I can't wait for a day when...

Gmail will have

• most recently starred emails show up in a separate box on the top
• an embedded calendar widget that'll help me remember pending emails, emails to follow-up on, and emails labelled as "action items"
• the ability to label emails in one click
• a customizable layout that'll allow me to place my Labels above the Chat list
• the ability to label draft emails before they get sent
• and also, the ability to click on any label on an email in the conversation list which will take me to all the emails with that label.

Yea, all these features will definitely make my Gmail experience more fun and perhaps almost complete :)

Email addiction

On my way back from Dubai today I was marking assignments in the car on my laptop. And since I had been away all day from email, I walked up the stairs with my laptop checking my email until I got to my room.
This is really bad. I tried to limit checking my emails every 6 hours, but it didn't last too long. I wasn't this bad until I started working for Ansar Financial on the Islamic Finance conference...
Those were crazy days. I'd wake up between 2-3am almost daily just to check my email.

But it's because I DO get that many emails! And I have to keep track of 5 timezones (business hours). I love the global aspect of my life, but I absolutely don't love the loss of routine.

Can the addiction be any worse? Tell me I'm not the only one!
Yea, you can also tell me I need a life and I'd believe it!

I'm nervous

Friday is an extremely important day. I hope it goes well, because it's been so long and I haven't tried hard enough to get out of my comfort zone. It's only the beginning of the challenge, and I wont know the results until the second quarter of next year.

It's almost as if there were no changes for so long, and all of a sudden everything is happening at the same time. I thrive on excitement, and no doubt I'm really looking forward to facing challenges, but a small part of me is slightly scared.
It took a lot of hope and waiting for me to finally decide what I want to do, and a lot of motivation from a friend. I feel now that if she does not keep me going all the way, I'm not going to be able to do it.

Thanks Sana, you're simply awesome! Actually, another person deserves credit as well, but I wont mention the name.
I did it once before, several years ago, and there was nothing like it. I wish it wasn't so difficult doing it again the second time. May Allah make it easy...

In the last 6 days

I received two emails that I can't stop thinking about. One from a student in an Arabic course I was TAing, and another from a friend in Kampala, Uganda. I haven't met either, but I feel a strong connection with both.

The first is no ordinary student. She's an obs/gyn physician, a mother of two, who was taking some 5 courses online, which was quite impressive mashallah. However, during the course, her father had to undergo two surgeries. Then, between a cardiac arrest and a resuscitation, she had to travel to another city because:

...
I found that my husband wasn't feeling too good. I convinced him to get some bloodwork/labs done - and he landed in hospital with a rare type of an auto-immune kidney condition, Glomerulonephritis. This was in the middle of Ramadan, and Alhamdulillah, it was the fadeelah of fasting that this disorder could be diagnosed in it's early stage before it could affect other organs. He is now on heavy medications, but Alhamdulillah, doing much better.
I was in Chicago last weekend to check on my father, they moved him to a rehab center from the hospital, Alhamdulillah, so that he can get some physiotherapy to tone him up,since he has become very frail and weak and hardly able to sit up or stand up by himself (for a person who used to walk 5-7 miles a day, it's hard to imagine.)
Subhanallah, while I was reading s.Ankabut in Ramadan, I felt the weight of the 2nd ayah, and strangely, it was so reassuring that it helped me all through my ordeals. Remember I over enthusiastically joined a whole bunch of classes at Sunnipath, so I could enrich my knowledge more and uplift myself more towards taqwa and 'husn khuluq.
I had a lot of free time on my hands at that time and so I wanted to make the best of everything - according to one of my favourite hadith where the Prophet,SAS said, "make the best of the 5, before the other 5 overtake you......" You must be knowing this. I had also started memorizing the Quran,learnt tajweed, started learning Arabic etc- at a slow and steady pace. So thats why I went all-out with sunnipath,
because I was so happy to discover it! Anyway, Alhamdulillah 'ala kulli 'haal.
I haven't yet had a chance to go back on the sunnipath site to review my classes.I believe they'd just be there for a semester. I wanted to join the same arabic course I was in so I could be with my old batchmates with sh.Sulayman in the next semester, but it was simply impossible. Both my kids also couldn't continue this semester-
the days just flew! I might repeat all my courses in subsequent semesters, I feel so incomplete.
...
You have always been in my heartfelt duas, Humairah, even though I couldn't be in touch with you. ( right from day-1 when you had sent me such a reassuring email when I was so overwhelmed with my classes!!)

The second is a request:

Sister,I would like to introduce you to a muslim brother who is in some kind of need,may be you may be knowing some one who can help him out,he is currently a finalist student at the East African school of library and Information science,Makerere University studying the same course which I did,Bachelors in Library and Information science majoring in the field of Records management
...
he is now in his second last semster and if all goes well,he may graduate next year inshallah,but he has got one stambling block as regards with his education as Allah says in Quran 2:155-157
His father got some serious problems,he is currently out of work which has unabled him to clear up his tuition fees in time and yet he is remaining with less than two weeks to start for his end of semster one examinations.
I kindly request you sister,incase you know of any Muslims or organizations out there who can help him out with any thing towards his tuition,to please try for him as he also tries from other sources Inshallah.

It's simply superb how the Qur'an gives hope to people in so many different ways. What a blessing to be just Muslim. Have you thanked Allah today for blessing you with Islam?
Alhamdulillah.

The two verses:
29:2 Do men think that on their [mere] saying, “We have attained to faith”, they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to a test?

2:155-157 And most certainly shall We try you by means [125] of danger, and hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of [labour's] fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity who, when calamity befalls them, say, "Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return." It is they upon whom their Sustainer's blessings and grace are bestowed, and it is they, they who are on the right path!

Bypass surgery

Subhanallah...everyone close to me is going through a major trial or tribulation. Please pray for Naseer uncle, who is scheduled to have an 8-hour heart bypass surgery next week for the second time. His operation is in a hospital in Abu Dhabi, and he will be admitted this week. Between my brother, my father and me we're trying to work out the logistics of driving aunty there, spending the day, and returning back at night (since she can only stay with him after the surgery, not before).

