Monday 30 August 2010

:: Dua'a for me ::

Assalam Alaikum,

Masha'Allah~

Sharing this dua'a by Bro. Hamid, just something which I need!

O Allah when I lose hope because my plans have come to nothing... then please help me remember that your love is always greater than my disappointment and your plans for my life are always better than my dreams.


W'salam,
Khadijah C.



:: MashaAllah! The 99 ::

:: A Muslim Mannerism ::

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Sunday 22 August 2010

:: Please support me! ::

Assalam Alaikum,

In my everyday dua'a, I ask for opportunities to do good so that doors of Jannah will be opened for me...

And finally! My opportunity is here! 

My fundraising blog Wings of Humanity is up!

Do visit my blog and leave me comments on how I can improve so that I can gain more donations! =) 

Lastly, could you do a post on your blog on my effort in fundraising too? hee~

Jazakallah Khair!!!

W'salam,
Khadijah C.

:: An embarrassing introduction ::

Assalam Alaikum,

Taraweeh is indeed a prayer which allow one to go through a roller-coaster ride of emotions~ There are sweet moments thanking to Allah(SWT) for whatever that are given to us... There are also heartbreaking moments when tears just rolled down, upon remembering the disobedience period to Him, yet, He is ever so forgiving and merciful to guide us all on the right path...

The Taraweeh yesterday was such a emotional ride... Throughout the session, I wouldn't be thankful enough for everything that I am having now~ And the emotions linger till I introduced myself to this sister, who has just reverted last sunday after a long struggle... Alhamdulillah!!!

When I looked at her, those feelings of struggling to be on the right path came upon me again~ And guess what?

I just hugged her for a long long long time... and tears just flowed! 

I know... I'm a emo-drama queen... hee~

But, I guess it's just the feeling that both of us shared, though we were strangers before...

I'm thankful that Allah(SWT) did not harden my heart throughout these years of growing up... Instead, He has continued to keep my heart soft so that I am thankful for all great things and be very sorry for all things done wrong...

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah's Reminder (this Qur'an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allah).
( سورة الحديد , Al-Hadid, Chapter #57, Verse #16)

SubhanAllah! Alhamdulillah! Allahu Akbar!


W'salam,
Khadijah C.

:: Zakat Fitrah ::

Zakat Fitrah is also known as zakat of the body, zakat of Ramadan and zakat fitri.

Zakat Fitrah was obliged in the second year of Hijrah, the same year that fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory.

Zakat Fitrah is prescribed as a means of purification for the person who fasts, redressing wrong deeds and undesirable words uttered during fasting. Zakat is also a relief-aid to the needy.


ZAKAT FITRAH RATES

The Zakat Fitrah rate that is obligatory on every person is one sa’ or 2.3kg of the staple food of the territory in which the person is in. In Singapore, the staple food is rice.

Since 2005, Muis has introduced a two-tier ZakatFitrah rate. This is in accordance with the Syari’ah and allows the payer to choose the rate that is most suitable for them based on their daily consumption.

Normal Rate: Based on the average price of 2.3kg of rice (normal/average grade) that is consumed as a staple.

Higher Rate: Based on the average price of 2.3kg of rice (higher grade) that is consumed as a staple.

The objective of the two-tier system is to provide the ability for everyone to be able to fulfil their Zakat Fitrah obligation and for those who can afford to pay more to do so to further help those in need.


Conditions of Zakat Fitrah
  • Muslim
  • Owns food, assets or money that is more than enough for his basic needs and the basic needs of his dependents for one full day (the day and night of 1st Syawal)
  • Able to live between 2 periods – end of Ramadan and beginning of Syawal. A person who has passed away before the sun sets or a child born after the sun sets on the night of first Syawal is not obligated to pay the zakat fitrah.


