Tuesday 17 December 2013

Poem: Like moth to flame


The flag stands firm, before you O Hussain, 
It protects you from every harm and every pain, 
It stands firm and protects you O Hussain, 
For with loyalty we flock to you O Hussain. 

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain.

I look and weep for your tragedy is great, 
The others look at us with contempt and hate, 
They attack us and tell us Hell is your fate, 
We smile back and say, is not Ali standing on Heavens gate?

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain, 

When you were outnumbered and left alone, 
You wavered not, nor did you falter, 
For Allah's religion, everything you gave, 
I sit here and weep for O Hussain, my master Husain. 

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain, 


Fourteen Hundred years after your day, 
I sit and weep, people wondering if I am insane, 
I look at your day and wonder, 
Why on your day there is no thunder, 
Knowing the skies weep and heaven rents asunder, 

Like  moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain

We bring our children to you Hussain, 
Hoping they can serve your Mehdi in every way, 
For the battle began with You in Kerbala, 
but injustice will end with him, 
When he come to us, like the sunlight ray, 

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain

Bless us to continue serving you O Hussain, 
For Zahra prays for the one who serves you Hussain. 

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain.

For because of you, the earth receives rain, 
And all goodness does the earth retain, 
For the sacrifice you gave for Islam, 
The world echoes Allah's name. 

Like moth to flame, we flock to you O Hussain


Thursday 31 October 2013

Poem: Giving to Hussain

Give your life to Hussain, 
He'll see that you have no pain,  
A tear can cause a big change,
For with Hussain Allah says,
'For the one who gave everything in my name, 
Is it not fair that I do the same?' 
                  

Thus,  give your years and tears to Hussain, 
There is a guarantee it won't go in vain,
On the day of Mehshar at the mizan, 
You'll be tired but you'll be told ,
Enter heaven through Rizwan.
Because for him, everything you sold!



Thursday 5 September 2013

You are never alone


Ever wondered what makes me me? What makes her her and him him?

Ever wondered if we are all unique, why it is so difficult to find what makes me me?

Ever wondered if we are all unique, why do we have so many similarities? We have similar motivations, dreams, desires and drawbacks in life that pull us down?

A month ago, I attended a self-help empowerment seminar in Dar Es Salaam. During the course of the  event, we were all given a plank of wood. We were told to write down 3 things that we think are hindering our progress/growth. Something or even someone, who is chaining our ankles. There were more than 80 people in that room. And guess what? Everyone could write down 3 things that are hindering them. Some people, wrote in code/sign and others in a different language. However, evetone had minimum 1 drawback.

The weird thing was that a lot of people had similar drawbacks. Some wrote that their finances were a set back, some didn't have enough time to accomplish their goals, some mentioned that their family was not supportive and some mentioned that they themselves were hindering their progress.

So if you look around, we actually are more similar than we think. We all face similar challenges and similar dry runs.

If you ever despair and think you are alone in your trials or tribulations, fear not. There are many people before you who have gone through similar situations and remember, 'this too shall pass.'

Be blessed!

Thursday 22 August 2013

How much do we actually need? Kibaha experiences!

Approximately 2 months back, I went to an orphanage in Kibaha, just outside Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

It was a two week summer camp in which we had islamic lessons in the mornings and we volunteered in the evening and sometimes at nights.


We also went to see the nearby homes and orphan shelter. We went to one orphan shelter that was really heart breaking. In one room, there were several children - more than 10 sleeping; but according to people, that is 'normal,' but there was another thing that was even more heartbreaking - these children had no pillows to sleep on!! Isn't is sad how some of us live the most luxurious life and just two hours away from us there is someone who does not even have a pillow to sleep on?

This brings me to the main reason of this article, how much do we really need in life? I am talking about material possessions; how many pairs of clothes, shoes, cars, handbags do we 'need.' I am first talking to myself before I tell anyone else. This article is the realisation I had in Kibaha.

I brought with me 2 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of clothes, 5 scarves, 3 chaadhars, some toiletries and medicines, and my gadgets. I didn't take alot as I thought that it was near home. Incase I need something, It can either be sent to me or I can go pick it up..

The surprising thing was that I didn't need anything else. That was enough for me! I looked presentable daily with only so little! Realization upon realization dawned...

How much do you think you actually need?


Sunday 11 August 2013

QArabic Prophet Abraham L6 P3



Salaaam..

Hope you all are good and enjoying Eid! 

I was having a creative-mind mapping-block, and finally I got through it after months!! It feels great to get over that slump and finish one more QArabic Mind map! 

