Salaam to all. I'm writing again after a considerable amount of break. Well, this year has been good as well as exciting and eventful for me. Alhamdulillah. I got married :) and I am now staying in Malaysia, a Muslim country. I just wanted to share my thoughts, opinions and learning that I come across while I stay here.
One of the things I love about Malaysia is that I can get Halal food almost wherever I go. Well, not to mention that my husband has started complaining of me gaining a couple of pounds here and there *giggles*. It is only just that we get a good supply of Halal food here as the population of Muslims is really huge. Due importance and respect is given to other religions as well.
There's alot of importance given to prayer. I see many men rushing to the nearby mosques once the Azan is heard. Oh, and you spot Surau(a proper place designated just for prayer) almost in every instituion/commercial building. Each mosque is located at a stone's throwaway distance apart. The culture here is such that people usually pray. Hence, we can spot water facilities and Muslim friendly practices in common washrooms.
While having a conversation with my husband on the education system in Malaysia, I was suprised to know that kids are taught to practice the Sunnah way of living from schools. Alot of the Sunnah manners that I read in the net or from books, folks here already know.Whether thay practice it or not, depends on the individual.
I don't go out that often and I, for now, am a stay home wife. But these are all that I have come across. My parents in law are performing their Haj right now. And I request all readers to kindly doa for their safe return and for their pilgrimage to be accepted by Allah s.w.t. May the Almighty bless them with the due rewards.
Ameen.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I'm just taking a peek at you!
Dear all.. My apologies on not blogging as usual. I've started to work and its been 5 months since I started slogging for Citibank. I'm thankful that i got a job 2 weeks right after i got my results.So, i'm not going to complain even if my job overworks and underpays me.. It all happens for a reason, Alhamdullilah. I just wanted to share some thots on money management. i don't earn big bucks. But, no matter how small, or how big, money management is very very important.
Alhamdullilah, i have started to donate more now. more for the less fortunate, more for religious function. i have learnt that Allah has blessed me more than what i need because he wants to test if i care to share :)
I have started making a list of each expenditure i make. even the smallest. In that way, i keep track of my outward funds and i won't be alarmed when my bank balance hits low at the end of the month.
Another way i manage my money is to keep thinking that 'This is too expensive'. i know, i'm cheating myself. Lol. Before i started working, i felt that a watch that costs SGD50 is expensive. Now that i earn, i can afford that easily. But, to refrain myself from spending on materialistic stuff, i still keep thinking that the SGD50 watch is expensive!
We have to be thankful for the money we have today, that we did not have yesterday. Allah tests us through children and money, my mom used to say. So, even if we earn a million per day, Always remember that what we have today is all that we owe to Allah. We are not gonna take it with us when we go, but we each cent is accountable.
Think twice before you spend a cent, cos there are many who can't even afford that.
Alhamdullilah, i have started to donate more now. more for the less fortunate, more for religious function. i have learnt that Allah has blessed me more than what i need because he wants to test if i care to share :)
I have started making a list of each expenditure i make. even the smallest. In that way, i keep track of my outward funds and i won't be alarmed when my bank balance hits low at the end of the month.
Another way i manage my money is to keep thinking that 'This is too expensive'. i know, i'm cheating myself. Lol. Before i started working, i felt that a watch that costs SGD50 is expensive. Now that i earn, i can afford that easily. But, to refrain myself from spending on materialistic stuff, i still keep thinking that the SGD50 watch is expensive!
We have to be thankful for the money we have today, that we did not have yesterday. Allah tests us through children and money, my mom used to say. So, even if we earn a million per day, Always remember that what we have today is all that we owe to Allah. We are not gonna take it with us when we go, but we each cent is accountable.
Think twice before you spend a cent, cos there are many who can't even afford that.
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Honest Gardener
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A believer’s natural disposition might comprise any trait other than treachery and untruthfulness.” [Ahmed]
In the following story we have a beautiful example of the honest character of a believer (Momin). Ibraheem bin Adhem was the king of Balkh before he exchanged his kingdom for the life of an ascetic worshipper.
One day Ibraheem bin Adhem was working as a gardener when his master asked him to give him some pomegranates. He brought several, but they were all sour. His employer said, “You have been in my employment for such a long time, and yet you do not know which of the pomegranates is sweet?” Ibraheem answered, “I was employed to tend them, not to taste them; then how can I know which ones are sweet?”
In the following story we have a beautiful example of the honest character of a believer (Momin). Ibraheem bin Adhem was the king of Balkh before he exchanged his kingdom for the life of an ascetic worshipper.
