Friday, May 29, 2009

Ways To Fill Your Heart With Life - Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Hazimi

The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Qur’an, being humble before Allah in secret, and leaving sins. – Ibn Al-Qayyim (Hadi Al-Arwah Ila Bilad Al-Afrah, pg.45)

Allah said: “A Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may take heed.” (Qur’an, 38:29)

SO Allah informed us that He sent down this Great Qur’an, blessed in its wording, meaning, commands, prohibitions and regulations. Among its blessings is that whoever recites even one word of it has a reward, and this reward is increased tenfold, as mentioned in the Hadith reported by Al-Tirmidhi. Also, the one who reads it and acts upon it will not be misguided in this world, nor will fall into distress or misery in the Hereafter, as Ibn Abbas said so in the commentary to the following verse:“Whoever follows My guidance shall neither go astray nor fall into distress and misery.” (Qur’an, 20:123)

For more go here.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

How to Spend like a Frugal Millionaire

Saving thousands while still spending.

Millionaires make up just 2 percent of the population. They get a bad rap during recessions for being wasteful with their money and are frequently used as examples of excess. It's the millionaires that you don't see that you can learn from in times like these. I call them the frugal millionaires and interviewed 70 of them to uncover ways we can all be smarter with money.

Nearly 70 percent of the economy is based on consumer spending. To keep the economy going we need to keep spending but not waste money in the process. This is where the frugal millionaires come in. They've been smart with their money all along and haven't lost it all and had to remake it. These are the kind of people you want to learn from when it comes to spending your money.

Spending philosophy.

Frugal millionaires are unique thinkers when it comes to spending money: 1) they can easily delay their need for gratification when purchasing; 2) they are resourceful in getting what they want by carefully timing their consumer purchases; 3) they make living below their means painless; 4) they don't like wasting anything (especially money); 5) their sense of "self-entitlement" is highly minimized: and 6) spending is OK with them...depending on what they are buying (think: appreciating vs. depreciating assets).

[For more, see, "10 Secrets of Millionaires' Money Management."]

For more go here.



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

10 Habits Of Highly Successful Women

These 10 habits of highly successful women are practical, easy, and effective — and they’re what “See Jane Soar” is all about! These tips for success range from maintaining your hormonal balance to letting go of the past - and they affect your mind, body, and soul.


First, a quotation from writer Anais Nin:


“Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the action stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”


Taking action is one of the most important habits of successful women…and so is dreaming. For inspiration and practical advice for succeeding in life after failure or knock-out punches, click on This is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down by Deborah Collins Stephens et al.


10 Habits of Highly Successful Women


1. Maintain your hormonal balance. Are you moody, exhausted, irritable, or sad? Check your hormones. If they’re out of whack, then you’ll struggle to be successful! Make sure you’re getting enough protein and vitamins, and decrease your refined sugars and carbohydrates.


2. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Highly successful women don’t obsess or feel guilty about past choices or failures. They make mistakes, move on, and apply what they’ve learned to new situations.


For more please go here.



Foods You Should be eating, But Aren't

Improving your health can be as simple as eating these items.

Eaten many coconuts lately? How about cherries or blueberries or grass-fed beef?

You should, because these are all foods with powerful health properties. However, few people pack their grocery carts full of these items.

Take kiwifruit. It's chock full of vitamin C--a whopping 115% of what you need to eat in a day. It's also low in calories--just 45 per fruit, sans skin.

"In America, most people don't eat three servings of fruit and vegetables a day," says nutritionist Jonny Bowden, author of seven books including, most recently, The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy. According to him, there are 10 very healthy foods we don't eat enough of. For more read here.


8 Toxic Personalities To Avoid

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

  • Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.
For more please go here.



Sunday, May 24, 2009

Me's Tagged !


Tagged by sweet Hajar.

1) Do you think you are hot? - Yeah kinda, like I need the AC all the time :p

2) Upload your favourite picture of you.

3) Why do you like that picture? - Reminiscing childhood :)

4) When was the last time you ate pizza? - Months ago

5) The last song you listened to? - Nikahun Mubarakun, Zain Bhikha
6) What are you doing right now besides this? - Nothing

7) What name would you prefer besides yours? - Sumayya

8) People To Tag :


(ii) Habayeb

(iii) AMW
(iv) Nida

9) Who is number one? - An artistic, enthusiastic blogger friend :)
10) Number three is having a relationship with? - Her hubby ofcourse :)
11) Say something about number five? - The coolest Mom on blogger, according to me ;)
12) How about number four? - An insightful blogger ;)
13) Who is no. two? - A lil spoiled Princess ;)


Thursday, May 14, 2009

A Letter To You From Shaytaan

I got this in my e-mail today from a friend. This has been spreading on the net for quiet some time, so I thought I'll put it up here for awareness.

"A LETTER TO YOU FROM SHAYTAN

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray Fajr. As a matter of fact, you didn't even say Bismillah before your meals, or pray Isha before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate Allah. I am only using you to get even with Allah. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, ALLAH LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me, and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way, we'll be together twice. This will really hurt Allah. Thanks to you, I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life with all of the good times we've had. We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Mosque, bad attitudes.
SURELY you don't want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say 'THANKS' for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, You make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, repent for your sins, and live for Allah with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you. IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR ALLAH.


PS: If you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone."

The Shaykh's answer to such e-mails here.






