That Fajr Prayer

Assalmu alaikum, May peace be with you all. In the name of Allah, the most kind, the most merciful. May His choices, blessings and salutations, salaah and salaam be upon the Beloved Nabi Muhammad  , and may we also benefit from these blessings, ameen,ya rabil alimeen.

The pursuit of happiness begins with Salaah, so let our days begin with Salaat al Fajr.

I was scrolling through Instagram the other day, and came across this account called @fajreminders. Initially I followed the account, because I am a bit of a quotes fanatic, but I soon realised, these were more than quotes and inspirations. I’ve highlighted a few inspirations below.

Follow @fajreminders on Instagram

This post is merely a reminder for us to cement our intention to rise for Salaah.

As humans, we love our sleep! But if Allah is saying “Salaah is better than sleep”, then certainly, we should abandon sleep for His pleasure? The way is see it is two – fold, because in pleasing Him, isnt He Loving you? Rewards to the maximum!

Aisha R relates that Rasulullah S said “ the two rakaats of fajr (the Sunnah) are better than the world and all it contains”

 

Is it then not understood that we should be rising before the sun to offer this prayer to the Almighty before walking our dogs and donning expensive suits and elegant dresses, coffee in hand rushing through the traffic to participate in the world? Surely, if we start with Fajr, we will have the mercy and blessing of the One who commanded us and our days may just be a lot easier. It is also said in a narration, something to the effect that, we should place our worldly requests before Allah at this time, for He will take care of them for us. So will you rise before the sun and breathe the pure dawn air? So let’s be active participants in our religious obligation as much as we are in our worldly obligation.

We live in a society where we wake our kids up for school, but not for Fajr

We call ourselves muslim, and we do as commanded, but what about inculcating these habits in to our children? We know, that we have a responsibility to look after the children entrusted to us, from the Almighty. We don’t want them to fall on the playground and scratch their precious knees and we want them to raise the trophy at the end of the year #firstprize. But what about being the shining trophy in the eyes of Allah and kneeling on the ground before Him? If our kids are habitually waking up for school, but not fajr, we have failed them and our Lord. Yes – it may not be compulsory on them now, but it will be in the near future, why not make it easy for them to habitually rise at the call to prayer to please their Creator from the earliest age of understanding?

 

What is heavier? The Gym Bench or the Blanket for Fajr?

Please don’t give up your gym routines! Those are very helpful guys, but waking up a few minutes earlier and training your soul before your body is the ultumate option. The best form of exercise is salaah for the mind and the body. Our strength is in standing two feet firm on the musallah, in kneeling and bowing with full concentration on Allah and His command, Magnificence and Praise. The blanket is less than 1kg, let’s rise and raise the bar in obedience to the Nourisher, Sustainer and Provider.

theres just one more that i want to point out and that is,

Only the best may come from pleasing Allah

 

Allah never ordains that which may be harmful to us. So for those of us that have concerns about a lack of sleep, the idea has certainly been planted by Shaytaan and cultivated by our busy lives and nafs – think jihad an Nafs!

Fajr is designed to begin the day with light and with life, with positive energy and the presence of the Angels. The early morning sets the tone and energy for the entire day, and by beginning the day in the best possible way, in prayer and meditation, in spiritual practice, you will bless your entire day with barakah and noor, blessings and light.

Early morning is a blessed time and most conducive to spiritual awakening and the cultivation of consciousness, for while the world sleeps, the spiritual beings arise and assert that “prayer is better than sleep,” that consciousness, transcendence and divine purpose are greater than heedlessness, unconsciousness and loss of purpose.

I leave you asking that today, we all make the intention to observe the Fajr Salaah and that we ask Almighty to open our eyes and allow us to rise before the sun and all the birds and animals which awaken to praise HIM, In sha Allah

 

Some tips:

1. Eat Healthy, Eat Light: Light and healthy meals cultivate consciousness and feed our positive energy, whilst heavy unhealthy meals contribute to lethargy and laziness.

