أركب السيارة ، وأدير مفتاح المذياع فأسمع صوت القارئ مشاري العفاسي يرتفع بالدعاء، فيدق قلبي و يقشعر بدني وتغرق عيناي بالدموع
أرفع الصوت أعلى فأعلى مرددة معه ما أحفظ وآمين لكل مالا أحفظ
مراهقة أنا
مع الدعاء أذهب بعيدا، الى أراضي خضراء ونباتات كثيفة ومياه جارية لا تسمع فيها لاغية
ينتهي الدعاء ويبدأ التلاوة وبها تسري الطمأنينة في نفسي ويصفو ذهني. أصل الى وجهتي ولا رغبة لي في النزول، أريد أن أسمع بقية ألآيات، أريد أن أبقى مع القرآن
يمر كل واحدٌ منا بأحداث مختلفة في حياته, ربما مفرحة وأخرى محزنة تتنوع من مشاكل أسرية وغيرها اجتماعية أو مشاكل عمل ألخ.. فعندما تصيبنا المشكلة فإن أول شيء نفعله نرفع سماعة الهاتف ونطلب أقرب شخص لنا ونشتكي له همومنا لعله يجد لنا حلاً. فهل فكرنايوماً بأن لا نشتكي لأحد أبداً ونشتكي إلى الله وحده؟ فما من أحدٍ سواه يستطيع أن يحل مشاكلنا فهو الولي الذي يتولى أمورنا وهو الوكيل الذي عليه نتوكل وهو السميع والبصير والحق و, و, و فلنجرب جميعاً ولنحاول أن نشكوا همومنا ومشاكلنا إلى الله وحده ونشعر بالطمأنينة الكاملة لأنه ربنا ومدبر أمورنا
Have you ever been in a room or with a group of people, friends or even kids, thinking to urself that u wished there was an interesting way to introduce any topic of religion or Quran without scaring them away?
Well, how about bringing it up in a form of a game or quiz? Interested?
Normally I go about it this way: “How about a riddle?”
I start with something real easy:
“Which two prophets were born without fathers?”
Now the response u may receive off course all depends on ur audience. If they r kids, hopefully u’ll get some excitement. But If they r adults then I assume u’ll get some condescending or “Don’t patronize us!” looks.
Obviously the answer is ‘Adam and Esa, alaihimam as-salam’.
Therefore I quickly move on to the more challenging question and add: “Okay then, let’s make it more interesting! What are the three animals mentioned in the Quran that were not born to parents? ........ Were created miraculously!"
It would be lovely if u could use ur mobile to take a few snap shots of the faces and expressions facing u. Believe you me, it’s one of the most fun riddles coming from the quran. I’ve asked kids, friends and some scholars as well, who either found it very easy or simply went blank.
With each answer u may give them a bit of background info and turn the atmosphere into a blessed one…. Nice n easy!
Hahaha, hope u weren’t scrolling down to look for the answers :)
I saw this video on youtube and wanted to share it with all of you as it brought back memories from my college days...
“Hi! My name is Salama and I am from Bahrain… an island off the Eastern Coast of Saudi Arabia (for those of you who don’t know where that is). Ummm… my hobbies include reading, dancing, and “role-playing”. I am planning on being an Economics major. My dream is to someday work for the United Nations focusing on third world development issues. And sooooo ummm…. I am glad to be here in Texas and look forward to getting my undergraduate degree from the university…. That’s about it for me… Thanks…”
“Thank you Salama… Welcome to Texas… Wow all the way from Dhaha-RAIN…How exciting… Isn’t that an oil city in Saudia Arabia? I had a relative working there at one point.”
“No actually Mr. Stratus… ummm… it’s Dhahran not Dhaharain and I’m from ‘B-A-H-RAIN’ which is an independent island located to the East of Saudi Arabia.”
“Oh…oh… slight mix-up there... Apologize… We better move on to the next first year student. We have many activities lined up for us after this icebreaker session. Yes you… please go ahead introduce yourself to the group…. ”
A flashback from my first day at the university’s orientation week more than fifteen years ago… it feels like yesterday… the estrangement… the confusion… the nerves… trying to stand out and yet pretending to “fit in”…
I can hear the echo of my own cracking voice as I introduce myself to the group… I realize now that I never mentioned in my introduction that I was a Muslim… that “I AM A MUSLIM”… It never occurred to me as far as I remember, but even if it did, would I have really wanted to highlight that part of my identity. After all, I was in a country that thrived on “freedom of this” and “freedom of that” so why would it matter anyway?
