Staying faithful to our Creator

It was with much heartache that I heard from my friend that her friend's mother had renounced Islam and embraced Christianity. (O Allah, please keep all believing man and woman on the straight path.)

She also shared with me that most of the older generation Muslims found Islam to be an oppresive and restrictive religion, hence they never felt that Islam is the right religion for them.

All it takes is just some true understanding of what Islam is all about.

When I first heard about Islam, all I knew about it was the 'malays' can't do this and can't do that, or can't eat this nor can't eat that. And you are right, I thought Islam is only for the malays, just like Christianity for the Caucasians, Eurasians etc etc, and naturally all Chinese would be praying to the idols. But my perception opened up only when my ex colleague decides to speak to me about Islam through a fresh perceptive. From then on, my perception about Islam is no longer a one-sided story. All praises be to Allah! for opening the doors to me!

It is not hard to imagine how Allah swt is the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate and the Most Generous! He gives without hesitation! Not just to the Muslims, but to His entire Creation! Only mankind fails to comprehend His generousity and greatness. And no matter where you are, what you are doing, and which phase of your life you are going through, know and be comforted by the thought that Allah is always with us.

The Prophet s.a.w said:

There are one hundred parts of mercy. Allah has given only one part which is distributed among the jinn, humankind, animals and insects. It is because of this that they are kind to one another, show mercy to one another; it is because of it that a wild animal is kind to its young. But, Allah has kept ninety-nie parts of mercy with Him, which He will show to His servants on the Day of Resurrection. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Bliss!

So it was a day out for me and my mother. It's been a long time since we go out together.

She picked me up at the train station and we went straight to East Coast Park. She wanted to sit on the grass but didn't have any mats with her so i took out my prayer mat. She was delighted. But i was concerned if the area where she chose was clean. Nevertheless, we found a spot that was 'free from visible najis' and we laid the mat and sat down to enjoy the seabreeze.


We ordered a set lunch and 2 more other dishes(Oliver Twist and a Nippon Garden salad). There was a soup, a vegetable dish and a choice of steamed rice, brown rice or olive rice. And i ordered a tofu dish called 'Golden Oats'.

Top: Shanghai Tang(mushrooms with Caixin;red and yellow peppers) Bottom: Oats with mini tofu(deep fried) yummy!!!

Partially hidden: Nippon Garden salad. My favourite. And the winter melon soup; sedap!!!

Masya allah... pictures tell a thousand words right? The food was so delicious that it will be a pity not to finish them up. We took an hour to enjoy our food slowly. I could see that my mother was very very happy. She thanked me for the food and said that I made her day. And that's bliss! to know that i've made her day.

I'm not sure if that comment made by the waitress made her day too because she thought we were sisters. I told her she was my mum but she didn't believed it initially because....... she thought i was Malay. haha... I responded that i'm a chinese. And before i could say anything more to the waitress, my mum reiterated to her that i am a chinese muslim.

Now that's something amazing... perhaps she has, more or less accepted this fact and she dares to embrace the truth and speak up. Alhamdulillah.

It motivates me to do more. May Allah swt guides me along. amin.

A Nature Outing

I'm planning an outing with my mum to East Coast tomorrow.

And recently, masya allah, by the Grace and Mercy of my Lord, through the generousity and guidance of my teacher Ustaz Zhul, he gave us alot of notes on da'wah(call to Islam).You can click on this link for more information.

As what Ust has mentioned, it's not easy to da'wah to your family members. I remembered i tried that before to my mother and my brother. My mother was agitated, claiming that i was doing something which i am not capable at all. (i was only trying some reasoning like for eg; the trees, the universe, the flowers etc.. nothing big) And for my brother, I was trying to tell him too, about the possibility of having a Creator to sustain the Universe. But he wasn't quite interested.

Maybe East Coast could help.

May Allah swt bestow iman and hidayah upon my family and my friends. amin amin ya robbal alamin.

Guidance from the Holy Quran

I'm almost coming to the end of my Tajwid course. We have completed the textbook and Bro Shukor has started us on the Holy Quran.

Last 2 weeks, we were still in Juz amma, but last week, he gave us a challenging task. He started from Surah al-Baqarah. Masya allah! This is my first time reading from the front! And for 3 years, i've not taken the courage to begin from the front. ;)

So since i'm reading it, i think it's important for me to know the meaning as well...

In the name of Allah Most Merciful Most Compassionate

Alif Lam Mim. (1) This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah. (2) Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. (3)

And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter. (4) They are on (true guidance), from their Lord and it is these who will prosper. (5)

As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe. (6) Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing And on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur). (7)

Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not (really) believe. (8) Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not! (9) In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). (10)

When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth", they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!" (11) Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not. (12) When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" they say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, buy they do not know. (13)

When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe" but when they are alone with their evil ones they say: "We are really with you we; (were) only jesting. (14) Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro). (15)

These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction. (16) Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see. (17) Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).

(Surah al-Baqara 2:1~17)

Hold on to your only HOPE: Allah

Each day in our Solat, we repeatedly make one humble request to Allah, our Creator and Sustainer: 'Guide us on the Straight Path.' (al-Fatiha : 4). It is only by seeking and staying on the Straight Path, that we can ever hope to attain true salvation and success. What then must we do to ensure that Allah accepts and grants our Prayer? The Quran explains: 'Whosoever holds on to Allah, he has already been guided onto a Straight Path. (Al-Imran :101)

How do we hold onto Allah (itisam billah) and develop a close attachment and a close relationship with Allah? Here are some reflection on the characteristics:

Being Thankful to Allah

First is being ever grateful and thankful to Allah for everything that you possess including your wealth, health, status, intellectual abilities and life. You should recognise that your very existence and your continuing sustenance are dependent on Allah. Whatever praise is due, therefore, it is due to Him alone, for nobody has the power or the resources to give you anything except by His will. His bounties and blessings are countless. Allah says:

"Is then, He who creates comparable to any that cannot create? Will you not, then, take heed?For should you try to count Allah's blessings, you could never compute them. Allah is, indeed, All Forgiving, All Compassionate; and Allah knows all that you keep secret as well as all that you bring into the open. "
(Surah an Nahl 17-19)

It is for this reason that Allah swt commanded the Prophet Ibrahim a.s to say: It is He who has created me, and so it is He who guides me; it is He who gives me to eat and drink, and whenever i am sick it is He who heals me; and it is He who makes me die and then will bring me to life. And upon Him, I pin my hope that He would forgive my sins on the Day of Judgement. (Surah ash-Shuara :77~82)

Nevertheless, keep praying to Allah.

“When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the Prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me so that they may walk in the right way". (Surah al Baqara 2:186)

And the Prophet s.a.w said, “The worshipper is closest to his Lord while bowing down. So pray much then.”