#long before I started reading Quran regularly

[runawaycarouselhorse]

"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His light1 is like a niche in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, the crystal is like a shining star, lit from ˹the oil of˺ a blessed olive tree, ˹located˺ neither to the east nor the west,2 whose oil would almost glow, even without being touched by fire. Light upon light! Allah guides whoever He wills to His light. And Allah sets forth parables for humanity. For Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things."

[teaching-arabic-language]

HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE BEFORE YOU LEARNING ARABIC?

Learning Arabic is a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and moments of discovery. Whether you’re just starting or already on your way, the question of how long it takes to learn Arabic is one that often weighs on the minds of aspiring learners. In this article, we’ll delve into the factors that influence the time it takes to master Arabic and share insights from learners who’ve embarked on this linguistic adventure.

The Variable Nature of Language Learning

Learning a language is not a one-size-fits-all journey; it varies greatly from person to person. Factors such as prior language experience, study intensity, motivation, and learning environment all play significant roles in determining how long it takes to learn Arabic.

Prior Language Experience

Individuals with prior experience learning languages, especially those with similarities to Arabic, may find it easier to grasp Arabic concepts and structures. Familiarity with grammatical concepts and language learning strategies can expedite the Arabic learning process.

Intensity of Study

The amount of time and effort devoted to studying Arabic directly impacts learning speed. Intensive study programs or daily immersion experiences can accelerate language acquisition, while sporadic or infrequent study habits may prolong the learning process.

Motivation and Commitment

Motivation and commitment are key drivers of language learning success. Learners who are passionate about Arabic language and culture, set clear goals, and maintain consistency in their study habits are more likely to progress quickly and effectively.

Learning Environment

The learning environment significantly influences language learning outcomes. Immersive environments where Arabic is spoken regularly provide ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement, whereas limited exposure to Arabic-speaking contexts may slow progress.

Resources and Learning Methods

The choice of learning resources and methods can impact learning efficiency. Utilizing a combination of textbooks, online courses, language learning apps, and immersive experiences tailored to individual learning styles can enhance comprehension and retention.

Language Proficiency Goals

The desired level of language proficiency also influences Learning Arabic duration. Basic conversational fluency may be achievable within a few months of dedicated study, while achieving advanced proficiency or mastery of Arabic may require several years of sustained effort.

Individual Learning Pace

Every learner has a unique learning pace influenced by factors such as cognitive abilities, aptitude for language learning, and personal preferences. Some individuals may progress rapidly through Arabic proficiency levels, while others may require more time and practice to achieve similar milestones.

Real-Life Application of Skills

Regular practice and application of Arabic language skills in real-life situations, such as conversations with native speakers, reading authentic texts, and watching Arabic media, reinforce learning and accelerate language acquisition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the time it takes to learn Arabic varies widely depending on individual factors and circumstances. While some learners may achieve fluency in a relatively short period, others may require more time and effort to reach their language learning goals. Regardless of the timeline, the journey of learning Arabic is a rewarding experience filled with opportunities for personal growth, cultural enrichment, and global communication.

About Author: Mr.Mahmoud Reda

Meet Mahmoud Reda, a seasoned Arabic language tutor with a wealth of experience spanning over a decade. Specializing in teaching Arabic and Quran to non-native speakers, Mahmoud has earned a reputation for his exceptional expertise and dedication to his students' success.

Mahmoud's educational journey led him to graduate from the renowned "Arabic Language" College at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Holding the esteemed title of Hafiz and possessing Igaza, Mahmoud's qualifications underscore his deep understanding and mastery of the Arabic language.

Born and raised in Egypt, Mahmoud's cultural background infuses his teaching approach with authenticity and passion. His lifelong love for Arabic makes him a natural educator, effortlessly connecting with learners from diverse backgrounds.

What sets Mahmoud apart is his native proficiency in Egyptian Arabic, ensuring clear and concise language instruction. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Mahmoud customizes lessons to cater to individual learning styles, making the journey to fluency both engaging and effective.

Ready to embark on your Arabic learning journey? Connect with Mahmoud Reda at ustazmahmoud184@gmail.com for online Arabic and Quran lessons. Start your exploration of the language today and unlock a world of opportunities with Mahmoud as your trusted guide.

In conclusion, Mahmoud Reda's expertise and passion make him the ideal mentor for anyone seeking to master Arabic. With his guidance, language learning becomes an enriching experience, empowering students to communicate with confidence and fluency. Don't miss the chance to learn from Mahmoud Reda and discover the beauty of the Arabic language.

[islamicrays]

On YouTube, there are tons of "beauty gurus" who post videos about makeup application, hair styling, beauty accessories, and fashion.

I personally know a lot of young girls who watch these makeup tutorials and follow specific "favorite" beauty gurus. After years of being avid subscribers to their channels, these young teens and pre-teens get attached to these big personalities who are YouTube celebrities. Not only do the kids learn how to apply foundation and eye shadow from these beauty gurus, but they also learn about and admire the lifestyle of the "influencer."

Yesterday, I looked up the top 10 beauty channels on YouTube, out of curiosity. Which content creators are the most popular and what kind of subscriber counts do they have?

My heart sank when I found the answers to my questions.

Out of the top ten beauty Youtubers, five are gay men!

1. Louie's Life: 24.6 million subscribers

2. James Charles: 22.1 million subscribers

3. Jeffree Star: 17.2 million subscribers

4. Manny Mua: 4.85 million subscribers

5. Wayne Goss: 3.8 million subscribers

Jeffree Star has a net worth of $200 million. In addition to being one of the highest-paid YouTube stars on the planet, he oversees a cosmetic empire called Jeffree Star Cosmetics that is the source of the majority of his fortune today. When he was 6 years old, his father committed suicide and he was raised by his single mother, who was a model.

Louie, the creator of the YouTube channel Louie's Life, has an estimated net worth of $500,000. His number-one most popular video, with over 5 million views, is about how he lost his virginity.

James Charles is the number-one highest paid beauty Youtuber today, male or female. This 21-year-old flamboyant gay man makes more money showing young kids how to do makeup than any woman. He has a net worth of $22 million, and his videos have gotten a total of 2.6 billion views (yes, billion with a b). He refers in his videos and posts to his audience as his "sisters."

In 2018, James Charles released an eyeshadow palette in collaboration with Morphe Cosmetics. At its initial drop on November 14, 2018, the palette sold out fully in Europe in less than 6 minutes.

He was also accused of predatory behavior and of grooming young boys for homosexual behavior.

These people are called social influencers for a reason. They don't just teach makeup. They teach and glamorize and sanitize their haram life styles. They give kids life advice and disclose stories about personal experiences and encounters. They normalize degenerate behavior and desensitize kids to major sins.

How do we protect our kids from these dangers?

By talking to them. Regularly.

By connecting with them. Genuinely.

By being fully aware of *exactly* what kind of stuff our kids are watching, reading, and generally limiting the online content they consume.

How do we talk to our kids about this issue of LGBTQ?

We have to set the record straight for our kids. Now that we know what we are up against, how the mainstream narrative glamorizes homosexuality and how cultural trends prop up these gay influencers, we have to show our kids the reality.

What does Allah say about this "lifestyle"?

Tell your kids the story of Lut, عليه السلام. He was a beautiful prophet sent by Allah to his people who had fallen into a bizarre and repugnant sin: the men were attracted to other men and engaged in inappropriate acts with them.

إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ.

"Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people." (Surat Al-A`raf, 81)

(If your kids are younger and don't understand the concept of "desire" or "attraction," use the concept of marriage. Kids instinctively know that in a marriage, there is a man and a woman. They see that in a family, there is a Mama and a Baba.)

When Lut عليه السلام told them to stop this terrible sin, these people ignored him, then mocked him, then started threatening to kick him out of their town. They even tried to harm and physically assault the angels who came to visit prophet Lut عليه السلام! Crime after crime after crime.

So Allah destroyed their entire town, turning the whole thing upside down.

Nothing was left except rubble.

Before the destruction of the town, Allah commanded prophet Lut to leave with his family so they would be saved.

The family all left and were safe. Except for Prophet Lut's wife! She was destroyed too.

Why?

Because she liked these gay men and agreed with their sin and saw nothing wrong with it. She went along with their crimes and so she was punished along with them.

So we learn from the Quran that there are TWO sins:

1. Practicing homosexual acts

And

2. Approving of, liking, or being "okay" with homosexual acts

Both are sins. BOTH.

Unfortunately, the modern world live in has deceived even Muslims about this sin. What these famous Muslims fail to understand is that there isn't just *one* sin (engaging in homosexual acts). There's a second sin: normalizing, accepting, confirming, or in staying silent about this sin.

Some famous Muslim politicians and activists, like Ilhan Omar and Linda Sarsour, dance with trannies and attend gay-pride rallies and teach Muslims to support gays.

Some big-name, well-funded "Islamic institutes" publish long essays trying to convince Muslims to "affirm and advocate many LGBTQ rights."

Some Muslim celeb speakers and duat encourage Muslims to attend social justice events and protests alongside LGBTQ activists and to work hand-in-hand with them.

Teach your kids not to do any of this.

Protect your kids.

