Do you trust Him?

In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful...

Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blesssings be upon him and his Household (Ahlul Bayt)

Updates: Assalamualaikum. kaif haluk? it is the busiest time of the semester, assignments cropping up, with just four weeks away from finals. the right time to quickly recharge, spiritually and mentally..InsyaAllah. For the ultimate panacea for all ills and weariness, (for true believers) is contained within the words of Allah, that is the Quran.

O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur'an, ordering all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences, etc.) in your breasts, - a guidance and a mercy (explaining lawful and unlawful things, etc.) for the believers. (Yunus:57) 

".... Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest" (ar-Ra'd:28)

In pursuing our interests in this dunya, dear brothers and sisters, never forget that we will eventually return to Allah. This life is short. So the discomforts that you are tested with, is only temporary. If you are true in wanting to attain Allah's pleasure, who knows it better than Allah? We are all being tested according to our respective capabilities. InsyaAllah, He knows best.

Narrated from Aishah r.a.: "No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn," (Sahih Bukhari)

May Allah made us among the people who attain success, both in the world and hereafter, insyaAllah!

From Surah al-Qasas:

 7. And We inspired the mother of Musa (Moses), (saying): "Suckle him [Musa (Moses)], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers."

8. Then the household of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily! Fir'aun (Pharaoh), Haman and their hosts were sinners.

9. And the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceive not (the result of that).

10. And the heart of the mother of Musa (Moses) became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Musa (Moses)]. She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the believers.

11. And she said to his [Musa's (Moses)] sister: "Follow him." So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived not.

12. And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him, until she (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and sincerely they will look after him in a good manner?"

13. So did We restore him to his mother, that she might be delighted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the Promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.

The Quran is indeed a form of blessing and mercy to mankind. No matter how many times we read it, there is always something new to be learnt from it..MasyaAllah. I used to read the translations of the Quran really fast, without taking the time to decipher the underlying meanings of them =(. Well, if you are reading through a medical prescription specifically written for you, you wouldn't rush through it without understanding it, would you? You would want to take some time reading and maybe do some googling of the medications prescribed. Because health is something dear to you =) The Quran is like a prescription by Allah to cure all kinds of ills, mostly related to the soul. If iman is something dear to you, you would want to preserve it according to what is recommended in the Quran al-Karim, insyaAllah.


I was reading over the translation above, of Surah al-Qasas, verse 7 to 13, and I wanted to share a few thoughts of how these verses relate to my current situation, insyaAllah. The verses above recount to us of the story of Musa a.s, of how his mother decided to send him adrift in the river, to save him from being killed by the Pharaoh at that time. All male babies were commanded to be killed, for selfish reasons of the Pharaoh. The river drifted Musa a.s towards the palace of the Pharaoh, and his wife found the baby. This all happened by Allah's will, and He is indeed the Best Planner. 

Musa's mother knew this and she feared the worst, knowing that her baby was in the hands of the Pharaoh's wife! They could do anything to him. Note Allah related a short happening of how the mother of Musa a.s, nearly disclosed that Musa was indeed her son, when she hardly could contain her fear of what could happen to Musa a.s. In short, her tawakkal towards Allah was being tested.  And she could have given way, if she was not strengthened by her faith. In verse 13, as a result of her being patient and firm, by Allah's willing, she was returned her son.

There is a significant lesson to be learnt in this short event. a simple event but an important message, insyaAllah. It is pertaining tawakkal (reliance) upon Allah, in whatever that we do. When we rely upon Allah, it means that we are surrendering our fate wholeheartedly to Allah (that is, after you've done your best in that particular situation).

It is pertinent that we be patient and have positive thoughts of Allah. He promised in the Quran that He will never put a trial too hard on us. (al-Baqarah:286)  It is the principle of tawakkal (acceptance) that complements one's iman, insyaAllah (al-Anfal:2). When Allah tests us with a trial, He will look upon our reactions. If we are patient in facing the trials, He promised us many great returns, insyaAllah. (al-Mukminun: 111)

Humans are not perfect beings. We were created imperfect and flawed. It is with the help and assistance of Allah that we made it throughout life. In work, studies, job interviews, anything. (Luqman: 22) Even in the pursuit of fortifying our iman, it is never relied on our efforts alone. =)

My trials may be different from yours, but I believe that we are being tested in accordance to our abilities and strengths, insyaAllah. Just be strong, and know your grounds and always know the prime intentions of your actions. If  you've got a pure intention, insyaAllah..He will eventually reward you, through ways that you couldnt even think of =) (at-Talaq:3)

Say: "O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (az-Zumar:53)

 Wallahu a'alam

Summer Pit Stop!!

