I'm working on part 2, don't ya worry 'bout it!

"Part 2 for Brothers and Sisters Seeking to get Married" is coming along and you'll get to read it soon, I promise (InshaAllah!!!)

I’ve just been busy each week with Seerah. I tend to read during the week, but write up everything 1 day or on the very day of the Halaqah (I'm a big procrastinator if you don't already know). Oh if any young sister (in high school or university) living in Regina, Saskatchewan is interested in learning the Seerah of the Prophet (a.s.) it’s never to late to join! Just check out the poster below for more info. I should have posted it before, but unfortunately I just realized now.



By the way, aren't you happy spring is here? I sure am! Alhamdulillah, I survived the long bitter-cold winter in Saskatchewan. So no, I didn't turn into a Popsicle. Well, almost but completely :D

After a spring rainfall in Regina

Vote Earth On Saturday March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm is Earth Hour

Rasulullah (s.a.w) said, "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8:41)

It’s that time again! I remember how amazing it was and how good it felt to take part on Earth Hour. I can honestly say that I’ve changed some of my ways since that day. I know many say, “it’s just one hour, how’s that going to help?” It’s all about awareness and then taking action and changing our ways.

As human beings and especially as Muslims we should take part in this. We can do it with the right intentions and InshaAllah we will be rewarded for trying to take action on saving this planet, making a better place to live and worship Allah (swt).

Allah (swt) has created the Heavens and the Earth for us, and we are the vicegerents of this world, so is it not our responsibility to take care of this Earth? Will Allah (swt) not question us on how much food we waste and on how much water we waste everyday? Will He not question us on how we polluted the earth with toxins harming not just ourselves but also all the living creatures that He (swt) has created? Knowing that all of these creatures are in constant dhikr of Allah, the Most High. Just as this body of ours is an Amana (trust) of Allah (swt) and we will be held accountable for how we used it, the same is with this world and all it contains (water, earth, air, wildlife, etc) that Allah (swt) has created for us to use. The earth is like our mother, we came from her and we will return to her.

“God is one, who sends water down from the sky. For you there is a drink and out of it (grow) shrubs in which you let cattle graze freely. There with for you He makes sown fields, olive, palm trees, and all kinds of fruits grow.” (Surah Al-Nahl 16: 10-11)

There are millions of people (many of them Muslims) with no clean water, no food and here we are continuously consuming, and wasting everything we have.

So spread the word, vote earth and turn off your lights for an hour. In that time we can do dhikr of Allah (swt) and spend time with our families talking and reflecting on how we live in this world and what we can do to change it for the better.




Check out these links for more info:

http://www.earthhour.org/home/
Ecology in Islam: Protection of the Web of Life a Duty for Muslims
Islam: Environmental Protection
Islam and Earth Day
Environment In The Eyes Of Islam
AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Islam and the Environment

Part 1 for Brothers and Sisters Seeking to get Married

Part 1 for Brothers and Sisters Seeking to get Married

Just as I promised, my post for people seeking to get married! This is Part 1, because it turned out so long and I know some of you see a long post and just don’t feel like reading it.

Well, I hope inshaAllah that it helps all the seekers out there. This first post is all about making du’a, because it all starts from there. Islamically we can’t date, “There is no courtship in Islam!” as many like to say, so how do you start looking for the right person? You don’t start with looking; you start with asking for the right person. We don’t know our future, who will come into our lives and heck, we don’t even know our very own selves, so why not ask the one who knows everything and all! Of course that’s Allah (swt), our Creator. And SubhanAllah, the beauty of it all is that He (swt) wants us to ask Him, so why not!

“Invoke Him only, making your religion sincere to Him” (Qur’an 7:29).

“And your Lord says, ‘Call on Me. I Will answer you [i.e., your prayer]. Surely those who are too proud to serve Me will enter Hell abased’” (Qur’an 40:60).

