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retrospect. revaluate. renew. this year i took it upon myself to not set the bar too high and consequently be disappointed in myself. i spoke myself into a different type of worship - a worship that made me believe i deserved God’s mercy. for the past years and since i can remember, i never believed i deserved His mercy and hurt myself in the process - in thinking He shouldn’t and wasn’t listening to me if I wasn’t able to complete X and Y obligations. i would measure my progress in metrics of Quran pages as opposed to the synchronisation of my heart with what was around me. i so badly wanted to prove to myself that i *deserved* to be loved by Him, not realising all along that He loved me because of my efforts, and showered His mercy upon me regardless of what i told myself of deserving or not. this year, i decided to stop my projections, to stop focusing on what i don’t know and start focusing on what i do. to stop fearing that i’ll never be enough and start accepting that He is all that is needed and beyond. I half-convinced myself to take it easy, and ensured the goals i set myself were ones that were embedded in loving myself, because how can one learn to love God without applying a little of that compassion to oneself? this year, i made and am making a conscious effort to not care for the aesthetics - to not fret over the company, or lack thereof, - and to focus on myself. and just how great has it been so far? this year i decided finally to own the love i try giving to the world, and ensure when all else fails - that i genuinely believe that He loves me and will answer to me in my highs and lows. how are the rest of us doing mid-month? from: @razanspeaks, a sister observing this blessed month from Istanbul. she is currently working on a project with Syrian filmmakers to capture their stories, uplift the unrooted. contribute to the cause today! https://www.gofundme.com/syrianfilmmakers
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When someone wants you to do something, and offers to pay you 10 times the price of what it might cost you to carry it out, what do you think they have in mind?
The above 3 describes how badly Allah wants us to make our good deeds scale heavy and enter Jannah. 10 points for 1 good deed, -1 point for 1 bad deed. See verse 6:160. The first thing someone might say when they're starting to practice Islam is that it's difficult. But when you realize it's "difficult" only by societal standards, Islam becomes very easy and you find that Islam is the closest lifestyle to your innate beliefs before society dictated what's easy and what's not- the aspects of modesty, morality, good character, accountability, honesty etc. Allah mentions many times in the Quran that he wishes only ease for us. Nothing He asks of us is deliberately designed to be difficult for us. Look at our salah concessions when we're travelling! 4 rakaahs to 2! And that too, you can carry forward or keep for later? Sometimes we don't even take them because we think we can do what Allah has "originally commanded". Well folks, the ease Allah has offered us is not for us to say no no, Allah deserves more. The ease is for us, so automatically, Allah's command of 5 daily prayers (still on that example) in its time and established rakaahs becomes, cut 4 down to 2 when in difficulty. Bring forward/later when travelling. That becomes His command. And to not take it is to be arrogant. It is for our own ease. Salaah is for us, it is US who need Salaah. Allah isn't "in need" of your half-hearted salaah. Once you realize this, you will not want to ever pray half-heartedly. Because this was for your own good. And it's easy, so take your time. If you wouldn't rush through a meal for fear of choking, and the meal is that which is supposed to nourish you, then why would you rush through Salaah, that which is the whole purpose of our existence? Rush towards good for He has made it easy. #Ramadhan1440 #QuranicGems See more from Yasmin who will be posting Quranic gems and reflections on her instagram! May Allah continue to shower blessings upon her and reward her for sharing her findings as she studies the Qur'an.
I dream about living in a Muslim land where Ramadan is celebrated the way it should be... A land where everyone comes together to break fast, rows of dates and fruit assembled for all families to join - a land where people line the streets to pray - a land where the adhaan is heard in the skies and a drum beat thrums the wake of the people to call to worship - where the people rise with the moon and sleep with the light.
That's what I dream of when I sit at my desk, think of the bleak little meal I'll have at home or the little prayer room in the imam's basement, and the abbreviated prayer we'll pray that night because we're afraid of the neighbors calling the cops because of the sound of the Qur'an reverbrating through our walls. That is what I dream of when I think about having to request Eid off from work, and hope it is approved even though my sick leave is nonexistent. That is what I dream of. Maybe one day. Or maybe never. And if that's the case - that's ok. I trust in Allah, He knows what is best for me. And perhaps, this is the test that strengthens me. This is what teaches me not to take any second of it for granted. I'm learning to look at everything in a positive light, for how else do we overcome the dunya? Lots of love from a small Muslim community in the middle of nowhere. Last year I was pretty active on Facebook for Ramadan. I was easily found posting reminders, putting out into the world whatever knowledge I had or was learning myself, sharing videos every single day.
