Passed the Half Way Mark

Now this picture is from Regina...spring is finally here!

Alhamdulillah.

I'm 22 weeks and therefore more then halfway through my pregnancy. I was supposed to post at 20 weeks but that was the week of my ultrasound and I wanted to make sure everything was just perfect. Alhamdulillah it was. Seeing our baby moving around, cuddling against the placenta, stretching it's hands and kicking it's legs (in 3D!) was just overwhelmingly amazing and awesome, subhanAllah. The radiology place here that does ultrasounds also show in 3D and I'm so glad that they do, you get to see the details more clearly then the normal black and white images. The woman who was doing the ultrasound was super nice, showed us all the vital organs and gave us lots of pics to take home. I had to obviously wait for the report to go to my doctor and finally get her say on the health of the baby...that felt like ages. Soon as I knew that it was all good alhamdulillah, it was such a relief.

I just started my 6th month now, so that means I have like 4 months to go inshaAllah! All the mothers were telling me how fast it will go and to make the most of it. Well, it sure went fast! I feel like it was just a while ago that I found out I was expecting...subhanAllah. Now time's flying even faster with the summer just around the corner, our masjid activities getting busier and our evening madresah coming to a close for the year. Wow, I feel like there's so much still to do. Soon I'll be in TO inshaAllah for a little visit then there will be just a few weeks till Ramadhan and then the due date will be unbelievably closer!!! Then inshaAllah our family of two will be three...oh I can't wait!

So besides all that, the spring (and almost summer) weather feels great. Seeing everything turn green just makes you feel better from the inside, subhanAllah. It's all so dead looking in the winter and then Allah (subhanahu wa ta'alaa) brings the world around you back to life in the most beautiful way that there is no way one can deny His existence. I just love being able to open the windows, hear the birds, and feel the warm breezes. Now we just have to wait for the actual summer then the fun begins inshaAllah! BBQs, freezes, watermelon, popsicles, ice cream, home-made kulfi, pani puri (ok that's just a majorly big craving that I'm having), lying in the hammock (when we go to TO), getting wet by someone waving the water hose around, going to parks, etc, etc, etc are things I just love doing in the summer and InshaAllah I'll be able to do ALL and more when I go to TO this summer! Then next summer we can introduce it all to our baby inshaAllah...can't wait for that and many more years after that inshaAllah.

Please, please continue to remember us in your humble du'as, du'a is quite the powerful tool for the believers, subhanAllah.

Almost Half Way!!!

Unfortunately not it Regina yet...the buds on the trees are just starting to show

Well right now I'm 19 weeks Alhamdulillah! I'll be 20 weeks next week inshaAllah, so until then
PLEASE, PLEASE remember us in your du'as!! My next post will be then since it's the middle point (approx) of my pregnancy and it just makes more sense to do a nice long post then inshaAllah.

But please remember us in your du'as as much as you can!!

Time Sure Flies!

Wow SubhanAllah I feel like the last post I did wasn't so long ago and I was only 14 weeks then, now I'm 17! Time is really flying now... I remember in the earlier stages I was hoping for the weeks to go faster and now it seems like it is. I know that always happens to me around April every year, time seems to move so fast for some reason. Next thing you know it'll be June (and it'll be warmer)!

I've been reading up about the progress, went for a check-up a while ago & everything seems to be going well ALHAMDULILLAH. Just waiting for the next appointment so I can hear the baby's heartbeat again, it's such an amazing feeling that no words can describe it other then I guess, subhanaAllah. I always get a sense of relief and comfort hearing it and even more so when the doctor smiles and tells me the baby's doing great alhamdulillah. That just reminds me how much I love my doc- she's just awesome mashaAllah! May Allah (swt) reward her and bless her and her family with great success in both worlds!

I thought I would call her up everyday and bug her about every little thing that goes on, but alhamdulillah for the internet! Soon as I start feeling/experiencing something different I get the weekly progress of the baby in my inbox telling me it's a normal symptom. Then sometimes even before something new starts happening, I get an email telling me about it. Like, for this week I "might start snoring" which should be interesting if I do but I'm hoping I don't! These sites are so helpful and full of so much information for new mothers like me who would otherwise panic about everything. It's also great for fathers because some sites have special weekly info for dads only, and I know my husband likes it.

