ARE YOU GROWING?

Bismil Laahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laahi wa barkaatuh

As always, I emphasize on showing gratitude to Allah azza wa jal for everything. Alhamdu lil Laah for the blessing of Islam. My mum is the type who’d always recognize the minutest of blessings (that is if it is minute at all) and thank and praise Allah for it and I am trying to learn that as well. You should too.

Are you growing?

So, when I ask you the question above, what are you going to say? Are you going to tell me your age? (I guess people aren’t so comfortable telling others their age, heheheee). Or would you start telling me about the increment in your height, weight and all (or even the grey in your hair, heheheee)? Well, I did ask someone this question and she gave me an awesome answer. Do you want to know the answer she gave? Smiles… I’m going to put someone on our plate for some dissection… (not in the real sense of the word though). I want us to take a walk through a portion of her life to see what the growth I’m talking about is.

When I got to know her

A fresh level 100 students I encountered. A pretty lady. She dressed just like any other person (not Hijab). She wears the jeans, skirts, small tops and all. But one thing I noticed, she kind of ties her hair with a scarf most of the times I saw her (when I say kind of, then you should know that it wasn’t proper hair cover, lol. I’m not judging. Trying make a point). And she tells me a long time after I’d encountered her that even with the hair cover; she was not doing it when she came the first time to the University. She used to leave her hair for public scrutiny until a course mate of hers who was a Muslim and who found out that she was also a Muslim cautioned her against not covering her hair. So she started covering it. And oh! She used to add artificial hair to her hair and all.

She started growing

Soon, she fell in love with Islam and its activities. Then she began to cover her hair. Amazing, right? It was really lovely watching her grow together with a very good friend of hers. Her initial style of hijab was that she could wear tight jeans, a short top with or without long sleeves and then she’d wrap some small and mostly transparent veil around her head and neck. Then anytime I saw her, we’d laugh together at how ‘hijabious’ she looked. And oh! Sometimes, when she needed to be where the hijab seemed a no, she would simply do away with it.

Soon, her hijab started getting better. She cared for the Hijab details. And that is just the physical aspect of her advancement in deen. Her interest began switching from all else to watching and listening to Islamic lectures. And then when she finds out something isn’t right in Islam, she stops immediately. She would ask so many questions on what to do as a Muslim on some issues. It was extremely heart-cooling seeing her progress.

And now I remember once a facebook sister whom I have grown very close to telling me;

‘Rubaba, I never knew adding artificial hair to my own was not allowed in Islam and I’ve been doing it all these while. I just cut all of the hair right now after finding out.’

Well, she said it with the kind of remorse that I cannot express in words. And this woman (Oh yes! She is a mother with kids who is just trying now to get better because she was never given the opportunity to discover true Islam as a child) is one of the examples of people I could as well put on our table for dissection.

Back to the one I was talking about earlier…

She is still growing

If I should show you this lady we are talking about today and then you knew her some years back, all that you are going to do is marvel at how Allah azza wa jal is able to transform a human being as much as He wishes. Studying Islam and putting its teachings into practice is now her only passion. She would hear of nothing else. 

This is what I call growth… real growth. Not just an increment in age, height, weight and all. Those are just physical changes. But real growth is displayed in this adorable friend and sister of mine. She was in a kind of world that was exactly at par with Islam and its teachings even though she was Muslim. Then she took a step on the Islamic ladder and today, she just keeps going higher and higher the steps. It is my ardent prayer that she gets to the highest in shaa Allah. Aameen. And I pray the same for myself and for you and for everyone. Aameen.

Could you grow like that?

Well, a lot of people have similar stories to tell. Do you remember the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam and how much they had grown in faith from the beginning of Islam until their end? It is amazing. Did you know that Omar ibn Al-Khattab, radiyal Laahu anhu, was on his way to kill the noble Prophet Muhammad suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam when Allah azza wa jal blessed him with His guidance unto the path of Islam? Your head will definitely blow off when you analyze the growth of the man, radiyal Laahu anhu, in Islam, Imaan and Ihsaan. He was an epitome of Taqwa.

In that same way, each one of us has an opportunity so far as he or she is not dead to grow… the real growth. The growth in which one gets better and better. And of course, in this growth, there are challenges that might draw one backwards but with Allah azza wa jal as the One and Only Helper, one will definitely sail through and get back to climbing higher and higher.