Mehndi- Eid Al Fitr

This year's designs are a blend of Arabic and Indo-Pak.

Thank You

I'm always touched by the little (and big) things that strangers do for me because of their own kindness.
Like the girl in Kensington market from whom I'd buy my fruits and vegetables.
And the colleague who lent me his book.
And the lady who drove 15 minutes to show us where the horseriding ranch was when we were lost (and she drove off without giving me a chance to say thank you).
And the man who offered to get me a gallon of gas when I noticed my empty tank after the meeting (today).
And the driver of the water truck who stopped and got under my car in the desert heat to use his jack and other tools to get it off the stone (which someone put there to mark there underground tandoor!).
And the people whom I stop and ask for directions and they help me.
And the gentlemen who make way for me in hallways or public transport, and help me with my luggage at airports.
And the ladies who share their experiences with me because they want me to watch out for myselves...
There are so many of them! Most whose paths may never cross mine again.


Thank You. You're amazing!

End of this chapter at least!

Several weeks ago, my best friend wrote this for me:

Ode to Humairah
Hummi Tummi taught a class
Whether the water was half full in a glass

The students asked her questions a lot
They weren’t sure of what they were taught

They have stressed her beyond belief
With end of classes will come relief

For now she sits marking papers
All the while eating chocolate wafers

Kahkashan could not have carved a truer picture of what I went through as a teaching assistant for SunniPath's Introductory Arabic 2 course! This was my first experience as a teaching assistant, and Alhamdulillah it was a great blessing to be part of the SunniPath team. SunniPath definitely has some of the best brothers and sisters working behind the scene, putting in scores and scores of volunteer hours to provide the global world access to great teachers of Islamic knowledge.
Below is a sampler of what we did in class (it's just a joke people, not meant to scare you):


I just fired off the last set of reports to the students, after spending some 10 multitasking hours on the mail merge feature in Word collaborated with Outlook and Excel. I loved the students in the course, and I always find SunniPath students to be very humble and also very eager. I wish I could name some volunteers and students who have become a favourite with me...


Next semester inshallah, I'll be the teaching assistant for the following courses:

• Intermediate Arabic 1


• Detailed Fiqh of Women's Issues - Part 2

I've never posted a "Be Right Back" message on this blog, but this time I need to, because if I don't, I'll probably end up posting and that won't be good for the next while (7 days to be exact) as I'm busy with:

• Henna Nite (it's tonight!)
• Teaching assistant work for the above 3 courses
• Course development work for another SunniPath course
• Meeting up with a friend who's visiting in Dubai for 2 days
• Shariah program resumes this weekend
• Research article for my column
• Conference preparation launch including fine-tuning everyone's roles, bringing more people on board and defining the advisory board and the steering committee
• Updates on other projects
  

Oh... and for those who are going to miss, the Henna Nite's menu (this doesn't include what mummy's going to be making):

• Perfect Purple Punch
• Banana Party Punch
• Fruit salad custard cake
• Chocolate covered strawberries
• Ras malai, gulab jamun
• Date tart
• Chocolate oatmeal (and other) cookies
• Assorted biscuits

I'm off to the kitchen. Bye Bye.

Eid Mubarak!

Amer sent me an sms last week saying that the Arabic newspapers have printed that Eid will be on Saturday according to the astronomical observations. Plus, Toronto is all geared up to celebrate Eid on Saturday as well.
I was certain Eid would be on Saturday. So I fell behind in my Qur'an reading. I ended up sleeping too much in the last 2 days, it's just been quite exhausting between home and the masjid.
At 7pm, I'm reading the Qur'an, almost falling asleep, and wondering if I should skip Taraweeh..
At 7:30pm, my mother calls and wishes me Eid Mubarak. I call up Amer and scold him for giving me wrong information. He's in Dubai anyways shopping for Eid.
My sister's getting calls too. Every family has their moon-sighter who calls them to tell them when Eid is. For one of my sister's friends, Aqsa, it's her uncle in Sharjah. For another, it's an aunt in Saudi.
I go downstairs, my parents are furiously switching channels to find out. Mummy says the Geo TV, a Pakistani channel is displaying their breaking news as "Moon Sighted in Saudi Arabia, Eid on Friday- Arab TV", but the Arab TV channels are displaying that the moon sighting committee is still in the meeting.
Ha! I knew it. Trust a Pakistani channel? No way.. I'd rather go pray taraweeh and finish my Qur'an.
I call up the Imam's wife, and she says, "I don't know. They're saying they wont find out until after the isha prayers". I tell her that GeoTV has already announced it, but the Arab channels haven't.
I'm still sort of in denial.
I don't want to spend the night putting mehndi on my sister and mom when I still have my Qur'an to finish.
We debate going to the masjid. We end up going. After isha, there's a hush. What's going to happen? Is there an announcement? The projector wasn't turned on, so we couldn't see the men.
The imam begins taraweeh. Yay!
We pray two, and then another two.
The imam starts talking. But the women are trying to hush each other up and no one can hear anything.
It's Eid tomorrow.
We hug the people we know. We pray witr, and then leave the masjid.
I still find it funny, that all the Pakistani and Indian people found out about Eid earlier than the Arabs!

Eid Mubarak!

The Best Company- Reflections Ramadan 23

I went for this past Hajj, Alhamdulillah. For many days now, I've been drawing parallels from my experiences at Hajj, and Ramadan. This Ramadan is the first "spiritual" period after my Hajj in December 2006/January 2007.
What stands out the most is, I had (and have) the best company at that time, and now.

I went for Hajj with my father. He looked after me so much, subhanallah. He'd have his arm around me whenever it would get extremely crowd. At one point, in order to make sure I don't get hit when we went for the stoning of the shaitan, he fell backwards on a sheet of stones. It must have hit him like needles, or even worse. But he didn't say a word.
This is just one of the moments with him at Hajj.
I still remember my circumstances around the time when the whole planning for hajj happened. I had wanted to go with my brother Rehan, but it didn't work out. I was so angry and stubborn and upset and then my father did everything he could so that he could arrange for us to go. Subhanallah, he endured so much for me, and to me, it was a very unique experience. I didn't remember much of the care and love my parents had for me because I had been away for so long...


