This is a humorous narration of how a brother from Australia came to Islam. I hope you will enjoy watching it just as much as I did. It reminds me of the beauty of what I believe in and also about the impact of good character and Islamic brotherhood.
How Ruben Became a Muslim – Part 1
How Ruben Became a Muslim – Part 2
“Why are people so selfish?” I asked someone yesterday. Feeling very miserable and uncared for, I badly needed someone to have a healthy and heart-to-heart conversation with but couldn’t think of a single person who would be willing to listen to my ramblings. Of course my dearest and best friend Allah (SWT) is always there for me and He is more than enough for me. My question here, though, was about people.
“That’s life for you” he replied. “People care only about themselves. Always put yourself first. Your life is more important.”
That didn’t satisfy me. “I’ve tried being selfish to protect myself but it’s so hard.”
“You have to be mean. It will be hard at first but you’ll get used to it.”
“But that doesn’t feel right. I want to be caring.” I spoke from my heart.
“Don’t be a fool” came the sharp reply.
Try as I might I just cannot bring myself to be mean and selfish even if it is to protect myself from those who only care about themselves. That’s not Islam. If I am genuinely nice to people for the sake of making them happy and thereby earning Allah’s pleasure, then it shouldn’t matter how they react. I ought to continue doing what is right regardless of whether they appreciate it or not, because I seek my reward only from Allah. I seek His pleasure.
However, right then I needed to get some positive feedback. I had to find someone to reinforce what I already felt. That’s when, by Allah’s grace, I remembered someone who might be able to help.
This is someone whose articles I had read on a website before and they had always inspired me. So I went back to that site, searched for his work and settled down to read. Just a few paragraphs into his writing and I already felt better. His writing is just amazing.
I continued to read this morning too. Feeling rejuvenated and passionate about my goals once again, I was elated. I just had to thank him for his efforts to share what he had learnt. So I wrote to him. What was even more amazing is that he actually replied! On the same day! And it was a lengthy reply too. How cool is it that this thirty-something, successful entrepreneur, running several businesses around the world and being involved in other activities too, took the time out to reply to me?!!! Oh my Allah! It is overwhelming. How cool is it that when I felt friendless and weird and boring, Allah put me in touch with such a person, someone I can safely assume that I have never met because he lives in the UK and I in Sri Lanka? I wasn’t alone. There are people out there who care. There is hope. I just had to find the people who belong to the 5%.
Glory be to Allah who lifted me out of my sorrow without letting me go astray or seeking harmful means to feel good. All praise be to Allah for guiding me and opening for me the means to see the truth and putting me in touch with people who will keep me in check.
Quoted here is part of the reply I got from this man. I’m sure he won’t mind me publishing it here because he loves to share what he knows. Dear friend, may Allah reward you and grant you ease in all your affairs. May He grant you peace, happiness and contentment in this life as well as the next. Jazak Allahu khairan brother.
Alhamdillah, I am glad my work has helped in some way. That thanks is to Allah SWT because He inspires me to look and think out of the box, and write from angles which relate to us today.
I have read many books from fellow Muslims and articles but I rarely found any relate to our lives to day, hence, I took upon my self to do so. There is much good out there in the world but as you mentioned in what the character Uncle Ali said, “when the student is ready, then the teacher appears,” which true for everything.
When we are ready then we see what was always before us, but we just didn’t have the enough experience, sometimes knowledge,or patiance, sometimes even pain we haven’t gone through or struggle that teaches us somethings where others cannot learn of it because they fear of failing, or going out there and making happen, or doing what many do not do.
I called it “listening to the Feedback” which is actually Allah SWT guidance us with all that is around us, if we are at a level and consciousness to be able to hear and listen, and then apply.
In our world today, there is the 5% and there is the 95%. The 95% bring bring each other down, blame, and even tell someone not to go for their dreams. Usually you’ll hear them talk about someone else, or how world is bad, or usual things the 95% do.
The 5% in this world go for their dreams, no matter what anyone says. They do not idle in talking about someone else and seperate themselves from such people too. Because they know the power of words and how it can garbage the mind with negative thoughts and lack of hope too. It drains ones soul and mind.
Imagine, 95% is a lot of people around the world, hence, it is always wise, to associate with those of the 5% because the 95% will never stretch your dreams, and most of time, say things because they are fearful that you will leave them behind, and prove them wrong, and that one can achieve with the help of Allah SWT. Also to read self development books, to be active in developing your mind and knowledge, to keep you strong and in fighting spirit.