2. Sleep early with intention: Give your body the love and care it needs to obtain its maximum purpose for your maximum benefit. Our souls are housed by our bodies, we need to care for both in order to please Allah. Sleep in a state of purity, in wudhu and with intention to rise for Fajr salaah.

3.  Meditate daily: Center your mind, train your spirituality to enter every crevice of the mind and fill it with concentration and love for Allah and His invitation to meeting Him. A command is less burdensome, when you Love the commander.

4. Muhasaba: Take account for your day in Dunya,and you will have ease in answering in Akhira. Keep a conscious record of your worship and your spiritual growth and goals.

 

 

 

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Dunya Boutiques v Akhira Boutiques

Every woman knows about shopping. It doesn’t matter which country you are from, the words “shopping” or “sale” sends a shiver down the spine and a peek in to the purses. 

So let’s take this concept of shopping a little further. It is wonderful to be able to fill our time walking through malls and trying on pretty dresses, then filling our cupboards and basking in the feeling of accomplishment. So long as we remember, to live in this Dunya and not for this Dunya.

We would be foolish to live any other way, as Allah says, “O My People! The life of this world is only temporary enjoyment, while the abode of hereafter is everlasting”  (Surah Al Mu’min : 39) 

We are here as traveler’s, this temporary abode is a place wherein we are given the opportunity to prepare for our final destination. By virtue of being the reciters of La Illaha Ililallah, we already have the passport to paradise, however, we do require some Visa. This Visa is obtainable through doing righteous deeds, for Allah says,  “And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are dwellers or paradise,they will dwell therein forever” (surah Al Baqarah : 82). 

And we know that in preparation for any journey, the best provision is Taqwa, (surah Al Baqarah : 197) So in preparing, take as much as you can from this place for the next. 

So, how often do we go “Akhira Shopping”? The answer should be – it is my sole purpose. YES, life is about shopping. Shopping for the Akhira, stocking up on Akhira reserves, filling the bags, tipping the scales and rushing to the sales. 

I think as a start, we should add a few things to our Akhira shopping lists. The best currency to carry on these shopping expeditions, is glorifying the Almighty, lots of SubhanAllah will be beneficial.

Stocking up on Akhira reserves is simple, we need to engage in Tawbah,because Allah says, ” Truly Allah loves those who turn [to Him] in repentance, and He loves those who keep themselves in purity. (Qur’an 2:222).  

Thankfulness to Allah for the favours he has bestowed on us, everything we have, everything we do is only by His will, and Allah says,””Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, And be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.” [Qur’an 2:152] 

Our actions, must be pure and good, and for the pleasure of Allah. Good actions, character and manners are all part of Imaan and we are told this by our beloved Nabi Muhammad S.A.W, when he said, “There is none heavier in the scales of the Hereafter than good character” (Hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud).

Actually, its simple, shop for the Akhira, in the constant remembrance of Allah. In doing for Him, you increase your love for Him, and in loving Him. And while you loving Him and The most Loving is Loving you, your Akhira reserves increase with every good action done for Him.

There is no need for a budget in this realm and Akhira boutiques are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Do all you need to for Allah, and He will do for you.

Do it with Grace xx

REFRESH!

My Prophet, OUR Prophet, My Muhammad, May Peace and blessings be upon him once said ” The Greatest Jihad, is to battle your own soul, to fight the evil within yourself. ”  

We can conquer the battle, as we all have the natural disposition, to DO good, BE good, WANT to be good, it’s just that there is always that whisper telling us, “we already good enough” or “tomorrow is a better day to start” – to recognize THAT voice, is half the battle won. 

Our Imaan, my Imaan, is weak, we have lots to do in this world to gain the best of Akhira, but how do we go about attaining the best results as weak creation? and Especially because we have this constant battle that occupies our hearts and minds?

Hit REFRESH!!

