Achooo! Alhamdulillah

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu

Let me ask you all something. What comes to your mind when I say "be grateful"? Is it the mere statement of Alhamdulillah or thank you that pops in your mind? If so, your perception of gratitude is very narrow.

Let me explain my point with a real-life story 

Imagine this situation with me. You are a medical student with a passion for pursuing your dreams of becoming a doctor. Soon you come to realize that you cannot continue your studies. Won't you be heartbroken? This is exactly what happened to one of my friends. I love her for the sake of Allah. May Allah bless her and grant her success in this world and the next.💗

Instead of her being depressed, she accepted what Allah decreed for her. She is in fact very grateful to Allah. she says that because she couldn't continue her studies, she ended up learning and memorizing the Qur'an and its tajweed. What she told me after that really opened up my heart. She said, "I wanted to be a doctor of a body but Allah wanted to make me a doctor of a soul with His Words."

She saw her life in a different light. This happened only because she was grateful to Allah. Therefore my dear sisters, be grateful to Allah, you will see wonders before your own eyes. You will feel joyful even if you have a thousand worries in your mind.

"It's not joy that makes you grateful, it's gratefulness that makes you joyful." 

Whatever blessings you come across in life, just take a moment to say Alhamdulillah with your heart. You will see that Allah will bless you with it and open up doors for you that you never knew existed.

Allah says,

لَىِٕن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِیدَنَّكُمۡۖ
If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings)
[Surah Ibrahim verse 7]

When sadness hits you, be thankful to Allah. Thank Allah for your parents, siblings, and friends. For those of you who are married, thank Allah for your spouses. Thank Allah for your good health. I could go on and on. If sometimes you can’t find anything to be thankful about, stop for a moment and check your pulse. Your heart is still beating. Alhamdulillah!😊

The most important time to be thankful is when you are hit with a calamity. You may ask, “How can one possibly be happy at a time like that?” Sure it’s hard, but it’s necessary so that you can see the bright side of situations and don’t dwell on your miseries.

Even the Ummul Kitab, the surah we read every day minimum ten times, starts with gratefulness.

(ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ)

All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

[ Surah Fathiha verse 2]

Gratefulness is so stressed upon in Islam that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said, “Whoever is not grateful to the people is not grateful to Allah.”

Now that I've shared my thoughts about gratitude, please comment on one thing that you are most grateful of possessing in this life. 

Peace😁 

Trials and Tribulations

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
Do you ever have these thoughts? "Why can't my life be perfect like everybody else's lives?" "Why am I tested so much?" "Is Allah punishing me?" "What have I done wrong?" And so on...

As a Muslim, it's natural to get all these questions in your mind. However, if your mind continuously thinks these questions it's evident that your belief in Allah is weak and therefore you must strengthen it.

Allah says in the Qur'an
(أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن یُتۡرَكُوۤا۟ أَن یَقُولُوۤا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا یُفۡتَنُونَ ۝  وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ)
[Surat Al-Ankabut 2 - 3]
Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested.
And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).

In fact the most severely tested people were the Prophets peace be upon them despite them being the most righteous and closest ones to ALLAH. This shows that Allah gives the hardest tests to his most beloved slaves. Keep that in mind the next time Allah tests you. If He is testing you He surely loves you.💓

On the contrary, that doesn't mean that if you are not tested you are not loved by Allah. The Prophet peace be upon him said:
«عجبًا لأمرِ المؤمنِ  إنَّ أمرَه كلَّهُ له خيرٌ وليس ذلك لأحدٍ إلا للمؤمنِ إن أصابتْهُ سرَّاءُ شكر وكان خيرًا لهُ وإن أصابتْهُ ضرَّاءُ صبرَ فكان خيرًا له» (مسلم)
 "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. ; if good befalls him he thanks and that is better for him and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him " [Muslim]

Sometimes people tend to cram their minds with worldly life thoughts and forget about the Hereafter. As Muslims, we should remind ourselves that our true home is in Jannah (Paradise) and that this life is only a test.

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏الدنيا سجن المؤمن وجنة الكافر‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "This world is the believer's prison and the infidel's Jannah" [Muslim]

Our problem as human beings is that we try to seek comfort and happiness from this world while we were sent here as a test. True comfort and happiness can only be felt in Paradise.

That being said I hope that you will face any obstacle in life with a positive attitude while reminding yourself that Allah loves you. Moreover, I pray that Allah doesn't test you with something you cannot bear.

Love from your sister in Islam💗. Peace😀

Don't ever lose hope

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu😊

This is a translation of the previous post which was in Arabic.

When difficult situations or hard times test them, many people give up and lose hope. This happens due to one reason only, in my point of view. What is it? You may ask
The reason is that the belief in Allah isn't strong.

I will list down some solutions to this problem.

