Month: June 2015

Ramadan Reminder Day 14 – #Alhamdulillah for the Sunshine. Today is probably one of the hottest days of the year so far. After a much awaited “summer” and long spells of dreary grey weather, we are finally blessed with bright yellow and orange rays of sunshine pouring through our windows. For all the fasting folk, during the month of Ramadan, long summer hours during these hot times just doesn’t seem to be a blessing does it? Your probably asking yourself – “why now?! Can it not be sunny AFTER Ramadan! I’m too hot! My head hurts! I’m going to faint. I NEED water” – “Help!”.

Have patience my dear fasting friends. Sabr (patience) is one of the characteristics we are supposed to learn during this month of Ramadan. Patience to hold out during the day, no matter how hot or long it maybe. Our thirst maybe parching our lips, but keep in mind the reward of the coolness of the river of Al Kawther in Jannah. The sun maybe beating down on our heads whilst we go to work and school, but remember the Tree of Tooba which will shade you in Jannah.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there is a tree in whose shade a rider could travel for a hundred years without crossing it”.
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4502)

Alhamdulillah for the Sunshine. It brings with it many blessings. It makes people smile (despite the heat), it puts colour to blossoming flowers and allows us to appreciate what others don’t have. Fasting has been given to us to help us feel what the poor and needy go through on a daily basis. Our hungry, thirsty brothers and sisters in Somalia, Ethiopia, India and Pakistan (to name but a few countries) suffer every day in the blazing hot sun. The sunshine we have today is just a small glimpse into what they go through each day. Alhamdulillah for this opportunity to feel what they are feeling – and a chance to sincerly reap the rewards. Alhamdulillah for the gift that is Patience, something we learn in Ramadan and can develop through the rest of our lives.

I pray that the sunshine brings with it happy days for us all, and Allah gives us endurance and strength to continue our fasts with a smiling face in this beautiful month of Ramadan.

#Alhamdulillah #Sunshine #SunnySmiles #Sabr #FeelTheThirst #FeelTheFast

Ramadan Reminder Day 13 – #Alhamdulillah for My Glass of Falooda (Rosemilk milkshake). Sweet, cold glass of milky pink goodness. Bejewelled with multicoloured jelly and round glistening balls of Sabja (Basil) seeds. As we take that first sip – the mountain of vanilla icecream heaped at the top cools our fasting lips. You may be thinking what on earth I am on about?! But all you South East Asians  do know what I am saying. Admit it – you’ve all drank it and you know its symbolises Iftar in every one of our households! Yes – I say Alhamdulillah. Why you ask? Because this milky drink symbolises family iftars, childhood craziness and community togetherness. Growing up, at every Iftar party, some aunty or another would serve this in their homes. As giggling young kids, my friends and I would go for one glass after another, filling our bellies up to the brim.  It reminds me of the wafting smell of samosas and pakoras and hearty laughter of our fathers and the uncles as they broke they fast. It reminds me of the aunty jees hastily getting the dinner ready so everyone could go for Taraweeh. It reminds me of a childhood long gone but the essence of a Ramadan that still exists. No – I am not speaking about all the food and drink that we stuff ourselves with. But what the glass of Falooda represents. It represents families sitting around the table together, making dua and breaking the fast together. It represents the father teaching his son or daughter the Dua to break the fast with. It represents the mother lovingly serving her child the food she painstakingly made. It represents the Grandfather leading the family in Magrib prayer, all the generations praying shoulder to shoulder. Alhamdulillah for all this. There are many children and many families who cannot share this same experience. The orphans who’s parents who will never place their protective hands on their heads.The families who are broken and suffering. The elderly who have been left alone, abandoned by their loved ones.

My Glass of Falooda – more than just a cool, sweet pink milky bejewelled drink.  May Allah swt bless our lives with the “sweetness” of Iman (faith), love and peace. May He make our children the “coolness” of our eyes and may Allah swt “bejewel” our lives with Dignity, Respect and Modesty.

