Just Believe

As salaamu alaikum

Just Believe

Always put your trust in Allah
When He pushes you to the edge
Of the cliff
One of two things will happen
Either
He will catch you
Or
He will teach you to fly

-Anonymous
----------------------------------
When we undergo any kind of hardship we should first and foremost put our trust in Allah and understand the situation at hand to be from Him. We should believe in the Power of Allah and know that He is the Best of Planners. The Prophet (S) said, "The Believer is not tried by fatigue nor illness nor anxiety nor difficulty nor harm nor distress - not even by a thorn that pricks them except Allah Most High erases some sins with it." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Allah mentions in the Quran, "On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear..." (2: 286)

So next time you're feeling down or feel as if you'll tumble over soon or even feel pressure, stress and tension build up in you... remember to just believe. And if you're intentions are sincere and true, know that even if everyone else turns away Allah will always be there to catch you or teach you to fly - for He is with those who are patient. (2:153)

-believeress

Cricket World Cup

As salaamu alaikum

Cricket World Cup
Source: Moulana Imraan Khamissa - Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) South Africa
http://www.jucanada.org/cricket.htm

It's that time again when people are glued to their transistors and T.V. screens, carefully following the cricket World Cup.

Has it ever occurred to you that the game of cricket can be compared to our lives in this world. Let me tell you why.

In the game of cricket the batsmen will do his utmost to protect his wicket from the ball delivered by the bowler. In a similar manner man, in the game of life, must do his utmost to protect his Imaan, from the attack of bowler Shaytaan, who has promised Allah that he will concentrate his efforts in bow1ing down your Imaan. The Quran in Surah ‘Araaf (Surah 7 Verse 17) bears testimony to this “Then I will approach them (mankind) from before them and from behind them, from their right and from
their left”

In cricket the bowler varies his pace, length and type of delivery in order to beat the batsman. Bowler Shaytaan also does the same:

Ball number one may come in the form of making you neglect Salaah.
Ball number two may be an instigation towards becoming vulgar and abusive.
Ball number three may be a suggestion to cheat and be fraudulent.
Ball number four may be an impulse to disobey ones parents.
Ball number five may be temptation towards Zina.
Ball number six may be a real googly -just when you feel that you’re treading the right path, Shaytaan inspires you with righteous pride and contempt for those you perceive as being less pious.

The batsman needs to deflect and strike Shaytaan with the bat of Islam. And like the cricket batsman you need to be alert and quick on your feet.

Like the World Cup, man is playing a match of limited overs. You just don’t know how many overs you are going to last, whether you will be run out or what will be the last ball that you will face. Once you’re out, you’re out.

The only runs that count are those that you make during the game, no matter how well you play after your innings. it does not change your score. After death man’s plight is the same, man will plead to Allah to send him back to the game of life:

“O my Lord send me back that I may do a good deed” (Surah 23 Verse 98-99)

During the game the batsman is safe only when he is positioned in his crease. So too is a Muslim safe when he is positioned within the Shariah.

Remember, the game of life has no second innings.

The Virtues of Learning [Knowledge]

as salamu alaykum,

Last post before I go back to Madresah (I’ll be back in a few weeks for a wedding in April…time sure does fly). My sister will probably post while I’m away, so don’t be confused when she posts (as believeress) on the blog. I’ve been meaning to post this poem for a long time now, alhamdulillah I finally got down to it.

Imam Burhan al-Din recited:

“Behold! Learning occupies the highest rank, while inferior to it is the grandeur of the greatest in a princely procession.

For the man of learning, his splendor continues to multiply, while the ignorant man just merely below the ground after his death.

No one who ascends the ladder of empire and the generalship can hope for the heights [of the learned].

I shall dictate to you some of the things of which [knowledge] consists. So listen! It is not possible for me to relate all the virtues of learning.

[Knowledge] is the most perfect light which guides people away from blindness, while the ignorant man passes his life in dark shades.

[Knowledge] is the summit of heights which protects one who seeks refuge in it; and by its auspices does one go along with security.

Through [knowledge], one is taken into [divine] confidence, while [ordinary] men live in their heedless.

Through [knowledge], one has hope [for eternal life] even while the soul remains locked within the breast [while still alive].

Through [knowledge], man intercedes for the one who, out of rebellion [against God], descends to the very bottom of Hell, the most terrible of punishments.

So he who aspires to learn, aspires to all necessary things. And he who possesses it, possesses all those things that are worthy of quest.

This is the honor of honors, O man of intelligence! So when you have won it, make light of the [worldly] honors.

For if the world seems to escape you, as well as its pleasures, then blink your eyes at them, for knowledge is the best of gifts.”

Taken from, Ta’lim al-Muta’allim Tariq al-Ta’allum by Imam al-Zarnuji
Instruction of the Student --The Method of Learning
Original Translation by G.E. Von Grunebaum and Theodora M. Abel

Walk on Water

Walk on Water
The Wisdom of Jesus
Hamza Yusuf

The following sayings of Jesus, peace be upon him, from traditional Arabic sources are excerpted from Walk on Water, a forthcoming book by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf:

Once Jesus (alayhi salam) met IblÏs [Satan] and IblÏs

said, “Is it not true that only what has been

decreed will happen?”