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) I am indeed near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls” (Qur’an 21:187)

“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secrecy” (Qur’an 7:55)

“So invoke Allah making your worship pure for Him” (Qur’an 40:14)

Anas bin Malik (r.a) relates that Rasulullah (s.a.w); said, “Du’a is the essence of Ibadah (worship)” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurairah’s narrated that Rasulullah (s.a.w) said; “Anyone who does not invoke Allah, will cause Allah to be angry with him.” (Ahmad)

He also narrated a Hadith in which Rasulullah (s.a.w) said, “There is nothing as venerable in the sight if Allah as du’a” (Tirmidhi)

Ibn Abbas(RA) narrated that Rasulullah (s.a.w) said; “If you ask, ask Allah and if you seek help, seek help from Allah.” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

He (s.a.w) also said, Du’a is a weapon of the believer, a pillar of Islam, and the light of the heavens and the earth” (Mustadrak)

Start making du’a for a good spouse now, even if you’re only 15 years old. I remember when I went for Hajj, my mother explicitly told my sisters and I that we had to make du’a for a good husband, and I was just disgusted. I said something along the lines of, “Ew! A husband? I’m only 15; I’m not getting married right now! That’s gross!” She told me it didn’t necessarily mean now, but it would be for whenever I did get married so that I wouldn’t end up with a bad husband. It made sense so I started making du’a for the perfect husband. Obviously my expectations changed as I got older and what not, but I didn’t stop with the du’as until the very end, and I’m still doing it (For my one and only of course).

So through experience I can guarantee that it works, alhamdulillah! I had a huge list of what I wanted my hubby to be like, I had all the details I could think of (don’t worry, I didn’t go too extreme), and I made sure that whenever I made du’a I would go through the whole list. Call me crazy, but having faith in Allah (swt)’s control of your life, is all you need. Alhamdulillah for me, I got my gift perfectly wrapped and made by Allah (swt), just the way I wanted, mashaAllah. But you know, at the end of the day, if someone did make their du’as and they didn’t get what they wanted, we must remember that Allah (swt) knows us inside out, more then we know ourselves and does things with His infinite wisdom.

Remember to make proper du’as with all its adaab (etiquettes, to read more on the etiquettes of making du’a, click here. You can make detailed du’as like these, “Oh Allah (swt) give me a spouse who is amongst those that you love and favour, who loves You and your Nabi (s.a.w), who will bring me closer to You, who will love me and make me happy for your sake, who will have taqwa especially in matters of our marriage, who has ilm of your deen, who’s family has taqwa, who’s family will accept me as their own, he/she who will me be the coolness of my eyes, who will help me become a better person, who will accept who I am, who is intelligent, humorous, romantic, caring, down to earth,, soft, loves to read, go out, have fun, play sports/games, etc, etc, etc, etc….these are just examples of what you could be asking for. You don’t need to go to extreme details, like asking for a spouse with certain features, hairstyle, etc. Now that would just be crazy.

Another great du’a to always say, married or not,

Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a’yun(iw), wa `j’alna li `l-muttaqina imaman.
Our Lord! Grant us spouses and offspring that wil be the comfort of our eyes, and give us [the grace] to lead the righteous. (Qur’an 25:74)

Here are some du’as I found from Sunnipath.com,

“Some scholars have mentioned that it is good to make the Qur'anic du`a, "Rabbana aatina fi'd dunya hasana wa fi'l aakhirati hasana wa qina `adhab an-nar." [O Lord! Grant us good in this life, and good in the next, and save us from the torment of the Fire] (Qur'an, 2: 200), intending a suitable and righteous spouse with "fi'd dunya hasana" (good in this life).

This is taken from one of the more specific explanations of this verse, as mentioned by major imams of tafsir such as Khazin, though the most general meanings of good are understood to be primarily meant. [see: Hashiyat al-Jamal `ala al-Jalalayn, 1.161] “
“The best of duas are those that are heart-felt. Make dua from your heart, out of neediness and slavehood.”

Also from Sunnipath,

“Aum Alawi (Habib 'Ali's sister) went back home and our hearts feel like a piece is missing. She taught us girls a du'a/dhikr for a good spouse (actually, I'm not sure if it is specifically for a husband or for just a spouse in general, I never asked):

It's the ayah:
Rabbi innee limaa anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeer
136x's everyday
[My lord, I am in absolute need of the good You send me]”

I had also read this du’a but I found it in a book, but I can’t remember from which book…

Performing the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja) also helps! It’s very simple, and you can read about how to perform it and what to read here.

