The Muslimah Next Door

A health article about how to burn muscle fat

2011-04-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

too much abdominal fat is very dangerous and can increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes..etc. Change your life style:

You need to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day. Calorie-burning activities like walking, running or biking can help you to shed excess belly fat.

Change your diet. Start eating more complex carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, and reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and white bread, to lose stomach fat.

Reduce your portion sizes. try eating five small meals each day instead of consuming three large ones.

Tone your stomach by doing abdominal exercises. Exercises like abdominal hollowing (drawing in the belly button), pelvic tilts and pelvic lifts can help burn stomach fat.

You need to add nuts to your diet. Foods that are rich in monounsaturated fats can help women get rid of lower belly fat. If you want a health snack that will reduce your midsection, eat a handful of walnuts or almonds. These foods will increase your ability to burn calories while stopping the accumulation of two types of stomach fat common in women.

Keep your insulin levels steady to get rid of belly fat in women. Avoid simple carbohydrates like potatoes, sugar and white flour. These foods may turn stomach fat cells in your body into abdominal fat magnets. Eat whole grains, foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) like avocados and olive oil, and healthy snacks to keep your insulin levels stabilized. you need to be optimistic about this article which will provide you step by step you need to burn your stomach fat.
got it from here:
http://www.rickandsteve.co.uk/general/health/how-to-burn-stomach-fat-for-women/

Why I am a Muslim

2011-04-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have never felt so content with my religion and my choice to live the way I do as right now. I pray that my love and dedication for my religion only grows and increases with every day.

I believe in common sense and logic. I have faith that science aids us in our daily life and makes things clearer and completely understood. That being said, religion helps us even more than anything we can come up with, create, or discover. Religion makes sense. Next time you question God or religion, make sure you think of this: why not?

Im still alive

2011-03-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

Oh my God! I can't even say it's been a long time because it's been longer than that. I don't know why there are so many earthquakes happening. I can't understand the Quantam Physics theory. I dont know why I am stressed out all the time even though I am wasting most of my time. Why do I get bored? There should be lots of things to do in life.

I love this term. All my classes are great and amazing. Except one. But that was inevitable. I am getting frightened about all the radiation that undoubtedly now lies in our atmosphere. I think that the world will end sometime soon. All the war, the killing, the earthquakes, the fires, the sadness and corruption and injustice, it's all going to end. But when that ends, so will the goodness and kindness and charity and laughter and love and hope. I think that's why no one wants everything to end. But it will.

Sometimes, I think about all the things in the world that are dangerous and threaten the lengths of our lives. like all the infinite diseases out there and new ones getting discovered each day. All the chemicals, the pollution, the war, the crime, and the suicide. Isn't it a miracle that there are still living people out there? Food for thought.

I told myself I'll go to sleep early and since I haven't had dinner yet, I have to hurry up before midnight. If that happens, I can't reward myself for sleeping early. Bon soir!

2011-01-09T23:12:00.001-08:00

Ibn Al-Qayyim's summarized version of the effect of sins:

1) Prevention of knowledge
2) Prevention of Rizq
3) Weakening of the heart
4) Reduces lifespan (barakah)
5) Contempt from Allah
6) Decrease of remorse
7) Increase of humiliation
8) Lack on intelligence
9) Sealing of the heart
10) Spoiling of the lands resources
11) Disappearance of modesty
12) Becoming neglectful of Allah (swt)
13) Pain and suffering in this world and the next

2011-01-02T22:28:00.001-08:00

Wahb bin Munabbih (RH) said:
A scholar once asked another greater than him in knowledge, “How much should I build?” He replied, “As much as shelters you from the sun and the rain.”
He asked, “How much food should I eat?” He replied, “More than what keeps you hungry and less than what makes you full.”
He asked, “How much should I wear?” He replied, “As the Messiah (Jesus) did.”
He asked, “How much should I laugh?” He replied, “As much as appears on your face but does not make audible your voice.”
He asked, “How much should I cry?” He replied, “Never tire from crying out of the fear of Allâh.”
He asked, “How much should I hide my deeds?” He replied, “Until people think you had not done a good deed.”
He asked, “How much should I make public my deeds?” He replied, “As much as will let the keen follow your example but not have the people talk about you.”

2011-01-02T22:10:00.001-08:00

“Make the most of five things before five others: life before death, health before sickness, free time before becoming busy, youth before old age, and wealth before poverty.”
Imam Ahmad advised: Whatever good you are able to do then do it- perhaps you will not be able to tomorrow. And do not postpone today's deeds for tomorrow, perhaps tomorrow will come and you are deceased.

2010-12-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When a man says something, then glances left or right, his words are a confidence to be kept.” [Hasan hadith. Tirmidhi]

Imam Nahlawi says: “Telling a secret means to inform others of a remark, action, or state which one learns of from someone who wants it to remain hidden, whether it be good or bad. This is hurting him, and hurting others is unlawful.”

“Whenever people meet, it is obligatory to keep secret any act that occurs, any word spoken, or any state attributable to someone, when these concern something one would normally wish to remain confidential.” [al-Durar al-Mubaha fi al-Hazr al-Ibaha, quoted in “Reliance of the Traveller” by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri]

In Islam, there is no need to tell a Muslim 'Promise you won't tell'. It becomes a duty in front of Allah (SWT) to maintain the secret once it is evident that the speaker does not want it to be shared with anyone else. You should only share the secret if concealing it hurts the rights of someone that Allah (SWT) gave them.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “My entire nation is safe, except al-Mujahirin (those who boast of their sins). Among the Mujaharah is that a man commits an (evil) act, and wakes up in the morning while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret, he says: “O so- and-so! Last night I did this and that.” He goes to sleep while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret but he wakes up in the morning and uncovers what Allah has kept a secret!” [Saheeh al-Bukhari]

If you become aware of another's flaws, keep it a secret. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “He, who relieves a hardship of this Dunya (world) for a believer, Allah will relieve (from him) a hardship of the Day of Resurrection; he who makes easy an indebted person, Allah will make it easy for him in the Dunya and the Hereafter; he who covers a Muslim (meaning his mistakes and shortcomings), Allah will cover him in the Dunya and the Hereafter …” [Sahih Muslim]

2010-12-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

"I don't smoke but I keep a match box in my pocket. When my heart slips towards a sin, I burn a match stick and heat my palm. Then I say to myself, 'Ali', you can't even bear this heat, how would you bear the unbearable heat of hell?" - Muhammad Ali

May Allah bless him with jannah. Ameen!

70 Sins You Should Never Do

2010-12-14T00:21:00.001-08:00

01. Associating anything with Allah
02. Murder
03. Practising magic
04. Not Praying
05. Not paying Zakat
06. Not fasting on a Day of Ramadan without excuse
07. Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so
08. Disrespect to parents
09. Abandoning relatives
10. Fornication and Adultery
11. Homosexuality(sodomy)
12. Interest(Riba)
13. Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan
14. Lying about Allah and His Messenger
15. Running away from the battlefield
16. A leader's deceiving his people and being unjust to them
17. Pride and arrogance
18. Bearing false witness
19. Drinking Khamr (wine)
20. Gambling
21. Slandering chaste women
22. Stealing from the spoils of war
23. Stealing
24. Highway Robbery
25. Taking false oath
26. Oppression
27. Illegal gain
28. Consuming wealth acquired unlawfully
29. Committing suicide
30. Frequent lying
31. Judging unjustly
32. Giving and Accepting bribes
33. Woman's imitating man and man's imitating woman
34. Being cuckold
35. Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for the husband
36. Not protecting oneself from urine
37. Showing-off
38. Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge
39. Bertrayal of trust
40. Recounting favours
41. Denying Allah's Decree
42. Listening (to) people's private conversations
43. Carrying tales
44. Cursing
45. Breaking contracts
46. Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers
47. A woman's bad conduct towards her husband
48. Making statues and pictures
49. Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls
50. Treating others unjustly
51. Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals
52. Offending one's neighbour
53. Offending and abusing Muslims
54. Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them
55. Trailing one's garment in pride
56. Men's wearing silk and gold
57. A slave's running away from his master
58. Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah
59. To knowingly ascribe one's paternity to a father other than one's own
60. Arguing and disputing violently
61. Witholding excess water
62. Giving short weight or measure
63. Feeling secure from Allah's Plan
64. Offending Allah's righteous friends
65. Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse
66. Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse
67. Unsurping the rights of the heir through bequests
68. Deceiving and plotting evil
69. Spying for the enemy of the Muslims
70. Cursing or insulting any of the Companiions of Allah's Messenger

2010-12-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Abdullaah ibn Abbaas (RA) said, “do not sit with the people of innovation, for verily their sittings are a sickness for the hearts” [ash-Sharee'ah pg 65 of al-Aajurree (d.360)]

Mu’aadh bin Jabal (RA) used to say, whenever he sat in a circle of knowledge, “and I warn you of what is innovated, for all that is innovated is misguidance” [ash-Sharee'ah pg.55, also Abu Dawood with similar wording]

Abdullaah ibn Mas’ud (RA) said, “follow the sunnah of Muhammad and do not innovate, for what you have been commanded is enough for you.” [ad-Daarimee]

Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman said, “every act of worship that the Companions did not do, do not do it” [Abu Dawood]

Beware of made up duaas because while they have blessings, if you say them all the time instead of, say, the athkar that the prophet (S) said every day and night, you are missing out on far better blessings and forgetting the sunnah.

2010-12-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

Ibn al-Mubarak said: I have seen wrong actions killing hearts, and their degradation may lead to their bcoming addicted to them. Turning away from wrong actions gives life to the hearts, And opposing your self is best for it.

2010-12-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

13 tips to memorize the Qur'an

Realize that memorizing the Qur'an is a spiritual and physical project. It's a miracle and blessing from Allah that we are able to memorize the Qur'an. If we want to take advantage of this blessing, we should be in a position to receive it. Therefore, let's strive physically to achieve it and spiritually to get the maximum benefit. Here are 13 tips for memorizing the Qur'an

1. Sincerity
The first matter we must pay attention to is our intention. If we intend good we will get good. Make sure that the intention is for the sake of Allah alone. With this memorization, hope for Allah's reward in the hereafter. It is not to show off in front of others that you have memorized a lot of the Qur'an. Sincerity is not a one time thing. It's a continual battle that we always have to renew.

2. Consistency
The more frequently you memorize, the easier it becomes. It is very essential to be consistent, and not to skip even one day. There is no week-end in worship. The minimum that one should memorize is three lines – five is ideal. If we are consistent, Insha Allah, we will be able to be memorize the whole Qur'an within 5-6 years.

3. Timing
The first thing we should do in the day is memorize. Do this even before breakfast because this is our spiritual breakfast. The best time to memorize is right after Fajr.

4. Atmosphere
Go to a secluded place. Memorize in a place that is quiet. We can't memorize properly with distractions, so turn off all your devices (like cell phones).

5. Familiarity
Start at the same time, at the same place and use the same mushaf (copy of the Qur'an) every day. We need to have our own mushaf, it will later become very dear to you.

6. No magic trick
Repeat, repeat, and repeat over and over again. It is only repetitive recitation and/or listening that will help us memorize with perfection.

7. Memorize with the meaning
Read the translation of the meaning before you start and try to match the Arabic words with their meanings.

8. Listen to recitation, always
Listen often to the Qur'an. Before you start to memorize, listen to what you are about to memorize from good reciters.

9. Find a companion
Get a friend, a family member or someone you know who will listen to the recitation every day. Ideally, find someone who is also memorizing the Qur'an to create a peer pressure system.

10. Revision
Recite daily in your Salah what you have memorized. If you forget one portion, you will immediately rush towards the Qur'an and correct your mistake and you will never do this mistake again.

11. Triple daily dose
Everyday, before you start memorization of new verses, revise the recitation of the previous seven days because it's easy to forget new memorization. Moreover it will be good connector between where you left previously and the new verses that you will begin with. At a later time of day, revise what you memorized before the last seven days. One should at least revise 4-5 pages every day.

12. Do not jump around
Be consistent. Don't try to go to another surah if you find a particular one difficult. Stick to the order. That way, you will have the satisfaction of having completed a juz rather than leaving some portions here and there.

13. The three chunks
Start from the back. Shorter surahs will bring you a big boost. Divide the memorization of the Qur'an in three parts: a) Juz 28, 29, 30 or just Juz 29, 30; b) Surah Al-Kahf till Juz 28; c) Surah Al-Baqara to Surah Al-Kahf.

- Muslim Matters

2010-12-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The pious offspring who casts a single look of affection at his parents receives a reward from Allah equal to the reward of an accepted Hajj.” The people enquired: “O Prophet of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), if someone casts a hundred such glances of love and affection at his parents, what then?” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Yes, indeed, even if one does so a hundred times a day, he will get a hundred fold reward. Allah is far greater than you imagine and is completely free from petty narrow mindedness.” [Sahih Muslim]

Kiss a parent today! It doesn't have to be your own, if you are unable to. Kiss your aunt, your grandmother. Show affection for someone your parents loved.

2010-11-28T19:34:00.001-08:00

Al-Harith Bin Qays (Allah have mercy on him) said: “When intending to do something good, do not delay it until tomorrow. When involved in something to do with the hereafter, keep yourself involved as long as you can. When involved in some worldly matter, put your mind to it (so as to get it done). And if you are praying and Shaytan whispers, ‘You are showing off,’ then make your prayer even longer.”

