When you think about a leader, you commonly think of a person that's the boss over everyone else, telling them what to do. With that definition in mind, we sometimes think we can't ever be leaders.
I recently learnt a better way of defining a leader.
A leader is someone creates a change in something for the better.
You want to know why that definition is better than what most of us think? Everyone has the abilitiy to make a change fir the better. For example, if you happen to have witnessed bullying and you did something about it, even as small as just telling a teacher or someone higher up, you were a leader. You don't have to be really brazen and ready to tackle down people, just do what you think is best in a way that doesn't put you in harms way.
What if you saw something was wrong and wanted to fix it? What if you thought you could start some sort of club addressing issues, wouldn't that also count as taking on leadership roles? Of course it does!
So if you want a change to occur, you can step up and take that role. Don't be one of those people who'll assume someone else will do it. Be people of Action. The last thing we need are couch potatoes.
But wait, don't just be people of action, but people with Witt as well. Don't just rush into situations simply because you think something has to be done. Consider the situation as well.
In the end, people may appreciate your efforts or not, as long as you know you did the right thing, that's all that counts.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Monday, 28 April 2014
No pain no gain
So you got that first shot into the net on your first try ever. So called beginners luck. Cool. Great. I envy you. Maybe you had an advantage over me, maybe its genetics, maybe...
Enough of this! Here's what's wrong, I'm analyzing the situation wrong. Instead of thinking about why the other person got their shot, I should be thinking about why my shot didn't go in.
That 'missing the shot' example, can be anything. It can be an interview, a contest, a grade, whatever. Chances are, your not going to make it the first time round. If it's your first time studying don't expect super high marks. Not to discourage you from studying, but it takes the experience of having gone through a test after you studied for it,to actually learn how to prepare for the next test. When that next test comes around, you won't waste time finding a study method that works for you. You'll know what to do and be more accustomed. See where I'm going with this? Not everyone gets things on their first try.Maybe you'll be one of those lucky people who can. But if your not, don't worry, you got an advantage over them. You know what you get?
It's experience.
So I had an interview for a position at the Library and right after it, my brain racked through everything I had done wrong. Experience is the harshest teacher, as I've heard before. They sent me a letter telling me the reason why I didn't get the job was because my reference wouldn't pick up. I'm grateful that that's what they put, but for that whole month of waiting, I learnt what I did wrong. I'm sad but I've learnt my bit and now that it's ingrained into me, I'm now more prepared for an interview than before than.
How you use your experience is entirely up to you. If you want, you can brood on it for the rest of your life and use it as an excuse why you won't try again, or you can take advantage of it.
The options are there, but I understand it's not easy to make, because it's based on your state of mind. Are you willing to believe you've gained something other than just pain?
Let me rephrase that question,
Are you willing to try to see your life experiences other than just pain?
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Stop pulling the Race card
The definition of racism according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is:
1)A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce inherent superiority of a particular race.
2) Racial prejudice or discrimination.
Notice how the dictionary doesn't state that racism is the discrimination that 'black' people get from 'white' people. Did you know it could be also vice versa?
I normally don't like to refer to people as 'black' or 'white' , but seeing as to how many people don't understand the whole racism issue I think I'll have to step out a little from my comfort zone.
I've never been discriminated against, nor have I seen anyone else either. My personal definition on discrimination is being told I can't do something because of my skin.In my little world, I thought racism no longer existed but that was just my ignorance and someone had to pop my bubble to get out of that state of mind. I have seen, other forms of discrimination but for some reason I thought racism was over. Maybe that was because racism to me was just that slavery period. When slavery was abolished and when people came together as one, I assumed it was just a thing of the past. Even more shocking was that I was also recently told that slavery hasn't ended either. Ignorance, I tell you!
The only thing I've come across with is the very same people who use the race card, are the ones who tend to be a bit racist. For example, they may say 'green people can't do that' or ' She can't dance because she's pink'
'Black' people in particular using the race card way to much where I am from. Just the other day I was reading a blog that was just someones weird experience and it had nothing to do with race, but she managed to tie that all in and accuse the writer of being racist.
I don't get it, why are you getting so riled up over nothing. what I think the issue is, is the fact that some people haven't accepted who they are yet. Due to that insecurity, they go ballistic on you at anything they think you may say pertaining to their race.
If someone does something upsetting to them, they ready to use the race card. I don't get why you want to be the victim in everything. Just love who you are and accept yourself. I remember being embarrassed for my background and I hated it, until I learnt to appreciate it and accept it.
Also, stop being the very first to make general comments on the traits of all people based on their skin. You got to learn to see beyond that. There is more to people than they're skin. Then again, I did say earlier that 'black' people were the one's that are using the race card too much. Did you notice that was a generalized comment? Where do we draw the fine line of using our observations for coming up with conclusions versus making wide assumptions. I would suggest avoid using the word 'all' don't say all 'green' people are rude. Just because you've seen a lot of rude ones, doesn't make all of them that way.
Some people may think the world would be better if everyone was the same, but that would undermine our abilities as humans to appreciate diversity. If we can accept others and ourselves and remember that at the end of the day, we're all humans and we're going to die, that would be a greater feat than having to colour everything the same shade.
From the Quran we learn:
"mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."
Notice how I left out my race? Tough it's no big secret, I just tried to keep it out of the way so you could understand the message without considering who I am.
I hope I haven't offended anybody, It's difficult getting my point across sometimes. Let me know any of your thoughts and concerns regarding this issue. If I've messed up some where please let me know, I'm only human/.
Monday, 24 March 2014
A Judgmentally raised society.
Ideally people aren't supposed to be judging other people, but let's be real, everyone judges everyone. If you take a walk out in a busy street and look around, you probably would have already spotted someone and judged them. Maybe you saw a beggar and assumed that they were on drugs.
We have first impressions, we have formed thoughts on a person and sometimes we don't give them a chance.
Nobody cares about how hard you try, they just want to see results.
I saw this quote posted somewhere and snorted at it. All I could remember was being judged by the height I reached. For example, nobody cares how much you studied and how much you gave it your all, but what matters is the marks you achieve in the end.
Is it easy to not " judge a book by its cover"? It's certainly can't be fair but we make things harder for each other as humans. For example, interviews. I know, I know, it's a selection process but still, everything has to be right for you or else it doesn't matter if your the best person for the job. It starts with your clothes and then your speech... Maybe it's because I feel a bit pressured that I break down and forget my English. Alone, I can handle pressure, being watched makes it harder.
Just recently, I managed to embarrass myself so much. Instead of using the word 'activity' I used 'problems' and you can only imagine what kind of sentence it was. I found it quite hilarious and had to hold back some giggles during the interview. It got worse, not only did I 'forget' how to speak in English, I lost my writing ability too (quite ironic for a girl who aspires to be published one day).
It's hard showing your best self knowing you only got a few minutes, plus my phone had to go off during that time. I don't understand how people know when to call me when I'm busy. I hardly ever get calls yet they get me all the time during exams,another program interview plus this interview. I don't silence it because I forget to turn it back on and may miss something really important. I don't like my phone as a phone, I just like it for the internet. Well, in the end I learnt to be extra cautious and silence the dang thing.
Now reeling back to the subject at hand, I'm kind of hurt at how society has been built up to make things harder for people rather than simple. That's why I couldn't get a march break job, they wanted to do a police check first but didn't have time(I know, I know! It's for safety reasons). I myself know I'm clean but what can you do? Better safe than sorry. What if one day there were more truthful honest people and good people in general. Then would society have been built up better? These things I wonder.
We have first impressions, we have formed thoughts on a person and sometimes we don't give them a chance.
Nobody cares about how hard you try, they just want to see results.
I saw this quote posted somewhere and snorted at it. All I could remember was being judged by the height I reached. For example, nobody cares how much you studied and how much you gave it your all, but what matters is the marks you achieve in the end.
Is it easy to not " judge a book by its cover"? It's certainly can't be fair but we make things harder for each other as humans. For example, interviews. I know, I know, it's a selection process but still, everything has to be right for you or else it doesn't matter if your the best person for the job. It starts with your clothes and then your speech... Maybe it's because I feel a bit pressured that I break down and forget my English. Alone, I can handle pressure, being watched makes it harder.
Just recently, I managed to embarrass myself so much. Instead of using the word 'activity' I used 'problems' and you can only imagine what kind of sentence it was. I found it quite hilarious and had to hold back some giggles during the interview. It got worse, not only did I 'forget' how to speak in English, I lost my writing ability too (quite ironic for a girl who aspires to be published one day).
It's hard showing your best self knowing you only got a few minutes, plus my phone had to go off during that time. I don't understand how people know when to call me when I'm busy. I hardly ever get calls yet they get me all the time during exams,another program interview plus this interview. I don't silence it because I forget to turn it back on and may miss something really important. I don't like my phone as a phone, I just like it for the internet. Well, in the end I learnt to be extra cautious and silence the dang thing.
Now reeling back to the subject at hand, I'm kind of hurt at how society has been built up to make things harder for people rather than simple. That's why I couldn't get a march break job, they wanted to do a police check first but didn't have time(I know, I know! It's for safety reasons). I myself know I'm clean but what can you do? Better safe than sorry. What if one day there were more truthful honest people and good people in general. Then would society have been built up better? These things I wonder.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Stomping on petals
Assalam Alaikum Zizi Ail (Z.A)
Why is it that most of the time when I get good news and I'm actually happy that something good has happened, someone comes along to take away that from me. To make it worse, it doesn't stop there, they give me more to worry about and mull over.
As if I didn't have a lot of things tugging on my tired brain for attention. I'm really tired, becoming short tempered, sick and for once I think I understand why people actually choose suicide ( I won't do it of course. I would never.)
Leaving myself in this state of mind, leaves me with dumb depressing thoughts which on my up-beat healthier days I can just shrug off.
For example,normally I'm like "Friends? Who needs those I'm good as it is." and it honestly doesn't bother me that I don't hang out with people, but on my down days, it just adds to the problem list and though I normally don't care, today things like that seem really heavy.
Things like school is annoying to think about when it really counts. I can't express how hard I try but my marks may not always show for it. I really think it would be an A++ though. But who cares, nobody wants to know you tried, people just want to know what you got and size you up with their judgments.
EVERYTHING IS TIRING!
But, there are those times where I'm happy. Times where I actually get a job or accepted into university. So people, please leave your thoughts out of my way if it's going to make things worse. Tell them to me at a time I can handle them otherwise, you're not helping me but giving me more thoughts to think about and less time to actually do the work.
To make things worse, I'm mad at myself for being a horrible organizer. I think if I had that ability then things would have gotten a lot smoother for me than they are now. I'm trying.
I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying.
But that doesn't seem to be enough in this world sometimes. Sometimes a voice asks in my mind, "Then what have you succeeded in doing so far?" and I'm at a loss for words. I think there were only a few times maybe. Maybe more, but now I can't think clearly .
I won't give up though.
As you can probably tell, I'm tired as I write this and I really need my sleep, but before I go I have a question. Have you ever heard of that time where Aisha (ra) was being accused of an act she didn't do and there was this one woman that came to her and just sat there and cried with her? My question is, are there really people like that?
I doubt it, people are really shallow...well, at least the one's I know and this isn't the majority I think,but in my state of mind, I forget the good except a little.
Hopefully, I'll see you next time Z.A but in a better state of mind.
Why is it that most of the time when I get good news and I'm actually happy that something good has happened, someone comes along to take away that from me. To make it worse, it doesn't stop there, they give me more to worry about and mull over.
As if I didn't have a lot of things tugging on my tired brain for attention. I'm really tired, becoming short tempered, sick and for once I think I understand why people actually choose suicide ( I won't do it of course. I would never.)
Leaving myself in this state of mind, leaves me with dumb depressing thoughts which on my up-beat healthier days I can just shrug off.
For example,normally I'm like "Friends? Who needs those I'm good as it is." and it honestly doesn't bother me that I don't hang out with people, but on my down days, it just adds to the problem list and though I normally don't care, today things like that seem really heavy.
Things like school is annoying to think about when it really counts. I can't express how hard I try but my marks may not always show for it. I really think it would be an A++ though. But who cares, nobody wants to know you tried, people just want to know what you got and size you up with their judgments.
EVERYTHING IS TIRING!
But, there are those times where I'm happy. Times where I actually get a job or accepted into university. So people, please leave your thoughts out of my way if it's going to make things worse. Tell them to me at a time I can handle them otherwise, you're not helping me but giving me more thoughts to think about and less time to actually do the work.
To make things worse, I'm mad at myself for being a horrible organizer. I think if I had that ability then things would have gotten a lot smoother for me than they are now. I'm trying.
I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying.
But that doesn't seem to be enough in this world sometimes. Sometimes a voice asks in my mind, "Then what have you succeeded in doing so far?" and I'm at a loss for words. I think there were only a few times maybe. Maybe more, but now I can't think clearly .
I won't give up though.
As you can probably tell, I'm tired as I write this and I really need my sleep, but before I go I have a question. Have you ever heard of that time where Aisha (ra) was being accused of an act she didn't do and there was this one woman that came to her and just sat there and cried with her? My question is, are there really people like that?
I doubt it, people are really shallow...well, at least the one's I know and this isn't the majority I think,but in my state of mind, I forget the good except a little.
Hopefully, I'll see you next time Z.A but in a better state of mind.
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Knowing your Neighbors.
Assalam Alaikum
The other day I was mulling over the fact that I had to be a better neighbor. It started like a week ago. Like the usual, I heard something about treatment of neighbors as taught in Islam through a radio station. It wasn't like I was learning new things and it wasn't like I never thought of it before. For sure I never really thought of it deeply like I am now. It came to my attention that I was disconnected with them.
I knew I had to do something but I didn't know how. How is it possible for a person to suddenly change their norm?
So that was really stressing me out in my head. Not mentioning the biggest trigger to this stress.
Apparently we have a neighbor who is trying to avoid us and when I made a plan to try and gap the awkwardness, I told it to someone. Like usual, the great idea I thought I had was crushed and I was left feeling worse. Picture this, you're a person who's aware of how the prophet pbuh treated his neighbor and so you want to implement that into your life. Are you with me there? You think of ways to get your neighbor and yourself on good terms and you don't consider hard core failure. You don't anticipate too much bad, maybe a door to the face. You're heart is all in for this and your brain is gearing for this and you smile away as you think of when you'd like to go through with you idea. Maybe you wanted to bake some cookies or just have a chat or bring some gifts, whatever it is, you think you're doing what's right. Now you go share your idea and immediately it's being torn apart to the point where your told to not even bother. You're told things that are more worse than what you imagined and so everything is all ruined.
Everything seemed harder, 'This test is hard!' I kept thinking. I kept questioning how it was possible for me to go about this .
Then one day, I got a letter saying BINGO NIGHT in my building and that there would be prizes. I was all riled up for the game, it sounded fun not to mention there would be other neighbors.
On the actual night, not only had I wanted to attend, but four of my siblings one of which had no idea what bingo was, were all game.
There I was going in for the fun and I actually won a round along with my little brother who had just learnt the game. I went home finally knowing a bit of my neighbors who were literally 1-2 doors away! It was only after that game was over I noticed that this building event was a brilliant way to know people. They turned out to be a lively bunch.
Then I go and here stuff about them which ruins their image.
PEOPLE STOP RUINING OTHERS REPUTATIONS! You make my life harder.
Other things that happened around this period of time:
Technically I got 90's in all my subjects. Though one of the more crucial subjects, I got a 75 but there was a culminating before it where I got 95/100! I mention this because I made dua for that.
