The Hereafter is close.
What is one way to obtain the best of this world and the Hereafter? Maintaining ties with people.
The Prophet Muhammad (sallahu wa alayhissalam) said:
Love people for the sake of God.
Allah will ask on the Day of Judgment: “Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, on a day when there is no shade but Mine, I shall shade them with My shade.” (Muslim)
Like what you like, and like it for others too for the sake of God.
It was related from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "None of you can truly be said to believe until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself."
Keep your hands and tongue to yourself for the sake of God.
Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "They said, 'Messenger of Allah, whose Islam is best?' He said, 'The one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe.' "
"Rabbanathina fid'dunya hasanathun wafil akhirathi hasanatun wakina adhaaban'nar" - Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.
May Allah help us increase our iman and sustain the best of both worlds. Ameen.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Words of Wisdom from our Creator who Created
"O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs). (22:5)"
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Trials, hardship and ease
There may be a thing you like which is not good for you and you may not like a thing that is.
"But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not." (Quran 2:216)
We wish for things we don't understand. And when we get them we repent. Subhanallah Allah blesses our lives with so many blessings and we ignore this.
I have a large family and it's interesting how things go into play. You can have your own schedule but it must match up with the family members' lives. In some cases this can drag you down, but for me it pulls me up. Even I don't always realize this.
Some changes I've noticed in myself:
More likely to stay home when it's for the best of my child.
Help husband for the reward.
Able to participate in household chores for reward.
Some hardships are blessings in disguise.
Help others with chores they start.
Listen to advice from elders on matters that seem mundane.
"But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not." (Quran 2:216)
We wish for things we don't understand. And when we get them we repent. Subhanallah Allah blesses our lives with so many blessings and we ignore this.
I have a large family and it's interesting how things go into play. You can have your own schedule but it must match up with the family members' lives. In some cases this can drag you down, but for me it pulls me up. Even I don't always realize this.
Some changes I've noticed in myself:
More likely to stay home when it's for the best of my child.
Help husband for the reward.
Able to participate in household chores for reward.
Some hardships are blessings in disguise.
Help others with chores they start.
Listen to advice from elders on matters that seem mundane.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Transition from American teen to housewife
I was raised in a home where I didn't see my extended family a lot. And therefore I had a lot of friends, who I would go to with my problems, and to hang out.
And then I got married into a household in which the family are your friends. They are the ones you associate with, sit together at weddings with, talk to and cherish. You hang out with them and go where they go...and you kind of put a halt on the "more American" notion of friends.
In the Bangladeshi culture, even about 30 years ago, girls who were married into the family became part of the servitude and order of the household. They did the cooking, cleaning, childbearing, and entertaining guests of the family. Sometimes that included their own relatives, but hardly any friends.
Women were close to their mother-in-laws by befriending them or treating them like their own mothers (hopefully with respect).
But there was no need for friends. No need for all-girls hang-outs. No need to hang out with your husband alone. No need to go to the store, the husband could get anything you needed and forget anything you wanted. There was no need to go to parties and weddings. If you couldn't make it, it was all out of the family need.
For example, the family's guests will come over (sometimes unannounced or all-of-a-sudden) and you have to go somewhere. Do you go or stay? For some families this is shameful if the bride leaves the house while guests are over unless it's something important such as going to school/college.
Now this is the dilemma: How do you balance both ends?
For example, if you grew up in America and are not accustomed to the culture, how do you deal with sacrificing invitations, get-togethers and hanging out alone with your friends?
There will also be situations you can't take/ go with your husband, he is not available to chaperon and he is not welcome. At the same time you can't give up your friendships and according to hadiths, you should keep invitations to strengthen relationships. You should also obey your husband. And you should also make them understand.
But should you sacrifice your in-laws for friends? Should you let your friends hang? If you don't have friends should you make new friends (in a new city)?
There is another hadith that says two friends who love each other for the sake of Allah will be protected by Allah's shade on the Day of Judgment when there is no shade. (That mean's we CAN have friends folks).
Something to contemplate.
