My Top Five Reading Companions- Add them to your Library!

Salaams Everyone,

I really enjoy reading Books and I have a huge Library at home, every Bookshelf neatly organised to perfection lol. Today, I was having a look through some of the Islamic Books  to pick a new read, which has lead to a new Blog Post too! 🙂

Here’s a short review of  my top five Islamic Book recommendations (in no particular order).

Enjoy!

1. A Basic Dictionary of Islam – by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood.

This book contains concise definitions of pretty much all important and most commonly used Islamic Terms. Each word is clearly defined, explaining the context in which the word is used too.

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2. Ta’leemul Haq – Edited by: Shabbir Ahmed E. Desai.

“An Authentic Compilation on the Five Fundamentals of Islam” – This book is an excellent guide and reference covering not only the five pillars of Islam but also other branches of Deen too. It covers each aspect in ample detail and is easy to understand. Furthermore, it simultaneously includes transliteration of important Arabic text, thereby accommodating those who are not fluent in reading Arabic.

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3. Fortress of the Muslim: “Invocations from the Quran & Sunnah” – Compiled by Darussalam.

This is a brilliant pocket book of Duas/Supplications. It covers pretty much every Dua and the layout of the book is simple and concise. It states each Dua  in Arabic and includes the Arabic transliteration and English translation. Furthermore, it includes references of where each Dua was taken from; Quran/Hadith. It is always my go-to book because of it’s authenticity with regards to including Duas from the Quran and Sunnah. An absolute must have for any Muslim.

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4. Hajj & Umrah made easy – by Dr Taqi Hashmi and Adnan Malik.

This book is one of my absolute favourites and it is one of the best books I have bought. It is  a step-by-step, practical, unique and complete guide to Hajj & Umrah- according to the Quran and Sunnah. It includes: Arabic transliteration of Duas; Easy to understand instructions; Safety tips; Health tips; Travel information and Duas. It has updated Arabic-English phrases  and it is fully cross referenced with Hajj Ministry procedures explained. Furthermore, it includes unique diagrams, a map of Makkah and colour coded pages.

The wire bound flip format makes it portable and easy to carry around. It also comes with an adjustable Travel Cord.

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5. The Honorable Wives of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) – Compiled by Darussalam.

This is my current read. This book covers the following Honorable Wives of the Prophet (PBUH):

1. Khadijah bint Khuwailid
2. Aishah bint Abu Bakr
3. Sawdah bint Zam’ah
4. Umm Habeebah bint Abu Sufyan
5. Umm-Salamah
6. Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith
7. Hafsah bint Umar bin Khattab
8. Zainab bint Khuzaimah
9. Safiyyah bint Huyay
10. Zainab bint Jahsh
11. Maimoonah bint Al-Harith (Peace be upon them all)

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Reminder: “There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” (Jiddu Krishnamurti)

 

 

Taking a more modern approach to teaching methods & techniques used in Islamic Education Centres and Mosques– Open Discussion Topic.

Salaams Everyone,

Apologies for my absence. Thank you to everyone for the lovely messages, I feel honoured with all the appreciation and support shown. Alhamdulillah. New Blog Post is up, enjoy! It’s an open discussion, so share your thoughts and let me know what your opinions are on this important topic. 🙂

Throughout the Quran it clearly states, time after time the importance and value of one’s Parents and Grandparents. For example:

• “Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them to attain old age with thee, say not ‘Fie’ unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. (23) And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.” (Quran- Al-Isra, 17:23-24)
• “And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is thy final Goal and Destination.” (Quran- Luqman, 31:14)

Here’s some food for thought… I often see that in today’s society there is a lack of respect for one’s elders. It is absolutely disgusting to see this. I strongly believe that upbringing somewhat determines this. However, just as one’s upbringing is extremely important, I also believe it is extremely important for the youngsters of today to have a proper understanding of the Quran. It is okay to be taught the Quran in Arabic, but taking into account that most people are taught only to read the Quran in Arabic and their first language is English. It is therefore important that they are taught the meaning of the words of the Quran in English. This will allow them to understand what Allah (SWT) has commanded in the Holy book and it would make them more God fearing. For this to occur, in my opinion- the old methods and techniques still used in many Islamic Education Centres and Mosques need to be re-evaluated and the youngsters of today need to be guided.

I will give you a real example: My mum works in a prestigious Islamic Education Centre and she has set an amazing example and has implemented more modern techniques; those which meet the needs of today’s society and are in accordance with the teachings of Islam. She has taught the entire Islamic and Quranic studies course to over a hundred young girls, this includes: Tajweed (elocution- referring to the rules governing pronunciation during recitation of the Quran), translation and interpretation of the Quran, Fiqh studies and Hadith studies. Furthermore, she teaches just as many adults and elders who want to correct their Tajweed and almost 50 of these students have already successfully completed recitation of the Quran with full Tajweed, mashaAllah. I have given this example to illustrate the points I mentioned earlier and to show that with correct teachings and correct methods/techniques, individuals of today’s society can learn, gain a sound knowledge of and inshaAllah practice Islam; a peaceful and obedient religion properly.

