Cherished Jewels

Well..

2009-02-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

...after a loong break, I am back to the blog world. =P anyone miss me? lolz

I think this blog needs a new look : the blackness is depressing...

Amazing Lecture

2008-12-15T09:12:00.000-08:00

يا أمة محمد

محاضرة للشيخ خالد الراشد

Download

Warrior

2008-12-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

sigh

2008-12-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

I Hate This World

Update

2008-12-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Gave the blog a new look. Yesterday I spent three hours on the computer downloading templates and themes and today after trying them on...I picked this one =)

PS. You might find me posting here every once in a while

Eid Mubarak!

2008-12-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Eid Mubarak Ya Naas!!

Well its still a day early for us but I'm sooo excited lol

Anywayz hope that you hav a wonderful, amazing, one of a kind, fun, unforgettable Eid

Don't eat too much sweets though :p

Arafaaaat!

2008-12-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

I'm watching the Saudi Channel live on TV =D mashaallaaaah there are soooo many hujaj and the ceremony for the changing of the cloth for the kabah is amaaaazing ;) I'm gona go back and watch lol

PS. Tommorow's Yawm Arafat for us and then the next day is Eidd cnt wait lol but i hav a lot of cleaning to do tommorow =(

Eid + Hajj

2008-12-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

Just a few more days till Eid =) I've always like Eid Al-Adha more than Eid Al-Fitr, don't ask my why I just do lol

May Allah accept their Hajj and Umrah Ameen

I think the picture is of the Sa3i between Safa and Marwa

Today

2008-12-05T10:34:00.001-08:00

Assalamu Alaykum....

I was walking down the big hill towards the mailbox today and there are a few neighborhood kids playing around next to it. I overhear one boy asking, "Who's that?" And another pipes up, "Oh they're the ones who live up that hill, remember the house that wouldn't give us any candy for holloween?" A weird way of remembering people eh? lol...

Two words

2008-12-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaykum!

Two words today: EID SHOPPING

Ego

2008-11-30T12:18:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaykum

[45:23] Have you noted the one whose god is his ego? Consequently, GOD sends him astray, despite his knowledge, seals his hearing and his mind, and places a veil on his eyes. Who then can guide him, after such a decision by GOD? Would you not take heed?

Ya Rab!

2008-11-26T07:06:00.001-08:00

اطلبك تسمع دعانا .. توبتك ربي عليّه

ربي ترزقنا جنانك .. وقبلها عيشه هنيّه

Ameen ya rab!

A 'bad' Day

2008-11-26T07:06:00.000-08:00

Ever have that kind of weather where when you look out of the window it looks like a beautiful summer day but if you dare to step outside you'll freeze. So you have to bundle up with millions of layers? That's how its been yesterday and today. I hate it! But i'm always complaining about the weather lol. Today is those kind of 'bad' days where you feel like nothing is going your way =( I hope tommorow's better inshallah

Lost

2008-11-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

“Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do. And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.”

~ Qur’an [24:30-31] ~

Seriously what's up with people these days?! I stopped at

the masjid today to pray duhr with my sister. We came out

and were walking back to the car when we see a group of

brothers. Usually, from experiance, I'v noticed that most

men here lower their gazes. I wish these brothers were like that.

About five of them chatting and we pass by them

and subhanallah all eyes turn and stare!

Its sooooo cold these days! Its funny how I'm not pleased with the heat and I hate freezing...summer is too hot and winter is too cold. Fall? I hate it! I hate the leaves piling up everywhere and everything looks sooo gloomy and sad. Spring, wallah i can't wait for March, April, and May. Those are my all time favorite months *probably because i was born in April*

Lil cuties

2008-11-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

My cousins came over to visit. They're going to be staying for a while =) and i don't mind one bit. Why? Because that means my faaav lil cuz is going to stay here with me

She's soo cute mashallah =) She brought me these cute lil slippers as a gift lol I think i'll wear them tonight to keep her happy.

I had an intresting convo with my nephew yesterday when I went to visit

Me: You don't hav school Yusuf? Or are you sick?

Him: Can I ask you something?

Me: Na3am, what happened?

Him: Does Allah get mad at you if you lie?

Me: You lied about something?

Him: I didn't want to go to school so I said that I don't feel good and mama let me stay home...is that bad?

That got us into talking about why lying isnt't good, and he promised not to do that again

Mooooving

2008-11-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Ahlan!

Its been a while since I've posted anything.

My sister had a state test today *or so she thought* so i cancelled all my plans and took her there this morning. We got there and the lady's like, "I'm so sorry, your test is tommorow" You can imagine how i felt, but i saw how sorry she looked so i forgave her for not double checking lol

I'm thinking about moving my blog to wordpress =) I haven't decided yet though. So we'll see inshallah...