-Umm Khalid

[mdashfakfaysal-blog]

[True Story] The Cry of Granada: A Letter to the Christian King

Welcome to another article from the ‘History Unveiled’ series. Today we are going to discuss one of the most emotional parts of Islamic History — Spain. Yeah, the Spain which we built for over 700 years isn’t ours for a long time. That is not the main sorrow. The main fact is that what happened to the Muslims of Spain after the rule of Muslims came to an end there. No Muslim sources or websites are seen to be active on this issue, so I have taken the responsibility of bringing the cruel and heart-breaking truths of Muslims and Islam in this series.

After the fall of the Muslim regime, the Muslims there were turned into Christians forcibly (Uyghur Muslims are a present example of oppression, but they are not alone!). But the ruling Christians didn’t stop after that. They started calling the converted Muslims with a new name ‘Morisco’ to separate them from the classical Christians. What a double standard! On one hand, you claim to be the most civilized, on the other, even after being Christians, you don’t provide the converts with proper facilities only because you fear that they are actually Muslims by heart? Allahu Akbar! But the situation even got worse. These converted Christians, who were Muslims even two days before, their culture was identical to that of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. The reason was that many of the Spanish Muslims were successors of the Muslims of those countries, another reason was there — the same religion ‘Islam’.

He thought that this aspect of the cultural dominance of Islam over the Moriscos would be a barrier for Spain and decided to remove Islam completely. He stopped the use of the Arabic Language and its education in 1567 AD. Besides, he ordered a royal decree forbidding the use of Muslim clothes, Hijab, and declared anyone not complying with the order as punishable. It is the incident of about a century later of taking Spain from Muslims. And it was seriously the biggest attack!

In such a situation, the Moriscos sent an application to the chief justice of Granada ‘Pedro De Deja’ through ‘Francisco Nunez Muley’, their leader who was also a Morisco.

Sir, when the people of this area were made Christian according to the command of the emperor, there was no mention of changing the culture/dress/way of living of the citizens here in the agreement signed with Ameer Abu Abdullah of Granada. Today, we are being oppressed to the utmost by telling us to stop practicing our culture. The government is telling that our women dress as Muslims. No, they don’t. it is our cultural heritage to wear Ghagra, Long Abayah. If you see at our neighboring Christians you will see the same thing. They don’t create a problem, only we do? For further proof look at the city of Fez (now changed name) and Tlemcen, they are too close yet different in clothing. These are our cultural basis, not Islamic basis by any means. Also, the clothing of Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco are all cultural dresses. We get Christian Priests from Egypt and Syria as guests regularly. But they also wear long clothes. They also speak in Arabic. Isn’t that a problem? Our women get their wedding dress from their grand grand grandparents. What will be the benefit of the government by stopping the mills from producing these clothes? The industry of our traditional clothing is made by spending3 million gold coins. What will be the benefit of the government by destroying it? Rather if the women are told to change their clothes within nights, the government will face a great loss and a loss of treasury. Our dance, our songs, our drinks are never the same as that of a particular (Muslim) community. If it would be so, the other parts of the world would also practice the same thing. Mehedi is also not linked with being Muslim. Rather, our women use Mehdi as a means of keeping healthy and keeping hair beautiful.What will the state acquire by ordering us to open our doors and keep them open all the time? It will only increase violence against women and increase the incidents of rape, theft, robbery. If someone wants, can’t he practice Islam in the darkest of the night? Who will see him then? Andif Islam remains in someone’s mind and heart even after all these things, who can remove Islam from him? Again, what is the fault of our washrooms (Hammams)? These are also visited by other native Christians! And the prayer of Muslims requires purity whereas the Hammams are always filthy. So, why is the state shutting down the Hammams? Our women are told to keep their face open. This will only increase the incidents of lust, illicit sex and the spread of vices in the state. For us,the biggest sorrow is to lose our mother tongue — Arabic. It is not an Islamic thing at all solely. Rather, we have been brought up here speaking Arabic and many people who are native Christians speak Arabic too. They are not a problem, only we are? The deadliest criminals of Africa are also given the facility of speaking in their native language. Why refuse us then? I wrote this application with no anger or complaint. I have been serving God, His Majesty, and the countrymen for over 60 years and shall continue to doing so. So, I only have this request to His Majesty that he will accept this application and give the Moriscos the opportunity to serve the nation and the emperor.

He didn’t accept the request of the so-called ‘Moriscos’ as they were not considered as true citizens. As a result, after three years, there were no doors in the Moriscos’ houses. They could not wear Hijab, nor speak in Arabic. Teaching Arabic was forbidden. Let alone any copy of the Quran, no Arabic book was permitted. Their loons were shut down. Their Hammams didn’t have any doors as any Muslim could actually pray in the bathroom if the door is closed (?!). The Moriscos girls were made to marry the Christians forcibly with the order of King without the consent of the girl and her family.

And only within half a century, the smell of Islam also went missing from the whole of Spain.

What didn’t we, the Muslims do to make Spain one of the best places in science and technology and trade and business in 700 years? Yet, Azaan was forbidden to be given publicly in Spain until recent Coronavirus Pandemic. The authority thought of getting a change now, huh??? But actually, no one cares. You, yes you! The person reading this post, and me, the writer, are actually the same. We both are doing nothing. One is writing the stories of failure while another is reading them and jumping off to another blog or website. Aren’t we Muslims the savior of the world? Aren’t we supposed to be the best in the nation? Where are we then? Where is a Khalid bin Walid? Show me! Never mind. We lack the quality to be called a Muslim.

And Allah knows the best.

Originally published at https://proceedingtowardstruth.blogspot.com on April 12, 2020.

[with-her-qalam]

Sunnah Of Pregnancy

Having children is one of the blessings of Allah. God provides us all with different rizq (well-being), health and off springs. All of these things are gifts from God and we should be grateful for what we are given and never complain for what we don't have. 

It is sunnah to announce the birth of the child once the baby arrives but till that moment below are some beneficial practices for you and your child in sha Allah. KEEP IT PRIVATE If you are expecting a baby, keep thanking God for this gift and keep it private among close relatives. There is a general principle which should be paid attention to when telling others of blessings. The news should be given only to those who wish good for you and will rejoice over it, so as to ward off the evil eye and destructive envy (hasad). The evidence for that is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Be discreet in order to achieve what you want, for everyone who is blessed is envied.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani and Abu Nu’aym; classed as sahaah by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 943.

BE THANKFUL Be thankful to Allah for having chosen you for such a gift. The first trimester is hard for some women who suffer from nausea (morning sickness) and weakness; and the last weeks of pregnancy are exhausting: Allah says in the Quran: “…His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness…” (Surah Luqman:14) “…His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship…” (Surah al-Aĥqaf:15) - even then, keep thanking Allah and believe that He will never burden you more than you can bear! He is indeed the best of planners and knows what is best for us!

FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MOTHER OF MARYAM

What a blessed mother was she who gave birth to Maryam! So why not follow her footsteps and make the same dua (supplication) she did when she was expecting as narrated in the Quran: “[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran said: My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Surah Aal Imran: 35) With this dua, renew your intention every day that this baby would be a pious servant of Allah. Insha’Allah your intentions and prayers will have a positive effect in creating an innate bond between your child and the deen (religion) of Allah!

WHEN RUH (SOUL) ENTERS YOUR BABY

It is narrated in a hadith by the Prophet (sa) that: “Each one of you is constituted in the womb of the mother for forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him…” (Bukhari) Based on this hadith, jurists have inferred that the soul enters the fetus at around 4 months/120 days after gestation, that is, the second trimester. As you enter your second trimester, make frequent dua to Allah to pre-ordain for your baby a life of unwavering faith. RECITE THE QURAN FOR YOUR BABY Around the 20th week, the baby in the womb gains the ability to hear. This is a great time to create a one-on-one, exclusive bond with your unborn baby by reciting the Quran every day. The sound waves of your voice will reach your baby and what better words than the melodious Quran for your baby to hear and get familiar with. Give your child a head start in creating a relationship and bond with the Quran even before he comes in this world. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child!

DUAS As for the acts of worship that the pregnant woman can do, they are all the acts of worship that the Muslim does by day and by night, such as praying, fasting (so long as there is no fear of harm), giving charity, reading Qur’aan, regularly reciting the adhkaar that are prescribed in sharee‘ah, treating people kindly, visiting relatives, taking stock of oneself, and striving to attain the best attitudes, actions and words. AVOID BIDAH There are many fabricated duas, hadith and practices for pregnant women . Stay away from any innovation and always refer to the Quran and Sunnah. Sahaba women in time of Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do anything special rather then taking care of themselves and their unborn child and doing regular worldly and religious duties. FOOD AND FITNESS Meditation through prayer: Many people will guide you towards yoga and meditation, which are a great way to relax your overworked body. However remember that prayer is the best form of meditation and it will calm you and soothe your baby as well. Keep checking in with Allah: Stay connected with Allah and talk to Him about your fears and difficulties. Make istikharah (guidance prayer) for all decisions, especially when choosing your doctor and your delivery options. Ask Allah to grant you a safe delivery, a righteous child, and an easy transition into motherhood. Avail the maternity leave Allah has given, if needed: The Prophet (sa) said: “Allah has relieved the traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).” (Sunan an-Nasa’i; reliable) If you feel that you are unable to fast due to weakness or any other complication, you can leave your fast without any worry. However do remember to mark it somewhere so that you don’t forget to make it up later. Eat beneficial foods: Add honey, milk, figs, and dates to your diet as all of these have been mentioned in the Quran or the hadith for their benefits. May Allah make your pregnancy easy, and grant you a pious child who will be sadaqah-e-jariah (continuous charity) for you. Ameen.

