"When I [Allah] love him..."

With this beautiful hadith below I wish all of you a wonderful week. On Thursday I'm attending the last exam of this semester and I can't wait for my holidays! :-) :-) :-)

Thank you to every one who follows my blog. I am astonished of all the followers I have and so grateful for that and for the comments you leave, masha'Allah.

 

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra), who said that Rasulullah (saws) said:

Allah (swt) said: "Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask (something) of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about (seizing) the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him."

[Bukhari, hadist qudsi]

Yasin

The mother of someone close to my husband has passed away and was burried today. That is why I post Surah Yasin, masha'Allah.
The sun is shining brightly and it's warm outside and my thoughts are wandering about life and death. The death of someone is always a reminder for people that this life is only temporary and that we have to say goodbye to each other and to the world ourselves one day. It makes us remember to be grateful for what we have and for the time we were able to be around the person, who has passed away...

Ina lilah wa ina ilayhi raji'oon

Sister-Love

He Gives Life & Causes Death

Dear sisters,

I hope you're all in good health and imaan.

I had a lovely day and am off to bed after posting this. I thank Allah (swt) for His continuous guidance, for giving me hope, strength and imaan and for giving me so many beautiful memories to collect. I also thank Him that I am still here, although I do find life quite difficult at times.

We never know, if we're going to be here tomorrow. Our heart can stop beating at any second...only Allah (swt) knows the time.

"Indeed, to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death. And you have not besides Allah any protector or any helper."

[Qur'an 9:116]

And insha'Allah we will die with a content heart and soul full of imaan.

There is a dua, which if you make it your last speech before going to sleep and you die that night, you’ll die on faith...:

Narrated Al-Bara ‘bin ‘Azib:

The Prophet said to me, “Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer, lie on your right side and say, “Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fauwadtu amri ilaika, wa alja’tu Zahri ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La Malja’ wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta."

 (O Allah! I surrender to You and entrust all my affairs to You and depend upon You for Your Blessings both with hope and fear of You. There is no fleeing from You, and there is no place of protection and safety except with You O Allah! I believe in Your Book (the Qur’an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent). Then if you die on that very night, you will die with faith (i.e. or the religion of Islam).

Let the aforesaid words be your last utterance (before sleep). ”I repeated it before the Prophet and when I reached “Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta (O Allah I believe in Your Book which You have revealed).” I said, “Wa-rasulika (and your Apostle).” The Prophet said, “No, (but say): ‘Wanabiyika-l-ladhi arsalta (Your Prophet whom You have sent), instead.”

Take care sisters and brothers and I wish you a beautiful day tomorrow, insha'Allah <3

Gratitude, Salah & Calmness of Heart

My dearest sisters!

I have not forgotten you! :-) I think about you every day! And I hope you're feeling well - all of you.

I haven't been posting much, because I've been enjoying the beautiful Spring weather, Alhamdulillah! We've had sunshine for almost two weeks in a row - and that's awesome in a place like Denmark :-) Also my exams are getting closer - I've got one month to write two papers and to study for an oral exam in Audiology... Please make duaa that I'll pass everything... :-)

I've had quite a few experiences recently, where it has been very obvious that Allah (swt) has answered my prayers.

'...and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.'

(Surah Baqarah: 216)

- So sometimes we might wonder, why are duaa's "aren't answered"... Allah (swt) answers our duaa's in this life or in the Hereafter and He knows what is best for us. But these days I experienced that my prayers were answered and Allah (swt) really showed me that we human beings can never foretell the future. He does make possible the impossible, as I wrote in my previous post.

After 4 difficult years with my family and their relationship to my husband (and vice versa) it has suddenly become easier and my family seems more accepting of him than ever before. In 4 years we've only visited them about 4 times... Next weekend will be the 5th time.

It was a load off my mind and now I just pray that it will become even more relaxed and easier with time, insha'Allah!

'O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and put your hope in Me, I have forgiven you for what you have done and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you would seek My forgiveness, I would forgive you.'

