I wish i was a bird!

Seahorse

here is a lesson to be learned from seahorse, but before that I shall do some justice to biology and explain a bit about these amazing creatures. Seahorses belong to the phylum Osteichythes, which literally means bony fish. Named as such because their skeletal structure is made of bone, Calcium and phosphate compounds. They have swim bladder that helps them with buoyancy and change in depth during swimming; all they do is regulate the amount of gas in the swim bladder. They also have gill coverings (called operculla) that regulates the amount of water coming or leaving the fish. This structure is the one that helps certain fish types to stay stationary without moving. If you watch Sharks and other aquatic animals closely, you will notice that they are constantly moving so they can have water moving through their gills for gas exchange, other wise they'd suffocate and die. But those found in the Osteichythes phylum have evolved a specialized structure, as mentioned above, to avoid suffocation. Having said this much about the phylum seahorse belongs to, lets get down to what made them stand out for me:

Lesson 1) With few exceptions, seahorses are monogamous. They work hard to strengthen their relationship and bondage. Both the male and the female toil during the day socialize during the evening.
2) It is the male that is impregnated. He is responsible for taking care of the embryos in a pouch-like structure in his abdomen until they hatch.

K, I just thought they were soo cute, and amazing little creatures. Hopefully the link below would work for anyone interested. (Its a male seahorse giving birth)

http://www.apollo-sports.com/Environment/BTB/Videos/SeaHorsef.mpg

Salams,

for cuteness sake!

Raminder

In the Name of God, the most Gracious the most Merciful:

Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, _ there are indeed signs for men of understanding,_
Men who celebrate the praises of God, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides and contemplate the (wonders of ) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught hast thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the fire.
"Our Lord! any whom Thou dost admit to the fire, truly Thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers find any helpers!
"Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (us) to faith, 'Believe ye in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.
"Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine Apostles, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For Thou never breakest Thy promise."
"O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear God; that ye may prosper." (Surah Al-Imran)

"But teach /remind (thy message): for teaching benefits the believers." (Surah Az-zariyat)

it is but our duty to remind each other of that which is important and always support one another in everyday life that comes to unfold in beauty. It is our duty to reflect upon everything that is bestowed upon us, for reflection is but half of remembrance (Zikir).

La Ilaha Illa Allah
"There is no god but Allah"

H.M.

Bring it Low

So, how is the 'rain-only' week coming up for everyone? It definitely was a long one for me, Alhamdulilah its over - almost.

In today's culture which is changing on a daily basis, it is not a new thing to have some overwhelmed people like myself. Sometimes it is hard what to make of some bizarre styles in different forms. Whereas it is a personal freedom to express oneself as one pleases, it is equally important to have respect for the very nature that makes us humane. Therefore, today's culture can be defined as a 'Bring it on', egoistic and highly materialistic one on a general level. But here is what I like to call it:Highly Lost and a 'Bring it Low'. I mean seriously whats up with the insanity? Whats happened to courtesy? whats with intoxicating oneself? Whats up with driving others to death? I mean I could go on and on, and you all probably know where I am leading with this. (or maybe not :P)
The other day I was listening to this lecture by Dawud Warnsby (Amusing Our Selves to Death) the title originally taken from Postman's book, and the points he made just made me think. (Its a really good one if you can get a hold of it)

We might be claiming personal freedom and whatnot to find an excuse as an escape from reality, but get this people: reality is what is within you to begin with, so guess who you are running away from? YOURSELF! So no drug, no booze, no nothing does it until one change that which is within. And always remember 'what goes up must come down'. I mean one can choose to "Get Rich or Die Trying", but that is just a short-cut to the grave. Those of you who are in the sociology field, or anybody for that matter, know what I am talking about.

Oh youth, energy and passion
Love and hate, all in the air
But who is there to look-up to?

It's a struggle, but no one said it would be easy, so what we need is mentors and elders to look up to.

H.M

Oh Soul

oh listen to me my soul,
for i shall never speak again.
hasten to that which is good
and give a soulful smile for
they say it's also charity.

oh listen to me my soul,
for i do not know if we will ever_
be this close again,
for once you leave me here on earth
i shall never see you again.

do what's right my beloved,
and love all you can of nature
for GOD has created thee
on this earth to prosper and yearn
towards perfection that shall come to be,
in Paradise, Insha'allah if He wills.