Assalamualaikum brothers and sisters,

This summer, AUSIS (Australian and New Zealand Students' Islamic Society) brings you The Summer Pit Stop!!

The details are as shown. 

If interested, please contact the numbers above. 

Let's fill this summer with activities that could fortify our iman from our nafs, insyaAllah..

May Allah make our effort of enriching our souls, worthy for the Akhirah insyaAllah...

Brothers and Sisters, 

Let us be the people of taqwa who bear the religion with pride insyaAllah..

The destiny of this ummah lies with its youth..masyaAllah..

"March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew" (at-Tawbah:41)

Sayonara Jahiliyah

In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful...

Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blesssings be upon him and his Household (Ahlul Bayt)

Updates: Salam everyone. Kaif haluk? Hopefully everyone is in the best health and most importantly the best of iman insyaAllah. It is the second week of the second semester. the subjects are getting more baffling and perplexing, not surprising. But after the first semester i found myself more collected, Alhamdulillah. (93:4) I passed my subjects in the first sem and InsyaAllah i can do it again.

oh yeah, ramadhan is finally coming! couldn't be any more happier =) Ahlan wasahlan ya ramadhan! May this holy month be a meaningful one, as in we satiate ourselves with ibadah that could elevate ourselves in His Sight, InsyaAllah (qiam, tarawih, reciting quran, supplication, etc). Equipping ourselves with these strengths, may it fortify us from our nafs and jahiliyah, insyaAllah..=D

Humans are weak beings. we have desires and wants, and sometimes all we want to do is indulge and spoil ourselves rotten. most of the time, these 'things' that we like is not in favor of Allah. Examples: spending too much time on fb, wasting time, bad talk others, wasting money on irrelevant things, maksiat, etc. These, to be blatant, are jahiliyah. I am referring to myself, especially. It feels so pathetic and pitiful to be enslaved by all these worldly things (couldn't be any more truthful to myself). When you actually know that they don't really benefit you in world or Hereafter. Astaghfirullah...

Say (O Muhammad ): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?

"Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!" (al-Kahf:103-104)

Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah (of good deeds) will remain. And those who are patient, We will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (an-Nahl:96)

whatever that is worldly, will perish. And what is favourable in Allah's sight will remain. therefore, it is incumbent to expend our time and energy for things that will be of pertinence to us in the Hereafter, that is: our ibadah and others that bring pleasure to Allah. 

Allah had generously mentioned in the Quran, of ways to enrich our souls:

Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah). (al-Muzammil:6)

Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success,

And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allah), and prays (five compulsory prayers and Nawafil additional prayers). (al-A'la:14-15)

And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!"(al-Mu'min:60)

Whatever that you perform in the name of Allah, is for your own good really. It is for your own purification and goodness, insyaAllah. For He said:

And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah is free of all wants from the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). (al-Ankabut:6)

Whosoever does righteous good deed it is for (the benefit of) his ownself, and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself, and your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves. (al-Fussilat:46)

If you feel you don't have the inner strength to be istiqamah in your ibadah, there is always Allah to guide you. With sincerity, invoke His Help and pray for His Guidance. InsyaAllah, He will be more than willing to quench your needs.

And if an evil whisper from Shaitan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad ) (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.(Fussilat:36)

O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise.(Fatir:15)

May Allah bless us with the best of iman, may He accept our repentances, may He accept our deeds, insyaAllah. 

May He guide us away from our jahiliyah and whatever that led us astray.

Sayonara Jahiliyah.


InsyaAllah..

Stop. And look back.

In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful...

Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blesssings be upon him and his Household (Ahlul Bayt)

 

 

And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and the patient ones, and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful).(47:31)

Updates: Salam everyone. Kaif haluk? Hopefully everyone is in the best of health and most importantly the best of iman. I finished my exam just last night, Alhamdulillah.. now that there's free time, i've GOT to plan wisely. there should be things to accomplish. some good and beneficial stuffs to look forward to..insyaAllah. the exams were alright insyaAllah. I have to admit feeling anxious of the results. Nevertheless, Allah is the Best Planner and I trust Him to determine what is to become of my life insyaAllah. Astaghfirullahalazim..And aseef (sorry) for leaving this blog for quite some time. Had been very busy with studies =(

after coursing through my first semester in Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery, being fed profusely with awfully complex and intricate knowledge of the human body, i came to a conclusion. humans are ungrateful and ignorant. they take things in life for granted and they complain a lot too. WE are ignorant for always forgetting that everything that we own is not truly OURS. we are created by A Great Creator, who is also Most Giving, and Most Forgiving.

