11th March, 2015. Wednesday
Reviving the Islam in me and you....
Very often we seem to ignore some very crucial things
that we are supposed to consider in our lives! We take delight, not only in
disobeying, but in displeasing Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal to suit our carnal desires.
Allaah, being a Patient God, tolerates us and still bestows His profound and
all-embracing Mercy upon us. May Allaah forgive us all, purify our hearts and
make us of those who are conscious of Him all the days of our earthly lives,
Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem!
All praise and thanks are due to Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal. I
bear witness that there is no deity worthy of any kind of worship but Allaah,
and I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad SAW is the seal of the Prophets
and Messengers.
I seek the help of Allaah to grant us understanding of the
religion of Islam and affirm us with Tauhid (monotheism). And to save us from
all fitna (trials and tribulations), Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem
I further seek the help of Allaah to grant me all the
necessary wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Islam that I need to achieve the
burning desire I have of propagating and proclaiming the true Islam of
QaalaAllaahu and QaalaRasulluhu SAW to the world, and females most especially,
Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
As a mere servant of Allaah, I am always striving to be a
better Muslimah every day, I pray Allaah grants me the ability to do everything
solely for the sake of Allaah! And I pray Allaah makes me of those who practice
what they proclaim, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
For a while now, I have been thinking about these issues of
…
1.
People who say they are Muslims but yet neglect
Sualat (five daily obligatory prayers).
2.
People who claim to be Muslims but barely
pick up the Qur’an to recite not to mention reading and reflecting on the
verses.
3.
People who claim to be Muslims but have very
little time to supplicate to Allaah.
4.
People who claim to be Muslims and yet do not
feel Islam within them.
5.
Ladies who claim to be Muslims but do not
wear the hijab and take delight in displaying their adornments and the fixing of
artificial hair.
SubhaanAllaah! I have been thinking
about these for a long time and in shaa Allaah I have something to do about it
in my own little way and I pray for Allaah to help me do it and put Baraka in
it for me and the Ummah at large, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
SubhaanAllaah! We all have to be very
cautious of the life we live because, subhaanAllaah we will account for
everything we do in this world. May Allaah have mercy on us all and make us
better Muslims who will sincerely serve Him alone and succeed in this world and
the hereafter, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
Alhamdulilaah, today is another day for
us to reconcile with Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal and be true Muslims whose lifestyles
depict Islam. I just remembered something, yes! The issue of listening to
worldly music! Ya Sallaam! Some people are super addicted to it that they cannot
do anything without it Yaa Sallaam! “What is Shatta Wale saying that is so
pleasing and soothing to you than the Qur’an?!” Waiting for your answer…..
SubhaanAllaah we have to be very mindful
of the life we live! So many of us have memorized so many of this worldly songs
unconsciously because we have lost that connection with Allaah due to our
disobedience and heedlessness to the rules of Islam! How many verses of the
Qur’an have we memorized? Do we feel anything in our hearts or within us when
the Qur’an is being recited? If we don’t feel anything then there is a big
problem and we must seek the remedy as soon as possible in shaa Allaah!
Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal says in the Noble Qur`an,
“The believers are only those who, when
Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this
Qur'an) are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their
trust in their Lord (Alone)." [Al-Anfaal (8):2]
"Has
not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah's
Reminder and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as
those who received the Scripture before, and the term was prolonged for them
and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were rebellious,
disobedient (faasiqoon)." [Al-Hadeed, (57):16]
Let us reflect on these verses in shaa
Allaah! May Allaah increase us in understanding of the deen, Aameen ya
GafuuruRaheem
Some students and candidates say “me I
learn with music oh”, “me I cannot learn without music oh”, “I love music,
music is the food for the soul”
Yaa Sallaam! Who said that? That’s what
you think! Right? Please change your way of thinking for it shan’t help you in
any way at all. And I tell you it’s very possible to break that addiction to
worldly music.
Few weeks ago, I was in the office when
I received a call from a brother who sought for my advice on his problem of
addiction to worldly music some time ago during our days on campus. Masha’a
Allah, this is a brother I didn’t even follow up on him after our initial
conversation! And you know what? He called to say: “Alhamdulilaah, I have
succeeded, with the help of Allah to break the addiction to worldly music”
while thanking and praying for me.
Alhamdulilaah that was very fulfilling
and that is to tell each and every one addicted to worldly music that OH YES
YOU CAN BREAK THAT ADDICTION.
