Look Beyond...

There isn't a dead end

in our road of imagination

There isn't a stop sign
to the street of boundless possibilities...

and there is no boundary

to our strengths and capabilities.

Yet, we still fail to comprehend

the capacity of our abilities,

the exceeding intellect of our minds,

and the wonders of this world

we still have yet to find.

through struggles and agony,

through the darkness of this life

we can find ways to strive towards a successful destiny.

Using our eyes as cameras

to capture every single moment,

using our minds as compasses

to navigate our way through life,

and using our hearts as guides

we can look beyond the negativity in this world.

Ambitions and motivation are tools needed

to make the future as bright as possible

to make our dreams a reality
and bring back love and tranquility.

It's about using optimism to fight negativity
and using memories to fight hardships

It's about looking beyond struggles
and fighting out negative emotions

Because only then, we will be able to make our goals become a reality
and get through this journey called "life."

~Waresa


COPYRIGHT MUSLIM AND I KNOW IT

A Message To Your Ingenuity, by Waresa

You're not faulty or crude 
it's what you perceive yourself to be,
you're not oblivious  or confused
you don't need to be what the world wants to see  
 
You're naturally ornate 
beautiful at every state

You're luminous from within
just put trust in yourself
you just need to give yourself the chance to shine 
everything will be fine

just continue to glow and illuminate 
work towards your destiny and fate


and throughout this journey 
release your vivid reality 
and your true ingenuity. 

COPYRIGHT MUSLIM AND I KNOW IT

Not a Care in the World, by Waresa

To see you coming, esoterically
in an inquisitive way

Standing tall and straight
complacent,
not a single worry or care,
a piece of feeling I'd love to share

To see how free and painless
this life can be
to see how you ignore
your endless miseries

To feel lavish in tranquility
and peace in the mind
to feel the heart at rest
with much happiness to find

To be free from ambivalence
and endless uncertainty
to feel certain and guaranteed

Not dubious or confused
with dilemmas and problems
but find solutions with ingenuity
to feel worry-free without perplexity
to feel certain in everything

Not a single worry in the world
not a single care
A piece of feeling I'd love to share

Copyright Muslim and I Know It 

 

Why Do Bad Things Happen? by Waresa

"Why do bad things always happen to me?" "Why do I always have to suffer?" "Why do difficulties and calamities exist in this world?"

Do these questions sound familiar? Did they ever cross you mind?
Well as Muslims we should know why people suffer and go through hardships. There are many Islamic lectures and websites that explain the answers to these questions.
I decided to compile all the answers and put them into this article. :)

Difficulties and Sufferings
In this life, we will face many different kinds of problems and hardships.
And it's completely normal. We are supposed to go through some tough times here and then.
"If the world was free of problems, paradise would lose it's value.” - Mufti Menk. 
"So what if this life isn't perfect? It's not Jannah,"- Nouman Ali Khan

First we have to understand that as human beings, we are inherently limited. Humanity is a limited creation. So, human beings can never fully understand or completely comprehend 1) Allah (swt) Himself and 2) the rationale that Allah (swt) has for doing what He does.
Human beings are limited and Allah (swt) is Limitless.
We believe there are certain virtues  to trials, tribulations, and sufferings. But we also believe there are certain causes.

Causes of Hardships
1) It was from the Qadr of Allah. The difficulty was supposed to happen.
64:11 "No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things."
The difficulty you are going through was supposed to happen to you. It was already decreed. So we shouldn't say "if this happened," or "i should have done this instead" because whatever happened was already written down in our Qadr. This calamity or difficulty was "like an arrow that was shot and was supposed to hit you exactly when, where, how deep and how badly, it was already decided. It is perfect hit." -Nouman Ali Khan 

2) Difficulty hits you because of what you did:
Sufferings can be as a result of our actions. Our mistakes tend to bring on difficulties onto ourselves. When we make a mistake, the residual effect of that mistake is another mistake. You have to take responsibility for your actions.
For example, if you drive extremely fast and then get a speeding a ticket, that's your fault.
Or if you didn't study and then get a 50 on the final exam, it's because you didn't study.
We have to acknowledge the fact that we were the ones that messed up.
Our acts can also have affect on our Ummah and our community. We can be the source of societal difficulties as well.
**When things happen to you that are out of your control, they are from Allah. (i.e. flood, car hits you, diagnosed with disease). When things happen within our control, we have to take responsibility.

