Books: DON’T BE SAD by Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al Qarni

Title: Don’t be Sad
Author : Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al Qarni
Publisher: Dar-us-Salaam
ISBN: 9960850447

One cannot imagine the scope and soulful depth of this book by its simple yet eloquent title; DON’T BE SAD by Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al Qarni is a diamond among gems.

Don’t be Sad will become a firm favourite and a best friend taking its permanent place on your bookshelf. It is filled with simple advice which simplifies reality and hardship. This book transports the reader from the shadows of despair  into the beautiful light which is bounties of Deen ul Islam.

The author addresses the various trials that a Muslim experiences, slowly yet surely aids the reader out of the slump that is sadness, depression and regret – to mention just a few of the disillusioned emotions that incapacitate our happiness . The book speaks to one in a way that is straightforward and much needed, everyday a new realisation forces one into a rehabilitation of sorts. Every word relevant to your life as the rays of light from the Quraan and Sunnah.These are  feature on every page succeeding in softening ones heart and often bringing tears to the eyes.

“Don’t be SAD”  stands up to its title and encourages the reader to grasp at the loose ends of life with a smile, while holding onto that ever trustworthy Rope of Allah for,

“Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (13:28)

It is a book that teaches one how to handle life and all its problems and how to accept it and be content with Allah’s will.

 “So live according to your reality without always envisioning the ideal life. One that is free from worry and toil.”

“Live for today – During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart. Recite Quran with understanding and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs satisfied with your allotted portion concerned with your appearance and health.”

“The pleasures of life are short lived, and more often than not, they are followed by sorrow. Life means responsibility, a journey wherein change is constant and difficulties are relentless in their onslaught.”

Focal life issues like criticism, jealousy, appearance, anxiety and faith are all dealt with with such clarity that  allows one to prepare for these events as a muslim should, by keeping faith in Allah and the bearing the  knowledge that we shall all return to HIM (SWT) soon.

“This world is cursed along with all that is in it, except for these. The remembrance of Allah, what follows it (ie. good deeds and whatever Allah loves), the scholar and the student.”

BarakAllahu Feek Ya Akhawaat

May this book benefit you as it has benefited me and countless others

• Download [15.1 MB]

 

Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

Epic Journey: Pearls of Wisdom from Surah Yusuf

Truly An Epic Journey, topics covered ranged from Importance & Duties to parents and other blessings from Allah to How to deal with Jealousy and controlling ones nafs. Some great Pearls of Wisdom from various students for your benefit InshaAllah!

• Allah will never let the efforts of a doer of good go unrewarded, Do not ever feel like your good deeds have gone unnoticed. Allah is All Knowing, All Seeing
• If shaytaan cannot attack you fully he will attack you partially.
• It is not sufficient to be inspired….INSPIRE YOURSELF INTO ACTION.

• Light illuminates but focused light cuts through steel.

• You can only be truly knowledgeable if you learn from those who are below you, above you and those equal to you in knowledge.

• One should be constant in praising and thanking Allah for the grace of Islam.

• Don’t only listen to the Ahadith of Rasulullah (saw), rather live by it.

• Thank Allah for making you muslim and then thank him for making you a practicing muslim.

• If you sleep in a bed, eat one meal a day, put clothes in your closet, then you are richer than 75% of the worlds population.

• As you can taste a pot full of food with a spoon, so too can you tell a persons heart through his tongue. (Ibn Al Qayyim)

• You are HERE to earn your aakhirah and not BURN your aakhirah.

• Medicine never tastes nice, our parents want the best for us so take their advice even if it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

• If you cannot wake up for Tahajjud to ask Allah for something you really want, then you do not really want it.

• Having an excuse for committing a sin does not make that sin permissible, except in specific circumstance that have been prescribed by Shariah.

• When Allah forgives you, the angel that wrote that mistake is made to forget, the ink with which it was written totally disappears and on the day of resurrection there is no trace of such a sin. SubhanAllah.

• Heat of the sin is greater than the heat of being unpopular.

