Dua of Musa - Nouman Ali Khan

Bury your evil deed by doing good deeds.

When you're offering help, don't expect anything in return (e.g. payment, recognition or a word of thanks). Do it sincerely for the sake of Allah.

If you have asked Allah for assistance, and Allah sends it to you, don't be choosy. Whatever opportunity comes your way, we should thank Allah and do our best, and improve ourselves.

The Doa of Musa A.S.:
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

"O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me!"

From Surah Al-Qasas 28:24

There shouldn't be any Jumaat Prayers today in Singapore.

The PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) level, at the time of writing this, is now 401, as at 12am. The air is now toxic and may affect the weak, and those having heart and respitory problems. I would say it is unhealthy.

So what does it mean for those having to attend Jumuah prayers in Singapore and other affected areas now? Our religion is really kind and caring. But some people may be afraid of taking decisions into their own hands.

I hope the Mufti will announce urgently of no Jumuah prayers today.
Aamiin.

If he doesn’t, then anyone who is afraid of how the air will affect their health need not go for Jumuah prayers.
Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The hadith below is allowing people to pray at their homes, when it was raining and the path is muddy. This situation is certainly more serious than that.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 590:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Al-Harith:

Once on a rainy muddy day, Ibn 'Abbas delivered a sermon in our presence and when the Mu'adhdhin pronounced the Adhan and said, "Haiya ala-s-sala(t) (come for the prayer)" Ibn 'Abbas ordered him to say 'Pray at your homes.' The people began to look at each other (surprisingly). Ibn 'Abbas said. "It was done by one who was much better than I (i.e. the Prophet or his Mu'adhdhin), and it is a license.'

Good manners

Abu Hurayra (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) once asked his companions: “Do you know who is the bankrupt one?”

The companions replied: “A bankrupt person amongst us is the one who neither has a dirham nor any possessions.”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Rather, the bankrupt person from my Ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with a good record of Salah (Prayers), Sawm (Fasts) and Zakah (Obligatory Charity); but he would have offended a person, slandered another, unlawfully consumed the wealth of another person, murdered someone and hit someone. Each one of these people would be given some of the wrong-doer’s good deeds. If his good deeds fall short of settling the account, then their sins will be taken from their account and entered into the wrong-doer’s account and he would be thrown in the Hell Fire. {Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Hadith Number 6251}

I miss having (just) blogger.

I suddenly miss those times when I only write my thoughts in blogger and connect to other people only through their blogger pages. It seriously feels more peaceful, more controlled. More personal.

I'm feeling so melancholic and a bit depressed. Yesterday I had a bad experience on FB. On FB you always have to be on your guard you know. It can be quite tiring. Your post may be private or public as you set it, but your likes and comments are really dependent on the post privacy setting.

Twice now, I commented with the intention that it will only be read by the one who posted and their friends - not for ALL MY FB CONTACTS. However ALL OF THEM can read what I wrote about and I don't think everything we say will suit everyone who reads it. In this case, I commented on a seemingly innocent post. Then a friend of that person made some STUPID UNRELATED CRUDE remarks that make me sick in the stomach. My hubby texted me, asking me what that was all about. It suddenly hit me that everyone I know will also see that nonsense and maybe think I condone to that?!?! I immediately went to delete my comments because I don't want to be bloody related to that post at all now. My God! I felt SO ANGRY. I felt violated actually. I felt SICK.

I threw my phone far, I felt like I have to be away from this stupid social media.

This morning, I tried to reflect on it, if it is actually a small matter. But no.. I still feel the same. I contemplated deactivating my FB. I went in to do it.

Then there was the pages I created that is suppose to do good, that had to be removed. And then there is the good people group I'm in, and I thought.. OK there are some good things.. but it's REALLY sometimes quite challenging, especially when I'm in a hyper mood, to stop myself from commenting on my real friend's posts.

I finally didn't deactivate it. Maybe I'll create another account first - or maybe I'm just wasting my time thinking about this stupid thing. Stay off first la.. until I can discipline myself. Yeah right.

Insyaa Allah, if there is anything beneficial, I still want to share. No doubt it's a powerful tool to reach the masses. (Digression alert) Even if people don't actually take in what you say at that moment or ignore it, constant exposure to the idea will somehow, hopefully plant some good thoughts. Just like how mass media are doing it to promote stupid ideas.. we have to fight it using whatever tool we can have to reach the masses in the same way with something good.

In any case, I pray that Allah makes me stronger. I'm feeling more peaceful in blogger.

Don't use 'sexy'

Definition of SEXY (Merriam-Webster)
1 : sexually suggestive or stimulating
2 : generally attractive or interesting

When people use the word sexy, most of the time do they refer to 1 or 2 or a mix of both? The few times I've heard it being used, it has always given me the impression that it refers to definition 1, or a mix of both 1 & 2.

That word has never given me the idea that it's just 'generally attractive or interesting'. For if I genuinely, sincerely think that, I would use those words as it is - attractive or interesting.

A friend of mine has ever used this word to describe a book - which I guess refers to definition 2 in this case. Her then, 9 year old son, asked her why she had use that word to describe a book. He told her what he thinks the word means, which is as in definition 1. This is coming from the innocent and straight thinking 9 year old.

Why do we even want to expose our children to this idea? We have an option to use so many other words that does not provoke the unwanted thoughts. Why choose this word and give the listener or reader an option to choose definition 1 (which by the way is the main definition).

Another concern I have is when parents dress their little girls in suggestive clothes like tank tops or spaghetti straps or bikinis, and proudly announces on those pictures in social medias 'my sexy baby/girl'. Are you out of your mind? What are you doing? Why do you even want to promote the idea that your baby and/or daughters are 'sexually suggestive or stimulating'?? It's sick.

Some of them may respond saying that they don't mean it like that. Yes, they may not consciously mean it like that (although unconsciously they know that is what it means. To prove it, if their mother is attractive and/or interesting in any way, would anyone in their right mind describe their mother like that? You cannot fathom it right? I rest my case.). By using that word, aren't they giving the option to the reader/listener to generally interpret the meaning as such? Can you explain to each and every listener that that is not what you mean? Then you may as well use a clear word which is not provoking at all. Especially when there are so many perverts out there.

I know that some of these people, they are only ignorant followers. The media uses the word like nobody's business to describe, yes, sexily dressed personalities. The masses, as usual, gulps anything thrown at them without critical consideration. And in order to have the illusion of being accepted or being up to date with the 'world', they use the word without even thinking about what it means.

Why would you even suggest to the public that you or the girls/women who you love and care for, are 'sexually suggestive or stimulating'? WHY WHY WHY??

And we wonder again and again, we moan again and again at the worrying increase in sexual crimes.

My dear fellow human, LET'S START USING OUR INTELLECT.
(This is what God always ask of us in the Qu'ran - 'Will you not think?', 'Will you not consider?', 'Will you not reason?')