10 ways of developing love for Allah

10 ways of developing love for Allah
Adapted from Shaykh Ibn Qayyim’s (rah) Madarij-us-Saalikeen

Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim (rah) says: “The reason which cause mahabbah (love) of Allaah to develop, are ten:

• First: Reciting the Qur’aan, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent.
• Second: Drawing closer to Allaah – the Most High – through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.
• Third: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs – under all circumstances. The more continuant the dhikr, the more muhabbah develops and intensifies.
• Fourth: Giving precedence to what Allaah loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires.
• Fifth: Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allaah.
• Sixth: Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of Allaah – both manifest and hidden.
• Seventh: To be humble and submissive before Allaah – and this is the greatest matter.
• Eighth: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur’aan, during that time in which Allaah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him.
• Ninth: To sit in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of Allaah, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you in goodness and that it will benefit others as well.
• Tenth: To stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic.

So these are the ten reasons which cause the person to develop true love for Allaah and to reach the rank of al-muhabbah, by which he reaches his Beloved.

via Gaurd your heart

Change of Heart

Don’t despair…

Alhumdulillah, My first pictorial 🙂

Introducing to you – Sheikh Charming!

We have all heard of “Prince charming! He’s that tall, dark handsome “phenomenon” who exists in the dream of every girl, with whom she believes she will have a happily ever after; the man who forever and always is  going to be by her side.. blah blah blah..! 😀 Yeah and a long list of pre-requists for any guy who wants to fit in that category! 😉

But we sisters, alhumdulillah, at some point break out of this fairy tale land and know for sure that such a prince charming really does not exist! Some of us have this leap in iman and alhumdulillah, we start learning about our deen and try to be modest muslimahs.

Over the months, though, it so happens that we come across such beautiful love stories in the quran and hadith, that it’s not long before we start dreaming again (sigh!) Be it the romantic courtship of Musa(AS) and Safura(RA) or the tearing love story of Zainab(RA) and Abdul-As-bin Rabi ;The “like a knot” marriage that Prophet Muhammad(SAW) shared with Aisha (RA) or even the love of Ali(RA) and Fathima(RA). Subhanallah! The list is long and such beautiful relationships they all shared! ❤

It’s not long before, the love, charm, and dedication of these men (peace be upon them all), again wipe us of our feet and we start dreaming of our own very own future husband; this man is someone, in our very own dreamland, who can very precisely be called “SHEIKH CHARMING!”  😉 Let me have the pleasure of introducing him to you —

(The following decription is an edited version of an article by sister Umm.Z of “Roadtrip to Zawajland“; So, all the credit goes to her! 🙂 )

• He is a Sheikh with the voice of Shuraim, the khushu‘ of Budair, the deepness of voice of Hudhaify, who can make beautiful duas like Sudais, with the emotion of Muhaisini.  For real!

• A Sheikh with deep understanding of the very complicated areas of fiqh. Like if the sister asks him: What’s the ruling on X or Y ; well he’s straight:‘Qalaa Allaah wa Qalaa Rasuul..’ [Allaah said, the Prophet said..]

• A Sheikh who has knowledge of ahadiths and who could narrate the Seerah to her as her bedtime story. (I’m serious) ‘So, Habibti, the Battle of Tabuk happened and the troops got ready.. hbiba, wake up I’m not finished.. ZzzZz’..       Beautiful!

• A Sheikh who will softly -I said softly- sprinkle droplets of water on her gentle little face to wake her up for Qiyaam-ul Laylevery evening? Not only that, but since he’s a hafiz.. well he can read the nice long surahs of the Glorious Qur’an with a soothing recitationthat humbles the nafs to the max.      Awesome right?

• A Sheikh who also has a good profession [£ + $ = kerching!!!] and who can provides well for her.  A Sheikh who’s up-to-date with the latest technologies and can text whilst driving single-handedly and with his elbow on the window side.    You know what I mean!

• A Sheikh who attends all 5 prayers in the masjid (YES! Even the Fajr salaah), looking boom in his Khamis with a miswaak in the mouth and reciting the adkaar when going to and from the masjid.           Mashallaah!

• A Sheikh who can sometimes surprise her at the most unexpected of times and not just bring flowers at home. Something like: ‘Here’s your tickets for Hajj my dear’    How romantic! 

• A Sheikh who is fluent in ‘arabic and jungles between the ‘Na’am’, ‘Ya3ni, Ya3ni’ and ‘Hayakallaah wa Barakallaah Feekum wa Jazakumullaah Kheiran Kathiran’
  

  Ya3ni The language is important!

• A Sheikh who is respectful, honest, kind-hearted, romantic, humble, generous, patient ect..ect.. I’m afraid the list is very Long indeed.

P.S. “Sheikh” not be taken in the literal meaning of the word which means: Old man; but in the religious sense: Someone knowledgeable

Ahem! Already dreaming sisters?! I know, I know, it’s quiet hard to get out the dreamy land for us. But like sis Umm.z reminds us in her article such a man does not exist or even if he does he’s quiet faaar away! 😛 Let’s be realistic and minimize our expectations; and moreover since we know that we ourselves are struggling with the minimum. So, expecting so much from someone else is not right, right? We don’t want to get the slap of reality again, do we? 😀 No! right! Let’s just first work on our deen and well, may be we can make dua that we might insha’allah, find a ‘sheikh charming’ in Jannatul-Firdaus ..Hehe.. Insha-allah! 🙂

So, for now let’s wake up and focus on our relationship with The One, Allah (swt)! 🙂

 

 

 

P.S. Did I mention that he should sport a beard too? 😀

P.S.S.Ahem! OK sister, stop dreaming! 😛

21 Productive Muslim Hobbies!

I came across this list on ProductiveMuslim website.

It’s a list of 21 ProductiveMuslim Hobbies. I loved the list and also learnt that that horse-riding and archery is Sunnah. Wow.. Subhanallah.. didn’t know that! 😀

Here’s the list you must check out! Click here, for a detailed description.

21-ProductiveMuslim Hobbies:

1. Reading
2. Travelling.
3. Journal Writing
4. Blogging/Podcasting
5. Computer Programming
6. Graphic/Web Designing
7. Self-defense classes
8. Sports
9. Gardening
10. Tailoring/Knitting
11. Geneology Research
12. Amateur Astronomy
13. Islamic/Arabic Caligraphy
14. Islamic Art
15. Cooking/Bakery
16. Learn a foreign language (Arabic)
17. Hiking
18. Write letters
19. Archery
20. Horseback Riding
21. Swimming/Scuba diving

So, blogging, reading and computer programming are already on my list. I’m planning to work on cooking, tailoring, learning arabic, graphic designing and journal writing! 😉 Oh and home-styling too, though that’s not on the list! 😛

Which hobby do you plan on developing? 🙂

Protect Yourself from Laziness!

Source: iSister

Laziness is a sister of failure. Keep yourself busy all the time. Take care of your house, do your duties your work or pray, read Qur’an, read useful books or sit with family and friends and talk to them about things that will bring them closer to Allah. Idleness leads to worries, anxiety, devilish whispers and doubts that nothing can relieve except hard work.

Never look at the past because it makes your future not worth anything, try to move on as you go on. Try to keep your emotions in control whenever you see something that makes your future feel meaningless. Give minimum quality to problems and forget them as you move on with your life. This will make you happier and stronger and make your dreams come true faster inshaa’ Allah.

Give thanks to Allah for His blessings and do not waste your time with that which is not pleasing to Him. Seek out that which is beneficial and useful, such as Islamic magazines, beneficial books and articles that will benefit you both in this world and the Hereafter. Call others to the path of Allah with kind words, good exhortation, wisdom, by means of your good behaviour and by setting a good example. Always make the following du’a and ask Allah to protect you from laziness:

“Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min al-hammi wal-hazan wa a’udhu bika min al-‘ajzi wal-kasal
wa a’udhu bika min al-bukhli wal-jubn wa a’udhu bika min ghalbat ad-dayn wa qahr ar-rijal”

(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from distress and grief, and I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness and grief, and I seek refuge with You from miserliness and cowardice,
and I seek refuge in You from the burden of debt and from being over powered by men)

I ask Allaah to guide us to that which He loves and which pleases Him.Ameen.

Why read quran, if you don’t understand anyway?

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur’an do?”

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just aganot trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try in.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out..

“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Qur’an . You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out when you read time by time . That is the work of Allah in our lives.”

via Hikmah Club

The Pursuit Of Peace.

 Peace. A word that a year back meant nothing more than just a word to me. A word that I might have used once in a while, but it didn’t really mean anything to me. A word not of much importance in my life.

Today, the same word holds a whole new meaning. It means Peace – of mind and heart. Serenity of my mind and heart. Peace with my past, present and future. Peace with myself.

Sometimes I could be smiling, working, learning and still not be at peace.                                Sometimes I could be doing everything right and still not seem to find peace.

Sometimes the scars of the past break past the peace.

Sometimes the struggles of the present leave me crying for peace.

And sometimes the fear of the future are an hindrance to let my heart be at peace.

Breaking past the false attachments, constantly struggling to keep my iman in place, trying hard to get over and let go of a lot of things… are a few of the many challenges that I find myself trying to overcome in my Pursuit of Peace, everyday…every second.

Today, for me, peace is that feeling I get when everything can seem to be absolutely wrong and yet I can trust that Allah(swt) will make everything alright! Peace – that feeling  I get when I get up from sujood after crying a million tears and pouring my heart out to the Almighty. Peace – that feeling I get when I adorn my hijab before leaving home, Alhumdulillah.

Peace, that which only my Almighty can bless my life with. Peace, that this world can never ever give me. Peace that my heart can find only by being close to the Owner of Peace.

Peace – by submitting to Him and Him alone.

Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah for everything!

I found myself praying for peace today.
I’ve been in and out of my mind a thousand times
I know You heard me.
I know I wasn’t alone in that room,
shaking with the fear of fear,
the harrowing loneliness.
I cried out to You on my hands. On my knees.
With my face pushed down against the ground.
If I could have gotten lower, I swear I would.
Because that is helplessness, the truest kind…
The kind that knows nothing, not one leaf, or tear, or smile can be
without Him.
I learned something today.
Again.
This is dunya. Dunya. Not a place of ease. Only glitter.
The place where you have to feel cold and hungry.
The place where you have to worry and feel scared.
The place where it gets cold.
So cold, sometimes.
The place where you have to leave the people you love.
Where you can’t get attached, because even if you do, it doesn’t make it stay, it just makes it hurt when it doesn’t.
The place where happiness and sadness are only players, waiting for their next line in a play…
Competing for their place on stage.
The place where gravity makes you fall, and frailty makes you bleed.
The place where sadness exists, because it must.
And tears fall to remind you of a place where they don’t.
Where they just don’t.

And isn’t that just it? Isn’t jennah that place after all,
that place that Allah describes over and over and over in 2 ways?:
La khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanoon…
On them shall be no fear…nor shall they grieve.

But I’m still here, aren’t I?
The scar on my flesh reminds me of that.
The burn on my arm left a scar that I love.
I love it because it reminds me how weak I am.
How human.
That I burn. That I bleed. That I break. That I scar.
Yes. It is here that I am. Here that I fall. Here that I cry.
Here, just the same, that You filled that room, and lifted me to humbleness, and an acute knowledge of my own powerlessness and excruciating need for You.
And then you took care of it.
Of course You did.
Of course.
Like Younus, and Musa, and his mother. You took care of it.
You are the Peace of the peaceful.
The Strength of the strong.
The lighthouse of Truth in this storm of lies.
So, I found myself praying for peace today.

[Author- Yasmin Mogahed]

Ya Allah! Help our hearts find peace! Soften our heart, strengthen our Imaan, and don’t ever let us go away from you, for we are nothing without you! You alone we worship and you alone we ask for help! So, help us overcome all the trials of this world, so we can find eternal peace in the hereafter! Ameen!

P.S. Alhumdulillah, this is the 100th post of this blog.

To Allah we belong, and unto Him we return.

Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raajioon By Asma bint Shameem

“Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raajioon” 

Yeah, sure we say this statement when someone dies. Also some of us may say this sentence when they lose something, suffer a setback or harm. But..do you know what it means? Sure, everyone know that it obviously means To Allaah we belong and to Him is our return. But thats not what I am talking about. I mean &.do you REALLY, TRULY understand these words and their implications in a Muslims life?