Period of performing Zakat Fitrah
  • Zakat fitrah can be performed at the beginning of Ramadan, but the period upon which it is obligatory is on the night of Hari Raya and it is encouraged to be paid before solat Aidilfitri. If it is paid later than that, the act becomes a sedekah. Period of zakat fitrah payment is divided into 5 timings.
  • Obligatory time:Between sunset on the last day of Ramadhan and the sunrise the next day
  • Afdhal time: Before Hari Raya prayer
  • Sunnah time: Throughout the month of Ramadhan
  • Makruh time: After Hari Raya prayer but before sunset on the first of Syawal
  • Haram time: After sunset on the first of Syawal.



Friday 20 August 2010

:: Makkah Taraweeh 2010 ::

Assalam Alaikum,

Thank you Allah(SWT) for giving us technology which allows us to know what is going on in Mecca at the comfort of our home~


W'salam,
Khadijah C.



:: A Young Girl's Gift ::

Assalam Alaikum,

This article brings me to tears...

To know that the innocence of a small girl surpass so many of us...

What are we doing at the comfort of our homes for our homeless sisters and brothers struggling to survive in that monsoon condition out there?

To mold a character of a human being starts from young...  

This is just the most suitable time to educate our children about being compassionate and lending a helping hand to all those in need...


W'salam,
Khadijah C.


Thursday, August 19, 2010
Five-year-old Zaynab Khan stopped by the Islamic Relief USA office in Buena Park, CA to drop off a special gift for flood victims in Pakistan. Read her story of giving as told by her mother, Fadia.

"Mimi, I just saw some people in Pakistan swimming in water and it looks not so clean. It's a little bit brown. Actually, it's really brown."

Zaynab wakes up every morning and tells me about her dreams, typically consisting of princesses, glitter, the color pink and sliding down rainbows. This morning, however, she stood behind me in the kitchen in her pajamas looking a bit confused.

I found out she had recently seen images of the floods in Pakistan on the computer with her dad. My husband and I are so used to seeing images of devastation and terror that we have become desensitized. Children, however, are still innocent. My daughter could not fathom such things. She asked why the water was so brown and why it was everywhere. She saw a man grasping his two children and swimming with a terrified look on his face and asked why the people couldn't just move and buy a new home and new clothes. Because she has visited Pakistan in the past, she asked if all my relatives she had met were okay. And then she asked, "What can we do?"

I told her there are two things we can do: pray for the people suffering and then help in whatever way we can. She offered to send some of her toys, jewelry and nail polish to the displaced children. I explained that it would be better to send money so that they can buy food, medicine and clothing. I then told her to go upstairs and pick out her clothes for the day and wait for me to come upstairs and bathe her.

A few minutes later, Zaynab came back downstairs still in her pajamas, hair disheveled, with a pink velcro Disney princesses wallet she got from Disneyland. She opened it and began to count her life-savings. It included money accumulated for losing teeth and visits to her adoring grandparents: a grand total of $107. She held the money in her pudgy hands and said, "I think I want to give this to Pakistan." She said she wanted to give it all.

I tried to contain my tears. My heart was bursting with both pride and shame as I saw my five- year-old daughter write a letter in red crayon to the flood victims. I was proud because here was my daughter who gave everything she had saved to people in need without flinching. She did not hesitate for a second to think about the things she had wanted to buy. I had told her before that when you give money to needy people, Allah will send you more than what you gave. I was ashamed because I had not emptied out my wallet the same way Zaynab had.

As adults we always find excuses: the government is corrupt, the money won't go where it is supposed to, I can't give so much because I need to buy X,Y,Z, I don't know where to send it, I will do it later. For Zaynab it was so easy. She saw an image, she took out her money and she asked how she could get it to Pakistan. When I told her we would give it to Islamic Relief and they would take it over there, she wrote a letter. It said:

"For Pakistan. There is floods in Pakistan. I hope this helps."

She then proceeded to draw colorful hearts and flowers. I was reminded of the words of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."

Though she couldn't comprehend the disparity in lifestyles (most of us cannot), Zaynab wanted the people of Pakistan to have the girly things she loved. She drafted her letter with drawings she loved, and finally, she sealed it with stickers she loved.

Why do we morally degenerate as we grow older? Why do we become so cynical and desensitized? The first lesson that children learn in school is to share, and it is the first lesson we forget as we graduate school. As we grow up, we are told to stop behaving like children, but it is these childlike qualities that make the best of humans.

