Ramadan drop-by

Haven't been dishing out any writing on here.
Trying to keep myself busy and productive. However, I am online doing some research and needing a post-midnight snack.

Subhanallah life is flying past and on the Day of Judgement we'll think we were on earth for only a day or two.

Well - Happy Ramadan. Hope everyone's fasts, prayers, duas and ibadah are accepted.

3 Random Interesting facts about Ramadan:

1. For every person who fasts with the hope of being rewarded, their sins are forgiven.
2. Rewards are multiplied, as voluntary acts are counted as obligatory acts. All deeds are rewarded 10-70xs more, except fasting which is rewarded individually and immeasurably.
3. There is a special gate in heaven labeled Al-Raiyan for fasters.

Like fire, like water.

Patience is like the water which
Washes away fire

It's like the ocean tide that brings the turtles home
On the sea shore

Patience is the swift breeze
That brings calmness and serenity

It's the tongue that holds the cries
The tears that wipe the eyes

The fallout of a century
And the rise of another

The whisper of a dove
Hushing the scarecrow

The wisdom of the wise
Our generations despise

What do we have to account for
What do we have to reply for

Fallen but standing strong and firm
Let not the fire make me burn.

Walk a little faster.

Walk a little faster,
Drive a little slower.

Watch as your days fly by,
Leave you in a heaving sigh sigh.

The things you took for granted,
The more they are wanted.

The things you forget day to night,
Now becomes a reason for your plight.

Trying to catch a breath;
One, two, three steps.

Time will leave you behind,
There's no stopping to hit rewind.

"...you will think that you have stayed [in this world] but a little while! (17:52)"

I drove the wrong way to work!

And among His Signs, He shows you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope...
(30:24)."

Subhanallah today I got lost on the way to work. I usually take Lodge N to get to work and Lodge S to get to school.

I just finished dropping my nephew off to the masjid for Quran lessons, as I reminded him to recite his car prayers (duas). I was explaining some duas are accepted right away and act as a shield while others are accepted when you need them. And the car prayer was one that acted as a shield.

So I'm on Lodge and usually I make a conscious decision whether to steer left or right, and this time I didn't. I was driving and ended up on the wrong side of the highway.

I kept repeating the car prayer. I felt like it wasn't working to its full strength this morning. Like I wasn't saying it right or wasn't putting the right umph nor intention into it. And suddenly I thought about Surah Al-Fathihah, Chapter 1 from the Quran. I began reciting in and thought about the meaning of the Surah -- the part where it says, "Oh God put me on the straight path."

And then it hit me.

I was going the wrong way!

I was approximately three minutes from exiting the highway. I took the usual left to get to school and then headed north. I called my boss at my internship and told him about the situation, laughing when he asked how did it happen.

"I don't know it was an accident. I realized it when I was three minutes away from the exit," I said.

Of course some may think of this as a mere coincidence but perhaps its a testament of increasing faith. How could I magically be put on the "right way" after thinking about that particular verse from the Quran..."put me on the straight path."

And He literally did. Subhanallah.



Surah 1. Al-Fatiha (The Opening)In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;

2. Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

3. Master of the Day of Judgment.

4. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.

5. Show us the straight way,

6. The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,

7 those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Test of faith, patience

Those who are in the right suffer,
Those who are in the wrong usually get away with stuff.

It's sad but it's true.

However Allah has created the heavens surrounded with hardships and the hellfire with ease and desire. Therefore although "bad things happen to good people" it's all a test of faith.

When you know you're right and you don't say anything it goes a long way.
There are times when you should defend yourself and other times when its better not to say anything at all.

Alhamdulillah, thanks to faith, we are being saved from a lot more agony, Inshallah.

Be mindful of the circumstances, patient and quiet when you have every right to say something. Allah will give you something better in return Inshallah.

But not talking back at the moment, then talking behind someone's back defeats the purpose - and makes you lose your blessings.

Patience is the key to success. Oh Allah increase our patience. Ameen.

Muslim Bride.

Being Muslim puts pressure on brides who want to doll up during their wedding but also have to conscious of religious requirements for covering.

I've seen many styles of wearing hijab with few strands of hair showing, none at all, or some with other parts showing - which make up for the hair not showing. It's not as easy as it seems.

With Arab brides, at least their weddings are seperate but they have to go through painstaking detail to find female photographers, halls that make special accomodations, all-female waitresses, and etc. (Unless they don't care).

And desi brides have to show their jewelry or else it seems like they didn't get any gold, which is part of their dowry. Now-a-days not all brides wear their gold during their wedding ceremony but rather wear imitation jewelry. Either way the bling has to show.

So the hijabi bride wins.

Picnics...

Full of breeze
Put your mind at ease
Love the way
Nature craddled my day

Although it was nice
Meeting with the elephant and mice
Surely there were trees
That misunderstood me

And the people were free
To mingle and to meet
How the day passed by
My tiredness, no, sigh

Had a pretty good walk-out
Didn't have to shout
Listened to the birds chirping
And got a free fashion show mixing