Bismillahhir rahmanir rahim:
بِسْــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ اارَّحِيم
In the name of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful.
اَهْلاًوَسَهْلاً (ahlan wa sahlan)
How are all you wonderful people? I trust I am finding you enjoying this lovely day wherever you are…
A little something which is on my mind today:
When it comes to religion, our deen, as the youth of today it is indeed a great challenge to keep on the straight and narrow. Living in a westernized society there is so much temptation and exposure to things which maybe we shouldnt be seeing or doing. To face the facts – it is a reality. How hard is it not to resist that pair of shorts on a 34degrees African summer day? To not have a sip of what the in crowd is drinking?
Times have changed, and most families are much more liberal – as South African Muslim women we enjoy so much more freedom than our sisters in many other parts of the world. A freedom which we more often than not take for granted. Yet if we were to just take a moment to sit back and reflect, if we could see our lives displayed in a mirror a la that movie scene where you are transported to having a peripheral view of our lives. Are we so concerned with what foods the MJC deems Halal, that we do not stop to look at the little things which we consume in our lives that is haraam.
How many of us use these sunnah words during the day? How many of us know the following terms and its meanings? (http://www.revertmuslims.com/arabic.html)
• Assalaamu Álaykum (Peace be upon you) – by way of greetings
• Wa alaykumus salaam (peace be upon you) – in reply to the greetings
• Bismillah (in the name of Allah) – before making a beginning
• Jazakallah (may Allah reward you) – for expression of thanks
• Fi Amanullah (may Allah protect you) – by way of saying good-bye
• Subhaanallah (glory be to Allah) – for praising something
• Insha Allah (if Allah wishes) – for expressing a desire to do something
• Astaghfirullah (I beg Allah for forgiveness) – repenting for sins before Allah
• Maa shaa Allah (as Allah has willed) – for expressing appreciation of something good
• Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) – for showing gratitude to Allah after success or even after completing anything
• Yaa Allah (Oh Allah) – when in pain or distress, calling upon Allah and none else
• Aameen (may it be so) – the end of a Dua or prayerInnaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon (to Allah we belong and to Him is our return) – this is uttered as an expression of sympathy of the news of some loss or some one’s death
• As salamu aleiykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh -Peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you
• Waleiykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh-And peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you
• Bismillah – before making a beginning In the name of Allah
• May Allah reward you – JazakAllahu khair for _expression of thanks May Allah reward you for the good
• BarakAllahu feekum – responding to someone’s thanks May Allah bless you
• Astaghfirullah – repenting for sins before Allah I beg Allah for forgiveness
• Aameen – the end of a Dua or prayer May it be so
• Sal allahu aleihi wasallam – whenever say the name of Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him (S.A.W.)
• Alaihi salaam – whenever say the name of a prophet Peace be upon him (A.S.)
• Radi Allah Anhu – whenever say name of male companion of the Prophet (Sahabi) May Allah be pleased with him (R.A.)
• Radi Allah Anha – whenever say name of female companion of the Prophet May Allah be pleased with her (R.A.)
• Radi Allah Anhum – Plural form of saying companions of the Prophet May Allah be pleased with them (R.A.)
• La hawla wala quwata illah billah – during the time of troubles There is no strength nor power except Allah
• Fi sabi lillah – giving charity For the sake of Allah
• “Tawakkal-tu-Allah – rely on Allah) to solve a problem
• Tawkkalna-Alai-Allah – we have put our trust in Allah) when you wait for a problem to be solved.
• Rahmah Allah – Allah have Mercy on him) when you see someone in distress.
• Na’uzhu-bi-Allah – when we seek refuge in Allah) to show your dislike.
• Inna Lillah – we are for Allah – when you hear about a death
• Atqaa Allah -fear Allah – when you see someone doing a bad deed.
• Allahu Yahdika – may Allah guide you – to forbid somebody to do something indecent.
• Hayyak Allah – (Allah maintain your life) when you greet someone.
• Allah Aalam – (Allah knows best) when you say something you are not sure of.
• Tabarak Allah – (blessed be Allah) when you hear a good news
• Hasbi Allah – (Allah will suffice me) when you are in a difficult situation.
• Azhak Allah Sinnaka – (May Allah keep you cheerful) when you seek another Muslim with cheerful countenance.
I also came across (http://www.missionislam.com/kidsclub/islamicterms.htm) and (http://islamicink.wordpress.com/basic-islamic-phrases-terms/)
Being a muslim does not guarantee a “boring” existence. Being a muslim is something we should be proud of. And it should all start with our Imaan, our Faith.
We should not be ashamed to wear our hijaab; we are so priviliged to be able to, unlike our French sisters. We should strive to learn about our deen in order to empower ourselves, and enrich our knowledge. In this day and age, with technology as such a powerfull tool we should embrace it. We should strive to make the lives we lead in this dunya worthy for the akhirah.
It might be hard to get into the routine of fulfilling our religious obligations, of performing our salaah and wearing our hijaab. It might be hard not going to clubs and disassociating ourselves from being in the ‘it’ crowd. At the end of the day, when we are seated in sajdah and feel the release from the hold society has on us to conform – that feeling of being close to Allah makes it all worth it.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh