Home. Where is home? I thought of this and only then was I faced with the inevitable. “We’re going to move by the end of the year.” My father’s sudden words temporarily silenced me. I paused for a moment, unsure of what to say or how to feel. “Do I have a choice?” I asked, afraid of what I knew he was going to say. “No,” he said quietly. He sensed my pain. He’s seen this look on my face before. But he too, had no choice. I tried...
The whole day had simply been concocting the ingredients for a famous dish, fiasco. I’d woken up for Fajr dreading getting dressed, because today’s dress code was to wear jeans and a t-shirt. How I could wear that modestly mystified me. I sighed and finally pulled on a long formal dress shirt that went just past my knees first, and then put the giant casual gray T-shirt on top. When they had asked me for a size, I’d gotten the biggest shirt they had. The other girls, debating whether...
Dear Heart, I write this to you as a reminder. Eighteen years and still together, you are surely one of my closest companions. I’ve heard your voice from the beginning: happiness, sadness, and so much more that thumped against your rib cage. And you witnessed all that I have: friends, places, and a lot more through my senses. If you stop pumping the blood circulating through the intricate passes of my veins, I will die within a few minutes. And if I stop my vitals of worship and acts...
Another tear rolls down my cheek, I feel it meandering its way down, Joining the others to form a stream. I slowly close my crimson drenched eyes, Feeling the shatter inside my chest; The vessel has finally begun to leak. ‘In life you will meet all kinds of people’ I hear my father’s words ringing in my ears. But no matter how prepared you think you are, It will never be enough for this kind of betrayal. Treated appallingly in more ways than one, Their selfishness has made me...
Woke up before dawn Cold water and sleepy eyes Ignored Shaitan’s lies Left my class early Warmer weather, it’s noon now Study room, I bow Finally back home Have homework but it can wait Face He who creates Dinner, we sit down Finish eating, make wudu Feet close by like glue Day is almost done And the moon shines with the stars Allahu Akbar Haiku: A major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative...
It was a beautiful moonlit, starless night. I gazed out of the window and breathed in deeply. It all seemed so peaceful, but yet, the turmoil within me seemed to be raging harder than ever. I had a sudden urge to jump and just let go. Let go of my worries, my problems, my life… I’m so not worth anything. Sometimes I feel like my family thinks I was only a nuisance…and I don’t blame them. After all, they have to pay for my food, pay for my school,...
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever sticks to my Sunnah (my way, my path, my practice, my teachings) when my Ummah becomes corrupt, will receive the reward of 100 martyrs.” What is the corruption mentioned in this Ayah? It is explained by the previous statement, “Whoever sticks to my Sunnah” — implying that the rest of the Ummah will have abandoned the Sunnah of their Messenger, hence, have fallen into corruption and misguidance. So yes, no doubt, all types of corruption, in all areas. Definitely! But particularly, abandoning the...
It is interesting that we mainly tend to venerate somebody only after that person has passed away. That is when the tears stream down, the words come out choked, and the hearts ache. Magnificent memorials are conducted, grand accolades are read, and heartfelt obituaries are written. Now, what if we were to express our gratitude and love to one before their death? Better yet, why not make the love for only the sake of Allah? For example, let’s say you get married. If you love your wife only for...
Have you ever wondered about the issue of celebrating or partaking in Non-Muslim holidays, festivals and celebrations? What is the Islamic ruling regarding this? Is it permissible, is it disliked, is it impermissible? Is there a difference of opinion on this matter? Insha’Allah, in this short article, I hope that all of these (and related) questions will be clearly answered. 1. Greeting the Kuffaar on Christmas and other similar holidays of theirs is Haraam by Ittifaaq (consensus of the scholars), as Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn al-Qayyim said in Ahkaam Ahl adh-Dhimmah: Congratulating...
Shaykh Hossam (who taught at the Islamic University of Madinah for over 10 years, has received many Ijaazaat, and is a senior scholar) has been teaching myself and others a beautiful Dua’ for a number of nights now, and I wanted to share it with you in this post. It is called the Du’aa’ of Istikhaarah, which the Prophet taught to his Companions. It is narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhari that Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, The Prophet used to sit and teach us the (Supplication of) Istikharah...
