what they say

our deeped fear is not that we are inadequare
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

it is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us
we ask ourselves:
who am i to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
actually, who are you not to be?
your playing small doesn't serve the world.
there is nothing enlightened about shrinking,
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

we were born to make manifest the glory that is within us.
it is not just in some of us: it's in everyone.
and, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.

as we were liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to
find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

(Quoted in Nelson Mandela's inauguration speech, 1993)

TAD, anyone?!

Before you fantasize about TAD being some high-end sorority group or the like, let me break it down for you: Technology Affective Disorder (borrowed it from Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Not to splash water over anyone's obsessions here, but just to pen-down my curiosity about how today's gadgetry and computer age has affected our behavior. Note here that I am neither a Psychologist (though I'd like to think so) nor a MD (yet).

Should we go like those study ads ( Suffering from insomnia, agitated, loss of appetite, eye problems, suffering from near-hearing etc) ? Seriously though, a study that came out about a year or so ago has indicated that a promising job in the next 20 years is in the field of specializing in Ear health (of course, with the headphones blasting all the music for all to hear). How about the high correlation between ADHD and exposure to TV? While it is true that not everything is true exclusively, there are studies that we can't ignore or disqualify entirely.

SO how else is TAD playing a role in our daily lives? How has it affected you? How, most importantly, has spending countless hours on anything you might be obsessed with affected your time management skills? How about your tendency to tease an authentic information from an otherwise not so authentic? How about the amount of information that is on the web? How has it affected your relationship with friends, families, colleagues?

So TAD, anyone??

Part I

( its snowing tonight...so nice. )

Time management, courage to face a challenge, commitment, wisdom, patience. These aren't just random lists of good things to do. Rather, they are crucial things one needs to be familiar with in terms of practice. Among a thousand more things we need to know and do, there are few things we prioritize. I will, insha'allah, in the next few weeks, post short but helpful tips and wisdom from the Sunnah as well as the Qur'an that are more than easy to integrate in our daily lives. I will also be referring to the Encyclopedia for Women's health and Natural healing. Not only do they help one become a better Muslimah, but also a better mother, wife, sister, daughter etc. For the brothers out there, you can still make use of these tips...but I would dedicate the posts for sisters.

Poor time management is one big issue that one is bound to face. Not only is it disruptive of routines and of given projects, but also of health and relationships. Good time management doesn't just fall into place nor are some people 'just' good at it, rather it comes with practice and good resolve. Of all things Allah swears by in the Qur'an, time is one that has a recurrent theme. The Beloved of Allah, may peace and blessings be upon him has also shown in practice the best way to utilize one's time. His time was divided into different categories, such as that for himself, his family, the community and of course worship. He further said to make use of what time we have before we get preoccupied with life. And no body but a mother would understand this. Perhaps we would all to some degree understand it, but not like a mother does-between caring for her young, overlooking the house, and attending to all else. So how is it that one can have blessing in their time and utilize it in the best of ways?

Here is where prioritizing comes in. Asking oneself, what is the most important thing to be taken care of first? What would one's goal be in a day, a week, a month, a year? We see from the Sira of Rasullulah Sallalahu Aleyhi Wa salaam, that his day was planned around the five daily prayers, as a framework and the rest of the activities throughout. And the same was true for a week, a month and a year. (We'll come back to his routines in the next post, God willing.)

But prioritizing isn't good enough. How many 'to do lists' have you made in the past, only to find out that the list keeps growing and the thought of it all just leaves you discourages before the break of the day?! That is why one ought to sprinkle a dash of commitment/passion to it. This is very important. Why? Because we all need a dose of motivation to keep us engaged and going. Without motivation it is likely not much would be accomplished. There are a number of ways to have yourself ready and motivated. Here I can only give lists of things, but you should know yourself enough to judge what keeps your spirits high.

Before I conclude my post for the day (partly b/c we wouldn't want this to turn into a long rant) make sure to poke your nose outside and take a deep breath from this crisp, awesome of a weather.

Peace & Blessings.

H_

whats it for you?

Masha'allah a very nice Eid!