Source: http://blog.islamicreliefusa.org/2010/08/young-girls-gift-to-flood-devastated.html

Tuesday 17 August 2010

:: Food Habits Tips during Ramadhan ::

by Dr. Mushfiq Khan

This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadhan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadhan.

Come Ramadhan, our diet is radically altered. Our meals get condensed in mornings and evenings, with no intake in-between for an extended period of time. For some of us, the intake of oily foods skyrockets. These changes in diet aren't well received by everyone.

Dr. Farouk Haffejee of the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Durban) has created a list of recommendations for dealing with Ramadhan in a healthy fashion. They deal with common problems encountered in Ramadhan.

Dr. Haffejee suggests that in the month of Ramadhan, "our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible." He says that our diet should maintain our normal weight, although he does mention that if one is over-weight, Ramadhan is a good time to shed some pounds.

He also recommends foods that last longer.

"In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours," writes Dr. Haffejee.

Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds such as barley, wheat, oats, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, and unpolished rice. These are called complex carbohydrates.

Fast-burning foods are foods that contain ingredients such as sugar and white flour. They are called refined carbohydrates.

According to Dr. Haffejee, whole wheat, grains, seeds, vegetables (like green beans, peas, and spinach), fruit with skin, dried fruit (such as dried apricots, figs, prunes, and almonds) are all examples of fibre-containing foods.

Dr. Haffejee says that meals in Ramadhan should be well-balanced, and they should contain foods from each food group, such as fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products.

He discourages fried foods that some of us are addicted to.

"Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems," Dr. Haffejee points out.

Below are Dr. Haffejee's recommendations for a Ramadhan diet:

AVOID:
  • Fried and fatty foods.
  • Foods containing too much sugar.
  • Over-eating especially at suhoor.
  • Too much tea at suhoor: Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
  • Smoking cigarettes: If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadhan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.

EAT:
  • Complex carbohydrates at suhoor so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
  • Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
  • Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
  • Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

DRINK:
As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.

Below, Dr. Haffejee has listed common health issues faced in Ramadhan, their causes, and their remedies:

CONSTIPATION

Constipation can cause piles (haemorrhoids), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.

Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.

Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking and brown flour when making flatbread.

INDIGESTION AND WIND

Causes: Over-eating. Too many fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils. Carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.

Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still, drink

water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.

LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')

Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.

Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.

Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.

Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.

HEADACHE

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, and hunger. Usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar.

Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted.

Reorganise your schedule during the Ramadan to have adequate sleep.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache, palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.

Causes (in non-diabetics): Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially at suhoor. The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.

Remedy: Eat something at suhoor and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.

Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadhan. Consult your doctor.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.

Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.

Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.

PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA

Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadhan aggravate the above conditions. It presents a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can extend up to the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.

Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadhan.

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids to prevent stone formation.

JOINT PAINS

Causes: During Ramadhan, when extra Salah are performed, the pressure on the knee joints increases. In the elderly and those with arthritis, this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.

Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment, thus enabling one to be able to perform Salah with ease.

Source: habibihalaqas

Saturday 14 August 2010

:: Complaining about hunger? ::

Niger hunger 'worse than 2005'
14 August 2010 Last updated at 15:59 GMT

Niger is now facing the worst hunger crisis in its history, the UN's World Food Programme says, with almost half the population - or 7.3 million people - in desperate need of food.

A WFP spokesman said villagers in Niger described the situation as worse than 2005, when thousands died of hunger.

After a prolonged drought, heavy rains have now hit parts of the country, killing at least six people.

The WFP says 17% of children, or one in five, are acutely malnourished.

It is appealing for $213m (£136m) in aid, but is still 40% short of its target, a spokesman said.

'Famine situation'
The charity Helen Keller International (HKI) has accused the international community of failing to respond effectively to repeated appeals for help for Niger.

HKI's Africa director, Sean Baker, told the BBC that tens of thousands of children would die unless more aid is pledged.