The other day I was mulling over the fact that I had to be a better neighbor. It started like a week ago. Like the usual, I heard something about treatment of neighbors as taught in Islam through a radio station. It wasn't like I was learning new things and it wasn't like I never thought of it before. For sure I never really thought of it deeply like I am now. It came to my attention that I was disconnected with them.
I knew I had to do something but I didn't know how. How is it possible for a person to suddenly change their norm?
So that was really stressing me out in my head. Not mentioning the biggest trigger to this stress.
Apparently we have a neighbor who is trying to avoid us and when I made a plan to try and gap the awkwardness, I told it to someone. Like usual, the great idea I thought I had was crushed and I was left feeling worse. Picture this, you're a person who's aware of how the prophet pbuh treated his neighbor and so you want to implement that into your life. Are you with me there? You think of ways to get your neighbor and yourself on good terms and you don't consider hard core failure. You don't anticipate too much bad, maybe a door to the face. You're heart is all in for this and your brain is gearing for this and you smile away as you think of when you'd like to go through with you idea. Maybe you wanted to bake some cookies or just have a chat or bring some gifts, whatever it is, you think you're doing what's right. Now you go share your idea and immediately it's being torn apart to the point where your told to not even bother. You're told things that are more worse than what you imagined and so everything is all ruined.
Everything seemed harder, 'This test is hard!' I kept thinking. I kept questioning how it was possible for me to go about this .
Then one day, I got a letter saying BINGO NIGHT in my building and that there would be prizes. I was all riled up for the game, it sounded fun not to mention there would be other neighbors.
On the actual night, not only had I wanted to attend, but four of my siblings one of which had no idea what bingo was, were all game.
There I was going in for the fun and I actually won a round along with my little brother who had just learnt the game. I went home finally knowing a bit of my neighbors who were literally 1-2 doors away! It was only after that game was over I noticed that this building event was a brilliant way to know people. They turned out to be a lively bunch.
Then I go and here stuff about them which ruins their image.
PEOPLE STOP RUINING OTHERS REPUTATIONS! You make my life harder.
Other things that happened around this period of time:
Technically I got 90's in all my subjects. Though one of the more crucial subjects, I got a 75 but there was a culminating before it where I got 95/100! I mention this because I made dua for that.
Saturday, 1 February 2014
Analogies of life
Assalam Alaikum!
Have you ever had those times where you're alone and you're just going on in life like normal when suddenly, you see something and it turns into an analogy? Let me further elaborate.
There were times when I was younger, walking home with my family from school. I walked much faster than them so I was often in the lead. Sometimes, there were trees in the way and I would go around it from one side and they would on the other. Bang! An anology formed just like that. For me, I pictured this being the separation between me and my family but we'd be reunited every time we came back after the short separation.
Funny things is they actually happened, more or less the way I thought of them. there were physical separations and mental separations. One where I physically left them or when I felt like I wasn't apart of them.
I'm not claiming anything people! Anyone can make weird connections.
Recently, I had to find a certain place and all I had were my distant memories of the place and a map I got from online. I followed the instructions but then there was a dead end, or so I thought. I was on the street I needed to be on to get to last and final one, but there were no signs. That street was very small and at the end there was a building. Picture, a T shaped road. At the top there was a horizontal road and a building lining it. I was at the bottom of the vertical part of the road which connected with the horizontal one. Because there were no signs, no numbers and I felt as though I came to a dead end. I turned left instead of heading straight and found another road I never saw before. That's when I pulled out my phone for it's GPS, which was really horrible, and it didn't help me. I started walking around searching for the number of the building I was looking for and the street.
From then on I spotted a street I recognized and went towards it, which happened to be the wrong way. In this whole journey, I ended up having to turn around and go back twice.
Finally I found the street, then the building and went in. When I came back out, I was looking onto a short street in front of me. It was familiar. it was the street I doubted initially because I thought it was a dead end and the building I had seen then was the one I was looking for all along. This time I was on the top of the T shaped road. where the horizontal road was.
Here's where my analogy came in, I pictured the map being the guidance of Allah. I followed it up to where I had to be but when I lost sight of the sign, I doubted my instructions even though they had guided me so far.I couldn't see the sign but, that was the street I was looking for. I made things harder for myself by taking the longer way and wasting more energy and effort.
Have you ever had those times where you're alone and you're just going on in life like normal when suddenly, you see something and it turns into an analogy? Let me further elaborate.
There were times when I was younger, walking home with my family from school. I walked much faster than them so I was often in the lead. Sometimes, there were trees in the way and I would go around it from one side and they would on the other. Bang! An anology formed just like that. For me, I pictured this being the separation between me and my family but we'd be reunited every time we came back after the short separation.
Funny things is they actually happened, more or less the way I thought of them. there were physical separations and mental separations. One where I physically left them or when I felt like I wasn't apart of them.
I'm not claiming anything people! Anyone can make weird connections.
Recently, I had to find a certain place and all I had were my distant memories of the place and a map I got from online. I followed the instructions but then there was a dead end, or so I thought. I was on the street I needed to be on to get to last and final one, but there were no signs. That street was very small and at the end there was a building. Picture, a T shaped road. At the top there was a horizontal road and a building lining it. I was at the bottom of the vertical part of the road which connected with the horizontal one. Because there were no signs, no numbers and I felt as though I came to a dead end. I turned left instead of heading straight and found another road I never saw before. That's when I pulled out my phone for it's GPS, which was really horrible, and it didn't help me. I started walking around searching for the number of the building I was looking for and the street.
From then on I spotted a street I recognized and went towards it, which happened to be the wrong way. In this whole journey, I ended up having to turn around and go back twice.
Finally I found the street, then the building and went in. When I came back out, I was looking onto a short street in front of me. It was familiar. it was the street I doubted initially because I thought it was a dead end and the building I had seen then was the one I was looking for all along. This time I was on the top of the T shaped road. where the horizontal road was.
Here's where my analogy came in, I pictured the map being the guidance of Allah. I followed it up to where I had to be but when I lost sight of the sign, I doubted my instructions even though they had guided me so far.I couldn't see the sign but, that was the street I was looking for. I made things harder for myself by taking the longer way and wasting more energy and effort.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Types of muslims
Assalam alaikum !
First off this is kind of specific to what Muslims do with acquired knowledge and so this is kind of centered around that. Like I always state, this is just my view. So with that in mind, lets start!
2) Thinks that you're at a good level as a Muslim, meaning you think you're a good Muslim or the best you could be.
3) all you can remember about a speech was how funny the speaker was, and so you like that speaker solely for their comedy.
4) only care about yourself. Whatever else happening that doesn't concern you or affect you isn't your problem. Also it sometimes is interesting to watch the news but that's it, just entertainment.
Or are you one that's:
5) actually ponders on the words of a speaker and may actually feel like doing something with them. For example, you may actually try to change stuff. Maybe you hear stuff Bout the Muslim ummah and you wish you could do something but you feel like you can't
6) don't feel comfortable as a Muslim in the level you are. You want to constantly improve yourself
7) you may or may not find a speaker funny but that's besides the point. You like them for what their actually saying and helping you understand.
8) you are also concerned for people around you. You try to help them or at least want to help them. Watching the news makes you want to help people even more.
I got some words of mine to share with you if you fell into category :
1) you're wasting space for people that actually want to benefit from the speech. Check yourself before you go. Question yourself, 'why am I going?' Is it because your friends are going or because it's turned into some sort of tradition for you to always go. If you're reason wasn't to benefit then why come at all? It's good to even bother going to such events and I encourage it but if other people can't go because there's no space, then don't come and let them! Or at the very least sit at the back . What you can do is create that intention to go for the benefit of your deen. when you go to circles or conferences have your mind present and not just you body. When speakers speak, reflect ok the words. For example, when they're talking about prayers and then they mention people who don't do this and that ,then your suppose to think back and see if you fall into that category. If you do, pay even close attention to what they have to say. If you don't,still pay attention someone else you know or may meet may Need that info or you may yourself. It may help you on preventing you from falling into that in the future.