One day Ibraheem bin Adhem was working as a gardener when his master asked him to give him some pomegranates. He brought several, but they were all sour. His employer said, “You have been in my employment for such a long time, and yet you do not know which of the pomegranates is sweet?” Ibraheem answered, “I was employed to tend them, not to taste them; then how can I know which ones are sweet?”
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Friends of Allah
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah Most High says, ‘He who is hostile to a friend (wali) of Mine I declare war against. My slave approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory for him, and My slave keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.’” [Sahih Bukhari]
Allah’s friends are those who are constant and sincere in obedience to Him. A friend (wali) of Allah is one who is close to Him because of his devotion to Him, through obeying His commands and shunning the acts which he has forbidden. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) declares war, a very severe threat, against those who harass people only because of their Islam. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says that He will fight such people Himself. And whoever such a thing should happen to should expect only the worst possible things to happen to him or her.
This hadith also tells us that the Obligatory deeds (Faraid) are the most beloved to Allah. Nothing makes Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) happier than performance of Faraid and keeping away from the forbidden (Haraam) deeds. This is what makes a person a friend of Allah. We must keep the performance of Obligatory (Fard) and Recommended (Sunnah/Nafl) deeds in perspective. It is said that the Recommended amount to but one-seventieth of the value of an Obligatory act. [Reliance of the Traveller]
Thus, whoever draws near to Allah through what is Obligatory, and then through the Recommended deeds, Allah draws him nearer and elevates him from the level of true faith (iman) to the level of perfection of faith (ihsan). The consequence of this is the preservation of the individual’s whole person, so that he forsakes selfish desire and is wholly absorbed in obedience. This hadith is also a metaphor for Allah’s help and assistance, so that Allah Most High helps the Momin to perceive what He wants him to perceive and do through his limbs what He wants him to do.
When a Momin becomes a friend of Allah’s, Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) grants the Momin what he asks for. This happened to many of the early Muslims. And Allah protects such a person from whatever he fears. Whoever draws near to Allah through the above will not have his duas rejected.
Allah’s friends are those who are constant and sincere in obedience to Him. A friend (wali) of Allah is one who is close to Him because of his devotion to Him, through obeying His commands and shunning the acts which he has forbidden. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) declares war, a very severe threat, against those who harass people only because of their Islam. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says that He will fight such people Himself. And whoever such a thing should happen to should expect only the worst possible things to happen to him or her.
This hadith also tells us that the Obligatory deeds (Faraid) are the most beloved to Allah. Nothing makes Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) happier than performance of Faraid and keeping away from the forbidden (Haraam) deeds. This is what makes a person a friend of Allah. We must keep the performance of Obligatory (Fard) and Recommended (Sunnah/Nafl) deeds in perspective. It is said that the Recommended amount to but one-seventieth of the value of an Obligatory act. [Reliance of the Traveller]
Thus, whoever draws near to Allah through what is Obligatory, and then through the Recommended deeds, Allah draws him nearer and elevates him from the level of true faith (iman) to the level of perfection of faith (ihsan). The consequence of this is the preservation of the individual’s whole person, so that he forsakes selfish desire and is wholly absorbed in obedience. This hadith is also a metaphor for Allah’s help and assistance, so that Allah Most High helps the Momin to perceive what He wants him to perceive and do through his limbs what He wants him to do.
When a Momin becomes a friend of Allah’s, Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) grants the Momin what he asks for. This happened to many of the early Muslims. And Allah protects such a person from whatever he fears. Whoever draws near to Allah through the above will not have his duas rejected.
Quoting and Creating Animosity
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who stirs up enmity among people by quoting their words to each other will not enter Paradise.” [Sahih Bukhari]
It is scary to think how casually we do those deeds for which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) forbids Paradise. Jannat is an extremely beautiful and pure place. It must not be defiled by anything impure. Its reward must not be tarnished by anything ugly. That is why all such impure and dirty acts, such as backbiting and helping Muslims to dislike one another must be removed from a person before they can enter Jannah.
Impurities are removed from metals by burning in fire. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has given us the much easier option of asking for Allah’s forgiveness with sincerity, repentant of the deed and determined to try one’s best not to do it again. This will remove the stain of the sin from us and purify us so we can go to Paradise without needing to be purified by Fire.
It is scary to think how casually we do those deeds for which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) forbids Paradise. Jannat is an extremely beautiful and pure place. It must not be defiled by anything impure. Its reward must not be tarnished by anything ugly. That is why all such impure and dirty acts, such as backbiting and helping Muslims to dislike one another must be removed from a person before they can enter Jannah.
Impurities are removed from metals by burning in fire. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has given us the much easier option of asking for Allah’s forgiveness with sincerity, repentant of the deed and determined to try one’s best not to do it again. This will remove the stain of the sin from us and purify us so we can go to Paradise without needing to be purified by Fire.
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