Whilst in this article I have brought to your attention the lack of respect shown for elders in today’s society, there are also other issues that today’s society is facing. To tackle such issues, it is important to go about it in the correct manner. I believe that when people within a local community start to work together with the younger generation, listen to each other and compromise (within reason), they can tackle any issue that they are faced with. It’s all about having a positive attitude and taking action towards dealing with important issues properly. But, first of all people should be willing to reach out to the society. What better place to start than the Islamic Education Centres and Mosques, for these are the places which form the foundations of a Muslim society. I respect the old, traditional methods and techniques which have been used for many years. I was taught the Quran via the traditional methods and I have a lot of respect for not only those involved in teaching me the Quran, but also for the institution (my local Mosque) that I attended. However, ten/fifteen years on, society has changed and we need to work with this rather than against it. Therefore, by Islamic Education Centres and Mosques adapting the traditional teaching methods and taking a more modern approach to the teaching methods/techniques, it will allow for a better understanding. Furthermore, in my opinion- as well as this benefiting today’s society, it will also allow us to be better prepared for future generations too.

Reminder: Whatever the situation- it is how you go about it that matters.

Team Fajr- Be in it to win it!

Salaams Everyone,

Hope you are all well! Thank you for stopping by my Blog. Follow my Blog: FaithIsWhereTheHeartIs – Type in your E-mail address & Click the ‘Follow’ button.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

• “The time for the Morning Prayer is from the arrival of dawn up until sunrise.” (Sahîh Muslim[173])
• “Offer the Morning Prayer in the light of the morning, for this is greater for your reward.”  (Sunan al-Tirmidhî [154])

 

Recently, I have been trying out some practical things to help stay in a regular routine for daily Fajr prayer. With the British Summer Time (BST) in full swing, Fajr prayer is now a lot earlier. I am personally an early riser and I love getting up early. That being said, there are days where after a very long and busy working day, I do sometimes need that extra bit of motivation to wake up super early- so that I can pray Fajr on time. I am sure many of you will relate to this.

Well, here I have some very useful practical tips for myself and for all of you to get us out of bed and ready for Fajr prayer. Put them into practise and pray Fajr on time! #TeamFajr

Five Practical Tips to Help Maintain a Daily Fajr Routine:

1. Download a copy of the Prayer Timetable – Save it on your phone & also print a copy of it and stick it on your Bedroom Door (or anywhere else you find suitable); proper preparation prevents poor performance.
   

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2. Each day make the intention from within your Heart to pray Fajr – This will allow you to remain disciplined and help you achieve your goal of praying Fajr daily.
   

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3. Go to sleep early – It will be easier to wake up early and you will wake up feeling fresh for Fajr.
   

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4. Set a daily alarm – Don’t snooze! There is a very good App called ‘Sleep Cycle’ (available on the App Store for FREE). “It is a bio-alarm clock that analyses your sleep patterns and wakes you when you are in the lightest sleep phase.” (http://www.sleepcycle.com)
   

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5.  Wake up in the right environment – Believe it or not but the way your room looks can affect your ability to wake up early. When you wake up to a clean room, just the sight of it can be energising and make you jump out of bed. Also, I highly recommend switching off your phone when you wake up in the morning to pray.
   

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So, who’s with me on this one? Let me know by using the hash-tag ‘TeamFajr’ in the comments box.

Reminder: The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

Self Belief and Belief in God- Be a Positive Individual.

Salaams Everyone,

Thank you for stopping by my Blog! I hope you all enjoy reading the Article I have written. Follow my Blog: FaithIsWhereTheHeartIs – Type in your E-mail address & Click the ‘Follow’ button.

Today, I am writing about POSITIVITY! I am personally a very positive person, MashaAllah and I always do my best to look on the bright side of things. Everyone has days which are better than other days, but how you deal with such days is what matters. I believe life is full of tests from Allah (SWT) and once we actually understand this, we begin to appreciate life. “Allah (SWT) does not burden any human being with more than he can bear.” (Quran- Al-Baqara, 2:286)

Life is full of challenges and you learn through experiences; I guess a life without challenges would be boring. I have learned some of the most important lessons, been tested to my limits, but still throughout my Imaan and Heart has continued to be strengthened and I have come through feeling blessed. Alhamdulillah. “Verily, with hardship there is relief.” (Quran, 94:6)

Self belief and belief in God; together these are the foundations of positivity. You have to strive towards your goals, dreams and life in general with a positive approach. Every day is a  new day and one should thrive towards each day with a positive attitude. You can run the day rather than the day run you.

• “That man can have nothing but what he strives for; That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight: Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete.” (Quran- An-Najm, 53:39-41)

Know what it is that you want to do in life, consider how you are going to go about doing it; the opportunities that you will pursue and then take action and make it happen. Be absolutely resilient in your determination in achieving your dreams. Having a positive attitude means you are already half-way there. I believe the best motivation comes from within. Always believe in yourself, do your best and place your trust in Allah (SWT).

An important factor which links in to everything mentioned above is a positive environment. For this you should consider the type of people that you associate yourself with. I personally don’t like negative people and I don’t associate with such people at all. Associate yourself with positive people, those who also believe in you. Surround yourself with people who are also ambitious and who like you are amongst the doers. So, I guess one should choose their friendships very wisely.

The people who matter are the ones that you support every step of the way and who support you every step of the way. These are the important people in your life. I believe sincere friendships are connected through the Heart and are never forgotten. Having sincere people is rare and a true blessing, don’t lose these precious people (be they family or friends). One should be thankful to Allah (SWT) and appreciate these people in your life. Be one to earn one.

Reminder: Don’t hesitate in your actions- have faith in the moment.