O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? (82:6)

Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion;(82:7)

It is sufficent to just observe ourselves. Have you ever wonder how your fingers could precisely apply the right force, for you to move something? To grip or reach something? To turn a page of a book perhaps? Have you ever wonder what the hand is consisted of? The nerves and vessels that supply the interwoven muscles in the hand? After knowing these complexities, i come to appreciate the littlest things. like how my fingernails are stuck to the end of each fingers. now that, is just what is visible to the eye. Subhanallah!

i learnt to appreciate and to take things easy as they go. i learnt that being impulsive is bad. setting unrealistic goals is frustrating. being judgemental is unfair. being sensible is a must. lending a hand is obligatory. time should be managed more efficiently. set my priorities right. health is to be catered for, always. and most importantly, toughening my reliance and trust on Allah Taala. now you can see how badly i need to brush up on my 10 Muwasaffat Tarbiyyah..huhu insyaAllah.

Studying Medicine, here in Auckland, in my perspective is not just about gaining knowledge, meeting people of different cultures, and definitely not just about seeing and visiting places. that is just what's on the surface. the relations, of these to the Creator is too immense. Too great, MasyaAllah i am awed. the experiences that tagged along my journey would forever be treasured. For I believe everything, from the new friendships that i made, to the exam questions that i answered has its relation to what Allah has fated for me to receive, insyaAllah...=)

So far so good. Alhamdulillah. I can only feel so, whenever i stop. And look back. 

Then only I see, how Allah is So Great at determining the course of my life. How can i not, when He was the one who created me, who knows me, and fix the fingernails to the end of my fingers...

Wallahu a'alam..

Hard Rock Hearts

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Updates: Salam everyone. Kaif haluk? May we find ourselves in the best of health and most importantly in the best of iman. it's funny how we keep forgetting what is important and tend to ace for something that has been pre-arranged for us. it's just hilarious how we tend to get upset over small and insignificant matters. we keep losing track of the bigger picture of things. there are too many things that keep obstructing our views of what is relevant and what is not. fortunately, we have a Guardian, who always, and never failed to remind us when we start to go astray. Allah has His Ways of teaching and guiding us, in competence to our abilities and endurance. Ya Allah, for all the bad thoughts i have of you, please forgive me. Astaghfirullahalazim...please guide me in every single step i take...Amin.

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah's Reminder (this Qur'an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before, and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). (57:16)

Belum sampaikah lagi masanya bagi orang-orang yang beriman, untuk khusyuk hati mereka mematuhi peringatan dan pengajaran Allah serta mematuhi kebenaran (Al-Quran) yang diturunkan (kepada mereka)? Dan janganlah pula mereka menjadi seperti orang-orang yang telah diberikan Kitab sebelum mereka, setelah orang-orang itu melalui masa yang lanjut maka hati mereka menjadi keras, dan banyak di antaranya orang-orang yang fasik – derhaka. (57:16)

Allah addressed this ayah to the people who believe in the oneness of Allah, in other words the people of iman. Allah questioned us, the people of iman, why have we taken His reminder (the Quran) for granted. Why have we neglected the warnings in the Quran? When is the time for us to be serious of the teachings in the Quran? This is a reminder for Muslims to be serious about the warnings of Allah. Allah compared the Muslims to the people of the Book (Ahlul Kitab), who willed their hearts to become hardened by not obeying Allah's orders. 

This means, there is absolute possibility that we Muslims tend to allow our hearts and minds to be invaded by matters that is not of pertinence to Allah, that our hearts could be hardened by them. So what happens when the hearts are hardened? Basically we do not feel guilty for disobeying Allah, we tend to take for granted what is important in the religion, and we may not be affected anymore by the words in the Quran. Naudzubillahi min zalik..=( May Allah save you and I from all of these. May we apply istiqamah in our lives, so that we could ace for the pleasures of Allah, and avoid His Wrath.    

But the saying goes, humans tend to err. We sometimes tend to sin without realising. Nobody is devoid of making mistakes, except Rasulullah and the Messengers before him. So what does Allah has to say for this? MAsyaAllah..the following ayah is very beautiful. He said:

Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death! Indeed We have made clear the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to you, if you but understand. (57:17)

Ketahuilah kamu, bahawa Allah menghidupkan bumi sesudah matinya; sesungguhnya Kami telah menjelaskan kepada kamu keterangan-keterangan dan bukti, supaya kamu memahaminya (57:17)

Allah has the supremacy to give life to waht is dead! What does this means? If He could give life to what is already dead, is it likely that He could give 'life' to a 'dead' heart? Or in other words, is it possible that He could treat our hardened hearts? MasyaAllah...of course He can!  