[Hadith Qudsi]

I have a question for you sisters - or brothers too. I don't know if this is just something a revert might experience,  but I've found it very hard to simply "let go" in my prayer and "disappear" (so to say) or perform salah as a form of meditation - which I consider it to be. I might be too focussed on my Arabic pronounciation or saying the right things at the right time... My goal is to be able to really disconnect from the world these 5 times a day and only have Allah (swt) in mind and insha'Allah feel much more calmness of heart afterwards - more regularly. (I know salah in not only about that, but it's an aspect of it, which I personally feel is not always present for me).

If any of you experience the above:

How did you get there - did time just do it or something else perhaps? :-) Most Muslims I know say that it came with time... But perhaps some of you have another perspective on this. I also think that if every Muslim felt a huge difference inside after Salah, there wouldn't be as many people "missing" their prayers... - Just a thought I had, which I don't know is true or not. Allahu Alim.

Please do share your experiences with Salah - if you're a born Muslim or a revert :-)

And have a beautiful day - I'm off to pray Asr in a few minutes, insha'Allah :-)

He Made Possible the Impossible

Subhan'Allah, He did it again. He answered my prayers and made possible the impossible. Alhamdulillah.

I wrote in my last post that my husband and I were going to attend a "non-firmation" this Saturday. My husband and I have been together for almost 4 years and I tell you; those 4 years have not been easy, when it comes to my family accepting my husband :-/ (because of various reasons -like Islam...). It's been a battle! And I was fearing that the party yesterday would be like the other ones, where my husband doesn't feel included at all and my closest family doesn't really talk to him.

But Alhamdulillah, He answered my duaas and my husband told me today that yesterday was the first time that he felt that my family (at least some of it) was his family too! Alhamdulillah. My mother invited us to their place next Sunday and I pray that it will be a positive experience for us, 'cause until now, there hasn't been many and I get all anxious, when we have to see my parents or other family. Please make duaa for us -- that the warmth in my family will increase and my husband will feel accepted and welcome. Insha'Allah. And "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity" (2:286).

This morning I read some of Surah Al-Imran and was especially moved by the following, which I feel is so true and powerful indeed:

قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاء وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاء وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاء وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاء بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿

Say, `O Allâh! the Lord of all power, You grant power to whomsoever You will and take away power from whomsoever You please, and confer honour and dignity on whomsoever You will and disgrace whomsoever You will. All good lies in Your hand. Verily, You are the Possessor of full power to do all You will, (3 : 26)


تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي الْنَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الَمَيَّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿٢٧

You cause the night to merge into the day and cause the day to merge into the night, and bring forth the living from the dead and bring forth the dead from the living, and provide (all sorts of provisions) to whomsoever You will without measure.' (3: 27 )

Yesterday was a reminder for me of the power of duaa and how Allah (swt) is always there and that we never know, what will come! The impossible can become possible by His Will.

Another Morning & Intuition

Good morning dear ones.

I want to thank all of you, who are so kind commenting on my posts! It means very much to me and I continuously enjoy reading your comments!!

And I thank Allah (swt) for being able to experience another day - and beautiful morning - of this life:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَقَالَنَا يَوْمَنَا هَذَا وَلَمْ يُهْلِكْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا 

All praise be to Allah who has forgiven us today and not destroyed us due to our sin

I had a lovely night's sleep and got up early to go to lessons at university. I knew I had a long day ahead of me: Lessons from 8-11AM, three hours break (to study, buy groceries, go to the library) and lessons from 2-5PM and then off to an appointment after school!

I didn't think about not attending the first three lessons, but right when I stepped out of my front door, I remembered that I forgot a bottle of water and when I went inside again, I thought to myself that I'd better stay home! Then I could study, write emails to friends whom I have neglected a bit for some time, go to the library, buy groceries and then go to school around 1PM.

So now I'm sitting here with a cup of green tea and am looking forward to start my day anew :-)

Sometimes I find it hard to know, if the voice inside you (call it intuition) is coming from a good- or bad place. Do you always know if you're being guided from a good- or bad place?

I believe that it is Allah (swt) who sometimes makes us change our minds in the last minute and by doing so, He is actually saving us from something (i.a.). This might have been the case today for me. Or perhaps He wanted me to prioritate differently today, than my "routine"-attitude was making me do. Allahu Alim.

Sometimes I have experienced that I was going to do something, which I'd convinced myself to be good for me. I experienced that recently! And in planning this, nothing worked out smoothly! And on my way to the place, even after looking at a map, I couldn't find it without lots of struggle!