2010-11-28T19:32:00.001-08:00

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) deputised me to keep (guard over) Sadaqah of Ramadan. Someone came and started taking handfuls of the Sadaqah quickly. I took hold of him and said, 'By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'I am needy and have many dependents.' I released him, and in the morning the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked me, 'What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.' The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'Indeed, he told you a lie and he will return.' I believed that he would return again as the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had told me that he would return. So I waited for him watchfully. When he returned and started stealing handfuls of foodstuff I caught hold of him again and said, 'I will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again.' I pitied him and let him go.

In the morning the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked me, 'What did your prisoner do?' I replied, 'O Messenger of Allah! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free.' The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'Verily, he told you a lie and he will return.' I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he came and started stealing handfuls of the Sadaqah, I caught hold of him and said, 'I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come.' He said, 'Forgive me and I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you.' I asked, 'What are they?' He replied, 'When ever you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi: 'Allah – There is no God but He, the Living, the Everlasting', till you finish the whole verse. If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no devil will come near you till morning.' So, I released him.

In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked, 'What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I replied, 'He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go.' The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked, 'What are they?' I replied, 'He said to me, ‘When ever you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi from the beginning to the end: ‘Allah – There is no God but He, the Living, the Everlasting.’ He further said to me, ‘If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you, who will stay with you, and no devil will come near you till morning.’ The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Hurairah?' Abu Hurairah said, 'No.' He said, 'It was Shaytan (the Devil).'" [Sahih Bukhari: Book of Wakalah]

2010-11-27T15:07:00.000-08:00

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad (Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal's son) said: "I heard Abu Zur`a [al-Razi] say: ‘Your father had memorized a million hadiths, which I rehearsed with him according to topic."

Ibrahim al-Harbi said: "I held Ahmad as one for whom Allah had gathered up the combined knowledge of the first and the last."

Harmala said: "I heard al-Imam al-Shafi`i say: ‘I left Baghdad and did not leave behind me anyone more virtuous (afdal), more learned (a`lam), or more knowledgeable (afqah) than Ahmad ibn Hanbal.’"

`Ali ibn al-Madini said: "Truly, Allah reinforced this Religion with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq the day of the Great Apostasy (al-Riddah), and He reinforced it with Ahmad ibn Hanbal the day of the Inquisition (al-Mihna)." This is referrring to the lies that were said about the Quran being a creation of Allah (SWT).

Abu `Ubayd said: "The Science at its peak is in the custody of four men, of whom Ahmad ibn Hanbal is the most knowledgeable."

Ibn Ma`in said, as related by `Abbas [al-Duri]: "They meant for me to be like Ahmad, but by Allah! I shall never in my life compare to him."

Muhammad ibn Hammad al-Taharani said: "I heard Abu Thawr say: ‘Ahmad is more learned and more knowledgeable than al-Thawri."

Al-Dhahabi concludes: "Al-Bayhaqi wrote Abu `Abd Allah’s biography (sîra) in one volume, so did Ibn al-Jawzi, and also Shaykh al-Islam [`Abd Allah al-Harawi] al-Ansari in a brief volume.
"He passed on to Allah’s good pleasure on the day of Jum`a, the twelfth of Rabi` al-Awwal in the year 241, at the age of seventy-seven. I have two of his short-chained narrations (`awâlîh), and a licence (ijâza) for the entire Musnad."

Al-Dhahabi’s chapter on Imam Ahmad in Siyar A`lam al-Nubala’ counts no less than 113 pages.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal had many teachers, the most prominent was Imam Shafiee (RA) whom he met on several separate occasions and each time he took full benefit of the opportunity. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal commented, ‘Only after sitting in the Majlis of Imam Shafiee (RA) did I understand and comprehend nasikh and mansukh hadith.’ even though by this time he was very knowledgeable in uloom-al-hadith.

It was only at the age of forty, in 204 A.H., the Imam began formally teaching hadith. Whilst his teachers were still alive he refused to teach and narrate hadith out of humility and respect for them. Imam Ahmad was acknowledged by the Ulama of his time as Imam ul Hadith. May Allah (SWT) have mercy on him.

2010-11-24T18:30:00.000-08:00

A'isha (Radiya Allahu Anha) reported that Jibreel (peace be upon him) made a promise with Allah's Messenger (salla allahu alayhi wasallam ) to come at a definite hour; that hour came, but Jibreel did not visit him. And there was in his hand (in the hand of Allah's Messenger) a staff. He threw it from his hand and said: Never has Allah or His messengers (angels) ever broken their promise. Then he cast a glance (and by chance) found a puppy under his cot and said: 'A'isha, when did this dog enter here? She said: BY Allah, I don't know.
He then commanded and it was turned out. Then Jibreel came and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to him: You promised me and I waited for you, but you did not come, whereupon he said: It was the dog in your house which prevented me (from coming), for we (angels) do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.

[Sahih Muslim : Book 24, Number 5249]

Lesson learned: keep the dog outside, and do not hang the picture in your house.

2010-11-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

In the statement of Al-Fadheel ibn 'Iyaadh in relation to the meaning of Allah's statement: [That He might test you, which of you are best in action.] Qur'an 67;2, he said:

"The most sincere and the most correct." It was said to him: "O, father of Ali, what is the meaning of the most sincere (of actions) and the most correct?" He said: "Verily, any action, though it may be correct, which is not done with sincerity, is not accepted; if it is done with sincerity, but is not correct, it is also not accepted, until it is done both with sincerity, and is correct. The sincere action is the one done purely for the sake of Allah, and the correct action is the one which is in accordance with the sunnah."

It has also been narrated by Ibn Shaaheen from Sa'eed ibn Jubair that he said: "No statement is accepted without action. And no statement and action is accepted without (pure) intention. And no statement and action and intention is accepted unless it is in accordance with the sunnah. This statement has also been narrated from Al-Hassan Al-Basry who used the word "is not valid" instead of "is not accepted".

http://www.java-man.com/pages/books/alhisba.html#THE MEANING OF SUBMITTING ONE'S FACE TO ALLAH

2010-11-22T20:57:00.001-08:00

“Like all the Islamic virtues, zuhd is a golden mean between two extremes; in this case the extremes of worldliness and of monkery."

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal defined zuhd as not being pleased when given the things of this world, and not being sorry when they are taken away.

He, RahimahuAllah, also taught that there are three degrees of zuhd:
that of the common people, which involves avoiding what is forbidden (haram),
that of the elite, which is to avoid what is permissible (halal) but unnecessary,
and that of the highest elite, which is to avoid everything which distracts one from God.”

[Abdal-Hakim Murad, translator, The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith p.56]

2010-11-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

Those who are most aware of death and prepare themselves for it, are the wisest of people. (Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 13)

2010-11-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them both), he relates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) once held my shoulders and said:

“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.” And Abdullah ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: “If you live till night, then do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till the night. And take (advantage) from your health before your sickness and take advantage of your life before your death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.)”

[Bukhari and Tirmidhi]

And a traveler carries with him only the the really basic needs. Get rid of jealousy, envy, hatred, disobediance, bad memories, bad habits, sins, and travel light.
Also, Rasulullah (S) advised, "Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and behave well towards people." From the 40 nawawi ahadith.
so all these bad deeds that are worrying you can be replaced by good.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Save yourselves from the fire of Hell even if it be by giving away a bit of a date, or by uttering a good word." [Sahih Bukhari]

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) encouraged us to do good deeds, even if they appeared to be very small. He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Do not look upon any good work as insignificant, even if it be emptying a bucket into the vessel of one asking for water, or receiving a brother of yours with a pleasant face." In an advice to women he said: "O Muslim women, no woman should look upon sending a gift to her neighbor as mean, even if it be the hoof of a goat." [Sahih Bukhari]

2010-11-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

It was from the duaa of Rauslullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) to say:
"Oh Allah, I ask you to increase me in useful knowledge and I seek refuge in you from knowledge that is not useful."

Useful knowledge is that which:

makes you grow in the fear of Allah
increases you in awareness of your defects
deepens your knowledge of the worship of your Lord Most High
decreases your desire for this world
increases your desire for the life to come
an opens your eyes to the defects of your actions so that you guard against them
-Imam Ghazali

Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said,
"The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain which fell on a land.
A fertile part of it absorbed the water and brought forth profuse herbage and pasture;
and solid ground patches which retained the water by which Allah has benefited people, who drank from it, irrigated their crops and sowed their seeds;
and another sandy plane which could neither retain the water nor produce herbage. Such is the similitude of the person who becomes well-versed in the religion of Allah and receives benefit from the Message entrusted to me by Allah, so he himself has learned and taught it to others; such is also the similitude of the person who has stubbornly and ignorantly rejected Allah's Guidance with which I have been sent.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (S) said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Al Qabr

2010-11-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

Abu Hurayrah (radiya Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The grave is more horrifying than any horrible scene I ever saw.”
[Tirmidhi, Bayhaqi, regarded as Hasan]

"Once you are carried to the graveyard you are brought close to the ground so that you dwell in a small, dark lonely hole. The nearest of kin and the most beloved to you will lower you into your grave, where you will rest placed on your right side, with the top of the shroud on your face untied and a stone placed on the hole (Lahd) inside your grave.

Then, soil is thrown into your grave and when the task is completed, one of the people will say, “Invoke Allah for forgiveness for your brother and for making him firm (so that he affirms to the angels Munkir and Nakir that Allah is his Lord, Islam is his religion and Muhammad is the Messenger he followed), for he is now being asked.”
[Silent Moments: The Description of Before and After Death Aspects by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim]

Whenever Uthman (radiya Allahu anhu) stood next to a grave, he used to weep until his beard became wet. He was asked, “You mention Paradise and do not weep, but you weep from this scene?” He said, “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The grave is the first in the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what is afterwards is even easier. If one is not saved from it, what comes after that is even harder.”
[Az-Zuhd, Page 189. Hasan hadith collected by Tirmidhi, Bayhaqi, Hakim.]

Imam Malik Ibn Anas saw the Death Angel in his sleep, and the Imam asked him: "How much left for me to live?" The Angel pointed to his five fingers. Then the Imam asked him: " Does that mean 5 years, or 5 months, or 5 days ?" Before the Imam had a chance to get an answer back, he woke up.

The Imam went to someone who would interpret dreams. That man told him: "Imam Malik, when the Angel pointed to his five fingers he didn't mean 5 years or months or days, but the Angel meant that your question 'how much left for me to live' is among 5 matters that only Allah (SWT) knows about, and he recited the following verse from the Qur,an:

" Verily, with ALLAH alone is the knowledge of the Hour. And HE sends down the rain, and HE knows what is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Surely, ALLAH is All-Knowing, All-Aware." 31:34

Fear death, but do not hate it, prepare for it, but do not dread it.

I want to make my blog better

2010-11-19T21:04:00.000-08:00

I have been reading so many blogs and I just realized my blog really sucks. I mean, really, half the things that I write are just quotes from other internet sources, and at the same time I don't want to bore anyone with my daily rantings about how hard life is.

So my idea is this: my blog should bring benefit to mankind and take away harm. I also want it to benefit me, so I should have a theme. I am thinking I could talk about what I love the most---Islam. So I will try every time I write a post to do some research and teach myself something new about my deen, the one thing that will benefit me even after I die.
So for today, to motivate myself to start, I am going to talk about my first Islamic topic: tawheed.
This is based on what I learned in the khutbah I attended today.
Tawheed is divided into three categories: look them up and make sure you get them thoroughly.
Also, plants do NOT have souls. They do not get judged on anything on the day of judgement. Yet, that does not mean they are to be ignored, rather they are still a test for us. To care for them is a good deed. The prophet (S) said that if the day of judgement begins and any of us have a seed in their hand, they should plant it. Reflect on that. You know that it would never grow or do anything, because that is it, the day of judgement has come, but you still know that you would get ajr for it, even if it never grows.

for a first attempt....well, yeah, I hope to do better next time.

We are not a Minority

2010-11-16T22:06:00.001-08:00

Today, I was thinking about how all the non-Muslims must be judging our crowd because we are a minority in the country and we represent all Muslims. And then I tried to look at the positive side: that we have other Muslims in this country.
Imagine if you were the only Muslim(ah) in the entire country and you could find no one to support you, correct you, take the heat with you. We are not really minorities if we can see people of our faith in the lane next to us or in our public library. We are so blessed alhamdulillah.

Eidukum Mubarak!

2010-11-16T21:44:00.000-08:00

Eid Mubarak
Eid Sa'eed
Eid Kareem

Kul aam wa antum bi khayr
Kul Sana wa antum Tayyibeen

Happy Eid oh people of planet Earth!!
(p.s it is 4 days this time)

Taste Paradise in This World

2010-11-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

If you were in paradise what would you be doing? What would you be feeling?

In this world you may not be able to do what you want to do in paradise, but insha Allah you can at least feel that way.
"Indeed in this world is a paradise and who ever does not enter the paradise of this world will not enter the paradise of the hereafter. "
This is referring to the sweetness of Iman. If you do not taste it in this world you will not reap its fruits in the hereafter. What are some signs of sweetness of Iman that you want to strive for:
1- To love Allah and His messenger beyond all else.
2- To love and want to be loved for Allah's sake alone.
3- To hate to return disbelief just like you would hate to be thrown into the fire.

