A Hadith that i wanted to Share:
Once, the Holy Prophet pbuh came to the Masjid for prayer, when he noticed some people laughing and giggling.
He remarked, "If you remembered death, I would not see you like this. Think of your death often. Not a single day passes when the grave does not call out: ‘I am a wilderness, I am a place of dust, I am a place of worms.’
When a believer is placed in the grave, it says; ‘Welcome, it is good of you to have come to me. Of all the people walking on the Earth, I liked you the best. Now you have come in to me, you will see how I entertain you.’
It then expands as far as the occupant can see. A door from Paradise is opened for him in the grave and through this door he gets fresh and fragrant air of Paradise.
However, when a evil man is laid in the grave it says; ‘You are not welcome here. Your coming into me is very bad for you. Of all the people walking on the Earth, I disliked you the most. Now that you have been put into me, you will see how I treat you!’
It then closes upon him so much that his ribs of one side penetrate into the ribs of the other.
As many as seventy serpents are then set upon him, to keep biting him until the day of resurrection.
These serpents are so venomous that if one of them happened to spurt its venom upon the earth, not a single blade of grass would ever grow."
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Life after burying a loved one
So in short,
i had travel to the country to bury my aunty
taken time off work
done alot of thinking
and i had been totally drained, emotionally and physically
by the time i got back to Sydney i just wanted to sleep...
Ramadan had started already
The first thing i do is, email my friend telling her that i wanted to say my Shahadah and i wanted to know what the next steps were, asap...
She writes back telling me that she will organise my shahadah, she tells me a location and she will organise it for that weekend, the saturday.. Wow its happening, im getting closer to Allah...
I ask her what i should wear and she tells me a skirt and long sleeve shirt.. My gosh i dont own any skirts lol, i live in jeans haha, i eventually found a long black hippy looking skirt to wear and a long sleeve cardigan...
I was so excited, the week went so slow, i returned to work and i just couldnt believe what i was doing. I had this big secret and i walked around with a smile on my face... Alhdmuillah..
As the week came to an end i started to get nerves and butterflies in my stomach.
So i thought i better tell my family, how am i going to do this,what will i say and how will they react? So i had the intention of telling my mum/family before i did it but when i went around to my mums place they had left for the weekend to visit family. Gosh now what, should i put it off till they get back then tell them... geez i always leave everything till the last minute and now look what happens...
But Allah has his plan, and if this is how its going to be, then im just going to go with it... I cant put this off any longer!
On the friday night after work, my best friend picks me up to go eat and hangout like we usually do... I had to break the news to someone, shes knows everything about me and she knows about me researching religion... So after hours of talking with her and trying to think of the right way to tell me, i finally started to tell her...
I said, 'Habibs, i have something to tell you but please dont freak out'.
'Yeah what is it', she says.
'im going to become a Muslim' i tell her.
Ruby said to me 'you know what habibs, iv been waiting for you to tell me that for awhile now. i even told my mum that i think your going to convert'
omg, it was so hard to work up the courage to tell you and u already knew... lol
Alhumdiullah she was so supportive, she told me what ever make you happy habibs...
Mashallah what a good friend she is. Im so thankful to have such a great girl in my life. Shes someone who made life so much easier for me by just being in it..
She ask me when im thinking of doing it...
LOL
i tell her, 'tomorrow'...
Wow thats quick. We talk about the process of becoming a Muslims and what i need to do, where and when it will be done...
It was so great to tell someone who is important to me, and having their approval... Alhdmuillah!
i had travel to the country to bury my aunty
taken time off work
done alot of thinking
and i had been totally drained, emotionally and physically
by the time i got back to Sydney i just wanted to sleep...
Ramadan had started already
The first thing i do is, email my friend telling her that i wanted to say my Shahadah and i wanted to know what the next steps were, asap...
She writes back telling me that she will organise my shahadah, she tells me a location and she will organise it for that weekend, the saturday.. Wow its happening, im getting closer to Allah...
I ask her what i should wear and she tells me a skirt and long sleeve shirt.. My gosh i dont own any skirts lol, i live in jeans haha, i eventually found a long black hippy looking skirt to wear and a long sleeve cardigan...
