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Alhamdulillah, I am excited to share that I have started my Usrah 2 journey!

This time I was guided by Sr. Syahmina. On the first day of class, Sr. Syahmina explained the course outline and gave us an overview of what we will be learning throughout Usrah 2.

Then, we discussed the positive values ​​in worship, which revolve around three important elements which are Niyyah (intention), Amal (action), and Ihsan (excellence in worship). Niyyah, our worship must begin from the heart. Sincere intentions must be pure, free from evil thoughts or selfish goals. We should always ask ourselves, "For whom am I doing this?" The answer must be for Allah alone. Good intentions lead to goodness in return, as Allah has promised to His servants. Next is Amal, our actions must reflect the sincerity of our worship. Good intentions must be followed by righteous deeds. Finally, Ihsan means performing our worship as if we see Allah. Even though we cannot see Him, we know that God is always watching us. God knows what we do and what we say.

This reminder touched my heart because it showed how worship is not just a ritual, but about purifying the heart, aligning our actions, and striving to achieve excellence in the sight of God.

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Name: Soleha Nor

Matric Number: 2321680

Kulliyyah: KENMS

Programme: BACC

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Email: norsoleha003@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +60173004305

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Oh sadly, I didn't attend the first class due to late registration, where everyone had a taaruf session and played icebreakers together. Our instructor, Sr. Ainin, explained the course outline to everyone.

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(Grab a tissue before diving into the video above)

Again, I couldn't attend the second class because my registration was processed too late. However, I acknowledge that my classmates watched the video and discussed the message of the short story among them.

Personally, the video illustrates to me how important it is to treat people with kindness and empathy regardless of their differences. It's amazing what a small act of compassion can do for someone. I literally have a soft spot in my heart for this short story.

Besides, my classmates learned about the Five Pillars of Islam and their significance, discussed the Hadiths of Jibril, and shared Quranic verses that were most related to them.

I really like the Quranic verse from Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286, which translates to "Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity." This verse always reassures me during difficult times and strengthens my trust in Allah’s plan for me.

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I learned about the pillars of Iman and want to share an issue related to Belief in Qada and Qadr. At the Paris Olympics, Malaysian cyclist Shah Firdaus was close to winning a bronze medal in the keirin final but crashed into Japanese rider Shinji Nakano at the last corner. This caused some Malaysian fans to get angry and cyberbully Shinji Nakano. This situation shows a lack of understanding of Qada' and Qadr, which teaches us to accept and be patient with outcomes that are beyond our control. Instead of reacting with anger, we should remember that everything is part of a larger plan. We should treat others with respect and compassion.

I have read this book written by Aiesyah Azriff. I like how the drawing connected with the contents of the book. One quote that caught my attention the most is "If they make a mistake, advise them, not shame them". It reminds me that constructive advice fosters growth and improvement while shaming only hinders progress and damages relationships.

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We looked at the last 3 pillars of Iman which are Belief in the messengers of Allah, Belief in the Day of Judgment, and Belief in the Qada and Qadr.

I show my appreciation for the belief in the messengers of Allah by learning, following, and practicing the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad in my daily life. My belief in the Day of Judgment motivates me to engage in good deeds and lessen sins. I strive to earn a place in Jannah. Furthermore, my belief in Qada and Qadr guides me to pursue my goals while accepting that sometimes things may not go as planned. I trust that Allah has a better plan for me and that everything is going according to His wisdom.

My group and I worked together to create a Muslim 24/7 clock by integrating our schedules. It was both fun and challenging, as some of us are morning people while others are night people. Nonetheless, we successfully created a beautifully functional clock that represents our collective effort. This task helped us better understand and respect each other's routines as well as strengthened our teamwork and creativity.

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We have a short discussion regarding Ihsan and Eschatology in Islam.

We explored how Ihsan (the concept of performing good deeds with sincerity and excellence), impacts our daily lives and spiritual practice. For me, practicing Ihsan as a sister means being supportive of my little brother. As a daughter, it involves showing respect and gratitude to my parents, and as a student, it means striving for excellence in my studies.

Eschatology is the study of the end times and the Day of Judgment, examining its significance in shaping our understanding of life and our actions in preparation for the hereafter.

Afterward, group 1 started to present on the topic "The Pillars of Islam". I learned that the importance of these pillars lies in connecting with Allah and shaping a true muslim identity.

I also have a question regarding their topic: What is the difference between zakat and sadaqah? Aren’t they the same? Since zakat is defined as a way to purify our wealth and help those in need, and sadaqah seems similar in purpose.

