Thalaba Ibn Abdul Rahman was a young man at the age of 16. He always ran errands for the Prophet Muhammad (saw). One day while walking though the city of Medina, he passed by a house with an open door. Out of curiosity he took a glance inside. In this glance, he saw a light curtain being blown away from a bathroom entrance were a woman was bathing. He immediately lowered his gaze. With an extreme feeling of guilt and hypocrisy his mind ran. Thinking to himself,h ow could he be of the companions of Muhammad who runs his errands and be so horrible as to disrespect peoples privacy?

He feared that Allah would reveal to the Prophet evidence of his hypocrisy. His guilt denied him to ever show his face to the Prophet, so he ran away. Days went by and the Prophet kept asking the other companions if they had seen Thalaba. No one had seen him. With the Prophet's worrying about Thalaba, He sent a few of the companions to look for him everywhere and among them were Omar Ibn Al Khattab, and Salman Al Farisiy. They looked everywhere in Medina and also the out skirts of Medina, until they came about a set of mountains between Mecca and Medina where some nomads where herding sheep. The companions asked the nomads if they had seen a young man that describe as Thalaba's characteristics. They told the companions about a weeping boy. He had been here for 40 days. He came down from the mountains once a day weeping and drank the milk that they would offer him. Then he went back up the mountains weeping, crying, always asking for Allah for forgiveness, and saying words of repentance. So the companions waited until he came down and watched him. Down came Thalaba, he look like he had lost weight. His countenance reflected sorrow as he drank the milk that was mixed with his tears.

The companions insisted that they take him back to the Prophet but he refused and asked them if Allah had revealed any verses saying he was a hypocrite. They told him that they had no knowledge of such verses. He was taken back to Medina where the Prophet went to see him. He asked again if Allah had put him among the hypocrites or revealed that he was. The Prophet assured him that there were no such verses. Prophet laid out Thalaba's head onto his lap and Thalaba asked, "Oh Prophet of Allah, remove the head of a sinner away from you." The Prophet comforted him even though he told the Prophet that he felt as though ants are walking between his flesh and bones. The Prophet told him that his death is near and it's time had come. Prophet witnessed Thalaba proclaim, "There is no God worthy of worship other than Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The Prophet then washed Thalaba and carried him to the grave. It is narrated that on their way to bury Thalaba, the Prophet walked on his tip toes as though he was in a crowd. When Omar asked about this, the Prophet (saw) explained that he was being crowded with the angels.

Reference:

http://bestislamstories.blogspot.com/2012/12/inspiring-and-touching-story-of-sahaba.html

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was still an infant, a group of ladies visited Makkah to take the new born babies to the open desert environment as per custom of the town. Halimatus Saadiah, from Banu Saad tribe, was that fortunate lady who took Muhammad (peace be upon him), then just an-eight-day-old, for foster care. She realised it was not just a normal baby, but an angel of blessings.

The other ladies of the group could get babies of rich families, but Halimatus opted for this orphan as his father, Abdullah, had died before his birth. Her companions were apparently happy with their findings but nobody knew that Halimatus was carrying a baby that was to become arguably the greatest personality in human history. He was gifted with blessings from Almighty Allah. And it occurred instantly. Her breast was filled with milk; her mule got strength and ran ahead of the caravan.

Halimatus Saadiah was daughter of Abdullah bin Harith and wife of Harith Abu Zowaib. When she brought the blessed child home, she had a daughter named Shaima and her sucking son, Abdullah. Shaima was about five years old and she used to help her mother take care of Mohammed. She would bath him and take him for walks and always embraced him with love. Shaima witnessed a change that happened in her family from poverty to comfort because of the blessing of this child. She used to sing songs about him and say: “Our Lord! Keep Muhammad (peace be upon him) alive for us so that I can see him become an adolescent, then a leader. Suppress his enemies and those who are envious of him, and give him everlasting glory!”