Taken from the Blog of AnnaHariri

[automatismoateo]

I'm Muhammad, Servant of Allah. Here is my story. via /r/atheism

Submitted August 20, 2021 at 04:36AM by Phoney9 (Via reddit https://ift.tt/3mhhppG) I'm Muhammad, Servant of Allah. Here is my story.

Hello,

My name is Muhammad (32M). I grew up as a Sunni Muslim believing in Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad for the last 31 years of my life. Growing up, I went to the mosque with my father who is a devout Sunni, I studied the Quran and Hadith and learned to read Arabic. I prayed regularly, not 5 times a day but close to it. Certain times I would stray off course and miss a month or two of prayers. I fasted, I gave zakat, I slaughtered goats and cows for Allah, ate halal food, avoid sins as defined by Allah, I read over 10k+ hadith, read the Quran in both Arabic and English multiple times, I submitted myself to Allah, and whatever came along with being a liberal devout Muslim these days.

I remember always questioning the validity of Hadiths and why we should follow them when they were recorded 300 years after Muhammad died. Also, I could not make sense of this Abu Huraira character who has super memory, and has narrated thousands of Hadiths when he spent only 3 or 4 years with Muhammad while others who spent 20+ years with Muhammad narrated significantly less hadith (few hundred on average or less). Using reasoning, I could not make sense of some of the things I was reading, ie. Dogs are filthy animals. I could not understand why God would restrict loving such a friendly creature. When I asked my parents, they referred my questions to Mullah’s and Scholars. I did reach out and I found their logic to be as sharp as a 5 year old’s. Anyways, I stopped following Hadith all together when I uncovered that Abu Huraira was a fraud and Umar (Khalifa of islam at the time) removed him from the Governors office after realizing Abu Huraira had built up a massive fortune. ( https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/366526/incident-between-umar-and-abu-hurayrah-about-public-money) are many reports of Abu Huraira selling Hadith for profit and gaining popularity amongst the just because he was a companion of Muhammad. Anyway, you can study this stuff on your own, he was a corrupt individual in my opinion (https://www.islamic-laws.com/sunnihadithcor.htm). When I ask people what proof do we have that the Hadith aren’t all lies, I usually get the response of that Companions were the “BEST” people, chosen by Allah who could not be corrupted like Jesus’s companions (something along those lines). Scholars also provide these arguments that everything in the Hadiths are “Sahih” and can be traced back to the original narrator. Bukhari (Islamic Scholar) went through all the Hadith and kept only the Authentic ones a few hundred years after Muhammad died. Anyways, I don’t doubt the hadith are authentic – I just don’t believe in what it preaches. Splitting the Moon in Half, Muhammad spitting on companions eyes and curing him – FYI Humans cant do stuff like this.

I studied the Quran knowing that this was the word of God, the creator of all that exists in the heavens and the earth. I did not question the authority and authenticity of the Quran till last year when I really sat down and questioned if the Quran was a divine revelation from God. My research has led me to confirm all that I knew and doubted about Islam – The Religion in Summary is created by Muhammad, who was not divine in anyway, shape or form. What changed my mind was this book: “Islam Dismantled: The Mental Illness of Muhammad” by Sujit Das. It explains everything clearly using references from Hadith and Quran as a tool to analyze the personality of Muhammad. It cleared my mind and freed me from the Slavery of Islam. I’m beginning to realize what a brainwash religion is. How did we get to this point where we have 2 Billion Muslims? If you look at the Taliban today, they are the truest form of what a Muslim should be in accordance with what Muhammad preached. I say this after studying Islam for 15 years. You can argue this any way you want but if you read the Quran and Hadith and you follow it teeth and nail, the Taliban is the outcome. All other branches of Islam are not following in Muhammad's footsteps.

Here are some fun Facts I learned:

Where did “Allah” Come From? Allah was the Lunar Deity for Pagan Arabs. Muhammad wanted to attract followers so he chose a popular God and went with the flow. Allah was a statue and an Idol. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah_as_a_lunar_deity#:~:text=The%20postulation%20that%20Allah%20(the,in%20early%2020th%2Dcentury%20scholarship.

The Quran, as many know, is not arranged in the order in which it is arranged today. Surah 2 was not the second Surah revealed to Muhammad. Anyways, Allah was first mentioned in the 22nd Surah revealed to Muhammad (Surah Iklas). I wonder what took so long for Muhammad to realize he was talking to Allah – had Allah not introduced himself from the very beginning. Don’t you wonder why every Surah in the Quran has the added phrase “Bismillah” or “In the Name of Allah” and how the Surahs were all rearranged. Before Allah, he addressed him by “Raab” or Lord.

Surah Anfal – 1: “They Ask you about the bounties. Say, “The bounties are for God and the Messenger.” So be mindful of God, and settle your differences, and obey God and His Messenger, if you are believers. – Asked myself this: What would Allah possibly do with the bounties? Many people know Muhammad to be a poor and humble man when in all actuality, he was wealthy and there have been reports of his wives/family/Khalifas fighting over his wealth which he left behind. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_Muhammad%27s_inheritance

Any description of Paradise is Green, gardens in which rivers flow, trees, fruits, wine. Well guess what, how else would you convince a group of people in a DESERT to join your band wagon.

Quran has many verses regarding orphans. Reason: Muhammad was an orphan himself so of course Allah will love those who care for the orphans.

Muhammad hated his mother who abandoned him at a young age and left him with his uncle who raised him. Here's the Hadith: "Abu Hurayra says: “The prophet (pbuh) went to the grave of his mother and wept and so those around him also wept. So the prophet (pbuh) said: “I asked permission from my Lord to ask for forgiveness for her but the permission was not given to me, so I asked permission to visit her grave and this permission was given to me, so visit graves since it is a reminder of death" --- What God will tell you that you can't pray for your mother? This shows how much he hated her to a point where he says Allah told him not to pray for her

Here is a great resource and the best type of Tafseer for those Muslims who truly want to learn about their religion and Quran - seriously, read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/oyx370/bible_quran_stats_courtesy_of_skeptics_annotated/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Muhammad was an idol worshipper. He grew up in a pagan tribe. It wasn't till late in the game he started going the monotheistic route to get some attention. https://youtu.be/ZCMk_fTNryk

Muhammad was under Khadijas control (his 40 year old wife). He could not mess around while she was alive because she was wealthy and powerful. After Khadija died, Muhammad got a bunch of Money from her and became horny and started marrying anyone he wanted. Here's proof - notice the dates: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad%27s_wives

The language of the Quran drastically changes, going from short, one line poems to commands given to his followers in great detail. Compare the last Surahs in the back of the Quran - they put these in the back for a reason. The Surahs revealed when Muhammad rose to power are the ones they kept in the front to control his followers. He obviously hired people to write for him. Any writing expert can tell you this by analyzing the Quran. Did Allah not know how to instruct Muhammad in detail during his early years?

What Creator could instruct you to kill disbelievers where they stand.

Why in the Quran do you have Ayats/verses that tell you stuff like: People who desire this life are the Kafirs, the believers prefer the after life and heaven. Stuff like that would be told none other by a typical cult leader to get his followers to do Jihad in his name and not have to worry about death. This is how Islam rapidly expanded. Suicide bombers is just a part of being Muslim. We need to sacrifice ourselves and do Jihad for Muhammad and Allah. Over the years, the word Jihad has been changed to the word Struggle or striving for the cause of Allah and used in a much liberal sense. Myself and Muhammad and Allah disagree with your liberal Islamic definitions.

No Muslim can question the authenticity of the Quran or Muhammad and his authority. To that I say, Why not?

I can list another 10,000 bullets on what's wrong with Islam. I have enough in my head to write a book about this topic.

FYI - I'm a Quality Analyst by profession. I find bugs in complex software systems and I do a pretty good job at it. I tested religion and all my test cases failed - it's essential that I report these bugs to the world so we can fix them. We are all Developers who have the ability to fix these defects.

I am Muhammad, and I am a Servant to the Moon God, Allah. He's bright, round, makes me happy when I look at him, protects me from asteroids and comets, creates beautiful waves in the ocean, and doesn't ask for a fucking thing in return.

TL;DR: My journey out of Islam, reasons why I left, and my Rants at the bottom.

[theguywiththesixthsense-blog]

shaheer 2.0

This step was supposed to be taken quite a while back actually, back when 2018 first started, but then delays started one after the other and i kept putting it off. First delay’s were the fact that i had exams so i thought to myself let this exam end then I’ll start off fresh. Second delay was quite strange it was this sudden flush of a couple of feelings right before my birthday, i have been wanting a PC ever since i learned about PCs during my pre-teen years and a couple of a days before my birthday i have no idea why my brain decided to convince me that since i haven’t really asked anything from my parents in 3 years if i ask for 2000 SAR, they will definitely buy it for me. Deep inside i knew i was wrong though and there’s just no way that will ever happen so while being overwhelmed with the joy and hope of finally having a PC, i had to prepare myself in advance and i had to give myself time to come to realization of what reality is and then i had to give myself time to recover from that stab in the heart after the realization hit so that took up around 2 weeks or so and then i had another exam so here i am now.

If I don’t pull myself out of this shit hole i have dug myself into, nothing will. As simple as that sentence sounds, it has been years since i’ve been trying to grasp that concept and make it a reality but yeah easier said than done, but now I decided to take a stand against myself to give myself a chance to come back. So this post would mark day 1 of my attempt to redeem myself and get back to the shaheer 4 years ago who had his life figured out.

