His Beauty (SAWS), Waresa

His Beauty SAWS

The most beautiful and handsome of all
He was neither too short nor tall

He was innocently bright
His chest was white like the moonlight

He had long eyelashes
Dark, black eyes
Eyebrows bright like pure silver
All the parts of his body were of moderate size

His complexion was white with redness
He was singularly bright and fresh

When he walked he always looked down
He was neither very white nor very brown

It was as if the brightness of the sun
Had shone from his blessed face
When he walked, his companions found it difficult
To keep up with his fast pace.

When he smiled or laughed his teeth shone like lightning;
They were like pearls
His hair was glossy and black
Inclined to curl

That was the beauty of our Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)
And his character was beautiful too.
Think about that and InshaAllah
Our hearts will awaken soon.

The Bright Sun

The Bright Sun, Waresa
Gleaming in the sky
shining so bright
Yellow glows up high
The sun gives off light.

It stays out
Only in the day
Giving light to
the kids outside to play.

Eid

Eid, Waresa

Ramadan is over; Eid is finally here.
Celebrating together,
We will laugh and cheer.

We'll get gifts and clothes and lots of Eid money,
go to places and have fun with our family.
Inshallah Allah will make Eid fun for everybody. :) 

Laylatul Qadr

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

1. Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr.

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ

2. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

3. The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every mat ter.

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

5. There is peace unt il the appearance of dawn.

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr (the Decree)

Allah informs that He sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night.

Ibn ` Abbas said, "Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-` Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.''

Then Allah magnified the status of the Night of Al-Qadr, which He chose for the revelation of the Mighty Qur'an, by His saying, “And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is, The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said: "When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, (Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast . During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived. )''

Aside from the fact that worship during the Night of Al-Qadr is equivalent to

worship performed for a period of one thousand months, it is also confirmed in a shahih hadith from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins. )

The Descent of the Angels and the Decree for Every Good during

the Night of Al-Qadr

Allah says, “Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter.” (In reference to Ar-Ruh, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril. Therefore, the wording of the Ayah is a method of adding the name of the distinct object (in this case Jibril) separate from the general group (in this case the angels).

meaning, the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge.

Concerning Allah's statement,

“with every matter”, "The matters are determined during it , and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e. , decided) during it . '' Allah says,

 “Therein is decreed every matter of decree.” (44:4)

Then Allah says,“There is peace until the appearance of dawn”. Sa` id bin Mansur said, "Hushaym narrated to us on the authority of Abu Ishaq, who narrated that Ash-Sha` bi said concerning Allah's statement ,”With every matter, there is a peace until the appearance of dawn”. The angels give the greetings of peace during the Night of Al-Qadr to the people in the Masjids until the coming of Fajr (dawn). ''' Qatadah and Ibn Zayd both said concerning Allah's statement ,

 “There is peace”.  This means all of it is good and there is no evil in it until the coming of Fajr (dawn). '' ) "It is security in which Shaytan cannot do any evil or any harm

Specifying the Night of Decree and its Signs

This is supported by what Imam Ahmad recorded f rom ` Ubadah bin As-Samit that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during the last ten (nights). Whoever stands for them (in prayer) seeking their reward, then indeed Allah will forgive his previous sins and his latter sins. It is an odd night : the ninth, or the seventh, or the fifth, or the third or the last night (of Ramadan).”

The Messenger of Allah also said, “Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright ,tranquil, calm moon during it . It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it , just like the moon on a full moon night . Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day. This chain of narration is good. In its text there is some oddities and in some of its wordings there are things that are objectionable. Abu Dawud mentioned a section in his Sunan that he titled, "Chapter: Clarification that the Night of Al-Qadr occurs during every Ramadan. '' Then he recorded that ` Abdullah bin ` Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked about the Night of Al-Qadr while I was listening and he said, (It occurs during every Ramadan. )'' The men of this chain of narrat ion are all reliable, but Abu Dawud said that Shu` bah and Sufyan both narrated it from Ishaq and they both considered it to be a statement of the Companion (Ibn ` Umar, and thus not the statement of the Prophet ). It has been reported that Abu Sa` id Al-Khudri said, "The Messenger of Allah performed I`tikaf during the first ten nights of Ramadan and we performed I`tikaf with him. Then Jibril came to him and said, ` That which you are seeking is in front of you. 'So the Prophet performed I`tikaf during the middle ten days of Ramadan and we also performed I`tikaf with him. Then Jibril came to him and said; ` That which you are seeking is ahead of you. 'So the Prophet stood up

and gave a sermon on the morning of the twentieth of Ramadan and he said,

(Whoever performed I`tikaf with me, let him come back (for I`tikaf again), for verily I saw the Night of Al-Qadr, and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten (nights). It is during an odd night and I saw myself as if I were prostrating in mud and water. ) The roof of the

