Archive for August, 2012
“Just wave your finger”
Posted by almuqarraboon in Niqabi Support Group on August 29, 2012
Bismillah walhamdulillah
(Note: I’m using an alias for obvious reasons, so no, I have not revealed my real name here.)
How professors deal with niqab… lol where do I start
The most interesting response to the niqab that I’ve gotten from a professor, occurred yesterday. So I wanted to rush to get it down on paper (cyber-paper).
I recently started a Counseling degree program. I think it is safe to assume that I’m the first niqabi to ever be accepted into, much less to accept the offer of joining, this program.
I walked into my first class, just about a minute early. This is quite an achievement for me, so I was a bit disappointed to see that he had already skipped my name on the attendance.
“Ms. Rafique…?” said the professor in a super-polite way, (but I had already been warned that he was an extremely polite guy).
“Yes.” I took my seat in the front, true to my nerd-like self.
He finished up the attendance and began his lesson. He had joke after joke, until I began to think that he prepared jokes for his first lesson in order to make it less awkward. Appreciating a good joke when I hear it, I chuckled lightly under my niqab, as well.
At one point, he stood directly in front of me, and looking straight at me for about 2 seconds, he says, “If any of you are having trouble understanding anything I am saying, but feel too shy to stop me and say so, just wave your finger.” And he demonstrated by waving his own finger.
He’s talking to me, I know it… lol what should I do… It’s okay, he’ll figure it out eventually…
I continued to pay attention to his jokes — I mean, lesson. Since the class was a bit longer than a usual class, he gave us a ten minute break.
I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. Meanwhile, a classmate of mine asked about internet at the college, and being familiar with this college, I answered her.
The professor was not in the room when this exchange took place, so keep that in mind while you read the rest.
He walked back into the room and towards my desk. My head was down, looking at my phone.
“Ms. Rafique…?” lol this guy is so polite, it’s killing me
“Yes?”
“May I please speak to you outside?”
“Sure.”
I didn’t give any thought to why he asked me to step outside with him. I grabbed my phone, only worried that I might be robbed in my absence lol, and followed him outside.
He took a few steps away from the door and then turned back towards me and asked in a low voice, “Is English your native language?”
Keeping in mind that this situation was supposed to be an awkward one, and that he was a male professor, although quite elderly, I decided it was not wise to laugh. But I could not help smiling at his statement.
No way, he did not just say that…
“Yes.”
“Okay — If you ever need to pray, you can just leave and do that, you don’t have to ask.”
“Oh okay, thanks!” I said, surprised at the courtesy. Later on I realized, he probably had to mentally prepare himself for asking me that question, and it probably went like this in his mind: “Okay, I’ll just ask her, and then I’ll quickly slide in something about her having to pray, and it’ll all look super natural. Yes, phew, I’m ready.”
lol
We walked back inside and he began the second-half of his lesson.
I took my seat, a bit confused. I didn’t know how I should feel. Embarrassed? Offended?
All I could think about was how amusing it all was.
As he continued to talk, I began to get the feeling from him that he was in grave doubt. In grave doubt about whether or not I could actually speak English because so far my responses to all of his questions were so short, that I could’ve easily learned it in a week spent in the country.
I decided to put him out of his misery, and wow him with my English — the only language I’m extremely fluent in, mind you.
I raised my hand to answer one of his questions.
Looking super-excited, he said “Yes, ma’am?”
…Don’t laugh…
As I answered him, I became super aware of my accent — or rather lack thereof. I glanced at his face and noticed him squinting at me, as if trying hard to understand.
All right buddy, now you’re just playin
But he got to hear my English, and I got to sit back and relax the rest of the period.
He did seem like a genuinely nice and concerned fellow, may Allah swt guide him to the Haqq. Ameen.
And I had the chance to laugh about all of this that evening with my brother. He was cracking up even more than me, and giving me all of these funny suggestions for what I should’ve done to really confuse the poor guy lol.
Good times, alhamdu lillah :)
wasalamualaykum
Push Yourself and Others to Start Hijab — Deen Show with Br. Mohammad Abu Abbaad ElShinawy
Posted by almuqarraboon in Especially for the Sisters, Niqabi Support Group on August 27, 2012
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Please watch and share. I wish that I had access to spread the new of the command of hijab to all of the sisters in the world… it frees the soul from so much evil. May Allah swt grant honor to Islam and the Muslimeen.
The Excellence of Qiyaamul-Layl and its Effect in Increasing Eeman
Posted by almuqarraboon in Salah on August 22, 2012
by Husayn al Awayishah
If the Muslim carefully considered Suratul Muzammil, he would find the greatest lesson in it, since Allah, the One free and far removed from all defects and the Most High, ordered the Messenger of Allah salAllahu ‘alayhi wasalaam to establish the Night Prayer when he was in the direst need of help and assistance. So there is in the saying of Allah, the Most High:
O, you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad salAllahu ‘alayhi wasalaam)! Stand to pray all night, except a little” [Surah Muzammil, 73; 1-2]
Cultivation and training for the soul and refinement and reassurance for the heart of the Prophet salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam. The night prayer used to be an obligation on the Prophet salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam and his Companions radiyAllahu ‘anhum. The Prophet salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam and his Companions observed it for a year and Allah withheld the end of it for twelve months in the heavens, until Allah sent down the conclusion of the Soorah when the duty was eased and the night prayer became optional after having been an obligation [Reported in Muslim, Eng. Trans. 1/358-361/no.1623].
