The Triangle of Inner Peace

In the first three articles in this series about finding inner peace, I wrote about dealing with the external forces.

First, I wrote about how we can improve our life just by changing how we view it, our attitude towards it, and all that comes our way.

I wrote about how we can and should connect and be kind to the people around us.

And most importantly, I wrote about how we can and must connect with Allah through worship and remembrance.

Dealing with how we view life, how we deal with others, and how we approach Allah are all external factors of vital importance in traveling down the path to inner peace.

But there are more components that if we leave them out of our lives, we will travel the path to inner peace and never reach our destination.

These components are matters of the heart.

It only stands to reason that we not only deal with our outer lives but deal with our inner selves to reach inner peace.

Inner Peace cannot Be Found in a Car

A couple of weeks ago the engine light in my car flashed, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand at attention.

I drove around for a while repeating the Basmalah (“Bismillah”, The supplication that is recommended when your ride is failing), hoping it would hold together until I had the time and money to get it fixed.

Finally, I was able to take the time and suffer the expense. As I drove another town over to the auto-shop, I played a lecture by Omar Suleiman about happiness.

Sheikh Omar’s lecture was about the four components of happiness that the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke about. Sheikh Omar related the hadith:

“Part of happiness include a pious wife, a spacious dwelling, a righteous neighbor and a good mount or ride.” (Al-Albani, 116)

The translation of the last component was confirmed with a scholar of Arabic. And a “sweet ride” was ruled an appropriate translation. And here I was matching my level of happiness up against these four components.

Righteous spouse? Check!

Spacious House? Check!

Good neighbor? Check!

A sweet Ride? Not at the moment…

Then Sheikh Omar went on to remind the audience that it was the best of mankind, the most content of the believers that had only one of these four things that lead to happiness.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a constricted home. It is said that he lived in a space no larger than nine feet by four feet.

He never owned a reliable mount or form of transportation (what a sweet ride would have been back in the day of the Prophet). And we all know that his neighbors in Makkah were pretty terrible to him.

The one thing the Prophet did have was a righteous spouse. Masha’Allah.

Yet, even though in many aspects he was restricted and constrained, he still had inner peace. So we can see from the example of the Prophet’s life that having the four things listed in the hadith are not required to experience happiness or its byproduct- inner peace.

And we can also see from the lives of the rich and miserable that having these four things mentioned in the hadith doesn’t guarantee happiness or inner peace. It may simply be that these four things can be a cause for worldly joy of man.

The Prophet and any person who truly experiences inner peace have three things in common. They are all content with what they have (rida). They trust in the Lord (tawakul). And they love Allah.

All these commonalities originate in the heart. No one can give you resignation (rida). You can’t buy Trust in Allah (tawakul). And the love of Allah cannot be found in any inheritance, no matter how large.

Each of us must train our hearts toward rida, tawakul, and love of Allah if we wish to attain inner peace.

Having Rida, the Ultimate Satisfaction

Being content with our sustenance, what Allah has provided us with, in a consumer-driven society is a pretty big challenge.

We are constantly being shown images of people who have more than us, people who look so happy just because they bought that model car, fulfilled because they took that trip, or popular because they have that brand of clothing.

Social media propagates this standard of happiness that is consumerism. But if we dig just below the surface, we will find that this is just an illusion. The Prophet reminds us that:

“Whoever wakes up safely in his home and is healthy in his body and has provisions for his day, would have acquired all the worldly possessions he is in need of.” (At-Tirmidhi)

If we have enough for today, if we are safe and healthy, it is enough for us as human beings. And no manner of comparing to those who have more, striving for more, or actually having everything will give us any more happiness that the basis requirements will. If we are not content with what we have, we will never be at peace because starting on the path to peace means deciding to be content.

Being content is an internal process. It is a taming of the heart, a coaxing it to be fulfilled.

Having Tawakul, It’s the Ultimate Trust

Everyone has seen the lame exercise at work retreats or in Youtube videos where one person falls backward and trusts the person behind them enough not to let them fall on the ground. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes it fails so spectacularly that it is funny.

All the people who fall backward understand the concept of trust. In our daily lives we trust the people around us in the same way. We trust the doctor to prescribe the correct medicine. We trust the bank teller to deposit our wealth in our account. But still we worry. We know that human beings make mistakes.

This is where tawakul (reliance on God) comes in. It is our responsibility to do what we are tasked with in this life. To go to the doctor when sick, to go to the bank when need arises. But also know trust that our affairs are in the hands of Allah, to have tawakul.

As Jinan Bastaki writes: “God is Al-Wakeel; this means that it is He who controls His worshipers’ affairs and takes care of them. He never abandons them nor leaves them to another source.

He has given Himself this name and made it known to us, so that we know this is an essential attribute of His; thus, we will never be let down. Even if things do not go according to plan, we know that God will give us something that is better. We could not have entrusted our affairs to anyone better than Him.”

Trusting in Allah is an internal process. It is a training of the heart toward true reliance and letting go of worry.

Loving Allah, It’s the Ultimate Love

In life we find ourselves loving those who take care of us, who are close to us, and those who are good to us.

Once we realize there is no one who will care better for us than our Lord, no one who is closer to us than Allah, can we realize how much we should love Allah?

