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Falasteen

As I sat down at Shelbies with my family, waiting for my Shawarma Poutine with Halloumi Cheese to arrive, I gazed at the clear blue skies with a knot in the pits of my stomach. It was a perfect afternoon. Yet it wasn’t. For a second I imagined what it would feel like if missiles […]

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DISCOVER ISLAM The Human Psyche

Life goes on…

ہر محبت کو زوال ہے, یہی زندگی ہے The guy you thought you would die without, If you don’t get him, you’ll survive.If you get him, it won’t be all that you thought it would be! Again, you’ll survive! The parents you thought you would die without If you move away, you’ll survive.If you get […]

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Don’t take your Obedience for Granted- Dhul Hijjah Reflections VI

Ismail a.s said :- يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُۖ سَتَجِدُنِيٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.”” Lesson:- Never take your Obedience for granted! Never take the tawfeeq that He gave for granted! Even If you’re consistently doing some good […]

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Zhul Hijah Reflections-Dhul Hijjah Reflections V

Ibrahim a.s was blessed with a son at the age of 86! Anyone that has struggled with infertility will tell you how long a time that is.Yet when he’s given the son , Allah SWT says sacrifice him! Run a knife on his throat! With your very hands! The very hands you used to make […]

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Make a Dua that Transcends Centuries – Dhul Hijjah Reflections IV

So Ibrahim (a.s) at this point i.e leaving behind his offspring & wife makes this dua:- رَبَّنَاۤ اِنِّىۡۤ اَسۡكَنۡتُ مِنۡ ذُرِّيَّتِىۡ بِوَادٍ غَيۡرِ ذِىۡ زَرۡعٍ عِنۡدَ بَيۡتِكَ الۡمُحَرَّمِۙ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيۡمُوۡا الصَّلٰوةَ فَاجۡعَلۡ اَ فۡـئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهۡوِىۡۤ اِلَيۡهِمۡ وَارۡزُقۡهُمۡ مِّنَ الثَّمَرٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَشۡكُرُوۡنَ‏ ﴿14:37﴾(14:37) “Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring settle in […]

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Be Like Hajrah (a.s)-Dhul Hijjah Reflections III

Almost all the stories revolving around zhul Hijjah, seem to me, at their deepest level, stories of tawakul. And tawakul comes from love! From a deep, unwavering sense of being loved. Lovers cannot imagine not being loved۔ You know you can just TELL when you see a child that has been loved as children should […]

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Give up Something for Allah (swt)-Dhul Hijjah Reflections II

Ibrahim a.s was tested by many things in his life and Almost every single relationship! By his father’s shunning of him, by having to leave a land he grew up in, being thrown out by his own people, and finally, the difficulty of not having children. Eventually, When he IS blessed with a child, Allah […]

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Leap of Faith-Dhul Hijjah Reflections I

I was cooking today & there was a sudden splash of hot oil. My Little one was behind me & you know what I did?In an instant, I shielded her with my body! No questions asked, no second guesses, no rethinking, nothing! That’s what Ibrahim a.s did. Threw himself in the fire! No questions asked! […]

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No Life but That Perfect Life!

Staying original in the world of social media is hard. Staying disconnected from it all while still being “connected” is hard. This “race” starts to affect the state of our heart. This desire to be “known” is at the end and at its essence a form of Riya, And this desire to be “known” is […]

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I miss him!

I miss him! I miss him when I’m lost. When I don’t know what to do. I miss him! I miss him when I’m hurt, when I don’t understand how. I miss him! I miss him when I’m lonely, when I feel I’m not understood. I miss him! I miss him when I read about […]

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The Escalation of my Negative Self-Talk & My Kareem Nabi (sws)

I say a distracted Salah. I rush through it. My child cries. I barely know what I’m saying now. I berate myself. I tell myself I’m ungrateful that I can’t focus on the One that blessed me with children. I tell myself I’m an awful person. I have the garb of a religious person but […]

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When you were never meant to understand…

-Why is this happening to me?- We’re taught to seek meaning in everything. we’re told to search for more, to look beyond the superficial, especially in difficult times. Yet In the times that I’ve been sorely tested i have been unable to find meaning. In my frenzy to make sense of my pain i have […]

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Train your Heart to Seek God

I chanced upon a Nasheed I used to binge listen to in the early days of me starting my Quran journey. I looked at the date and it said 11 years ago. Subhan Allah:’) I’m not worthy of the love my Rab has showered upon me. There have been years of learning. Of forgetting. Of […]

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Tears

The heart aches for the One who understands tears. It longs for the One that understands silence. It yearns for the One that grants it peace in pain. The One who comforts it. The One who envelops it. The One who loves it. Unconditionally. Even though it’s a sick heart. Even though its a dark, […]

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Unapologetically Niqabi

Regarding the recent comments by a certain professor on the Pakistani scene and the resulting trend (which we actively participated in) about Niqabis voicing their anger and mentioning their accomplishments: I absolutely LOVE the fact that there are so many awesome niqabi Pakistani women in all walks of life now! But I hate that we […]

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Dressing Well

I had a conversation with my neighbor Jenny, the other day that got me thinking. So what happened was that she happened to come out of her house in her Pj’s which I’ll admit I did not notice on account of forever living the PJ life 🤣 But she started apologizing profusely! That I’m so […]

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The Burden of Comparison

As a mom and a home maker I’m constantly doing something and constantly feeling like I’m not doing anything. It is a burden most of us carry. The burden of comparison. We always always compare ourselves unfavorably to others. If I feel tired and need a break, my mind says why do you need a […]

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You told me to Ask!

You Told me to Ask: I looked at my sins I was distraughtI looked inside my heart, I was ashamedI looked down at my body parts, Never again could I look back up Yet You, You inspired in me the confidence to Ask!Despite it all, In Spite of it all, You lifted my hands!My sinning […]

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The Human Psyche

Siblings & Love

When you’re little, your whole world is the home you know. Your parents, your siblings-your family. You cannot imagine a world or time without them. They are, as essential to you as your own limbs. I remember when i was in 3rd grade maybe, i asked my mom who she loves more us(her children) or […]

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The Many Versions of White People

White People making Small talk (committing many a faux pass) Dr Grant:-So will your child understand what I’m saying? Me: Yes but I’ll also help. Dr: What language does he speak? Me: Urdu fluently. English partially. Dr: Certainly your English is very good. Me: Well i had the privilege of growing up tri-lingual. My son […]

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The Three Groups in my Friend’s List

When you grow up like me, average Pakistani and then suddenly turn towards religion, your Contact’s list ends up having a variety of people which can be broadly categorized into 3 types:- Type 1:- The ones that respect you for your newfound knowledge and ask questions like:- *What’s the difference between Hand Slaughter and Machine […]

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I know a Little Boy who makes Dua like he means it!

So Every time this kid wanted something, his parents would say Ask Allah and then they would secretly get him what he wanted. The little boy kept praying. This one time he wanted a back-hoe (picture for reference) but he didn’t just want ANY back-hoe, he wanted one with a front bucket, back bucket, stabilizing […]

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Do Great Things with Great Humility!-Dhull Hijjah Reflections VII

ھم کچھ اچھا کرتے ہیں تو پھولے نہ سماتے ھیں We expect fame, applause or acknowledgement at the very least! And we expect good things to come our way cz hello “karma, right?” Lesson#1 Look at the attitude of Syyedna Ibrahim a.s and Ismail a.s, they’re making a mosque,and not just an ordinary mosque, the […]