In this case I should definitely have listened to that inner voice/feeling telling me that what I was on my way to, wasn't going to be good for me!

And then again we might all know the story of how a man struggled to go to his Fajr prayer in the mosque, because Shaitaan made him fall repeatedly...! (Read it here). But although it was a struggle for him to get there, it was good for him to attend the prayer!...

Perhaps there's a difference here though, because we need to perform salah and that can never be bad for us!... So if you have a bad feeling concerning salah, it might well be Shaitaan whispering in your ear!

And again: probably the world is not at all black and white - neither in this matter of the inner voice/feeling! :)

If you have some thoughts on this subject, you're very welcome to share them and perhaps also about how you navigate, when it comes to your inner voice/feeling (intuition) :)

Take care all of you and may you have a wonderful day!

A Cold & Thanking Sisters

Oh no, Spring came and I caught a cold! Although I even kept wearing my winter jacket :-/ Allahu Alim. Insha'Allah I will be doing well again very soon :-) The Prophet said: Hours of sickness sweep away hours of sins. - (nahjul Fasahah)... 

When I am doing a bit better again, I will post about My Favorite Things, which Sara tagged me to do :-) Thank you sweet sister for thinking about me!! <3

I will also do what needs to be done, when you receive the award below :-) THANK YOU so much dear Blue Pearl for giving me that award!! Alhamdulillah, I am very honored that you see my posts as an inspiration to you <3

Cooking & Recipes

I really like to cook and I have learned to use cooking as some kind of therapy :-) - which makes me enjoy it even more. - Of course I also know days, where I don't feel like cooking anything... But mostly I try to be as mindful as possible, when I do prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner. Especially for dinner, when I cut vegetables, I notice how they feel in my hands, when I wash them. How they all sound differently, when I cut them and how wonderful they smell - uncooked or cooked etc. This changes the whole cooking experience and makes me feel very grateful especially for the fact that I can buy almost all kinds of foods and have something to eat every day, Alhamdulillah.

I made a list of dishes, which I cook during the week, to avoid having to think of a new dish every day. Sometimes I like to prepare new dishes though. Often I look for them on the Internet or I borrow cookbooks from the library.

I love the many food blogs around the net, so thank you for taking your time to share those wonderful recipes.

I would love to know some more websites (or blogs) with great recipes, so if you sisters would like to share your favorite ones with me, I'd be very delighted!

My favorite ones are:

foodgawker, foodbuzz and HealthyMuslim

Tomorrow my parents-in-law are visiting and I'm still thinking about what to cook for them for dinner (something vegetarian I think)... :-/ and also I wanted to bake a cake. I thought about baking carrot cake with delicious butter-frosting. If you have any wonderful carrot cake recipes or any other recipes you'd like to share (dinner and/or dessert) they're very welcome!! :-)

Good Morning & The Crying Tree

Good morning my sisters!

You have to know how much I appreciate my old- and new followers and how grateful I am, everytime one of you comment on my blog. Subhan'Allah, I have made beautiful friends through blogging.

Today is a grey and windy day, but I noticed how the trees will very soon show their beautiful leaves to the world again, masha'Allah!

I have to study a lot today, since I have to talk about Emotions & Social Cognition with two other students next week in front of our class and on Sunday, we have planned to meet up to put all the pieces together. I hope I can be productive today and tomorrow! If I make some breaks listening to the Qur'an, cleaning the house and having some food, everything will go well, insha'Allah.

Before I leave I want to wish you Jummah Mubarak and share this incredibly beautiful hadith with you. Have a beautiful day my dear sisters:

Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to go and stand next to a tree or palm-tree on Fridays. A woman or a man of the Ansar said: "O Messenger of Allah, should we not make for you a Minbar ("pulpit")?" He said, "If you wish." So they made a Minbar for him, and when the next Friday came, he was shown to the Minbar. The tree cried like a small child, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came down and hugged the crying tree until it calmed down." Jabir said: "It was crying because of the Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) that it used to hear."

al-Bukhari, 3319

Noor نور

 Alhamdulillah! The sun is shining again today and Allah (swt) brought sabr into my heart, because I am experiencing (small) things, where all I need is indeed patience. And alhamdulillah, I already see how the patience is beneficial. Allahu Akbar. I think I feel gratitude like the gratitude I felt emerging from this post the other day by bosnishmuslima :) It was very inspiring to read - (thanks sis!)