But more than that, once we understand that Allah is the owner of love, that: {[..] (Allah) is the All-Forgiving, the All-Loving.} (85:14), and the owner of our hearts can we understand how we can love for Allah’s sake and love Allah more than any other object of our love.

Loving Allah is an internal process. It is teaching the heart where love comes from and where it should be directed first.  

Rida, Tawakul, and Love for Allah are all matters of the heart, they are all avenues to inner peace.

Next, in our search for inner peace, we will discover how to implement these virtues into our lives and look at exemplary people who have reached ultimate rida, tawakul, and love for Allah.

Read Part 5

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3

(From Discovering Islam archive)

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Taqwa – Living the Main Purpose of Ramadan

Taqwa is a major purpose for the month of Ramadan. The people of taqwa are those who do the things that they are commanded and avoid the things which Allah has made prohibitive.

And evidently, to reach a state of taqwa requires vigilance, it requires patience and sincerity.

The verse is pertaining to fasting I found in a single set of verses in chapter 2 starting at verse 183:

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. (2:183)

A Collective Act of Worship

Allah is telling us that fasting has been made obligatory and then Allah tells us that just as it was prescribed for those before us.

We often get asked this question in Ramadan, “how’s the fast going for us?” And if we gave ourselves a moment to think about it, we see that Allah Most High has made the fast inside the month of Ramadan easy for us because we know that there is a collective spirit to fasting; we know that we’re not alone in this act.

That’s what this verse is telling us that we are part of a sacred collective act which includes those who came before us.

We’re told that this is the way of Abraham, Moses, Jesus… This is the way of all who went before.

Fasting is the ultimate unbroken chain of sacred chain of practice, and so the collective spirit of knowing that this is a collective obligation eases that obligation for us, even in relation to all the other sacred acts which Allah has prescribed for us such as the prayer, Hajj…

Every Act of Worship is a Gateway to Allah

Can you imagine if there was no concept of congregational prayer, something which we feel that we’re missing right now in Ramadan? The fact that we cannot go to the Masjid and pray taraweeh at home, it’s difficult.

So, we see that Allah Most High is facilitating things for us. Allah says:

If you come walking to Me, I should come running to you.

 He facilitates everything for us. It’s just up to us to pay attention. And that’s the key here: Attention.

People are in a state of heedlessness, whereas we need to be in a state of attentiveness and attentive to Allah’s blessings.

 Now, ultimately every act of worship is something which should be taking us a step closer to Allah. It’s not the physical act itself which is being sought from us. If that were the case, then just the mere fact of not eating or drinking would be enough.

Fasting is something more than just staying hungry, there are steps that we have to go through. Acts of worship stand as the gateways to getting closer to Allah; to arrive at these lofty stations, take the prayer for instance:

Prayer keeps away from abominations.

The physical act of prayer is there as a gateway to get us to somewhere else.

Reaching a Lofty Station

And that’s the case with fasting. We’re fasting so that we may arrive at this beautiful lofty station that Allah refers as taqwa. It escapes translation; it’s something that can be explained as a concept.

We can understand this verse in three steps:

– There are those who listen to the words of Allah. This first group of people is enough for them that Allah is calling them and telling them to fast, that’s it.

– The second group are those who perhaps need something a bit more and they are reminded that they are a pert of a collective act. It’s that little bit more.

– The third group of people who look for reasons.

Imam Ar-Razi tells us the meaning of the verse:

“Fasting has been prescribed for you so that you can be of the people of taqwa that Allah has praised in His book.”

Isn’t not interesting that the hopeful result by the end of Ramadan is to be God conscious? Since Ramadan is a time to be conscious of our food and our body, we’re telling our bodies that, “I’m in control of you, I’m not going to give in to you this month.”

This is the month when the heart is very much in charge. Ramadan is a time to engage the vertical plane; it’s a time that we seek nourishment for our souls from beyond the material world.

A Step Forward

Ramadan comes and goes. If we have not at the very least moved a step closer to taqwa, what was Ramadan for, as Imam Al-Ghazali says?

At night buffet, all types of food that we wouldn’t ordinarily even have throughout the year, and our tables are full of these delights in the month of Ramadan. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the blessings that Allah has given us, but if that’s all it becomes, then we missed the purpose of what Ramadan is.

Taqwa is mentioned in the Quran alongside some 15 different virtues. For instance, we’re told that one who has taqwa has guidance; we’re told that who has taqwa is protected by Allah. If we become conscious of Allah, He takes over our affairs. That’s the exact description of a wali.

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (Quran 10:62)

When people in the high state of God consciousness, they only see beauty of things. We’re told that those who have taqwa, this is what engenders love of Allah; Allah will make a way out for them from any anxiety, from any trouble in ways that we can’t even imagine:

And whoever is conscious of Allah – He will make for him a way out. (65:2)

And He says in the same chapter that He has made for everything an appointed time, nothing goes beyond this stated time.

It’s so important for us to remind ourselves of that again and again because in this situation right now, where people are having to stay at home, Allah has made an appointed time for everything. Nothing will go beyond the moment that Allah written for that thing.