I was never a fan of letting everyone know what i plan to do because most of the time it kinda backfires but i’ll consider this post as a journal sort of thing i guess. I want to be able to stay motivated long enough to see some changes in my life so i’ll start off with small simple changes in habbit and lifestyle, and to list a few would be

1) First and foremost go to the mosque whenever possible for every salah

2) Read atleast one page of Quran with translation every day, I want explore the vast density of knowledge hidden in the Quran

3) Get 60 minutes of treadmill in my days. Preferably right after i get home from uni which is around 12 pm everyday. That’s when only mom remains at home which means least no. of judgemental people to deal with.

4) Maintain a clean look as much as possible as in go to the barber on time regularly and not let shit get out of hand.

5) Make my room aesthetically pleasing so that it’s satisfying to just stay in my room. Now this requires a lot of work actually but yeah i plan to get there slowly.

6) Learn a new skill and develop it until i feel like i’ve hit perfection. This includes stuff like photography and editing, building a sweet instagram portfolio which a huge fan base, communication skills and stuff like that

7) start using a journal to write down stuff, like goals for each day, week, month and stuff

8) Most important one of all, learn to love myself and respect myself for who i am and not give a shit about what others think of me, I’ve had enough. When i am on my deathbed I want to be able to tell myself that i gave myself a chance and that i didn’t just spend my entire life trying to please other people.

Right now i can’t think of anything else but i’ll be regularly posting my journal entries hopefully inshaAllah.

[yourfaveisaflawedhumanbeing]

“I walk into a store. There's a woman shopping in the store that I can clearly identify as Muslim. In some scenarios she's standing behind the cash register tallying up totals and returning change to customers. She's wearing a headscarf. It's tightly fastened under her face where her head meets her neck. Arms covered to the wrists. Ankles modestly hidden behind loose fitting pants or a long, flowy dress. She's Muslim. I know it. Everyone around her knows it. I stare at her briefly and think to myself, "She can't tell if I'm staring at her because I think she is a spectacle or because I recognize something we share."

I realize this must make her uncomfortable, so I look away. I want to say something, something that indicates I'm not staring because I'm not familiar with how she chooses to cover herself. Something that indicates that my mother dresses like her. That I grew up in an Arab state touching the Persian Gulf where the majority dresses like her. That I also face East and recite Quran when I pray."

Should I greet her with A'salamu alaikum?" I ask myself. Then I look at what I picked out to wear on this day. A pair of distressed denim short shorts, a button-down Oxford shirt, and sandals. My hair is a big, curly entity on top of my head; still air-drying after my morning shower. Then I remember my two nose rings, one hugging my right nostril, the other snugly hanging around my septum. The rings have become a part of my face. I don't notice them until I have to blow my nose or until I meet someone not accustomed to face piercings.

I decide not to say anything to her. I pretend that we have nothing in common and that I don't understand her native tongue or the language in which she prays. The reason I don't connect with her is that I'm not prepared for a possibly judgmental glance up and down my body. I don't want to read her mind as she hesitantly responds, "Wa'alaikum a'salam."

I'm guilty of judging and projecting my thoughts onto her before giving her a chance to receive this information and respond to it. It's wrong. My hesitation in these scenarios comes from knowing that a sizable number of people from my religion look at people dressed like me and write us off as women who have lost their way and veered off the path of Islam. I don't cover my thighs, let alone my ankles. (The most dominant Islamic schools of thought consider a woman's ankles to be 'awrah, meaning an intimate part of her body, and revealing it is undoubtedly a sin.) Nothing in my outward appearance speaks to or represents the beliefs I carry. Some might even get to know me and still label me as a non-practicing Muslim—I drink whiskey and I smoke weed regularly.

However, I am a practicing Muslim. I pray (sometimes), fast, recite the travel supplication before I start my car's engine, pay my zakkah (an annual charitable practice that is obligatory for all that can afford it) and, most importantly, I feel very Muslim. There are many like me. We don't believe in a monolithic practice of Islam. We love Islam, and because we love it so much we refuse to reduce it to an inflexible and fossilized way of life. Yet we still don't fit anywhere. We're more comfortable passing for non-Muslims, if it saves us from one or more of the following: unsolicited warnings about the kind punishment that awaits us in hell, unwelcomed advice from a stranger that starts with "I am like your [insert relative]," or an impromptu lecture, straight out of a Wahhabi textbook I thought was nonsense at age 13.

Islamic studies was part of my formal education until I graduated from high school in the United States. The textbooks we used were from Saudi Arabia, which is the biggest follower of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. The first time I realized it was okay to verbalize how nonsensical these books were was when I was watching a movie with my mother about a family that lost one of their children due to a terminal disease. I must have been 6 or 7 years old. My mother said something to the effect of, "I know Allah has a special place in heaven for mothers that lose their children at a young age." I looked at my mom and asked her, "Even if they're not Muslim?" Without breaking eye contact with the TV set she responded, "Even if they're not Muslim."

That was all the permission I needed to allow myself to believe in a more compassionate God than the one spoken about in these textbooks. My parents are pretty religious. They don't know I smoke or drink. I'm honestly not quite sure how they would react to knowing that I do, but I'm not exactly ready to find out. They encouraged me and my sister to wear headscarves, but they didn't force us to. Like most parents they didn't want us wearing anything too revealing or attention grabbing. They would not approve of my wearing shorts.

When it became fairly evident that we weren't always praying five times a day, they mostly stayed quiet and occasionally spoke to us about the benefits of prayer. My mother loved reading novels by American writers. She loved movies. She loved music. She tried hard to memorize the Quran, but thought she started too late. They welcomed our male friends and didn't look at us with suspicion when we walked out of the house with them. My parents hoped their children would closely follow in their footsteps, but trusted us with our own choices.

I'm steadfast in my belief that exploring and wandering are the reasons I know I am Muslim. Learning about Buddhism brought me closer to Islam because it taught me what surrendering means, a lesson none of my Islamic studies teachers have been able to teach me even though that's literally what Islam means. My Islamic studies teachers taught me how to how to obsess about the mundane—about all the things I'm doing incorrectly and therefore my prayers will not be accepted. They taught me guilt. They taught me fear. They taught me that being a good Muslim is difficult.

I never quite rejected Islam, I just took a break from going through the motions of prayer out of guilt. I wanted to see if I could be compelled to return to my prayer rug. I did. I returned when I felt like my life was empty without worship. I prayed out of gratitude. I prayed and it gave me solace. Ablution became less about splashing water over various parts of my body and felt more like a daily cleanse. A baptism. I stopped obsessing about the small things and my new mantra was "Al-'amal bil niyat," which means actions are dependent on their intentions. My other mantra was "Al deen yusr," which translates to religion is ease.

Exploring and wandering gave me the tools I needed to critically look at the hypocrisy of the 'ulama'a (Islamic elites/scholars/clerics). I realized that I did not have to practice my religion from the point of view of a largely misogynistic group of people. Two years ago, I denounced most hadith (prophetic traditions and sayings), fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and tafseer (interpretation) because these three things, all of which play a huge part in how Islam is practiced today, are filtered through the perspective of Muslims born into normalized extreme patriarchy.

I haven't denounced all hadith. I kept the ones that undisputedly made me a better person by teaching me a lesson in morality, kindness, and patience. The two mantras I mentioned above were, in fact, adopted from hadith. The mantra, "Religion is ease" is from a hadith related by Abu Hurayra, one of the Prophet's companions and the mantra, "actions are dependent on their intentions" is from a hadith related by Umar ibn al-Khattab, one of the successors of the Prophet.

I mentioned before that there are many like me. Outliers, outsiders, passing as non-Muslims in the vicinity of other Muslims. When confronted, our stance on religion is waived off as a rebellious phase or an urge to fit in with the dominant non-Muslim society we live in. Despite this feeling of not belonging, we are, generally speaking, not tormented by this existence. We live very healthy, dynamic, and diverse lives. We've established connections and common ground with many different groups of people and we don't feel like pariahs. We've accepted that until a drastic cultural change happens, we're going to continue to lead dual or multiple lives.

I have a new mantra these days, a short surah titled Al-Kafirun (the Disbelievers). For me, the disbelievers, commonly understood to mean those who don't believe in God and the prophet, also take the form of those who disbelieve that I, too, am a Muslim. The last ayah states, "Lakum deenakum wa liya deen," meaning for you is your religion, and for me is my religion. A simple phrase that holds the power of interconnectedness in spite of our differences. A verse that can empower me to smile at and greet the woman in the headscarf without fear of judgment.”

[sweetgingerpie]

Bill hadn’t felt like he had changed in any capacity. However, he could see how Fleur would have a completely different interpretation. The person who left her was not the man she married, and he would agree. He admitted that it was stupid, but, he knew that admitting guilt would not make her feel secure now that they were together again. He would need to prove himself.

Even though Bill’s fingers were laced with Fleur’s and the side of their bodies were pressed up against each other’s in the backseat of this small cab, his attention was on the passing attractions in the window. Along the way, they passed by a rather large and extravagantly decorated mosque, one that Bill had visited for the first time almost ten years ago.

