Friday, January 30, 2009

Humbled by This Award

First thanks to Allah (SWT) for all His favors on me and this one in particular. Alhamdulillah. I don't know what to say or how to express my feelings. I don't feel emotional but I'm humbled neverthless. I do feel happy but I never thought my blog deserved it coz it's only a toddler lol. It has to go a long way though for such compliments. And this brings me to the point where I must thank these three sisters Umm Travis, Hajar and Hijabee for their generosity. A heartfelt Congrats to you three for recieving it and Jazak Allah Khairan for passing it on to me.





This Award I recieved from Umm Travis.














This Award I recieved from Hajar and Hijabee.







Most of the people whom I would like to Award this to have already been awarded but I have no other choice but to Award them again and so I list them below:

Umm Travis: I love to read her posts they are very interesting and inspiring especially the ones on her personal blog. Masha Allah a very enthusiastic blogger she is and a very artful photographer.

Hajar: A good witty blogger (romantic too lol). I enjoy her simple and straightforward tone.

Hijabee: Hmm ... though I came across her blog lately I really enjoy her posts frank and interesting and humorous too .... and yes a very captivating story writer.

Nida: A simple but passionate blogger. Love to read her posts really interesting.

Habayeb: Another passionate blogger. Love the way she writes the posts craftily.

Malizea: A sister living in France who I know wants to do hijrah. I like her posts sometimes recipe sometimes fashion sometimes serious reminders all in all they are worth reading.

Mamamona: The coolest Mom I've ever come across. Masha Allah with 4 kids and house work she still has time to write all those cool posts.

Farhana: I love her activities they are so inspiring. May Allah reward her for all those charitable works she does.

Lubna: The coolest Indian cusine blogger I've ever come across. Love her posts coz they are easy to cook and deliciousssssss .....

Adventurous Ammena: Love her islamic short stories they are worth reading. For story lovers like me please check it out.

Bosnianhijab: Last but not the least if it hadn't been for her posts on bosnian hijab style and history I wouldn't have known anything of that sort.

Congratulations to all of ya and please pass it on to whomever you wish to give it. Now these are just a few of the bloggers whom I like but that necessarily dosen't mean that the others are any less I like to read your blogs too and some are really cool and interesting.






Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Favorite list

I've been tagged by Hijabee :)

If you've been tagged you have to add one more favorite thing to the end of the list:

Favorite colour: Pink

Favorite perfume(guys): Misk

Favorite perfume (girls): Misk

Favorite pj brand: Don't know

Favourite clothes brand in genaral: Evans

Favourite person in the entire world: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Favourite country : I don't like any particular country though … only Makkah and Madinah

Favorite car: Rolls Royce

Favorite sport: Basketball

Favorite sport player : I don't watch sports

Favorite spot in America: The Niagra falls

Favorite animal: Kitten

Favorite movie: Taare Zameen Par

Favorite singer: Zain Bhikha

Favorite day in the week: Monday

Favorite time of the day: Evening

Favorite holiday season: Spring

Favorite number: 7

Favorite food: Al-Baik broasted chicken


Favorite chocolate: Mars

Favorite cartoon: Bionic Six

Favorite blogger: Umm Travis (can I put in some more? )

Favorite Flavor Ice Cream: Butter scotch

Favorite Mobile Brand: Nokia

Fave name: Ahmad

Favorite hobby: Wasting time .... wahahahha

Favorite room in my house: My bedroom

Favorite Fruit: Orange

And I add:

Favorite fictional book: The Hound Of Baskervilles


I tag:

Umm Travis
Hajar
Habayeb
Nida
Malizea
Aalia

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sleepy Eyes

O Sleepy head !
Do not make haste for bed
But after salatul Isha
Crave for even more Thawab
And stand with me for a night prayer.
O Sleepy Eyes !
Do not fail to realize
As your lids start to close
Your last breath may be near - just suppose !
Better then, to stand for night prayer.
O Sleepy soul !
What burdens do you hold?
This longing for resptie
To sleep all through the night
Your night prayer will revive you untold.
O Weary self !
You are bestowed with good health
You are passing through life
With wealth and keen sight
Owe Allah a little thanks then this night.
O Supple bed and carrier !
You stand as a barrier
Between me and my Lord
Your comfort stirs discord
Do not kindle your warm welcome for me.
I have preferred the hard floor
Therin lies comfort much more
On the dust hard ground
Allah's nearness is found
How blessed is the nightly prostration.
Taken From: Al-Jumuah Magazine

Benefits of Qiyam Al-Layl (Night Prayer)

1) Sociability with Allah (SWT).

2) Advancement in the rank of devotion.