Masjid was made of dried palm-tree leaves and we did not see anything (i.e. , clouds) in the sky. But then a patch of wind-driven clouds came and it rained. So the Prophet lead us in prayer until we saw the traces of mud and water on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah, which confirmed his dream. '' In one narration it adds that this occurred on the morning of the twenty-first night (meaning the next morning). They both (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) recorded it

in the Two Sahihs. Ash-Shaf i` i said, "This Hadith is the most authentic of what has been reported. '' It has also been said that it is on the twenty-third night due to a Hadith narrated from ` Abdullah bin Unays in Sahih Muslim. It has also been said that it is on the twenty-fifth night due to what Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn ` Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said, “Seek it in the last ten (nights) of Ramadan. In the ninth it still remains, in the seventh it still remains, in the fifth it still remains.  Many have explained this Hadith to refer to the odd nights, and this is the most apparent and most popular explanation. It has also been said that it

occurs on the twenty-seventh night because of what Muslim recorded in his Sahih from Ubay bin Ka` b that the Messenger of Allah mentioned that it was on the twenty-seventh night . Imam Ahmad recorded from Zirr that he asked Ubayy bin Ka` b, "O Abu Al-Mundhir! Verily, your brother Ibn Mas` ud says whoever stands for prayer (at night ) the entire year, will catch the Night of Al-Qadr. '' He (Ubayy) said, "May Allah have mercy upon him. Indeed he knows that it is

during the month of Ramadan and that it is the twenty-seventh night . '' Then he swore by Allah. Zirr then said, "How do you know that '' Ubayy replied, "By a sign or an indication that he (the Prophet ) informed us of . It rises that next day having no rays on it -- meaning the sun. '' Muslim has also recorded it . It has been said that it is the night of the twenty-ninth. Imam Ahmad bin

Hanbal recorded from ` Ubadah bin As-Samit that he asked the Messenger of Allah about the Night of Decree and he replied, “Seek it in Ramadan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the odd nights, the twenty first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night”.  Imam Ahmad also recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said about the Night of Al-Qadr, “Verily, it is during the twenty-seventh or the twenty-ninth night . And verily, the angels who are on the earth during that night are more numerous than the number of pebbles.” Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith and there is nothing wrong with its chain of narration. At -

Tirmidhi recorded from Abu Qilabah that he said, "The Night of Al-Qadr moves around (i.e. from year to year) throughout the last ten nights. '' This view that At -Tirmidhi mentions from Abu Qilabah has also been recorded by Malik, Ath-Thawri, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaq bin Rahuyah, Abu Thawr, Al-Muzani, Abu Bakr bin Khuzaymah and others. It has also been related from Ash-Shafi` i, and Al-Qadi reported it from him, and this is most likely. And Allah knows best .

Supplication during the Night of Decree

It is recommended to supplicate of ten during all times, especially during the month of Ramadan, in the last ten nights, and during the odd nights of it even more so. It is recommended that one say the following supplication a lot : "O Allah! Verily, You are the Often -Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me. ''Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwoon tuhibul ‘afwa fa f’u ‘annee”

This is due to what Imam Ahmad recorded from A'ishah, that she said, "O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say''

He replied, (Say: "O Allah! Verily, You are the Of t -Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.'') 

Cruelity of Disbelievers

Sad Reality, by Waresa

She was just a Muslim child,
so why were they acting so wild?

They said she was Muslim, thats why,
only that answer made her cry.

She knew she didn't do anything,
it wasnt fair that they got to act like the king.

She didn't know how to react,
"Muslims are terrorists," that wasn't a fact.