____________________________________

Edit I've changed my mind about moving :p

Actions

2008-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

This made me smile today. =) Sometimes we are the cause of our own problems, right?

Its funny how we humans take everything for granted. Even our breathing, try to hold it for more than a minute and you'll fail. Last night we had a power outage for a few minutes. I was in the garage when everything went black. Subhanallah i can only imagine the kind of life blind people live in...

"ACTIONS ARE BASED UPON INTENTIONS"

Funny how a little intention can change everything. Reminds me of some lyrics from Native Deen's Intention song.

+
Many times I have found my intentions
Are not what I want them to be
I know I start on the right direction
But Shaitan starts talking to me
And I forget that without my niyyah, I'm just wasting my time
My intentions cannot bring the reward, when they're out of line
So I pray to Allah to help me, to do everything for Him only
Doesn't matter if the people despise me
Cause with Allah I can never be lonely

May Allah give us pure intentions! Ameen

What do I want?

2008-11-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

What Do I Want?

I want to be a mystery, yet be known
I want to be together, yet alone
Is it too much to ask, To be famous yet unknown?
To be a wanderer, yet have a home?
My insecurity makes me sick,
Yet my confidence makes me thick
Can I be harmless, yet grip the stick,
Be completely smooth yet have a nick?
Can I live in a lie, yet be true
Can I be unique, yet so like you?
Have no control, yet know what to do?
Can I be ugly, yet beautiful too?
Answer me, I need your help,
Can you help me or someone else?
I need your help, can't you see,
Are you even listening to me?

by: Kara Douglas

What Do I Want?

2008-11-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

What do I want? Like if i could wish for one thing and you knew you'd get it right then and there, what would be the first thing that would come to your mind? That was the topic of our talk yesterday at the masjid. I didn't feel like talking much, so i let them do the talking.

Everyone recieved a slip of paper with the question, "If you could wish for one thing, what would it be? Write down the first thought that comes to your mind." I have to say it turned out a lot better than i expected it to. =) I got permission from some of the sisters if I could post their answers.

These were the answers of the older sisters...

"If i could wish for one thing, I would ask Allah that Allah makes me the cause of someone's conversion to Islam."

"I would wish for a pure heart, free from sins."

"I would ask for an easy path to Jannah."

And the answers of the younger girls...

"I wish that when I grow older I could go to Hajj and have all my sins erased."

"I would wish for Jannah!"

"I would ask for Allah's mercy, because if Allah has mercy on me, then that would be the best thing ever."

When was the last time...

2008-11-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you thought about the day of judgement? The last time you sat down and wondered, Am I going to be from the people of Jannah? Or the people of Jahanam? When was the last time that you sat down and cried, "Ya Allah! I know I've sinned and transgressed..but i know how merciful you are! Ya Rab forgive me..."

(Picture's Source)

When was the last time you wondered, "Which hand will I recieve my book?" When was the last time you thought, "I have two angels literally sitting on my shoulders writing down every thought, act, and word that I say."

(Picture's Source)

Fall

2008-11-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

I wish fall was this pretty =) its a total mess on our front and back yard =( And the heavy rain and strong winds are only helping in knocking down more leaves. Its like there's an orange blanket on the ground.

Last night it rained so hard and so long that I thought we'd be having a flood! The weather here changes so quickly though. After the heavy shower last night, its sunny right now but soooo cold! brrr

(picture's source)

Hmmm

2008-11-14T09:20:00.001-08:00

Can you believe how something like this

<----

Can turn into this

---->

Tears

2008-11-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

I've decided to take a break from forums today...actually i was thinking I'll stay away from the computer but that didnt work. My family left to see my grandmother but i stayed behind. I don't feel like seeing anyone or talking to anyone at the moment.

When someone tells me "I feel so lonely..." I would stare at them like they've lost their heads. Today i found out what that word means.

When I found myself alone today with no one to talk to, I ended up thinking and my thoughts went wild. So i got a headache and after taking some advil, I'm back staring at the screen.

I love the little girl in the picture. Somehow she reminds me of me =) As baba said to me once, "Kafaaki 7uznan!" Wich i took to mean, you've had enough sadness...I'm not emo and I'm not always sad. Its just that people here only notice you when you're sad =(

Ya Allah! I always find myself saying that. For no reason. But you know, it brings me a lot of comfort when i say it. Why? Because I know that I have someone there for me that i can count on and confide in and trust.

This blog is becoming a peaceful haven for me right now.

