new chapters

tHe BeAutY WiTh iN each of us will continue to shine by the passing of each day as our experiences polish us and give us perispectives to look upon the world. tHe BeAutY WiTh iN will continue to grow with or without one's awareness. Jaza'kum 'Allahu Kheir for all those who read along...

from the vastness of the outside

to the vastness of the within

from the beauties of the east

to the beauties of the west

from traditions that inspire

to modernities that aspire

from wanting to be

to working to feel

from beauty

to Wisdom

transcending

traveling

seeking

Hikmet Mawi

the utimate motivator

"If one wants to know his place in the sight of Allah, then let him look into the place he gives Allah in his life."

(quote from a Salaf)

MIA

missing in action in regards to posts and a few other things in life lately. Alhamdulilah Ramadan is here and very excited about that. Here is something I would like to share about these oft repeated ayahs:

O you who believe! Observing fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may attain piety. ...He does not want to make things difficult for you. ...and that you must exalt Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. [al-baqara: 183-185]

the most interesting aspect about these verses is that besides being very clear about what one should achieve from fasting (piety in general terms), it outlines a very simple yet most forgotten issue and that is GUIDANCE. Imagine having no guidance and what the end result would be like. Every aspect of worship always comes back to this very entity of spirituality, i.e. guidance and how important it is to have it. Thus one should make the sincerest effort to prove to Allah that s/he is worth the blessing.

And insha'Allah with Ramadan, we have more reason to be grateful as it is full of blessings and infinite Mercy.

Peace & Blessings
hikmet

Reminder

"And your Lord has decree that you worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your parents (show Ihsan). If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission an humility through mercy and say ' my lord! bestow on them your mercy as they did bring me up when I was small' ." (17:23-24)

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

drop the conditional (no ifs or buts)

Bismillah,

Abu Hurairah (my Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one in all good things. Adhere to that which is most beneficial for you. Keep beseeching Allah for help and do not refrain from it. If you are afflicted in any way, do not say: 'if I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such', but say only: 'Allah so determined and did as He willed.' The word 'if' opens the gates of satanic conduct." [Muslim]

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

Project:

of course it will never look that professional, but insha'Allah I'm working on this piece (from ArabicCalligraphy).




"verily with every hardship, there is an ease" (Surat as-sharh)

most Beloved

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

"Can we forget how he (the Prophet) played with his granddaughter Umamah, the daughter of Zaynab? Can we forget how he carried her on his back while he was in prayer? Can we forget his love and affection for Hasan and Husayn, the sons of Fatimah? Can we forget how he come down from the pulpit when he saw Husayn entering the mosque? The little toddler was stumbling in his long, loose garment, so the Prophet (sallahu aleyhi wa salam) picked him up in his hands and went back to the pulpit to complete his sermon!" [excerpt from Women Around the Messenger]

how then can I surmise his beauty
the mercy of the last Glory,
indeed you're the exalted, ya sayidi
indeed the most beloved, ya habiby.

(Allahuma Sali Alla Nabi'yka wa Habibika Muhammad)

incense

the sweet smell of it
burning, yet alive in the air.
reminiscing
memorizing
savoring
moments: past, present, future.

-hy-

Bismillah

it is all relative is what i know today
everything is in a knot with time
like a circle that has no beginning or end
for it is all relative.

what you use to measure what matters
everything my friend is relative
to the mind and understanding
of us all who understand things in relative.

(just random poem, insha'Allah the first I jotted down in a while now...sort of lost my poetic imagination lately. But Alhamdulilah this will have us back posting.)

Peace & Blessings to All
-hy-

lets remember

Masha'Allah. Today was so special. I saw my dear dear dear friend! (yup our Rabs) That is exactly how we refer to her...'our'. the excitement and all. Most of all I got precious advice from her kind husband. "Be a strong, righteous wife sister. Because of her [Rabs] strength, I'm who I am."
Knowing my friend, I can only pray for more blessing of their marriage and nothing more. How beautiful indeed is the affair of one who is constantly in the remembrance of Allah...subhan'Allah!

