the only sister who was not married to a wealthy man. Imagine how much they suffered but yet Fatimah never complained. Suffering did not stop there. There were times when they would go days without food. Once the Prophet peace be upon him was hungry he went to his house but there was no food. Then he went to Fatimah’s house and there was no food either. When he finally got hold of food which was two loaves of bread he would send it to Fatimah. The Prophet peace be upon him would not have eating for three days but because his love for Fatimah was so strong he would give her the food instead.  Eventually Fatimah moved to live close to her father. Together they shared the joy, sorrows, and hardships.

Fatimah gave birth to her first child which was a boy named Hasan which means the beautiful one. Then a year later she gave birth to another boy and named him Husayn (Hussein) which means little Hassan. In the eighth year after the hijrah Fatimah gave birth to a little girl whom she named Zaynab after her sister but sadly she died shortly after her birth. Then Fatimah gave birth to another girl and named her Umm Kalthum after her other sister who had died of an illness. Fatimah was busy being a mother and raising her children. But besides all of that she would help her father as much as she can. During the times of the war she would clean her Fathers wounds, give food to the distressed Muslims that fought in the wars and was a noble helpful pious women that did everything she can to be there and help her father.

Fatima was not just a daughter, a wife, and a mother but she was also a contributor to society. Her example teaches us balance, it teaches us moderation. She was able to balance her family roles but still was a student and still contributed to her society. During many major battles that occurred throughout Islamic history, she was out there in the heart of the action tending to the wounded, supplying food and water to the soldiers, and during one battle she even led the prayer for the other women who were helping out. She wasn’t just confined to the home; she was out there helping her community, being there to aid the Muslims during such trying times.

Before the Prophet peace be upon him died it was narrated that, “In Ramadan of the tenth year just before he went on his Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet confided to Fatimah, as a secret not yet to be told to others: "Jibril recited the Quran to me and I to him once every year, but this year he has recited it with me twice. I cannot but think that my time has come." Subhnallah, on his return from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet did become seriously ill. One day he summoned Fatimah. When she came, he kissed her and whispered some words in her ear. She wept. Then again he whispered in her ear and she smiled. Aisha saw and asked: You cry and you laugh at the same time, Fatimah? What did the Messenger of God say to you?" Fatimah replied: "He first told me that he would meet his Lord after a short while and so I cried. Then he said tome: 'Don't cry for you will be the first of my household to join me.' So I laughed." Not long afterwards the noble Prophet passed away.

Fatimah lived five more months after her father had passed. Through all the struggling she dealt with and all the poverty she wept through. The strong ambition she had to raise her children in this stricken state that her and her husband were in she never complained, never asked why. Her faith was so firm in Allah. Her ability to keep going and carry on has left an impact on her father the Prophet peace be upon him.  Fatimah left this world in the early morning  of Ramadan. She woke up looking unusually happy. In the afternoon she called Salma bint Umays who was looking after her at that time and she asked Salma to put her bed in the court yard outside so she can look at the heavens and she called for her husband Ali. He was confused when he saw her laying there and he asked Fatimah what was wrong. She then replied smiling "I have an appointment today with the Messenger of God." Fatimah was just 29 years old.

We should take Fatimah az Zahra as an amazing example. She struggled and never gave up. In times of our everyday struggles we give up. Our struggles are nothing compared to how much Fatimah struggled. This great noble woman came from a family of poverty and hardships that took over her life until the day she died. She died in a state of happiness despite her struggle. Her reward is indescribable. To know that she was going to meet her father after all the despair she went through. Never give up despite the hardships that come your way because in the end you will be rewarded.

Fatimah, an example for every Muslim

Islam is a religion of balance, it is not some radical religion or a religion so lenient that a follower could not be determined from a disbeliever. Islam is the true religion and a religion of moderation. Today we find people on TV claiming that “Islam is a balanced religion” as if it is something new but Islam has been a balanced religion from the beginning and till the horns will blow. Muslims are the fickle ones not Islam, Muslims are the ones who are figuring out what deen is, the deen is not changing.

