Poetry: Letter to My Son

Letter to my son

Son, I hope this meets you in good health
Perfect state of mind
I always wish you well, striving hard
To feed you with halal wealth

I pray you memorize the whole Qur'an
Before the age of ten
Know its meanings too
All the sayings and Sunnah of Rasulullah

I pray you make good grades
All the way and get a good degree
Someday. Add value to humanity
Positively, of course

I pray you never miss a single raka’at
Of all the salats in your life
In congregation, and the nawafils too
Never forgetting me in your du’as
And mama too

Son, make the best use of this world
Fleeting as it is, to get the best
Of the next world.
Be firm and bold

Son, Satan is your enemy
He has agents; he uses music
Movies and co to conquer
Stay away from them

Always speak the truth
Wherever you are
Always speak good
Or keep silent

Do not envy, be contented
You only get what is decreed
Your altitude is predestined
Maintain a positive attitude

Give much love to mama
Three times more than mine
Never mind, I gave same to mine
Take care of your sisters, be a caring mahram

I pray you achieve your dream
Of joining the army
But live and die only For Allah
That is why I named you
Abdullah

Fatherly yours,
Abu Abdullah

The precious beloved, the obedient daughter

Sayyidah Fatima az-Zahrah bint Muhammed al-Mustafa (SAW - may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)"Do you realize whose biography you are to write about?" I asked my pen before it touched the pages of my notebook. "No," it replied. Whispering in its ear, I said, "You are to write about the precious beloved, the obedient daughter. You are to write about the one who embodied perseverance in her struggles, the blessed truthful one, the one who was content with her Lord and whose Lord was content with her. You are to write about the possessor of the eloquent tongue, the one who's heart was filled with the love for paradise, the daughter of the greatest man (SAW ), he upon whom Allah revealed the Qur'an. You are to write about the one nicknamed "mother of her father," the righteous ascetic.Hearing this good news, my pen danced out of utter ecstasy and elation, for Allah had granted it permission to write about this righteous woman. Moments afterwards, fear overtook the burdened pen as it began to realize the magnitude of the responsibility delegated to it. Turning to its Lord in humbleness and gratitude, my pen prostrated onto the pad requesting inspiration and truthfulness in every letter it would write. As the ink began to flow through its tip, the following words were recorded:All praise belongs to Allah, and may salutations and benedictions be upon the Messenger of Allah (SAW).This blessed girl, Fatimah al-Zahrah ("the blossoming flower") (RA - may Allah be pleased with her), was born in the sanctified city of Mecca, in the home of "the mother of all believers," Khadijah Al-Kubra ("the Prominent") (RA), five years before the revelation and in a time of immense Divine success and good fortune. The time of her birth coincided with an event that would have led the Quraysh into a major civil war had it not been for the wise judgment of her father, the trustworthy one named Muhammad (SAW). After the rebuilding of the holy Ka'bah, the tribes of Mecca had differed amongst themselves as to which tribe would have the privilege of placing the sacred Black Stone in its rightful place.After much debate and many threats of a possible war, the tribes had finally come to an agreement. They would leave it to the first man who entered upon them to decide who would be the one to lift the sacred Black Stone. Allah decreed that Muhammad (SAW) be the chosen one--he (SAW) was to judge between the tribes. Endowed by Allah with the gift of sagaciousness and wisdom, he said to the rivaling tribes, "bring me a piece of cloth." Placing the Black Stone in the middle of the cloth, he told each tribe to take hold of a corner. Together, they all carried the stone over to the Ka'bah. Muhammad (SAW) then lifted the sacred Black Stone with his blessed hands and placed it in the corner of the Ka'bah, thus pleasing the differing tribes with his prudent judgment.Upon returning home to his gracious wife Khadijah (RA), he (SAW) found waiting for him the illuminated face of the most magnificent child ever to walk the face of the earth. It was the face of the one who most resembled him. Her white complexion mixed with a tinge of redness glistened in contrast to her jet-black hair. Gazing upon "a fragment of his essence," Muhammad (SAW) took her up into his arms with love and affection and said to his companion in life (Khadijah (RA)), "O Khadijah, she is like a gentle breeze full of blessing, and indeed Allah Ta'ala will make my progeny through her."Sayyidah Fatimah (AS) was reared in the house of prophethood along with her three older sisters: Sayyidah Zaynab (RA), Sayyidah Ruqayyah (RA), and Sayyidah Umm Kulthum (RA). Among the other inhabitants of this ethereal household was Ali ibn abi Talib (RA - may Allah be pleased with him) [the cousin of the Messenger of Allah], Zaid ibn al Haritha (RA) (the then adopted son of the Messenger of Allah), and Umm Ayman (RA) (the slave girl of Aminah, the mother of Muhammad (SAW).