Such a beautiful Friday. The Khutba was absolutely heart warming. Always reminders that softens the heart and lightens the face.

Building memories...remembering that which builds love and understanding. The one thing I will always keep with me, as constant reminder is memory of that which is good in each and everyone that has blessed my life. Because at the end of the day, after all the ups and the downs...what remains is what made us who we are in the first place.

(insha'Allah I'll post a poem about this particular theme)

Peace & Blessings to all
-hy-

Reflections/Reminders

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It is almost laughable had one been heedless
it is though sad that it reckons some tears
not from the eyes but of the heart...

Such though is this life
It is almost laughable were it not for reminders
from Luqman, the chapter of the wise...

"O mankind! do your duty to your lord, and fear the Day where no father can avail aught for his son, not a son avail aught for his father; Verily, the promise of God is true: let not then this present life deceive you, not let the chief Deceiver deceive you about God. Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with God. It is He who sends down rain, and He who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow, nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily God has full knowledge and He is well acquainted." [33-34]

Five things are mentioned here that no creation knows the answer of:

1. the knowledge of the hour
2. the coming of rain
3. what is in the womb
4. what tomorrow brings forth
   
5. the state one dies in/ both physically and spiritually

Peace & Blessings
hikmet

take care

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

There is a level of ability that a person have. When that limit is passed what results is an over-stressed body that is on the verge of giving up. It is not just physical but also mental, spiritual or a combination thereof. Most often than not, what happens is that a person is not in-tune with one's body. That is why it is important that a person understand the natural tendency of one's state. In order to be in a state of good balance, it is imperative that one establish the due knowledge of what it means to be out-of-balance.
There are a number of Ahadith regarding the maintenance of good balance physically ( etiquette of eating, napping, physical fitness...); mentally (harm of stress, importance of resting, moderate laughter...) and spiritually (abhorring of extreme ends, moderation in worship...). All these we've read or heard about. Alhamdulilah. Today I'd like to mention a very important lesson about putting-things-into-perspective and taking care as Muslims.

"Three key terms in the Qur'an that relate to human conduct, all of which means 'to be safe', 'to be integral and sound'. The first term is Iman, which means "faith", but its root (a m n) means "to be at peace", "to be safe", "not to be exposed to danger." The second term is Islam, comes from the root (s l m) which means "to be safe", "to be whole and integral", "not to disintegrate." The third fundamental concept is Taqwa from the root (w q y) which means to "protect from getting lost or wasted" and "to guard against peril". This constellation of basic terms clearly bring home the most important notion of Islam about humankind concerning attitude (belief) and behavior: people can and ought to avoid moral and physical peril..." [qt'd in Health and Medicine in the Islamic Tradition, pg 13]

It is thus, easy to realize and put our knowledge into perspective for taking care plays a role in the things that we do, both individually and collectively insha'Allah. Here are a few action plans:

• sleep early: This is the easiest thing we have control over.
• eat healthy: Again a choice we can make.
• pray on time: it takes care of the fundamentals of one's belief
• avoid stress by performing tasks ahead of time
• supplicate abundantly: "dua'a is worship".
  

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

just this

when i think of sleep
i remember death...

a beat away it is
when, i can never say.

maybe 20 years down the road
or tomorrow.
'ahh, but she's so young' they'll say i bet.

i wonder sometimes
about old age... about when
i'll be walking slow, nodding a lot
i wonder what sleep will remind me then.


-hy-

Up for the Challenge?

In the Name of Allah , the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

"And we have indeed made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, is there any that will remember?" [surat al-Qamar:17]

In terms of acquainting oneself with that which one knows is good:

1. Conviction. This comes with knowledge of that which one comprehends.
2. Resolution: conviction alone leads no where if one isn't firm upon a decision.
3. Establishment: after resolution is the need to set practical & realistic goals to reach.
4. Consistency: a water drop makes a hole on a stone.