All that you need to do

All that you need to do is du’a. Du’a that is sincerely from your heart. Ask Allah azza wa jal for guidance unto His path and hope in His positive response in shaa Allah. May Allah azza wa jal be our Guard and Guide always. Do not forget that you need to put in a lot of efforts to stop the things that are against the rules of Islam. You might be used to some so much that you will find it difficult letting it go but with determination to live as Allah wills, you will be able to let go if you tried hard.

The answer she gave when I asked whether she was growing?

Khalida Jafar says; Yes, she is growing and why she says so is because of the following:

1.      I have grown and continue to grow in my understanding of people

2.      Appreciating what is around me

3.      In being patient with people though it is my greatest weakness

4.      I have grown and I am growing in my relationship with Allah

5.      I have grown and I am growing in my not making this world my focus

6.      I have and continue to appreciate how insignificant this dunya is

7.      Also, I have grown and I am growing in finding my sense of self-worth as a human being

Now, that to me is real growth. What would your answer be? Have you grown and are you growing in this direction? If no, then you can always start growing now. If yes, thumbs up and there is more to grow about than you have already grown so keep it up. If you are rather retrogressing, then we have a major problem.

Retrogressing

So, we were neighbours in my Hall in level 100 (I am telling a story). She always dressed decently (not in hijab). Her hair is always covered; her skirts up to her feet, her tops cover her bosom and all. Soon, she started wearing what was popularly worn by others. The tight jeans and baby tops. Then it sadly came to the very short skirts and shorts. And then show your breasts and it kept getting worse and worse (I am not judging her, I am only telling a story). It was indeed sad watching someone trek such a path. I never saw her get better again until now. I hope and pray she retreated. Aameen. But such is the challenge in our world today. May Allah save us from it. Aameen.

And there are some who were deep into the deen who have suddenly gone off the path. They let the Dunya take them for a joke. May Allah azza wa jal safeguard us from this kind of fate. Aameen.

A Necessity 

We all need to keep assessing our growth. Pick out some bad that you have noticed about yourself and try to overcome it with du’a and action. You could choose a mentor to help you in doing that if you deem it necessary. Each one of us needs to do some self-assessment always and we should never ever think that we are perfect. There is no one like that at the moment. We all have our shortfalls and our ability to recognize, acknowledge and work on them is in itself a great victory for us. We must always think that we are the worst of people in the sight of Allah in order to get gingered to always do that which pleases Him…growth.

Imagine how much Asiya bint Muzahim radiyal Laahu anhaa grew in her believe in the message of Prophet Musah alayhis salaam so much that even when her husband tortured her severely, she still found solace in Allah and she smiled in her torture because Allah showed her, her home in Jannah. May we be blessed as she was. Aameen.

So, that is a really long story. I just really hope that you have gotten what I am driving at and you are going to work on growing up from today until the end. Remember to remember me in your du’a always. May Allah azza wa jal continue to draw us closer and closer to Him. Aameen.

Taqabbalul Laahu minnaa; may Allah accept from us. Aameen. And as always, I want to let you know again with all sincerity that I love you fiisabi lil Laah and will always do so far as you remain on the deen. And I pray that Allah will be a witness to this love. And may He love us even more. Aameen. May He sustain us on His path always. Aameen.

Jazaakumul Laahu khair always!

Islam Forever in shaa Allah!

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laah!

Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

www.mmahajia.blogspot.com

DO NOT DARE QUESTION HIM!

Bismil Laahir Rahmaanir Raheem!

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laahi wa barkaatuh brothers and sisters.

Do you know the most blessed person right now?

Who could this person really be? Anybody among your family members or friends? Who? Now, if you asked me this; I’d say that indeed you are the most blessed person right now. I believe with all certainty that no one is more blessed than I am and I really think you should believe the same for yourself too (not in an arrogant way though).

The blessings in each of our lives are such that if we were going to concentrate on them, we’d realize that we could not see anyone as blessed as us and then we will find that showing gratitude to Allah, Our Creator and Owner, is easiest today both with our lips and limbs. 

Why You are the One!

Ok, take a seat and do some pondering (I believe in pondering). Start with your body, your mind, your heart, etc and then extend to your environment. You might have some deformities but the moment you are able to read what I am writing, then you couldn’t be more deformed than the person who can only stay in bed and do nothing else (Check out the woman Tayyaba Beg and the situation of her children on facebook). But even that person believes that he or she is blessed because the person has an opportunity of life.

