Take your Heart Back

Ocean of Dunya

No one likes to fall. And few people would ever choose to drown. But in struggling through the ocean of this life, sometimes it’s so hard not to let the world in. Sometimes the ocean does enter us. The dunya does seep into our hearts.

And like the water that breaks the boat, when dunya enters, it shatters our heart.  It shatters the boat. Recently, I was reminded of what a broken boat looks like, of what happens when you let everything in. I was reminded because I saw someone, just like me, fall in love too much with this life and seek to be filled by the creation. So the ocean of dunya shattered her boat, as it had shattered mine, and she fell out into the water.  But she stayed down too long, and didn’t know how to come back up or what to hold on to.

So she drowned.

If you allow dunya to own your heart, like the ocean that owns the boat, it will take over. You will sink down to the depths of the sea. You will touch the ocean floor. And you will feel as though you were at your lowest point. Entrapped by your sins and the love of this life, you will feel broken. Surrounded by darkness. That’s the amazing thing about the floor of the ocean. No light reaches it.

But, this dark place is not the end. Remember that the darkness of night precedes the dawn. And as long as your heart still beats, this is not the death of it. You don’t have to die here. Sometimes, the ocean floor is only a stop on the journey. And it is when you are at this lowest point, that you are faced with a choice. You can stay there at the bottom, until you drown. Or you can gather pearls and rise back up—stronger from the swim, and richer from the jewels.

If you seek Him, God can raise you up, and replace the darkness of the ocean, with the light of His sun. He can transform what was once your greatest weakness into your greatest strength, and a means of growth, purification and redemption. Know that transformation sometimes begins with a fall. So never curse the fall. The ground is where humility lives. Take it. Learn it. Breathe it in. And then come back stronger, humbler and more aware of your need for Him. Come back having seen your own nothingness and His greatness. Know that if you have seen that Reality, you have seen much. For the one who is truly deceived is the one who sees his own self—but not Him.  Deprived is the one who has never witnessed his own desperate need for God.  Reliant on his own means, he forgets that the means, his own soul, and everything else in existence are His creation.

Seek God to bring you back up, for when He does, He will rebuild your ship. The heart that you thought was forever damaged will be mended. What was shattered will be whole again. Know that only He can do this. Seek Him.

And when He saves you, beg forgiveness for the fall, feel remorse over it—but not despair.  As Ibn ul Qayyim (ra) has said: “Satan rejoiced when Adam (peace be upon him) came out of Paradise, but he did not know that when a diver sinks into the sea, he collects pearls and then rises again.”

There is a powerful and amazing thing about tawbah (repentance) and turning back to Allah (swt). We are told that it is apolish for the heart. What’s amazing about a polish is that it doesn’t just clean. It makes the object that is polished even shinier than it was before it got dirty. If you come back to God, seek His forgiveness, and refocus your life and heart on Him, you have the potential to be even richer than if you’d never fallen at all. Sometimes falling and coming back up gives you wisdom and humility that you may never otherwise have had. Ibn ul Qayyim (ra) writes:

“One of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) said: “Indeed a servant commits a sin by which he enters Paradise; and another does a good deed by which he enters the Fire.” It was asked: How is that? So he replied: “The one who committed the sin, constantly thinks about it; which causes him to fear it, regret it, weep over it and feel ashamed in front of his Lord—the Most High—due to it. He stands before Allah, broken-hearted and with his head lowered in humility. So this sin is more beneficial to him than doing many acts of obedience, since it caused him to have humility and humbleness—which leads to the servant’s happiness and success—to the extent that this sin becomes the cause for him entering Paradise. As for the doer of good, then he does not consider this good a favor from his Lord upon him. Rather, he becomes arrogant and amazed with himself, saying: I have achieved such and such, and such and such. So this further increases him in self-adulation, pride and arrogance—such that this becomes the cause for his destruction.”

Allah (swt) reminds us in the Qur’an to never lose hope. He says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against their souls [by sinning], despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful,’” (39:53).

And so, this is a call to all those who have become enslaved by the tyranny of the self, imprisoned in the dungeon of thenafs (self) and desires.  It is a call to all those who have entered the ocean of dunya, who have sunk into its depths, and become trapped by its crushing waves. Rise up. Rise up to the air, to the Real world above the prison of the ocean. Rise up to your freedom. Rise up and come back to life. Leave the death of your soul behind you. Your heart can still live and be stronger and purer than it ever was. Does not the polish of tawbah remake the heart even more beautiful than it was? Remove the veil you have sewn with your sins. Remove the veil between you and Life, between you and Freedom, between you and Light—between you and God.  Remove the veil and rise up. Come back to yourself. Come back to where you began. Come back Home. Know that when all the other doors have shut in your face, there is One that is always open. Always. Seek it. Seek Him and He will guide you through the waves of the cruel ocean, into the mercy of the sun.