On 22nd February, 2015,
Alhamdulilaah, I had the honour of sharing MY TURNING POINT TO ISLAM with the
Muslim Association in Ada. During the question and answer session after my
presentation, a matured person stood up to ask a question which I am paraphrasing
here: “as a Muslim, can I say that I will
be obedient to Allaah but listen to worldly music 10% to sooth me “ No! subhaanAllaah!
This should tell us how addicted we’ve become to worldly music.
I have witnessed so many people debate
on whether it is haram to listen to these worldly music or not, but I think our
individual consciences will answer us in shaa Allaah! I am not a scholar, I am a mere servant of
Allaah who is still learning Islam every day! But, why won’t we shift our
interests to listening to the voices of Abdul Rahman Sudais, Minshawi, Okasha
and all the other beautiful reciters of the Noble Qur’an who recite nothing but
the words of Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal! What is more soothing than this? As Allah azza
wa Jal has stated in His Noble Qur’an:
“…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do
hearts find rest” [Ar-Ra’d, (13):28]
Alhamdulilaah I attest that it is the
soothing to my heart! words can’t be used to express how I feel when adhan is
called, its super soothing to my heart, I love it!
It is possible in shaa Allaah, you only
have to take that bold decision to flee from this addiction to worldly music to
becoming a Qur’an addict. May Allaah make it easy for us all and help us affirm
the decision of staying away from worldly music and be addicted to the Qur’an,
Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
I hope you sincerely made the above dua’
from your heart?! Keep smiling for the
sake of Allaah! It’s sadaqah,
Alhamdulilaah you have taken a potent
decision and I pray Allaah makes it easy for you to adhere and affirm that
decision, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem
SubhaanAllaah I just realized I have
three pages, I hope it won’t be that lengthy, praying to be concise….smiling
Now let us talk about being a Muslim, what is it about
being a Muslim? What is the core thing about being a Muslim?
Being a Muslim is about voluntarily proclaiming the
kalimatu Shahada, that is bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of
worship but Allaah and that further bearing witness that Muhammad SAW is the
Final Prophet and Messenger of Allah.
Being a Muslim is about submitting all your wills and
desires to Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal.
Being A Muslim is about putting Allaah first in
everything you do.
Being a Muslim is about passing everything you want do
through the filter of Islam, Hence, knowing the Islamic stands of your actions
as much as possible.
Being a Muslim is about adhering to what pleases Allaah
and abstaining from what displeases Allaah!
Ouch! It’s getting lengthy and lengthier, but please pardon
me for it’s important I say something about the five Muslims I talked about
earlier. Smiling….
1.
People say they are Muslims but yet Neglect
Sualat (five daily obligatory prayers).
SubhaanAllaah! What is the value of the five
daily Sualat in Islam?!
My fellow Muslims who do not pray five
times in a day, please note that the five daily prayers are mandatory on every
Muslim! It is not optional, but rather, an obligation from Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal!
And SubhaanAllaah that is one primary issue we will be asked about in the
hereafter. May Allaah make it easy for us and help us perform the sualat in the
right manner with complete khushoo, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
“Those
who are steadfast in seeking the face of their Lord, and establish salat and
give from the provision We have given them, secretly and openly, and stave off
evil with good, it is they who will have the ultimate Abode.”
(Surat ar-Ra'd, 22)
“[Ibrahim
said:] "My Lord! Make me and my descendants people who establish salat. My
Lord! Accept my prayer." (Surah Ibrahim, 40)
If we succeed in performing our sualat
in the right way and submissive and solemn mood Allaah assures us that our
sualat will prevent us from immoralities.
“Recite
what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish salat. Salat precludes
indecency and wrongdoing. And remembrance of Allah is greater still. Allah
knows what you do. “(Surat al-'Ankabut, 45)
2. People who claim to be Muslims but barely
pick up the Qur`an to recite not to mention reading and reflecting on
the verses.
Allah
says in the Qur’an in Sura Bani-Israel, verse 9: “Indeed this Qur’an guides to the path which is clearer and straighter
than any other.”
Allah
says in Sura An-Nahl, verse 89:
“............ We have revealed to you the
book which clarifies every matter.......”
Allaah,
in the Noble Qur’an commands humanity that:
“This is the Book. In it is guidance surely
without any doubt, to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are
steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them.” (Sura Baqarah, verses 2 and 3)
SubhaanAllaah!
I personally see the Qur’an to be the divine spiritual and physical gift from
Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal!
