How to be less miserable, according to the Quran

I have mentioned before that Islam is perfect. God did not leave us alone to seek in the dark. God has given clear guidance for living in this world.

Among the recognised trending issues of the modern world is depression, categorised under mental illness.

Here I want to share some guide on how not to be depressed, from the Quran.

1.. When you have faith in God, and His message, which includes the fact that our life is a trial, and that with every hardship comes ease, and to have tawakkal (put your trust) in God - all these are tools for going through the challenges in this life. 

2.  Always be God conscious.  When you are, you remember the reason He put us on earth, his message to us about overcoming hardships and His promise of an eternal life after the tests in this life.  'And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed he will have a depressed life, and we will raise them blind on the Day of Judgment (Ta Ha : 124)

I don't want to say too much, cause seriously, the message is that simple.   

Easier said than done you say.  True.  The problem is, we always FORGET.  And why we always forget is we do not remind ourselves.   How to remind ourselves? - by continously reading the Quran and it's meaning, end to end, over and over again.  There is always something new to discover, some new lessons and realisations, some new appreciation.  It's the best of reminders. 

I promise you, with your iman, and your prayers, and your constant reading of the Reminder i.e. the Quran, you will be more peaceful and very much less depressed.   InsyaaAllaah.

And in the remembrance of Allaah, do hearts find peace. 

Descriptions of a believer

Interesting that Allaah has referenced the Torah and Gospel with regards to some of the descriptions of a believer.   In the Quran, believers are stern toward disbelievers (in confrontations), yet compassionate amongst believers.  Torah points to believers having a mark - from frequent worship, a consistent worshipper and in the Gospel, the believers have their beliefs very firmly rooted.

 Surah Al Fath, ayat 48:29 

( 29 )   Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those with him are stern against the disbelievers, yet compassionate amongst themselves. You see them kneeling, prostrating, seeking blessings from God and approval. Their marks are on their faces from the effects of prostration. Such is their description in the Torah, and their description in the Gospel: like a plant that sprouts, becomes strong, grows thick, and rests on its stem, impressing the farmers. Through them He enrages the disbelievers. God has promised those among them who believe and do good deeds forgiveness and a great reward.

Some descriptions of the believers, Allaah said in this ayat, is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. I was curious by what was said in the Gospel, this that Allaah mentioned. Alhamdulillaah for internet and search, it's easy to find those information today.

Here is the description found in one of the English version  (New King James Version) of many versions of the Bible under book of  Matthew 13:1-9

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

 Allaah did say, this latest revelation, will confirm what came before (of the original revelations). In the ayat just before ayat 29, i.e. ayat 28 :

It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness. 

Why does God lead some people astray?

Bismillaahirrahmanirrahim

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, Most Beneficent

"...He whom Allah guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide." (18:17) - among a few other verses on this subject.

This is among some tough questions in Islam.  There is not a straight forward answer and it takes many aspects of our iman to take this in. 

God has answered this question in the Quran.  As Sajdah (32:13) transliterated:  "And if We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect [that] "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together."

This is a very big test in gauging our humility, as a servant of God who has no power over God's will.  This puts us in our place.  Only our understanding of God's power and our true humility as a servant of God can make us accept this wholeheartedly - that we accept the fact that we ARE truly at His Mercy.  It is God who has ultimate power over all of us and all of the universe.    We have no power but to SURRENDER OURSELVES to God -  which is what it means to be a true Muslim. Allaahu Akbar.

As Muslims, we understand that God knows best, and we know next to nothing - we, as in we human, including the most knowledgeable of scientists.  We know only what God allows us to know.  (2:32 : "They [the Angels] said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing,1 the Wise.")

We cannot be so arrogant as to demand to know the meaning behind every of God's actions and Words, as if we can understand everything fully.  We cannot encompass and understand the much greater part of God's plans and God's knowledge.  We accept that God knows and we know not.  