For those who think it's extreme to keep asking, "Is it showing any details?"

2010-11-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

It has been narrated by Usaamah ibn Zayd (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhumaa) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) clothed me with a thick white linen garment which had been gifted to him by Dahiyyah al-Kalbee, so I clothed my wife with it, and he said: «What is the matter with you, you do not wear the thick white linen garment?» So I said: I have clothed my wife with it, so he said: «Be sure that she wears a ghilaalah underneath it, for indeed I fear it (the thick white linen garment) accentuating her body and bones», transmitted by ad-Dhiyaa al-Maqdasee in "al-Ahaadeeth al-Mukhtaarah", and Ahmad, and al-Bayhaqee in "as-Sunan al-Kubraa", and al-Albaanee declared it hasan in "Jilbaab al-Mar.ah al-Muslimah".

And a ghilaalah is a fine textured and light shirt-like gown which is worn underneath a garment to prevent accentuating her body.

I want to be a hajj coach!

2010-11-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

How can a person become a hajj coach?

2010-11-06T20:35:00.001-07:00

“Who is better in speech than one who calls humankind to God, works righteousness and says, “Verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves to God”?
The Noble Quran, 41:33

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "The mo'min dies with his sweat on his brow (i.e. with labour and hard work)." [Tirmidhi, Nasai]

A mo'min's work is never done. If a conscientious student is sitting for a three hour exam and gets done in two and a half hours, he/she will go over their work making sure that they did not miss anything or make any mistakes. Moreover, if an exam has been designed for three hours, it is meant to take around three hours to finish.

Our lifespan should likewise be fully utilized to make sure we have not left anything undone that we could have earned Jannat with. This is the only chance we get; there will be no exams after this, only results. Therefore, we have to give this one exam our best shot.

If somebody is sitting around with nothing to do, it means that they have not understood the purpose of life, what Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) gave it to us for! There is no time to waste, no moment to lose. As long as we are alive we can keep earning sawaab. A mo'min, therefore, keeps working to please Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) before death overtakes him, and his exam paper is taken away from him.

-recieved in an e-mail

2010-11-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a morsel of any of you falls, he should pick it up and remove any of the dirt on it and then eat it, and should not leave it for Shaytaan...” [Sahih Muslim]

How humble is that? Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

2010-11-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today, quite annoyingly, I read about two South Africans that pedaled their way to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. I was like 'ugh, why didn't I think of that?" then I realized I have a whole lot more than Africa in my way, and that bicycles don't float on water. I'll have to keep thinking...

Control your anger

2010-11-06T19:53:00.001-07:00

As our times progress so must the way we show restraint. Especially when it comes to e-mails, text messages, and social networking it's important not to be impulsive. Life is filled with many trials and will often not go the way we plan, but why make things worse by doing something we will regret (and more than likely apologize for later on...Come on, you know you always end up apologizing, we all do!). So here is a nice tip for you. Next time you're angry and have the urge to tweet or respond to an email, try this instead:
Open up a word document and type up what you want to say. Wait 12 hours, 24 would be best, reread what you wrote. If you still feel like sending it then, and more than likely you won't, then go ahead. If not you can now adjust the message to something that is well thought and more likely to get you the results you desire.

Shaykh Navaid Aziz

past vs. future

2010-11-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Do you know why a Car's WIND-SHIELD is so large & the Rear-view Mirror is so small?
Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. Look Ahead and Move on

2010-11-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

And if you read this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.

Also ......

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .
If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation . You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.

If you can attend a Masjid without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people
in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare.
If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.

There is plenty to be thankful for. Alhamdulillah.

2010-11-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

"‏اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَصَلُّوا خَمْسَكُمْ وَصُومُوا شَهْرَكُمْ وَأَدُّوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَطِيعُوا ذَا أَمْرِكُمْ تَدْخُلُوا جَنَّةَ رَبِّكُمْ". أخرجه الترمذي

Fear Allah your lord
and pray the 5 prayers
and fast your month (Ramadan)
and give zakah
and obey your authority
you will enter the jannah of your Rabb.

Narrated by Al-Tirmithi

So people, it is from your deen to stop at a red light and buckle your seat belt and follow the rules of your nation.

10 best days ever!!

2010-11-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuhu

I had this genius idea to actually copy and paste the post that I wrote here last year about the 10 days of Dhul-hijjah. But then I knew I would get caught (and it was too long anyway and probably no one read it all) so here is my ....

Dhul-Hijjah Cheat Sheet (cheating is haram):

In the first ten days of Dhul hijjah, you should increase your

fasting: fast every day if possible
salah: pray every day if possible (no, seriously :))
sadaqah: give in silence and secrecy and also in public
Takbir: say takbir whenever you can!
Religion is good character: be on your best behavior!
Smile: smiling in a brother's (or sister's) face is charity.
Advise: Religon is to give good advice. Enjoin what is good. Give the naseeha for the sake of Allah (SWT).
Remove harms from the path of people
Help others complete their needs: help a neighbor, help a relative.
perfect your actions
qiyam al-layl: which, according to a saheeh hadith, can also cure your body from sickness. Subhanallah.
reading Quran: remember how much you used to read Quran in Ramadan? yeah, like that.
Duaa: Turn to Allah (SWT)
Sacrifice: only on the 9th on Eid
Repentance

I know this will keep you busy. Alhamdulillah for that.

A Reminder

2010-11-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear."
The Holy Quran, 2:286

Dinaar al-'Ayaar

2010-11-06T17:49:00.001-07:00

There is an interesting story related about Dinaar al-‘Ayaar. Dinaar had a righteous mother who would constantly advise him to repent for his wayward, sinful existence, but as much as she tried, her words had no positive effect on him whatsoever. Then, one day, as he was walking by a graveyard, he stopped to pick up a bone. He was shocked to see how it crumbled and turned to dust in his hand. The sight of that bone had a profound effect on Dinaar. He began to think about his life and his past sins, and he then exclaimed, “Woe unto you, O Dinaar, you are going to end up like this crushed bone, and your body will turn into dust.” All of his past sins then flashed before his eyes, and he made a firm resolve to repent. Turning his gaze towards the sky, he said, “My Lord, I now turn to you in complete submission, so accept me and have Mercy on me.”
With a completely changed heart and state of mind, Dinaar went to his mother and said, “Mother, what does a master do when he captures his slave who had run away from him?” She said, “[To punish him] the master provides him with coarse clothing and low-quality food; and he ties his hands and feet so that he does not make another attempt to escape.” Dinaar said, “Then I want a garment made of coarse wool, low-quality barley, and two chains. Mother, do with me that which is done with a runaway slave. Perhaps my Lord will, upon seeing my humiliation and humility, have mercy on me.” Seeing that her son was adamant and resolute in his request, she complied.
At the beginning of every ensuing night, Dinaar would begin to cry and wail uncontrollably. And he would continue to repeat to himself the words, “Woe unto you, O Dinaar, do you have the power to withstand the Hell fire? How brazen you have been to have led a life that has made you deserving of the anger of the All-Mighty!” He would continue upon that state until the morning.
Turning wan and pale, Dinaar’s body slowly wasted away. Not being able to bear seeing him in that pitiable state, his mother said, “My son, be easy on yourself.” He answered, “My mother, let me remain tied for a short while, so that perhaps I can achieve long-term comfort later on. For tomorrow, I will be waiting a long time before my Majestic Lord, and I do not know whether He will order me to go to places of beautiful shade or to places of unspeakable horror.”
She said, “My son, at least rest for a while.” He said, “It is not present rest or comfort that I am seeking out. Mother, it is as if I see you and other people being led tomorrow towards Paradise, while I am being led towards the Hell-fire along with his inhabitants.” She left him then, and he returned to crying, worshipping, and reciting the Quran. One night, as he was reciting the Quran, he came across these verses:

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِين عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ َ

So, by your Lord [o Muhammad], We shall certainly call all of them to account, for all that they used to do.

[al-Hijr : 92-93]
As he contemplated the meanings and implications of these verses, he cried with such intensity that he fainted. His mother rushed to him and tried very hard to revive him, but he wouldn’t respond. She thought he had died. Looking into the face of her son, she said, “O my beloved one, O the joy of my heart, where shall we meet again?” In fact, Dinaar still had some life left in him, and hearing his mother’s words, he answered with a faint voice, “My mother, if you do not find me on the wide plains of the Day of Resurrection, then ask Maalik, the Custodian of Hell-fire about me.” He then made a croaking sound and died.
After she finished washing his body, Dinaar’s mother prepared him for his funeral. She then went out and made the announcement, “O people, come to the funeral prayer of one who has been killed by [fear of] the Hell-fire.” People began to come from all directions. It is said that during that era, no greater gathering came together and no amount of tears were shed as much as on that day.
On the same night that his funeral was held, one of Dinaar’s friends saw him in a dream, attired in a green robe. Dinaar was prancing around in Paradise, all the while reciting the verse:

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِين عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ َ
So, by your Lord [o Muhammad], We shall certainly call all of them to account, for all that they used to do.

During the dream, his friend heard him say, “By His Might and Majesty, He asked me [about my deeds]. Having mercy on me, He forgave me and pardoned me [my sins.] Lo! Convey news of this to my mother.”

I do not know the authenticity of this story.

2010-11-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

“To You, My Lord, I complain of my weakness, lack of support and the humiliation I am made to receive. Most Compassionate and Merciful! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom do You leave me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom You have given power over me? If You are not displeased with me, I do not care what I face. I would, however, be much happier with Your mercy. I seek refuge in the light of Your face by which all darkness is dispelled, and both this life and the life to come are put on their right courses against incurring Your wrath or being the subject of Your anger. To You I submit, until I earn Your pleasure. Everything is powerless without Your support.”

The duaa of Rasulullah (S) as he was fledding at-Ta'if

2010-11-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

If you have not memorized the duaa for istikhara yet, memorize it right now!

2010-11-04T09:23:00.001-07:00

We live in a society where the youngest among us, the most inexperienced, are given all the attention. The world revolves around youthfulness and strength and impulsiveness and beauty. What happened to wisdom, experience, tolerance, and knowledge? Our elders are ignored, until one day we will realize that all those who knew more than us have passed, and all that is left is us--with significantly less knowledge :(

2010-11-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

And if My servants ask you about Me, I am near, answering the calls of those who call to Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be guided.

To memorize the Quran

2010-10-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I remembered when I asked my mother some time ago for advice that would help me memorize the Quran.

She replied, "And restrain yourself along with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure; and let not your eyes fall on anything besides them, desiring the beauty of the life of the world."

Surat Al-Kahf, Ayah 28

MY SANDWICH!

2010-10-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

HAD THE FOLLOWING:

canteloupe

grapes

nutella chocolate spreading

peas

rice

koshary

orange juice

chicken

meat

carrots

fusulia (dont know what its called in english)

onions

AND IT TASTED VERY GOOD, ALHAMDULILLAH!

Signs of having a weak Iman

2010-10-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

‎1.Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.

2. Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran.

3. Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat
...
4. Neglecting the Sunnah.

5. Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and bothered and irritated most of the time.

6. Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for
example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad tidings.

7. Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr.

8. Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.

9. Desiring status and wealth.

10. Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth.

11. Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them ourselves.

12. Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.

13. Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things.

14. Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.

15. Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.

16. Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.

17. Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and
yelling in funerals.

18. Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.

19. Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly
things, i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of
material wealth.

20. Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves.

My lab partner wants to make hajj...

2010-10-25T20:28:00.001-07:00

Today, my lab partner was asking me about Hajj. I got excited and started to tell her all about it and she was amazed by the retreat aspect of it. At the end of class, she said, "It sounds so amazing. I want to go there and try it out." She began to ask me more about the location of it.....I didn't have the heart to tell her that she couldn't do it.

The Mercy of God

2010-10-25T20:24:00.001-07:00

"And ordain for us good in this world's life and m the hereafter, for surely we turn to Thee. He said: (As for) My chastisement, I will afflict with it whom I please, and My mercy encompasses all things"
surat al A'raaf, ayah 156

One of the mashaayikh I was listening to used to make this duaa, "Oh Allah, if I am not from those who deserve your mercy, then your mercy deserves to reach me for you are the sayer :"And my mercy encompasses all things," and I am a thing. Faghfir lee ya arhama ar-Rahimeen"

Riyaa!

2010-10-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.myspiritualfix.com/vid1riyaa.htm

Make a list of the deeds you do in public
Make a list for those done in private
Check your life: are you showing off? Are you doing things for people or for Allah?

Another sign of showing off and arrogance is that you will avoid doing good things for fear that people will see you and think that you are showing off or for fear of arrogance. Try to find a balance people!!

p.S. I want to write a book soo bad. What should I write about?

My Mom!!

2010-10-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

My mother, may Allah preserve her in this life and in the next, JUST CONFISCATED MY CELL PHONE because I was talking on it! So now, with all PATIENCE, I ask you, my dear beloved mother, what else did you expect your obedient daughter to do with a cell phone if not to speak into its holes and listen to her friend?

ohhh...dear...I am very confused...

Beautiful!

2010-10-12T11:30:00.001-07:00

Allah(swt) gives and forgives,Man gets and forgets.

Quick Post

2010-10-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum!!