I was so excited, the week went so slow, i returned to work and i just couldnt believe what i was doing. I had this big secret and i walked around with a smile on my face... Alhdmuillah..
As the week came to an end i started to get nerves and butterflies in my stomach.
So i thought i better tell my family, how am i going to do this,what will i say and how will they react? So i had the intention of telling my mum/family before i did it but when i went around to my mums place they had left for the weekend to visit family. Gosh now what, should i put it off till they get back then tell them... geez i always leave everything till the last minute and now look what happens...
But Allah has his plan, and if this is how its going to be, then im just going to go with it... I cant put this off any longer!
On the friday night after work, my best friend picks me up to go eat and hangout like we usually do... I had to break the news to someone, shes knows everything about me and she knows about me researching religion... So after hours of talking with her and trying to think of the right way to tell me, i finally started to tell her...
I said, 'Habibs, i have something to tell you but please dont freak out'.
'Yeah what is it', she says.
'im going to become a Muslim' i tell her.
Ruby said to me 'you know what habibs, iv been waiting for you to tell me that for awhile now. i even told my mum that i think your going to convert'
omg, it was so hard to work up the courage to tell you and u already knew... lol
Alhumdiullah she was so supportive, she told me what ever make you happy habibs...
Mashallah what a good friend she is. Im so thankful to have such a great girl in my life. Shes someone who made life so much easier for me by just being in it..
She ask me when im thinking of doing it...
LOL
i tell her, 'tomorrow'...
Wow thats quick. We talk about the process of becoming a Muslims and what i need to do, where and when it will be done...
It was so great to tell someone who is important to me, and having their approval... Alhdmuillah!
Ramadan work shop
Just before my aunty had died, i attending a Ramadan workshop!
It was coming up to that time of the year and i was invited to attend this workshop, it just spoke about that Fasting is, how you do it, the rules to follow and who must fast etc... it was really nice and i had lunch afterward with a bunch of Muslim woman which was very educational for me...
During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.
During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.
I realised that there are so many reverts out there, so many other people who felt like i did, woman who had been through what im going through and have come out the other end being okay :D being a Muslim... I found them so inspirational, so loving and non judgmental. It gave me a real insight into that life a a muslim woman, not like the usual stereotyping that happens in the media and what u see in the streets... I meet so real God Fearing people, woman who dont swear, who dress modestly, who are polite and inviting.
It was coming up to that time of the year and i was invited to attend this workshop, it just spoke about that Fasting is, how you do it, the rules to follow and who must fast etc... it was really nice and i had lunch afterward with a bunch of Muslim woman which was very educational for me...
During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.
During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.
I realised that there are so many reverts out there, so many other people who felt like i did, woman who had been through what im going through and have come out the other end being okay :D being a Muslim... I found them so inspirational, so loving and non judgmental. It gave me a real insight into that life a a muslim woman, not like the usual stereotyping that happens in the media and what u see in the streets... I meet so real God Fearing people, woman who dont swear, who dress modestly, who are polite and inviting.
The Decision
The night that my aunty died, we had so many visitors..
And among them was a few Priest who were close to the family and had close ties to my grandmother and our community..
While they visited everyone sat in a circle and prayed for my aunty, they sung some christian songs and i felt so uncomfortable, i backed my self into a corner not wanting anything to do with them. They got my to join and it felt so wrong, i didnt beleive in anything they were saying, i felt like i was portraying Allah, i felt like i was sinning... How could i do this, a warning of Death has come to me, my aunty has died, i beleive in islam and yet im here with these ppl doing things that are Haraam
But i was in just shock and sorrow that i didnt have the heart to say anything.. :( I returned to my room to Read Quran, Alhdmuillah such peace came over my heart, i thought long and hard about my life, where i was and where i wanted to be....
I had to do something, i felt like i was in limbo... walking across the string of life, swaying from side to side.
What was i to do? The biggest Decision of my life was coming and i had no choice, i couldnt live life like this any more! Was i going to convert to Islam and live my life the way i wanted to and die in the State of ISlam or was i going to keep putting it off to please everyone else...
Ya Allah, help me, Guide me, Give me the strength i need to get through this. I prayed and cried so much..