So how is it that one wants to build a strong, lasting relationship but ignores the due process of exerting oneself? Of course we know the Qur'an is a cure, gets rid of anxiety, brings tranquility, becomes a witness for one in the Day...Alhamdulilah.

Where we're left is where we started:

"And we have indeed made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, is there any that will remember?" [surat al-Qamar:17]

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

spare a never?

it is the question unasked
the answer told to be untold.
it is the difference between freedom and oppression
a line drawn to be envisioned in the minds.
it is the question and the answer all at once
the cry and the laughter mixed to last.
it is the hope and the despair in the mind
the anger seething in eyes, hearts to last.

keep talking for the voiceless and fighting for the heartless
keep preaching while muffling the struggle of the nobodies
they are jargon; scientific and statistical figures
written on journals and studied on theories to be falsified
while they live reality and die trying to reach the truth-
truth that is lost in between the lines of understanding the nobodies
reading, measuring, estimating, discussing, evaluating, predicting
citing, studying, always second-guessing the nobodies.

-hy-

(so much in my mind lately. always though learning to be patient. subhan'Allah.)

A Solution

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Yet, once again I'd like to talk about time management. It is the fundamental block to everything that we do. Of all the things that Allah swears by in the Qur'an, TIME is one that has a recurrent theme in the entire Qur'an. We all know this, Alhamdulilah. Then how can we achieve a good balance? Allah in this Most Amazing Qur'an reveals in Surat al-Mue'minoon:

"The Believers will indeed succeed. Those who guard their prayers. Those who rid themselves of useless activities. And those who are active in purification." [1-4]

1. Those who guard their prayers="alazina hum fi salatihim khasheoon"
2. Those who rid themselves of useless activities="walazina hum ani-lagwi mueridoon"
3. Those who are active in purification="walazina hum lizakati fa'eloon"
   

The second point is one that I'd like to highlight today. In the proper context, al-lagw (useless/vain) is something that has no benefit for a person, neither in this world, nor in the here-after. So what constitutes useless activity? I can easily mention so much, but one already knows what that is from personal experience. What the useless activity does to a person is though what warrants attention. And that is waste of time. But Allah azza wa jaal in His Divine nature gave in these ayat examples of what constitutes as a combat line for waste of time, and that is ridding oneself of useless affairs. And He continues by giving one an alternate choice: busying oneself with prayers and purification.

The waste of time is something to be aware of, but if one doesn't even know if she is wasting her time, then truly that requires a lot of self-reflection.

In the Qur'an are signs to be reflected and most importantly acted upon. It is indeed a miracle. Please stay tuned to an update about building an intimate relationship with the Qur'an, another combat line for waste of time.

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

gem of the day

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Ihsan is

"Ann takuna wahdak kama takuna bayna nas"
=

"that you be with yourself as you are among people."

Ali Ibn Abi Talib.

Peace & Blessings
hikmet

flowers-in-a-pot

Bismillah,

Among the things that I truly love is gifting alive plants. Today, I was gifted them :D and it has made my evening and week that much prettier!!! Aren't those colors just gorgeous? There are six different species in this pot. Insha'Allah as I learn each, I'll post something about them.. it was such a lovely evening.

Reminder

Bismillah,

I haven't posted much in line of prose for quite a while. That is mainly because I often think in rhythmic words. Poetry. Spoken Word. Prayers. Short but full of substance.

Much have been in my mind as well; the education system, politics, activism, spirituality, self-improvement, physical competence, society, medicine, book reviews, children, war, wisdom, silence, marriage, death, nature. A lot. Period.

What is more important? At the end of the day, no matter what we feel about who, what or how we are, there is a truth that awaits. No matter how sophisticated, no matter how insignificant. No matter how dark, no matter how light the skin. One truth.

