‘Why can’t I get what I want’

These are notes that I have taken a seminar and Insha'Allah this will be a great benefit to you. The notes below are my own notes and may not represent the views of the speaker.

‘Why can’t I get what I want’ by Yasmin Mogehad

When a child wants something, they place all their energy into getting it. But not everything they want is good for them. For example, a child wants to play with a knife. A parent will prevent that because the child can get hurt. The child doesn’t know the danger of the knife. The child then throws a tantrum.

When we as adults don’t get what we want, we throw a tantrum with Allah. Just like a child and parent.

One of the most important things we have to understand is the POWER of ALLAH:

-          Allah is not a genie in a bottle to grant your every wish.

-          We do not employ Allah

You have to remember that Allah owns us. If Allah wills a certain way or thing then no one can alter the decision of Allah.

When we recite the words ‘la hawla wala quwwata illa billah’. There is no strength nor power except Allah’. Really understand it. There is no change in state accept by Allah. This is a phrase of Jannah.

The biggest deception we are in, is that ‘we’ are in control. Do you forget that we are flawed, selfish? Just imagine if humans controlled the earth. Take a moment.

We wouldn’t survive.

Nothing can affect or alter the decision of Allah, no matter how much you bang your head against the wall.

The second most important thing is to be GRATEFUL THAT ALLAH HAS THE POWER:

Look at Allah’s names:

Al Alim, Allah knows everything

Al Kareem, never prevents anything from us out of stinginess

Al Wahhab, Allah loves to give gifts

 

The will of Allah will always be, we can never impose upon Allah.

You may say that a situation for you or something is not good for you or that it might hurt you. But we may hate something that is good for us.

For example, you may hate that you have lost a parent but Allah knows that it is good for us.

Third most important thing is that we have to recognise that WHATEVER ALLAH DECIDES IS GOOD FOR ME:

This all comes down to trusting Allah. When we undergo a major surgery, we sign a consent form for the procedure and you place your trust in the surgeon to have the knowledge, you trust their sincerity in making sure that you get the best outcome possible and you trust them to act selflessly during the surgery.

Another example, when your mum tells you she has a surprise for you. She asks you to follow her. You trust her. You trust her because you know she will keep you safe. You trust that she has sincerity in keeping you safe and you trust her selflessness when she takes you to your surprise.

So why do we fall short in trusting Allah. In trust there is three aspects. Trust Allah is All-Knowledgeable, Trust that Allah has the best for us planned (the sincerity in that plan for us from Allah). Trust all for His Selflessness azawajal.

The pain and suffering we feel is due to the deficiency in our trust with Allah.

When something happens in our life, all we tend to see is the creation in this life. We only see our situation. We are not able to see that Allah is in charge and there is something beyond the actors in our life. There is a director. It is Allah. We forget that we are not the director and that there is a director. We can only see the actors in our life. We are ourselves actors.

By admitting that Allah is our director, we are letting go of control. This is difficult to do. We want to feel like are in control. When we act like we have control of every situation and we are the one instigating our lives, Allah sends us situations that we have no control over. It teaches is that it is Allah who is in real control.

Because we have no control over our lives, does not mean that we should have defeatist mentality. This alone comes from the Shaytan who wants us to falter and never be able to get up again.

Some may ask, what’s the point of striving?

Our work is not about results. It always comes back to PURPOSE. Our purpose is to worship of Allah.

Our mind has been created to think as slaves. The question you have to ask yourself is what are we slave to? People. Money. Desires. Social Status. All these things are type of slavery. We are all slaves. Because its something we are created to do. Love Allah. Know Allah. Worship Allah. Ultimately become the slave of Allah.

To be what Allah intended me to be is a ‘SLAVE OF ALLAH’.

For example, look at fashion. The quote ‘we hear and obey’ comes to mind. 5years ago, no one would be caught dead wearing leggings and a short t-shirt. But people obey

The higher criteria of Allah is to say ‘NO’. We no longer become devastated when things don’t work out.

A common question asked is ‘When do we know if it’s a hardship or test or a blessing? is it good or bad? Is Allah displeased?’

The answer is in the form of a question, did this thing bring you closer to Allah or take you away? Think about your goal and your final destination. Even if it’s a form of hardship and even if its something that you do not what.  Whatever happens to a believer, it brings them closer to Allah.

That is why we need to make istakarah a vital part of our lives. When we ask Allah for what we want and to place blessings in it right from the beginning. But if it is not good for us, then to take it away from us. This shows that nothing bad can happen to us.