Don’t forget to ask others to make du’a for you also, like your parents. Well, we know our mothers probably started making du’a for us from the moment, if not before we were even born, so that helps!

So what’s next you ask? Part 2! Keep a lookout for it! InshaAllah, it’ll be posted soon.


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Path to Piety April 2009

Every time I see links and emails regarding the events being held in the GTA it makes me really miss home! Path to Piety brings back a lot of good memories and that conference just blew my mind away last year mashaAllah. Unfortunately, I remember the days leading up to the conference with not having high hopes for it, but SubhanAllah it had in every way exceeded everything including all hopes and expectations. MashaAllah.

I had learned so much especially at the workshop, I still have my notes and look through them often. Shaykh Hussain's workshop really changed great aspects in my life since then, Alhamdulillah. So there really is something to look forward too. Take advantage with what you have and are getting oh people of the GTA! I really wish I could be there for it this year, looks very promising but alas, I won't be able to.

So go for it! I mean it’s a great blessing to have such notable scholars close to you for 3 days just teaching Ilm. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain closeness to Allah (swt), to earn His pleasure and bank in on some rewards inshaAllah. To everyone going, please remember me in your du’as while you’re there, also remind my sister to give me a text message so I can call her and listen in to bits of the talks inshaAllah.

good news and bad news

Oh I got some good news and some bad news. Let's start with the bad news, unfortunately I'm not doing Riyadus Saliheen anymore at the halaqah . I decided to stop as I'll be starting a Seerah series for the youth sisters (high school and university) every week. So Riyadus Saliheen is on hold for now on the blog as well. The good however, is that I was thinking I'd post some tips on marriage and tips for those wanting to get married inshaAllah. That should be interesting, no? Yeah, I know some of you would love to read it! I guess I'll start with those wanting to get married then.

So you'll have to check back again for the next update. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's soon, inshaAllah!

A Little About Imam Nawawi (rahmatullah 'alaihi)

Riyad us-Saliheen (the Meadows of the Righteous)

Compiled by Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi (rahmatullah 'alaihi)

Imam Nawawi was a great Shafi’i scholar born in Nawa, a place near Damascas, in the year 631A.H. Just to summarize his youth, a very pious person from Nawa, Shaikh Yasin bin Yousuf Marakashi had noticed him as a boy not playing with children his own age but keeping busy with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. When the children urged him to join them, he refused to join their foolish actions. Shaikh Yasin then saw greatness in young Imam Nawawi and went to his teacher and urged him to take special care of him as he was to become a great Islamic scholar, and one of the most pious figures in the future. The teacher questioned him as to whether he was some sort of a soothsayer or an astrologer. Shaikh Yasin told him he was neither a soothsayer nor and astrologer but Allah (swt) had caused him to utter these words. The teacher relayed this incident to Imam Nawawi’s father and from there, his father made sure that his son would dedicate his life for Ilm and to promote Islam.

Imam Nawawi then went to Damascus to study under great scholars and sacrificing even from his needs like sleep and food for Ilm. During his stay in Damascus alone, he studied under many great scholars (more then 20). Then there were hundreds of students that he taught as well. He had a great desire for learning and was blessed with many gifts and qualities from Allah (swt) like fast memory, depth of thought, concentration, absorption of Ilm, his simplicity of life, piety, teaching, excellent character, etc.

He has written many books on different subjects like, Al-Minhaj fil Sharh Sahih Muslim, Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, Tabaqat Ash-Shafi’iyahm Munaqib0 ush-Shafi’i, and many more.

He died at the age of 45 in the year, 676 A.H.

May Allah (swt)’s Mercy be upon him.

I'm not the best at summarizing but I am trying and inshaAllah by the time I get half way through the book I'll be a pro! I could type out the whole thing at I do at the Halaqah, but that goes from 30-45min so I don't think my blog will stay alive if I try to do that. You all know I'm not as regular with posting anymore so for now summaries it is. Unless that is you want to come all the way to the Prairies and listen to me babble on and on--yeah, I'm not that popular. Make du'a that Allah (swt) helps me with the Halaqahs and the blog summaries.

