Listen to your heart

On being a mother

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:04:00 +0000

It is very challenging nowadays to be a mother of young kids. Kids need a lot of time, energy, attention ,love, care, discipline and a lot more.
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Being a mum has its own perks but it comes with a lot of pressure and frustration as well. I am blessed to be around my kids, attend to their needs, enrich their minds and souls every day and watch them grow.

Yet, at some days I feel really drained, I look up to a break; mental, physical and emotional. Especially that I'm a person who derives my energy from solitude, only then I'm back to life to face the world.

Dealing with kids all day can be draining, yet rewarding. It takes a lot of stamina to stay sane and keep a healthy happy environment at home.
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Sometimes I blame myself that I am short in performing acts of worshiping but then I remind myself that
"كلكم راع و كلكم مسؤؤل عن رعيته"

“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them. A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and she is responsible for them"
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This is my duty now as a Muslim mother to raise happy balanced educated and pious children who will grow up one day into successful Muslim productive adults. If I didn't raise them well now, and instill deen and manners, no one will.

What I find heart warming about our religion is that العمل عبادة (Work in Islam is a form of worshiping) I try to renew my intentions throughout the day. I'm trying to be the best mother I could be for the sake of Allah. And the Amanah he has given me for which I am fully responsible for.

Lets share together, what Nawaya (Intentions) do you take all day while spending time with your kids or doing house chores?

Do you believe in magic?

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:18:00 +0000

When we were young, we lived in our good world…A world where fairytales, unicorns, talking animals & great kingdoms were undeniable.

Bit by bit & as the years passed, the real world began to unfold, & our fairly lands became distorted, only to be remembered as good old childhood memories…

Magic!!

Do you still believe in it?

I personally do.

I do believe that we can always bring it back to life if we wish...

I believe that magic is the energy conveyed in the air between two lovers. It’s the warmth of a hug from someone dear. It’s in the ability to heal some one’s pain, or ease their sorrow, to make some one smile, or laugh from their heart till they shine.

It’s the unconditional giving without waiting for the return.

And the ultimate one of all is being so close to Him, so near to your creator that everything else seems so small. It’s when you finally find the peace you’ve always been looking for… peace…security… and serenity.

It’s magic…

Do you believe you can make your own?

And the winner is...

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:05:00 +0000

Her fierce looks & sharp face wouldn't let me stop staring at her. Her whole body was almost flying in one direction. Her head did not even turn for a moment to look around. It seemed that the air she was grasping was not her only fuel. Something was burning inside...
A few seconds later, she was almost there. Her face turned fiercer as her arms struggled harder with the air. Her legs sharpened from spinning & her feet barely hit the ground...until they reached the finish line.

I was flipping through some TV channels when I saw this girl. I admired her determination to win the running Olympics....and she did win FIRST place.

In a few hours, our marathon will start...
It lasts for ten days & comes only once per year.

Maybe we have wasted some precious days of Ramadan. Maybe we were not ready for its sudden arrival during summer, or maybe we have some other reasons.
We regret what has gone, but does this mean the game is over??!!

NEVER.

In fact, we're blessed with Allah who cares...
He is Al Rahim who's the most Merciful & who's always eager to give us another chance.
He is Al Ghafur who forgives our shameful deeds.
And Al Wadud who's always near to fill our hearts with love.

His paradise doors are wide opened for all of us. ِ
Didn't He say??

قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله" (الزمر_53)53 "

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [39:53]

Lets join the marathon this year.....
TO WIN
To insert some light in our life book.
To do something we have never done in any of our past Ramadans.
Lets break our own records..

We have already stayed up all night to watch our favourite TV show's rerun, to chat with friends, to reach a higher level in a computer or video game, to wait for someone we love at the airport, to watch the sunrise, or even hangout with friends at Alex or sa7el.

Don't we deserve to give ourselves a treat, an armor from the unknown, a good-deeds bank account with our creator...

One night...If we aim to shoot, new horizons will open for us.
Lailat Al Qadr...One night better than 1000 months
& 1000 months=30,000 days=83 years!!!

If you have wasted your whole life, this night is worth an entire lifetime.

Ready...Steady...

Lets break a record.

(و في ذلك فليتنافس المتنافسون" (المطففين_26

"So for this let the competitors compete." [83:26]

He knows it all

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:35:00 +0000

Our life in a few lines...

The magic word

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Allahu Akbar!!

Do you feel it?

Allaaaahu Akbar...

He's gretaer than everyone & above everything. He's the greatest of all.

He's my priority today, tomorrow & every remaining day in my short life.

It's beautiful to grasp its glory...Say it slowly..."Allaaaahu Akbar!"

Allahu Akbar when i decide, Allahu Akbar i say it with pride. Allahu Akbar is the light on the not so bright days.

It's my every breath & each heart beat. It's in every blink & each someone i meet.

