Salam,

Thought I would post this, mostly for myself. I've been heckling my parents about studying abroad for islamic studies/arabic since junior year in high school. The article below, however, holds much truth.

"Some of our young, religious people flee from their homes in one way or another after becoming religious. They feel that they cannot bear staying at home surrounded by what they regard as sinful behaviour or as their family’s casual religious attitudes.
Some seek to escape the temptations at home by going overseas to study or by simply moving away from home. There are often clear signs in their behaviour that they are merely running away. Some of them even leave home without their parents’ permission.

They forget that when a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) if he could go to war, the Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately asked him if his parents were alive. When he said that they were, the Prophet said: “Your jihad is to take care of your parents!” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (2728) and Sahîh Muslim (4623)

They also forget that when another young man approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) to go and fight, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him if his mother was alive. When he found out that she was, he told the man: “Woe unto you! Attend her at her feet and you will attain Paradise.” [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (2771). The hadîth is authentic (sahîh)] "

Source: "Taking Care of Things at Home" - Salman al Audah

Along the same line, my mom always reminds me that, "charity starts at home".
keep it halal.

Salam,
I had awoken from a bad dream this morning. It was about 4:30 am. I had the same feeling I do every time I dream about death. I cringe at the sense of a knotted stomach and heavy throat. The only remedy, at least this time, was Fajr prayer.

Every so often, I fear death- not death itself, but what comes after. I fear the death of my loved ones- not their death really, but the subject of our fate under His divine decree.

It wouldn't be so awful if I felt prepared to die; if I assumed that my parents or my brother or my sister were ready to face their Lord, genuflect before His greatness with only good news awaiting them.

My dear son...
Live as long as you may, for verily you must die. Love whoever you wish, for one day you shall taste its separation. And do what you will, you will be rewarded accordingly. -Imam Ghazali

At least I am not. Not ready that is; and that speaks volumes about my faith- so easily enervated by shaytan's deception. Astaghfirullah.

I didn't think it would be this hard to parry his seductive tricks. One would think that with school, studying, and other worldly things not there to distract you so much, that he would rest amidst my textbooks and dorm storage, waiting to pounce on me in September. of course he's here. Yet so is He and His mercy.


bal tasirunal hayatad dunya, wal akhiratu hairu wa abqah.
No, you prefer the life of this world, but the hereafter is better and everlasting. Surah Alaa, I believe.

On another note, I cannot wait for Ramadan! I need an iman-rush, asap.
until then, keep it halal.

Salam,

I dread going to stores like the Home Depot. Usually I'm dragged by the father to assist him in finding x nut to go with y bolt. I'd rather drill a nail into my head than ever have to deal with shopping for home appliances and such. If there's anything nice I get out of it, it's spending time with Baba (although I don't appreciate it at the time. I mean who the jahanam knows the difference between sheathing and subflooring? Don't bother enlightening me; I really don't care).

But anyways, today, Mom and I reluctantly walked into Dad's Jannah on Earth (actually the Dollar Shop is more like it, but Home Depot's up there) and finally purchased the only materialistic, dunya-absorbed thing I ever wanted- a yard swing!

Every summer, I look forward to spending afternoons together at my uncle's house. My aunt's a good cook, cute cousins, they all love me, AND they have a yard swing! Why such an obsession? I never feel more at peace (ranked after the daily prayers) than I do lying under the sun. Sprawled on the swing, swaying back and forth to catch some mercy from a stubborn wind while my other senses are enwrapped in the imagination, lending them to characters from a book I would be reading. And then I fall asleep and only wake up to my little cousin, Yaseen, poking some foreign object into my hijab.

Bliss is at its best when temporary.

So today, I started assembling this monster of a yard swing that Mom and I lugged home from the Depot. It was past noon, when the heat is most unforgiving. Mom was worried I'd collapse from overheating, but I was too caught up in playing Rosie the Riveter; like I even knew what I was doing- the instructions were intricate like in a different language. No really, I was actually reading the Spanish version and gave up after "Paso Uno".

After decrypting the English version, I called it quits once I assembled the frame and canopy. I call this an accomplishment, Alhamdulilah. Must I add, I actually did this on my own? I was working that wrench...single-handedly! Sigh. Pride only comes before a fall.

Keep it halal.

Bismillah,
my first post!
I decided to abandon my previous blog and create a new blog for new and hopefully more mature reflections. I realized that many of my posts, particularly from way back in '03-'06 delineated someone from the past- Me, of course, but with embarassing naivety.
To say that I have overcome my ignorance would be pretty..ignorant of me to say. This blog, however, is a fresh, new outlet for me to RRR- ruminate, reflect, and rant. =)

As for the title of the blog, it's derived from one my favorite nasheeds by Shaam- Laka Fi Qalbi- In My Heart. Because everything I write in this blog is sincere and uncensored (although I do edit spelling/grammar mistakes at whim).

And I confess, I love getting comments. Except this time, I'd prefer advice, suggestions, your own RRR's over the typical: "cool blog...i hate you....you smell...marry me". Although I do hope my blog is cool, that you don't hate me, that I smell like flowers, and that you find the perfect spouse for you, stick with comments that would be beneficial to me and to those reading it. =)

Until next time,
keep it halal.