She didnt know what to say,
why did they treat Muslims this way?

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Girl with the Scarf

Girl With the Scarf, Waresa
Who is that girl
with the scarf walking around
looking beautiful
not making one sound

Who is that girl with the scarf
and a smile on her face
making her way
with every single pace

Who is that pretty girl
with the scarf on her head
kind and obedient
doing whatever is said.

The girl with the scarf
is confident and strong
knowing what is right
and what is wrong

She walks in a way
that shows she is proud.
she wears the scarf
and isn't afraid to say it out loud.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It


*Allah tells us to cover our beauty,
Hijab is our fashion and this is our duty*

"Ironic how many people read Surah Al-Asr to quickly finish their prayers, yet the surah reminds us of how in reality we’re actually running out of time."

"The human heart is like fertilized land. You can decide which seeds you want to plant."

"Dont harbour hate, harvest love." -Waresa

Benefits of Reading the Qur'an

9 Benefits of Reading Qur'an

1. Reading and reflecting over the Qur'an completes an Islaamic duty.
2.  On the Day of Judgement, the Qur'an will be a proof for us
3. On the Day of Judgement, the Quran will intercede for us.
4. In this life your status will be raised.
5. You will be the best of people.
6. You receive 10 rewards for each letter you read in the Qur'an (even more reward in Ramadan)
7. If you recite the Qur'aan you will be in the company of the righteous and dutiful angels.
8. If you read the Qur'an, inshaAllah you will enter Paradise.
9.Your place in Paradise is determined by the amount of Qur'an you memorized in this life.

Signs

Signs, Waresa
Beautiful flowers and trees
Lovely blue and endless seas

Rain falling from above, high
for the plants to survive

Birds using their tiny wings to fly
Across the wide open sky

Surely these are signs for those who see
and believe in the reality

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Ramadan

Ramadan, Waresa
The time of the year
The month has arrived
Filled with blessings and mercy
Which can change our lives

In this month, Ramadan
Your reward increases when you pray
Make your intention to fast everyday

The devils are chained
So it's easy to do
What Allah commands and
What's good for you

Read the Qur'an
For it is the guide for mankind
Which was revealed
At this month, at this time
 
copyright Muslim and I Know It

Hope

Hope, by Waresa

Colorful flowers
Rainy showers
Time flies,
by the hours...

Sun shines bright
Moon in the dark night
Very soon,
will come the light.

No more fear,
God is here,
Dont worry
He is Near.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It 

Dua for Ramadan

"Ya Allah, let us reach this Ramadan and benefit from all the rewards it has to offer. Aameen."

Beautiful Du'a

Beautiful Du'a


 

Not Forever

Not Forever, Waresa
You can play and enjoy
and have a lot of fun.
Until you face your Lord,
and realize what you have done. 

You shopped, and wasted and did what you did.
But then you realize you've been stupid. 

You should have been like those who did what was right.
Because now you see they are in the light.
You had your turn to have fun and be free
Now you will face the harsh penalty.

You think this world would end never.
But now you know it's not forever.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

The Place

This is the place..., by Waresa
This is the place
the place of modesty
this is the place
to take your honesty

The Masjid was right; which has all knowledge
this place is better than going to college

You come here for peace
and know what is right
of our Islam
which is our light
You come here from day to night
because this place is very bright

Hundreds of Qur'ans here laying all day
MashAllah! You can read it, we say.
 Allah's words are in this book
All the Muslims must take a look

So this is the place of modesty
Where you must take your honesty.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Allah, The Almighty God

Allah, The Almighty God, by Waresa

Allah is the God; The Creator of the world,
He is the One you should praise.
We should all listen to Him
so that we wont go astray.

He wants us to worship Him;
And He sees whatever you do.
He helps you when you are in need.
because He loves you.

Thats why we should'nt anger Him
or be like those who disbelieve.
We should listen to what He says
and try our best to make Him happy.

A Believer

A Believer, Afreen Ahmed

A prisoner behind the bars
That’s who I am.
I chose to be.
For the sake to be free
Of the World and its penalty.

A string that pulls me

That’s my boundary.
It chose me.
For that will take me
To my eternal destiny.

