Exams

Been too busy to blog these days with exams coming up and projects due soon, I feel there are barely enough hours in a day. Hopefully I will be more frequent when they are over. I decided to share a few useful pieces for people like me with exams. Remember that you can't just pray and expect to pass your exams by magic (Hehe, I used to think like that in secondary School!). You should put in your best effort in everything :)

Dua Before Studying

Allahumma infa’nii bimaa ‘allamtanii wa’allimnii maa yanfa’ unii.

O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

Allahumma inii as’aluka fahmal-nabiyyen wa hifthal mursaleen al-muqarrabeen.

O Allah! I ask You for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to You.

Allahumma ijal leesanee ‘amiran bi thikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika.

O Allah! Make my tongue full of Your remembrance, and my heart with consciousness of You.

Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbun-allahu wa na’mal wakeel.

(Oh Allah!) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and best of aid. Protector and the best of aid.

Dua After Studying

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu ‘allaya inda hagati elayhi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel.

Oh Allah! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied. (Oh Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. (Oh Allah!) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and the best of aid.Dua While Studying Something Difficult

Allahumma la sahla illama ja-’altahu sahla wa anta taj ‘alu al hazana etha shi’ta sahla.

O Allah! Nothing is easy except what You have made easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy.

Ramadan Du'a 6 -10

Day 6

ALLAH, on this day, do not let me abase myself by incurring Your disobedience, and do not strike me with the whip of Your punishment, keep me away from the causes of Your anger, by and Your power, O the ultimate wish of those who desire.

Day 7

ALLAH, on this day, help me with its fasts and prayers, and keep me away from mistakes and sins of the day, grant me that I remember You continuously through the day, by Your assistance, O the Guide of those who stray.

Day 8

ALLAH, on this day, let me have mercy on the orphans, and feed [the hungry], and spread peace, and keep company with the noble-minded, O the shelter of the hopeful.

Day 9

ALLAH, on this day, grant me a share from Your mercy which is wide, guide me towards Your shining proofs, lead me to Your all encompassing pleasure, by Your love, O the hope of the desirous.

Day 10

ALLAH, on this day, make me, among those who rely on You, from those who You consider successful, and place me among those who are near to you, by Your favor, O goal of the seekers.

Daily Ramadan Du'a

Daily Ramadan Supplications

Day 1

ALLAH, on this day make my fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely), and my standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one who forgives the sinners.

Day 2

ALLAH, on this day, take me closer towards Your pleasure, keep me away from Your anger and punishment, grant me the opportunity to recite Your verses (of the Qur'an), by Your mercy, O the most Merciful.

Day 3

ALLAH, on this day, grant me wisdom and awareness, keep me away from foolishness and pretension, grant me a share in every blessing You send down, by You generosity, O the most Generous.

Day 4

ALLAH, on this day, strengthen me in carrying out Your commands, let me taste the sweetness of Your remembrance, grant me, through Your graciousness, that I give thanks to You. Protect me, with Your protection and cover, O the most discerning of those who see

Day 5

ALLAH, on this day, place me among those who seek forgiveness. Place me among Your righteous and obedient servants, and place me among Your close friends, by Your kindness, O the most Merciful.

Intro: Daily Ramadan Supplications

Salaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam :)

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone! I wish you all the blessings of this holy season in abundance. May Allah accept our ibadah...

This might be a bit late, but I have decided to post daily Ramadan Prayers from 1 -30. Since I have missed the 1st few days I will InshaAllah post 1 - 5 at once and them one everyday...

Bad Ambassadors!

I was going through a few blogs on Technorati today and I was shocked at how many anti-Islam blogs I came across. I'm not just saying people opinionated against it, no, I mean people that are going on to say all Muslims should be EXTERMINATED! Well, I can understand why people might think this way. People only think Islam condones terrorism because there are Muslims that give them cause to!

The series of events regarding Islam and the western world is so unfortunate. People commit atrocities for political sakes in the name of Islam. They justify cruelty and injustice with "Jihad". To me, they are very bad ambassadors of Islam. I have been a Muslim all my life, had intensive Islamic Education from very early childhood and nowhere along the line have I come across a verse or chapter that condones most of these actions.

