Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Month of Mercy!!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Ramadan, the month of mercy.....it's such a beautiful month full of Allah's blessings. We can't even comprehend how great this month is. It's the most auspicious in the sight of the creator. It is the month in which the Glorious Qu'ran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad SAW, the final messenger, the seal of all the prophets. It is the only month whose name was revealed in the Qu'ran.
This month is such a great favour of Allah SWT on the ummah of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
It is a month whose days and nights shine with light. The doors of heaven are opened wide and the dreaded doors of hell are locked tight , evil is lessened in this month as Shaitaan ( satan) is chained Alhamdulillah!
"When Ramadan comes the gates of paradise are opened, the gates of Hell-fire are locked and the devils are chained." Muslim
We should not let this glorious month pass without gaining benefit from it.....it is a blessing to live to see this month.

The month of Ramadan is distinguished by fasting. Allah SWT says in the Holy Qu'ran:
" O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may attain taqwa." 2:183

Taqwa is being conscious of Allah SWT , being mindful of Him and making sure we do deeds that will please Him. It's an act of worship which continues over a whole day so it makes us be aware of how we behave and the things we do. Fasting is not just about keeping away from food and drink, its about making sure we also avoid anything that is bad for us like swearing, cursing , backbiting.....all the things that will distance us from Allah SWT.


The Messenger of Allah SAW said " He who does not leave dishonest speech and acting in accordance to it and (practising) ignorance, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink." (Bukhari)

Fasting has many virtues:-

  • It is a shield - The Prophet PBUH said " Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the fire."(Ahmad)
  • It causes one to enter paradise - Because it distances one from the fire, it causes a person to get close to Jannah. A companion of the Prophet SAW asked, " O messenger of Allah tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise." The Prophet said "Take to fasting, there is nothing like it"
  • Those who fast are rewarded with an immense reward - An unimaginable reward awaits the person who fasts, he experiences joy twice - once in this world when he breaks his fast and once in the hereafter, and even the smell coming fron his mouth is better with Allah SWT than the smell of musk. Allah SWT says : Every deed that the son of Adam performs is for himself except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward it.
  • Fasting and qu'ran will intercede for a person - Prophet Muhammad SAW said " Fasting & the Qu'ran will intercede for the servant on the day of Resurrection. Fasting will say : O my Lord I prevented him from food & desires so accept my intercession for him, and the Qu'ran will say : I prevented him from sleep at night, so accept my intercession for him, so their intercession will be accepted."
  • Fasting is an expiation for various sins - Example of these sins are hunting game while in a state of Ihraam, violating an oath, accidentally killing one of a people with whom you have a treaty, a person who is unable to carry out the obligatory sacrifice and shaving the head whilst in a state of ihraam for one who does that due to some illness.
  • Ar-Rayyaan is for those who fast - And what is ar-Rayyaan. The Prophet PBUH said: " Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called Ar-Rayyan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one else enters it."
  • Supplication of a fasting person isn't refused - Fasting is such a beloved act in the eyes of Allah SWT that He promises to accept the dua (supplication) made by one who has endured hunger for His sake. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: " There are 3 people whose supplications are not rejected: the fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the dua of the oppressed."

As you can see Ramadan is a unique month, the first of which is mercy, the middle of which is forgiveness and the last of which is asking Allah SWT to be freed from the fire whose fuel is men & stones.

Not only has Allah blessed us with this month but within this month He has given us a special night called The night of Decree (Lailat al-Qadr) and what a grand night this is. It is the most magnificent night of the year, a night about which Allah has revealed a Surah (chapter) in the Qu'ran i.e Surat Al-Qadr (97).
In it He says: " The night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the spirit (Gabriel) by Allah's permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace until the appearance of dawn."
It is the night the Qu'ran was made to descend to the lowest heaven before being revealed on Earth. But it is also the night in which all that is to happen in the coming year is revealed to the angels who are assigned to discharge Allah's decrees, including: who is to recieve how much sustenance, who is to be born and who is to die.