"Famine is a very loaded word," he said, "but I think if you look in terms of the number of children affected, the way the livestock have been decimated, and the population movements that were seen earlier in the year, you certainly could consider a famine situation."

He said the government of Niger was doing all it could.

The UN said more than 67,000 people lost their homes after severe rains in the past week.

The River Niger - the third largest in Africa - reached its highest level for 80 years, said the regional river authority, the ABN.

But the rains came too late to rescue this year's crops, which have already failed.

"This year was a double whammy," Christy Collins of the aid agency Mercy Corps told the Associated Press news agency.

In most years, even if the country's primary crop fail, at least the secondary crops survive, she explained.

This year there was so little rain during the growing season that not only did the fields of millet not bloom, but the secondary greens used for animal fodder also failed.

Not only are many villagers going short of food, but their livestock - their only asset - have died off.


Friday 13 August 2010

:: A gift to be guided ::

Assalam Alaikum,

I was just reading some articles about Islam from the viewpoint of those who are discriminating our Deen~ 

Just instead of feeling angry at their comments, I feel the sense of gladness... To know the guidance from Allah(SWT) to be one of those who are blessed with the knowledge to be on the right path~

Should I feel upset at people's nasty comments? Should I be affected by their ignorance? 

No... 

It's just like letting yourself be negatively affected by a blind who just refuse to read... Not because he don't want to... Just because he is not given the sight to read...

You get what I mean? =)

So, let's not get upset over what those non-muslims' views on us~ One minute of hatred means a minute lost to feel love... We just do not waste time and energy on those irritating ones... =)

Happy fasting! =D


W'salam,
Khadijah C.


Tuesday 10 August 2010

:: The Darkest Hour and the Coming of the Dawn ::

by Yasmin Mogahed
Taken from Suhaib Webb

According to a well-stated proverb, the darkest hour is just before the dawn. And although astronomically the darkest point is much earlier, the truth of this proverb is metaphoric—but in no way less real.

So often we find that the darkest times in our lives are followed by the most precious. Often, it is at the moment when everything looks broken that something least expected lifts us and carries us through. Did not Prophet Ayoub lose everything one by one, before it was all given back and more?

Yes. For Prophet Ayoub, the night was real. And for many of us, it seems to last forever. But Allah does not allow an endless night. In His mercy, he gives us the sun. Yet there are times when we feel our hardships won’t cease. And maybe some of us have fallen to such a spiritual low in our deen (religion) that we feel disconnected from our Creator. And maybe for some of us, it’s so dark, we don’t even notice.

But like the sun that rises at the end of the night, our dawn has come. In His infinite mercy, Allah has sent the light of Ramadan to erase the night. He has sent the month of the Qur’an so that He might elevate us and bring us from our isolation to His nearness. He has given us this blessed month to fill our emptiness, cure our loneliness, and end our soul’s poverty. He has sent us the dawn that we might find from darkness – light. Allah says,

He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out from the depths of Darkness into Light: and He is Full of Mercy to the Believers.
( سورة الأحزاب , Al-Ahzab, Chapter #33, Verse #43)

And this mercy extends to all who seek it. Even the most hardened sinner is told to never lose hope in God’s infinite mercy. God says in the Qur’an:

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
( سورة الزمر , Az-Zumar, Chapter #39, Verse #53)

Allah is the Owner of mercy, and there is no time when that mercy is showered more upon us than in the blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ has said regarding Ramadan: “Its beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness, and its ending is liberation from the Hellfire.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Sahih)

Every moment of Ramadan is a chance to come back to Allah. Whatever we are now going through in our lives is often a direct result of our own actions. If we are humiliated, or feel low, it is our own sins which have lowered us. It is only by Allah that we can ever hope to be elevated. If we are consistently unable to wake up for Fajr, or if we find it increasingly difficult to stay away from haram (the forbidden), we must examine our relationship with Allah. Most of all, we must never be deceived. We must never allow ourselves to think that anything in this world succeeds, fails, is given, taken, done, or undone without Allah. It is only by our connection to our Creator that we rise or fall in life, in our relationship with our world—and with all of humanity.

