I have a lot to learn.

Did you know that there’s actually a name for a word that changes meaning/pronunciation when it is capitalised??? I certainly didn’t until a few minutes ago.

It’s called a capitonym!

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

Part from the days where you used to do as you wish
And restrain your soul when the decree of Allah is ordained
And don’t despair over the events of the past
Fore none of the events of the dunya were ever meant to remain
And be a man who is firm upon his affairs
And whose character is that of pardoning and nobility
And there is sadness or happiness that is continuous
Just as there is there is no comfort or pain
If you are a person who is satisfied with what he has
Then you and the owner of all possessions are equal
And upon he whose open valley death descends upon
Then there is no earth or sky to protect you from it
And the earth of Allah is vast but
When the ordainment of Allah descends even the open valley congests.

[Imam Shafi]

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.

Smile through the tears
Face your fears
Have confidence that
You’ll emerge victorious

Bend not to peers
Nor care about their leers
Of your ability
They know not a thing

In Him Who Hears
Have faith, my dears
Stray not
Hold on, I plead

Our troubles He clears
In answer to prayers
From what I have seen
I speak

Life in this world
Isn’t eternal
Each day that passes
Just a page in your journal

Work for the Hereafter
Where true bliss does await
So we shall not regret
When it is too late

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?

It’s Your Choice

The heart has hardened
The tears have dried
In fear of your Lord
When have you last cried?
To ward off Satan
Have you ever strived?
For the cause of Islam
What have you ever tried?
Without a care
How many times have you lied?

Time does not wait
Just like the tide
You’ll be questioned one day
And you cannot hide
You’ll be punished, perhaps
For your sins and your pride
There’s no chance to escape
No chance to bribe

Leave what’s wrong
And do what’s right
One leads to doom
The other, to light
If you heed not the Message
You’ll regret your plight
Wishing you had revered
What you had regarded with spite

To the Quran and Sunnah
Do hold on tight
You’ll be granted a future
Joyous and bright
Worship your Rabb
Doubt not His Might
Towards Al-Matheen alone
Direct your fright

Use well your blessings
Your hearing, speech and sight
Only in doing good
Your time you should bide

Pray to Al-Haadee
To guide your heart and mind
Anticipate rewards
Of graves well-lit and wide
Of luxurious dwellings
And virgins wide-eyed

You must choose
To abandon blasphemy
And with Haq to side
A day will dawn
When you have died
You’ll be bathed and buried
Dressed in white
The angels will take you
On an inevitable ride
Whether it’s fun-filled or fearful
Depends on what you now decide…

Make me good
Make me strong
To worshipYou
All life long

Make me pious
Make me fit
With the muttaqoon
Let me always sit

Let me thank You
For Your mercy
When my ibadah
Becomes too racy

Guide me Allah
Don’t forsake me
Of the munafiq
Please don’t make me

Help me worship you
Every day
Even when I’m
Old and grey

Grant me friends
Who’ll guide me through
Ups and downs
Towards what’s true

Oh my Lord
Forgive me, do!
Keep me close, ‘cos
I love You.