Other then that, we're just waiting for some signs of spring here in Regina. Well, at least the snow's 98% gone...unless tonight's 'flurries' decide to stick to the ground which would be very depressing indeed. Can't wait till the weather gets better and things start looking green and bright again...inshaAllah it's soon :)

It's Finally Here! Earth Hour 2010!

Like I've said many times before about Earth Hour, it seems small and fruitless, but it really isn't. It's about raising awareness and doing something that may seem useless to some but is actually the first step of action on a larger scale for many. I know for myself, it's done quite a bit and it has allowed me to really open my eyes to what's happening to this beautiful world of ours. As Muslims especially, we were supposed to do this a real long time ago.

It's a duty of ours as vicegerents on this world to protect and save the environment that we live in. We all know it's against Islam to waste all the resources that we have been blessed with. Whether it's water, food, electricity, money, etc we will be questioned by our Creator for all that we've used, consumed and wasted. The Scholars say that to show gratitude to Allah (swt) for His blessings is not just by saying shukr, but it is by using those blessings in the correct manner and not wasting it.

Turning off our lights for one hour today isn't what we as Muslims or even as human beings should only be doing, or doing it just for fun. Rather, it's the first step to taking more action to do what we should have been doing ages ago. InshaAllah with the right intention this will be a great means of reward for us and a time to reflect on our role as khalifahs (vicegerents). It can be a time of doing shukr to Allah (swt), reflecting on His marvelous creation, and even spending some quality time with our families.

Members of our families are sometimes too busy either watching T.V, sitting on the computer, cooking in the kitchen and being on the phone (texting included) with someone these days that they consider doing all that under one roof to be as spending time 'together'. Come on, we can do better then that and it can start today!

So let's get our candles out everyone!

Alhamdulillah- The 1st Trimester Over

Alhamdulillah I’m done my 1st trimester! Just knowing that is so exciting =D. Also, my nausea is starting to fade away (Alhamdulillah to that one!!) and I think I’m starting to finally show now. Well, it’s not much really but it’s something like a little bump! You know, even through all the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy I still secretly enjoy them in a way...ok that may not make sense. Let me give you an example. Initially, I never felt the slightest bit of nausea, so I worried about it secretly then once I started too, it was like a relief! lol it sounds crazy but after I read that having nausea is something normal and actually good for the baby because of the hormonal changes that are happening in order to protect the baby, I thought, ‘Oh no!’ So, you can understand that when I did start feeling it in the mornings it was a sucky feeling but definitely a big relief!

There are still so many things going on right now, some symptoms are going away some increasing and some new ones! I guess it’s because this is where the baby really starts growing. The uterus expands, baby gets more meat on, ooh and I’ll start to feel some movement in a few weeks inshaAllah! Also, next month should be around the time when the ruh will be blown into the baby soo that will be something.. I heard that when that happens the baby will give a big kick to let its moma know that it’s alive now. Hmmm I’ll have to wait and see but it would be incredible to feel that and know that the ruh was just blown into the baby while it being inside of me!! SubhanAllah again.

Soon it will also be able to hear and react to sounds, I tried researching to find out when babies in the womb can actually start hearing but I got mixed information. Some say 20 weeks and some say from 15 weeks but basically scientists are not exactly sure when they are able to hear and also be able to remember those sounds. It’s just something I’m really curious about because as Muslims we’re encouraged to recite Qur’an and do dhikr as often as possible but it’s even more essential to do so during pregnancy. If today there is research proving to some extent that sounds that that baby hears in the womb actually do affect the baby and it’s development, it’s something to really think about. They suggest playing classical music like Mozart but what is the best sound in the world? It’s the recitation of the Words of Allah (swt), our Creator. Nothing can beat that now can it? SubhanAllah.

