How Are You Arriving?
Please pray that Allah grants our brothers and sisters who are suffering ease, 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.
Trust that you're good, striving and thriving.
How are you arriving? Is the opening statement for every mindfulness class that I have sat in. A question that started off with responses like ‘sleepy’ and ‘unsettled’ but later on it revealed a deeper purpose to help me check-in and acknowledge my feelings instead of ignoring them.
Am I happy? Sad? Scattered? Calm? Shy? Scared? Excited? I would push myself to ask.
What appears to be a simple question has helped me recognize that feelings are fleeting and should not have the power to define my day or month or even year. Acknowledge them and let them go.
Alhamdullilahi I arrived yesterday feeling pretty calm and maybe slightly irritated with the ones who decided that fireworks are better in the afternoon. Alhamdullilahi, that too quickly passed. I do feel like I am continuing and not starting and that gives me incredible peace.
Incase you find yourself coming into 2024 feeling pressured, anxious or just worried about new me trends , I want you to know that it takes more than one day to become a new version of yourself, so no pressure! Instead, try focusing on a gentle review and the quality of the deeds that you already do.
Oh and we do have a lot of quality control , to do! I still reminded myself today about my shaky night routine that needs help! May Allah make it is easy for us all.
Dear A.D has provided beautiful reminders of some of these things that we know but can improve on:
Starting with the Remembrance of Allāh: Start every action with Bismillāh by invoking Allāh’s name, to invite barakah, ease and goodness in all you do.
Incorporating Istigfar Into Our Daily Routines: Seeking Allah’s forgiveness for past shortcomings and repenting for any wrongdoings is fundamental to our success in this Dunya and in the Akhirah. We are encouraged to turn to Allah with sincerity, acknowledging our mistakes, and striving to become better individuals. I know you know this, but the question is ‘Do you do it?’
Constant Reflection: Reflecting on our days, our speech, our deeds, our trusts and commitments. Reflection is a constant activity and not one-off, one that provides us with the awareness to repent quickly and strive for Allah’s pleasure.
Mindfulness: This is a known struggle , a battle for most, that has spanned years or maybe decades. How do I focus in my prayer? How do I focus during family time? How do I stop my mind from wandering? We know that we struggle with this but the question is: ‘What are we going to do about it?’
Calm Is Your Superpower Study Plan
I am worried to make an announcement, buuuut! We are trying out something new , it is in its development stages so your feedback is needed.
Introducing ‘Calm Is Your Superpower study plan’. A resource for those who want to live mindfully this year. The intention is to help you get started on seeking knowledge in this area, help you to commit to the journey and also ensure that you implement the learnings. The recommended course for this study plan is the Mindfulness Masterclass by Ustadh Wadud Hassan and we have a $100 discount code for you! You just need to use your discount code IBADAHPLUG.
Reflection Of The Week
Muadth Bin Jabal in a famous statement said:
"واعلم يا بني أن المؤمن يموت بين حسنتين: حسنة قدمها، وحسنة أخرها".
"My son, know that the believer dies in between two good deeds: a deed that he completed and another one that he delayed and procrascinated!
What a powerful reminder to reflect on every new year, as we renew our commitment to upgrading ourselves and our deeds.
Avoid Late Registration Fees!
I hear that Ribaat’s late registration fees is kicking in soon and they have some really good courses that you should check out. I am personally eyeing Conversations with The Prophet, a dear sister of mine took it she said it is amazing!!!Also eyeing Public speaking and Community Outreach as well . Who will be my study buddy?
Till Next Week, Insha Allah
We leave you in Allah’s care,
One of us at Ibadahplug