But unlike humanity, our Creator doesn’t hold grudges. Imagine receiving a clean slate. Imagine having everything you ever regret doing erased completely. Ramadan is that chance. The Prophet ﷺ told us: “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven” (Bukhari).

So given this unparalleled opportunity, how can we best take advantage of it? Two often overlooked issues to keep in mind are:

Know why you’re fasting.
Many people fast as a ritual, without truly understanding its meaning. Others reduce it to a simple exercise in empathy with the poor. While this is a beautiful consequence of fasting, it is not the main purpose defined by Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an: 

O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #183)

By controlling and restraining our physical needs, we gain strength for the greater battle: controlling and restraining our nafs (our soul’s desire). When fasting, every hunger pang reminds us of God—the one for whom we have made this sacrifice. By constantly remembering Allah and sacrificing for Him, we are made more aware of His presence, and in that way we increase our taqwa (fear and consciousness of Him). The same thing that prevents us from the sin of sneaking in food while no one else is watching trains us to avoid other sins while no one else is watching. That is taqwa.

Don’t make fasting just hunger and thirst.
The Prophet ﷺ has said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari) The Prophet ﷺ also warns us: “Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness.” (Darimi) While fasting, understand the whole picture. Remember that fasting is not just about staying away from food. It is about striving to become a better person.

And in so striving, we are given a chance to escape the darkness of our own isolation from God. But like the sun that sets at the end of the day, so too will Ramadan come and go, leaving only its mark on our heart’s sky.

Monday 9 August 2010

:: Pray ::

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Muslim duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Allah to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time."


Taken from: Sis Nur Farah Syakirah Abdullah's blog

:: If You Knew This Was Your Last Ramadan ::

We have 30 days of Ramadan each year. Some of us look forward it because of its bountiful benefits to our spiritual self. It makes us stronger inwardly and this helps us face another new year.

But sometimes, even though we know of its many benefits, we still feel weary and tired of fasting and keeping up with our many spiritual obligations from praying to reading and studying the Quran daily, and even watching how we speak and interact with people. No one ever said that fasting would be easy - it is not simply abstaining from food and water from daybreak to sunset. It is a whole lot more. Most of us know this.

And yet, being human, we start consciously or unconsciously slacking off, be it from duties such as praying or reading the Quran. Instead, we spend our day sleeping, might eating and talking instead of prayer and relection. If we feel guilty, then we tell ourselves that we will fast "properly" the next day. In some cases, when a bad cycle begins, it can be difficult to break it. And before we know it, Ramadan has ended. We celebrate Eid and another year begins. Well, maybe next year, we'll do it "properly".

But what if we do not get another chance to fast "properrly" so that God forgives all of our sins? We may be healthy and fit right now, but what is the guarantee that we will remain healthy and fit tomorrow? If you knew that this was your last Ramadan, that something might prevent you from ever experiencing Ramadan again, would you not want to observe it the right way today, the best you can? So that you can reap of its benefits while you are still able to?

One of our writers' relative suffered a small stroke while fasting recently. The stroke was not fatal, nor will it be permanently damaging. But it was serious enough that she is not expected to be able to fast the rest of the month. Perhaps since she is of advanced age, she might not be able to fast any more for the rest of her life.

But that should give us all pause. We do not know what the future holds. We may be young and healthy, and have all of bodily and mental functions intact. But that can change in an instant. It is only when we think of our own mortality that we know how limiting we as human beings actually are. And how precious time is.

Do not waste your time. Use it well. And make this Ramadan count because we do not know what the future holds, if we are lucky enough to observe another one.

Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him, he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.

When we give him a taste of some Mercy from Ourselves, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, "This is due to my (merit): I think not that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) be established; but if I am brought back to my Lord, I have (much) good (stored) in His sight!" But We will show the Unbelievers the truth of all that they did, and We shall give them the taste of a severe Penalty.

When We bestow favours on man, he turns away, and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when evil seizes him, (he comes) full of prolonged prayer!