Prior to moving to Egypt, Bill had no affiliation with religion or any religious institutions. However, it wasn’t until his first few accidents as a curse-breaker that he sought some form of emotional guidance. One of the Egyptian curse-breakers working on behalf of the Egyptian government and its Minister was praying near Bill’s bedside in the medical tent. Bill had caused the accident. His childish inexperience was to blame which resulted in the death of a Healer after they had become cursed. Gringotts suspended the then 23 year-old for three months, putting him through rigorous training exercises before reinstating him. During this time of intense training and rehabilitation following the incident, this senior curse-breaker shared with Bill the secret to his long luck: a sense of spirituality. He believed that his Islam faith was what kept him alive all these years. He prayed for his safety, prayed for his recovery when things went sour, and prayed for clarity when he was wrestling with his demons. The 23 year-old Bill was taught how to pray before going to retrieve the artifacts, and he still did that almost ten years later. He had a prayer rug that he kept in his tent, and he used it regularly before starting his work day. It was like a meditation for him. His job was about precise control and release, and he needed to clear his head. Feeling looked after and protected gave him a sense of security. In the years to follow, he read the Quran and defines his religious affiliation as spiritual with sporadic Muslim practices.

“You’d prefer just a night on the town instead...? Well, a’right...”

“Fy alwaqie, sydy, yumkinuk 'an tadeuna min hna." (“Actually, Sir, you can let us off here.”) he spoke, the driver having pulled off from the main road towards the curb. They had stopped off at the 26th of July Corridor, just before crossing the bridge onto Gezira Island. Bill paid the fair with muggle currency from his own wallet and waited for the taxi to speed off before he took Fleur’s hand and escorted her across the street. Their alternative destination was the Cairo Jazz Club, “I go to this club almost every evening,” the club was dimly lit with majority bar seating and a few satin booths towards the rear where the stage was situated. A man was perched on a stool in the center of the stage, his fingers strategically grazing the strings of the guitar in his lap with his mouth almost pressed against the microphone in front of him. He was singing softly and Arabic, and had the attention of almost every patron in the venue with the exception of a few sitting at the bar.

“Ah, Bill! 'ahlaan bk!” (“Welcome!”) spoke the host from behind his podium.

“Saabir, min aljid ruyatuk.” (“Saabir, it’s good to see you.”)

“Min hadhih almar'at aljamilat maeak?” (Who is this beautiful woman with you?”)

“This is my wife, Fleur. We were on our way to Saraya Gallery when she declared that she wanted to see more of the city. I decided to bring her here.”

“Wee’lcome, Meesus Weasley,” he politely welcomed Fleur with a nod of his head, “Eet eez our pleas’ore to have you wiz us tonight. You must take her to za beeg light show at za pyramids tonight, yes? Very beautiful!”

“We’ll probably end our night away from home there.”

“Wonderful! Would you prefer a booth tonight?”

“Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Bialtaakid la. Zare eez one in za back.” (“Certainly not.”)

Arabian Nights

This was date one of their new beginning. One could call it a first date, the first date of their second chance, the starting point of round two. Even though their first date was a lifetime ago and they had shared plenty of dates in between, a wedding and two babies there was a familiar feeling there.

With her fingers intertwined with Bills nervous butterflies began fluttering around her stomach just as she had at 18 years old and venturing into London with this 25 year old Englishman. It was a jumble of nerves and excitement, it had been so long since their last date, the last time they spend quality time together as husband and wife it was like another life. It was as if he wasn’t the man she had spent seven years with, the man who she called her husband. He had become a little more of a stranger in these last months and less the man who had centred her life. She had missed out on a year of his life, was this chief curse-breaker a different man to the one who worked at the ministry, a family man, her husband? She didn’t know when he changed or how he changed but one minute he was supporting her and loving her, the next he was packing up and leaving his life with her for a new one. Bill had closed himself off to her this last month so even though they had been living in the same house, tonight would be the night she’d see him past the wall he had built, past the tiredness and busyness two young girls brought to their lives. Would the man she married still be there or a new man she must get to know?

Had the press known of the new little Weasley they would surely be outside the doors waiting for a snapshot of the newborn. Fortunately that was not the case and the new parents were keeping it their little secret for the time being, with only their families aware of her arrival in the world. She didn’t know how long their families could keep the secret of their newest niece and granddaughter that would send the reporters over in a flurry to get the first picture but at least for tonight they didn’t have to worry. It was just them, just a husband and wife, nobody special to the rest of the town but each other. As Fleur stepped out onto the street, arm wound around Bills, the night was fresh, it was not cold like it would be at home. Usually donned in plenty of layers and a thick cloak at this time of year instead tonight her arms were bare against the lukewarm Arabian air. She slid across the back seat of the taxi when Bill opened the door for her to get a good view out the window allowing room for Bill to slip in next to her. The streets were busy with crowds of people, stores all lit up warm and welcoming, their owners coercing those who walked by to browse their store. Fleur turned her attention to Bill as the taxi started to move down the street. The lights and people sparked a curiosity within her, she wanted to feel this city for herself, the real Cairo, not the one she’d been living in for a month. “Can we ‘ave a real Egyptian night, show me your city, what you love about zis place?” She whispered a speckle of adventure in her eyes.

Fleur came from a land, from a far away place where camels are only in books, the heat is never so rich and the sand was sparse in comparison. These weren’t new discoveries but tonight as the streets sparkled back at her she wanted to know more.

[specialchan]

PLEASE READ - Struggling with Islam - ADHD via /r/islam

PLEASE READ - Struggling with Islam - ADHD

Salaam brothers/ sisters,

This post is about Islam specifically but the issues I describe below were present in almost every aspect of my life since childhood. No TL;DR on this post unfortunately as the full story is important. This will be really long so I don't expect everyone to get through it. Just for context, I'm from the UK so views may differ by location. I'm the middle child of 5 siblings, mainly grew up with the 2 older ones as there is a big gap between us 3 and the younger 2 siblings.

Note: The way my parents/ Madrassa teachers treated me as a child is no reflection on Islam. Islam doesn't teach parents to abuse anyone let alone kids. I do indeed love Islam more than anything despite past struggles. Also, this isn't a post to shit on my parents, they've given up everything for me and my siblings and raised us with love and affection. May they be granted into the highest heavens.

From a young age my parents, may Allah be please with them, always tried to instill Islamic teachings to my siblings and I. We were taught about Salah, Hijab, the Prophets lives etc. and always had an abundance of hadith books in the house which we would read. We were also sent to Madrassa to learn Quran and Islam in more depth.

However, it seemed when compared to my siblings I was the troublesome child. If we couldn't go to the mosque, my dad would lead prayers at home for the family. I would move and look around, make noises and try to distract my siblings. During madrassa lessons I would try to read Quran but always struggled. My Tajweed would often be incorrect and found reading Arabic difficult despite being exposed to it at a young age. The Quran classes were set by age group and compared to the rest of my peers I was falling behind. I was still reading the Juz Amma, they made us read before the rest of the Quran, whilst everyone else was reading other Surahs which dropped me behind.

My parents are from Bangladesh so have a very "traditional" method of parenting. They thought my disobedience and lack of focus during madrassa and prayers were because of Shaytan. I was often beaten as they attempted to "get rid of the devil". This of course never solved my issues and I would continue slacking in Islamic class and acting out during prayers so it was a constant cycle. I also, until about the age of 12, regularly wet the bed so this reinforced their idea of me being possessed. All of this, along with the fact that the Mosque teachers would always shame me for struggling with Quran and point to younger students who surpassed me, unfortunately caused me to resent Islam more and more. My older siblings completed the Quran whilst I was still there trying to finish one juz, the whole experience was humiliating.

Despite all this, I still had an intense fascination with Islam and religion in general. During the classes I was often the first to answer questions regarding Islam, these ranged from those about the Prophets to those regarding Islamic law etc. I would even debate in school with Non-Muslims about religion and consciousness with no hesitation in defending my beliefs. One of the Madrassa teachers was very receptive to my ideas and was the only one who didn't shame me, he would often comment on how he was impressed with my broad Islamic knowledge and this was despite my struggles with Arabic. Unfortunately he left and the hostility I faced from other teachers continued, I started bunking classes and taking walks around the park or anything to kill time. Classes were only 2 hours Mon-Fri so I was never waiting around too long before I could go home.

My parents finally ended my classes when I was 16 as I had to study for school exams. However, as time went by, the negative feelings towards religion grew. My parents would non-stop curse me and compare me to my siblings, even the younger ones could read / pray better than me. I then stopped praying completely, I was too old for my parents to physically beat anymore so there parenting methods stopped working. It's been many years now but Islam remains dear to me and I will practice again properly Inshallah.

Now 21 I was diagnosed with ADHD a few weeks ago, I was overwhelmed with emotion when the psychiatrist gave me his finding. I tried many things before the diagnosis to help me, I changed my diet, exercised, used noortropic supplements but nothing seemed to work. He explained that people with ADHD often struggle with focus, impulsiveness, hyperactivity etc. The frontal lobes in our brain don't work as well as they do in "normal" people, this part of the brain is responsible for things like language, attention, motivation, impulse control etc. We also produce lower levels of norepinephrine which works to increase attention and arousal, lack of this neurotransmitter can lapse in focus. All of this seemed to explain my struggles.