The time of 24 months passed swiftly and the occasion came when young Muhammad (peace be upon him) was to depart from Halimatus. Shaima was also shocked and very sad to see him go. Halimatus brought the child back to Makkah but she wept while separating him from her breast. Mother Aminah was moved by her love and gave the child back to Halimatus to be raised in Banu Saad region near Taif. It is said that Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned to Makkah when he was about five years of age. He lived in the loving arms of his real mother Aminah only for one more year. She took him to Madinah to show him his parental relations with Bani Najjar and died on her return journey at a place called Abwa. Muhammad (peace be upon him) later on grew under the care of his grandfather, and then his uncle, Abu Talib. He became a man of dignity.

Halimatus once returned to Muhammad (peace be upon him) at Makkah and Khadijah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave her 40 sheep as gift. It is said that Halimatus Saadiah once again came to the holy city of Madinah in her last days. She died there and was buried in Jannatul Baqi. A grave in her name is marked in the blessed cemetery.

During the Battle of Hunain, 6000 war captives were released merely on account of the Prophet being in milk-relation with many of his captives. It so happened that when the tribe of Hawazen planned an attack on Makkah, it was swiftly defeated with great losses at the Battle of Hunain. There were 6,000 captives, both male and female, with 24,000 camels and 40,000 goats at Jairanah, in Muslim hands.

It was on this occasion when an old lady, in her 60’s, appeared from among the captives and claimed that she was the sister of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She was taken to him with high esteem. She told him, “O, messenger of Allah, I am Shaima, your foster sister, daughter of Abu Kabsha and Halimatus Saadiah bint Zuwaib.” Prophet (peace be upon him) welcomed her and spread his shawl and asked her to sit near him. She told that when he were young he bit on her shoulder, which left a scar on her body. Prophet (peace be upon him) recognised that and tears rolled down upon his cheeks remembering those olden days. Shaima embraced Islam and consented to go back to her tribe. Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a maid, a few camels and goats as gift and she returned to her tribe happily.

After waiting for few days, Prophet (peace be upon him) distributed the booty lavishly among both the Muslim and non-Muslim leaders of Makkah. Later a delegation of 14 Muslims from Banu Saad and Hawazen came to Prophet (peace be upon him) under Zuhair ibn Surad and Abu Barqan (foster uncle of the Prophet). They pleaded for the release of their captives, in heart touching appeal. They said: “There in those huts among the prisoners are your foster mother and sister (referring to Halimatus Saadiah and Shaima); they that have nursed thee and fondled thee in their bosoms. We have known thee a suckling, a weaning child, youth generous and noble. And now thou hast risen to this dignity, be gracious unto us, even as the Lord hath been gracious unto thee.”

Prophet (peace be upon him) was so moved with these words that he arranged for the release of all the 6,000 prisoners, and every one of them was given a shawl as a gift which was unprecedented in the history of tribal wars. This gesture won the hearts of the people and they embraced Islam in thousands. Thus was the benevolence of Halimatus Saadiah and her daughter Shaima bint Harith for their native tribe.

The place of Halimatus’s house is still located in the valley of Bani Saad near Taif. The name of Halimatus Saadiah and Shaima are very popular among Muslim ladies. Many institutions were named after including Halimatus Saadiah College Rabat (Morocco), Halimatus Saadiah Orphanage & Relief Organization Leicester (UK) and Halimatus Saadiah Grand Mosque Attok (Pakistan).

Islam develops cohesion in society for the general benefit of the mankind. It promotes strong bonds between parents and the children. It expands relationship to even the wet nurses, serving the infants. If a child is reared and suckled by a woman other than the real mother, she is accorded the status of an additional mother called Umm Ridah (foster mother, or milk mother); her husband is treated as the father of the child, and her children real brothers and sisters prohibiting marriages with them. Thus, a woman who nurses a child (more than five times before the age of two years), becomes mother by milk-relation with special rights under Islamic law. The suckled child is considered as a full sibling to the foster-mother’s other children, and as mahram to the woman. No other religion accords such a status to the suckling mothers.

Reference:
http://www.arabnews.com/news/525516

“Remember, curiosity killed the cat."

She was wrong of course. Curiosity could never kill this cat. But yes, a pair of beautiful brown eyes could.” 
(Saurbh Katyal, The Invisible Woman)

When Le Pure and Felicite decides to work as a team.

As one.

Time.