Jesus replied, “That is true.”

Then IblÏs said, “So throw yourself down

from the top of this mountain, and let us

see if you live or not!”

Jesus answered, “The servant does not

test his master; rather, it is the master who

tests his servant.”

(Abu Naim)

---

Jesus, the son of Mary, (alayhis salam) said, “God has

given me the power to give life to the dead,

sight to the blind, sound to the deaf; but

He did not give me the power to heal the

fool of his foolishness.”

(a l -Razi )

---

Jesus (alayhis salam) said, “You will never obtain what

you desire except through patience with

what you despise.”

(a l - Ghazzali)

---

Once someone asked Jesus (alayhis salam), “How are

you able to walk on water?”

Jesus replied, “With certainty.”

Then someone said, “But we also have

certainty!”

Jesus then asked them, “Are stone, clay,

and gold equal in your eyes?”

They replied, “Certainly not!”

Jesus responded, “They are in mine.”

(Ahmad)

---

To read entire article click here.

Remembrance of Allah (swt) and His Noor

A very short and tiny summary of 2 lectures (I listened to both one after another) I heard by Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera (Nur of Allah and The Darkness of Kufr & True Contentment Only though His Remembrance). I heard it some time ago and since it's beneficial knowledge, I'd like to share it with you. May Allah (swt) forgive me if I made any errors.


When one is away from the remembrance of Allah (swt), whether it may be in the form of Salah, Recitation of the Qur’an, dhikr, etc it causes the heart to become hard. It blocks away the Mercy, Light and Guidance (Rahma, Noor wal-Hidaya) that comes from Allah (swt) alone. The person will then dwell deeper and deeper in darkness until they can no longer see their surroundings. They will become deluded, depressed, sucked into the life of this Dunya and what it holds. The right path (Siratul Mustaqim) will become unclear the haram will be seen as halal and the halal as haram.

The soul will be in turmoil, and there will be no contentment of the heart, the core of man. The heart will yearn for the Mercy of Allah (swt) and for Hidaya and it will thirst for His Noor. True contentment and purification of the heart will only come from the remembrance of Allah (swt). And it is only by the will of Allah (swt) that He places His Noor on who’s ever heart He (swt) desires. When the heart is filled with the Light of Allah (swt), then success is his in this world and with certainty in the Hereafter. May Allah (swt) guide us all and place His Rahma and Noor in our hearts, so that we may be amongst those that He (swt) is pleased with. Ameen

Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever). {2:257}


With it Allah guides him who will follow His pleasure into the ways of safety and brings them out of utter darkness into light by His will and guides them to the right path. {5:16}


Then as for those who believe in Allah and hold fast by Him, He will cause them to enter into His mercy and grace and guide them to Himself on a right path. {4:175}


Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men, by their Lord's permission from utter darkness into light-- to the way of the Mighty, the Praised One, {14:1}


Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things. {24:35}


(This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do offer praise to Him at morn and evening. {24:36}


Or like utter darkness in the deep sea: there covers it a wave above which is another wave, above which is a cloud, (layers of) utter darkness one above another; when he holds out his hand, he is almost unable to see it; and to whomsoever Allah does not give light, he has no light. {24:40}


O ye that believe! Fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy: He will provide for you a Light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. {57:28}


On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said:

Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.

It was related by al-Bukhari.

Exams are OVER! And I'm BACK!

Exams are OVER!

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, the exams went well. The whole week was extremely stressful and depressing. I mean we started studying way before the actual exams but when it came to the day before the exam I felt like I still needed to start from the beginning and memorize everything I can. We were going through what I like to call, The Pre Madresah-Exam Study Syndrome.

Its symptoms include:

…coming soon :evil grin:

Well Aishah’s planning to make a separate blog for JAS, where all the crazy and remarkable things we do will be put up, so you can read about the symptoms there InshaAllah.

Okay these exams where LONG and it just felt good in one way to get them over with but then you had to keep thinking about how you might have done. The written exams were not so hard and the oral exams were just nerve wracking.

So Alhamdulillah I did really, really well, InshaAllah next semester I plan to do even better, especially in Nahw. Surprisingly this time I did quite well in Nahw, better then I thought I would anyways. And in Arabic, when Ml. Nazim made the girls show me my mark, my eyes literally became teary because I was so afraid to look at the paper. And there were about 10 girls on my bed shoving it in my face, while I covered my face with my nahw book, then all I hear is, “It’s above 90!!!!” so out of shock I move the book and I see it. SubhanAllah I was shocked. The exam wasn’t hard, just very long (I started at 2:15 pm and finished after Maghrib - around 6 something) and I tend to make ridiculous mistakes. So I don’t know if I should post up my marks, I’m too shy about it…maybe when we get our final last semester results I’ll post both up, InshaAllah. lol Aishah was planning to post up her report card, so you can see hers, she did really, really good MashaAllah.

There are some seriously intelligent girls in our Madresah, I mean seriously intelligent. Hah! I can imagine next semester, girls will be trying harder and doing even better for competition, InshaAllah.

