Reflections For Myself

Be mindful of Allāh - Sheikh Said Al Kamali

> Complain to Allāh, not about Allāh. When Yaʿqūb عليه السلام lost Yūsuf, he wept until he lost his sight. And when told to stop, he replied: إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ‎(Qur’ān 12:86) Pain is not a lack of faith, it’s where faith turns to its source. Mawlānā Tahir Talati

After what has been, and still is, the hardest year of my life, I’ve realised that there is no inherently good or bad decree in this life. If Allah blesses you, but that blessing distracts you and distances you from Him, or makes you forget why you’re actually here, then that blessing is in fact your trial and calamity, no matter how glamorous it may seem. It is your greatest tragedy. And if Allah tests you with hardships, yet that hardship brings you closer to Him than ever before, and forces you to put your trust, certainty and reliance entirely on Him alone, then that trial is your blessing in disguise, no matter how unbearable it feels. That trial is the best thing for you in that moment. It is your greatest gift although you may not see it. We act as if this life is the reward itself, when it is in reality the trial. It is not the destination. It is the journey. Whether Allah blesses you or trials you, it is all the same. They are just means. What truly matters is your response to them. Your response is the metric by which good and bad outcomes are measured in this world. It is the only deciding factor. Success in this life is not in the blessing itself nor in the trial itself, but in how much closer it brings you to Allah and how often it causes you to turn to Him. There is no good or bad outside of Allah. Everything is judged by where it places you in relation to Him. The One who decrees all decrees and ordains all outcomes. In the Qur’ān, Allah describes both Sulayman and Ayyub عليهما السلام in the exact same way. Sulayman, the one who was granted all the riches of this world, immense power and might, huge armies and a kingdom unlike any other king has ever been given, the one for whom Allah subjugated the winds and harnessed the Jinn and granted access to the animal kingdom. And Ayyub, who was tested with the loss of his health, wealth, and family, the one who lost everything and was stricken with sickness and poverty. For BOTH of them, Allah referred to them in the same way: For Sulayman عليه السلام: نعم العبد إنه أواب What an excellent servant he was, always returning back to Allah. [38:30] For Ayyub عليه السلام: نعم العبد إنه أواب What an excellent servant he was, always returning back to Allah. [38:44] Two lives which were opposite in every way, and yet both are honoured with the same title in the final revelation to recited by billions until the end of time. Their circumstances were not the measure of their success. Rather what united them both in prosperity and adversity was their constant return to Allah. They kept turning back to Him without fail. The word أوّاب is derived from the فعّال form, which indicates not just turning back once but a constant, intense and repeated returning. A perpetual turning to Allah again and again, wholeheartedly and without hesitation and regardless of the circumstance. The Messenger ﷺ said: عجبا لأمر المؤمن، إن أمره كله خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن، إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيرا له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيرا له. How amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter, and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful and that is good for him. If adversity strikes him, he is patient and that is good for him. [Sahih Muslim] For both stages of life, السراء والضراء ease and hardship, the only solution is to turn to Allah and keep returning to Him. Whether out of gratitude or out of desperation, it doesn’t matter. In every scenario, the answer remains the same: to constantly and sincerely turn to Allah. Next time Allah blesses you or tests you, try to take a moment to pause and reflect on whether it is truly a blessing or a trial, and then remember that it is determined by your response to it. [Almujawwidah]

Social media has made us so eager to “show and tell” but there is beauty in privacy. Everything isn’t meant to be on display. It’s perfectly fine to keep some things for you.

A reminder

Qārī Uzair Ahmadje Taraweeh Recitation

﷽ When a poet reminded the biggest emperor of his time of how futile his life and achievements are.

How to know if Allāh loves me Shaykh Abdul-Salam Al-Shuwayir حفظه الله

Indeed, the nature of this dunya is fleeting and temporary. No matter how much we acquire or achieve, it will all come to an end. Material possessions, moments of joy, and even our very existence are transient. We live on borrowed time, graced with blessings that are not ours to keep forever. This realization serves as a profound reminder to focus our efforts on what truly matters: preparing for the ultimate reward that awaits us in Jannah. In this journey, the trials and tribulations we face are merely steps leading us toward eternal bliss. By keeping our eyes on the hereafter, we find solace and purpose, knowing that our true and everlasting abode is with Allāh, where His infinite mercy and grace will envelop us eternally.

Nasheed

The outcome of our lives is determined by our final actions. No matter how pious or sinful one’s life may seem, it is the conclusion that counts in the eyes of Allāh. This reality should instil in us both hope and humility—hope, because redemption is always possible, and humility, because none of us knows how we will meet our Lord. The Prophet ﷺ said: “One man does the deeds of those who go to hell but is one of those who go to paradise, and another does the deeds of those who go to paradise but is one of those who go to hell, for judgement is given according to one’s final actions.” (Bukhārī and Muslim). In light of this, it’s crucial to adopt an attitude of humility and self-awareness. Often, we are quick to judge others based on their current state or past actions, but we must remember that we do not know their true standing in the sight of Allāh. Someone who appears distant from righteousness today may surpass us in the end, just as someone who seems virtuous might falter at the last moment. Therefore, we should never consider ourselves superior to others. Instead, we should strive to see ourselves as constantly in need of improvement and guidance. [Written by Munibah at White Thread Press]

Reflections For Myself pinned a video

﷽ Fear Allāh! Fear Allāh! Fear Allāh! Have the fear of Allāh in your heart, your limbs will submit to his will. [beardedfella_]

مقامك حيث أقامك Your place is where he placed you

1. Ṣalāh - Pray five times a day to stay connected with Allāh. 2. Qur'an - Read and reflect on the Qur'ān daily. 3. Dhikr - Remember Allāh through dhikr and dua. 4. Knowledge - Seek Islamic knowledge to strengthen your understanding. 5. Community - Spend time with pious people who inspire you. 6. Gratitude - Be grateful and mindful of Allah's blessings. 7. Istighfār - Ask for forgiveness regularly.

Reflections For Myself pinned a video

﷽ This life is a test, a competition, a race! You only have one chance to get ahead, and the position you finish in, is the position you will remain in for eternity. In this race that determines your position in the hereafter, are you crawling? walking? running? Think for a moment. Know that there are those are running and never stopped and if you want their prize, start running and catch up! This means putting hard effort into your worship and obedience to Allāh, more than the effort you put into acquiring worldly possessions! The Du'ā' of the Prophet ﷺ: اللهُمّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ العَجْزِ وَالكَسَلِ Oh Allāh I seek refuge in you from inactivity and laziness. May Allāh ﷻ help us get our priorities straight! آمين يا رب العالمين [Beardedfella___]

Qur'ān Recitation - Riwāyah Khalaf Qārī' 'Adnan 'Alī (NYC)

A reminder that makes the heart tremble. Take heed before it’s too late [Beardedfella___]