Private Messages:From Allah To You

"Good reminders ussually hit you in the heart, as if they were meant for you.

As if Allah just sent you a private message to awaken your heart" <3

This has to be one of my favorite quotes, I memorized it, and I try to apply it to my life all the time, I feel like im always experiencing what is descirbed in this quote. I commented on this quote on my old blog, and I want to write a new story about it.

It seems like every time I have a problem, Allah places me in the "right place at the right time". Ill end up in a lecture discussing exctally what I am feeling, and the solution I need. It is an answer to my duaa, and sometimes I dont even make duaa but Ill still find myself with a
solution-answer-message-reminder.Humdallah!!!

So remember Me; I will remember you.

 And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. 2:152

I have so many stories to tell of this quote, but I will talk about todays Jumaah, and last jumaah.

Last jumaah, I went to pray in Jersey City, I was undecided on where to go, but I went there...

I dont recall what the jumaah was about (and thats why I always wonder if we can take notes!) but all I know is right after I was telling my friends 'HE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS" I was so excited and I thought of this quote =D

Today I went to Hackensak for jumaah, to give out fliers about some Islamic Relief event, I usually dont go  there much because the arabic of the shiekh is a little more difficult to understand, but today they had like this amazing english speaking sheikh!

His lecture was about "Ihsan" and how the best dawah is thorugh ihsan-good manners and kindness..he also said the word "Silent Dawh" all I can think is I thought I made that term up!

He also said, "Let them know the Commander before the commandments"

He also said something beautiful which made me realize what I was doing was wrong... 'Almumin (beleiever) has to be easy with people"..it sounded better in arabic, but basically the true believer is the one who people get along with easily...

Prior to the khutbah, I was in a argument with a friend, I really hate not talking with someone, and even if I feel they should be the one to apologize somehow I always end up texting/calling first, its like something I see as weak in myself, but at the same time I thank Allah for this, so guess what I did after jumah? I texted the girl who in my opnion was suppose to call back because she told me two days before that when I called to speak about the issue we were arguing about she said "Leave me alone, I dont wana talk now, im busy, ill talk to you later".

 One thing that gets me upset is these words, "Leave me alone" because isolation from the problem is never the solution and "Im busy" because this is just a rude way of saying yah I dont wana talk to you.

She never called back, and I thought to myself "I will not call bak!" but humdallah for this lecture which made me realize the importance of ihsan, it was truly a "private message from Allah" for me to turn back and contact this person.

I texted her the following :

" Three things are noble acts for this world and the hereafter: forgiving one who has oppressed you, joining one who has cut off from you, and being patient when you are treated out of ignorance"

Humdalllh she answered like two minutes later, and as a joke I asked if she was waiting for the three day period to contact me again, she said she was going to text me today after work.

One quote I wrote when I was upset, was this

"No matter what you do people never change and they keep on repeating the same mistakes, but that is why I must remind myself that only Allah is perfect and that the Prophet always forgave"

And my other message from Allah today, again answering my feelings was one I came across from Yasmin Moghed she writes,

"I'm sitting at the airport, waiting to board, en route to the holiest place on earth. Parting advice to you and myself:

Let go of your grudges. Let the bitterness die tonight. Make a decision today that it's time to move on. And begin again. New, this time. Never forget that what has passed you by was never meant to befall you. And what has befallen you, was never meant to pass you by. Know that sometimes Allah withholds from you, in order to give you something better. Keep your heart focused on Him, and He will take care of the rest. And remember: you will stumble, but that’s part of the path. Keep going. Keep rising, and refuse to give up."

Gratitude to Allah & Others

Gratitude is an important charcterstic of the Muslim , even Allah SWT constantly mentions in that Quran that

It is Allah who made for you the night that you may rest therein and the day giving sight. Indeed, Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most of the peoplearenot grateful.-Holy Quran 40:61

...most surely Allah is Gracious to people, but most people are not grateful.

-Holy Quran 2:243

How  do you expect people to be grateful to you as a person, when they have not been grateful to Allah?Subhnallah interesting, I love how the Quran has a example to everything

And indeed We have put forth every kind of example in this Quran, for mankind. But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.

-Surat AlKhaf :54

So dont worry when people are not grateful to you, but dont ever forget to be grateful to Allah...but dont forget what the Prophet taught,

"Whoever doesnt thank the people, does not thank Allah"

Two Cermonies Today-Inspiration

Today  I attended two inspiring events. I attended the NJIT Graduation, which made me proud to see lots of Hijabis, and Muslim Male names on the list, and then my own Honors Induction Cermony, where I was the only hijabi out of like 60 students.

I gotta admit two ceremonies in one day is alot! I dont suggest it, lol...