But then again, as a Muslim, the other aspect of our iman, tells us to put our full trust in God " for Allah loves those who put their trust in Him." (3:159).  God has promised, and His promise is true, that if we have faith in the One God, we don't assign partners to Him in our worship, we believe in the akhirah and we do good, then, we have nothing to fear.   Put our trust in him and just focus on our iman and good deeds. 

God is Most Merciful, as God most frequently and repeatedly state in the Quran, He is Ar-Rahman.  His Mercy will reign in Akhirah.  "Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:  When Allah created the creation as He was upon the Throne, He put down in His Book: Verily, My mercy predominates My wrath." Sahih Muslim  

So the answer is to surrender fully, put your trust in Allaah and Allaah will be as how His servants deem Him to be. 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' " Sahih Bukhari

May Allaah grant us humility as His servants, grant us wisdom and understanding, a good iman and a good result in the world and the Hereafter.  Aamiin.

Who to blame for discords in family and friends

Have you, yourself, ever said or did something in the spur of the moment, but regret it right after it happened or even as it was happening - however due to the circumstances do not have the chance to explain or apologise or change it. There are times, we say things or react in a way, we wish we had not. We don't want to. But if we didn't mean to do it, why did we do it anyway? It is from our subconscious mind and syaitan. And insyaaAllaah, both we can slowly overcome, if we habitually remind ourselves and be aware of our words and actions - even if we did not manage to stop it - but we should reflect on it, quickly repent (say astaghfirullah) and TRY our best to avoid it in future. And God knows best. This may also happen to others around us. Always give them this benefit of doubt - that they didn't mean to say or act that way too - most of the time. I believe that everyone has the desire to be good and do good - but sometimes syaitan us off course. Syaitan is human's avowed enemy. In surah Yusuf, Yusuf's brothers were plotting to even kill him, but decided instead to throw him in a well - so maybe someone else will take him away. Like that, Yusuf A.S. was separated from his beloved father for so many many years. I cannot imagine the pain of one losing a child and a child losing his parent. Even then, at the end of it all, Yusuf A.S. forgave his brothers and mentioned of the episode as 'when syaitan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers' (12:100). There is a big lesson for us here. Based on the earlier mentioned consideration and this story of Yusuf A.S. - I also try to have this mindset. When someone among my friends or family does or say (or not say) some thing that may (or may not) have hurt my feelings - I try to remember Yusuf's story. Syaitan has sown it - and syaitan is THE enemy - not our family or friends. With that, it becomes easier to be understanding and to overlook those mistakes and forgive sincerely insyaaAllaah. Then make doa, that Allaah will make us strong and sow love and sincerity in our hearts toward our family, friends and people in general. And that Allaah forgive all of our sins and theirs, for Allaah is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving.

Mary A.S. Mother of Jesus Christ A.S.

There are benefits to understanding the Arabic words of the Quran - even if it's just very basic, i.e. like you have an idea of the meanings, although you cannot translate it word for word. It helps with the Quran memorisation. 

 And then, there are benefits to memorising the Quran with that method as you read those words you roughly or fully understand, again and again, and the message gets to your head and your heart. As we memorise the words, our minds wonder and ponder over the words and the message. 

I don't memorise the Quran page by page from the start. First, I memorised those necessary surahs, or surahs that aids in us trying to accomplish the sunnahs of our prophet S.A.W. E.g. every night we are supposed to read Al-Mulk, so I try to memorise the Al-Mulk in order to better achieve reading it every night. 

After basically memorising those surahs that I want to read regularly, I start to try to memorise surahs that attract me. One example would be Al Qamar - "We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, then who will be of one who remembers?" How apt. This verse, repeated a few times in the surah, attracted me. 

Right now, I am trying to memorise surah Maryam, which is the intended topic of this post. As mentioned, trying to memorise by understanding the words, helps. 

