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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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#eid #eiduladha #eiduladhamubarak #eiduladha2019 #eid2019 #eidmubarak #eid1440 #eiduladha1440 #islam #prayer #dua #faith #allah

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Take a moment. Look at the beauty of the world around you. Feel it. Savor it. Breathe it in. A flower blossoming where once was only earth. Sunshine spilling through the cracks in the trees. White streaks of clouds strewn across the sky. A crisp morning breeze. Birdsong, somewhere in the distance.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make your heart sing with joy. Sometimes, nature is the best therapy. Sometimes, you only need to stop and smell the roses.

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that He has scattered through them…”

(Al Qur’an 42:29)

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Muslim countries today contribute only about 1% of the world’s published scientific papers. The Royal Society’s Atlas of Islamic-World Science and Innovation revealed that scientists in the Arab world (comprising 17 of the OIC countries) produced a total of 13444 scientific publications in 2005 — some 2000 fewer than the 15455 achieved by Harvard University alone.

(Source: Physics World)

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Lord, I fear that I will break under the weight of my sins. But I have hope—because each day You give me reason to start anew. And so, even as I slip, I cling to the promise of Your mercy, for You are my only true hope. I throw myself in prostration before You, beseeching You to forgive me my gravest mistakes.

Please, Lord. My sins are great, but your forgiveness is greater. So I pray You extend Your mercy to this lowly servant. I pray You accept my repentance, even though it is inadequate and flawed.

Lord, I ask you to not forsake me for even the blink of an eye. When I stray from Your path, help me return to You more determined than before. Do not try me with a blessing or an affliction that will lead me away from You—for without Your guidance I am lost, and without Your love I am empty.

With each trial You put me through, I ask You to draw me closer to You. I do not ask for a road free of obstacles, but for the strength and forbearance to overcome them. That, and Your unceasing aid. That is all I will need in the eye of the storm.

#allah #faith #islam #prayer #dua #quran #repentance #forgiving #mostmerciful #hope

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Powerful rhetoric from the woman who brought us the magical world:

‘Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.

I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…

I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’ ‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’ What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!

I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.

– Excerpt from “For Girls Only, Probably”, by J.K. Rowling

#jkrowling #reading #harrypotter #hermionegranger #beautylieswithin

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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عيدكم مبارك! 🌙

تقبل الله منا ومنكم وأعاده الله علينا وعليكم بالخير واليمن والبركات... دمتم برضا الرحمن 💫

Eid Mubarak, everyone!

As we celebrate, let’s not forget to pray for our brothers and sisters all over the globe for whom Eid has arrived in the midst of war, poverty or hunger.

May Allah alleviate your pain, replace your suffering with ease and grant you everlasting happiness in the home of the hereafter.

May Allah help us all stay strong after Ramadan!

#allah #faith #islam #ramadan #ramadan1440 #ramadan2019 #ramadhan #dua #ramadaan #ramadhaan #eid #eid2019 #eid1440 #happiness #ummah #brotherhood #prayer #suffering #thanks #gratefulness #worship

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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For many of us, tomorrow is Eid. A reward from the Almighty for the one who tirelessly strived this month to seek His pleasure. For the one who spent his days fasting and his nights in prayer.

So as the last hours of Ramadan recede, by the symphony of the vibrant sunset hues fading into the night… we ask you, Allah, to accept our deeds in this holy month, to overlook our shortcomings, and to keep us firm on our path towards righteousness.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 30

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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“O Allah, enable us to see the truth as truth and bestow on is adherence to it; and enable us to see falsehood as falsehood and make us stay away from it; and do not confuse us regarding the reality of falsehood lest we be mislead by it; and make us leaders for the righteous.” (Ibn Kathir 1/444)

#allah #faith #islam #prayer #quran #dua #guidance #truth

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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The Messenger (pbuh) said, ‘Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done consistently, even if they are few.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah: 4240)

Ramadan came as an opportunity for us to break bad habits and build good ones. The ‘spiritual high’ that comes with Ramadan may ebb away as Ramadan leaves, but that shouldn’t mean we don’t make a lasting change in our lives.

