Teaching my brother

Today,instead of me teaching my brother,I told him to teach me.

Alhamdulillah,a wonderful experience.
So much to learn.

It gave me him confidence.When he wrote something wrong,I would give a confusing expression and he would apologetically say,"Beta,I dont know that."

I wrote with my left hand to make him feel good and told him to call out the spellings.That way he was revising.I was testing if he knew the spellings.

Once done with my writing..while he was checking..I asked him to explain what each word meant. There were many words he didnt know so I explained..and then told him, "Sir,I want to revise..pls explain again." When he forgot..I told him "Sir,you were saying about that building (for far)" and he would remember...

For number work,I knew he was confused with spellings of 12,fifteen and five,13.. so I deliberately wrote wrong spellings so that he would correct me.

For Hindi,he taught me the easy way of writing..3 and 1 makes "a",s and arabic "wow" below makes "e"..

For Arabic,he was teaching me the sounds.
The way his Moulana taught him.

And at the end he was happy and he gave me smileys !
Aww,ma sha Allah.

We can learn so much from kids,Alhamdulillah.

Teaching them everyday could make them bored.Once in a while,trying something new helps.

While doing this,I learnt a few things:

1)The child would know and be confident of his strengths.

2)When he doesnt know,he would learn to ask,to question and not to be told and not feel shy to confess that he doesnt know something.

3)Kids often complain that their hands pain when they write.So,if I am writing,he wont complain and my work is done-he should revise.

4)While checking,he was paying attention to each letter and I observed how he learnt that way ..he understood his own mistakes..e.g.Five and fifteen.He knew he was the teacher,so if I was wrong he had to correct.

5)Meaning of words-giving him examples from where we were-on the terrace.

6)Studying in the open..Fresh air.

Alhamdulillah !

The Test Drives !

The Test ,Drives

Sometimes we feel we are in control of everything and everything seems perfect.

You seem to be satisfied with life and all of a sudden,there is a
Surprise,a Test-either you lose your job or death in the family or an
unhappy marriage or some health or financial problem.

You start thinking-all bad things are happening to me.

Why me ?
I pray Salah,fast,give Zakat,read Quran and you remember your good deeds.

Now Shaitan starts playing his trick.You might end up being despaired
or arrogant.

Some start disobeying Allah and go to the pirs and babas or commit
shirk by going to graves or go to those who have contact with
Jinns.Some even go to the extent and say,"I don't believe there is a
God. If God existed,why would he take away my husband/wife,or make me
poor and ill ?

Allah says:
 "Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some
loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil) but give glad
tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who, when misfortune
strikes them, say: 'Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him is our
return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings and mercy from
their Lord and it is those who are rightly guided."
[Surah al-Baqarah:155]

The pains,the calamities that come are all exams,they are a means to
test your faith and trust in Allah..they are a means-Allah wants to
Forgive your sins.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any
Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah
wiping out his sins by it."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Brothers and Sisters please realize this:
Nothing in this world is actually yours.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihee Raaji'oon
("To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return")

Wealth,spouse,kids,family,friends..dont be too attached to them.They
are not the end,the goal.
Rather these are means to attain the ultimate goal,the purpose of our
creation-"to worship Allah alone."

Allah in His Wisdom Gives and Takes and it is all for our ultimate
good.We do not realize it.

The stories of Prophets Musa,Yusuf,Ayyub,Ibrahim and others (may
Allah's peace be upon them all) are examples of this.

The tests,thus have the following benefits:

1.Expiations of Sins

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet said:
" Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their
body, family, and property, until they meet Allah burdened with no
sins. "
[Tirmidhi ]

2.Sign of Allah's Love

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
" Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity"
[Bukhari and others ]

3.Sign of Eeman

Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Ka'b Bin Maalik (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
" The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the
wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he
continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite
is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake - until it is uprooted
all at once."
[Bukhari and Muslim ]

4.Sign of Righteousness

The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their
rewards are the highest.