 Now I am at the verses which tells us the story of Mary A.S. when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus Christ A.S. Subhanallaah what kind of a big test she must have been through, to be alone while going through something she is unfamiliar with - pregnancy and the pangs of childbirth up to a point where she wished she becomes one forgotten and forgets. 

 Of course, God inspired her and got her through the childbirth. She was nourished with ripe dates from the palm tree she was under, and with a stream underneath her. "So, eat, drink and cool your eyes (be calm and contented - a nice proverb I would like to ponder and think aloud about, perhaps in another post)". 

Then comes her next big test and sacrifice, to declare to the very next person she meets, of her 'promised act' (nazar) to God, to never again speak to another human being. This is so interesting - the fact that she has to make this declaration to the next person she meets - that would be the last time she would ever speak to a human being, and that would also be her alibi of why she never spoke again - of course this follow up story, was never mentioned or told of in the Quran - it's just something I pondered about and found so measured and wise. 

With this promised act, of course, it would be impossible to defend herself effectively when she goes back to her people with a baby in her arms. 

 True enough her people started questioning her, saying her parents were good people and why has she become like this. She could only gesture to the baby in her arms. The people protested and said, 'How can we speak to a baby in a cradle?!' 

 Then another miracle happened - baby Jesus Christ A.S. - a baby - spoke to defend his mother. Can you imagine how miraculous, how so very cute that is?!?! I can't imagine.. a baby, speaking, I'm sure in his baby's voice right? I don't think he'd speak in a man's voice? Allaahu a'lam. 

He declared, "I am the servant of God, and I have been made a prophet. I have been given the scripture and I am blessed wherever I may be, and ordered to do solat (pray) and give zakah (alms) for as long as I live. I am made to be kind to my mother, and not be a wretched tyrant (arrogant, unblest). So peace be upon me on the day I was born, and the day I would die, and the day I would be raised again." 

 What a powerful message coming from a baby. It's something undeniably miraculous, and can only be true. 

God goes on to say, 'That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the Word of Truth, for which they (people then and people until now) doubt.' 

What a beautiful, beautiful story. I am in love with it, I'm so glad I have been able to memorise up to this point for now - and be able to absorb the beautiful story of Mary A.S. and Jesus Christ A.S. 

 That's all I wanted to share and get off of my exhilarated heart and mind from this verses. :) May Allaah let me keep this verses and the verses I have so far memorised, secure in my heart and mind. Aamiiin. 

 I hope all Christians will come to learn of this portion of the beautiful story of Mary A.S. and Jesus Christ A.S. that is not explained in the Bible and find it so very meaningful. May it also be a source of guidance. Aamiin. 

 Have a blessed life all. #quran #muslimliving #muslimlife #jesuschrist #jesussonofmary #quranbookforchristiansandjews #dohashtagsworkonblogger ? #noharmtrying

The mountains shall pass away like clouds

I was listening about atoms many years ago, how it is actually mostly empty inside. It's just empty space and protons moving around in patterns using and causing energy. In that video lesson is says that if we remove all the empty space from the atom, and really consider the actual mass in an atom, the solid building we see, will actually be just like dust, so little mass.

I was immediately reminded of the ayat about mountains at the end of the world :

And the Day when the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth will start in fear, save him whom Allaah wills, And all come unto Him humbled.
And you see the hills/mountains, you deem them solid, flying with the flight of clouds - the doing of Allaah who perfects all things. Lo! He is informed of what you do.

An Naml 27:88-89

This is a wild theory of how I perceive that ayat, after learning about atoms. When the world ends, energy breaks and perhaps the protons will no longer be dancing in the atoms that make up the mountains, and it truly becomes just mostly empty, no longer solid and can fly away like the clouds, and be leveled to the ground. God has also said in other parts of the Quran, that at the end of Time, the earth will be leveled... no mountains or high plains.

God knows best. Subhanallaah.
I'm just always in awe at how advanced and truly deep the Quran is.

