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Articles by Sunday Circles
30 Before 30 the God Edition
by Halima Nawaz in Soul on 5th May, 2018 “30 places to visit before you’re 30” “30 things to do before you’re 30” “30 books to read before you’re 30” Before I turned 30, like many others, I read these types of articles, mentally checked off what I’d already done and then felt pangs of inadequacy for all I’d still not read, done or achieved.“ But I turn 30 tomorrow and I still haven’t read War and Peace, how dare I live with myself?!” Okay so maybe I didn’t think that the night before my 30th...
9 Ways to Look After Yourself
A womens love in it’s fullest form is strong and beautiful, it see’s beyond imperfections, it is forgiving. As women we live with a spark that we use to ignite others we tend to pour out our love to those around us. We recognise that love should not be a feeling, it is action. That is why we give love in all its differing shapes and shades, we give because it is in us and by nature we have to let it out in order to breathe.
Sunday Circles: Rajab, Spring, & Fresh Starts
First published in 2018 “We are living in a miracle. We inherited this world without knowing how miraculous this world is.” A wise lady said this to us today and I can’t stop thinking about it because it’s true – we have so many lessons to learn from this world that Allah created.
Qur’anic Reflections: Surah 99, Al Zalzalaha (The Earthquake) – PART 2 | Amaliah
Part 1 discussed verses 1-5 of Surah 99, ‘The Earthquake’. In those verses, the focus is on the turmoil facing the Earth on the Day of Judgment. This post will look at verses 6-8 in which the focus shifts to the inner turmoil being experienced by humans on that Day. In the verse, the word yasduru is used to describe the resurrection of people: this comes from the root word sadr, which literally means chest, and is often used to refer to one’s heart or internal state.
Allah’s 99 Names: Al-Raqeeb He Who Observes All
by NWLP Sisters Circle in Soul on 22nd October, 2019 Though you do not see Him, know that He sees you… Al-Raqeeb is the One who is All-Observant, but there is more to this name than Allah watching us constantly. This comes from a place of caring, it is watching out for someone because you care for them and love them dearly. Al-Ghazali states that the All-Observant “is one who knows and protects.
When Even One of the Holiest Sites in Islam Could Not Provide Comfort: Suicide, Mental Health, & Stigmas
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS POST DISCUSSES SUICIDE This article was written shortly after the brother’s death in 2018. We have brushed this issue under the carpet for so long, our brooms are tattered, and the carpet is now redundant. My fingers feel laboured writing these sentences, because I cannot fully fathom it—yet in other ways, unfortunately, I can. In 2018, a French national named Azzouz Boutobba died due to suicide in the month of Ramadan.
13 Ways to Be Forgiven: Starts With Fasting on the Day of Arafat
Alhamdulillah, we have a variety of ways to call out Allah (SWT) to get our sins forgiven. We have ways to get our previous sins forgiven and the sins that we will make in the future to be forgiven as well. Most of the time, we hear that after doing a mistake or a sin, if we raise our hands and make Dua and seek forgiveness we will be forgiven. Yes, that is true. There are many other ways, which we need to adapt in our lives to seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT).
How Much Do We Know About the Courage of Summayyah Bint Khayat (RA)?
There’s probably someone in your family or circle of friends called Sumayyah – their namesake was a great Sahabiah (companion) of the Prophet ﷺ and this is her story… Humble beginnings Sumayyah bint Khayyat (RA) had humble beginnings – she was a freed slave. However, even in her youth, she was known for good qualities, namely that she was intelligent, respectable and sensible.
9 Points on Patience by Ibn Al– Qayyim | Amaliah
Shaikh Ibn al-Qayyim (ra) gave the following precious advice in his valuable book Zaad al-Ma’aad (4/189-195) (this is the full quotation from his book): 1 ) If a person looks at what has befallen him, he will find that what his Lord has left for him is similar to it or better than it, and if he is patient and accepts it, He has stored up for him something that is many times greater than what he has lost through this calamity, and if He willed He could have made the calamity even greater.
4 Reasons Why Value & Reverence for Our Mosques Is Needed
“And [He revealed] that the mosques are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.”(Surah Jinn, Ayat 18) One of the first things that the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. did when he entered Madina was to build a mosque, the mosque of Quba.