The most amazing of all of the ‘whys’ you are the one is that you have ‘opportunity.’ If you are a Muslim who believes in Laa ilaaha illal Laah Muhammadur Rasu lil Laah, then that is indeed your greatest blessing and your opportunity here is that; you could decide now to truly dedicate your life to its purpose; Worship. That is; no matter what your sin has been before, you could change everything by true repentance: regret, remorse and seeking forgiveness from Allah azza wa jal. That is a blessing compared to no other. If you aren’t Muslim, then you have the opportunity to start believing now so far as you are breathing. That is a blessing that those who are died in their disbelieve never had.

Allah azza wa jal tells us in Surah Ibraaheem ayah 34 that;

‘And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favour of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.’

And if you want to challenge the veracity of what Allah azza wa jal has said; ‘If you want to count His favours on you, you cannot enumerate them,’ then pick a pen and a paper and start making a list of your blessings (something I would not encourage you to do though).

The problem will only be with what you see as a favour from Allah and what you do not see as a favour. If for you, favours are; Posh houses and cars, fat bank accounts, highly paying jobs, etc., then we will definitely have a problem of counting your blessings but if the air you breath, your finger nails and toes, your ability to see and speak and all of that are deemed blessings to you (which should be so) then indeed your blessings will be absolutely uncountable. Trust Allah azza wa jal on that and on anything else.

A Caution

Now, whenever you want to whine, think again about the above and others which are not mentioned here and quickly stop the whining and show gratitude to Allah azza wa jal instead. He tells us in Surah Ibraaheem ayah 7 that;

‘And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'

That says it all for the grateful and ungrateful ones among us. We all know what to expect. May Allah favour us with the ability to show as much gratitude as possible to Him. Aameen.

Now, let’s get to the main issue here (don’t worry, I’m a woman and women are noted to mostly not go straight to the point, heheheee).

Would you question Allah over that which He has given another?

Now, how do you question Allah azza wa jal on such a matter? Subhaanal Laah! Could you really dare do that? Is it really possible that you could tell Allah, Al-‘Alim, that He does not know best to give you and others what He should give you? Nastagfirul Laah! I guess none of us in our right senses will dare trek that route because we do not want to face the consequences at all. But just look at this scenario…

SCENARIO

Ali and Abu are very good Muslim young men of the same age range and they live in the same vicinity. Ali has a very good wife and a child. He has a good paying job, his own house and a car. He lives his life very comfortably. Abu on the other hand lives a hard life. He does not have a wife or a child. He does not have a house or a car. His job pays him only a little and makes it difficult for him to survive.

IMAGINE ONE

Abu is frustrated (perhaps he is even more religious than Ali) as he sees Ali, his mate doing great. He sees himself as a failure in life compared to Ali. He wishes badly that he could have a wife, child, house, car, and job like Ali’s but no matter how hard he tries, it just doesn’t happen to him.

RESPONSE

1.      In Abu’s frustration, he wishes badly that since he could not have all that Ali had, then Ali should lose it all so that they would all become the same. He also wishes that he will be given all that and then Ali will lose it all so that he will become better than Ali. So at any point in time, he is not happy for Ali and all that his heart is filled with is Ali’s downfall.

2.      Abu is patient with his situation. He thanks and praises Allah for his situation and that of his friend. He prays for increase in baraka for Ali and prays that his situation also gets better if Allah wills. He is genuinely happy to hear any good thing that comes on Ali’s way and shares in his joy. He is very sad whenever something bad happens to Ali. He puts into action the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam that;

"Do not have malice against a Muslim; do not be envious of other Muslims; do not go against a Muslim and forsake him. O the slave of Allah! Be like brothers with each other. It is not allowed for a Muslim to desert his brother for over three days."

Muslim & Tirmidhi

He does not even believe that Ali is more blessed than he is because he believes, upon all his hardships that; he is the most blessed person. That is because what he considers blessings are beyond material gains; He has true contentment.

IMAGINE TWO

Ali is so pleased with his comfortable life that anytime he saw Abu, he wondered why his life was different. He is happy with all that he has; his wife, child, house, car, job, etc.

RESPONSE

1.      Ali looks down on Abu because of his supposed success in life. He sees himself as more blessed than him. He does not want to have anything to do with him because he believes Abu belonged to the lower class. He begins to think that perhaps Abu is having such a tough time due to some bad that he did to Allah and all.

2.      Ali is very humble and he sees himself as no better than Abu because he believes that what he has are just worldly gains and he knows that true success goes beyond material gains in this life as Allah says in Surah Al-Maaidah, the Table Spread with Food, Chapter 5 ayah 119 that;

"This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) - they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise).

He also believes that his wealth, spouse and child are a blessing in this life for which he must give absolute gratitude to Allah. Anytime he sees Ali who had none of that; he is reminded to thank Allah for giving him all that He had favoured him with and as much as he is able, he tries to help Abu. Allah tells us;

"And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he (will please Us) who believes, and does righteous deeds; for such (people), there will be a double reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (of Paradise), in peace and security."

Surah Saba, Sheba, Chapter 34 ayah 37

ANALYSIS

In RESPONSE ONE for both

We see Abu clearly questioning Allah, the Knower of Everything, for making him lack the things that Abu has. He is also making it seem that Allah does not know best how to allocate resources because He gave Ali what he, Abu, best deserves. Nastagfirul Laah! May we never ever have such an attitude. Aameen. 

We also see Ali showing clears signs of arrogance like that of Fir’aun. He does not think too far. He believes that it might be due to his efforts that he has all his blessings which is a grave mistake. He does not know that Allah could change his situation as he did the arrogant man who owned the garden in Surah Kahf (Check it out, Chapter 18). Indeed, we pray against being like this also. Aameen.

In RESPONSE TWO for both

Now, we see true Muslims here. Abu who understands exactly what blessings are does not ‘envy’ his brother for his gains. He is genuinely happy for his success and sad whenever he has a problem. That is what as true believers we should be like. May Allah make us so. Aameen.

Ali also displays the character of a true Muslim. The situation of Abu reminds him of nothing but his need to thank Allah. He is humble and understands that he is not better than Abu and Abu is not better than him except in piety. May Allah make us like that also. Aameen. 

The Prophet Muhammad suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam tells us that;

He has weak faith until that person loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

    

Bukhari

Facts We Must Seek to Understand

There is always someone who will have more of this material world than you. Some of these material things are just glittery and not gold (it isn’t up to you to find that out though). What we have to understand is that we are tests unto one another. 

Looking at the scenario above, Ali’s situation is a test unto Abu and Abu’s situation is also a test unto Ali. If someone has more material gains than you, that person is a test unto you. If you begin to envy that person for what Allah azza wa jal has decided to give him or her, then you have a big problem to deal with. If you however feel happy in your heart for the person, then alhamdu lil Laah. When you have it all too and you see someone who does not have as much as you do, then your test begins. The moment you begin to look down on the person, then there is a big problem. However, if that person reminds you of your blessings and you humbly thank and praise Allah for your favours, then alhamdu lil Laah.

Whatever it is that our test is in this life, we must always remember the saying of the Prophet suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam that;

“How amazing is the affair of the believer. There is good for him in everything and that is for no one but the believer. If good times come his way, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him, and if hardship comes his way, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.”

[Muslim]

May we be among those who apply the gratitude and patience strategy to all that happens to us, good or bad. Aameen.

One of the greatest benefits of seeing yourself as the most blessed and not envying others for what they have of material things is gaining ‘contentment.’ And to me, contentment is the solution to all of our problems. We gain contentment by constantly remembering Allah as He tells us in Surah Ar-Ra’ad, the Thunder, Chapter 13 ayah 28 that;

Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."

And the Prophet suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam said;

“Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul.”

Bukhari & Muslim

You’ve had a long read. Jazaakumul Laahu khair. May Allah make us among those who love for one another that which they love for themselves and may He never make us among those who envy others for that which He has given them. Aameen. I love you fiisabi lil Laah and may Allah love us more. Aameen.

Jazaakumul Laahu khair

Islam Forever in shaa Allah

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatul Laah

Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

www.mmahajia.blogspot.com

USE ME AS A TOOL

Bismil Laahir Rahmaanir Raheem!

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatul Laah! Alhamdu lil Laah for favouring us with the blessing of Islam.

So, let me go straight to the point today. 

A question: When you pray to Allah, what do you ask of Him?

Do you ask Allah for wealth, children, a job, a spouse, etc? Well, as humans, we are always in need of something from our Creator and Owner. May He grant us that which will be beneficial for us in this Dunya and the Akhira. Aameen.

I once had the opportunity to talk with Dr Katumi Mahama (Do you know her? If you don’t, you might want to find her out) in her house for hours. A beautiful time full of lessons I had with her. She had described this woman who inspired this article as;

‘That woman has faith!’

And I wish I could write it the way she said it; with so much passion and a faraway look. She had gone on and on to tell me about the challenges this woman had been through and how she had witnessed her handle those tough times; with firm faith.

