Lectures In Sign Language: Foreign & Amazing

(My post before this event, http://hudawritess.blogspot.com/2012/06/deaf-muslims-are-blessed.html)

 Today for the first time in my life & maybe for the first time in a Northern NJ Masjid,  I heard a lecture by Nashiru Abdulai who is the president of globaldeafmuslim.org.

And Nashiru cant hear me, and he was using a language that was very foreign to me and my Masjid....he was using sign language...and it was one of the most amazing/inspiring lectures I have ever attended!

Although we both cannot hear one another, just like Allah whom you do not hear, the communication and realtionship is still there and it is strong, SubhanAllah. 

You dont have to hear one another to love one another. Think of the babies you meet, does this baby understand you when you speak? Dont you love this baby more than anyone else, and yet you dont really "hear" the baby speak, but being around them brings this smile to your face... (I meet an adorable baby today also and the sheikh thought she was my daughter lol!)She also put a smile on my face..my next goal is to meet a blind Muslim!!

This is how I felt when I meet Antia who also speaks a language that is very foreign to me, but speaking to her was a conversation better then speaking with one who speaks of vain talk...the greatest understanding me and my friend Diana had with Antia was not expressed through  words, but rather through smiles..just like that of the baby which keeps you smiling all day long for no reason subhanAllah.

I think we should always have people like Nashiru speak more often in our Masjids.

It may be that people like Nashiru  can inspire and enlighten the crowd  in a way the sheikhs are unable to do so.  Whats I found interesting is that Nashiru is my neighbor (lives in the next town over) and I have never seen him before in my neigborhood because the over 1o masjids in the Northern NJ area have not been able to provide translations for his langauge, but I have hope inshallah that soon people like Nashiru will be the keynote speakers of many future lectures and Muslim events in NJ.

http://thedeenshow.com/watch/2488/sharing-the-deen-with-the-deaf
Nashiru on the Deen Show!

The last time I felt excited about meeting someone was when I meet Sr.Taybah
(the mother of 3daughters who are fighting MPS- helpourgirls.com)

I want to end this post with one of my recitations, Surah Al Rahman - and there are captions availble!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R_cpybp7bs

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? Surat AlRahman 13

Obama And Change

President Barack Obama states, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.” I seek to redefine the image of Muslim-American women, just as Barack Obama has redefined the image of African-Americans. I am concerned about the negative stereotypes people hold of Muslim women. I will take advantage of the freedom and great opportunities I have been given. I hope that my choice of attending university will present a positive counter image to the prevailing stereotypes.”

As I look back at this personal statement I wrote three years ago upon applying for colleges, I have no doubt that I have overcome this personal challenge of dealing with negative stereotypes. Through my interpersonal skills, and overall positive presentation of myself, I have been able to prove the medias image of Muslims as false. I have grown into a person who has been able to change the perception people have about Muslims. I can have anyone testify to this at New Jersey City University from students, to Professors, Student Government members, to my co-workers and supervisors at the office of Campus Life, and Admissions, to my mentor Vice Presdient of Student Affairs, Dr. John Melendez.  I have achieved my goal of   “To present a positive counter image to the prevailing stereotypes” through a good presentation of my own self.

 I finally realized the meaning of the quote I used three years ago in my personal statement, “We are the change we seek”. And subhnallah, Allah already has said this,

“Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition” Holy Quran 13:11

Deaf Muslims Are Blessed!

Imagine this Ramadan you couldnt hear the Quran reciation for tarweeh anymore because you lost your hearing. Imagine you couldnt hear the Quran again or ever? You deny the opportunties you have to listen to it, while there are deaf Muslims who cannot hear it. Yet they have a blessing you dont have they understand even though you do not. They feel the spirtutality of feeling close to Allah while you think you are blessed and you feel bad for them. Dont feel bad for them because although  they may be deaf in this world, there are those who hear but they are the ones who truly deaf, subhnallah,

May Allah protect us from this type of deafness!

And when our verses are recited to him, he turns away arrogantly as if he had not heard them, as if there was in his ears deafness. So give him tidings of a painful punishment" 31:7

"And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)." Holy Quran 41:5

This video takes  you into the journey of the  Deaf Umrah trip in 2011...just watching what they say shows you how blessed they are. I think I want to have my first umrah trip with them!! Think about this, they dont worry about thier umrah not being accepetd because of a tongue that gossiped, or a tongue that spoke foul words when angry... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JGRYg6B-_g&feature=related

I came across this video, after looking into the "Quran for the Deaf" fundraisng event at ICPC this Saturday...all I have to say is if you dont contribute or at least attend this event you are a fool, and I feel bad for you!www.globaldeafmuslim.org  donate here to the next major dawah project!