2) You're a good Muslim and that's that. You pray, you fast, have paid zakat and/or charity,maybe you even went for hajj! I fell into this stage once upon a time(minus the hajj and zakat). I never did pray much when I was younger, but I fasted because it was a competition for money. Then like most worried parents do, my parents took me and my siblings out of the country and we went to Kenya. In Kenya we were exposed to Islam. We got to hear the adhan echoing in the air from many directions(I miss that.) I went to a school where the whole students prayed together and pretty soon I got used to these new life patterns. At home I would be constantly reminded about prayer times . Also at school I got into other habits such as cutting my nails wearing skirts or dresses and other things. Pretty soon I didn't need reminding of prayer time, I became the one reminding people of the prayers. As time went on, I thought I was a good Muslim and I couldn't wait to come back home to show that off. I thought I was good, yet when speakers spoke I thought they were all just about beautiful talk and that was it.I couldn't believe people could actually get so deep. I woke up out of it when I started hearing reverts talk beautifully about the religion and I couldn't think that this was fake . I wanted to be able to be like that and....yea that's today.
So try to always improve yourselves.
3) So all you can remember is how funny the speaker was. That's good and all but you're not at a comedy club and so there's more you should be getting out of the talk. Again, like I stated, know your reason for why you're even there at such an event.
4) You don't really concern yourself with anything not related to you. Last time I checked the Muslim ummah is like a body and if one part is hurt the rest feels its pain. Are you apart of the body or is your part disfunctional. Reflecting on these facts, I realized something was wrong with me when I couldn't care less about the conditions of some places I saw in turmoil . I'm ashamed to admit to that but when I heard that we Muslims are like a body, I realized my part in the body was sick and so I tried -and am trying (ref. To point 2)-to fix it. It's not enough that you just Witness these problems. At the very least feel something. If you don't then maybe you even have problems with connecting with the Muslims around you. Maybe you don't hang out in the mosque long enough to know people. If it weren't for social places like school I would probably know no one out of the family as a friend. Same thing with the mosque. If you don't hang out in the mosque then how are you going to 'belong' to an ummah you don't really know. What I'm tying to say is know your peeps. That was partly the reason I initially started going to the mosque . It wasn't my main reason.
5) You attend talks and come out of them with things to think about. Congrats, you actually went for the intended purpose. Think it through, think about how you can change for the better or do something for the better. Don't let the thoughts just sit in your head. Let them actually show in your actions if what you learnt was better than what you had. If the source of your newly acquired or renewed knowledge is authentic and from a good source and its better for you, take it! And when I mention' better for you', it doesn't mean that its something you would want or not. It may be something you might not like or you may find it hard but you know its better you do it. For example, you never knew stuff about the prayer and you maybe miss a lot of prayers. Then you hear a talk on prayer and though it may not sound appealing, you know its good for you. Don't be those type of people that have knowledge and just keep it in their head. That's a waste. I'm no scholar or anything but I recall reference in the quran about a donkey that just carries books on it's back(correct me if I'm mistaken)You got the knowledge you need but all you do is carry it.
6) You're mot satisfied with your level as a Muslim. In fact, you may even feel like a really horrible one-whether its true or not is not the issue. What I'm getting at you're trying to constantly upgrade yourself. Well that's awesome for you. Keep at it, and don't get distracted. I remember school distracted me from my 'spiritual quest' for a couple of weeks...maybe months. This is what it did to me; I went from a stage where I listened to radio Islamic channels as I walk to and from places and when I got distracted, I stopped. When I tried to come back to it, there was little struggle I had to over come. Get your priorities straight, always find a way to adjust your time. Also -this is something random ill throw in- if you plan to go to university or something with a goal in mind, try center that goal around Islam. Maybe its to be a doctor because you want to help people and/or provide for your family with the intention being for Allah.(man I felt kinda , you know, mushy just writing that last part. Can't explain that now though.)
7) You like the speech of the speaker because of its worth and value in the message. Need I say more? If I wanted to say more on this, it'd probably be a repeat of point number 5.
8) You actually want to do something about the stuff that's going around. Sometimes you may feel incapable and may think that you can't do it and so leave it for someone else to do it. Well here's the thing though, if everyone thinks someone else is going to do something, then who's doing anything? Besides, why wait for some else to do it when you can hurry and seize the chance. Stop limiting your abilities and actually think about how and what you can do. If you don't know what to do think about it and think with other people. That's My message to you, so please take it to heart if its good and hopefullyit can progress to your body next as in you'll do stuff. And if I made mistakes please correct me. I'm only a pathetic person so don't expect me to be all that!
First off this is kind of specific to what Muslims do with acquired knowledge and so this is kind of centered around that. Like I always state, this is just my view. So with that in mind, lets start!
Are you one that:
1) Listens to lectures without carrying the words with you.2) Thinks that you're at a good level as a Muslim, meaning you think you're a good Muslim or the best you could be.
3) all you can remember about a speech was how funny the speaker was, and so you like that speaker solely for their comedy.
4) only care about yourself. Whatever else happening that doesn't concern you or affect you isn't your problem. Also it sometimes is interesting to watch the news but that's it, just entertainment.
Or are you one that's:
5) actually ponders on the words of a speaker and may actually feel like doing something with them. For example, you may actually try to change stuff. Maybe you hear stuff Bout the Muslim ummah and you wish you could do something but you feel like you can't
6) don't feel comfortable as a Muslim in the level you are. You want to constantly improve yourself
7) you may or may not find a speaker funny but that's besides the point. You like them for what their actually saying and helping you understand.
8) you are also concerned for people around you. You try to help them or at least want to help them. Watching the news makes you want to help people even more.
I got some words of mine to share with you if you fell into category :
1) you're wasting space for people that actually want to benefit from the speech. Check yourself before you go. Question yourself, 'why am I going?' Is it because your friends are going or because it's turned into some sort of tradition for you to always go. If you're reason wasn't to benefit then why come at all? It's good to even bother going to such events and I encourage it but if other people can't go because there's no space, then don't come and let them! Or at the very least sit at the back . What you can do is create that intention to go for the benefit of your deen. when you go to circles or conferences have your mind present and not just you body. When speakers speak, reflect ok the words. For example, when they're talking about prayers and then they mention people who don't do this and that ,then your suppose to think back and see if you fall into that category. If you do, pay even close attention to what they have to say. If you don't,still pay attention someone else you know or may meet may Need that info or you may yourself. It may help you on preventing you from falling into that in the future.
2) You're a good Muslim and that's that. You pray, you fast, have paid zakat and/or charity,maybe you even went for hajj! I fell into this stage once upon a time(minus the hajj and zakat). I never did pray much when I was younger, but I fasted because it was a competition for money. Then like most worried parents do, my parents took me and my siblings out of the country and we went to Kenya. In Kenya we were exposed to Islam. We got to hear the adhan echoing in the air from many directions(I miss that.) I went to a school where the whole students prayed together and pretty soon I got used to these new life patterns. At home I would be constantly reminded about prayer times . Also at school I got into other habits such as cutting my nails wearing skirts or dresses and other things. Pretty soon I didn't need reminding of prayer time, I became the one reminding people of the prayers. As time went on, I thought I was a good Muslim and I couldn't wait to come back home to show that off. I thought I was good, yet when speakers spoke I thought they were all just about beautiful talk and that was it.I couldn't believe people could actually get so deep. I woke up out of it when I started hearing reverts talk beautifully about the religion and I couldn't think that this was fake . I wanted to be able to be like that and....yea that's today.
So try to always improve yourselves.
3) So all you can remember is how funny the speaker was. That's good and all but you're not at a comedy club and so there's more you should be getting out of the talk. Again, like I stated, know your reason for why you're even there at such an event.