I think this post goes along with the post before this about my academic/career goals..The field I want to enter- Higher Education Administration, is lacking in Muslims, especially Hijabis...

I have a goal that inshallah one day students will award me a reward similar to this one:

This whole ceremony was based on the "Soceity of Leadership and Success" which helped us develop goals and strategies to achieve our goals, and stregthen our leadership skills. It was helpful, but I prefer Eslam Faymoui style strategies lol

My Personal Dunya Goals: E.ElFaymoui Lecture Notes

Theres nothing wrong with having success in this dunya... I have some goals I want to achieve Inshallah..I will do this through aslasbab-effort and tawkul-trust in Allah

Eslam Elfayhoumis lecture was about this topic : Trusting in Allah but also putting effort
he said,

"Pre-requisites to get the help of Allah you have to put effort first"

Do everything in your power to get what you seek, if you prepare correctly you will get it.

If you want something good in this dunya then put forth towards it.

Istkhara is a form of tawkal, you dont pray it with doubts.

Tawkal is not the idea of giving up, it is a proactive attuide. It is the attuide of 'Il will go full esteem ahaed and I will not worry.

Takwal is you push forward all you have and if there are roadblocks dont worry. Allah opens up the way for those who have yaqn (Certanity).


As Allah is guiding you He will give you sighns, these signns will boost the feeling of "Tamata Alqulb" (the aya that only in the remembrance of Allah will the hearts find rest). This feeling will only be given to those who have tawkul and yaqyn..

Everything is possible but you have to put effort just like Mariam when she shook the tree!

I also heard at another lecture that "Whatever you intend Allah will give you that which you intended"Subhanllah...so it all begins with YOU.


My thoughts...
First off I love the aya, about "Alaa badhhikr Allah tatamat al qulb" as I mentioned in other posts, and I even have a posting of that aya. I always wondered what is needed to get to this beautiful state of mind, so this part of the  lecture gave me a great feeling of excitement. Inshallah we are all close or already in this state.

I think one of the best ways to achieve your goals is to actually write them and plan them, but keep in mind Allah is the best of planners, so you can plan one way, but you will get there in another.
Most people think of academic/career goals. Mine is to become a Higher Education Administrator. I want to continue for my masters, and my highest goal is my dr degree...I never really thought of going that far until I wrote this post! Inshallah if Allah wills I can do it, but I also have to put all the efforts necessary and have tawkul..

My Janzah-Prepartion For A Real Event.

People prepare for weddings and hardly ever prepare for funerals -Ammar Poetry

We plan for fairytale weddings, dream jobs, graduation events and our kids names (See post before this), and everything else, but we are not guaranteed any of these moments in life...

One thing we are all guaranteed of is our death; no one cann deny that this event has not been written into thier account.

The title of this post brings lots of fear, but its reality. Subhnallah...

We are sure this day will come but what have we done to prepare? Have we put in the same efforts we put into finding a spouse, or completing a degree?  Have we done all we can so that this will be the most perfect moment in our life, just as we picture our weddings to be ? Or have we simply put this idea aside because its not really something we want to face.

How many people do you plan or did you plan on inviting to your wedding, or your gradution?

 Alot huh?

How many people did you invite to your janzah? When a person dies can they invite you to thier janzah? No right? So how do you get your janzah to have alot of people and blessings? You do indirect invitations when your alive by being kind to everyone, so once you die inshallah you wont need to have invtations, and your janzah will be as full as the eid prayer.Amennn

Plan your janzah as if it is your wedding, because if you do it right, your janzah can also be a form of celbration: A celebration, because you will finally be with Allah...Inshallah!

Do this by alwaiz being in the state of submission...

 O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims  (in submission to Him).-3:102

I love hearing this duaaa on Quran CD

... . Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders). 3:193

Baby Names-From E.Fahymouis Lecture

If Allah gives me kids (inshallah) I want to name them based on the terms I am learning about in Eslam Elfahymouis lecture series...funny huh?

I bet you never heard of a kid named, Yaqyn or Tawkul or Sabr or Shukr!

http://hudawritess.blogspot.com/2012/04/efahyomui-lecture-notes-in-diagrams.html

1. Yaqyn -it means Certainty in the belief in Allah...I always said I would name my kid "Yasin" but yayn is cool and different..hahahaa maybe Ill have twins and I can name them Yasin and Yaqyn..twins do run in my family! My dad was a twin, and my cousins both have twins.

2. Tawakul-  Trust in Allah.. One probelm mothers have which is normal is this constant feeling of fear for thier childern. Tawkul is a essetnatial trait parents need..so call your kid tawkul and you will inshalah always be reminded of tawkul.

3. Shukr-Gratefulness...I can telll my child I am thankful for everything especialy you, and thats why I gave you this name.