I hope you sisters out there are doing well.

Before you leave, you might want to listen to this beautiful duaa below! I love the way it is recited. I'm sorry that the end of it isn't totally complete...I just couldn't find a complete version with the same reciter. But insha'Allah you will enjoy it anyway, just as much as I did:

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM ALLAHUMMA S'ALE A'LAA MUHAMMAD WA AALE MUHAMMAD (We seek fulfillment of our desires) in the name of Allah, the light, in the name of Allah, the light, the light, in the name of Allah, the light over light, in the name of Allah, who is He who manages all affairs, In the. name of Allah who created light from light. Praise be to Allah who created light from light, and sent down light on the mountain (Tur), in between the inscribed book, in the parchment unrolled, by a measure, well-determined, on the (Holy) Prophet, the giver of glad tidings. Praise be to Allah; it is He who is remembered with the highest of the high attributes, who is known to be the most glorious. In joy and happiness, in sorrow and distress, He (alone) is thankfully praised. Blessings of Allah be on our master, Muhammad, and on his pure children.

Source: Duas.org - Noor
Visit the website for many more beautiful duaa's and much more, masha'Allah.

Have a beautiful day, sisters!

Imaan

It's been a sunny Sunday here, Alhamdulillah. I got up early, went to the fitness center, studied, prepared a healthy dinner and am now chilling on our bed with my little labtop. I'm looking forward to sleeping :) 'cause I'll have to get up early tomorrow to bring my stepdaughter to school and go to university.
Now it's dark outside with a beautiful yellow fullmoon shining, masha'Allah!

Before I go to bed I love to have something positive on my mind... and one of the best things I know in this case, is a beautiful hadith. Please enjoy it below and perhaps you will too fall asleep, being thankful for the gift of imaan that Allah (swt) gave to you, Alhamdulillah.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah gives worldly things to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He gives eeman (faith) only to those He loves, so he who is given eeman by Allah, has been loved by Him.”

[Ahmad, Bayhaqiy]

Source: http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com/index.php#

Raindrops are Falling

At 7 AM the sun was shining brightly and my husband and I had homemade bread and afterwards cheesecake for breakfast. Yummi. And now it seems like somebody seriously turned on the big shower outside with a mix of water and snow!! Whew! And I have an appointment in the city around 1... :-/ Now there is thunder and lightening too... If I had a lot of money I'd definetely go by taxi. Hehe. But I'll wait just a little longer, perhaps have another piece of cake, and some green tea with roses :)

I wish you all a beautiful day :) no matter how the weather has turned out. And before you leave, listen to how wonderful Allah's (swt) creations sound: Alhamdulillah if you were blessed with normal hearing and can listen to these birds and the raindrops touching the leaves and ground...

Gratitude & Happiness

Photo source: http://blog.rbkdesign.com/page/2/

Hello my dear Blogger-sisters!

I have been missing you and I am soooo extremely happy to have holidays now after having finished my bachelor project and attending an exam yesterday. Insha'Allah I will pass both tasks! :)

I have lots of wonderful plans for my holidays, like learning more Arabic, visiting my family and friends, cleaning up everything in our apartment and giving things I don't need to charity. I will watch movies that make me feel good, eat what I love to eat, exercise, be in company I love, pray, make duaa, read Qur'an, feel love and happiness. YAY. I'm seriously on a journey to feel more pure happiness in my life! I want to use this year to change into an even happier content person, insha'Allah and as much as possible, do things that make me feel good.

You can join in if you want. Focus on good feeling thoughs, do things that feel good and if you feel bad, try to be grateful for things you already have in your life that can make you feel better. Insha'Allah :) It's truly good for the heart, body, mind and soul be grateful and happy inside.

And remember this:
This verse, together with many others, gives the good tidings that Allah (swt) rewards those who remain grateful to their Creator:

And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): “If you are grateful, I will increase My favours to you. But if you show ingratitude, truly, My punishment is terrible indeed.” (Abraham, 7)