The psychiatrist also mentioned that children who tend to be "more intelligent" (I put quotations as I believe intelligence can't be measured), are often not diagnosed when they are young, they often get diagnosed as adults once they've done their own research. Not to rub my ego too much but this explains my case. Just as with Islamic studies, I also had a broad set of knowledge in normal academic classes. I was always in top set during school and did well in most exams, I took part in philosophy discussions and my teachers would comment positively on my understanding. I would however still get into trouble a lot, I was on report for a couple years and detention was standard after school. But y brain was creative and always though outside the box, this explains why ADHD patients are 6 times likely to start their own business and why so many famous/ successful entrepreneurs have ADHD.

The official diagnosis was bitter sweet, despite finally knowing what caused all my issues, I was angry that everything could've been dealt with better if I was taken to a doctor instead of my parents following backwards parenting techniques. I don't entirely blame them as they are not exactly educated on this topic, as an adult it's up to me to fix everything now.

I've been prescribed some drugs to promote dopamine production in my brain, this helps me focus and reduces restlessness and various other symptoms. It's been 3 weeks and I feel completely different, I now want to try read Quran again. I'll have to re-learn everything as it's been years and I've forgotten tajweed entirely but it would be good to see if it's any easier than my early days.

Please if you have children who are having problems, try to help them instead if beating as I know this is a problem in some of our Muslim communities. Mental health issues are almost entirely dismissed and put down to Shaytan misleading us. Don't push people away from Islam, treat the kids right and get them medical help if needed.

Thank you for taking time to read. All the best!

Submitted August 09, 2020 at 10:32AM by Farhan1900 via reddit https://ift.tt/2PJFqEd

[islamicrays]

I read this sentence once and it cracked me up: "Trying to clean the house with kids around is like trying to brush your teeth while eating an Oreo."

Is it possible to have small kids and a clean house at the same time?

Yes.

It can be hard initially, but it's totally possible.

I'll admit it: I'm a tiny bit OCD and really need my house to be organized and clean. Otherwise my brain can't function.

Obviously my house is not always immaculate, but if things reach a certain threshold of messiness, the visual clutter starts to get to me. When things are messy or dirty or cluttered, it gets in the way of my productivity and sanity, and I NEED to clean stuff up before I can do other things. I can't deal with sticky surfaces or crumbs all over the floor or toys in every corner of the house or dishes piled up in the sink for too long--but obviously, I have babies and toddlers and young kids, which is typically kind of like having 4 tornadoes in your house!

But over the years, I've realized that it's not impossible to have both: little kids and a clean home. You can do it. It's just a question of how.

My strategy includes 2 parts:

1. Teaching habits of cleanliness and tidiness (phase one: 2-4 years old)

2. Assigning set daily chores (phase 2: ages 4 and up)

Part 1: Building Habits of Cleanliness

I try to instill in my kids the importance of being clean and neat when they are still very young. As young as 2 or 3 years old, a child can begin to understand that something is dirty, that a space is littered with toys, or that there is a spill and the floor is sticky.

We have a mantra in our house that all the kids (except the baby, who's 1.5) know by heart: "If you make it dirty, you have to clean it."

I try to set the expectation that nobody will clean up after anybody else. You clean up after yourself. You make a mess, you clean it. You spill your milk, you mop it up. You use crayons, you put them away.

Mama won't clean up your mess because Mama didn't make your mess. Mama won't pick up your toys, because Mama didn't play with your toys or scatter them everywhere.

I got this idea from my dad, who used this method with us when we were kids. I remember one day, my sisters and I used our pencils to draw on the wall of our hallway as little kids. I remember my dad's reaction very well: instead of getting angry at us or yelling about the wall we'd scribbled all over, he calmly told us that since we had drawn on the wall, we would clean it. He showed us how to take an eraser and erase the lines we'd made in pencil. Thankfully, it didn't take that long between the 3 of us, but I still remember the lesson. You clean up your own messes.

When my kids are in the age rage of 2 or 3 years old, I start requiring them (based on their readiness and capacity) to "clean up" little messes they've made. We start small. If a toddler was playing with toys with a lot of pieces, when he's done, I'll gently take him back to the toy-littered area and ask him to pick up the toys and put them back into their respective baskets. The first time he picks up, he might not get every toy that's on the floor, and he might haphazardly put them in random places in the general vicinity of the toy baskets. That's good enough at first. I praise him and give him a high five, commenting on what a good job he's done. The idea is to build long-term habits, starting with baby steps.

Everything has a home, a place where it goes, and I show the kids exactly where that is for things that they are responsible for. For example, the toys have a specific place they belong in when they are not being played with, the clothes have a specific place (hung up in the kids' closet or folded in their drawers) when they are not being used. Whatever system you want to use, make sure it's simple enough and intuitive enough for your kids to understand and follow it inshaAllah. Toys and clothes should be within reach if you expect your kids to put them away.

In general, I try to teach my kids to be careful when they have sticky hands (like after a meal) or as they're coming back home from a romp in the mud, not to get the whole house dirty as they walk to the bathroom to wash their hands. This is an ongoing lesson--not something they've mastered. But the whole idea is just to train them, which means that it's a long process that will take time.

Part 2: Chores

Once my kids are a bit older, probably around 4 years old or so, I start assigning them more set daily chores.

What we do currently is that every morning, we have a specific routine that we rarely deviate from. After breakfast, we start chores.

My 4-year-old picks up the den (toys, books, etc) because the next thing on the schedule is Homeschool, and we have our Quran class in the den. Picking up toys minimizes distractions (most days!).

My 5-year-old clears the table of breakfast items, and wipes down the table and chairs.

My 7-year-old sweeps the floor under the breakfast table.

These are the main daily chores, to be done in the morning. Other chores include:

*Before we leave the house to go on an outing for the day, the kids must pick up the toys (we do a few different toy pick-ups throughout the day in order to maintain the chaos).

*After each meal, each child must take his own plate and cup from the table to the kitchen near the sink.

*When I do laundry, each child must put away his own clothes in the kids' closet (the older kids are more capable of this than my younger ones).

My focus on right now is not that they do their chores perfectly or meticulously, but rather that they do them regularly and as well as they can.

When we first implemented the chore system, it was super hard. The kids thought it was play time, and would play around instead of actually clean up (especially my oldest with the broom, and his brother with the cleaning cloth!). I would find that most days, I'd have to go back and re-do the work they did myself, because the areas they'd "cleaned" were not really clean. It was frustrating and seemed like just a waste of my time, and with 4 kids, I have no time to waste.

But slowly, over time, kids are able to learn and improve their concentration and the capability to effectively carry out a task.

My husband suggested a reward system for chores well done, so some days, I'll announce that whoever does his chore well will be rewarded with some chocolate chips. Works like a charm.

Finally: are there any benefits to kids doing household chores?

YES. TONS!

Via Umm Khalid

[thetruthseekerway]

30 Facts about Prophet Muhammad

New Post has been published on https://www.truth-seeker.info/jewels-of-islam/30-facts-about-prophet-muhammad/

30 Facts about Prophet Muhammad

By Hind Touissate

30 Facts About Prophet Muhammad

Editor’s Note:

Some of the most accurate and original information regarding our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) can be found below.

Today, the world is going through wartime, many terrorist activities are targeting innocent people in different parts of the world and in most of these activities Muslims are caught up as suicide bombers or terrorists in short.

My aim behind writing this post is to just give the most accurate and original information regarding our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Here are 30 facts about the Prophet Muhammad:

1. He was a descendant of the Prophet Ismail, the son of Prophet Ibrahim.

Prophet Muhammad PBUH was born in Makkah.

3. The year was 570 A.D.

4. Shortly after his birth, his mother died.

5. His father was already dead before his birth. So, he became an orphan.

6. During this time, his uncle Abu Talib and his grandfather Abdul-Mutalibtook care of him.

7. At the age of nine, he started going on trade trips along with his uncle.

8. He met with people of different nations and religions during those trips.

9. His character was respected by all. People throughout Madinah including the Jews gave him the name of “The Trustworthy.”

10. In one of his trips, he met a Christian scholar. The scholar said to his uncle that he would, one day, do something great and I can see it because all the trees, mountains and sea are in the bow in front of him.

11. When he got 25, he got a proposal from Khadijah for marriage which he accepted. Khadijah was 40 years of age at the time of marriage.

12. For the first 54 years of his life, he had only one wife. His only wife until he was 50 years of his life was As-Sayyidah Khadijah.

They had sons but they died in their childhood.

14. Prophet Muhammed married As-Sayyida `A’ishahwhen she was 9 years old. 1400 years ago, it was something very common to marry young girls. In fact, they were not considered young girls, but rather young women. It is a historic fact that girls from the ages of 9 to 14 were being married in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In fact, even in the United States, girls at the age of 10 were also being married just more than a century ago. Yet with these facts, no historian claims that all these people were sick perverts, historians would call anyone who made such a claim to be arrogant and very stupid who has no grasp or understanding of history.

15. Out of generosity and modesty, he never ate alone. He invited others to eat with him.

16. He encouraged the washing of hands before and after eating food.

17. He regularly visited the poor and ill.

18. Upon visiting a person, he used to greet them and then take their permission before entering the house and encourage others to do the same as a mark of respect.

19. He used to mend his clothes, repair his shoes and sweep the floor as well as do the household shopping during his married life.

20. As people of Makkah at that time were involved in many sinful activities, like they killed their daughters, did drinking, rape, and killing of innocent people, Prophet Muhammad did not like those activities at all and to have solitude and peace he went to the cave of Hira’.

21. Once when he was in the cave Hira, he saw Angel Gabriel. The angel said to him “Read in the Name of Allah”, Prophet Muhammad replied that he could neither read nor write as he was unlettered.