Building a good habit requires time and effort (usually). It’s not something you accomplish overnight. And that’s why consistency is key.

When I was overcome with a sudden desire to take up running, I decided I’d do it every day. On day one, I ran two kilometers straight. On day two, the initial zeal started to fade, on day three I could barely keep up and by the end of the week I had already forgotten about the whole thing. To onlookers, my erratic enthusiasm was rather funny.

So what went wrong?

Maybe it would’ve been better to start small, keep at it, and gradually turn up the tempo.

As humans our enthusiasms tend to be so mercurial. Therefore, we need constant reminders. So if you’ve made up your mind about offering two raka’ahs of Duha every day, and one day you simply don’t feel like it, remind yourself of the rewards you’d be missing out on. Remind yourself that consistency requires determination, and that you’ve got it in you to stick by your goals.

A few other things that can help when trying to build a habit: setting reminders/alarms on your phone; using a ‘habit tracker’ app to track your progress (there’s something oddly satisfying about ticking boxes on a virtual checklist); and of course, asking Allah for help.

Consistency in good deeds is a sign of love for Allah. Because if your motivation is Allah’s love, then external factors won’t dampen your spirit.

So whether it’s about offering two raka’ahs of Duha, or using the siwaak, or studying the tafseer of the Qur’an — let’s try to be consistent. Let’s turn occasional acts of worship into habits, and stick by them, come whatever weather.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 29

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Let’s talk about stars, shall we?

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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The month of Ramadan has announced its departure, and what remains of it will pass in the blink of an eye.

With just a day or two of Ramadan left, there is one question we need to ourselves. If not now, then when? “Lest a soul should say, “O how great is my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allah...” (al-Qur’an 39:56)

And this Ramadan will either be a witness for us or against us. So where do we want to stand tomorrow? From those who wrong themselves, or those who are moderate, or those who are foremost in good deeds?

Ramadan is like a race. A race towards Jannah. And it’s time for the final sprint.

“So for this let the competitors compete.” (al-Qur’an 83:26)

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 28

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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One year on, we celebrate the life of the girl who dared to rise. Read her full story at:

#faith #islam #razanalnajjar #courage #sacrifice #bravery #palestine #gaza #war #hero #hope #strength

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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When the Muhajireen fled their homes after facing persecution from their people, the Ansar welcomed them as their own brothers, sharing with them their wealth, their land and their possessions, despite being poverty-stricken themselves. In this verse, Allah praises the Ansar for the great sacrifices they made for their brothers in faith. And for how they gave so freely of themselves, without clinging to their material gains.

Allah concludes by saying that the successful people are those who are protected from shuh, the covetousness, or stinginess, of the soul.

Shuh can be many things. The momentary twinge of bitterness you may feel at somebody else’s success. Reluctance to part with wealth, when asked to give for Allah’s sake. Unwillingness to change your opinion or admit to your mistake because it hurts your ego. Envy. Selfishness. Competition over the amassment of material wealth with an aim to show off.

Shuh is about giving in to your desires again and again, each time they contradict with Allah’s commands. And this is why the importance of self-control cannot be overstated.

One of the things Ramadan teaches us is to overpower the shuh of our souls. While shuh leads to ingratitude, narrow-mindedness and a constant worry over the dunya, fighting it leads to gratefulness, open-mindedness and a sense of contentment. And this is what is truly meant by richness of the heart.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 27

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Nothing is placed on the Scale that is heavier than good character. Indeed the person with good character will have attained the rank of the person of fasting and prayer.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 2003)

Ramadan comes with a golden opportunity to build our character. It teaches us patience, generosity, kindness, strength, sacrifice, empathy... The list goes on.