Remember the Purpose

Ramadan really bring us to this state of taqwa. When we’re fasting, we feel hungry, we’re consciously trying to make an effort to be in charge of ourselves so that by the end of the month, we have learnt how to be in charge of ourselves throughout the year.

So you see how the month is a microcosm in preparing us for the entire year; that taqwa in this month, even though it might be a consciousness of avoiding food and drink, it’s preparing us to be conscious of Allah throughout the year.

It’s amazing how Allah gives us this opportunity to draw closer to Him.

Imam Ar-Razi said that one of the rational proofs that he gives for fasting being obligatory is that anything which prevents one from sinning, it must be understood as an obligation, just like the prayer, it prevents us from sinning if it’s done properly.

If fasting and praying don’t prevent us from sin, then it can only mean that not being done properly. The same what Allah tells us in the Quran:

We have not sent down to you the Qur’an that you be distressed (20:2)

Allah says He sent the Quran to make us happy; if it’s making us unhappy, you’re not reading it right.

The same applies for the Seerah, it’s about meanings, at each and every instance in the seerah, we should pause and reflect:

What does it mean that the Prophet Muhammad lost his father before he even came to this world?

What does it mean that he lost his mother when he was six years old?

What does it mean when he lost his grandfather when he was a child, that he lost his uncle and wife in the same year…?

Read the Quran with reflection, read the Seerah with reflection, pause and take meaning.

(From Discovering Islam archive – Check the video here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN9ulRbHmHg

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source https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/taqwa-living-the-main-purpose-of-ramadan/

Making Intention to Fast

Every action requires a proper intention (niyyah), and fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is no exception. In this video, Shaykh Abdul Wahab Saleem talks about the significance of fasting intention, quoting a hadith of the Prophet (SAW) in this regard. He also suggests to us a way we can make up for such intention. Watch to find out!

📚 Read Also: Ramadan’s Night Prayers, Why Two Times?

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source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/how-to-make-intention-for-fasting/

Falling to Cold & Flu Viruses While Fasting

Your nose is stuffy or it is expectantly running, your head is heavy and aching and you know like the back of your hand that you are suffering from a common cold or perhaps that malevolent flu. Your Ramadan is in jeopardy.

I know you feel compunction about withdrawing your fasting for a few days since you are down with a serious cold that has terribly weakened your health particularly that of your  head- the engine of your body.

Your hankie is busy spreading out the viral attacks against your recuperating body, your lovely handshake and soothing hug for your family members may translate into a home full of flu sufferers.

📚 Read Also: First 10 Days of Ramadan: Simple Ways to Show Mercy

Colds and flu are like grass snakes, they aren’t harmful as such, but they have the potential to nail you down onto your bed for days or for some weeks depending on the strength of your immune system.

They aren’t lethargic like cancer, but they are perturbing and embarrassing especially when you are having a running nose coupled with an expectant cough.

Ramadan is particularly difficult time to suffer from many of the contagious upper respiratory infections. Your body might be at its weakest due to lack of routine eating and drinking.

And yes your doctor cannot do much about colds and flu that are so common with us that most people use homemade remedies to deal with its problematic symptoms.

The reasons why your doctor might not help is that antiviral medication helps manage flu but more often than not if fails to treat.

Patients rely on their body’s natural mechanism to fight small and harmless opportunistic infections like colds.

Cold and Flu

Flu or Cold?

Get the facts right: flu is caused by an influenza virus which is contagious; while scientists say there are many different viruses present in our neighborhood that causes colds. It is believed the number exceeds 200.

Viruses are spread and bred through globules that are coughed and sneezed out by an infected individual.

Once you are infected, coughing, sneezing, sore throats and headaches are your next door neighbors.

The Faster Way God Answers Dua – Ask Him in Distress

“The best way to ask Him is through expressing your distress, and the fastest way to acquire good traits is through expressing your humility and need.”

The level of worship, here, is to show distress; it is when you ask Allah to really feel that you are lost of every other means but His help.

He mentioned in the Quran:

Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember. (27:62)

In this verse that inspired this maxim, Allah Almighty is making it clear to the disbelievers that if they ask Him in distress, He will help them. And He is talking in the context of people in the sea on the ship and they feel they’re going to drown and they ask Allah in distress, and He helps them.

So He helps the disbelievers when they ask in distress, what about helping the believers?

This applies to the worldly help as well as help in matters of faith. If you ask Allah to help you to repent; or to help you to go forward with something good that you want to do in His way; if you ask Him to help you to fast, or to pray, or to help you to be good to your parents or relatives or to the poor or the needy…

Allah will help you if you ask really hard, if you feel distressed, if you feel that you have no means but Him to help you with that.

Ask With Humility

Then the sheikh explains other useful aspects of supplication (dua). He says: “The fastest way to acquire good traits is to expressing your humility and need.” So when you pray in distress, then He will give you the good traits that you’re asking for.

Some scholars commented on the verse: “Charity is for the poor,” by saying that:

If you are a generous person and you’re giving the poor when they ask you, what about Allah? He is the most generous and you are asking with a feeling of poverty; He will give you as much as you give a poor person when he asks you, and even much more, because He is the most generous.

The Dua of Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a whole series of dua that He taught us. In fact there is no history of any Prophet that is full of dua as much as Muhammad (peace be upon him).