22. After Angel Gabriel came again with revelations, he started preaching Islam to people.

23. He used to preach to people but avoided preaching to excess to avoid annoying people.

24. He sometimes prayed so much that his legs swelled. In one incident, he was asked why he offered such an unbearable prayer and he replied: “Shall I not be a thankful slave (to Allah)?”

25. He sent letters to kings and leaders beyond Arabia inviting them to Islam.

26. Pagans and Non-Muslims did harm to Prophet Muhammad PBUH and other Muslims by different means but Prophet Muhammad had patience and perseverance.

27. His Prophethood lasted for a long period of 23 years, during which he received Revelations from Allah.

28. He never proclaimed himself as anyone or anything divine.

29. His name is now one of the most popular names in the world.

30. After 23 years of Prophethood, Muhammad (pbuh) died and after his death, Islam spread to other places too because of the efforts of his Caliphs. The revelations of Allah on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were compiled in the Quran after his death.

———-

Hind Touissat is a 22-year old Moroccan from the city of Kenitra. She is majoring in Marketing from the National School of Trade and Management. She started blogging in 2011 and was voted “Best Female Blogger in Morocco” at the Maroc Web Awards 6 months after starting her Blog entitled “According to Hind.” She is a member of the Morocco World News editorial board.

Adapted with editorial adjustments from www.moroccoworldnews.com

[hidoose]

Two years in Pakistan made me reconsider my values on parenting

New Post has been published on https://www.hidoose.com/two-years-in-pakistan-made-me-reconsider-my-values-on-parenting/

Two years in Pakistan made me reconsider my values on parenting

A few years ago, a friend of mine sent me Khalil Gibran’s poem, On Children. Upon reading it, I remember my first thought being, ‘this guy probably didn’t have children of his own’. I was appalled at the things he suggested in his poem. Gibran wrote

“Your children are not your children,

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself,

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”

I got married at the age of 23, and exactly nine months later, I became the mother of a daughter who is now 15-years-old. My son was born seven years later. I consider myself a stern desi mom. My children were born and bred in the United States, but my husband and I migrated from Pakistan

As a parent, I have always struggled to teach my children, especially my daughter, what I believed to be our values. To be honest, I might have been guilty of discriminating between my daughter and son. I’m not sure if it was the Precious Firstborn Syndrome or because she was a girl, but it became more important for me to insist upon my daughter that she spoke Urdu at home, finished her Quran by the age of nine and dressed as what I believed was modest for a girl with Pakistani roots.

I made my daughter study hard and ensured that all her grades were above a 90 average. If she got anything less than an 85 average on a test, that piece of paper went up on a wall as a reminder for her to pull up her grades. I regularly made my children call every family member to stay in touch with all of them and their vacations were always spent with extended family. My children grew up with homemade desi ghee, parathas and spicy curries. My daughter was never allowed to have a sleepover and was always reminded of how to behave politely. Interestingly, I always joined my values of being a Pakistani with being a Muslim

My wish to put the ‘Pakistaniat’ in my children grew so strong that in July 2016, I decided to move back to Pakistan for two years. My daughter was about to start eighth grade and I uprooted her from her Long Island school and friends, where and with whom she had spent her entire life until then, and took her to Islamabad. After two years of living in Pakistan, the outcome was not what I expected. I became a more relaxed parent in Pakistan and my daughter became more assertive and opinionated. By the end of the two years, I matured as much as my daughter did.

Pakistan is a culture of extremes. However, Pakistani teenagers are similar to those on this side of the pond. The clothing is the same, the hormone spikes are just as intense, the smoking and underage drinking are probably higher and the peer pressure just as relentless.

The adults adhere to varying shades of Islam. There are certain family members who are such devout Muslims that they consider themselves to be the authority on everything halal(permissible) and haram (forbidden). If you don’t follow their diktats, you will be labelled a kafir (infidel). Then you have believers who agree with everything publicly but act differently in private. Finally, there are atheists who believe that Islam must be taken out of the state altogether. There are family and friends who want their children to speak in English instead of Urdu. Parents take pride in the fact that their child who was born and bred in Pakistan cannot proficiently read Urdu

Before moving to Pakistan, I used to threaten my children by saying,

“This doesn’t happen in Pakistan,” or “I will move you both back to Pakistan.”

After a year of living in Pakistan, my daughter said to me:

“Amma (mother), you can no longer use Pakistan as a benchmark, please. You should be glad that we understand the values you have taught us. But teach these to us as the values you want us to follow for the betterment of our family. You can no longer hold the ideals of Pakistan so high.”

That was the day I realised that my daughter is now wiser than me. She loved the two years she spent in Pakistan. She made some amazing friends and loved the variety of food and traditional clothing. However, I was the one ready to come back to America, and so we did.

We are now settled in the Dallas area. Subsequently, I revisited Khalil Gibran’s poem to reflect upon the transition of homes and its effect on my children. I no longer pressure my daughter or dictate her clothing choices. She has her goals and ambitions defined by her own free will. My children are free to choose their own path in life. My son has just as many chores around the house as my daughter. They both work together, whether it is cleaning the kitchen or bathroom, or doing laundry and folding clothes. At dinner time, we make it a point to discuss everything that goes on in their lives — no topic is off-limits. I am proud of being a Muslimand proud of my roots.

Furthermore, with all the good and the bad, I am glad to be an American as it has given me perspective. My daughter volunteers at the local Islamic centre as well as at the local churchfood bank. There are days when she will come home and talk about a certain racist comment made by some child in her classroom. She stands up for her friends who choose to wear a hijab even though she herself does not wear one.

She knows more about Islamic history than I do and enjoys challenging and discussing it with her teachers in high school. She makes her own choices now. I am there to guide her and support her. We have both come to terms with the fact that values are embraced once trust and love are present between a mother and a daughter, irrespective of what your roots are. I now read Khalil Gibran’s poem with a renewed appreciation and “bend my bow with gladness in my heart”.

[jakefawkner19-blog]

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[stephendavid]