Today we have made people choose, you are either “Mr. Religious” or you are “Mr. Community”. We find people who are very knowledgeable but are like mosquitos, their knowledge only benefits them and they are of no benefit to others. And we will find people who are extremely into civil rights and community related things, but have not prayed on salah in their adult life. You don’t have to choose.  Muslims should be the full package, and Islam encourages us to be. First, we need to have the deen, because without deen, we have nothing and our efforts are meaningless. So if we are not praying, we should not be out in the community giving dawah, volunteering, going to political campaigns to support Muslims, how can we support the Muslim cause when we don’t even practice what defines us as Muslims? Second, we should not stop there, some people find the straight path and stop there contributing nothing to society, is this the Sunnah of the Prophet (sws)? Sometimes we say that we are on the Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) but we go against it in our actions. We need to not act like this chosen society of people who have the truth, like some cult. Islam is not a cult, as Muslims, we should be like a candle in a dark room, our light should spread to the darkness of the world in all aspects. And we can take this from the story of Fatimah.

Fatimah (R) is a woman, every Muslim can take from because unlike Mariam who was tested with all that she stood by or Asiyaa who was tested with brutal physical torture from the one who loved her most, Fatimah was, for lack of better words, a human being facing the tides of societies like we do every day of our lives.  She was a daughter, wife, and a contributor to society. And on a greater notes, she was patient with what she was given, today we are very blameworthy, we need to stop that, we need to believe in the Qadr of Allah, things happen for a reason, and sometimes for reasons we will never understand, but know that Allah has your back. Allah is your friend, Allah is your companion, Allah is your Protector.

Remember Allah in everything that you do, and Allah will remember you.

The Promised: Reluctant or Reliant

The Promised: Reluctant of Reliant

What is reliance? What does it mean to rely on Allah?

A beggar came to the house of Ai’sha(ra), and her slave opened the door, Barira (ra). And the beggar said, “Oh family of the Messenger of Allah, give me something. And she said we have nothing. And Ai’sha (ra) listening to this, and Ai’sha said who is it? And Barira(ra) said it’s a beggar and all we have is a handful of barely for you to open your fast with. And it was at the time of Asr, and Ai’sha (ra) said give it, Allah will provide. And she gave it, come Maghrib time there was NO food. And Ai’sha(ra) opened her fast with some water and she began her Maghrib salaat. And Barir(ra) is sitting there, and she is sarcastically, she is saying, you know jokingly she is saying, “Oh Allah will provide. Oh Allah will provide.” And there is a knock on the  door. And a man comes and he gives a goat as a gift. And Ai’sha(ra) finishes her salaat, she said, “oh Barira who is it?” And she said it is a man who lives in the area. “By Allah, he has never ever given us before, but today he bought us a goat!” And Ai’sha(ra) said, “Oh Barira, isn’t that goat better than the handful of wheat that you had? And then she said something which really signifies the iman of these people. She said, “I swear by Allah, none of you can be a true believer until his trust in Allah is stronger than that which he sees and has in the palm of his hands.” She didn’t say Muslim, she said “believer”, there are many Muslims, but how many of us our believers?  

It is easy to say that we rely on Allah, we talk a lot but what is true? Do we really rely on Allah?

In the Quran it says,

“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him” (65:3). 

“And the Reality is that there is nothing and nowhere else that will be sufficient.  Allah is the only handhold that never breaks (Quran 2: 256).

But who do we rely on?

When we try our hardest making the “best of grades” and we go and apply for mend school or dental school and we don’t get in, what happens?  When we lose friends, family members or can’t seem to get that perfect match, what happens? When we lose our jobs, our house burns down, go through a divorce, what happens?