4) You don't really concern yourself with anything not related to you. Last time I checked the Muslim ummah is like a body and if one part is hurt the rest feels its pain. Are you apart of the body or is your part disfunctional. Reflecting on these facts, I realized something was wrong with me when I couldn't care less about the conditions of some places I saw in turmoil . I'm ashamed to admit to that but when I heard that we Muslims are like a body, I realized my part in the body was sick and so I tried -and am trying (ref. To point 2)-to fix it. It's not enough that you just Witness these problems. At the very least feel something. If you don't then maybe you even have problems with connecting with the Muslims around you. Maybe you don't hang out in the mosque long enough to know people. If it weren't for social places like school I would probably know no one out of the family as a friend. Same thing with the mosque. If you don't hang out in the mosque then how are you going to 'belong' to an ummah you don't really know. What I'm tying to say is know your peeps. That was partly the reason I initially started going to the mosque . It wasn't my main reason.
5) You attend talks and come out of them with things to think about. Congrats, you actually went for the intended purpose. Think it through, think about how you can change for the better or do something for the better. Don't let the thoughts just sit in your head. Let them actually show in your actions if what you learnt was better than what you had. If the source of your newly acquired or renewed knowledge is authentic and from a good source and its better for you, take it! And when I mention' better for you', it doesn't mean that its something you would want or not. It may be something you might not like or you may find it hard but you know its better you do it. For example, you never knew stuff about the prayer and you maybe miss a lot of prayers. Then you hear a talk on prayer and though it may not sound appealing, you know its good for you. Don't be those type of people that have knowledge and just keep it in their head. That's a waste. I'm no scholar or anything but I recall reference in the quran about a donkey that just carries books on it's back(correct me if I'm mistaken)You got the knowledge you need but all you do is carry it.
6) You're mot satisfied with your level as a Muslim. In fact, you may even feel like a really horrible one-whether its true or not is not the issue. What I'm getting at you're trying to constantly upgrade yourself. Well that's awesome for you. Keep at it, and don't get distracted. I remember school distracted me from my 'spiritual quest' for a couple of weeks...maybe months. This is what it did to me; I went from a stage where I listened to radio Islamic channels as I walk to and from places and when I got distracted, I stopped. When I tried to come back to it, there was little struggle I had to over come. Get your priorities straight, always find a way to adjust your time. Also -this is something random ill throw in- if you plan to go to university or something with a goal in mind, try center that goal around Islam. Maybe its to be a doctor because you want to help people and/or provide for your family with the intention being for Allah.(man I felt kinda , you know, mushy just writing that last part. Can't explain that now though.)
7) You like the speech of the speaker because of its worth and value in the message. Need I say more? If I wanted to say more on this, it'd probably be a repeat of point number 5.
And lastly ...
8) You actually want to do something about the stuff that's going around. Sometimes you may feel incapable and may think that you can't do it and so leave it for someone else to do it. Well here's the thing though, if everyone thinks someone else is going to do something, then who's doing anything? Besides, why wait for some else to do it when you can hurry and seize the chance. Stop limiting your abilities and actually think about how and what you can do. If you don't know what to do think about it and think with other people. That's My message to you, so please take it to heart if its good and hopefullyit can progress to your body next as in you'll do stuff. And if I made mistakes please correct me. I'm only a pathetic person so don't expect me to be all that!
BY THE WAY!
Among the other reasons of starting this blog, did you know that it also signified my start into action? That's right people I'm thinking of a plan and am planning to do something wonderful for this ummah inshallah. I'll talk about it another time inshallah. Just in case you may be worried...what can I say other than wait for my explanation. It's not suppose to be something done without consideration.
Friday, 24 January 2014
The hectic Family
There are lots of annoying people in the world. They tend to surface mostly on the web but let's not look too far. There are even closer people. People of the same bloodline.Without a doubt, some of the most annoying people in my life are people in my family and yet I'm glad I have such a family... Just from what I wrote, you can tell things can get hectic.
And it does.
I envy families where the kids love each other. No joke. I would have thought that was impossible if it weren't for girls I met from another school who happened to be sisters and get this, the actually hugged each other without any weird ulterior motives. It wasn't meant as a joke or a prank or... you know, nothing sarcastic but a real, genuine,mutual hug. I was like, Is this for real?!
But wait!
It didn't stop there. They had a brother as well and when one of the sisters was tired on the subway, he actually let her rest her head on him. At this point I wanted to know how their parents raised them. I remember at some point in my life, we did treat each other well and co-operated and dare I say it, loved, but that was way way way in the past. Most families today are like mine...to some degree, so I was surprised when I saw these siblings.At one point in time we were like that. I remember defending my little brother and calling him by my mom's affectionate nick name when I was-what-like five or something.
Between then and now, what happened to us? And why?
Why is it normal to constantly be rude and treat others outside of the family better than the family itself? Is it because we can easily loose those people and we don't want that? Family, you can't shake off so you can be however you like whatever you choose to be . Usually people choose to be rude and annoying.
We often have those annoying siblings, you know, the one's you tell to stop doing something and when you do, they do it even more. Like if you tell them to keep quiet, they make even more noise.
Then there are those that make things worse in the household by influencing the younger ones in a bad way. The younger siblings copy their elders. This is a stressing position to be put in as an elder. The elders are expected to help guide, not misguide their siblings. Shouldering that responsibility is hard because you have to constantly watch yourself. It doesn't help to have an older sibling ,for example, openly disrespecting their mom, right in front of the younger ones. To begin with, you shouldn't be disrespecting your mom, to make it worse, you made it look good and funny and do-able to the younger.
Honestly, it hard! To make it worse, there's all these really bad influences around us. Be it school or the media. I don't have kids but I have been trying to help out with the youngest kids at home so that they grow right.
So much has gone wrong with society today and it's frustrating sometimes.
I think it's critical that little kids get exposed to what's right as they are young, so that it becomes apart of them, before those other influences attack them. At least by then they'd have some things set straight.
If you got kids, be at your best and make sure they learn good things from your actions and not just from your words. Also the people and things around your kids as well should be good.
If you got younger siblings, behave well!!! Big sis/Bro, I didn't really think elders could actually be influential until one day I met a 2 year old telling my mom the F-word. She had no idea what it meant and she said it wrong but the fact that she said it still stands. I'm the eldest sibling and I never did swear when I was really young. Shut up and stupid was all I knew and they were the worst things to ever say. Unfortunately those words made it into my vocabulary and that of my siblings when I was around 10. Now my even younger siblings started swearing around 4-5 years! Be mindful of what you do. Though it may not seem that way they learn from you and so it's also your responsibility to help them grow right.
And it does.
I envy families where the kids love each other. No joke. I would have thought that was impossible if it weren't for girls I met from another school who happened to be sisters and get this, the actually hugged each other without any weird ulterior motives. It wasn't meant as a joke or a prank or... you know, nothing sarcastic but a real, genuine,mutual hug. I was like, Is this for real?!
But wait!
It didn't stop there. They had a brother as well and when one of the sisters was tired on the subway, he actually let her rest her head on him. At this point I wanted to know how their parents raised them. I remember at some point in my life, we did treat each other well and co-operated and dare I say it, loved, but that was way way way in the past. Most families today are like mine...to some degree, so I was surprised when I saw these siblings.At one point in time we were like that. I remember defending my little brother and calling him by my mom's affectionate nick name when I was-what-like five or something.
Between then and now, what happened to us? And why?
Why is it normal to constantly be rude and treat others outside of the family better than the family itself? Is it because we can easily loose those people and we don't want that? Family, you can't shake off so you can be however you like whatever you choose to be . Usually people choose to be rude and annoying.
We often have those annoying siblings, you know, the one's you tell to stop doing something and when you do, they do it even more. Like if you tell them to keep quiet, they make even more noise.