Hence, when we realised that we had wronged Allah, the immediate thing to do is: invoke Him for His Help and Assistance to get us back on the right tracks. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Gracious. He accepted us for our weaknesses and flaws, MasyaAllah..All we have to do is just raise our hands and sincerely ask for His Forgiveness. And He would be more than willing to accept our repentance. Is that too much to ask?

Wallahu a'alam...

Bestow me the strength of Bilal bin Rabah

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Bilal bin Rabah was a slave..

He was black and very much dissed others

He was not handsome, unlike Mus'ab bin Umair

He was not rich, unlike Abdul Rahman Auf

He was not that bold like Umar al-Khattab

He did not stand out like most Companions

Abu Dzar even called him a black mother's son, by accident (but apologised later)

But there were some things that Allah gave him which differentiate him from others

That Rasulullah dreamt of hearing the sound of his footsteps in front of Rasulullah in Paradise (Hadith)

He was bestowed a strong heart, a steadfast soul, hardcore resilience, abundance of patience, and sincerity.

He stood firm in face of adversity and always have positive thoughts of Allah

Subhanallah! HOw i wish to see you in Jannah, Ya Bilal bin Rabah

I am not that special

I am not that brilliant, unlike A
I don't always score high marks in exams, unlike R

I am not that pretty or charming, unlike H

I don't think i'm an interesting person, not like T

I don't think I am that popular among friends, unlike Z

I don't think I stood out, unlikeL

But there is one thing i know that is special about me

I tawakkal everytime i wanna do something and  i accept His decisions whole-heartedly

I know that everytime I fall, i can pick myself up and move on

Because I know that Allah gave me a strong heart

I know deep inside that He will not desert me, He will not abandon me,
He will always be there for me no matter waht

I Know that He tested me with something that is important for me 
to make me stronger and whole

And He Knows That I'm saying all this because I LOVE HIM..

And there is only one thing I ask of You Ya Rahman, please give me the heart and resilience of the great Companion of Rasulullah, Bilal bin Rabah...

T.T

Reflection

With the name of Allah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful

Updates: Salam everyone. Kaif haluk? Easter break just started, lasting 2 weeks =)..Alhamdulillah.. for this is the opportunity for me to collect myself and have a reflection on things. my hope is that i could make full use of this time space to 'fuel up', spirituallly, mentally and emotionally, InsyaAllah...indeed our battles are never ending and may Allah assist us in our steps, paved on this rightful path. Bi'iznillah..

Whoever hopes for the Meeting with Allah, then Allah's Term is surely coming. and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (29:5)

this verse is addressed specifically to those of genuine iman in heart. those with the purity of intentions of living this life. those who knows truthfully the purpose of life, and relied his heart upon the divinity of the words of his Lord. those who wished and hoped to see Allah in the Hereafter. Note Allah said, "Whoever hopes...". Obviously this ayah addresses those who sincerely wants and hopes for it. Are we among these people? we do not deny that we all hoped for a meeting with Allah ar-Rahman...but does our actions justify our wishes?? Astaghfirullahalazim....

And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah is free of all wants from the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists).(29:6)

whatever that we commit for the sake of Allah, is for ourselves. For He said that He will not be deprived in any way, if we chose not to strive for His cause. the beauty of this religion is that, this deen is created perfectly in a way, to fulfill  OUR necessity as humans. it is all about us. for the sake of our wellbeing. thus it is plainly unacceptable and inexplicable if a person refuses such a grand offer by The Almighty One. this goes to show how callous and ungrateful one can be for denying such apparent truth. 

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).(29:3)

nobody is devoid of obstacles and hurdles in life. everyday there are challenges to overcome and goals to be fulfilled. the obstructions laid on our paths has the intention of, none other than to make us whole and stronger inside out. when our devotion is tested, when our beliefs are questioned, when the situation gets tougher, when our thoughts are pressured, we are pushed to make decisions which will justify the iman in heart. But remember the words of ar-Rahman.... "that with difficulty there is ease"(94:6) and insyaAllah...along problems, came the solutions. from every event, there is always something to ponder and to appreciate. Allah ar-Rahman had opened our eyes to so many facets of life through these experiences. so, cherish every single event in our lives, for there is always something for us to reflect.

Wallahu a'alam.