#Alhamdulillah #MyGlassOfFalooda #SweetPinkMilkyGoodness. #Coolness #Sweetness #Bejewelled.

Ramadan Reminder Day 12 – #Alhamdulillah for Forgiveness. As we enter the second 10 days of Ramadan our minds and hearts turn towards seeking Allah’s forgiveness during this time. This is based on the hadith of our beloved Prophet ﷺ said: “The first part of Ramadan is mercy, the second part is forgiveness, and the third part is emancipation from the Fire.” 
For all the sins we have performed during the year and our lives, this is the chance to beesech Allah swt for His infinite mercy and forgiveness. Allah has promised us that if we ask, that He will answer.

“O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. 

O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you”. (Hadith al Qudsi).

The above Hadith shows clearly how Merciful our Lord is. Even if our sins reached sky high, Allah has promised us forgiveness. Alhamdulillah.

These are the days that we should look into the depths of our soul, and reflect each misdemeanor we have carried out, whether small or big and ask Allah to be  Merciful upon us. Don’t just ask with words, but beg for repentance with your heart. Be sincere in your request to Him and have Imaan (faith) that Allah will surely forgives us, like a father forgives his child.

Allah, Our Creator, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. The Lord of the Heavens and the Earth – if HE can be so forgiving and merciful, how can us mere mortals made from clay not do the same? Many a time our hearts are so hard that we cannot forgive each other for injustices done to us. We hold grudges for years on end and in our arrogance we forget to emulate the beautiful trait of our Lord of being Oft-Forgiving. Instead we follow in the steps of Iblis, and fuel the fire of egoistic pride. This fire of unforgivingness can be so intense that it burns ties of kinship and love between siblings, friends and even parent and child.

During these days of Forgiveness – ask Allah for Repentance. But open your own hearts and try to forgive that person you should have all those years ago. If we show mercy on others, surely Allah will show mercy on us. A person may be the most pious person there is – perfom all their prayers, do so much Nawaful (voluntary) prayers. Do EXTRA Nawaful prayers! Give all the charity in the world. Perfoms numerous Hajj and Umrahs. And yet the one thing that could stand between them and Jannah on the Day of Reckoning is – they did not soften their hearts and show forgiveness to others.

I am grateful to Allah for His promise to forgive us if we ask. Alhamdulillah for His Mercy towards us. I pray that Allah swt instills this forgiving nature in all of us and enable us to show mercy to others. Even if injustice may have been done to us, know that Allah is the Most Just. We can forgive in the knowledge that Allah will show justice to that person accordingly. I end by asking you to forgive me for anything that I may have said or done to you, unintentionally or willing and may Allah swt reward you for forgiving me.

The Prophet ﷺ said that: “Whoever suffers an injury and forgives (the person responsible), God will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins” (Al-Tirmidhi).

#Alhamdulillah #Forgiveness #Mercy #Repentance #BeautyOfRamadan #DontShowEgo

Ramadan Reminder Day 11 – #Alhamdulillah for the Innocence of Children. Children are a blessing from Allah. They are born on the state of Fitra (pure) and the innocence that have in them is something to be amazed about. As adults we get caught up and even tainted by the darkness and wickedness of this world. Materialistic desires cause us to chase after the Dunya (this world) like crazed foxes chasing rabbits. We gain tunnel vision and do not look around us to see who and what we are hurting, or how we are behaving in a quest to earn the treasures of this world. We moan, we complain and we argue with what has been meted out to us in life, and forget to consider that Allah has a plan for us.Yet children – they look at life differently. They have no ulterior motive, they accept the simple facts of life with ease and the Yakeen (belief) in Allah’s words and plans comes naturally to them. A beautiful example of this recently, was when my family and I were going through the personal loss in our lives. My little 7 year old neice from abroad was on the phone talking to my father. She very innocently and beautifully said “Yes Appa (Grandfather) I know Mami (aunty) lost her baby. But don’t worry Appa, Allah has taken him to Jannah (heaven) and Inshallah all will be fine. I am praying for her”. Subhanallah – how beautifully and readily a child had understood and accepted Allah’s will. Yet as an adult, we find it difficult and sometimes try to (unintentionally) question His plans.

