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Health vs sickness

The response to asking Allah for guidance manifests in innumerable ways, beyond human comprehension. However Allah’s first and most important description regarding Himself isAr Rahman, the Most Kind. So everything that one experiences carries this manifestation and our purpose in each experience is to seek guidance from it. To learn about Allah through it and to find “ourself ” in it by navigating our emotions and feelings.

Since gratitude is the foundation of a believers existence, we are not always able to understand or appreciate it from a purely intellectual dimension. Understanding gratitude through life’s experiences is like taking a 2D picture to 3D . Only the one who sees both , truly appreciates it.

Health is too often taken for granted, but in reality only a taste of sickness generates true gratitude. As a wise saying captures the essence of good health:

“Health is a crown on the heads of people that only sick people can see.”

In this manner, a sick person can benefit from being grateful to Allah for a knowledge he could not otherwise acquire! And to be aware that there are people who are more sick than yourself since physical diseases one treats with a doctor, but spiritual diseases ,which blind one from His Lord , can only be treated through the guidance of the Quran.

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Oat Cookies

The benefits of eating oats are well known and it’s something we should take seriously and actively make part of our daily intake. For those that love porridge there’s no problem…eat to your hearts content!! However those of us who can’t stomach that, here’s a really good alternative. Although it is cookies, the oat content is high and so if you don’t like porridge or your kids won’t eat it then it’s a super way to get them to start their day with oats.It’s much better than cereals whchc are processed and have very high sugar and salt contents.

Ingredients:

150g softened butter

130g light brown sugar

95g wholemeal or plain white flour

1 egg

Half tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 cups oats

Optional coconut and chopped nuts

Chocolate buttons to decorate

Method:

Blend butter and sugar. Add flour,eggs, soda any coconut or nuts. Finally mix in oats. Shape into 24 balls, flatten and firmly press a chocolate button on top.

Bake at 180C on a tray spaced apart for about 12 minutes. Enjoy as a breakfast bar or with a cup of tea!

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Principles of Justice

As the world witnesses the massacre of innocent people in Gaza, as well as other parts of the muslim world, and the rulers of our so called Islamic countries sit silent, one has to ask where does this behaviour stem from?

The foundation of Islamic principle is justice, which in turn is the cause of peace. Without justice, there will never be peace…only spells of distraction on all sides for other urgent matters.
Peace is destroyed by injustice and injustice is caused by misbalance.

It is this misbalance for which each and every person plays a part in the matter. Right from our simple day to day dealings with our relatives and friends, small injustices quickly roll into raging fires as we begin to overlook our responsibilities and rights which have not been fulfilled. Resentment begins to harbour in the hearts of those who suffer and thus a boiling pot waiting to explode is formed.

This is why we seek forgiveness in abundance when our Ummah is going through such tests…that if our negligence has played any part in it, then without forgiveness followed by reformation, the humiliation and suffering will continue.

The trials and tests Allah puts us through are from his boundless mercy, for without these we would collectively be on a stray path, oblivious of our errors and heedlessness.

As Yunus alaihisalaam acknowledged his mistake when thrown into the belly of the fish and supplicated
Lailaha ilallah anth subhanaka inni kunthu minadthalimeen

We too must realise the darkness we are in, and seek the light of guidance from Allah.

May our hearts be lightened with this dua , accepting our mistakes so we can humbly seek forgiveness. Ameen

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Ramadan Schedules

With ramadan rapidly approaching, may Allah help us to reach it, schedule are being planned. The reorganisation of our normal daily routine is essential, but that in itself is not the purpose or the goal. Too often we go through a “tick the box” task list and feel content we have managed to accomplish our scheduled deeds.
The real goal ,mostly, gets left behind; namely the taqwa from fasting and gratitude from ramadan. For these require changes from within ourselves..not just outward rituals….but a feeling from within that Allah alone is our Lord and that our life has a distinct purpose which He has shown us.
By redefining out intention we can Inshallah prepare for the month by truly and sincerely intending to change ourselves from within, not just our schedules.

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Gratitude for what?

We all understand the feeling of gratitude towards someone who does you a favour…but it’salways hard to have gratitude when you don’t understand a circumstance or situation.

Consider a scenario where you plan to travel on a journey..say by train. Despite all your efforts, as you approach the station, you see the train pulling away…..what’s your feeling? Anger..towards those who delayed you? Distress at the consequence that your wishes weren’t fulfilled? May be patience….but it wouldn’t be gratitude.
However, imagine that as the train heads off far into the distance…you see it explode……what’s your feeling now…..relief….and gratitude…….

So this change in feeling is not caused by a change in circumstance…you still missed the train…but rather it’s caused by the knowledge of what was to happen because you saw it.

This knowledge is what the believer has that causes his endless gratitude towards His Lord….and in contrast, the weak person expresses signs of impatience, anger and most destructive of all…ingratitude. (To be continued….)

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Shades Of Arrogance

The battle goes on but there is no field

The weapons lay open without a shield

The target is clear for the opposition

But the victim is heedless of her opponent’s mission

To elevate oneself above the Lord of the Throne

Just as he did when refusing alone

To prostrate as commanded and then justified

Misguiding mankind he has tried and tried

So my dear beloved sister..do you not see?

The same arrogant one he wants you to be?

When you leave yourself uncovered for all to view

If only his plan you really knew!!

The guidance is clear but hearts become veiled

Preserving our haya….though he thinks you have failed

So pick up the weapon that Allah has given,

Obey his command and you will be forgiven,

Let his whispers weaken you no more……

Or is it the thought that you’re not quite sure…

That Allah’s command is our salvation

The All Knowing and Wise….without confusion

For the one who thinks she knows better than He

Is what the wretched one wants you to be.

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Part 3: With them or with Us

The famous words of George Bush Jr are well known. As he attempted to categorise people into two groups and pressurise each and every person to choose which of the 2 they belonged to….the message was clear.
However, Allah, in His Glorious book, has also categorised man into 2 groups. Those who believe and those who disbelieve. The hallmarks of belief have been clearly explained and hallmarks of disbelief have been clearly explained.
What makes the book a guide, is when one is concerned as to where he belongs. Allah gives each and every one of us opportunities to have a concern..through trials and tribulations….to awaken to His path that He sent Messengers to define.
The outcome of each is foretold…paradise or hellfire. The path to the hellfire is shown to us through shaytan’s whispers and deceptions as well as the end of those who rejected belief.
The path to paradise is shown to us too. The glad tidings of peace and contentment in this world even though things may sometimes appear tough.
The choice is ours, the success and failure is ours, there is no one else to blame.
So with our departure from this world a certainty, the plan for the future is in our hands. Our choice to be with Allah is the only real one we have. Allah invites us to an endless hope while shaytan invites us to a hopeless end. Our seeking of the straight path in Surah Fatiha is truly an indication of the choice we have made…if it comes from the heart.
May Allah make of those who choose His path above all paths,grant us the vision to see right from wrong and strengthen us in these challenging and trying times. Ameen

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Peace of the heart

Seeking inner peace requires constantly turning to the source of peace, as Salaam,Allah. Hence when one is always aware of this, he finds solace in dhikr and yearns every opportunity to do so.
In contrast,when one is ignorant of this, he does not have peace even though he may not show it.

Just like an anaesthetic, while you have it you can’t feel the pain but it doesn’t’t mean it’s not there. Brushing difficulties under the carpet don’t make them go away. The solution is only obedience to Allah and turning away from all disobedience; the essence if taqwa.Then the hearts find rest.