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(Still in Session 5)

The presentation then continued with Group 3 discussing the topic "Hikmah of Salah". What can I summarize about the hikmah of salah is that it can protect you from engaging in sinful behavior. It is often said that if you continue to do wrong things in life, you should examine your prayer. Are you performing it correctly? For me, I will always make sure to perform ablution properly, as it is the starting point of prayer. If ablution is done incorrectly, the rest of your salah may not be accepted.

Other than that, Salah is seen as our personal conversation with Allah. In Surah Al-Fatihah, Allah responds to us as we recite it. We also seek guidance from Allah to purify our souls through Salah.

I appreciated how Sr. Najibah answered the question, "How can prayer help with stress?" I relate to her experience. When I perform Salah and cry during sujood, I also feel a sense of relief. I feel like my problems momentarily disappear, allowing me to 'breathe'. I know the problems still exist, but after Salah, I feel more motivated to continue my day and face whatever challenges lie ahead.

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Adab to parents, neighbours, and society.

The Quran repeatedly highlights the importance of treating parents with respect and compassion. We must speak to them with respect and assist them with their needs. Meanwhile, adab with neighbours involves treating them with kindness and consideration. For society, we should contribute positively to the community and help those in need.

All children deserve parents but not all parents deserve children

Agree, this is because not all parents fulfill their roles with the care and commitment that children deserve. The children need to have a loving and supportive family environment to grow up 'healthy'.

The way you treat yourself is a reflection of your adab towards others

Yes, I always try to understand my own needs and limits. By doing so, I can empathize with and accommodate the needs and limits of those around me. I guide my adab towards others in this way. However, I recognize that others may have different needs and limits, and I respect those differences.

Your adab towards parents and neighbours affects your adab towards society

Yes, I can see that my adab towards my parents and neighbors tends to be consistent, which in turn affects my adab towards society.

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For the Role Play, my teammates and I decided to create a poster on the topic: How to Cherish Our Lives?

We chose this topic because it emphasizes the importance of appreciating the little things in life, which are always overlooked. We believe that we can truly cherish our lives by cultivating gratitude, cherishing our bonds with family and friends, creating a healthy lifestyle, engaging in spiritual reflections, and committing to hard work.

By exploring and sharing this topic, we hope to inspire our classmates to focus on positivity, embrace the challenges, and live more fulfilled lives.

When Sr. Ainin asked, "What is your best time in your life, and how do you cherish it?" I immediately thought of my SPM year. Although it was a time filled with intense stress and anxiety over whether I could make my parents proud, it turned out to be the most meaningful time of my life. My grades were slipping, and I was terrified that my results would disappoint them. As the exams approached, I finally told my parents about it. Surprisingly, they reassured me that they would be proud of me no matter the outcome because they had seen how hard I was studying. Their words instantly lifted the burden I was carrying, and I felt all my anxiety fade away. I cherish this time because it taught me that my parents’ pride was based on my effort, not just my achievements. It deepened my appreciation for their unconditional love to this day.

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I learned a lot from Usrah 1. It was enjoyable and completely stress-free. The atmosphere allowed everyone to freely express their thoughts. I could see various perspectives on the topics discussed, broadening my understanding. Even though most of the subjects were familiar from my school days, I was surprised to discover new areas that I hadn't known about before. Therefore, I gained deeper knowledge about Islam and enhanced my understanding of my religion. Not only that, but I also learned about important issues in my environment when Sr. Ainin shared insights on environmental sustainability.

My goals for the future are to keep gaining knowledge and experience. I am eager to deepen my understanding of Islam and work on improving myself to become a better Muslim. Moreover, I aim to improve my communication skills and engage more with people, as I tend to be alone and want to change that. I want to help those around me to the best of my ability.

For improvement, I would suggest developing more activities that involve movement rather than just sitting. This would help students stay more active and engaged in class. It makes learning more enjoyable and productive.

To wonderful Sr. Ainin, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the abundance of knowledge you’ve shared during the sessions. I truly appreciate your ongoing understanding and non-judgmental approach. To add on, I’m grateful for your help with changing my phone number and email in i-Maalum. I really appreciate it! Wishing you all the best in your life!!

Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal. Signing off from Usrah 1.

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Still in session 6. Group 5 presented their topic on "Why our iman is always been tested?"

When we talk about iman, we recognize that it fluctuates, sometimes rising and sometimes falling. This is why it is crucial to constantly manage our nafs and resist desires that can lead us astray. Although resisting worldly temptations can be challenging, it's important to remember that this world is temporary. Our ultimate destination is Jannah.

