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Assalamualaikum sisters. Today is my turn to share. MashaAllah. I would love to share about having hope. From this illustration we can see how sometimes shaitan deceives us with limiting beliefs. However if we were to turn to the Quran regularly we would see that Allah promises us much good and hope if we continue to believe and do righteous deeds. Let us continue to hope and hold on, with the Quran.... “as to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a single righteous deed” - Surah Kahf, 18:30

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Salaam friends, many apologies, I was supposed to share yesterday but totally forgot about it.

I chanced upon some wonderful verses a few days ago but thought that I would just want to share on a personal reflection. Sorry if it appears incoherent!

A hadith reported by Abu Dawood mentioned that Rasulullah SAW said, *"Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood."*

As of late, jealousy is the struggle I face, and I think it has crept into my heart. It reminds me of a story I've heard from my ustaz, about how there was this sheikh who sat in front of his followers, telling a story about how an individual had left the door open, and a cat went into his home, took his food, and left.

And I wonder, what is it that I have allowed to enter my heart such that it brews jealousy. Indeed, it is the heart that I have not been taking care of. And if the heart is a gift from Allah, isn't not caring for it also a sign of being _zalim_ to ourselves?

لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
_There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers_

As such, I am trying to be more intentional in protecting my heart these days (do feel free to share with me some ways that you are doing that too!).

I pray that all of us here are blessed with istiqomah to continue to read Allah's letter to us as we wet our lips with remembrance of Allah and His Messenger PBUH. I pray that Allah protect our hearts from diseases and grant us Taufiq and Hidayah as we take the path and strive to be closer to Him.  ❤️🙆🏻‍♀️

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My sharing is tomorrow but since I've just read this page, I will share now huhu. May it benefit :)
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(Also sharing what was shared by Ustazah Farhana before)

*Intentions of Recitation of the Noble Qur’an by Sayyidil Habib Umar bin Hafiz*

I intend to plead to The Merciful by His Words and His Speech

I intend to follow the example of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ  in its recitation

I intend to extract the (Qur’anic) sciences and knowledge

I intend to seek the Lord’s Pleasure and increasing His Pleasure (with us)

I intend to establish the commandment of Allah in reciting His book on Earth amongst the nation (of our Prophet ﷺ)

I intend to delight the Prophet’s noble heart ﷺ by reciting what was sent down upon it

I intend to connect with the chain of transmission which he recites with the Messenger ﷺ and adding with that, their rewards and recompense [1]

I intend to discipline the lower self and purify the soul with the secrets of the noble verses (of the Qur’an) and its lights

[1] Meaning: Sharing in the rewards and recompense of the pious people within the chain of recitation narration back to the Messenger ﷺ

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Let’s take this chance to make a short supplication for our parents, for all that they have gone through in raising us, because without them, we will not be where we are today.

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This is going to be a rather personal sharing so I apologise in advance if its crude or inappropriate. This week hasn’t been the best one for me. I have a lot of things to do and I am extremely tired. There are so many deadlines to meet, so many work to do and so many things to be completed. Although I have planned out my work, I was still unable to complete them because things just cropped up all of a sudden. To add to my already long list, my dad kept asking me for help with his work and technology-related matters. I desperately wanted to reject and get my other siblings to help but I knew that it would not be right. So I took a deep breath and just helped out. (Besides, whatever I’m helping out is incomparable to the things he had done for me) And guess what? After that, Allah made it easy for me to complete my other assignments. Help came to me through ways that I could never have imagined. Subhanallah. I cannot possibly make this up.
This reminds me of the verse in the Quran, 4:36 “Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents (4:36). And the hadith “The best of deeds or deed is the observance of prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.” (Sahih Muslim)
Just a disclaimer: This is not to say that things magically fall in place. Not all my assignments are completed, not all my work immediately finished itself off. But, my heart felt the ease and calmness. And I am comforted by the fact that if I prioritise the right things, other things will fall in place and my affairs would be taken care of. Besides, at the end of the day, our parents’ and Allah’s redha is what we are after. And for me, having my parents around is one of the greatest blessings and gifts that I ever had. For their duas are powerful and they are the doors to Jannah. So I am really thankful to have them around.
May we continue to be gifted with patience to treat our parents with kindness and respect despite our busy schedule and differences in opinion. Let’s take this chance to make a short supplication for them, for all that they have gone through in raising us for without them, we will not be where we are today.

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Salaam ladies :)
Came across this verse yesterday and alhamdulillah it is a much needed reminder for me as work has been getting more challenging and at times it feels insurmountable, on top of personal challenges. I am reminded that Allah truly knows what's best for me at any point in time and I got to trust that I actually *can* handle what He put me to as He's got my back.

At the same time, I also try to remind myself to notice the ease, the blessings as well as to seek assistance when needed. And I believe all these are necessary to calibrate myself to a peaceful inner state.

Also remembering this: If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. 💪

Jumuah mubarakah everyone 🌻

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Salam everyone. I would like to share a verse from Surah Al Qamar: 17, 22, 32 & 40 that means "And certainly We have made the Quran easy for remembrance, but is there anyone who will mind?"

This ayat appears 4 times in the surah. The takeaway I got from Ustaz Zulkiflee Bachik of AtTartil, is not to give up when learning the Al Qu'ran as it's not meant to be difficult. Repetition of an ayat tells us that is an important message needed to be stressed upon again and again. Each time I'm about to give up my learning of the Quran Language, I will reflect on this ayat. It brings me comfort that the Al Qu'ran was never meant to be "an ordeal" but a beautiful manual for us to refer to.

Ustaz kept repeating this when he was teaching us:
Consistency is key.
If you listen, you will forget
If you write, you will remember
If you share / teach, you will master

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Salaam. It’s my turn today to reflect and I chanced upon this verse (An-Nazi’at:46). It made me realise the importance of time and how fleeting it is. Medicine and science are getting more advanced and as a result, our lifespan can extend to 80+ years on average. If i am able to live that long (insha allah ameen), I can’t imagine feeling that I’ve only lived in this world for an afternoon or a morning later on in the akhirah?? It boggles my mind but it has also made me realise that the time we have here is a gift. How will we then use this gift of time in this world? How will we spend this one “afternoon”/“morning”? Towards Him? Or away from Him? May Allah grant us Hidayah and a gd ending ❤️

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Salam everyone. It's Quran Sharing for today. I would like to share a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah: 216 that means "Perhaps you hate something but it ia good for you and perhaps you love something but it is bad for you, and Allah knows what you don't"

This verse is very close to my heart for so long. It is also a verse that soothes my heart when things go wrong. You see in life, we feel like we have control over things when in reality, nothinh will happen without His permission.

Thus, to have the acceptance(redha) that everything that happens in our life is definitely *THE BEST* for us, is not easy but is *A MUST*. That is faith. That is Iman. To believe that everything happens for a reason and everything happens is the best for us.

So find wisdom, in every step of your life. Ask for it from Allah. So that you will understand, why things happened the way they did.

May Allah S.W.T lessen our burden, make our path smoother and grant all of Jannatul Firdaus insyaAllah.

Take care my sisters in Islam 💗

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I've been reflecting on the word 'presence' a lot because I've been struggling with being present and focused recently like being present with Allah in solat, being present with people when you meet them etc, and this applies as well to being present and feeling Allah's presence when reading the Qur'an.

I then came across the book, Way to the Qur'an by Khurram Murad and would like to share a short excerpt from it here:

*In Allah's Presence*

Say to yourself: I am in Allah's presence; He is seeing me.

You must remain alive to the reality that, while you are reading the Qur'an, you are in the very presence of Him who has sent these words to you (like love letters for You :')). For, Allah is always with you, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. His knowledge is all-encompassing.

How do you attain this state of consciousness? Listen to what Allah tells you in the Qur'an in this regard. Remember those verses, and recollect and reflect upon them when you are about to start reading the Qur'an, and during it.

But what will help you more, not only in reading the Qur'an but in living your whole life by the Qur'an, is to *remember and reflect this reality as often as you can. Alone or in company, silent or speaking, at home or at work, at rest or busy - say, silently and loudly: He is here, with me, seeing and hearing, knowing and recording.*

Surah Al-Hadid, 57:4
Surah Qaf, 50:16
Surah Al-Mujadalah, 58:7
Surah Taha, 20:46
Surah Al-Tur, 52:48
Surah Ya Sin, 36:12

More significant is the following verse, which not only forcefully tells, in general, about Allah being present everywhere, seeing everything, but mentions, specifically, the act of reading the Qur'an:

*And in whatever condition you may be, and whatever you may be reciting of the Qur'an, and whatever work you may be doing, We are witnessing when you are occupied in it. And not so much as an atom's weight on earth or in heaven is hidden from your Lord. And neither is anything smaller than that nor greater, but is recorded in a manifest book. (Surah Yunus, 10:61)*

So He himself tells us, 'I am present when you read the Qur'an': never forget this.

Reciting the Qur'an is an act of worship. The way to attain highest excellence is worshipping Allah - as the Prophet ﷺ tells us, worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for even if you cannot see Him with eyes, you can see that He is seeing you (Muslim).

Additionally, remember that not only are you in His presence but that He remembers you as long as you are reading the Qur'an: ' Remember Me and I will remember you' (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152). The best way to remember Allah, undoubtedly, is to read the Qur'an.

May He grant us hidayah and the desire to read the Qur'an, may He grant us tawfiq to read the Qur'an, may He grant us istiqomah to read the Qur'an. May we be constantly reminded of His presence when we read the Qur'an and in all states inshaAllah✨💚

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وسَلِّمْ على سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ

Quran Reflection Sharing
Ali-Imran 3:159

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh sisters

Aal-e-Imran 3:159

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

English - Sahih International

So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].

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This incident happened during the Battle of Uhud whereby the sahabahs left their positions from the top of the hill as they thought the Muslims won the war.

This mistake caused grief to Rasulullah saw, his beloved uncle Hamza Bin Abdul Mutalib was martyred in this battle.

However, he didn't not blame/shame/scold or say anything to them. In fact, he was gentle to them.He continues to ask them to their opinions and suggestions.

Allah then revealed this verse.

The sahabahs made a big mistake unintentionally and Rasulullah saw showed them so much mercy.

