Project 365

Your spouse is a gift of Allah to you. And to be ungrateful to a gift is to be ungrateful to Allah ‘Azza wa jal.

Your parents are a gift of Allah to you. So if you don’t have a good relationship with them, who are you actually be ungrateful to?

— Nouman Ali Khan

MasyaAllah. Yet another slap to the reality by one of my most favorite speakers. I was searching for some Islamic-related talk on YouTube about forgiving (remember, vulnerability?) and ended up listening to his lecture about Time, Love, Praise and Encouragement in Relationships. The lecture is filled with simple reminders on how to raise a kid and be a good parent and spouse.

But THAT quote really made me sick of myself. I’ve never felt so upset about myself.

Thank you ya Allah for the reminder. May Allah reward his efforts for delivering an excellent talk. And may I be constantly reminded. Amin ya rabbal alamin.

* I encourage everyone of you to watch this brilliant talk, even if you’re a non-Muslim or not religious. His other talks (of different issues) can be found on YouTube and I’ve been one of many people who have benefited from them.

These are some of the points that Sheikh Hamza Yusuf said about hijaab:

Nobody can say anybody is going to hell by not wearing a hijab. The hijab is shar’i — there’s no doubt about that. It’s not traditional. It’s part of our deen.

Women that don’t wear hijab, they’re in the state of ma’siyyat. All of us are in the state of ma’siyyat. We don’t do a lot of things that we should be doing (i.e. giving money, etc). The women taking off the hijab is only the symptom of a much bigger disease. If they choose to not wear them, that is their choice.

Muslims should get out of this obsession with women! It’s a sickness in our own hearts.

If the sisters are not wearing the hijab, her husband should be responsible for that. He own family should give her nasihat. Just lower your gaze.

We are living in the society where people walking around naked. And we are worried about somebody not wearing scarf on her head?!

A lot of Muslim men make it a hijab between women and their imaan. Not all of you are acting like sahabah and yet, you want the women to act like sahabiyat.

I challenge any of you to wear a robe and a turban one day out here. Just go and experience what it’s like to be identified as a Muslim. When you wear something that identify you as a Muslim, that itself is putting yourself in their face.

And for women it’s a lot harder. Because they have stereotypes that they are stupid, backward, ignorant — that’s the message that they’ve been given. They get stares and get laugh at.

We should have more compassion for our sisters! The reason why a lot of women are leaving Islam is because we’re chasing them out of Islam! We should have mercy on our sisters, defend them and protect them. Because they’re out there on the front line.

— Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future. Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allah’s decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere, it will never come your way, but if it is yours by destiny, from you it cannot flee.

— Umar Ibn al-Khattab

O Allah, make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness, and the purger of my anxiety.

— Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

Amin ya Rab.

A few days ago, a friend posted a link on Facebook. It’s from CNN titled: A portrait of a modern Muslim woman in Indonesia. The title of the news seemed to be interesting to me. What kind of woman did CNN pick this time?

I was not happy with the CNN’s choice, to be honest. This woman, Alia Wahid, was described as "a modern woman who also happens to be a devout Muslim" by the CNN. In the video, she’s seen socializing and drinking (alcohol) with her friends, a very typical Jakarta woman I have to say. I wish CNN could pick a smart "real devout" Muslim woman who has made contributions to the society.

At some point in the video, she was asked why she drank alcohol, when Islam prohibited her to do so. And she answered it by saying, "I’m a Muslim, but I’m not practicing it fanatically." OH MY GOD! Come again?!?!

First of all, Islam that I believe prohibits me to drink alcohol. Maybe she believes in different thing. I don’t care about what she believes in. Her relationship with God is entirely her business. But her reason was so lame. So she labeled me as fanatic. She labeled other Muslims who don’t drink as fanatics. How about those Christians, Jews, Catholics, or even atheists who choose not to drink? Does she label those people as fanatics too? Why can’t she just say that she’s a Muslim but she doesn’t practice the religion perfectly?!

I was not happy with her answer AT ALL. And I quickly commented on my friend’s post, criticizing about her ability to answer that simple question. I was so surprised that when I opened Facebook the next day, the same Alia Wahid who was on that news, replied my writing! Hahaha! What did she say?

never rely on what is implied…. good to see a bigger picture. you can’t only see the edited version and make assumptions. i have my reason, you have your reason.

So, she blamed CNN for editing the video. But the part where she answered the question wasn’t edited at all. I was kinda puzzled and I think she just didn’t know what to response to my criticism. CNN, please, next time… pick a smarter woman, okay?

And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me. And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].

— Al-Qur’an 2:41-42

Some people interpret Allah’s words in order to fit to a particular agenda. They would manipulate the texts and come up with false conclusions to achieve their notion. They do that because they are afraid of a certain elements of people, backlash, etc. They also do that in order to please some groups of people. It is clear that they are not afraid of Allah SWT, but instead, they fear for other people.

There are two extremes who contribute to the manipulation of our religion, i.e. the liberal extremes and the “angry” extremes. The liberal extremes try so hard to interpret Islam in every way they can to make the non-Muslims happy. They are not concerned about the fear towards Allah SWT, but they are more concerned about what the non-Muslims say about us. On the other hand, the angry extremes are those who are angry at the condition and the state of their Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. Their anger results in the interpretation of the Qur’an that justify their anger/actions. They would bring forward some verses of the Qur’an that can defend their actions and ignore others that say otherwise.

If the Qur’an is presented genuinely without compromise and those who explain it are not affected by any other fears except towards Allah SWT, there won’t be misunderstandings and the world would see our religion differently than today.

Taken from “Lessons & Reminders from Surah Baqarah” [YouTube] by Nouman Ali Khan

None but a noble man treats women in an honorable manner, and none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully

— Tirmidhi

Keep that in mind, boys…

The last time I went to Madinah, the huge "tents" were still under construction. They are now can be seen during the day, covering most of the outer space of the Mosque. They are massive!

As I looked through the view of the Mosque from the hotel, I realized that it would take years for me to be able to see this beautiful view again. And this might be the last time I would be here. Yes, I thought about ending my Saudi residence permit. It would be impossible for me to go back every year if I worked. Oh well, we would see what would happen next year.

I’ve just arrived here, in the city of Prophet Muhammad SAW, late at night. Dad has to do some assignments here so my mum, sis, and I tagged along :). I’ll be going to the Mosque tomorrow morning.

I got my residence permit today, alhamdulillah. I was so HAPPY. I’m going to leave for the Netherlands on Tuesday and arrive on Wednesday, insya Allah.

Fatimah is part of me. Whatever pleases her pleases me, and whatever angers her angers me.

— Prophet Muhammad SAW

I have never seen anyone whose habit, character and the manner of speech were as similar to the Prophet (SAW) as Fatimah’s. Whenever the Prophet saw her approaching, he would welcome her, stand up, kiss her, take her by the hand, and sit her down in the place where he was sitting.

— Aisha RA

It brings me to shiver every time I hear or read these quotes about the Prophet SAW and his beloved daughter, Fatimah. I envy their close relationship, to be honest :).