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In the last session, I learned about environmental sustainability. It can refer to practices that ensure the health of the environment for future generations.

"This is not global warming, this is global boiling"

Global warming is a serious concern in Malaysia, exemplified by recent cases in George Town, Pulau Pinang. In May 2024, the El Nino weather phenomenon led to a distressing incident where dozens of small fish were found dead. This is due to changes in water temperature and oxygen levels. When seawater is too warm, the fish suffer from hypoxia, which means that the fish gets insufficient and low oxygen.

In this case, what sustainable practices or initiatives can be implemented?

1. Educate and engage the public on the impacts of climate change.

2. Implement systems to track water temperature and marine health for early detection of environmental changes.

Next, group 4 presented their topic on "Fasting in Islam". Fasting indeed holds many hikmah. Even there is a special door in heaven for those who are fast, called Ar-Rayyan.

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This subject has taught me about the virtues found in different acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, paying zakat, and performing hajj. Some of them I already knew, but there were also things I did not know before. It made me realize how vast the knowledge of Allah is. It reminded me not to look down on “simple” subjects like Usrah 2. I also became more aware of the importance of learning deeply about the virtues in our worship. When we understand the meaning behind them, we feel more motivated to perform the acts of worship and know the purpose of what we are doing instead of just doing them merely as physical rituals. Truly, we are weak servants with no power, while Allah is the Almighty. That is why we must strive to perform our worship in the best way possible. Every act of worship has its wisdom, not just commands from Allah. They shape us to become useful, humble, compassionate, and be the best version of ourselves on this earth.

As for my goals this time, I want to improve my ibadah. I used to think my ibadah was already good enough, but now I realize there are still gaps to work on. My lifelong goal remains the same which to be a person who is beneficial to others.

For this class, one thing I liked honestly was when it ended early haha because it gave me extra time to work on other assignments from other subjects. I also appreciate how Sr. Syahmina was always answering questions from me and my classmates. The lessons were fun because we got to learn new knowledge and share opinions. We even play games like quizzes and crossword puzzles, which kept the class from being boring especially since it was held at night! One thing I still wish could be improved is to have more activities that involve movement, not just sitting all the time. Personally, I enjoy learning that way because it keeps me active and productive. Who agrees with me?

Finally, to our wonderful Sr. Syahmina, I want to sincerely thank you for teaching me and giving me valuable insights about ibadah. Thank you also for understanding the situations of us university students with all our different attitudes and making this subject easy and manageable for me. I truly hope you continue to grow and succeed in guiding more students like me, and may you achieve everything you dream of!

Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal. Signing off from Usrah 2.

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Special thanks to Sr. Syahmina, who’s always kind, sweet and also never forgets to spoil us with food hehe! She really made the class feel warm and welcoming.

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For my group presentation, we were given the topic "Preparation for Salah with Khusu."

At first, I thought it was an easy topic, but as I started working on it, I realized there were important aspects that needed to be covered. We really wanted to emphasize the importance of preparing ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually before we stand in prayer.

I felt this topic was very meaningful because prayer is a time when we face Allah directly. So, we should be in our best condition, which is to be clean, fresh, and comfortable. Little things like making sure our clothes are neat and our minds are calm can help us feel more khushu' during prayer. Allah will reward us not only for the prayer itself, but also for the effort we put into preparing for it.

It made me realize that when we prepare well, our worship feels more sincere, and we can connect with Allah better. For me, this presentation felt very close to my heart because it reminded me that prayer is not just an obligation, but a precious moment to meet Allah in the best version of ourselves. Where we will express all our feelings and problems to God and ask for His help and mercy in our lives as servants who often make mistakes and are weak.

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The first group’s presentation was on “Reasons and Sources of Wisdom from Worship”.

I found it really meaningful. What I learned is that every act of worship has its own hikmah behind it. Every obligation Allah gives us is not without reason, it’s for our own good. We are servants of Allah, so it’s our duty to listen and follow His commands.

When it comes to prayer, it’s not just a routine, but a shield that helps prevent us from falling into evil and harm. The recitations in prayer are verses from the Quran, and each verse carries guidance that connects deeply with our lives. On the other hand, fasting teaches us to feel the struggles of those less fortunate while also reminding us to be grateful for what we have. The restrictions during fasting train us to be patient and in control of ourselves. Then there’s zakat, which not only purifies our wealth but also cleanses our hearts, since it’s a form of charity and care for others.