This woman (the inspirer of this article that is) tells me one day long after my encounter with Dr Katumi;

‘Just when I sensed that something bad had happened? I quickly climbed the stairs and went to offer two raka’at…’

That is just a minute bit of the faith this woman has and how she responded to her tests and trials in life. I have, since Dr Katumi had described her as a woman of faith come to witness this faith in her. She might not even have an idea just how much of that faith I see in her. I describe her as;

‘Faith walking.’

And indeed it is true because apart from her, I could say same about a number of people I’ve met. Some people blow your mind with their understanding and practice of the deen so much so that you begin to wonder what it is that you are doing in service of Allah Robbil Arshil Azeem. They are people we need to learn from in detail because serving Allah azza wa jal is the only means to true inner peace and contentment; this I say with certainty.

One day someone made a comment about the seemingly luxurious lives of these women especially this woman who inspired this write-up and I had told him;

‘If you knew this woman as I do, you will know that all of the luxuries you see her with do not go anywhere to define her nature.’

And I had truly wondered; the more reason why we should not judge a book by its cover.

Now, enough of that; that isn’t my interest in this article anyway. One day, at a Halal Talk with a couple of Muslim ladies, a lot of things had come up. We spoke on the issue of Role Modeling and Mentoring of the Muslimah and this woman (Hajia Samia, don’t worry if you don’t know her) was with us the younger ladies (And of course, just call her in the name of Allah and she is coming).

In the course of the talk she said;

‘For me, when I pray, I tell Allah: Use me as a tool.’

Now, wait and let it really seep in. How do you understand this du’a?

My Understanding of the Du’a

I understand this du’a in two ways;

1.      Use me to do your work

Imagine you wanted to cut some vegetables. You enter the kitchen, pick up the knife and start cutting the vegetables. In the end you get your cutting work done with the use of your tool; the knife. 

Allah, Al-Waahid, sent Messengers, Prophets, to teach the people His ways. The Messengers were the tools of Allah azza wa jal with which He does His work; teaching the Aalameen (all that exists) whom He is.

Praying to Allah azza wa jal to use one as a tool for me means that you want Him to use you to get His message across to people; Da’awah. So, would you make it your du’a? Ooooh that would be great! May Allah make it so for you. Aameen.

2.      Use me in any way you please

Let us go back to the knife again. You enter your kitchen, pick up your knife and decide to use it for whatever you want; cutting, stabbing (and what will you be stabbing? lol), etc.

A slave of Allah is totally content to be used in any way Allah azza wa jal pleases so far as he or she does not end up displeasing Allah. This is the aspect in which I see tests and trials of the slave. If Allah azza wa jal is using you as He pleases, He might hurt you in so many ways to see how you would respond as He says;

‘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, who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return."

Surah Al-Baqarah, the Cow, Chapter 2 ayah 155 and 156

A slave of Allah is however very determined to pass the tests and trials of Allah; from it the slave derives so much pleasure and contentment. 

The Prophet Muhammad suallal Laahu alayhi wa sallam said;

“How amazing is the affair of the believer. There is good for him in everything and that is for no one but the believer. If good times come his way, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him, and if hardship comes his way, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.”

[Muslim]

This Hadith says it all for my second understanding of the du’a; ‘Use me as a tool.’

What Kind of Tool are You?

Now, let us talk about you! What kind of a tool are you? Are you a positive tool or a negative one?

Positive and Negative Tool

The knife aids in dishes yet it could cause great destruction; it could even kill. Every human being has the potential of being a source of goodness. A Muslim could be an ambassador of Islam by portraying the right Islam to everyone. You could decide to subject yourself wholly to the sole purpose of your life; worship. That is the positive tool. May we be favoured with the blessing of being such tools. Aameen. You could do otherwise. You could decide to be that Muslim who lives exactly against the rules of Allah azza wa jal and make others believe that Islam is a bad religion. That is being a negative tool. May Allah safeguard us against that. Aameen.

From this woman I learn great lessons and I hope and pray that this du’a of hers has sent a positive message to you today. Taqabbalul Laahu minhaa (May Allah accept from her). Aameen.

May Allah use us as His tools and make us content with that. Aameen.

Never ever settle for a dead heart and remember to always take advantage of your life before your death to worship Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa. I love you fiisabi lil Laah and may Allah love us more. Aameen.

Jazaakumul Laahu khair always!

Islam Forever in shaa Allah!

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatul Laah!

Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

www.mmahajia.blogspot.com