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Riyadus Saliheen

So it’s been a while since I’v updated, I just can’t make up my mind on what to post about. I came on my blog and I ‘noticed’ that I last posted on January 5^th, that’s when I signed in on to blogger.com. And since I’v been reading/teaching from Riyadus Saliheen (with commentary) on our weekly sister’s halaqah’s I thought I’d share a bit and summarize from each chapter inshaAllah. I’ll start with a short summary of Imam Nawawi’s biography, which I will post later today inshaAllah, I just have to check a few things before I post, so keep checking for updates!

Racial Equality

Racial Equality

Source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) & Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada (CCMT)

Throughout history mankind has always been plagued with problems and arguments based on the principles of social classification. We have always been trying to find a concrete platform on which to base social classification and merit. Many have opted for lineage and some for financial standing to classify people into different brackets. Perhaps the most hurtful and shameless has been the common tendency to classify people on the basis of colour or race with one race being regarded as superior to the other. In essence, the overriding point of the matter is that whatever means of social classification and distinction were derived by man, they lead to nothing but strife, hatred and generations of bitter conflict.

Such tendency towards discrimination was also very prevalent amongst the Arabs in the time of Rasulullah (saw). The blacks were generally regarded as inferior and fit only to be slaves, while social pride and standing based on which tribe or lineage an individual belonged to was something synonymous with the Arabs who very often made such fickle and petty grounds the basis for years of bloodshed and killing.

Islam being the only code of conduct and mode of lifestyle which would enable mankind to exist in perfect harmony and peace has beautifully addressed this burning issue and thus emancipated mankind from the shackles of racial discrimination.

In order to fully understand the Islamic viewpoint on this issue, let us briefly reflect on one or two incidents of the period of Rasulullah (saw). After the conquest of Makkah, Rasulullah (saw) gave Hadhrat Bilal (RA) the singular honour of climbing onto the Kaabah and calling out the Adhaan for the first time. Till Qiyaamat nobody else was ever going to be given the distinction of being allowed to stand on the roof of the Kaabah to call out the Adhaan. The choice of an individual who was black and a former slave for this position of tremendous merit and prestige was like a slap in the face for the disbelievers of Makkah, in whom the fire of racial and class discrimination burned so strongly. It was not surprising that one of them passed the comment, 'I offer thanks to Allah Taãla that my father passed away without having to witness this disgraceful day.' Harith bin Hishaam retorted, 'Could not Muhammad (saw) find anybody else besides this black crow to call out the Adhaan?' Such was the divine rejection of such ignorance that Jibraaeel (AS) was sent to the Prophet (saw) with the following revelation:

'O People! Verily We have created you from a man and woman and we made you into various tribes and creeds for the purpose of mutual recognition (not discrimination and racial pride). Verily the most prestigious and honoured amongst you is he who fears Allah Taãla most. Verily Allah Taãla is all Knowing. All Aware' (Surah 49 : 13)

On that same day, having completed his Tawaaf, Rasulullah (saw) addressed the people saying, 'O People! Allah Taãla has abolished all forms of discrimination based on lineage or creed, etc. There are only two categories and classes of men. A pious and God-fearing individual is honoured in the sight of Allah Taãla while a disobedient and sinful individual is debased and valueless in the sight of Allah Taãla.' Thereafter he recited the abovementioned verse clearly illustrating the Islamic concept that the only basis of distinction and honour is the piety of an individual. (Tirmidhi; Baghawi)

So firmly was this concept entrenched practically into the Sahaaba (RA) that once Rasulullah (saw) overheard Abu Dharr (RA) addressing a black Sahaabi with whom he was arguing as 'O son of a black slave'. He was severely rebuked and reprimanded by Rasulullah (saw) who said to him, 'You are a person in whom the remnants of ignorance still remain.' The lives of Sahaaba are replete with incidents enunciating the beautiful principles and guidelines given by Islam on this matter. In essence, all men have originated from Aadam (AS) who was himself made from sand. Hence, how can these frivolous things ever form the basis of social distinction?

