Imagine.....

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuhu my dear brothers and sisters,

Firstly, I pray that you're all having an amazing, imaan - boosting Ramadhan! Please keep me in your sincere Duas :)

Secondly, todays post is by a sister who is new to 'SmilingMuslimahs' and who Insha'Allah now will also be writing for us!!! ..Below is her debut post. May Allah accept from us all. Keep her in your Duas too. Jazakumullahu Khair.

So just sit back and get into your thinking modes...

Bismillah

As I was sat pondering one afternoon, a thought came to me. What does it feel like to be blind? And my reaction was, 'Astaghfirullah, May Allah protect me from that!' Then I wondered, what does it feel like to be deaf? And again, I reacted with 'Astaghfirullah, May Allah protect me from that!' And then, I thought what does it feel like to be both deaf and blind? And of course, I had the same reaction, if not worse than the first two. Can you imagine being blind and deaf? Not being able to communicate at all, having only your sense of touch, and not knowing what all of the textures and feelings are. And in that train of thought I began to imagine a life without those two immensely important senses. Imagine not being able to see your food, see your friends, hear their voices, see your parents and the love they have for you on their faces. Imagine not being able to go anywhere without worrying for your life. This is the physical blindness and deafness. However, what about the spiritual blindness and deafness? Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:

"Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path]." Surah Baqarah:18

Allah is speaking about those who do not have faith, and do not want to have faith; they are deaf, dumb and blind, and cannot find the right path again because of the way they deny the Signs of Allah (swt). We are horrified to think of the physical blindness and deafness, but the spiritual blindness and deafness is far worse! Those that deny the blessings of Allah (swt) and are caught up in this worldly life, lose out in this world, but also the hereafter. Allah sets a cover on their hearts, as he mentions in the Qur'an:

"Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment." Surah Baqarah:7

There are many people in today's world who fit into this category, due to the negative light Islam is being portrayed in. They don't even want to know about Muslims, and many of them know close to nothing about Islam. Can you imagine this? Can you imagine not being a Muslim? Never being taught about Islam properly? The first thing you heard about Islam was negative and you were scared to hear any more? Can you imagine not knowing who your Lord was? Not knowing who created you? Can you imagine not knowing who the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was, except for a few lies you'd been fed by ignorant people? Can you imagine never feeling the sweet peace of eemaan? Never reading the beautiful words of the Qur'an? Never hearing its recitation? Can you imagine never having heard the adhaan in the early hours of the morning such that it moves you to tears? Never having seen the hundreds of Muslims happily entering the mosques on a Friday or on Eid, perfumes and laughter filling the air? Can you imagine never having seen the crowds humbling themselves before Allah (swt) on the plains of Arafah? Can you imagine never experiencing a Ramadhan; the beautiful month of mercy, tranquility and happiness? We can't even bear to think about losing these blessings! Yet there are billions of people out there who are missing out on all of this, because of the negative image MUSLIMS have created of Islam.

Isn't it time we sorted ourselves out? Isn't it time we turned back to our Lord, and His Word, the Qur'an, and followed it, letter by letter like the successful generations before us? Isn't it time we did our job, in enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, not ENJOYING the EVIL and FORGETTING the GOOD???

My dear reader, this is a reminder to myself before you; we need to be thankful for the blessing that Allah has bestowed on us of an open heart, receptive to messages of good, and we need to take advantage of it and the best way to praise Allah is to use his blessings to do good. Let's all wake up this Ramadhan and do our job as Muslims, spread the word of our beautiful religion, share the gift of Islam with our neighbours and the whole of society, and become the best examples for society, by following the best example for us; the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Let's stop our carelessness and heedlessness and wake up before we are held to account for our work in discouraging people from learning about Islam, due to our neglect of Islamic teachings. And what better time to do da'wah than the month of da'wah, Ramadhan!

I pray you all benefit from this short reminder, anything evil is from myself and shaitan, the accursed, and anything good is from the blessing of Allah, and all praise is to Him.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

The Month Of Mercy ...