We're always trying to catch up with time. I feel like it will be outnumbered. Sometimes, I feel like it gets to me and I have to run faster to keep up. I wish I could slow down time, but nope. We have to keep on moving forward. Do what's best, give all your best and by the time, it will be a moment in time that you can give a huge sigh of relief with a sense of accomplishment.

Venue:

Causeway Point, Bagus

Fish Soup Stall, Level 7

1 Woodlands Square, Singapore 738099,

Hurry to Success

Every time when I hear the athan, I've always wondered what the part where it says, "Hurry to Success" means. I mean, athan is a call for prayer, so what does it have anything to do with worldly success? Or does it mean "success" for hereafter?

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, 

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah

(I bear witness that there is no god except the One God,

I bear witness that there is no god except the One God)

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah,

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah

(I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God,

I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God)

Hayya 'ala-s-Salah, Hayya 'ala-s-Salah

(Hurry to the prayer, Hurry to the prayer)

Hayya 'ala-l-Falah, Hayya 'ala-l-Falah

(Hurry to success, Hurry to success)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

(God is Great, God is Great)

La ilaha illa Allah

(There is no god except the One God)

I understand about prayer being our connection to God Almighty but there are many successful people who are not praying. There are also people who are praying who are not successful in this world.

So I started asking scholars about the meaning of athan. I was given different answers, all of which I believe are correct but it wasn't until a few years ago that I finally understood its meaning.

I used to have trouble keeping my prayers. I never did pray on time, in fact most of the time, I was often late. I also had the tendency to combine two prayers together in that I would wait till the last hour of Zuhr and then immediately pray Asr. I would also do the same for Maghrib and Isya' prayers. I thought I was saving time n that way but I was ever so wrong. It was also a rarity for me to be able to complete the 5 prayers in a day. 

When I decided to re-learn about Islam, I knew that the top most pirority was to improve my prayers, or more accurate, lack of it. I decided to try my hardest to keep the 5 times a day appointment as its appointed time. I can tell you, it wasn't easy at first as I had so many distractions. Still, I was determined.

Then, I realized that the days I managed to pray 5 times at its appointed time, I felt that I've conquered the world. After that, I made sure as much as possible, that I didn't miss any more prayers. So now I truly get it! The meaning of "Hurry to Success" is, to me, to have the will power and strength to fight distraction and satanic persuasion and to pray 5 times a day at it's appointed time. When we hear the call of prayer, we hasten to pray and that is the true "success". Success against our inner battle.

Adbullah ibn Mas'ud reported:

I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which deed is best?". The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Prayer in it's proper time." I asked again, "What's next?". The Prophet (saw) said, "Good treatment of your parents." I asked once again, "What's next?". The Prophet (saw) replied, "Struggling (Jihad) in the way of Allah." I became silent and if I had asked him more, he would have told me.

(Hadith Bukhari)

Calling Me Softly

by Norhafsah Hamid

(Page 94 - 97)

When the football season is on. Le Dad pack some junk food to bring to the CC to watch the football match. Hahahahahaha.

Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. 

They’re in each other all along. 

Hadith Rumi

Be respectful to women,

for they are the mothers

for mankind.

(Imam Ali)

I feel like we're in the olden days. I wish my shiny armour would throw pebbles on my window, that kind of thing. Oh well, this is the closest I guess. Haha. Waving from the window and making your heart skips a beat. Giggling, blushing. This is where old school love really are the greatest treasures.

Allah indeed is the best of all planners. 

I am lucky. 

Alhamdulillah.

All I hope is that, Allah gives mercy to me and never take this nikmat away from me. But with this nikmat, I hope it brings me closer to Him instead. Amin.

Avoid the 7 great destructive sins. The Muslims enquired, “O Messenger of Allah! What are they?". He said, “To join others in worship along with Allah (shirk), to practice sorcery (magic), to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law/murder), to eat up Ribah (usury/interest), to eat up an orphan’s wealth (usurp), to give back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting (cowardice), and to accuse chaste women, who has never thought of anything touching her chastity and are good believers (false accusation).” 