This verse made me reflect on my behavior towards others. How I'm so quick to scold/snap my child for their innocent mistakes. Had I shown more mercy, they would have listened to me easily and not repeat the mistake as the lesson was learnt.

Allah has sent us the perfect example and Im not putting enough effort to follow our perfect example (Rasulullah saw )

Episode on Battle of Badr
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/15707883

from 63:00 onwards about the sahabahs leaving their positions

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Confession: I have been distant from the Qur'an

It's kind of ironic, since I literally work for a Quranic literacy program. I have many daily conversations with teachers, learners, and lovers of the Qur'an. Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed me with the opportunity to fill my time with learning and teaching the Qur'an. And yet... My heart has been distant from the Writer of these love letters.

*In Surah Qaf, Allah tells us: "And certainly We created man... and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” [50:16]*

Someone said this to me once, "Allah promises that He is close to us. So if you are feeling distant from Him, who has moved? Him, or you?" Oof.

I've been thinking a lot of the hadith above. I realise that in my busyness to do much and make the biggest difference I can, I may have lost track of what's important. There's only two things to do in this life: Service to Allah and Service to Mankind. The latter is actually a subset of the former.

In trying to connect others with Allah, I've forgotten to prioritise my own connection with the Qur'an - _my_ connection with Allah. Astaghfirullah. It's such a blessing that Allah still loves me enough to want to call me back to Him.

It is Allah who plants the desire to do good in us. It is He who gives us the means to do so. It is He who brings us back when we stray. Say Alhamdulillah for every good deed that He gifts you. And make sure you use those gifts to get even closer to Him than before.

You can't pour from an empty cup, I've tried. Hehe. So today, I'm going back to Allah and prioritising what _really_ matters. Would you like to join me?

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Quran Reflection Sharing- 28/06/2020 from Juz 28
Surah Al-Mujadila 58:11

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وسَلِّمْ على سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh sisters

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

It was revealed on a Friday where the believers are all gathered in a narrow place to listen to Rasulullah saw. This verse encouraged the believers to maintain good behaviour and fine manners during gatherings.

·        Points for me to reflect from this verse

·        Do I observe such adab during majlis and give the teachers and people around me their rights

·        Do I consistently make space for others and always look out for newcomers who attend the gathering, making sure that they have space and feel comfortable just like everyone else

·        Do I give my full attention to the teacher who is speaking

·        As there are no physical gatherings now, have I fulfilled the adab that is required during online lessons

May we all get the most from all gatherings and help each other by passing on what we have learned.  Looking forward to physical majlis in future! Alhamdulillah for all the online majlis that we can attend now :)

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1. Ustazah Farhana Munshi's Tafseer Podcasts (Ladies Only)
https://www.spreaker.com/show/tafseer-pasir-ris
I am personally in love with her teaching MasyaaAllah. Seriously her lessons come from the heart and leave you filled with awe and love for Allah, his Messenger and the Qur'an. If you download the "Spreaker" app and search for her name, you'll find Tafsir of Juz Amma and other podcast series. Highly recommended!

2. Bayyinah TV videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/BayyinahInstitute
Honestly one of my favourite sources of translation. Ustaz Nouman Ali Khan's explanations are backed up with examples and a pinch of humour, amazing mind-blowing lessons.

3. Ustaz Fatris' Kuliah Tafsir
https://open.spotify.com/show/7L21gWHHaIxbKAxt3TuIkZ
His lectures are so filled with love and wisdom, and he links the stories of the Prophets in the Qur'an to very pertinent everyday issues in our lives. I look forward to them every week! Lectures are in Malay, English translations can be found here: https://editorial.islamicevents.sg/category/mufti-live/

4.Qalam Institute podcasts
http://www.qalaminstitute.org/quranic-reflections/
Qalam Institute has very in-depth lectures on various topic which are practical and so so important MasyaaAllah. The lessons are a bit longer but so worth it. I've been listening to the Sirah podcast series for years and have fallen in love with Rasulullah SAW and his companions RA so much :')

5. Tafsir Fi Zilalil Qur'an pdf
https://tafsirzilal.wordpress.com
If you're more of a reader, then this is for you. From the translation of "Tafsir Fi Zilalil Qur'an" by Sayyid Qutb. Scroll all the way down to find translations in English and Malay. These offer very in-depth, comprehensive explanation of each of the stories in the Qur'an, including the reasons behind revelation and stories from the Sirah. Good stuff.

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Salaam ladies <3 It's a bit late, but today's my turn to share so here it goes... This morning during ngaji, my ustazah highlighted this verse from Surah Al-Furqan:

وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا - 25:30
And the Messenger said, "O my Lord, surely my people have abandoned this Qur'an!"

A few takeaways I got:
- "My people" doesn't refer to just the Quraisyh, we are Rasulullah SWT's people too.
- Syaitan will not bother to mislead people who are already lost; his aim is to distract people who are seeking closeness to Allah, people like us. Be wary!
- As believers, we need to reflect on whether or not we have "abandoned" the Qur'an
- The Qur'an was revealed as Huda (Guidance) & Furqan (Distinguisher of right and wrong)
- It's not just meant to be recited on our tongues and memorised in our minds
- The Qur'an needs to be internalised in our hearts and practiced in our lives
- > your thoughts, speech and actions should be guided by it
- But howw??
1. Check, recheck and renew your intentions whenever you read the Qur'an.
2. Learn about Allah's Words. Seek teachers, go for classes, listen to podcasts, read books!
3. Set aside time to reflect and ponder about the stories and lessons in the Qur'an.

May Allah SWT make us amongst the best of believers who learn and teach the Qur'an. May He make us the companions of His Words in life, in death and in the hereafter. May the light of the Qur'an guide our hearts, minds, thoughts, actions and speech. Ameen 💕

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May Allah reward all of you for your amazing efforts to uplift the Qur'an 😍

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Stay awesome :)

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Thx Adibah n Arina fr spearheading this! Ntg much to say but Ive always wanted to express my gratitude to the both of u fr spearheading this. Im shy n nt eloquent at sharing my views so i prefer to play a supportive role as always. Sending lots of love from far ❤

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A note from Ustaz Bushra, When we talk to God, we  pray. But if we want answers, we read the Quran. So that's why we need to build up a relationship with the Quran. So we can understand and ponder upon Allah's words. May Allah bless us to better Muslimah as we grow older and wiser. Amin!

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It was a great experience to be a part of it and seeing everyone read together! Insya Allah will join again next year for Ramadan! :)

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Jazakunnallahu khairal jaza!

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Thank you for being a source of motivation for me to mend my relationship with the Quran. May Allah bless you for all your efforts! ❤️

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Thank you for providing this opportunity to engage with the Quran on a more constant basis, I’m very thankful to be part of this :)

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Let's motivate each other.

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May Allah reward all of us for this wonderful initiative. :D

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Ukhuwah fillah abadan abada!

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Even though I was unable to join in for the sessions, thank you for encouraging and reminding me to read the Qur'an everyday! Very heartwarming :')

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Great. Thanks for this initiative

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Thank you for all the effort you’ve put in for each round of ALTM and may Allah accept our deeds, ameen ❤️

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Thankyou for this opportunity!

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Blessed. Alhamdulilah

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Welcome to all dearest. Salam Mubarak

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Jazakumullahu khairan sisters 💕

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Alhamdulillah it has been great so far, jazakallah khairan sisters.

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I’d like to express my gratitude to those who organized this group. Truly appreciate it! ❤️

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May we attain istiqomah in sya Allah amin

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Thank you so much for being a part of my Qur'an journey <3 May we continue to strive forward even after Ramadhan! Eid Mubarak, taqabbalallalahu minna wa minkum.

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Salaam everyone, I hope you are doing good and staying strong through these difficult times 💪🏼💪🏼

I'd like to share about Ustaz Fatris Bakaram's Kuliah Tafsir that he gave on 23.02.20. You can listen to it on Spotify or YouTube. The title is "Latihan Allah untuk Menjadi Insan Yang Baik". I listened to it on the way to work the other day and I cried. Pardon my mix of english and malay.

At the 35th min, ustaz talks about surah Taahaa ayat 39, and a part of it goes like this
وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّى

Ustaz explained it as "Dan aku (yakni Allah) letakkan padamu daripada sisiKu, ada perasaan cinta terhadapmu wahai Musa". Which means that whoever looked at Nabi Musa, would come to love him. And that was how Firaun, who had made a ruling to kill all babies because there was a fear that there would be someone who would be born and overthrow him, still took Nabi Musa (who was the baby that his wife found) as a son of his own.

Ustaz continued to explain that  kalau Allah dah sayang, Allah akan menyuruh seluruh penghuni langit untuk menyayanginya. Allah akan perintahkan kepada malaikat jibril untuk sayangkan orang tersebut. Malaikat jibril juga akan menyuruh penghuni langit untuk mencintai orang itu. Selepas itu, Allah akan meletakkan dalam hati penduduk-penduduk bumi untuk menyayanginya juga.

Tetapi kalau adapun juga orang yang tak menyayangimu, walaupun kamu telah bertungkus lumus untuk mendekati Allah, membuat semua yang disuruh Allah, dan mengelakkan dari laranganNya, justeru itu janganlah risau. Kerana mungkin hati mereka tidak suci dan tidak boleh menyayangi mereka yang berhati suci.

This ayat came at a difficult time for me, as it seems that no matter what I did in my job, it was just wasn't enough, and there were still clients who were unhappy or had issues with me or who would complain all the way up etc.

But this explanation assured me that if I'm doing what I do to earn the pleasures of Allah, and if I've tried my best, then its enough that Allah knows. And He will do the rest.

So to all our ladies here, I hope you feel a sense of comfort during the times when you feel that it's just never enough. ❤️❤️❤️

May Allah bless you with goodness and His guidance always.

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Juz 18, Surah Al--Mu'minun talks about believers being the truly successful ones. In Islam, the true measure of a believer's success lies in their acceptance of Islam and their steadfastness in staying true to & practising its teachings.

This is especially apt in situations where we are tested more than usual. And the current global climate is one such example where Allah is testing and reminding us that regardless of what we have achieved or what we think we have achieved in this world, all our achievements do not necessarily equate to success.

Worldly success is nothing without Allah's blessings and mercy. In times like this, only Allah is our refuge, no amount of worldly success can help to protect us from the unknown. Therefore, stay true to Islam and continue our efforts as true mu'minun, and inshaAllah we will be the successful ones in the end, amin.