Most of us, want to ask, why? Why is this happening to me? Why me? Why me?  I tried my hardest for that test, I did all I could in this relationship, I worked hard for this job, I worked and I did, why is this happening to me, why Allah? And some will question to the point that they will begin to lose their Iman or become faulty in their faith, but does not  the one that created you know what’s best for you?

Allah is Al-Alim, Al-Sami, Al-Basir, Allah knows all things and Allah sees and hears all things. Allah knows what will benefit us and what will yield us.

There is a problem in thinking here, losing something is not necessarily bad and gaining something is not necessarily good. Today we think that if we do get everything we want or everything goes according to plan, alhamdulilah, if you lose anything in your life, “ahhh man, something is wrong, there is nothing good in this loss”. But let me tell you, it is not always so glamorous, we have to trust in Allah through thick and then, good or bad. We should not have the attitude, that if I trust in Allah, I will get this much money back or this and that, we need to trust in Allah because it is a necessity.

In the hadith of the Prophet (sws), he says

“EEE-QAA-HA-WA-TAWAKUL”

Tie first and then rely on Allah. So relying on Allah is not just standing there pleading for Allah to help you, in surah 13, Ar-Rad it says “Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” So true, tawwakul is not just relying on Allah but trying our hardest while rely on Allah. You can not study for a test and rely on Allah to give you an “A”, we must try. And amazing is the story of Asiya (R), she is such a supreme example of Asiyaa (R) was the wife of the most horrible man to have ever lived, a man who got hundreds of signs but still choose darkness over light, a man who killed thousands of babies and enslaved their much more. Imagine being in the house with a tyrant and you have become of the people he hates most.

 Who was Asiyaa’ (R)

Asiya (R). Her name brings tears to my eyes, a smile to my face, and grows a profound love in my heart. She was a woman whose faith will ever be a source of inspiration and her trust in Allah will ever be a lesson for generations to come.

Asiya (R), the wife of Pharoh. Just as her name, radiAllahuanh, brings hope and inspiration, the man that she was married to, Pharoh elicits images of the complete opposite- blood, oppression, and an evil, arrogant character which earns him the title of the most evil human being to have ever lived, as some scholars say.  He walked the earth with pride. He believed himself to be the maintainer, the creator, the ruler. His say was the only say. He could do away with you in an instant if he pleased and however he pleased. There was no escaping his clutches. His evil was worse than Hitler’s. Try to imagine the evil that Hitler was- the concentration camps, the wiping out of thousands of people- and now think of Pharoh, above and beyond that evil.

“[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring." [20:71]

SubhanAllah. He boiled people alive if they believed in anything other than him, he would chop off their hands and feet of opposite sides and had a practice of killing the newborn sons every other year.

“Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.” [28:4]

This takes us to the household of Musa, alayhisalam who is not yet born. Musa’s (AS) brother, Aaron (AS) was born on the year that sons were not ordered to be killed, thus he lives and his mother brings him into the world without worry. But the year that Musa (as) is to be born, the newborn boys are ordered to be killed. But Allah had another plan for this baby. And thus Musa’s (AS) mother is given an order:

 

“And We had already conferred favor upon you another time, When We inspired to your mother what We inspired, [Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye.”

[20:37-39]

Most mothers when given such an order would immediately freak out, putting their own baby that they gave birth to into a river- it would almost seem like a death sentence. But the mother of Musa (AS) has tawakull, has trust in Allah that the most Merciful, the Most kind has a plan. And thus, you see that this baby lands in front of the household of Pharoh, the murderer himself whose wife Aasiyaa (R) picks up the child and says:

"…[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not.” [28:9]