With Allahu Akbar, I'll face the world. Good morning world!

Allaaaaaaaaahu Akkkkbbaarrr...

The bar soap container

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:48:00 +0000

This Eid I travelled with my family & some friends to Taba at the Southern of Sinai; it's really a great place with wonderful attractions. We went hiking & climbed an extremely high mountain where we got to see the borders of Palestine, Jordan & Saudi Arabia from the peak.

At the hotel while packing our bags at the end of the trip, one of my relatives entered the bathroom to check his stuff. He liked this soap container at the basin. It was rounded & with holes in the middle to prevent water from accumulating around the soap & dissolving it. He thought the hotel definitely had a lot of them & it won't matter if he took it with him home. After all, it's not expensive & it's made of plastic, plus the house keepers are used to finding missing stuff so they'll replace it shortly. He stared at it again, but hesitated & immediately left the hotel room.

Three hours later in the bus heading to Cairo…

The phone rang.

"Good afternoon Mr. A, this is your boss's office & he'll be with you in a minute."….

"Hello Mr. A, I hope you had a great holiday. Guess what, you earned a bonus this month…"

It was totally unexpected!!!

What can I say!!

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاًّ(2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ
لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ "
سورةالطلاق_ 2,3

"And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).(2). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.(3)"
At Talaaq_2,3

The Break Up Effect!

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:47:00 +0000

I'm already missing you

Though you're still here

The fact that you're leaving
Is torturing me dear

I'll always remember your days
And all the good things we did

How you spread your magic
Since I were a kid

I saw people changing
Inside all over out

Day & night they made prayers
For in their God, they have no doubt

You delighted the rich
And were generous on the poor

You were our only hope
For hell to close its door

For heaven's gates wide opened
And hell fire was locked

People were more tolerant
For all satins were blocked

Ramadan, If you insist on leaving
Don't take my soul with you

Your blessings, if you take them away
Right here it'll turn into a zoo

Ramadan, next year who knows
If I'd be alive or not

Till then I'll strive & pray
For my heart not to rot!

Hana Arafa

Ramadan 1430

Wishing u all a happy Eid ッ

You...Ur Friend or Foe?!

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:16:00 +0000

In a few days, an emergency state will occur all over the world. Nothing would be constant & no one would be the same. The Earth's nature will be altered. This phenomena happens yearly since before you were born. Have you ever realized that!
Conversations are held in the skies, doors of heaven are wide opened, gates of hell fire are locked up & devils are chained.
Everything on Earth & beyond it is changing & welcoming their generous guest; Ramadan...What about me & you?

We're not angels; we all sin everyday. And that's something we all share, even the best of the best of us. But shamefully we blame others for our behavior.
I blame you for my anger, you blame him for making you shout, they blame the red tape system( government's routine) for forcing them to bribe & the harsh life for making them cheat. And the most popular of all we blame satin for every single wrong we do.

Now what! For sure satin is a 24/7 devoted whisperer & he runs in our veins like our blood. And of course he never gives up ruining our trials of getting closer to God. And even if we managed to run away from his control & do a good deed, he's here to ruin our sincere intention. (I've been interrupted a lot during writing this, & almost got sick & shut down the laptop. But then i thought he's not gonna get me this time. I'm not gonna stop)

But till when will we keep accusing him of our sins? Is he the only one to blame?
Well no, satin has another partner, in fact a sort of invisible military agent inside us known as "Al Nafs"(your self). Your Nafs could be your friend or worst foe. It depends on who's the master. It kind of goes like this:

Nafs: "Oh you seem tired & so upset from Ahmad. You need to release your anger. Here comes Sara. Go tell her what he has done to you."

You: "NO, no. Ahmad's not here. I can't gossip."

Nafs: "Come oooooon! That's not gossiping. Chill out man, you're just removing the burden from your chest, nothing more."

You:"umm.OK. No harm done. Sara is good, I'll tell her.

That's the secret agent I'm talking about. Al Nafs that's urging us to commit the wrong & could even find a good reason to justify our actions & cool our conscience.

The good news is that in a few hours, the devils will be deprived from their free pass. And the whole world will be devil free for the next 30 days. So no more nasty whispers insh'Allah. Only you & your self.

So?

#Lets make a deal here:

1.Bring a paper.
2.Think & write down seven sins you commit a lot & want to get rid of.
3.Read your list daily in Ramadan.
4.Focus all day & cease to do any of them.
5. Ask God to help you stop them.

During Ramadan, there'll be no intruders. So you'll have full control. Do you think your Nafs could urge you to do bad deeds then?

Now that's the challenge, we'll strive to stick to our deal, & if one day a mistake happened, we'll repent & continue with the promise. Let's give our Nafs a lesson it never forgets. We'll fight in ramadan, so that after it's over, we'd remain winners. We are the master, & the Nafs is our slave. .