Assalamau Alaykum Warhamatullah!

Today i want to talk about a month which holds a great importance in Islam and in the lives of the Muslimeen.

This month, as you all may be aware is Ramadhan.

..Whilst Ramadhan is drawing closer and closer we need to now be asking ourselves, what is it that we have done to prepare for this amazing month? Or, what is it that we need to do so that when we get to this month, we're ready, enthusiastic and full of energy?

If you were to ask me to tell you about the beauty and joy of Ramadhan, words would do no justice.

However, i can tell you that Ramadhan is a month where a slave of Allah takes a break from this Dunya and its desires and temptations, and travels to the vastness of the hereafter. It is a month in which a servant of Allah is reminded that this world is but a temprary abode, and the hereafter is what is the eternal life, and so in the humble state he's in, he tries to change his ways, habits, and character, and persists in doing good deeds, so that it lasts him for a whole year until the next Ramadhan.

Ramadhan is a month where you do all you can to uplift your Imaan, and cleanse your self from the filth of sins. It is a month, where shayaateen are locked away, hells gates are closed and Jannahs doors are open, and deeds are multiplied. A Muslim should take this month as training.

Phsycologists have said that if a person starts to do something for several days, it becomes a habit, and so this is why Ramadhan is 29/30 days so that a Muslim cans start to develop his or her rountine and ways in accordance to the commandments of Allah.

This month is also a month in which the Quran was revealed, and in it lies one of the best nights. Laylatul Qadr. We should take full advantage of these precious days that await us, and treat it as if its our last Ramadhan, so we can get the most out of it.

For many, Ramadhan is seen as just long continious hours without food and drink. However, it is also a time for us to fast from our desires, and sins such as backbiting, lying etc.

Realistically, going without food or drink (fasting) makes one humble and reliant and so a servant in this state draws closer to his Lord, and doing good deeds is made easier for him.

Hence, why Allah (swt) says:

"The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind and with vivid features of (earlier) guidance and the Criterion (of right and wrong); so those of you who witness the month must fast therein and should anyone be sick, or on a journey, then, a number from other days. Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you. And all this because you may complete the number and proclaim the Takbir of Allah for having guided you and that you be grateful." (2:185)

Allah (swt) is giving us this month, so we can become better Muslims. Allah (swt) prescribed on all those who are able to, and have reached the age of pubery to fast. Fasting in this month, is also one of the pillars of Islam, and without doing this, one is neglecting a basic fundamental of Islam.

It may be long days of fasting, but the reward is huge! You will not only see the benefits of this in the hereafter but also in this dunya, as it keeps you away from evil desires and temptation.

We all need to strive to make this Ramadhan the better than the last, and strive to utilise each moment in the best way possible.

Set yourself targets, write them down. Even, if for some reason you were unable to perform this certain act in Ramadhan, then even still, that paper and pen will testify for you on the day of judgement and also your will be rewarded for your intention.

Keep the Quran your company at night in these blessed days, and help others. Whether its helping your mum prepare for iftar, or having study circles with your siblings. Remember you will be rewarded multiple times for it, if your intentions were sincere, and for Allah!
May Allah (swt) allow us to live to see another Ramadhan, and grant us the ability to utilies each moment in pleasing Him, and doing good deeds. May Allah (swt) give us the ability to keep steadfast in all the good we start, and reward and accept our actions. Aameen.

On that note:

Al Kauthar Bradford will be holding a one day course on Ramadhan - "The Month Of Mercy"
And one way of making our Ramadhan, a good one, is getting to know more about it, its widoms, etc and also if you havn't prepared, then this is the course for you!

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Whoever treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah will make the path to paradise easy for him"

Scholars of the past, would travel far and wide to seek knowledge, and here, in todays world many of us have it right at our fingertips!

Please do not miss this oppurtunity!

Email me on smilingmuslimahs@hotmail.co.uk

To enrol please visit: www.alkauthar.org or simply email me :)

Jazakumullah Khair.

Wassalaamu Alaykum!