 I never realized the need for this!

The next step is a Masjid dedicated to Deaf Muslims! I can imagine this happening in NJ...inshallah!!

Go Outside & Contemplate

After hearing these ayas so many times, I finally found the location in the Quran.....

this is one of my favorite ayas to listen to when driving and contemplating upon nature....amazing!

Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for those of understanding- 3:190

Pickthall

Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding,

Sahih International

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.

Those who remember Allah always, and in prayers, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created

(all) this without purpose, glory to You! 

 Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire" -3:191

These ayas are basically telling us we have to contemplate , so yes go to these nice parks, beaches, and contemplate, and  say what is said in these ayas,

"Rabbana ma khalaqta hatha batilan subhanakafaqina AAathaba annar"

"Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You!  Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire" 3:191

Benefits of Volunteering

In todays Islam ElFahymoui lecture he said,

"When someone asks you for help, look at this opprtunity as a blessing from Allah"

AlhumdAllah I had the blessing of always being able to volunteer at various events including

Islamic Relief events with various famous Muslims such as Hanan Turk and Mustfah Hosny

 (I lovvveee this guy!) ,Maher Zain orphans concert, Smiles orphans fundraiser, Cairs banquet, and others I cant remeber....

I came up with a list of the benefits of volunteering

1. Meeting other cool Muslims who have the same interests as you-  (other volunteers)

2. Volunteering is always fun, funner then siting down doing nothing as an attendee..

3.Networking - your volunteering can lead to meeting professionals who have opportunities for you

4.You meet Muslim celebrities LOL, and you get photos with them!

5.Free admissions to expensive events you cant afford, and free foooood

And finally a benefit that is priceless in the next world, Allah is rewarding you!!!

Any money fundraised  or anything you do you get rewarded Inshallah!!

 

Prayer: Tasting The Sweetness

When I taste the sweetness of prayer I just want to stay in that prayer longer subhnAllah. I love when I feel the sakinah(tranquality) of salat, it ussually happens in Ramadan and in the Masjid (esp when the iman has an amazing voice!!!). Today I felt it and I wanted to stay standing longer, I wanted the sheikh to contunie reciting the Quran I was wishing it was Ramadan so the prayer can be longer, and then I remebered the following aya (not exctally but similiar one cant find it),

Sahih International

And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur'an increases them in humble submission.

Muhsin Khan

And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility.

They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility. 17:109

If you can do this in your prayer you feel like you have achievd a piece of alnafs almutmaa
(the peaceful soul descirbed in the last ayas of Surat Al Fajr)

I see why there is much benefit in praying in jamaah (toghther) and in the masjid 
you do feel a differnce!

May Allah grant me many days in which I can pray in the
Masjid and feel the peace, and sakinah!

Now I understand the Prophet statetment:

Get up, Bilal, and give us comfort by the prayer

Ibn Al-Qayyim said with regards to what one should do to cure his weak Iman using the Quran, "First you should remove your heart from the life of this world and settle it in the Last Life. Then, pay your full attention to pursuing the meanings of the Quran, and try to comprehend and understand them and what they were sent down to accomplish. Then, offer these meanings to the sickness that your heart feels, and when they touch the disease, they will cure the heart, Allah willing."

Hayat -Root Word Haya

Hayat Aldunya-
I thought about the word hayat al dunya (wordly life) this and how the word 'Hayat-life" comes from "Haya".

I google the term to see if my idea made sense..and I came acorss the following blog in which the author states,

Haya’ comes from hayat (life). It is that which keeps you ethically and spiritually alive. Just like a body gets its value from being alive, the spirit, soul, character and person gets their value from having haya’. Haya’ covers a large number of concepts which are to be taken together: amongst them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness, and scruple, etc. Words that encompass aspects of haya’: shame, humility, self-respect, honor, bashfulness, shyness

The reality of haya’ is that it is that trait which motivates you to do what is good. That same trait discourages you from doing anything shameful. It is the one quality that make Muslims stand out.


I never really understood the hadith: Haya is a part of faith

The more I learn about this term haya, the more I understand the improtance of it and how it is not just a matter of acting "modest" in front of the opposite gender...this word encompasses much more then that..

E.Fahymoui Lecture Notes: BaytulMamur

Todays lecture was a focus on the Prophets Isra wa AlMarj night journey.

As always Islam Fahymoui takes your mind away with something new and amazing

I found the part about the "Baytul Almamuyr" Allahs House in Jannah to be the most interesting part of todays lecture...

Dr.Islam said, While the Prophet was taken to the 7th Heaven he saw Prophet Ibrahim relaxing near the "bayatlmamaur-Allahs house in the 7th Heaven".This is the same size of the house of Allah in the heavens  and it is excatlly equivalent to the Kaba in Makah!As we make tawaaf on earth, the angels make tawaf in baytulamur.