But this year I needed something different. I needed a change. I realized that I felt good sharing information with others, but it wasn't touching my heart. I needed more than ever to make all of this a more 1:1, me and Allah, in my heart, sort of thing. I poured hours into disseminating reminders on Instagram, even created a side profile just for that, and while my intentions were in the right place - I wanted to help others on their journey, I wanted to do some good and pass it on - I wasn't focusing on the right thing. All my efforts were going out externally, I wasn't putting as much effort on my own self. It's hugely important to give to others, to share knowledge, but if I myself wasn't finding ways to implement that knowledge, then what was it doing for me? For my relationship with Allah? I needed to try harder for myself. In order to truly help others, I needed to help myself. I recently got married and moved out and this is my first Ramadan without my mom or dad waking me up for suhoor, without my mom cooking iftaar, reminding me to pray, to read Qur'an, to make my adhkaar. All of this has fallen on me -- and it's always been my own responsibility, but this is the first time where no one is there to remind me every step of the way. And it's scary. These past week has been rough. I've tripped up a lot more than I wish I had. I's taught me is to forgive myself. Honestly. The less I tried to be perfect, the more I centered myself around trying to please Allah. The more I did that, the easier it was to wake up for suhoor, to rush a meal after work for iftaar, the more regular prayer-on-time became. I just needed to realize that it wasn't perfection I was seeking, it was excellence. One step at a time. I needed this transition to realize how I could better myself and motivate my own self to do it. This first week of the month has taught me so much. Be gentle with yourself. Change is not overnight. Keep trying. Don't stop. What's Ramadan taught you so far? submitted anonymously Ahlaq - Manners Abdullah ibn Amr (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمْ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you. Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1924, Grade: Sahih catch @ibtasempoetry for beautiful poetry and ruminations from the Qur'an and hadith. follow her for reflections on the names and attributes of Allah.
Salam everyone. New-ish sister here. This is my first Ramadan fasting seriously and it's hard. I'll be honest. I live with my younger sister who isn't Muslim and she doesn't really get it. She is a good hearted person but we weren't raised with any specific faith so she's not so openminded. I began wearing my hijab not long ago so its probably all hitting her too fast. But it's not just her fault that I'm struggling. I'm not used to fasting. Maybe most of us aren't since we don't fast every day of the year. But I'm also finding it hard to pray on time, at work, where people aren't used to me being Muslim yet (even though I took my shahada a couple years ago), at home, where my sister questions every new act of faith I take. Maybe it's a learning process for not just me, but it does get hard. And a couple nights ago, just a few days of fasting into the month, I really broke down. I cried to Allah to help me. I cried to Allah to make it easier. Then, I was listening to a YouTube lecture today that really motivated me. And God is Great because it was everything I needed to hear and more, may Allah bless the imam who spoke. It was a short reminder, but so beautiful because the main point was that Allah loves those who are trying. So even if I'm struggling with my fast, even if my prayer isn't perfect, I'm trying. That's what matters. Allah loves those who try for Him. We weren't created perfect in any way... and that's okay. That's how we were created. We were created to submit to Allah so it's our natural inclination when we seek truth that we find Him, but that doesn't mean it's not hard. And if we struggle with ourselves to submit and continue to struggle to better ourselves, then Allah will only love us more. Isn't that just beautiful? In my 33 years of life, I never once was told that my efforts count. Our society is build on effort, but only results are recognized. And here is our God, telling us that our efforts count, that struggling is okay and to keep trying. Any of you pressed on time but looking for good little reminders, check this one out. Listen to the series while you're at it. It's amazing and I've learned so much already, which is hard when you're learning mostly on your own - alhamdolilah. Keep me in your prayers! Sincerely, Karen, your new-ish sister in faith Tip #1: increase your daily dhikr. The remembrance of Allah softens our hearts and keeps us ready to get right back into prayer and fasting.
