Im reading this ayah as im preparing for my MD finals tomorrow. the words from the beginning with Allah calling  the one who is covered up , to stand up and call and persevere resonate so deeply at this time . Especially so as im literally covered up due to the cold and feeling like giving up everything. Exam times are an unneccessary and underapprecited torture. And i was wondering as im forcing myself to try and memorise something but unable to and realizing ill never finish this , why i chose this torture ?  and why is it so painful? is it supposed to be like this ,or is it just me? i feel down, unable to find the motivation to get up or do anything . and then this ayah turns up , first telling me to get up and then a reminder , that this painful exam is just a step in the process,  the more difficult reality is the day of judgement . this isnt the end , nor is it the beginning , just a milestone in the long road of life.

Basit Minhas​ Jazakallahu khayer . im very grateful that you have accepted this little note to post. when i wrote it i was feeling very hopeless, and this ayah felt like  a little bit light in the dark . i wrote it as a personal note and just to keep a reminder for myself . i thought no one is going to read this anyway. and yet the response has overwhelmed me. it truely cemented the lessons and gave me the courage to push on . reading the comments and the likes i truely feel like im somewhere i belong, an integral part of the ummah . 

The Qur'an doesn't cease to amaze me specifically in the way human beings have been described in it. Just like a manufacturer writes an instruction manual for their product, Allah SWT has described the behaviour of His Creation so intricately in His Book. And one such ayah is 
خُلِقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مِنۡ عَجَلٍ
Man was created of haste.
(21:37)

Tafsir al Jalalayn explains this as - 'Man was created of haste, that is to say, because he is so hasty in his affairs, it is as if he had been created out of it.'

Subhan Allah. And if we think about it, aren't we all in a hurry!
We need everything instantly.
We are waiting for a bus, we want it to come right away.
We wait for our turn at the clinic or the check out counter, and time just doesn't seem to pass.
We are looking for a job, we want to crack the first interview.
We ask someone to do something, they should do it without any delays.
We give dawah, we want to other person to follow it instantly.
We can't wait to react in an argument.
We can't wait to hit back at an 'insult'.
In a hurry to get what we desire.
In a hurry to have all our problems solved.
We pray instant Salah like instant noodles.
30 min delivery apps, 5 min crafts, 2 min snacks, 30 sec reels.
Internet speeds are getting faster, attention spans are getting shorter.
We can't be left at read on WhatsApp. We refresh the screen every 5 seconds to check the number of likes.
We demand instant acknowledgement, instant gratification.
We expect instant gratitude, instant forgiveness.

And yet....
Nuh AS waited for almost a millennium in his Dawah.
Zakariyah AS waited a lifetime for a son.
Yaqub AS waited for decades to reunite with his son.
Yusuf AS waited for years to have his innocence proved.
Prophet Muhammad SAW waited for years before returning to his birthplace.
Ibrahim AS waited in the fire, Yunus AS waited in the belly of the  whale.
Hajar AS waited for the Zamzam to spring out, A'isha RA waited for Allah to prove her chastity, Ka'b RA waited till Allah sent down an ayah to forgive him.

In English, there is a saying - Good things come to those who wait.
In the Qur'an, Allah says - 
وَٱصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ 
And be patient, for indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
(11:115)

Sabr is not easy, but necessary. However, it can't be practiced if the motivation is merely this Dunya. There has to be a bigger reason. And Allah talks about this reason in His very second revelation to His Beloved Prophet SAW.
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصۡبِرۡ
But for your Lord be patient.
(74:7)

It's still not easy. And our Creator acknowledges how tough it is. This is why Allah SWT promises His Help to the patient ones.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
(8:46)

Alhamdulillah.

رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرٗا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِينَ
Our Lord, pour upon us patience, and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You].
Aameen yaa Rabbal Aalameen.

TIPS FOR PRACTISING PATIENCE .

WOULD APPRECIATE IF U ALL ADD SOME MORE TIPS FOR PRACTISING PATIENCE

#SEEK KNOWLEDGE

Islam enjoin us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge. 
The first aayah revealed commanded us to 'READ' which is the key to knowledge.
Aside from religious knowledge, we are also required to learn knowledge that coincides with our current conditions,which can help us to be more patient.
For eg. If one of our friends behaved very rudely with us and if we know the emotional trauma that she/he is undergoing we can be more patient with the situation.infact we can be kind and gentle towards that person inspite of the ill behaviour. 

