Do You Know Who I Am?
Please pray that Allah grants our brothers and sisters who are suffering ease, and victory and that He replaces all they have lost with that which is better, Ameen. Please donate here: launchgood.com
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuLlah wa barakaatuh.
Let us just say that the current state of the economy in my country is shocking. With everything going on, there is no way, I am going to pretend that everything is easy and smooth. I am however not writing to remind you of the problems, the news is already doing a good job of that! They are overqualified in laying on the misery! I am here for a different reason.
If you are Nigerian, you must be familiar with the statement ‘Do you know who I am?’. I am almost certain that you have been in more than one scenario where someone has asked in traffic or during a disagreement ‘Do you know who I am?’. It is a phrase that is deeply rooted in our lingo over here. For those who don’t know, It is usually directed at the other party, in a bid to inform/remind them of some level of superiority that has to do with age, social status, roles etc.
I want you to take a step back today, flip the lens and ask yourself if you truly know who you are as a Muslim. Amid everything going on, I need you to reflect and think of who you are. It is easy to get carried away and get lost in the endless complaining, hoarding, cheating, cursing etc
But is this befitting of who you are?
In case you get carried away, let me remind you and (me of course) of who you are.
You are the one whom Allah has told that if you are grateful, He will certainly give you more- Quran 14:7
You are the one who Allah has given free access to call on Him and He will respond - Quran 40:60
You are the one who has been told that this Dunya is temporary, and nothing but play and amusement. Quran 57:20
You are the one who has been told that you will be tested and told what to do when you are: Quran 2:155
You are the one who has been asked to turn away from idle talk - Quran 23:3
The best part? You are the one He told that if you do good deeds, a gift far better than anything you can imagine awaits you.- Quran 4:122
What does this mean O beautiful Soul? It means that you cannot be the one who:
Hoards money at the expense of his brother
Spends the day complaining with little action
Curses all day as a form of contribution to solving the issues
Steals for his family while others are in pain.
Involves himself with speech, or activity displeasing to Allah because ‘everyone else is doing it’.
Why? Because It is simply not who you are.
As you try to figure out the best way to survive in this difficult time, I urge you to remember who you are. Strive and put your full trust in Allah and rely on Him for everything. I pray that Allah grants you ease, I pray that He rewards you for your beautiful patience and replaces all that you have lost or left for His sake, with that which is better.
Please remember who you are, you are not part of the crowd.
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
Preserving our Hearts Through Self Discipline
The human heart, with its rhythm, beat, and emotions, fluctuates both physically and metaphysically. The verb for fluctuation in Arabic, "قَلَبَ," is inextricably linked to the name given to the heart, "قَلْبٌ." In this sense, the heart reacts to two realities that are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The first is huda (guidance), which nourishes the heart and enriches it. The second is hawa (desires), which damages and corrupts it*.*- Hammad Fahim
Wondering how to get ready for Ramadan? Ribaat has put together a Ramadan-ready workshop to help with this and the line-up of teachers is simply amazing! All the details can be found below.
Still on preparing for Ramadan my dear Sister Sekinat is organizing a workshop on Sunday to help you prepare for Ramadan. The workshop is for anyone who wants to approach Ramadan with intentionality, focus and clarity.
As a mom juggling family, business and other demands, Sekinat knows the struggle of trying to prioritise spiritual well-being during Ramadan with everything else going on. She also knows the struggle to find fulfilment and meaning in the Holy Month. Her workshop on Sunday is not from a textbook, it is based on her experience and the practical strategies that she has developed over the years. You should check it out!
Caught up on this video recently and it just showed me yet another beautiful side to the miracle of the Quran that Allah has blessed us with. It was so great to hear about the beautiful experience that the Shaykh had with the Quran and it was mind-blowing to hear about the different Qira’at and how they add to the richness of the Quran as well. I truly loved it!
If you are working on your relationship with the Quran this Ramadan, then Jannah Institute has a lot for you. They have courses focused on recitation, memorization and Hifdh reviews. Join a River of Jannah with Jannah Institute and make The Holy Qur’an your companion in Ramadan! The discount code is RAMADAN24 on one of their courses.
Till Next Week, Insha Allah
We leave you in Allah’s care,
One of us at Ibadahplug