In 6 months I’ve learnt so much, it’s just mind-boggling. I showed my sisters my books (and the awesome looking report card) and what we had on the exam, and they were shocked. MashAllah in 6 months Jamia Aishah Siddiqah came a long way. Make du’a for this place everyone.

Also, May Allah (swt) bless all my teachers Ml. Nazim, Sawdah apa and Mufti Adam with Jannatul Firdaws and raise them all amongst the Ulema, the Ambiyya , the Shuhada, the Saliheen and the Saubireen. Ameen. They had mercy on us while marking and taking our exams. Ml. Nazim and Sawdah apa worked real hard teaching us, being with us and striving along with us at Jamia Aishiah Siddiqah, May Allah (swt) reward them well and make them successful in this world and in the hereafter. Ameen

I keep thinking in my head “Exams, Exams…. those over, but the worldly one is still on.” May Allah (swt) make us successful at the end of our journey, so that our eternal home in the hereafter will be Jannah al-Firdaws. Ameen

JazakAllahu Khair everyone for the du’as (for the exams), I really appreciate it. I’m sure one of your du’as got accepted. :)

Also I’ve noticed some of you don’t know that there are 2 bloggers on this blog. One is myself, the soul-owner and the other is one of my sisters (known as BELIEVERESS) who posts when I’m at Madresah. As far as can see, she’s doing a good job of it, MashaAllah.

Coming back after a month to a new house, which doesn’t feel like home, feels really strange. I come back, and decide to leave my clothes in my bags since I’ll be going back in a week, no point in fixing my room. Oh My Allah (swt) my computer is NOT in my room but in my sister’s!!!! That just killed me. And it’s not my sister’s fault…I still have to figure out who’s it was…but seriously this computer is the ONLY thing I miss (other then my mum’s food) when I’m at Madresah. Don’t worry, it’s not like I dream, drool and depress over the computer and food it’s just that I like to come “home” and sit on the computer which I’ve taken so much care of since we bought it, :sigh:

But I’ve been telling myself that all things happen for a reason, Allah (swt) has His own plans, and so I’m not going to cry about it. And since I’m hardly ever home I guess it doesn’t really make a difference, my sis will just have to deal with me when I get home to do research and surf the web. This new house doesn’t feel like “home” yet, so until or if it ever will, Madresah (JAS) is my real home for now. I just love that place, SubhanAllah.

Well I ‘ll post later on then, got loads to unpack and clean around the house (the previous owners have no idea what CLEANLINESS is!!!!!!! I don't think they're human...) and InshaAllah I’ll get started on some paintings too, I thought of some really good ideas at Madresah and I can’t wait to get started.

Take care all and JazakAllahu Khair for still visiting the blog. :)

As salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

P.S. I have soo much to share…soon though InshaAllah, soon.

Moving

As salaamu alaikum

JazakAllahu Khair to those who commented on the previous posts. I’ve been really busy the past couple of days so I couldn’t reply, but I’ll try to soon InshaAllah :).

I was actually busy because we were moving. And boy was that hectic! We had tons and tons of boxes everywhere because we simply had so many things. This was in fact my first moving experience…and I’d like for it to stay that way for a while. It took such a long time to clean the house before we brought anything in. The place was left extremely dirty but Alhamdulillah we had amazing help cleaning it all (may Allah reward them), and it looks great now MashaAllah. After we cleaned up, it became filled with boxes, so it took even longer to sort things out…some of which is still packed and stacked in closets (mine of course).

Coming to the main point, after I had time to sit and take a breather I remembered a Hadith of Rasulullah (S)...

On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, radiyallahu 'anhuma, who said: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, took me by the shoulder and said:

"Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler/wayfarer."
Ibn 'Umar used to say:
"When evening comes, do not expect (to live till) morning, and when morning comes, do not expect (to live till) evening. Take from your health (a preparation) for your illness, and from your life for your death."

[Al-Bukhari]

I sat and thought about what just happened: how we moved and what we brought with us. And it struck me that we were nowhere near living like how we should be, or how the best example told us live like. And honestly, how many of us really do? If you were to move somewhere right now, what would you take with you? Be honest, this is just a reminder and thought for yourself. Are we practicing what we should be? “Be in this world as though you were a traveler.” The boxes and boxes we move with may be needed by us for petty issues, but they are not necessary for survival in this Dunya. Sure we need our beds and mattresses and pillows and about a hundred other things, but what’s stopping us from living as simply as we could? Why is it so hard for us to sacrifice those little things we may never even look at again? One answer could be that we’re too attached to the Dunya…and that’s not a good thing.

This was more of a reflection for myself, but I thought I’d share it, so take it as just a little something to think about.

May Allah (swt) give us all the ability to live a simple life showered with His Mercy. And may He forgive us all for our shortcomings in the Deen.

Ameen.

Du'as Requested...

As salaamu alaikum

Sumaiya wanted me to ask you all to remember her in your du'as...she's having her exams this week and would really appreciate them.

JazakAllahu Khair :)

Wa alaikum salaam