( سورة فصلت , Fussilat, Chapter #41, Verse #49-51)

If we were to step back a moment and realize that this is the last Ramadan we will see in our lifetime, how would we spend it? Death we know can come to us at any time, yet we still remain so ignorant of the time now given to us to be utilized by Allah the Almighty.

I pray Allah gives, first of all me, and all Muslims the ability to utilize the month of Ramadan..May this Ramadan be our best so far, for we know not if we will witness the next, Aameen..

Jazaak Allah Khairan for reading.

Author: Unknown (If you know the author name, please write it on the comment section)

:: Half Our Deen ::

Assalam Alaikum,

Alright, I'm not doing marketing for BaBa Ali~ But just something he said that is making sense... And funny!!! hehehehe~


W'salam,
Khadijah C.


Half Our Deen in SD from Baba Ali on Vimeo.

:: Forgive and Forget ::

Assalam Alaikum,

BaBa Ali is back again!!! hee~ Funny!!! 

W'salam,
Khadijah C.



Sunday 8 August 2010

:: Abandons something for the sake of Allah ::

Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allaah, He will replace it for him with something better than it.

The teacher of our teachers,[1] the great scholar and historian, Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh, rahimahullaah, mentioned the following story in his book “I’laam an-Nubalaa bi Taareekh Halab ash-Shuhabaa” (7/231):

“Shaikh Ibraaheem Al-Hilaalee Al-Halabee – a pious and noble scholar – traveled to Al-Azhar University in search of knowledge. While seeking knowledge, he became very poor and used to rely on charity. One time, several days passed by and he did not find anything to eat, so he became extremely hungry.

So he came out of his room in Al-Azhar to ask for some scraps of food. He found an open door from which a pleasant smell of food was coming out of. So he entered the door and found himself in a kitchen with no one around. There he found some tempting food, so he grabbed a spoon and dipped it in, but when he lifted it to his mouth, he held himself back from eating it, since he realized that he had not been given permission to eat from it. So he left it and returned to his room in the dormitory of Al-Azhar, still hungry and starving.

But no less than an hour passed by, when one of his teachers, accompanied by another man, came into his room. And his teacher said to him: ‘This noble man came to me seeking a righteous student of knowledge to choose for marrying his daughter, and I have chosen you for him. So rise and come with us to his home where we can complete the marriage contract between you and his daughter and you can become part of his household.’

So Shaikh Ibraaheem struggled to get to his feet, obeying the command of his teacher and went with them. And behold they took him to the very same house he had been to, and which he had entered and dipped the spoon into the food!

So when he sat down, the girl’s father married her to him and the food was brought out. It was the same food he had put the spoon into before and which he abandoned. But now he ate from it and said to himself: ‘I withheld from eating it when I had no permission, but now Allaah has given me this food with permission.’

Afterward, this righteous wife went back with him to Halab, after he had finished his studies. And she bore righteous children for him.”

So this is the fruit of patience and this is the result of having taqwaa, as Allaah says: 

and He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. and if any one puts his trust in allah, sufficient is ((allah)) for him. For allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has allahappointed a due proportion.
( سورة الطلاق , At-Talaq, Chapter #65, Verse #3)

But as for those who are hasty – those who do not distinguish between the truth and falsehood, seeking after the transitory vanities of this worldly life – they will never experience anything but grief and sorrow in their hearts, for they will never attain the worldly life nor will they ever achieve Religion.

This is because they forget – or perhaps neglect – the saying of Allaah: 


Is not Allah enough for his Servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! for such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide.
( سورة الزمر , Az-Zumar, Chapter #39, Verse #36)

As for those who are patient and firm and who have Taqwaa, they will gain ascendancy in this life and glory and honor with their Lord on the Day of Judgement. And Allaah says: 

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #155)

Say: "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is allah.s earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"
( سورة الزمر , Az-Zumar, Chapter #39, Verse #10)

Footnotes:
[1] Translator’s Note: He is referring to Imaam Al-Albaanee, who was a student of Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh.

