The Hadith of the seven who are in Allah Almighty's shade on the Day of Judgment gives us guidance as to important milestones and markers for our spiritual development. These are goals that should be sought in one’s development.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

Being absolutely pleased with the way that Allah has created us as individuals is something that I need to work and maybe that's what you, person who is using your smartphone or sitting infront of a PC or laptop needs to work on too.

We can say "Yeah, I'm happy with the way I am" to make it seem like we're a little grateful but it needs to be said with firm conviction. Everytime you look into your mirror, tell yourself that you're absolutely pleased, without a shadow of a doubt with the way that you were created. Say it to yourself every time you look in to your mirror! 

Recently I’ve had quite a few friends talking to me about marriage and how they feel sadness that while so many people that they know, are getting married, their situation regarding marriage is never changing. They want that companion that Allah swt has placed in us, to want (and it’s not being desperate or the new ‘in’ word “thirsty” – personally I think that, thinking this is both childish and naive). These friends are by no doubt conscious, of the ever present requirements of culture to get married before they get too old. Now, I don’t look down on both of these things because I can empathise, they are both, particularly the latter, sad realities of the society that we live in.

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Peaceful <3

There was a new term that I came across a week or two ago. I don't know if i've heard of the meaning of this term before but even if i had known, i had forgotten about it anyway. So i was reminded and educated about it and the term is 'Rida'.

Rida is like a level of faith, a stage in life and an understanding of how and why things happen. It's when you're totally pleased and content with absolutely everything that is put before you because you accept that absolutely everything in your life is from Allah.

You are content and pleased with everything that comes your way; whether it's something you love, something you wish would happen again, something you aren't so sure about, something you'd run a mile away from or something that you wish never ever comes back!

Pick a day when you’ll try to be grateful to Allah.

Allah deserves our thanks all the time, and we shouldn’t limit our thanks in any way… but set aside one day when you’re more grateful than normal. A day when you wake up and go to sleep, and your whole goal is to be grateful to Allah, to thank Him, subhanahu wa ta’ala, as much as you possibly can.

When you rise from sleep, thank Allah with all your heart for the new day, the chance to start over. The chance to grow and get closer to Him. Thank Him for the air you’re taking in with your lungs, and for each breath He’s given you – without having to do anything on your part – since the day you were born.

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (R) who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Our Lord descends each night to the Earth's sky when there remains the final third of the night and He says: 'Who is saying a prayer to Me that i may answer it? Who is asking something of Me that i may give it him? Who is asking forgiveness of Me that i may forgive him?'. - Bukhari.

Let's hook up with Allah, and Allah will hook us up! Let's hook up with prayer and supplication. Let's hook up with the Qur'an. Let's hook up with our community work and all the possible good deeds that we can do. Let's have that certainty that when we struggle to please Allah Almighty, He, Ash-Shakoor, is the Most Appreciative of our work and will undoubtedly reward us accordingly. 

 

 

Looking for God

By: Yasmin Mogahed

 

I’ve been looking for God my whole life. I just didn’t know it. When we study those things that we all seek—in life, in a companion, in everything—we’ll find that both the believer and the atheist are actually just seeking God. See, God is the designer. Whether you’re an atheist or a believer, God is the designer of your needs, youraffinities, your inclinations. And He has designed these inner drives to fit the natural order: tawheed (to seek, recognize and submit to one single higher power).

Think for a moment about what you and I seek. What do you look for in a companion, for example? What are we running after and willing to give anything just to hear?

“I’m taking care of you.”