And as the entire Ummah fasts the month, it reminds us of the shared bond of brotherhood and the responsibilities it brings. Be it visiting the sick, or greeting others with salaam, or accepting invitations, or following the funeral, or helping the oppressed, or giving sincere advice. The lessons we learn in Ramadan are endless.

So as Ramadan draws to a close, and its last nights pass by like a steady breeze, we ask you, O Allah, to strengthen our hearts with faith and beautify us with the characteristics You love.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 26

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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“When trouble touches man, He cries unto Us (in all postures) — lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We have solved his trouble, he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!”

(Al Qur’an 10:12)

This verse gives me chills every time I read it. The words captures the depth of our ingratitude. One moment we’re crying out to Allah in desperation, begging Him to ease our troubles; and the next moment we’ve already cast Him away, after He, out of His infinite Mercy, chose to relieve us. We’re so ungrateful.

And yet, each time we cry out, He answers. And then we turn away again, oblivious to His guidance.

How different is our salah when we’re facing hard times, than when our difficulty has passed? And how freely do we sin once our hardships have gone?

As Ramadan departs, let’s try to instill in ourselves a sense of gratitude to our Creator. Not a fleeting devotion that vanishes with our troubles, but a lasting one. A love that will drive us to serve Him in the good times and the bad times; to do what pleases Him, even if it’s not easy.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 25

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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She tosses and turns in agony. The ghastly images flash in her mind’s eye stinging her conscience, jolting her awake.

She’s the orphan who takes shelter under the partially collapsed roof of her family home.

She’s the refugee who was brutally abused and attacked in a strange land.

She’s the mother who buried her only child in the sweltering heat of the scorching sun.

She’s the tortured prisoner condemned for believing that her Creator is the only One deserving her submission.

She’s the hungry child in a barren land of drought and death.

She’s broken.

Her back leaves the bed. It aches but she pushes on. She stumbles once or twice, maybe even takes a fall. She has to do this. She knows that quite well. So she urges her limbs to carry her along.

Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” (Sahih Muslim: 2586)

Let‘s not forget to pray for our fellow Muslims in these blessed days.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 24

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newdawn-blog · 5 years

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Toe the line. Don’t resist. Learn to fit in. Don’t stand out.

I’ve always hated conformism. Just because everybody else is doing something doesn’t mean you have to do it too. You can take the road less traveled if you think it’s the right one. It doesn’t matter what they say about you or how they judge you or whether or not their eyes are boring a hole into your back, as long as you know that you’re doing the right thing.

Because we weren’t meant to pander to the lowest common denominator, we were meant to seek the pleasure the Most High. And if He’s with you, what does it matter if nobody else is?

Allah says, “If Allah helps you, none can overcome you. And if He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you?” (Al-Qur’an 3:160)

You can choose to resist peer pressure and defy the norm. If you can see that something wrong is going on, and it’s eating away at you from the inside, say something. If you have an opinion that’s contrary to what you’re being taught, share it. It’s okay to think differently. It’s okay to think.

Don’t let your fears overpower your conscience, your originality or your desire to make a change. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? They’ll laugh, or snort, or chuck you out of the circle. Better that than caving in.

Of course it takes courage. No wonder the Messenger (pbuh) told us that the best form of jihad is to speak a true word in front of a tyrant ruler. (Musnad Ahmad: 18449) Speaking up — for yourself, for somebody who cannot defend themselves, for your unpopular opinion — is a character-building experience.

Growing up with a speech impediment, I found it strangely redemptive to speak out in defense of an argument I held, especially in the classroom. It meant that I had one-upped my lingering fear of what the other kids would think of the way I talked. And there’s a special kind of joy in triumphing your own fears.

The invisible chains with which we shackle ourselves will always hold us back unless we’re willing to break free. Of our fears, of social expectation, of the status quo.

Go with the flow? Nah. Someone shrewdly pointed out to me a long time ago — only dead fish go with the flow.

#RamadanJournal

Ramadan 1440, Day 23

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