Adorable Faith - Part 2

4. Our Trials and Happiness in Comfort and in Hardship

source : Islamic Sunrays

This world isn't a place of pleasure or complete justice -  that is in the next life. Allah says:

"...And we try you with mischief and with good, and to Us you will be returned." (21:35)

So, it is the true Believer that perseveres;

"Alif, Lam, Mim. Do people think they will be left alone having merely said, 'We have believed' while they have not been tried? We have certainly tried the ones before them and Allah will surely know those who have been truthful (in their claims of belief) and those that are liars." (29:1-3)

We need to always be reminded that the greater a pleasure is in this life and more beautiful and joyful, the greater is its version in the eternal Paradise. So, the more a believer sees the riches of others and their worldly comfort, the more he/she gets inspired to work deeds of righteousness in obedience to Allah for the superior life of the Hereafter in Paradise. Allah describes them;

"And whoever wanted the Hereafter (eternal Paradise) and strove for it as is befitting for it, then such ones their striving is (rewarded with) gratefulness."

Therefore, not a moment to waste without anything Islamic in this life;

"And rush to the forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise, the breadth of it is as great as the breadth of the skies and the earth - prepare for the God-fearing (and pious)" (3:133)

5. Let not Others Derail Our Journey to the Hereafter

i.  Difficulties posed by tyrants

Any difficulties posed by tyrants do not deter a believer. Allah ensures that others will check them and stop them. Allah says,

"Had it not been that Allah keeps away some people by others, the earth would have been spoilt; but Allah is full of grace for all the worlds." (2: 251)

Even though the tyrants kill a believer, harms him/her, they cannot really hurt him/her because Allah is rewarding the believers - martyred or victorious now.

ii. Dealing with this worldly loss and turning it into an eternal gain!

Don't run away from something that Allah will surely test us. Allah reassures us all in Quran,

"We will surely try you with something of fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, lives and fruits. So, give glad tidings to the Patient. Those, who, when a calamity befalls them, say, 'Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we are returning' Such are the ones on whom are praises from their Lord and mercy; and it is them who are the prosperous" (2: 155-157)

All the hardships we face in this world may be an expiation for our sin, and a deliverance from the punishment of hell fire. Hence, a hard time doesn't knock a believer, it only strengthens and reassures them.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: "Trials will not cease afflicting the believing man and the believing woman in their self, children, and wealth, until they meet Allah without having any sin." (Sunan tirmidhi 2399)

Always remember that Allah will never test anyone beyond their limits.

Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrated from his father that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah! Which of the people is tried most severely?" He said: "The Prophets, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them.  A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sins." (Sunan Tirmidhi 2398)

In conclusion, Allah sends angels to help those who keep an Islamic outlook on life. Allah describes in the Quran,

"Indeed those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then stay upright (in their deeds), the Angels descend upon them (at time of death, saying), 'Do not be afraid (of the future) nor be sorrowful (of anything missed or befall you in the past); and have the glad tidings of the Paradise that you were promised. We are your patrons (helping and protecting you) in the life of this world (Dunya) and in the Hereafter. And for you therein is whatever that your soul's desire and for you therein is whatever you make a claim for - a (generous) hospitality from (Allah) a Forgiving and Merciful One!" (41: 30-32)

Adorable Faith - Part 1

Assalamualaikum.

Last weekend, I had attended two awesome courses which are "Adorable Faith" and "Fiqh of Marriage" by Sheikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel. So, in this entry I'm going to share about "Adorable Faith" because it is the fundamental of being a muslim before anything else. 

1. Purpose of life and Relationship with Allah

souce : islamic quotes

Allah says in the Quran,

"O mankind, worship your Lord, the One Who created you and those before you, perhaps you may attain righteousness. The One Who made the earth a bed, the sky a canopy, and sent down from the sky water and brought there from fruits as sustenance for you. So, do not set up partners with Allah while you know!" (2: 21-22)

What do we get from these two verses?

Basically, each and every creation around us has the purpose and function to fulfill. Let's look again, Allah says, he made the earth a bed, the sky a canopy, He sent down from the sky water and brought there from fruits as sustenance for you. Each and every creation is there for a purpose. Can you see that everything is made for our benefits? Subhanallah. If the other creations have their own purpose, it's strange if Allah made us without any purpose to fulfill. So, what is our purpose of life?

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."" (2: 30)

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." (51: 56)

*You may refer to my past entry about this to clarify my points here

So, each moment in the life of a believer is purposeful and can be spent :

i. Doing haram action in disobedience of Allah displeasing Allah which leads one to Hell-Fire!

ii. Or spend it doing a merely permissible (mubah) action that is neither an encouraged rewarding act nor forbidden and thus may be a wasted precious moment but at least not a sin.

iii. Or spend it doing something that is in obedience of Allah via an action that will get the pleasure of Allah, reward in the eternal life, and blessing in this life! 

"But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer- it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]" (17:19)

2. What Really Matters -  Effect of Sins or Piety upon Happiness


source: tazkiya

Our focus in this life is to do as many good deeds as possible because good deeds bring happiness in dunya and Hereafter while sins make this life worrying and the eternal life a misery. 

Does it means that human cannot even make a sin? Definitely no. Fallling into a sin is possible, but get back on track with istighfar and tawbah. 