Sayyidah Fatimah (RA) was raised and educated upon prophetic morals and etiquette, for the one who raised her was the one who said about himself, "My Lord has trained and cultivated me, and indeed He has perfected my training."Indeed, she was instructed by the one who's character was the Qur'an, and the one who Allah (AJ) said about him, "And indeed you are upon great and noble character." Sayyidah Fatimah (RA) absorbed the prophetic qualities of truthfulness, sanctity, integrity, compassion, abstinence, steadfastness, and scrupulousness; she came to live the meanings of contentedness, humility, and altruism, and was one who always preferred silence.Growing up witnessing the incessant worship of her father day and night, secluding himself in the cave of Hira', and seeing her mother's unwavering support of her husband left a lasting imprint on Sayyidah Fatimah's soul. And as her three older sisters were maturing, marrying and eventually all moving away from home, little Fatimah (RA) was left to help her mother in her every effort to prepare the Best of Creation to receive the revelations from Heaven.The decree of Allah had arrived, and the custodian of the Heavens Jibril (AS - peace be upon him) began to descend upon the greatest of Allah's creation with revelations from above. He commanded the Prophet (SAW) to proclaim the Message of the Most Merciful, to give the good news, and to warn the creation—a heavy burden, no doubt. No sooner did the Messenger (SAW) begin spreading the word and inviting the people to Islam than did afflictions of all kinds beseige him from every direction. Yet he endured it with trust in Allah and a certainty that Allah would never leave him to his oppressors. He stayed up long into the nights praying for his people and inviting them to the best of ways, and indeed he fulfilled his duty (SAW)!His life companion and soul mate, Khadijah (RA) was a constant support who consoled him during a time in which mental and physical harms of all sorts rained on him because of her deeply rooted love for the Messenger (SAW). With her gentle words of encouragement, full financial support, and her ever-flowing affection, she did all she could to alleviate his burden and selflessly aided him in trying to attain his lofty goal. Each passing day would bring with it a new wave of persecution and adversity until they were economically sanctioned and cut off from their tribe.The little girl Al-Zahra (RA) endured days of hunger during this severe, trying period. She wept along with those who wept. She underwent the painful experience of witnessing the various tribulations that poured down upon her father, her mother, and all those who proclaimed the statement of La Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Muhammed Ar-Ra soolullah (There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah). Saddened and pained at what she saw, she stood firm, showing patience, gratitude, and resolve in helping her mother fight off the oppression, all while aiding the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and bringing comfort to his heart. The afflictions would not let up, but would pound harder and harder on her gentle, little heart, each taking its toll, until the time arrived for her to bid farewell to one of her greatest supports. Signs of fatigue and illness were becoming apparent on the face of one of the pillars of this blessed family, her mother and best friend Khadijah (RA). As she neared her appointed time, Sayyidah Khadijah (RA) looked at Fatimah (RA) and said, "O Fatimah, you are a fragment of your father's essence. I will leave him to your care."Thereafter, her pure soul traveled back to the Originator, leaving behind a sadness that gripped the hearts of her beloved and left her husband and daughter tearful. This year of immense loss was called by the Messenger of Allah (SAW) himself, "The year of grief." In this year, the Messenger (SAW) lost his uncle Abu Talib, along with the mother of his daughters and sons, his soul mate, Khadijah Al-Kubra (RA). At this point, the responsibility of upholding the house of prophethood in its entirety fell on the shoulders of Sayyidah Fatimah (RA).Devoting herself to serving her father and expending every ounce of energy she possessed, she became an obedient daughter, a sincere friend, and as compassionate to the Messenger of Allah (RA) as a mother, to the point that he nicknamed her "mother of her father." Her precious heart wept out of sorrow and pain as she saw her father (SAW) return home on several occasions with blood stained clothes and signs of weariness on his ennobled face.Out of fear and love for her father (SAW), she would accompany him every place he went. She would accompany him to the Ka'bah, and she would be of those who attended the secret gatherings of the first believers, those willing to sacrifice their souls for him (SAW) and his message of La Ilaha Illa Allah, Muhammed Ar-Ra soolullah .Her whole essence was shaken when she witnessed the disbelievers, out of mockery, pour upon the head and back of her father (SAW) filth and entrails of dead sheep as he prostrated to Allah (AJ) at the holy Ka'bah. In a state of shock, she quickly ran and lifted the entrails off his head and back with her two little hands, brushing away the signs of filth on the Prophet (SAW). All the while, she pleaded with Allah to protect her father (SAW) from the harm of their oppressors.She once witnessed a band of Quraysh gather around her father (SAW), then beat and choking him with his own clothes until his breath was nearly cut off. She called out for help and assistance, and her cry was heard by Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (RA). He frantically came running and freed the Messenger of Allah (SAW) from their grasps while saying, "Do you kill a man only because he says `Allah is my Lord!'" Turning their attention to Abu Bakr (RA), the group beat him relentlessly until he lost consciousness and his facial features were no longer recognizable. And in the background of all this, here is this little child, witnessing these atrocities while maturing towards adolescence, bearing the burdens that even grown men cannot bear.The time now came for the migration from Mecca. Allah (AJ) commanded the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to migrate with his companion al-Siddiq to the City of Light, the city of Madinah. Alone without her father, Fatimah (RA) counted the days of her stay in Mecca and longed for the day she would once again be re-united with her father. After a few weeks, she found herself entering her father's house in the city of Madinah and finally able to breathe again.When Fatimah (RA) reached the age of eighteen, suitors began to approach the Messenger of Allah (SAW) requesting her hand, each desiring the honor and privilege of marrying into his family (SAW). After mustering up the courage,Ali (RA) headed towards the house of the Messenger of Allah (SS) and knocked at his door. The Messenger of Mercy (SAW) said (to the servant) "Open the door for the one knocking, for indeed he loves Allah and the Messenger. He is my brother, and is the most beloved of creation to me. Indeed, he is Ali ibn abi Talib." Entering the room in silence and sitting between the hands of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), Sayyidina Ali (RA) lowered his head out of humility. The Messenger (SAW) addressed him saying, "O Ali, you have come for a specific reason, what is it?" He replied, "O Messenger of Allah, you know of my kinship with you, and that you are my intercessor in this life and the next. I have come to seek the hand of your daughter Fatimah in marriage. Will you grant me that, O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger (SAW) replied, "O Ali, indeed Fatimah is yours, and you are hers, for Allah has commanded me to marry her to you."Sayyidina Ali (KRA) sold his body armor to Sayyidna Uthman ibn Affan (RA) for 400 Dirhams and used the money as Fatimah's (RA) dowry. Later Sayyidina Uthman (RA) returned the body armor to Sayyidina Ali as a wedding gift. They now proceeded to prepare their future home, the home of the family of light and worship. They began by laying the ground of their blessed home with sand. They then purchased a leather pillow filled with luffa; during the cold winter months they would flip the pillow inside out and face the warm wool outward, and during the hot summer months they would flip it back, leather side out, making it more bearable in the incessant Meccan heat.It was upon this pillow which rested the head of "the door to the city of knowledge" (Sayyidnah Ali (RA), as he was nicknamed by the Messenger of Allah (SAW), and the head of the greatest woman in all creation, Sayyidinah Fatimah (AS). They also purchased a pot of clay to cook their food in and bought a blanket for themselves. When they covered their heads with the blanket, their feet would be left uncovered, and when they covered their feet, their heads would be exposed. And these were the humble beginnings of this noble family.Upon entering their abode for the first time, Sayyida Fatimah wept, remembering that her mother was not with her on this joyous day. The newlyweds entered and sat next to each other awaiting the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), for he told Sayyidnah Ali (RA), "Do not approach your wife until I come to you." When he (SAW) arrived, he ordered for a jug of water to be brought to him. He (SAW) read into the water and sprinkled some of it on the face and chest of both Sayyidinah Fatimah and her husband. He then supplicated for them saying, "O Allah, make my progeny through Ali and Fatimah a guided progeny. O Allah, they are indeed the most beloved of creation to my heart, so love them too, and bless their progeny, and make for them a protection from You. I seek refuge in You for them and their offspring from the accursed devil." Turning to Ali (RA), the Messenger (SAW) said, "You may go to your wife, may Allah bless you, and the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you, O people of the family." Bidding farewell to the new couple, the Messenger (SAW) left the coolness of his eyes and the love of his heart, Sayyidah Fatimah, in the care and responsibility ofSayyidinah Ali (RA). Walking to the house of his wife Aisha (RA), the Messenger (SAW) continued making supplication for them saying, "O Allah, unite between their efforts and hearts, and make them and their progeny from the inheritors of the Garden."No sooner was the couple alone except that Sayyida Fatimah began weeping and sobbing. "What makes you weep, O Fatimah? What makes you weep, O daughter of the Messenger of Allah? Are you not pleased with me as a husband?" Sayyidina Ali (RA) asked in a gentle tone. "How can I not be pleased with you, and you are Ali," replied Fatimah. "But I thought about my happiness and tranquility now, being in your company, and how there will be a day when I will enter my grave without company like this".These were the thoughts of Sayyidah Fatimah (RA) on her wedding night! She thought about her grave, the abode of loneliness and darkness! Softening up to her, Sayyidina Ali (RA) said, "If you like, we can stay up and spend the night in worship of Allah."This is how the righteous couple spent the first night of their marriage: in the worship of Allah. " Forsaking their beds of rest" (Qur'an 32:16) is how they spent their wedding night! For now, let us leave this couple spending time in secluded company of the Most Merciful while we send salutations and benedictions upon the one to whom Allah revealed the Qur'an.

by Mohammed A

Poem : I Remember

I REMEMBER

Back in the days in makkah
A blessed town also known
As bakkah.
Came a man with plain truth
La shakka!