Tip #2: increase your du'a. Call upon Allah! Speak directly to Him, connect with Him -- any time, any place. Take the time to ask Allah for whatever you need, take the time to praise Him and show gratitude, draw closer to Him by learning the dua taught to us in the sunnah. Tip #3: increase seeking repentance. Allah is the most-Forgiving, so seek His forgiveness. Tip #4: seek knowledge. Use your free time to study the faith. Various ways you can do this include: listening to lectures and short reminders online, studying the seerah of RasulAllah (peace and blessings be upon him), his companions, and other prophets and messengers, reading Islamic literature (or even better, starting a little period-bookclub for other sisters around you who might not be praying as well), and so on. Tip #5: listen to the Qur'an. Just because we cannot hold the mushaf itself doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to Allah's word, recite from memory, and ponder its meaning. Tip #6: babysit. This might sound weird, but when you aren't praying, you can still go to prayer and watch others' kids in the back of the masjid or a spare room while they pray (or host an informal nightly prayer daycare, though that sounds a bit like a nightmare if I'm honest). By helping make it easier for others to worship, you are rewarded tremendously not just for your own deed, but for hers as well! Tip #7: give in charity. As you would throughout this month, give to others whether through local causes or larger charities. Even small gifts make a difference. Tip #8: cook for those fasting. Lift the load off of others who may be fasting in your home, and make iftar for them. Tip #9: rethink your day to day life and realize how everything can be an act of worship with the right intentions. Sometimes, we think about these big acts like hosting our own charities or sponsoring grand iftar feasts, and we forget that responsibilities at home are a way to gain Allah's pleasure. Caring for our family members, small tasks like washing the dishes, cleaning the home, doing laundry, changing a diaper, making dinner (like in Tip #8), are all acts of worship. Tip #10: practice gratitude. Nuff said. I ask Allah to guide us all, purify our hearts and correct our intentions. May we benefit from one another as we share this month. Ameen. As we all know, if a woman is on her period, then she does not fast. If she is experiencing that time of the month (or if she's experiencing post-childbearing nifaas) - if she is essentially bleeding her womb out, she does not fast. Now, we start fasting when we hit puberty (if we're able to make that decision sanely, and are healthy enough to fast). But when menstruation happens, the way we partake in Ramadan shifts. When on your period, as a Muslim woman, you do not pray as you usually would, nor do you fast. We are free of these typical obligations, but must make up the fast if it is the waajib/fardh fast of Ramadan. BUT, we are not the only group of people who aren't fasting during Ramadan. There is a variety of reasons why someone might not fast: they're sick/unable to fast without putting themselves in harm's way, or on medication that necessitates the breaking of their fast; they're traveling; they're young, etc etc etc. Even so, there is shame around women who aren't fasting. In fact, a lot of us pretend to fast in front of others, even our own family members, so that they don't question us. What we don't realize is that being commanded not to fast while menstruating is a blessing from Allah. Fasting in and of itself is already hard for many Muslims, but imagine experiencing typical symptoms of the period (shifting moods, uncontrollable cravings, headaches, nausea, cramping, low energy, inability to focus) in addition to the blood loss, AND fasting. It is a mercy from Allah that we do not fast while menstruating, but that we make it up later. It alleviates the pressure placed on women who go through more difficult periods than others to fast or pray if they feel unable. Instead of trying to determine ourselves if we are able to fast, Allah has allowed for all of us to take a break from fasting and praying while menstruating. Still, this begs the question: why are so many girls ashamed to eat, to fuel her body, to take care of her self, while on her period? Alhamdulillah I never experienced this within my home and marriage, or with my uncles who visit every so often. Yet in so many households, even in cultural traditions, there is shame around a woman eating during fasting hours, even if she isn't fasting. There is shame around being on your period, there is shame in being a woman. There is stigma around speaking about menses, and women will not eat so that others don't know that they're on their period. Sometimes it gets to the point where women are blatantly told to continue fasting anyway, even if it will not count, without any religious proof of this! Honestly, we all - our male relatives, especially, - must face reality - your wives have periods, your mom has/had periods, your sisters, your daughters, just about every living breathing female, will begin to menstruate at some point in her life. And I want to tell other women to stand up for their daughters, sisters, etc. - to not let these stigmas ruin Islam, the perfect faith - to let them eat if they're hungry (and to respectfully do so in the privacy of their own room, or in the kitchen, at least away from those who may be fasting, lest they tempt them or interfere with their fast), and to encourage them to worship and remain close to Allah in whatever ways they can, rather than treat it like a vacation from faith altogether. And it is important to note that if you aren't fasting, it's still good advice to consider eating away from those fasting because it can be annoying to watch someone eat in front of you when you aren't able to eat or drink water. Let's be real about that. But the shame around this entire topic of a woman being a woman and experiencing woman things needs to go. Additionally, we must widen the discussion around what a menstruating woman can do during the month of Ramadan (and after) to maintain her closeness to Allah. It's all too common for us to drift off and not think about Allah, contemplate on the Quran and the hidden blessings in creation. A lot of us are only actively engaging with our faith when we pray - so if we aren't praying or fasting, how can we uphold our connection to Allah? Tomorrow, Roedah (Sunnatul Hayaat's mod) will do a part 2 to my little rant with tips on how to make the most of Ramadan while menstruating. Over and out, M. K. I'll be honest, this month has always signified a time to fast for me, growing up. And only now is it pushing me to realize what that actually means.