This world cannot break you—unless you give it permission. And it cannot own you unless you hand it the keys – unless you give it your heart.  And so, if you have handed those keys to dunya for a while—take them back. This isn’t the End. You don’t have to die here. Reclaim your heart and place it with its rightful owner:

God.

All credit to : SuhaibWebb.com

Favourite Qoute of the Day

‎"If she’s not on the deen, she's not fit to be your queen...If he hasn't got Iman, he’s not fit to be your man"

(ml sulaiman ravat)

Konsep Syukran dan ‘Afwan

Suatu ketika ada teman yang mengucapkan syukran ke saya. Kemudian saya jawab sesuai dengan kebiasaan orang Arab dengan kata ‘afwan. Sesaat kemudian, teman saya itu bertanya, “Kok minta maaf, din?”… (‘afwan = maaf). Saya menjelaskan kalo orang Arab diberik ucapan syukran, maka jawabannya adalah ‘afwan. hehe…teman saya terkekeh.

Ada yang bisa kita pelajari dari kebiasaan orang Arab ini. Ketika diucapkan padanya kata Syukran maka jawabannya adalah ‘Afwan. Mereka masih merasa perlu meminta maaf ketika sudah berbuat baik kepada seseorang. Mereka merasa bahwa seharusnya masih bisa melakukan lebih daripada itu, namun yang dilakukan hanya sebatas itu. Sehingga masih merasa perlu mengucap kata ‘Afwan.

Bingung ya? Saya juga bingung gimana mau ngejelasinnya… 

Langsung ke contoh aja deh..

‘Ali memberi ‘Umar makanan berupa nasi goreng (di Arab ada nasi goreng ga ya? nasgor kan dari China). Kemudian ‘Umar berucap “Syukran wa jazaakallah.” ‘Ali karena merasa seharusnya mampu memberikan lebih daripada nasi goreng mengucapkan, “Afwan wa iyyaka.”

Yah, semoga dari contoh itu bisa ditangkap isi pesannya.

Begitulah kurang lebih konsep syukran dan ‘afwan. Tidak seperti orang Indonesia yang kalo diucapkan padanya terima kasih, maka jawabannya adalah sama-sama. Seolah dia memang pantas untuk mendapatkan ucapan terima kasih itu. Yang dilakukan orang Indonesia ini sama dengan yang dilakukan oleh orang yang menggunakan bahasa Inggris.Thank You, maka jawabannya adalah you’re welcome atau doesn’t mind.

Saya lebih sepakat dengan kebiasaan orang Arab mengenai konsep terima kasih ini.

Satu hal lagi, orang Arab atau orang yang menggunakan bahasa Arab, sangat senang sekali dalam tutur katanya mendoakan orang lain. Misalnya dalam pengumuman hasil ujian. Maka selain Lulus, istilah lainnya adalah bukan Tidak Lulus, melainkan Semoga Allah Mengizinkan di lain waktu.

Sungguh indah sekali jika kita senang menebar doa kepada lawan bicara kita dalam keseharian kita.

Baarokallahu fiik bagi yang membaca tulisan ini. Semoga bermanfaat.

* all credit to : http://dinoyudha.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/konsep-syukran-dan-afwan/#comment-2602

How To Gain Tawfiq To Perform Tahajjud?

Tips to help you wake up for Fajr (and Tahajjud!), Insha'Allah:

1. Keep Away from Ma'aasi (acts of disobedience).
2. Avoid eating too much food.
3. Drink one or two glasses of water before going to bed.
4. Perform Wudoo (ablution) before going to bed.
5. Go to bed early.
6. Make intention in your heart to get up for Fajr/Tahajjud.
7. Set your alarm.
8. Establish Fajr/Tahajjud wake up calling system with family and friends e.g. friends/family members calling, texting etc each other to help one another wake up for the prayer.
9. Say prescribed supplications (dua) before sleeping
10. Once awake, do not linger lazily in bed.
11. Go to your local masjid to pray

Also... one thing that helps that I do when I study late, or am up until the early morning, is to put my alarm clock (which is very loud) in the bathroom... thus forcing me to get up to go to the bathroom to shut it off. While you're in the bathroom, just splash yourself with water and voila! You are awake and ready for Fajr.

Okay... so you dont have to do the splashing part, but try it.. it works Inshallah.

And the above 2 advices above about staying away from sins and sleeping early is very important. It is from the Rizq (provision/bounty) of Allah that He allows you to get up for Fajr and especially Tahajjud, and when you start sinning He may deprive you from turning to Him at Fajr/Tahajjud due to your sins and having turned away from Him. May Allah swt protect us all and grant us forgiveness and abundant tawfiq. Ameen!

Successful Husband? Beautiful Tips!!