#KNOW ALLAH

Knowing Allaah makes a person love and fear Him, and put his hope in Him, and be sincere towards Him in his actions which is the essence of human happiness. The more a person learns about Allaah, the more his faith increases and the stronger his conviction becomes.This helps a believer to practise more patience.

#TRUST ALLAH AND SEEK HIS HELP

submit to allah and have complete trust in Allah who is strong and all powerful.Seek allahs help to be patient.Dua is the weapon of believers.

# DO LOT OF ISTIGFAAR

#HAVE GOOD HOPE IN ALLAH

 Always remember allahs immense blessings in every situation and be grateful.Dont be desperate.

# KNOW THE GREAT REWARDS OF BEING PATIENT

Some of the rewards and benefits are immediate and others are long term.

'Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.'(Quran, 39:10)

'And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirin.'(Quran,8:46 )

 'Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.' (Quran, 25:75)


#BE IN CONSTANT REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH.BE THE COMPANION OF QURAN

The believers who have earned knowedge from quran knows that quran is the SPEECH of Allah swt and it is THE TRUTH,so their heart submit to it with humility and will act upon it.Glorify and praise allah quite often.

# DO NOT BELITTLE THE FAVOURS OF ALLAH

'Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is the best way not to belittle the favors of Allah.'Be grateful always ........then we can be more patient 

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6490, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2963

#KNOW THE LIVES OF PROPHETS,SAHABAS,PIOUS AND RIGHTEOUS and follow their path.

# KNOW THAT PATIENCE IS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT FROM ALLAH.

Dont be proud if we can practise patience,know that it is one of the biggest blessings from allah.

Lets help each other to be patient.If we have pure intention to be patient,allah will make it easy for us.It is truely fortunate to be patient.


رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِين
rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran watawaffana muslimeen.
Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]. (7:126)

#patience

When your heart feels sore.
When you feel frustrated and Instapot-like.
When you're lonely. 
You can sense a bit of sadness wanting to creep up and slap you in the face.
Turn it around.
Make this a mantra.
This dunya is not meant to be a Jannah.
This dunya is in no way perfect.
Allah swt is with you.
Allah swt is the Most Kind. 
For Him swt be patient.

I love this poem by Rudyard Kipling. It reminds me of some of the ayahs in the Quran which tell us to persevere through various tests and trials that we will inevitably face in life. Life is surely a test and giving up is not an option! Allah is fully aware of the efforts you are making to patiently persevere through the tests you are facing today.

IF by Rudyard Kipling:

'If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on';

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!'

This poem is definitely worth sharing. JAK
The best part is how you connected it with the remembrance of Allah. 

I never noticed the wording of this verse, even though I recited it many times before. 

When you have to be patient because you have no other choice, is different when you have a choice to do something yet you choose to be patient. 

Another layer is when you have to be patient for yourself, is different when someone tells you
 'be patient for me' 

Imagine Allah telling you, 'be patient for YOUR Lord.'

It gives a whole new purpose to the concept of being patient.  


اللهم أني اسألك العافية
Oh Allah I ask you for Aafiyya ( peace of mind ,body and soul. Safety from any sort of hardship) 

*It's better to ask for Aafiyya than to ask for patience*

Muslim Student Organization & Women in Islam  CCNY

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

If you are going to do something, then do so for Allah and expect nothing apart from your sincerity with Allah. Free yourself from expectations and the desire for praise, and neither be affected by criticism if your heart is sincere. For there is no one who will be able to reward you like Allah.

A heart and mind freeing themselves from desiring anything in return leads to internal freedom, to deeds that are accepted, and to a heart that is refined and polished.

Lower your expectations from others and increase your expectations from within yourself, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)'s beautiful character. You will gain an internal
Happiness, peace, and like the rose, you will leave a fragrance and happiness behind in others. 

Razia Zahra  my mom's childhood best friend name is razia sultana and she lived in Canada my mom trying to find her 🙂I thought probably you are her friend 

For your Lord, be patient.

As a leader, you need to be patient when striving to change society. The patience Allah asks of us is the kind rooted in seeking His pleasure.