It is liberating in different ways. Yet, what is important in the end gives the due process some value, what is important in the end makes the process to the end worth living for. Such is this Life. Thus embrace it in wisdom to reach the end with some grace. Isn't it the statement of the Beloved of Allah sallalahu aleyhi wa salam where he said the smart person is one who works for the here-after?

There.

"Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, indeed Allah if oft-returning, full of wisdom."
(surat an-nur, ayah 10)

"Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the hereafter, a grevious penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair."
(surat an-nur, ayah 14)

"Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, indeed Allah is full of kindness and Mercy."
(surat an-nur, ayah 20)

Beautiful reminders, indeed for those who reflect.

Peace & Blessings.
-hy-

Attention!

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This is a call, once again, to help channel our efforts into something local and insha'allah qualify for Allah's Ajr (reward). It is a chance to strengthen and focus our concern to the ummah. To the left on the link list is a Support Muslim Families link for Donations. Please pass on the message, post link on your blogs, face book it, or whatever fancy stuff there is out there. And don't forget the power of Dua'a.

"O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grevious penalty? That ye believe in God and his Apostle, and that you strive in the cause of GOD, with your property and your persons; that will be best for you if ye but knew." (Surat As-saf, ayah 11)

I know there are more signs (verses) from the Qur'an about giving charity, but this one puts it into perspective in the human terms: you get back something if you put forth something. That simple!

Peace & Blessings
-hy-

a story

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

"A pigeon came to you with hope in you,
complaining with a disturbed and trembling heart,
who was it that informed it that your place
is a sanctuary, and that you're a shelter for the wronged."

A bird called Al-Hummarah flapped its wings and flew over the head of the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu aleyhi wa salaam). The Messenger of Allah said: "Who has tormented this one by (taking its) chicks? Return to it its chicks." [excerpt from Don't be Sad]

How then can I surmise his beauty,
the mercy and wisdom of the Last Glory?
Indeed you're the exalted, ya sayedi
Indeed the most beloved, ya habibi.

(sallu aleyhi wa alehi)

-hy-

200

It is a random number i guess. but this will officially be the 200th post I've published (minus 1/3 drafts and substantial deleted ones). There was a lot in my mind lately, that I wanted to share... let them be for now. But here is a poem that came to my mind this evening, I had to rush home to jot it down. Any guess who?

I looked towards you, as ever I do
With every array you hooked my soul
and claimed my every attention to you.
It is when you're weak that you overpower me
that time when you're about to retire for the day
dimming your magnificence away towards the west.
how, i riddle my soul you managed to stay strong
shinning on me, tickling every cord by the core?
how i ask, you leave me with more beauty
though you're long gone, leaving your glory.

well, if I'm saying it all let me mention
an open secret about my love for you too
by the day, the other glory, by night a mirage
oh what of you that has stolen my heartbeat
a lullaby so serene you sing to sooth me
putting me to sleep in peace with your shine on my face.
your array touches my mind, body and soul
that i reflect nothing but the Glory of Thee...

Subhan Allah, Wal Hamdu Lillah, Wa Allahu Akbar

Peace & Blessings
Hikmet

of life and death

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

of life there is all that we know
ambitions,
survival between hope & despair
we know what it means to be alive
physically;
though one might be dead
walking a-live among men.

of life we've seen a lot
aspiration,
filling it with what seems fill-able
wealth, fame and all that seems to matter
materially;
though the body is ravaged
ploughed like a barren land.


of death one can only surmise
until he dies himself to taste it
then only will one know indeed
what it is meant of what he has been told
of life and death.

-hy-

"And worship thy Lord until yaqeen reaches ye." [surat al-hijir]

Peace & Blessings

randomness

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Alhamdulilah, I'm feeling 100% better. My internet is now working, and am enjoying my new-found existence. I've learned so much...and everyday is a blessing:

where
is
home
for a
person
whose
soul
yearns?

rest

awhile

trust

your

heart to

love

guarded
by faith.

see
beauty
in becoming...
while
waiting
for the
end.

make it personal

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

it isn't until you lose what you cherish
that you'd know what it means not to have it
and then you'll understand truly.
with every step that I took
I had to stop and think for
there was no pain any longer
just then an epiphany
a comprehension far beyond
words can translate...
so here is a translation:
"if you start to count the blessings of God,
you'll never be able to count them."