Today is a very beautiful, very hot Tuesday. Alhamdulillah that we have another day to live.

I'm trying to organise a Breast Cancer Awareness event on the 27th of October. Any suggestions anybody about what to actually do to get people interested and educated?

The importance of having a goal!

2010-10-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah

As usual, not much time to write. For one thing, I plan to get 9 hours of sleep tonight and I was supposed to be asleep 11 minutes ago...oh Well, somethings never happen.

But I wanted to say that the saddest thing about students (of anything) is their lack of motivation to learn. "What will get me the A?" or "When will this be over?" does not exactly serve the purpose of expressing your innermost love for learning. I love learning. And I realized recently that I am one of the few who feels that way. A conversation I had with a friend a week ago

me: "Don't you just love school?"
friend: "No...who does?"

Ya Allah! No! No! No! That thinking will get you no where!! Make a goal today!!
TEll yourself and Allah and anyone else who will listen to you:

"Whatever I do today, I will do it with my utmost perfection. I will keep perfecting what I do until either I die or my actions become perfect."

hehehe
That's a trick....because you will never do perfect actions...but you can get very close. My goal: don't make my posts too long like the last one. So I don't bore you! Ok, toodle-do...

OGIM
Oh God It's Monday

Death and many beautiful ahadith

2010-10-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

http://hadithoftheday.wordpress.com/category/death/ I love this blog!

This hadith was narrated by Umm al-'Ala', an Ansari woman [of Madina] who made the pledge to the Prophet. She narrated the following hadith: At the death of Abu Sa'ib 'Uthman ibn Maz'un, she said, "O Abu Sa'ib, I testify that God has enobled you." The prophet said, "How do you know that God has enobled him?" So I [Umm al-'Ala'] said, "May my father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of God! Whom does God enoble?" Then the Prophet said, "As for him, [the] certainty [of death] has indeed come to him, and by God, I hope the best for him. By God, I do not know--even though I am the messenger of God--what will be done with me." She said, "By God, I never attested to anyone's piety after that." (Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 419-20; M. M. Khan, v. 2, p. 189-90 Jana'iz, bab 3, #2 (#334); Ibn Hajar, Irshad al-sari, vol. 2, p. 376-77).

Say (O Muhammadr to the people)! If you all love Allah then follow me.” AL IMRAN 31

The Prophet (S) said: “Whoever holds fast to one sunnah; at the time of prevailing corruption of this ummah; will earn the reward of a hundred martyrs.”BAIHAQI

“His (a martyrs) sins will be forgiven before his blood touches the ground.” TIRMIDHI

Anyone who befriends another or
makes an enemy, gives or withholds,
has perfected his faith if what he
does is done for the sake of Almighty.

HADITH OF AL-BUKHARI AND MUSLIM ON THE AUTHORITY OF 'ABU UMAMAH

When the Prophet Muhammadr was
asked by Amr ibn 'Abasah what was meant by
faith, he replied 'Self-restraint and gentleness”

HADITH OF MUSLIM

One who is willing to accept
God as his Lord,
Islam as his religion
and Muhammadr as God's Messenger
has savoured the taste of faith.

HADITH OF AL-BUKHARI AND MUSLIM
ON THE AUTHORITY
OF AL-'ABBAS IBN 'ABD AL-MUTTALIB

Simplicity, too, is a part of faith. HADITH OF ABU DAWUD ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABU UMAMAH

A man without trust is a man without faith.
And a man who does not fulfil his
promises is a man without faith.

HADITH OF AHMED IBN HANBAL ON THE AUTHORITY OF ANAS IBN MALIK.

Greed and faith can never co-exist in the human heart. HADITH OF AN-NASA'I ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABU HURAYRAH

God loves those believers who labour to earn a living through lawful means. HADITH OF AT-TABARANI ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABDULLAH IBN UMAR

When you face people who praise you, throw dust in their faces. HADITH OF MUSLIM ON THE AUTHORITY OF MIQDAD IBN ASWAD

Keep your faith pure, Even the smallest good deed will suffice. ACCORDING TO AL -MUNDHIRI WHEN MU'ADH IBN JABAL WAS APPOINTED RULER OF YEMEN, HE ASKED THE PROPHET FOR ADVICE AND WAS GIVEN THE ABOVE REPLY

One who says his prayers (salaah) with
great propriety when he is in the
presence of others, but does so without
proper reverence when he is alone, is
committing an act of contempt for his Lord.

HADITH OF AL-MUNHIRI ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABDULLAH IBN MAS'UD.

When a person repents, God's pleasure at this
is even greater than that of one who dismounts
from his camel, loses it in the desert and
in a state of despondency finds it again .

HADITH OF AL-BUKHARI AND MUSLIM ON THE AUTHORITY OF ANAS IBN MALIK.

Volume 8, Book 75, Number 418:
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari:

The Prophet started ascending a high place or hill. A man (amongst his companions) ascended it and shouted in a loud voice, "La ilaha illal-lahu wallahu Akbar." (At that time) Allah's Apostle was riding his mule. Allah's Apostle said, "You are not calling upon a deaf or an absent one." and added, "O Abu Musa (or, O 'Abdullah)! Shall I tell you a sentence from the treasure of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "La haul a wala quwwata illa billah,"
(Bkhari)

I love you for the sake of Allah <3

2010-10-03T16:52:00.001-07:00

I am putting this link here to remind myself that this is where i have to be next year

http://www.shariahprogram.ca/courses/6-month-intensive/

also, totally gonna take the almaghrib class!! insha'allah!! The prophet's smile!! I can't wait to smile the prophet's smile on October 15. Also, I miss you guys, and i wish i can write every day. I want to get closer to Allah, but I don't see that in my life. Rather, it is a very up-down-up-down relationship. But when I am doing a sin that I know is wrong, I feel like there is no hope for me to ever enter jannah. When I do a simple good act, I feel like smiling soo wide because I can't wait till I meet Allah (SWT) and tell Him (and he, glorified, knows it) all the good that I did just for him and for no one else. I love Allah! I hate my nafs...

Seek knowledge the right way

2010-10-01T20:34:00.001-07:00

Imam ibn AbdulBarr (rahimahullah) said,

“Seeking knowledge is in consecutive levels and ranks, it does not befit that they should be bypassed. Whoever bypasses them at once, then he has bypassed the path of the salaf. Whoever bypasses them intentionally will go astray and whoever bypasses them with sincere effort will fall into error.”

Sufyan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) said: “The excellence of knowledge is due only to the fact that it causes a person to fear and obey Allah, otherwise it is just like anything else.”

The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) narrated to us that, “The two feet of the servant will not cease (from standing before Allah) on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it; about his knowledge and what he did with it; about his wealth and where he earned it and how he spent it; and about his body and in what way he utilized it.” [Saheeh, reported by At-Tirmidhi] Shaykh Husayn Al-Awaa’ishah said in regards to this hadeeth, “Check yourself before you try to seek increase through reading and listening to lectures and convert the knowledge that you already have into actions that accompany you as you live.” Imam ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullah) stated, “And the miskeen (poor person), the true miskeen is the one who wasted his life learning what he does not practice, thus he loses the pleasures of the dunya and the goods of the aakhirah. (In addition to) coming forth bankrupt (on the Day of Judgment) with strong evidences against himself.”

This was hilarious though I have never seen it:

Even women are a huge fitnah for the aspiring student of knowledge. The respected males in western culture are the ones who get all the girls. For many of such aspiring ‘students’ the girl factor is definitely a big plus in the path of seeking knowledge. It doesn’t help, of course, to go to a conference, and have sisters sending up questions like “are you looking for a second wife?” in the Q/A portion of the talk to the Shaykh. Many think that by becoming a ‘student,’ marriage prospects will flow forth without end and they will somehow be forced to struggle to narrow themselves down to only 4 lucky women.

2010-09-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:
"None of you becomes a believer until I'm dearer to him than his children, his parents and all mankind"
[Bukhari and Muslim]

But...

How can one make the Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wasallam) dearer than his own children if he does not know the Prophet, how he behaved and interacted with his family, friends, and adversaries?

To love the Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wasallam)is to also love his noble character, way of living, and to love that which he loved.

AlMaghrib Institute and Qabeelat Haadi present...

THE PROPHET'S SMILE

An awesome seminar discussing the Shamaa’il (Characteristics) of the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wasallam).
Not only a Prophet and Messenger, he (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam) was also

a caring husband,
a loving father,
a loyal friend,
a charismatic leader,
a wise general,
a patient teacher,
and above all, a mercy to mankind.

Oct. 15th-17th // MCA: 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA

REGISTER NOW:

www.qhaadi.org

Our mailing address is:

Qabeelat Haadi
370 Elan Village Lane
Apt 204
San Jose, ca 95134

Copyright (C) 2010 Qabeelat Haadi All rights reserved.

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=cd2fb906908c60e0f7472640b&id=fdf1791d05&e=743e2ff5f0

How are you doing?

2010-09-25T11:03:00.001-07:00

I kept delaying when to write on my blog again, because I want my post after all this time to be special. But then, I told myself that is from the shaytaan, and here I am writing to benefit humanity. I want bubble gum right now...

I miss you all. I have done lots since my last post

Went to college!!
went to Egypt!!
went to ColdStone's!
went to the Masjid 100 times!

Ramadan this year was my best Ramadan so far. Even though I wasn't allowed to do i'tikaaf this year. I realized there is a beauty to being by yourself in your room, talking to only Allah, without having to worry about things like, "Is there riyaa' in my intention?" Wallahi, I am only sharing this to tell you that if you are the type of person who spent Ramadan in the masjid and only doing your best ibadah in the masjid, then you should try one night to not go to the masjid the whole day, but to act just as dedicated. See if you can do it.

I loved Misr. It was awesome. I loved it. When I came back, I felt really really nervous...I'm not sure why. I felt more concious of how different I am from, say, my classmates, or my neighbors. I actually felt scared. Then, I realized how friendly people were, and how many Muslims there are here. Yesterday, some time before Maghrib, I went to my Quran class and then my ride called to tell me to wait for her outside the complex. I went out, waiting on the curb. I was standing for maybe 1 minute. And then, immediately, a car with 2 women riding in it stopped for me. One wasn't wearing hijab, and the other had the sort of hijab that slips off every time you move your head. So basically, I didn't recognize them as Muslims, but they were, and they wanted to give me a ride and waited for me till my ride came, and it was soo sweet, and I felt safe. I don't know why I feel the way I do. I have to figure it out.

I want to blog every day, though my classes are getting very challenging. I have to decide my major and I can't decide. I want to go into law really badly, but it wouldn't be halal, or at least would be a doubtful matter, and I can't stop thinking about that. I really really want to go into criminal justice. Insha'Allah, Allah will guide me to that which is best. I stopped watching TV....and began to watch online instead, which is worse, because everything is available. I also got this really bad virus that took over my life for 2 weeks until I took my laptop somewhere to be fixed. Lesson learned: don't watch things online....(think I could do that?)

Let me know what major accomplishments happened in your life recently..

I love Allah (SWT) and ask Him to love meeting us and to forgive our sins, what we are concious of and what we are not. May Allah bless this ummah with honesty and modesty. And may He (Subhanah) enter us into Jannah, for that is our utmost goal. Uhibbukum fi Allah, wassalamu alaikum wa rahamtuAllahi wa barakatuhu

What you would get if you e-mailed my sister

2010-02-21T19:14:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum,

my wonderful sister has done it again (God lengthen her life); beat me at my own game! i send her an e-mail (some meaningless forward) and here is what i got back! I copy-and-pasted it below:

Bismillahi AlRahmaan AlRaheem
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficient, the Merciful

Assalaamu Alaikum warahmat Allahi wabarakatuh my dear sister or brother,

This February, I have done a decision that I consider extremely harsh on myself (Fine...I admit I AM addicted to checking my email aboutevery 5 minutes every day..); but it is to prove to myself that I can and will live without checking my email for thirty days inshaAllah ta'aala. I hope you can also help me by not pressuring me to check my email as many of you have done before. :)

If I remain alive after thirty days, I promise you that inshaAllah Iwill check my email and reply to any necessary email. If I'm by any means online during this certain period of time, please remind me to go offline for that's what a true friend would do. I pledge to memorize as much Qur'an as I can during this time, do as much extra activites, beneficial deeds, help others, and volunteer more. This way, my Lord will help me through every hardship and calamity I endure later on. If there is an urgent request, you can call me. Keep me in your duaa's,

------- -----

P.S. Usually a slave is someone who is ashamed to live a life of dedication to another being. But me...I stand proud. By Allah, I am His slave.

Remember Him and He will remember you,
Bint Khaled :D

So you tell me, has my sos (i mean, sis) done it again?

10 reasons why

2010-02-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

Islam is getting popular

first of all, assalamu alaikum warahmatu arraheem (likey?)

newa, 10 reasons why everybody loves Islam:

When you meet a Muslim, the first thing you hear out of their mouth is a prayer for you
When you are feeling sad and down, you have more than 1 billion "brothers" and "sisters" by your side, ready to comfort you
Muslims actually respect all the prophets and pray for them when they are mentioned, instead of accusing them to be drunk and immoral, wal iyaathu billah.
If a Muslim lady lives in a rainy region, she doesn't have to worry too much about her hair getting wet.
If you shake a Muslim's hand, the sins of both "shakers" are dropping from your hand until you separate.
We really like holidays, we even have two Eids!
The more you give, the more you get.
We are a smiling nation. if you dont want to give a charity financially, smile, and you'll get the reward.
The book that was sent down by god more than 1,430 years ago is the same exact one that we read today in 2010.
If you are a non-arab Muslim, you get the plus of an extra language, most of the time, not by choice.
Every Muslim will go to jannah, god willing.