People often ask, ‘why do bad things happen to good people?’

Bad things do not happen to good people. It is how we define good and bad. A believer responding correctly means that every situation is good for him.

Abu Suhayb ibn Sinaan narrated that the Prophet said: “How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him; and if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” [Muslim]

What is our role?

-          We need to strive in getting closer to Allah

-          We need to keep responding as a believer to every circumstance that we find ourselves in.

-          The only thing that we are in control of is our response and our actions.

When we move closer to Allah, we secure our shelter. Our shelter is the nearness to Allah.

 

We should not be afraid. We can control our reaction and we come to a position that everything in our lives we understand to be good for us. We need to always go back to Allah; it will help us on our journey to our final destination.

Be content with the decision of ALLAH.

 

Al-Qabid القابض (The Restrainer, The Constrictor)

This Name of Allah azawajal can be seen in the Qur’an:

‘Who is the one who would give Allah a good loan so that Allah multiplies it for him many times? Allah withholds and extends, and to Him you are to be returned. ’ [2:245]

Al-Qabid is specifically translated here as Allah ‘witholding’. Looking into the tafseer of the Ayah, the first part of the loan mentions a metaphor. For example, when you spend for the sake of Allah azawajal. But you know that everything belongs to Allah azawajal. The fact that you give in Allah’s cause can mean that what you have given can increase or can decrease. But you must know that Allah azawajal can give you the ultimate prize of Jannat-al-firdous.

The root word involving Qaf-Ba-Daad can apply to more means which are:

To take with hand by actual touch/feel

To close

To grasp

To clutch

To seize

To contract/draw/collect together

To take possession

To contract the heart

This can be in reference to birds to contract their wings and take quick flight. There is also reference to life and death, light and darkness and abundance of rain which Allah provides to the earth.

In what language can you find translation and meaning that can all be applied which makes sense? The beauty of the language of the Qur’an alone is Allah’s miracles. All these translations can be applied and we can understand Allah azawajal more than ever.

Who better can give other than Allah?

Who better is a reply on giving and withholding when you’re in need of it more other than Allah?

It is truly none other than Allah azawajal

Personally, I know personally people are going through things in their live.

i.                     A broken heart. Allah holds your heart in His azawajal Hands. If you leave Him in your heart then anything in the world can be taken from you but your heart can never be broken again. Your belongs to Allah my beloved Ukhti and with Allah watching over it, I am sure that Allah will make your heart whole again.

ii.                    All the hardships at once.  My dear Ukhti, you may be going through so much at once right this minute but know that Allah will never put so much strain in your heart that you cannot bear. Trust in Allah, for Allah is always mending our hearts and healing our hearts through the constrictions. Allah has the ability to protect you from falling into the traps of the dunya. Allah provides you confidence that His azawajal Mercy is greater so don’t despair for Allah controls everything. Wouldn’t you want the Best of Planners to oversee all your affairs? So seek Al-Qabid

iii.                  Only wanted this one thing in this dunya. My dear beloved uhkti, Allah is Al-Qabid and He azawajal has truely withheld but the reason may be to protect you, the reason could be something better come along or it can mean your path into Jannat al fridous for your patience and diligence on the path of Allah azawajal. If you continue down this road, Allah azawajal will direct you to where you are supposed to be and what He azawajal has planned for you. So don’t give up, keep seeking and try all things. Because Allah is the Ever-Watchful and guiding you this very minute for your success in this world and hereafter. Be content with Allah’s decision and you shall have the richest heart in the world that has Allah as the only occupant of your heart,

Practical applications

a.       Give to charity for Allah provides you means and wealth.

b.       This name can be extended to Allah is protecting you from withholding something from you that may be wrong so seek Allah’s protection so trust in Allah azawajal

c.        Become a person who helps others to unconstraint their hearts. Remind them of Allah azawajal and show that Allah is already providing for them and that there is always a reward from having something withheld from them and for feeling the constriction in the heart.

There is much more to this name of Allah azawajal so keep researching, keep seeking and learn cradle to the grave. Aim to become beloved to Allah azawajal because it is Him azawajal that we shall return to.