Then there are those that make things worse in the household by influencing the younger ones in a bad way. The younger siblings copy their elders. This is a stressing position to be put in as an elder. The elders are expected to help guide, not misguide their siblings. Shouldering that responsibility is hard because you have to constantly watch yourself. It doesn't help to have an older sibling ,for example, openly disrespecting their mom, right in front of the younger ones. To begin with, you shouldn't be disrespecting your mom, to make it worse, you made it look good and funny and do-able to the younger.
Honestly, it hard! To make it worse, there's all these really bad influences around us. Be it school or the media. I don't have kids but I have been trying to help out with the youngest kids at home so that they grow right.
So much has gone wrong with society today and it's frustrating sometimes.
I think it's critical that little kids get exposed to what's right as they are young, so that it becomes apart of them, before those other influences attack them. At least by then they'd have some things set straight.
If you got kids, be at your best and make sure they learn good things from your actions and not just from your words. Also the people and things around your kids as well should be good.
If you got younger siblings, behave well!!! Big sis/Bro, I didn't really think elders could actually be influential until one day I met a 2 year old telling my mom the F-word. She had no idea what it meant and she said it wrong but the fact that she said it still stands. I'm the eldest sibling and I never did swear when I was really young. Shut up and stupid was all I knew and they were the worst things to ever say. Unfortunately those words made it into my vocabulary and that of my siblings when I was around 10. Now my even younger siblings started swearing around 4-5 years! Be mindful of what you do. Though it may not seem that way they learn from you and so it's also your responsibility to help them grow right.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Dua (supplication) is amazing!
The first time I probably prayed qiyam-ul layl, I was fourteen and I was realllllyyy worried. It was because something wasn't right with my body and I was really freaking out because of that. I learnt about this prayer at school and really wanted to try it. I remember it, though not as vivid as I'd wanted it to be the time I made the prayer and right after I turned my head to the left and said assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah, I felt my body return to normal, I was better.
I don't remember telling anyone this story because I don't want to really say what was wrong with me. What I wrote wasn't even accurate as to what happened but that's besides the point. The point is after making dua in prayer,(I'm not sure if your're allowed to make dua in prayer, especially when it's not in Arabic but I did it then) it was answered super quick! I made it apart of my nightly routine to make always make dua's.
And I lived happily ever after right?
Nope.
Fast forward to today, the dua I make is basically me in my auto mode much like my prayers.
One day, right before RIS conference in Toronot.(Shout out to Torontonians ^u^) I was looking up on Google about the types of prayers, and there I saw something, Salatul istikhara . Why it got my attention, I don't know.Maybe it was because it was the only one the I knew nothing about. (See!! I forget a lot. That's why I need these blogs to remind me.)
This prayer is made when you're making a decision and it so happened that I had a lot of decisions to be made. I was stressing out for many reasons: I had to send my university applications before the deadline, Had to try to find scholarships so I wouldn't have to borrow from the government, had to make money and pay for my own stuff like phone bills because I didn't want to further burden my dad -My younger siblings were asking for things like phones and other stuff. Getting a phone means continuously paying for the line. There are 7 lines in our house and that's just cell phones!! No one else seems to care but it really hurts me to be apart of the 7- I also had to study and my marks in chemistry were slipping. Not to mention upcoming projects to be handed in! >.<
Why am I talking like that's the past? My chem marks are presently at 77% and I have one last chance to bump it up in the upcoming exam! (I picture no one reading this blog up to this point, but if there is, please make dua for me and others if you can.)
So as you can see, the time I discovered this prayer was more than a coinkidink. I decided to pray one for the first time one night, based on what I learnt from online. it was to ask if I should bring this girl, a friend of mine, with me to RIS or I shouldn't. I wasn't sure if it would help her or if it would bore her or maybe worse. After praying I went to sleep half expecting a dream as the website said but I didn't remember anything so I just went along with my original plan which was to take her.
It was all right in the end. :)
And so the phase of Dua's begin.
My stresses are still there weeks later and with school opened again, they escalated with the pressure of exams. Another upcoming problem was my university application. I didn't know what to choose as my third. This sounds lame now but ever since I noticed my marks weren't increasing , I had to change my original plan to universities more likely to accept me. I reluctantly put in my third choice another friend of mine suggested and was about to press send when I decided to go pray istikhara first. I went and came back feeling better to find my friend suggesting another University I never really looked into and that actually interested me. Plus it was withing my range of average. I switched my previous third choice to this new one and then pressed send. I felt like a lifted some weight off my back.
Then there came this other time where I was completely stuck. After leaving school, I stood still on my tracks as I assessed what I should do. I argued in my head on what to do and where to go. I don't like to go home directly after school and if I do, it feels odd. But on that day, I had to go home but at the same time, I had to go to the library. There were three paths to go and I wasn't sure which to go. I had strong valid reasons why I had to go home, there was something I needed from there before I could study, but I also needed to go to the library and study because my exams were (still are) creeping close. You can't really understand this by simply reading this. Just know that I really really realllyy, needed to (still do) pass. Going to both home and the library was not an option and so I stood there like an idiot pretending to look for a friend.
Flash back 3 min before standing outside:
The question,
Kept ringing in my head and guess what I did, I made dua. There was no super quick answer so as I stood outside wondering what to do, I decided to stall myself before going anywhere, to go to the dollarama to get my thoughts sorted out. There I decided it was a good opportunity to buy stuff for my project and then leave but then I saw exactly the thing I wanted that was at home! I took it and cashed it out and headed off for the library, happily. On top of getting my answer, I got things I needed for my project!
Dua is amazing! That's why, now I try to use it for everything. I'm still getting into the habit of asking even for little things. It funny how in the past, when I looked at that little black dua book that most of us know(and yes, I forgot its name), I saw all sorts of dua for, like everything and thought that it was a bit oppressing but now here I am thinking the opposite.
I don't remember telling anyone this story because I don't want to really say what was wrong with me. What I wrote wasn't even accurate as to what happened but that's besides the point. The point is after making dua in prayer,(I'm not sure if your're allowed to make dua in prayer, especially when it's not in Arabic but I did it then) it was answered super quick! I made it apart of my nightly routine to make always make dua's.
And I lived happily ever after right?
Nope.
Fast forward to today, the dua I make is basically me in my auto mode much like my prayers.
One day, right before RIS conference in Toronot.(Shout out to Torontonians ^u^) I was looking up on Google about the types of prayers, and there I saw something, Salatul istikhara . Why it got my attention, I don't know.Maybe it was because it was the only one the I knew nothing about. (See!! I forget a lot. That's why I need these blogs to remind me.)
This prayer is made when you're making a decision and it so happened that I had a lot of decisions to be made. I was stressing out for many reasons: I had to send my university applications before the deadline, Had to try to find scholarships so I wouldn't have to borrow from the government, had to make money and pay for my own stuff like phone bills because I didn't want to further burden my dad -My younger siblings were asking for things like phones and other stuff. Getting a phone means continuously paying for the line. There are 7 lines in our house and that's just cell phones!! No one else seems to care but it really hurts me to be apart of the 7- I also had to study and my marks in chemistry were slipping. Not to mention upcoming projects to be handed in! >.<
Why am I talking like that's the past? My chem marks are presently at 77% and I have one last chance to bump it up in the upcoming exam! (I picture no one reading this blog up to this point, but if there is, please make dua for me and others if you can.)
So as you can see, the time I discovered this prayer was more than a coinkidink. I decided to pray one for the first time one night, based on what I learnt from online. it was to ask if I should bring this girl, a friend of mine, with me to RIS or I shouldn't. I wasn't sure if it would help her or if it would bore her or maybe worse. After praying I went to sleep half expecting a dream as the website said but I didn't remember anything so I just went along with my original plan which was to take her.
It was all right in the end. :)
And so the phase of Dua's begin.
My stresses are still there weeks later and with school opened again, they escalated with the pressure of exams. Another upcoming problem was my university application. I didn't know what to choose as my third. This sounds lame now but ever since I noticed my marks weren't increasing , I had to change my original plan to universities more likely to accept me. I reluctantly put in my third choice another friend of mine suggested and was about to press send when I decided to go pray istikhara first. I went and came back feeling better to find my friend suggesting another University I never really looked into and that actually interested me. Plus it was withing my range of average. I switched my previous third choice to this new one and then pressed send. I felt like a lifted some weight off my back.