AlHamduLilahi Rabil Alemeen
Bless us with forgiveness.

-hy-

and finally!

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

I don't know if I can gift it anymore! some of the ink smeared on me :( and that made me upset (I might add because of my impatience); I've put all my heart to this project . I thought I'd frame it and give it to my parents...and to make another one will take me a long time, and this requires that I start and finish it at one go (at least the pencil trace, if not the ink and color coordination). But I must say I was pleased...I thought I'd never finish it, but alas! it was done last night. Alhamdulilah. So here is a lazy picture, insha'allah i will take a better one soon. It says "wa kulun min endi Allah"="everything/all is from Allah". Those words mean a lot to me...they speak to me at all levels and Calligraphy impresses me. As you can see though it is the most amateurish of its kind...insha'allah one day I'll make prettier ones...just need more practice, and free time.

Here is another one I made some years ago (3 yrs); the only difference between the two is the technique; for the top one I used ink (traditional means; dipping a quill) whereas the bottom one was just a good ol' felt pen. It says "Alhamdulillahi Rabil Alamin"="all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds".
I love the idea of dipping a quill...writing poems late at night, seeping sweet tea, day dreaming... :D (ok maybe not that!)


Peace & Blessings

Hikmet

Khadija bint Khuwaylid

"what shows Khadija's piety is that when once one of her two sons died she was sad but patient. After a few hours the time of suckling the dead baby came and her breast was full of milk so her tears flowed from her eyes. Seeing this the Prophet was moved and said: if you so wish I shall ask Allah to make you hear his voice in Paradise. Any ordinary mother would have been keen to hear her dear one; but Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her said: 'no but I believe in Allah and his apostle'."

Allahuma Sallai Alla Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa zuriyatihi, kama sallayta alla Ibrahima wa alla ali Ibrahima fil alemina innaka hamidun majeed.
(Ameen)

(Excerpt from Luminaries of Islam)

words

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Words are important. Because we communicate in them, above all things. We use them to express ourselves to others; they are the means for us to convey what forms our beliefs, emotions, world-views, etc. So what words we choose makes a difference. There is also that amazing realm of Etymology, the study of the origin of words and their subtle characterization of the place/culture they came from.

Now here is a view that I thought was succinctly put by Raymond Williams. He says that Vocabulary involves not only "the available and developing meaning of words" but also "particular formalities of meaning--ways not only of discussing but at another level seeing many of our central experiences". (qt'd from Genders, Sexes, and Health: international journal of epidemiology).

Looking closely at his definition, one gets to appreciate that first of all there is more unsaid than what is said. Meaning that, words convey a fraction of the intricate complexion of the human brain & understanding. Secondly, one can see that words entail subtle meanings with them. Third, by understanding all these implications one gets to appreciate the gold rule of silence...say more with less.

Allah teaches Mussa (aleyhi salaam) to say "...wahlul uqdatan min lisani yafqahu qawli..." = "loosen the knot on my tongue that they may understand me". The lesson from this being that (of course apart from the history involved) the way we convey our thoughts is important for that forms the understanding among people. Hence learning how to convey something in the proper manner is quite important.

There are numorous implications to this, but for now I'll leave it at this...saying words is one things but saying more with less is a challenge...

Peace & Blessings

Hikmet

love for poetry

A poem is a joyful leap of the heart,
an ardor in the soul,
a teardrop,
and
teardrops are nought
but pure poems
that have risen up
against words.