How to be a Successful Husband

10 Beautiful Tips!

1. Dress up for your wife, look clean and smell good. Just like the husband wants his wife to look nice for him, she also wants her husband to dress up for her too. Remember that Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would always start with Miswak when returning home and always loved the sweetest smells.

2. Use the cutest and affectionate names for your wife. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - had names for his wives, ones that they loved. Call your wife by the most beloved names to her, and avoid using names that hurt their feelings.

3. Don't treat her like a fly. We never think about a fly in our daily lives until it 'bugs' us. Similarly, a wife will do well all day - which brings no attention from the husband - until she does something to 'bug' him. Don't treat her like this; recognize all the good that she does and focus on that.

4. If you see wrong from your wife, try being silent and do not comment! This is one of the ways Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - used when he would see something inappropriate from his wives - radi Allahu 'anhunn. It's a technique that few Muslim men have mastered. If there needs correction an the matter is serious then think before you act. ALWAYS use Hikmah(wisdom).

5. Smile at your wife whenever you see her and embrace her often. Smiling is Sadaqah and your wife is not exempt from the Muslim Ummah. Imagine life with her constantly seeing you smiling. Remember also those Ahadith when Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would kiss his wife before leaving for Salah.

6. Thank her for all that she does for you. Then thank her again! Take for example a dinner at your house. She makes the food, cleans the home, and a dozen other tasks to prepare. And sometimes the only acknowledgement she receives is that there needed to be more salt in the soup. Don't let that be; thank her!

7. Ask her to write down the last ten things you did for her that made her happy. Then go and do them again. It may be hard to recognize what gives your wife pleasure. You don't have to play a guessing game, ask her and work on repeating those times in your life.

8. Don't be little her desires. Comfort her. Sometimes the men may look down upon the requests of their wives. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam set the example for us in an incident when Safiyyah - radi Allahu 'anha - was crying because, as she said, he had put her on a slow camel. He wiped her tears, comforted her, and brought her the camel.

9. Be humorous and Play games with your wife. Look at how Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would race his wife Aisha - radi Allahu 'anha - in the desert. When was the last time we did something like that?

10. Always remember the words of Allah's Messenger - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "The best of you are those who treat their families the best. And I am the best amongst you to my family." Try to be the best!
In conclusion: Never forget to make Dua to Allah - azza wa jall - to make your marriage successful. And Allah ta'ala knows best !!

Forgiveness: Its Something Extra Special!!!

Pernah tak bergaduh dengan adik? Ya, ADIK. Gaduh dengan adik ni lain sikit bagi saya. Kalau saya bergaduh or tak puas hati dengan kakak saya, senang je nak mengalah sebab hormat pada kakak yang lebih tua. Tapi kalau berselisih pendapat dengan adik, susah sikit nak mengalah, especially bila dia yang salah, kita nasihat dia tapi dia degil tak nak dengar dan tak nak ikut. Jadi kalau bergaduh tu....SUSAHnya Ya Allah nak minta maaf! ( but I really don't like fights). Sebagai seorang kakak, memang rasa nak beralah. Mungkin boleh cuba nasihat dia lain kali dengan cara lain. Tapi, disebabkan kita tak bersalah, dan kita lebih tua.......2 sebab utama saya rasa susah nak kata "I'M SORRY". 

Now, dapat pula adik yang ada 'strong character'. Miracle la kalau dia yang mengalah and say "I'M SORRY". Kesimpulannya, sorang degil sorang lagi ego. (oops!)

Tapi masa bulan Ramadhan, kita digalakkan berdoa' dan minta ampun pada Allah atas dosa-dosa kita yang lepas. Masa tengah doa tu, tiba-tiba teringat yang saya tak bercakap dengan adik saya dah lama. Saya rasa....agaknya Allah terima tak doa saya ni? Allah suruh kita jaga hubungan dengan Nya dan hubungan dengan manusia yang lain, apatah lagi keluarga sendiri. Hari demi hari, perasaan bersalah dan sedih makin menebal dalam hati. Sampai satu hari, saya betul-betul azam nak cari sesuautu yang boleh pecahkan ego saya ni. Cari punya cari, inilah dia...article yang saya terima dalam bentuk email bulan Ramadhan hari tu. Bila baca ni, saya pun "BAIK! Saya akan minta maaf (salah ke tak salah, itu belakang kira...) sebab, orang yang maafkan kesalahan orang lain, Allah akan tinggikan darjatnya...Jadi kalau saya tak salah, tapi saya minta maaf, maknanya...saya maafkan pihak yang lagi satu....Bacalah article ni, jadikan panduan untuk minta maaf atau memaafkan orang lain...