People used to pretend that killing Osama Bin Laden and weakening/destroying al-Qaeda would be a "win" in the war against (generic) "terrorism." That didn't happen. The Islamic State arose and announced a new "Caliphate" led by "Caliph" al-Baghdadi. Now he's dead and IS is seriously weakened. (Of course, in Africa, al-Shabaab has been going strong throughout this time period) So long as our government (including both sides of the aisle) and media continue to presist in the fantasy that all these groups just arise out of nowhere based on some grievance against the western democracies or against Israel that has absolutely nothing to do with the "Religion of Peace (TM)" -- there will always be Islamic terror groups to fight around the world. We are also continually told that attacks in the West are by "lone wolves," and the media and government continually pretend there are causes (other than Islam) for these attacks: mental illness, workplace violence, homophobia (from repressed homosexuality, as in the Pulse Nightclub killings), as well as grievances against the non-Islamic world. The reason why I have been reblogging so many articles about Islamic terrorist attacks in the U.S. is because I got really sick of the government and media continually trying to ignore or whitewash such attacks, that occur nearly on a weekly basis in this country. Most of the attacks are only reported in small local newspapers or TV channels and aren't picked up by the major networks and news outlets. When the attacks are large enough (e.g. Ft. Hood, San Bernardino, Pulse Nightclub, etc) the government and media immediately jump in to assure everyone that the attack has "nothing to do with Islam, the Religion of Peace (TM)" and warn about an oncoming onslaught of Homophobic(TM) attacks, which never seem to happen. Have you ever heard of a government official, or major media outlet going out of the way to declare that Christianity or Judaism are "Religions of Peace"? How about Buddhism? Hinduism? Taoism" etc. Why is it that ONLY Islam is constantly declared to be the "Religion of Peace(TM)" ? One has to think "Thou protests TOO MUCH!" The reason we hear this so much is because we are CONSTANTLY being attacked by Islamic Terrorists. And the reason for that is because Islam has been at war with the non-Islamic world for over 1400 years. Muhammad was a warlord who raped, murdered, tortured and destroyed everyone who resisted his totalitarian political-religious death cult. Muhammad divided the world into two "houses" or "worlds." Human beings were either part of the "House/World" of Islam ("dar al-Islam") or the "House/World" of WAR ("dar al-Harb"), thus declaring permanent global war on all who do not convert and join the "House of Islam." The only times there have been a tenuous "peace" between Islam and the non-Islamic world is when Islam and its adherants have been weak and unable to advance militarily and destroy the rest of the world. As I have posted before, Al-Qaeda chose 9/11 for their day to attack the World Trade Center because it was the anniversary of when Muslim conquests in Europe were stopped by the invaded countries. From that point, Islam (through the Ottoman Empire) declined and could not push forward in conquering the world. The Ottoman Empire gradually rotted at its core, since it had little to no imagination and industry to create wealth and riches on its own, but were dependent on conquering non-Islamic countries for its wealth. And during that time period and until the 1990s, there was relative peace between the weakened "House of Islam" and the non-Muslim world. The only time there has been any "peace" between Islam and the non-Islamic world was immediately during and after the Ottoman empire declined and fell apart. And al-Qaeda chose 9/11 as the date to resume their conquest of the non-Islamic world. The problem with the "war on (generic) terrorism" comes when we fail to acknowledge it is actually a "war against Islamic terrorism." (which actually begun 1400 years ago). And the problem with "Islamic terrorism" is not that some (many!) groups around the world are "radical extremists" who have "hijacked the Peaceful Religion(TM)." The problem with Islamic terrorism is Islam itself. Read the Qur'an, Sunnah/Hadith collections and Sira (earliest biographies of Muhammad). I studied world religions starting when I was in early high school, and read the major texts of all different (non-Judeo/Christian) religions through my mid-30s, considering myself a "Zen Buddhist" (but in actuality more of a syncretistic "new ager"). I threw out my first copy of the Qur'an (Dawood translation) in the 1960s when I saw how violent and filled with hatred it was. (I later joined Sufi meditation and dance groups, but they had little to nothing to do with the Qur'an, and were predominantly syncretistic and Gnostic themselves.) Since 9/11, and especially the last few years, I resumed study of Islam, because I felt it necessary to weed out all of the lies regarding Islam spread by government, media, and Islamopheliac apologists. I recently finished reading one of the earliest Muslim biographies of Muhammad -- Sīrat Rasūl Allāh (Life of the Messenger of God) by ibn Ishaq/ibn Hisham, and began a serious study of the Qur'an using 4 different translations, including The Study Quran by Sufi scholar S.H. Nasr, as well as translations by Pickthall, Dawood and Ahmed Ali. I also regularly consult the Hadith collections (Sunnah) of al-Bukhari and al-Muslim at the Muslim website SearchTruth.com. I have had friends say they are too busy, or that the Qur'an is too repetitive and too boring to waste their time with. I agree with their evaluations of the Qur'an. Also, in spite of the Muslim claims that the Qur'an is the "perfect, eternal word of Allah for all of mankind," much/most of the Qur'an was given to support Muhammad with current situations he was dealing with and really have no relevance outside of himself, his contemporaries and his time period. For example, Surah 111 is named "Abu Lahab." Abu Lahab was Muhammad's uncle, who rejected Islam and condemned Muhammad. So "Allah" purportedly sent down the revelation of Surah 111 "Abu Lahab" (all three sentences of it) to announce that "Destroyed will be the hands of Abu Lahab, and he himself will perish.... He will be roasted in fire, and his wife... will have a strap of coir rope around her neck." (Muhammad later murdered Abu Lahab, or had him murdered). Ask yourself this... what possible relevance or spiritual importance does this surah, specifically a threat aimed at a person who was murdered 1400 years ago, ever have for the rest of mankind, for the rest of eternity???? However, even if the material is boring, repetitive and spiritually irrelevant to the majority of human beings living on the planet today, it is extremely important to read through at least once in order to know for yourself, that what the media, government and Islamophiliac apologists say in defence of Islam is utterly untrue and unfounded. And to understand the arguments against various untrue statements made in defense of Islam. You can't know and argue for the truth about something if you never bother to research that subject. And for Islam, that means knowing what is in the Qur'an, the Hadiths/Sunnah, and the Sira. Keeping your head stuck firmly in the sand (or other orifices) will not stop the onslaught from Islamic warfare, and you are just delaying the inevitable (waking up when the violence directly effects you) while enabling the current invasion that has been occuring at least since the 1990s/early 2000s with the importation of tens of thousands of Muslim migrants who bring along cultural values that are in direct opposition to those of the Judeo-Christian and Humanist West. And the more you know about Islam, directly from Islamic sources such as Qur'an, Hadith/Sunnah, and Sira, the more you will reject the use of such labels as "Islamophobia" and "Racism" to shut down anyone who speaks the truth about Islam and its dangerous assault on the non-Muslim world.

[theguywiththesixthsense-blog]

-x Day 24 x-

I slept till 1 today which i absolutely hate about today but my body was super weak yesterday so meh..

From maghrib time today i have been outside running in the heat constantly moving around. At first i walked all the way to the computer market then went to a mosque nearby to pray isha cz all shops are closed during ramadaan from maghrib to isha and then prayed 4 rakah tarawi and went out to buy a router and cable so i can bring the internet from downstairs to my house. Why ? because this is the 4th time this month my internet gave up on me and im honestly sick of calling up STC and complaining at this point. Anyways so my body still hurts a lot and that is why i am blogging so late today. After i bought everything which btw was amazing i mean the price i got for the items Alhamdulillah so i came home and set everything up internet was working fine Alhamdulillah for a while and then all of sudden it just goes off and im sitting here wondering uh-oh now dad will kill me and never let me take a line from others ever again. Cz he was against the idea as usual but i wanted to show him the difference between fibre and normal line. So i can convince him to keep this one but as you can already tell not a good start so far. So im not entirely sure what went wrong im assuming someone from downstairs unplugged my wire by mistake anyways have to check that but they are not at home atm so im waiting and its 12:56 am now. Seems like my plan of sleeping early and waking up early and going out for a walk to work out isn't starting tomorrow either. *sigh*.

Have to talk about two things first is referring to my last blog before leaving riyadh for Makkah about why i get so broken and dead inside before going to Makkah. well theres a couple of reasons actually

1) There are two events that took place in my life which i think shaped my personality a lot, and both of these events just happen to be about a trip to Makkah. First one was way back when i was tiny. I think i was only 3 years old or maybe even younger not sure, when my parents decided, well more like my Dad decided, to leave me at his relatives house and go for Hajj. Yes, they left, a 3 year old who probably just learned that people other than his parents exist in this world, in a completely new house that this kid has never been in before. I don't remember much about the experience but i remember few things like the fact that i didn't eat or drink anything for two days because i was confused and angry at my mom as to why she would leave me like this. Anyways that without a doubt messed up my mind a lot especially during that age when my brain was supposed to develop and my personality was just starting to take shape.

2) Another event was a couple of years ago actually when i was in Grade 7 or 8 maybe not entirely sure. Before stating this i should probably state a few facts about me. I never lived alone on my own never in my life. I always had my mom with me wherever i went never had to stay away from her in my life until this even happened... So my Dad ( haha surprise surprise its him again ) yeah so he decided that his son who never lived alone in his life before can now automatically learn to live without his mom and not only that but he can also adjust to a completely new environment for 5 days straight without his mom. Basically what he did was he sent mom to BD without me. First night itself was hell for me i remember talking to mom before she took off and then just couldnt hold back my tears i cried all night that day alone in my room. Anyways morning rolled up and instantly got busy playing and stuff so it wasn't so bad until ( surprise surprise its him again ) my Dad told me that he wants to go pray 40 salahs with the first takbeer in Makkah and he wants me to go with him. I mean i was very little and i didn't really care much or understood what i was getting myself into at that point. So yeah 5 Days from Zuhr to Isha after tarawi ( yeah this was during ramadaan ) i had to be in the mosque with him sitting at one place because if we leave he won't be able to get the next salah with the first takbeer. There was no internet no nothing which meant all i could think off was mom at that point and no i wasn't even given a chance to talk to my mom. I specifically remember him telling me once when i just couldn't take it anymore and i burst out crying to him saying i miss mom, he replied by arguing and saying why do you miss her ? she is enjoying herself in bd she isn't thinking about you stop thinking about her so much... Anyways so from Zuhr till tarawi no food no chance to keep my brain busy so i don't miss mom so much. This went for 5 days straight so just imagine what my developing brain was going through at this point. Anyways 5 days are over and now its time to go to Madinah where he wants to spend two days before heading back to riyadh. This is when i fell awefully sick and he had to leave the next day back to riyadh. Because for him 'mental health' is a myth. Only when you are physically ill is when you need to take action.

3) This one has a lot to do with her. The time span of my life during which i met her was a crucial part of me 'growing up'. When i met her i fell for her instantly and surrendered myself completely to her and handed her my heart completely. She became a part of everything in my life. Eating, Drinking, sleeping, everything... She was 'home' for me. Everytime i am away from her i would feel homesick. I would feel aweful like im missing a big part of me. And what i mean by 'away from her' is basically going away from doing something that i do regularly on a daily basis, because like i said... she was home. So that means whenever i would do something out of ordinary it would kill me to not have her beside me doing whatever im doing, with me. My mind had become set to the fact that as long as she was with me nothing in this world could scare me, but if she isn't there with me, i become empty... homeless. So whenever i travel away from home i get all those feelings always.

So yeah all three of those reasons combined would be the cause of me falling into a pitfall of depression whenever the time comes for me to go to Makkah, or anywhere away from home.

I was supposed to blog about my trip to Makkah but i am exhausted already after typing all these >_<

Its 2:00am already ugh no sleep today i guess. I'll watch the rest of Re:Zero now in bed and fall asleep if i feel really sleepy. Self reminder : Still have to pray witr so make sure you pray Tahajjud today.

Just wanted to mention the fact that Alhamdulillah i am up to date with reading the Quran and trying to finish it during Ramdaan. I am actually proud of myself for once that so far i have manged to stay on course. I fixed a rule that i am going to read 5 pages after every salah NO MATTER WHAT. So i made sure i did that and mashaAllah i managed to keep it consistent so far. I just made sure i dont give into ANY whispers at all from shaytaan while im reading it. 'lets leave these 2 pages for the next salah' or 'lets leave this 1 page only for next salah its okay its just one' or even 'lets leave these 5 ayats onlyyy' NOPE not giving into you shaytaan not this time. I know how your tricks work. Start by something slow and then get to something big later. N-O-P-E .

May Allah protect us all and give us strength to ignore shaytaan's whispers.

PS: i really do want to a lot more than just reading the Quran. I really need to read tafseer. Its actually quite interesting.