Imagine a night that has been declared as better than a thousand months and so worship in this one awesome night is better than the worship of 83.3 years. That is worshipping Allah SWT night & day, 24 by 7 ..... isn't that amazing! What a beautiful gift from Allah, it's like winning the lottery but only if we put the effort in to try and seek it in the last 10 nights, the odd nights of ramadan. No particular worship has been prescribed for this night: salah(prayer), reciting the holy Qu'ran, engaging in dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and lots of duas are all ways in which we can gain reward and nearness to the Almighty. It seems a tough task, waking up early hours of the night but its an oppurtunity that should not be missed because you have no guarantee you will be blessed with another Ramadan so we should all strive to seek and gain this jackpot.
Ramadan truly is a blessed month .....Alhamdulillah, I thank Allah SWT with all my heart for giving us this beautiful gift...May we all appreciate it and reap it's rewards Ameen!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

99 names of Allah SWT



Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

In a famous hadith, the Prophet PBUH said
"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who remembers them off by heart (and believes in them) would enter Paradise."
(Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, no. 1410) .

A video that should help in knowing the names of the Creator that I put together....check it out:



We should strive to call to the creator using His beautiful names but how many times do we actually do that. For example one of Allah's names is al-Kareem (the most generous) but what I find in myself and others is we will make dua and say i.e Oh Allah just give me a little piece of Heaven when really if we reflect on that name....the most Generous we should be asking for the ultimate which is Jannat ul Firdous because Allah SWT is the one who can easily give it to us as He calls Himself Most Generous therefore we should be saying "Ya Kareem bless me with the highest place in Jannat", without feeling shy or hesitating.
We need to reflect on the names of Allah SWT and ask accordingly using those names.
All of Allahs names are beautiful,and so if you are impatient like me then it's good to say Ya Sabur which means Oh Patient one bless me with patience and you know what I've found my patient level has gone much better....improved tremendously ever since I have started calling on Allah SWT more. Each of Allah's names have a different meaning but I absolutely love al-Wali meaning the Friend and I often pray to God Almighty saying Please be my friend and I also love al-Wadud which is the Loving because in reality Allah SWT is the most loving .....He loves us even more than our own mothers.
As mothers we sometimes get fed up and shout /scream at our children but Allah never gets fed up of us in fact He is always there listening to us , watching us, responding to us in many different ways if only we could understand them. He really is the only true friend that we need in our life because unto Him is our return and there is no doubt about that....
I would like to finish this entry with a dua that I often make....
" Oh Allah make my love for You the most beloved thing to me, and my fear for You the most fearful thing to me and remove from me all worldly needs and wants by instilling a passion for meeting You, and when You have given the people of the world the pleasures of their world, make the coolness of my eyes in worshipping YOU Ameen."

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Virtues of Surah Mulk

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim ,
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful .

Surah Mulk is the 67th chapter of the Holy Quran and what a beautiful surah it is. It begins with the words " Blessed be He in Whose hand is the Dominion and He has power over all things."

It is reported from ibn ‘Abbas (ra) who said that one of the Prophet’s companions set up his tent over a grave without realising that it was a grave and it contained a man who was reciting the Surah al-Mulk up to the end. He went and told the Prophet (saw) who said: “It is The Defender; it is The Protector which safeguards from the punishment of the grave.” (Tirmidhi )


The Prophet said: "I wish that 'Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion' is in the heart of every believer."


Abu Hurairah (ra) narrates that the Prophet said: "There is a Surah in the Quran of thirty ayat which intercedes for its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion."(Ahmad)

Subhanallah these hadith tells us why we should be reciting this surah daily....it will save us from the punishment of the grave as that is our first destination when we die and if that goes well then Inshallah everything else should fall into place.

Below is a video that I composed to help with the memorisation of this virtuous surah:






Monday, July 7, 2008

Purify yourself!







Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

I was reading a beautiful hadith(saying of the Messenger of Allah PBUH) that I would like to share .