It means whatever we have is not really ours. It belongs to Allaah. Take a look around you; everything you see, all that you have and all that there is.in you, on you, around you.belongs to Allaah, alone. It is Allah Who has given you all the property and goods you possess, and that He is the true Owner of them all. So the cars that you own, the houses that you live in, the businesses you possess all truly belong to Allaah The kids that He blessed you with, the health that He gave you, the time that He has allowed you are all Allahs property. Even the bodies we live in and the life that we have belongs to Allaah alone. And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. (Surah Aal-Imraan:180) The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma’ida: 120) “Say: ‘To Allah belongs the East and the West” (Surah al-Baqarah:142)

Now, since everything belongs to Allaah, then we have to include even our souls in that list. The very souls that we think of as our self; our nafs; our being — whatever you want to call it — that very thing that distinguishes you from the rest of the world, belongs to Allaah. It’s not YOURS. In fact, YOU are not YOURS. You belong to Allaah. And this is the essence of the concept of slavery to Allaah in Islam. And since He is the true Possessor of everything, and everything is His property, He allots what He wills to whomever He wills and then He takes it away. After all, it was Allaahs to begin with.

So He may give you some thing and then take it back after a while. He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly then He may take it away. He will grant you money, honor and status.and then He may take it away. He will give you youth, vitality and health and then surely He will take it away. In fact everything you have will only be with you for a very short while. And then the Owner will claim His Right.

So when Allaah does reclaim what was rightfully His, WHY MOURN OUR LOSSES? Just like a friend who lends you his book. And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him..no regrets..no sorrow.no questions asked. Similarly, if Allah takes back some of His blessings upon you for some reason ..so be it. Say Alhamdulillaah. Dont grieve. Be patient. Submit to the will of Allaah, being pleased with His decision for you. For surely He will only do what is best for you. Just think..The Owner came and took it back. Remember.that you/re not the real owner..you were NEVER the real owner to begin with. You only had everything because it was Allah who gave it to you in the first place. If He didnt give it to you, you wouldnt have had it in any way ..in fact, you couldnt have had it. Remember man enters into this world empty handed, leaves it empty handed. Remember that everything we have, all the blessings we enjoy, are gifts from Almighty Allah…gifts that we enjoy for a limited period until He takes them away whenever He deems fit. They are a trust from Allah, a loan to you, to see how you respond to these gifts from Allaah and how you use them in the obedience of the Almighty, thanking Him and worshipping Him OR..to the disobedience to the One Who gave then to you in the first place.

Take note of the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) on the occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim: ‘Our eyes are filled with tears, our hearts with grief, but we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allah…. Verily, to Allah we belong, and to Him we return.’ (Bukhaari) And we all know the famous incidence about the companion Abu Talha and his wife when one of the sons died and Abu Talha was not at home. She washed and shrouded him and when Abu Talha came home and asked about his son, she said, “The child is quiet and I hope he is in peace.” (Bukhaari) Subhaan Allaah.such patience! And such Imaan in the statement Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raajioon! She truly understood its meaning and the affect it should have on her life as a Muslimah, submitting to him and being pleased with whatever He has decreed for her. She knew that whatever she has, is not truly hers. Rather, it is Allaahs and He took back whatever He owns at its appointed time. And it is because of this Imaan so strong, this understanding, that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) made dua for them and Allaah blessed them immensely. ‘They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife) had nine sons and all of them became reciters of the Quran (by heart).’ (Bukhaari)

Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast, who say when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and to him is our return. They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah and mercy and they are the once that receive guidance. (al-Baqarah:155)

 

via Hikmah Club

Unfolding The Rose

A young Imam was walking with an older, more seasoned Imam in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what Allah had for him to do, he was asking the older Imam for some advice. The older Imam walked up to a rosebush and handed the young Imam a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young Imam looked in disbelief at the older Imam and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of Allah for his life and ministry.

But because of his great respect for the older Imam, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact… It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger Imam’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older Imam began to recite this …

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of Allah’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
ALLAH opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.

Unfolding the rose.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of Allah’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Allah for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Allah for His guidance
Each step of the way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only Allah knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

[Author: Unknown]

Source: ILoveAllah.com