_______________________________________________________

*Edit

Did i say i was going to take a break from the forums? I just posted =( Ya Allah! I don't know why I'm so stuck on them but I am. And i find myself checking them automatically without thinking, as if I've transformed into a robot. Subhanallah...

Ya Allah!

2008-11-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ya Allah where do I begin? I’m so sad tonight. Tears form and there is nothing I can do to stop them from falling. It was only yesterday when I saw your face, so full of pain but nevertheless alive. You were alive, full of breath, and now…now you’re lying covered up…soon to be burried beneath the darkness…I miss you. I miss you so much and I can not bring you back…no one can except Allah. I cannot hold it much longer, I know you were meant to die but I can’t…I can’t think of you as dead. I’ve made dua that Allah would cure you…That you would come back home with that smile on your face…But Allah had a different plan…I can not do anything but ask Allah to forgive you. I have a lot to say, but I am tired of thinking, feeling, crying. Allah Yarhamak! May Allah have mercy on you!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Get well soon Jadi

2008-11-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Bismillah

Allah Yash Fik! Ameeeeen!

Deserted

2008-11-01T15:39:00.001-07:00

I think I've deserted my blog =x
But it feels like my brain has some kinda clog
I can't think of anything to write
I think i need some inspiring light

On more serious terms I'v stopped writing =( sad? Nah i haven't quit but i can't seem to get the natural flow that i use to have and you know what??? it hurts!

The Dilemma of the Youth

2008-10-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Dilemma of the Youth

By Abdullah Hakim Quick. A common question the speaker is asked whilst on his travels is: What is the answer for the youth to keep them upon the correct path? How detrimental is the predicament of the youth today? The speaker shares with the listener various real-life examples of the diseased situations hurting the young Muslim community. This presentation can also be a tool in assessing what the current condition of the ummah’s youth is.

Download Lecture Here]

The Evil Of Hiphop Culture

Abu Shahadah takes a look into young Muslims who glorify thug mentality, gang culture and also the dangers they are leading themselves into as well as exploring rap music and its stars who have had a big impact on society, ultimately on the Muslim youth.

Download

Gangsters & Thugs

Abu Shahadah discusses the problems Muslim Youth face living in the West and trying to live the life of a thug. This thug life which stems from ignorance, can be seen present in young muslims. What is the consequences of this life? and where does this belong in islam? A very direct and powerful speech

.Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4 Track 5 Track 6 Track 7 Track 8

The Forbidden Gaze

2008-10-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Forbidden Gaze

The Forbidden Gaze? What is it exactly? Is looking at the opposite gender really haram? What about lowering the Gaze? What does Allah say about that? In society today there is much confusion clouting this topic, and many are heedless to the affects and consequences of these acts, adopting a very western secular position to what is actually disallowed in Islam. Sheikh Feiz explains all this and more in his lecture, The Forbidden Gaze.

The Disease
The Cure
Intermingling

Friends

2008-10-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

I was reading a few friendship quotes last night so I decided to see what our great scholars had to say about it...

"Two friends are like two hands, one washes the other." Al-Ghazali

"If you wish to mention the faults of your friends, mention your own faults first." Ibn Abbaas

"The hyprocrite looks for faults, the believer looks for excuses." Ali

I read a few others but these were my favorite, especially the first one. It's really true actually, friends are like hands that was each other. We shouldn't be constantly looking at the short comings or faults of our each other. Rather, try to over look these. If they're something major, you can try to talk to him/her and advice them kindly. That way you're helping them wash that unwanted part off.

Finally...

2008-10-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished everything Alhamdulillah. It feels like i had a thousand pound load on my back and now its removed. So now i can work on my blog. :)

2008-10-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Imagine this:

He's on his way home, it's hours past midnight and it's dark out. The events of the evening are running through his head as he makes his way down the quiet street. He comes to the corner where he usually crosses, with the stop sign that is near invisible to drivers making the bend. As he steps out onto the street, he smiles to himself recalling the evening, lost in his thoughts, with his headphones in his ears. Just then, he hears a car screech and turns just in time to see the whites of the drivers eyes as he tries to break but can't. Next thing he knows metal body meets his and he is sent flying through the air. He's sprawled on the pavement 5 meters away, breathing his last breaths, the words of the panicking driver mean nothing to him as his vision fades and he struggles to say the words....

Scenario 1:

He had just finished exams that day along with his other friends. Midterms could be a drag and as it was he hadn't had much time to relax and enjoy. After all, university is the best time of your life, isn't it? He deserved a reward, he knew it.