He had a dua for going in and going out; he would make dua in the morning and the evening; when he sees the crescent, the stars, the sun, the moon, when he eats and drinks… He would supplicate to Allah and pray to Him for everything he did.

And his dua you can feel that he had emotions with it; it is not just a dua that is just to repeat, but he would have emotions.

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), when she told us about his night prayers, she said that he would cry until he wets his beard with his tears; and then he would sit after the prayers on his pillow and cry until he wets the pillow… And he would continue to do the dua.

So that’s a kind of dua that is in distress that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is teaching us.

May Allah teach us this quality of prayers. And therefore, this will open a lot of good when we have that quality of the dua for Allah.

A Journey to God (Folder)

The post The Faster Way God Answers Dua – Ask Him in Distress appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/the-best-way-god-answers-dua-ask-him-in-distress/

Hamilton School Welcomes Ramadan with Fun, Spirituality

Welcoming the sacred month, a Hamilton Islamic school is celebrating Ramadan with a variety of fun and spiritual activities for students, staff and parents.

“It’s a month (where) you try to do your best,” 13-year-old Sarah Mohammed, a Grade 8 student at the Islamic School of Hamilton, told The Spec.

📚 Read Also:  Ramadan 1444 Special Page: Spirituality, Tips, Fatwas and More

“It’s kind of a reset button because it’s our spiritual moth where we realize our mistakes and we try our best to fix them throughout the year again; I love it how when everybody comes together and celebrates it.”

Lina Fantas, a fourteen-year-old Grade 8 student, said Ramadan is a time to be grateful.

“In Ramadan you spend a lot of time with your friends and family,” she said. “During Ramadan you are trying your best to be the best version or yourself.”

Early Planning

Mariam Mohamad, a Grade 3 teacher at the school, said the school has started planning Ramadan activities in September.

Now, she is teaching eight and nine-year-old students what the holy month of Ramadan means.

“How it connects to them spiritually, so it’s not all about abstaining from food and drink,” Mohammad said.

“At a young age they are not actually fasting yet, some of them are doing what they call half-fasting, so they try to not eat until lunchtime.”

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint, and good deeds.

The post Hamilton School Welcomes Ramadan with Fun, Spirituality appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/n-america/hamilton-school-welcomes-ramadan-with-fun-spirituality/

Hope for the Best Without Doing Your Best?

What’s does it mean to hope for the best without doing the best? Shaykh Yahya Ibrahim takes us through the importance of commitment, and that whoever lacks it will never attain his goal. It’s just like wishing for Allah’s forgiveness without taking steps into achieving that forgiveness. It’s certainly a wishful thinking, delusion or self-deceiving tactic….etc

📚 Read Also: Cutting Bad Habits to Become a Better Young Muslim

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source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/hope-for-the-best-without-doing-your-best/

What Should You Eat For Suhoor?

Suhoor is an important meal Muslims eat before the time of fasting and we shouldn’t skip it. But what type of suhoor food are best for us to eat to keep us healthy and fit? Check this video for some amazing tips!

📚 Read Also: Suhoor…Are You Awake for the Blessings?

The post What Should You Eat For Suhoor? appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/what-should-you-eat-for-suhoor/

5 Languages of Love You Can Use This Ramadan

With the first week of Ramadan over, I can’t help but notice how much of our Ramadan is shaped by sharing our love of the month with other Muslims.

Family members are cooking extravagant meals for one another, we’re spending quality time with loved ones at 3 AM, and salams are exchanged on every corner!

There is no greater love than the love for the sake of Allah. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) explains to us that among those who will be shaded under the throne of Allah on the Day of Judgement are those who love each other for the sake of Allah. There are ways to keep the love alive beyond this blessed month, so let’s talk about them!

Dr. Gary Chapman revolutionized the idea of love and relationships with his book “The Five Love Languages.” (a highly recommended read).

The basis of the book is that individuals give and receive love very differently and to fortify any relationship, you have to understand how you and how the other receives love. Do you/the other feel most loved when you hear reassuring words? Or when someone helps you do something you hate?

The idea breaks down love so easily and if we can understand it, we can invest into all our relationships and feel more fulfilled/less lonely.

Today, I take on the task of highlighting each love language from the perspective of Islam.

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source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/special-coverage-shariah/ramadan-special-coverage-shariah/5-languages-love-can-use-ramadan/

3 Façons Pour Gérer La Mélancolie De l’Après Ramadan

A l’arrivée de Ramadan, on apporte maints grands changements à notre vie quotidienne.

En se détachant de la routine habituelle, on se consacre corps et âme à l’adoration de notre Créateur.

Au début, on trébuche en tentant de jeûner et d’accomplir les prières nocturnes. La transition s’avère parfois difficile. Puis, ce n’est pas si dur et on rompt avec les vieilles habitudes pour créer d’autres nouvelles et meilleures. De plus, on s’implique dans la collectivité et on prend le repas de l’ifttâr avec le cercle de nos biens-aimés. Il s’ensuit qu’on se sent de plus en plus léger et notre niveau de foi va crescendo.