I think that’s enough for now, I’m still reading up on what happens at 14 weeks and generally what to expect in the 2nd trimester inshaAllah. With that said, please continue to remember my family and I in your du’as!

made of earth

Allah Almighty says:

“And verily we did create man from a product of (chosen) clay. Thereafter we placed him (as a drop of sperm) in a place of rest, firmly fixed. Then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood. Then of that clot we made a (foetus) lump. Then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then we developed out of it another creature (by breathing life into it). So Blessed be Allah, the Best of all creators” (Surah al-Mu’minoon 23: 12-14).

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:

“The seed of one of you remains in the womb of the mother for forty days in the form of a Nutfa (sperm). Then it remains like a clot for another forty days, and then for a same number of days like a lump of flesh (when the formation of the limbs and the growth of the bones begin) (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

Reading these and knowing that it's happened/happening/will happen inside myself is beyond explanation. SubhanAllah. Just reading about the changes that my body is experiencing and how the baby is developing makes the entire experience of pregnancy so exciting to learn about and I just can't believe it's happening!! More then anything though, it just puts so much awe in the heart and mind for our Creator, Allah the Almighty and Glorious. SubhanAllah, it's so amazing and beyond anything man can ever create. At random times I just stop and think about how there's life growing inside me and it's so overwhelming, it's unbelievable! Allah (swt) is indeed 'Ahsanul Khaliqeen', the Best of all creators.

So finding out in January was one of the biggest joys of my life and for my husband as well. For us to go through this together is such a blessing in every way possible, alhamdulillah and mashaAllah. Our families are obviously thrilled, especially my family because I'm the eldest and therefore the first having a baby. My sisters are already planning on doing every type of spoiling they possibly can...so to my dear sisters, there will be rules laid down :p haha

I've nearly finished my first trimester and I can say that having nausea all day is definitely not fun. It's like having the stomach flu everyday! Oh and feeling very tired is an understatement, the tired feeling is like you've haven't slept for days and days and all you want to do is sleep more and more. These are just 2 of the symptoms of early pregnancy, 2 of very many I must add. But alhamdulillah it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it went much better then I expected! Like they say, every pregnancy if different.

Anyways I'm starting to get some heart burn (another perk of pregnancy!) so I'll end it here for now. I just want to ask for everyone's du'as that Allah (swt) protects the baby and keeps it and myself healthy throughout this whole process inshaAllah. And that the child be born healthy, strong, beautiful physically, mentally and spiritually with Iman and Taqwa making him/her a salih child inshaAllah!

I know, I know..but I have some good NEWS

Okay, I said I was going to be posting more this year and now it's March and there hasn't been any postings. Hehe can I be forgiven? I have a perfectly good excuse though! It's because of it I've been sort of unable to sit and make posts for the blog but now I'm at the stage where I think I can be up to it again. I missed the blog a lot and I miss posting too.

So what's the big excuse then? Actually, before we get to that, let me say that I wasn't going to say it on this blog. I was thinking of making another blog for it. But then I thought of the name of the blog and I realized, hey, this is the blog to talk about it! I'm sure you've guessed it by now :)

If you haven't, I'll let you keep guessing!

Now I'm super excited to blog about this whole new experience (Alhamdulillah, MashaAllah) and all the ups and downs that go with it inshaAllah. Don't worry, I'll still post other things and I still haven't forgotten about the Marriage Series ;) I know people are still waiting for the 3rd part in that one.

Any guesses??

I'll wait for someone to comment and then I'll begin the posting inshaAllah!

Take care for now, and remember me in your du'as!

A New Year Brings New Promises!

So after going to Toronto again, my life here just gets more busy! Alhamdulillah I had the opportunity to attend the RIS conference this year and it went pretty well I think. Although I wouldn’t say it was of one of the best ones that they’ve had, but it was still fun.

Well besides that, I think I need to get on with my blog now. I will continue the next part of the ‘Seeking to Get Married’ series and I will add some posts that have been in the works for some time now, inshaAllah. I also have many, many pictures yet to share and I will get to those too inshaAllah. Until then, I hope the readers of this oh-so-sad blog will forgive my poor efforts of maintaining it. I shall again try to redeem myself and try my best-est to continue keeping it ALIVE.

