So last week, I had just served my toddlers some pap. Where my daughter sat with hers (which is strange), her twin was uninterested. She finished her meal and came to hand me the cup but she kicked his cup which was on the floor as she brought hers. I saw when it fell and I felt sad, maybe even some anger.
It had been a long week. Abu Agents had been away for work, I was ill and there was no nanny.
Anyways, I took a deep breath as she handed me her cup and spoon and I said “thank you”. She turned round to go back and as soon as she saw the cup with the pap spilled, She exclaimed, “Oh!Oh!!” something we say when we make a mistake and she went over to try to scoop it back into the cup.
I felt ashamed. Ashamed that my first feeling was sad+/-anger over an honest mistake.
I went and we cleaned it up together. And I gave her a big hug.
I was not in a good place and I wasn’t thinking the best of my toddler. Toddlers make it hard tbh…
But still…
It helps to create a pause between the trigger and the reaction.
A reminder for me to press pause between the trigger and the reaction.
When man is visited by a trouble, he prays to Us, but when, after that, We favor him with some blessing from Us, he says, “This is given to me because of (my) knowledge.” No, but this is a trial, yet most of them do not know.
One of my teachers once gave us an advice, he said, don’t forget to engage with the Qur’an in a language that you are comfortable with every once in a while.
As students of Arabic you can get so stuck with the grammar you forget to connect.
I was reading this ayah this morning and as I attempted to translate it on my own, I remembered an ayah which a sister refers to regularly….
And when you face a hardship at sea, vanished are those whom you used to invoke, except Him (Allah). Then, once He brings you safe to the land, you turn away (from Him); man is so ungrateful.
So many times we want something, that one that completes us, the job of our dreams, the school we want to get into or a cure for our disease or we are in deep trouble and we turn to Allah ﷻ but what happens when the ease comes? Or our duas get answered?
What happens then?
I need to look closely into my day to see what happens.
I woke up this morning and my day felt slightly different.
For the past 10 weeks, three times a week, I got to stay up after Fajr to reflect on the Qur’an with a blessed community of sisters.
And it is true!
The promise of a blessing in the morning.
Sakhr ibn al-Ghamidi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, bless my nation in their early morning.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1212
We all do this while most are prepping for work some are prepping their kids for school, some are prepping for school, some are in the hospital, some are struggling with sleep and it is so amazing how the Qur’an touches everyone. It meets us where we are at. There is something for everyone in the Qur’an. There is something for YOU.
SubhanAllah! It can only be from Allah ﷻ.
This morning was different, without the quick du’as of no interruptions due to network issues or the authenticity of sisters sharing their struggles or even the banter of the team at Yaqeen institute’s Qur’an 30 for 30.
So many times, Ramadan comes and we seek to reconnect with the Qur’an but what if we can find a way to stay connected with the Qur’an all year round. Then the added blessing of a group of like minded sisters.
Sign me up!
You know what gets me the most is sometimes a sister is sharing and it feels totally random and she even says, “does that even make sense?” And to another sister, it is exactly what she needed to hear.
I am praying that Allah ﷻ grants us ease and keeps our intentions pure and continues to use us all in a way that is pleasing to Him and benefits the Ummah.
We are starting a new series focused on Juz Amma. And you can join here In Sha’a Allah.
I struggled finding sleep last night. I decided it was because I was wearing only a night shirt and so finally got up at 1am to wear trousers. This happens regularly to me but mostly on Fridays. I didn’t understand why I struggled on this Saturday night.
Abu Agents (lit. Father of Agents aka My husband) travelled most of the week and had just returned yesterday. I did’nt struggle as much when he was away, shouldn’t his presence bring a feeling of ease. Why wasn’t this the case?
To be honest, since we were awakened at 2am when a group of strange men came into our house and threatened us and stole from us, it gave the word ‘peace’ and ‘security’ a whole new meaning. It also made me realize blessings that I take for granted.
Innocence and even ignorance – I mean, we hear that the world is a dangerous place but you do not know what that means per say, you are almost ignorant until you learn.
Ignorance they say, is bliss!
When you think about the words peace and safety, what do they mean to you?
Indeed, this life is a journey from Allah ﷻ (As-salam) through Sabil as Salam (Islam) to Dar-us-Salam (Jannah)
…truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace [Qur’an 13:28]
From Nana’s Journal| August 1st 2021
I pray that you find peace in your life. I pray that Allah ﷻ surround’s you with His Sakinah (tranquility). Amin!
P.s – If you want to stand for something cos you are tired of falling for everything. Let’s start working on your values here.
These are words we hear a lot these days and there are a lot of things you can do to achieve them. Whether it is in your life, career, spirituality, business, relationships, there is so much you can do like get a coach, or take a course or join a membership or get a mentor but none is as easy as picking up a book and reading it. And books are such a fun way to escape. We should read more.
Not everyone loves reading and there are so many reasons why people do not read.
The commonest is that there is no time. You really do not need to focus for a long stretch. All the short bursts really do add up.
Another reason is people feel they need to finish every book they start (I used to think so too). You don’t. If it doesn’t do it for you, then dump it and find the one your soul needs. If the book is too intense for you and you need to peek at the end, go ahead. It is not a race.
Reading helps us improve our focus. Have you noticed that you hardly read long captions completely? But we can spend a good number of hours just scrolling through photos on Instagram. It is time, we put aside our phones and pick up books instead.
Concentration. and focus are like muscles, if you don’t use them regularly, it will be too weak for when you actually need them.
So you have work or school or you are an entrepreneur working 24/7 trying to make six or seven figures, where do you find the time to read? That is what this post is about.
Wake up a few minutes earlier
Waking up a few minutes earlier automatically gives you more time in your day. Yeah! It has so much barakah! This only works if you get up immediately. Don’t lie in bed scrolling for hours on end. Say your prayers, recite the Qur’an, plan your day if you are a morning planner, or journal if you need to clear your head and then pick up a book and read.
While you eat
When we eat, you will naturally seek out entertainment – whether it is scrolling your phone or watching something on the T.V or chatting a way with colleagues at work. If you can find a quiet place, then go ahead and read instead.
While you wait
There are pockets of time during the day when you are on your way to work or a meeting (If you are driving an audiobook will serve). Or while you wait for your meal at a restaurant especially if you are alone or while you wait for the bus or your ride or while you wait for your appointment (maybe you got to your appointment early). Always have a book with you for when the opportunity comes.
Make reading a treat
So you had a long list of things to do and by Allah’s mercy, you did all of it. What next? You deserve a treat. Make reading your treat. This is more effective for those who love to read. For the reluctant reader, choose a treat for when you meet your daily or weekly reading goals.
Wrap up the day
You are in bed and you aren’t yet asleep, you pick your phone and keep scrolling until your phone hits your face because you slept off. Not again?
Let’s do better. Try to leave your phone on the bedside shelf then pick a book instead. The sleep will come easier. Plus, screens are more detrimental to your health.
Knowledge is powerful but we can only unlock its power by actively seeking it and then translating it to action. In short, we all need to dedicate ourselves to a life of learning.
Learning never ends and reading doesn’t have to either. You can use Goodreads to track your progress. After all, what is measured is improved. So go ahead, and start. Start small, measure and celebrate your strides.