On the authority of Abu Malik al-Harith bin 'Asim al-Ash'ari, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
'Cleanliness is half of faith, and saying 'Alhamdulillah'(Praise be to God) fills the scale, Saying 'Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillahi' (Exhalted be Allah and Praise be to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth. Salah (prayer) is a light. Sadaqah (charity) is proof(of one's faith). Sabr (patience) is a brightness. The Qur'an is a proof for or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, some setting themselves free and others destroying themselves."
What a beautiful hadith. It shows the importance of these great deeds in Islam through which every Muslim can free him or herself from the punishment of Allah subhana wa ta'ala in the Hereafter . What a beautiful way to purify yourself as Jannah (paradise) is reserved only for the ones who are pure....those who carry out these deeds will be those who are near to the creator. May Allah SWT make us of those who will be near and dear to Him, Ameen.
The hadith also explains the importance the Holy Qur'an should have in our lives. It states that "The Qur'an is either an argument and proof for or against you".
In Surah al-Isra Ayah 82 Allah says:
"We send down the Qur'an that which is a healing and mercy for those who believe and for the unjust people it causes nothing but loss after loss."

So people who recite the Qur'an, learn it and practice its rulings are people who become the people of the Qur'an and it (the Qur'an) will be a proof for them. But those who ignore the Qur'an and never read or practice it in their lives, then the Qur'an will stand against them in the hereafter. Now thats heavy......it's not an ordinary book ....it's a book that can save us from the fire whose fuel is men and stones. Not only should we be reading it daily, we should also be implementing it in our every day life.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Greatest Ayah - Ayatul Kursi

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficient, the most Merciful
Ayatul Kursi is an ayaah (verse) in the Holy Qur'aan in the second surah, surah Baqarah ayah 255 in which Allah SWT speaks about Himself and His Attributes.
It is highly distinguished because:-
  • The Prophet Muhammad PBUH described it as the greatest ayaah in the Qur'aan.
  • In it the most Great Name of Allah is mentioned.
  • It protects from the accursed shaytaan. Whoever recites it at night (before going to bed), Allah will appoint a guard for him and stay with him to protect him all night long, and no shaytaan will come near him till morning.
  • In a hadeeth reported by At-Tabaraani the Prophet PBUH said " The one who recites it after each of the obligatory prayers, then death will be the only thing (ie barrier) preventing him from entering al-Jannah (paradise)."
  • It is the only place in the Qur'aan where the Kursi (Footstool of Allah) is mentioned.
Subhanallah so many virtues in just one ayaah of the Holy Qur'aan....It is well worth memorising and below is a video I thoroughly enjoyed making of this great ayaah with translation.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

R8 - Fantastic Design




















In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
The R8, What a car....a fantastic drive!!!! I have been fortunate enough to be driven around in such an awesome piece of design. Not just once but a few times and it does bring a huge smile to my face. Its got so much class , a 4.2 V8 mid engine from the Audi RS4, 414 bhp , top speed is 187mph and the sweetest rumble that I've come across. Your probably wondering how comes I know so much about cars, it's because I'm married to a car fanatic and it's always good to gain knowledge, it's good for the system.
Why I am so impressed with the R8 is because it's such a beautiful design.....but what is TRULY amazing is the creator who has given man the intelligence to build such a work of art. Allah SWT has blessed us all with different types of talents, some people are creative and so create mind blowing machinery, everyone of us uses our talents in different areas of our life and if we look around we see so many examples of what man has created but it's the Almighty who has given us this ability.
If we are impressed at man made things then what about the creator and what he has created.....the sun, the source of all life, the moon , the stars, the heavens, the Earth, all the planets .....the list is endless. Just look at your own self .....eyes , ears , mouth, nose, how beautifully they are all put together......God is truly amazing.
As Allah says in Surah Baqarah (2) Ayah 164:-
" Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alteration of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after it's death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that he has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed signs for men of understanding."
The R8 might be a fantastic design but the ultimate DESIGNER.....Allah SWT deserves to be worshipped because his design that is every thing we see, touch feel , taste has to be loved and admired!!!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Power of Dua




Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficient, the most Merciful.

Today I want to talk about dua (supplication). Dua is such a powerful tool, it's a tool that Allah SWT has blessed us with but unfortunately we don't take advantage of it.

