Category: Writing

Why Intention Matters

On By FalakIn Newsletter, Writing1 Comment

Intention was the topic of our Sunday school a couple of weeks ago and it got me thinking about how to live life with intent. How do we focus on being righteous without being swayed by people’s opinions? Riyaa’, showing off or doing good deeds for the sake of compliments, is such a big trial mentioned in the Quran and hadith traditions that even the trials of Dajjaal (Anti-Christ) fall short of it. So how do we find a balance of doing good deeds with the right intention and protecting ourselves from the fitnah (trials) of riyaa’?

1. Niyah: Focus on your intention before performing the act. Niyah is such an important concept in Islam that the phrase ‘Fi Sabillilah’, meaning ‘in the way of God’ is repeated multiple times in the Qur’an. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. I used to always wonder why Muslims say ‘I love you for the sake of Allah’ I found that shallow and selfish in a way. Until I realized it doesn’t mean there is no humanitarian cause attached to it. It just means that I do not expect a reward/compliment back from anyone but Allah (SWT). Two very distinct things, wrapped up in unconditional love and giving, in order to sustain goodness here on earth, because only when we start having expectations back from people do we get disappointed, feel unloved, unfulfilled.

2. Ikhlaas: Focus on sincerity while performing the act. Ikhlaas helps one purify their motive. Ikhlaas is directly linked to the word Ihsan, which means perfection or worshipping Allah as if you are seeing Him. “And whether you hide what is in your breast or reveal it, Allah knows it…” (Qur’an 3:29). Once we purify our motive by realizing that it doesn’t matter if no one is watching, but God is always watching, our intentions are purified. We are no longer concerned with receiving praise or reward for our act because our intention is sincerely linked to a supreme purpose rather than an ungodly objective.

3. Shukr: Focus on gratitude after performing the act. Realize that your ability to perform the good deed or generous act is a gift to you from Allah (SWT). This will bring about feelings of humility and submission. Realize that shukr and hamd go hand in hand, for all thanks belongs to God and all praise belongs to God. “We bestowed wisdom on Luqman: ‘Show gratitude to God. Anyone who is grateful does so to profit his own soul: but whoever is ungrateful verily God is free of all wants worthy of praise.’” (Qur’an, 31:12) Being grateful and showing gratitude towards God’s favors on you is so important that the often misunderstood word ‘kafir’ is labeled on those who are ungrateful. And [remember the time] when your Sustainer made [this promise] known: “If you are grateful [to Me], I shall most certainly give you more and more; but if you are ungrateful, verily, My chastisement will be severe indeed!” (Qur’an 14:7) It is important to realize that the original meaning of the word Kafir was to be ungrateful towards God. It did not mean to disbelieve in God because obviously Iblis (Satan) knew God existed and worshipped Him. He just ignored God’s commandment “When We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam!”, they thereupon prostrated, except for Iblees. He disdained (to comply with the command), acted arrogantly, and became of the kafir/ignorers.” (Qur’an, 2:34)

In’sha’Allah, I hope these three points help us stay on the straight path and abstain from the evils of riyaa’, self-conceit.

Patience with kids during Ramadan

On By FalakIn WritingLeave a comment

“Whoever persists in being patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.”

Patience is such a difficult virtue to cultivate; but kids are absolutely relentless at teaching it. They don’t take no for an answer, the more you ask them to not do something, the harder it is for them to not do it. Ramadan is a time for self reflection and self control and the most amazing time to understand our limitations and why we have them. Are these barriers self created? Can we forge a path between giving in and giving less? Can we find a happy medium of doing right for our child while raising a disciplined kid? In the Qur’an children are often referred to as gifts/ a trust given to you by God, and a test. Both require compassion to appreciated. Both require patience to be endured. A gift should be honored, appreciated, and shown gratitude. A test should be a learned from, valued, and used to strengthen our faith. But too many folks feel that kids disrupt our spiritual journey, our religious obligations, and especially in Ramadan our “Me” time of getting closer to Allah (SWT) not realizing that Allah (SWT) has already chosen this path for you, this test for you, to see if you show gratitude to His blessing or push it aside to seek another blessing. “He creates what He wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.” [Qur’an, 42:49].

The prophet (PBUH) used to honor his child, Fatimah, to the extent that when she entered his (PBUH)‘ s room he (PBUH) would stand up and give her his (PBUH) seat and when he (PBUH) entered her room she would stand up and give him (PBUH), her seat. Nowadays all we expect from children is respect us, respect elders. But the prophetic way of dealing with kids was to treat them with honor, with respect, with compassion and love. May we all learn from his (PBUH)s way of positive parenting. If we focus our methods on disciplining with love rather than fear, we will build a stronger relationship for the future and help a child become a stronger, more mindful, more compassionate human being, In’shaa’Allah.

“I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE CLOSER IN CONDUCT, WAY, AND MANNERS TO THAT OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH IN REGARDS TO STANDING AND SITTING, THAN FATIMAH THE DAUGHTER OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM).” SHE SAID “WHENEVER SHE WOULD ENTER UPON THE PROPHET (PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM) HE WOULD STAND TO HER AND KISS HER, AND HE WOULD SIT HER IN HIS SITTING PLACE. WHENEVER THE PROPHET (PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM) ENTERED UPON HER SHE WOULD STAND FROM HER SEAT, AND KISS HIM AND SIT HIM IN HER SITTING PLACE.”

Teach don’t preach

On By FalakIn WritingLeave a comment

Fear is never meant to be a child’s guiding principle.

Faith is, compassion is, love is… so when teaching a child about religion, don’t guide them through fear.

Fear is only used to explain Allah (SWT) justice as one of His many attributes. You take heed of His Might, you believe in it, for He will bring the unjust to justice.

You don’t fear Allah (SWT), you respect His warnings, Just like a mom tells her child not to touch something hot and they still touch it. It is out of the mother’s love that she warns the child… and it is out of disobedience that the child burns his finger. Similarly when God tells us to live our life a certain way, a righteous life, and warns us of the hereafter, fear, isn’t the guiding principle, it is still love.

#teachchildrendontpreach.

Ibn Al Qayyim said: “The heart on its journey towards Allah the Exalted is like that of a bird. Love is its head, and fear and hope are its two wings. When the head is healthy, then the two wings will fly well. When the head is cut off, the bird will die. When either of two wings is damaged, the bird becomes vulnerable to every hunter and predator.”

“When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, “My Mercy overpowers My Anger””

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Integrity

On By FalakIn WritingLeave a comment

Just like a windshield protects occupants in a vehicle

Integrity is a transparent barrier that protects your soul from harmful elements
Once chipped it can break easily
And expose your soul to more negativity.

In the world of one click shopping, easy returns, and ever changing consumerism

  • Integrity is so easy to sell these days…
    I bought a cover for my new tablet; and once I got it, me being germaphobe, I decided to clean it with an alcohol wipe but it spoilt the art work on the leather (it was painted and not printed). My first instinct was oh God I spoilt it but no worries I can return it and get a new one. I was being selfish and selling my integrity for a few bucks. I am sure many of us have done this. Used a product and returned it or broken it and returned it, saying it’s a faulty product or something similar. In the world of ever changing, fast consumerism, and instant gratification, we have become desensitized to chipping away our integrity slowly but surely.
    So be conscious of your decisions
    And keep your integrity in check
    For just like a windshield
    protects occupants in a vehicle
    Integrity is a transparent barrier that protects your soul from harmful elements
    Once chipped it can break easily
    And expose your soul to more negativity.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded by Allah as a siddiq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded by Allah as a liar.”