Là, on se rappelle pourquoi il faut mieux comprendre le Coran. On comprend également comment la poursuite de la satisfaction divine, procure le bonheur.

On s’attache à tout ce que Ramadan apporte dans nos vies. Puis, il s’en va.

A ce moment, on ressent la mélancolie de l’après Ramadan. Mais Ramadan n’est pas une braderie annuelle, où l’on acquiert plus de bonnes actions pour moins d’efforts.  En fait, Ramadan est un bouton de réinitialisation qui peut te rendre une nouvelle personne.

Il faut avoir une stratégie pour maintenir l’esprit de Ramadan tout au long de l’année. De plus, il faut apprécier les bienfaits dans leurs moindres détails et pardonner les échecs. Ceci nous rendra moins triste lorsque la fête de l’Aïd aura fait ses valises pour nous quitter.

Gardez Les Bonnes Actions Surrérogatoires

Une partie de cette perte est ressentie à la fin du Ramadan, pour la reprise de nos vieilles habitudes. En fait, s’enliser dans la vie quotidienne tend à abaisser notre niveau de foi.

Pendant le Ramadan, on prie plus, jeûne beaucoup plus, lit plus le Coran, donne plus en charité, sourit plus, etc. Notre foi monte en flèche et c’est bien difficile de perdre ce sentiment.

Cependant, si toutes nos actions quotidiennes sont faites pour satisfaire Allah, cela pourrait augmenter notre foi. Se rendre à l’épicerie pour nourrir la famille dont Allah nous a confié le soin, est un acte d’adoration.

Aller au travail pour payer les factures familiales est le premier et le meilleur acte de charité et de culte. N’oublions pas qu’assumer nos responsabilités est mieux que les actes surrérogatoires qu’on accomplit.

Toutefois, n’abandonnons pas toute notre routine entretenue pendant le Ramadan. On peut, par contre, choisir certains actes d’adoration surrérogatoires à respecter tout au long de l’année, fût-ce un seul. Le Prophète Mohammad (Salla Allah Alaihi Wa Sallam) a dit :

« Les actes les plus aimés d’Allah sont ceux accomplis régulièrement, même s’ils sont minimes. » (Boukhârî et Mouslim)

Au début de ma conversion, j’apprenais la prière, le jeûne et la courte prière surérogatoire du Witr accomplie après l’Ichâ’. J’ai commencé à la pratiquer pendant le Ramadan et l’ai maintenue par la suite. Continuer à l’accomplir après le Ramadan a soulagé ma tristesse lorsque le mois sacré avait pris fin.

De même, on peut transformer certaines bonnes actions commencées pendant le Ramadan en habitudes. On a déjà commencé pendant le mois sacré, alors pourquoi s’arrêter maintenant ?

En gardant certaines pratiques du Ramadan, on peut perpétuer l’habitude, garder le moral ainsi que notre niveau de foi. Ce faisant, on peut même avoir l’impression de garder une partie du mois sacré en nous.

Soyez Particulièrement Reconnaissant

En luttant contre la mélancolie surtout celle de l’après Ramadan, la gratitude semble être une voie qui mène au contentement.

Récemment, j’ai assisté au séminaire intitulé «Comment l’Islam sauve de la dépression psychologique». Il a été organisé par 315-NISA et donné par SÅ“ur Haleh Banani, M.A. en psychologie clinique.

Pendant le séminaire, Banani incite à ne pas seulement être reconnaissant pour ce qu’on a, mais d’en être spécifiquement reconnaissant.

Banani assure que lorsque ses clients écrivent les détails spécifiques de leur vie dont ils sont reconnaissants, leur humeur s’améliore. Quand j’ai pensé au processus non seulement d’être reconnaissante, mais spécifiquement reconnaissante, j’ai pensé à ma vue. Pensant à cette faculté, j’ai réalisé qu’il était difficile de ne pas la prendre pour acquis. En fait, je ne pourrais jamais être vraiment reconnaissante sans savoir ce que c’était de ne pas avoir ce sens.

J’ai donc essayé l’approche «soyez spécifique» de Banani. D’abord, j’ai noté les sourires qui se dessinent sur les visages de mes proches. Ensuite, en regardant autour de moi, j’ai réalisé à quel point mon entourage est splendide et magnifique.

Le recours à cette pratique m’a permis de réaliser plus facilement tout ce que je manquerais sans ma vue. Par reconnaissance à Allah qui m’a permis de voir toute cette beauté, il m’est devenu difficile d’être triste. Pour combattre la mélancolie de l’après Ramadan, on peut mettre cette technique en pratique. Faites une liste de ce qui vous a rendu reconnaissants pendant le Ramadan. Une autre est à faire également de ce que vous a rendu reconnaissants vers sa fin. Ainsi, c’est presque impossible d’être mécontent ou triste.

Pardonnez L’échec

Se concentrer sur nos échecs ou nos lacunes pendant le Ramadan entraîne beaucoup de chagrin ressenti après ce mois béni. Au début du Ramadan, on a des grandes attentes de ce qu’on accomplira à l’arrivée de Ramadan. Mais, dans la réalité des faits, on risque d’échouer ou même de tomber dans le péché.

Le pire, c’est de s’adonner au désespoir. Il ne faut pas se culpabilitser pour un manquement ou même pour une mauvaise action.