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Assalamu'alaikum & Ramadhan Kareem dear sisters! It's my turn to share today and I'd like to talk about something that's been on my mind lately.

With the influx of "Ramadhan Kareem" messages and people sharing planners/guides/podcasts/etc., I realised I was really excited for Ramadhan. But also honestly? Kinda overwhelmed. I feel like I'm not prepared to meet Ramadhan and to use up every moment of this blessed month to the optimumestestest! And yet here she is already, even though I'm still not ready. Seeing my friends and family share their personal goals for Ramadhan, for themselves and their families, I sit here and wonder what _I_ want to achieve for myself.

I know that in Surah Ali-Imran, Allah SWT says:
"They believe in Allah and the last day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and *they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds,* and those are among the good." [3:114]

And I want to be amongst those who _strive_ and compete with one other, _rushing to do good_ this month. I'll feel like I'm missing out if I don't. But I remember how I used to start off strong in the past Ramadhansss and plan 101 things to do and accomplish... and then after a while, burn out and get demoralised when I couldn't keep up and stay consistent with my own expectations.

So this Ramadhan, I'm planning to *start small and stay consistent*. As mentioned in a hadith,
*"The most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant, even if it were little."*
Consistency is a journey and it takes lots of skill and lots of grit. It's going to be so worth it in the end... If only we keep moving forward (even if just a teeny tiny bit), _especially_ when things get boring and tough.

Some tips to stay consistent:
1) Habit stack! (Google it; basically add new habits to existing ones.)
2) Done is better than perfect. It's ok to have missed days, just get right back to it and go again.
3) Start small. Don't expect 1000% if you're only used to 100%. Aim high but be realistic and compassionate with yourself!

And if ever you feel like you're doing waaaayy too little and it's so _rugi_ and you _should_ be doing more... Remember this:

"Surely Allah does not do injustice even as much as the weight of an atom, and *if it is a good deed He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward*." [4:40]

And it's Ramadhan lah! Your deeds are going to get multiplied even more!! Subhanallah how Generous is Al-Kareem ❤️ May As-Saboor grant us the patience to be with ourselves during this month, Al-Qawiyy grant us the strength to take advantage of His Gifts to the fullest and Al-Waliyy keep us close to Him as we strive to become better servants of Him in this month and beyond! Ameen. Take care everyone

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Assalamu'alaikum ladies <3

Just wanted to share some reflections about all that's been happening. You all know how crazy everything is right now. So much anxiety, uncertainty and panic everywhere. And disappointment too. Lots of it. Travel plans have to be cancelled, activities and events halted... Some of us are stuck at home because of SHN/LOA/QO. There are
things we've been looking forward to for weeks, months or even years that have to be put off. Some of the things we have to do are mild inconveniences, others are just frustrating! It's human to get upset and angry. To ask "Why? Why me? Why now? Why even?". It's ok to feel this way, there's nothing wrong with that.

Here's the thing though. Getting upset will not make the situation any better than it is. Cancelled trips won't uncancel themselves, the virus won't disappear overnight. And as much as we want to know the answers to "why", we may never know the wisdom behind Allah's plans. All we need to know is this:
“…It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” (Surah Baqarah 2:216)

Allah's Love is greater than our disappointments.
Allah's plans are better than our dreams.
Allah knows but you do not know.
So leave your life in His Hands, and let go.

Here's a du'a we can all practice in our lives. The du'a of Umm Salamah (awesome back-story can be found here: https://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/7/28)

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ، اَللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِيْ فِيْ مُصِيْبَتِيْ وَأَخْلِفْ لِيْ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
"We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Compensate me in my affliction, recompense my loss and give me something better in exchange for it"

May Allah replace whatever we have lost with something better, grant us the patience and the wisdom to deal with whatever challenges He places in our paths and the faith to trust in His Plans. Take care everyone, stay safe and healthy!

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This one is short but impactful for me. Transiting into this adulting phase has made me face a lot of situations when I had to have difficult conversations with my colleagues and family members so when I attended a talk and the Ustaz mentioned this verse, it really resonated with me.

He said that one of the verses to do with treating someone with justice is this one, Surah Al-Anam ayat 152 and this is especially in relation to speech, such that whatever you say or do especially in relation to those who are close to you, your loved onee, make sure you do so with justice, in that yes you treat someone with kindness but there should be justice, no special treatment and no sugar coating. Speak the truth and deal with them justly even though it may seem "not nice" on the surface but in the long term, it will really do them good.

The other part of the verse talks about how when you speak and make promises remember to fulfill those promises. Again, this resonated with me especially in this adulting phase when you have so much responsibilities to shoulder on so you really need to reflect and be very clear on what you can and cannot manage so that you can fulfill these responsibilities and not overpromise but underdeliver.

May Allah guide us all in our thoughts, actions, words and decisions. May He accept all that we do and make it be a means for Him and His Beloved, Rasulullah SAW to be proud of us ✨

May He also give us the strength and courage to fulfill these responsibilities ✨

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Salaam friends, hope January has been good to you, and that you are all in the pink of health.

I was flipping my notes and I came across something in one of my lessons at Al Qudwah which I thought was interesting to share. This is about travelling and the answering of our supplications.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the prophet SAW has narrated that "3 supplications are answered, there being no doubt about them: that one who is wronged, that of a traveller and the curse of the parents on their children". And during class, ustaz shared that the dua of a traveller is answered because you are far away from home, helpless and uncomfortable.

And he also shared a poem by Imam As-Shafie which I thought was lovely to ponder and reflect:

And the lions would not be fierce if they didnt leave their grounds, and the arrow would not strike if it didnt leave the bow

So it hints that by travelling, it would expose you to new environments where you can learn more about yourself, discover what you can really do etc.

On another note, I will be travelling to Taiwan next week insyaAllah, and if anyone has any hajat, do let me know and I'll try my best. 🥰 Would also like to seek your prayers for my health and safety 😊😊😊

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Not really a sharing from me but I think it is a good Doa to know especially in this current climate.  At the end of the day,  make sure to prepare and pray.

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12 Fridays to Ramadhan✨♥ Praise and blessings be upon Rasulullah ﷺ, his parents, family and companions

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا. إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
And never say of anything: Surely I will do it tomorrow Except (with the saying), "If Allah wills!"(insyaAllah); & remember your Lord when you forget and say: Maybe my Lord will guide me to a nearer way of truth than this. -Surah AlKahfi,23
من قرأ سورةَ ( الكهفِ ) في يومِ الجمعةِ أضاء له من النورِ ما بين الجمُعَتَين
The Prophet (s a.w) said, whoever read Surah Kahf on day of Friday, brightness from light is made for him for duration between the two Fridays.✨💚

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Bismillahirahmanirahim

Today is my turn to share. If u dk, I am a tcr in a local Madrasah. I was really considering of changing jobs earlier this year because of a lot of things in my mind. Career progression and pay. Teaching in a Madrasah has a lot of ups and downs, but the main "down" for me is the pay. I was so wrapped up in earning more that I forget to see the surrounding situation. When school starts and I was given a form Class, I slowly fall in love with my noisy adorable kind students. I was also surrounded by good colleagues. Plus, I understand that right now, I am in the perfect situation for everyone. My students need someone with my personality and background to help them grow. I am teaching the subject I love while being the teacher in charge of a sport that I love. I also personally need the Madrasah environment to grow spiritually and be a better person and teacher in overall. The reading of asmaul husna and surrounded by Islam keeps me grounded. Plus, whatever financial issues I had was actually made up in my own head, fuelled with anxiety. When actually, I do not have pressing financial issues and my parents are doing OK with whatever I have. I am still doing OK. I was just not very smart in handling money yet.

I got this verse from Surah Maryam that resonates with my situation:
And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive (19:31)

I have more faith in His plans, alhamdulillah. I have faith that wherever I am now, is the best place for me now.

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Assalamu'alaikum everyone! Earlier this week, someone asked me, "How do you find peace in yourself?"

At that point of time I just laughed and said, "Istighfar! It sounds too simple to be true, but it has always worked for me!" Everytime I'm in a state of uneasiness or anxiousness, everytime I know there's something particularly challenging coming up, I remember this story that Maryam Amir shared on FB in 2016 and make Istighfar" (DM me if you want a screenshot).

Rasulullah SAW said, "If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.”

This morning, Allah reminded me of a time not too long ago, when my heart wasn't at all at peace. I remember crying and begging Allah for relief and a way out. I had made Istighfars and du'as and tahajjuds back then too. And yet the way out wasn't as near as I figured it should have been. It's like I was asking and hoping and waiting and the answers weren't coming. I remember feeling so lost and so afraid of what's to come. I had no idea how I was going to handle whatever was coming my way. But one thing that kept me going was that I knew that Allah's promises are true. This too shall pass, because "what is to come is better than what has gone by".

And it did pass. Eventually. I can't even remember now when the storm left, what matters is that Allah's Promises are true. That time seems so far in the distance now, I barely remember how much it hurt.

You know, the world is filled with so much uncertainty! We don't know what we're going to have to face, who or what we're going to lose, or even where we're going to be. We don't know which of our du'as Allah will answer or when. If we focus on what we don't know, we'll forever feel lost and confused.

The thing is though, Allah's plans are His concern alone. We don't need to worry about all of that. Our rezeki, our future, our jodoh, it's all in Allah's hands. Kita settle hal kita, kasi Allah settle Allah punya hal. Keep making du'as, keep saying Istighfars, keep asking and hoping and begging and waiting. Allah's promises are true. Trust Allah to give you whatever He has promised to give, at His time, when you most need it, not when you most want it.

I won't look too far ahead, It's too much for me to take, But break it down to this next breath, this next step, This next choice is one that I can make. So I'll walk through this night, Stumbling blindly toward the light, And do the next right thing~

So how do I find peace in myself? I don't. I just do whatever I can and trust Allah to fulfill His Promises. I find peace in knowing that Allah's promises are true. I let go, and let God. That's how I find peace :)

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Assalammualaikum sisters, my sharing today is a hadith. I did not write any part of the text below. I'm passing it on from my Ustaz who shared it with us. May it benefit.