3) Our misdeeds and sins tend to bring on difficulties onto ourselves.
Allah (swt) will test the one who committed sins and acts of disobedience with calamity by way of recompense and immediate punishment (i.e., in this world). 
4:79 "What comes to you of good is from Allah , but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness."

Reasons for Suffering and Hardships
1) Allah (swt) is testing you. By going through this pain and suffering and not finding the relief, it may be that this is a test from Allah (swt).
2:155 And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
29:2 Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?
2:214“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, ‘When (will come) the Help of Allah?’ Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!Calamities and hardships test the strength of our Imaan (beliefs) and our patience.

2) Allah (swt) loves you. When Allah (swt) loves you, He does something to bring you closer to Him.
If Allah intends good for someone, then He afflicts him with trials. Source: Sahih Bukhari 5321, 
The prophet (saws) said, "When Allah loves someone, He will put him into difficulties," (Tarmidhee)

3) When Allah afflicts you with some kind of hardship, it's actually good for you. During times of difficulty, you tend to make more Du'a. By consistently making Dua to Allah, you're getting closer to Allah (swt). Your levels of sincerity become so high and you become a better Muslim.
 “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi

What To Do During Difficulties
1) Say,  Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi Raji un إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ‎
2:156 "Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."
When a calamity hits you, the first thing you should say is" Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un."
 Saying "We belong to Allah" reminds us that Allah owns us. How can we complain about anything because we're not the owner of anything; Allah owns us. We deserve nothing, we didn't earn anything. We take our eyes, our nose, our tongues for granted, but we didn't pay for it; it doesn't belong to us. It belongs to Allah.
Then we say, "We will return to Allah." This reminds us that our problems are not permanent. Whatever problem you're having right now isn't permanent; whether it's money problems, emotional struggles, health problems, family problems, it's temporary.
Because
"you and I aren't permanent, how can our problems be permanent? This problem is nothing, forget the problem, I will leave. Not only will this problem not be around, I wont be around. I will be returned back to Allah." -Nouman Ali Khan.

2) Have sabr (patience). When something bad happens, have patience. For a Muslim, the attitude should be entirely different. Maybe the goal of the entire trouble you are going through was so you could have sabr. The real goal was to learn to have sabr.

3) Stay positive. At least the tribulation was in this dunya and not your deen. that it could be worse than it is, that it's in your worldly matters and not in your deen.You got tribulation in this dunya, but not in your deen. For example, you lost your job, but at least you didn't miss your prayer; you lost your wealth, Alhamdullilah you didn't lose your Imaan.
The Prophet said:

“Whoever is mainly concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2389; classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6510].

Benefits of Sufferings
1) Expiation of sins- When you go through a difficulty and bear it with patience, inshAllah your sins will be cleared out.
The Prophet (saws) said, “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).

2) It makes your path in the next life easy. The difficulty in this life acts as a accelerator for someone's ease in the next life.
Muslim reports from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said "The poor of the Muhajireen will enter Paradise forty years ahead of the rich". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/663, no. 5235)
Since poor people went through so much difficulty in this life, Allah will remove the difficulty from their path in the next life.

3) When we go through difficult times, we learn to devalue this dunya. This dunya is nothing compared to the Hereafter. Your Imaan is directly related to how convinced you are that this dunya is dust. When you view this dunya in a way that's not important, then all of a sudden, your hardships and trials are less damaging.

 4) You only appreciate light when you've been in the dark. You only appreciate ease when you've been in pain. When Allah gives you a trial, you begin to appreciate the absence of trial.

5)You worship Allah in times of good and bad. When we get too much comfort, we become apathetic. This dunya is not meant to achieve the ultimate comfort or pinnacle of comfort.

6) We will be introduced to the hills of difficulty so that the valleys of ease become much sweeter and so that we don't lose focus of our relationship with Allah (swt) when we're in the valley of ease.
Suffering enhances our joy.


Things are put into perspective. Putting things in perspective makes you worry about what really matters. When you don't put things in perspective, you can focus on the wrong thing.