Insha-Allah, hope goes well. Remember, a journey needs a plan. To get to where one goes, he needs to know of that destination, challenges, and so on. Plan from the destination, go backwards until you unravel what needs to be done, the time, the tools, the expertises, the solutions for each challenge. Even if you have no finances, start NOW and Allah SWT will bring you the right people, resources, tools, skills and in ways that blow your mind.
Hence, when the student is ready, the great teacher will appear, the signs will apear even though they have been there all the time, the ideas, the solutions – even if they have been there all time but one may not have yet be ready. That’s how it works, and will always works. It is the UNIVERSAL law. The law of Allah SWT:
“I will not change the conditon of a nation UNTIL…they change that which is within themself.” This is His law.
Jazak Allah Khairun for your pm and go for whatever your dreams are for you have only one life. No more second chances when it is gone. No more but one life.
Wassalaam
A song in my heart
A tune in my head
Oblivious to the world
At my own pace I tread.
God does not put every bird’s food in its nest. Is that how the saying goes? Oh well, something like that.
It explains a lot of things – like why we have to work hard to earn a living, study hard to be successful and make sacrifices now to gain better rewards in future.
When problems pile up and there seems to be no end in sight, it is worth remembering that Allah knows my plight. Therefore I shouldn’t fret or panic or get stressed out. I must have faith that things will work out. I must have hope. With all that, I must continue to do whatever is within my limits to ease my dilemma. Allah helps those who help themselves. If I don’t work on my problems, it is not correct for me to expect a solution to land in my lap.
I ought to treat every phase in my life as a learning experience for the next phase. What I do today is for tomorrow. What I do in the Dunya is for the Akhira, Insha Allah.
Alhamdulillah…
I’m feeling somewhat content right now. This has become a rare feeling since I got down to serious work for this semester. Here I am, having recited surah Yaseen three times and made dua… yep..content indeed.
I’m also happy that Allah (SWT) gave me the opportunity to fast yesterday. YES!!! I’ve been trying to fast on Mondays and Thursdays… and failing quite miserably. Something or the other always happens to stop me from fasting – either I miss sahr (no way! moir not the type to fast without sahr), or something would come up and fasting would just make life unnecessarily difficult. Well I’ve just fasted one day. It’s not a habit yet. Insha Allah it will be though. Make dua awryt?
Have you noticed how you need to think negative when being positive? In order to be positive all the time you need to tell yourself that it could be much worse. This involves contemplating on all the things that could have gone wrong, all the blessings that may have been held back from you, and you need to think about those who have it much worse than you. You would tolerate the heat in the frying pan only if you realised how much worse it is to be directly in the fire.
Being positive does not mean that you filter your mind of all negative thoughts. Rather, you use negative thoughts to bolster your optimism. You will always have to deal with optimism and pessimism. Being a positive thinker entails maintaining the formula : optimism > pessimism.
So I won’t pack up all my pessimism. A little pessimism could make me a more optimistic person.
A paradox, yeah?
The world has heard of the French ban on hijab and it has heard of the uproar surrounding niqaabis in Europe. All these women who cover up – they aren’t harming anyone, are they? They cover up for themselves and many don’t try to impose these practices on others. These sisters are just doing their own thing; doing what they feel is good and righteous; to guard themselves from evil and avoid dirty glances being thrown at them. So why restrict them?
Are you afraid? Afraid of a woman? Just because she chooses to dress decently? Perhaps you’re not afraid but rather you feel sorry for her because you think she should be free to dress ‘liberally’? Well let me ask you something. Could you define ‘liberty’ in this context? Note that she is not being forced to dress this way. No, in contrast to what you have been lead to believe, she is NOT forced into it. Islam is a truly free religion. Muslims are not forced to practise its teachings. I am a Muslimah and I observe hijab too. Therefore I think my word should count. There is no compulsion in religion. Rather, I learn the religion and practise it out of understanding. Islam lays down rules as guidance for me to lead my life. I don’t simply observe all these rules. As far as possible, I try to comprehend the wisdom behind these rulings; and that drives me to observe.
So was the case with my choosing to observe hijab as a teenager. Yes – choosing, in my teens. I’m sorry to disappoint you dear ‘liberalists’. The males in my family didn’t threaten me to cover up. Instead I told them that I was going to cover up and that I was firm in my decision.