The Messenger of Allah Muhammad [Peace be upon him] is reported to have said:

" If one gives charity it does not diminish his wealth; if one forgives others, Allah bestows more honour on him; and if one humbles himself for Allah's sake, Allah exalts him higher." (Hadith-Muslim)

HANDY TIPS...

• Make dua[pray] For only Allah can reconcile hearts and differences
• Forgive- He who forgives is forgiven and Allah will elevate his status!
• Act- SMS[text], call, email etc or even better personally approach the person/s and ask them forgiveness.
• Remove Hatred-Don't hold any hatred in your heart. Hatred is the cancer of the heart and soul. It Destroys the Hater and Not the hated!
• It's a process- Remember, forgiveness is a process that takes time and patience to complete. You must be ready. Realize that forgiveness is for you - not for anyone else.
• Not Condoning- Realize that forgiving does not mean you are condoning the actions of the offender or what they did to you. It does mean that you will blame less and find a way to think differently about what happened to you.
• Refocus-Refocus on the positives in your life. A life well lived is the best revenge. People who find a way to see love, beauty and kindness around them are better able to forgive and get past their grievances.
• There is no such thing as an unforgivable act.So don't let your fear of what you did, or rage about what was done to you, dissuade you from either seeking or granting forgiveness.
• Stay balanced. The number of apologies you seek should be proportional to the number you are willing to offer, because the doing of each nurtures the capacity for the other.
• Know that you are never alone. Allah is always with you!
• Allow love to triumph over logic. There will always be a good reason to keep doing what you are doing or to withhold your forgiveness from someone else. But real issue is whether or not you love them enough to go beyond that logic.
• Keep it simple. Apologize for, or forgive, one thing at a time. There is always more to the story, but this is not the moment to explore it.
• Remember that forgiveness is not always the end of the process, but the beginning of a new level of relationship which may continue to be shaped into something very special
• Celebrate the moment of forgiveness by thanking Allah for giving you the opportunity to remove this burden off your shoulders. Give Sadaqah[charity] as it pleases Allah and removes Allah's anger.

Daily Routine During Ramadhan

4:30 a.m - Tahajjud, Doa, Qur'an (1/2 Juzu')
5:00 a.m - Prepare for Sahur, Sahur, Wash dishes (basuh pinggan + kemas meja)
6:00 a.m - Subuh Solah, Qur'an (1 Juzu' and Yaseen)
7:00 a.m - Sleep
8:00 a.m - Wake Up, prepare for Tadarus
9:00 a.m - Tadarus at the Surau
12:30 p.m - Rest (Qailullah/Siesta)
1:20 p.m - Zohor Solah, Qur'an (1 Juzu')
2:15 p.m - FREE
4:30 p.m - Asar Solah
5:00 p.m- House chores
6:15 p.m - Prepare for Iftaar
7:15 p.m - Doa ( spend more time making dua, because the dua of a fasting person is not rejected by Allah)
              - Iftaar
7:45 p.m - Maghrib Solah
7:55 p.m - Ta'leem (Fadhai'l A'maal) / or any ilmi activity.
8:10 p.m - Surah Lazim (Al-Mulk and Al-Waqiah)
8:40 p.m - Isha' and Taraweeh solah ( try your best to perform 20 rakaats)
10:15 p.m - I normally finish around this time. But if I go out somewhere during the day, then at night I'm usually tired, so Taraweeh will finish a bit later.
10:30 p.m - Qur'an (1 Juzu')
11:00 p.m - Bed time

How do I encourage myself to perform 20 rakaat of taraweeh?

1- It's the reward. Lagi lama kita dalam solat, lagi banyak pahala InsyaAllah. Malaikat doa kan rahmah untuk seseorang itu selagi dia berada dalam solah di tempat solatnya (sejadah/masjid etc)
2- Malam Ramadhan dr lepas Isya' sampai sebelum Sahur tu ( lbh kurang 7 jam) dikhaskan untuk Ibadah, kita banyak sangat masa....Jadi gunalah dgn sebaiknya.

Taraweeh is one of the highlights of Ramadhan besides 'buka puasa'. We should be excited to perform taraweeh just as excited we are to break our fast....You know how excited everybody gets when it comes to buka puasa right? A tip to perform 20 rakaat of taraweeh is getting enough rest during the day. If you rest during the day with the intention to gain strength for solah during the night, then that rest also is rewarded!

Well, this is how I manage my time during Ramadhan (especially when it's holiday for me), as you can see, there's nothing work related activity in the schedule. If we lessen the time we spend to go shopping, internet and television, we should be able to read at least 3 Juzu's EVERYDAY. Completing one whole Qur'an twice in one month won't sound so impossible anymore right? Like I said, AT LEAST. The huffaz normally Complete the Qur'an more than 5 times and even more in this month alone. Subhanallah! I'm still very weak compare to these people, however we try our best according to our capability nah? Good luck everyone!