Sa'd (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
" The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then
the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with
his deen (faith). If his deen is firm his affliction is hard, and if
his deen is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so
much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without
any sins. "
[Ahmad, Tirmidhi ]

5.Early Punishment

Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
" When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his
punishment in this life; and when He wills retribution for a servant
of His, He holds his sins for Him to judge him by them on the Day of
Resurrection. "
[Tirmidhi ]

6.Multiplication of Rewards

Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
" The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering.
When Allah loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He who
then is content (with Allah's decree) has achieved the acceptance (of
Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah's decree) will attain
the anger (of Allah)."
[ Tirmidhi ]

So know that Allah is testing you because He wants good for you and He
wants to see if you are going to come closer to Him or more further
away from Him.

Shaitan is wanting us to weaken and fail the tests from Allah.

So will we let shaythan win?
Or will we make the best of these opportunities and get closer to
Allah than we have EVER been?

How Merciful is Allah and how Loving !

Allah wants to reward you and Forgive your sins.
He wants to give you the best-Jannah...
And to be worthy of it,He gives you opportunities-tests .

Make Dua when calamities strike.

Qaddar-allaahu wa maa shaa'a fa'al
("Allah has decreed and what He wills, He does.")

Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'aynin wa
aslih li sha'ni kullahu la ilaha ila anta.

("O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in
charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye, and rectify for me
all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshiped except You.")

May Allah Help us to be patient during the testing times and make us
strong believers.Ameen

Criticising Scholars and Reformers !

It is common to see people sitting in a gathering and criticizing,slandering,indulging in hate speech about scholars,students of knowledge and about people who are making an effort and struggling to bring change..positive change in the world.

These people,I don't understand why they do it ! May Allah Guide them.

Possible reasons:
>jealousy
>inability to do something
>laziness
>arrogance
>for gossip.

Allahu Alam.

Criticizing people will not make you a saint..it doesnt speak good about you..
Rather,it adds to your account of sins.backbiting (eating flesh of your dead brother-hadeeth)

Remember the hadeeth:
A BELIEVER either "Speaks" GOOD or Remains "Silent".

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“The believer is not given to cursing, slandering or obscene and foul speech.”

(Ahmad,Tirmidhi)

Don't just Sit and Criticize.
Don't just Complain !
Don't just Talk !

If you want to bring Change then know this:
Change Will NOT come through Talking,Complaining or Criticizing.

If it did,then there would be revolutions every hour !

It doesn't work that way..

DO something.
Act.
Have a Purpose,a Vision.
Begin with Yourself.

If you can't then dont just talk..
Instead go and read Quran and do Dhikr..that would add to your account of good deeds atleast.

Really !
It is so sad to see so many "educated",
"modern","experienced","wise" people indulging in such conversations..

They are supposed to be examples..role models and this is the example they are setting !

I am reminded of Imam An-Nawawi's hadeeth no.7-Religion is Nasihah-to Allah,His Book,His Messenger,to the Muslim leaders and to the common folk.
Nasihah means Sincerity.

The category of Muslim leaders includes the political leaders as well as the Ulama,scholars.

Nasihah to them means:
>to support them in good
>to correct them when they err
>not follow them blindly
>make Dua for them,for their guidance.

Nasihah to Common Folk would mean:
>advise them
>greet them with salam.

Do not harm them with tongue and hand.

You expect scholars to be perfect while You are negligent of the Waajibaat (obligatory acts), and do that which is Haraam; and you want Allah to provide you with a leader like the Righteous Caliphs. This is a far off thinking.

But rather, upon us is to hear and obey, even if they themselves were negligent, for their negligence will be upon them.

Upon them is the burden of what they do, and upon us is the burden of what we do.

As for your desire that the leaders be like Abu Bakr and Umar and Uthman and Ali then this is not possible; for we should first be like the Sahaabah or similar to them, so that our leaders are like the Caliphs of the Companions.