Other people may understand the meaning of that ayat to be related to other phenomenons (I saw one linking it to the continents moving/drifting 1-5cm per year).

The amazing thing about the Quran is, it could be that all of it is correct - the truly advanced delivery of one ayat that can mean more than one thing, and all of them true. But one thing for sure, it has never been wrong or contradicting.

The amazing Quran. Alhamdulillaah for this Book.

The world forgetting by the world forgot.

Self note:

Masyaa Allaah, I have found a term in the Quran that also gives an idea of this line "The world forgetting by the world forgot" presented in 2 words "nasyan mansiyan"  (نسيًا منسيًا)

It is in surah Maryam (Mary) 19:21, while she was in the pangs of birth.  In translation, it just says "completely forgotten"  But the meaning of each word is much deeper than that

Nasiyan is to be in a state where one forgets.
Mansiyan is to be one who is forgotten.

- and I feel that the phrase is nicely described by that line mentioned above.

23:50 - Reflection

وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ

And We made the son of Mary and his mother as a Sign: We gave them both shelter on high ground, affording rest and security and furnished with springs.

Surah Al-Mu'minuun, 23:50

(English translation Yusuf Ali via iQuran

Reflections :
Isa (Jesus) A.S. was created not as a form of divinity, but as a proof of God's divinity.

Jesus was born to a mother, without a father. This is as possible as God creating Adam A.S. without a father or mother.

And then this ayat relates a good home with availability of good provisions around it and it's surrounding.

Security and stability enables one to focus more on worshipping God.

If there is no stability, security or provision, people have to busy themselves with these needs rather than worship better.

Good husband, bad wife. Bad husband, good wife. Good woman.

ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ

Allah sets forth, for an example to the Unbelievers, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lut: they were (respectively) under two of our righteous servants, but they were false to their (husbands), and they profited nothing before Allah on their account, but were told: "Enter ye the Fire along with (others) that enter!"

And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: "O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong";

And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants).

Surah At-Tahrim, 66:10-12
(English translation by Yusuf Ali via iQuran)

Ash-Shuara - The Poets

This may seem trivial, but Allah is subtle.

These are my personal thoughts, as I went through the end of Surah Ash-Shuara (The Poets).

Surah Ash-Shuara 26:224-226

"And the Poets - it is those straying in Evil, who follow them,
Seest thou not that they wander distracted in every valley?
And that they say what they practise not?"

English translation of the Quran by Yusuf Ali.


I'm reminded of singers and their songs. Distraction? You know they are - you can easily lose focus or control over your time.

But the ayat that got me thinking is the last one - 'that they say what they practise not'. Most singers sing and utter words in their songs, words that they don't mean, or maybe some don't even know what they are singing about.

Words are meant to speak the truth. Even in songs.

Most of the time, if a person recites a poem - it's because they believe or agree with the poem. Not for a lot of songs and their singers. People sing along to songs, mostly because of the melody. They blindly repeat things, saying things they don't mean at all, much less practise it.


That was the thought that crossed my mind. Just my personal reflection.

And among His Signs - the barren land.

Death Valley, California is the lowest, hottest, driest location in North America. It is one of the hottest places on earth, nothing grows. However in 2004 6.9" rain fell on Death Valley and it comes to life.

From this barren land :

to this :

Read more on about Death Valley and this phenomenon, here (NBC News) and here (Educational Transformation).

And by the way, in Educational Transformation, the Ken Robinson talk that he was referring to is this inspirational talk.
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"And among His Signs in this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it, it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly, He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things."
Al Quran, Fussilats 41:39 (translation of the Quran by Yusuf Ali)

Tanggungjawab membuat drama/filem

Seram jugak kadang-kadang tu, bila tengok orang buat cerita untuk drama atau filem.