(Hadith Bukhari, Wasayah, 23; Tıbb (Medicine), 48; Muslim, Iman (Faith), 144)

Zalia lace top, tailored purple kurung skirt, glossy matt purple shawl, 

Zalora white heels, vintage Philippine woven clutch bag

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Ya ayyuha alnnasu inna khalaqnakum min thakarin waontha wajaAAalnakum shuAAooban waqaba-ila litaAAarafoo inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum inna Allaha AAaleemun khabeerun

Human beings, We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-fearing of you.Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
(Surah Al Hujuraat:13)

Victory.

اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ، لآَاِلهَ اِلاَّاللهُ وَاللهُ اَكْبَرُ
اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ وَ ِللهِ الْحَمْدُ

اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ ِللهِ كَثِيْرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَّاَصِيْلاً. لآَاِلهَ اِلاَّاللهُ وَلاَنَعْبُدُ اِلاَّ اِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِيْنَ لَهُ الدِّيْنَ، وَلَوْكَرِهَ الْكَافِرُوْنَ، لآَاِلهَ اِلاَّاللهُ وَحْدَهُ، صَدَقَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَاَعَزَّجُنْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ اْلاَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ، لآَاِلهَ اَلاَّ اللهُ وَاللهُ اَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ وَ ِللهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allahuakbar Allahuakbar Allahuakbar
La ilaha illa Allahu wa Allahu akbar,
Allahu akbar walillahi ilham x 3

 Allahuakbar kabira walhamdulillahi kathira,Wa subhanallahi bukrata wa asila
 La ilaha illa Allahu wa na'budu illa iayyahu, muhlisinalahuddin , walau karihal kafirun
 La ilaha illa Allah hu wahdahu , sodaqo wa’dahu, wa nasoroab' dahu
 Wa a a'zza jundahu wahazamal akhzaba wahdahuLa ilaha illa Allahu Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar walillahi ilhamdu

Allah Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar, Allah Maha Besar,
Tiada Tuhan (yang berhak disembah) melainkan Allah dan Allah Maha Besar,
Allah Maha Besar dan segala puji-pujian hanya layak bagi Allah.
Allah Maha Besar Yang Teramat Besar, Segala Puji bagi Allah Yang Teramat Banyak,
Maha suci Allah pada waktu pagi dan petang,
Tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah, dan Tidak ada lain yang kami sembah melainkan Dia,
Kami ikhlas kepadaNya (mengikuti ajaran agama Islam) sekalipun
dibenci oleh orang-orang kafir,
Tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah Yang Tunggal, Yang Menepati
janjiNya, Yang Menolong hambaNya,
Dan Yang Memuliakan tenteraNya dalam mengalahkan tentera alAhzab
dengan sendiri (KekuasaanNya),
Tidak ada Tuhan melainkan Allah dan Allah Maha Besar, Allah
Maha Besar dan segala puji-pujian hanya bagi Allah.

This is the love story between Zainab bint Muhammad and Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee'; Zainab was the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH) and her cousin Abu El'Ass, was Khadeeja's (RA) nephew. He was one of the nobles of the Quraish, and the Prophet (SAW) loved him very much.

One day Abu El'Ass went to the Prophet (SAW) before he had received his mission of Prophethood and said: "I want to marry your eldest daughter". So the Prophet replied: "I must ask her first". He (SAW) went to Zainab and asked her: "Your cousin came to me and he wishes to marry you, do you accept him as your husband?" Her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

So Zainab married Abu El'Ass, the beginning of a great love story. They had two children; Ali and Omama.

Then Muhammad became a Prophet while Abu El'Ass was away from Makkah. Abu El'Ass returned to find his wife a Muslim. When he first came back, his wife said "I have great news for you". He stood up and left her. Zainab was surprised and followed him as she said, "My father became a Prophet and I have become a Muslim". He replied, "Why didn't you tell me first?" Hence a big problem began between the two; a problem of religion and belief.

She told him, "I wasn't going to disbelieve in my father and his message, he is not a liar, and he is "The Honest and Trustworthy". I'm not the only believer; my mother and my sisters became Muslims, my cousin Ali ibn Abi Taleb became a Muslim, your cousin Othman ibn Affan became a Muslim, and your friend, Abu Bakr, became a Muslim".

