1000 Al Ikhlas in exchange for His gaze

Bismillah.

Credit: Muwasala

The above is a screenshot of a video of Habib Umar bin Hafiz during Awal Muharram of the previous year (2016). A universal message as such is timeless.

Have you done it? Will you do it?
1000 Al Ikhlas?
Let's.

I hope you are relishing this auspicious weekend too.

Bye for now.

Let's be selfish about our time. Don't give it up for actions that do not carry much weight for the good of dunya and akhirah.

May Allah protect us from heedlessness (laghaw), from pointless activities, both online and offline. Let us point ourselves and others towards good deeds, towards our Creator and His beloved Messenger (pbuh).

Ameen.

9th Muharram 1439 Hijri & Incredible Ashura

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah.

We all hope for something extras during this auspicious weekend beginning from today: 9th Muharram. It's time to fast as a prelude to the Ashura Day on the 10th of Muharram. Although the date for Ashura differs among countries, this weekend is a special one as we allocate time for ibadah and make plenty of petitions to the Almighty Allah subhanahu wa taala.

Jumaah Mubarak.
: )

p/s

Who says Muslims can't have a little permissible fun in the way they carry themselves while being pious/religious at the same time?

#iwanttocontinuebeingacoolquranreaderwhomakessalawatincessantly
#letsracedontbefooledbymycaplol

Invest in the most important relationship

Bismillah.

Dr Bilal Philips gave this one important reminder that we women and men should heed - the singles especially. But I think those who are married too, else they might get stuck in a deep attachment which might prove to be too hard on them when the time comes for them to detach (either due to divorce or death of their partner).

And for the singles, if they realize this sooner the better so that when they do enter a relationship, it would be with better wisdom so they know to put the right thing in the right place, and not be overly attached. Because they will have invested and keep investing in the Divine Love affair so they know even a speck of happiness and love they could ever wish for from other relationships only come from their primary numero uno Love interest - Allah. 

"Our relationship with Allah is the most important relationship we have. Invest in it InShaAllah!"

- Dr Bilal Philips

 

p/s

I can't help but laugh and "punch" myself in the face for the silly "investments" I made in the past. LOL. Thank God I didn't marry those I refused to marry. Allah knows what's best for each of His servant, so just chill ; )

And let us keep running strong in the race - fastabiqul khairat. Do you read the Quran daily? Do you make salawat incessantly? Did you make your mother smile today? I ask myself.

#ithankAllahforthetawfikboost

Earning

Bismillah.

Wednesday according to research is the most productive day cos it's midweek and we thus have warmed up sufficiently, maybe.

Anyway, I thank Allah for being gainfully employed as I always remind myself of the hard times when I was unemployed. 

But Winston Churchill says:
"We make a living by what we get.
We make a life
by what we give."

During this blessed month of Muharram, let's pray so that Allah would continue to give us good health and the capabilities to earn a living and that He would move our hearts/hands to give more.  

Even if we can't give out a bigger sum of cash as we might wish, we should give away our time, skills, knowledge, care and du'a in the way that could positively enhance someone's life.

Ameen.

p/s
That pic is my morning off-to-work ritual - selfie while waiting for the lift. And do a "thank you-ritual" for the day.
Thank you Allah for giving me nice clothes.
Thank you Allah for giving me good health so I can go to work [and not call in sick. LOL]
Thank you Allah that I have got a good job.
Thank you Allah that my house is a mere 5 minutes drive to the office.
Thank you Allah for the car.
Thank you Allah for today!
: )

  

Raison d'etre | Ikigai | Mon 25

Bismillah.

What are your reasons for being?
What's my ikigai?
That's Japanese for raison d'etre.

Now at this age of mine, it has become clearer to me that our reasons for being should be:
- to know Allah (yes know first, must know Who is it that we worship. Get to know His Names and Attributes)
- to worship Allah (even if we can't see Him, He sees us) 
- to have a spiritual connection with the Beloved of Allah salallah alaihi wasalam (by remembering him, by making salawat continually)
- to make your parents happy (especially your mother)
- to be useful to as many people as possible

Another meaningful birthday of mine spent with 50 would-be huffaz boys.
Their prayers are priceless!
Ameen.
They are my neighbors in Penang/my regular guests on special occasions.
They had recently moved to another neighborhood.
It's a pleasure visiting them at their new/bigger/safer abode.
Alhamdulillah after 2 years of waiting, they got a better home, at last.

With Arash (9 years old).

Pizza party. The joy of delighting my honorable friends
is all mine : )
Tahfiz administrators are particular about their students' food intake.
Certain types of food/fast-foods are not allowed.
So be sure to check prior to hosting/throwing a surprise party
for them.

I was beyond pleased, to be able to share not one birthday cake
but 9! Alhamdulillah indeed.

What more can you ask for when you have confidence in:
Al Razak, Al Rahman, Al Karim
Al Mughni, Al Mujib, Al Wahab, Al Nafi and Al Basit.
He glory is Allah who backs us up all the time.

Just to mark this special day
and register my gratitude
for Allah's bounties all these years

One of the recommended things to do during this blessed month of Muharram is to put our hands on the head of an orphan for blessings and pray so that Allah grants us a gentle heart.

Have you done it?

I have! Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

Thank God for a very fruitful day.
Let us all remind ourselves constantly of our ikigai.
[And treat ourselves to grilled unagi sometimes LOL]
: D

p/s

Gosh, I just learned something new.

Unagi is also a term meaning = complete awareness.

In karate, when you have achieved unagi, it means you can defend and prepare yourself for any danger at any given moment.

Let us pray for unagi concerning our lower nafs. So that we could defend our iman (faith) and fight all negative externalities that could jeopardize it.

Ameen.

p/s
Another reason why today is special.
Got news that I'm gonna be given a promotion : D
Allah Kareeeeeeeeem!

Thank you all for all the good vibes (du'a) you sent me!
You know who you are - my genuine readers/visitors!
I love you!

Sunday Duha

Bismillah.

And when we chance upon a majlis taalim and attend for the sake of Allah, to reap fruits from such heavenly garden on earth, never will He let us leave empty-handed.

Alhamdulillah for a fruitful Sunday.

Two lines/lessons from Surah Ad Duha I wish to remind myself:
- Allah does not forsake me. He will never ever leave me helpless. He is always with me.
- Whenever He finds me lost, He would guide me.

And you!
So don't worry : )


- 3rd Muharram 1439 H
- 1st lesson for Hajj course. Labbaikallah humma labbaik....

Further reading:
http://understandquran.com/how-sura-ad-duha-can-change-your-life.html

Fab times | Labor

Bismillah.

  .

"The real secret to a fabulous life
is to live imperfectly 
with greaaaat delight."

Yes, let's embrace our imperfections and forgive ourselves cos as the wise men say:
"When I said 'I forgive you' to myself,
everything got better."

Alhamdulillah for fab times.

p/s

One who reads a chapter of Quran a day deserves to be granted loads of gifts from the Divine and the mortals (as instruments of the Divine), of course.

: D

Yes, read as much as we could, consistently cos:
"The miracle of the seed and the soil
is not available by affirmation;
it is only available by labor."

p/s
Nieces/nephews: 
You may follow the good side of this woman 
and leave the bad for the Batman.
LOL