The Deen can be a lonely place...

When making the Hijrah of the heart there will be plenty of times you will feel alone.  You may have to swim against the current and find it very difficult.  Your friends, your family, your work colleagues may be calling you to go against the will of you creator.  Everybody is happy when they see you living your deen and doing helpful things that benefit them, but when you stop going to places you used to frequent and become more mindful of your prayers, this can become inconvenient.  You may hear comments about your choice of dress or worse yet, you may be told to take it off!! You may be pushed into engaging in some activity you are not comfortable with.

What do you do?

When the Messenger of the All Mighty Allah was left by the retreating muslims in the battle of Hunanyn he (SAW) stood alone facing the enemy and shouted

Verily, I am the Prophet (SAW) without falsehood; I am son of ‘Abdul Muttalib.”(Bukhari V5)

He (SAW) is our leader, and what a LEADER.  In the face of unsheathed swords and complete panic the Messenger of Allah (SAW), stood firm and faced his reality head on with unflinching resolve.  He Rallied his troops and scored a decisive victory.  What we can take from this event is:

Don't be afraid to stand alone when Allah is by your side!

Sometimes you won't get an invite to places because you are too religious or someone may get annoyed because you have to interrupt the activity you are engaged in to pray Sallah.  Some people may stop talking to you and some people may never accept that you have changed.  This can be tough and lonely.  Remember Allah much during these times and fill your heart with quran, spend time with the righteous people get involved in beneficial activities, that benefit you and benefit those around you.

LIVE YOUR RELIGION

There are soo many great oppurtunities to earn the pleasure of allah.

Why don't you try...

To visit the sick

Feed the poor

Plant a tree

Take up a new hobby like horse riding or swimming

or Even enroll on a course to increase your own knowledge and teach others

Remember

This life is a test and Allah is testing you to raise you in rank

The help of Allah is always closer than you think.

{Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! verily the help of Allah is (always) near!} 

[Al-Baqara - 2:214]  

NEVER GIVE UP HOPE IN ALLAH

All praise be to Allah the lord of all that exists, the Sustainer, the All Merciful, All Forgiving one.  Glory be to him the creator of the heavens and the earth.  And abundant peace and blessings be on his messenger (saw)

The most inspiring and heart warming thing when coming back to Allah, is his mercy.  The mercy of Allah is unimaginable.  We have to hope that whatever we do or have done Allah will forgive us.  We have to expect mercy because we cannot turn to anyone else.  Allah is the Muslims refuge we seek refuge in him from his punishment.  The above talk mentions  the companions (RA) and their understanding of the boundless rahmah of Allah.  Abu taweel ra who left the prophet (SAW) making takbeer after being told that Allah will forgive all sins.  Allah forgives and forgives and forgives.   THIS IS HAQQ in surah Az zumar Allah says clearly he "forgives all sins"

How amazing is the mercy of Allah.  

So never get bogged down in thinking what you have done is too bad.  We are human we make mistakes Sometimes the same mistake over and over again.   A few points that Sheikh Hesham made in his talk, I would like to highlight are:
1) Allah's mercy is boundless Allah was willing to forgive firaun, the biggest tyrant the world has ever seen, who murdered  new born children and who enslaved a whole nation.(20:44)  So if Allah was willing to forgive Firaun we definitely have a chance, if we reflect on this for a second it is so re assuring. 
2) Don't Delay in Repentance As soon as you commit a sin immediately remember Allah and ask him to forgive you
3) Don't try and rationalise and justify your sin   too many times we add a but after the admission of a sin to ourselves.  We should understand when we sin we are in the wrong and it is just one battle we have lost in the war against shaytaan and our nafs.  It is not "who we are" it is a temporary situation we have the power to change, with the help of Allah.
4)Take the sin seriously

 "A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which he is affraid may fall on him, whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this (and he moved his hand over his nose in illustration)." [Ibn Mas'ud]

5)Follow up with a good deed  if you commit a bad deed immediately follow up with a good one.  The Prophet (SAW) said

"On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junada and Abu Abdul Rahmaan Muaadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with both of them) from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who said, Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and behave well towards people."[Tirmidhi]

This month is the month of Mercy so turn back to Allah the most high and ask him to forgive us.  Please remember me in your dua's.