Betul kata Bromo, bila kita menulis dan mengarah sesebuah drama/filem, kita ni macam berlaku sebagai tuhan bagi watak-watak dalam cerita itu, dengan menentukan nasib-nasib mereka, juga kesudahan mereka (tentunya dengan izin dan ketentuan Allah juga). Jadi tanggungjawab itu besar sangat, untuk menunjukkan kesudahan yang betul dan pengajaran yang betul.

Saya terfikirkan hal ini sesudah menyaksikan sebuah cerita di mana penulis/pengarah memberi kesudahan yang salah bagi satu watak dalam cerita itu. Allah sudah menjanjikan sesiapa saja yang bertaubat dengan ikhlas atas apa saja dosa2 mereka sebelum menemu ajal, akan diampunkan. Watak itu ditunjukkan sudah lama mengesal dan bertaubat - tapi masih juga diberi bayangan bahawa mayatnya disiksa. Ini menyalahi janji Allah.

Tentu sekali perkara yang lagi satu yang saya menyampah adalah keberanian pelakon-pelakon Islam kita membawa adegan-adegan yang melampau.

Apa yang diceritakan dalam drama atau filem sebenarnya memberi kesan kepada penonton - lagi-lagi yang kurang upaya untuk membentuk pemikiran sendiri dan senang terikut dengan apa saja yang disajikan untuk mata dan telinga mereka.

Astaghfirullah, besarnya tanggungjawab - jika dengan cerita kita, orang jadi putus asa dengan apa yang sebenarnya dijanjikan Allah SWT. Atau orang digalakkan melakukan perkara2 yang tak baik, kerana pengaruh cerita kita. Berapa banyak penonton? Berapa banyak dosa yang kita nak tanggung?

Semuga Allah mengampunkan kita, dan melindungi kita dari melakukan perkara2 yang akan sangat merugikan kita di Akhirat kelak.

"Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: And whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden: And Allah hath power over all things." An Nisa 4:85

Laments and answers from the Qur'an.

These are some of the common complains or laments we hear:

1) Why was I TESTED?
AL-QURAN : "Do men think that they will be left alone saying,'We believe', and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." [29:2-3]

2) Why don't I get what I want? Or why do I get what I don't want?
AL-QURAN : "... It is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing, which is bad for you. But Allah knows, while you know not." Surah Al-Baqarah [2:216]

3) Why am I burdened this way?
AL-QURAN : "On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith." Surah Al-Baqarah [2:286]
&
"So verily, with every difficulty there is relief. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief." Surah Al-Insyirah [94:5-6]

4) I am losing hope!
AL-QURAN : "So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith." Surah Al-Imran [3:139]

5) How do I face it?
AL-QURAN : "O you who believed! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah that you may prosper." Surah Al-Imran[3:200]
&
"And seek aid in steadfast patience and prayer: and this, indeed, is a hard thing for all but the humble in spirit," Surah Al-Baqarah [2:45] (translation by Asad)

6) What do I get from all these?
AL-QURAN : "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and properties (in exchange) for that they will have the garden (of Paradise)..." Surah At-Taubah [9:111]

7) To whom can I depend and put my trust upon?
AL-QURAN : "...(Allah) suffice me: there is no god but He: On Him is my trust- He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme." Surah At-Taaubah [9:129]

8) I can't take it anymore! I am hopeless. I feel like giving up!
AL-QURAN : "...and never give up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy; truly No one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy. except Those who have no faith." Surah Yusuf [12:87]
&
"Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Surah Az-Zumar [39:53]

Cable News Channel

I don't want this to be a habit - to receive, then spread negative stories about people, and we don't even know if there is any truth in it, nor the situation surrounding it.

"when you take it up with your tongues, uttering with your mouths something of which you have no knowledge, and deeming it a light matter whereas in the sight of God it is an awful thing!"
An-Nur 24:15 (translation of the Qur'an by Asad)

May Allah guide us and makes u good Muslims.

The Secret Life of Trees

I feel like crying, reading 'The Secret Life of Trees'.

Oh how man underestimate the importance of trees, & it's amazing life. Subhanallah.