3) Fullfilment of needs.

4) Strengthning of the body.

5) Cure from diseases.

6) Solving of toubles.

7) Increase in sustenance.

8) Tranquility of soul and peace of mind.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Feedjit banned ?

Assalamualikum Dear Sisters,

The feedjit counter has been banned her in Saudi. I didn't know it untill I checked it out though it hasn't been displaying on my blog for so many days. Is it the same with ya'll too?

Jazak Allah Khairan.


Don't Quit !

Success is Failure turned inside out
The Silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And You never can tell how close you are,
It may be nearer when it seems afar
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you musn't Quit !

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

You Can If You Think You Can

If You think you are beaten,
You ARE.

If You think you dare not,
You DON'T.

Success begins with your own WILL ....
It's all in your state of MIND .....

Life's battles are not always won,
By those who are Stronger or Faster;
Sooner or later the person who wins
Is the person who THINKS
He CAN !

Monday, January 19, 2009

Hayaa: A Distinguishing Characteristic Of The Muslim

Fourteen centuries ago , a man was sent as a mercy to humankind . He , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , came to lead the people away from darkness and into light . He liberated the world from the bondage of idolatry and taught them to worship the only true God . He is the last messenger , a perfect example for humanity , and a true mercy from Allah.

With the message of Islam , the Messenger , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , elevated human being to their most refined form because he taught them the most beautiful morals . He taught that moral integrity was central to faith and that one of his main goal was to rear men and women of impeccable character . He said , '' Verily , I have been sent for the purpose of perfecting morals .'' ( Muwatta ) . Indeed , it is an integral part of worship for the Muslim to train himself to have the best manners . When the Muslim struggles in purging himself of offensive attributes , he does so for the pleasure of Allah and not for the praise of people .

The most important of the morals that he , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , taught is Hayaa ( loosely translated as modesty or bashfulness ) . The Prophet , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , said, '' For every deen there is khuluq ( a distinguishing characteristic ) and the khuluq of Islam is Hayaa .'' Hayaa cannot be explained in one word because it encompasses an entire attitude of being . It could be said that Hayaa means that one feels shame or guilt or resistance to acting in a way that might offend any other being ( Allah ,human , or otherwise ) . Hayaa has two main parts : 1) Hayaa from Allah and 2) Hayaa from people .

Having Hayaa from Allah entails knowing His beautiful names and attributes because this knowledge will make one have awe of Allah's great power and majesty , fear of His punishment , and gratitude for his blessings . The way this will manifest in the Muslim's behavior is that he will always remember that Allah is watching him , hence, he will be so afraid and shy to commit a sin in front of Allah . Hw will always think of Allah before he acts or speaks , out of fear that he would displease his Lord . He will feel so ashamed if he disobeys Allah and rush towards repentance . A person who has Hayaa from Allah will also have sincerity ; he dreads the thought of being a person who acts pious in front of others while disregarding Allah's pleasure .

The Prophet , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , explained this reality to his companions when he said to them : '' Have Hayaa from Allah as you truly should .'' They said : '' We have Hayaa from Allah Alhamdulillah .'' He , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , said : '' It is much more than that . He who truly has Hayaa from Allah , let him preserve his head and what perceives it , let him preserve his stomach and what it desires , let him remember death and afflictions , and he who desires the Hereafter abandons the adornments of this world . He who performs all these , is the one who has Hayaa from Allah as he should .''

The meaning of the hadeeth is that true Hayaa is expressed in feeling ashamed to use the blessings that Allah , subhanahu wa ta'ala , has granted humans in disobedience . Hence , one with Hayaa would not dare to taint his mind with that which Allah dislikes or allow any of his senses , the outlet to his mind , indulge in haram acts .He would feel ashamed to even taste that which Allah has forbidden of food while Allah provides him with abundant means from halal sources .Most importantly , he would be so conscious of Allah and fearful of Him , that he would never forget his purpose in life or allow this world to distract him from Allah's worship .

It is then natural that this Hayaa , which is an integral part of the human's relationship with Allah , would manifest in the Muslims relationship with people . Having Hayaa from people is expressed in many ways . Among these ways is proper Islamic dress . Men and women are ordered by Allah to cover certain parts of their body as a way to protect their dignity , chastity , and reputations . It is a way to protect against the means that lead to zina ( sexual relations outside marriage ) and fortifies the family institution . This is also achieved through Allah's order to lower one's gaze . It is not permissible for a Muslim to view pictures of nudity , sexual suggestion , intimacy between two people , or a person of the opposite gender who is improperly covered . These are examples of how Hayaa must manifest itself externally , through the adherence to proper Islamic dress and manners , and internally , by not viewing lewd , vulgar , pornographic , or otherwise illicit material .