(from the Fountain)

sisterhood

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

One of the blessed characteristic of Islam is the idea of sister/brotherhood. Loving one for the sake of Allah, helping each other at times of hardship, lend a shoulder, give counsel, and warn.

We just started the 'fitness challenge' among sisters on campus. It consists of a 30-minute exercise whenever a person can; a person then gets a star on their chart, whenever they do the exercise. Of course some sisters are able to go to the gym together. We have also thought of having intramural. That got me excited, now I might be able to recruit some sis to play volleyball, not that I am any good, I just like games. Being active physically was encouraged in the Prophetic tradition and I personally like to play, run around...be like kids.

So a number of us, sisters are sort of stepping-up the challenge; kinda like "watch-out for moi". Such is an example of the positive aspect of sisterhood, besides the company of each other.

I just think it is so beautiful, the energy sisters have when they sit together to remember the Almighty, talk about the challenges they face, share tips as to how to wear the Hijab beautifully and share beauty tips (like honey for a gorgeous skin). Those who are married would give advice to us, the yet to be married ones.

Blessed be One who put Love & Mercy among us.

-hy-

the calling

Oh Allah, there is no ease except that which you have made easy

and you make the difficult easy, if you wish.

Oh Allah, to You we belong and truly, to You is the return!

ya hayu ya qayum, bi rahmatika nastagith.

Visiting: a blessed virtue

This evening I had a nice visit with an acquaintance of mine who just gave birth (a month ago). An adorable baby girl who likes smiling, masha'allah. The reason for this post is to remind about the virtue of visiting people and subhan'allah how it gives the visitor an insight into things. For example, say one visits a sick friend, then besides qualifying for ajr, this person is reminded of a blessing. But what this visit did for me was amazing. I love children and after seeing my friend's love for the child and her plan to give baby girl the best morals and teaching of Islaam, I was left (you guessed it right) thinking. ha
Being blessed with a child is the most Honorable thing ever! May Allah bless baby Sumaya.

Peace & Blessings

spoken word

you gotta love the power of being
the mighty force of seeing
right from wrong
true from false.

but i gatta ask ya this
for the sake of asking
where do you keep your mind
when you're not utilizing,
engaging it in being?

do you surf at the cost of your thoughts
or do you prefer the dance around the fire?
ya're still gonna catch the fire
least ya gatta splash the suit wet from
the full moon up on the sky
driving the tide in your mind.

so which power drives your conscious
how do you engage your mind
utilize it and live it?
or do you park it up on the highways
of uncertainties and mis-conceptions?

where do you keep your mind
when you're tired of it, scared of it
have you got a refuge for it,
an abode where it can call upon

don't tell me you've left your heart else where
that you've infanticide their relationship-
mind-body n soul.
flesh to soul, mind n heart...yes they go along

where upon will you rest your mind when
it is too tired to take upon
realness of realities?

don't tell me you're still gonna
call upon Enistine and Kant
Watson n Creek to do you a favor
when you gots to think for yourself.

intertwined like the double-helix
intriguing as the black hole of the universe
yes even that-
is your mind to your soul.

-hy- (12:55 28-01-'09)

Road Rules 101

TIP #1
Check where you are headed before you are lost even further: pull-over and check your map; if you end up in the highway, take the first exist. Just make sure you don't end up in the highway again!

TIP #2
Disregard the suggestion of one who seems to know nothing about how to read maps! (seriously)

TIP #3
Make sure your gas tank is reasonably full especially if you have a long drive and are prone to be lost.

PS: Please avoid BLACK-HOLES!!

(imma teasing habibty. lookin forward to be lost once again! gotta miss those adventures!)

Peace & Blessings

hikmet

contol it.

What do you do when you are angry???


I go to sleep, just as I'll be doing within the next 5 minutes!



(A'uzu Billahi Mina' Ashytani Rajim)

and that thing

count on it when i can
snack on it between meals
rest on it for a while
and render it full of life.

what ye be today
and tomorrow ye are none
yesterday has passed
and it will never come.

thru the eyes of life
the cord of love
ye see what ye can never say-
in words, for others to comprehend.

though ye look for reasons
'ts what is, that can be
space on x, life on the y
z is for time, that is quickly passing by.