First of all, make your belief in Allah strong
How? Belief doesn't increase by itself. No doubt, you have to exert great hardwork. Everyday renew your intentions and say to yourself that you will try to get closer to Allah through obligatory worship and voluntary worship. Be mindful of your prayers and try to read a small part of the Qur'an everyday.

Surround yourself with positive people
Leave all the toxic people who feed your mind with negativity and find positive people.
A point to note: I'm not saying you to abandon them completely because we all have negative thoughts once in a while. If it's in your power to help them be positive then do but in this situation, you yourself have no hope so you will be pulled into depression along with them. It's when they are adamant about their negative thoughts that you have to distance yourself from them.

Surround yourself with people who remember Allah a lot
This good habit of theirs will make an influence on you and it will make you remember Allah and it will give you hope that Allah is, in fact, present and He sees you and hears you every moment.

Lastly, always ponder upon and look at how people overcame their tribulations.

All these ways will make your hope in Allah increase.

Allah mentioned many ayahs about hope in the Qur'an. I will remind you all of two of them 

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

Due to the fact that you are Allah .. my heart is full of hope.💗

With that I conclude. Peace

لا تفقدي الامل ابدا

😊السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

كثير من الناس عندما تواجههم مشاكل او أوقات صعبة، يستسلمون ويفقدون الأمل. وهذا يحدث لسبب واحد فقط بالنسبة لي. ما هو يا ترى؟

هذا يحدث لأن الإيمان بالله ليس قوي 

سأذكر لكن بعض المحاليل لهذه المشكلة

•  أولا قوي إيمانك بالله سبحانه وتعالى 

كيف؟ الإيمان لا تزداد بنفسه. لازم تبذلي جهدا كبيرا. كل يوم جددي نياتك و قولي لنفسك أنك ستحاولين أن تقترب إلى الله بالفرائض والنوافل. كوني حريصة على صلواتك. وأقرئي وردا من القرآن كل يوم.

•  اجعلي نفسك بأشخاص إيجابيين 

اتركي الاناس السامة الذين يغذون عقلك مع السلبية واجدي الاناس الاجابيين. 

نقطة جديرة بالملاحظة: أنا لا أقول لك أن تتخلى عنها تمامًا لأننا جميعًا لدينا أفكار سلبية من حين إلى آخر. إذا كان في وسعك مساعدتهم على أن يكونوا إيجابيين ، ففعلوا ذلك ولكن في هذه الحالة ، لن يكون لديك أي أمل و سوف تنجرفوا إلى الاكتئاب معهم. عندما يصرون على أفكارهم السلبية ، عليك أن تنأى بنفسك عنها.

•  اجعلي نفسك بأشخاص يذكرون الله كثيرا 

هذه العادة الجيدة سيجعلك ايضا أن تذكر الله كثيرا عندما يتكلمون عن الله ويعطيك أمل أن الله بالفعل موجود و هو يسمع و يراك كل لحظة 

•  اخيرا، دائما شوفي الناس الذين وقعوا في مشكلة و كيف تَغَلَّبُوا على المشكلة 

كل هذه الطرق يجعل الأمل بالله تزداد 

الله ذكر في القرآن الكريم آيات كثيرة عن الأمل. سأذكر ايتين لكن 

(۞ قُلۡ یَـٰعِبَادِیَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَسۡرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰۤ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِیعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ)

[Surat Az-Zumar 53]

(وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ)

[Surat Aal-E-Imran 139]

ومع ذلك ، فإن عقلي مفتوح للنقد البناء ، لكنني لن أتسامح مع السخرية. كوني إنسانًا عاديًا أحب أن أسمع أفكارًا إيجابية عن كتاباتي وأيضًا سأكون على سطح القمر لتلقي كلمات التشجيع.

😁من خلال كتاباتي ، سوف تعرفني أفضل بكثير من أي شخص آخر

💗لأنك الله .. قلبي كله أمل

وبهذا أختم. سلام

A du'a that was answered

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu

Many a times I have experienced a situation where my du'as were answered, and this has only increased me in awe of my Creator. It gives me great hope that my Creator is in fact listening to my pleas of sorrow and responding to them.

On the other hand, there are times when I would have made plentiful du'as staying up late at night but none of them would have been answered. At times like this my heart would swell with happiness because I know that Allah didn't answer my du'as due to the fact that He wishes to reward me in the Hereafter.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no Muslim who supplicates to Allah without sin or cutting family ties in it but that Allah will give him one of three answers: he will hasten fulfillment of his supplication, he will store it for him in the Hereafter, or he will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 10749

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

So never lose hope (instagram account reference ~ @never_lose_hope1 😁) my dear habibtis since Allah has only goodness in store for you all. He grants what is best for us in all circumstances. He never lets down a true believer, for a true believer always has faith and hope.

ibn al-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on him) said, “The heart on its journey towards Allah the Exalted is like that of a bird. Love is its head, and fear and hope are its two wings. When the head is healthy, then the two wings will fly well. When the head is cut off, the bird will die. When either of two wings is damaged, the bird becomes vulnerable to every hunter and predator.”

