i would like to share with you a few incredible things about me in a nutshell.

name: nusaibah binti mohd shafien

age: 18 years old

matric number: 247651

mahallah: khalid al-walid

programme: islamic revealed knowledge and heritage (IRK)

birthdate: november 22, 2006

hometown: kuantan, pahang

secondary school: sekolah menengah agama al ihsan, kuantan

group facilitator: sr. syafiqah izzati

usrah group number: 60

everyone,

you may call me saiba or saibah.

hobbies and interest:

i adore arts, food, pinterest, abayas, middle east and good books! and i love badminton, watching movies and tv series, baking, cooking, journaling and definitely spending time with my loved ones. still working on my cooking skills though.

goals & wishes:

i wish for personal growth, happiness, or fulfillment, success in something i am pursuing, peace of mind, and the courage to chase my dreams.

contact me:

email: saibams00@gmail.com

instagram account: @saiba.ms

lastly, i would like to say,

free palestine.

week 1 topics:

1. the manners in seeking knowledge.

2. the etiquettes with the Divine The Quran.

   
   

our facilitator, sr. syafiqah had explained thoroughly how manners in seeking knowledge are essential as it is the key to success in life and The Hereafter. the most crucial of all is purify your intention for the sake of Allah SWT. we must reflect our daily intentions to strive for Alllah's pleasure.

furthermore, we must respect the teachers, scholars, parents or whoever we may get the knowledges from.

moreover, we have to set a humble heart as we are all a beginner in this journey. let's stop being a show off to anyone who is left behind in classes and enlighten them instead.

plus, one of our members also reminded that manners with the 'ilm/ knowledge itself must not be forgotten. we should treat them with high regards and never neglect our books on the floor.

for our second topic, i learnt that we should cover parts of our aurah such as our exposed body and our hair. yes, it is not compulsory, but as a muslim, it is more proper & encourage stronger spiritual connection along with maintaining cleanliness and performing ablution.

the placement of The Quran should not be on the floor or down our hip levels. taking care of it with high regards is one of our responsibility too.

besides, many of us shared their opinions on how to take care of our Quran memorization (hafazan), their favorite surah and how they practice it in their daily lives, suggestions on how to enhance our understanding in several subjects.

usrah improvement:

1. share more great stories of the prophets, the messengers, the companions or any ancient muslim scholars.

2. tadabbur al-Quran/hadith session and relate the lessons to our daily lives.

3. include more tremendous activities to uphold a fun environment.

   
   

• Islam (the five pillars of Islam)

• Iman (the six pillars of Iman)

• Ihsan (Muraqabah & Musyahadah)

• the Hour (the day of judgement)

the hadith also underscores the ethics of seeking knowledge, including:

1. wear clean & proper garments, making sure our aurah are perfectly covered.

2. fix & strengthen our relationship with The 'Aalim, Allah The Almighty with ibadah.

3. hold on tight to every relationship. secure it well and be kind to others. family, friends, teachers, neighbors, strangers, etc. everyone deserves kindness.

4. refrain ourselves from indulging in sins in order to purify our heart. be humble (tawadhu').

5. avoid shyness in seeking knowledge. be curious and ask multiple questions to enhance our understanding. prophet Muhammad SAW praised the women of Ansar with their persistence in seeking knowledge.

6. no arrogance, egotism & conceitedness.

two most deadly skills/knowledge in the world:

• religious knowledge (mistakes in religious statement/ Syar'ie law might lead to ummah's destruction).

• magic (can lead to shirk & death)

besides, i learnt how we should never be prejudice & belittle others. hasty judgements reflect our negative sides that causes sins.

usrah improvement: include more tremendous activities to uphold a fun environment.

for this week's topics, we had discussed meticulously regarding beliefs in Allah, the Angels and the Divine Scriptures.

1. belief in Allah The Almighty

belief in Allah is the foundation for which a Muslim’s faith is built upon. it is to believe that Allah is the only Creator, Sustainer, King, and Planner of everything in existence. additionally, as a Muslim, we must hold steadfast to the 3 Tawhid:

• tawhid al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Divine Lordship)

• tawhid al-Uluhiyyah/ 'Ibadah (Oneness of Divinity)

• tawhid al-Asma wa Sifat (Oneness of the Divine Names and Attributes)

2. belief in the Angels

it is taught that the Angels were created from light, they carry out Allah's commandment in nature and the universe. they are obedient to Allah and do not disobey His commands.

- the Angels come in shifts during the times of Fajr and Asr.

- they perform Hajj just as humans do, but they circumambulate Baitul Makmur in the seventh heaven.

3. belief in the Divine Scriptures

the Divine Scriptures are all the books that were revealed to the messengers. the scriptures revealed throughout the history of mankind as a guidance of life.

the scriptures that are mentioned in the Quran:

• Prophet Musa a.s (Taurat)

• Prophet Daud a.s. (Zabur)

• Prophet Isa a.s (Injil)

• Prophet Muhammad (al-Quran)

the revelation of al-Quran is Prophet Muhammad's greatest miracle (mu'jizah) and miracle for all times. plus, Allah The Almighty preserve the al-Quran from corruption and destruction.

usrah improvement: include more tremendous activities to uphold a fun environment.

4. belief in the Messengers

prophets and messengers were sent by Allah The Almighty to every nation throughout the history of mankind to reveal the message of Islam. they were commanded to:

- call the people to worship only Allah SWT, without associating any partners with Him.

- warn those who disbelieved about the punishment of Hell, - give glad tidings to those who believed about the reward of Paradise.

the final revelation and the most comprehensive message came through our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW.

5. belief in the Day of Judgement

the Day of Judgment is the day when Allah judges mankind for their deeds. every human being will be resurrected from their graves and will be given their book of deeds, both good and bad.

whomever does not believe in the Last Day, they considered as Kafr. believing in the Day of Judgement can enhance our love and faith in Allah SWT and feel immense joy when we encounter Him, which also evokes a sense of fear within us.

6. belief in Divine Decree (Qadha & Qadar)

qadar refers to the decree or determination set by Allah SWT in the Lawh Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) whilst qadha is refers to the execution or fulfillment of Allah's decrees and commands. it is the actual manifestation of what has been predetermined by qadar.

the four main components of Qadha & Qadar:

• knowledge (Ilm): Allah's complete and eternal knowledge of everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen.

• writing (Kitabah): the recording of all things in the Lawh Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet), where Allah has decreed what will occur.

• will (Iradah): Allah’s will, which determines what will happen in accordance with His knowledge and decrees.

• creation (Khalq): the actual creation and occurrence of events, where Allah brings His decrees into reality.

believing in Qadha & Qadar offers several benefits:

1) peace of mind: as we began to accept that everything is predetermined, it lessen our worries and have 100% faith in Allah SWT.

2) remove immoral values and negative thoughts

3) greater appreciation for life

alhamdulillah, that's everything for today. i am truly grateful for the opportunity to attend the usrah, even though we encountered numerous challenges & obstacles along the way. may Allah ease everything.

usrah improvement: incude many tremendous activities to uphold a fun environment.

for this week's discussion, we delved deeper into the meaning of Ihsan and discovered a new word -- eschatology. eschatology is a study focusing on concepts related to death, judgment, the afterlife, and the final destiny of humanity.

the characteristics of a person with ihsan:

1) extend kindness to others

2) putting all efforts to engage in acts of generosity and provide assistance to others

3) do everything for the sake of Allah The Almighty

and sr. syafiqah has made all efforts to provide us great stories of the messengers, including Prophet Musa a.s, Prophet Yusuf a.s, Prophet Nuh a.s and more! it is to relate the messengers with their characteristics of Ihsan.

usrah improvement: include more tremendous activities to uphold a fun environment.

usrah 2 group: 46

group facilitator: sr. arifah

week 1 topics:

1. niyyah (intention): the reason and intent behind a Muslim's action. it is the intention in one's heart to do an act for the sake of Allah.

2. 'amal (practices): acts, works, deeds, actual practice

3. ihsan (excellence): the act of doing good or performing one's duties or any lawful/productive task in the best possible way, with excellence and perfection.

we had a thorough discussion regarding intention (niyyah) is what lead to practices ('amal) & we have to do it with ihsan. there are 2 types of intention, which is good intention & bad intention. thus, it is vital to renew your intention at every move we make. and its purpose only to please Allah The Almighty.

however, we mustn't leave it only at the intention, but applying the right practices as the next step, slowly but surely. a little changes eventually add up to huge results.

lastly, ihsan. do the practices with excellence & perfection. we can also help others whom are struggling too. at the end of the day, it is to obtain Allah's pleasure.

alhamdulillah, that's all for today. ta'aruf session was terrific! it is truly a pleasure to meet new people including our great naqibah.

for today's discussion, we delved deeper into the concept of reasons and sources of hikmah from ibadah.

ibadah is bifurcated into 'ibadah umum (general worship) & 'ibadah khusus (specific worship).

specific worship are performed with a specific intention to fulfill the religious obligations that bring a person closer to Allah. indeed, we are created only to worship Him The Almighty as said in Surah al-zariyat verse 56.

1. salah (prayer): have a deep concentration & humility (khusyu') during prayers to lead to a deeper connection with Allah. perform prayer with a sense of fear of Him & set a genuine heart.

2. saum (fasting): fasting develops taqwa, discipline for our health & empathy of others. it also ensures us of recognizing Allah's constant observation of us.

3. zakat (charity): as written in surah at-taubah verse 103, charity meant to purify us & our wealth, cultivate generosity, and reducing greed.

4. hajj (pilgrimage): disciplines believers to follow Allah's commandments & abstain from prohibited acts. ethics of hajj avoid us from indecent actions.

besides, we have all shared multiple of hikmah experiences with each members to foster a positive outcome as we all are still learning to improve.

in conclusion, by understanding & performing ibadah sincerely, we can gain Allah's pleasure and spiritual purification.

it is also crucial for all of us to always be down to earth and look for the silver lining & hikmah in a situation.

alhamdulillah! that concludes today's session. may Allah accept our ibadah & ease our affairs, amin.

topic of the week: preparing salah with khusyu'

" أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ صَلاَتُهُ "

"The first thing for which a person will be brought to account will be his Salah." (Sunan An-Nasa'ie)

in the perspective of the scholars, Imam al- Syaukani said; khusyu' is the act of heart such the feeling of afraid & fearful. where one remain calm, does not move too much & think of anything unbeneficial during prayer. besides, khusyu' is also defined as calm, tawadhu' (humility), fear and humble.

2 things that hinder khusyu':

• syuhbah

• syahwat

why khusyu' matters in prayers?

- it demonstrates complete submission & devotion to Allah The Almighty.

- makes prayers more meaningful & spiritually fulfilling.

how do we maintain khusyu'?

- focus on very movement & recitation

- understand the meaning of recitations

- visualize standing before Allah

- avoid distractions

khusyu' has a big impact on one's life. it increases mindfulness & discipline, promotes inner peace, reduce stress, and strengthens connections with Allah.

to conclude, khusyu' enhances the quality of both prayers & life. we should make consistent efforts to improve the quality of our prayers and reflect on a recent ones: "did i achieve khusyu'?"

our session today built upon the prior topic with further elaboration of "the virtue form in salah with khusyu'."

as everyone is aware, khusyu' is essential for our spiritual success, as said in Surah al-mukminun verse 1-2.

thus, to attain khusyu' in prayer, we mustn't perform the prayer hurriedly or hastily. understanding the meaning of the verses recited is utterly vital since it is one way for us to engage in prayers without thinking of anything else. not to mention, remembering death as if it is our last prayer can be helpful too.

do you think prayer without khusyu' is valid? well, it actually is, however, it decreases the rewards of the prayer performed.

the virtue form in salah with khusyu':

1. taat (loyalty/submission)

2. jihad (struggle in the path of Allah)

3. muhasabah (reflection)

4. tawadhu' (humility/ humbleness)

5. 'iffah (modesty)

all in all, khusyu' builds & develops one's character and personality, as it leads to acceptance, patience, generosity, and tolerance. may Allah ease our affairs and make us one of the people of khusyu'

literal meaning: to abstain or restrain oneself.

actual meaning: to refrain from desires such as eating, drinking, and engaging in activities that invalidate the fast, from dawn to sunset, accompanied by niyyah (intention).

the wisdom of fasting:

fasting instills self discipline by teaching us to control our desires (refraining from food and drink) and avoid sinful behaviors (gossiping, cursing, and other harmful actions).

Rasulullah SAW said:

من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه‏"‏"

(‏رواه البخاري‏)

" if one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink." [Al-Bukhari].

3 types of fasting:

1. patience in obeying Allah (taat)

2. patience in avoiding Allah's prohibitions

3. patience in enduring pain and appreciating joy

hence, it can be concluded that fasting instills the concept of mahabbah (love) sakinah (tranquility), rahmah (mercy), empathy, obedience & unity within the community of Islam.

today we briefly discussed about zakat/sadaqah.

in Surah al-Baqarah verse 277, Allah said:

"Indeed, those who believe, do good, establish prayer, and pay alms-tax will receive their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve."

what is zakat?

literal meaning: growth, increase, cleanliness, betterment.

actual meaning: a determined share of wealth prescribed by God to be distributed among deserving categories.

what are the difference between zakat and sadaqah?

1. zakat is a compulsory act of ibadah (wajib), whilst sadaqah is an encouraged/recommended act (sunnah).

2. zakat is a formal and ritualistic act mandated by Islamic rulings, whereas sadaqah is neither a formal obligation nor a ritual act.

3. zakat is divided by two categories, zakat al-fitr and zakat on wealth. sadaqah is a broad concept and does not have specific rules.

the signifance of zakat is also mentioned in surah at-Taubah verse 103: "Take from their wealth ˹O Prophet˺ charity to purify and bless them, and pray for them—surely your prayer is a source of comfort for them. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing."

hikmah of zakat:

1. tawakkul: reliance on Allah, trains the ummah not to be dependent on wealth and avoid overspending. zakat ensures the belief that Allah will reward and compensate abundantly.

2. ukhwah: fosters love, empathy, unison among Muslims, purifies society from envy & hatred. zakat is a bridge that strengthens our relationships with both Allah and fellow humans.

to conclude, zakat is not something trivial, nor is it merely a financial obligation. rather, it is an act of worship that nourishes our spiritual needs. it reinforces reliance on Allah and strengthens the bonds of brotherhood (ukhwah) among Muslims.

that's all from now. we also had our "heart to heart" session which was incredibly exciting! see you soon.