The expression that is used in this ayah, ‘the comfort of the eyes’ is a very interesting expression. In the Arabic language, this expression is used to describe tears that are being shed out of happiness. For example, in a lecture by Nouman Ali Khan used a very good example to fully understand this expression and the difference between coolness of the eyes and eyes becoming warm. A mother greeting her son at the airport and a mother leaving her son at the airport are both crying but the mother who is greeting her son is shedding tears of joy, thus her eyes are becoming cool. But the mother who’s saying goodbye to her son- her eyes are becoming warm. In this ayah, Musa’s (AS) mother is the person whose eyes are becoming warm because she is being separated from her child but on the other hand, Asiyaa’s eyes are becoming cool, thus she says “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you…” [28:9] So Asiya is saying that this baby will be the coolness of her eyes. Why do you think her eyes will be cooled by this? She was already living a very stressful life in the household of Pharoh. The Qur’an indicates that there was psychological abuse and later we find out that there was physical torture as well. But at this point, this baby is becoming the coolness of her eyes from the stresses that she is living with. What’s really interesting here is that Asiyaa doesn’t just say that Musa, (AS) will be a coolness to her eyes but tells Pharoh that Musa (AS) will be a coolness to his eyes too. His eyes are warm from the anger that he has, from the arrogance that he has inside of him and thus Asiya’ separates herself from him and tells him that Musa will be a coolness of her eyes and to Pharoh’s eyes too.

One mother’s eyes are cooled but what about the mother of Musa, (as) ? SubhanAllah, amazingly Musa (AS)  still goes back to his own mother too, so that her eyes are cooled too.

“And the heart of Moses' mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.” [28:10]

“And she said to his sister, "Follow him"; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not. “ [28:11]

“And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, "Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?" [28:12]

“So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.” [28:13]

SubhanAllah, imagine the feeling that Musa (AS) mother must have felt when she was reunited with her son in such a beautiful way. Imagine the coolness of her eyes. This teaches us a lesson of tawakkul, of reliance in Allah- holding on to Allah and putting every trust in Allah knowing that Allah will take care of us. Allah’s plans are far greater than our own and this story is such a beautiful example of the blessing, wisdom, and mercy of Allah.

So, this baby grows up in the household of the Pharoh, and is raised by Asiyaa. Little does Pharoh know that this baby would grow and be his destruction, be his downfall through the help and will of Allah. To summarize the story, which can be found in detail in Surah Taha, Musa (AS)  grows up and accidently commits a crime- he accidently kills someone and then flees the land. He leaves the land to the outskirts somewhere where he stays for several years. During this time he gets married, and while him and his family are travelling, Musa’s life is changed, completely- Allah speaks to him directly in the valley of Tuwa.

“And when he came to it (the fire), he was called, "O Moses, Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.” [20:11-12]

Musa (AS) is given the mission of delivering the message of the oneness of Allah to Pharoh. Pharoh’s reaction to this message is what would be expected out of an arrogant tyrant who believes himself to be the ruler of all things- anger, rage, and fury. But what got him even more furious, is that his own wife believed in the message of Musa (AS). She immediately believed in the oneness of Allah and that iman completely changed her. That faith that she found was so firm, so strong that she was willing to give everything!

As we see in her story, she holds on to her iman regardless of Pharoh does. She could have easily denied that she believed in Allah in front of him, but her inner iman matched the words that would come out of her mouth and she stood firm. She proclaimed her belief in Allah and despite the pain she felt, she trusted Allah that with Allah were things that were far better than this world. She chose her akhirah over her dunya. She could have easily continued her life the way it was. She was living in luxury, after all she was Pharoh’s wife- she had money and wealth and palaces. Yet, her iman was so strong that she didn’t care about any of it anymore. It just didn’t matter. That’s the beauty of iman. When faith enters the heart, it changes your life. And it definitely changed Asiya’s.