Few believed him, mostly weak
Darul arrqam to, they sneak
I remember!
Ammar bin yassir
Met suhaib arrumi
At the doorstep.

Amongst the early
Was ibn umm abd
Known as AbdullahIbn mas’ud.
A qari like no other.

I remember!
Jundub ibn junadah
From the town of ghifar
With the tongue like no other
Called abu dhar.

I remember!
The seeker of truth
From Isfahan, Persia
Salman got a place higher
What a warrior!

I remember!
Mus’ab umair
A good man, who left
His mama and her money
For a test of honey
Of Janna.
Never to beLonely.

I remember!
Bilal the Blackman
At badr he killed the badman
What a payback for an ex slaveman
Such a strong man!

And Aamir ibn Abdullah
Known as abu ubaidah
Ibn jarrrah. Hard man
Who killed his father
For Allah.

I remember!
The son of husail
Brother of safwan
Keeper of secrets
Am talking about who?
Hudhaifa al yamann

Most times I wish
I came as an ansar
Or a muhajir, for all
They did to the friend
Of abubakar and umar

O’ sahabas!
I love you
For all the sacrifices
From pain, turmoil and torture
RadiyAllahu-ta’ala-anhum-jamii’an!

Til we meet inshaAllah
Your apprentice
Abuabdullah

Education * By Dallas_Muslimah

Asalamu alaikum,


First, let me tell you a little bit about myself, I am a currently a public high school teacher in a very conservative southern "christian" district. I have ten years of teaching experience. I am 32, and I have been teaching since I was 22. Allhamdulilah, I hold a BA in Literature and Secondary Education, a Masters in Education with endoresements of a Reading Specialist for children with learning disablities, and I hold over five certifications in education. I am also looking for PHD programs to enter in to next fall. Allhamdulilah, Harvard is a prospect, as of the last acceptance letter I got.

By the way, if you are fully educated, certified, and good at what you do........there is nothing stopping you from practicing your Islam and getting a good job; hijab and all. Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) has been so kind to me. I taught for two years at an Islamic Private School here near where I live. I loved it, and my Islam grew, Allhamdulilah. Though, when I was told to get married, or they would not renew my contract. The school board stated that they did not want to put a single, attractive, sister in front of the high school aged boys as a teacher, and they felt that I would be a bad role model for the girls since I am educated, take care of myself, and believe that there is more to life than getting married at the age of 15. So, instead of settleing for just anyone in marriage, I left the school and applied at public school.

Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) blessed me with a great job, great money, and a staff of individuals who are not muslim, but encourage my Islam more so than when I was teaching at the Islamic School. During Ramadan I was given a substitute so that I could work only half days. As my principal put it, "You have night prayers to do, how will you function with little sleep and fasting? We will have someone come in and help you during that month." They also gave me a special schedule so that I don't miss Zuhr and Asr prayers. Allhamdulilah for all of Allah(SWT)'s mercies and blessings, Ameen!!!

Now, my topic and issue for you to ponder on. My dear fellow muslims, know that just because we are muslim does not mean that our children are immune to learning disablities. Many Islamic Schools DO NOT assess students, nor have the support system to deal with these students, nor are the teachers trained to work or educate these students. Learning Disabliites are not limited to Mental Retardation. It includes ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc. Many parents assume thier child as educationally healthy, and want them to be in an Islamic learning environment, so they enroll them at Islamic Private Schools. Yes, the schools want your money, and they want your child in their program. Though, very seldom do parents look at the programs at Islamic Private Schools. I have seen some students graduate from Islamic Private schools, and fail in college. When tested in college, they are diagnosed with a learning disablity. Then, it is too late for that student to get the help that they need to be successful. Had they been tested, and intervention established at the elementary level of their education, thost students could be far better off in their education and careers.

Know that as tax payers in the USA, you have every right to go to the school district in which you pay taxes and ask that your children be tested for learning disabliites. This is FREE to all tax payers. Some districts will give you the run around if your child is enrolled in private school, as opposed to one of the public schools. When this happens, enroll your child in the public school, get them tested, see what services they qualify for, and then at your choice, you can pull them out, and put them in the Islamic Private school if you choose. Also, it is important that when you enroll your child in Islamic Private Schools, you take your child's test results, and ask the Islamic Schools if they are equipped to handling the needs of your child. Ask questions as to the qualifications of the teachers who are educating the children, if there is staff developement to train teachers about the psychological growth of children, classroom mangagement, test scores in relation to student/teach ratios, etc. The education of our young is very important. We need our children to get the best education, so that they may grow and be of service to the Ummah. It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your child gets this, and is taken care of before it is too late.

I hold seminars for teachers all over the country on learn disablities, classroom management, identifying at-risk kids, etc. Though, anytime I have offered my services to Islamic Private Schools, I have been told, that they do not deal with "special" children. Well, how do you know if those kids are special or not? There is no assessment program in their schools. They just provide an islamic enviroment, and neglect the other areas of education of these children. It breaks my heart to see students who are not getting the help and intervention they deserve.

Subanallah, I taught 6th grade in an Islamic school one year. The first day of school, I noticed that I had 11 out of 20 students with learning disabliites. One was borderline retarded. Yet, because these children were never tested, and none of the teachers were trained to identify traits in these children; they went undiagnosed and untreated for more than six years. I pushed and pushed for these students to be tested. I even had diagnostians come in and assess my students. I can only imagine what the rest of the student body consisted of. The princpal told me, "Sister if we test all of our students, and some of them whose parents donate greatly to the school, and those students need special services that we can't give, we will lose a lot of money." So, this is all about money? What happened to the well-being and the education of young muslims.

I am in no way advocating public schools over Islamic Private Schools. I just feel that Islamic Private Schools should be held accountable for the education they claim to provide their students. I feel it is important that we empower them and help them to offer services to these special students. Just because a child has a learning disablity does not mean they cannot succeed or become more than what their parents aspire them to be. I know mentally retarded 7 year olds who can read on an 8th grade level. I also know 16 years old muslim children who just have ADD, and cannot read past the 2nd grade level. What does that tell you?

I would like to hear from parents. I would like to know your take on getting your child tested, and if you do send your child to a private school, has your child been tested?

Also, if I can be of any help in seminars, etc. for my muslim schools, please feel free to contact me, and I will make special arrangements for you and your staff, Inshallah.