The Innocence of Children – how magnificent it is. They inquisitively take pleasure in Allah’s creation. They wholeheartedly love another without inhibition or reserve. Their affection is boundless and their care is true. There is NO ulterior motive.

Perhaps for once we adults need to take a step back and learn something from our children. Let’s not be arrogant in thinking we know everything there is to know about life. Maybe, just maybe, we can learn something from the innocent antics of these children – and maybe we can become better individuals, and in turn better parents, guardian’s, mentors and role models.

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The best of you is one who gives a good education (intellectual and moral) to his children”

I am grateful for all my nieces and nephews and say Alhamdulillah for making me an aunty to such beautiful little beings. May Allah protect them and all our children from the harshness of this world. May He make them a source of inspiration for us all and enable them to be bright torches of light for future generations to come.

#Alhamdulillah #SmilingChildren #InnocenceOfChildren #BrightLightsOfTheFuture #PrayForOurChildren

Ramadan Reminder Day 10 – #Alhamdulillah for Taking a Walk. You maybe wondering whats so amazing about taking a stroll down my road? Why do I need to be thankful for that? Let me tell you, there are so many things I am grateful for as I took my 10 minute walk down my road today. After 2 weeks of resting at home and not going out, I finally opened my front door and basked in the warm rays of the evening sun. What a feeling it was. Alhamdulillah! I walked out and started down the path, and each step felt like a blessing. Alot had happened since my last walk down this road and the walk that I was taking now.  My life as I knew it had changed. Each small step I took gave me a chance to reflect on what happened. As I continued to walk, I had a new appreciation for what was around me. The beauty of the flowers and the trees gently swaying by the soft breeze reminded me that life ends, but by Allah’s will – life also begins and continues.  There is hope for the future and oneday again Allah will say
كن فيكون
“Be, and it is”.

As I strolled onwards I looked up and saw the serenity of the sky – how blue and clear it looked. It was as if the grey rainy weather of the past few days hadn’t even happened. This ironically, was almost a reflection of my life. It gave me a sense of peace realising that surely after a miserable storm comes the peace of the calm blue sky. It was as if this gorgeous sight up above was a sign that I too will have my own blue sky. Alhamdulillah.

As I began to walk back home, I became grateful to Allah for giving me the physical strength to even take these few short footsteps today. We (I say to myself first) take for granted what Allah has given us – the use of our legs and the ability to walk, run and jump when we need to. The many people in the world who are suffering a disabilty and cannot walk don’t have this blessing. Be grateful, and say Alhamdulillah for this Amanah (responsibility/trust) given to us by Allah. And remember that each step we take in this life we will be accountable for in the next, so try to make each step towards the path of goodness.

This short ten minute walk opened my eyes and heart to many things to be grateful for. It gave me a chance to say Alhamdulillah (All Thanks to Allah). Next time you go for an afternoon stroll, count and reflect on how many things YOU are grateful for. The outcome will surprise you.