In the Holy Quran, Surah Baqarah Ayah 186.....What a beautiful Ayah, Allah SWT says "When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (with his knowledge): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me."
He listens to us and responds yet how much do we call upon him. The Prophet PBUH said, Ask Allah even if it is for a shoe lace. Subhanallah...a shoe lace, one might think a shoe lace, that sounds so silly but in fact it's not. He is our Rabb, the one who provides and we should not feel shy at all. He loves it when we call on him and ask him as we are in need of him but he doesn't need us as he is self sufficient. After learning about this Ayah from my tafseer teacher who explained it so well, may Allah SWT reward her, I have started asking Allah for almost anything...sometimes I need a parking space near my work, I make dua and Subhanallah it's there, like as if it was waiting for me because finding a parking place is getting very difficult. Even when I'm cooking and if I remember to ask Allah to make it nice...the dish always is tastier than normal. These are trivial things but the point is we can ask the Almighty with sincerity for everything and anything.

You are probably asking yourself, I do make dua but nothing happens.....First NEVER GIVE UP, thats what Shaitaan wants us to do. He wants us desperately not to remember Allah. A believer who makes Dua receives one of three things: Either you will quickly have your Dua answered, or you will get it's reward in the Akhirah(this is the best option)or something bad will be prevented from happening equal to the value of that Dua. So there is hope that every dua we make does actually benefit us. But we have to be very patient. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The supplication of every one of you will be granted only if he does not get impatient and say (for example): `I supplicated to my Rubb but my prayer has not been granted'.

As long as we don't ask for anything sinful or asking Allah to break ties of kinship then we will have our dua answered in this world or the hereafter. We should make dua at all times, not only during times of distress. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: "Whosoever desires that Allah answers his duas in unfavourable and difficult conditions, he should make plentiful dua in days of ease and comfort." Also he said: "The person who does not ask from Allah, Allah becomes angry with him." So what can I say.....Raise your hands and ask the one who created you and gave you whatever you have at this moment in time and who provides for you without ever getting tired....That is Allah, Lord of the magnificent Throne!!!







Friday, March 21, 2008

Life is a test!!


Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Life truly is a test, we get tested in so many different ways. You get tested with your wealth, your children, fear , poverty, with loss of life and even happy times are a test just to see if we are truly grateful to Allah SWT for all the blessings we have.Allah says in the Quran "Alif/Laam/Meem..Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, "We believe," and will not be tested? Indeed We tested those who (lived) before them" Surah Al-Ankaboot (29)1-3.Why am I talking about tests...well simply because I just went through a test although every day of our life is a test ...this was out of the ordinary for me. My whole family was fast asleep and we got burgled but Subhanalllah nothing can harm you without the will of Allah SWT and praise be to Allah who saved us and no one was hurt. Allah's Messenger PBUH said " Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety , a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah WILL expiate his sins on account of his patience " Subhanallah these words bring such comfort as I did feel anxiety, grief and worry but I believe that my sins were expiated. Trials are usually there for us to take a lesson from. I remember thinking that in the Akhirah I didn't want to have these negative feelings because there it will not be just for a few days or few hours but forever.I want to have ETERNAL bliss. It was a trying time but the rememberance of Allah SWT gave me a feeling of peace & calm....Verily in the rememberance of Allah do hearts find comfort, Surah Ar-Rad (13)ayah 28.
So basically, we should keep our tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah as when we remember him in times of ease he will remember us in times of difficulty and I truly believe that is what happened with me.....
Allah SWT does not burden a soul beyond its scope (Surah Baqarah 2, Ayah 286).....so whatever comes our way , we will be able to cope with it although it may seem as if we can't.