May Allah(SWT) bless us all....Ameen,

dallas_muslimah@yahoo.com

Celebration of Eid, 2005 ~ By AbdurRafay Mohammed

Asalamaualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatahu Hope that everyone is fine by the grace of almighty Allah. My name is Abdurrafay I came to US for pursuing my higher studies in computer science. I am currently in Lamar University Beaumont, Texas. Alhamdullilah this EID was very good for me. I joined STPTJ around 23rd Oct 2005 and by Allah's grace it turned out fruitful for me. When I was in India, I used to take evrythg as granted and didn't understand the purpose of living. But when I came to US my view was changed totally. When I arrived here I was not able to see any Muslim brothers or sisters except (my brother's friends). Since Ramadan I met many Muslim brothers and I also joined STPTJ. Through STPTJ I learned a lot and was implementing it in my practical life (Alhamdulliah). I thought this EID will be special for me as I was waiting for it very eagerly during the month of Ramadan. After 29 days of Ramadan finally EID day was here. Since EID I am not able to concentrate properly on namaz and reciting the holy quran. I asked myself during the month of Ramadan I was offering namaz regularly what happened now the EID which I was thinking will be very special was not like as it seemed to be. I thought I was being a munafiq showing that I am sincere to Allah swt but the nafs it stopped me from doing good things and ask Allah swt for forgiveness, I was just delaying it and was becoming lazy after Ramadan. May Allah swt forgive me and all the Muslims for all the sins we have done during the month of Ramadan. Fiamanillah.

~Dont you shy with an Ant?~ sis Rytha

What so beautiful story “ THE INSPIRATIONAL ANT ” that written by Sister Saaleha. You can read the story in SistersSeekingJannah group**

The story has told an important issue in Islam believes lightly but elegantly…If I may take the lesson from the story, it talks about faith.

Reading the story made me remember to beautiful verse in Holy Qur’an. It said that for the true believers who have dear trust in Allah, Allah will help them to solve their matters, Allah will help to find the way out. Allah will provide them sustenance from any ways that sometimes unthinkable. [1] This is a beautiful promise of Allah as the gifts for the believers in this world… …

Therefore a Moslem, who has a true faith, will always confidence facing all obstacles in their life. They feel Allah will always with them…Allah will always help them… Allah will always protect them..as far they stick to the straight part, and follow the best His guidance.

A Moslem should believe that there is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depenth on Allah. [2] Allah will not leave even small weak creatures without sustenance. There are many creatures that carry not their own sustenance; it’s Allah who feeds them. [3] Allah gives His creatures sustenance depends on their function in this universe, and also depends on their efforts.

There is kind of sustenance that demand our efforts to get them. Such as when we want to eat we need money, to get money we have to work. The harder we work; we “usually” will get more money.

There is another sustenance that just available freely even if we do not ask. We can breathe the fresh the air, drink the fresh water, feel the warm of the sun light; and we meet the night for us to get rest, etc. If we calculate all what He provided for us it is really unlimited.[4]

There is another interesting stories about an Ant and Prophet Sulaiman [Solomon] alaihiwasssalam. We know the Prophet Sulaiman alaihiwasssalam has special gift. Allah blessed him the ability to talk and understand animals’ language.

One day Prophet Sulaiman alaihiwassalam asked an ant: “How much sustenance do you need in one year?

“One grain” answered the Ant.

Then Prophet Sulaiman alaihiwassalam put the ant into a bottle, he closed the bottle so that the ant couldn’t go anywhere. The Prophet left a grain for Ant’s life for one year...

After one year Prophet Sulaiman backed. He opened that bottle. He found only half of grain had been eaten. The prophet wondered: “Why you left half of that grain, why you do not eat all of them? In fact you need one grain for one year.”….

The answer gave very profound answer:

The ant said “If I didn’t live in the bottle, I would have eaten all the grain because of my trust to Allah subhana wata’ala. I know Allah will never forget to give sustenance for a weak creature like me next year, but because I was depended on your, I had to leave half of the grain for the safety just in case you would forget me in the next year” [5]

Subhanallah….

The ant just teaches us about a very important issue in Islamic belief. Our scholars make the definition of this issues as “Tawheed Rububiyah; a fundamental things to believe Allah as the Rabb [Robb], the owner, the master, the guider, the provider, the director, the creator, and the One who take care all His creatures ; all in the heaven and the universe……

Many of us memorize very well the definitions of Tawheed, particularly the Tawheed of Rububiyah. Some even were trained to preach the Tawheed eloquently with the most beautiful way [but many with rude ways :)]. Some are always in the front line to purify the Tawheed. They are in the highest spirit of enthusiasm to call back people to the true teaching of Islam.

But the essence of that tawheed and the application of that tawheed are often being forgotten. Sometimes the theories are always easier than practice, the beautiful preach is easy to speak, the words is easy to composes. In fact get to know many things are nothing if they are not applied in our life.

I want to share another story to make clearer what I meant why sometimes we often forget to practice this tawheed and how the spirit and the essence of tawheed could fade in daily practice…

My boss, he is a non Moslem. He is one of a good non-believer that I ever know. Be a Christian he tries to be a true believer. Once time he said: sometimes he had to take decisions that against his principles. He sit and pondered about all of them, He talked to the God “ God, I know this wrong but I have to do this works, because if I didn’t to do this there are many things that lost”….

What he mean as “Many things that lost” here are something about “money”, “opportunities”, “clients”, “friends”, etc, etc. But the main thing is “money.

My dear Moslem brothers who have family and carry the responsibilities will understand very well these situations… This is the dilemmatic things that are always faced by people in the work life. Especially if the corruptions, collusion, nepotisms reach high to the sky, and be something common . Nowadays the pure and honest ways be something that rare and strange, the ones who pratice them become a stranger, they often face the situation where they have to make extremely difficult choice.

He is Christian, he didn’t learn the Tauwheed of Rububiyah, and so it’s quite normal if he has such thought. But many of us [Moslems] who know the meaning of Tawheed Rububiyah from the cradle to the grave often adapt such of thought, justify it, and then finally involve in the wrong things..

This seems a mirror and light thing. In fact is a fundamental thing in Moslem life….

There are too many temptations. We would think, what if I didn’t take it, people would say I am not a real professional in my field. What if I didn’t do this project, I would not get the money for my children, What If I didnt do this I would lost my job, where I would find another job, ect etc….

At the moment rarely people think: “how I will responsible before Allah in the Day of Judgment? Will I have courage to face Allah the Almighty at that day? What will I answer Him? If I do this then I will not be a true believer…. If I do this I am a hypocrite, I teach people all the ideal things, things that I even didn’t practice myself…

Imagine we got the money by the wrong ways, and then we use that money to feed our family. Our children grow from that money, and that money convert become his/her bloods, minds, heart, all his/her organs. That money will be part of our children, intact to them forever …...

Then, how we will wish the blessing of Allah and wish born pious generations from that money…..

My dear sisters in Islam [who are blessed by a husband] please support your husband. They are carrying heavy responsibilities, do not demand too much. Your exceed demands could lead them fall to the wrong doings… na’uzubillah….