Berbakti kepada Ibu Bapa

Daripada Abu Usaid Malik bin Rabi'ah As-Sa'idi RA berkata: "Ketika kami sedang bersama Rasulullah SAW, tiba-tiba ada seorang lelaki daripada Bani Salamah datang kepada Baginda SAW. Lelaki tersebut bertanya: "Wahai Rasulullah, apakah masih ada ruang untuk aku berbuat baik kepada kedua orang tuaku setelah mereka meninggal?." Baginda menjawab: "Ya, mendoakan dan memintakan keampunan untuk kedua-duanya, melaksanakan wasiatnya, menyambung jalinan silaturahim mereka dan memuliakan teman mereka." (Hadith riwayat Abu Dawud, No. 5142, Ibn Majah, No. 3664, Ahmad, No. 15479)

Matan Hadith:

عَنْ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ مَالِكِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ السَّاعِدِيِّ قَالَ: بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلَمَةَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ: هَلْ بَقِيَ مِنْ بِرِّ أَبَوَيَّ شَيْءٌ أَبَرُّهُمَا بِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ, الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَالِاسْتِغْفَارُ لَهُمَا وَإِنْفَاذُ عَهْدِهِمَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمَا وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ الَّتِي لَا تُوصَلُ إِلَّا بِهِمَا وَإِكْرَامُ صَدِيقِهِمَا

]التخريج : سنن أبي داود , كتاب الأدب , باب في بر الوالدين , حديث رقم 5142 , عن أبي أسيد مالك بن ربيعة الساعدي رضي الله عنه[

Pengajaran Hadith:

Seseorang anak wajib mentaati dan berbakti kepada kedua-dua ibu bapanya, tetapi adakah ia memadai atau terbatas ketika mereka masih hidup sahaja? Di dalam al-Qur’an dan hadith terdapat banyak suruhan yang memerintahkan agar seseorang anak berbakti atau membuat kebajikan terhadap kedua-dua ibu bapanya, dan ia tidak terbatas ketika mereka masih hidup.

Terdapat beberapa amalan kebajikan yang boleh dilakukan oleh seseorang anak kepada kedua-dua ibu bapanya setelah meninggal dunia dan perkara yang paling mudah serta dapat dikerjakan oleh semua orang pada bila-bila masa ialah berdoa serta memohon keampunan bagi dosa kedua-dua ibu bapanya sama ada yang masih hidup lebih-lebih lagi yang telah meninggal dunia.
Marilah sama-sama kita menghayati semula peranan seorang anak kepada ibu bapa. Tanpa mereka siapalah kita dan adakah kita boleh berada dalam keadaan dan kedudukan yang kita miliki pada hari ini?

Sedarlah bahawa tanpa keredhaan mereka, kita juga tidak akan mendapat keredhaan Allah SWT. Semoga kita akan tergolong dalam golongan yang diredhai-Nya.

Sumber Rujukan :

1- Kitab Sunan Abu Dawud

2- Kitab Sunan Ibn Majah

3- Kitab Musnad Ahmad

4- Kitab Aunu al-Ma’bud Syarh Sunan Abi Dawud Li al-Syeikh Syafartul Haq Muhammad Asyraf Ibn Ali Haidar al-Shiddiqi al-Azim Abadi

5- Kitab Mirqatul al-Mafatih Syarh al-Misykatu al-Masobih Li al-Syeikl Ali

6- Kitab Nuzhatul Muttaqin Syarh Riyaadus Salihin Li an-Nawawi.

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Assalamualaikum.. Today’s my turn to share my reflection. I hope you are well, while reading this 😊.

Working women
The topic I learnt today struck a chord in me. I was shocked at my newfound discovery. There are 3 reasons why women work.

1. It’s compulsory for them to work like men, for the economy, while letting go of house duties; eg taking care of children, household chores.

2. Women do not work. They stay at home and takes care of the upbringing of children, taking care of household and family.

3. أعمل في المجالات التي تنا سبها، و تحفظ أخلاق، و تبعد عن مخالطة الرجال.
- They work but they choose their work.
- Work that protects their akhlaq and have minimal contact w men and that is preferred.
- Work such as teaching, doctor, nurse.

All options are well, depending on your intentions and needs of your future family;  hopefully with the first intention of why you work is for Allah and spreading the deen by your aklhaq and mannerism in whatever work fields you do, before any other (as important) intentions.

What strikes me most is point 3, bc I have always thought it was a “taboo” Allah always keep my social circle pure in a way, my circle of friends is just teachers and children, basically no guys involved. And sometimes I try to make effort to reach out to events to know more people, guys per say to “cari jodoh”. But here I can conclude, don’t find. Jaga ikhtilat, improve yourself first; holistically, increase your ibadah do as much good, and Allah will do his magic. You don’t have to try, you don’t have to be sad. It will come in peace.

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At-Taubah 9:6

وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.

Be kind to one another regardless of religion. I've seen muslims who mistreat the non-muslims just because we have different views and beliefs. We must instill humanity in our hearts. I strongly believe that we should be good human beings first before we learn to be good muslims. As stated in this verse, we muslims have a duty. Never shun whoever comes to us. Welcome them with open arms and try our very best to guide and teach them. By doing so, we will become better versions of ourselves. A better muslim, InsyaAllah :)

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Assalamu'alaikum & Good Morning ladies! Just wanted to share sth that a friend shared with me today:

As we begin slowly departing from this yr of 2019.....a beautiful reminder of the reality of life...

Advice from Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may God be pleased with him)

“A friend will not (literally) share your struggles, and a loved one cannot physically take away your pain, and a close one will not stay up the night on your behalf. So look after yourself, protect yourself, nurture yourself and don’t give life’s events more than what they are really worth. Know for certain that when you break no one will heal you except you, and when you are defeated no one will give you victory except your determination. Your ability to stand up again and carry on is your responsibility. Do not look for your self worth in the eyes of people; look for your worth from within your conscious. If your conscious is at peace then you will ascend high and if you truly know yourself then what is said about you won’t harm you.

Do not carry the worries of this life because this is for Allah. And do not carry the worries of sustenance because it is from Allah. And do not carry the anxiety for the future because it is in the Hands of Allah.

Carry one thing: how to please Allah. Because if you please Him, He pleases you, fulfils you and enriches you.

Do not weep from a life that made your heart weep. Just say, “Oh Allah compensate me with good in this life and the hereafter.”

Sadness departs with a Sajdah. Happiness comes with a sincere Du’a. Allah does not forget the good you do, nor does He forget the good you did to others and the pain you relieved them from. Nor will He forget the eye which was about to cry but you made it laugh.

Live your life with this principle: be good even if you don’t receive good, not because for other’s sake but because Allah loves those who do good.”

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Recently I’ve been hearing about sedekah frequently especially last week and this week. My ustazah told me, when in trouble, sedekah, best to sedekah secretively. Some say, it kafarahkan dosa etc. This quote is when I came back from a maulid and it dawned on me how much Allah is speaking to me that I’m lacking in beramal and berilmu. But what makes sedakah special to me now is that I want to follow ciri2 akhlak sayyidituna Fatimah who is seorang yg pemurah ans always put other ppl first. “Sesungguhnya orang2 Yang berbakti (dgn taat Dan kebajikan) akan meminum dari piala: sejenis minuman yg bercampur dgn “kafur “ “Al insan,5 ) Sayyiditina Fatimah and husband always give priority to the poor, anak yatim and those who are less fortunate. Allah, Himself, praises them showing their kemuliaan and sanjungan bagi mereka. Thus, in conclusion, don’t take light of all the things our role models do, for it will benefit our lives, and most importantly, please our Lord, insyaAllah.

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Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds will enter Paradise.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2840

Al-Nawawi said, “It is interpreted to mean they are those who rely upon Allah, or those who have soft hearts.”

There is also another hadith which have birds in it. It talks about how Allah takes care of the birds which starts the day with an empty belly and returns with a full stomach. It is a creature that does not store food rather, it hunts for just enough everyday to survive and feed its family. So birds in this aspect is linked with reliance on Allah who provides for all in existance. So put full trust in Allah and let him guide us all as he knows the best in all our affairs.

The soft heart aspect is in relation to kindness. As we grow older, we start to get a little it more scepticle and guarded against others. We occasionally let the fear of being in loss/hurt etc prevent us from helping those around us by making us think that they are out to get us or they have no good intention. So our hearts becomes jaded ad hardened to protect ourselves from those who wants to take advantage of us. In fact, we should have faith that only Allah wills the benefit and harms that befall us and pray for his protection.

So just a simple reminder, do good and put in full trust in Allah that everthing that comes after is what Allah wills that which is good for u :)

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Surah Hud, 11:120 :

وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.”

Salaam all, apologies for the late update. Lately, I felt that my heart was far from Allah and I felt a sense of emptiness, some sort. Work was alhamdulillah not so chaotic, and I begin to find dates to catch up with other people. Life was almost too good to be true. But the sense of emptiness remained. I felt like something was not right - that this sense of peacefulness and quietness did not feel quite like my life. I also thought that perhaps it was Allah's way of giving me a space to breathe before something big comes.

And it sure did.

Something happened to one of my cases last week and an officer warned me that the next 2 weeks would be one of the most exhausting weeks ever.

Last week was tough, but the trial made me cry to Allah once again and ask for guidance. It's a pity that I'm going to Him in trying times, I'm still working on going to him at the times I feel at peace and fine. I hope to seek your prayers so that all of us can constantly remember Allah in all good and bad times. Ameen.

I don't know where this is goin and I apologise if I'm being incoherent, but I just thought that the verse about how we can learn so much from our messengers is an apt reminder of what I should be doing when I can. To learn more about the life of our prophets and the messengers and to ruminate on it.

May Allah guide us all in our journey to better ourselves, Ameen

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Sorry for the late sharing. Here's sharing something I found very calming.. indeed, Allah's knowledge is enough for us. We may have gone through a lot and it might be draining us... sometimes ppl whom you're closest to also don't seem to understand you.. be rest assured that Allah hears you and is with you.. so stay strong!

https://youtu.be/fCAyucPOgvk

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Salam everyone. Apologies for the delay but I thought of sharing too..

A friend shared a story about Firaun and Asiya few weeks ago and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

As I was reading, one particular paragraph struck a chord with me and got me thinking. How we would quickly and naturally blame everything around us for the undesirable traits we have?