Swiss Minaret Ban- John Stewart

John Stewart (The Daily Show, Dec 3) on the Swiss Minaret Ban


I just came across it today, it's pretty funny because it shows how ridiculous the whole thing really is.

Watch the clip here


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Salawat (Durood)

Spiritual - Salawat (Durood))
by Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Sb
Monday, 07 December 2009 10:18

During a visit to Madina Munawwarah, I was sitting in the courtyard, on the marble floor, outside the Musjidun Nabawi, near the Raudha Mubarak, looking at the Green Dome, and in deep thought, when a doctor from Johannesburg, walked by. After making Salaam he asked me as to what I was watching.
I replied : ‘The flights coming into Madina Sharief.’
He replied : ‘No planes are permitted to fly in the vicinity of the Haram Sharief.’
I explained : ‘The flights are the flights of the angels, who have collected the Salawat (Durood) and Salaam of millions of Muslims, throughout the world, and who are now conveying these to Rasulullah (saw).’
The Hadith Sharief mentions : ‘ Verily Allah has certain angels wandering all over the earth. They convey to me the Salaat of my Ummat.’


…This should not be difficult to understand in this day and age of advanced technology. Thousands of people are making phone calls to people in different cities and countries of the world. Within seconds, there is a connection and the person is able to speak.


Rasulullah’s Ihsaan (favour) upon us is tremendous. Salawat (Durood) should therefore become our daily practice as it develops that connection with Rasulullah .
Using the remarkable gift of imagination, one should imagine the angels conveying one’s Salawat (Durood) in the court of Rasulullah or imagine standing before the Raudha mubarak and personally presenting Salaat and Salaam to the Master of all men, the Seal of all the Prophets, the Crown of the Believers, the Illuminator of the universe, the Leader of the pious, the Protector and Guide of the Believers and the Beloved of Allah Ta’ala, Sayyedena Muhammad .


This noble and lofty ibaadah of conveying Salaat and Salaam with sincerity, attention and such meditation will create a ‘kaifiyyat’ or special feeling within the heart as well as gain one the Qurb of Allah Ta’ala, since Rasulullah is the Beloved of Allah Ta’ala.


Moreover, the person who conveys Salaat and Salaam becomes the beneficiary to many, many bounties, in this world and the next. Some of these are : sins are forgiven, stages elevated in the hereafter, protection from Jahannum, protection from harm, intercession of Rasulullah , securing the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. It also draws the Rahmat of Allah Ta’ala and invites barakah into our homes, businesses, etc., and relieves from various anxieties.

Through the recitation of Salawat (Durood), duas are also accepted.


--

"Undoubtedly Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet. O' you who believe! Send upon Him Blessings and salute Him with all respect." (Al-Qur'an 33:56)

• "The one who recites Salawat (Durood) once Allah sends ten blessings upon him, eradicates ten of his sins and improves ten of his grades." (Mishkat)

• "On the Day of Judgement the nearest person to me, from amongst the people, would be the one who would have recited Salawat the most in this (mortal) world." (Tirmidhi)

• "(Truly) a miserly person is he who (when) heard my name being mentioned did not recite Salawat in my favour." (Mishkat)

• "You decorate your meetings by reciting salawat on me because your salawat would (turn out to) be the Divine Light for yourself on the Day of Judgement." (Jamih us-Sahih)

• "Recite salawat on Friday in abundance because it is the "Day of presence of angels (for witness)." On this day Angels present themselves (in my court). And undoubtedly when any one from amongst you recites salawat in my favour then before he has finished his recitation of salawat in my favour, his salawat reaches my court." (Jamih us-Sahih)

• "In the magnificent night of Friday (i.e. the night between Thursday and Friday) and the luminous day of Friday recite salawat in my favour abundantly, because your recited salawat is presented to me (by the Angels)." (Jamih us-Sahih)

• "Recite salawat on the day of "Friday" and the "Friday Night" (The night between Thursday and Friday) excessively because who-so-ever does that, I shall stand witness to him and would be his advocate on the Day of Judgement." (Jamih us-Sahih)

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak!