Ok, i admit it, that was eleven, but i was hoping you wouldn't notice. i originally wanted 100 reasons why, but ill stick to 10 because of my homework (i am yet to find someone who loves geometry, not including my teacher)

i gotta go, so salams.

add on if you want. maybe we could make them 100!

Our Social Life is NOT Getting better

2010-02-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

assalamu alaikum

ok, so u know how all these people now have a cell phone on them 24/7 and a personal e-mail they check daily (my bf checks it 3 times a day) and a bunch of "followers" on twitter and blogger and myspace, and "friends" on youtube, and you get the point. Newa (anyways), whenever you talk to any of these guys and gals about getting outside, getting a life, interacting with people for a change, all you get is a "Dude, i don't need a social life, i already have too much goin' on in my life. 2300 subscribers, 54 friends, 68 followers, and..." whatever.

Thats not a social life. can you go to any of them for help? support?Do you have a shoulder to cry on if needed? Then, its not real. its all virtual. and you dont need a virtual life. you need to get a real one. i wrote this one essay for my college about this and i found interesting statistics:

ok, so there are more than 60 million active users (im not one of them btw). 60 million human beings have all these virtual friends. About every six months, these users double in number (you do the numbers) More than 60% are between 18-34, that means grown adults, parents, with families. More than 35%, however, are teens, that should be using these years to make connections, real connections! More than half of the active users check it daily! Most users are from the USA (yay?) For youtube, every MINUTE, 10 hours of video are uploaded, which is a LOT (masha'allah) it is more frequently used in the summer times (guess why)

in the UK, it is as common to have a myspace as it is to have a dog (lol) 10 billion "friends" and 300,000 new users come everyday. go now and make them 300, 001! lol, thats if you dont already (again, i dont)
for more eye-watering statistics, visit
http://www.slideshare.net/onehalfamazing/social-networking-statistics-and-trends-presentation

and i leave you in the hands of God, as i found you His hands

To Those Who Like to Cry

2010-02-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

If you want to cry, read the last 2 ayahs of Surat Luqman:

O mankind! Keep your duty to your Lord and dread a Day when the parent will not be able to avail the child in aught, nor the child to avail the parent. Surely the promise of Allah is true, therefore let not this world's life deceive you, nor let any deceiver deceive you about Allah.
Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what will it earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in which land it will die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).
(31: 33-34)

Listen to it at http://www.mp3quran.net/media.php%20file=http://67.213.215.136/~server3/s_gmd/031.mp3

http://www.mp3quran.net/media.php?file=http://67.213.215.136/~server3/s_gmd/031.mp3

wal hamdu lillahi rabbi al-alameen

THE ASWESOMEST EMAIL I EVER GOT

2010-02-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

assalamu alaikum

i love islamic e-mails. here is an e-mail that i translated from Arabic so you can read it. i hope my friends read this because i know if i sent it to them as it is, even the arabs will delete it (u know who you are) any way:

The restrictions on joking in islam:

Must not be at the expense of our religion (who would do that? ISLAM ROCKS!)
Must be true (bukhari: the prophet used to never joke except that he spoke the truth)
Must not make anyone afraid [especially people who joke around with knives (OR WORSE!)]
Must not be at the expense of anyone or to put ANY HUMAN down (I owe a million presidents sincere apologies)
It must not be excessive (you know, every other word)
Choose the right people. Don't go to a homeless person who can barely cover his awrah and joke about someone's wardrobe (yes its out of style, but at least its there)
To be the proportion of salt in food (Jokes: Total conversation as Salt: Meal)
NO BACKBITING!
Choose the right times, for God's sake! Dont wait until everyone is mourning for a guy that just died then decide to prepare for a career of stand-up comedy.

BTW, these guidelines make stand-up comedy haram because the jokes are excessive and stand up comedy is almost always at the expense of others and is not like salt in food. Wallahu a3lam. I love you people of God.

Pray.

Im trying to stay innocent but how can i?

2010-01-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

i am writing this out of great frustration

first of all, Assalamu alaikum wa rhamatu Allah

im not supposed to know about all the aspects of marriage or why boys like girls or why girls wear makeup outside even though they dont touch it at home (or maybe they do if the window is open). im not supposed to know about the bad stuff a guy can do to a girl (and woman) who is walking home alone. i shouldnt know any bad words and i should not be peer pressured to show my body and laugh in that high-pitched way and shake my hips in the street and smoke and deal with drugs and laugh when a person near me burps (or even worse) and
and
and
and
and
now i have to go because we are invited somewhere at 7 (lol, maybe in an hour we will get there) but i know that on the way, i will be thinking about how i could have been innocent, but i didnt get to enjoy innocence for a long time because....
i live in America.

Thoughts that Infuriate me

2010-01-29T23:28:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu lahi wa barakatuhu

Before ungratefuly nagging about all the fitan in my life like i was planning to do right now, I would like to mention the Fiqh of Love class taught by Sheikh Waleed Basyouni (his wife is the owner of the blog "Desired Remission") It is a double weekend degree seminar (which means you can actually get a degree in Islamic Studies if you take it along with other degree classes). It is actually aimed at an audience of 17+, people who would probably be looking for partners or already married. I'm sure they didn't have me and my sister in mind, but with Allah's will, we'll end up there anyhow. starting from feb. 12-14 and the next weekend. Friday is free! if you register before feb 1st, its 135$. but after that, it's like 175 or something. yes, there are scholarships. a lot of accomadations if you're coming from out-of-town. God, i love Almagrib so much, im offering free advertisements on my blog. Anyway, that was the nice part (see almaghrib.org)

now the "Thoughts that Infuriate me"

No matter how much more peanut butter and protein i consume, i shall probably remain this short forever. or atleast, until i get to jannah...heh heh, then ill get back at people who made fun of my height. or maybe by then, ill be too happy to care about any of them. yeah, thats probably it. (PB actually makes u taller, said my grandfather)
if a month ago was my chance to wear niqab, i blew it.
i dont appear to be at all related to America (from the outside and inside) but trying to convince "khalas" "aunties" and "tantus" that I am a purebred masry is NOT working.
my 82+ neighbor could actually die anyday now, and I still haven't gotten around to telling her about Islam.
Does wanting to go to a movie theater for once even though i know it's haram make me a bad person? my dad would nod enthusisastically if he read this. my mom'd be like "habibty, there's good in everyone. no one can be all bad" which doesn't really answer the question.

Random hadith:

The Prophet Muhammad once said:
"Allah the Almighty has said: 'Whosoever acts with enmity towards a close servant of Mine (wali), I will indeed declare war against him. Nothing endears My servant to Me than doing of what I have made obligatory upon him to do. And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with supererogatory prayers so that I shall love him. When I love him, I shall be his hearing with which he shall hear, his sight with which he shall see, his hands with which he shall hold, and his feet with which he shall walk. And if he asks (something) of Me, I shall surely give it to him, and if he takes refuge in Me, I shall certainly grant him it." (Al-Bukhari)

I have a LOT to say, subhanallah

2010-01-24T23:31:00.000-08:00

peace be upon all u peoplz!

5 top things right now:
-my bff told me recently that she is actually following my blog (reading it!) and i realized that if i want to impress her, i should at least write more than once a month.
-i read this awesome book called "The Gospel According to Larry" and i got soo many ideas about my blog and i still have to think about how im gonna start.
-the digital alarm clock on my bedstand-thingy is 4 minutes ahead (that explains why i am starting to get to places on time for a change)
-i finished all my 60 hours of community service in 2 months (well..68.5 hours) and now resemble Mother Teresa (my dad said that and im still trying to "get it")
-my computer applications teacher is a mrs. "youngblood"

okey-dokey-artichokey
now five things i have to change about myself by same time next week:

remember to read ayatul kursi after every salah
sleep early
finish surat al naml
register for fiqh of love (even though im not 17) before feb. 1st
convince my parents that its ok for friends to hang out at a mall (though i doubt ill have much luck-or qadar, whichever is more islamically right)

ok then, this is helping me get my thoughts out. after reading the aforementioned book, i decided that my blog should have a message to it. A certain slogan or motto that i stand by: a purpose. so far it has been one of the hundreds of things i have to squish in my not-so-busy 12-hour days. it should be more than that. it started off a whole "not afraid to show who i really am" type of thing. now, its a little different. i think i might actually be afraid to show who i really am. inside. deeep down. i have a question for you guysos-who-never-comment-on-my-blog (excluding those who actually comment of course):

SO FAR, WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN THE OVERALL MESSAGE THAT MY BLOG GIVES? i wanna know how you gals think of me. so yeah. ok, i think Isha time came in already. or maybe its already out. i dont know. its still dark outside. lol. just kidding. did you know that the later you pray Isha, the more thawab you get, insha'allah? Thanks again, sheikh Yasir.

9-ty night (i know that doesnt make sense probably, but im too tired to explain) see you soon! wait...see you soon...jannah?

i have 3 mins to write this

2010-01-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

salams

hope to write this really fast so i might make some mistakes so just forgive me peoples.
first od all wanted to say that there are two websites that i want you guiyz to lake a looka at ok?

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/01/06/thoughts-in-the-wake-of-the-latest-terror-scare/

amazing article loved it laughed from it. hope you like it too
second
http://www.muslimahsource.org/activism-media/muslimahs-guide-to-high-school-survival/#comment-12376

really helps if you are anywhere in highschool, near a highschooler, aor anything. just plain nice. quite interesting. so my minutes almost up mught have to stop out of nowhere so just be prepared for that ok and know thay i am writinf reall fast now so dorry about it all. time almosy up/

2010 and 2012

2010-01-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum

Several things i wanted to mention. wait..first, I want to change the font. Much better. I hope. Anyway, has anyone watched the movie 2012? My friend watched it for me and she was telling me how the idea was pretty similiar to Islam. Like, the idea is that everything is destroyed (almost yawmil qiyammah) and there was nothing left of anything. Then she was like, there was one thing that stayed up-and that was the ka'bah. Everything got destroyed except for the ka'bah which stayed in it's place. That got me thinking about what they meant by that and whether the people who made the movie had a certain idea in mind. i might never find the answer to that.

Also, I wanted to share this hadith that I found at this link: and it says how the ka'bah will actually be destroyed sometime before yawmil qiyamah:
http://www.sunnah.org/nl/v0102/letters.html

The Ka'bah will retain its present structure until it is destroyed by "Dhus-Suwayqatayn" from Ethiopia as mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra) who said the Prophet (saws) said: "The Ka'bah will be destroyed by Dhus-Suawayqatayn (that is literally, a man with two lean legs".2
There is also another narration on the authority of 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-'As (ra) who said: "I heard the Prophet (saws) : 'A man from Ethiopia with two lean legs will destroy the Ka'bah, take away its treasures and remove its covers. As if I were looking at him, he is a bald man with crooked arms and legs who is attacking the Ka'bah with his iron shovel and pickaxe."3
this will occur after the appearance of "Ya'juj and Ma'juj" (Gog and Magog) as mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari quoting Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (ra) that the Prophet (saws) said: "the people will continue performing Hajj and Umrah even after the appearance of Gog and Magog".4

1 Sahih (al-Bukhari 1/44, 491, 3/197, 4/412; Muslim 4/99-100; at-Tirmidhi 1/66 and Ibn Majah,2955. See al-Albani's As-Sahihah 1/43).
2 Sahih
3 Sahih (al-Bukhari and Muslim. See al-Mishkat, no. 2721)
4 Sahih

It saddened me that the kabah will actually be destroyed again. :( I hope I don't have to witness that. Also, there is an awesome Ilminar (it's an AlMaghrib thing where you attend a free class online. Online seminar with ilm (knowledge) is ilminar).

It is about the fiqh of food and clothing. Just amazing, masha'allah. You guys can listen to it too. more info at this link (the teacher is the best!)

http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?p=471966#post471966

salams for know, I wanna have breakfast.

COOL websites i found all by myself

2009-12-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

salams,

there are three things i want to tell you:
a) i am not hungry yet and maghrib is in one hour!
b) i want to play flag football in Cameroon
c) i am going to get a leopard in jannah (inshallah)

Now then, here are some pretty cool websites:

islamway.com
qaree.com
muslimvideo.com
muslimmatters.org (I just corrected this, thanks Muslimah93!)

and if you're a fan of awesome mashayikh, then I hope you are familiar with sheikh Muhammad Alshareef. you can be in touch with him here:

http://www.facebook.com/nationbuilder.prime
http://twitter.com/shMuhammad
http://www.muhammadalshareef.blogspot.com/

and sheikh Yasir Qadhi is amazing!
http://twitter.com/YasirQadhi (hope this works)

have fun people...oh, now Maghrib is in half-an-hour. shows how long it takes me to write a simple post. XP

ITS TIME TO FAST

2009-12-24T23:13:00.000-08:00

assalamu alaikum guysos and galsos
tacos and burritos
....and now i ran out of rhyming wordsos

I forgot to congratulate everyone on living another healthy successful year in their life (I hope) and may the next year be even better. Ameen!