Oh you who are free

Don’t mock me
Mock at yourself
For where you will be
When illusion becomes reality.

Leave this deception

Catch the string of faith
While there’s time
Take this path
To be saved from His wrath.

I am a believer

Faith is my boundary
My goal is paradise
Now that would you despise?
Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Our Amazing Teacher

Our Amazing Teacher, Waresa

We once had a teacher who taught us what was right

He told us what Allah said and made us very bright.

He showed us what was good to do and what was bad,

but some rejected, which made him very sad.

He continued to try, until he died.

He was a good role model, nice and kind.

He worshipped and praised Allah;

that's why he had an intelligent mind.   

He never gave up and was patient;

he was the last messenger Allah sent.

 So we shouldn't ignore Sunnah, 

we should avoid doing Ghunnah 

We should follow him and do what he said was right

so that we could prosper and enter the light.

This bright man was prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 

He did righteous deeds;

and we should too, so that we can succeed.
Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Stars, Waresa

Stars

White sparkles designing the sky,
shining in the dark night.

Twinkling together are a million stars
in outer space, maybe even near Mars

Stars are tools, useful to many in need,
used as guides when a traveller cannot exceed.

Up so high, yet we see
the bright stars shining so amazingly.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Smile :)

Smile, its Sunnah :)
Smile, don't be upset
Smile even when your mad
so you don't have to face the moments of regret

"Don't let the world change you smile,
Let your smile change the world."

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

Allahumma anta hasanta khalqi fahassin khuluqi

"O Allah, just as you have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful as well"

"Ironic how many people read Surah Al-Asr to quickly finish their prayers, yet the surah reminds us of how in reality we’re actually running out of time."

Flowers Are Blooming

Flowers be Blooming
Those colorful dots
 in the green ground
Those rainbow looking Lolly Pops
dancing around

Those colorful flowers
Making the earth look fine
Looking even more beautiful
When the bright sun shines

Giving a feeling of happiness
Taking away the stress
Those colorful flowers are such a bliss

Sadly these beautiful flowers get tired
of looking so nice.
They fall down to the ground
but soon another group of flowers start to rise.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

"Love a little more than what is necessary,
work a little harder than what is required,
be a little kinder than what is usual,
give a little bit more than what you feel you can afford, stand in prayer a little longer than what you intended,
and be a little more patient than what you feel you can handle.
It is that little extra effort sparked by sincerity in the heart that makes your ordinary self extraordinary."

-AbdulBary Yahya

If you think women that wear the niqab
are being oppressed and are hiding their identity,
think again;
Wearing a niqab is more of showing your identity
than hiding it...
 In the crowd, a niqabi stands out instead of blending in and hiding like others. Niqab gives women the identity as a submitter to God. Niqab gives women a unique identity of a true Muslim.

"If Allah has put you in a difficult situation in this world, it’s a chance to earn ease in the hereafter through patience.

If falsehood and corruption are on the rise, it’s a chance to do more Dawah and spread the truth.

If you’re being ridiculed for your faith by the creation, it’s a chance to earn the praise of the Creator.

Everything from Allah is good because even the ‘bad’ in this world is in essence just a means of attaining good in the hereafter for the believer.

The sunnah is to be optimistic and opportunistic!"

-Omar Suleiman

“Don’t let your sins define you; be defined by your eagerness to repent from your sins.”

-Saad Tasleem

"When a test comes to you:

1. Know that everything is by Qadr of Allah
2. Remember that other people have bigger problems than you
3. Remember the death of the Prophet (pbuh), the greatest calamity the Ummah faced.
4. Maybe through this trial, Allah has saved you from an even bigger trial.
5. Through this trial Allah will remove some of your sins.
6. Through this trial Allah has opened up a huge world of ibadah like sabr, salah, repentance, etc.
7. With this trial, Allah is putting you on the path of the Prophets. It is a confirmation that Allah loves you. The more Allah loves somebody, the more he tests them.”

-Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury

Mom, by Sameen (Age 7)

Moms can be tidy
and also mighty 

Some moms are big
and some are small
and some are tall.

But my mom is just right,
sometimes she kisses me
and says, "Goodnight."

Jannat

Jannat, Waresa

You can come across many different places,

They all have unique things; they are all special.
but imagine if there was a place that had it all
That’s where you would want to be.