First 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah and the Day of Arafat

First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah: Days of Virtue And Righteous Deeds

By Jimas, Islaam.com

bn 'Abbas says about the Aayah, "Remember Allaah during the well known days," that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukhari]

Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the 10 nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]

Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.

This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]

Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] and returns with neither of them." [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa'i]

Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allaah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

Ibn 'Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Do you know what is the day today?" The people replied, "Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?" They replied, "Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?" The people replied, "Allaah and His Apostle know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) month." The Messenger added, "No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours."

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, "This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah)." The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, "O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message)." He then bade the people farewell. The people said, "(This is Hajjat-al-Wada)." [Bukhari 2.798]

Fasting Day of Arafat

Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." [This is related by "the group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

Hafsah reported, "There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of 'Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak'ah before the dawn prayer." [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i]

'Uqbah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The day of 'Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of tashreeq are 'ids for us--the people of Islam--and they are days of eating and drinking." [This is related by "the five," except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih]

Abu Hurairah stated, "The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of 'Arafah for one who is actually at 'Arafah." [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah]

At-Tirmidhi comments: "The scholars prefer that the day of 'Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at 'Arafah."

Takbeer

It is Sunnah to say Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"), Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allaah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allaah") during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)..." [al-Hajj 22:28]

The majority of scholars agree that the "appointed days" are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), "The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)."

The Takbeer may include the words "Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise)," as well as other phrases.

Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee'ah for doing this.

A letter from a Christian to Muslim women

A letter from a Christian to Muslim women

March 7th, 2007
By Joanna Francis
Writer, Journalist – USA


Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,” the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman, I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation
They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes.

They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite.

Self-Value
I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you.

The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too!

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold.

A Woman’s Heart
I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears.

Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love.

Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Self-Denial
Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated.
We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it.

Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot.

Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity.

Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration.

From your Christian sister “with love”


--The original can be found on Crescent and the Cross. Joanna Francis is a writer and journalist. She manages her own blog.

$$ Stats on Halloween

Trick-or-treat! Statistics Canada breaks down Halloween

By The Canadian Press, October 31, 2009

A look at the scariest night of the year, by the numbers.

OTTAWA - The annual celebration of ghosts and witches will be in full swing today, as kids make the rounds of their neighbourhoods in pursuit of holiday treats.

In honour of Halloween, Statistics Canada has rolled out some facts and figures on everything from pumpkins to zombies to give Canadians a better understanding of some familiar items and characteristics associated with the holiday.

Trick-or-Treaters:
3,807,039 - The number of children in Canada of prime trick-or-treating age, five to 14 years old, in 2008, down from the previous year. This is the lowest turnout since 1990.

The number of children aged five to 14 peaked in 2002 at 4,103,114.

12,435,520 - The number of private dwellings across Canada in 2006 where children might be able to receive treats.

Jack-o'-lanterns:
2,634 hectares - The estimated area of pumpkins harvested in Canada in 2009.

2,317 - The number of farms with pumpkin patches in Canada according to the 2006 Census.

65,840 tonnes - The amount of pumpkins and squash produced in Canada in 2008.

Halloween apples:
In some parts of Canada, children chant "Halloween apples!" in their quest for treats. Where the French-Canadian culture is dominant, trick-or-treaters must sing a song for their reward.

6.85 kg - The average amount of fresh apples eaten by each person in Canada in 2008.

393,435 tonnes - The marketed production of apples in Canada in 2008, with a farm gate value of $174.5 million.

(how many lives of poor and food-deprived people could be saved with that many apples?)

A vampire's favourite hangout:
$117.1 million - The estimated value of wood coffins and caskets manufactured in Canada in 2006.

(all that money could probably solve a food or any kind of crisis in some part of the world right now....)

Quiet professionals:
Between 1996 and 2006, the number of female funeral directors and embalmers in Canada nearly doubled.

4,600 - The number of funeral directors

and embalmers in Canada in 2006. Of this numbe

r, 3,235 were men and 1,365 were women.