Friday, March 14, 2008

True Love



Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Today I saw true love ....Subhanallah it wasn't the love we all know between two persons but it was between a teenager and his pet cat! That teenager happens to be my boy and that cat is our precious pet. He has been so busy lately so hasn't had a chance to pay attention to her, she wasnt very happy so she attacked him just to get his attention which she never does. My boy was so upset...I explained why she did that so he spent good 10 minutes with her and Subhanallah she was all happy and purring away. But just the love that Allah SWT has instilled between them is amazing....we forget how even animals need love and care and we have a duty to provide them with that love and attention. There is a hadith from Bukhari which says"You will not have secure faith until you love one another and have mercy on those who live upon the earth." Allah SWT is very compassionate and loves for us to be compassionate even if it is to an animal.
In the Qur'an and Hadith, it is emphasized that animals be treated as humanely as any other of God's vast creation. The Qur'an goes as far to say that cruelty to animals is equivalent to cruel treatment of a human being. Kind treatment of animals is considered a good deed in the same sense that good conduct and treatment between human beings is deemed a good deed. There is another Hadith about a man who felt thirsty and went down a well, and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This animal is suffering from the same problem as that of mine.' So, he climbed down the well , filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth, climbed up and gave the dog a drink. Because of this good act of his Allah SWT forgave him and granted him Paradise.'' The people asked "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving animals?'' He replied: `Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being).'' (Narrated by Abu Hurairah ). Alhamdulillah...you even get rewarded in Islam for being good to an animal so go on do a good deed and share some of your love with the living things we often neglect.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Jumu'ah Mubarak!!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Alhamdulillah, Praise be to Allah...Can you believe its Friday (Jumu'ah) again! Friday is such a special day in Islam, it's the day Adam (AS) was created, on this day he entered Paradise and on this day he came out of it! This is narrated by Abu Hurairah in Muslim. This is also the day Judgement day will take place...may Allah SWT save us from the fear of that day Ameen.
Reading Surah Al-Kahf (Surah 18) on Friday is so beneficial because you will be blessed with a light from the creator between the two Jumu'ahs(that Friday & the following Friday)...Isn't that just wonderful...Alhamdulillah I've already implemented that in my life and I feel its definitely made a huge difference in my daily routines....You've got to read with pure belief and Subhanallah you will notice yourselves the change that occurs...Alhamdulillah!!
Oh yeah today during my Quran class in the Masjid there was a tiny little girl, probably about 1-2 years old, really cute & she was wearing this jean dress and she kept putting pens in her dress and they kept falling out & she kept putting them in thinking she had a pocket..it was just so cute and funny ...I can still picture her but I was just admiring her because little children are such a blessing, they are so innocent and so pure. They are so close to Allah SWT. Only learning about Islam and abiding by it has made me realise of little blessings that are around us...We have a lot to be thankful for. That little girl was really the highlight of my day, she brought such a smile to my face and made me appreciate the one who created me....With that happy note I finish my blog and make dua for myself and the Ummah of Propher Muhammad PBUH!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Alhamdulillah!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim ,
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful .

All praise is due to Allah and Allah alone who has given me this opportunity to talk about my passion which is Islam. By joining the blog race I can talk about all the little things I'm learning on a daily basis, about my Islamic experiences, my feelings , my thoughts and maybe somebody might just benefit a TINY little bit from them..Inshallah! Blogging seems to suit me to the letter simply because many times I have wanted to share with others what I've learnt but unfortunately the most important people in my life are either too busy or they just don't want to know! Never mind...that's life!!!!!

Before I go on to share a poem I wrote a few weeks ago when I was so overwhelmed by the fact that I had been blessed with Islam I just want to thank my sis-in-law (hubby's sis) who actually made this possible for me and set this whole thing up and even gave me the name of Strongiman, although I am working on that part. Its people like her who are special and you know you can rely on them in times of need. May Allah reward her for her wonderful effort in this world and the Akhirah(hereafter) Ameen! The title of my blog For the love of God actually comes from my darling daughter who one day said to me " For the love of God mum,stop picking on me"...although that sounded sweet , it actually brought tears to my eyes......sometimes I can go on, not in the best way!!!!

I am going to end my first ever blog with a poem that I wrote in the car titled ALHAMDULILLAH! Its just basically thanking Allah SWT for every thing he has blessed me with.....we can NEVER thank him enough.

Alhamdulillah for the moment that I wake

Oh Allah forgive me for all the mistakes that I make

Alhamdulillah for the blessing of Islam

Oh Allah fill my heart with peace and calm

Alhamdulillah for the steps that I take

Oh Allah let these steps be only for your sake

Alhamdulillah for my beating heart

Oh Allah when my soul is taken do not let it be ripped apart

Alhamdulillah for every part of me

Oh Allah make me remember you constantly

Alhamdulillah for my family and friends

Oh Allah bless us all with good ends

Alhamdulillah for making me just me

Oh Allah it is your blessed face that I long to see..
ALHAMDULILLAH, ALHAMDULILLAH, ALHAMDULILLAH (Praise be to Allah)

So I have now finally come to the end ....May Allah accept it from me, we have to make sure that everything we do is ONLY for the sake of the creator and only then we shall succeed in this world and the next.