_I did this wrongly because my teacher taught me wrong.

I am not adventurous enough because my upbringing was like that.

I cannot do this because nobody else does that and I have no one to look up to._

For me(shamelessly admitting..), I am guilty of being like this most of the time.

So here’s the paragraph I was talking about :

*The wife of Firaun ,despite being married  to the worst human being who has ever walked the face of Earth, was still a woman of perfect iman. It is absolutely phenomenal, extraordinary who this woman managed to become despite being married to Firaun.*

I was overwhelmed thinking how hard it is to be that brave and respectable. Asiya is granted a palace in Jannah. My level of faith felt like those small charred fries at the bottom of the McDonald packet. At the same time, It also got me realising the beauty of being kind to yourself and having more faith in Allah. Allah will guide you no matter what. Even if you are living or working amongst the worst company of people. It boils down to what is in your heart. Is there room to let Allah in to heal you when you have to deal with people you don’t like? That’s what we go through every day. We meet people. People who do the right things and those who don’t. How many times do we thank Allah for his guidance? How many times have Allah protected us from making us feel like we are better than others?

I wanted to share this because I think we are the modern Asiya in our own different walk of life. We have our set of challenges thrown to us and yet we hold to our faith as strongly as we can. There is one united bravery everyone in this group is doing. We persevere reciting, sharing, reading and updating one another to keep our love for Quran alive.

With that may Allah continue to guide us no matter what we do and who we mix with and may Allah accept each and every one of our supplications like how He accepted Asiya’s plea.

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Salam all, Afifah here 🤗 I was thinking of what to share here today but I thought of sharing one reflection I did recently from an encounter at work as a nurse. It’s pretty lengthy, but do read it as a short story when you have the time

It has been 3 years since carer S took care of Ah Ma. S was just a year older than me, and she flew all the way from Myanmar to accept this job as a carer. This time, Ah Ma’s back in the hospital for pneumonia (lung infection). She stayed by her side all day long, assisting us the nurses to sponge Ah Ma, reposition her every 2 hours, feeding and changing her diapers. Using the Hokkien she picked up here, she talked to Ah Ma. Ah Ma could still reply her with a few words and S understood her words best. However, Ah Ma started to deteriorate and S couldn’t appear more worried. The small little things she did, like lifting Ah Ma’s arm so we could apply the cuff to take her blood pressure easier, and MashaaAllah, I admired how dedicated she was to care for Ah Ma 😍

Eventually, we had to nurse Ah Ma via a nasogastric tube (a feeding tube that goes from the nose all the way to the stomach) as she had difficulty in swallowing. She was earnest in learning and took just one day to be competent in giving Ah Ma her milk feeds. At night for almost 3 weeks, she put together 2 chairs and her makeshift bed is ready right beside Ah Ma. Never did she complain about it.

“Nurse, can you help to wake me up at 6.40am so we can change her diapers and then I can also give Ah Ma her milk at 7am.” It was a request unheard of during my night shift. I was honestly planning to serve the morning milk feeds because usually it’s the nurses who give even when carers are around as it’s an unspoken expectation of us nurses to do everything while in the hospital. And if we’re really busy, it’s the other way round - we’ll be the ones needing to request the carer to help to feed.

MashaaAllah 😍 Oh how thankful I am to have met S who showed me the extent one can go in caring for someone who’s not even family. It made me think if I can ever replicate her sincerity. Although I know sincerity is something only Allah knows but I believe it does reflects in our actions too. I pray for myself and the sisters here too, that Allah will grant us sincerity in the things we do, ease our affairs, and bless us with goodness inshaaAllah 💝

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Just wanted to share a verse that I read which really made me reflect :") May we internalise what it means to be a true mukmin and to live a life that Allah and Rasulullah SAW will be proud of. May we all strive to be true mukmins 🌹✨❤

Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 2-4:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Those only are believers whose hearts become full of fear when Allah is mentioned, and when His communications are recited to them they increase them in faith, and in their Lord do they trust.

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Those who keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them.

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades and forgiveness and an honorable sustenance.
(English - Shakir)

via iQuran

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Assalamualaikum ladies! I know I'm a day late but just wanted to share anyway :)

Honestly this week has been so exhausting for me and I'm feeling physically and mentally drained. Currently in a grab running late again and I'm taking some time to reflect. I am grateful alhamdulillah. I once learnt this quote and remind myself of it often, *"Be grateful when you feel tired from doing good, because so many people feel tired everyday from not doing anything good."*. When you feel exhausted because you're spending hours each day seeking beneficial knowledge, doing ibadah that pleases Allah, seeking halal income through work, serving loved ones and the community, say alhamdulillah. Say Alhamdulillah because Allah has enabled you to do deeds which bring you closer to Him. Say alhamdulillah because Allah chose you to spend time doing good instead of wasting time on unbeneficial things. Say Alhamdulillah because Allah has given you the health, wealth and time to do what you do.

Surah Ibrahim, Verse 7:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

And when your Lord made it known: *If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more*, and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.

Say Alhamdulillah and pray that Allah continues to give you opportunities to give, to serve and to feel tired. Because this world is nothing but an avenue to earn and gain as much as you can for akhirat. At the same time, make du'a for Allah to grant you 'Afiyah (see du'a in photo) so you can continue being the best you can be in this world and the next!

May Allah grant us all ease in our affairs and Istiqamah in doing deeds which please Him. Ameen!

Jumu'ah Mubarakah ladies, remember to recit surah Al-Kahf today 💕

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Surah Al-'Imran ayat 117:
The example of what they spend in this worldly life is like that of a wind containing frost which strikes the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves and destroys it. And Allah has not wronged them, but they wrong themselves.

My sharing today actually relates to my Instagram reflection on Friday which was based on a quote on my table calendar (as seen in the picture) and this ayat.

I was reflecting about the year and what were the events and actions that I did this year that I was proud about. Upon deeper reflection, I realised the more important question is whether Allah and Rasulullah SAW will be proud of the life that I am living.

My takeaway from the ayat is how when I focus too much on the dunya and don't always connect it back to Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW, I tend to feel disatisfied or not at peace.

The line "Allah is not unjust to them but they are unjust to themselves" really hits hard to me because Allah has already given us guidelines and basically the model of a life which Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW will be proud of in the Quran and the Sunnah and yet, and so when we don't follow that, we are just causing injustice to ourselves. Of course its difficult at a time when there are so much distractions :') and that is why a support group of people to keep each other in check is so important, so thank you for being that group girls❤

May Allah protect us, grant us strength and focus so that we will lead lives that Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW will be proud of. 💚✨

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https://youtu.be/prDEdirhGdY

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Salam All... I would like to share a piece of Imam Haddad Qasidah that is close to my heart after my visit to Tarim. I would highly recommend all to listen to Izzambal Ba Rabbik by Imam Alhadad. I am sure we, women, are in the age where we are finding love, making sure/ keeping it halal, or even knowing if he is the one for you. The one that brings you closer to Allah and Rasul. This screenshot bring ease to me as to know that verily All is planned out and that you have to be patient in Allahs planning. Yakin and Sabar that all would turn out alright in the end. Please make Dua for me, and the Muslim community~ syukran.. Assalamualaikum 🥰

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Salaam all, apologies for the late sharing.

_The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for humankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)_ Al - Baqarah: 185

I was at a class, to learn more about the quran and sunnah, and the ustaz brought up a point which brought me to ponder... He shared that we know that Al Quran is supposed to be our guidance (as the verse above) and even when we finish reading the Quran, we would read the (allahummarharmna bill quran, wa ja 'al hulana imaman wa nuran...) and it is us asking for Allah to let Quran be our Imam, be our guide. But then the ustaz continues, and asked us if we really do that. Because he highlighted that many atimes, we look for the verses that support us in the Quran, and live by it. But then those that makes us feel uncomfortable or that we don't want to follow, we ignore it, leave it out, pretend we didn't know of it. But why? Shouldn't the quran be our guide still, no matter?

I took away many lessons from that comment, and I hope it goes the same for you too. I think we know ourselves better, and where we should thus start working on, to ensure that the Quran continues to be our guide in our life. I pray that Allah makes it smoother and grants us taufiq in our quest and journey to be the best muslimah we ever can be insyaAllah

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I would like to start this round of sharing by first saying thank you to everyone. Every single one of you inspired me with your tenacity to continue in this group, to strive to balance the busy dunya and the important and everlasting akhirat. So, thank you very much for being such inspiring sisters.

My sharing today is rather last-minute so I apologise as I will not be sharing a verse from the first Juz. Instead, I would like to share with you my reflection about an event that happened not too long ago. This event reminded me about the power of niat (intention) and the barakah of an event.

There was a family event that we had, and we were not too sure whether to continue with it or not. The initial idea was to make a small-scale event because of financial reasons. However, as a lot of families and opinions were involved, it turned out to be a big one instead. I remembered a few of us resisting the idea, saying that it will create so much wastage and will burden us financially later.

However, we finally went ahead with it, with the intention to strengthen the silaturrahim among our extended family members. Masha Allah, with Allah’s power and will, the event ran smoothly and everyone was extremely pleased with it. Money was not even a problem. Days before the event, many help came in, in various forms, including financial. And for the first time, I felt the sweetness of barakah in an event. There’s no words to describe it but the signs were clear and from that moment on, I knew it was the right thing to do.

It was an event that I initially had doubts; whether it was the right thing to do or even at the right timing. However, with Allah’s grace, He made everything run so smoothly. Too smooth to be planned by the most brilliant event manager in the world. That’s when I realised the power of niat. If we intended something for the sake of Allah and we truly hold on to that genuine intention, Allah will make it easy for us. And Allah will bless the effort immensely.

And this reminded me to the verse “Say: Whether you hide what is in your hearts or you reveal it, Allah knows it all. He knows what is in the Heavens and what is on Earth. And Allah has power over all things”
– Surah Al’ Imran, verse 29

We can relate this back to our everyday life. Work can be mundane and routine, but always remind ourselves that our work is an important contribution to the society. We are all serving our purposes. And we all do it for the sake of Allah. If it gets too tiring, just remember, Allah’s with those who are patient. If we take a step towards Allah, Allah will take 10 steps towards you. May our right intentions drive us to perform our best in every aspect of our lives.