3,735 - The number of funeral directors and embalmers in Canada 10 years earlier, in 1996. Of this number, 3,015 were men and 720 were women.

Halloween candy:
$317 million - The spike in monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack food sales at large retailers

in October 2008. December, however

, was the month with the highest monthly sales in 2008, at $394 million.

$255 million - The average monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods at large retailers in 2008.

Zombies:
These people are not really zo

mbies a but close!

3.3 million - The estimated number of Canadians aged 15 or older who had problems going to sleep or staying asleep (i

nsomnia) in 2002.

Tricksters:
We don't know if these delinquent acts were committed at Halloween ...

1 out of 5 - The proportion of middle-school students in Toronto who reported that they had committed at least on

e delinquent act in 2006.

Findings from the International Youth Survey also suggest that a relatively small proportion of the young people were responsible for a high number of repeated delinquent acts. Delinquency, as defined in this report, refers to all behaviours explicitly set out in the Criminal Code of Canada.

There is a general increase in the number of criminal incidents reported to police at Halloween (compared with the previous week). Data are provided by 155 police services representing 98 per cent of the population of Canada.

49 per cent - The proportion of all criminal incidents reported during Halloween 2008 that were violations against property.

18 per cent - The proportion of all criminal incidents reported during Halloween 2008 that were violations against the person.

20 per cent - The percentage increase in violent offences, such as robbery, aggravated assault, assaults causing bodily harm and assaults against police officers, reported during Halloween 2008 compared to a week earlier.

11 per cent - The percentage increase in property violations, including general mischief and arson, reported to police during Halloween 2008 compared to a week earlier.

0 per cent - The percentage change in Criminal Code traffic violations reported during Halloween 2008 compared to a week earlier.

Witches and worshippers of Satan:
850 - The number of Canadians who reported that they were Satanists in 2001. This was up from 340 in 1991.

9,575 - The number of Canadians who reported their religion as Wicca in 2001.

(Source: Statistics Canada) http://money.ca.msn.com/investing/insight/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22450160

Summer's Gone :(

Goodbye Summer!

This time of the year is sort of sad for me. With summer ending so fast here in Regina (did we even have a proper summer?) and with a very bad winter coming along (Allahu Alim, but that's what's the farmers apparently say) it's pretty depressing! Usually it's nice, bright and sunny in Regina, but it's been more cloudy then usual. Now, to actually get not-so-cold days and some sunshine seems exciting. I'd say to my husband after checking the weathernetwork.com, "It's going to be 8 degrees today!!!" I'm saying it as if it was the best thing that happened to me in a long time. Yeah, it's pretty sad.

With all that sad stuff aside, Alhamdulillah I can at least say that I had a great summer! I went to Toronto, drove from there with my family to here, drove with them to Alberta, went to Jasper and Banff. Then Ramadhan came, Eid came, went to T.O again (as my Eid gift from my husband) for a week after Eid and I went to see my friend in Minnesota (US) during the Thanksgiving Day long weekend! Alhamdulillah I had a lot of fun =D

I'm actually finally settling in again. I mean, since July I've just been sort of all over the place and not really on a fixed schedule. Now that it's all over and evening madresa has started again, I'm falling back in my schedule. Oh and InshaAllah the Seerah halaqah (at IAOS Regina) will also be starting again. With a few more other classes, I'll really be busy and in Regina for a long time.

So here's the poster for that, I actually enjoyed making this one a lot. I'm still not satisfied with it because I hardly know how to use Corel Draw still. Anyone know where I can get good tips (easy to understand and with lots of screen-shots) about how to do some creative things on there?! I'd really appreciate it, it gets me so frustrated sometimes.



Besides all of the above, I really want to rant on some of the things going on right now. Ok there's actually one in particular I'd like to rant about, can you guess?

It's the whole niqab issue. Yes, that one. However I'll have to do that later, I need to still organize myself with this blog, there are some over due things that need to be posted first. Until then, keep visiting! I'm sorry for not updating often, I really don't know why I still have a blog..