While you work to be resilient and patient in achieving a noble goal, remember not to do so merely to keep yourself strong, to gain respect, to maintain a relationship, or for any worldly reason along the way.

This is a different perspective: you are patient because this life is a test. Your patience and gratitude are a means to pass this test with excellence (Ihsan) so that you may meet Allah while He is pleased with you.

Sometimes, even with Sabr, you may not achieve what you want in this world. But you will certainly be rewarded with Jannah when your patience is sincerely for Allah’s pleasure.

سورة الإنسان
وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ جَنَّةࣰ وَحَرِیرࣰا ١٢ 
And will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].

Have a sincere intention, not only at the beginning of each action or journey but also with every tool, means, or characteristic you employ. And persevere only for the sake of  your Lord.
 
#GuidedLeadership

Today we had our weekly Sisters Quran Circle and we started surah Al-Muddathir today. The beautiful reflections the sisters shared today were so profound I just have to share them. 

'The way Allah SWT is so sweet and he elevates us more than what we are. He speaks so kindly towards us, but we don’t often do this in our lives. He’s kind of showing us the way we could be kind towards others without putting ourselves in the situation'
- This reflection stemmed from the first ayah. We were talking about how by Allah calling the Prophet (pbuh) by 'o you covered up 'in your clothes'!' is a personalized term of endearment for him, which is what makes it so special. We eventually revisited this love Allah has for the Prophet and for us, which led us to a discussion that led to this beautiful reflection. It's not often that we understand that Allah loves us. Allah loves you. 

'Allah is the only one giving and he made this between him and us. We believe things belong to us but they don’t.'

'The only transaction we should focus on is between you and Allah, but Allah is the one giving and he doesn’t owe us anything. We’re the ones gaining from what he gives us.'
- For this reflection we were talking about how humans are very transactional in nature, meaning we always expect some sort of compensation in return. The conclusion we came to was that 1) Anything we give was never in our possession to begin with, it's all from Allah. 2) Even if we do a favor without expecting anything in return from the person, we'll still be compensated by Allah. So it's not that we won't get something in return, it's that we have to be patient to get it in a different way, from a better source - from Allah.  Not only that, but when we do this, we're shifting our transaction from between you and someone else to between you and Allah. And who better to make a transaction with than Allah. 

'Ayahs 2-7 are cures to illnesses that Allah knew the Prophet needed to adopt in order to spread the message of Islam.'
- This gem was pulled from @whamza from Project 100 which someone shared with us.  We need to adopt these cures ourselves to walk on the straight path. 
Disease | Cure
Laziness/ Not being active | Arise and Warn 
Not making Allah the most important thing, Not understanding that Allah is above all things | Glorify Allah 
Not purifying yourself outwardly , in terms of cloths, and character | Purify your cloths
Not Purifying yourself inwardly | Shun uncleanliness
Thinking that you are doing a lot, and all by yourself  | Do not think that you are everything, and everything happens because of you.
Not being patient | Be steadfast for your Lord 

'He (the Prophet (pbuh) was facing rejection after rejection but he knew that true success is with Allah - so that’s how he got through it'
- This was a wrap up reflection. Any advice we learned from these ayat are ones that the Prophet (pbuh) practiced and perfected and he had a heavy task. But the way he got through it was by knowing true success lies with Allah. If we could remember this ourselves, imagine how easy every hardship would be.  

These were some of our reflections. I'm just a messenger. 
Anything good I've said is from Allah and any mistake I've made is from my own shortcomings. 

#jjxccnysistersqurancircles

Ustaadh Wael Hamza talked about the 6 cures to 6 illnesses that were taught to the prophet pbuh in the very beginning of his journey. And rightfully so, we are taught this in the beginning of our journey in the seerah. 

But it's so hard to actually implement it , each and every aspect of this .

1) laziness, not taking the initiative. 
2) not making Allah the center of your life, not glorifying Him in secret and in open
3) not being careful of the filth on our cloths or the filth that is shown in our character
4) not purifying the filth in our hearts, which requires constant struggle of the inner self
5) thinking that we have done so much for Islam and we need something in return.
6) not being patient or steadfast in the process of curing all of the above. 

What this requires is an active mindset , and constant rehearsal of the diseases and their cures. And most importantly Dua. 

#Project100

JAK - I was hoping it can be captured and accessible and you just did that!