Source: AUTHOR: 'Alee Hasan al-Halabee, Al-Asaalah Magazine (Issue 31, pg. 60-61), , Al-Ibaanah.com

Source: Facebook group - Lives of the Salaf



Saturday 7 August 2010

:: 'targeted by extremists' at UK universities ::

By Divya Talwar
BBC Asian Network

A growing number of young Muslim women are being radicalised by extremists while studying at UK universities, according to a Muslim women's group.

As one Islamic student group denies it is a problem, BBC News examines how widespread on-campus radicalisation is and why young women in particular are targets.

''I didn't have a plan and I didn't know how I was going to do it. But I had so much anger inside me. I wanted to be heard.

''I thought I could do that through violence, by becoming the country's first female suicide bomber.''

When Sadia started university, like most students, she was eager to make new friends and to fit in, so she joined the Islamic society.

Sadia, 22, (whose name has been changed to protect her identity), was befriended by a group of Muslim girls that she met at the events.

''They seemed to know a lot about Islam. As I grew closer to them, they would give me books to read to help me learn more about my religion," she said.

Sadia was shown videos of Muslims allegedly "suffering because of the West", which led to her becoming radicalised.

"It made me think violence was acceptable. It made me want to become a suicide bomber.

''I thought if I became the first British woman to do it then that would make the Western world listen."

Shaista Gohir, a consultant for Prevent, the government's anti-terror programme and head of the Muslim Women's Network UK (MWN-UK), said increasing numbers of Muslim women were being targeted at British universities.

''I have come across ample anecdotal evidence through my work, to suggest a growing problem of women being drawn into violent extremism.

''While it is mostly men who are targeted, women are also now being recruited by extremist groups.''

Hadiya Masieh said she was recruited by Hizab ut-Tahrir radicals at Brunel University
''Most Muslim women have no interest in violence, but there is small number of females who are being targeted. This is very serious because the numbers are slowly growing.''

Ms Gohir believes extremist groups could be deliberately going out of their way to target women, because female extremists arouse less suspicion than men.

Sadia never ended up pursuing extremist violence. By confiding in Muslim friends outside of her London-based university, she slowly realised she had been brainwashed.

She was introduced to a Muslim women's group who helped her combat her Jihadist attitude.

"It was a difficult process, but I got proper help and I was able to see just how wrong I was.

''When I look back at it, I know my religion and the concept of violent Jihad was completely misinterpreted.''

The police are aware of her case.

Hadiya Masieh, 32, says she was recruited by radicals from Hizb ut-Tahrir, an extremist group which claims it is non-violent, while at Brunel University. The group is banned from the campus.

She said its members convinced her to become a radical: "Once they've established that suspicion (against "the West") and malaise, depending on the person, all that emotion can be challenged in various ways, including violence.''

Ms Masieh has since left the group and is now and a member of the government's Muslim Women's Advisory Board (MWAB).

Dr Taj Hargey, an Imam from Oxford, said young Muslims needed to be armed with the right Islamic knowledge to fight radicalisation.

''Many Muslim students are fed tainted and misinterpreted ideologies of Islam on campus. This can then form the gateway to extremism,'' said Dr Hargey.

However, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) has denied there is an extremist element at UK universities.

Its vice-president, Amandla Thomas-Johnson said: ''We take such concerns very seriously, however there is no evidence to suggest there is radicalisation on campuses.''

While Islamic societies may not encourage violent extremism, there have been concerns that groups use their events as an opportunity to prey on vulnerable individuals.

Ms Gohir said many of the government's Prevent projects did not challenge extremism ideologies head-on, and £7m has just been cut from its £140m budget.

A spokesman for the programme said it was a "serious but not widespread" problem.

He said: "The government and the police continue to work with universities and student groups to help them manage the risks. We are currently reviewing the Prevent programme so that it tackles extremism more effectively."

While Sadia may have found a way out, she is fearful for others. She said: ''I think if the problem is ignored, Britain could sees its first female suicide bomber."

Universities UK, which represents a large number of higher education sites, said it was currently looking at the issue within its establishments. It plans to provide guidelines on tackling the problem later in the year.