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid!


It's hard to be so excited, when you know it's the end of Ramadhan. It went so unbelievably fast that it's actaully scary. SubhanAllah, May Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) give us life for the next
one!

Just a reminder, try your best not to let the Shaitan and and our Nafs ruin whatever we have reaped from harvest of Ramadhan. Sisters and Brothers, remember what Allah ta'aala has commanded us,

“Tell the mu’mineen men that they should lower their gazes and guard their chastity. And tell the believing women that they should lower their gazes and preserve their chastity.” (24:30-31)

You know very well what that means, do not let the Eid Salah (and other Eid gatherings) be a means of you directly disobeying your Lord. Remember your fasts, night prayers, your du'as, your tears, remember Ramadhan and remember Allah, have Taqwa and you will get to keep the benefits of the Blessed month of Ramadhan, inshaAllah.

May Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) accepts all our good deeds (whether big or small), our ibadah (worship, whether big or small) and all of our du'as!

Lets end it there, I have so much to do before tomorrow!

Eid Mubarak again!

oh and please remember my family and I in your humble du'as.

*******Oh and another thing I must share, Alhamdulillah, we have a new-Muslim sister, Carrie, who just converted today! SubhanAllah, Allah ta'aala has guided her right before Ramadhan ended! May Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) keep her on the straight path (and the rest of this Ummah), with a strong Iman and Taqwa!


--

Shaykh Al-Hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi of Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azadville, South Africa is in Toronto!

Shaykh Al-Hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi of Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa is finally in Toronto!

Alhamdulillah, Canada is finally being blessed with the presence of my husband’s ustadh (teacher) and mentor Shaykh al-Hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi. I’ve heard so much from my husband about his shaykh that even I started to feel the excitement of his coming. Then I finally got to reading his biography, and I must say that just by reading about him, my heart is already anticipating his mere presence. SubhanAllah, I envy all the brothers, especially my husband, who can spend their time with such Shuyukh. InshaAllah at least I’ll be able to reap from the benefits that my husband will get from the Shaykh al-Hadith's visit.

I just received the biography on Monday, I just finished reading it this morning, and while I was finishing it off today, my (very excited) husband gets a call from his Shaykh who is now in Toronto. There I was, thinking, “SubhanAllah, the person I’m reading about, the person who this book is all about, is on the phone right now…wow.”

The Shaykh al-Hadith is known for his teaching, his depth in knowledge, his ability to do amazing research, his love for the Deen, his worry for the Ummah, his love for Sayyidinah Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhim wassalam), and of course, his immense love for Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala). These are probably just the few things I can think of right now. All I keep thinking about is how fortunate my husband is to have learned from him, mashaAllah. Alhamdulillah I’m very grateful that at least I got to read his biography and subhanAllah, the reason why the biography was done on him while he’s still alive was so that people can benefit from him while he is still with us.

You know when you read a biography of a Shaykh (from let’s say in the past 100 years) and he has already passed away. Don’t you really wish you could have met this person or at least sat in one of his talks hoping to take as much pearls of knowledge and wisdom as you can? It always happens right? But Alhamdulillah, this is the first time for me, where that’s not the case at all. InshaAllah, he’ll be coming to Regina (IAOS) and I’ll be able to sit in his talks and inshaAllah, I hope and pray I’ll be able to take as much as I possibly can from such a scholar’s talks.

So, to all the folks living in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), take advantage of such an opportunity! You shouldn’t have someone all the way in the prairies tell you this.

And to the folks in the prairies (the land of canola and buffaloes) make sure you come for the talks! Whether you’re in Regina or Saskatoon (where he’s also coming on Mon., Sept 21 inshaAllah) you’ve got no excuse! MashaAllah the GTA gets many Ulema visiting throughout the year, and we hardly ever do. This is a great blessing for us and it should be a great honour to have someone like Shaykh al-Hadith come to us to share his knowledge. The talks will be in Urdu and Arabic, but translation will be done in English inshaAllah.

Click on the poster below for more info.


Alhamdulillah, I'm getting better with the posters right?