By the morning time i had decided, i have to do this, i need to do this.. Allah has blessed my heart and opened my eyes to Islam to see the truth and no matter how hard it may seem all i could think about was, if i die and face my Lord and he asked my why i didnt accept islam, i couldnt say anything i had no excuse, no reason except that the Shaytan was making me think it was hard and that i didnt want to upset my family..
But will my mum hold my hard when i face my Lord, no one will, no one will answer for me or defend me.. .Im on my own and i should make this choice based on being on my own...
I sick of pleasing others, i need to do this for me...
I had decided in my heart that i will accept Islam, once my aunty is Buried and i return home im going to organise with my friend to say my shahadah inshallah..
I gave myself i time limit to when i will take this step... within the month i will be a muslim :D inshallah
And among them was a few Priest who were close to the family and had close ties to my grandmother and our community..
While they visited everyone sat in a circle and prayed for my aunty, they sung some christian songs and i felt so uncomfortable, i backed my self into a corner not wanting anything to do with them. They got my to join and it felt so wrong, i didnt beleive in anything they were saying, i felt like i was portraying Allah, i felt like i was sinning... How could i do this, a warning of Death has come to me, my aunty has died, i beleive in islam and yet im here with these ppl doing things that are Haraam
But i was in just shock and sorrow that i didnt have the heart to say anything.. :( I returned to my room to Read Quran, Alhdmuillah such peace came over my heart, i thought long and hard about my life, where i was and where i wanted to be....
I had to do something, i felt like i was in limbo... walking across the string of life, swaying from side to side.
What was i to do? The biggest Decision of my life was coming and i had no choice, i couldnt live life like this any more! Was i going to convert to Islam and live my life the way i wanted to and die in the State of ISlam or was i going to keep putting it off to please everyone else...
Ya Allah, help me, Guide me, Give me the strength i need to get through this. I prayed and cried so much..
By the morning time i had decided, i have to do this, i need to do this.. Allah has blessed my heart and opened my eyes to Islam to see the truth and no matter how hard it may seem all i could think about was, if i die and face my Lord and he asked my why i didnt accept islam, i couldnt say anything i had no excuse, no reason except that the Shaytan was making me think it was hard and that i didnt want to upset my family..
But will my mum hold my hard when i face my Lord, no one will, no one will answer for me or defend me.. .Im on my own and i should make this choice based on being on my own...
I sick of pleasing others, i need to do this for me...
I had decided in my heart that i will accept Islam, once my aunty is Buried and i return home im going to organise with my friend to say my shahadah inshallah..
I gave myself i time limit to when i will take this step... within the month i will be a muslim :D inshallah
Thursday, July 8, 2010
My Darling Aunty Jeannie
It was 4am and i was still up, sitting on the p.c.
The home phone rang, and i had this sick feeling in my gut! I hesitantly got up and took the few step to the phone.....
Its my Uncle David, we say each others name and tears streamed down my face... he hadnt said anything else to me and i knew...
I said, 'Whats wrong uncle dave'
He said, 'put your father on'
'okay'
then i can hear my dad walking out with a cross look on his face, he was annoyed that someone was call at this time and that i was up..
i said, 'its uncle dave, he wants to talk to you'
I hand the phone over and sit about a meter away from him on a chair, hanging off every word my dad says, trying to fill out the missing parts of the conversation.
I started to cry before i could even hear my dads reply....
My Aunty had died, My God, how could this happen? she was fine, she just had a baby and was only 33 years old..
I never felt such heartache in my life! The feelings and emotions that i went through that day were unimaginable. I sat on the lounge and sobbed, asking why, how and when did all this happen.
She was my favorite Aunty, the young one who was so much fun. She had the best smile and an incredible smile. When ever i knew she was coming from a visit, id keep the night free cause we always sat up talking till early hours of the morning..
We talked about, God, Death, Angels and loved ones who had past away.. I imagined her in my distant future, always being there.. and now my world has been turned upside down..
I was so sad to think that i was never able to give her the message of Islam. If id only done something sooner, maybe she would have accept Islam..
This day was one of the longest days in my life...........
From the time i heard the news, i had to start preparing for visitors. Since my mum was the eldest and we were in Sydney, most of the people, family, friends etc would be coming some time today..