The place where grapevines underneath which rivers flow

Where garden of date-palm trees grow

The place where drinking cups are made of gold and silver, crystal clear

Everything will be peaceful and there will be no fear

Clothing will be made of gold and silk

Rivers containing pure honey, water, and milk

Building bricks made of silver and gold
Jannah was promised for the believers just as Allah told

The people of Jannah receive whatever they desire
They will be thankful that they were saved from the fire

Jannah is a beautiful place

The people there will have a beautiful face

Jannah is the big success

For those who were righteous

Jannah’s beauty can not be pictured by anyone

Over there, believers will have the true fun

Jannah is Allah’s gift to those who believed

InshaAllah Jannah will be my destiny.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Poem, by Sameen Islam (Age 7)

I feel the green grass under my toes,
Now I feel the wind blow over the rainbows

I love the green under the sea,
Now its up to you and me.
 

Unity of Lordship

Maintaining the unity of Lordship: This category is based on the fundamental concept that Allah alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing; He sustains and maintains creation without any need from it or for it; and He is the sole (sohl) Lord of the universe and its inhabitants without any real challenge to His sovereignty (sov-rin-tee).

Nothing happens to the creation except what He allows to happen. There is no movement nor power except by Allah’s will. “la hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah”

The basis for the Ruboobiyah concept can be found in many Quranic verses. For example, Allah says:

“Allah created all things and He is the agent on whom all things depend”.

This ayah reminds me of a fetus, an unborn baby. A fetus in a mother’s womb fully depends on his/her mother. An unborn baby breathes and eats from his/her mother’s placenta.  Placenta is an organ; It forms in the mother's womb--inside the uterus, which allows transfer of oxygen and nutrition from the mother directly to the fetus' bloodstream.  SubhanAllah, isn’t that fascinating?  I’m comparing an unborn baby not to a new born baby because at least new born babies cry to let the mother know what he/she needs, but in the womb they don’t even have to do that; everything is taken care of for them. They have no worries what so ever.

An unborn baby depends on the mother completely, vulnerably, and powerlessly. And that’s exactly how we depend on Allah completely, vulnerably and powerlessly.

In another ayah,  Allah said; “No calamity strikes except by Allah’s permission.”  

The Prophet (SAWS) further elaborated on this concept saying. “Be aware that if the whole of mankind gathered together in order to do something to help you, they would only be able to do something for you which Allah had already written for you. Likewise, if the whole of mankind gathered together to harm you, they would only be able to do something to harm you which Allah had already written for you.”

So, what men consider as a good fortune and misfortune are only events predestined by Allah as part of the tests of this life.

Wealth, wives, and children are blessing of Allah. Men feel fortunate and proud to have wealth, mansion houses, a beautiful wife and children. However, they are big tests in men’s lives. And Allah warns men about those pleasures of the present world’s life.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ...

O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children they are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!

Allah is warning us against the fitnah (the test) of spouses and offspring.

Allah also tells us why He warns us about that and He is being specific about it.

Some wives and children are enemies to their husbands and fathers, in that they might be busy with them rather than with performing the good deeds. Allah says: "Let not your properties or you children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does (divert) that then they are the losers." (63:9)

Allah created everything and He knows the nature of everything. Allah knows the nature of women and children.

So He said: "Women and children might direct the man to sever his relation or disobey his Lord. The man, who loves his wives and children, might obey them in this case.''

How many of us are witnessing this ayah throughout our life?

Let me give you an example,  

Many women make their husband disobey their parents and bring hate between the son and the mother. Those women take the son and his mother or father’s rights away. Mothers are the best thing in everybody’s life. At least they realize it until they get married.  Allah said after believing in Allah, you must obey your parents. So basically for those, the men that obey his wife, is neglecting his parents right and disobeying his creator, Allah.

Now let us see how children being our fitnah. So many parents work so hard to make their children a lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc. Now days some parents send them to a school to become a movie director too. They focus on their children’s future so much so that  they neglect or some parents completely give up their duty upon their Lord.  So now who are they worshiping? It is a test. We need to keep a balance in our life. Mostly we need to fulfill our obligations up on our Lord and our Lord will take care of us and our children. If we look at birds, they go out in the morning with an empty stomach, without knowing what will they eat, and come back to their nest with a full stomach. It’s Allah who sustains all His creations.