This is the thought Muslims are supposed to have when asking du'a to Allah. Always have hope that He will surely answer your du'as in the best way possible.

Always ask du'as my habibtis. A sincere du'a never goes to waste. It might be that you don't see the effects of it now but later on in life you will be glad because of the fruitfulness of the du'a you made years back.

It might be that you and your friend made the same du'a but hers was answered before you. That would have been great for her. She might even boast about it to your face. However, Allah knows when to answer you and when to answer her. The fact is that delaying your du'a would in the longer run be better for you. In the future, you will see your life falling into place and you will thank Allah for answering your du'a only then.

We must all understand that Allah has given us all different lives. Different lifestyles. Different worldly goals. Difference in many things. What is better for her now would be better for you later. Sometimes what you have been blessed with might never really reach her.

In some ways unanswered du'as are also tests to see if we will bear with patience or blame Allah and everyone around.

That being said, have any of you had du'as which were answered? If so, comment down below.

Peace out 😊

Your time will come

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu

Look around you. Not literally silly😄, theoretically. Think of all the things you have accomplished in life. Now, think of all the ambitious aims you have in mind that you would love to bring to reality.

Yeah, I know, what you have dreamt of is so much more than what you have already achieved. The truth of the matter is that other people don’t see the same. When they look at your life they feel like you are a role model although they don’t necessarily voice these thoughts. Out of pure jealousy, they try to bring you down instead of supporting you. Well, I haven’t got people like that in my life which I am totally thankful for. Alhamdulillah!

However, most people do have people in their lives who downgrade them and underestimate them. If you are a victim of this inferior treatment just hold on tight and have a positive attitude because your time will definitely come.

Your time = A time when you experience the best of situations. A time when you will rise in status, honor, dignity, and respect. A time when you will accomplish and be blessed with more than you can imagine.  A time when you will be blissful, happy and content with Allah and His Divine plans.

“Good things come to those who believe”

Just have hope my dear. All the turmoil will end and you will no longer feel like you are lower than others. Allah is with you through your struggle and outside your struggle. No matter what happens always have faith in Allah that He loves you and only wants the best for you. We only see the short term while He sees the long term as well as the short term. We only think of ourselves while He thinks of everyone else as well.

You are probably struggling with something in life which only you know about. Whatever it is know that it will end and new happy beginnings are promised to come your way be it now or later. Here or the Hereafter.

And when your time comes don’t tell me that I didn’t tell you it was coming. Peace out.😊

Looking over the hedge

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu
Often times in life we will have to face a situation where it demands our greatest efforts. Those certain times, it is usual for us to feel lost and mentally tired. It worsens when you see others excel and doing their very best as though life hasn't tested them one bit. 

However, the truth lies on the other side of the hedge. You are so used to embracing the things that are on your side of the hedge i.e. the things that you can see, that you forget the things on the other side of the hedge i.e. the things you can't see. 

We are in fact so busy that we forget the One Who created us, Allah. He, in His Divine plan, put us through that hard phase in life to prepare us for the future. If we are willing t accept that as a reality we would smile through our pains and keep our heads up high even through defeat. The next time Allah tests you be happy because He wants the very best for you and always will. 💗

Always remember to look over the hedge. Peace out.

Everyday brunch thoughts

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakathuhu

As I was munching on my brunch today afternoon this thought crossed my mind. Why don't I start doing something that I'm passionate about? For less than twenty years this very thought has been bothering me but I haven't done anything about it. 

One fine day though I took hold of a paintbrush and some watercolors and started painting. It turned out good. It was good enough for a beginner anyway. Since then I have been painting just for the fun of it. A few years ago I even started my own business, selling paintings to my friends and family.

Soon that had to be closed down because I couldn't paint according to the demands. I still do paint though. Not original paintings. I copy it off the internet sometimes from google images and sometimes from youtube tutorials. Someday I hope I'll be good enough to be creative and paint original paintings. 

I also like to write which explains why I'm here 😀. I have been writing secretly in my new Instagram account called @therapeuticwritings because I was scared that people will criticize me and ridicule me for my writings.

That being said my mind is quite open to constructive criticism but I will not tolerate being ridiculed. Being a human being like everyone else I would love to hear positive thoughts on my writings and would be over the moon to receive words of encouragement.

Through my writings, you will get to know me much more than anyone else.
Picture credit: @bluetikphotography
Disclaimer: I'm just a beginner at writing so proceed at your own risk.
Peace out 😉