RAMADAN KAREEM

I would just like to wish every one Many Many Happy Returns on the arrival of this blessed month may Allah Accept from us and from you.

Abu HurairaI heard Allah's Apostle saying regarding Ramadan, "Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven [Bukhari, Book 32 no: 226]  

Brothers, sisters lets try and make the most of this month with sincere prayer and supplications.  One huge step towards the hijrah of the heart is to leave the things that Allah does not like for the sake of Allah the exalted alone.   Out of love and fear for him you fast in these hot summer days and we pray in the night sacrificing our sleep.  Prayer is a great way to re connect with Allah the all hearing.

“Oh you who believe! Fasting has been ordained upon you as it was ordained upon those before you, that you may attain Taqwa (God-consciousness)” (2:183).

If you can focus on the biggest thing you want to change about your self in this month and really strive to change in this month.  Allah will surely make the path easy for you to remain steadfast  for example by fasting and striving hard we know we can attain the taqwa that will propel us forward as Allah tells us in the verse above   

All praise be to Allah the most High


PLEASE REMEMBER ME AND ALL THE MUSLIMEEN IN YOUR DUAS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SYRIA WHO ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED DAILY....




YA RUBB!!!!

"YOUR MOTHER, YOUR MOTHER, YOUR MOTHER"

Our Mother the one who carried us for 9 months

How many times have we been here? Our mother calls us and we are so engrossed in some useless activity to realise her needs. What a waste of a good opportunity to earn the pleasure of Allah! To truly achieve emaan we must really work hard. This means to strive and struggle against our nafs (self), Our nafs is lazy, our nafs is impatient and our nafs is easily annoyed. We really have to tame our nafs otherwise it could lead us down a very dark road.

Abu Huraira reported that a person said: Allah's Messenger, who amongst the people is most deserving of my good treatment? He said: Your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father, then your nearest relatives according to the order (of nearness).
[Muslim]

THREE TIMES YOUR MOTHERS NAME CAME FROM HIS (SAW) BLESSED LIPS! 


This is not talking about other people this is talking about you and talking about me.  From this Hadith we can see the sheer weight placed on the kind treatment and obedience of ones parents.  Subhanallah.  Our mothers are priceless gifts to earn the bounty and mercy of Allah from.  So lets make the effort to be nice to our mothers and fathers.  Spend time with your mum,  talk to her about things that interest her and don't just ask her what time dinner is.  Your mother has a right on you as do all your family members.

SO FEAR ALLAH


AND LET THE INTERNAL FEAR AND LOVE OF ALLAH MANIFEST TO EXTERNAL GOOD DEEDS AND MANNERS

All praise and worship is for Allah alone.  The master of the throne, the Everlasting the self subsisting.
Abundant peace and blessings be  on his final messenger Muhammad (SAW)

Relax - be constant and don't overdo

Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 472:
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few." He added, 'Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability."

This Hadith is such a mercy from Allah the most kind. If we reflect on this hadith, the divine wisdom just feels right in every way possible.  You have reached your standing point, you have turned over a new leaf you approach all acts on worship at the same time with enthusiasm and vigor. You fast, you pray the voluntary prayers you give abundant charity and increase in helping others..... but then after like the third day running on 3 hours sleep you start to falter and cut back on your deeds to the point you are actually doing less than when you started!!!
This situation is like one who spends all his monthly pay cheque in the first week and lives on loans and hand outs for the rest of the month. 

And it is a situation many of us new to the deen or coming back to Allah the exalted go through.  

BUILD UP GRADUALLY
Do deeds, but do them perfectly following the sunnah and remain constant and patient. Do what is within your capability like the hadith says

'Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability."

Don't enroll onto every class at the madrassa choose one at a time and stick to it. Dont fast continuously to the point you make yourself sick. Don't pray continuously neglecting your parents, family and wider obligations. DO pray for part of the night and ask the most high to help you and re establish your relationship with your creator.  Take the middle road, take time and be constant.