H.M

And the day is ...

Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu ,

Eid Mubarak everyone!

it's the most beautiful of days here in van. actually not even cold. So, I decided to spend it in my home reading, thinking, listening to some inspiring lectures, studying for my exam, talking to families etc.

Actually turned out to be quite nice so far, Alhamdulilah.

I pray that Allah accept our fasting, and bless us with Barak and strength to carry ourselves, insha'allah, until the next Ramadan.

May today's joy be with us for days to come and may it be the best memory that we look back to at moments of sadness.

Kulu Amin Wa Antum Be Kheir!

H.M

Soul Food

The great Sahabas and scholars, may Allah raise their rank, are those whom with great struggle gave us the knowledge that we have today. So it is our duty to praise them every time and learn from their mettle that made them the elite of this great Ummah. Here are some quotes I came across, and may our minds and souls be filled with blessings that we may prosper (amen):

There is no good in prayer without concentration and calmness; there is no good in fasting without refraining from idle talk; there is no good in reading without contemplation; there is no good in knowledge without piety. (Ali Radi Allah Anhu)

Unless you annihilate your selfish lower self of desires and lusts through strict and sincere mujahada (struggle), your heart will never become illuminated with the light of knowledge.


Sincerity is purifying the mind from paying attention to one's fellow creatures. (Abul Qasim Qushayri)

The Islamic law opened the door of vocation in front of the woman such that she may be able to seek refuge through it in case of need and exceptional situations, or such that she may find in her profession an opportunity to convey a message or attend to important (issues). (Shaykh sa'id Ramadan)

A dead heart is the one that does not recognize and like the good and that does not reject and repel the evil. (Ibn Mas'ud Radi Allah Anhuma)

If one is not satisfied with what suffices him, no abundance will ever enrich him. (Omar radi Allah Anhu)

Rabi Ishrah Li Sadri Wa Yasir Li Amri,

Rabi Zidni Ilma.

Hikmet M.

"Today is all that you have"

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening - live as though today is all you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life's span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Qur'an with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health.
Organize the hours of this day, so that you make years out of minutes and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your wife, your children, your work, your house and your station in life.


{So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful} (7:144)

Live today free from sorrow, bother, anger, jealousy, and malice. If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following: Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds.

'Today is my only day' is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

This beautiful writing is an excerpt from the renowned book "Don't be Sad" by `Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

24th Ramadan

Assalamu Aleykum to all,

I hope we're all taking advantage of the last few days left of this Beloved month insha'allah. I was talking to a friend, and we both ended up saying how sad it is to see Ramadan over and how we both wanted it to be longer. Then the more I reflected upon Ramadan and its benefits I came to realize how much it symbolizes this life on earth. Subhan'Allah!

Think about it for a while: how much one is happy to put that piece of bread in his mouth at the time of Iftar, its a well-deserved reward for one would abstain from indulging in any obscene act and food for the sake of God alone. In the same manner if we are all vigilant towards those things that are forbidden and enjoin that which is allowed in this life, then subhan'allah we will be the ones who deserve the reward of Al-Jannah with the will of God.

As for wanting Ramadan not to end, I figured its to do with the chance we're given in this life. Every other day we awake in peace, we're presented with the chance to shine bright and go about our lives with a 'Taqwa' (God consciousness). And since we do not know if we'll even be alive tomorrow let alone another Ramadan, we should take full advantage of it insha'Allah by maximizing our Zikr (remembrance of Allah), voluntary prayers, giving charity (yes even a well meant smile), recitation of the Qur'an and so much more.

What is most important is that we tried our best to make these noble acts part of our habit so they keep moving along with us even after Ramadan is over. And that, my brothers and sisters, is the most crucial aspect of Ramdan's Baraka: to break the routine habit of procrastination. SO insha'allah I hope we were able to challenge ourselves in ever aspect.

Reflection is the best gift that we're given and that's what makes each of us unique in a sense that we perceive differently, and Alhamdulilah that is a big blessing to man kind. Truly God is great!

"And Remember your Rabb by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words, in the mornings and in the afternoons, and be not of those who are neglectful." (7:205)