The
Qur’an is the manual of the Muslim and humanity at large!
The
Qur’an is the reference book of the Muslim
The
Qur’an contains articulate and heart soothing speeches of Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal.
Allaah
speaks to us through the verses of the Qur’an.
My
fellow Muslims we can never do without the Qur’an, so it is encouraged that we build
a very strong and an unbreakable relationship with the Qur’an.
The
simile of our aimlessness/uselessness without the Qur’an is to that of the
Captain/Pilot without his compass.
Every
manufacturer attaches a manual to his or her product.
Scenario
When
you buy a brand new mobile phone and you open the box you will see the mobile
phone, a small booklet called the manual, and other peripherals. The manual
will educate you on how to use the mobile phone effectively and efficiently
without any under- and/ or over- utilization.
As
human beings, we were undeniably created by Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal and
undoubtedly, Allaah knows us best and most importantly, Allaah knows both that
which is good and that which is bad for us.
Allaah
subsequently gave us the Qur’an to serve as guidance for us, to serve as a glad
tiding to the righteous and the Qur’an to serve as a warning to the disobedient
people and the disbelievers. This is because all manuals come with their do’s
and don’ts, but most appropriately, the Qur’an always provides a way of right
our wrongs. The Perfect MANUAL, if you ask me!
The
Qur’an will tell us who Allaah is, What Allaah is capable of doing, the Qur’an
will tell us what pleases Allaah and what displeases Allaah!
Alhamdulilaah!
I will tell you that my motivation and passion for Islam grew from reading the
Qur’an and meditating on the verses of the Qur’an. Very often, when I am
reading the Qur’an I feel Allaah is speaking directly to me.
Some of
us think the Qur’an is only for those who can speak and read Arabic. My native
language is Yoruba and I, like many others as much as possible, am striving to
learn Arabic. That hasn’t prevented me from reading the King Fahd translation
of the noble Qur’an to support my weak Arabic and gain more understanding of
the verses of the Qur’an. So even if you don’t understand the Arabic language,
you can get authentic translations of the Noble Qur’an and be reading daily. If
you read and you don’t understand something, you go back to trusted Imams and
Sheikhs to enlighten you in shaa Allaah! But SubhaanAllaah! The Arabic language
is the best language for transmission of the Qur’an so it is highly encouraged
that we all strive to learn and perfect our understanding of the Arabic
Language in shaa Allaah! May Allaah make it easy for us all and put great
Baraka in it for us, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem.
3. People who claim to be Muslims but have very
little time to supplicate to Allaah.
In Islam
to ask Allah for your needs and wants is an act of worship, oh yes! Allaah
knows what you want but Allaah still said we should ask Him, we should
supplicate to Allaah at all times whether in adversity or in prosperity.
After
our sualat we should to sit down and make dua to Allaah! Praise Him, Exalt Him
and seek Allaah’s help with patience and prayer. Very often, we think Allaah
doesn’t answer our prayers, subhaanAllaah! Don’t think that way, It could be
that the particular thing you are requesting for isn’t good for you now, and it
could also be that Allaah has a better plan for you, so keep praying and never
give up, always know and admit that Allaah knows what is best for you. Khair in
shaa Allaah! Are you smiling......
Allaah as Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 216, ".......................But perhaps you hate a thing and
it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you.
And Allah Knows, while you know not."
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Dua is
worship.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, 3372; Abu Dawood, 1479; Ibn Maajah, 3828;
classed as Saheeh by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Al-Tirmidhi, 2590]
Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Al-Nu’maan ibn
Basheer (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say on the minbar: “Dua
is worship.” Then he recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “And your Lord said: Invoke Me [i.e. believe
in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to
your (invocation)…”[Al-Tirmidhi said: a Saheeh hasan hadith]
Not making Dua makes Allah angry
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever does
not ask of Allah, He becomes angry with him.” [Classed as hasan by Al-Albaani.
Saheeh Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, 2686]
4.
People who claim to be Muslims and yet do not
feel Islam within them.
SubhaanAllaah! It is not
normal for you to claim to be a Muslim and not feel Islam within you! That
should tell us there is a problem somewhere. And this feeling might have been
attained from the individual’s persistence in disobeying Allaah, Not performing
suala, being heedless about Allaah’s commandments, disobeying Allaah and His
Messenger. SubhaanAllah! Alhamdulilaah I have an article in this blog tap/click
this link https://rayhanyaqubpublication.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/10-steps-to-gain-the-pleasure-and-love-of-allaah/
to read it, the article is about how to get closer to Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal!