This concept is further supported by the Hadith of Rasulullah (saw), wherein it is reported, 'No Arab holds greater esteem over a non-Arab; nor a Black person over a red person; except on the grounds of the one having greater Taqwa than the other.' (Tirmidhi)

ISLAMIC MEASURES TO OVERCOME DISCRIMINATION

Cooperation and solidarity among humans. Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “Cooperate in (what is) virtue and piety but not in (what is) sin and aggression”. (Al-Ma’idah: 2)

Humility and humbleness. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) upon him says: “Allah has revealed to me (to tell you that) you should humble yourselves until none wrongs none and none takes pride over none”. (Saheeh Muslim)

Mercy and compassion toward humans. The Prophet (pbuh) says: “He who has no mercy on humans, Allah has no mercy on him.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Prohibition of injustice and aggression. Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “And do not commit aggression for Allah loves not the aggressors.”

Prohibition of envy and hatred. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) says: “Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, do not turn your back (in hostility) to each other, do not sever ties between you, and be, o servants of Allah, brothers.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Prohibition of ridicule, contempt, backbiting, and offensive name-calling. Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “O you who believe, let not some men among you laugh at others; it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let some women laugh at others; it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other. Nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames; ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed. And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.” (Al-Hujurat: 11)

Prohibition of arrogance, self-admiration and showing off. Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an: “And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men. Nor walk in insolence through the earth: for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster.” (Luqman: 18)

Source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) & Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada (CCMT)

Casualties rise in Gaza offensive --BBC NEWS

Inside Gaza's al-Shifa hospital

Casualties have been pouring into over-stretched hospitals in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses on with its offensive against Palestinian militant groups...

continue reading here

Propaganda war: trusting what we see? --BBC NEWS

Propaganda war: trusting what we see?

By Paul Reynolds
World affairs correspondent, BBC News website

Israel has tried to take the initiative in the propaganda war over Gaza but, in one important instance, its version has been seriously challenged.

The incident raises the question of how to interpret video taken from the air.

Israel released video of an air attack on 28 December, which appeared to show rockets being loaded onto a truck. The truck and those close to it were then destroyed by a missile.

This was clear evidence, the Israelis said, of how accurate their strikes were and how well justified. A special unit it has set up to coordinate its informational plan put the video onto YouTube as part of its effort to use modern means of communications to get Israel's case across.

The YouTube video has a large caption on it saying "Grad missiles being loaded onto the Hamas vehicle." As of Saturday morning UK time, more than 260,000 people had watched it.

Different version

It turned out, however, that a 55-year-old Gaza resident named Ahmed Sanur, or Samur, claimed that the truck was his and that he and members of his family and his workers were moving oxygen cylinders from his workshop.

This workshop had been damaged when a building next door was bombed by the Israelis and he was afraid of looters, he said.

The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem put Mr Sanur's account on its website, together with a photograph of burned out oxygen cylinders...

continue reading here!

Our New Home!

So here are some more pics of our home now that it's all done. I'll just post the pics and then I'll post a long post sharing more about regina soon inshaAllah.

From T.O, ON to Regina, SK

Well here it is, all the pictures of our drive from Toronto (well actually Malton, people just understand T.O quicker. So no offense to Malton, you are still my home!), Ontario to Regina, Saskatchewan that I promised to upload and share

So as I had posted in a previous post, my husband Shaykh Abdullah, got a position as the Imam for the Masjid in Regina, SK, known as the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan (IAOS). We've been here for exactly a month tomorrow. Alhamdulillah we're settled in and getting used to the place. The people here are just wonderful, especially the Muslim community, MashaAllah. There's over 300 Muslim families here as I been told and the community is really growing mashaAllah. A few families moved in after we did from Ontario, especially from T.O. I just heard on the news that Saskatchewan is No.1 in Canada right now with it's economy, because of it's job opportunities. So I guess this is the place to be right now.

Regina's a pretty nice place, they have a science centre, a museum to a man-made lake. The drivers are much more calm then the drivers in ON that's for sure. You'll always see people jogging outside, especially old folks. There's even a lot more Natives then in T.O. We even have a few Reverts, alhamdulillah. As for the weather here, well you're probably hearing about it in the news. We're getting the cold and icy air from the arctic so it gets from -33 to -44 these days with windchill. Oh and we plug in our cars so the oil doesn't freeze at night, cool huh? (no pun intended).