Ainsi, se concentrer sur nos défauts et penser qu’ils sont impardonnables, est un stratagème du Diable. Etre humain, c’est commettre des erreurs. Il faut également se rappeler la grandeur de la miséricorde d’Allah et le meilleur acte d’adoration, qui est la repentance.

Le Prophète (Salla Allah Alaihi Wa Sallam) a dit :
« Je jure par Celui détient mon âme entre Ses mains! Si vous ne commettiez pas de péché, Allah vous remplacerait par d’autres qui pèchent et Lui demandent pardon. Et Il le leur octroiera. » (Mouslim)

Selon ce hadith, la perfection n’est pas notre objectif ultime. C’est plutôt de demander le pardon d’Allah le Pardonneur et d’avancer en faisant de notre mieux.

Ne laissons pas la mélancolie de l’après Ramadan nous empêcher d’accomplir ce qu’on faisait pendant le Ramadan. Qu’elle ne nous empêche pas surtout de demander pardon pour nos manquements. En fait, apprendre à être reconnaissant pour les détails peut conduire au contentement.

La vie quotidienne est remplie de bonnes actions. Nos pratiques de Ramadan sont des morceaux de Ramadan à emporter avec nous.

Le texte original en anglais est accessible via ce lien.

The post 3 Façons Pour Gérer La Mélancolie De l’Après Ramadan appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/fr/3-facons-pour-gerer-la-melancolie-de-lapres-ramadan/

The Value of Ramadan Fasting

The month of Ramadan is seen as a training period, which Allah (SWT) put us through in order to live a good life. In this video, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan takes us through the essence of Ramadan period, its impact on our our souls, personality, etc. Click to learn more!

📚 Read Also: Ramadan: Psychological Blessings of Taraweeh

The post The Value of Ramadan Fasting appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/the-value-of-ramadan-fasting/

Ramadan – (By Maher Zain)

As we’re now in the holy month of Ramadan, let’s remember to show love to our loved ones, and try to connect our spirits to the month of Ramadan, the month of love, mercy and kindness. Watch and enjoy this video as Maher Zain sings about his love for Ramadan in this beautiful nasheed. Ramadan Mubarak!

📚 Read Also: The Perfect Month – (Nasheed by Muad & Firas)

The post Ramadan – (By Maher Zain) appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/ramadan-nasheed-by-maher-zain/

NY Woman Gets Permit for Public Adhan for Mosques in Astoria

An American Muslim activist has successfully obtained an official permit to raise the sound of Adhan, or call to prayer, five times a day in Astoria, New York.

“Just an Astoria Muslim girl with three sound permits for outloud Athan/call-to-prayer for the mosques she grew up in! Alhamdulilah,” Rana Abdelhamid wrote on Twitter.

📚 Read Also:  The Dream That Sparked The Adhan

The Adhan is the call to announce that it is time for a particular obligatory Salah (ritual prayer).

Breakthrough

Abdelhamid shared a video on instagram showing the first adhan from her local mosque. This marks the first time in more than three decades that the Adhan can be heard loudly on the streets of the city.

“For those who don’t know, Muslims pray 5 times a day, in those prayers we have a beautiful call to prayer, a loud call to the Muslim majority, and our societies often become more nostalgic for it,” she wrote on Facebook.

“Many of our team members worked in coordination with local leaders, writing proposals to make this moment possible, and I couldn’t be happier, especially during the month of Ramadan.

“Here are our streets, which now reflect our most authentic space, and all minority people can create their own complete and authentic communities,” she concluded.

Rana is a 29-year-old Egyptian from Queens, New York. She is also the founder of Hijabis of New York and the Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE).

📚 Read Also:  Listen to First Adhan in Cologne Mosque

The post NY Woman Gets Permit for Public Adhan for Mosques in Astoria appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/n-america/ny-woman-gets-permit-for-public-adhan-for-mosques-in-astoria/

What Do Kids Think Of Ramadan?

A group of kids were asked about how they feel about Ramadan, why Muslims fast and what they enjoy most about Ramadan. Watch this video to hear their beautiful responses!

📚 Read Also: Ramadan Kids Activity Guide

The post What Do Kids Think Of Ramadan? appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/what-do-kids-think-of-ramadan/

Forgive & Seize the Days of Forgiveness

Ramadan is the month in which Allah SWT blesses His people with infinite bounty and showers His blessings more than at any other time throughout the year. During this month, all Muslims seek forgiveness and repentance.

Ramadan offers us an opportunity to seek Allah SWT’s forgiveness and to wash off our sins.

Importance of Forgiveness in Islam

There are various verses of the Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizing the concept of repentance from sins by seeking forgiveness from Allah . Allah SWT says:

“Seek forgiveness from your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor.

But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day” [Quran, Surah Hud, 11:3].

In this verse, Allah SWT commands people to seek forgiveness and repent. The effort has dual benefits.

First, it shows that a believer is conscious of Allah (SWT). Secondly, as is evident from the above-quoted ayah, Allah SWT will grant blessings and favors to those who repent and seek forgiveness.