He replied, "Well, as for me, I don't want people to say, 'he let down his people and his forefathers to please his wife'. And I am not accusing your father of anything". Then he said, "So will you excuse me and understand?" She replied, "Who will excuse and understand you if I don't? I will stay beside you and help you until you reach the truth." And she kept her word for 20 years.

Abu El'Ass remained an unbeliever, and then came the migration. Zainab went to her father and asked him for the permission to stay with her husband. The Prophet (SAW) replied, "Stay with your husband and children".

So Zainab stayed in Makkah, until the battle of Badr occurred. Abu El'Ass was to fight in the army of Quraish against the Muslims. For Zainab, it meant that her husband will be fighting her father, a time Zainab had always feared. She kept crying out: "O Allah, I fear one day the sun may rise and my children become orphans or I lose my father".

So the battle started, and ended in victory for the Muslims. Abu El'Ass was captured by the Muslims, and news of this reached Makkah. Zainab asked, "What did my father do?" They told her, "The Muslims won". So she prayed to Allah, thanking Him. Then she asked: "What did my husband do?" They said: "He was captured". She said, "I'll send a payment to release him". She didn't own anything of much value, so she took off her mother's necklace, and sent it with Abu El'Ass's brother to the Prophet.

While the Prophet (SAW) was sitting, taking payments and releasing captives, he saw Khadeeja's necklace. He held it up and asked: "Whose payment is this?" They said: "Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee". He cried and said "This is Khadeeja's necklace". As soon as the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saw that necklace, he had a feeling of extreme compassion and his heart palpitated for the great memory. The Companions who were present there gazed in amazement having being captivated by the magnificence of the situation.

After a long silence, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) stood up and said "People, this man is my in-law, should I release him? And do you accept the return of this necklace to my daughter?" They answered in unison "Yes, Messenger of Allah".

The Prophet (SAW) gave the necklace to Abu El'Ass and said to him: "Tell Zainab not to give away Khadeeja's necklace". Then he (SAW) said, "Abu El'Ass, Can we speak privately?" He took him aside and said, "Allah has ordered me to separate between a Muslim and a disbeliever, so could you return my daughter to me?" Abu El'Ass reluctantly agreed.

Zainab stood on the gates of Makkah waiting for the arrival of Abu El'Ass. When he finally came he said, "I am going away". She asked, "Where to?" He replied, "It is not me who is going, it is you. You are going to your father. We must separate because you are a Muslim". She implored him, "Will you become a Muslim and come with me?" But he refused.

So Zainab took her son and daughter and traveled to Madinah, and for 6 years she refused to remarry, hoping that one day Abu El'Ass would come.

After 6 years, Abu El'Ass was traveling in a caravan from Makkah to Syria. During the journey, he was intercepted by some of the Prophet's companions. He escaped and asked for Zainab's home. He knocked on her door shortly before the dawn prayer. She opened the door and asked him "Did you become a Muslim?" He whispered "No, I come as a fugitive". She implored him once more "Can you become a Muslim?" Again his answer was a negative. "Do not worry." She said, "Welcome my cousin, welcome, the father of Ali and Omama".

After the Prophet (SAW) prayed the dawn prayer in congregation with the people, they heard a voice from the back of the mosque, "I have freed Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee". Zainab had granted Abu El'Ass' freedom. The Prophet (SAW)asked, "Have you heard what I heard?" They all said, "Yes, Messenger of Allah". Zainab said, "He is my cousin and the father of my children and I have freed him". The Prophet (SAW) stood up and said, "O people, I declare that this man was a very good son-in-law, he never broke his promise, and neither did he tell lies. So if you accept, I will return his money back and let him go. If you refuse it's your decision and I will not blame you for it." The companions agreed, "We will give him his money". So the Prophet (SAW) said to Zainab, "We have freed the one you have freed, O Zainab." Then he (SAW) went to her and told her "be generous to him, he is your cousin and the father of your children, but don't let him get near you, he is prohibited for you." She replied, "Sure, father, I'll do as you say".