Such people are on the increase.
May Allah Guide them.

I pray to Allah to protect us from indulging in such things.May Allah Guide us all.
Aameen

 

5

Sports Day Dawah !

Best Sports Day !

Saturday night around 11pm,I was wondering what I could do to make Sports day a dawah event..

I was wishing I had kept a Dawah tshirt instead of sending them to someone..I didn't have any dawah pamphlets..

I made Dua,asked Allah to Help..I realized so what if I didnt have all that..

Alhamdulillah,I had Allah and then I had a Brain ("Homo sapien brain"),a Willing Heart and stationary items ..

I had an opportunity to reach out to a lot of people..why waste it !

Thought I would make dawah stickers..

Requirement:
A4 size paper,sketch pens,scissors,cellotape,water bottles.

Alhamdulillah,with Allah's Help and Mercy it was a success!

#sportsdaydawah

(when you,your siblings,kids,cousins,friends have sports day or any event..besides enjoying sports you could earn reward:

dawah and providing drinking water.

Dawah tshirts if you have that, might help too... )

#productivemuslimyouth

In sha Allah !

Remember: your Duty is to Convey,the Reckoning is with Allah ! 

WEDDINGS NEED CHANGE

Since it is Wedding season,i wanted to share something with all of you...

In Islam, the institution of marriage is a sacred one, yet a simple one.

It is sacred because it is an act of worship and it’s simple because our role model, the Prophet (SAW), always kept it simple.

Nowadays, we seem to have been so caught up in rituals and customs that we tend to waste enormous amounts of money and time on things that simply aren’t needed.

Nikah and walimah are both sunnahs (traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), so doesn’t it make sense to try to commemorate these occasions in the same fashion as he did?

Anas (RA) describes one of the walimahs hosted by the Prophet (SAW):

“The Prophet stayed for three days at a place between Khaibar and Medina, and there he consummated his marriage with Safiyya bint Huyay (RA). I invited the Muslims to a banquet which included neither meat nor bread. The Prophet (SAW) ordered for the leather dining sheets to be spread, and then dates, dried yogurt and butter were provided over it, and that was the Walima (banquet) of the Prophet (SAW).” (Reported by Bukhari)

In another report, Anas (RA) says that the Prophet (SAW) “gave a wedding banquet with Hais (a sort of sweet dish made from butter, cheese and dates).” (Reported by Bukhari)


The bride and the women miss their Salah coz of mehendi and makeup..

There are useless risams and rituals..haram activities like music,dance,intermixing of sexes..men dont lower their gaze,hijabi sisters get rid of their hijab...
And the dowry-the rich and the poor both take it..

May Allah Guide such people.

Allah does not want to burden you..

Why do you want to burden yourself with unnecessary worries and sins ?


Why not have a simple wedding..a nikah and waleema ?

Why apply mehendi and makeup at times when you are likely to miss Salah?


We spend extravagant amounts of our own money..it’s sad because there are so many better uses for our hard-earned money. After all, the amount of money spent on the ceremony has no positive effect on the life of the couple.

The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:

“The marriage which is most greatly blessed is the one which is the lightest in burden [expense]. However, if people are well catered for, without extravagance and show, there is no problem with that either.”
(Reported by Bayhaqi)

For sure, marriage an occasion to celebrate, but why waste enormous amounts of money on a celebration? It’s definitely not how our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) celebrated. In fact, wasting Allah’s bounties is something Allah has warned us against:

“But waste not by excess: for Allah loves not the wasters.” (Quran, 6:141)


Let’s save all that money and keep it for better uses-building a mosque,helping an orphanage or for something that will ensure that you keep getting reward...it would be an investment for the Akhirah !


If we do that with the right intention, we’ll end up saving money and at the same time, we’ll be adding to our good-deed account as well.

After all, who can’t use some extra cash, some extra good deeds, and a greatly blessed marriage ?