Allah SWT says,

“But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.” [Verse 82; Surah Taha]

Allah SWT talks about one of His qualities, which is His ability to forgive. As Muslims, we must never despair or lose hope about forgiveness, which is one of the qualities of Allah SWT.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one hadith,

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“If anyone continually asks pardon, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide for him from where he did not reckon”

[Book 8, Hadith 1513; Abu Dawood].

Here the hadith gives the benefit or virtue of seeking forgiveness.

If someone is always seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT, then He makes their life easier by removing all the troubles and distress they are going through in their lives while also providing sustenance to them.

Seeking forgiveness will help in improving their life and relationship with Allah SWT, after cleansing past sins.

In Ramadan, Muslims can strive to do the following:

Offer Regular Prayer

In Ramadan or any other month, offering regular prayers is actually the best way to seek forgiveness from Allah SWT.

All Muslims should ensure that they are offering their obligatory prayers regularly. After every prayer, it’s advised to supplicate to Allah SWT for pardon and mercy.

Muslims must never miss a prayer, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, to make sure that no prayer goes without seeking forgiveness.

Attend Night Prayer

Qiyam prayers (optional night prayers) are special Ramadan-specific prayers. They give us an additional chance to praise Allah SWT and seek forgiveness and mercy from Him.

Qiyam prayers are a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which carries great reward and is greatly valued in the court of Allah SWT as well. Make an effort to offer Qiyam every night after the obligatory prayer of Isha.

This can be done at home or in congregation. Specifically ask for forgiveness afterwards to ensure Allah will forgive you.

Remembrance Before Asking for Forgiveness

It is imperative for a Muslim to lay a foundation of praising and worshiping Allah SWT in order to seek His pardon.

Tasbeeh (remembrance) is a form of supplication, praise, and worship that can be exercised throughout the day.

It can be done to praise Allah SWT, afterwards supplicating by seeking forgiveness.

Tasbeeh of forgiveness is another option by which a Muslim can ensure that they are seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT throughout the fasts during the holy month of Ramadan.

Read and Learn Quran

The other great way to seek forgiveness from Allah SWT is to read and recite the Holy Quran along with its meanings.

Reading the Holy Quran regularly will help us get closer to it, understand it, and most importantly, start implementing the instructions in our day-to-day lives.

This good habit automatically restricts many wrongdoings. This will also help in developing a strong connection with the Quran.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadih 545, Book 61]

Improving or Perfecting Ablution

Improving and perfecting ablution increases the chances of acceptance of all kinds of prayers. It results in a better connection with Allah SWT.

Fasting

Anyone who fasts in Ramadan with true spirit, faith, and with the firm belief to seek forgiveness and reward from Allah SWT, then Allah SWT forgives all their sins.

Thankfulness

Thankfulness means, for example, eating food or wearing clothes and thanking Allah SWT with firm belief that it is only in Allah SWT’s control to give good food and clothes, and we have no power to do it to ourselves.

Understanding this and being thankful for His blessings will make Allah SWT happy that His people have belief in Him and look forward to His blessings whenever they need anything in their lives.

The Bottom Line

A Muslim must be involved in acts of virtue throughout Ramadan.

We must also seek forgiveness from other people if we have ever hurt or harmed them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

If we forgive others, gain their forgiveness, and seek Allah SWT’s forgiveness as well, then it is very likely that Allah SWT will forgive us so that we may enter Jannah with the believers.

After every action, ask Allah to forgive you for all the past sins.

May Allah SWT grant us forgiveness and make this world and the hereafter a better place for everyone.

This article is from our archives.

Read more:

The post Forgive & Seize the Days of Forgiveness appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/self-development/forgiveness-seize-opportunity-ramadan/

6 Tips to Kick-Start Your Relationship with Quran!

Do you feel the Quran isn’t in your life like you’d like it to be? Or do you wish to, but don’t know how to improve your relationship with the Quran? Do you feel overwhelmed, and don’t know where to start and how to keep motivated?

When I converted to Islam, I had read bits and pieces of the Quran in English; I was inspired, but I felt confused by the different themes and order of the chapters.

The translation of the Quran I had didn’t help much either, it was ‘old’ English, different stories seemed to be scattered over different chapters and a lot of verses I didn’t seem to understand. Not speaking about the Quran in Arabic yet, I couldn’t read a letter of it and I felt overwhelmed by the concept of ‘memorizing’ the Quran.

Allah, the Most High, says:

If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought. (Quran, 59:21)

Imagine the effect the Book of the Creator Himself had on a solid, rigid mountain, which effect can it have on your tender, living heart? We need the Quran to find happiness; it teaches us all we need to know and all we need to do is to take the first step. And the transformation will follow, at times slowly, and at times rapidly.

Let’s discover some truly eye-watering narrations of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to make you fall in love even more with this miraculous book and feel motivated to start on a personal plan to kick-start your relationship with the Quran!

