A Believer Never Enjoys His Sin, Never Finds His Delight Completed. Rather, Even While Committing The

«reviving the heart»

‎Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

‎ "The Qur'ān revives the heart the way water gives life to the Earth."

‎مفتاح دار السعادة–٢٥٠

The Forgotten Sister

My dear sister whom I have not met, Let me begin with my apologies for that is all I can offer, I’m sorry I can not do more than apologies, But in my dua is where your remembrance lies, I’m sorry your screams and cries go unheard of in the depths of the night, under ground in dark rooms of confinement where strangers imprison you and hurt you, I’m sorry they raped and bruised you, Broke you and shattered you, Squeezed you and shackled you, Choked you and battered you, I’m sorry I was too busy with my life, I wasted my time on my phone chilling out, Checking out what’s new and what’s old, I maybe only thought of you once every few months, Your screams I could not bare so I chose not to listen, We all overlooked you and your struggle, We kept quiet just so we don’t get in trouble, We had the answer all along, I’m sorry we’re too busy saying you and those that defend you are wrong, Once upon a time a single tear falling from your eye would have ranked and sent forth armies to your defence, But it seems as though this ummah has lost its common sense, Sometimes I imagine being in your place, But every time I do I feel like I’m lost in time and space, I admire your strength, If this test was given to just anyone they would have surely crumbled, So my dear sister I am sorry, But Alhamdulilah the ummah is slowly awakening and rising, Your relief after hardship is soon, So bear with beautiful patience, For Allah subhanu wata'ala gives His greatest tests to His strongest soldiers. الْحَمْـدُ للهِ الّذي عافاني مِمّا ابْتَـلاكَ بِهِ، وَفَضَّلَـني عَلى كَثيـرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَـقَ تَفْضـيلا Praise is to Allah, Who has spared me what He has afflicted you with, and preferred me greatly above much of what He has created. Make dua for the ummah this Ramadhan, Alhamdulilah we have it way better than others, the purpose of Ramadhan is to remember the less fortunate and the struggle and to be greatful to Allah subhanu wata'ala for all that He has blessed us with, it’s so much more than just refraining from food and drink, it’s a month of beautiful lessons and a month to feed our souls. A reminder to myself first and foremost In Sha Allah.

Many think abandoning Qur’ān = abandoning reciting it, and this is wrong!

Shaykh Sulaymān al-‘Alwān (فك الله أسره)

❝It’s necessary to contemplate and ponder over it, since Allāh may He be Glorified and Exalted said:

وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا

“And the Messenger has said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned.” [25:30].

Many people think that abandoning the Qur’ān is to abandon reciting it, and this is wrong! Abandoning the Qur’ān consists of various levels;

Abandoning reciting it, abandoning implementing the Qur’ān, abandoning pondering over the Qur’ān, abandoning making tahākum to the Qur’ān, and abandoning seeking shifā’ (cure) through the Qur’ān.❞

A dark way unfolds before me, in it, the only source of light is the lantern of my īman, which I carry in my feeble hands tired of disobedience of their Creator. 

I only see my feet and where they lay, -not much further- unsure of wether the direction I am taking is right or wrong, wether my steps lead me to my eternal success, or to the ruin of my dunyah and akhirah. 

However, my uncertainty remains unable to shake the unwavering hopeful heart that leads me despite my veiled vision, a heart certain that Allah will not harm me wherever I end up. Solely because I sought Him despite my doubts, I sought His pleasure, I sought His forgiveness for my sins, I sought His paradise and He would never stop me in the way leading to it. Alhamdulillah.

I will become from the righteous and enter the paradise of My Lord, Biithnillah… despite my doubts, despite my sins, despite my worry and despite my pain.. not because I deserve it, but because Allah is merciful. Regardless of the plots of Shaytan and His followers, I will sit in the couches prepared in paradise for the righteous, smiling and laughing at the punishment of those who once tried to lead me with them astray.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

“(By fasting) one narrows the passageways of Shayṭān within the servant (of Allāh), by narrowing the passageways of food and drink. As well, it restrains the force of the limbs from giving way to its dominating nature of that which is harmful to it in this world and the hereafter.

And, (fasting) subdues every limb and might of the soul from (following its) whims, and harnesses it by its bridle.

For, surely (the fast) is the bridle of the muttaqūn [the righteous, those having taqwá] and the shield of the warriors [a shield between them and the Hell-fire].”

[Zaad al-Maʿad | 2/28-29]

Ibn al-Jawzi said something profound:

"This world only amazes someone who has no understanding, just like a dream amazes a sleeping person, or imaginary games which the child perceives as reality. As for the intelligent people, they are not deceived by it."

["Kitab al-Lataaif", 27-28]

True Value Lies in Iman

While worldly possessions are shared among all, Iman is a distinct honor. This hadith reminds us that true worth isn’t in what we own, but in the faith we’re granted.

Ibn Mas'ud said:

“Allah gives the Dunya to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He grants Iman only to those He loves. So when Allah loves a servant, He grants him Iman.”

[al-Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah]

The path of Tawhīd is not always an easy path:

People distance them self from you, because they hear something new, they see that not a lot of people agree with you, they think 'how can this be the truth when most people don't follow it?'... So al-Ghurbah (strangeness) is the result: From brothers being refused in marriage because of their ʿAqīdah to brothers being physically attacked, to brothers losing all their friends and maybe even family, to sisters being isolated in families who have fallen into disbelief, to sisters not finding a Muwahhid husband to protect them... again, it is not an easy path, but wallāh, all of this is nothing, for it is the best Path. It is a sweet path, a clear path and a straight path: the Path of the Prophets. So, hold onto the Path of Ibrāhīm and the Āthār, and smile, for wallāh, you have the best you can get in this world!