She went in and told her husband, "O Abu El'Ass, didn't you miss us at all? Won't you become a Muslim and stay with us?" But he refused. Abu El'Ass then took the money and returned to Makkah. Once he returned he stood up and announced, "O people, here is your money. Is there anything left?" They replied, "No, Abu El'Ass, there is nothing left, thanks a lot." So Abu El'Ass said, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is His Messenger." Then he went back to Madinah and ran to the Prophet (SAW) as he said, "Dear Prophet, you freed me yesterday, and today I say that I testify there is no god but Allah and you are His Messenger." He asked the Prophet, "Will you give me the permission to go back to Zainab?" The Prophet (SAW) smiled and said, "Come with me"; he took him to Zainab's house and knocked on her door. The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Zainab, your cousin came to me and asked if he can return to you". Just like 20 years before, her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

The sad thing was, a year after this incident, Zainab died. Abu El'Ass shed hot tears because of her death and drove those who were around him to tears. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with eyes full of tears and a heart full of sorrow. Zainab's death reminded him of the death of his wife, Khadeejah. He told the women, who gathered around Zainab's corpse, "Wash her three times and use camphor in the third wash." He performed funeral prayers on her and followed her final resting place. Abu El'Ass returned to his children, Ali and Omama. Kissing them and wetting them with his tears, he remembered the face of his departed darling.

May Allah be pleased with Zainab, the Prophet's daughter! May He reward her with Paradise for her patience, endurance and struggle!

Abu El'Ass would cry so profusely that the people saw the Prophet himself weeping and calming him down. Abu El'Ass would say, "By Allah, I can't stand life anymore without Zainab". He died one year after Zainab's death.

Reference:
http://www.islamicbulletin.org/newsletters/issue_24/love.aspx

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لأَبِيهِ يَآ أبَتِ إنّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَباً وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي 

سَاجِدِينَ

Ith qala yoosufu liabeehi ya abati innee raaytu ahada AAashara kawkaban waalshshamsa waalqamara raaytuhum lee sajideen

"When, Yusuf said to his father: ‘O my father! Verily I did see (dreamt) eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrating themselves unto me".(Surah Yusuf: ayah 4)

 وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي

Wa-alqayka ‘alayka mahabbatan minnii walitushna’a’laa ‘ainii

"And I spread My love over you in order that you might be reared in My sight."
(Surah Taha: ayah 39)

All too often people concentrate on finding the right spouse, little realising that half of any marriage is being the right spouse.

Yasir Qadhi

Being an aunt is really rewarding! 

;D

A year ago, during Ramadan, wasn't that good looking. But Alhamdulillah for everything that happened back then. It makes me realised how Allah loves and been taking care of me. Be it something bad, Alhamdulillah, it was kind of eye opening. Never thought that it actually turns out better and Inshallah I pray that it will keep getting better. Amin.

The past may not benefit and appreciate what was written for him, because the future is more deserving and it's a gift that both could cherish.  

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلاَ كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدُيرٌ

Wain yamsaska Allahu bidurrin fala kashifa lahu illa huwa wain yamsaska bikhayrin fahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

"And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good – then He is over all things competent."

(Surah-Al-Inaam: ayah 17)

Some times I really wondered, "Where has God hide you away from me for all these years?"

It's funny that how life is. The way Allah plans, the way Allah wills. The way Allah concealed and the way Allah gives. Mashallah. I have no words to explain this. But I really believe that every thing happens is because of Him. It's like He placed his thumb and the third finger, stilled, still that way for the longest time and then it snap, and then magical things happen.

It's really amazing that all along we were so close yet so far. We only lived a few blocks away and it's like everyday you pass by my block but never once, we cross each other's path. Never. I really have no words to describe this, and it makes the both of us questioned, why. Why? And really, we have no answers to that. It gives me this warm fuzzy, chilling behind my spine kinda feeling. It's not weird, it's just.... WOW. That's all I could say. And at times, it make me choke on my tears as I contained this emotions. 

Deep down, I begged. Dear Allah, I am thankful yet I know this gift is temporary. This gift that you give is a wonderful blessing. And you are One who controls it. If this is my Nikmat in this Duniya, then I hope it leads me to something real with a purpose for the Akhirat. Inshallah Amin. 