And then I got married into a household in which the family are your friends. They are the ones you associate with, sit together at weddings with, talk to and cherish. You hang out with them and go where they go...and you kind of put a halt on the "more American" notion of friends.
In the Bangladeshi culture, even about 30 years ago, girls who were married into the family became part of the servitude and order of the household. They did the cooking, cleaning, childbearing, and entertaining guests of the family. Sometimes that included their own relatives, but hardly any friends.
Women were close to their mother-in-laws by befriending them or treating them like their own mothers (hopefully with respect).
But there was no need for friends. No need for all-girls hang-outs. No need to hang out with your husband alone. No need to go to the store, the husband could get anything you needed and forget anything you wanted. There was no need to go to parties and weddings. If you couldn't make it, it was all out of the family need.
For example, the family's guests will come over (sometimes unannounced or all-of-a-sudden) and you have to go somewhere. Do you go or stay? For some families this is shameful if the bride leaves the house while guests are over unless it's something important such as going to school/college.
Now this is the dilemma: How do you balance both ends?
For example, if you grew up in America and are not accustomed to the culture, how do you deal with sacrificing invitations, get-togethers and hanging out alone with your friends?
There will also be situations you can't take/ go with your husband, he is not available to chaperon and he is not welcome. At the same time you can't give up your friendships and according to hadiths, you should keep invitations to strengthen relationships. You should also obey your husband. And you should also make them understand.
But should you sacrifice your in-laws for friends? Should you let your friends hang? If you don't have friends should you make new friends (in a new city)?
There is another hadith that says two friends who love each other for the sake of Allah will be protected by Allah's shade on the Day of Judgment when there is no shade. (That mean's we CAN have friends folks).
Something to contemplate.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Reviving the Islamic Spirit: the annual faith recharger
`I just got back from a trip from downtown Toronto, Canada at the 9th annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention, "Rules for the Road of Life - Reviving the 10 Commandments in the Modern World" during Christmas weekend.
The convention is a yearly effort usually during Christmas break to revitalize Islam - especially in the youth- overcome misconceptions and strengthen society at large. It's not only for Muslims either. There are non-Muslims who attend, evident by the handful of people who convert on-the-spot at the convention.
Speakers come from around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
The program attracts nearly 400 volunteers (as of 2009), and up to 20,000 participants.
RIS has annual themes - this year's was the 10 Commandments given to Prophet Moses - and honored by the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A similar set of guidelines was given to Noah, also known as the seven Noahide Laws.
Summed up in 10 rules: (1) not associate anything with God, (2) do not make any carved images, (3) do not take the name of your Lord in vain, (4) remember the Sabbath is holy (as Jummah is for Muslims) (5) honor your parents (6) do not commit murder (7) do not commit adultery (8) do not steal (9) do not bear false testament against your neighbor and (10) do not covet (take from that which is not yours).
RIS took the Islamic and humanity aspect of the 10 commandments to look for clues on how these instructions still apply in the modern world and how following the commandments effect life.
Muslims are a part of the Human Family:
The three-day weekend long lectures and speeches hosted topics reaffirmed the necessity of having morals, tolerance, and accepting others and working together for the sake of humanity.
Sherman Abdal Hakim Jackson, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, said those who are on the wrong side of the 10 commandments, they will not be a part of the moral code of society.
To do this, Jackson said Muslims need to abide by the same rules they expect from non-Muslims.
"We want non-Muslims to be truthful about us. What do we say about them?," he said, referring to journalists who cover the Muslim populations fairly.
Jackson said fairness comes with a price.
Aisha (radiallah-hu-anha) said Prophet Muhammad (sallalahi-wa-salam) said, "Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure at the expense of men's displeasure, will win Allah's Pleasure and Allah will cause men to be pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please men at the expense of Allah's displeasure, will win the displeasure of Allah and Allah will cause men to be displeased with him. (Ibn Hibban, Saheeh)."
In other words, when people commit actions in order to please people, they lose the blessings and pleasure of God, but when they do the right thing for the sake of God's pleasure, they are rewarded and liked by God and the people.
Jackson asked the audience, "What are you willing to give up for the honor of your people...and for Allah?"