“If you were to count Allah’s favors, you would not be able to number them; most surely humanity is very unjust, very ungrateful.” [Sūrah Ibrāhīm: 34] 

#Alhamdulillah #ForTakingAWalk #AFewShortFootsteps #BlueSkies #BeautifulFlowers #SwayingTrees #LegsToKeepGoing #Hope

Picture courtesy of: http://firestorm152.deviantart.com/art/Flower-path-362449372

Ramadan Reminder Day 9: #Alhamdulillah for my local Masjid (Mosque). This is the Purley Masjid which just opened two weeks ago – and Subhanallah it opened at the most needed time. It opened when my family and I were going through a difficult time, when I lost our baby. That first Jummah (Friday prayer) was spent in the new mosque by my husband, brothers and father. It was a blessing sent by Allah at the right time. In the following days my husband immersed himself in the masjid, going for the 5 Jammat prayers and getting involved in the fundraising for the Masjid. It was as if his initial shock and pain was slowly being soothed by a balm (the Masjid). I am grateful for our local Masjid as it has finally provided us an easy access to going to 5 times prayer in Jammat, Jummah Prayers and beautiful Taraweeh prayers for both men and women. But not only is it providing us the fard (obligatory) and sunnah (voluntary) prayers but also the chance of being part of a community. The chance to meet other brothers and sisters, the chance to collectively learn our deen together through lectures and classes, the chance to open Iftar together, the chance to sit in congregation and the chance to build a community together.

The prophet (SallaAallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “There are no group of people that sit together in a house of the houses of Allah reading Allah’s book and studying it between them except that tranquillity will descend upon them, mercy will encompass them, the angels will surround and protect them, and Allah will mention them to those that are with Him (to the highest angels)”. (Reported in Muslim)

Alhamdulillah for the feeling of warmth, security and tranquilty as we step into the Masjid. The worries and burdens of the mundanity of life seems insignificant when we say that first Takbeer (saying Allah is great) as we pray Tahiyatul-masjid (the prayer when we enter the mosque). Alhamdulillah.

The Masjid in our Islamic history has alway been at the heart of our community. It symbolises what we believe in and provides services that helps us in the practical aspects of our lives and nurtures us spiritually. In the bygone days, shops and business were attached to the Masjid and it was a hub of commercial activity. I pray Allah swt continues to allow us to build more Masjids and utilise them for good and sincerity, and not for a source of disagreements and disunity. May Allah (swt) allow us to appreciate our Masjids and unify us as an Ummah at these beautiful places of worship.

Tonight as I write this, our Purley Masjid is being honoured by renowned Sheikh and Qari – Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Shatri who is leading the Taraweeh prayers. Our masjid has provided the community the opportunity to pray behind such esteemed indiviuals. But – like all things in life, our Masjid needs to be kept open by paying for it. Alhamdulillah we have secured the purchase of Masjid however still a large amount needs to be paid in the next 4 months – so that we can keep this beautiful place of worship. To Find out how you can help please read more here.

Our Beloved Prophet (s.a.w) made great stress on visiting the mosque frequently. Abu Hurairah, a Companion of the Prophet, relates that the Prophet said: “For him who proceeds to the mosque morning or evening, Allah prepares entertainment in paradise every time he proceeds, morning or evening.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

#Alhamdulillah #OurMasjid #MasjidWarmth #Unity #HeartOfTheCommunity #MuslimMasjids #BuildMasjidBuildHouseInJannah

Ramadan Reminder Day 8: #Alhamdulillah for My Siblings. I am grateful to Allah swt for my two big brothers and sister. I apologise in advance if I get bit too mushy! I have too many words to say about them, and yet I dont know where to start. Allah has blessed me with the 3 most courageous, kind and wise individuals to guide and support me throughout my life, after my parents, each in their own way and capacity. Despite the age differences (as I am the “baby” of the family the age gaps are quite big) and the physical distances between each other (everyone is in different countries) – a phone call is all that is needed for instant help and advice. Alhamdulillah. The most recent example of this is when I lost my baby. My oldest brother was constantly sending me messages when I found out the terrible news, telling me to be strong. My other brother was on the phone to me saying not to worry and he will come straight away. And true to their words they both flew that night itself from hundreds and thousands of miles away. Without hesitation they came. They gave support to me, my husband and parents and the rest of the family. They helped by giving advice and organising things when needed. They were true beacons of light at that time of darkness. Alhamdulillah. My sister – where do I start? Like all sisters, we fight, we argue and when we shared a room when we were younger we literally irritated each other to no end. I used to scribble on her homework and embarrass her in front of her friends (as younger sisters tend to do!). She would boss me to the earth and back. But now, all that was forgotten – instead it was she who was was wiping my forehead, giving me sips of water, holding my hand and reading dua. She had tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips to keep me going.  I will never forget her strength and the reassurance that she gave us. Alhamdulillah.
I say this not to Sing their praises or boast. But rather to Praise Allah swt for providing such siblings. I say this so that we all can appreciate our siblings. I say this so that I can make Dua that Allah always protects our and and all your relationships with our brothers and sisters. May it be strong, sincere and pure. Ameen

Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Maintaining good relationship with kinship, increases love between the family and a means of increasing wealth and keeping good reputation and having more descendants “. (Bukhari, Tirmidhi)

#Alhamdulillah #Brothers #Sisters  #SiblingLove

Ramadan Reminder Day 7: #Alhamdulillah for not burdening us with anything more than we can bear.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” (Qur’an, 2:286).

Allah May test us with different trials and tribulations. He may test us with our health, or with our wealth. He may not give us that job we desperately want or that pay rise we really wanted. He may make us weak in our bodies or give us a health scare. He may take away our children or not bless us with children. But Allah does not test us with more than we can physically and emotionally handle – if we truly have faith in Allah’s plan and have patience. I say Alhamdulillah for this because as I look at our brothers and sisters in Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Rohingiya and other parts of the world (all equal in their pain and hurt) – I say Alhamdulillah. They are being tested each and everyday with ALL things (health, wealth, children, their very lives). They are running scared for their lives, trying to protect their children and elderly as they run. Many even have to bury their infant children, whilst some children watch their parents die gruesomely in front on their own eyes. We are tested – but say Alhamdulillah, because for SURE there is someone much much worse off than you right at this moment in this world – and THEY are still saying Alhamdulillah. Tonight please take a moment to remember our brothers and sisters in need, say a Dua for them, pray an extra prayer for them and give some of your wealth to them.

#Alhamdulillah #Trials #Tests #AllahDoesNotBurdenASoulWithMoreThanItCanBear

#ShareYourRelief with #IslamicRelief #OurFamily #Syria #Palestine #Yemen #Rohingiya

https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/donation/mindex.php

Over the past 2 weeks I have been thinking how we can make this whole situation, our terrible loss, into a beautiful gain. With the help of my dear friends and the support of Sustainable Development Organisation in Kashmir, Inshallah we plan to build a Maternity & Child centre in Kashmir. We pray and hope, with Allah’s help and mercy we can help save the many lives of mothers and babies. To all my friends and family who have given us strength and support during this difficult time, please join us in making this project come true. Donate at the page below. From the bottom of our hearts – we thank you.

Find Out More & Donate to the Zakariah Maternity & Child Care Centre

In Loving Memory of our beautiful son Zakariah. X

Ramadan Reminder Day 6: #Alhamdulillah for the Ilm (Knowledge) Allah has given me. I am grateful for the intelligence and knowledge Allah swt has provided me, the ability to use my intellect and to read and write. But having knowledge and the ability to seek knowledge is a double edged sword. If we don’t seek knowledge wisely or use the knowledge we have for its best purpose it can lead to mischief and useless purposes. I pray Allah protect us all from useless knowledge and misuse of our minds. Alhamdulillah for the use of our brain to analyse things, to understand the Miracles of Allah logically and to use our intellect and tongue smartly to discuss and debate with Hikmah (Wisdom). May Allah swt provide us with the Wisdom of Yaqub a.s (Jacob) and the Eloquence of Haroon a.s. (Aaron). I will end with the following attached Duas.

#Alhamdulillah #knowledge #wisdom #intellect #UseYourKnowledgeWisely #KnowledgeIsPower