And now, my mother, father and I have been going for the qiyam @ the masjid for a couple of days now. Despite them sleeping after me, they wake up before me, and wake me up to go with them. I pray the tahajjud nawafil by my mother's side in the congregation sometimes, and it's so extremely comforting to have her there.

At suhoor time, I get really annoyed when my mother is worried about everyone else eating and she delays her own suhoor to the end. But try as I do, I can't get her to think of herself first. Her first concern is to make what my brother and sister want to eat.

In fact, I don't seem to focus much on my duas knowing that my mother is making every single dua there is.
All the blankets of the world put together cannot provide the comfort that they do in the coldest of times.

So, how can I not cherish these moments, not knowing if they will return?
I know this is all natural for parents. How can they be parents, if they do not do all this, and more? But how much of it do I really deserve? Not much.

Who are your companions this Ramadan?

Iftar | Hospitality- Reflections Ramadan 14

Subhanallah, many years ago, Ramadan used to be a month when I'd count the days to Eid, and now I'm sad with each moment that passes by. In fact, quite remorseful of all the times I wasted in the last 2 weeks. There's so much to do, and too many distractions. Starting today, I'm retiring to the masjid inshallah.

Planning and preparing iftars (or dinners) for my friends was one of my most enjoyable (and stressful Rehan would add) experiences. I'm not a food lover, but because I have such a diverse group of friends, I managed to learn some from different types of cuisine- Turkish, Morroccon, Italian, Mexican, Spanish (And of course, Pakistani) to suit all my guests. My friends were the unfortunate test subjects of my cooking, but mashallah, they'd mostly shower me with complements :D

This being my first Ramadan at home after so many years, I'm still surprised at the simplicity of what we have been eating at iftar. The credit goes to my mother, who has done away with the typical wasteful customs in our culture.

Yesterday I had iftar with my mother and sister as my father and brother had a work invitation, and we laughed at the thought of eating leftovers. It felt really good, and then I was reminded of a comment by Safdar bhai last year.

...

It was the second brothers iftar last Ramadan, and as the brothers were still chatting away, I called my brother into my room to let him know I'm leaving for taraweeh. As I was slipping out the door, Safdar bhai called out to me from the kitchen [Mashallah, he's a father of 4, and was my first Qur'anic Arabic teacher]

"Are you going for taraweeh?"
"salam... yes"
"Isn't it easier to make 4 dishes for 20 people than to make 20 dishes for 4 people?"

I really didn't know what to say. About a month later, someone told me they counted 17 different items at that iftar. This same person told me that he wasn't able to eat much, even though my brother kept insisting, because this was exaclty a week after the massive earthquake in Pakistan. I understood his feelings. He was involved with a relief organisation helping them with their efforts. So was I. In fact, one evening, a bunch of us packed some 300 boxes of food and other material for the surviving earthquake victims.

Perhaps there was too much food. But then, living close to campus, we'd always share food with others. I'd mostly never see my tupperware again. It would either be at 88 Lowther or 666 Spadina or somewhere else. And I'd have theirs. The environment was beautiful. Once I even got home made baked brownies from a frosh bro!

The definition of good hospitality is not having too much good food. At home, we always treat our guests with excellence, the type stemming from sunnah teachings and not from cultural practices.

This is a dilemma I've always had. I find that people are not used to good hospitality such that they find mine lavish :) My dilemma being, was I being ignorant of the global consequences of my action by providing "lavishly" for my guests when an earthquake had just happened in my home country?

"The world and its pomp has so overwhelmed society that hospitality now requires a veritable protocol" , says Hajj Gibril. "Simplicity often goes out the window together with many Islamic manners. Protracted and impromptu visits thus become a burden because they alter the normal run of the house more radically than before".

The essense of hospitality in Islam is that:

• We are in need of Allah (swt) sending guests to our place. The Righteous of olden times would say that “the guest brings his rizq and leaves with the sins of the hosts forgiven.”
• And Our messengers came unto Ibrahim with good news. They said: Peace! He answered: Peace! and delayed not to bring a roasted calf (Hud 11:69). Imam al-Qurtubi said: “In this verse, part of the etiquette related to guests is that they be hosted promptly, so whatever is available is presented to them on the spot."
• Then it can be followed up with something else if one has wealth. The host should not task himself with what might overly burden him.
• Hospitality is part of excellent manners, the etiquette of Islam, and the high character of Prophets and the Righteous.
  

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) guides us by saying: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable with his or her guests."

The magnificent paradigm of the Muslim hospitality is the following hadith:

One time some­one visited the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, who said: Who will host this man?” One of the Ansar immediately said: “I will.” Then he rushed to his wife and told her: “Provide generously for the guest of the Messenger of Allah.” She replied: “We only have food for the chil­dren!”

He said: “Prepare the food then light the candle and put the chil­dren to bed at dinner-time.”
She did as he said [and put the children to sleep on an empty stomach] then she got up to tinker with the light and she put it out. Then she and her husband pretended to eat but remained hungry that night. The next morning they went to see the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, and he said: “Last night Allah laughed or was astonished [the narrator hesitated] at what you two did!” Then Allah re­vealed the verse: They put others above their need though poverty become their lot (59:9). Narrated from Abu Hurayra by Bukhari and Muslim.

Those of us who have more than what we could have ever asked for in life, perhaps may never understand the depth of humility and reward associated with such an action. It sounds really beautiful to hear, but imagine being the mother who came to Aisha (ra) and split her own date between her two daughters. Aisha (ra) was so touched by that action.

Car wash- Reflections Ramadan 13

Today morning my father asked me if I've ever washed a car and I replied in the negative. He said he'd show me how to do it. And with 3 cars to wash, there was plenty of practice!