The Prophet says,
"There (7th Heaven) I met and greeted Abraham who said, 'You are welcomed O son and a Prophet.' Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (Allah's House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).' Then I was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha ( tree in the seventh heaven)"
  

Subhnallah!! I never knew about this "baytulamamur". This just makes me more excited to go visist Allahs House! Inshallah in this dunya, and in the next life!

He also said Prophet Ibrahim represents the Prophet who suffered in the dunya (earth) but is enjoying the Paradise. When Allah took Prophet Muhmmad onto this journey, the Prophet was in his year of sorrow, that year both his favorite uncle, and wife had passed away, and he was greatly humiliated and stoned while calling people to Allah.  The purpose of the journey was so the Prophet would feel honored and not feel sad, it is only for short time he must bear with his hardships but his final destination will be like that of Prophet Ibrahim.


Allah showed Prophet Muhammad a great sign,

He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord

-Surat AlNajm 18 (which is also about the journey)

 http://quran.com/53

Allah is giving us sighns everday, you have to be patient and show shukr (gratefulness) and Allah will show you His sighns. You will see His signs if you have yaqyn (certianity in Allah) and if you notice this pattern of being tested with hardships which bring you closer to Allah then know that you are on the path of the Prophets. Prophet Ibrahim asked Allah for sighns.


After this journey, Abu Bakr recieved the name Alsidiq( The truthful one) because when the Prophet returned people did not beleive he went on this journey, but Abu Bakr did. He truly beleived in
"We hear and we obey" (Surat AlBaqrahs theme).

Heres the full hadith in which the Prophet explains his full journey
 http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/isra/Israa_Miraj_Hadith.shtml

And finally he wanted us to watch this YouTube video which is about how the Kabah is the golden ratio, and center of the world (Scintific proof!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zUWMCJTnE

Call Me Princess! The Status of Women In Islam

As I think about the status women have in Islam one word comes to mind: Princess! (in a non spoiled matter lol)

A Princess and Prince can only exist if the rules of the King are truly followed!

Allah is the King!

Yup, because if you got the real Muslim men taking care of you

(Dad, and inshallah husband) you will be treated as a Princess!

A Princess Does Not Have To Work!-Financial

As I think about women who have to work to earn money, I think of how Islam has made it an obligation upon men to take care of thier women financially...does this not sound like a Princess status? Im on that on princess status humdallah, I work because I want to help , but my father knows that he must always provide me with what I need because he understood Islam. This does not mean Muslim women are spoiled and must take all of thier families money! Allah has put limits, and the man should only spend of what he can afford,

“Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah has given him” Holy Quran 65:7

We get money at the very start!- Mahr

Some women complain about men who make the women pay for the first date, Islam expects men to pay for everything from day one! This all begins with the very first gift the man must give his princess, its called the Mahr-dowry

“And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart” -Holy Quran 4:4

A Real Princess Doesnt Give Men the Chance To Disrespect her!-Hijab

My princess status doesnt stop at wealth, it goes beyond, the Mulsim men in my life have another obligation, they must respect me and treat me as something special and pure, and that is why they should love to see me in hijab. The hijab should be seen as a beauty to them because they see a princess wrapped all up waiting for her prince charming to come and treat her like a wife not another girl to mess with,

or someone just to play around with!

Think about it, did you ever see a Princess who finds it okay with "getting hit on?" does she not expect men to treat her with status, respect and dignity?

Only A Princess has secuirty guards!-Prince Protection

When a Princess goes out, does she not have some type of security guard guarding her?Men in Islam are seen as the security guards of women! I dont see this as degrading to women, but I see this as an honor!

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means” Holy Quran 4:34

A Whole Chapter in the Holy Quran For Her!-Surat Al-Nisa

What other book dedicates a whole chapter of verses about women?

The Holy Quran has a chapter titled "The Women" AlNisa! 176 verses long

http://quran.com/4

A Whole Paragraph For The Princess! -Prophets Last Sermon!!

Only the Prophet Muhmad, included the improtance of treating women like a princess in his last sermon...a whole paragraph dedicated to us!!

http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/lastserm.HTM

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

Praying In The Rain

You know how couples want to "kiss in the rain" I want to pray in the rain..sometimes when its raining  and I am praying, and I can hear the rain I get this cool calming feeling, and today I thought to myself how amazing it would be to pray in the

rain with my habibi in front of me, leading the prayer.

 

Mashallah, this year New Jersey has been getting alot of rain, although we may get annoyed from it sometimes, we are fools for complaning, because the duaa is answered in the rain.