Copyright Muslim and I Know It


 

8 Misconceptions About Love - Saad Tasleem

Pillars of Imaan

To believe in:
1) Allah (in His Existence, His Oneness in His Attributes, His deserving to be worshipped and supplicated and His right to legislate.)
2) The Angels
3)The Books (The Torah, Gospel, Psalms, and Qur'an)
   The belief in The Books Comprises of 4 matters:
1. To believe that the descent of the Books is truly from Allah (swt)
2) To believe in the Books whose names we know, each according to its name, like Al-Qur’aan which was sent down unto Muhammad (N), At-Tawraat which was revealed to Moosaa (O), the Injeel which was brought down to ‘Eesaa (O), and Az-Zaboor which was given to Daawood (O). As to those Books which we don’t know their names, we believe in them on the whole. 
3) To attest to their authentic information like the news told in the Qur’aan and (or) in the old Scriptures as long as they are not altered or changed. 
4)Acting upon its un-abrogated statutes, accepting and submitting to them whether we realize the wisdom behind them or we don’t. All of the old Scriptures are abrogated by the Great Qur’aan. 4)The Messengers
      The belief in the Messengers Comprises 4 Matters

1. to believe that their Message is a true one from Allah
2. to believe in those of them whose names we know. As regard to those of them whose names we don't know, we believe in them on the whole (as true Messengers from Allah (swt)
3. to believe in what is authentically reported from their news.
4. To act upon the Sharee'ah of the Messenger who is sent to us amongst them, and he is Muhammad (saws), the last o the Messengers (and Prophets) who is sent to mankind.

5) The Last Day (the day of resurrection for the reckoning of the people according to their deeds and their appropriate compensation (award or punishment).
6)Qadr (Divine Preordainment)
Belief in the Qadr comprises of 4 matters:  

First: The Belief that Allah (G) knew everything on the whole and in detail which took place in the past and is taking or will take place in the future and forever, whether it is related to His Actions or the actions of His Ibaad (creatures). 

 
Second: The Belief that Allah (G) wrote (everything pertaining to His Knowledge) in Al-Lauhul Mahfoudh.^[1]  Regarding these two aspects (knowledge and writing


Third: The Belief that all created things do not come to exist except by the Will of Allah (G) making no difference whether it pertains to His Action or to that of the created beings
Fourth: The Belief that all beings are created by Allah including Thawaatiha (their selves), their qualities and their motion.

Eid is Here!

Eid is Here, by Waresa

Lightings on your window,

posters on your wall

streamers down the stairs

decorations, nice and tall.

Henna tattoos on your nails

all over your hands.

You buy dresses and clothes

that are expensive and grand.

Baking sweets,

brownies and cake.

Cooking delicious meals

that are easy to make.

Eid is here,

our time to laugh and cheer.

Ramadan Family Activities

For this activity you will need a pack of balloons, post-its (or any piece of paper), and a marker. On each post-it write an activity or something the family will do together. Then fold up the post it, put it inside the balloon. Make 30 of these and put one inside each balloon. Then, after Iftar, every night someone from the family gets to pick a balloon and pop it. For example, one day the little brother gets to pop one ballon, the next day the father gets to pop another balloon.

 If someone pops a ballon and the post-it says, "Share a hadeeth," everyone in the family must share one Hadeeth.

here are some suggestions and ideas (some activities you can write on the post-it):
1) Share a Hadeeth
2)Recite 1 Surah from the 30th Juz.
3) Everyone will tell each other a story.
4) Eat ice-cream together as a family.
5)Play a game together.
6) Watch a lecture together.

These are just a few activities you can do with your family. You can come up with many more. These activities are meant to help you and your family get closer and build a stronger bond.
Hope you enjoy :)

Iftar Time, by Waresa

Counting the hours, minutes, and seconds
feeling your stomach rumble
waiting for iftar time
"I'm hungry" you mumble

biryani, samosas, chicken and rice, salad, noodles, pasta, 
preparing many varieties of meals
setting the table and making plates,
everything looks ideal 

everyone helps prepare and get ready for iftar time
family and friends gather together for this special feast,
they all break fast together
and eat during Iftar time, happily. 

Ramadan, by Waresa

Ramadan
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

Ramadan is the month in which we fast
change for the better, and erase the past.
 
copyright Muslim and I Know It

Drinking? Smoking? That Stuff Ain't Fun

Smoking everyday??
Drinking all night??
tell me how you think this is alright

Always at the club?
Every single day?
please tell me how you think this is okay

Making it a habit?
Don't care what others say?
well stop justifying yourself, it's NOT okay

Committing all these evil acts
it's taking you away from the straight path

You need to realize this is extremely wrong
it's not making you strong, its just gonna make you suffer really long

Just stop being dumb
drinking and smoking? 
that stuff is not fun

You need to stop
before you go over the top

You need some help
if you cant put this to an end
find better people
get better friends!

