There are Manners to Correcting Others in our Deen

“Don’t be in such a hurry to condemn a person because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”

-Malcolm X

Truly helping others by calling their attention to their mistakes is enjoined. But this does not mean you are perfect or should act like you are.

Correct the way you want to be corrected too. The practise of being harsh on others, publicly shaming them including on social media but forgiving towards yourself or people you like for same mistakes is bad. Bad for you, your chosen ones and the wider Ummah.

This toxicity in our circles is pushing people out of the deen. You watch, waiting for them to make mistakes and pounce on them. They start to lead double lives because of you. You should be afraid of being responsible for this.

If we truly want the best for them and not disgrace, let’s employ the manners from the Sunnah. And better still, make dua for them. Be patient, Prophet Nuh (AS) did not get everyone to listen even after centuries. So who are you to think the one you are correcting will change immediately? Also be more concerned about your own mistakes to save yourself from hypocrisy.

There is a book ‘The Prophet’s Methods of Correcting People’s Mistakes’.

May Allah help us all to obey Him and be of best character.

______________________

The Ramadhan Baby

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Triumph of Justice – Barr Amasa Firdaus

In a triumph for justice and rights, after months of legal battle, Amasa Firdaus, the Nigerian law graduate who was prevented from wearing her hijab during the call to bar ceremony has finally won her case. She was allowed and now Muslim female lawyers don’t have to remove their hijab. The sorrow they experienced on their most joyful day has thus become a thing of the past.

She challenged the order in court. Obviously knowing her books!

Thank you, Amasa for being the beacon, for standing firm, bearing the pain and ridicule (from both Muslims and non-Muslims) and your perseverance.
May Allah reward you.

Many thanks also to her family, friends, well-wishers, the online Muslim community, international media like AlJazeera and the BBC who provided more publicity, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,(NSCIA), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and other Nigerian Muslim organizations who stood by her.

Of note is the support of notable non-Muslims like Dr Joe Abah (lawyer, a public policy expert who tweets about public service reforms) who stood on the side of truth and eschewed religious intolerance. They used their good office and influence to join in the fight and today are honoured.

This is a lesson for the many Muslims who attacked her back in December. We pray Allah forgives our shortcomings.

By her steadfastness, she has written her name in gold.

Lastly, this news boosts confidence in the Nigerian legal system which is currently undergoing much-needed reform.

Read more in this Guardian article, and Cable News NG

For more perspective, read the earlier blog post on this issue.

Hoda Katebi’s Poise- full Clapback

Be Grateful

Too often we value those things we do not have. We focus more on the amazing things going on in other people’s lives but not in ours. Yet in no matter situation we may find ourselves, chances are we have got treasures we have either chosen to ignore or haven’t yet discovered.
This is so important for our mental, spiritual and by extension, physical well being. Replace that sulk with a smile. Look inwards and be amazed at what you find.

To make it even resonate better, get out your stationery and make a list of all the good things you have. For this earth and all the beautiful creation, being alive in itself, freedom,health, good hair, good skin, spouse, children, a bed to sleep on, clothes, food…..some of these are gifts millions do not have and yet we find them leading happy lives. 
In all, no one has everything. We are meant to partner in goodness and make each other better. We should not flaunt our possessions to sadden others. Neither should we gawk at the blessings of others forgetting ours.
Do not place too much happiness on material things. With the sheer volume of edited images on the net we are bombarded with today, this may seem impossible. But you see, we should take charge of more things in our lives and thus make conscious efforts to do self-reflection. That rich person on earth may have none of the Akhirah and the outwardly poor one already has a great abode. Let us be more concerned with our standing before Allah ( SWT).
We should strive to enjoy the most of every moment and opportunity. Yes we may not have what we want yet but we keep on working towards our goals and not being knocked down by challenges. Who are we if not the #PeopleofAlhamdulillah?
For more, check previous posts on this blog  in the #TheRamadhanBaby series 
Have a most amazing Jumu’ah. There are many checklists circulating. Make sure to make the most out of it.
OumissaInspire

Lagos,Nigeria

13:04

Friday 04 August 2017

Jumu’ah 11 Dhul Qadah 1438AH

TheRamadhanBaby -EID EL-FITR

We can not thank Allah enough for HIs Mercy. 

May He accept all our deeds and assist us as we try to infuse all we did in the last month into our daily lives.

A few gems from the Sunnah:

If you have not paid Zakatul Fitr and you are able. Kindly do so before the prayer.

Take a bath and wear perfume (men!) We don’t want to make others uncomfortable. 

Wear your best clothes but please remain modest.

If you have enough food to cook, open your doors and enjoy your feats with others. 

Exchange gifts! It increases love for each other.

Take different routes when going and coming from the Eid prayers.

 Listen carefully to the sermon,no Nawafil (voluntary prayer) before the Eid as it is a Nawafil(albeit highly recommended).

Give the children treats! This builds fond memories for them.

If you live in a country where there aren’t many Muslims, do your best and join others online.

Enjoy! Celebrate! Have fun! 

In all,keep it Halal. 

Keep all those we lost in Ramadhan in your dua. Help their families if you can.

Remember the Shayateen are out. Keep feeding your soul.

EID MUBARAK to all of you around the world.

Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum(may Allah accept it from us and from you).
Lots of love,

Oumissa.

TheRamadhanBaby #29 – Keep its Essence

The blessed month bids us farewell.

We can only hope to see it again.

While taking stock of our souls,

Will we find them enriched 

Or hovering around previous levels?

Will we last the many months 

Before another opportunity comes?