There are 3 steps to it:

1. Turn on the hose, spray down the entire car with water.
2. Soak a cloth in soapy water and scrub the entire car.
3. Rub a dry cloth all over so that the water doesn't leave marks all over.

I ran back and forth to turn off the hose as often as I can. If you use a hose instead of a bucket, it wastes a lot of water unfortunately.

At the end of the procedure, I wished it was as easy to wash off my sins. It's almost going to be a year since my hajj, and effects of it have been wearing off. Nevertheless, we can purify ourselves using the same steps.

• The more often you cleanse yourself, the lesser you'll have to scrub.
• When you're asking Allah (swt) for forgiveness, ask for complete forgiveness, not just for the sins you remember. But also for the sins you don't remember.
• Be sincere, otherwise you'll have a heart with black spots. Yuck.

What are some of the ways of washing ourselves?

1. Perfecting one's ablution

"No worshipper perfects his ablution except that his past and future sins are forgiven."
[Hasan, al-Bazzaar. Al-Haythami and al-Mundhiri agreed.]

2. Fasting the month of Ramadan with belief and seeking Allah's reward

"Whoever fasts Ramadhan out of Iman and seeking Allah's reward then his past and future sins are forgiven."
[Hasan, Ahmad. Declared Hasan by adh-Dhahabi, as mentioned in al-Mughni (5876).]

3. Performing the night prayer in Ramadan with belief and seeking Allah's reward

"Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of Iman and seeking Allah's reward then his past and future sins are forgiven."
[Saheeh. an-Nasaa'i.]

4. Performing the night prayer on the Night of Qadar with belief and seeking Allah's reward

"It (Laylatul-Qadr) is in Ramadan, and expect it in the last ten days; it is on an odd night: on the 21st, or the 23rd, or the 25th, or the 27th, or the 29th, or on the last night (of Ramadan). He who performs the night prayer on it out of belief and seeking Allah's reward his past and future sins are forgiven."
[Narrated by Ahmad. There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding this hadeeth, some declaring it weak and some Hasan. Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr said in Al-Fath (4/116), "This addition – meaning, 'and future (sins)' – is also in `Ubadah bin as-Samit's Hadeeth, in (the Musnad of) Ahmad, in two narrations. Its chain is Hasan and it is supported by the previous chain."]

5. Praising and thanking Allah after eating and putting one's clothes on.

"Whoever ate a food and then said, `Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part', is forgiven his past [and future*] sins. And whoever wears a garment and says, `Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this (garment) and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part', is forgiven his past and future sins."
[Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Bukhari in al-Kabeer, al-Hakim, ibn Sunni and Ahmad. The addition marked by (*) is related by Abu Dawud. Shaykh Al-Albani declared the hadeeth Hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami` (6086) and in al-Irwaa' (1989). He said in al-Irwaa', "Such a hadeeth causes hesitation between making it Hasan (good) and Da`eef (weak). Maybe the first one is closer to be the truth, because those who made it weak didn't explain it and didn't explain the reason for its weakness. Allah knows best."]

6. Who raises three daughters or sisters and is nice to them

"There is no one from my Ummah who takes care of three daughters or three sisters, and is nice to them, except that they will be a veil (protection) for him from the Fire."
[Saheeh, al-Bayhaqi and Al- Bukhari in Al-Adab, authenticated by Al-Albani in Saheeh Al-Jaami` (5372)]

7. Defending the honor of a Muslim

"Whoever defends the honor of his brother in absence has the right over Allah to be freed from the Fire."
[Saheeh, Ahmad, al-Tabarani. Authenticated by Al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami` (6240)]. Al-Manaawi commented, "'Whoever' is limited to other than the disbeliever and public wrongdoer." [Fayd al-Qadeer 6:136]

8. Sincerity to Allah

No servant who says `la ilaha ill Allah', seeking the pleasure of Allah, will reach the Day of Judgment, except that Allah will forbid the Fire for him.
[Ahmad, al-Bukhari] Hafidh Ibn Hajr said, "It's not like that (i.e. not entering the Fire at all) for everyone who believed in tawheed and worshipped, but it is specific for the sincere, and sincerity (ikhlas) requires the realization of its meaning by the heart. One cannot imagine that the heart will reach that while persisting upon sins, as the heart would be filled with the love and fear of Allah, whereupon limbs will embark upon obedience and leave disobedience."

9. Crying out of fear of Allah

"No man who cried out of fear of Allah will enter the Fire until the milk returns to the udder, and dust in the path of Allah (jihad) and the smoke of the Fire cannot go together."
[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasaa'i and Hakim who authenticated it. Authenticated by Al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami` (7778)]

10. Performing the prayer in congregation for forty days while reaching the opening takbeer

"Whoever prays to Allah for four days in congregation, reaching the opening takbeer, will have two written for him: freedom from the Fire and freedom from hypocrisy."
[Hasan. at-Tirmidhi, declared Hasan by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami` (6365)]

11. Being consistent in praying four rak`ats before Dhuhr and after it

"Whoever is consistent in praying four units of prayer before Dhuhr and four after it, Fire will be forbidden for him."
[Saheeh. Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa'i, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim who authenticated it. Al-Albani authenticated it in Saheeh al-Jaami` (6195)]

12. Being consistent in praying before sunrise and before sunset.

"No one will enter Fire who prays before sunrise and before sunset."
[Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasaa'i] Meaning, Fajr and `Asr prayers.

13. Good character

"Whoever is easy-going, easy to deal with and kindhearted, Allah will forbid the Fire for him."
[Saheeh. Al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, al- Bayhaqi, at-Tabarani. Al-Albani authenticated it in Saheeh al-Jaami` (6484)]

Taken from the Yahya Ibrahim list.

Spirit | Minimalism | 1 minute- Reflections Ramadan 12

If you could tell your family just one thing before you die, what would it be? What would be your legacy? Of course, Professor Randy Pausch was happy about his worldly achievements as he looked back at life. Muslims too should be happy about their beneficial accomplishments that are sadaqa-e-jaria (ongoing charity). This video made me wonder, when you get to the end, how much spirit can you keep up? Most old people always talk about regrets- how they wasted their lives and now it's too late, they can't do too much about it. How much of my life am I wasting?