Today, I say it with regret that I should have begun with “My name is Salama and I am a Muslim…” A Muslim... from the root word meaning “peace”… meaning one who has submitted to no one and nothing but Allah… meaning one who is free in the real sense of the word as he/she can never be held hostage to anything in this world… meaning one who lives by the greatest curriculum set forth by the most amazing book on earth, the Quran…. meaning one who follows the teachings of the most compassionate human being to have ever lived, the Prohet Mohamed (PBUH)… I am a Muslim… I am a Muslim… I AM A MUSLIM…
Guess what? All those years ago at the icebreaker, I “happened to forget” to mention this… May Allah forgive me... But for those of you who will be asked to introduce yourselves at any point in time, it's never too late... Remember to say it loud and clear “I AM A MUSLIM”… stand tall and proud and say it "I AM A MUSLIM"...
41:33 Fussilat (Asad) And who could be better of speech than he who calls [his fellow-men] unto God, and does what is just and right, and says, “Verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves to God”? -
منذ حوالي شهرين تقريباً أصبحت عضوة على صفحة (فاس بوك), وعندما أرسلت طلباً لأولادي لأشاركهم صفحتهم الخاصة بهم رفضوني رفضاً تاماً, فلم أصر على طلبي.
ومنذ حوالي اسبوع تقريباً, ومن خلال صفحات أحد أقربائي بفاس بوك استطعت الدخول على صفحة أحد أولادي, فإذا بي أرى عند صفحة ال (بروفايل) وفي خانة الديانة بأنه كاتب (مسلم سني) فأثار تعجبي ودهشتي, فأنا لم أعلم أولادي على العنصرية قط! فأرسلت له رسالة حينها بأن يمحي كلمة سني من خانة الديانة وشرحت له في نفس الوقت بأننا جميعاً مسلمون وجميعاً نتبع كتاب الله (س) فلا فرق بيننا إلا بالتقوى.
أجابني بأنه لا يقصد شيء من وراء كتابته (سني) فمعظم أصدقاءه كتبوا مذهبهم على الفس بوك, وبأنه ليس عنصرياً ولديه الكثير من الأصدقاء السنة والشيعة ويحبهم جميعاً.
لا أعلم إن كان إبني قد محى كلمة (سني) من صفحته ولكني أتمنى بأن لا نحدد هويتنا بمذاهبنا وألواننا وجنسياتنا, فلا فرق بيننا أبداً إلا بصالح أعمالنا فالإسلام هو الدين الحق ودين المساواة والعدالة
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus up to 1 tablespoon for topping the muffins if desired
2 large eggs, at room temperature
4 teaspoons poppy seeds
1/2 cup milk
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly brush a 12-cup muffin tin with butter and set aside. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with an electric hand-held mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter, zest, and 2/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Stir in the poppy seeds.
Fold the flour in 3 parts into the butter mixture, alternating with the milk in 2 parts, until just combined. Take care not to overmix the batter. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin and sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool muffins in the pan on a rack. Serve warm.
Cook's Note: Poppy seeds can go rancid easily and should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِلّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ) 2:172 (Y. Ali) O ye who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship.
I just wanted to share with you a letter that I had written to a little girl that touched my heart a few years ago each time I watched her pray...
Dearest "Special Girl",
Assalumu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Allah. I just wanted to let you know that I couldn't help but notice how eager you are to pray at each Salah time and how you have made it an inseparable part of your life. I can't describe how happy this makes me feel. You have always been very special to me, but now I admire you even more. I often remember you in my prayers and constantly ask Allah to continue to bring hidaya to your life.
You have been given a gift from Allah because not everyone understands the importance of Salah like you do and how close it brings us to our Creator. It is a beautiful form of worship that only we Muslims have access to. I pray that you continue on this enlightened path and that you bring its light to all the people around you especially your friends. Each time you attempt to enlighten the people around you about the importance of Salat, Allah blesses you with His invaluable reward (ajer). It is girls like you who can make a difference in saving the next generation from getting lost in a very challenging world.
I was delighted to hear that you were looking for a calendar that indicates the prayer times (although I am not surprised knowing that this request came from a girl like you). Take care of yourself and continue on this path that you have chosen. I look forward to seeing you soon insha-Allah and may Allah bless every step you take into the future.
Lots of love, Auntie Hope
وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُواْ الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (2:110) 2:110 (Asad) And be constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues; for, whatever good deed you send ahead for your own selves, you shall find it with God: behold, God sees all that you do. -
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