I was under alot of pressure, my step dad was sick, i had no religion, my mum wasnt with me and i had just lost an very important person it my life...
Was this my second warning for Allah, reminding me of Death... or was it all just a coincidence? What if im next? What if the Angel of Death comes to me tonight to take my soul? What if im the next to die?
I remember reading from the Quran:
(In Falsehood will they be) Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: "O my Lord! send me back (to life),- 23:99 Surah Al-Mu'muinun
Would i be one of those people? To die, knowing Islam but not accepting it.. What would my Lord say to me? All the sins i have on my heart, why would Allah give me anything when i wont even declare that he is the One and True God.
I miss my aunty so so much, its been years since i heard her voice or seen her beautiful smile... Inshallah i will see her again, inshallah in the afterlife!
The home phone rang, and i had this sick feeling in my gut! I hesitantly got up and took the few step to the phone.....
Its my Uncle David, we say each others name and tears streamed down my face... he hadnt said anything else to me and i knew...
I said, 'Whats wrong uncle dave'
He said, 'put your father on'
'okay'
then i can hear my dad walking out with a cross look on his face, he was annoyed that someone was call at this time and that i was up..
i said, 'its uncle dave, he wants to talk to you'
I hand the phone over and sit about a meter away from him on a chair, hanging off every word my dad says, trying to fill out the missing parts of the conversation.
I started to cry before i could even hear my dads reply....
My Aunty had died, My God, how could this happen? she was fine, she just had a baby and was only 33 years old..
I never felt such heartache in my life! The feelings and emotions that i went through that day were unimaginable. I sat on the lounge and sobbed, asking why, how and when did all this happen.
She was my favorite Aunty, the young one who was so much fun. She had the best smile and an incredible smile. When ever i knew she was coming from a visit, id keep the night free cause we always sat up talking till early hours of the morning..
We talked about, God, Death, Angels and loved ones who had past away.. I imagined her in my distant future, always being there.. and now my world has been turned upside down..
I was so sad to think that i was never able to give her the message of Islam. If id only done something sooner, maybe she would have accept Islam..
This day was one of the longest days in my life...........
From the time i heard the news, i had to start preparing for visitors. Since my mum was the eldest and we were in Sydney, most of the people, family, friends etc would be coming some time today..
I was under alot of pressure, my step dad was sick, i had no religion, my mum wasnt with me and i had just lost an very important person it my life...
Was this my second warning for Allah, reminding me of Death... or was it all just a coincidence? What if im next? What if the Angel of Death comes to me tonight to take my soul? What if im the next to die?
I remember reading from the Quran:
(In Falsehood will they be) Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: "O my Lord! send me back (to life),- 23:99 Surah Al-Mu'muinun
Would i be one of those people? To die, knowing Islam but not accepting it.. What would my Lord say to me? All the sins i have on my heart, why would Allah give me anything when i wont even declare that he is the One and True God.
I miss my aunty so so much, its been years since i heard her voice or seen her beautiful smile... Inshallah i will see her again, inshallah in the afterlife!
An Event that changed my life forever
It had been about 2-3 months since my nephew had died and life was getting back to normal and i was still leading my second life, learning about Islam.
At this stage i knew i wanted to be a Muslim but i just couldnt find the strength to do it, i knew that it would be hard for me and my family whom i love so dearly.
I felt so alone in life, i would sleep at night and my heart would ache. But i soldiered on and put on a happy face. I prayed to God so many time, at night i would talk to Him and ask for a way out, for help, for Him to make it easy..
My Auntie Jeannie was pregnant with her fourth child, a baby girl :D its was so exciting the thought of having another baby around. It was just by chance that two of my aunties (sisters) were both due around the same time.
September, cant remember the exact date but my aunty leslie had a baby boys on the monday, then on the tuesday or wednesday my aunty jeannie had her daughter. Mashallah what an exciting time.. two babies in the family in less then a week. It was so exciting.. At the time my mum and bothers were my the coast with my aunt jeannie cause she had been really sick from this pregnancy, so my mum went to help out for the last few weeks of her pregnancy.