What Prophet Muhammad Said to Motivate You

The Prophet Muhammad’s love for and relationship with the Quran was intense; his words can inspire us to increase our awe for the Book of Allah and take action! Here are some things he said about the book which defined his character:

You will not come back to Allah with anything better than that which came from Him (i.e. the Qur’an). (Al-Hakim)

Recite the Quran to have light in this world and to be mentioned in the heavens! … upon you is the remembrance of Allah and the recitation of His Book, for it is a light for you on earth and [a means by which] you will be mentioned in the Heavens. (Targhib wa-Tarhib, Jami as-Sagheer)

Have the Quran speak for you; Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the slave on the Day of Judgment. Fasting will say ‘O my Lord! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him. And the Qur’an will say: I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him. Thus they will intercede. (Ahmad)

Ask Allah to be of those for whom the Quran will intercede!

Let this motivate you to recite the Quran in your home and shine:

Recite the Qur’an (in your house) for the inhabitants of the heavens see them like the people on earth see the stars. (Silsilah ahadeeth as-saheehah)

Your Personal Plan

Your relationship with the Quran can start anytime, anywhere. Here are some tips to set up your personal Quran action plan.

1. Keep Asking Allah

You are reading the Quran for Allah and with His Help only, never forget this along the way!

– Intention

Firstly, make and keep renewing a sincere intention (niyyah) to get closer to the Quran, by reading, understanding, memorizing and acting upon it.

– Use Affirmations

Affirmations are phrases you tell yourself out loud, and have an amazing effect on the brain. Start your day by saying to yourself: I can learn Quran, The Quran is easy to learn, etc.

– Say This Dua

Learn and use this supplication with feelings. Stick it on the wall as a reminder to use it often, convey it to others and revive the Sunnah in one!

Allahumma inni `abduka wabnu `abdika wabnu amatik nasiyati bi-yadik madin fiyya hukmuk `adlun fiyya qada’uk as’aluka bi-kulli ismin huwa lak sammayta bihi nafsak aw `allamtahu ahadan min khalqak aw anzaltahu fi kitabik awista’tharta bihi fi `ilmi al-ghaybi `indak an taj`ala al-Qur’ana al-karima rabi`a qalbi wa-nura sadri wa-jala’a huzni wa-dhahaba hammi.

O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your male servant, and son of Your female servant. My forelock is in Your Hand. Your command for me prevails. Your judgement concerning me is just. I beseech You through every name You have, by which You have called Yourself, or which You have sent down in Your Book, or which You have taught to any one of Your creations, or which You have preferred to keep to Yourself among Your guarded secrets, to make the Great Qur’an the springtime of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness, and the pacifier of my worries.*

* It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad and Sahih Abu Hatim that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

Whoever was afflicted with grief and distress and says (above dua’), Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will remove his grief and will change his sorrow into happiness.

It was said, “O Messenger of Allah! (Do) we have to learn these words?”

He said:

Yes, whoever hears them should learn them.

2. Pick an Easy Translation

I greatly benefited from The Quran Project translation to gain an overall view of the Quran, its message and themes. It’s in clear, modern English, has a smooth flow of sentences and most importantly has an introduction page for each chapter with a concise outline of contents.

3. Start Memorizing

I remember not being able to read Quran in Arabic yet, but wanting to add more meaning to my prayers. Therefore I simply started listening to the short surahs only, and learning them by heart from audio while learning their meaning at the same time.

This way I didn’t feel too overwhelmed by the task of ‘memorizing’ the Quran. As each time I learned a new chapter, I could use it in prayer, knew what it meant and could add another dimension to my prayer.

The effect was instant! Best is to read a new chapter you’ve learned to a qualified teacher, even if you can’t read Arabic yet; at least you ensure you have copied it from audio correctly and you can use it in prayer.

4. Make Tafseer Part of Your Daily Routine

Tafseer means explanation, and the goal of studying tafseer is to find out the true meanings of the verses of the Quran, so you can benefit from them. Reading through, or listening to tafseer of the Quran will make you appreciate its beautiful message more and more.

A classic, English translated Tafseer collection is Tafseer ibn Katheer, covering the entire Quran. Start a tafseer routine; simply start with dedicating five minutes a day to reading tafseer, starting from Juz ‘Amma (the last, thirtieth part) or listening to Tafseer videos. You can find the entire Tafseer ibn Katheer collection online: http://m.qtafsir.com/. A true gem!

5. Study Tajweed

Tajweed refers to the rules governing pronunciation during recitation of the Quran, starting from learning how to pronounce each letter correctly. It’s derived from the root jeem-waaw-daal, which means ‘to make well, make better, improve.’

Here are some great resources to kick-start (or revise) your Tajweed study:
– Read Quran course from the Understand Quran Academy – in 18 hours you will learn to read Arabic letters and words with built-in Tajweed rules and learn the meaning of 50% of the words of the Quran.
– Tajweed Untangled by Learning Roots – a comprehensive, visual must-have book for beginner and intermediate tajweed.

6. Understand Quranic Arabic

In a recent study, a group of Muslims were asked about the meaning of chapter Al-Fatihah and 80% of the recipients could not give an accurate meaning of the chapter they read daily in prayer!

An ultra-effective and easy program to start understanding the Quran by using short chapters and daily supplications you most likely already know is:

O Allah, make us of the best of people by learning and teaching the Quran and gaining the Highest Paradise without reckoning by it.  

Ameen.

The post 6 Tips to Kick-Start Your Relationship with Quran! appeared first on About Islam.



source https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/6-tips-to-kick-start-your-relationship-with-quran/