At the beginning of Ramadan, one of the two ceiling lights in my room fused off. Everyone at home knows what happens when a bulb goes off in my room. I start complaining how dark it is, how I can't read anything, and why aren't there any 100 watt bulbs of the right type at home??

Canadians have no idea what brightness at home means. Their houses are too dark, too yellow. Here in the Middle East, tube lights are used, and houses are brightly lit. There are lights everywhere! Most washrooms have 3-4 tube lights...

I decided I'm not going to bother my brother or father to climb onto a stool to change my bulb. For a change, I'd just try to last the month with only 1 light. This was I save more electricity as well (duh!)

I came across this post by Brad today on Achieve IT:

We simply have more stuff than we can possibly use. I’m speaking as someone who is as guilty of this myself. As I write this I look up at our fireplace mantel and see 11 candles in various candlesticks sitting there. They are not earth shattering attractive by any means — just everyday candles in candle holders.

Question: when is the last time we lit a candle in this house?

Answer: Hmmm… If I remember correctly we lit last year’s jack-o’-lantern. And even then it was on the front porch.

So there sits 11 candles and 11 candlesticks with almost no hope of ever being used. Why 11? Who knows? We probably had to candles up there at one point and someone decided we needed for. Then add on a gift or two or four and we were up to 8, 10 and then a big one in the center. Why? Because 2 candlesticks wasn’t enough. And more is better — right?

It's so true. If we look around us, we have way too many things. A friend once was given the advice, if you want to remove the clutter from your head, you have to remove the clutter around you first. Productivity gurus talk about the "100 items challenge"- where you cut his personal possessions down to 100 items. It's called Minimalist living.
Having fewer items around you helps you manage your time better. You're
Are you a minimalist? I'm a partial minimalist. I always get only what I need after a lot of thought and limit myself. But I still end up with a lot of things.

The Prophet (pbuh) was a minimalist. Aaisha (ra), his wife, said, “The mattress of the Prophet on which he slept, was made of leather stuffed with the fiber of the date-palm tree.”

Zen Habits talks about how you can do it. And speaking of productivity, I love the concept of Haiku Productivity!


Have you ever wondered what the value of your one minute is? Or, how much reward you can receive from Allah (swt) in one minute?
My mother and I started translating a small pocket book from Urdu to English. If you like figures, you'll love this.

The recitation of the Surah Ikhlas alone during the day or night in once gets you the reward of reciting 1/3rd of the Qur’an, as is established in hadith. If you recite it thrice, then you receive the reward for reciting the entire Qur’an.

• In one minute, you can recite Surah Ikhlas 12 times, which is equal to the reward of 4 Qur'ans.
• [4 x 30 = 120] If you do this consistently for a minute a day for a month, you earn the reward of 120 Qur' ans.
• [120 x 12 = 1440] - 1 year
• [1440 x 20 = 28800] - 20 years

And the reward for reading the Qur'an?

Next time think twice before wasting your precious minutes.

Lowest of the Low- Reflections Ramadan 11

Imagine if you were born into an extremely oppressed tribe. In your early youth, you saw two people fighting and one of them asked you for your help. As you tried to separate the two, your blow killed the other man. This really was the last straw. Now you are wanted for murder. You run away at the advice of a well-wisher. But you have nowhere to go.

You probably know who I'm talking about. But before I reveal the identity, let me continue the story.

Tired, dejected and with no personal belongings you arrive at an unknown place and rest under a tree. You make a supplication to Allah (swt)- Oh Lord, truly I am in need of whatever good you give me.

This is the point where things begin to change for you, for the better. It was a small gesture of yours, helping two young women fill their bucket with water, that led on to to beautiful things in life, but of course, many challenges as well.

Many years later you are married and wish to return to your homeland. Your journey is rather eventful.
Musa (as) feared that the Egyptians would kill him, because he had killed one of them. This was his biggest fear as he was travelling back. He asked his Lord to let his brother go with him and talk to them, since he was more eloquent in speech. Musa (as) was extremely worried and he tried to come up with excuses to simplify his dilemma. He was given two Clear Signs and was completely new to his mission of delivering Allah's message. At that point, he was feeling very low. Even though Allah (swt) forgave him, he knew he had taken someone's life, and he was extremely remorseful. He was in no position of power. Plus, he had a family to take care of, and if something were to happen to him, what would they do in a foreign land? His fears were dark and his situation was extremely bleak. [This story is mentioned in Surah Qasas.]

And at this point, as he made dua, Allah (swt) responded saying, "We are with you, and will listen (to your call)." [As Shu'ara: 15]
Now, this is profound because it is Allah (swt) speaking directly to Musa (as), and telling him that He, the Almighty is with him. Musa (as) was a Prophet (pbuh) and hence he had the privelege of Allah's conversations with him.
But we are also Allah's creations, His slaves whom He loves and showers with mercy and forgives. He is forever watching over us. It is for us to know that Allah (swt) is with us when we are feeling low.

Alhamdulillah I finished reading the Qur'an yesterday (and finished second!). Now round 2 inshallah, but at a much slower pace. Over the last 10 days, I'd think often how much easier it would be for me to read the Qur'an if I had it memorised. Lesser mistakes, more understanding, better recitation, and the best part, to be able to recite the Qur'an at any time, anywhere without depending on the book.


Here's an absolutely CUTE video (50 sec):

Which way are you heading?- Reflections Ramadan 10

This almost happens everyday. W and M represent the women's and men's exits respectively.

From what I can see on the projector screen, there must be over 1000 men during taraweeh. The rest of the congregation are 300+ women and children. After taraweeh, everyone leaves as fast as they can.
The street with all those cars leads to the exit.
[The Random shopping cart is from the supermarket nearby, some people just bring them home and then leave them outside their houses or in the middle of the road]

When everyone is going towards the masjid before Taraweeh, there are cars parked on both sides, and the two-way street becomes one day. Which makes sense because at that time of the evening near the masjid, people are obviously coming to pray, not leaving the mosque.