Islam has only brought peace, joy and contentment to my life. Sometimes I wish people would understand it the way I do, but I know it's impossible. I look at my close set of friends and smile at the cocktail of religions; Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Atheists and Baha'is. If we can all get along, why can't the world?

As I grow up I see my the chances of my childhood dream of world peace thinning. I think people that are anti-Islam should try to see things politically and not religiously. Most muslims in the world are from the middle east and we all know how politically fustrated that region is. I just wish they didn't use Islam to justify their actions.

Was going through Surah Al-Imran and came across some beautiful verses about forgiveness. I wish people will realise that fighting violence with violence is only multiplying violence. If only people can learn to forgive...

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُواْ اللّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَى مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
3:135 and who, when they have committed a shameful deed or have [otherwise] sinned against themselves, remember God and pray that their sins be forgiven - for who but God could forgive sins? - and do not knowingly persist in doing whatever [wrong] they may have done.



Zahratique's Prayer

..."O our Sustainer! forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings! And make firm our steps, and succour us against people who deny the truth!" - (Qur'an 3:147)

ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Anger....

From my early learning days, I remember how the control of one's temper was always emphasized especially in Hadith. Now,

#16 An Nawawi Collection

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be Pleased with him), who said : a man said to the prophet :
"Counsel me". He said : " Do not become angry". The man repeated [his request] several times, and he said: "Do not become angry ".narrated by Bukhari

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think about it over and over again. It's short, simple and straightforward. But still I don't understand why I don't apply it to my lifestyle. In the past, I had a very hot temper. In fact, people [especially my family] often described me as borderline agressive. Over the years though, I learnt to control my temper. I started passing on my emotions to other things - reading, TV, movies, poetry, writing etc. It indeed made me a happier person. I looked at things from all perspectives possible before acting upon it.

Recently however, I'm losing my temper so fast you'd think I've become Russell Crowe or something. I know it's wrong and like everyone else, I blame it all on stress levels being high. I'm running out of patience and the people around me aren't making it any easier, picking up little annoying fights for no reason.

*Zahratique's Prayer*

"Ya Allah, You are the Subduer and Constrictor. Please assist me in controlling my anger. I seek refuge from you from resorting to the acts of Shaitan, the accursed."

I also came across a very helpful website. I hope it helps anyone to deal with control of their temper - Click Here

Du'a

Salaam Alaikum.

I admit it. I am indeed guilty, there are certain times when I simply say my Salama to conclude my prayer and just get up and walk away without saying any Du'a after the prayer. Usually, it's either because I am in a hurry. It is quite irresponsible of me to just get up and go. Don't I have anything to be thankful for? Am I grateful for all of Allah's mercies? Is muttering a Du'a under my breath as I fold my mat sufficient enough? No! InshaAllah,

I will make du'a for forgiveness, gratitude, guidance and strength as much as I can in a day. Once upon a time, I used to have a prayer list; A sheet of paper where I wrote down who I should pray for and why. As a very open person, people always come up to me with their problems so I thought it would be nice to add them in my prayers in order to make their worries lighter. I have gradually stopped doing this but inshaAllah, I shall start again.

I cannot reiterate the importance of Du'a

Over and over again, why can't I stick to it? In order to help me with this, I shall blog about Du'as I say and their purposes. For Allah (SWT) mentioned in the Qur'an

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

(Qur'an 2:186)

"...And when My servants ask about Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every supplicant, when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, so that they may walk in the right way"

(Qur'an 2:186).

A New Beginning...

Assalamu Alaikum,

Welcome to my blog and Thanx for stopping by! This is Zahratique's double life, an outlet for yours truly to let out all her worries and troubles. I may be Muslim, but I am well aware that I'm not the best Muslim out there. There are so many things I do and I know they are not right and yet, why do I still keep disobeying God's orders? Well that is about to change! Please join me as I try to add a purpose and meaning to my chaotic life.

This is my second attempt at an Iman blog. The last one failed disgracefully. This time around, I am more determined and focused that InshaAllah I shall reach my ultimate goal. I plan on updating at least once a week. I also wish to serve as inspiration for all my Nigerian Muslim sisters who are losing their grip on their Religion to get back on their feet and remember Islam is Awesome!

Hope you'll follow me on this journey for I know there will be times when I'll need moral support and reassurance.

Thanx

Salaam :)