"I'm going out ma!" he called into the kitchen as he put on his jacket.
"Where to Yasin?" his mother asked wiping her hands on her apron.
"Out, friends. Ammar's going too." he said pulling on his shoes. "I'll be back later."
His mother frowned slightly, "At this time of night?... Yasin your brother needs help with math, you know how he gets..." she started.
"When I come back. Bye Ma" he said and slammed the door as he left.
"Yasin!..... Salam," his mother whispered as she shook her head and returned to the kitchen.

As Yasin walked home, he thought of the amazing night he had spent hitting some of downtown's hottest night spots. His mother didn't know, but what she didn't know couldn't hurt her, right? And besides, a lot of his friends had drank, he didn't. And he didn't dance, just listened to the music. Yeah.

....Now as he lays on the cold pavement, he struggles to say the words he knows he must, but cannot, as sharp regret pierces his inner being, the music on his mp3 player looping in his ears...

Scenario 2:

He had just finished exams, and he was so tired of poring over his biochemistry and psychology textbooks, but the moment he left the exam hall he felt like a free man once again.He felt a pang. He had spent so much time studying that he had neglected his best friend. The last time he had seen his friend was weeks ago. As he began to leave campus, he came accross his two friends Anwar and Muzammil.

"Salam 'alaikum" he said to his two friends.
"wa 'Alaikum Assalam. Hey Zaid, we were just talking, and a bunch of brothers are getting together at Yusuf's apartment, you in?" Anwar asked.
He smiled, "Of course I'm in, see you tonight then insha'Allah." He smiled as he made his way home. He felt elated, his soul nourished. The hours they had spent praying Qiyam, reciting Quran and discussing the trials of the dunya at Yusuf's apartment had left him feeling whole, complete again. The tears they had shed that night, in contemplation of their Lord, seemed to have softened his heart and the Quran he listened to now filled his heart with contentment.....

Now as he lays on the pavement, head throbbing, struggling to breathe, the Quran continues to play in his ears, his friend in this life, he loved it so dearly. And the cherished words he knew, lived, breathed and acted upon came easily from his lips.

"Undoubtedly, with Allah is the knowledge of the Hour, and He sends down rain and knows what is in the wombs of the mothers and no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow and no soul knows in what land it will die. Undoubtedly, Allah is the Knower, All Aware." (surah Luqman, ayah 34)

Brothers and sisters, let us seek forgiveness from Our Lord and live every moment as if it is our last; for indeed, no soul knows which moment will be its last.

Hope

2008-10-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Keep hope ALIVE

From The Quran-

“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)

[Lessons from this verse]

We get very hard on ourselves sometimes. And while there is benefit in taking ourselves to account, the sunshine comes from never losing hope in Allah’s mercy. Allah’s mercy andf orgiveness is able to emcompass whatever you have done. So knock on that door right now.

An Amazing Book...

2008-10-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Often I find the hardest thing for me when it comes to writing is starting something off. Unless I’m really motivated by something I have trouble sometimes getting a pen or typing of the first sentence. A poem, a story, an article, whatever. Sometimes I feel that my brain just doesn’t want to cooperate with me. So to prepare for those times I have a whole notebook of prompts for both my stories and poems. Of course I don’t always need them but they do tend to be pretty helpful every once in a while…

Well to get to my point, I was looking through my book of prompts when I came up to one that really caught my attention. “Open the book that unveils the hearts.” My thoughts practically ran away and settled down on reading the Quran. So I took out my copy and sat down and started to read. Ironically, I was reading Surah Al-Israa’ (The night journey) and I came up to verses 45 and 46.

“And when you recite the Quran, We put between you and those who believe not in the hereafter, an invisible veil.” “And we have not put coverings over their hearts lest that they should understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you make mention of your Lord Alone in the Quran, they turn on their backs, fleeing in extreme dislike.” –Surah Al-Israa’ Verses 45+46

Subhanallah, I could only think, Ya Allah Don’t Place any Veil over my heart! The Quran is simply amazing. I might have read those verses many times but I haven’t gave much attention to the deep meaning up till then. So every time I pick up the Quran, I’m already anticipating and wondering what new thing will I learn this time?

My First Post...

2008-10-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

I've started yet another blog lol...i have so many blogs that I lost count, but I have a feeling this one is going to be different...Anywayz I started on my 1000 to 2000 word story a few nights ago and hopefully i can get my friend to edit it for me and go over it...I've set up so many things for myself these past days, I hope i can keep up with all of them inshallah. I'm constantly making up goals that never get achieved so we'll se how long I can keep up this time. I'm gona start typing up my poems, articles, and maybe stories soon inshallah, so keep coming back, I'll try my best to update every other day or so...

Fi Amanillah
Muslimah