I was raised a Muslim, but wasn't seriously practicing the faith as a teen. In college, I had friends who were more "into" the deen than me, so I started learning more just by being around them, and practiced more due to the association. I went to pray in the little meditation room with them, and slowly was closer to the faith. But my heart wasn't fully in it. I felt good about myself doing all this, but I wasn't making the true connection to Allah in my prayers. I wasn't really calling on Him to guide me or anything. I was feeling good because I prayed and my parents couldn't yell at me for not doing it anymore. And now, my first year as a working adult, I'm fasting. And praying when I can. Sometimes I pray multiple prayers at once when I get home. And I know it's wrong, but I do pray on time when I can, when I remember, when I find the time and space. It's up to me to make it a priority. But that's a whole different point in and of itself. I'm the only visibly Muslim person on my floor, and people here don't know all that much about what being a Muslim during Ramadan entails. Note: If you aren't Muslim, this is what you should NOT say to a Muslim friend or co-worker:
First -- don't ask why. Cuz God told me to and I'm trying to fulfill that. Can you say the same? *hint hint read your own book and come back to me later* Second -- yeah, no food or water. Not as hard as you think, only hard because of these questions! Please don't act incredulous or question what I JUST told you. Just go with it. Yes. No food or water. And third -- it's not torture. It's a BLESSING. We as humans typically OVER-eat our fill. Just because I'm not eating during certain hours doesn't mean I'm not eating at all. In fact, this fast teaches me so much discipline because it isn't just fasting from food and water, but also negative behavior like gossiping, getting angry, speaking badly, etc. It trains me to be thankful and grateful. It trains me to recognize all the good in my life. Even if I'm tired and hungry at work, alhamdulilah (all praises to God) I can go home after this and break my fast with my family. Others might not be that fortunate. Alhamdulilah, I'm able to fast, to participate in this journey to better myself. Some others can't fast for reasons like medical issues. And they are able to worship in other ways, but something about the fast is special. So lastly, no, it's not good for weight loss. It's not even ABOUT weight loss. (Though I'll say a lot of us gain weight because we're eating good food through the night, haha.) In fact, asking about weight loss just triggers me. Making it about that makes it easy to spiral back into disordered thinking, and losing all the intentions that make it right to fast. We fast to become pious. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "O you who have believed, Fasting has been prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become pious." (2:183) We don't fast to lose weight, to show off, to torture ourselves, we're doing it to soften our hearts, to get closer to God, to understand others better. I'm learning more and more about this this Ramadan. Only day 3 and already having epiphanies. All good is from Allah. - Anonymous Sis with a Twist This life can be competitive and not getting the right attention from the right people can affect us in a 101 different ways. Some of us even completely lose hope and quit doing the good we were doing because it goes unnoticed, and therefore, in our eyes, unrewarded. Allah tells us in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 110 that whatever good we do, big or small, will manifest in His records. HE sees. HE listens. HE will reward you. So don't sto️p praying, don't stop helping the needy because of people. They might be patting the backs of others who are doing the same work as you, but you best believe that Allah's acknowledgement is enough. In fact, it is all you ever need. In His eyes, you deserve to be rewarded, which means you will be pleasantly surprised in the Aakhirah, seeing what you've accumulated for yourself. Be at ease💜 #QuranicGems #Ramadhan1440 See more from Yasmin who will be posting Quranic gems and reflections on her instagram - a few more of which may be making an appearance here! May Allah continue to shower blessings upon her.
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