Attraction to the opposite gender is not a sin; it’s like hunger in Ramadan, and it’s completely natural. Islam does not forbid love nor look down on desires asking us to curb them. In fact our Deen propagates them and teaches us how to discipline those desires. It is culture that has made talking about and seeking advice on intimate matters look awkward.

Who hasn’t read the story of Prophet Mûsa (as)? The tortures of Pharaoh towards the people of Bani Israel, the parting of the red sea, the drowning of Pharaoh. But let’s track back a bit, there are some other lessons also we can get from the story of Prophet Mûsa, for indeed Allah doesn’t mention a story in the Quran except that it has a message to be understood and followed by the people to come. We see Allah mentions in quite some detail how Mûsa met his wife, the interactions between them and how they ended up being married. Now if we pause here, we see that with just this story Allah is teaching us so many beautiful lessons. From interactions with the opposite gender to marriage to having belief in Allah, it just goes on.

We say Islam is boring, the Quran just has stuff telling what is wrong and what is right. This is one of the biggest understatements a person could make. The Quran is a life manual which if read and understood properly can change life completely. We read about romantic gateways, Prince Charming on the white horse, the picture of a perfect woman and what not. Media today has made us into droids just living in a fantasy land and hoping for things that are next to impossible. If only we look at the Quran and Sunnah we will find stories that portray the most beautiful of love stories. We don’t need romance novels telling us what to expect in love when Allah himself has told us.

Prophet Mûsa grew up in the comforts that only the royal house of Pharaoh could provide. People could see that he was a handsome, healthy and strong young man. His arms were strong, face radiant, forehead broad and eyes bright. His youthfulness was indeed worth observing. He was recognized as the son of King Pharaoh and Queen Asiya. He possessed every comfort and had full freedom. On the other hand his wisdom and intelligence had also become the talk of the town. 

We learn about the quarrel he had and how he had to end up fleeing from home. Prophet Mûsa traveled for many weeks, and at last he arrived at a place called Madyan. His clothes were sandy and he needed a bath, and he was short of food. The place was strange and foreign to his eyes. He noticed a watering place and rested near it feeling like a fugitive, strange, and dejected. While he was resting he could see two women waiting at a distance. Their sheep were nearby but not at the watering place, it looked as if they needed help.

He saw how the men were bullying them, not letting them in, to water their sheep, and the women just standing there. Though tired and weary Prophet Mûsa decided to see if he could help the women. He was not a man who just stood and watched things happen. Being a righteous man, kind at heart, and always wanting to help, Prophet Mûsa approached the women and asked if they needed help. The two women were bashful and didn’t want to impose, but they accepted the offer, explaining that they were tending their sheep until others finished watering theirs. Mûsa helped them with their task [Sûrat Al-Qaṣaṣ, 28: 22-28].

Mûsa felt happy, and the women were thankful. They took the sheep home and Musa went back to his resting spot under a tree. He was a lonely stranger, had no job, was far from home, and he had never worked before. He was accustomed to opulent living and affluence in the palace of Pharaoh. He just turned to the One who has power over all affairs and beseeched for His help; he made a sincere duʿâ’ saying:

"Lord ! Truly I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me." (Sûrat Al-Qaṣaṣ, 28:24)

When Musa made that duʿâ’ the women heard him. What a beautiful duʿâ’ to make for all of us who are looking for a good partner or for bliss in our married lives. This one duʿâ’ to Allah gave Mûsa a job, a house, and a family, all at once. When you have nothing left except Allah, then you find that He is always enough for you. It’s like a cheat code in real life, except that it’s not cheating.

Meanwhile, when the two women came back so quickly with the sheep watered, their father was surprised because he knew the men near the well, that his girls would have generally taken more time. When he asked them what had happened, they told him what Mûsa had done. So he sent one of the daughters to call the stranger to meet her father.

The âyah goes on: She said: “Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.” This is an example of good manners: she did not invite him directly lest he have some suspicious thoughts about her. Rather she said: My father is inviting you so that he may reward you for watering our sheep.