Nobody asked you to work for our freedom. What business is it of yours?? We hijabis are already free. We’re free to go about in public without being “checked out” from top to toe. Our loose clothing makes it all the more tougher for men to undress us with their eyes. We’re free to sit/stand/walk around comfortably without having to adapt ourselves according to our mini-skirts, low-hip jeans or plunging necklines. We’re free to do our hair as we like, or not do it at all, and not worry about what people will think. We have more free time than you do. We don’t spend hours on make-up, hairstyles, or putting together perfectly matching outfits in line with the latest trends. Those of us who wear a cloak- we can wear a skirt even when we don’t have time to shave our legs. Our attire gives us freedom in all weather conditions. Forgetting an umbrella or sun block on a sunny day isn’t a problem. Our scarves protect our hair, our long sleeved cloaks protects our skin. Forgetting an umbrella on a rainy day isn’t always a problem. We can skip through a drizzle without getting wet and falling ill. Wearing a short frock on a windy day isn’t a problem. We can walk freely without looking as though we’re trying to imitate Marilyn Monroe. Missed the alarm and woke up late? No problemo. We can get up, get dressed, and leave the house in all of ten minutes. Ten minutes isn’t enough for you to even choose your shade of lipstick!
This whole post concentrates on the freedom my dress code allows me. However, as a Muslim woman I am free in many more ways. Free to expand my knowledge as much as I wish, free to marry the man I choose, free to spend my wealth as I wish – as my husband has no right over it. I am free in so many aspects. Perhaps I’ll expand on these at another time, insha Allah.
Stop trying to “liberate” us. You dunces only end up making things hard for us. By trying to liberate the woman in Afghanistan you killed her husband, her brother and her son. You bombed her home and forced her to live on the street or in a public shelter where she is deprived of basic privacy. IS THIS FREEDOM, YOU MORONS?? By trying to endow us with equal rights you have stripped us of the higher position Islam gave us. In effect, you degraded us. We don’t want equal rights when Islam gives us more rights as women!
Carrying coal to Newcastle – that’s what this is!
Shek dis auwt!
“A new initiative has hit East London, and it’s called Ninjabi. Let’s just say that if you think of messin’ with these Muslim women, you’ll be in for some serious bruisin’! Ninjabi is an introductory six-week self-defense course created especially for Muslim women and is based in the heart of a large East End Muslim community in Manor Park, London.” More>>
Hmmm…I’m gonna take up self-defence lessons Insha Allah…. In the mean time maybe I’ll try walking around the neighbourhood like this.
Now why are you guffawing huh??
I feel terrible when I miss Fajr (the morning prayer) 
The whole day tends to turn out badly. There’s a weight on me, I feel extremely grumpy and don’t have much enthusiasm for anything. I’m not imagining this – it’s true! Sometimes I forget the fact that I missed fajr and at the end of the day I think to myself, now what did I do to deserve such a bad day? Then it hits me.
Allah is my Creator. He is in no need of my prayers. Rather, I’m the one in need of them. He has done so much for me, so much that I haven’t even come to realise. Surely it is impossible to count the blessings He has showered on me. Yet, I am such an ungrateful servant. After all that He has done for me, how can I not even wake up to pray two rakahs (units of prayer) to Him??
This reminds me of a beautiful nasheed (Islamic song) by Hamza Robertson. The lyrics are simple and beautiful.
There is a reason why to Allah we pray
In the morning on every day
It’s a meeting and we must not be late
If we want to have peace we must obey and pray
CHORUS:
There is no better feeling
Than when we pray on time
And we know the rest of our days
Will work out just fine
So we must work hard and wake up before sunrise
So we can leave our homes with the blessings of Allah
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Hayatuka tumla’ baraka
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Tanal ridhaa’ Allah
If you maintained your prayers
Your life will be filled with blessings
If you prayed on time
Allah will be pleased with you
No excuses of why you cannot pray
Coz we need him on everyday
So don’t tell me just why you turned up late
If we want to have peace we must obey and pray
CHORUS
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Hayatuka tumla’ baraka
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Tanal ridhaa’ Allah
If you maintained your prayers
Your life will be filled with blessings
If you prayed on time
Allah will be pleased with you
Listen brother and sister it’s all been said before
You’re too tired now so you sleep some more
But when you wake up there’s an emptiness inside
If we want to have peace we must swallow our pride
Bridge:
I know my friend it’s not easy
But we must try believe me
And we will feel a difference
In our lives and Allah will give us strength
CHORUS
You can listen to the song here.
I have to be more mindful of my prayers Insha Allah.
I’ll sign off for today leaving you with this article I came across. Praying Fajr
 | Albulttum on The morning prayer |
 | silence on Capitonym |
 | silentscreamer on When The Student Is Ready, The… |
 | silence on When The Student Is Ready, The… |
 | amani on The morning prayer |