Dear Bride and Groom,
You have to stand up and be firm.."you" have to Revive the Sunnah of a simple wedding..

Think about this,
Do you want to please people or your Creator ?

It is all upto you !

If you lay the foundation of your wedding in a halal way that Pleases your Lord,

In sha Allah,your married life will be peaceful,Blessed..
Allah's Special Rahmah will be on you..
That you defied the world to Please your Rabb !

May Allah Guide us and give us the tawfeeq to make our weddings simpler and according to Sunnah !
Aameen — with Taskeen Aslam and 27 others.

Salah..just do it !

I was coming out of the College Library and while I was keeping the books in my bag,a maid who cleans toilets asked me,
"How do you pray (perform Salah) in College?"

I told her: "Alhamdulillah,Zuhr in my class during Break time and Asr in the Botany Lab."

She was sad that she missed her Salah everyday.I suggested we pray together during break in some class on the floor she works..

She prayed one day with me and I have a feeling she is facing trouble from other sources.


Ma sha Allah,she was sad that she was missing her Salah..!
She wanted to pray but she couldnt..

Now,why did I share this incident with you all ?


Firstly,
When she asked me,I was thinking how I could help..
I reminded myself that I am a Muslim and this was a Dawah opportunity..
Also,the realization that she was my sister in Islam ..This was
Allah's Mercy on me !

I see how people avoid them and talk rudely to them..it is sad..

Remember,there is no discrimination in Islam..you can be better than someone in worship and faith and no other reason..


Secondly,
Her sadness for not being able to pray ..

Brothers and Sisters,
how many of us miss Salah while in College,Workplace,Markets ?


You have to have the determination that you will not miss it..

You will have to take out time by making a few adjustments..

Find a place where you can pray and ask fellow Muslims to join..

If there is some issue with doing Wudu,do tayyamum..

No excuse to miss Salah !

Do not hesitate to pray in front of others..
Be careful that you do not show off in prayer and also do not be afraid..

You have nothing to fear as long as Allah is with you,in sha Allah !

May Allah Guide us and help us to establish Salah,to develop Khushoo in Salah,to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.
Aameen

May Allah Bless and Guide that sister and make it easy for her to pray.Aameen



If you wish to share any experiences or incidents related to the above ,pls go ahead..i will be glad..

Jazak Allahu khairan ! — with Taskeen Aslam and 22 others.

What I learnt from Science !

Alhamdulillah,I come from a pure science background and now studying Botany ( study of plants).

This is what "science" taught me:


Very often the things around us teach us important lessons.
We dismiss the subjects we study as temporary information meant for mugging up “just for exams”.

History is so boring-why study about the past when all I care about is present and the future?
Why study minerals,soils,farming,when I don’t want to be a farmer?

Science-that’s just for the most intelligent students,not everyone’s cup of tea..cycles and theories and systems and equations..scary,isn’t it ?

Well,it’s that and much more.

Someone once said :

“Some students drink at the fountain of knowledge others just gargle.”

Science has taught me that it is much more than the theories and concepts of living and non-living things,the way things around us work and function.

It’s upto us to drink as much as we can and want to,from the vast ocean of information.

The electrons and protons,the negatively and positively charged particles respectively,teach that individuals who are greedy,who believe in taking and not giving,those who are selfish have a negative personality and are like the "electrons" while those who are generous and selfless have a positive personality like the "protons".

That is what Chemistry has taught me.


The human body has been so perfectly created by God that it always absorbs,assimilates and utilizes things that benefit it and eliminates the waste.
Human beings should also let the good things and positive thoughts influence them and let go off the negative emotions as they are harmful to our being,our soul.The human body sometimes gets affected by the drugs and other harmful things,that is true for human beings too.