-hy-

"By (the Token of) time (through the ages). Verily man is in loss. Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy." [103:1-3]

just like a bird

Maybe they appeal to me because they can fly,
maybe because they soar up high,
maybe because they are diligent in the early hours of morn',
or maybe because they are irresistibly cute,
or maybe because they can sing beautifully,
or maybe because they are captivating and energetic,
or maybe because they are good at who they're...just BIRDS.
you ever wished you were a bird?? I did many a time...
yet I'm only a HUMAN.

-hy-

Attention: Please read on

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Insha'allah today I'd like to highligh a few amazing things I came across the past few days. As the semester is just getting interesting, I'll be posting less and less (even though that completely depends on how many more engaging things pop-up my way...so they'll be shared).

• Please make sure you check smilecan, an amazing Canadian (Muslim) organization for the special needs children. (link is also in the left column list) I've always been curious about such initiatives and I came across the website and had a look at it. In a nutshell, they provide educational as well as logistics to support persons of special needs, such as autistic, Down Syndrome, the hearing and sight impaired etc. Even if you are not the kind of person who want to get involved, make sure you make donations, or volunteer your time to any help they might need. This is a great opportunity to channel your energy into something meaningful and local, and insha'allah qualify for Allah's reward (be izni Allah).

Insha'allah I'll try to update ASAP regarding the research I was compiling on Women's Health. For a starter I'll post insha'allah about fatigue and how to curb the problem without any medical intervention. By this, all I mean is looking at the potential causes as outlined in the peer reviewed literature, and potential life style changes ranging from types of food to eat/avoid, changing sleeping habits/conditions, and at last seeking the proper medical attention. I'll give reference for all the citing I'll use and it is my hope that some of you out there will benefit from it, I've surely seen some great improvement in my state.

In the future, I'm interested to develop some kind of resource page/book/help-line for Muslim women when it comes to getting access to health realted topics, such as diet, sexuality, natural birth control, choices during pregnancy and tests (amniocentesis, CVS, genetic screening of fetus), breastfeeding, advanced maternal age, child with special needs, menopause, osteoporosis etc. All these are quite important to any woman and as such as Muslims, I strongly feel that the topics are less dealt with in the proper manner; they are long over-due. Even though this initiative I've in mind is quite big, I'm hopeful that other sisters in the field of Medicine, Nursing, public health, women's studies, women scholars in the Sheria and Fiqh can collaborate. If you are one reading these and are interested, please let me know so we may develop it further (or if you happen to know somebody who will be interested in this, please pass on the message). I've thought of a blogpost, but with millions of blogs out there it is likely that the message will not reach the target audience and eventually get lost. Any thoughts, anybody??

Peace & Blessings to All.

-hy-

?

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
(Bob Dylan; Blowin' in the Wind)

"smitten kitten"

They say there is a season for everything...a reason for anything. A few days back I read this, and was left thinking. I think a lot, no surprises there. I just thought I share the link with anybody interested.

When it comes to the subject of love, I guess I am no exception to the "I know about it all" cliche. But do I? All I want to say, if there is ever a thing left to be said, is what Mother Theresa said about it:

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."

Peace be Unto You.
_hy_

fuel for a thought

truth in words and action
wisdom in reflection
commitment in resolution
sincerity in devotion.

strive to be the person you've always wanted to be

contemplate, pray and connect
in the greater scheme of things, well
you might as well be dead.

-hy-

Read!

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

"Read! Read in the Name of God who created thee..."

We are all aware that the above are the very first revelations Our Beloved, Muhammad (sallalahu aleyhi wa salam) got. They are indeed the foundations to acquiring knowledge and Mercy from Allah (azza wa jal). Today, we'll have a look at the benefits of busying oneself with reading books. I will also highlight here that reading over the Internet is not the same as reading a book, as some of us may substitute one for the other.