I hope everyone in this group can take a moment each day to reflect and rethink how we can and are making an impact. It can be to our family, our friends, or colleagues, or even the society at large. Let’s all recalibrate our life purpose and realign it to a single purpose: to attain Allah’s pleasure. Always ask ourselves, “Does it bring me closer to Allah? Will Allah be pleased with this action?” May we be reminded to make each day better than the previous ones and may each day that passes bring us closer to Allah s.w.t. Amin.

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Salam everyone,
It's my turn to share. I came across this quote. I have been going through some difficult times these past few months. Alhamdulillah, things are falling into place, slowly but surely. The thing that I wanted the most is yet to come but I have faith that Allah is hearing to all my duas. Just like everybody else, I needed the assurance from time to time. This quote definitely uplifts my spirit and I hope it does for you too :)

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Surah Al-'Araf ayat 143

My sharing today is about this ayat when Nabi Musa AS asks to see Allah SWT whereby Allah SWT tells him to look at the mountains and Allah SWT will reveal Himself there but when that happens, Nabi Musa AS passes out.

I went to read up more on the tafsir for the ayat as Nabi Musa AS was one of the two Prophets who spoke to Allah SWT directly so wanted to read up more to understand the depth of the wisdom behind this ayat. I loved the tafsir from Syaikh Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Asyqar, mudarris tafsir University Islam Madinah as seen in Malay below:

"Gunung yang hanya seketika dihadapkan kepadanya wajah Allah ia hancur berantakan, namun ada mata yang dihadapkan dengan ayat-ayat Allah namun ia tidak menangis! Sesungguhnya khusu'nya shalah seseorang sangat tergantung kepada perasaannya kepada makna bahwa Allah senantiasa mengawasinya diantara hatinya dan kiblatnya."

Referensi: https://tafsirweb.com/2597-surat-al-araf-ayat-143.html

My reflection from this ayat is again going back to the khusyuk of my prayer (which is the same reflection from last month 😭), which sometimes gets really hard when one lives such a hectic lifestyle and has so many thoughts in the mind.

May He grant us khusyuk in our prayers, may He grant us eyes moist with humility and gratitude towards Allah everytime we hear His words and pray, may He grant us ihsan in our lives.💚✨

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Sharing an FB post:
Maryam Amir

Sisters, this one is just for you.

Years ago, my incredible Quran teacher told me, “Maryam! Our Islamic history is filled with women who recited the Quran! Who were masters of Quranic recitation! Who taught men, even the most famed men today, how to recite Quran! This is the legacy of the Quran! And you, you aren’t Arab! And you’re born and raised in America! You have a responsibility to show other women that they can do it too!”

The first person to accept the revelation of the Quran from the the Prophet ﷺ was Khadija رضي الله عنها A woman.

The first non-Caliph to be entrusted the compiled written copy of the Qur'an: Hafsa bint Omar رضي الله عنهما. A woman.

The spoken and written Qur'an was, from its outset, entrusted to women.

Our ummah is FILLED with women Quran reciters and it has been since it was revealed; we just unfortunately have lost the legacy of passing on their examples as we do that of our blessed men. But there is such an urgency to revive their legacy now!

Women have held a central and critical role in carrying the Quran since its revelation. We are the figurative descendants of the women whom it was revealed amongst and it is time to bear the love and revel in the raw honor of being bearers of the revelation.

Recently I asked the noble Shaykh Moheb to recite like we used to when I was memorizing. He laughed and said, “That’s for when you’re memorizing and trying to perfect your review! It’s just a style to practice reviewing. You’ve already memorized the Quran and are past that!” And I said Shaykh, you have no idea how much it’ll inshAllah be so important for other women to see it’s possible for them too.

My beloved ladies, I memorized the Quran over a period of seven years. I started not knowing any Arabic, stumbling over even how to read a single letter or pronounce a word. I was in school full time and working part time and always involved with other community work and responsibilities. Even when I was blessed to study in Egypt, I couldn’t take time off and focus just on the Quran. Being able to just focus on the Quran is such a blessing, but it’s not realistic for most. For most of us, we are students or mothers or caretakers or workers and daughters or or and and and.... and in all of that, you can still commit to the Quran! Now, as a mom of two little kids I get my review in while chasing after really little people. I don’t think I am an amazing reciter and definitely not a perfect one. It isn’t the romanticized dream of spending days upon nights reciting melodiously in a special masjid, but it’s the reality of how real, how gritty, how exhausting but how powerful it is to have a relationship with the Quran in the middle of LIFE.

Isn’t that worth a ten year, twenty year, fifty year commitment? Won’t it be worth it inshAllah when you face your Lord and the Quran inshAllah inshAllah comes as a witness for you- that despite your depression or your exhaustion or your your frustration or your success and your wealth and your health- in the good and in the struggle- you still committed to the words of Allah. It’s okay if it takes years. It doesn’t have to be memorization- it can be reading it in translation in a language you understand, ensuring you read or recite even just a few verses every day. Every single second of that journey is witnessed by Angels and it’s a means of blessings in your life and your ranks raised, God willing.

So my sisters, listen to the advice my beloved Shaykh, Shaykh Moheb (May Allah raise his ranks and that of his noble family!) gave me, “Whatever you are seeking- find it in the Quran!”

As our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم
said, “‘Allah has His own people among humankind.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of God, who are they?’ He صلى الله عليه و سلم said: ‘The people of the Qur’an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him.'” [ibn Majah]

Ps- he’s wearing sunglasses because we were about to walk outside, not because he wasn’t trying to see me 😅
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It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:
*"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah has His own people among mankind.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He said: 'The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him.'"*

May Allah make us all amongst the People of the Qur'an. May we be granted Istiqamah in reciting, seeking to understand, memorising and putting into action what is in the Qur'an. Keep on striving dear ladies! We're in the path of the beloved female companions of Rasulullah SAW 💕

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Salaam all, it's my turn today. I havent had the time to really reflect but I came across this and I thought it was a good succint and quick reminder. Hope it benefits :)

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Just want to share my learning points from a forum I attended just now. It's about practical steps to transform an idea into action.

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Hey ladies. I would like to share about my favourite surah in Juz 29: Surah Al-Mulk. I've always loved listening to this surah. It's beautiful but I can't quite capture why. Have a listen and I hope you appreciate it and fall in love with listening to the Quran especially when you're having a low moment. It really can spur you on and brighten up your mood.

Listen to Al-Mulk by Mishary Rashid Al-Afasy. Listen to how beautiful the Quran is. Masha Allah. 😍 https://youtu.be/v5839hUuTGE

Then listen one more time, this time read the translation. It sent a shiver up my spine. It's a reminder that Allah has given us so many signs, yet we are still forgetful and oblivious. Very very powerful surah.
https://youtu.be/am3r-q26B9U

Sorry, this one was for surah Al-Waqiah actually.

https://youtu.be/TUj6lTXGIVM

Another favourite surah of mine (but from Juz 27). The messages and reminders are so profound that I feel compelled to ensure that not a single day goes by without remembrance of Allah.

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Mishary Rashid Alafasy - Surah Mulk (The Dominion)

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To facilitate the sunnah of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ,  here's a compiled set of dikr after prayers commonly practised in mosque with arabic text, transliteration, translation, its benefits and its proofs. ✨

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“And Allah is the best of planners.”

Just sharing a photo which kept me going the past week, and through many other tough times hehe ✨ It’s always nice to be reminded of how Allah has planned out our path for us Perfectly. All we have to do us trust Him ❤

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"One day, Death encountered a man and told him:
- Today's your last day.
The man replied:
- But I am not ready!
Death said:
- Your name is at the top of my to-do list for today.
The man said:
- Alright then… before you take me along, let's sit together and have one last cup of coffee.
Death said:
- Of course.
The man offered a cup of coffee to Death; the coffee was laced with some sleeping pills...
Death drank the coffee and soon it was fast asleep...
The man took Death's to-do list, wiped his name from the top and placed it at the bottom of the page.
When Death woke up, it said:
- You've treated me so kindly and with full of love today. I would like to reciprocate you by starting my today's work from the names at the bottom of my list."

Sometimes some things are written in your fate. No matter how hard you may try to change them, they never change...

The crow and the parrot were both created ugly. The parrot protested and was made beautiful. However, the crow remained content with the will of its Creator. Today the parrot is in a cage and the crow flies free...

Behind each incident is so exquisite a wisdom that maybe you will never understand it.

Therefore ...

Never ask "Why?" to the Creator.

Nine things will give you benefits everyday:

1/ تريد السعاده = صل الصلاة في وقتها.
1. If you seek happiness: Offer salat on time.

2/ تريد نور الوجه =  بقيام الليل.
2. If you want light on your face:
Rise up for tahajjud in the night.

3/ تريد الطمئنينة = عليك بترتيل القرآن.
3. If you want tranquility and peace: Recite the Qur'an slowly and carefully.

4/ تريد الصحه = عليك بالصيام.
4. If you seek health: Fast

5/ تريد الفرج = لازم الإستغفار.
5. If you seek inner joy: Keep on with repentance.

6/ تريد زوال الهم = لازم
الدعاء.
6. If you want to be free from sorrow: Keep on praying.

7/ تريد زوال الشده = قل لاحول ولا قوة إلا بالله
7. If you want violence to disappear, say: La hawla wa lâ quwwata illa billah.

8/ تريد البركه = صل على النبي واله الطيبين الطاهرين.
8. If you seek abundance:
Recite praises and greetings to the Holy Prophet (saww) and his virtuous family and companions.

9/ تريد حسنات بدون تعب =
لاتحتفظ بها أرسلها لينتفع بها كل الاحبه
سبحان الله
من كان مع ﺂلله كان ﺂلله معه
ومن كان يحب ﺂلله كان ﺂلـله يحبه
9. If you wish to do goodness without getting tired: Do not keep this message to yourself. Let your loved ones benefit from this too.

Allah (SWT) is with those who are with Him and consider His commandments.

Allah (SWT) loves those who love Him.

هل تعلِم :
عند قرآءة آية الكرسي بعد كل صلآة
يbbصبح بينك وبين الجنه الموت فقط
تذكير :لا تكتم علماً خيراً تجزى به

Do you know?
If you recite the Ayat al Kursiyy after prayers, only Death will remain between you and the Paradise.