Hayaa among people is not limited to mere matter of sight , however . Touching or interacting with members of the opposite sex in a manner that is against Shari'ah is also a way in which Hayaa could be violated . In general , men and women are not allowed to mix freely or socialize needlessly . All their conduct should be dignified and formal so that both men and women are treated with respect .

Still , Hayaa is not just a combined set of all of these Islamic rules . Rather it is a whole demeanor . It should be so pervasive in the life of a Muslim that anyone who meets him/her would think of no other word to describe him/her by except : Hayaa . It is manifest in respecting one's elders and teachers . It can be the soft tone a child uses when speaking to his parents or the polite word used when speaking to others in general .

All these acts are part of Eman ( faith ) , because the Prophet , sallallahu alyhe wa sallam , said , '' Eman consists of more than 70 parts and Hayaa is a part of Eman .'' ( Bukhari and Muslim ) .He also said , '' Hayaa and Eman have been paired together , if one is removed the other is removed .'' So every sincere Muslim must evaluate his behavior for the presence of Hayaa – this will indicate his level of Eman .

It is important to understand that the one who acts with Hayaa is not a person who is weak and quiet all the time . Rather , he is a person who is so conscious of Allah at every moment that he acts very carefully . His acts are always based on what please Allah , subhanahu wa ta'ala , so he always brings benefit to others and never harms any one with words or deeds . Indeed , the one who acts with Hayaa should feel confident , for the Messenger of Allah , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , said , '' Hayaa does not bring anything but goodness .'' ( Bukhari )


Taken From Al-Jumuah Magazine


Sunday, January 18, 2009

Gaza: Obama's challenge

America has a long and very close relationship with the State of Israel. US commitment to Israel’s existence, safety and security is important and necessary. However, too often, it has been at the expense of the Palestinians who are equally entitled to a state, security and safety. Indeed, the original UN resolution allowing for the creation of Israel also called for a Palestinian state.

While the track record of most American presidents, as witnessed by its voting record in the UN has demonstrated our consistent tilt, George W. Bush has taken America’s relationship with Israel to the next level. Bush has aligned America with Israel, opting for military might rather than diplomacy, ignoring international law, and being complicit in war crimes.

Please read the full article here.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Seven Wonders of the World

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyonin Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The EmpireState Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.

The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them.

Author Unknown

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Best Memory

Forget each kindness that you do,
As soon as you have done it.
Forget the praise that falls to you,
The moment you have won it.
Forget the slander that you hear,
Before you can repeat it.
Forget each slight,each spite,each sneer,
Wherever you may meet it.
Remember every kindness done to you,
Whatever its measure.
Remember praise by others won,
And pass it on with pleasure.
Remember every promise made,
And keep it to the letter.
Remember those who lend you aid,
And be a gratefull debtor.
Remember all the happiness,
That came your way in living.
Forget each worry and distress,
Be hopeful and forgiving.
Remember good,remember truth,
Remember heavens above you.
And you will find through age and youth,
That many hearts will love you.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Ensure Victory

Sheikh Saud bin Ibrahim Al-Shuraim, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday urged the world’s Muslim leaders to do whatever they can for the victory of their brethren in Gaza against the Israeli forces.

“It is the responsibility of Muslim leaders, rulers, scholars and intellectuals...to do whatever is possible for the victory of their brethren in Gaza by extending all possible assistance,” the imam said in his Friday sermon.

Addressing nearly a million worshippers at the large prayer complex in Makkah, Al-Shuraim urged Muslims to act in unison. “Nobody can defeat and destroy Islam. Islam has victoriously overcome all major crises in the past.”

For more go here.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Flow Of Love

Just found this Poem in my treasure chest and wanted to share it with you all. I've got the habit of scribbling down anything and everything that I find interesting.



With the Sword of Love,
Fight the War of Hate.
When your Heart cries
Because of the Hurt,
Use your face to Smile,
When you face the Trial
And your lips to Calm,
Other's words that Harm.
In Allah put all of your Trust,
And He will turn your Pains into Dust.
Look to the Heavens with your Eyes,
Because with His Beauty all Hurts Dies.
Only in Him will you find Rest,
He will Guide you to your Best.
So lift up your Heart to His Hand,
And He will Help you Firmly Stand.
He will Fill you with His Love Flow,
He will Show you the Way to Go.
He will Surround you with Protective Wall,
And give you Strength so you will not Fall.
When everything goes wrong you just Pray,
And Almighty Allah will Help you,
And Show you His Way.