• Do not be judgemental of others because:
  There may be something better in them which one cannot see.
  They may die in a state of Imaan That might be better than our own.

• Patience is like knocking on a door for many years and the door opens very slowly but surely and as soon as one bad thing is uttered the door slams shut and your hard work is gone down the drain

• Conceal the faults of others!!!

• Losing a child is, in reality, the most painful experience.

• Always remain people of Truth.

• Marry the mother of your children not the woman of your dreams

• Be faith driven and not worldly inclined.

• Whatever is meant for you will definitely come but the manner in which it will come or how is definitely with Allah (SWT).

• Saying ‘I don’t know’ is half of all knowledge.

• We should not only focus on physicality but rather understand the meaning and importance of spirituality

• Prevention of harm takes precedence over attainment of benefit.

More excuses for not wearing a scarf

Some sisters cant wear hijab, others are forced to take it off, while others fight for the right. These “Excuses don’t change reality”, They lend to a false sense of comfort in disobedience of Allah (The Most Great)

Excuse #1

I don’t wear Hijab because it reduces the chance of me finding a husband.

-         the kind of man you want to attract should be a righteous one who will love you AND your hijab, which is a symbol of obedience to Allah Almighty

Excuse #2

My parents/ Husband don’t mind me NOT wearing Hijab/ prefer me not wearing Hijab.

-         Your Allah has commanded you to wear Hijab. You have to ask yourself the question… Who do you love more??? Your love for Allah should surpass any other love.

Excuse #3

I enjoy wearing colour, black is so tired and old?

 

-         There is no restriction of colour placed on a Muslimah!

Excuse #4

I am NOT convinced of Hijab yet?

-         Abdul Hammed says: One should differentiate between two commands. HUMAN & DIVINE. Humans are subject to error. So a divine command doesn’t leave room for choice and reasoning.

Excuse #5

Your faith is in the HEART…

-         It is definitely true that faith IS in the Heart but as Shaykh NAvaid Aziz says:

It is impossible that someone has a pure heart with evil actions. And it is impossible that someone has good actions and they have a wretched heart. They go hand in hand. And this is why the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said there is a morsel of flesh in the body, if it is rectified the whole body is rectified, and if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt; indeed it is the heart.

If there is faith in your heart dear sister, allow it to manifest itself into righteous deeds.

 

Excuse #6

I have not received inspiration to wear the scarf yet

-         Open your heart to the beauty of Allah and you will receive guidance. Allah shall not deny the longing of the heart.

“No change will you find in Allah’s way [of dealing]: No turning off will you find in Allah’s way [of dealing] Al Quran (35:43)

 

Excuse #7

Probably the most common one I have heard

“You’re still young, you need to enjoy yourself. Get married, have children first. Stop behaving like an old lady!”

Sister, don’t heed these baseless arguments. Does being young exempt you form dying at any time?? Alot of sisters are striving to don the scarf, my sincere duas are with you.

Knowledge Hive SA 2011 – Post #2

Part 2 of our Knowledge Hive review. (Read Part one?)

Nearly all of the sessions held such pearls of wisdom which makes one want to change right there and then, but after a week you realize that change takes time and pain.

Picture by Nahida Esmail

Some pearls for our readers:

One is bound to live with two pains
The pain of discipline
OR
The pain of failure
YOUR CHOICE

Make up your mind and then do whatever it takes!!

Hard work wins over talent when talent does not work hard.

The more you learn about the Prophet (saw), the more you LOVE him(saw).

SUCCESS is taking risk CONSCIOUSLY.

The Quran’s effect should produce a positive change in the condition of the HEART.

Do good deeds consciously according to a system with a clear intention.

It is not about being remembered but about being remembered with honour.

It is not how much you have but how much you want which determines satisfaction of the heart.

Wisdom does not come with age but with intelligence!

Everytime you ask for success there will be a challenge.

Something that really helped me- A sister asked the question of how to stay chaste and keep from sin while being unmarried. Shaykh Yawar replied that one should become an expert on soil and engage in tawbah often.
The degree of difficulty is directly proportional to the change that is needed.

DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE- good disagreement joins hearts and makes friends.

MUSLIMS CAME TO GIVE NOT TO TAKE!!!

You will never know what the best you can do is.

TAQWA- is to worship Allah upon HIS (swt) guidance and light hoping for reward from Allah.

DON’T Praise a muslim to his/her face as it gives one a false idea of who they are.

The believer knows that the Dunya has hardships while believing in the promise of Allah who has guaranteed relief.

Intention is in the heart AND Everything is judged by intention.

Deen is perfect and complete.

Knowledge Hive 2011 Review

Venue: Ezulwinini Berg Resort – Natal Drakenberg
Date: 05-10 April 2011
Speakers: Sheikh Yawar Baig, Sheikh Bilal Ismail, Sheikh Tariq Appleby

Knowledge Hive is a residential retreat for the serious students of Islamic knowledge. A gathering of the best and most dedicated students and some of the top Al-Kauthar instructors. A rare opportunity to live, eat, pray and spend educational time with the shuyukh in an environment of Imaan, knowledge and constant remembrance of Allah (SWT). It is your opportunity to isolate yourself from the distractions of the dunya and concentrate on mental and spiritual refinement through intensive study of Deen.

Having  attended the Knowledge Hive 2011 eventat Ezulwini Berg Resort in Drakensberg I realise I could not have done anything better for myself and my Imaan. The amazing sense of sisterhood coupled with the beautiful and peaceful surroundings was picturesque and serene, adding to the excitement and anticipation of yet another Knowledge Hive Event!

One of the highlights of my week and a very spectacular experience was Salaatul Jamaah. The hustle trying to get there timeously, seeing sisters whizz passed me saying, “Salaah has already started girls…”, to the calmness of the Musallah with a meeting and parting of smiles. Sisters united in generosity and worship. The reason I love this so much is because I seldom get to experience Salaatul Jamaah, usually at the annual Knowledge Hive or the Taraweeh experience in Ramadan; I value those days with passion. My experience compels me to encourage my fellow sisters to attend Salaatul Jamaah whenever they can do it appropriately and excel in worship.

My sisters, my sisters…I keep mentioning them as they are such a clear picture of Islam.

As we all try to implement the Quran and Sunnah in our lives we become a poignant example of ambition! I find it hard to understand the masses and their dislike of Hijab and Niqab, when I see my fellow muslim sisters donning the islamic dress code, I’m filled with love and admiration. I ask: Do you love yourself enough to wear it? Because when I see sisters following the Sunnah and fulfilling obligations set upon them with smiles on their faces, love & passion in their hearts, I can’t deny the spiritual love of Ummah that I feel for them! Hijabis and Niqabis who (other than setting the standard of Islam dresscode)  are accountants and life coaches, teachers and community workers, graphic designers, mobile crane operators, sole business owners, scientists; all the while being wives & mothers!!! Muslim women fit many a diverse identity as well as their role as half of the Ummah.

Inspite of covering fewer topics than last year the standard of the event was excellent.

I learnt of the Tafsir of Surah Al Asr,  where Allah the Most High takes an oath by time declaring everyone in a state of loss.
No distinction being made between believers & non believers (Sons of Adam). And Allah by his Mercy & Power offers US ALL respite.
Illa – except those who BELIEVE, do GOOD DEEDS and enjoin TRUTH AND PATIENCE.

See link for Surah103- Surah Asr – Arabic & English translation

Through this Surah we realise that JUST BELIEVING is NOT enough. Knowledge requires action and it requires that it be taught! My sisters, SubhanAllah, when we have something beautiful shouldn’t we share it? So with all my heart I appeal to you to learn, never stop trying to act on what you have learnt. Teach it and then practice patience by remaining steadfast and caring for your sisters enough to always be there offering a word or deed of comfort and ensuring that we remain upon the Siraatul Mustaqeem.

May Allah grant us success in this LIFE AND THE HEREAFTER!