4. Sabr- Patience...or Sabrun Jamloun: Beautiful Patience.. because I loveee the aya

Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment).

And my name would go along pretty well with these...

becauseee without Guidance-Huda:

 you cant have Yaqyn,Tawkal,Shukr, and Sabr! Right?

All they need is a baba with a nice first and last name that would fit the pattern.loool

I guess ima have to add "suitable names" to my criteria for suitable spouses

Haha im just kidding

=D

My criteria is as the Prophet advised us "Deen and character" and also this beautiful quote I found yesterday....my favorite part is "and looks after you for your akirkah...I never thought of this and I think its beautiful because in the end you and your spouse should both have one common goal:
Please Allah and enter Jannah toghteher...

"And We said, "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise" 2:35

"There are lots of beautiful and wonderful people in the world. Make sure you have close to you someone who is beautiful and wonderful in their intentions towards you, wanting you to be joyful and successful,  righteous, pious, and looks after you for your Akhirah, who desires that your solutions to love, contentment, success are rooted in that which is good for the soul, pleasing to the One in Who's Hand is your soul, and strives to give you the reminders of that path" - Megan Wyatt

No Clothes,Feelings of Shame:Adam & Eve

We all know about the story of Adam and Eve approaching the tree in Paradise and becoming naked because they weren't supposed to approach the tree..even people of other faiths know this common story. But why did they feel shameful when their private parts became exposed?

During todays lecture I attended, Noman Ali Khan gave us interesting details about this story, he brings Surat Al-Araf to our attention, the story of Adam and Eve and how they had shame because their clothing was removed, and the emphasis of clothing.

He says (not exact)

Allah explains the agenda of the shyatn in tricking Adam and Eve..

"Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals."-7:20

  

The shytans tactic is to get you to sin through a slow process. Just like Adam & Eve, he will come to you multiple times with waswas (his evil whisperings) until he gets you to do the wrong.

So he made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called to them, "Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?" -7:22

Allah  did not teach Adam and Eve the charcstertic of alhaya-modesty or shame...it was naturally instilled in them because as soon as their private parts were exposed they felt shameful and their natural reaction was to cover.

O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. 7:26

Allah says in this very aya, the word "Labaas" which means clothing (I never knew that!).

The shyatn doesn't want you to cover, he wants you to be shameless, and naked.  The shyatns attack of shame is what he started as the door to all evils. When shame is gone, evils come.

Make a connection to today's largest industry:pronography

Who makes up pronography ? Shameless naked people.

What does pronography lead to? You can answer that yourself.

O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. 7:26

There are two types of clothing :you have to wear clothing, and clothing of "tawaqa-righteousness which Allah descirbes as the best. Once we lose our clothes, haram-disobedience begins to occur.

Shytans attack of shame was the start of evil. The lose of shame opens the doors to evil.

O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments (clothing), to show them their private parts. Verily, he and his tribe see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) Auliya' (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not. 7:27

Allah is warning us not to fall into the same trap as our parents-Adam and Eve.

The surah continues to talk about how we should dress. There are many parts of the dress descried including, cleanliness, and simplicity-not excessive.

O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. 7:31

Read more of the surah..http://quran.com/7

Also while I writes this on the Iqraa channel the show Ask Me  A question is on and someone asked how should we dress in non-Arab Countries. The sheikh basically said we must wear clothing that is culturally acceptable in the country you live in. You dont have to make yourself stand out in a weird way, you can be conservative and still dress in a way that is acceptable where you live.For an example when you go to Madinah, the male will dress in the white thowb,it would be werid to wear jeans. Or in Africa if you dress in all black, it would be werid, because they wear bright colors, but in Dubai women will wear all black abaya and it is the cultural norm. In America you also dress in a way which is accepted, but dont forget Islamic teachings.  He said sisters can wear jeans but he emphasize lose, and he says it twice.

Heart Trembling Statement

Everytime I read this it gives me the shivers, but in a good way...great reminder! (I forgot the source, I just have written in my phone as a note).

How often is it that you disobey Me and how often I conceal your deeds and I do not expose you?

 How often I seek heartfelt tears from you borne out of fear and awe and yet your eyes remain dry?

How often I seek you to connect to Me through disobedience yet you turn away and distance yourself?

 How many blessings have I bestowed upon  you and you have yet to be thankful?

Muslim in America-A Blessing

 Does living in America prevent a Muslim from praying the five prayers on time?

Does living in a Muslim country promote a Muslim to pray all thier five prayers on time?

Do these two different environments really affect the way a Muslim acts?

 And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me.And [it is] so I may complete

My favor upon you and that you may be guided.