5 Reasons Why We Are Tested
Life is filled with ups and downs, and there are times where our trials seem unending. In the Qur’an, there are several verses in which Allah talks about the varying ways we will be tested, but He also provides a care package to help us navigate those trying moments. RAMADAN IN LOCKDOWN: Here’s our guide to a lockdown Ramadan, filled with the duas you need, how-tos, some soulful inspiration and ideas for good deeds. Why are we tested?
5 Negative Thought Patterns Holding You Back
The original list featured in Dr. Burns The Feeling Good Handbook, which itself was derived from the book Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond by J. Beck and A. Beck, includes 10 negative thought patterns/cognitive errors.These cognitive errors were identified in efforts to increase awareness of common ways that negativity seeps into our minds, and in doing so, prevent it from affecting us. I shortened the list down to 5, as many of them overlap.
When She Doesn’t Say Salam Back: The True Virtues of Saying Salam
Whenever we see a fellow Muslim, whether we know her or not, we automatically say “Assalamualaikum”. It’s a simple but profound greeting of Peace that defines a Muslim but is often not given much attention. In fact, sometimes, we substitute this beautiful greeting with other forms – ‘hey’, ‘hello’, ‘hi’…but when we explore the richness of the greeting of salam, we realise we are really missing out if we don’t use it. What does it mean?
Softening a Hard Heart; a Little Guide
by Sunday Circles in Soul on 14th February, 2019 Looking back, you may reflect that there were periods in your life when you felt close to Allah: you were remembering Him often, you were keeping up with your prayers and keeping company with others who encouraged your faith. But then there may be periods when a person feels distant from Allah. Your faith feels weaker, prayers may feel like a burden, and it’s hard to even lift your hands up in du’a to ask for help.
Never Belittle Small Deeds – Whatever Good You Do Allah Knows It | Amaliah
ONCE you leave full-time education, it’s easy to feel burdened by the weight of expectations – whether those expectations are placed upon you by others, or self-imposed.
Living Your Islam Outside the Mosque
by Zainab Dawood in Soul on 6th February, 2019 One of the greatest struggles for Muslims is keeping our Imaan from fluctuating from day to day, one reason for this which pertains particularly to Muslims living in the West is the lack of an Islamic environment. When living in a socially secular society, it is unseemly to display one’s religion in public.
How to Build Steadfastness (Istiqaamah) in Islam
STEADFASTNESS (Istiqaamah) is commonly defined in the English language as remaining firm, committed, dedicated and constant. In terms of Islam the meaning is far deeper; in an Islamic context steadfastness or Istiqama means remaining firm on your Imaan (faith) in times of difficulty and staying patient whilst trusting Allah. Istiqama can also mean to remain constant in good deeds, by performing them regularly.
Taffakur: Purposeful Reflection Will Lead Us to Allah
by Sunday Circles in Soul on 7th October, 2019 Allah has given human beings the capability of thinking and reasoning. It is this ability which makes humans different from animals and enables them with free will, compared to all other creatures. With this blessing that Allah has bestowed upon us we are able to survive and flourish in this world- without it, we are not able to progress in this world, nor are we able to attain salvation in the hereafter.
An Open Letter to Every ‘Twentysomething’ Out There It’s Totally Ok to Have No Clue Where You’re Going
by Latifa Saber in Soul on 27th November, 2018 Disclaimer, this is not a guide on how to deal with your quarter-life crisis. I’m sure if you’d want to hear me talk about how you simply shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, you would have just grabbed one of the many self-help books, filled with generic, ‘one size fits all’ advice. Besides, I just wrapped up a two-hour overthinking session five minutes ago, so handing out advice would be unnatural to say the least.
Ramadan | Amaliah
Amaliah is dedicated to representing Muslim women. Led by a passion to empower individuals through their identity, our work seeks to surface the many different voices and experiences within our community. We create content for Muslim women that aims to shape thought and act as a tool for cultural change.
On Understanding What Is Meant for You, and Accepting That Which Is Not
“If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Anfal verse 70) Being a (young) person at a weirdly precarious stage of life makes you optimistic, and hopeful that you’ll attain certain things, like an internship, getting that job or into that university programme, or being with that specific person.
What Does a Woman Fighting on the Frontlines Look Like?
“You can’t go climbing trees with your brothers. It’s very unladylike” “You should learn not to argue with men if you want to maintain a good, lasting home.” “No man is going to marry you if you can’t cook good meals and do the laundry.” These voices continue to replay in my head just as I begin to type in the words. It reminds me of a time in my life when I resented the fact that I was growing up.