Reference:

1.        http://wahiduddin.net/words/99_pages/qabid_20.htm

2.        http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/belief/allah/449808-al-qabid-al-bassit-the-withholder-the-extender.html

3.        http://www.suhaibwebb.com/relationships/withthedivine/al-qaabid-al-baasit/

(image created by Art Malik, app can be downloaded)

Asmaa-ul-husna (The 99 Names of Allah)

This blog will go through the 99 Names of Allah which is the utmost important for all Muslims to learn and really reflect so that we can increase our emaan and become more attached to our Creator. The will be no particular order to the Names described and in shaa Allah all the sources will be placed at the end. If there are any mistakes, is it from myself and any goodness or benefit is from Allah azawajal alone.

Motivation

Allah loves the Muslim that has the world in his hand and Allah in his heart.



Allah has ordered us to be strong Muslims. A strong believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer. If you are strong then you can help yourself and help others. Look at Uthman RA who gave a man looking for a camel, Uthman RA was able to give 100 camels at once. In your heart have only Allah and the hereafter. When people say you should shun the world, they are wrong, shun worldliness. Allah always reminds us to have strength in the Quran.

'Have patience at what they say, and remember Our Servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to Allah)' [38:17]


1) Do not give into laziness and incompetence and be focused on what you want to achieve.



2) Remember the days of Allah, He azawajal is the only one that nourishes and sustains you all. By Allah, if you have tawakul of Allah, then Allah will provide for you. SO do not be afraid. you cannot be couragious until you have conquered your fear. What is courage except overcoming fear? It is normal to be afraid and you must overcome your fear.
In a hadith narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (R.A) in which our beloved Prophet said ”Teach your children swimming, archery and horse riding”. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (s) said, “Practice archery and horseback riding.” The Prophet (s) said “Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or heedlessness except four acts: walking from target to target (during archery practice), training a horse, . . . , and learning to swim.” (Reported by al Tabarani on good authority)

'Teach your children horseback riding, archery and swimming'
Horseback riding refers being able to tame a horse and lead a horse meaning that you can lead people. Archery doesnt just show you how to shoot or strength by it teaches you how to be focussed. Swimming doesnt just teach how to float on water but to control your emotions and body.

Look at someone who has fears of drowning and they learn to swim. At first they try to swim and they panic because of the fear of drowing. But we know that to swim you must be calm and you must be focused. ANother example is learning to drive and even riding a bike.

Then you will be able to overcome yourself and be successful. Conquer your fears and do not fear anyone else but Allah azawajal.



3) Do not be afraid and never think that you cannot achieve anything in this world. Look at all the successful leaders in the world. They have all sacrificed something. For example, Richard Branson (Owner of Virgin) said that he sold his car and his stereo which were his prized possession to start his business in a broken telephone booth in london selling records. It is the test.

Please my beautiful ukhti's overcome the love of this world, overcome fear and strike when the iron is hot and ALlah will bring you success and self-sufficency. Allah azawajal wants us to be our own leaders. Allah azawajal doesnt want us to work for others and this can be clearly seen in the Quran were the verse can be translated as 'Allah does not give the upperhand over the believers to the disbelievers' [ end of 4:141].

Fi'amanillah my beloved akhi's and ukhti's

Unshakable

As-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktuh,

SubhanAllah, FOSIS (http://fosis.org.uk/) held an incredible dinner today called 'UNSHAKABLE'

When you are going through hardship and your about to give up because your struggling I want you to think about this...

in the case of a believer, there is always going to be struggles. The Prophets (peace be upon them all) struggled: Prophet Ayub AS lost his wealth, his children and his health. Yet he remained patient and said 'Alhamduillah'. Ibrahim AS was put to great tests by Allah when asked to leave his family in the desert, when he was to slaughter his own son and even when they threw him into the blazing fire. Yet, he trusted in Allah azawajal and passed the test of faith. Yusuf AS was thrown into prison for false allegations for years and his own brothers left him to die in the desert because they were jealous. Yet it was to Yusuf AS was freed from all false allegations and given a lofty position. His brothers came to seek provisions from him during the famine and his family was returned to him.  Nuh AS struggled when no one listened and including his own son. Yet Allah gave him better family and children who believed in Allah azawajal. Muhammad SAWS was an orphan and faced loss of loved ones year after year. He was persecuted for years for his pure belief. He has to leave his beloved home and faced great trials that no other mankind has faced. Subhan’Allah, I cannot even begin to convey the struggled faced by our beloved prophet Muhammad SAWS and so I highly suggest that you read the Seerah of the Prophet SAWS).

What do they all have in common?  