-Holy Quran 2:150

American Muslims have this false thought that they cannot be good Muslims due to all of this fitnah and bad environment they are living in.

Turn this thought around,and look at living in America as a blessing because every time you step out of that door you are given a chance to make dawah

Let me ask you this, are the Muslims who live in Arab/Muslim countries good Muslims because they live in a proclaimed "good" Muslim environment?

 

 

Is this the state of mind we should live in?

 

 

Dont make your environment as an excuse,there is nothing to blame expect for your own self.

 

 

An environment cannot promote or prevent a person from doing something excpet thier own will.

Everytime you have to struggle to find a place to pray Allah only
increaes you for your efforts(inshalah)

Man prays in NYC subway Mashllah

If the American-Muslim wants to pray their five prayers on a time, no matter what the circumstances is they will do it, trust me, I know people who are doing it right now. No matter where they are weather its at the workplace amongst non-Muslim coworkers, or in the University amongst the non-Muslim classmates, or amongst shoppers in the shopping mall , if the determination to pray is set in the persons mind they will pray.

Upon various vists to the Middle East, I noticed (and my friends also noticed this), the call to prayer is not always answered even though you will hear almost five adhans at the same time. These Muslims will hear these five adhans and still not get up, is this not true? Btw I am not critzing but I am trying to make a point that your environment doesnt change who you are if you dont allow it to.

Dont ever be worried about  the non-Muslims looking at you in a odd way, because you putting your foot in that sink for wudu can be the opportunity to introduce Islam. Or you asking your boss at work for a place to pray can be a chance to dialogue about Islam.

 If you are shopping at the mall and you want to pray, dont think oh where am I going to pray?

 Rather try your best to make the prayer and Allah will assit you.

One example: praying in the fitting room..or simply ask "Hey do you have a room I can pray in"?

E.Fahymoui-Tawkal Trust in Allah

Todays lecture was focused on the concept of "Tawkal" or trust in Allah.

It is the third fruit of yaqyn-certinaity (see other posts).

Tawkal is an action of the heart, do what you can (means), put your trust in Allah and dont feel worried.

The definition of tawkal in Arabic is depenidng on someone other then yourself. Islamicly it is defined by Ibn Rajab as " Depedning on Allah with your heart, in the seeking of befincial things for yourselves, and pushing away bad things from yourself."

This means, when I dont get what I want or when I cant push away what I dont like, I dont become depressed because I have tawkal.

When you dont have a proper understanding of tawkal, you will feel anxious, worried and depressed. Tawkal can only come with true yaqyn-certinaity in the beleif of Allah. Tawkal is a sign of eman-faith.

An example of not having tawkal is:

You dont pray at your job because of fear of losing your job. If you dont pray then it means you dont have tawkal in Allah who is truly the provider. You think your boss is provding you with the check, but its from Allahs rizik. You say, I will not pray because I am at work, but the money is already there, so you lose the barkah. Anything you gain during that time (which you shouldve prayed in) it is cursed.

An example of having tawkal is:

You study hard for your test= you exahust all your means, and then you depend on Allah. You dont miss jumaah because you want to study for your test, because you have tawkal.

Another example of tawkal is:

People always ask about marriage. When you pray istghara, you should feel sakinah-peace if the decision is a yes. You dont have to double check or ask your freinds to make sure it is the right choice because you are under the protection of Allah. You have tawkal in Him alone. Even if there are roadblocks, you keep trying,  contunie having tawkal, and relax.  Why are you so worried if you have tawkal? You should know that Allah has answered your istghara.

Takwal doesnt come from your salat isghara it comes from your heart. The true mumen is making tawkal constnatly even if they didnt make the prayer, because they always rember Allah, and they always ask for Allahs help through duaa.

The beleivers trust in Allah is mentioned 7 times in the Quran,

Allah says,

" And in Allah should the believers put their trust" 3:122

"And in Allah (Alone) let believers put their trust" 3:160

"And in Allah let the believers put their trust" 9:51

The critiera for belief or being a beleiver is having tawkal...

 Overall, the concept of Tawkal is mentioned many more times in the Quran...

What will those who make tawakal recieve?

Allah says,

"And put your trust in Allah, and Sufficient is Allah as a Wakil -Trustee, or Disposer of affairs" 33:3

Allah asks the rhetorical question: "Is Allah not sufficient enough for His servants?"

The Prophet says: If you depend on Allah, with the true tawkal, He will give you from His bounty the way he gives the birds.

What does the Prophet mean by birds?

Have you ever seen a depressed bird? There are no depressed, or anxisous birds. They leave early in the moring and return late with food.

Rizq is not just in the form of money, it is other things also.

Why would you ask and worry about tommorows rizk if Allah still hasnt asked you about tomorow? Tommorow is not gurnateed.