 If we see children now days, who think they are so smart just because they are born in the modern era, they simply know the best. So, they are doing whatever they think is right, despite what Islam says. And ironically, parents are okay with it just because they love them. They don’t want to hurt their children’s feelings. Raising children in this time is not an easy task. Sometimes parents have to be the bad cop if they need to be to bring children up right.

Think about it, true loving, caring parents, who have concern for their children’s health and future, they won’t give their children unhealthy junk food all the time no matter how much the kids love to have junk foods. Because they know even though broccoli, spinach or carrots sound yucky to kids, they are good for them. You could put this concept with Islamic upbringing. They way candies, chips, fatty stuff is taste, but not necessarily healthy. And kids will love it just because it looks good and taste good.

Islam is not something so colorful, so they might not feel attractive to the Islam, but it’s for their own good.

Allah's statement,

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥﴾

“Your wealth and your children are only a Fitnah, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward.”

Allah said that the wealth and children are a test and trial from Allah, the Exalted, for His creatures, so that He knows those who obey Him and those who disobey Him.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Buraydah said,

"The Messenger of Allah was giving a speech and Al-Hasan and Husayn came in wearing red shirts, walking and tripping. The Messenger descended from the Minbar, held them and placed them in front of them and said,

Allah and His Messenger said the truth,

`Verily, your wealth and your children are a Fitnah.'

I saw these two boys walking and tripping and could not be patient until I stopped my speech and picked them up.''

Look at the hadith, SubhanAllah, “red shirts” a bright color grabs attention; “walking” when some walks we lose focus, “tripping” when someone trips they get full attention, right? You want to help them especially kids. You leave whatever you are doing to pick them up.

Within the good things of this life there are simple tests for the person’s faith in Allah. Likewise in the terrible events of life there is also a test for the person.

Allah said in the Quran:

“Surely we will test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth and life and the fruits of your work, so give glad tidings to those who are patient”.

Allah informs us that He tests and tries His servants, just as He said in another Ayah:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّى نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّـبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَـرَكُمْ

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

Hence, He tests them with the bounty sometimes and sometimes with the afflictions of fear and hunger.

In the Ayat above, Allah used the words: with something of fear, hunger, meaning, a little of each.

Then Allah said, loss of wealth,

meaning, some of the wealth will be destroyed, lives,

meaning, losing friends, relatives and loved ones to death, and fruits,

meaning, the gardens and the farms will not produce the usual or expected amounts.

This is why Allah said next: but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient).

He then explained whom He meant by `the patient' whom He praised:

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.''

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

meaning, those who recite this statement to comfort themselves in the face of their loss, know that they belong to Allah and that He does what He wills with His servants. They also know that nothing and no deed, even if it was the weight of an atom, will be lost with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. These facts thus compel them to admit that they are Allah's servants and that their return will be to Him in the Hereafter.

This is why Allah said:

أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ...

They are those on whom are the Salawat (i. e., who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His mercy,

However, instead of being patient some people become impatient and frustrated. So, they go to others for help believing that creation can do something beside the Creator. They start believing in charms and omens and believing in charms or omens is a grave sin of shirk (association) in this form of tawheed.

Hadith: Once a group of men approached the prophet (saws) to give their allegiance to him, and he accepted the oath from nice of them but refused to accept it from one. When they asked him why he refused their companion’s oath, he replied, “Verily, he is wearing an amulet.” The man who was wearing the amulet put his hand in his cloak, pulled the amulet off, broke it, and then made the oath. The prophet saws then said, “Whoever wears an amulet had committed shirks”.

InshaAllah

"Never stop making Du'a,
Know that Allah will either send upon you His rain of Mercy
or save the rainbow for you in Jannah."

Challenges of Growing up as a Muslim in America, Waresa

The Blessed Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) once said that there will come a time when the struggle to live like a good Muslim will be so hard that it would be like holding a hot coal in your hand. We Muslims are living in that time. It is very challenging for us to live like good Muslims. There are so many problems we have to deal with and so many issues we face in our everyday life; like food, dress code, discrimination, keeping our identity while trying to fit in the American society. These are definitely not easy tasks.

