Loss And Reminders
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.
Ramadan Mubarak!!!!! Alhamdullilahi robbil Alaameen that Allah blessed us to witness this Holy month. I pray that Allah rewards you with the full blessings of this month and accepts all your acts of worship.
A few days ago, my community mum lost her daughter, and just like that, an elderly mother, father, and young brothers are now living without their loved one. As you can imagine, it was painful, and it still is, for them and their friends.
As others were preparing for Ramadan, the family was busy with the Janazah arrangements. The destroyer of pleasures had struck and everyone was trying to recover from the swift and unexpected hit.
For me, the incident was a wake-up call, filled with reminders. It felt like Deja Vu too because shortly before Ramadan last year, a dear sister of mine also returned to her Creator. It was as shocking as this is too and I just kept wondering how similar both incidents were. This incident reminded me of many things..
It reminded me that I cannot take witnessing this Ramadan for granted. I am reminded that being here is a privilege and I must be proactive in spending my time wisely and preparing for my end too.
We all know we will die but are we prepared for it?
It reminded me that intentions are incredibly important and powerful. The imam’s sermon at the Janazah reminded me of this. He explained that her preparation and intentions for Ramadan will be rewarded, Insha Allah. He explained that no matter how little she prepared as long as she did, then Allah will reward her for it out of His mercy.
It reminded me of gratitude and submission to Allah’s will through the beautiful manners of her father in this difficult time. His response to each question and condolence greeting was always Alhamdullilahi. He said it so many times, that it is plastered in my head. He was very firm in surrendering to the will of Allah and busied himself with saying that which is pleasing to Allah.
It reminded me of the importance of righteous company.
Recently, my teacher was going through verses from Surah Al Kahf relating to righteous company. Watching the late Sister’s friends swing into action felt like the practical version of what I had learned. The sense of urgency, the clarity regarding the kind of projects to support, the wisdom to leverage Ramadan for these efforts, Subhannallah! The young lady was blessed with the best people. In less than 3 days after her passing, projects have been set up to feed people, build wells, etc. The energy of her friends even inspired others who did not know her to contribute as well. It was a blessing to experience it. May Allah accept it all and let it weigh on her scale of good deeds.
Please keep her in your Duas and pray that Allah grants her Al Jannah Firdaus.
Death is not just a destroyer of pleasures but it is truly a reminder of how short and fleeting this life truly is.
You know, it is so important for us to realize that we are living in an answered Dua during this Ramadan. I just shared the story of someone who would have loved to witness it but is not here today and there are so many more stories of others that I don’t know. We prayed to reach Ramadan for months and we are here now, Alhamdulillah! Let us make the most of it.
Set your intentions.
Strive.
Pick up the Quran and recite as much as you can.
Reflect on its meaning.
Give charity with no fear of poverty.
Mend those broken family relationships.
Let go of at least one bad habit for His sake.
Pick up those prayer beads and Dhikr all you can!
Please make the most of this month, it can be anybody’s last.
I pray that Allah blesses you with Barakah in your time and makes it easy for you to make the most of this Holy month. Ameen.
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
Waiving your right is closer to godliness - وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ
I find this verse fascinating. There are moments in our lives when we need to measure whether a particular action or decision, beyond the apparent, is in line with the virtue of Taqwa. It may seem halal or even permissible on the face of it, but how far or close is it to Taqwa. As one of our QuranReflect users, Raafia Khan, put it, “Taqwa is getting the inner compass aligned to Allah SWT.”
In this regard, the expression in this verse strikes me as profound. Allah did not simply say, “For you to pardon is an act of taqwa”, rather He said, t to pardon is ‘closer’ to Taqwa. It is as though the Quran is recalibrating how we measure God-consciousness, and that certain actions may appear to be your right and entitlement (here it is the dowry), but beyond the binary of halal and haram and my right vs your right, is my action pointing in the direction of taqwa, or am I far off? - Hammad Fahim
This week, I am here with a few ideas that can help you win back all those moments that you are losing to scrolling in this precious month. I know that you have your Quran and Dhikr goals, but I am worried that when the itch comes and you open that app, it is all over! So I am here today with a list to keep you engaged. I want even those pockets of time to count for something. Ready?
They all come at no cost to you and are so much fun!
Ayah Look Up Challenge: This is so much fun! It is a really good way to stay connected with the Quran by going on a treasure hunt and looking for answers! It is hosted on Quran Reflect and is a fresh approach that can help you deepen your relationship with the Quran.
Quizzing with Quran At A Glance: If you are unable to read the translation of the Quran as much as you would want to this Ramadan, I have the perfect gift for you. Here is a Summary of the 30 Juzuk of the Quran complete with a section that highlights beautiful Du'as, Notable Ayahs, and Trivia!
Learn, and Play With Quranle: This app has my heart! Love it! It is a great way to learn Quranic Arabic in a fun manner! A more beneficial replacement for …You know what!
MAS Ramadan Quiz Trivia (live): You can win prizes with this one! A daily 10-minute live trivia quiz featuring 10 quick questions from the Quran. Participants will also be assigned one Quran verse a week to reflect upon. See below for details on prizes!
Till next week In shaa Allah.
We leave you in Allah's care,
One of us at Ibadahplug.