But after taraweeh, imagine the crowd exiting the place. Although it doesn't take too long, many people still try to rush. The picture is a scene from a few days ago. The mustard car is ours. [Of course, the crowd is much worse than this!]
All of a sudden we're faced with the red car, and I get annoyed at that. Why is the car coming this way, when there's so much traffic and everyone's trying to leave? I ask out loud. My father says, the other driver is in the right lane, and he merges in with the other cars slowly. I kept arguing- He could have come later, or from the other entrance (not shown) which is less-crowded and so on.
The next day, my father stuck to his lane, and there was no incoming car until we turned right towards the exit, and a couple of taxis were coming in.
Yesterday there was just one car again, and goodness knows where it was heading!

I thought about how this situation affects me. The red car after all, was right. Even if the traffic dictated that the laws should be changed during rush hours (according to me). My car, and the ones behind us trying to switch to the incoming lane, was wrong. But it was some 20+ cars against 1. Also, when we were faced with the incoming red car, it's driver had to wait for sometime for my father to merge back in. I was almost worried he'd honk at us, but he didn't.

So, what did this teach me?

• That sometimes, you're the only one who's right.
• And when you are right, and face an obstacle, you should be patient, because the situation is difficult for others as well, and they are also trying to find solutions to their problems.
• If their solutions are wrong, you don't back away. If you really care about them, you make them realise that they are wrong, and they need to correct themselves before it's too late.
• Making them realise they are wrong is good, because they may not know that there are bigger obstacles around the corner.
• If everyone follows the rules and sticks together, then they make it very easy for the few who don't have a strong enough voice but are trying to get on with their lives.
• When you are correct, and doing the right thing, you have the support of the truth. Nothing can change what's right no matter what anyone tries to do. And that should be enough for you to stand by the truth.
• However, when you are wrong, you begin to make excuses, and try to make the wrong look right, but deep down, you know the truth that you are doing the wrong thing.
• Before we make any decision, it's important to step outside of the situation and look at the bigger picture.
• If you see a shopping cart in the middle of the road, move it, for that action is charity.

It's all too easy to analyse a scene like this and think about right and wrong, so I tried to think of previous situations in life that were similar to this, and I came up with a couple. Inshallah I'm going to try to apply this next time I'm going the right way in my lane.

Blessing of Choices | Success- Reflections Ramadan 9

A few weeks ago my mother had invited her friends over, and I was pleasantly surprised to meet with a girl who used to be a grade lower than me in school. I was meeting her after 7 years, and her story was sad and a great reminder. I meet her after taraweeh sometimes, and everytime I see her, it reminds me of this one sentence she said, after I asked her, "but what do you do with your time all day??" [She never managed to complete high school because of moving to Pakistan temporarily, and then she attempted GED, but GED wasn't accepted in most colleges in UAE/Al Ain at that time]

"What else? Clean the house all day. Sit at home. Get married some day and produce kids."

In her situation, the sarcasm is understandable. I had so many questions in my head, especially how and why her parents just let her sit at home. And she's a year older than me as well. Why don't they just get her married? But I kept quiet, feeling very guilty inside.

I felt guilty not because I have the blessings of choices in life more than most people. And many people have that blessing, just like being blessed with a perfect form, limbs, organs, etc. But because of the numerous times I abuse that blessing.
To me, she's a constant reminder of humbling myself and being responsible about the choices I have to make. Many times I become irresponsible or carefree, knowing that someone will take up the consequences for me if things go wrong.

Like the time a few months ago, after I picked up my sister from school, I took a turn onto the main road despite knowing that the incoming car was speeding. I thought I'd swerve into the second lane, but I wasn't fast enough. It was an impulsive decision. The car hit me, and the poor guy's car was badly damaged. I remember not panicking (and I don't panic mostly) because despite it being my fault, my father would be able to set things straight for me @ the traffic police department.

Or all the times I choose to drive instead of walk and abuse my environment nonchalently. Everytime I've driven to somewhere, I'm very aware of the environmental consequences. It nags at me, but my passion is not strong enough to make me let go of the car. [of course, I would not have this problem in Toronto since I'd just bike and secure my groceries with a mesh of bungee cords at the back...ah, fun!]

This blessing applies in all spheres. When you realise that the choices you have in life are a blessing, you take them more seriously and weigh your options better.

And it's not that the girl I met did not have choices. In her life, her choices were of the different type. But this is a blessing that Allah (swt) has given to all of mankind. She had the choice of studying at an institute (instead of a college), but she didn't. For the sake of analysis, I can say she made an irresponsible decision. Some education is better than no education, and because her parents support her, she chose to stay at home.

This reminds me of an article I wrote: The Choice within You- Developing a Positive Attitude. It has some good tips.



How do we define success? The definition of successful believers in the Qur'an is much simpler:

Successful indeed are the believers

• Who are humble in their prayers,
• And who shun vain conversation,
• And who are payers of the poor due;
• And who guard their modesty
• And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant,
• And who pay heed to their prayers.

These are the heirs who will inherit Paradise: There they will abide. [Surah Mu'minoon: 1-12]

And this reminds me, so far, I've come across the statement: Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear, four times: 2:233, 6:152, 7:42, 23:62. (Perhaps it occurs again but I haven't reached the end yet) This is a great reminder.

You can be successful in this dunya, in a way that's good for the akhirah if you follow the above, and at the same time you should be able to do it without bearing a burden greater than you can bear.

So, what do we complain about?

Salah | Wudhu- Reflections Ramadan 8

I'm not sure if this is in a hadith or a story of a Sahaba (I also read a similar story in Like The Flowing River by Paulo Coelho):

There was a devout man who once missed fajr prayer because shaitan made him sleep until late into the morning. When he woke up and realised he missed the salah, he cried his heart out and Allah (swt) forgave him and increased him in his rank. Shaitan came to know of this and the next day, he woke up the man up for fajr in time so that Allah (swt) would not reward him all that extra reward again.