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In the second session, my group made a presentation. At the end of the presentation, we prepared a game for our classmates, which was a crossword puzzle! If you are smart and clever, let's play! It was difficult haha, because we only received two winners among our classmates. Give it a try!

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purification alternative allowed in water scarcity; general concept of cleanliness in Islam; the meaning of khusu’; a concession allowing fewer rakaat in Dhuhr, Asr and Isha during travel; the direction muslims must face when salah; the stage of life…

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The third presentation was "Virtues found in Salah with Khusyu".

Among those virtues is al-ta’ah (obedience), where through prayer, we show complete submission to Allah by following His commands sincerely. Then there is al-jihad, which in this context is the struggle against our own desires and distractions. This value encourages us to stay focused and consistent in prayer. Next, prayer also teaches us muhasabah (self-reflection). This is because when we stand before Allah, this is the best time to evaluate ourselves and ask for forgiveness from our God. We are human beings who do not run away from making mistakes. Another virtue is iffah (self-restraint). This is due to prayer keeping us away from evil and wrongdoing. Finally, prayer cultivates tawaddu (trust in Allah). This value reminds us that no matter who we are, we are always servants who need Allah’s mercy.

Realizing these benefits made me appreciate how praying with khushu is not just an obligation, but a complete way to discipline our mind and soul.

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The fourth presentation was about the virtues of Sawm (fasting). It really reminded me of how meaningful Ramadan is beyond just enduring hunger and thirst.

There are three main virtues which are sabr (patience), takrim (respect), and rahmah (mercy). The value of sabr teaches us to control ourselves, not only from eating and drinking, but also from bad deeds. For example, fasting will make us feel ashamed of doing things that anger Allah, such as going to nightclubs or freely associating with non-mahrams. It also trains us to refrain from overeating. We often eat more than what our bodies actually need. The second virtue is takrim. Allah raises the status of His servants who fast sincerely, showing how much He values ​​this act of worship. Finally, there is rahmah. Why is there a value of mercy in fasting? We can see this in how Allah has mercy on women who are menstruating or have just given birth. They are exempted from fasting because these special people would find it difficult to fast with their condition. That is a beautiful sign of Allah mercy in the month of Ramadan.

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The fifth presentation was about the virtues found in zakah. I learned some new knowledge that I didn’t know before.

One important point is that once a man or woman has reached puberty, they are responsible for paying their own zakah. That means paying zakah is no longer under their parents’ responsibility. If a father wants to pay zakah on behalf of his child, he must get their permission first. I also learned about the importance of tawakkal (trust in Allah). We are always reminded to make du’a and put in effort, but often we forget to place our trust in Allah after we have done our best. Tawakkal is very important for Muslims, but it doesn’t mean we should just rely on Allah without any effort. It should always be du’a, effort, and tawakkal together. For example, when someone gives charity, they must have tawakkal, and the person receiving it should also have tawakkal. Why? The giver trusts Allah will bless and reward them, while the receiver trusts Allah will provide and ease their hardship.

At the end of their presentation, I asked a question about the difference between zakah and sadaqah. Sr. Syahmina explained that sadaqah is sunnah while zakah is wajib. Sadaqah has no specific conditions and can be given to anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, but zakah is bound by conditions and can only be given to eligible Muslims.

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Our last class started with the sixth presentation on “Virtues Found in Hajj” which highlighted two main virtues which are tadhiyyah (sacrifice) and taqwa (piety).

Tadhiyyah means giving up something valuable purely for the sake of Allah. As shown in the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who was commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail. Can you imagine that? No father wants to sacrifice his own child, but this is a test for Prophet Ibrahim. We can see his deep obedience and love for Allah, as he was willing to sacrifice his son. In return, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram. On the other hand, taqwa is the consciousness of Allah and the willingness to follow His commands. For example, during Hajj, there are prohibitions like not fasting on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of Dhulhijjah, reminding us that true piety is about following Allah’s guidance wholeheartedly.

I also learned some interesting facts. In Arab countries, camels are usually sacrificed by the wealthy while goats are more common there. In Malaysia here, people usually sacrifice cows and goats. Another point that stuck with me was that when animals are slaughtered for food, we cannot pity them to the point that we refuse to eat them. Sacrifice is ultimately about obedience and accepting Allah’s decree.

We ended the session with a little feast. Shofwa, Batrisyia and I brought churros to share with our classmates! It was such a sweet way to wrap up our Usrah 2 journey together.