When a Moslem believes to the tawheed Rububiyah, they are engaged to believe that Allah will give the substances, Allah is the most rich, Allah is the most and the only provider; Allah is the aulia [the friends] of all the believers. There are many doors to search his bounties… and we shouldn’t choose the wrong door if we still want to please Allah. ….. All we have to do just never despair from the help of Allah and keep trying the best to be in the right part all the time…. Always have trust Allah will always give the way out… This is a basic, a fundamental belief in Moslem life….else the ant seems more honors and a true smarter believer in the eyes of Allah subhana wata’ala :)….…..

Wallahu alam bishshowab

May Allah subhana wata'ala always help and guide all of us to keep in this straight path......


Bandung 16 November 2005
Rytha
Moderator SistersSeekingJannah [Click to join]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**You perhaps can’t read the story “THE INSPIRATIONAL ANT ” by Sister Saaleha, afwan… If you want to read the story you have to subscribe ;). Please welcome to subscribe to SistersSeekingJannah [but this strictly FOR SISTER ONLY !! ]… You will read some good postings if you have joined inshaAllah…

So my dear sisters please hurry join with us, and my dear brothers please tell your beloved sisters to join [your mom, aunt, wife, siblings, or friends] for Moslem and non Moslem…

InshaAllah we will take care each other for the sake of Allah. The main intention we create the group to strengthen the ukhuwah, to get in touch with the sisters around the world, and to encourage the muslimah to sharpen their talents, to share freely their creative writings, discussing particular issues, to share the experiences etc.

This is the right place where sisters can talk from heart to heart freely [without brothers around ;)]…InshaAllah we will make this group be educative but fun, an informative but creative. The most important things… there will not “FIGHT” will be allowed there [ please just do not share that talent with us ……. there are already so many other place where you can share that “fight” talent :)]…..

InshaAllah We will hear all the aspirations, not to force or stir anyone to a particular direction …but InshaAllah with the love and the respect we will try to grow together and then our the heart will go to the same direction dearly [to the true beautiful teaching of Islam], to reach the same final destination ……. Jannahtul firdaus [the highest state of Jannah...].....AMEEN

[1] Qur'an At-Talaq 65:2-3
[2] Qur'an Hud 11:6
[3] Qur'an Al Ankabut 29:60
[4] Qur'an Ibrahim 14:34
[5] I read this story read from Tarbawi Magazine long time back [it said the story taken from the book Bidadari serambi hati M.I.F Baihaqi]….I retold the story with my own version. The story perhaps not shohih, but it just have beautiful meaning..

Eid in New York, 2005 ~ Sister Iffat

Assalamualikum Wa Rahmahtullah Wa Barakahtuh,

In America, every year the beginning of Ramadan and the day of Eid always becomes confusing because there is always a BIG debate on what day Eid is. For many of us, it becomes very difficult because often we are not sharing the day together and moreover, we are not sure out of the debate, which day we should follow. Also, s ince Eid hasn't yet been approved as an official holiday in here, many don't get to celebrate Eid as joyfully because of obligatory job and/or going to school becomes the obstacle for the celebration, especially for the second generation, who hasn't seen Eid in predominantly Muslim countries where Eid is a national holiday and is celebrated hugely. So, for them it is a challenge to maintain Islamic holidays and traditions in a predominantly non-Muslim environment and the debate makes it harder for the children to understand the joy of Eid. Well this time, i t was indeed a wonderful Eid because the debate was not there. After so many years, once again, muslims in America celebrated Eid together .

The drama with the debate and the confusion was not there this time because "moon was sighted"....ahhhhhhh... that reminds of the days in Bangladesh. The "moon sighting" day is another joyful day: the preparation and excitement of Eid or Ramadan, seeing the "moon" and then greeting each other, the sharing of the excitemnt... ALL... this joy is beyond words. After I came here, I have never experienced that anymore. Ofcourse, the preparation, the excitement before the actual day still gives me that tingling joy. My Eid also started with sending Eid greetings via e-mail, phone and textmessages. But I really miss the day of "Moon sighting". It seems like a memory of a much distant past. Sighting the moon, reciting du'a and then taking steps to prepare for THE DAY... sadly, children in here do not get to experience that.

This Ramadan, too, went really fast for me. Usually in every Ramadan, I either invite people over for Iftar or go to someone else's house for Iftar... This Ramadan, none of that happened. It's true for so many other sisters, too. All of us were so busy with midterms and term papers. The due date for all of those just had to be during Ramadan and before we found any "time" to share our Ramadan together, it was Eid. Very sad. It i s a TRUE JOY when we share our Ramadan with others. This time, I didn't even get to break my fast in college with other sisters. I was able to do iftar there may be for two-three days only. However, I made effort to go to Taraweeh and dragged other sisters along as well. That felt wonderful.

Well, because of that crazy busy schedule, I didn't get to go for Eid shopping before Eid. My mother has been asking me to do that for a while, I just never found the time. Well, finally I did Eid shopping... want to know when?... after Eid day. Eid was on Thursday. Friday, my mother and I went for Jumu'ah and from there, we went shopping. I had taken off from work for Eid. This is probably the second time I am taking off from work for Eid. I should do it more often. I should really allow myself to celebrate. I didn't go to class on Thursday either and I always go to classes even on Eid. Anyway, since we went shopping after Eid day, I really didn't have much time to go to stores after stores to choose, I went to one store, bought stuffs and came out. That store was in a predominantly South-Asian community and they had Eid sale. :) I bought something for myself. But I found my true joy of Eid in something else. This time, I had bought Eid gifts (clothes) actually for every members of my family. And then, spent time with my family only; I didn't go anywhere. My brother lives out of state. My sister is married and lives out of state, too. Every one came together for Eid. So, I decided to have Eid with my family. I've heard people say that "often you understand the value of something when it is no longer with you or near you". That's exactly how I feel. In every Eid (when my family was together), I have always been busy with spending time with other sisters but now when my whole family is no longer together I miss them so much. Now, there is nothing more joyful to me than spending time with family. My father passed away two years ago(May Allah(swt) grant him Jannah, Ameen). We also went to visit my Father's grave. It truly was a Eid with family. However, I did make efforts to spend Eid with other sisters but somehow that didn't work. Well, we made plans for later though. My brother also connected Bangla TV and there was Eid Special programs that really created the Eid atmosphere at home.

Even at work, "Eid" was different this time. I work with all non-muslims. This year, one of my staffs is a Muslim; she, too, is from Bangladesh. I have always told my non-muslim co-workers about Ramadan and EId. Often I share it with my students, too (I teach in an after school). Telling them about it and actually sharing Eid and Ramadan with someone is really different. After all these years, at my workplace, I had someone to share Eid and Ramadan with. It felt different, wonderfully different.