The words covered in this lesson are: Remember, We took, He chose, Upright, He was not, Truthful, Faith, She was, He named, and Nearest. Find the mindmap below:


Have a good day! 

Thursday 8 August 2013

Eid Greetings Video!!

Here's wishing all of you a Joyous and Prosperous Eid!! 





Enjoy the Biriyani!! 


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Poem: A month ago..


A month ago we received a guest, 
It came knocking at our door, 
10 days earlier than last year.
It brought with it countless blessings, mercy and love.
My days are numbered it said.
Lets have the best month we've ever had.
A  month passes and I  neglect the guest,
It turns around to leave as I realise my mistake, 
I look at the guest leaving with tears, 
Hoping that if life allows, 
We meet again Next year!  


Saturday 27 July 2013

Poem: 19th Night Moon...


I look up to see the moon, 
blazing with light, 
tonight is the night, 
it witnessed a tragedy, 
1400 years ago.

The moon laments, 
with its brilliant light, 
tomorrow, the ill-fated day, 
Where Ali shall be stuck,
And Zainab shall weep, 
All before tomorrow, twelve noon.

I am sure the moon crisply remembers, 
The commader of the faithful, 
Going to the masjid to Pray to his Lord, 
And always the first to follow God's rule,

The moon is thankful for the clouds, 
For it shall not see, 
The daughters of Zahra,
 weeping and lamenting, 

The moon shines bright again tonight, 
Trying to show the world with its little light, 
What it sees, from far above,
He sees my master shedding tears tonight, 
by remembering the oppression on his kinfolk, 
And praying for his Reappearance, 
so he can undo the wrongs
and establish on this Earty justice and equity! 
That is the hope of the believer, 
And good news for the one who hears! 

Wednesday 10 July 2013

A Gift for the Holy Month of Ramadhan!


To all my readers, I’d like to present a small gift through this article for the beginning of this holy month. This is something that I learnt in a recent series of Islamic lectures I attended at Wipahs, Kibaha in Dar Es Salaam. I would like to say a word about Dua. This is a word we hear often and its one of many relevant words of this holy Month.


This is the Month where Allah[swt] opens the doors of His mercy and His forgiveness. So much so that even breathing is considered as Glorification of Allah and Sleeping is considered worship!! This it the month where the Holy Quran was revealed. The month in which we ask Allah[swt] for our wants and needs.



With regards to Dua, we learn the method from Sahifa e Kamila in which there are many Duas and the Imam teaches us how to Ask Allah[swt]. The Imam[as] starts by praising Allah[swt] and mentioning the qualities of Allah[swt]. After praising Allah[swt], Imam mentions his own humility and his own nothingness infront of Allah[swt]. He then sends salutations on the Holy Prophet and his progeny. Now, he asks for his wants and desires by phrasing it in such a way that he is asking for the Duniya as well as the Akhirah. And then sends salutations to the Holy Prophet and his progeny whilst ending the supplication. 

The thing that struck me the most during these lectures was that How many of us ask Allah[swt] for things but not expecting to attain it? I know that I myself am guilty of this. For instance we ask Allah[swt] for things but then we apply logic and our own circumstances to the situation. For example I ask Allah[swt] for a Ferrari but in my heart I think that my pay is less and that I would have to save for 5 years to get a Ferrari or that my situation wont allow me to buy one! 

This mentality is incorrect when asking Allah[swt]. Some scholars say that Allah [swt] does not give us what we ask of HIM rather He gives us what we Expect of Him!! It is important to remember that we, Human beings are bounded by laws and Our Rabb, Our Lord can Do anything that He[swt] wills. Thus when we ask, We should remember to ask ONLY Him and remember that He is the only One who can give us what we desire and that He is not bounded by the laws - but the creator of those laws! Believe that He shall give and you will receive, Inshallah.

Finally, in this Holy Month when making Duas please remember my family and myself.

I pray that Your Duas are answered and you are enveloped in the mercy, grace and Love of Allah[swt]. 

Ma’salaam. 



Tuesday 9 July 2013

Poem: Things need to be defined.

As the years go by, 
and understanding dawns upon you, 
there comes a point, 
where you realise that
things need to be defined! 

Ask questions deep down to yourself, 
what it is that makes you care, 
And ways in which you can help,
by bring peace to a person or two, 
and making this world a better place, 
even by a word or two.

When you find that place, 
be grateful that you have found, 
clarity in a world
that is in a mess.


This poem was inspired by a question  I didn't know how to reply to!  