ً🌏اجعلوها تلف العالم🌏
🍀Let this knowledge move around the world.

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Surah Al-Anfal: 2
"Certainly, the believers are those whose hearts are filled with awe when (the name of) Allah is mentioned; and when His verses are recited to them, it makes them more developed in faith; and in their Lord they place their trust."

Reading this verse really made me stop and reflect because recently i've been so busy and caught up with school and my other commitments that i've been doing my ibadah more as a routine than actually being present and consciously doing it for Allah swt :") The verse highlights the kind of special connection we should have with Allah that our hearts are filled with so much love for Him. And i guess what's really important is that we should always make time for Allah swt because we need Him so much more than we realise.

The second part of the verse reminds me to always try to understand the meanings behind the verses because ultimately, it should make me more certain and increase my faith. The reason why i'm so grateful for this group is because it really gets me to stop and make time to reflect on the verses no matter how busy i am and it really is beautiful once you realise that these words are from Allah swt and they are sent as a guidance for you in life to go through whatever it is that you are facing.

May we be among the believers whose hearts are filled with awe when the name of Allah is mentioned insyaAllah ❤

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Assalamu'alaikum everyone! Apologies for the late text! I was entrusted with juz 14 and it was a really insightful read mashaaAllah. I would like share a verse which I reflected upon. Firstly, it serves as a reminder for me and I hope it will benefit you too inshaaAllah!

My sharing will be based on surah An-Nahl, verse 30:
وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا خَيْرًا لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ

And (when) it is said to those who are the Muttaqun  "What is it that your Lord has sent down?" They say: "That which is good." For those who do good in this world, there is good, and the home of the Hereafter will be better. And excellent indeed will be the home (i.e. Paradise) of the Muttaqun.

Upon reading this, it made me ponder on how this Dunya is only temporary for us. It's a testing ground for us to find our way back home - Jannah. We often wonder why Allah sent us sooo many trials and challenges and forgot that this Dunya is only temporary. I've always used this as my personal motivator. If I'm faced with any ordeals, I will remind myself that Allah already promised us a spot in Jannah. This will immediately spike my imaan up and I will feel motivated to get things done. And the mooost beautiful thing is, if you do things with the niyyah to please Him, He will reward you for it. He will reward you for painstakingly waking up early in the wee morning for work (or school). He will reward you for painstakingly preparing dinner for your parents (or husband or kids). Cutest is, He will even reward you for smiling at others! SubhanAllah, how gracious our Allah is 😭
And with a 'bank' fullllll of rewards, Allah, in the verse, promised us an excellent home. An Eternal Abode where no eyes has seen, no ears has heard no hearts has perceived and no thoughts can fathom. Amazing isn't it? I often stare up the sky, and wonder "if Allah made the moon this beautiful, how will His Jannah and His Beloved Rasullulah ﷺ, who has a face which gleams more beautifully than the moon, look like?". Try staring at the moon and ask yourself this question! It will reaaally boost your imaan and you will want to strive harder to be a better muslimah. It helps me alll the time, and I hope it will help you too 🤭

So when you're faced with a setback, remind yourself that it is temporary and it will allll end. If not now, soon. May He ease our journey in attaining Mardhatillah, may He bless us with has rahmah and may He unite us with our loved ones and His Beloved Rasullulah ﷺ in His beaaaautiful Jannah. Aamiin! ✨🥰

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Assalammualaikum everyone.

This ayat made me think alot about how much or how little have we given Allah s.w.t when He has given us enough in this life.

Al-A'raf 7:96

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ

And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning."

Blessings come with Faith while Kufr brings Torment.

There is a few point of views when you read this ayat. How I view it is, everything that Allah s.w.t has given us, do we thank him enough? All the good things that Allah bestowed on us can just be taken away in a blink of an eye. We should always be thankful and grateful of Him.

An article I saw this weekend was this,
How can a person thank his Lord for His great blessings? His gratitude should fulfill all the necessary conditions, which are gratitude of the heart, gratitude of the tongue and gratitude of the physical faculties.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Gratitude may be in the heart, in submission and humility; on the tongue, in praise and acknowledgement; and in the physical faculties, by means of obedience and submission.

“And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah”[16:53].

This acknowledgement is not mustahabb (recommended), rather it is obligatory. Whoever attributes these blessings to anyone other than Allah has disbelieved.

Hope this sharing is beneficial to all. Let us constantly remember to thank Allah s.w.t as part of our daily routine.

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Salam girls, apologies for this late update. Was a bit hectic for me yesterday :/

My reflection is more from a talk I attended by the Mufti, Dr Fatris on Saturday. He shared about Surah Al- Mu'minun ayat 1 & 6 which is the 6 criteria of a succesful muslim.

He shared that it was interesting that the first and the last criteria of the 6 is to do with solat which shows how important solat is in our lives, and that a person who takes his prayers seriously will the one who is successful in this life and the next.

The most important thing however is not about just the action of prayer but about Khusyuk in prayer. A lot of people think khusyuk in prayer is just understanding the meaning of the words you recite, but khusyuk is more about being tawaddu', having a heart that is not arrogant with Allah, that you remind yourself that you are just a servant of Allah and you need Him in all of your affairs. This is how prayer will have an effect on your heart and soul. This is how you will be a successful Mu'min.

May Allah grant us khusyuk and tawaddu' in our prayer and in all of our ibadah. May He accept all of our actions and intentions. May He make us successful mu'mins :")

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Juz 7 consists of Surah Al-Ma’idah and Surah Al-An’am which emphasize on the laws in Islam (the do’s and dont’s) and Tauhid respectively.

It was narrated by At-Tabarani that Ibn Abbas said _“The Surah of Al-An’am was revealed in Mecca all at once on one night, surrounded by seventy thousand angels, supplicating and glorifying Allah Almighty”_

One ayat from Al-An’am that is embedded in my mind and heart is Ayat 7 - _“And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good, then He is over all things competent”_

This ayat serves as a reminder that only Allah has the power to bring benefits and harm to our lives. Every good blessed upon us and every bad poured onto us are all from Him, and thus we should always turn to Him when something good or bad happens. Thank Him when you’re blessed with goodness and seek help from Him when you face difficulties, because only He can give and take away anything in our lives. This ayat also reminds us that everything that happens in our lives are His Plans for us.

May He guides you through any problems or difficulties you’re facing and bless you with patience to overcome them Insyaallah 🥰

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❤️
As Juz 6 talks about Sayyidina Isa alaihissalaam in many occasions, which reminded me about the following which I came across before. So insya'Allah will just share them here 😊..

Narrated Abu Hurairah r.a.: I heard Allah's Messengerﷺ saying "I am the nearest of all the people to the son of Maryam, and all the Prophets are paternal brothers, and there has been no Prophet between me and him (Sayyidina Isa a.s.)." Sahih Al-bukhari💚
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A splendid enunciation of piety comes from sayyidina Isa (عليه السلام), in his answer to a person who once asked him:
"Tell me, the teacher of goodness and virtue, how one becomes pious in the sight of the Lord."

"It is easy", responded sayyidina Isa (عليه السلام). "You first become attached to the Lord with a deep love, then perform good deeds to the best of your ability and feel mercy for the entire Children of sayyidina Adam (عليه السلام) just as you feel mercy for yourself."
He then added:
"...and do not do to others what you would not wish upon yourself. Only then will you become pious in the sight of Lord."
-Ibn Kathir. (The Exemplar Beyond Compare Muhammad Mustafaﷺ by Osman Nuri Topbas)_

May we treat others the way we would want to be treated. Be happy for people when they're happy. Reply with an even better way, with kindness. And talk to the people we love and care for before it's too late💕 Have a wonderful & blessed weekends all :)

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Yesterday during Ngaji Class, as I was reciting this verse, my Ustazah interrupted me to tell me to pause. She reminded me once again that reciting the Qur'an is a conversation with Allah. And as someone in a dialogue, the proper adab is to respond to Allah immediately whenever He addresses you. e.g. When He says "seek forgiveness", say "Astaghfirullah!". When He asks "Do you not ponder/reflect?", pause to reply "Balaa ya Allah, yes I do!" (and then do it later on).

Anyway, in this case it was Surah Al-Araf, Verse 180:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
"And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did."

So the proper response was to pause and make du'a, calling Allah by His beautiful names. In this Ayat, Allah is teaching us how He wants us to make du'a and call Him. So instead of sticking to "Ya Allah..." all the time, take advantage of Allah's characteristics when calling upon him. e.g. "Ya  Rahmaan, shower your Mercy upon me!", "Ya Ghaffar, Forgive me!", "Ya Lateef, be gentle and kind to me!".

Some of you may know that I had some pretty though times a few months back. Alhamdullilah, Allah guided me to heal and rebuild myself by calling me back to Him. You know the phrase "Tak kenal maka tak cinta"? My friend once told me, "Tak kenal maka Ta'aruf!" (Ta'aruf is the act of getting to know someone). I realised that I didn't know how to Love Allah enough because I didn't know Him enough. And so I started my Ta'aruf journey! I launched my personal Asma'ul Husna project exactly 99 days before 1st Syawal. Every morning after Subuh, I would read up on one of His names and make a picture poster with a related Hadith and share it on my WhatsApp status and on my Pinterest board. I realised that the more I learnt about Allah, the more I fell in love with Him each and every day. SubhanAllah! I felt like I've been missing out all this while huhu..

Also, because of the ayat above, I started making du'a with Allah's names and reflecting more on the things that happen in my life according to Allah's characteristics. Allah is Al-Fattah, only He can show us a solution to our problems. Allah is Al-Muqaddim and Al-Muakhkhir, He accelerates and delays things, as He wishes according to His Divine Wisdom. Allah is As-Samii', He hears all things and He is Al-Mujeeb, He answers all of our prayers. My personal favourite? Allah is Al-Waliyy, the Protective Friend; He is always here with me through hardships and joys, distancing me from harm and being a source of comfort, support and guidance in whatever situation I'm in.