I even put Mehendi on my hands on Friday (after Eid day). On Saturday, when a couple of guests came, I put Mehendi on two girls. They really liked it. It is such a joyl to SHARE joy. Well, it seems like my "Eid" happened after the actual day of "Eid" but it sure was one great Eid. Here in America, we really try to create the Eid atmosphere. Ofcourse, going to Eid Jamah and then, greeting "Eid mubarak" to each other marks the day as the beginning of a wonderful day. But then, while travelling from Masjid to home and someitmes taking exams on the Eid day does not really differ the day from any other day. Alhumdulillah, we(Muslims) here in America, truly TRY to celebrate.

For so many years, it has bothered me to take exams on Eid day... sometimes when I wanted to take off, I saw my friends going for the exam, so I ended up taking the exam instead of requesting the teacher to be excused for that day and vice versa. Well, o ne of the highlights of this Eid was: Last year, in one of sociology classes we had to do a presentation... we were asked to present something from Asian cultures... I chose "Celebration of Eid for South Asians in America".... my presentation was great, Alhumdulillah... I presented personal experiences of Eid here and in Bangladesh... showed the comparison.... mainly what I presented was that Eid is not fully celebrated here (explained the reasons as well). Many students including the professor said that they did not know what Eid was... moreover, they never realized that Eid is such a BIG day for us. So the professor told me that if she gets to know when Eid is she will excuse all her Muslim students to celebrate the day. Before this Eid, I e-mailed that professor to let her know that Eid was coming and she said she will announce it in all her classes and excuse her Muslims students to celebrate. I was so happy to hear that... change starts small, you know. I said to myself that my presentation served a purpose, it was worth the hard work. My niece, too, was excused from her first grade class.

But after all, Eid didn't seem complete to me. I thought of the earthquake in Pakistan and thought of what Eid is for them now. I didn't know how to comfort myself. Then I said to myself, how could I still think of ME. I know there are ways I can extent helping hands for THEM. I searched online to see where I can send clothes and money for them. I felt so guilty of having too many clothes and still buying new clothes. I couldn't put my Eid clothes on until I put some clothes away for an organization that is sending those to Pakistan.

Eid Al-Fitr is the celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan as a matter of thanks and gratitude to Allah(swt) for all the good things we have received with and to share with everyone. I am truly thankful to Allah(swt) for the countless blessings that He bestowed upon me and for a wonderful Eid this year that I got to fully celebrate with FAMILY.

Thanks for reading.

Ma Salamah,

Iffat (your sister in Islam)

My Ramadan And Eid, 2005 ~ Sister Bir Ayet Oku

Ramadan…

Special for everymuslim and the people around muslim communities…
This ramadan is hole very special for me. Because there is a real excitement all around me.

Firstly a television channel in turkiye had made excellent programmes named as “The World is being ‘ramadanized’”. Everyday a lot of programmer came our screens from all over the world under the subject of Ramadan; USA,Hungary,Spain,Moroc,Indonesia,Kazashýstan,Russia… They showed us what the other muslims do in Ramadan, iftars, sahuurs…
At he beginning I said “people around muslim communities” because I saw that people who are not muslim are very effected from Ramadan and in some places where neigbourhood is very important,muslims are invited by the others to the iftars.And they-the people who are not muslim- are very happy to have that moment and duas with muslims. It was great, this brotherhood between people.They know that we are all humankind and it is not important which religion,region,nationality…
I saw on the tv that an iftar table that is rounded by muslim-turkish people and also american-christian people… These all make me very happy.

On the other side there had been a painful event just happened in Pakistan. I watch them on tv and their suffering Ramadan that is devoided from food and comfortable houses… But at the same time I saw the aid, benevolence and favour that came from all over the world. Even though in Turkiye some people ran to the Pakistan consulates as soon as thet heard about disaster and gave them their bracelet, their retired pays.etc... It was so kind and THAT RAMADAN REALLY TELL US, MUSLIMS ARE BROTHERHOOD and RAMADAN IS THE MONTH OF HELP THE OTHERS, RAMADAN IS THE MONTH OF THE LEAVE BEING SELFISH AND THINK ABOUT OTHERS.

Now I want to say something about Eid. The small part and the aspect of this world of the reward of our fasts is EID. The most special thing is the first breakfast. Mum and I got up early and when the male individuals went to Eýd Namaz, we prepared for breakfast. And we had really enjoyable time.
In the afternoon around 04:00 p.m. we went to grandmother's, she is living alone and that was the day to make her house alive.We were absolutely 27 people. 8 of them under 20 years and my aunts and uncles.That was not so interesting event for most of yours I think. The interesting thing is the electricity off although the weather was dark.anddd we sat in the ligths of candles and talked. Elder ones told us stories about past.And we prayed together because my grandmother has just finished Quran (that is hatim) and it need to be shared.The electricity never came at that night and we were together until 11,00 p.m.

That s all friends. I hope your Eýd was good. If not, I hope the coming one will…

With duas….

I wish I could say Eid Mubarak ~ Brother Syed-Mohsin Naquvi

I Wish I Could Say: Eed Mubarak

By:Syed-Mohsin Naquvi Shawwal 1426 Hijra

I went to the Islamic center this morning to attend the Eed-ul-Fitr prayers. All the friends that I am used to seeing at such occasions were there. There was Salat and there was the standard Khutba (actually two of them). Then there was the Eed Breakfast/brunch. Friends embraced each other and said Eed Mubarak to each other.

The prayer leader mentioned the victims of the earthquake briefly. However, I personally felt that the atmosphere was subdued and somber. I too embraced people. But I had difficulty uttering those words.

The word Eed is derived from the Arabic verb A’ada/Ya’udu, which means “to come back again and again.” But, I asked myself: “Did it really come back this year?”
Definitely not for the next of kin of those who perished in the earthquake– in excess of 73,000 human beings; definitely not for the two million rendered homeless in Kashmir and elsewhere.

Islam relies on human contact for every social aspect of human life. That is why the congregational prayers are so strongly recommended. The idea is that the Muslims living in one neighbourhood (at least the men-folk) would meet five times-a-day and be aware of each other’s difficulties, joys and griefs. That is why it is recommended that the Muslims living in one town should go to Eed prayers out in the open together so that they can meet at least once a year. That also is the main philosophy behind the Hajj ritual once in a life-time so that Muslims can meet with other Muslims living in other parts of the world. The main aim is human communication by personal touch. I sometimes wonder, are the Muslims using those mechanisms as intended by the law-giver?
I went to see an old friend at his place and then returned home. I was not in the mood to celebrate by any stretch of the meaning of that word.

At 6 p.m. I was watching BBC World News. General Pervez Musharraf was being interviewed. First time I saw him disappointed, dejected and helpless. He announced that he has cancelled the purchase of the F-16’s to save that money to be spent on the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort. He was disappointed that the world community had not responded in proportion to the size and degree of the disaster.

The camera then focused on the disaster area in Muzaffarabad. A local charity in association with OXFAM is distributing one month’s ration to everyone. But that is good for only those who can get to the distribution center. Then they have the problem to lug the supplies back to where they are staying. There are huge landslides which are stopping the passage of any motor vehicle to most areas. Chinook helicopters are also being used to distribute the supplies in those difficult areas. Each flight is costing 15,000 sterling pounds. That makes it the most expensive relief effort in the world. There are at least three villages (around Muzaffarabad) which are still unreachable and no one knows what has happened in those villages.