A book is considered to be the greatest "companion" to one. This is highlighted by one of the earliest Arab writer (Al-Jaahiz): " if the only benefit of a book was that it keeps you from foolish daydreaming and prevents you from frivolity, it would certainly be considered a true friend who has given you a great favor." Reading books is also known to relieve one of anxiety and grief. (Qt'd from Don't be Sad) It is certainly true that some people are not so fond of reading, while others find it hard to pick a book when they are overwhelmed with emotions. But on the contrary, what a book does is prevent one from ruminating over the very cause of anger or any other emotion a person is feeling.

Reading, from an Islamic perspective then is mandatory as the very first Words of Allah were to order the Prophet to Read! So what do some scholars say about it? Al-Hasaan al Lulu'ee said " forty years have passed, and I have not dozed off in the day or in the night...except that a book was resting on my chest." (Qt'd from Don't be Sad)

So what things do you enjoy reading? Biography, socio-political, novels, poetry, classical? All are alright to read and will give a person a focus point and inspiration. Habitual reading helps one "develop eloquence and clarity in speech" (Don't be Sad). Reading has many benefits besides helping one out of ignorance. Reading helps one develop principles and discipline. It is a combat to idleness and waste of time. As we all know, idleness is one of the geatest signs to be wary of when it comes to faith.

Speaking of principles and discipline it is crucial we highlight that our greatest source is the Qur'an. In fact the Book of Allah is the greatest source of peace and guidance. Allah says in the Qur'an : "[this is the] Book sent down unto you [o'Muhammed], so let not your breast be narrow therefrom, that you warn thereby, and a reminder unto the believers." (7:2)

It is the opinion of scholars that the Qur'an should be recited consistently and some actually say that it should be read in entirety every month by a believer. So, where are we in this regard?
The Beloved of Allah (sallalahu aleyhi wa salaam) has been reported to have said " Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying 'alif, lam, meem' is a letter, rather I am saying that 'alif' is a letter, 'laam' is a letter and 'meem' is a letter." (reported by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim)

Subhan Allah, imagine the reward one will get from reciting the Qur'an so consistently, and add to that the one who has it committed to his/her heart...and every time they read it and their reward just gets being multiplied...(we're not talking Stock market here!) Reciting the words of Allah brings peace to the reciter and consistency bring sweetness and adds Noor to ones heart.

There are also different avenues we can take up when reading such as Sira, the lives of the Sahaba, the Ahadith, History, Medical and scientific knowledge, classical Arabic poetry (or translated versions of them for folks like myself), contemporary poetry, current issues, nature, languages and the list just keeps adding up as we all have diffenent taste.

So next time you have countless free time, or are bored to death, or can't fall asleep for no apparent reason, how about take a book and read a few lines instead of turning on the screen. Why have I not mentioned the digital norm of our day, the Internet? Reason is because, unlike a book, the Internet is limitless...it forks and keeps expanding. How many a time have you found yourself browsing through blogs and you just keep clicking, and clicking, and clicking to no end?? Such medias are much appreciated and in today's digital age, needed, but don't kid yourself; they don't help a thing when it comes to learning how to be focused. I don't mean that a person can't be focused when using the Internet, but on the contrary my argument is for a free time a person has at their disposal, what the Internet does is keep spreading the focus. Books on the other hand are quite limited to the subject at hand, you can't click your way out of it.

Verily, with knowledge comes responsibility and as such Allah has honored the people of knowledge. Hence with what we know, or learn we're going to be held accountable. We've heard many a lecture, read many a book, made many a note...thus many an action is what will be left to do. Our responsibility will be to utilize what we already know that we may benefit from it. Hence start today by building a discipline: be more focused.

How??

Insha'allah tune in for the answers in the near future( some are already mentioned here ).

Peace & Blessings

Hikmet