Truly in the life of trees you can find miracles, how Allah created them and taught them how to live, how it's existence is finally of benefits to man.

"Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!"
~ Luqman 31:20

But we are such ungrateful creatures, and selfish and arrogant. We think we can live alone without the help of Allah and and what Allah has created for us.

"Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient." ~ Al Alaq 96:6-7

It's no wonder that Allah SWT is always telling us to look at Nature, then to think and ponder about these creations. If we only pay more attention to Nature, then we will be able to appreciate and understand how Great Allah is - "Allahu Akbar", and how we, like all other creatures of Allah, should be subservient to our Creator and learn how to co-exist, in peace.

Trees do so many things for us, other than just bear fruits. They help control temperature, and level of carbon in the air, they regulate moist/water, make grounds firm with their roots, they teach man a bit about chemistry - trees are good chemists.

Have we ever even thought about how amazing it is that a tree can suck up water from the ground, and release it out into the air? Just one big tree, can transpire about 500 litres of water a day (pg 381). That is a lot of water for just a tree. Imagine a whole forest.

Then imagine if there are no forests - where will all that water go to?
(clue : flood, overflowing rivers/drains, landslides, rising water level?)

Still these people, continue to ignore the warnings, remain stupid, arrogant and selfish.

But you know what.. as sad as it is, as much as I wish we can reverse this, I frankly believe man will continue to destroy themselves (ourselves).

This does not mean that we should also join in their mindless destructions. We should still do our own individual part, because we will be answerable individually to Allah SWT.

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.”

[Musnad Ahmad, Number 12491, Sahih]
From : Daily Hadith Online

In the end this world will end, and only those who believe in Allah and the the Last day, and they didn't create mischief on earth - will enter Heaven.

And of course there is Wisdom in that - thinking from my own tiny perspective, you wouldn't want these same people who destroyed earth, to be in Heaven also do we?

May Allah SWT safeguard us, our family and our fellow Believers from the man's atrocities in this world, and from Hellfire. Aamiin.

*All Quranic quotes are from Yusuf Ali's translation of the Qur'an.

the arrogant atheist's argument

There are different types of atheists out there. Those who are not sure, and therefore don't believe. Then there are those who have seen proofs staring at them, but are too arrogant to accept - because it's just to big an idea for them to grasp.
Look at the example of the argument provided by the arrogant Richard Dawkins who insinuated that to believe in God is childish.

I've mentioned before, perhaps you can prove that something exists, because you've experienced it with your senses or experiments. But just because you cannot find or phantom the idea of God in your very narrow and limited mind, it does not mean that God does not exist. To claim that something doesn't exist just because you cannot find it, is very arrogant, because no one can ever know EVERYTHING there is to know, even if it's just within their own self - what more the universe.

The following is what I got from a Richard Dawkins, arrogantly demonstrating what I've said above. And I'd like put after that, what I'm reminded of, from the translations of the Qur'an, and my personal viewpoint.

The debate on youtube here.

At minute 31:25, the arrogant man said: Such a Grand God, the God of the Cosmos, the God of of the Physicist, the God the Hyper Mathematician, God, the Master Architect - that would be a God worth worshiping. Probably not worth praying to, for that sort of Cosmic God worthy of proper reverence and respect would have better things to do than bother Himself with the trivia of human prayers and human sins and human preoccupations. The sort of God I would not feel like worshiping would be one who, far from fixing his thoughts on his magnificent creation, was instead obsessed with sins. Sin, sin, sin, sin, sin. The obsession of the Christian God. Interested in nothing but the sin, including private acts which do nobody else any harm, of the members of one particular species of old world primate, on one small planet, orbiting one rather small star amidst a hundred billion stars, some are in the outer suburb of one ordinary galaxy among a hundred billion galaxies. Such delusion of grandeur to think that a God with a hundred billion galaxies on his mind would give a tetany damn who you sleep with, or indeed whether you believe in him.