What I mean by this is, lets clean out our hearts so that when you invite Allah and Islam in to the beautiful walls of your heart, there is no reason to leave, Would you like to spend even one night in a crappy broken down hotel room? Didn’t think so ya’ll! So how can we invite this Islam in to our hearts when it may be cluttered with the filth and dust of the world which we carry with us? Ofcourse – we need to secure dunya, but our primary objective is securing the best of akhira, Inshallah. 

So when i say ” Hit Refresh” what I am saying, is turn to Allah, for Allah loves those who turn to Him. What I am saying, is that we should affirm our faith at every given opportunity, so that we become strong enough to battle the nafs and desires that distract us. 

Just as we find so much satisfaction in downing a refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day, let’s find that same satisfaction in this kalima, لآ اِلَهَ اِلّا اللّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوُل اللّهِ.  La ilaha illa-llah, Muhammadu-rasulu-llah… There is no Allah but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Let’s make the intention, each and every day, that Ya Rab, we want to renew our faith today. Ameen! 

By removing all that is negative – La Ilaha, illa-allah and affirming that there is ONLY Allah, we can remove this love for dunya, and invite this love for Allah in to our hearts. And yes, we are weak, but if we keep refreshing and we keep turning back to Allah, we will be successful ameen, ya rab. This is love. Allah’s love. 

So arm yourself with intention to refresh, persevere with your nafs, use this kalima and keep turning to your Allah. And, Inshallah this battle will subside and we will be the victors of our nafs. 

Remember, the more we affirm our faith, and the closer we get to our Allah, the closer we are to our natural disposition and the easier it will be to fulfill our highest good, ameen ya Rabilaalimeen ❤

Its Jumu’ah! Its’ Jumu’ah and I love you, for Allahs Pleasure!

Asalaamu Alaikum ❤

So I have not been able to post in a few days, believe it or not, I have had no WIFI access – Please note the irony as per my last post! I just thought I would wish you all a blessed Jumu’ah, and share a few ahadeeth with you, for the best of days is Friday for a believer, Alhamdulillah!

• “On (the day of) Jumu’ah is an hour during which Allah gives to a Muslim servant standing in prayer whatever he asks for.”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

• The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said:“The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Allah created Aadam. On it, he was made to enter paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday.”[Ahmad and At-At-Tirmithi].

• The charity given in this day is more virtuous than the other days of a week. The Messenger (ﷺ) said:”Charity given during the day of Jumu’ah is greater (in reward) than any other day.”

• It is a day on which sins are forgiven, as narrated by Salmaan (Ra.) who narrated that the Prophet, (ﷺ) said:“Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, perfumes himself if he has perfume, wears the best of his clothes, then goes to the mosque and offers as many prayers as he wishes while not harming anybody, then listens quietly while the Imaam speaks until he offers the prayer, will have all his sins between that Friday and the next forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari].

Let’s remember to send as much Salaam upon Our Beloved Muhammad (ﷺ) as we possibly can, ask for as much forgiveness as possible, surely Allah loves those who turn to him, recite Al – Quraan, and act as the mutaqeen for the pleasure of the Almighty. Show your LOVE for ALLAH, because if you loving Him, surely He will Love you, Inshallah, Ameen Ya Rab.

So lets catch the blessings and mercy’s of this beautiful day which will be a means of benefit in this world and the Hereafter. 

I wish everyone reading this, their friends and family a beautiful Jumu’ah,Ameen Ya Rab. I ask Allah to keep us all covered in His mercy and protection for today and all our days, Ameen Ya Rab, I ask Allah to keep our faith in him strong for this day and every other, Ameen Ya Rab. I ask Allah for ease in every condition, Ameen Ya Rab. I ask Allah to give us all the Love in our hearts for His Messenger (ﷺ), Ameen Ya Rab and I ask Allah for happiness, peace, protection, steadfastness and purity for the hearts of the entire Ummah, Ameen Ya Rab. 

With ALL the Love in my heart, Jummah Mubarak Muhammad (ﷺ)’s  Ummah!

 

 

Do not be despondent in the mercy of Allah

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Do not be despondent in the mercy of Allah ❤