Im sitting in the car with my friend Ruby and my phone rings, its my mum. She tells me your aunt is being flown down to Sydney because she in a critical condition... huh said, what do u mean, i dont understand? My mum said, she ok but they want to send her to Sydney so she can get better treatment.. The baby is okay, my mum says to me. i asked is she going to be okay, my mum assured me that she will be alright but the sound of her voice wasnt assuring at all...
i didnt know what was wrong, just that it was something to do with having the baby... So my mum suggest that i call her on her mobile before she gets on to the helicopter... hhmmm okay then.
i started to tell my friend about what was going on, and we got carried away in conversation. and before i knew it, it was too late to call her... 'oh well', i thought, there is always tomorrow. Ill call her or visit her tomorrow..
I stayed out pretty late that night, till about 2:30 in the morning. My girlfriend dropped me off at my mum and step dads house which was my 2nd home after my dads house. I jumped on the computer and surfed the net which became a habit of mine..
At this stage i knew i wanted to be a Muslim but i just couldnt find the strength to do it, i knew that it would be hard for me and my family whom i love so dearly.
I felt so alone in life, i would sleep at night and my heart would ache. But i soldiered on and put on a happy face. I prayed to God so many time, at night i would talk to Him and ask for a way out, for help, for Him to make it easy..
My Auntie Jeannie was pregnant with her fourth child, a baby girl :D its was so exciting the thought of having another baby around. It was just by chance that two of my aunties (sisters) were both due around the same time.
September, cant remember the exact date but my aunty leslie had a baby boys on the monday, then on the tuesday or wednesday my aunty jeannie had her daughter. Mashallah what an exciting time.. two babies in the family in less then a week. It was so exciting.. At the time my mum and bothers were my the coast with my aunt jeannie cause she had been really sick from this pregnancy, so my mum went to help out for the last few weeks of her pregnancy.
Im sitting in the car with my friend Ruby and my phone rings, its my mum. She tells me your aunt is being flown down to Sydney because she in a critical condition... huh said, what do u mean, i dont understand? My mum said, she ok but they want to send her to Sydney so she can get better treatment.. The baby is okay, my mum says to me. i asked is she going to be okay, my mum assured me that she will be alright but the sound of her voice wasnt assuring at all...
i didnt know what was wrong, just that it was something to do with having the baby... So my mum suggest that i call her on her mobile before she gets on to the helicopter... hhmmm okay then.
i started to tell my friend about what was going on, and we got carried away in conversation. and before i knew it, it was too late to call her... 'oh well', i thought, there is always tomorrow. Ill call her or visit her tomorrow..
I stayed out pretty late that night, till about 2:30 in the morning. My girlfriend dropped me off at my mum and step dads house which was my 2nd home after my dads house. I jumped on the computer and surfed the net which became a habit of mine..
Islam is just a continuation of Christianity
Islam just seem to be a continuation of Christianity.
These two religions have so much in common, the same angel that revealed the Bible to Jesus, is the same angel that sent revelations to Mohammed pbuh.. The Angel Gabriel/ Jibril.
Islam believe in all the previous prophets, Noah, Jesus, Moses, Abraham etc.... Islam doesn’t deny that Jesus preformed Miracles, but only with the permission of Allah.
So when letting go of Christianity, i was still taking part of it with me :D
The Quran just amazed me! I was becoming more convinced with the more i learnt.
Some of the amazing miracles in the Quran, tell of scientific facts that were only recently discovered. Now just imagine that you were in the desert 1400 years ago, would you know this stuff?
Back years ago into the 19th century everyone thought that the world was flat, but in the Quran it says the following: [79:30] He made the earth egg-shaped. The Quran was revealed 1400yrs ago, how could Mohammed pbuh know this?
And Look up information about Brackish Water will help you understand the following more.
The Holy Quran mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:
He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress. (Quran, 55:19-20)
But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. God has said in the Quran:
He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition. (Quran, 25:53)
There are many more examples in the Quran, just do a quick search on the net.
So many more beautiful things impressed me about Islam;
The treatment of the elderly
How everyone in the family has a role and a purpose
The fact that charity is required on every able Muslim
That we don’t drink or abuse out bodies
But most of all, Womans rights Mashallah we are the most liberated woman in the world...
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