Here Is an Explainer of How Allah’s Rizq Works
There are some wonderful lessons that we can draw from this single verse in in the Qur’an – Surah Talaq, ayah 3 – relating to Tawakkal (trust in Allah) and Rida (contentment): “And He (Allah) will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” Key Lessons: 1.
6 Quran Verses and Hadiths to Get You Through Hardship
Having that void in your heart can be painful. The one that doesn’t quite feel right—like something is missing, but you just can’t seem to put your finger on what; it is borderline painful. I felt it too. Days pass by, you don’t like to see or be around family or friends, you can’t focus at work, you don’t quite feel like eating anything. Depression? Anxiety? No, no; it is a disease and needs to be treated, but not a tangible disease, no—it is a spiritual one.
Dhul Hijjah: What Does the Day of Arafah Represent?
Yawmul ‘Arafah is considered the most important day of the entire Hajj pilgrimage. In fact, the Prophet (saw) said: “Hajj is ‘Arafah” (Tirmidhi). It is so important that if one misses ‘Arafah, their Hajj is not complete or valid. On this day all the pilgrims – woman, man, old, young, rich or poor, of every race, colour and nationality – journey to the desert plains of ‘Arafah. They begin the journey from Mina after the dawn prayers, and they remain until sunset.
A Promise of Paradise
A woman’s love is deep and runs strong; it’s tender and fierce and sometimes needs no more than an instant to establish a bond that stretches beyond time, beyond space. A woman’s love can result in an angel being sent from heaven to reveal a miraculous well; in her name being mentioned in the greatest of all Divine Scriptures; in the power to defy a tyrant king before his people.
A Letter to My Parents, My Graduation Is for You
by Nihal Qawasmi in Soul on 26th July, 2018 May has always been my favorite month out of the entire year. True, I might be biased, given that it’s my birth month. But hey, I have other reasons too, one of them being that May always marks the prime of spring. Plants and trees aren’t the only things blooming. It’s a month of renewal and the start of new beginnings for everything. What better way to exemplify that idea than it also being graduation season? Oh yeah, graduation.
Allah’s 99 Names: Al Hakeem the Wise
by NWLP Sisters Circle in Soul on 22nd July, 2018 And Allah Knows, while you know not… Firstly when learning about Allah’s attributes we must remember they are not mutually exclusive. Allah can be Subtle and Powerful, He can be the contractor and the expanser. Allah does not simply encompass one characteristic but many at once. Some names are often kept together because of how synergistic they are. Al-Aleem means the All-knowing.
Qur’anic Reflections : Surah 99, Al Zalzalah (The Earthquake) – Part 1 | Amaliah
This short but profound Surah (chapter) describes the Earth’s convulsions on the Day of Judgment, and how this is mirrored by the psychological convulsions that will be experienced by humans on that Day. The analogies, rhythm and imagery are particularly powerful, typical of other surahs in the 30th Juz (section) of the Qur’an. Most opinions suggest this Surah was revealed in Makkah, because of the style and themes it contains.
Perfect as a Stand Alone Word Appears Positive and Noble but It’s Deceptive, in Order to Be Perfect One Needs Imperfections
Save of course for a few of life’s endeavours (mainly folding grocery bags), I’ve never been much of a perfectionist. Striving for it yes, but being bothered if I or others are imperfect or flawed, being fussed about burning dinner for guests (setting the kitchen on fire) or being incapable of leaving the house without an immaculately contoured face full of MAC make up (seriously smells like Dulux paint), these are not concerns that make me lose panda winks at night.
Salah: The Secret to a Successful Life
In the daily adhan in fact: We have been given a beautiful gift in Salah. Whatever ambitions you’re striving for, know that your salah is the most important and valuable deed you can do – if other forms of success seem elusive and far away, know that you have already been blessed with the best and most tangible route to success five times a day.
Closed Doors and Detours: Learning From Prophet Yusuf (AS)
Have you ever been in a situation when something that you planned for goes pear-shaped, and you end up with what seems like the exact opposite of what you sought? Maybe you spent weeks revising for that one exam – you had the ideal timetable, all your notes were in order and you were working hard every day…only for the exam to be a disaster.
The Problem Is You Think You Have Time
It Takes Effort It won’t be easy to apply the correct approach to your time all in one go, but it’s important to start thinking about this – know that there are steps you can take to protect your time; it is possible to identify what is stealing your time, and to reflect on ways in which it can be used more effectively.
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