Then there came this other time where I was completely stuck. After leaving school, I stood still on my tracks as I assessed what I should do. I argued in my head on what to do and where to go. I don't like to go home directly after school and if I do, it feels odd. But on that day, I had to go home but at the same time, I had to go to the library. There were three paths to go and I wasn't sure which to go. I had strong valid reasons why I had to go home, there was something I needed from there before I could study, but I also needed to go to the library and study because my exams were (still are) creeping close. You can't really understand this by simply reading this. Just know that I really really realllyy, needed to (still do) pass. Going to both home and the library was not an option and so I stood there like an idiot pretending to look for a friend.
Flash back 3 min before standing outside:
The question,
"What are you going to do?"
Kept ringing in my head and guess what I did, I made dua. There was no super quick answer so as I stood outside wondering what to do, I decided to stall myself before going anywhere, to go to the dollarama to get my thoughts sorted out. There I decided it was a good opportunity to buy stuff for my project and then leave but then I saw exactly the thing I wanted that was at home! I took it and cashed it out and headed off for the library, happily. On top of getting my answer, I got things I needed for my project!
Dua is amazing! That's why, now I try to use it for everything. I'm still getting into the habit of asking even for little things. It funny how in the past, when I looked at that little black dua book that most of us know(and yes, I forgot its name), I saw all sorts of dua for, like everything and thought that it was a bit oppressing but now here I am thinking the opposite.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
The Muslims...
Bismillahi arahmani araheem
(Get ready, get set, Contemplate!)
Am I the only "broken" one? Where are the others, you know, what else could I be possibly talking about other than the majority of the Muslim nation. The nation where you find people who don't know why they're Muslims, the same one's that neglect some fundamental rights, the one where people only care about their own lives, the one that...
Aren't we suppose to be like one body? Since when could a body just split into separate segments and fight in life to live that way. Dude(-ette) where's the common sense? Why make life harder? Just get back together and heal!
We got major issues to solve. We including me, because as stated before, "I'm broken". Am I suppose to feel some, you know, brother/sister-hood when I go to Muslim gatherings because I sure don't. In fact I don't feel like I'm apart of anything. As I probably mentioned before, there's this imperfect circle of Muslims and a bunch of other groups further away. Though I can picture myself near this imperfect circle of Muslims, they're backs are turned to me as they face inwards.
Though the issue of identity may not sound like a problem,and it's not that big of a deal, for me at least, there are people with identity crisis and want to fit in somewhere. If they were raised Muslims, they probably never really felt like they belonged to the community. This was me a while back, in my early teens. I got along with everyone because I wanted to be part of every group but in the end I was lonely. My case was simple so nothing really affected me much. I stillfeel felt hurt every now and then. You never know if someone else may be worse off. This is why people hang out with their group of friends even if they're rotten to the core. For this sense of belonging. I personally had some standards set straight in my head that prevented me from falling into these wrong groups, partly due to my upbringing and my stubbornness (Not to mention other external factors), so I didn't do a lot of unnecessary and potentially dangerous things just to join a group.
I know , I know this is all Blah Blah Blah talk and its not going to solve anything because I keep referring to myself. I do that to share with you my example because maybe you're like me. Maybe it'll get you thinking.
The original purpose of this blog was not for entertaining people, it was to get out there and try to do something for the Muslim world. I thought about something I could do but that would be a long time goal and nothings guaranteeing that I'd reach that goal. So the big question was,
I know that this isn't what I was initially talking about and that my mind is all over the place but this is how I round it off together. If you're struggling with your religion, get youract self together and actually do something about it. And as I stated before in another post, this blog is also for me. I want to remember what thoughts went through my head and how I reacted to certain things. Why do I do this? Hopefully I won't be "broken" one day and I can look back at this and have a reason to strongly say Alhamdullilah.
I'm sorry if my thoughts were all over the place...I got lot's on my mind and lots to say.
(Get ready, get set, Contemplate!)
Am I the only "broken" one? Where are the others, you know, what else could I be possibly talking about other than the majority of the Muslim nation. The nation where you find people who don't know why they're Muslims, the same one's that neglect some fundamental rights, the one where people only care about their own lives, the one that...
Aren't we suppose to be like one body? Since when could a body just split into separate segments and fight in life to live that way. Dude(-ette) where's the common sense? Why make life harder? Just get back together and heal!
We got major issues to solve. We including me, because as stated before, "I'm broken". Am I suppose to feel some, you know, brother/sister-hood when I go to Muslim gatherings because I sure don't. In fact I don't feel like I'm apart of anything. As I probably mentioned before, there's this imperfect circle of Muslims and a bunch of other groups further away. Though I can picture myself near this imperfect circle of Muslims, they're backs are turned to me as they face inwards.
Though the issue of identity may not sound like a problem,and it's not that big of a deal, for me at least, there are people with identity crisis and want to fit in somewhere. If they were raised Muslims, they probably never really felt like they belonged to the community. This was me a while back, in my early teens. I got along with everyone because I wanted to be part of every group but in the end I was lonely. My case was simple so nothing really affected me much. I still
I know , I know this is all Blah Blah Blah talk and its not going to solve anything because I keep referring to myself. I do that to share with you my example because maybe you're like me. Maybe it'll get you thinking.
The original purpose of this blog was not for entertaining people, it was to get out there and try to do something for the Muslim world. I thought about something I could do but that would be a long time goal and nothings guaranteeing that I'd reach that goal. So the big question was,
"What can I do now?"I thought it out and re-visited my original blogging Idea and I've settled with it since. Why? Because I feel like the majority of the Muslims are like me, whether degrees better or worse I don't know, but we're close. I am "broken" in a way, in my way. This blog is here for you to hopefully identify with your problems if you got any.(We all got them.) and actually do something about them.
I know that this isn't what I was initially talking about and that my mind is all over the place but this is how I round it off together. If you're struggling with your religion, get your
I'm sorry if my thoughts were all over the place...I got lot's on my mind and lots to say.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
The wait.
mentally beat up and knocked down, it was that time time again...
The sky was layered with dull clouds covering the calming blue from view. There were no chilly winds that day, winter ran out of breath. Walking home had never been so easy since the cold season came kicking in. The distance was lengthy but with my ears plugged in, it didn't seem so.
The weather was lovely ( for winter) , in a lovely neighborhood where innocent trees were left abandoned on the streets after being killed needlessly for Christmas , listening to a radio station on my phone and hearing about the judgement day. The reminder was much needed and it was one of those radio shows that would keep airing again over time by different speakers. Without the weather to distract me, my mind began to turn it's wheels and I would "see" what they talked about. For some reason hell fire seemed more of a reality than Paradise.
The wheels turned faster in my head and then I'm out onto the busier streets still nothing can get a hold of my attention more than the radio station. In fact, my earphones were wonky and as I traveled I was trying to fix them so that I could hear more.
I don't like to evaluate myself because for the many nights, before I slept, I would always hate my own outcome. Right before bed evaluations are easier to handle because distracting your thoughts is easier because the darkness lulls you to sleep but then it was the evening so that left me with a lot of time to think.
Saddening thoughts kept on creeping in, and even though I didn't believe them for the most part ,they still hurt. I feel frustrated for all sorts because I'm deprived of hearing the miracle of the quran even though I tried to learn Arabic before, can't pray properly though I never want to miss one , don't know why people like my own dad think the quran is like oxygen to them (I told him I could go on months without the quran if not years just to hear more about his reasoning. I felt sad at the truth of my words) and most of all, the fact that I'm hanging on tight because Islam is all I've ever known and I have belief in what I heard of it from others. I want to be 100% sure without doubt and be able to have proofs. It's in Islam somewhere and I want to excavate it. Though many frustrating and depressing thoughts may slip into my mind and throw me off, I can wait and try harder.