Even if you enjoy it, it ain't gonna last
you will definitely regret it
you'll have to pay for the past

You are hurting yourself, no one else
if you think it makes you look cool
then stop being fooled!

And deep inside you know it's wrong, so don't pretend
or else you will regret and suffer till the very end ~

In the Qur'an it says:


"O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid

it that you may be successful." (5:90)

"Shaitan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salat (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?" (5:91)

COPYRIGHT MUSLIM AND I KNOW IT

The Queen in Every House, by Waresa

Giving up her life to help us succeed.
Going out of her way to provide us with what we need.

Working hard all day long
Not complaining and still staying strong.

Cooking varieties of meals and food
yet we still have the nerve to be rude

cleaning the house, sweeping the floor
vacuuming, wiping, mopping, dusting, and so much more.

supporting us in life
and giving advice
helping us when the world falls apart
aiding us to a fresh start


Giving love and care
filling us with happiness and delight
she brings comfort and joy
every single night

This queen is our mother 
she is loved and appreciated with all our hearts
without her support, the family's kingdom would fall apart

 

COPYRIGHT MUSLIM AND I KNOW IT

 

Princess, Waresa

Painted with classy clothes
polished, glimmering in the light
Some would envy and loathe
but she would stand upright

Every day with dazzling scarves
Beautiful pins and accessories
Golden chains, jewels, and rings
ignoring her endless miseries.

Walking with dignity
standing straight with pride
with nothing to hide.

Zina, Sanzida Love

You are nothing but a test.
You come in a beautiful way.
Leave me restless.
Not in any decent way.
Oh you are a test!

To test my piety in the eyes
of my creator.
To see for how long,
How long I will refrain
or will i give in
and take all the
sinful pleasures .

You are nothing but a test.
Oh you leave me restless
with all the wrong moves
in all the wrong ways.
Just like the rest
of the duniya
boy you are a test.

I better watch myself and my heart
before i slip for you
and get on that wrong track
that track that takes you away from your chances
The chances of getting in jannah
Leaves you restless in duniya
as you ponder and wonder over the
rules and regulations.

You are the ultimate doom to my room
filled with peace.
I hope to suffer in other ways
but man one thing i don't hope for
is for me to die in your arms
or in any other way that
got you all involved with me
in all them wrong ways.
boy you are nothing but a test
and i shall refrain till my last breath!

~Zina~
-SLove

High School Days, by Waresa

6:15 A.M.
Wake up feeling exhausted
and extremely tired
to go to school
with no desire

Getting dressed on time
Trying to look fine
But inside your head is aching
Your body is breaking

Cuz you didn't get sleep
You just wanna weep
Wishing to go to bed
School is such a dread.

So you finally make it to school
You swipe your ID card
As you make your way up the stairs
you fall down real hard.

 You pick yourself up
and hurry to class


But then you realize
you forgot to study for a test
You're to tired to worry and take stress
so you wing it and do your best.

And then lunch time comes.
You're really hungry and you're dying to eat
You stand on the lunch line
 and see they're serving haram meat

You ask the lunch lady if they have pizza
But she says, "no" and gives you a peanut butter sandwich

You go back to your table with your friends
and open the sandwich when you realize, there's only a pinch of jelly
and the sandwich starts to get smelly

So you throw out your tray
And you have to starve for the rest of the day.

And then after school you realize,
you have homework for every class
and you have to study for 4 different tests.

The cycle goes on until the school year ends
and all the stress leaves after the regents.