Tuesday, May 5, 2009

57 ways of winning your husband’s love

IN the last issue (May 1), we listed out 81 ways to win your wife’s love. This list, mostly contributed by Muslim women at the MuslimMatters.org blog, is all about winning your husband’s love.

1. Behave like a female, i.e. with all the tenderness of a female.

2. Dress pleasantly and attractively. If you are a home-maker, don’t stay in your sleeping suit all day.

3. Smell good.

4. Don’t lay out all your problems on your husband as soon as he walks in. Give him a little mental break.

5. Don’t keep asking him ‘what are you thinking?’ because unlike women, men’s thoughts are as random as the results of a google search. Women on the other hand have thoughts as organized as a labeled file-cabinet!

6. Stop nagging non-stop before Allah gives you something really to complain about.

7. Absolutely no talking about your spousal problems to anyone you meet under the pretense of seeking help, even if you are the victim. If you think you want to solve legitimate marital
issues then go seek counseling with the right person.

8. Be kind to your mother-in-law the same way you would like your husband to be kind to your own mother.

9. Learn all the rights and obligations of each other in Islam.

10. Race to the door when he comes home, as if you were waiting for him. Smile and hug.

For more please go here.



Saturday, May 2, 2009

81 ways to win your wife’s love

IN today’s life of hustle and bustle, the family unit is becoming fragile by the day. Divorces are on the rise, and Muslims can no longer claim, as justifiably as before, that divorce is rare among Muslims or even much less than incidents of divorce among non-Muslims. The article, originally contributed by several bloggers and readers on MuslimMatters.org, is divided in two parts and will list out ways to keep up your spouse’s love. Feel free to write to us your own list with experiences. Having said that, let’s take on the men first, here’s how you can keep up your wife’s love:

1. Make her feel secure, don’t threaten her with divorce.

2. Give sincere Salaams.

3. Treat her gently, like a fragile vessel.

4. Advise in private, at the best time, in the best way and atmosphere.

5. Be generous with her.

6. Warm the seat for her, you will warm her heart.

7. Avoid anger, be in Wudhu at all times.

8. Look good and smell great for your wife.

9. Don’t be rigid or harsh-hearted or you will be broken.

10. Be a good listener.

11. Yes for flattery. No for arguing.

12. Call your wife with the best names, cute nicknames, and names she loves to hear.

13. A pleasant surprise.....

For the full article please go
here .


Friday, May 1, 2009

Manners: A Path between teo Extremes

Manners have boundaries ; these boundaries can be imagined as the upper and lower limits of what we know to be acceptable behavior . If the upper limit has been exceeded , then hostility will result . Likewise , if the lower limit is not attained , then weakness and contempt result . Manners and character are intimately related , they are multifaceted , and each aspect has its upper and lower limits .

Limits for Anger : The middle road is acclaimed courage . That is , having the strength to stand up and denounce evil and weakness . Exceeding the upper limit results in aggression and injustice to others and falling below the lower limit results in cowardice and fear of others .

Limits for Caution : The desired path is to achieve satisfaction in life . Falling below the lower limit results in contempt , humiliation , and loss of respect for oneself and one's family . Exceeding the upper limit results in greed and the desire for forbidden things .

Limits for Envy : The proper balance is to seek contentment with oneself and appreciating the blessings Allah has given your life . Exceeding the upper limit leads to transgression and injustice , desiring to remove the blessings from the envied person , even to the extent of causing injury ; where failing to reach the lower limit means one is weak willed with a lack of self respect .

Limits for Desire : Ideally , this is resting the heart and mind from the efforts of worship and utilizing permissible desires to direct one towards obedience to Allah . Exceeding the upper limit results in lewdness and gluttony , making the person in likeness to an animal – having little or no control of its desires ; whereas falling below the lower limit causes weakness , impotence and self-contempt .

Limits for Rest : The model for our rest should be that of moderation and preparation for worship and conducting our daily lives . Exceeding the upper limit results in negligence , laziness and wastefulness and causes opportunities to be lost ; not reaching the lower limit causes stress , harmful to the health and it causes a strain on the family .

Limits for Generosity : Again , the ideal is always moderation . Passing the upper limit results in squandering and wastefulness ; whereas failing to reach the lower limit results in miserliness and covetousness .

Limits for Jealousy : Going beyond the upper limit leads to doubt , bad thoughts and false accusation of the innocent ; whereas failing to reach the lower limit indicates a lack of self-esteem .

Limits for Humility : Surpassing the upper limit causes contempt and disgrace ; whereas falling below the lower limit results in arrogance and ostentation .

Limits of Honor : Exceeding the upper limit leads to arrogance and contemptible manners and falling below the lower limit results in disgrace and contempt .

Limits of Courage : Going beyond upper limit causes recklessness , while not reaching the lower limit signifies cowardice and weakness .

The governing factor is justice , moderation , or the middle way . When a person's character deviates from this path in either direction it causes their character and strength to decrease by the same degree as the deviation . It is the same for all their actions and activities such as : sleeping , waking , eating , drinking , exercising , seeking solitude , socializing , and so on . Those who take the middle of the extremes will therefore be just , and if they should incline to either direction , their judgment would be diminished , and the fruit they bear would be decreased .

Among the best and most beneficent areas of knowledge is knowledge of the limits of our character , especially those rules governing the acts of exhorting people to do good deeds and advising against doing wrong and the rules governing good character in general . The most knowledgeable people are those who understand the limits as such ; and the most just are those who live within the boundaries of character , action and religious obedience – both in faith and in action .

Taken From: Al-Jumuah Magazine