It is truly said that do not underestimate small things and never consider anybody inferior. A match is small – it can save a freezing man or cause forest fires.
Microbiology-the study of micro-organisms teaches that the smallest,the most minute organisms can benefit i.e.enhance the growth of crops (biofertilizers) and cure diseases (antibiotics-Penicillin) or destroy crops (pests,insects etc.) and degrade health (viruses).


Evolution of plants and animals is a lesson to all that you should improve for the better,then only will you survive or else your fate is endangered.

People who change can have 3 fates,which is clearly illustrated by the following quotation :
“People who change after change,will survive,
People who change with the change,will succeed,
People who cause the change,will lead.”


The metamorphoses seen in the butterfly teaches me that “the changes you are experiencing are not always comfortable but they are necessary for your continued growth.”


The lifecycles of different organisms depict that everyone has their turn to lead and to attain fame and fortune,like in plants,sometimes it is the gametophyte,which is dominant and sometimes the sporophyte.I am reminded of the saying:
“If you win,you can lead
If you lose,you can guide.”
The gametes-male and female,fuse to form the zygote.Further,in some cases,the female gametophyte plays a role in the development and growth of zygote.


Majority of the people,when faced with a problem or challenge, tend to feel insecure,they give up and are afraid to live;my advice to them is do not behave like the ostrich which buries its head or like the tortoise,which hides in its shell;be like the crocodile,fighting fiercely.



Paleobotany,the study of fossilized plants,makes me think of people who have lived and made an impression in the society,in the world.

Live you life in such a way that the good you do becomes eternal,your footprints can be a guidance for others.You may be remembered for your writings,actions,words or charity.
“Don’t write your name on the sands,waves will wash it away,
Don’t write your name in the sky,winds may blow it away,
Write your name in the hearts of people you come in contact with,that’s where it will stay.”


The complex living and non-living things are a reminder to people who know much and are truly educated :
“The more you know who you are and what you want,the less you let things upset you.”
Isn’t it true that the most complex plants and animals have strong defense mechanisms-the vertebrates,the angiosperms? Human beings ?


“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow,it needed to be dropped in dirt,covered in darkness and struggle to reach the light.”
Similarly,for a person to mature and grow,struggles and obstacles are necessary to push him forward.


In the chase between lion and deer,many times deer wins because lion runs for food and deer for life.
Remember purpose is more important than need.People survive when there is shortage of food and water because of the will to survive,that is their purpose.


Remember :
“Heart is a good fertile ground.Anything planted there-love,hate,fear,hope,will surely grow and bear fruits.It is for us to decide what to plant and harvest.”

If you plant a diseased seed,a diseased plant will grow and if you plant a healthy seed,a healthy plant will grow.
Similarly,if you allow good thoughts,good actions,good things to dwell in you,you will grow into a beautiful individual with a healthy heart,mind and
soul and if you allow negative things to dwell,face the consequences..


“Where Hope Grows,Miracles Blossom”..

Keep learning from everything and everyone around you.

See and Hear,
Observe and Analyse,
God has given you the unique power of thinking,which no other creature in the universe is blessed with...


Allah is The Creator of the Heavens and the earth..
Appreciate and reflect on His Creations...


Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Have you ever thought that if the Creation is so Beautiful and everything in nature is so perfectly designed...

Who except "Allah" could be their Creator ?


"It is Allah Who created everything in the best of form…It is He Who created and perfected all things."

(Quran,32:7, 87:2)


"Everything We have created and prescribed for its measure, its character and destiny…No creature creeps on earth but Allah provides for it its sustenance. He knows its purpose and destiny. For it is He Who prescribed them in His eternal order…The sun rises and sets traversing its orbit exactly as the Almighty, the All Knowing has ordained. And the moon passes regularly through its phases, returning to its original thin crescent form. Neither sun nor moon overtakes the other; neither night nor day deviates from their preordained courses. Each moves in the orbit Allah has ordained for it.

(Quran,54:49, 11:6, 36:38-40) — with Taskeen Aslam and 22 others.

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