When we speak of trust in Allah of tawakkul, we all know that Rasulullah, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam teaches to not just sit and take no action but to take action, to “tie you camel”, and then rely on Allah, then leave all matters to Allah. In Asiya’s story we see that Asiya didn’t just believe and just stayed with Pharoh and let him do whatever he pleased to her. She actually took action, she actually tried to run away. But she really couldn’t escape his clutches because he was the police, he was the law, he was the government. He captures her and begins to torture her. He beats her, he hangs her, he places a boulder on her as she’s lying in the scorching sand. Yet no amount of physical pain was enough for Asiya to give up. She knew with Allah was happiness, and with Allah was peace. And subhanAllah as she is being tortured in such a brutal way, she calls out to Allah,

"My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people." [66:11]

Asiyaa’s luxuries in this life had no meaning to her. Her physical pain put no limit on her faith. Her circumstances could not hold her back from believing. And this unbreakable faith and this heart full of iman cries out to Allah and Allah opens up the heavens and shows her, her home in Jannah. And this woman smiles. She smiles as she’s being tortured. She smiles as she faces such immense physical pain. She smiles as her soul departs from this world and reunites with her Lord. Her home in Jannah was waiting for her- and no other strings of this dunya could hold her back. And this is the women than I want to be. This women who nothing could hold her back once faith entered in her heart. This women would fought such a difficult battle, yet all that mattered was going back to Allah.

Every hardship is a means of elevation. We just need to keep our goal in mind: Jannah. So that even in the most trying days, our homes in Jannah can be our motivation and reuniting with our Rabb can be the driving force to get through even the darkest of storms..

Are you reliant or reluctant?

                We all have heard of the saying “Make dua do your best and leave the rest to Allah (swt).” But this is easier said than done. How many of us really follow this saying?

Tawwakul, reliance on Allah is an outcome that take place when you have yaqeen of certainty. Yaqueen is when you have firm belief, imam in the things that Allah and the Prophets have spoken about. It is things you don’t see. For example Allah is there but we cannot see him and we never saw the Prophet peace be upon him but we know he existed. We cannot see the Angels but we believe they are there.  So once you have yaqueen it will give birth to tawakul reliance on Allah.

 In surah At-Talaq Allah tells us,

“ And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to him, he will make a way for him to get out from every difficulty. And he will provide him from sources he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah swt then he will suffice him” (65:2-3)

In surah Al-Imran verse 159 Allah says to his prophet peace be upon him:

”So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]”

Putting your trust in Allah is the best decision you can ever make for yourself. We all have friends whom we turn to in the need of help or distress. But how many of us have had friends turn their backs on us? Betray us? Hurt us? Or even talk bad about us? We all have been pained in our lives most of the time it is by people. This is why the best aid to go to when in need of ANYTHING is Allah. Every person in your life will let you down, without a doubt, every person.

Allah says in the Quran,

“And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” 50:16

Allah will never leave us. But people will. Allah will never hurt us but people will. We put so much trust and reliance in people, but who was the one that created this people?

Ibn al qayyim may god have mercy on him says “Truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of god. And in it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except with the happiness of knowing god and being true to him and in it there is and emptiness that cannot be filled except with the love for him and turning to him always remembering him. And if a person were given the entire world and what is in it, it would not fill that emptiness. This message is so powerful. For Allah swt has the power to do all he will. And no matter whom we turn to Allah swt is the ONLY one that can ease our pain, give us happiness and bring us out from the dark.

Never lose hope, stay close to Allah and when you mess up go back to him. Never ever stop going back to him. Repent often. Cry to Allah and hold on tight with your life, to his remembrance and inshallah never drown in this ocean of dunya. This world causes us sometimes to forget Allah. The dunya causes us to go astray from the right path and lose hope. Allah’s merciful door is always open for us. It never closes. This is why it is important to have that TRUE reliance on Allah because if you do you will never drown in this dunya,

Sometimes in life things happen to us that we don’t understand. So we loss hope and we stop making dua to Allah and we struggle with our prayers but at the end of our painful journey Allah reminds us in the Quran that perhaps we hate a thing and its good for us; and perhaps we love a thing and is bad for us. And Allah knows while we know not. (2:216). Everything happens because Allah wills It to happen. Sometimes we don’t know the reason but we have to accept it. If we rely on Allah then Allah will make everything easier for us inshallah. Because Allah knows what is best for us

So ask yourself, are you reliant or reluctant?