Days of Our Lives

I’ve been tagged, this time by Umm Layth.

Rules: Answer the following questions
2) Post on your blog with link to who tagged you
3) Tag a minimum of three other bloggers and include links to their blog in your tag. Make sure to let them know you’ve tagged them too.

Meme Questions:

1) What Qur’anic verse do you find most inspiring and why? What does it mean to you personally?

Verily, with hardship comes relief. And Allah repeats it. Our daily life is rife with tests and trials, and personally I find this verse the most comforting especially in the face of hardship, regardless of the degree. Allah also uses the word ma’a, which means ‘with’, instead of ba’da, which means ‘after’, so that implies that the relief comes with the hardship, and not after. I used to think it was the latter, as in experiencing difficulties, one would not think that he is already getting relief. Only after listening to a lecture on this did I find out that the relief is already there with the hardship, subhanallah!

It brings to mind the delivery of a new baby into this world. The mother experiences contractions upon contractions, each getting more intense and closer together as she progresses. As soon as the baby emerges from the birth canal, apparent relief is very close, yet at that very moment, it feels to the mother, especially a new one at that, that she is experiencing the most excruciating pain in her life. However, as soon as the baby slides out, despite the ‘labor’ious process, a mother is often enveloped in a light feeling of joy, delight, and relief.

This ayah is a great reminder during our moments of hardships, that we need to zoom out and see the big picture. Step out of the box, as they say. For example, when you are foaming at the mouth telling your children to finish their work without playing around, it would greatly relieve you to zoom out, and see the picture from afar. They would not be like that forever, inshaallah. Or when you are trying very hard to keep your patience when supervising your child’s Quran reading, which happens to move at a snail’s pace, and at the same time, your baby is crying, sleepy and hungry for your milk. With Inna maah usri yusra, you can remember that your reward is with Allah, and that it’s all worth it! In bigger and grimmer cases, such as a death of a child, Inna maal usri yusra provides you with immediate consolation, that Allah is Just, and that it won’t be all for nothing if you exercise patience in the face of trial, inshaallah.

I only pray I am able to snatch this ayah from my memory bank at every moment of difficulty in my life, so as to give me more patience with each test, inshaallah.

2) What Hadith (Qudsi or Sunnah of the Prophet salalahi alahi wa salaam) do you find most inspiring and why?

There are many ahadeeth that catch my fancy, but there is this one particular one that struck me so deep during a very emotional and trying time in my life. The death of a child, is mentioned as one of the tests and trials humans will face in their lives. It’s amazing how a parent, both mother and father, bonds with her unborn baby, such that the loss of that baby even before its birth can be devastating. J was only 24 weeks old when the ultrasound showed no signs of life. I was to be induced a week after that fateful ultrasound.

Knowing we had to arrange for burial, I had emailed some very close sisters who work with janazahs in town. Alhamdulillah, I emailed the right people. As I sat in front of the computer and opened my inbox, an email from a very dear sister reopened the dam that beheld another bountiful gush of tears. Through the burning tears, I read on the computer screen,

Al-Tirmidhi (942) narrated that Abu Sinaan said: I buried my son Sinaan and Abu Talhah al-Khoolaani was sitting at the graveside. When I wanted to go out he took my hand and said, “Shall I not give you some glad tidings, O Abu Sinaan?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Al-Dahhaak ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Arzab narrated to me from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allaah says to His angels, ‘You have taken the child of My slave.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘You have taken the apple of his eye.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised you and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return).’ Allaah says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’”

(Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1408)

The feeling that enveloped me when I read this was that of utter gratefulness for Allah’s mercy. The tears weren’t tears of grief, but tears of love, love for Allah. When you realize that someone loves you so much that s/he makes things such that you will benefit from, you can’t help but feel love. Allah loves us even more than our mothers, and everything we do, Allah gives us a chance for us to redeem ourselves. That in itself is an act of love we could never repay. The phrase ‘apple of his eye’ deeply struck me, and is what makes this hadith so meaningful for me personally. As I read it, I thought to myself, did I react in the way that is mentioned in the hadith?

Upon the doctor’s pronouncement of J’s demise, tears trickled down my face, and I remember in my heart saying,

“Alhamdulillah…inna lillaahi wainna ilaihi raaji’oon.”

Inshaallah, may Allah accept my deeds. Ameen.

3) Other than the Prophet himself salalahi alahi wa salaam – what Muslim man do you find most inspiring and why?

Zayd versus Khalid personalities. That’s what I used to say when talking of introverts and extroverts. To be a Zayd is to be an introvert, in general. To be a Khalid, is to be an extrovert, generally. Suffice it to say, I find Zayd most inspiring, because even though he was turned down twice by the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam, he sought another way to help the Muslims. Resourcefulness. Living in a world of extroverts now, I find this very empowering. I might not be able to do public speaking, but I am able to convey ideas and messages through writing. I might not be as gregarious and outgoing as extroverts, but I am not empty inside. I have my own ways of being ‘out there’. For all my weaknesses, I have strengths. Zayd Ibn Thabit, even though not famous for warrior qualities like Khalid Ibn Walid or Hamzah Ibn Abdul Mutallib, was entrusted with the heaviest task of writing down the Quran, a task that even the mountain would not bear.

4) Who is the most inspiring Muslim woman to you and why?