So indeed there must be hidden benefits arising from the night prayer. Indeed it is a preparation for men. It makes the hearts firm upon the truth and further strengthens them. It is the secret of success. It distances a person from sins and evil actions. It increases eeman. It causes a person to be joined with the righteous and raises him to the level of the sincere worshipers.
From Abu Hurayrah radiyaAllahu ‘anhu, the Messenger of Allah salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam said: “The best fast after the month of Ramadhan is in the month of Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the Night Prayer” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. Trans. 2/269/2611), Abu Dawood (Eng. Trans. 2/668/2423), at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee, and Ibn Khuzaimah in his Saheeh]
From ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar radiyaAllahu ‘anhu who said, the Prophet of Allah salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam: “In paradise, there is a (raised) chamber the outside of which can be seen from its inside, and whose inside can be seen from its outside. So Abu Maalik al Asha’aree asked: Who is it for O Messenger of Allah? He replied: For those whose speech is good, who provide with food and who stand the night (in prayer) whilst the people are sleeping” [Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Kabeer with a hasan chain of narration, and al-Haakim who declared it saheeh to the standard of al Bukhari and Muslim]
From Jaabir radiyaAllahu ‘anhu, who said that I heard Allah’s Messenger salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalam say: “Indeed in the night there is an hour which no Muslim man encounters whilst asking Allah for the good of this world and the Hereafter except that He gives it to him and that is every night” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. Trans. 1/365/no. 1654]
From Abu Umamah Baahili radiyaAllahu ‘anhu, the Messenger of Allah salAllahu ‘alaihi wasalaam said: “ Perform the night prayer, for it was the practice of the pious before you, and draws one near to Allah, the Most High, and is an expiation of sins and a prevention of evil deeds”. [Reported by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, and others and found in Saheehul Jamee’ (no.3958)]
Wa salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatuAllahi wa barakaatuh
“Capacity of the Heart” by Sh. Omar Suleiman
Posted by almuqarraboon in Heart-Softeners on August 14, 2012
Why is it that the sahaaba left puddles of tears in the masjid after salatul jumuah …
Why is it that Tufayl radiallahu anhu accepted Islam simply by hearing Khutbatul Haajjah …
Why is that Bilal accepted Islam based on attacks on the Messenger, before ever hearing any Qur’an or Hadith, before knowing anything except Ahadun Ahad (One God, One God) …
“…He will not reach the goal…”
Posted by almuqarraboon in Seeking Knowledge, Short and Inspiring Quotes on August 13, 2012
“Whoever learns something in the name of Allah, seeking that which is with Him, he will win. And whoever learns something for other than Allah, he will not reach the goal, nor will his acquired knowledge bring him closer to Allah.”
~ Al-Hasan al-Basri
Compete with the sinners in asking Allah’s forgiveness
Posted by almuqarraboon in Short and Inspiring Quotes on August 13, 2012
‘If you don’t have the ability to compete with the pious in righteous deeds then compete with the sinners in asking Allah’s forgiveness’
– Ibn Rajab
From Fa Firroo ilaAllah
“Indeed I saw some 30 angels all scuffling to see which one of them could record it.”
Posted by almuqarraboon in Salah on August 11, 2012
One day we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and when he ﷺ raised his head from the position of ruku` (bowing position), he said: “Sami Allahu leman hamidah” – ‘Allah hears the one who praises Him’. A man from behind added: رَبَّنـا وَلَكَ الحَمْـدُ حَمْـداً كَثـيراً طَيِّـباً مُـبارَكاً فيه “Rabbanaa wa la kal hamd, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh” ‘Our Lord, all praise is due only to You, praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed.’ When we finished [the prayer] the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Who spoke?’ The man said, ‘I did’. He ﷺ said, ‘Indeed I saw some 30 angels all scuffling to see which one of them could record it.’ [Muslim]
For Those Who Seek Laylatul-Qadr (!!)
Posted by almuqarraboon in Self-Development on August 8, 2012
For Those Who Seek Laylatul-Qadr
Which Du’aa to Make During Laylut Qadr ——> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3749656/Supplication%20for%20Laylatul-Qadr.pdf
Adapted from “The Night Prayers: Qiyam & Taraweeh from works by Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albani (and other scholars)“Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths, such as the following:
Abu Tharr (radhiallahu `anhu) relates: “We fasted with Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night – in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s Messenger! Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole night?’ He replied: ‘Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.’…” [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who authenticated it), an-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, and their isnad is authentic]
[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: “I heard Ahmad being asked, ‘Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?’ He replied, ‘Pray with the people’ I also heard him say, ‘I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night.” [Masaa’il]]
Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition “and it is facilitated for him” is recorded by Ahmad from the report of `Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]
Making Supplications
It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. `A’ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee – O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.” [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmizi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani]
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. `A’ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported: “When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And she said: “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.” [Muslim]
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Read and Elevate…
Posted by almuqarraboon in Memorizing Qur'an, Self-Development, Short and Inspiring Quotes on August 8, 2012
Al Muqarraboon 