Friday 21 June 2013

Poem: Meeting Bahlool




I walk in the street, 

My head upwards in conceit, 

I look around to see, 
a man sitting beneath a gum tree, 
scruffy looking with torn clothes,
mumbling something under his nose, 
'For sale, For Sale, Here, for sale is Paradise'
I look around, and see no one in the shadows, 
As the sun continues to rise. 

He looks at me and says, 
'this is one chance, never to come again'
I think to myself, 'from this craziness I better abstain'
His name is Bahlool and he is know as majnun.

What will be the reaction to meeting Bahlool? 
A man who pretends to be crazy, 
On the orders from imam a ج, a command that is hazy, 
Yet he follows the orders to a T. 

I hear people calling him crazy, 
yet I know, he thinks of me the same way.
How you ask?  I am perfectly sane,
Bahlool would look at me and say, 
"Mahjabeen, you are crazy about the duniya again,
Is there a more delusional and destructive thing such as it?
Yet, they call me insane, unaware that this is the domain, 
Of God Almighty!  Where can I even begin to explain!"

I am once again dumbfounded by this realisation, 
That the world is but a temptation, 
blinded by it would lead nothing, 
and definitely not what people look for - liberation.



*The above poem was inspired by a recent majalis [religous social gathering] that I attended. 


Monday 10 June 2013

QArabic L6 P2 Prophet Abraham.


Salaaam..

Hope you all are good and enjoying the joys of life!!!

I am finally back to mind-mapping after an extra long vacation! 

The words covered in this lesson are: Those who submit, one who submits, covenant, prophets, father, they all followed, Jew, son, we gave, prophet, and Musa. Find the mindmap below:


Enjoy your week!! 

Saturday 18 May 2013

QArabic Prophet Abraham Lesson 6 Part 1


Salaam, 

Hope you enjoyed the last 5 lessons! 

Lesson 6 Part 1 is on Prophet Abraham and the words included are: Family, Exemplar, Good, Imran, Maryam, Isa, Christian, Hikmah, Home, Ibrahim and Adam. 

Since this lesson had many names, I found it a bit difficult to make a genral association for the names but I tried my best. I’d recommend you put your own pictures If you know any people with the same names. Although I know a few people with similar names, I don’t think they’d be very pleased to see their picture on the mindmap for public viewing.

Click on the link below Lesson 6 Part 1 on Prophet Abraham



Have a good day! 


PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by zestcube and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 

Sunday 12 May 2013

Quranic Arabic Prophethood L5 P3

Salaam Alaykum,

This is my last mindmap on Lesson 5. Also this is the last mindmap before the first test!

The words covered in this mindmap are clear evidences, He said, with, gives authority to, they/them, certain, they bought, we raised, we revealed, Be God wary, you all. 


Click on the link below to find the Mindmap of lesson 5 part 3 on Prophethood:


In this mindmap for 'He said' which is Qala in Arabic I have put a black dot as Kala means black in Hindi. Also for Certain I have put a picture of a curtain as they sound similar. 

May you be blessed. 



PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by myself and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 



Wednesday 8 May 2013

Quranic Arabic Prophethood L5 P2

Salaam,

The words covered in this mind map are witness, rebels, but, Nuh [as], book, Shuayb [as], messenger, trustworthy. 


Click on the link below to find the Mindmap of lesson 5 part 2 on Prophethood:




May you be blessed!





PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by myself and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 


Sunday 5 May 2013

Experience in Masjide Sahla, Iraq

Have you ever been to a place where there are too many people? 
So many people that you can’t even move an inch? 
Were you able to sit or stand there?

I have. 

I have been to Masjide Sahla1 on a Tuesday evening in Kufa, Iraq. There were so many people, that there was no place to say your compulsory prayers. I will narrate an incident and the thoughts the incident sparked within me in the Masjid.

We were looking for a place to pray. The Quranic recitation2 had begun and the women were being ushered into a different place for congregational prayers. We went from the courtyard to the back and then to the right. There was no place at all as there were women everywhere.
Finally after looking and looking for a place my mother and I found a spot to pray. What a mission it was! Upon sitting down my mother realized we forgot to bring our turbahs3. I went to get the turbahs. 

As I was returning to my spot I saw a lady advance towards my spot and I immediately thought that she was intending to sit there. I almost sprinted back to my place and sat down just as she was trying to pass through. Upon looking up I realized that it was a familiar face of a lady I had met in London. I greeted her and we finished our prayers in ease! Alhamdulillah!

After this incident, I was struck by a few thoughts. Imagine what will happen to us on the Day Of Judgement when no soul will avail another and the “the day when the guilty will wish to redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, and the near of kin who gave him shelter and all those that are in the earth (wising) that this might deliver him. By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire, dragging by the head (70; 11; 16)” {munajat Imam Ali (as)}

The narrations tell us that each day will be equivalent to 50,000 years and the sun will be above the head at a spearhead’s length. The heat will be unbearable, the earth will be burning hot and nothing except ones good deeds will be of value. 