Qiyam ul layl is going great and it looks like I can finally sleep a full night soon, insha'allah. I missed waking up for QAL exactly 4 times so far, and I am curious to know if any of you managed to do this thing every night. If anyone beat me, give me your address and I'll send you five bucks. lol.

I was so very delighted when I got a comment after like 2 months. The question was: When you say qiyam al layl, what do you mean? Do you mean tahjud salaat or any nafil salaat?

I took the divine link class for sheikh Yasir Birjas (Al Maghrib) and he was saying that any voluntary salah is called nafl or nafilah. so QAL is nafl salah. Then, under that category lies QAL. The definition for Qiyam Al Layl is any voluntary salah that is done between Isha' and Fajr. There are two types of night salah. A nafl salah that is done after you wake up from sleep is called tahajjud. But if you pray before you sleep, then it's not tahajjud. It's just qiyam al layl. hope that wasn't confusing...XD

I found an amazing article about muharram and it is copied and pasted below:
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has chosen and given preference to certain days and times that are special and sacred in our religion. As many of you may know by now, the sacred month of Muharram (which begins the new Islamic year) has started today.
The Prophet of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “The division of time has turned to its original form which was current the day Allah created the heavens and earth. The year consists of twelve months of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Virtues of Muharram
It is one of the four sacred months. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala said, “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” (9:36)
It is the best month to fast in after Ramadan. The Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” [Muslim]
The Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah Muharram.” [Muslim] The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam called this month “the Month of Allah”. When Allah azza wa jal connects His Name to something, it shows the great status and virtue of the subject.
This month contains the day of ‘Aashoora (the tenth of Muharram). Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Aashoora and he said, “I do not know of any day on the Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam fasted that was better than this day.” [Bukhari and Muslim] This day is known as the day Allah ta’ala saved Musa alayhi salaam and the Children of Isra’eel from Fir’awn.
Fasting the Day of ‘Aashoora is an expiation of a year of sins. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Fasting the day of Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Aashoora I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” [Muslim]
Mourning the Death of Husayn ibn Ali?
Al-Hafidh ibn Katheer rahimahullah, known for his work of tafseer, states regarding this act of mourning the death of Husayn ibn Ali radi Allahu anhu,
Every Muslim should mourn the killing of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), for he is one of the leaders of the Muslims, one of the scholars of the Sahaabah, and the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who was the best of his daughters. He was a devoted worshipper, and a courageous and generous man. But there is nothing good in what the Shi’ah do of expressing distress and grief, most of which may be done in order to show off. His father was better than him and he was killed, but they do not take his death as an anniversary as they do with the death of al-Husayn. His father was killed on a Friday as he was leaving the mosque after Fajr prayer, on the seventeenth of Ramadan in 40 AH. ‘Uthmaan was better than ‘Ali according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, and he was killed when he was besieged in his house during the days of al-Tashreeq in Dhu’l-Hijjah of 36 AH, with his throat cut from one jugular vein to the other, but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab was better than ‘Ali and ‘Uthmaan, and he was killed as he was standing in the mihraab, praying Fajr and reciting Qur’an, but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq was better than him but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the leader of the sons of Adam in this world and the Hereafter, and Allah took him to Him as the Prophets died before him, but no one took the dates of their deaths as anniversaries on which they do what these ignorant Raafidis do on the day that al-Husayn was killed. … The best that can be said when remembering these and similar calamities is that which ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated from his grandfather the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said: “There is no Muslim who is afflicted by a calamity and when he remembers it, even if it was in the dim and distant past, he says Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), but Allah will give him a reward like that of the day when it befell him.”
Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majaah, end quote from al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (8/221).
Good Deeds for This Month
Fasting. Muharram lands in winter this year, making it even more easier to fast. The Companions and the righteous predecessors rejoiced in the coming of this season. It is reported that Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu said, Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds? The people responded, “And what is that O Abu Hurayrah?” He replied, “Fasting in winter.” The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam did not fast in succession for one month other than Ramadan, so it is not recommended to fast the whole month.
The best days to fast in Muharram is the day of ‘Aashoora and one day before it or one day after it. Imam Shafi’i and Imam Ahmad both stated, “It is mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.” Shaykh Al Munajjid gives a tip on his website for us to be sure that we fasted on the correct day:
If a Muslim wants to be sure that he has fasted on the right day, he should fast two consecutive days at ‘Aashooraa’. So he should calculate when ‘Aa’shooraa’ will be if Dhu’l-Hijjah is twenty-nine days and if it is thirty days, and fast these two days. Thus he will be definite that he has fasted ‘Aashooraa’, and in this case he will have fasted either the ninth and tenth, or the tenth and eleventh, both of which are good. If he wants to be sure of fasting Taasoo’ah (the ninth of Muharram) as well, then he should fast the two days we have spoken of above and the day immediately before them as well. Then he will have fasted the ninth, tenth and eleventh, or the eighth, ninth and tenth. In either case he will have fasted the ninth and tenth for sure.
So in following this principle, you can fast December 25th, 26th and the 27th inshaAllah to be sure you fasted on ‘Aashoora with one day before it or after it.
Fasting the “White Days”. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ‘the white days’ are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” [an-Nasa'i, Saheeh] Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey.” [an-Nasa'i] These days are the 13th, 14th and 15th of the hijri month which you can calculate according to whichever calendar for Muharram you follow inshaAllah.
Increasing in duaa when you are fasting. “The prayer (duaa) of the fasting person will not be refused.” [Al-Bayhaqi, Saheeh]
Qiyaamul Layl. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said in the hadeeth, “and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” [Muslim] In this month we can complete two deeds that the Salaf encouraged in winter. Al Hasan Al Basri rahimahullah said, “The best season to a believer is the winter, its nights are long for those who wish to pray, and its days are short for those who wish to fast.”
Protecting yourself from sins. Allah azza wa jal said about the sacred months, “so wrong not yourselves therein” (9:36) Imam Sa’di rahimahullah said in his tafseer regarding this ayah,
Allah states that He has made them a measure of time for His slaves, which they may use for worshipping Him, and thank Allah for His blessings, and they serve the interests of His slaves, so beware of wronging yourselves therein. The pronoun may also be understood as referring to the four sacred months, and this forbids them to wrong themselves in those months in particular, as well as it being forbidden to do wrong at all times, because it is more forbidden at this time, but it is worse at this time than at others.
Increasing in good deeds in general. Read some chapters from Riyaad as-Saaliheen for ideas.
May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala accept our deeds and allow us to reap the benefits of those days and times He has selected over others.

this was written by sister Amatullah and can be viewed at this link:
http://muslimmatters.org/2009/12/18/the-month-of-allah-muharram/#comment-56195

happy fasting!

My Finals

2009-12-15T10:04:00.001-08:00

Hold on to it, Guys

I will be back to posting every day insha'allah, but now I have finals for the rest of the week. I am supposed to be studying right now...but I just want you to know that the next time I probably will post is in 4 or 5 days. Make duaa for me. Keep praying qiyam al layl. May Allah accept it from all of you.

aaameeen!

Internet: Shaytaan in DISGUISE!

2009-12-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alakunn (I am assuming that only/mostly women read this blog..i hope?)

I am wondering if anyone is actually doing this Qiyam Al Layl challenge with me. My sister is, alhamdulillah, but apparently the support from my "fans" has waned. If you aren't, dare to do it for three nights in a row. Just try your best and keep this in mind:

When salah was first prescribed to the prophet (S), QIYAM AL LAYL WAS FARD!! For a whole year, sahabahs of all ages and sizes, shapes and colors, woke up before the crack of dawn and worshipped Allah (SWT). It was hard, and Allah (SWT) knew it. That's why it became a mustahab! The most beloved of salah to Allah, is the prayer done at night, when all is asleeeezzzzp. I almost fell asleep there! lol.

Newa, i was supposed to be talking about the dangers of the internet, but I just realized that you probably know all that. I also wanted to say that I recently (yesterday) became acquainted with a site and am almost an addict. It's: mylifeismuslim.com! I really like the idea and it really lifts my mood. Anyone on there?

well, if not, go check it out, but remember: BEWARE OF INTERNET!

wassalamu alaikunn/m

Day 3 of QAL Awareness Month

2009-12-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Assalamu ala man itaba'a alhuda:

I am very determined to pray qiyam every single night, but I am proving to be a failure. My first night: I was so worried I'll miss it, I barely slept so when it was actually time to pray, I yawned my way through just two rakahs.
And this is after I read the hadith about how the prophet (S) used to pray 11 rakahs at LEAST!! I decided not to repeat my mistake, so I attempted to sleep way early and by 8 I was in bed. The problem was that I stayed in bed...9...10..11:00..11:45...I wasn't sleeping! I am soo used to sleeping late that sleeping early isn't even an option anymore!! Talk about failure! That too led to two more rak'ahs.
My third night was quite my worst night ever! Masha'allah, 4 beautiful rakahs accompanied with a witr! wonderful! Now I truly felt like a sahabiya! At least that's what I thought until I woke up at 8:15 and soon gathered that I HAD MISSED FAJR!! I am hoping that you guys are having more luck, because apparently, my body just doesn't get it yet!

keep me posted! Let's provide encouragement for each other!

Guess what DECEMBER is?

2009-12-01T21:08:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum!
Asta La Vista!
Hallelujah! (I heard that means "Ya Allah!")

I have an anouncement to make!! I am DECLARING DECEMBER as QIYAM-AL-LAYL AWARENESS MONTH!!

This is a month of night prayers and remembering Allah (SWT) even more than we usuallydo. The reason I chose December is because it is the core of winter (along with January, which I will also find a name for). These ahadith are amazing!

It was reported by al-Haythami in ‘Majma’ az-Zawa’id’ (3/203) with a hasan chain that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.”
And Ahmad reported in ‘az-Zuhd’ (p. 118) with an authentic chain that ‘Umar bin al-Khattab said: “Winter is the prize of the worshippers.”

This was retrieved from http://iskandrani.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/the-best-season/#comment-1494 which has the most beautiful article I ever read!!

So OH YOU WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH
OH SONS OF ADAM, DAUGHTERS OF HAWWAA

WAKE AT THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING...TO PRAY, AND BOW, AND PROSTRATE TO ALLAH!

I am making a sign-up list for anyone who is willing to join me in my efforts to spread qiyam-al-layl! Please copy and past the following TREATY and place your name in the proper area. The challenge is to pray Qiyam Al-Layl for every single night of December. Starting from the time you read this.

I, _________ ___________, A SLAVE OF GOD, DO HEREBY COMMIT TO PRAYING QIYAM AL-LAYL EVERY NIGHT OF DECEMBER, WITH THE INTENTION OF PLEASING MY LORD AND FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM).
I AM AWARE THAT ALLAHCREATEDME, A SLAVE OF GOD, WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE IN THE CASE OF ANY INJURIES AND/OR DEATHS CAUSED AS A RESULT OF QIYAM AL-LAYL. I WILL PRAY ANY AMOUNT OF RAK'AHS AT ANY TIME DURING THE NIGHT FROM THE TIME OF ISHA UNTIL FAJR [EXCLUDING ANY FARD SALAH, A RAATIBA (SUCH AS THE SUNNAH OF ISHA), OR WITR] INSHA ALLAH, SO HELP ME GOD.

hope that was legally standing, lol! I have started from Monday and honestly, it's becoming harder and harder to get out of bed. I really hope someone else can join me on this. post your experiences and let's help each other out!

help me God!

The days of DHUL-HIJJAH

2009-11-17T19:08:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah

What are you guys doing reading my blog? Go worship Allah (SWT). This is the first day in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. check this out, I got it from Islam Q&A:

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/49042

Are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah more special than other days? What are the righteous deeds that it is recommended to do a lot of during these ten days?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allaah has favoured over other days. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2/457
It was also narrated from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no deed that is better before Allaah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398.
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception, even the last ten days of Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better than the first ten nights of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412.
So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allaah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following deeds:
1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allaah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadeeth qudsi: “Allaah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462.
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal
It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allaah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allaah.
Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), 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 are of the view that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the appointed days are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allaah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” Narrated by Ahmad, 7/224; its isnaad was classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir.
The takbeer is as follows:
Allaah akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise).
And there are other versions.
This takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays, especially at the beginning of these ten days. You can hardly hear it except from a few. It should be recited out loud, so as to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless. It was proven that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with them both) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting the takbeer our loud, and the people would recite takbeer when they heard them, i.e., the people would remember the talkbeer and each one would recite it by himself; it does not mean that they recited in unison – that is not prescribed in sharee’ah.
Reviving Sunnahs that have been forgotten brings a great deal of reward, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating reports.
3 – Doing Hajj and ‘Umrah
One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah. Whoever Allaah helps to go on Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – in sha Allaah – be included in the words of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.”
4 – Udhiyah (sacrifice)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allaah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allaah.
Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.Are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah more special than other days? What are the righteous deeds that it is recommended to do a lot of during these ten days?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allaah has favoured over other days. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2/457
It was also narrated from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no deed that is better before Allaah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398.
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception, even the last ten days of Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better than the first ten nights of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412.
So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allaah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following deeds:
1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allaah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadeeth qudsi: “Allaah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462.
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal
It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allaah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allaah.
Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), 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 are of the view that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the appointed days are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allaah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” Narrated by Ahmad, 7/224; its isnaad was classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir.
The takbeer is as follows:
Allaah akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise).
And there are other versions.
This takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays, especially at the beginning of these ten days. You can hardly hear it except from a few. It should be recited out loud, so as to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless. It was proven that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with them both) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting the takbeer our loud, and the people would recite takbeer when they heard them, i.e., the people would remember the talkbeer and each one would recite it by himself; it does not mean that they recited in unison – that is not prescribed in sharee’ah.
Reviving Sunnahs that have been forgotten brings a great deal of reward, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating reports.
3 – Doing Hajj and ‘Umrah
One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah. Whoever Allaah helps to go on Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – in sha Allaah – be included in the words of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.”
4 – Udhiyah (sacrifice)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allaah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allaah.
Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.