            If you think about it, before eating anything we have to think twice. Is the food halal? Does it have gelatin? . When we go to McDonald’s we can’t just order anything we want. We have a limited option so we are stuck with a fish sandwich. You have to eat the halal food even if it’s not your favorite.

Another challenge for many Muslims is dress code.  For girls it’s wearing the hijab and abiyah. Wearing a hijab and abiyah in an American society can be difficult. Especially when everyone around us is wearing tight unislamic clothing. Sometimes people may discriminate you just because you are wearing the hijab. Sometimes people may tell you to take it off. It is hard to stay on the straight path when everyone is trying to push you off, telling you you’re the wrong path.

However, I think the biggest challenge is trying to keeping our identity and not trying to imitate the disbelievers.  Since we are surrounded by disbelievers we try to act like them. We try to fit in by copycatting their western lifestyle. When we watch TV it is easy for us to get influenced to wear what the disbelievers wear. It is easy for us to try to act and behave like the actors and actresses we see on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. We sometimes get the thought that the people on TV are “beautiful” and we lose our confidence as a Muslims.  That’s a big problem; we can’t lose our confidence as Muslims.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) warned us about this, 1400 years ago, what we are facing now.

The prophet (S.A.W.) said, "You will surely follow the ways, steps, or traditions of those who came before you, span by span and yard by yard (very closely) even if they entered a lizard's hole you will enter it." The companions asked, "Oh prophet, you mean the Jews and Christians?" so he answered, "Who else!" [Reported by Imam Bukhari]

The second hadith is "He is not one of us, he who imitates others. Do not imitate either the Jews or the Christians." [Reported by ImamsTermithy & Abu-Dawd]

So as you can see growing in America can be quite challenging. There are many tough situations we have to deal with. When we want to stay on the straight path and try to be better Muslims we have to struggle in some way.

Yet, when I realize it, the struggle is a form of worship for us, and everything becomes worth it.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

"Don't let the world change your smile,
Let your smile change the world." 

Keep Smiling, Its Sunnah :)

Allah's Forgiveness

Have you ever felt guilty for sins you have committed in the past? Did you know that feeling guilty is a gift from Allah? After feeling guilty did you ask Allah for forgiveness? “One who repents from sin is like one without sin.”

If anyone repents to Allah and asks Him for forgiveness, Insha'Allah Allah will forgive him/her.

“And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allaah with true repentance”
[al-Furqaan 25:68-70]

“Say: ‘O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful’”
[al-Zumar 39:53]                    

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allaah and ask His forgiveness? For Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
[al-Maa'idah 5:74]

“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins” [al-Shoora 42:25]

Turn to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness. Don’t think Allah won’t forgive you. If you have that thought you are either not believing in Allah’s Mercy or doubting in Allah’s Mercy.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

The ends justify the means
                or
The means justify the ends?

(please share your opinion below) :)

"Sometimes Allah closes all doors and shuts all the windows. During those times, think that maybe there is a storm outside and He wants you safe."

"The Qur'an is a living messenger. You ask it and it answers you. You listen to it and it satisfies you."

"Everytime you get a 100 on your test, your final average will increase.
Likewise everytime you pass a test Allah gives you, your chance of entering Jannah will increase."
-Waresa

Girls

Girls, by Samiya Islam

Girls like being happy and having fun
Girls like being #1

Girls like making new friends
Girls like shopping for new fashion trends

Girls like to scream, jump and play
Girls always sing along the way

There is happiness and enjoyment in this world
They all come from amazing girls. 
Copyright Muslim and I Know It

"Allah gives 
 and forgives, 
 Man gets 
 and forgets."

ISLAM

ISLAM, by Samiya Islam

Iman 

Submission to Allah 

Life

Amazing truth

Muslims

Copyright Muslim and I Know It

Rainbow

Rainbow, by Waresa

Rain falls from the sky
Changing you're mood from happy to dry

After the rain, a rainbow covers they sky
The rainbow brings brightness to your mind

Likewise in every human's life
After struggle and pain comes the light.

Copyright