For example, if a person helps an elderly person cross the street to please God, they will be rewarded and people will like them. If they do the same action to show off, they will be disliked and their actions will show it.
Muslims need to be dignified, said Jackson. "When people see how much you respect your own religion, people respect you."
(To be continued)
The convention is a yearly effort usually during Christmas break to revitalize Islam - especially in the youth- overcome misconceptions and strengthen society at large. It's not only for Muslims either. There are non-Muslims who attend, evident by the handful of people who convert on-the-spot at the convention.
Speakers come from around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
The program attracts nearly 400 volunteers (as of 2009), and up to 20,000 participants.
RIS has annual themes - this year's was the 10 Commandments given to Prophet Moses - and honored by the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A similar set of guidelines was given to Noah, also known as the seven Noahide Laws.
Summed up in 10 rules: (1) not associate anything with God, (2) do not make any carved images, (3) do not take the name of your Lord in vain, (4) remember the Sabbath is holy (as Jummah is for Muslims) (5) honor your parents (6) do not commit murder (7) do not commit adultery (8) do not steal (9) do not bear false testament against your neighbor and (10) do not covet (take from that which is not yours).
RIS took the Islamic and humanity aspect of the 10 commandments to look for clues on how these instructions still apply in the modern world and how following the commandments effect life.
Muslims are a part of the Human Family:
The three-day weekend long lectures and speeches hosted topics reaffirmed the necessity of having morals, tolerance, and accepting others and working together for the sake of humanity.
Sherman Abdal Hakim Jackson, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, said those who are on the wrong side of the 10 commandments, they will not be a part of the moral code of society.
To do this, Jackson said Muslims need to abide by the same rules they expect from non-Muslims.
"We want non-Muslims to be truthful about us. What do we say about them?," he said, referring to journalists who cover the Muslim populations fairly.
Jackson said fairness comes with a price.
Aisha (radiallah-hu-anha) said Prophet Muhammad (sallalahi-wa-salam) said, "Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure at the expense of men's displeasure, will win Allah's Pleasure and Allah will cause men to be pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please men at the expense of Allah's displeasure, will win the displeasure of Allah and Allah will cause men to be displeased with him. (Ibn Hibban, Saheeh)."
In other words, when people commit actions in order to please people, they lose the blessings and pleasure of God, but when they do the right thing for the sake of God's pleasure, they are rewarded and liked by God and the people.
Jackson asked the audience, "What are you willing to give up for the honor of your people...and for Allah?"
For example, if a person helps an elderly person cross the street to please God, they will be rewarded and people will like them. If they do the same action to show off, they will be disliked and their actions will show it.
Muslims need to be dignified, said Jackson. "When people see how much you respect your own religion, people respect you."
(To be continued)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tension Headaches
I'm getting tension headaches.
Often caused by stress, not enough sleep or anxiety, tension headaches minimally effect day-to-day activities. They can last up to 15 days, or 60-90 days in chronic tension headaches.
They are considered moderate headaches which often come and go, in 15-minute intervals or larger variations and last for a while. They are not migraine headaches, which effect the nerves and can cause loss of strength, vision or minimize functional activity.
Tension headaches usually occur on the sides of or on the forehead, and the back of your head or neck.
Although they can be relieved by over-the-counter pain killers, sometimes stronger medication is needed.
Talk to your doctor.
The other thing to do is manage your stress. Stress is based on perception of tasks, with minimal everyday tasks (which can still be stressful) being the smaller end of the spectrum to major stressors such as losing a loved one (which can take longer to deal with).
(Picture: Atlas Chiropractor and Nutrition Center)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Busy.
FYI in case you're wondering where I've disappeared.
List of things to do:
3 book reports
1 major 2,500 word feauture profile
read, read, read
internship reports
design community newsletter
complete online course
take language requirement test
complete independent study
triple re-edit religious report on local communities
charge phone and call M before she beats me with a jarooo
List of things to do:
3 book reports
1 major 2,500 word feauture profile
read, read, read
internship reports
design community newsletter
complete online course
take language requirement test
complete independent study
triple re-edit religious report on local communities
charge phone and call M before she beats me with a jarooo
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