Yesterday was not so good, I mostly ended up sleeping all day, and missed out on precious time that I had set aside for important tasks. After I woke up, I thought about the above story that my mother had told me. How much do I regret missing a salah? And how do I repent for it? And when my iman goes down before it comes back up again, it's never because of my own measly efforts, but truly the blessing of Allah (swt).

Hadrat Fazal Ali Quraishi (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) would plough, sow, and reap his own fields. He would bring the harvest home where both he and his wife would prepare the wheat to be cooked and made into bread. The bread would then be served to the students in Hadrat’s madrasa.

Hadrat Quraishi had a strong work ethic and insisted on doing everything himself. As part of his noble habit, he was constantly in a state of ablution, as was his household. One day, Hadrat served the meal as usual in the madrasa and the seekers sat down to eat. Hadrat used to address his seekers as faqir, and so he said, “Oh Faqirs, for the bread that is before you, a field had to be ploughed and this was done in a state of wudu (ritual purity). Next, a seed was sown and cultivated, all in a state of wudu. The wheat was then reaped, cleaned and cooked, all in a state of wudu. Now that it is before you, my only hope is that you eat it in a state of wudu.”

[Why Fasting is Prescribed: excerpted from The Sermons by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad]

How pure must that meal have been, Subhanallah! Just like fasting, ablution (wudhu) also has an inner dimension. "No worshipper perfects his ablution except that his past and future sins are forgiven." [Hasan, al-Bazzaar. Al-Haythami and al-Mundhiri agreed.] When a person gets angry, the Prophet (pbuh) recommends that he performs wudhu. Over the years, I have seen my grandmother and mother always go to bed in a state of wudhu. I think I often undermine it's importance, despite knowing so much about it.

However, an important point about doing wudhu is that water should be used discretely. We're only in this dunya to adopt the Sunnah, not exceed it. The Prophet (pbuh) performed ablution using one mudd, a measure equal to a handful of water and took a shower using one sa` (four handfuls). Some translations say 1 litre and 4 litres respectively. [I think we use gallons of water for showering!]

So, if you want your sins forgiven before you even make them, always be in a state of wudhu.

Random Acts- Reflections Ramadan 7

Yesterday night I had to give a talk for evaluation. It was titled Living the Green Dream. [UAE has one of the largest ecological footprints in the world, and that's very sad, considering it just has under 2 million people]. I did a lot of research, but I didn't keep my audience in mind, and the feedback I received was that there were too many numbers and I should have used visual aids to explain that.
A few years ago in Al Ain I remember the municipality had given a green and red bin to residential houses. We had them as well, but they somehow were never used. I decided to call up the municipality to find out the process of recycling so that I could include it in my speech.
It was a frustrating experience. The person who answered my call didn't speak English. The one he gave the phone to didn't know Recycling is. They gave me another phone number. After a lot of people, the final guy I talk to says.. "We're very busy, I can't explain this on the phone. Come to the health dept on main street".

Of course, as many expats living in UAE know- There's no address system in UAE. You have to go by landmarks.
I debated if I really wanted to walk into a building full of Arabic speakers (most likely no women employees) to get the information I needed. I was really glad I went!
Again, once I got there, they didn't allow me in initially, and after being shuffled between a few offices and hallways, I ended up at the desk of the head of the Waste Management dept. The minute I started talking, he asked, "Are you from Canada?". I had to laugh. [I went to an Arabic school for kindergarten, a British school for grades 1 & 2, and then I was enrolled in an Indian school all the way until the end with of course a British English curriculum and Indian accented teachers, before spending my university years in a Canadian university where every professor spoke their own version of English (and so did my friends), so I can't imagine anyone would guess I have a Canadian accent!]

Turns out, he did his PhD @ Carleton U, Ottawa! Mashallah, he was a very smart person, and he said that they have a 5 year plan to educate people about recycling, but there's no recycling mechanism in effect right now. How sad. We talked for quite some time, and I learnt a lot.


I find doing spontaneous random acts are great eye opening experiences.
Once in Toronto, I was working on a community project, and for that I randomly walked into a community centre for AIDs patients to find out what they do. The centre was on Church St, so obviously their patients were mostly homosexuals. Around that time I remember other brothers and sisters talking about how their parents wouldn't allow them to go to a place like that.
And again, I learnt a lot about their services, the needs of these patients, they ways in which society accepts them, and doesn't, and the unfortunate children who are taught how to live with this deadly disease.

It's great to see community work at the source- from where it starts.
It gives you lots of insight into "behind the scenes" work.
It also motivates you to join in the efforts.
It educates you on the long term vision and planning, and the ups and down behind the work.
It makes you understand the needs and challenges of your community.
And many times, if you get to talk to the right person, you'll learn about how it all starts- With one person.

So choose a random act, not related to anything you've done before, and see what you can learn.

What does this have to do with Ramadan?

Garbage | Tahajjud- Ramadan Reflections Day 6

After taraweeh last night, my mother signalled to me to pick up the garbage around her. She was already prepared with a plastic bag. I started picking up tissues and Al Ain Water cups and filling the bag with it. It seemed that everyone was oblivious to my action. I felt a bit frustrated and flustered.
On the first night of Taraweeh, my friend, the Imam's wife and I talked about the entire story of this great woman:

Abu Hurairah(ra) reported that a dark-skinned woman used to clean the Mosque and then died. The Prophet (pbuh) did not know about it. One day the Prophet (pbuh) remembered her and said: "What happened to that person?" The people replied: "Oh Allah's Apostle! She died." He said: "Why did you not inform me?" They said: The story was so and so." He said: "Show me her grave" and he offered the funeral prayer. [Sahih Bukhari]

There really is no need for us to clean the masjid after us, since there's always someone hired to do it. However, that's not what Islam teaches us. You do not leave your garbage for someone else to pick up. I remember the saying that people in the West are unclean and keep their surroundings clean, whereas people in the East are personally clean but their surroundings are very dirty. Why are we so ill-trained that we cannot keep a tissue in hand and throw it a few metres away into a garbage can?