Here are some links to where the biography can be purchased inshaAllah.
Ar-Rashad Books and Gifts (UK)
Al Zahra Online (Canada)
The Fountain Islamic Bookshop (UK)
Iqra Bookcenter (US)


--

The Night of Power (Laylat'l Qadr) - Abu Eesa

watch the full video here

See, didn’t I say it was going to go so fast? SubhanAllah, Ramadhan is almost over. We’re already in the last ten days, and soon it’ll be Eid…
With that said, please remember me and my family in your humble du’as and forgive me if I’ve wronged anyone knowingly or unknowingly.

Here’s a part of last Ramadhan’s post :)

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

We are the ummah of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)'s beloved Nabi, Sayyidinah Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wassalam), 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 (subhanahu wa ta’ala) 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 (subhanahu wa ta’ala), 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 (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

I just came across at-Talib’s blog, and there was this very good article that he wrote about the last 10 days; you must read it inshaAllah!

Maximize in the Last 10 Days of Ramadan

“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down on the night of Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Qadr is? The night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Jibreel) by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is Peace until the appearance of dawn.” (Surah Qadr - 97)

• Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Qur’an as, “better than a thousand months” (97:3). Thus, any action done on this night is more virtuous than carrying out that action in any other time of the year.

• Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam would exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. (Muslim)

• A’ishah radhiyallahu anha related that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: ‘Search for Laylatul Qadr on the odd-numbered nights during the last ten nights of Ramadan.’ (Bukhari) Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: ‘Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

• Here are some tips of things we can do to maximize these blessed days:

1. Take a vacation for Allah
We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not take out time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator? If this is not completely possible, take a few days off at least if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing I’tikaaf.

2. Perform I’tikaaf
It was a practice of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the Masjid for I’tikaaf. Those in I’tikaaf in the Masjid perform various forms of Thikr (remembrance of Allah), perform additional Salaah, and recite and study the Noble Qur’an. I’tikaaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

continue reading here

Slipping Away

Before iftar : An Afghan man prays before iftar, the breaking of the fast, during the holy month of Ramadan in Kabul. (AFP/Massoud Hossaini)

1/3 of Ramadhan has already gone, just like that. With all the iftars, tarawih prayers and all the other stuff, it truly feels like Ramadhan is slipping away. Well, at least until next year but then again Allah only knows how many of us will even witness it, incase death is already written for us before it.

With that said, let’s remind ourselves about what Ramadhan is, why it’s here and what our purpose for this month is. Let’s refresh our intentions, and push ourselves to do more in this month. We have to take benefit of this month; it’s just not an option. I mean, let’s face it, with our mountain load of sins, delusions, diseases of the heart, extreme love for this materialistic world and our lack of concern for the hereafter…we really need to juice out whatever we can from what this month has to offer, or we’ll be amongst the losers on the Day of Judgment (May Allah ta ‘ala save us).

Listening to talks about Ramadhan before or just on the first few days isn’t enough. With our weak Iman, we need constant revival. We get into it enthusiastically at first then after a few days of fasting and Tarawih, it dies out and so does our efforts. The first 10 days are gone; soon (sooner then soon actually) it’ll be half of Ramadhan gone. Then the last 10 days will come and before we can catch our breath, it’ll be 2 days before Eid!

So, wake up while you can and strive (same goes for myself of course), for there is no limit of how much worship you can do during this month. Read the Qur’an, listen to it, give sadaqah (charity), busy your tongue with adhkar (remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala), send salutations on His Beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wassalam), memorize Surahs, dua’s and ahadith. Read Islamic books and listen to lectures in order to gain ilm (knowledge). Bring the Sunnahs into your life and strive to make them your habits. Do your best to stay away from ill habits and try to cut them off so you’ll be free of them even after Ramadhan inshaAllah.

Also, make lots of du’as. Every now and then especially while you’re fasting, make du’a. This is the perfect time to ask for whatever you need/want. It’s also the time to ask Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala) for forgiveness, to turn to Him in repentance.

Please remember me, this sinful sister (and the rest of this Ummah) in your humble du’as.