We should all regret the leaving 

For more pearls we did not gather

It is a matter of ease

To gain rewards all year long

With the goodness of this month

A little drop a day

TheRamadhanBaby #16- The Night Prayer

All through this month, we try to offer more Nawafil (voluntary prayers) at night. We do this with the firm belief and hope to draw closer to the Entity central to our being- Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Even if we only get to squeeze two units of  this prayer before Sahur  , we are very happy.. If we wake up late and can hardly get a bite before the Adhan is called, we feel dejected throughout the day.

Because we know that calling upon Our Creator in the last part of the night when sleep is dearest to our bodies is a sacrifice appreciated by Him, we are assured that our requests would be answered. In addition,it is a means to attaining a station of praise and glory. (Q17:79)

“They (the believers) forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope; and they spend (in charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them.” (Q32:16)

It is a great thing to get up and seek Allah’s Bounty while others sleep or commit nefarious acts.

Every night in the last third, Our Lord, the Superior. the Blessed descends to the lowest heavens and says, 

“Is there anyone to invoke me so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask me  so that I may grant his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 7494)

How amazing is He?!

What happens outside Ramadhan? We abandon this opportunity. Many evidences state that the blessings inherent are available EVERY night.  Think of your greatest wish

Now imagine you could get it every night. Would you sleep at all for the entire night? Indeed what regular Tahajjud gives you is better. 

Take it upon yourself to say Tahajjud More, even if it is two Rakat for those little bit constant deeds are beloved to your Lord.

TheRamadhanBaby 14: Cradle to Grave

Civilizations throughout history have flourished on knowledge. Today, countries regarded as developed in which there are better prospects for citizens are those who place high value on knowledge and thus enjoy advancement.
The first revealed verses were a command to read, with references to teaching, writing and the pen (Q96:1-5). This and many other verses talk about books, and Him being the source of all knowledge thus showing the great importance of knowledge. The Prophet always had scribes to record revelations, his narrations, political affairs and various treaties and agreements.

The companions and those who came after them spent their lives constantly gaining knowledge, with much sacrifice and going through great lengths of time and distance to do so. Gender and age were no barriers. It is how we have the Qur’an in written form, collections of Hadith and treatises on many other areas like medicine, genealogy, politics, algebra, astronomy, commerce, and other sciences and arts. Much of this is still relevant today. Try doing some research on the first university in the world, Al- Jabr, Al- Khawarzmi, the libraries of Baghdad and Damascus centuries ago. It is saddening how we have trivialized and even destroyed our own heritage.

It is not something to be slack about. We should not live our lives content with what we learnt as children or worse, the knowledge of our ancestors. We also need to stop giving excuses as the early Muslims had greater challenges. It is a lifelong duty.

We must always seek answers to our problems and learn more about our religion. Through that can we truly make our existence on earth a worthwhile one and be of benefit to others whether they share our beliefs or not. For it is a lack of correct knowledge that would make a person destroy innocent lives ostensibly to defend Allah, His Prophet and the religion. What they achieve instead is harming everyone regardless of creed.

Learn the aspects of Iman, how to perform Salah as the Prophet(peace be upon him) said, “Pray as you have seen me pray.” Learn the conditions of fasting, Zakat and Hajj. Learn about family life in Islam, treatment of relatives, neighbours, men , women and children. Learn the Qur’an, Hadith, stories of the Prophets. For we would find nought in this except goodness.

Learn whatever skills you have a flair for, are good at or are interested in and seek to be the best at it. Support and carry out research. Use this knowledge to benefit humanity. Just think where we would be in the absence of vaccines, aeroplanes, cars , trains, satellites, the Internet and countless other aspects of the modern world we take for granted.

If we do not know, we can not teach. The best thing we leave after we die is our body of knowledge.

TheRamadhanBaby 13: Our Future

There is one part of us often ignored. We mistake their innocence for lack of wisdom instead of looking at them through lens that see their potential. We carry on as if eve got other people to hand over our Deen to? Who would bury us, take care of us in old age and continue our legacy? Our children!

Let this be a call to include them. When we organize lectures, we could make sure there is a section for them not only to play but learn what is being taught in a way they can understand. Let’s inculcate our morals and values in them. Have them know what this world entails and teach them so they can take the right path, have great judgement and make good decisions.

Can we achieve all this without being kind? Definitely not.
“ He is not of us , one who does not show mercy to the children and the old”- Hadith
First we must understand they are a gift from Allah (Q42:49). We have also been enjoined to care, safeguard the property of and raise for those of them who have no one to do so. Q17:34
For they are our future, the Imams, judges, mothers, teachers, doctors, nurses and all important components of our Ummah tomorrow.

TheRamadhanBaby 12: Forgiveness

Irrespective of our standing before Allah, we all are in need of His forgiveness. We were given freewill but are more inclined to follow our desires and therefore go against the commands of Our Lord. It takes extra effort to do good for oneself and towards others. It’s our nature. Allah, The All-Knowing, long before our existence provided an opportunity for nus to constantly free ourselves from the burden of sin. He tells us many times that He is Oft –Forgiving (Q42:5).He is the Forgiver, Hider of faults and Forgiving. This should be in conjunction with avoiding the major sins (Q42:37).

A believer should never stop seeking forgiveness. Our dear Prophet used to say Istighfar so much that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) wondered why as he had been forgiven of all his sin. He said to her, “ Would I not be a grateful servant?.
Also, we realize that seeking forgiveness does not make sense if we do not forgive others. We are thus enjoined to do so. (Q7:199, 42:40)

In admitting our shortcomings and going towards Him with sincere remorse and repentance, we acknowledge His power over us and give our souls that freedom they so badly need. We increase our scale of good, open the doors to blessings and abundant provision. Our world today is a one in which sin is glorified and it seems doing the right thing brings little reward. This is more reason for us to ask him to forgive us, our family, friends and the Ummah in general. It is a reminder for us to turn a new leaf and become more pious people.