The Prophet (pbuh) said, cleanliness is half of faith and Alhamdulillah fills the scale, and Subhanallah and Alhamdulillah fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Salah is a light, and charity is proof (of one's faith) and endurance is a brightness and the Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves." (Muslim).

Our surroundings, the environment, are as much part of us are are our belongings, and we are required to take care of them. Alhamdulillah we don't face that problem in UAE, but in places like Canada, the mosque carpets are often smelling because of wet/dirty feet/socks or the mosque not being able to shampoo the carpets as often. We have to step up and solve these problems. The Masjid belongs to us. Read page one.
Our ranks are so low... but can we not strive to be like the woman who used to clean the masjid and the Prophet (pbuh) loved her action so much that he prayed for her? Would you not want the Prophet (pbuh) to pray for you?
Too many people say that one person is not going to make a difference. It is not true. Every big change starts with one person, a group, a movement, and finally a global voice- We will never know the impact until we train ourselves to be foresighted and understand the far-reaching effects of our consequences.

I thought about how what I'm doing may not have any effect on the women around me. I don't speak Arabic, so I can't give them a general talk on cleaning up after themselves. However, I know and believe that if I clean up as much as I can every day in Taraweeh, for the next 23 days or so, someone will notice and begin to follow, and soon it will pick up... inshallah!

This is a small action, but it illustrates the importance of your personal actions. Your actions will carry through for generations, and our reward lies with Allah (swt) alone.


In Surah Ibrahim, Allah (swt) says:

(And remember that) it is God who has created the heavens and the earth, and who sends down water from the sky and thereby brings forth (all manner) of fruits for your sustenance; and who has made ships subservient to. you, so that they may sail through the sea at His behest; and has made the rivers subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you; and has made the sun and the moon, both of them constant upon their courses, subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you; and has made the night and the day subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you. And (always) does He give you something out of what you may be asking of Him; and should you try to count God's blessings, you could never compute them. (And yet,) behold, man is indeed most persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ingrate! [14:32-34]

So true! Let's try to count some blessings of Allah (swt) until we exhaust ourselves, and then thank Him profusely for them. I find that the best time to do this exercise is when you're most depressed. Nothing lifts me than counting my blessings.

Another good time to do this is in tahajjud of course. Tahajjud simply is the best time to do any time of worship!
Here's a dua you can make in fajr/tahhajud from Surah Bani Isra'il:

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!
Say: "O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honour, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honour; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." [17:78-80]

رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا

Dreams | Friends | Guantanamo- Ramadan Reflections Day 5

Early morning, yesterday, I came up with an idea for my mother to use her immense knowledge of home remedies to help people across the globe through starting a business. My mother has been studying for so many years, Alhamdulillah she keeps the health of the Al Ain community in check!
Her eyes lit up as I explained to her how far my idea could go.

I asked my best friend Asma a few days ago: " Is it okay to make a decision in Ramadan? "And she replied, "yes a blessed time :)"

I was a bit unsure because in Ramadan, my focus has always been personal worship, but what more blessed month than Ramadan to start off great ideas and make important decisions?

There's so much barakah being showered in every direction that one definitely needs to take advantage of. So far, I would do a lot of planning in Ramadan, but not actual implementation or major decision-making.

What dreams and goals do you have that you have thought about for months or even years, but haven't realised them yet? What decisions do you have to make around this time, that you can make in Ramadan with continous istikhara?

What's your passion? What mundane tasks are you involved in, that you can put a spin on, and revive them in your life? Where, really, are you headed in life? And if it's not where you want to, then choose your destination in Ramadan today.

Sh Muhammad Al Shareef explains how you can do it by building an ultimate dua list and highlighting your achievements.

Your goals and aspirations are also part of your worship, just how eating and sleeping is as well in Ramadan. I'm going to pull out my Gantt charts, to-do lists and get to action inshallah!

And don't just do it for yourself. What is it that your parents have always wanted, but never got time for? Make it happen for them, motivate them, support them, and then watch the fruits of your efforts and the blessings of Ramadan in action :)


Last night, the Imam recited this dua in Witr:

'O Allah! Let there be light in my heart, light in my eye-sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light under me, light in front of me and light behind me, and provide me with light.'

I remember Rania had helped me memorise this dua one day when Sawitri, her and I were walking to Masjid Toronto. Today, Rania and Afifa are in Lebanon. Last year, I would get regular updates from them on the crisis around them. I thought about my global friends who always drop me a note whether it's over phone, email or sms that I am in their duas and thoughts. Friends from Uganda, Nigeria, England, Denmark, Toronto, Australia, India, Russia, Turkey and many other places- some of whom I have never met.
And when I think of friendship at such a global scale, I have no words to describe brother/sisterhood. So, please make dua for your brothers and sisters. You may not know, but they can hear you, and Allah (swt) Alone answers all our duas.


Do you remember yourself at 14? Nazia and her friend are doing an excellent job at informing us on Guantanamo through their blog- Feesabilillah

a juvenile named Mohammed El Gharani, a Chad national, who was just 14 years old when he was seized by the Pakistani authorities and sold to the US military. Reprieve say there is no evidence that Mohammed ever travelled to Afghanistan, nor that he intended to do so. Nevertheless, he is now one of 20 juveniles Reprieve has identified as being held in Guantanamo Bay. In interviews with his lawyers he claims he has been terribly abused, including having a cigarette stubbed out on his arm by an interrogator. He states that much of the abuse stems from his vocal objection to being called a "nigger" by US military personnel.

If you have some 15 minutes to write a blog entry, consider, using that time for more rewarding purposes. Just ask yourself, "can I be doing something better that is pleasing to Allah (swt) at this time?"
Final point- My friend Jeewan's blogging about Ramadan. You can catch up with him here in case you miss his talks in Toronto ;)