BE REGULAR

The Prophet was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few."

If you start to make a habit of fasting on the sunnah days be regular and try and stick to it building up gradually untill you achieve your goal of being constant. If you are not praying the witr prayers make a concerted effort with yourself to pray them every night. If you are not praying all your prayers on time mould yourself into praying them everyday on time. If you are not praying try hard to start praying.

NEVER LOSE HOPE IN ALLAH

We are all made differently from different soil.  And people are at different levels, the wisdom, which I can understand now I couldn't 5 years ago.  Make your intention and put your hand to the task and ask Allah to help you no matter where you are in your deen.  remember Allah says he is with the patient

2:153 O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.

May ALLAH GIVE US ALL THE TAWFEEQ AMEEN YA RABIL ALAMEEN!

RELAPSE

You have been on the deen striving hard to make those much needed changes.  AND THEN,  you slip back to your old ways sometimes even worse than before.  You go back to the sin that had a hold over you for so long.    You go back to the crowd that you used to roll with that were into that bad deed.  We are only human.  We were created weak.  Allah says (4:28).

"And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak."
SO you see Allah already knows that we will make mistakes, but what he loves is when you make a mistake and come back to him.  (4:27)


Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.

so it is amazing how these two ayat are connected.  And how he the exalted mentions that he wants to accept your repentance before he tells us we were created weak.  So if we reflect on this Allah the all merciful is always ready to accept our repentance.  Allah the most forgiving in his infinite knowledge knows that we are weak because we are created that way.

How glorious is Allah! 

Allah also mentions those who follow their desires, who don't want you to change, they want you to stay with them, they want you to deviate from the path you have chosen

SO You have to be steadfast.  

I sometimes compare  the righteous ones to the fish swimming up stream.  Already the current is against them, not only that but the other fish are taking the easy road and going down stream but the determined fish continues to swim and swim sometimes expiring themselves in the process,  May Allah make us of the ones that strive.

This said you have to be sincere in your repentance and in your heart want to change.  It is never easy to change and stay changed but if you are sincere and keep trying you can expect the help of allah!!!! and remember:(3:156) 

"It is Allah Who gives life and death and Allah sees well all that you do." 

So be SINCERE

ask Allah to help you with your hijrah.  Surely Allah is most forbearing most forgiving.

Ok so you made a mistake don't let it get you down and don't let the Shaytaan trick you into not coming back to your lord.  Check Ustadh Nouman Ali khans lecture on one of the tricks of the Shaytaan.

May Allah accept our towbah(repentance) Ameen ya Rabil Alameen.

My Dear Brother.....

Listen,

What ever you have done, however bad you may think you are,  however much you think you have no chance to change.  If you turn to Allah with sincere repentance 

Allah will turn your bad deeds into good ones. [Surah Al-Furqan 25:70] 

I know it seems you have done the most horrible unforgivable thing.  But the fact you feel like this means your heart is still alive.  So don't give up hope.  Dont let the shaytaan trick you into thinking there is no way back.  As long as the shaytaan doesn't give up trying to mislead you don't give up on making tawbah to the most merciful and trying to change.  It is so hard, you feel like the your world is squeezing you and your nafs is inclined to give in to your desires,  I know Akhi.  I know.  Just hang in there. Remember the words of The most forgiving:

Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah az-Zumar 39:53)

What a BEAUTIFUL AYAH!


Also Lets be merciful to one another, instead of scolding one another, bad mouthing and exposing each others sins.... Let us help and encourage one another and hide each other's sins.


Narrated Jarir bin 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind."
[Bukhari]


MAY ALLAH GIVE US THE TAWFEEQ




All praise and glory be to Allah the creator, the sustainer, the enricher, the afflictor, the most merciful, the most forgiving, the All seeing the All knowing.


And abundant peace and blessings be on his slave and messenger Sayeedna, Habinah, Mustafa Muhammed Sallalhu Alayhi wa salam.