These kind of thoughts were mushed up in my head while I was at the Masjid and I thought, I am in the world, where there are so many provisions, conveniences and people to share my grief and plight with. Yet we fight, push, be greedy and don’t play fair in life’s trials and ways - even in the mosques! Its scary to imagine what we do outside the mosques and even scarier to think about the day of Judgement.  

“O ye people, guard yourselves (against the wrath of) your Lord, and fear the day when a father shall not avail of his son, nor the child shall avail of father; verily, the promise of Allah is true, so let not the life of the world beguile you, nor let the deceiver beguile you concerning Allah. Verily Allah is He with whom is the knowledge of the Hour; and He sends down the rain, and knows He what is in the wombs; and knows no soul what he shall earn tomorrow (i.e., what will happen to him tomorrow); and knows no soul in what land he shall die. Verily, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware.” (Qur’an, 34:33-34)


Now imagine the opposite group of people who get their deed scroll on their right hand and are those who believe, do good deeds, stand with the truth and are patient. (Holy Quran-Sura Asr: 3)

And those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord shall be conveyed to the garden in companies; until when they come to it, and its doors shall be opened, and the keepers of it shall say to them: Peace be on you, you shall be happy; therefore enter it to abide.
And they shall say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, and He has made us inherit the land; we may abide in the garden where we please; so goodly is the reward of the workers.” Sura Zumar [73-74]


We pray to Allah to give us the ‘tawfeeq’4 to be of the second group of people.


Footnotes: 
1. Masjide Sahla: A mosque in Kufa, Iraq. 
2. Quraanic recitation: In some mosques there is a 10 minute Quranic recitation before the call for prayers begin. 
3. Turbahs:  A piece  of sand clay that the shia’s prostrate upon.
4. Tawfeeq: The blessing and opportunity from God to do good.


Friday 3 May 2013

Quranic Arabic Prophethood L5 P1

Salaam,


The words covered in this mind map are keep away you all, nation, obey you all, when, we sent, warn, brother. 


Click on the link below to find the Mindmap of lesson 5 part 1 on Prophethood:



May you be blessed!



PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by myself and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 

Friday 26 April 2013

Worship of Allah L4 P2


Salaam Alaykum, 

Hope you all are well and can enjoy a glass of clean water. There are millions of people who don't even have that opportunity. Lets take a moment to say our thanks for such a simple but wonderful blessing!!

I finally finished Lesson 4 Part 2!!! :)

This mind map covers the words We seek help, we/us, We worship, guidance, with, you guide, repent you all, seek forgiveness you all, those who believed. 


Click on the link below to find the Mindmap of lesson 4 part 2 on the Worship of Allah [swt]:


May you be blessed.



 PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by myself and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Quranic Arabic Worship of Allah L4 P1

Salaam Alaykum,

Hope you all are well and enjoying studying Arabic!

I have been having the feeling that I am relying too much on pictures from the internet. This time I attempted to hand draw some of the pictures and use some of my own photos! :)

This mind map covers the words Only you, upon/over, peace, sunset, apostles, sunrise, glorify, so/so then, you.

Click on the link below to find the Mindmap of lesson 4 part 1 on the Worship of Allah [swt]:


May you be blessed.




 PS: No copy right intended. All mind maps are created by myself and any usage is ONLY for educational purposes. It must not be used or distributed for any other purposes. If there is a photo that has your copy right on it, kindly contact me and I will remove it from the website. 

Sunday 21 April 2013

Kerbala Poem

Salaaam Alaykum,

I had been blessed to go to Kerbala last month. Whilst thinking about Kerbala, I wrote the following small poem before my trip;


Kerbala

An oasis of hope in the desert of despair
A bowl of warm rice to the starving man
A chair to the man tired of walking
Serenity to the one who is worried
Love for the One who is full of hatred
Contentment to the  one who is greedy
 Home to the lovers Of Ahlulbayt
 You still ask me what is Kerbala?
 It Is ALL this And so much more! 
 My words fail to Express the  Heaven that is  Kerbala.
To those that have been yearn to go again, 
To those that havent been, they desire to go to Kerbala
A place so sacred that only one who is called can go, 
A place where one man sacrificed his life and the life of his dear ones, 
all for his Lord. 
In its rawest form, Kerbala is LOVE  Manifested in the highest manner.
For me, Kerbala is just that: LOVE!! <3

May you be blessed!