These Prophets (peace be upon them all) had an unshakable connection, unshakable emaan, unshakable faith, unshakable trust, unshakable believe in Allah and the hereafter.
Everything a believer does is beneficial and is never wasted. The sweetness of the struggle and outcome may be felt straight away or you may wait until the hereafter. Remain upon the truth and become unshakable and in return you are promised Jannah. So you might be thinking... ‘‘but these amazing people are Prophets (peace be upon them) and who am I compared to them?’’

However, everyone has the potential to be untouchable just make your connection with Allah azawajal strong and firm.

Let me give you a story of slave who became untouchable and unshakable:

Bilal (RA) was a slave who came to the belief of Allah (for more detailed story: http://www.sln.org.uk/storyboard/stories/i3.htm ). For his belief in Islam, Bilal (RA) was punished severely; he was dragged across Makkah, he was starved, beaten, he was stretched, he was placed under all torture methods that people could think of and finally he was placed under a rock and left there during the high heat of the entire day. The continued to torture his until he denounced his faith from Islam but even under the most extreme torture condition Bilal remained in his words ‘Ahad-one Allah’.

Many Muslims at this time was tortured and the Prophet SAWS told them that it was permissible to denounce Islam under conditions that threatened there life as long as the emaan was alive in their heart. Yet Bilal was never to be broken. For his struggle and his unshakable belief, the Prophet SAWS asked Bilal RA to give the call to prayer, the Azan. The Azan is the Sunnah of Bilal RA and when the Muslims had won the conquest of Makkah, Bilal (RA) was told to get on top of the Kaba and give the call!

SubhanAllah, in the sight of Allah azawajal look at this beautiful outcome. Bilal was a slave and the stone was placed on top of him, yet look with his unshakable emaan he was on top of the Kabaah calling all the Muslims.

Life is a test and we all live in difficulty. The more you practise Islam, the more difficult your life will become. The most tested were The Anbya (Prophets) peace be upon them. We should not move away from the difficulty or away from Allah. W should become closer to Allah, become unshakable, become untouchables and receive the rewarded from Allah azawajal.

Finally be patient as our ultimate goal is Janaah (Heaven)!

 

Practical Application:

Studying Islam gives us the solutions we need.

1)    Read the Qur’an frequently

2)    Be aware of the ayats in the Qur’an

3)    Attach yourself to the Book of Allah

4)    And never forget: Every single human on this earth will have to face the reality of death. If we forget then we may go astray. So it’s important to hold firm and remember death frequently as it strikes a balance.

Insha’Allah this beautiful reminder and event from FOSIS is beneficial to you as it has been to me Al’hamduillah.

JazakaAllah khayr.

Fi’amanillah

Spread the word about Islam

As-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktuh,

I search, read and listen ways to increase my emaan and subhanAllah there is so many amazing things out there and I pray that the links below provide to be benefical to you as it has been to me.

Islamic Tube:

http://www.islamictube.com/index.php

KhalifahKlothing's Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/khalifahklothing/featured

The aim of this channel mentioned by the authors themselves:
This is Islam: Islam means "submission to God". Islam is the belief that there is only One God, whose proper name is Allah, which means " the God". Islam is the same message given to all the prophets, from Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and finally to the Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger (peace and blessings be upon them). They all brought the same message: worship only God, and stop worshipping human beings and their ideas.

Become a Muslim Now: If you believe there is only One God who should be worshiped, and no one/nothing else has that right but Him, and you believe Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a messenger who brought the same message as all the prophets before him, then you are basically a Muslim.

Al'hamduillah I have benefitted alot from this channel so CHECK IT OUT.

Fi'amanillah

Learn Qu'ran Arabic

As-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktuh,

Are you looking to understand what you recite in salah? Are you always listening or reading the Qur'an and wondering what it means?

I think the soultion is here!

A brother who has dedicated his time and effort into helping you. Check out the link below:
http://www.time-for-quran.com/tfq-2/video1/

and the link to free lectures and resources also avaliable below:
http://understandquran.com/courses/basic-course/english.html

and if that is too difficult, I came across this link which also seems valuble:
http://understandquran.com/courses/short-course-1/english-2011/lesson-1.html

The success of this aim and course is determination and motivation. You must ask Allah azawajal for guidance and aid as Allah azawajal is your Wali (Helper, Supporter and Protector).You must persevere and be patient when it becomes hard. And inshaAllah you can achieve this goal and go onto things that also requires our attention such as Tafsir, Tajweed, memorisation etc.

Insha'Allah you shall be successful.

JazakaAllah Khayr for reading

Fi'amanillah