And Allah knows best.

Twilight ( I am not a fan of it)

2009-11-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

Assalamu ala man ittaba3a Al-Huda

I don't really like my last post; thinking about deleting it. You know, the one about why dating "sux". It's not that the idea is wrong, but "sux" is a bad word for me and no, I CANT just change the title. Thats not how blogs are.

I am also a little hurt by a discovery I made recently, the fact that NO ONE EVER COMMENTS ON MY BLOG!!! except for maybe my little sister, and that's just to be nice. It is a free country people, but I freely ask you to freely comment on my free blog!! pleaseee (freely) comment!

Also, I am announcing once and for all that I hate Twilight, which I have never read, never watched, and never hope to do either of them. This doesn't mean I am ignorant about the book. I have heard a couple MILLION fans tell me the story over and over again and I still don't like it. Any sane person with the same opinion? please dont tell me Im the only teenage girl who believes this.

i end this post with: do ri me fa so la ti doh!

A Story

2009-11-08T19:14:00.001-08:00

This story is the story of Brendan, an 11-year-old boy who suffered from Leukemia. He took chemotherapy, but all it did was cripple him and make his state worse. On one rainy day that he will never forget, his ‘nice’ doctor came in and informed him, (HIM, an 11-year-old) “The chemotherapy isn’t working anymore. You are going to die in two weeks.” La ilaha illa allah.
Brendan immediately packs his bags and leaves the hospital with his mom, expecting his death soon as certainly as humans need water. On their way home, they see a group of tents together on a bridge in Seattle. Brendan asks his mom, “Mom, what are those?” She admits that she did not know and he insisted that they go check out what’s going on. As soon as they get near enough, they find out that there is a group of homeless that had no shelter from the rain. They had no food as well but were at least able to find tents. Brendan gives one of them a sandwich he had with him. Realizing that this wasn’t enough, he and his mother immediately start a campaign to feed the homeless. They soon gather 200 peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches for these homeless. He then points out, “No mom, not peanut-butter. What if one of these homeless is allergic to peanut butter?” His proud mother says, “You are right," and they change the type.
Meanwhile, some reporters hear about this and they come over instantly to interview Brendan. After listening to his story, they ask, “What’s the most thing you like about life, Brendan?”
And he says, “Having one.”
“What’s the least thing you like about life?”
“The people that give up.”
They finally ask him, “Why Brendan? Your health will get worse. You didn’t have to do this. The doctor said you were going to die. What’s the point?”
And he says, “Just because I am about to die, doesn’t mean I can’t help someone else live.”
And Brendan did die a week later, but even though he was just eleven, he made a difference.

wonderful tidings for those who have lost a child

2009-11-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

Bismillahi arrahmani al-raheem:

I was just reading my last post and not only was it unexplained, but I also forgot what I thought was unfair at the time (there are too many unfair things in life to keep track).

Yesterday, I listened to a dars by Sheikh Mahmood Al-Masry on Qanat Al-Hikmah (no, i dont have tv) that was called "The patience with the death of a son". It made me cry so much, but also made me realize that everything, EVERYTHING (in case u didnt see the first one) is compensated by Allah (SWT).

There are mainly 3 ahadith that I love. the first one was narrated in Al-Hakim and Al-Mustadrak that Abu Salamah (RA) narrated that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying: How excellent are five things and how heavy are they on the scale:

Saying Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah Who is above all faults)
Saying Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) (3) La ilaha illallah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah)
Saying Allahu Akbar ( Allah is the Greatest )
and finally, A righteous son of a Muslim dies and the Muslims forbears patiently expecting a reward in return.

There is also another hadith that Allah (SWT) orders his angels to build a house for his slave who loses a son but patiently thanks Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) asks the angels to build a house for him in jannah and to name it "Baytul Hamd" The house of gratitude.
This is because of the patience involved with losing a son.

There is also another hadith that (Im paraphrasing here)

There was one sahabi who loved the prophet very much and would always be with him. He had one son (his only son) who would always be with him and play around in the masjid. The prophet (S) asked him one day an interesting question. He asked, "do you love him?" and the man had an even stranger reply. He said, "May Allah love you as I love him."

Subhanallah, some time passed and this sahabi stopped coming to the prophet (S) or showing up and no one saw him. The prophet (S) finally asked about him and he was informed that this man's son had died and he (the sahabi) had refrained from coming out of his home. So the prophet (S) went to visit this man immediately and told him, "Would you rather that this son had lived with you in this dunya and you enjoyed his presence or that you go on the day of judgement and find him waiting for you in front of all the 8 gates of jannah and you enter from whichever you please?"
So this man without hesitation said, "Rather, that he wait for me in front of the 8 gates of jannah."
The prophet (S) immediately got a wahi from allah and told the man, "That is for you." Immediately the sahabah that were around the Blessed Prophet (S) saw an oppurtunity and asked, "Is this specifically for him or for all of us?"
And the prophet (salla allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: it is for all of you.

*tears* inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji3oon

2009-11-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Life is so unfair
الدنبا سجن المؤمن و جنة الكافر

Sadness and Grief: remember Allah and they will leave

2009-11-02T16:51:00.001-08:00

Assalamu alaikum everyone

I am feeling sad today. Alhmadulillah, I am feeling very sad today. To begin with, the Almaghrib class I was taking ended yesterday and I was crying hard because a chance to learn about Allah has packed its bags and headed somewhere else. I am also sad because I got so confused, studied the wrong section for math, and flunked a quiz. It's worse than flunking, really. It's when you don't even get a number. It's below an F actually, propably in the Zs. I feel not so sad for myself as I feel sad that my Algebra 2 teacher might think Muslims are dumb or something. I was doing it for the sake of Islam and I failed myself, my parents, and now, Allah. How horrible could things get?

So I just opened up this book (Saheeh al-kalim al-tayyib for sheikh Al-albany) and it was the hadith of Umm Salama where when something bad happens to you and you say:

inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji3oon
allahumma ajir ly fi museebaty wa ukhluf ly khairan minah

I said it just once and I felt so happy suddenly and my heart stopped crying and I decided I have to spread the word. I am telling this to myelf, though of course I knew this before:

Islam works!
Islam really works!

Pink Hijab Day!!

2009-10-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today is Pink Hijab Day! Well, it was but since the athan for maghrib just went off....anyway, it is Pink Hijab Day. And if you are a man, I am not discriminating against you. It could also be Pink Sock Day, Pink Shirt Day, maybe Pink Hair Day. The point is pink.

Subhanallah, I found out about this recently while reading Islamic Horizons [the matrimonial section is my favorite (seeking religous hyderabadi muslim woman; no scarf ...)] and it was saying how this middle school girl started it because all her friends were wearing pink hijabs on the same day. So today, I went to college wearing....brown!

I am so mad and guilty and angry and upset. I had really been looking forward to wearing a pink costume on october 28, but I forgot!! I forgot, I forgot, I forgot!!

I felt like crying. Like I was betraying the ummah or something. I hope you guys had better luck....groan

Bu the way, just an afterthought, is there luck in Islam? Is it halal to tell a muslim "good luck" Just wondering.

SaLaMz

Al-Maghrib rox!!

2009-10-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Masha'allah, I am feeling very very excited about this weekend. I am taking an AlMaghrib class about Salah and it is phenomenal (spelling?)!!! Just amazing. You find out why you do what you do in salah, and whether or not the Prophet (S) did it, and which madhab it is in. It is by a wonderful scholar and 3alim, Sheikh Yaser Birjas, and he is really funny. Alhamdulillah, the timings of the seminar help me imagine how it feels to live like a monk, but at least I can honestly say I spent my weekend in the masjid (friday included).

I am very (oh, just soo happy) and I don't know how to thank Allah enough. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, AlMaghrib is basically an institute that offers classes about specific topics in Islam and gives you a chance to get a degree in Islamic Studies (which is my dream, btw). It has seminars in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. I wish it was possible to go to all of them.

I found out that you can't actually say "alhamdulillah" if you sneeze in salah, even though it's thikr. You can't giggle in salah, and if you do, your salah is invalid. Imam Abu Haneefa (I am not hanafi by the way) may Allah be pleased with him actually said that if you laugh or giggle, your salah AND wudu are invalid (oops). You also can't check the time (you know, if taraweeh is getting too long), though alhamdulillah, I have never done this yet. A very interesting fact is that for several years, the adhan in turkey used to be in Turkish, not Arabic!! subhanallah, though of course that is not halal. I can't wait for the end of this week.

God, at this point I can't wait to meet Allah (SWT)!!

Support Niqab, Support Islam

2009-10-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum wa ramatu Allahi wa baraktuhu

Every Muslim in the world believes without doubt that the hijab is a fard. We all agree that the niqab is even higher in status. How high-that is where we differ. What never happened bafore was a sheikh claiming that it is not even part of Islam. A Burqa is culture, a Niqab is deen. Someone tell me why this is hard to understand. I wanted to write this a long time ago and this is long due. Why do we have to disagree on everything. Prayer: how to pray? When? Where? Fasting: When? When? (did I mention when?) Even Zakah and Hajj have arguments. It's a good thing the shahadah is still preserved. Wait...Nation of Islam?

I am not saying that there is any religion in the world as united as we are. Christianity broke the record and Judaism, let's not go there. But Islam is supposed to be different. We are the newest and most recent of all. Why can't we set the example? Are we not aware of the ayah:

"And let there arise from you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong"?

I am talking to everyone in this ummah: You don't have to wear the niqab. You don't have to force your female relatives to wear it. But you have to support it. You have to.

I miss you guys!!

2009-09-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ya Allah, I was checking my e-mail every 5 days in Ramadan and apart from that, I almost forgot my blogging password!! I fasted from food, drink, and media this month. It was the best month ever! i was soo tempted to write about everything but it took all my strength to not waste my time on this shaytan (A.K.A. PC). Taraweeh was just amazing (as usual). Suhoor in the masjid tasted better than any meal I ate, because Allah put barakah in that biryani (Why do indo/paks always put their food?). Most of the time, i was too occupied with laughing from happiness and crying from many many things to be able to describe it. I realized what an important part of my life blogging was.

I lost contact with the world. In this blessed month, I started school. I am in ninth grade but am taking college classes all the time. I am currently trying to start an MSA in the college. If anyone has any experience, help is appreciated! I have no idea why they are asking for my social security number!

I have lots of homework though (putting quran before essays makes you spend your eid in an Algebra book-not a good idea). I am seriously the only person in the world that has to spend eid doing math homework. The essays are okay I guess. Blogging has helped me write better, alhamdulillah.

Anyways, I have a lot to reflect on but no time to do so. I do have one advice though. Ramadan taught me this:

Remember that you will die.....

May Allah bless us with a happy ending to a happy life. Ameen.

organize your sleeping patterns!

2009-08-21T00:21:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu allahi wa barakatuhu

ok, so i didn't write in here for a loooong time. but i sort of have an excuse: RAMADAN!! (and the fact that my grandma just came :)

subhanallah, so many things to do and so little time to do them. that's one of the signs of the day of judgement, i believe, if that hadith is sahih.

subhanallah, there is no baraka in my time. to the extent that i have to stay awake until 12:30 am to blog. find me one 14-year-old in this world that can't find the time to blog!! This also ruins the sleeping pattern i worked so hard to perfect. i decided i will shape my life to be very similiar to the life of the prophet salla allahu alaihi wa sallam (may we see him in our dreams). here what i try to do. wake up an hour or half before fajr to make qiyam ul layl and pray to Allah. I used to really think this impossible, until i did istikharah and started sleeping early. anyway, if you feel exhausted that night, you are not alone. the prophet (S) ordered his companions (RA) to lie down until they gain their strength. then get up again and try. shaitan will be long gone by then.
then when fajr comes, pray it RIGHT AWAY. do not do like me and try to wake up your entire family. by the time the group of sleepy-eyed siblings walk in, there are minutes more to shurooq.

then read quran. your mind is so fresh in the morning, you can finish the quran memorization! This is the best time. then if you really feal exhausted, sleep for two hours but try no more. the prophet used to always sleep for about half-an-hour after Duhr. If you can wait until then, that is the best time. there is hikmah in that, that's the hottest part of day! when you wake up you will have already finished your quran and still feel fresh. remember Allah all through the day of course, and sleep after Isha'. It is narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhari that the prophet used to hate sleeping before Isha' (like late afternoon and maghrib) and hated talking after that.

