wholesome

As Muslims we sometimes seem to concentrate on religious actions rather than our actions. When in fact, a Muslim is the combination of the both, as Muslims we must pray our five prayers but we must also treat people with respect.

the triple filter test

During the golden Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, which was the capital of Muslim caliphate at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said: “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute” the scholar replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say.”

“The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“No” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and….”

“Alright” said the scholar, “So you don’t know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“No, on the contrary….” replied the man.

“So,” the scholar continued, “you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though because these’s one filter left, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really.” said the man.

“Well,” concluded the scholar, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell me at all?”

“O those who believe, no man should ever mock at other men, since it is possible that the latter are better then the former, nor should women ever mock at other women, since it is possible that the latter women is better then the former ones. And do not find fault with one another, nor call one another with bad nicknames. Bad is the name of sinfulness after embracing Faith. And whoever does not repent, such people are the wrongdoers.” (Quran 49:11)

be thankful and happy

as nights go by…

it does get lonely. it would be nice if there is someone waiting, you know someone to ask how was your day, no I am not talking about my parents – it’s just not the same. Maybe I am just tired, a holiday would do me good,
sometimes, you know sometimes, I just think, if I had done it. What would my life be like? Of course, it will never be like NOW.

I have, alhamdulilah, done things which I have never imagined. Of course, being the person that I am, I’d rather keep them to myself. Aside over the years, I have received ‘tips’ on getting that perfect man – huh – does that even exist. One thing that I am sure, if you want a good man, look at his parents, see how he treats his parents. But of course, the only problem is that the relationship does not last to even meet his parents! Huh..

I guess ultimately all I can do is to ask the person above to help me.. Afterall, he decides my fate, what I do and who I meet, the only thing I have to make sure is that I make the right choice – don’t we all.

The best of all is that sometimes people always presumed they know me, what I like, what they think I like, who I should spend my whole life with, what kind of a person I should be with – alas, did anyone ask?

I know I am stubbon – but cut some slack will you? Watched Janji Kekasih (just over two days ago on Suria) make me think of a lot of things.Have you done something just for Allah swt? http://youtu.be/njtpKp2icy0

the music is just so amazing.

two brothers….or two sisters

Once there lived two brothers who lost their parents at an early age. They worked together on their family farm. Some years later, the elder married and had a family with 2 children, while the other was still single. They worked hard together in the day and at the end of each day they shared their produce equally.

One day while the single brother was working in the fields, he thought to himself, “It’s not right that we share equally everything. I’m alone and my needs are simple. My brother has a big family. He needs much more.” With that in mind he took a sack full of grains and slowly went to his brothers barn and places the sack quietly. He did so every night.

Meanwhile, the married brother thought to himself, “It’s not right that we share everything equally. After all, I’m married and I have my wife and children to look after me in years to come. My brother has no family and no one can take care of his future. He really should have a bigger share.” So each night he took a bag of grain and put it into his brothers barn quietly.

This went on and both men were puzzled for years because their grain never dwindled.

Then one night, on the way to each others barn, the two brothers coincidentally met and they found out what was happening all these years! They dropped their bags, cried and embraced one another with tears of happiness.

Moral: love for your brother what you love for yourself.

May ALLAH allow us to implement this beautiful quality in our lives and keep us away from jealousy. Aameen.

nourishment

A Masjid goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to mosque every Friday.

“I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the Imaams are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 37 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals, But I do know this… They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to mosque for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!’ When you are DOWN to nothing…. Allah is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank Allah for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!”

to ponder

forgiveness

….in Ramadan. Although it will be some four months, let us reflect.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Musa, the son of Imran once asked, “Oh my Lord! Who is the most honorable of Your servants? And He replied, the person who forgives even when he is in a position of power” (Baihaqi).

You know you’re right. You know what I’m referring to – those times when you get into an argument(s) with a family member, friend, boss, employee, coworker, classmate, teacher or whoever. You know your facts are right or that you’ve been wronged with an insulting remark, sarcastic comment or rudeness.

And so, you choose to hold a grudge. After all, you’ve got a right to. Nobody should be treated this way. Why should you forgive? You’re not the one who started this. You’re not the one who doesn’t have the facts straight.

True. You may be right. You may be in that position of power mentioned in the Hadith above. But forgiving others, apart from positively affecting our health (less stress) and our minds (one less negative thing to focus on), is a necessary step to closeness to Allah SWT.

How can we move up the ladder of spiritual development when we hold bitterness and anger towards another person? While we may have been in the right, is it worth sacrificing our energy on a grudge instead of on growth?

Is there not something strange about asking for Allah’s forgiveness of our sins while withholding our forgiveness from someone who has hurt us?

One of the distinguishing features of Ramadan is forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ explained in one Hadith that Ramadan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the Hellfire.

This makes it a great time to ask Allah SWT for His Forgiveness. It’s also a wonderful time to open our hearts and cleanse them of grudges and bitterness by forgiving others.

The path to connection to Allah SWT is always paved with tests and difficulties. Nobody gains spiritual upliftment without having to prove their mettle. This process includes facing all kinds of hardships, including injustice at the hands of others.

If we truly want Allah’s love, mercy and forgiveness, we must remember that the hurts of this world are temporary, and we are working towards that which is permanent. Is it worth being bitter and stunting our growth? Will it really benefit us? How will our anger and bitterness change the person who has hurt us?

Let us use these remaining days of forgiveness this Ramadan to open our hearts to those who have wronged us and forgive them as we beg Allah to forgive us.

Let us use these remaining days of Ramadan to open our hearts to those who have wronged us and forgive them as we beg Allah SWT to forgive us. Aameen.

change

know that…

Throughout my life, I have met many many many kinds of people, in all shapes and sizes, different personalities and characters – some I am more inclined to hear, some, well …..
Blame it on myself, I like to listen, hear what people say, because a person’s character and personality shows very much when he or she speaks – I learn that recently. I have learnt sometimes, it is best to keep quiet. Let others speak. Listen to them.

A quote to share:
Make a pact with yourself in three (areas): when you do something, remember that Allah sees you, and when you speak, remember that Allah hears you, and when you are silent, remember Allah’s knowledge of your inner (thoughts, feelings, and being).