Anas narrated that the Prophet s.a.w said: "Every son of Adam sins, and the best of the sinners are the repentant." [Sunan of Tirmidhi and of Ibn Majah, classed as Hasan]

Notes to remember: Don't justify a sin, say that it is the fault but do repentance again and again. It's not about never do a sin, it's about trying to avoid sins and get over it by repentance. As long as a person is trying their best, Allah forgives an inadvertent relapse.

3. This World and the Next Life

source: lion of Allah

This world can be tempting and beautiful but if you do good deeds, Allah will definitely grant you His blessings. So, be on Allah's path and don't get deceived by the sinner's temporary enjoyment.

"Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. But those who feared their Lord will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah. And that which is with Allah is best for the righteous." [3:196-198]

In fact, the enjoyment of dunya is, for some people, an unenviable trial

"And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring." [20:131]

See you in the 2nd part. Insha Allah 

How Can I Not Love Them?

Assalamualaikum,

cliche photo for the first day 

welcome to the University of Queensland!

Alhamdulillah, it has been a week I'm in Queensland, Australia furthering my study in the University of Queensland. That's mean it also has been a week I'm staying here with awesome akhawat in BM (Baitul Marjan. I did get the name wrong when the first time I heard BM. haha) Ok, by the way, I just want to share my moments with the members of Baitul Marjan here for a week.

The first time I entered this lovely house, all the akhawat here were really welcoming. They were very helpful and nice. I started to taaruf with kak Adilah, kak Shanad, kak Farah, kak Faie and kak Karam. The first three days here, they brought me a tour around Brisbane such as South Bank, shopping complex (Toowong) and around University. There are also some nice akhawat accompanied me here (Kak Aimi, Kak Syai, Kak Fini, Kak Ayuni and a lot more people that I couldn't list them all). They always ask me if I need anything. They provide me with their winter clothes because  I'm still adapting to the weather since I can't really bear a cold weather. They remind me to cover the lectures I couldn't attend for a week. They suggest me books to read. They cook delicious food I couldn't resist and they do appreciate small things. For example, last Friday was the first time I cooked for 6 people. I never cooked for so many people before this and of course, I was quite nervous and anxious whether the food will turn out like what I wanted it to be or not. It happened to be that the food did not turn out well. I was quite frustrated but all the sisters here really gave me supportive comments, 

"Takpe, mula-mula lagi kira bagus ni"
"Good job Azzura! malam ni kita makan masakan zura"
"Jazakillah Azzura masakkan untuk kami"
"Nanti kami masak, kami ajak sekali zura masak dengan kami"
"Nanti akak ajar awak masak tomyam"
"Ala, dulu masa akak mula-mula pun akak belajar dari senior juga. No worries."

I really feel touched. As for me, the food wasn't that good but their comments really comfort me.  

picnic at South Bank

from left: kak Shanad, kak Faie, kak Adilah, kak Karam and me

not in photo: kak Farah because she had usrah during this time

Here, in Baitul Marjan, I feel like staying at home because they really treat me as if I am their real "adik." They even called me "adik" just like what my family call me. We do things together as a family such as cycling, dancing, cooking, watching videos and reflecting on it and many more. I just met them for a week but we do have a chemistry as I feel like having a new family here. I always said to my parents that they do not have to worry much about me because I'm doing really well here. Ibu once said,

"nak lepaskan anak perempuan ni bukan mudah. Lagi kat tempat orang. Sakit pening tak boleh nak jenguk."

However, now, she said to me,

"Kirim salam dekat semua orang kat rumah. Cakap terima kasih jaga anak ibu."

Now, ibu can feel more relieved when she knew that her daughter is doing well here. Alhamdulillah.

Besides knowing this awesome akhawat in my new home, I also get to know some married akhawat such as Kak Ayuni with her adorable little Yusra and Kak Farah with the cute little Hana. Kak Ayuni always pays us a visit, so I always got the chances to play with Yusra. Playing with kids somehow released my stress because even it's just the first semester but I got a lot of works to do (I start to have planner and I really need it from now to organise my life). I'm amazed actually with all the akhawat that I've known. How do they manage their time with study, usrah, daurah, husband, kid, and many other commitments? This is amazing. It won't be that easy, right?

cute little baby Yusra

Mama Farah with adorable little Hana

I guess, I'm always surrounded with great and nice people. They're such a precious gift from Allah that I couldn't exchange with anything else. I once had a bad assumption towards my sahabah who planned to send me to the seniors' house since I expected that they will live with me in Australia. I did feel bad about it to the extent I felt that they don't want me. Haha. How funny. However, when I got their explanations and after I have already been here, I feel so grateful that they planned this for me. Lesson learnt is that we never know what will happen in the future, just expect that Allah's plan always be the best. Put faith on Him. Always pray for the best and He surely will give what we need.

celebrating ukhti Amirah Farhah Zakaria for graduating from the University of Queensland

meeting my best friend since high school is one of the best things in Australia

I remembered my conversation with ibu a few days before I depart,

me : Ibu, this is the decision I've made. Semua manusia ada pilihan dan insha Allah ini adalah pilihan adik untuk pilih sambung belajar di luar negara. Adik harap pilihan adik ni dapat redha Allah dan ibu ayah. Adik harap ini yang terbaik dalam hidup adik dan doakan adik selalu ye ibu.
ibu : ibu redha insha Allah. kalau ini yang terbaik untuk adik, ibu doakan selalu.

I just hope that this is one of the best decisions I've made in life. I always hope that whatever decisions that I made, they're all blessed by Allah and my parents. May this decision benefits ummah too. Amiin.