"Verily in the messenger of Allah you have a good example for him who looks unto Allah and the last Day, and remembers Allah much." Holy Qur'an 33 : 21

I'm back!! Home sweet home!

2009-08-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum my beloved siblings

I'm really happy to be home. i discovered one very important thing right now from my sister, Veiled Knight. Exactly 2 minutes ago, she kindly mentioned that we didn't actually go to San Francisco. It turned out we went to Kelseyville (if you never heard of it, nor did i)! But it was nice alhamdulillah. We went tubing, attempted water-skiing (which requires a lot of muscles) and rode a Jet Ski for the first time in my life. I also discovered that Kelseyville does NOT have satellite signals!! Arnold Schwarzenagger (if that's how you spell it) should seriously aim some of the state's funds towards buliding more satellites. lol.

I really wanted to go to Misr (a.k.a. Egypt) this summer but my grandmother is coming instead. Alhamdulillah for everything.

i would love to right-oops, write-more but I haven't prayed Duhr yet. Gotta pray.

salamz
be with god. he's always with you.

San Francisco-here i come!!

2009-07-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum my dear brothers and sisters:

I will, insha'allah, be in S.F. for the next week. Might not find internet there (not that S.F. is that old). forgive me if i dont write soon

A response to my sister's comments

2009-07-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum

My wonderful preteen sister, Veiled Knight, wrote a post about how we went tubing. But she like, always exaggerates!! plus, i had more experience!!

I fell in the ICE-COLD (it was very warm actually) water TWICE!!! You see, i got this islamic swimsuit from my beloved country, Misr, unlike my sister who still wears and drowns from abayas whenever we go somewhere. My swim suit is black with white flowers which actually looks nice. Anyway, the problem in it is that it doesn't cover your feet as well (im paranoid about men seeing my feet). So i had to wear socks. I wore white ones-bad idea. They apparently grow in size rapidly and the elastic got messed up. Very embarrassing. I almost lost it!!!

So we wrode in this tube where three people sit next to each other. Connect it to a launch with a looong rope and its so frightening. It was between 30-40 miles per hour, but that can be petrifying!

After falling two times, we investigated and found that the knot was tied wrong!! anyways, muslims having FuN!!

People were staring at me as i went zooming past-astaghfirullah, i even felt like showing off!!! and i never show off in front of non-muslims!!

well, that's it for today. Gotta go to sleep....or waste my time watching harry potter the 5th. one of them. May allah help me and all the muslims in the ummah to use our time wisely. Perhaps we wouldn't be so stereo-typed if we worked more and talked less. See. im just talking. Salam.

Be with God. He's always with you!!

The debate on Music...continued

2009-07-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu allah,

I just wanted to add that Islam does not forbid FUN !!!! The prophet was always smiling and laughing (though he never made sounds while laughing).

Here are some ahadith about duff, which is similiar to a drum (but there is a difference).

It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) entered upon her and there were two girls with her during the days of Mina beating the daff, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was covering himself with his garment. Abu Bakr rebuked them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) uncovered his face and said, “Leave them alone, O Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.” That was during the days of Mina.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 944; Muslim, 892

It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh ibn ‘Afra’ said: “After the consummation of my marriage, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came and sat on my bed as far from me as you are sitting now, and our little girls started beating the daff and reciting verses mourning my father, who had been killed in the battle of Badr. One of them said, ‘Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.’ On that the Prophet said, ‘Omit this (saying) and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4852)

It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I vowed that if Allaah brought you back safe and sound, I would beat the daff before you and sing. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then do it, otherwise do not do it.’” So she started to beat the daff, and Abu Bakr came in whilst she was doing so. Then ‘Ali came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Uthmaan came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Umar came in and she threw the daff beneath her and sat on it. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The Shaytaan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar. I was sitting and she was beating the daff, then Abu Bakr came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Ali came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Uthmaan came in when she was beating the daff, but when you came in, O ‘Umar, she put the daff down.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3690; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2913.

very interesting-muslims, have fun the halal way.

Be with God. He's always with you.

Can you please turn that down? I can't hear myself!!

2009-07-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum.
Bismillah.

There are few things in this world sadder than when a sin becomes the normal. That's what happened to music. Music had always been haram (I researched this). At the time of the prophet, it was never reported that anyone made music halal from the sahabah and there was never any disagreement about its hurmah (coming from the word "haram"). This continued to be the case until a muslim scholar named Ibn Hazm made halal most types of instruments. This is when all the disagreements started (Why do Muslims always disagree?).

Here is some backround information. Ibn Hazm was born in the year 456 AH. That is exactly 433 years after the passing away of the prophet. So supposedly, for 433 years, no one knew that music was halal until Ibn Hazm came along and discovered that music is halal. I have nothing but respect for this scholar and don't get me wrong, he's a great guy. I am just trying to make it clear that Ibn Hazm did not have the authority to make music halal. This is because Ibn Hazm was never a scholar of hadith and only those who studied ahadith can differentiate between what is halal and haram. According to islamworld.net, it was Ibn Hazm that said, 'Every hadeeth related (prohibiting music and singing) is false and forged." Tell me, would you rather listen to music because one scholar (unqualified) made some of it halal? Knowing that no other scholar at his time made music halal.

People, fear Allah. Just because EVERYBODY listens to music nowadays (and btw, not evrybody listens to music) that doesn't mean it is halal now. Islam is not altered by those who follow it but by He who made it for mankind to follow.

Here in the west, most people are drunk by 11:59 pm friday. Does that make consuming wine halal? [Though I am sure the way we are headed, someone is bound to get up soon and make that halal too] Please, be proud of the religion you selected for yourself. You weren't forced into Islam, you chose it. So why choose a religion that you want to change?

I plan to continue this so wait patiently, and hopefully any other myths will be cleared. Please keep in mind that Allah Created Me, and any creation has flaws. If you find a mistake, kindly point it out. :) :) :)

Be with God. God's always with you.

Dissapointment

2009-07-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Alrahman Alraheem

Sisters and brothers
Ladies and gentlemen
Women and men
Grandmas and grandpas
Boys and girls
Muslims and non-Muslims:

I am dissapointed in myself. Like really. What's the point of having a blog if you barely write in it every month? My sister and I were competing for publicity, but I guess it's not much of a competition anymore. Don't believe me? Check out Veiled Knight's blog!! I generally don't have any jealosy from anyone except if that person is ahead of me in terms of the akhirah. I do however envy V.K. for her determination to write consistently. Wait, is jealousy haram? Well, astaghfirullah, J.I.C. (just in case). If you happen to know whether or not jealousy is haram and happen to have a source for that, please let me know. It will benefit all who reads it.

Plus, I have one more request. If I don't write a post in more than 3 days, please comment or send me an e-mail @ AllahCreatedMe@yahoo.com. Yell and shout if necessary. Remind me of the importance of consistency. Well, I guess that's all for today.

Be with god. God's Always with you.

My garage sale is doing great except for the "sale" part

2009-07-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum sisters (and brothers i guess)

I am currently reporting from a garage sale, my quran teacher's laptop in my lap, awaiting any customers. If you read my blog consistently and live anywhere near the state of california, can you please stop by the garage sale at Baloney street (lol, thats not the real name!) anytime until four!! I need customers, urgently!! My fellow blogger and sister, VeiledKnight, is by my side, as desperate as I am to get rid of a lot of unnecessary objects found in our home. My quran teacher is moving to Egypt (tears tears tears :( i hope not forever) so she's trying to sell evrything in her house. She kindly gave me her laptop (and saved (thank god she brought her laptop).
Selling objects can be very destructive. They also tend to not really sell anything. Like for example, this drunk lady just came and I couldn't really understand what she was saying. It was all "blah,blah, grr, blah, he he he". That's why people should not drink alcohol!! Alhamdulillah, it is haram to drink wine and liquor in Islam but all those non-muslims who get drunk on weekly or daily basis: be careful, your life is in danger! Everyone already knows all the cons of alcohol so i'm not gonna bore anyone with all the facts. Alcohol also puts other people's lives in danger. Like a drunk person who tries to get something from a garage sale. Seriously!! i know it's the 4th of July but don't you have better stuff to do in your life.

okay, im getting off track so im gonna stop talking about alcohol. Main point, garage sales are dangerous. Plus, garage sales are a waste of time. I have been here for four and a half hours already and i haven't made much money yet. Actually, it seems the American population is unaware of the word "sale". "I'll get this for one dollar," says a man holding up a sewing machine for 16 dollars!! The point of a sale is to make money, much less lose 15 dollars. Oooh, here comes another potential customer!! Wait, didn't that guy already stop here 4 times? oh whatever. The battery is dying so I am forced to depart with this laptop. Good bye my dear friend....

Why it really isn't nice to stare at people

2009-06-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum,

I'm sorry i write so inconsistently....get used to it, I don't change that easily. Anyways, I am having a hard time accepting that some non-muslims just don't understand what's wrong with staring at people. And of all people, Americans always stare at me. Seriously!! Men, women, boys, girls, seniors, and even the cute baby standing behind me in Safeway! God! Look, I'm sorry I'm talking this way but I decided that perhaps if I start speaking out about it, 10 years from now when I'm all famous and stuff and everyone's reading my terrific blog, the stares will decrease in quantity. You know what really hurts? It's like just because you wear a hijab (scarf) on your head, you're not human anymore. Everyone can stare at you. But you can't stare back. This really old lady once almost dropped her shopping bags when she saw me. That caught me by surprise because come on, the older the wiser, right? Well, I'm looking at her trying to figure out what's wrong, and she notices I'm looking. So she gets this really scared look on her face and takes off!! I didn't know she could run so fast!

And you know, this other time, at this check-out line, a 5 or 6-year old was standing there, just staring with his mouth wide open. And then, when my mom finished paying and we're leaving, I hear that little boy, "Mom, what is that??" Like I was an alien that didn't belong there.

But these are just the nice people. There are some really subjected people that think it's okay to swear at Muslims and it hurts. Really. I think that is how I first learned about the f-word. and I don't even know why he called me that.

And finally, there are that people that think "Oh she's a muslim, she can't speak English". I go up to the lady at the check-out counter (all my luck happens at the check-out counter) and that next minute, she's talking rrreeally ssllooow. I get impatient and annoyed and she thinks I cant comprehend even that so she starts doing sign language!! You know what? Just because I am an Arab and you probably heard me talk in Arabic to my mom, that doesn't mean I don't speak English too.

Look, main point, if you are a non-muslim who happens to stare at Muslims, can you please stop that? If you want to learn more about Islam and Muslims, you should contact one by talking-not by staring. If you really want answers, walk up to any Muslim and ask. We speak English, you know....

A bunch of topics

2009-06-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum:

How do you know if you love Allah? I mean, really. How do you know if you love His messenger? If you love him enough? Or wait...maybe the question should be: how do you know if they love you enough? ok, you know what...I'm not sounding right. I'm usually pretty good at expressing myself through writing, but something's seriously up with this blog.

I guess I'm really annoyed at how inconsistant I write. Or how I'm not really writing about the things i want to. I want to write about how much I want to go to Makkah. How annoyed I am at the Americans that hate me even though they don't know me. At all the wars around the world-the ones that make me feel like I am dying. Slowly, but surely. The brother in Iraq is my hand. The sister in Palestine, my lungs. The mother in Afghanistan, my eyes. When they die, so do I.

I feel so useless. Like, what can I do? Correction: What should I do? And when? When I go to Egypt (where I plan to live as soon as I turn 18,btw) I feel that we American Muslims are so spoiled. It was in Egypt that I first cried for the dead around the world. It was in Egypt that I first started to pray at night. To cry at night. To humble myself, instead of always seeking more. and more. It was in Egypt that I started to realize the power of charity.

You know here in California, I walk into the masjid, right up to the donation box, and Blink! There goes my quarter (I usually give more than that, but I like the word "blink!" and dollar bills don't make any sounds). I used to feel happy. YAY!! I just helped "the masjid renovation/paying-all-the-bills-that-the-masjid-gets committee". But I can never see my money helping anyone. I used to blame myself for not feeling excitement at helping pay the electricity bills, but it was in the busy streets of Cairo that I realized the truth. The happiness that comes with charity is in the eyes of a homeless boy, fed after days. The eyes of an orphan girl, finally able to get the medicine she needs.
Allah is merciful, you get the reward in the dunya and akhirah.

If you are sad one day, mourning over a fateful experience you just had, go outside and put a dollar in the hands of one who needs you. You will be the richest person on Earth!

The Fairness of Life

2009-06-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum,

People always say that life is unfair. I disagree. Life is fairer than half of the mankind that have it. By life, I am referring to what happens to us in it. As in, Allah. Allah is the most just and there is no injustice that can happen....without good coming out of it. I used to believe that in life, you suffer. In after-life, you take revenge. I know realize that you suffer in both. You get revenge in both too.

No one has ever hurt me in any way except that Allah (SWT) rewarded me because of it. I am a little sad now. If Allah rewards me for everything in life, what happens when I die? I am really sad now. I hope I don't go to Hell. Allah, may I never even have to see it. I wish the same for you.

Uniting the Slaves of God Under God

2009-06-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I love God. So do many of mankind. So join me as I remind the world of who's truly up there. The saddest thing in the world is to be created by someone and live your life not knowing it.