Yesterday's ngaji class was super timely considering that God-incidentally, I had just decided to restart my Asma'ul husna project (kinda urgently need some revision). In fact, I had only just sent my first post (Ar-Rahmaan) right before class! That was Al-Khabeer giving little hints and reminders as He always does :') Anyway, if anyone's keen to Ta'aruf with me, I'll be sharing a name a day on my WhatsApp status and adding an ayat daily here: http://pin.it/mn7ilzxbufdggm

May an-Naafi' bless us with the goodness of knowing, loving and being close to Him in this world and the next! Ameen

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Daily Qur'an Sharing

رحم-One of the names of Allah as well as a name of a surah. It is usually translated as 'merciful' which have this idea of forgiveness.

Dictionary definition of mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm

Does it mean that to show mercy, we have to have more power that the other party?

However, the Prophet Muhammad is consistently known to show mercy be it when he is with or without power. So how does this link back to the meaning of رحم?

There is also another definition which is the beneficient-doing or resulting in good. I'm sure many understands how the notion of forgiveness ties in with doing good. HOwever, there is another perspective on this; anger.

Anger is usually associated with the bad. However, everything that exist have a purpose. Anger can be associated with Ar rahman through the idea that when we give mercy, we want to give benefit. Forgiveness usually have this benefit to others in terms of hope (we can be forgiven if we repent). Anger does also benefit by preventing harm and teaches us lessons. So, sometimes (when angry for the right reasons) anger is important.

I experience this when I did a stint of relief teaching for pri school. Most of the time, we prefer to be nice to students and try not to scold or even be angry at them. But in a classroom full of energy, sometimes being stern is the only way to ensure that class runs smoothly and to minimize disruption to otherclasses. I always feel bad whenever I need to show my 'garang' face or deny them of seemingly mundane requests. But from previous experience, sometimes not restraining them can lead to bigger issues.

A general experience would entail for example, reprimanding someone about a wrong. Many may not feel comfortable doing so but it is important to do so to prevent future harms or letting them learn something. And it is considered to be merciful to do so despite reluctance or feeling like the 'bad guy' in the situation.

So in general, dont be afraid or feel bad if you need to reprimand or be 'angry' at someone for the right reasons. That is part of being merciful, not to those below you but above you as well :)

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As of late, I came to know of several hardships that my friends have been facing, each of varying degrees. It pains me to hear of such incidents and the only way that I can help them is through doa. I came across this ayat, which mentions about the closeness of Allah to us. He is near us, and we can make doa to Him at any point of time. He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. He loves when we make doa to Him. We should doa consistently and not give up when we start feeling tired. It is probably not the right time for our doas to be granted. And always remember that Allah does not burden us with more than what we can handle. May all of us be granted with patience and perseverance to endure His hardships. Amiin.

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I wanted to share about a personal recent incident that had happened to me a few days ago. It may not be relatable to all but I hope it may bring about some benefits to some. (sorry if TLDR!)

I am a social worker and in a recent home visit, my client burst out her anger at me. She shouted, she was sceptical to all that I had to say, cynical to my suggestions and she also used sarcasm in all  her replies to me. And I had to sit through this for about an hour. I was battling with managing my emotions at being wrongfully accused, crying inside. But I knew I couldn't show this to her. I had to continue the conversation because I knew if I left, the alr shaky relationship would become worse.

The session took a toll on my mental and emotional health and I couldn't function for hours after that. It still pains me as I am writing this. It was so hard and I was at my lowest. Being patient and persevering wasn't anywhere in my thoughts.

Days after, I came across this ayat and it touched my heart very much so.

Al baqarah: 45

وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere (2:153)

Allah knows that what you went through was hard. Allah knows that it's not going to be easy to be patient. But are you not going to hold on to Allah's promise that He would be there for those who patiently persevere? And you know that Allah never khianati His promises?

I pray that Allah grants us all steadfastness in our Deen and faith. And may us all be part of those who patiently persevere through our trials and tribulations insyaAllah.

And I also came across this saying by Ustaz Saiful Rahman that

"Muslims must not succumb to sadness - they are to trust in Allah and appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing that Allah will always help them"

❤❤💚💚

(Photo is from a reply)

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Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216
Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.

For the past few weeks the theme of trust and patience has been floating around me, where I keep seeing reminders telling me to trust Allah and to be patient. To trust that my prayers are heard by our Creator, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing, and that He will answer them in the way and at a time that He chooses. To be patient, that what I have been hoping and praying for will come when the time is right.

Coincidentally, for this round of khatam quran I have been assigned to complete Juz 16, and at the beginning of this juz was the story of Prophet Musa a.s. and Prophet Khidir a.s. (Surah Al Kahf, verse 75-82) As a summary, the actions of Prophet Khidir a.s. did not make sense to Prophet Musa a.s. at first, but it was revealed later as to why he did what he did. Similarly, our limited knowledge means that there are certain events in our lives which does not make sense, or does not seem to be heading the right way, but perhaps it is going exactly the way Allah wills it to be, which is always the best for us.

I still have a lot more to learn, in terms of trust and patience, and this is also a reminder (for myself first and foremost) that sometimes Allah withholds something in order to give. We have to trust in His divine plans, to always improve our relationship with Him, and what is meant for us will come our way no matter how long it takes. In the meantime, du’a, du’a and never stop making du’a.

I hope my reflections is not too rambly hehh, and really sorry for posting it this late.
Also, may I seek your help in praying for my late aunt who just passed away this morning? Her name is Siti Aminah binte Sheikh Mohamad, and may Allah forgive her sins, accept all her deeds and place her among the pious. Ameen.

Have a great weekend everyone :)

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An-Nahl,128:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
Surely Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty to Him) and those who are Muhsinun (do good to others).💚

sharing a Hadith that was tagged to this ayat..
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radhiyAllahu anhu): Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from Hellfire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds, O Allah's Messenger?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me and protects me with His Grace. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)." -Sahih Bukhari💙
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Al-Mu'minun, 118
(وَ قُل رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ)
And say: O my Lord! Forgive and have mercy, Thou art the best of the Merciful ones❤

Also.. Narrated Sayyiditina Aishah(رضي الله عنها): The Prophetﷺ said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one's good deeds will not make him enter paradise." They asked, "Even you, O Allah's Messenger?" He said, "Even I, unless and untill Allah protects or covers me with His Pardon and His Mercy." Sahih Al-Bukhari

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Salam ladies. I hope you are doing well. If u dont feel too good abt today, it is okay. At times, me too. May Allah ease our affairs. N Alhamdulillah we are still able to end the day tonight with doas. Hopefully tmr will be a better day. InsyaAllah. Amin.

Anw today, my sharing is doas on forgiveness.

I read some doas today as I was having a hard time handling the usual emotional and psychological warfare that I have in me whenever I am working on cases where I have to interpret for the accused persons in during trials. I have difficulties as I felt that I am assisting them in conveying lies especially so when their lies are obvious and worst still if their lies are too convincing. It felt like it is wrong for me to assist them but I always remind myself that my job is just to interpret. The content is by them and not me. So, as long as Im delivering my duty right, it is fine. InsyaAllah.

So I was reading a doa titled
"Forgive and save me from the culprits" from my dua app.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
He (Musa) said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
"My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.
My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people."

And then I read the tafsir here.
http://www.recitequran.com/en/tafsir/en.ibn-kathir/28:21

I felt that my struggle can be looked from a wider angle i.e. a struggle in asking for forgiveness from Allah for all the actions that I did.

I then found a wonderful website w doas to seek forgiveness from Allah and I think below is my fav doa.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana 'ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta
(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.)

Shaddad ibn Aws (radiAllahu anhu) relates that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that he (Sayyid al-Istighfar) most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say (the above du'a). That "If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise."
[sahih al-Bukhari; 8,75,318, at-Tirmidhi; 3393, an-Nasa'i; 5522, Ahmad; 16662]

You can check out the site:
https://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/forgiveness.html

May Allah forgives all our mistakes and bless us with the ability not to repeat these mistakes again in the future. Amin.

(Sorry if my sharing is a lil disorganised today.)

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UNIC - SAYYIDUL ISTIGHFAR (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO) ᴴᴰ

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Surah At-Tawba Ayat 51)
Say: “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us. He is our protector.” and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.

Reflection:
Came across this ayat when it popped up as an app’s verse of the day.

I felt that this is important to remember as we are all starting new things/events. Personally for me, I start my first day of lessons tomorrow and am experiencing quite a bit of nerves. Reading this ayat helped me establish a little faith in everything Allah has planned for us - every step that we have taken has led us to where we are now. Why should we not trust that He will only lead us to what is right? Insyaallah all of us will continue to place our faith in Him, and will persevere throughout our days.

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(Surah An-Naml Ayat 19)
My Lord, grant me that I should be grateful for Your favor that You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I do the good deeds that You are pleased with. And admit me through Your mercy among Your pious servants.

Reflection:
Came across this ayat while reading the Accepted Whispers by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi.

Good deeds in themselves are not sufficient because we need good deeds that are accepted by Allah swt. And even in asking for our good deeds to be accepted, we need Allah's help. It is possible that our good deeds carry no weight because of some inherent flaws. So we must always check on our intention and pray that Allah swt accept our deeds. 💕

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(Surah Ikhlas: 1-4)
“Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."

Surah Al-Ikhlas is one of my favourite surahs because it is very short. But also, it is the fundamental of tauhid. The importance of this surah is reflected in a hadith by Rasulullah saw: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’aan.”

This surah reminds me that everything goes back to our iman. We have to protect it and sometimes its low, sometimes its high. That’s normal i think (at least for me). But its important that we strive and this surah highlights the attributes of Allah swt. Its short but powerful, if read with full conviction and belief. From the attributes, we get to know Allah better and from there we can increase our iman which makes us better servants of Allah swt. (Definitely still working on this)

May Allah grant us strength to continuously renew and build our iman every day insyaAllah. 💕

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Surah Hud:88

He (Nabi Shuayb) said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him...? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return.

Reflections:
Sometimes we tend to forget how blessed we are and this ayat always reminds me to be thankful to Him for all the blessings He has given us. Our achievements to where we are know are only through by Him and this trains our hearts to be constantly in a humble state in front of Him. Lately, I’ve been worrying about my work and my rizq but knowing Allah’s Mercy and He is the Provider, my worries lessen. Relying on Him gives you ease and faith that Indeed He has given us good provision and He is of the Best of Planners. With good intentions, In sya Allah He will ease our affairs. May He constantly bless us with good rizq and increase our sustenance for us to continue doing good for the Ummah for the sake of Him and His Beloved ﷺ. Amin. 💕