The Everyday Heroine.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

When many people think of Egypt, they think of the great, historical monuments: the iconic Sphinx, the awe-inspiring pyramids, the enduring flow of the Nile that has nourished the banks of this desert land for thousands of years.

Others think of Egypt's impressive Islamic history: the mosques and madrassahs of the Mamluks, the ancient Islamic section of Old Cairo and the great fort built by Salahuddin himself.

In this land, many mighty heroes have risen and fallen, as they have all over the world. But the hero that I wish to celebrate here is of a much humbler kind.

She is the woman who looks at the world around her with an alert eye and open heart. Where others see catastrophe, she sees opportunity; where others sense only despair, she senses hope; where others throw their hands up, she rolls up her sleeves.

This is the everyday heroine who makes a satisfying, nutritious meal for her family from the simplest ingredients every night, who knows how to cure a sore throat with the contents of her store-cupboard, who knows how to make a child feel like the champion of the world for learning how to spell the world 'beautiful'.

This is the everyday heroine who juggles pregnancy, weaning, learning Surah al-Fatihah and advice on dealing with peer pressure.

This is the everyday heroine who always has time to listen, knows when to talk and when to remain silent.

This is the everyday heroine who sets up a recycling group in her local area, who hosts coffee mornings for new Muslims, who volunteers at a local charity, who lifts up her child so that he can put 5p in the collection box.

This heroine will never make a Power List in any of the broadsheets. She will not be shortlisted for an award, nor will she be granted a medal for her achievements.

But in the eyes of Allah and those who know and love her, she is a hero every single day of the year.

May Allah reward all you heroines out there, every single one of you. Long may you rise every morning to be a hero to your families, your friends and your local community.

May Allah grant you sincerity and accept your righteous actions. May He bless your time and aid you in your cause.

And, if you happen to know one of these heroines, do me a favour: make dua that Allah accepts her work and lightens her load - then tell her how much you appreciate her, maybe even with a card or flowers. 

Chances are, you will make her day, Insha Allah.

With love and salaam to all the wonderful heroines I have met and continue to meet on this amazing journey called life.

(Na'ima B. Robert)

I found the above article in an old magazine yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you. May we all strive to become and to raise everyday heroines - Ameen.

Wasalaam!

Accept the Blessing and Make the Most of It

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Make the most of the blessings of Allah, give thanks to Him and obey Him. Enjoy the water that you drink and use for wudhu. Enjoy the warmth and light of the sun, and the light and beauty of the moon.

Pick fruit from the trees, drink your fill from the rivers, look at the ocean, walk through the fields, and give thanks to Allah, the Almighty, Oft-Forgiving, the Sovereign and Subduer.

Make use of these blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you, and beware of denying these blessings.

They recognize the Grace of Allah, yet they deny it ..

(Surah An-Nahl, Verse 83)

Before you look at the thorn of the rose, look at its beauty.

Before you complain about the heat of the sun, enjoy its light.

Before you complain about the blackness of the night, think of its peace and quiet.

Why look at things in such a pessimistic and negative manner? Why deny and change blessings?

Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allah into disbelief?

(Surah Ibrahim, Verse 28)

Take these blessings and accept them graciously, and praise Allah, the Almighty, All-Glorious, for them.

Wasalaam!

Count the Blessings that Allah has Bestowed upon You

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

When morning comes, remember that the sun is shining upon thousands of miserable women, but you are blessed. It is shining on hundreds of hungry women, but you have plenty to eat.

It shines on thousands of women who are imprisoned, but you are free. It shines on thousands of women who have been stricken with calamity and lost their children, but you are happy and healthy.

How many tears flow down women's cheeks? How many mothers' hearts are filled with pain, how many screams come from girls' throats - but you are smiling and happy.

So praise Allah, the Exalted, for His kindness, protection and generosity.

Sit and think, and be honest with yourself; look at the numbers and statistics.

 How many things do you own? How much wealth do you possess? How many blessings do you enjoy? How many things do you have that bring you delight?

Beauty, wealth, children, shade, a home, a country, light, air, water, nourishment, medicine?

Rejoice and be of good cheer.

Wasalaam!

You Will Be a Winner In All Situations

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

You have to seek reward with Allah. If some worry, distress or grief befalls you, remember that it is an expiation for sin. 

If you lose one of your children, remember that he will intercede for you before Allah. If some disability or sickness befalls you, remember that it brings its own reward from Allah, which is preserved with Him.

Hunger, sickness and poverty all bring their own rewards from Allah. Nothing is ever lost with Him. 

He keeps it as a trust with Him until He gives it to its owner in the Hereafter.

Wasalaam!

It is Sufficient Honour for You that You are a Muslim

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Everything that happens to you for the sake of Allah is an expiation for you, if Allah, the Exalted, wills. Hear the glad tidings narrated in the Hadith:

"If a woman obeys her Lord, offers her five daily prayers and preserves her honour, she will enter the Paradise of her Lord".

These are easy matters for the one for whom Allah makes them easy. So, by doing these great deeds, you will meet a Merciful Lord who will give you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

Follow His laws no matter where that leads you, and adhere to the Book of Allah (the Quran), and the Sunnah of His Messenger Muhammad (saw), for you are a Muslim woman, and this is a great honour and source of pride. Other women were born in the lands of disbelief, Christians, Jews or something other than the religion of Islam, but Allah chose you to be a Muslim woman, and He made you one of the followers of Muhammad (saw), following in the footsteps of Aisha, Khadija and Fatima - may Allah be pleased with them all.

Congratulations, for you offer the five daily prayers, you fast in Ramadan, you go on pilgrimage to the House, and you observe Islamic hijaab. 

Congratulations, for you are pleased with Allah as your Lord, Islam as your religion, and Muhammad (saw) as your prophet.

Your gold is your religion, your adornment is your moral attitude, and your wealth is your good manners.

Wasalaam!

His Signs Are Everywhere

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah, everything is perfectly created and planned. When we think of this concept though, we often think of the sun that comes up every day at its appointed time, the precise alignment of the planets, or our perfect anatomy. We think of our ordained provisions, our birth, our death, or other big events as a reminder of fate and destiny. Usually, that is what we think of when we reflect on the perfection of Allah's planning and creation. It is in those big moments that we sit there and ponder and reflect on the message Allah is relaying to us.

But a huge part of our life is made up of a million little events, small moments, and subtle happenings that we let go by without an ounce of reflection. It could be a piece of advice someone gave us, a lecture we attended, something we have heard or seen, a conversation we were a part of, or even a delay or setback we witnessed.

We forget that even those not so obvious events happened by Allah's Will, and they also contain wisdom and perfection.

These moments are not random. They are not coincidences. Like the big moments and signs, these little ones also contain their own little wisdom, message and an opportunity for us to learn and grow.





 190. Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.

191. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. 

(Surah Ale-Imran)

May Allah make us from those described in the above verses - Ameen.

Wasalaam!