Eid. It means so much more when people you know are around. You look at their faces, their smiles, the hugs and the kisses in the morning... the most common people to you...like your mother or stuttering sibling. And then everything that used to be just common becomes magical...the same food, but just special...and then I like the smell of Eid...the smell of freshness and that perfume on your dad. And then the hurries to make it on time for prayer...walking for another 7-10 minutes to pray at the stadium...people in new clothes...kids all looking irresistibly cute... and then the Takbir...going back home for a breakfast and then visits to relatives and friends. Being forced to eat cookies...take candies. Everything would look special. when one sees a school friend, who was just a school friend the day before, at Eid it is a giggle and some whispers... everything is special. Even the dads get to plan a "special afternoon for our difficult kids" of course they are mostly interested in their time sitting together and reminiscing about things. Ohh the feeling of it all...at Eid, the streets even look different, spacious and welcoming.
The smile on your mom's face...I even dare asked her when I was a child how come she never wore that smile before...she smiled again and replied you silly thing, it is the same smile. But for me, even now when I think back...everything was special.

What do I miss most of Eid back home...? I've got to say it is those people who I see day-in, day-out. Because at Eid I always get reminded that they are the most special people to me.

So this is what I thought about to-day and remembered. Times are different, but Eid never seems to be missing a thing, just more special.

precious times ahead

IT IS BETTER IN PRAYER TO HAVE A HEART WITHOUT WORDS THAN WORDS WITHOUT A HEART.

-- -- --

CONNECT

&

REFLECT

FEEL THE SURGE OF BLOOD THROUGH YOUR VEINS

AND LET THE AIR FILL YOUR LUNGS,

EXHALE IN GRATITUDE

AND REFLECT...

CALL WITHOUT WORDS

HEAR WITH YOUR HEART

FEEL WITH YOUR EYES

AND REFLECT...

WHEN CALLED UPON ANSWER BACK

WITH PASSION THAT TRANSCENDS

AND REPLY BACK WITH THE WORDS

OF LABAYK.

(LABAYK ALLAHUMA LABAYK)

-hikmet-

tagged

Assalamu Alikum & Peace to All,

My dear friend hira has finally got me Tagged. So here is a Hadith I would like to share as those Verses are real special to me.
-- -- --

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radi allahu anhu): When it was revealed to Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Aleyhi wasalaam): “To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your own selves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it,” the Companions of Allah’s Messenger felt it hard and severe and they came to Allah’s Messenger and sat down on their knees and said: “O Allah’s Messenger, we were assigned some duties which were within our power to perform, such as Salat, Saum, Jihad, Saddaqa. Then this Verse was revealed unto you and it is beyond our power to live up to it.” Allah’s Messenger said, “Do you want to say what the people of the two Books said before you: ‘We hear and disobey?’ You should rather say: ‘We hear and we obey, we seek forgiveness, our Lord and unto You is the return.’” And they said : “We hear and we obey, (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And unto You is the return.” When the people recited it and it smoothly flowed on their tongues then Allah revealed immediately afterwards: “The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’ –and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return.’” When they did that, Allah abrogated this (Verse) and Allah the Great revealed: “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall on error.” (The Prophet Said): “Yes. ‘Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did on those before us.’” (The Prophet said): “Yes. ‘Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.’” (The Prophet said): “Yes. ‘Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula and give us victory over the disbelieving people.’” He (the Prophet) said: “yes.”
(Sallaahu Aleyhi Wasalaam)
(Narrated by Muslim)

I have chosen this hadith since it somehow represents a lot of ideas for me, as a Human being. First of all, there is the idea that we are not all alike in our capabilities. Second we tend to forget or slip away, as is our nature. And finally, it is ones duty to try earnestly what one can do and leave the rest to Allah’s Mercy.
There are a lot of Ahadith I would put up in the Masjid, but this would be one of the top ones since no matter how hard we try to perfect our worship and all other dealings in life, there is only a certain level we can accomplish. Therefore, one can take refuge in those Verses (Surat Al-Baqara 285-286)and remember that our final return is to Allah and our dealing will be with Him, Azza Wajal, thus ask for His forgiveness and strive harder when faced with challenges of either life or Iman.

I think I am supposed to share three Ahadith, but I will stick with only one for now. It is only one, but has great message if reflected upon. Insha'allah, perhaps one Hadith everyweek...for reflections in the future.

serene

When someone deeply listens to you
It is like holding out a dented cup
You’ve had since childhood
And watching it fill up with
Cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
You are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
You are loved.

When someone deeply listens to you
The room where you stay
Starts a new life
And the place where you wrote
Your first poem
Begins to glow in your mind’s eye.
It is as if gold has been discovered!

When someone deeply listens to you
Your bare feet are on the earth
And a beloved land that seemed distant
Is now at home within you.
--John Fox