So yeah there's a bit about Regina. I'll probably be sharing a whole lot more over time. There are a lot of interesting stories and what not to share, but for now I think this is a good introduction. I've placed a slideshow of the pics below. However, if you want to view larger pictures, just click on it and it'll take you to the actual album. From there on the right-hand corner click on "slideshow" for easier viewing. Then there are two short video's I took while we were driving. be warned, I'm no good at video recoding.





Ok, so that's all for now folks, remember me in your du'as and keep checking the blog for more updates inshaAllah!


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Video of while we were driving through Berrie, ON.



Driving through Northern Ontario, very beautiful MashaAllah.

Eid Mubarak!

As salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

Eid Mubarak!!!

Well I was hoping that I’d post before Eid, but I didn’t get to it. I’ll spare you all with my excuses. It’s a happy time and May Allah (swt) bless this ummah of His Beloved Nabi (s.a.w) with the true understanding of sacrifice so that we may become of those with Taqwa and May He (swt) shower us with His infinite blessings, mercy, noor, and love on this very blessed day. Ameen.

InshaAllah I’ll do a post about Regina soon as I get all my pictures sorted out, I can’t wait to post them! There’s a video or two as well. It should be soon, I mean I’ve finally uploaded them and deleted the blurry ones now I have to pick the ones I want to post. Then InshaAllah I’ll get to posting them online. Okay you’re probably thinking, “great, she’s just going to post this in January now…” InshaAllah that won’t happen!! I’ll do it as soon as I can. :D

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I'm Moving!

Okay I know it's been very long since I've posted, but with so many things going on right now I just hardly feel like sitting down and updating, or you can just call it being lazy to update. I would think of random posts to write since the last real post but I could never get down to it. Then today after I decided that I must post, I thought I should put all the thoughts (I actually forgot many of them so just some of them) into points and post in 1 BIG (or medium) blog post!

So here they are, all the updates and random thoughts:

• It's FALL!!!! Oh the horror! I still remember seeing the first brown leaf on our drive way and I pointed at it in distress to my husband, crying (not literally!) about summer ending. Now I'll have to embrace the wind chills and piles of snow, and not just any winter, I'm going to have to get ready for Regina, Saskatchewan's winter! Yup, you just read Regina, and that's were I'm moving too.

• So I guess that's the second point. I'm moving out of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) were I was born, raised, and married to the other side (the western side) of Canada, aka the Prairies. I would have never thought I'd be moving there someday...but here I am packing away all my things and planning our move to Regina inshaAllah, in 2 weeks. My husband got an offer to be the Imam at the Masjid in Regina and he took it after we went to see it, talked about it with our families and finally doing istikharah. So lot's of du'as needed! We'll be moving on Nov., 16 inshaAllah. It's exciting and sad at the same time, and sometimes one of them is more then the other...I'm pretty sure you can guess which one, please remember us in your du'as!

• The conservatives are in Parliament again. yippy! (in a very sarcastic tone) The liberals are a disgrace, and I never liked Dion from the start. They seriously need to step up and to go over what it means to be Liberal and not the babbling group of opposition in Parliament. Someone like Trudeau is needed to be the head of the Liberals.
  
• I wonder (as does the rest of the world, since it effects us all) who will be the head in the white house...

• Tina Fey is just too good, and I just don't like Palin, she's the wrong chess move that McCain made. So far that move isn't helping him, I guess we'll see for sure tomorrow.

• I played Nintendo Wii yesterday at my sis-in-law's with my husband. All I can say is, it's too much fun! :D

• Man, the GTA is becoming so dangerous now. From shootings and stabbings to all the schools (including the elementary schools that I went too) in my hometown going in lock down just a while ago. It's crazy! May Allah (swt) protect us from all harms and evils around us! I mean just a few years ago, you would hardly hear about murders and gun violence on the news. Unfortunately now, it's an everyday thing. It's all to do with the drugs, the guns (coming from the border...), the weak justice system and the weak education system here.