The sky was layered with dull clouds covering the calming blue from view. There were no chilly winds that day, winter ran out of breath. Walking home had never been so easy since the cold season came kicking in. The distance was lengthy but with my ears plugged in, it didn't seem so.
The weather was lovely ( for winter) , in a lovely neighborhood where innocent trees were left abandoned on the streets after being killed needlessly for Christmas , listening to a radio station on my phone and hearing about the judgement day. The reminder was much needed and it was one of those radio shows that would keep airing again over time by different speakers. Without the weather to distract me, my mind began to turn it's wheels and I would "see" what they talked about. For some reason hell fire seemed more of a reality than Paradise.
The wheels turned faster in my head and then I'm out onto the busier streets still nothing can get a hold of my attention more than the radio station. In fact, my earphones were wonky and as I traveled I was trying to fix them so that I could hear more.
I don't like to evaluate myself because for the many nights, before I slept, I would always hate my own outcome. Right before bed evaluations are easier to handle because distracting your thoughts is easier because the darkness lulls you to sleep but then it was the evening so that left me with a lot of time to think.
Saddening thoughts kept on creeping in, and even though I didn't believe them for the most part ,they still hurt. I feel frustrated for all sorts because I'm deprived of hearing the miracle of the quran even though I tried to learn Arabic before, can't pray properly though I never want to miss one , don't know why people like my own dad think the quran is like oxygen to them (I told him I could go on months without the quran if not years just to hear more about his reasoning. I felt sad at the truth of my words) and most of all, the fact that I'm hanging on tight because Islam is all I've ever known and I have belief in what I heard of it from others. I want to be 100% sure without doubt and be able to have proofs. It's in Islam somewhere and I want to excavate it. Though many frustrating and depressing thoughts may slip into my mind and throw me off, I can wait and try harder.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Blows to the heart of a Muslim. [Where are you aching Muslims??]
BISMILLAHI RAHMANI RAHEEM
Assalam Alaikum!
One of the greatest "aches" was from a girl who left Islam.
"I had too many questions and no one could answer them."
It probably hurt me a lot because of the fact that we were the same in a way. Both of us lacked enough understanding but the difference was after hearing her say those words, I wrapped my Islam tighter, or I at least tried to. All the while I search to reach this level of some understanding.
Now flash back forward, this time I managed to give myself a jab at my heart. It happened when I was listening to an imam's podcast. He mention something that unsettled me. Don't we have these problems at times? I know a Muslim friend of mine who had an issue with something regarding the cultural aspect of the Arabs back then, which happened to be something that I was confused about, but with knowledge I was able to understand it better afterwards.
That was for me. what about you? If a question or disturbing thought came to you would you try to solve it or ignore it? In my friends case when I tried to explain to her the situation she rejected it even more. You have to be understanding! There are certain things that require you to be open minded. For example the concept of marrying your own sibling during Adam's (as) time is disturbing but you got to understand the times have changed and still do.
If some comes at you and hurts you, try what I usually do which is always think that there's a deficiency in My understanding and that I should learn more. I have all sorts of deficiencies the biggest at the moment is the fact that I can't hear the miracle of the quran with my own ears. (I kind of envy Arabs but I'm glad I'm not one because I probably would've had some sort of pride issue. This is my own self evaluation not an insult based on others.) You got to think to yourself that there must be a reasoning for whatever is happening and be open minded when it comes to learning.
Sometimes I don't find the answer while I'm searching for it but with all the knowledge I have, at times it just...clicks! This isn't only for Islamic studies, but anything. Sometimes you have the puzzle pieces but you have to put them together to make sense out of them.
So please don't give up if you're "aching" in the heart, be patient and don't expect that everything will come down to you in a revelation just for you because you'd be dreaming. Get up and do something about it.\ What I first started out doing was listening to videos that were short even though the thought of doing so bored me at first especially when it comes to radio stations. I find that one of the best time to learn is when you're on the go to somewhere and you're travelling alone. Try to confirm what you learn though.
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| Don't be listening to music when you could be learning on the go! |
I leave you with that ( If anyone's here at all) until Thursday Inshallah.
If I offended you then forgive me because that was NOT my intentions.
Wasalaam Alaikum.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Islam for Granted?
Sometimes, you would find a new revert to Islam envying the people born raised in Islam. I'm here to reciprocate this feeling on why most muslims of today should, and why I do, envy the new Muslims. There are two main reasons that I could thing of:
1) They made the choice
2) They most likely made sacrifices to be Muslim
1) The choice!
I was raised a Muslim and for me, I've taken it for granted. Even as I write now. (I'm working on it :( ) For most, Islam is just a part of our background but not the main subject of a picture in a painting of our lives. On the other hand, lets think about how our new sister's and brothers would treat Islam. "Alhamdullilah I'm a Muslim." is what you'd hear from a lot of them.
I've always been a Muslim so I have no idea what it's like to go through making the choice. I often wonder about whether I would have done the same if I had the same courage , the same valor . First off would I be one of those who thought about religion? I think Alhamdullilah in the end.
At least you had the choice of doing some acts of worship like putting on the hijab, one would think. But unlike some of my Muslim friends who got to make the choice of putting on the hijab, I grew up with it so it's become apart of my skin Alhamdullilah. I may sound like I'm complaining but I'm trying to get across a point here about how strong of a conviction you have when something is your choice. I've been blessed (I just noticed it now.)
For the rest of us who don't have this strong conviction, we're more prone to doubt. First off, if your boat starts sinking, don't blame anyone but yourself if you didn't know how to use it properly. Don't start getting mad at religion if you know you're knowledge is deficient. I had to catch myself a couple of times when I got a bit outraged at the Quran 1) for being boring 2) for not speaking out to me. I have no one to blame but myself because first off, it was not meant for entertainment and secondly, I can't assume it won't speak out to me if I haven't even read the whole thing yet to date. I never once read it fully in English much less Arabic.
My fellow Muslims, don't despair! Seek for knowledge. Don't be a stagnant muslim. Even if studying may seem boring, at least watch a 5-10 min long videos on youtube once a day.If you're not convinced about Islam then you need to learn now. Inshallah it will be a proud choice of yours. Also don't forget to supplicate to Allah.
On the authority of Abu Hurairah ra, who said that Rasulullah saw said: Allah swt said: "I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself. And if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed."
There's more I can say about stagnant muslims but I'd go off topic. Just know that mosquitos, which cause malaria, grow in stagnant water.
2) They made sacrifices.
Ontop of having a firm belief, you find that most reverts make sacrifices, for example, giving up the old you or a bad habit. Whereas this should happen regardless if you're a new muslim or an old one, I would say the term of intensity is higher for most of the former.
Sahih International
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?
Why would the intensity vary? Well you find that the people being tested have different levels of faith. That's why prophets had harder tests.
You find that the companions of the prophet (PBUH) also sacrificed a lot just to be muslims and so their hearts were more wrapped with love for the religion. It has more value for them.
Side note: Not Only do most (if not all) new Muslims have no doubt and have love in the religion, if you ask them why they're Muslims they'll have an answer. Now for those of us raised as Muslims, what is Islam other than our scarves and the mosque.
There's so much we can learn from our new Sister's and brothers regarding Faith and hopefully they can learn from us regarding the knowledge if we have any at all, as we live under under the banner of Islam together and call ourselves Muslims.
Morals to be taken: You should be somewhat disturbed if you identify yourself as a Muslim and you don't make Islam essential in your life. Also if you can't answer why you're a Muslim and if you have doubts. Get some education that will benefit your belief. We can't lie to ourselves about the "love" we supposedly have towards Islam when we can't even answer why we're Muslim.
If you learnt something else, then share in the comments below.
Forgive me if I've offended anyone as that was not my intention and if I've erred correct me!
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