5.
Ladies who claim to be Muslims but do not
wear the hijab and take delight in displaying their adornments and the fixing of
artificial hair.
SubhaanAllaah! My fellow Muslim ladies
hijab is an obligation from Allaah ‘Azza wa jal, and the hijab is compulsory. Islam
is against us attaching hair to our God-given her, please let us abstain from
the act of attaching artificial hair to our natural hair! May Allaah forgive us
all.
When some sisters are reminded to wear
hijab they say: “don’t judge me, Allaah knows my heart”, “Islam is in the
heart, not in the hijab” Oh yes! Allaah knows everybody’s heart, but we should
all understand that when Islam enters the heart, hijab comes naturally! Because
the Islam in our hearts will affirm our hijab. May Allaah forgive us all and
keep guiding our paths towards His pleasure, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem!
Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal says in the Qur’an,
in surah Al- A’raf (7) ayah 26
“O
you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as
well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is
the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.”
“And
say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their
modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what
must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their
bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers,
their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or
their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants
whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or
small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not
strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O
you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.”
(Quran 24:31).
“O
Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to
draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better,
so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving,
Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)
No one has the right to judge anyone,
Yes Allaah is the only Judge, And Allaah has knowledge of everything, but it is
incumbent on each and every Muslim to remind the fellow Muslim on what is right
and what is wrong, and this reminder must be done in a honourable and wise
manner such that you don’t make the person feel so evil and inferior.
Sheikh Muiz Bukhary said “When correcting others, do not come down on
them in a harsh or condescending manner. Rather do it in a soft and kind
manner, taking care not to hurt that individual’s feeling in any way”
And please let us not brand or tag the
people who remind us of what Islam says as “extremist”, “too known”, “judging”,
“karambaani”, “haram” Are you smiling……
They love us and want the best for us
that is why they remind us of what Allaah says and what the Prophet SAW says.
Please about the hijab again,
Alhamdulilaah the Muslim Right Front has taken a good cause to advocate for our
rights to practice our Islam and not to be forced to take off the hijab in
schools and at the work place. Alhamdulilaah! We can now wear our head scarves
but there is a serious challenge somewhere and we pray for Allaah’s Mercy.
When our fellow Muslim sisters
deliberately sew and adjust the dress such that it becomes very tight on them and
above the knee! SubhaanAllaah! We should be very mindful of all these
attitudes.
In shaa Allaah! I will write an article
about hijab to address this issue in shaa Allaah! May Allaah grant me the
ability to write it and practice my hijab the right way, and may Allaah all
sisters the ability to practice the hijab the right way, Aameen ya
GafuuruRaheem
In shaa Allaah I would like to pause
here for now. Alhamdulilaah for the ni`ma of Allaah to be able to communicate
this message to my fellow Muslims.
I pray that Allah forgives me for the
errors I made in this write up, all credit belongs to Him who is Perfect and
flaws are mine as a result of my imperfection.
Finally I seek Allaah’s divine
forgiveness for the one reading this and for myself. Aameen!
My dear sisters and brothers, please
don’t hesitate to draw my attention to any mistake that you come across in this
article and in all my articles in shaa Allaah!
May Allah forgive us all, help us serve Him
with ikhlas, purify our hearts, make us of those who are conscious of and
mindful of Him, and help us have Him at heart, and help us succeed in this
world and the hereafter, Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem
Assallaamu alaykum warahmatullaahi wa
barakaatuhu
Thanks a lot for reading this article,
Alhamdulilaah for your intention to
practice Islam for the sake of Allaah! May Allah make it easy for us all,
Aameen!
Jazakumullaahu khairan, I entreat you to
read it again, and reflect on it and please share with family and friends.
Keep
smiling for the sake of Allaah it’s sadaqah…
I would like to thank brother Haruna
Rashid Muhammad for reading through for me! May Allaah reward you greatly,
Aameen ya GafuuruRaheem
You can visit my blog to read life
transforming articles in shaa Allaah
For enquiries: blessedgirl2001@gmail.com kabeerahislam@gmail.com
Quick Reminder in shaa Allaah! The
season 3 of the TRIPLET LADIES SEMINAR will be in Takoradi on 28th March, 2015. At Airforce Mosque Takoradi, 9 am
prompt in shaa Allaah! RSVP 0240101057/ 0209294218/