 

TIME FOR ACTION

Ok so you have analysed yourself you have reached your standing point (or at least thought about it).  Now you have a short time frame to act.  The shaytaan is your sworn enemy and he knows you could slip from his clutches so be sure he will be calling you to give up before you even start.   Come up with a simple plan for a deed or a course of deeds that are realistic and achievable and get cracking.

What you want?
When you want it done by?

Goals are dreams with a time limit so.....

DONT WASTE TIME

Today is all we have, Allah swears by the time of asr,

"by the time"
(103:1)

The word Asr in arabic comes from the root "aseer" to squeeze or squeezing.  Traditionally this was the part of the day with real hustle and bustle because everyone was rushing to get their work done before the darkness and hence danger of night took hold.  So we can understand Asr as the squeezing of the day, the final part of it.  If we view the journey of our souls this time, this 'Asr', is what we are living now.  Death is around the corner and until we realise this, we will not really internalise this fact.  We are in a state of emergency, this is the part of our existence that we really have to work in before the darkness of death overcomes us.

...."And say (O Muhammed) 'Do Deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers.'.....(9:105)

You should contemplate on the shortness of life and how much you can do each day, so the time for action is now.  However small your acts of worship are, don't think they will not be seen by Allah.  Allah sees all that you do.

ACTION


"The importance of action is paramount - whether the act be a word, a character trait, or a physical action - it is important to bring out into the external world that good which is swimming within your complex internal world - to guide the outer through the inner. Those whose intentions are low, base, crude, and destructive work day and night to manifest their acquisitive, grasping intentions and ambitions in the world - why should those who seek the opposite leave it sleeping within themselves. "


" to impact the human and societal environment in positive, beneficial ways arising from what is best within oneself. Find what is best within yourself..."
Irshaad Hussain - Islam from the inside


Some people even take a momentous U-TURN, a leap of faith and go after their biggest goal straight away.  It depends on you, how much can you take? how much can you handle?

Do not restrict yourself, you can be better than you think because imaan is an achievable target and once you achieve some of it you will be thirsty for more.

You really have to grab hold of your why.. WHY AM I MUSLIM? WHY DO I ACCEPT THERE IS NONE WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH? WHY? WHY? WHY?

You need to internalise this and ponder the creation and the glorious quran and get moving make a start today.  IF you have not raeached your standing point yet and don't have a  fear of allah, it is because you don't really know and understand who he is?  This is a disease of the heart that you are suffering, so you must take action and not wait another minute because death is closer than you think so read his book, ponder the creation and sincerely make dua.

How much do you want to avoid Hell fire?  How much do you want to taste the sweetness of faith that fills the heart with such serenity and peace that contentment and security is all you feel.  How much do you want to leave those evil deeds and how much do you want to be obedient to your creator?  The one that provides for you and maintains your health.  The one who created you and gave you the blessed gift of life.  The one who will take your life away and the one you will have to answer to for all you have done.  And the one that rewards with palaces with water features :)

TIME IS RUNNING OUT SO GET CRACKING

a good way to set goals and unleash your potential can be found here in a speech by tony robbins.

I tried the brainstorming it was great,  it really helped me to bring out goals I never knew I had.

All praise be to Allah alone!

CONQUER YOURSELF - DO DEEDS

One of the steps to making the Hijrah of the heart, is forging a personality through positive habits. Changing from who you are, to ALL YOU CAN BE. Seizing the reigns of your life and making conscious changes to your regular behaviors will alter your physical, mental and emotional state. You have to make the change and Allah the Enricher will do the rest. Purify your intentions and make a habit of performing good deeds often. No matter how small they may be, BE persistent. For it is this persistence, which will aide you through the hardest parts of your change. A skill that has been consistently observed in champions is the "IRON WILL" PERSISTENCE. When unsuccessful they change their approach many times but they do not give up on their goal [tony robbins]. It is this small step, which will lead you down the path of a champion Insha'allah may allah give us the tawfeeq to be of the foremost in deeds and of the doers of good. 

(JZK to the uploader)

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam) said: "There is no prayer more difficult to attend for hypocrites than Fajr and 'Ishaa. And if they knew what they contain (i.e. good reward) they would attend them even if they had to come crawling."

(Bukhari)