• I just stopped teaching at Lote Tree on Thursday and we had a little party with my class. Oh, I'm really going to miss them all, teaching them was definitely a pleasure, alhamdulillah. They were really good kids mashaAllah.

• My poor ipod stopped working, I don't know why, but I miss playing it while I'm in the kitchen. It was the first most expensive thing I bought with my own money about 3 yrs ago. It works when I connect it to the computer but otherwise it just doesn't work! :(
  

So now I'm running out of things to write, so I'll just stop here. I'll update again, at least once or twice before I leave InshaAllah.

A small bunch of flowers that one of my students gave me last week.

Collin Powell Endorses Obama

Collin Powell Endorses Obama

watch the video here on msnbc!!!




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The Night Preceding Eid ul Fitr

A girl prays at Al-Wehadat Palestinian refugee camp on the last day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Amman September 29, 2008.REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN)

I can't believe Ramadhan is almost and practically over! It just flew by! No, it actually zoomed by! It's just so sad... May Allah (swt) accept all our acts of worship and all our du'as, May He (swt) forgive our never-ending sins, save us from His punishments and enter us into Jannatul Firdaws.

So Eid Mubarak to those celebrating Eid tomorrow...yeah, it's just wierd knowing that after reading that it's going to be impossible to see the moon today but there's a small possibility of seeing it in the Ploynesian Islands (Moonsighting.com) And there's Isna who announced Oct. 1st to be Eid... we'll just be following the Sunnah and wait for the news tomorrow evening (T.O Hilal committee and Cresent Watch)

Ahh! I have soooo much left too do!


Remember me in your du'as all!

The Night Preceding Eid ul Fitr

It has been the practice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that he would not sleep in the night preceding the day of Eidul-fitr. This night has been named in a Hadith “Lailatul Jazaa” - the night of reward.

It means Allah bestows his rewards to those who have spent the month of Ramadan abiding by the dictates of Shari’ah, and all their prayers in this night are accepted. Therefore, it is desirable to perform nafl prayers in this night.

The Propet (PBUH) is reported to have said: “Who ever stands in worship in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his heart will not die when the other hearts will die. (Ibn Majah)

To benefit from this opportunity, one should perform as much worship in this night as he can, and should pray for all his needs and desires.

Source: Mufti Taqi Usmani

Labbayk, Rhymes of Praises

I've been meaning to share this new nasheed album that's been out in the UK for a while now. I haven't gotten it as of yet, but I do plan too inshaAllah.

The group is called Labbayk, and their new album is called Rhymes of Praise. MashaAllah it has no instruments and no duff, just voice! (You know how much I prefer that, and there's not too many options out there with voice-only nasheeds)

So alhamdulillah and mashaAllah they sound great and their words are beautiful too (from whatever I've heard in the samples). So here's 2 of teh videos that are out, and the link to their site.

Rhymes of Praises

Muslim Aid Ramadan Nasheed by Mujahid ul-Haq (ft. Labbayk)
by mazi2u

Church makes Ramadan fast meals

Church makes Ramadan fast meals --BBC


A Christian church in the Indonesia city of Solo is providing meals for fasting Muslims during Ramadan in the hope it will help build community relations.
Watch video report here.


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Make the Most of the Last Ten Days

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims circle the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque during night prayers in the Muslim month of Ramadan in Mecca September 19, 2008

Please remember me, this very sinful sister, in your du'as (and my husband requested du'as as well!), and please forgive me if I've wronged anyone in anyway intentionally or unintentionally.

May Allah (swt) help us take advantage of these last 10 days of Ramadhan, accepting all our worship (small to big) and all our du'as. May He(swt) forgive our sins, save us from His anger, from the fitnas of Shaytan, fitnas of Dajjal, from the love of this dunya, from the diseases of the heart, from all the evil that which is in this dunya, from the punishments of the grave, from the torments of the Day of Judgment and from the fire of hell.