No dates, no coffee, no friendship requests, nothing yet. Mûsa accepted the invitation, and when he got up he asked her to walk behind him and guide him to her house by throwing pebbles at the required directions instead of her walking in front, with him at the back. This was an example of Mûsa’s exemplary modesty.

Mûsa asks the woman to walk behind him, knowing very well that he doesn’t know the way but that she does. It wasn’t a matter of ego or superiority, he was rather concerned about her honor as she was alone, without her sister; this was his way of protecting her.

So when he came to him and narrated the story, the father learned why Mûsa had had to leave his country. The woman’s father said to Mûsa: “Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.” The father soothes Mûsa and asks him to feel at ease in his territory, for he had left the kingdom of Pharaoh who has no authority in this land.

And said one of them: “Father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.” One of the two daughters of the man said this, and it was said that she was the one who had walked behind Musa. ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAbbâs, Qatâdah, Muḥammad ibn Isḥâq and others said: “When she said: ‘Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy,’ her father said to her: `What do you know about that?’ She said in answer: `He lifted a rock which could only be lifted by ten men, and when I came back with him, I walked ahead of him, but he said to me, walk behind me, and if I get confused about the route, throw a pebble so that I will know which way to go.”’ ʿAbdullah Ibn Masʿûd said: “The people who had the most discernment were three: Abû Bakr’s intuition about ʿUmar [ibn Al-Khaṭṭâb]; prophet Yûsuf’s master when he said [to his wife]: `Make his stay comfortable;’ and the daughter of prophet Mûsa’s host when she said: ‘Oh my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.’

I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you. The father made Mûsa an offer: take care of my flocks for eight years and I will give you one of my two daughters in marriage. Then the man added: But if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. Once the term was completed Mûsa was granted prophethood with a command to return to Egypt to invite Pharaoh to Islam and ask him to let the Children of Israel go.

Indeed, a variety of lessons are learnt from the notable story of prophet Mûsa and his wife’s father. One lesson that looms large among these lessons is that the father gave his daughter in marriage to Mûsa only after making sure that he was religiously righteous; and this is the basis upon which a marriage in Islam should be founded, not a BMW and a 4 or 5 figure monthly job salary! This is the basis which conforms to what the last of all prophets, Muhammad ﷺ came with:

"If a man of good religious character and conduct proposes to one’s daughter, then let one marry his daughter to him. If one does not, there will be mischief and great corruption on Earth."

Unfortunately today, if a young man comes to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage, we see many fathers showing absolutely no concern towards anything other than the proposer’s financial status: does he have enough income to make her happy!. We forget that there is someone called Al-Razzâq. Ask firstly about the level of obedience this young man has towards His Creator and only then will such a man keep the daughter happy.

Their meeting is a beautiful example of chivalry; a perfect model of what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman. There was no long engagement and no endless conversations, no promises of unending love, no dancing around trees in the rain, no Bollywood sequences which we have come to expect. Theirs was a love story that was directed by none other than Allah. Their story gives us an insight on how relations should be. People say love hurts. I say: if it is a true love written by Allah, it would never hurt, as love is a blessing from Allah that he bestows upon the couple. But if love tends to hurt, then know that it is from Shayṭân and that this love story is going to have a bad outcome for both parties involved, as it is something not prescribed by Allah.

Even if you do really like him/her, take the necessary steps. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that, "There is nothing better for two who love each other than to be married."

Reference:
https://aljumuah.com/the-love-story-of-musa/

It's been 10 months now. Time flies. 

I was really scared of dentist and never in my life after my primary school days, I went to see the dentist. Yes, that's how scared I was. So last year I decided to have a change. I decided to put on braces. No doubt I was insecure about my teeth and with experience, it's truly remarkable! I got to experience how innovation works and really, Mashallah, wow! It is really amazing to see my teeth moved and straighten. Yes, enduring the pain and all. But I'll get use to it, cutting my food into smallest of pieces, picking my teeth after eating, brushing before going to bed. Yes, I began to take care of my hygiene. And most importantly, paying for something that I wanted, gave me this sense of achievement in life.

Where:

The Smile Division

Choa Chu Kang, Singapore

306, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, 

#01-683, Singapore 680306