Subhanallah.. you think that God is in need of your worship and prayers? That's what a lot of human fail to understand, even among the religious ones. We are the one in need of the prayers to God, as a source of constant remembrance (for man is ever so forgetful), and strength as a guard against sinful thoughts and deeds.

"And Moses added : If you should [ever] deny the truth, you and whoever else lives on earth - all of you, [know that] verily, God is indeed Self Sufficient, ever to be praised!" Surah Ibrahim 14:8 - translation of the Qur'an by Asad.

"Verily, I - I alone - am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me!" Surah Ta-Ha 20:14 - translation of the Qur'an by Asad.

"Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do." Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45 - translation of the Qur'an by Yusuf Ali.

And you think, just because God looks after the universe, that He would have no capacity to look at all of us individually? That He has no capacity to care for us individually? How infantile and backward your thoughts are.

"The creation of you all, and the resurrection of you all, is but like the creation of a single soul, for verily God is all-hearing, all-seeing." 31:28 Surah Luqman - translation of the Qur'an by Yusuf Ali

Why must God bother with you even if you don't harm anyone else?
God loves you. Ask your mother if she would let you harm yourself, even if what you do, doesn't harm anyone else.
Or if you have children, let your child do something to harm himself, if what he does, does not harm anyone else - would you?

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way."
2:186 Surah Al Baqarah - translation of the Qur'an by Yusuf Ali.


At minute 38:08, the arrogant man said : The explanation for the existence of things like eyes, is almost laughably simple but it had to wait for the 19th century before we got a clue as to how it came about. Before Darwin it would have taken a deep deep take, a great a philosophical mind to spot that the argument from design, the argument that says, 'because it screams 'design' at you', therefore there must have been a designer. That is a deeply fallacious argument and it doesn't explain anything. The designer himself or herself of itself, would have to have been himself, a highly complicated object a highly sophisticated object in order to achieve that level of design.

What does that mean? Just because I came across a wonderfully decorated cake, and I myself cannot do it, and I know of nobody who can, therefore the cake was created by chance? That is a scientific proof? Clear sign of arrogance.

"On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?"
51:20-21 Az-Zariyat

"And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!" 21:32
Surah Al-Anbiya

"And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom." 31:27 Luqman

- translations of the Qur'an by Yusuf Ali.


*in the video, you can also see how RUDE the last atheist speaker, i don't remember his name, as he responded to a senior pastor with his hands, beckoning him to come as if for a fight. Such arrogance!!! SO RUDE!!!

Subhanallaah. God guides whom He wills, those who WANTS to be guided.

Sleep

The pattern of waking during the day when it is light and sleeping at night when it is dark is a natural part of human life. Only recently have scientists begun to understand the alternating cycle of sleep and waking, and how it is related to daylight and darkness.

A key factor in how human sleep is regulated is exposure to light or to darkness. Exposure to light stimulates a nerve pathway from the retina in the eye to an area in the brain called the hypothala-mus. There, a special center called the supra-chiasmatic nucleus (SCN) initiates signals to other parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature and other functions that play a role in making us feel sleepy or wide awake.

Taken from : http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep


"for, were they not aware that it is We who had made the night for them, so that they might rest therein, and the day, to make [them] see? In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe! "
~ An Naml 27:86

IT IS GOD who has made the night for you, so that you might rest therein, and the day, to make [you] see. Behold, God is indeed limitless in His bounty unto man - but most men are ungrateful.
~ Ghafir 40:61

In time We shall make them fully understand Our messages [through what they perceive] in the utmost horizons [of the universe] and within themselves, so that it will become clear unto them that this [revelation] is indeed the truth. [Still,] is it not enough [for them to know] that thy Sustainer is witness unto everything?
~ Fussilat 41:53

Translations of the Qur'an by Muhammad Asad

Conversations of the trees

We cannot hear the trees calling each to each, as T.S. Elliot claimed to hear the mermaids. But the air is abuzz with their conversations nonetheless, conducted in vaporous chemistry, and the ground too, via the bush telegraph of their roots.
~ Colin Tudge. Page 359, The Secret Life of Trees.