The mountains appeared so serene through the eyes of the camera, but soon the harsh winter is going to set in and things are going to turn to worse. From a distance the plastic tents look so organized and actually beautiful. But inside the camps things are really unbearable for those who are living there. The plastic tents can only save one from the rain, not from the bitter cold.
The faces of the lost children who have been orphaned, those of the old men who see their near and dear ones starving but cannot do a thing about it, make you cry with tears. There is a sense of helplessness that I cannot explain in words. Those who have died in the disaster have gone closer to Allah. But those who have survived, have to face more hardships. Here we are sitting in our warm living rooms and bedrooms watching the news in the USA, in Europe and all around the world.
I wonder what will the Zakat Fitra, or a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars that we will send individually, do for those hapless souls.
That is how I feel today, the day of Eed-ul-Fitr in this 1426th year of Hijra.

Ramadan and Eid, 2005 ~ Sister Jamilah Kolocotronis

Assalaamu alaikum.

I worried about Ramadan this year. For the last two years, Ramadan has been rough.

Two years ago, my oldest son came back from his studies in Europe and announced that he planned to get married. Soon. She was back in Spain, living with her parents. They talked on the phone almost every day. In the middle of Ramadan, he announced that he couldn't wait. He booked a flight, and they were married before the end of Ramadan. We talked with her parents over the phone, and they were stunned as we were about the rush of events. "At least wait until the end of Ramadan," we all said. But they couldn't wait. That Ramadan was so hectic, I could barely concentrate on my five daily prayers, much less anything else.

Last Ramadan, our family was homeless. Not in the traditional sense, but we lacked a base. Three months earlier we had moved to a different state, where my husband had been offered a job. Three months before we left, he found a rental house for us. Two days before we left, we were informed that the house would not be ready when we arrived. The details are too complicated to go into, but it took three months before we could move in. The house finally became available in the middle of Ramadan. Fasting, packing and unpacking. That was not how I wanted to spend my Ramadan.

This year I returned to teaching. Even though it is an Islamic school, the principal decided to have full days during Ramadan this year. I argued with him--the principal is also my husband--but he stood his ground. In the afternoons I taught some very unruly sixth graders who, unfortunately, did not improve their behavior during Ramadan. But. . .this Ramadan was peaceful. We have a house. My son and his wife are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. And I felt at peace. Even in the midst of teaching middle school.

Eid is another story. I'll say only that I hope, one day, to be able to hear the khutbah without straining. One day, I hope for an Eid prayer that is truly an act of worship, not a party. I had Eids like that years ago, when I first became a Muslim. But I doubt they will ever return.

Jamilah Kolocotronis

Reflections on Eid-ul Fitr, 2005 ~ By Sister Aishah

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

November 3, 2005

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatuallahi wa Barakatuhu!

Like small children afraid to fall asleep in fear of missing something, my husband and I sat awake the entire night chatting, snacking, and just plain giddy with excitement knowing that in the morning it would be Eid! Al-hamdulillah!

Not wanting to disturb our sleeping mom (well, his mom and my mil, but I've just taken to calling her mom!), my husband and I retired to our room which was nice, because his computer is set up at a small desk against the wall just to the right of the entrance, and beside the desk there is one of those tri-folded mattresses that we use for just sitting or taking a nap sometimes. Between the mat and the computer desk sits a small table onto which I had put out a tray of sweets and hot tea, and there we sat as the grandfather clock in the front room chimed away the hours until fajr.

Logging into the messenger program on my laptop, it was really nice to find stateside friends online! There is a 7-hour time difference between Egypt and the U.S., so while it might have been like, 2:00 in the morning here in Egypt, it was only 7:00 pm there, and everyone was finishing their last iftar and praying Isha.

The larger part of those wee morning hours was spent between two messenger chat sessions. The first session with a dear, dear friend in Washington, D.C., who was with me on the day that I met my husband in 2003. She and I had not had an opportunity to speak with one another in quite some time, and by the end of our chat, when I scrolled up to the top of the message screen to check the starting time of our conversation, and then scrolled back down to see the end time, I was amazed to find that we had been online together for two-and-a-half hours!! Subhan'Allah! *checks numb fingertips*

The second chat was with another dear friend in Falls Church, Virginia. Al-hamdulillah, I met this sister after first embracing Islam and when I was living in KSA last year she and her husband came to Mecca for Umrah and she brought a large envelope full of mail from my P.O. box in D.C., and Al-hamdulillah, unbeknownst to me, the envelope contained two items that were of the highest importance! What a surprise and blessing! *smile* So, Al-hamdulillah, it was nice chatting with her on eve of Eid while she switched back and forth between the chat window and final preparations for her family's last iftar of Ramadan 2005. It was such fun! And her son, Ibrahim, who is so young but for some reason seems to remember me so well from our first meeting, subhan'Allah, messaged me a *hug*. Al-hamdulillah, that was so nice!

Alas, the adhan for fajr finally sounded and shutting down our computers, we took a long stretch and prepared for salat. There wouldn't be much time after fajr until the Eid prayer scheduled for 6:40 am! I was thankful at the time that the Eid prayer was so early because after staying awake all night I was ready for a nap, but I settled instead for a steaming cup of coffee (which I had abstained from the entire month of Ramadan!!), and then set about trying to decide what to wear. You know women, even if we have a plan the night before it can be shot full of holes the next day if the wind blows just a little bit in the opposite direction! laughs@self!!!

I had taken to heart the sunnah of wearing something nice to attend the Eid prayer, and upon presenting myself to mom, I was greeted with a smile of approval. Al-hamdulillah! My husband and I made our way to the masjid following the sound of the takbir's, masha'Allah.

On arriving at the masjid my husband left my side to join the brothers and I set about in search of a familiar face or two that I could sit with amongst the sisters. However, it seemed that we had arrived a little late and I was stuck in an over-flow section outside the masjid, whereupon I did not find a single familiar face! Add to that the fact that I was surprised to find myself in, like, the 2% of sisters wearing a less than ordinary jelbab, making me feel oddly out of place, and yet sad a little bit as I then considered that some perhaps had worn their best, even if it was a warm-up suit or jeans with sneakers; and making a place for myself to sit down, I made a silent dua.

After the Eid prayer the Imam gave a short talk and when it was finished, I stood by the wall of the passageway set up for the overflow, silently hoping to spot any one of the sisters I had met during the Taraweeh prayers. Just as I found my husband, my eyes also fell on the smiling face of Maha. Al-hamdulillah! I gave a wave to my husband, with an extended index finger to let him know I would be there in a minute, and I crossed through the street to greet my friend. Al-hamdulillah, I felt so much better having met at least one other person that I knew to which I could extend an enthusiastic, "Eid Mubarak!"