May Allah (swt) through His infinite Mercy and Grace, purify our hearts, minds, souls and nafs, filling it with His Noor and love for Him (swt) and His Rasul (s.a.w) only. May Allah (swt) give us success in both worlds and make us and raise us amongst those that He (swt) loves and favours. May Allah (swt) forgive those that have died and fill their graves with His Noor, mercy and blessings. May Allah (swt) forgive, give sabr, and grant ease to all those believers in hardship and sickness. May the Most Just (swt), help oppressed, give them sabr and give justice to those who know no justice.

We are the ummah of Allah (swt)'s beloved Nabi, Sayyidinah Rasulullah (s.a.w), and today we are drowning in our own sins and in the love of this dunya. We've become deluded to the extent that we take, see, practice, and preach from this deen only we want. Our ignorance and arrogance have made us blind and deluded from the true way of Islam.

Allah (swt) says, "It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day. For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allah. Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves. But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, and they will find besides Him no protector." (13:10-11)

Allah (swt), the Most Merciful has given us the Night of Power for a reason, and we all know quite well what that reason is. So lets take advantage of these last 10 days and so that we may purify ourselves and become closer to Him (swt).

Make the Most of the Last Ten Days
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN), www.jamiat.org.za

Greater Than a Thousand Months

"Most certainly We have revealed it in the Night of Power; And what will inform you what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is greater than a thousan

d months; The angels and Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) descend in it with the permission of your Lord with all decrees; Peace prevails till the rising of dawn." (Surah Qadr)

The Night of Power is indeed unique in every sense. Most befittingly it has been afforded exclusively to the Ummat of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), which is in itself unique from all previous Ummats (nations). The magnanimous rewards and benefits of this auspicious night also dictate that its occurrence remains partially disclosed. Allah Ta’ala alone knows the true date of Laylatul Qadr and those wanting to earn this night have to vigilantly search for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.

The person who finds this night and observes it appropriately earns himself a great fortune, a fortune that will only be realised and appreciated in the hereafter. It has been the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Sahaba (radiyallahu anhum), Mashaikh, Ulama and generations of Muslims too observe I’tikaaf (seclusion) in the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadaan in search of this auspicious night.

Ubada bin Saamit (radiyallahu anhu) reports that he asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) about "Laylatul Qadr". Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: "It is in Ramadaan, during the last ten days, on the unevenly numbered nights, either the 21st 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th or the last night of Ramadaan. Whosoever stands in 'Ibadah' (worship) on this night, with sincere faith and conviction of gaining reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Among the signs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet, shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clear, and no meteors are shot at the 'Shayateen' on that night; it lasts until the break of dawn. Another sign is that in the morning, the sun rises without any radiant beams of light, appearing rather like the moon in its fullness. On that day, Allah Ta’ala prohibits the 'Shayateen' from rising up with the sun." (Fazaail A’maal)

May Allah Ta’ala grant us all this auspicious night.

I'tikaaf in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan

The observation of I’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadaan was a practice which Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) observed assiduously throughout his life in Madinah Munawwarah. The devotion that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) attached to this beautiful Sunnah can be understood by the fact that on one occasion when he was unable to observe I’tikaaf, due to being out on an expedition, he observed twenty days I’tikaaf the following year.

The spiritual benefits that are attained from this wonderful Sunnah are innumerable. Who can possibly describe the spiritual ecstasy experienced from communicating in solitude with Allah Ta’ala, while one is a guest in the Masjid with the Malaaikah (angels) as his companions.

Undisturbed seclusion in the Masjid is indeed an excellent way to exclusively engage oneself in personal communication with Allah Ta’ala. Away from the comfort of the home, family members and daily work routine, I’tikaaf enhances one’s proximity to Allah Ta’ala and secures the internal and external purification of the Mu’takif .

Remember! Such precious moments come but once a year - and who can guarantee being present for the next Ramadaan.

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhuma ) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said; "Whosoever performs I’tikaaf for a day thereby seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala will open three trenches between him and the fire of hell, the width of each (trench) being the distance between the heaven and the earth." (Tabraani)

The Ulama, considering the importance attached by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to this noble practice, have ruled it necessary that this Sunnah be observed by at least one member of every locality. Failure to do so will result in the entire locality being guilty of neglecting this great Sunnah.

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Ramadan Reruns- Ummah Films

Just an old reminder video by Baba Ali about Ramadhan, enjoy!





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