COPYRIGHT MUSLIM AND I KNOW IT

3 Popular Quotes We Don't Pay Much Attention To

1) "Choose Your Friends Wisely"- Yes, we hear it all the time. But it's true. If we could only choose the right people to hang out with, we wouldn't have to deal with problems such as peer pressure, friendship break ups, and drama. Some people just like creating drama and others just use you. These people are not true friends. Before we consider someone as a best, or a close friend, we have to learn their personality. Sometimes you can easily figure out if you want a person to be your best friend. But that's not always the case. Situations come up in which your "best friend" could surprise you.
Okay for example, lets say you and your friend have known each other for a few months. And you guys love hanging out with each other. It's like the perfect friendship. But then your friend finds someone else and wants to hang out with that person. Slowly, she starts to avoid you sometimes. She doesn't talk to you when she's with her other friend. But then when other friend is gone, she comes back to you. Yup, she was using you. But you're so upset because you guys were so close and she was like a picture perfect friend. You guys had so many years ahead of you. And you could have spent it together. But it's over and you have to find someone else. Just make sure, you choose your friend even more wisely. And don't consider them your best friend right away. It takes more than just a few months.
2) "Think Before You Speak"- So you're chilling with your friend and you guys are having a conversation about some people and you say something extremely bad about someone, something like "she's so annoying! She laughs too much". Your friends laugh at what you say and you go on because you enjoy the attention and you don't think about the consequences. The person you called "annoying" has helped you in the past. But, of course, you forgot about the good traits about that person. SO a couple of months pass by and the girl you called annoying stops talking to you. She doesnt even look at you and gives you the meanest looks when you pass by her. You sit next to her and you say "hi" to her but she gives you a disgusted look. And then you remember what you said about her, only its too late. Somehow, she found out what you said. We live in a small world and things spread extremely fast. This was just an example but things like this happen. You say things about someone which causes problems.
3)"Dont Give Up!"- Yes we hear this all the time. But it's true. Never say never. Just keep trying and never give up. One time there was an essay contest. It was for the whole New York City and it was from grades 5-8. I was in 5th grade at that time. So i wrote the essay and i was like "What's the point?"But i kept on writing and i tried to write a really good essay. And guess what?? I WON! Out of the whole New York City. The video is on youTube btw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF-q8OIeVmE

Dont Worry Too Much

Many people worry and constantly try to prevent bad things from happening to them. their worries often take over their peace and happiness. But as believers we should not worry. We should know that if anything goes wrong, it might be a test for us.
“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

We should also remember that our problems in this life are not permanent because we are not permanent. This world is not forever. 

Also, if anything bad happens to a believer he should be positive.

The Prophet (saws) said, “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).  

Make Dua, by Waresa

For comfort and cure
relief and peace
help, satisfaction, and happiness
make du'a

For removal of sins
sadness and despair
all you have to do is make du'a

For wishes to be granted
blessings to be showered on you
make du'a

For protection, health, wealth, and safety
and to be provided,
make du'a.

For solutions to problems,
      cures to pains and struggles,
        relief from stress,
       make du'a.

Du'a is truly a beautiful blessing
it's a way to communicate with Allah                          
at any time of the day or night.

Du'a is the key to strong faith
happiness and a better fate.

It's a form of worship
it's empowering and fulfilling
it gives hopes to hardships
cures to concerns
patience with problems
so don't forget to make du'a.


COPYRIGHT Muslim And I Know It 

Hold on to Your Candle

Picture this,

You are in the dark jungle and the only thing you are given is a candle. You must make your way across the jungle and ignore the other things like animals, bugs, noises, etc. After the jungle there is a place filled with light and peace. So to pass the jungle you need this candle. It's your only light and it will help you see in the dark jungle. You are walking with the candle in your hand and then it gets windy. You quickly cover the candle and make sure it doesn't blow away with the wind. Then you keep walking, and after a while it starts raining. You immediately cover the candle and make sure it is still lit. You will do anything to keep the candle safe in order to pass the jungle and enter a place filled with light. You would not get distracted by other things. If you saw a bunch of fireflies, you wouldn't just let go of the candle and follow the fireflies. 

Now think about reality. The candle is like our faith in Allah. The jungle is this world. The distractions are waswaas (evil thoughts from Shaytan), the fireflies are the worldly desires and attractions. The place of peace is like Paradise. You would not give your candle away,  because it's your only way to pass the jungle; likewise, you would try to hold on to your Imaan (faith in Allah) because it's your only way to Paradise (Jannah).

-Tajreen 

Pallete Expander Taken Off

A metal expander in your mouth
Struggle and pain
It's called a pallet expander
It's really insane

It helps you
And fixes your bite
But trust me
It can ruin your life

You talk really funny
As though there's a cage on your tongue
People don't understand
They think you're really dumb

It makes your bite even and your upper jaw wide
It makes your bones expand and your teeth easily slide

But this is a little metal monster
That traps your tongue
You cant pronounce letters
And you can't have much fun

But when the expander comes off
After what seems like a year
Your tongue comes out
And is released from jail
So there's no more need to wail



Copyright Muslim and I Know it

Disasters and Calamities

 Disasters and calamities are a test of the believer’s patience.