As I finally rejoined my husband with the intention of heading back to our apartment, I reached out to his arm, stopping him from moving forward, and pleaded, "Mustafa, can we please walk back a different way than we came?" I had read that this was also a sunnah for after the Eid prayer, and telling him so, he smiled in agreement, thanked me for reminding him, and off we went in the opposite direction. Al-hamdulillah.

We got home and mom was in the kitchen preparing fish and shrimp for our Eid feast. My husband headed in to the bedroom post-haste for a good, long nap. *smile*

Ah, if sleep had only been so kind to me! But for some reason it continued to elude me altogether, so I occupied myself in the kitchen area where, against one wall there is a small sofa facing where mom was busy with her preparations. I sat with my laptop reading and answering mail but stood from time-to-time to let her show me how she was doing something. She enjoyed that...and even though it was in our pantomimed form of communication (since my Arabic is still pretty limited), as she finally finished her tasks, I understood it when she conveyed to me that in her heart I was like a daughter, next to her Lula. Al-hamdulillah. Al-hamdulillah that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala brought my husband and I to Egypt; Al-hamdulillah that the 19-years that she had spent taking suhoor, fasting and breaking her fast alone...were over. I can't tell you how many times over the past few days the thought of this gentle, kind and gracious woman going through so much alone for so long, just filled my heart to over-flowing, and sent tears silently streaming down my cheeks again and again. (Of course family visits from time-to-time, and calls regularly, but you know what I mean…it's not the same as having someone to share your day-to-day, life's-ups-and-downs kind of things with; having someone else to cook for or share a meal with. How many meals did she eat alone? How many nights did she sleep alone; wake up alone…that's what I mean.) Nineteen years worth…may Allah subhanaahu wa ta'ala continue to shower her with mercy and grant her the highest place in Jannah! Amin.

Al-hamdulillah, after a nice seafood dinner I was able to settle down for a much needed nap. I awoke to pray Maghrib with my husband and fell immediately back into bed only to re-awaken a short time later to learn that guests had come and gone, and that my husband had offered my salaams and Eid greetings in my absence, explaining that I had been awake for two days!

We rounded out the day in the sitting room with hot tea and more of the cookies that my husband's brother had sent from Cairo, and finally exhausted out of conversation, we all decided to turn in for the night.

But the best surprise was yet to come!

There were two things missing from my Eid celebration...hearing from my daughter Hanane (who had spent all of Ramadan in Morocco with her family), and my sister Samera back in Saudi Arabia.

Then just before fajr the phone rang.

I answered quickly on the second ring with a muffled, "Assalamu Alaikum."

And there it was, one of the missing voices of my Eid holiday, my sister Samera, exclaiming, "Aishah! I recognized your voice! Aishah! Aishah! Eid Mubarak! I miss you so much! Aishah, how are you!" Subhan'Allah. Al-hamdulillah. Allah-Akbar! What a nice time to receive her call, too, when everyone else was asleep and it was just the two of us! And what wonderful news her call delivered!

Just before I had left for Hajj back in January, Samera and Gedy and I had spent a few days in Riyadh visiting family. During our stay we spent two nights with Samera's brother, his wife and their little girl. I was collecting dua requests at the time, and Al-hamdulillah I hear from dua requestor's every-now-and-then letting me know that their dua request has been answered. This is always fantastic news, but in the case of Samera's sister-in-law, Amal, it was absolutely incredible news!!

Amal's dua request was with regard to pregnancy. Not only did she wish to become pregnant, no, that wasn't enough, this new baby needed to be a boy. I promised to make the request on her behalf at Arafat, and, Al-hamdulillah I was able to keep that commitment. Wallahi, what came to my ears in Samera's phone call to me was the biggest surprise! Nine months after Hajj...dear Amal did, indeed deliver a baby boy! Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! This was the most overwhelmingly joyful news!!! I am still dazed thinking about it even now!

Samera had called from her home, so I didn't get to talk to mom or any of the other family but she promised to call back later in the evening when she would be visiting everyone. Of course, I spent the whole day in anticipation of that call, and when it came, my mother-in-law answered the phone. I could tell she was talking to Samera. When the two of them finished their little chat, I took the call in another room, and Samera immediately put mom on the phone. Subhan'Allah hearing her voice was a blessing in and of itself, and although I couldn't understand a lot of what she was saying, I figured out she was insisting I try to come for Umrah so she could see me.

Next on the line came Maha. I have thought of her so often since I left Taif. She used to walk me through the house every time she bought something new to seek my approval. We would approach the new object and she would say, "Beautiful?" To which I would reply with an enthusiastic, "Masha'Allah!" or a flat-out "La, la, la, la, la!" (No, no, no, no, no!) Wallahi, if I said "No" that thing was gone the next day! So after saying Assalamu Alaikum and Eid Mubarak I said, "Maha beautiful?" And she burst into laughter. It made my heart smile to hear her laugh again!

Last came my sweet daughter, Gedy (Samera and I have joint custody *lol*). *smile* Gedy learned a few phrases of English while I was with them, her favorite being, "I love you." So after exchanging salaams, I said, "I love you!" and the next thing Samera was back on the line telling me that Gedy had fled from the room in tears. I could just see those beautiful brown eyes flooding over as Samera's words registered. Samera used to jokingly say that she knew Gedy loved me more...(which, of course isn't true!), but I'd rather say that the love between the three of us is pretty special all around. And that was about the last of the cell phone time Samera could use, so we made our parting duas and ended our call.

My dearest Hanane...I am still missing to hear your voice or to even see your smiley face lit up on the messenger. I just pray all is well and that you are safe and happy; Love, Mum.

I pray each person reading had a blessed Eid holiday, even if it was just in getting to share a chat online, or to wear something nice; to visit the masjid for the Eid prayer and hear the echo of the takbir's, or to hug someone, share a recipe, or sit around a table filled with warm food; to take a nap, entertain a guest or two (even if only in spirit, *lol*), enjoy a cup of tea and a plate of sweets, or just hear the voice of someone special calling from afar.

There are so many blessings to be found in the *little* things in life.

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Ma'Salaama,
~Aishah
Read more of this sister's exciting journeys at http://www.aishahsjourney.blogspot.com

Purpose and Vision!

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem!
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Aalameen!

Assalaam 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakaatuhu!

Welcome to the StPtJ Writers' Blog!!!
The purpose of this blog is to showcase the creative writings of the talented members of the Islamic E-Group, "Seeking the Path to Jannah."
Insha ALLAH, this blog will expose these writers to a worldwide readership and audience and will help them to be appreciated better!
This blog also hopes to open up new publishing opportunities for those who are extremely good with their writings...
The blog also provides a place to gather all the valuable writings of its members in one place...

Those interested in contacting the writers may leave a comment or email seekingthepathtojannah-owner@yahoogroups.com
Those interested in getting their writings featured on this blog are required to join the Egroup first and send their contributions there...

All are invited to join the Egroup just for increasing their knowledge, getting inspired and partaking in lively discussions and question and answer sessions ... and ofcourse unite in the effort to Seek Jannah collectively...

Hope you will like this blog!

Fi Amaan Allah!