Such a beautiful thought. The conversations of the trees. This is non-fiction. This reminds me of the following verse, and I wonder if that is what the first ayat is also referring to.

The Qur'an is indeed miraculous, and Allah SWT is the Reality.


By the winds that scatter broadcast;
And those that lift and bear away heavy weights;
And those that flow with ease and gentleness;
And those that distribute and apportion by Command
Verily that which ye are promised is true;
And verily Judgment and Justice must come to pass.
Az-Zariyat 51:1-6
Translation of the Qur'an by Yusuf Ali

Allah is the Best Provider.

In the spirit of wanting to share Allah's blessings, I tell you this story.
Also to remind me, lest I forget.

This one that I'd like to share is with regards to my Umrah trip with my family last year, and then our Hajj.

About January last year, when I suddenly planned to bring my family to Umrah in March, I already knew that we will most probably get our quota for Hajj also that year. We have some savings, but surely not enough yet for both Umrah with my family of 6, and Hajj. But I felt so strongly about going with the family.

So I calculated what we have in the bank, what we can save from the next 1-2 months before our full payment for Umrah. I figured we'd have to sell some gold from our gold account to cover the Umrah cost. Then we'll have to start again saving up like crazy for Hajj. I did my math and calculated how much gold we need to sell.

When the time came for us to make the payment for Umrah, somehow, masyaa Allah, the money was enough, AND with a some spare. I didn't have to sell any gold. I was very perplexed. Somehow the same numbers previously was not enough. But when it's time to pay, it was. I was sure I had calculated correctly. Even then when I re-calculated, it adds up, but it doesn't make sense. I can't even explain.
Subhanallaah! walhamdulillaah.

Wallaahu 3la kulli syai-in qadiir. Allah has power over ALL things. When God decrees it to be, it does not necessarily have to make sense.

After the Umrah, I started to plan for our Hajj expenses. Then Allah granted us some more rezeki, alhamdulillaah. It was all falling into place so nicely that I became afraid. Afraid if it was a big big test from Allah SWT, and that we might fail. Naudzubillaah.

My son won his car in a golf tournament, and my husband got retrenched, with benefits. I know that 2nd one is suppose to sound bad. :P But it was both good news and bad news. Good, because now we have money for Hajj. :D Bad because he'll have to look for another job pronto, in order for us to survive as per current status. But Allaahu khairuraziqiin. Allah is the Best Provider. I submitted our fate to Allah SWT. I just prayed that He makes us grateful, patient and persevering servants, insyaa Allah.

My husband started a business and got some sales before we went for Hajj. So again, for Hajj we had enough money, without having to resort to selling the gold.

I still feel this whole situation is a miracle of sorts.

Many people say, when Allah 'invites' you to His house - He'll make anything that seems impossible, possible. But if it's not your time yet, you can seem to have all the means to go - but you just won't or cannot go for whatever reason.

So, I am so very thankful for the chances given to my family and I. Alhamdulillaah.

Allaahu Akbar!

'And as for the favour of your Lord, do announce (it)' Ad-Dhuha 93:11
(translation of the Qur'an by Shakir)

Patience is beautiful

"Sabar pun cantik ah"

..is the Malay slang that always comes to mind when I read " فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ " (fasobrun jamiil) - as in The Qur'an, Surah Yusuf, 12:18 & 12:83. Because the literal meaning of those words to me is 'patience is beautiful'. And that Malay slang literally means 'patience is also beautiful'.

If someone says something like that, he would really be saying, 'patience is best'. That is also how it is translated in Qur'an translations. Other translations include 'patience is most fitting' or 'it is best to be patient'.

In any case, don't you think, patience IS beautiful?