Calamities happen for many reasons. When you are going through a hardship you should not ask questions or be impatient. Instead, you should be patient and say "Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return". Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un  (Arabic: إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ‎).

“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, ‘When (will come) the Help of Allah?’ Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!”

[al-Baqarah 2:214] 

Books I Strongly Recommend

Have you ever wanted to read chapter books with Muslim characters? These books written by Umm Zakiyyah will leave you in awe and wonder. You'll be so intrigued that once you read a few pages you wont be able to put the book down :)

If I Should Speak, Umm Zakiyyah
A Voice, Umm Zakiyyah
A Friendship Promise, Umm Zakiyyah

If you want to learn more about Islam, i recommend these books:
What Islam is All About, Yahiya Emerick

*I will be adding more books to this list, InshaAllah :)

Poetry Contest Winner 2014

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Poetry Contest is Naila Ali. Congratulations Naila!

Water

Such a simple subject,

yet an ingredient to survival.

Gulp it down,

Fill that glass. 

Quenched that thirst,

It has passed.

A clear substance

H2O,

given to you!

From a river flow.

But where did that river come from?

Why, thank Allah, the one and only.

Amazing and a gift for us.

One of life's big musts.

So,be grateful for water,

Because let me tell you something

Not everyone is as lucky.

The fault of something that they are lacking.

And that something is pure water.

Whatever that reason may be,

Know that you should be grateful for the water that you can have and see.

- Naila 

The Tale of Two Frogs

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. All of the other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead.

Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs began to jump with all of their might. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two frogs wouldn't be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible.

The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead. The two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could, and after several hours of desperate effort were quite weary.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died as the others looked on in helpless grief. The other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted.

His companions began a new, yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and - wonder of wonders! Finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?" Reading their lips, the astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and that when he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had perceived as encouragement inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds.

This simple story contains a powerful lesson. Your encouraging words can lift someone up and help him or her make it through the day. Your destructive words can cause deep wounds; they may be the weapons that destroy someone's desire to continue trying - or even their life. Your destructive, careless word can diminish someone in the eyes of others, destroy their influence and have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them

Poetry Contest!

POETRY CONTEST

Assalamualaikum everyone! Dont miss your chance to enter this Poetry Contest. Write a poem about any topic you want and then send it to iwaresa@aol.com. The winner's poem will be posted on Muslim and I Know It, islamisourlife4.blogspot.com. 

Deadline: Sept. 10, 2014

The winner will be announced on Sept 15th 2014. Have fun!

 Dont miss this opportunity for your poem to be featured on my blog!

Poisons Of The Heart

Unnecessary and harmful speech, unrestrained glances, and overindulgence in food, and bad company have the strongest negative impact upon the heart's functioning.

Unnecessary and Harmful Speech
"A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah, without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise his or her ranks (of reward); a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah, without thinking of its gravity, and because of that, he or she will be thrown into the hellfire." (recorded by Bukhari)

 Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd: Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him." 

Guarding the mouth and tongue means protecting it from unlawful speech such as lying, backbiting, slandering, cursing, quarreling and the like. This also includes abstaining from foods and drinks which are unlawful.

Once words are spoken, they can cause extreme harm, which can be difficult to remedy. 

Unrestrained glances

In relation to modesty and protecting the private parts, Allah (swt) mentions the commandment to lower the gaze and avert it from anything that is unlawful.

24:30 Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.

24:31 And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

 Gazing at unlawful things may provoke the heart to evil such as attraction and desires, which may then lead a person towards forbidden behavior in order to fulfill those desires.

"Shaitan enters with the glance, for he travels with it, faster than the wind blowing through an empty place. He makes what is seen appear more beautiful than it really is, and transforms it into an idol for the heart to worship. Then he promises it false rewards, lights the fire of desires within it, and fuels it with the wood of forbidden actions, which the servant of Allah would not have committed had it not been for this distorted image."

Falling into these traps distracts the heart and leads one to forget more important matters, such as remembrance and obedience of Allah.
 It can also make the heart become blind due to disobedience, which makes it unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Overindulgence of Food

The believer is instructed in both the Qur'an and Sunnah to avoid excess in food and drink. Allah (swt) says, "...Eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess." (Qur'an 7:31).

Excess in eating leads to laziness in fulfilling obilgatory duties such as praying, as well as other recommended acts.