She comforted him sallallaaahu alayhi wasallam in times of distress and difficulty. She believed him sallallaahu alayhi wasallam immediately without a moment’s hesitance. She received greetings of salam from Allah and the leader of the angels, Jibril. She was promised a palace in which there is peace in Jannah. She is one of the four greatest women that are of high rank in paradise. She was Khadijah radhiallhu anhaa, the most beloved wife of our beloved Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam.

Narrated Abu Hurairah (Radeyallh Anh): Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! This is Khadijah, coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord (Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a palace made of Qasab in Paradise, wherein there will be neither any noise nor any toil (fatique, trouble, etc.):” (Al-Bukhari)

As I learned more about Khadijah radhiallahu anhaa, my admiration for her grew. Her devotion to her husband in times of happiness and distress is exemplary. The Prophet sallaallahu alayhi wasallam never married another when she was alive, and he didn’t marry anyone until much later. His love for her remained alive, such that when Aisha radhiallahu anhaa, his beloved wife spurned Khadija with a glib remark, his facial expression changed. He welcomed her friends to his home long after Khadija’s death. She bore him 6 children. She stuck by him through and through.

Why is she the most inspiring woman to me? I believe the answer is obvious. I would only hope to be such a wife to my husband.

5) What CONTEMPORARY (i.e., living) Muslim do you find most inspiring and why?

Muhammad Alshareef would be a contemporary living Muslim I find the most inspiring. He founded AlMaghrib Institute and DiscoverULife, among other things I am unaware of, I’m sure. The first time I saw him speak was in Columbus, at an AlMaghrib promo. I was not a sucker for Islamic lectures growing up, but I can safely say that sleepiness did NOT overcome me when I sat there amongst the group of sisters listening to him speak about intelligence and shariah. From then on, I have been an AlMaghriber.

He is inspiring to me because of his resourcefulness. His way of thinking is outside the box, and he soaks up knowledge about matters he has no background in by way of reading and taking initiatives to learn about them. His khutbahs, writings, have a creative non fiction slant to them, which is my favorite type of writing. With DiscoverULife, he urges us Muslims to pursue the best quality of life we can have, a life with no regrets. With the mindset of Muslims that have been prevalent for so many years, I feel that he brings forth a fresh outlook on presenting Islam by dispelling culture-based practices, and those that have no basis in Islam whatsoever. By founding AlMaghrib Institute he also is propagating Islam, bringing it back in a way that appeals to the western youth especially. May Allah bless and reward him immensely.

6) How has Islam inspired you in your daily life?

Islam is the foundation without which my life would topple over in lack of meaning and purpose. I homeschool my children mainly because I feel that it is my sole duty to raise them in the best way possible. I keep thinking of how I will be asked by Allah, of this responsibility. I have changed over the years, such that my old friends might no longer recognize me by my thinking or actions. Islam has been the driving force behind the changes I am moved to embrace.

It is through the teachings of Islam that I am able to accept life’s hardships graciously. I feel sorry for non Muslims, who when afflicted with calamities suffer such anguish even to the point of blaming the Creator for such ‘unfairness’. Islam is a beautiful thing, and is a way of life. It permeates all aspects of our daily life, from the moment we wake up till the moment we nod off to sleep at night. It is through remembering that our life has a purpose that we direct our actions and make our choices. Islam affects my decision-making everyday. I call it my ‘ground zero”, where, if there are cultural differences in a matter, I will refer to the Quran and Sunnah to find a good balance. If there are dilemmas I am faced with, I will go back to the Quran and Sunnah. If there are cultural practices that are suspect to me, I refer to the Quran and Sunnah. Islam didn’t come to eradicate culture, but rather to cultivate it. After living here in the United States for 11 years and going now, I have seen the beauty Islam brings in the faces of my beloved sisters of many races and origins. It becomes apparent that a lot of Muslim practices are not necesarily in accordance with what the true Islam teaches, and I see my sister and brother reverts embrace Islam in its pure form, mashaallah. My respect for them is sky high, as in a way, they have more tendency to practice Islam without any cultural baggage of a ‘Muslim culture’ hanging over their heads, alhamdulillah.

7) If you could do anything at all to inspire others through Islam, how would you do it?

I would focus on the beautiful garden variety quilt of many colors that is the Muslim Ummah. My observations have been that of a foreigner in this multicultural country that has Islam as not the major religion, but still the fastest growing religion. Coming from a ‘Muslim country’, I do hope to bridge the gap between the different ‘cultures’, especially because I know only too well how ‘my people’ think. ‘Tis not an easy task, but it is only through open mindedness that does not forsake Quran and Sunnah can we realize what the true teachings of Islam are, rather than ones we grow up believing to be Islam. I would, when I finally am able to, want to help increase the number of Islamic fiction for young readers, as I have seen before my eyes, the multitudes of Non Islamic fiction being devoured by our children, and when we try to find Islamic fiction, there are not that many choices. May Allah help me, if this indeed is a worthy cause. Ameen.

I do not want to tag others, but since this meme is quite beneficial, and has been quite a pleasure to respond to, I am going to tag my old high school friend n.i., my high school senior Mrs. D, and a fellow Malaysian homeschooler Finie.

Jazakillah khair Aaminah Hernandez for this meme.