Ramadan Kareem

A letter to you!

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Time: 1:30 am

Place: My desk

Dear God,

They said it's a special night, so I thought of writing you this.

In my room right now, I feel kind of excited. Well it's really weird, coz whenever I write a letter to someone, they read it after I send it, but now you're already watching my every word coming from inside.

I read a hadith for our prophet (pbuh) about tonight. He said that on the 15^th night of sha'ban you forgive us all except a mushahin or a moshrek.*

Well I swear right now that I'm not on bad terms with anyone, & I swear again by your name that if any one has ever done me wrong, I forgive them.

I've been trying to direct my intentions of my deeds to you ( though sometimes out of no where, something pops up to ruin it, but I have faith you understand the human nature & you have access to the deeper side of me)

Yours,

Hana

* "Allah looks down on the middle night of sha'ban & forgives all his creation, except a polytheist or one who is mushahin)

(sunna ibn maja volume 002, Hadith no. 1380)

A few magical moments

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:05:00 +0000

I always find this hour magical at this time of the early morning. SubhanAllah there's something about it we still haven' discovered yet. It makes me wonder if it's the blissful fresh air I inhale, the calm atmosphere, the absence of people, the twittering birds …or maybe something beyond that, something unseen & only felt; my state of mind or maybe the angels.

I love everything about early dawns; I cherish their every single detail & the calming sweet voices of different Azans reaching my window from all directions. I love how all the mosques around are never together when saying the Azan. It may seem to others as a messed up chorus but to me it's my daily pill. Listening to the uneven, diverse voices filling the night & echoing in the skies, chanting the same words is a peace of mind. It's like a universal melancholic orchestra.

The twittering is getting more intense by now. As if in a battle birds are fighting the ugly demons & satins that ruin our day. Such loyal heroes... I always feel they're supplicating to God too, sharing something with the awaken prayers. It's like the whole universe is whispering together to their creator; giving praises for their chance to begin a new day.

Haii A'la Al Falaaah
Haii A'la Al Falaaah

Its tune kept echoing in my head all day...

Listen to your heart

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:00:00 +0000

I opened my heart to see what's inside. To have a look at what's happening in there. I found some lines shattered all around, intersecting each other & moving apart. Straight, crooked, thick & thin, they all have been formed over the years.

I found dark sides & a few brighter ones. I saw familiar faces but in different sizes. I saw places & objects, thoughts & words, laughs & frowns, moments & days.

I heard something, so I leaned & my ear approached my heart. Something deep inside was ticking. No, that was not the sound I heard. It was deeper. I stood to close the window & stop any source of noise. I need to concentrate, to identify the voice.

I bowed with my ear again & held the heart in my hand. Has the sound gone, or was that only illusions!

I gazed at the heart again & shook it a few more times. I held it up in the air, turning it in my hand. On hearing someone scream in pain, I dropped it.

"Ouch! That hurt. Why are you surprised? You already know I'm sensitive."

_"Huh!"

"Don't you think I've had enough from you, the last thing I need is another fall!"

_"S...sorry"

"Yea, what's new! You always say that every time & then you drop me till I can sink no more."

_"Don't be hard on me. You're tender with everyone. I'm human…ok"

"DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN EXCUSE????!!!"

_"HEEEY! Watch your words; I'm the one in control here. You belong to meee."

"Huh! That's what you think, I don't belong to any one here you creature. You own nothing! You
think you could do whatever & whenever you feel like it, & just go with it. I've had enough. You turned me into night while I was born shining. You hurt me with wounds while I was created sound. You stained every corner leaving no place for dusk. Now what do you expect?!"

_ "I've done good deeds in my life, & I don't need to remind you of them."

"What makes you so sure they reached any where beyond your Earth? Bla Bla Bla. Such fake confidence"

_"And what makes you so sure they did not. Stop acting like you know it all. You're always interrupting me with your big No No's. Let me live in peace"

"YOU, let me live in the serenity I used to know. You grew up & thought you can handle it on your own!! You're destroying me every time you breathe. Have mercy on me. Stop your ugly thoughts, your misguided deeds. Stop ignoring my voice. Whenever you do something against me, I warn you but you keep rejecting. Ok as you like. Keep ignoring my signals & I'll be buried forever. Now let's see who could notify you again."

_"you never judge people, what happened?"

"You're asking me? Look in the mirror & you'll find out. Move. Look deep through yourself. Do you feel relaxed? Do you feel at ease? You always make me burn with your desires. You deprive me from the sweetness of being connected with up there. That's what happened."

_"You've never told me that, don't blame me."

"You stopped listening. Now pay attention to me. Get used to my voice…. Listen to your heart"

The sacred doors

noreply@blogger.com (Spark) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:08:00 +0000

She stood admiring it for a while, wondering if it belonged to her. Along the path she walked, screening all the other doors & searching for anything extraordinary. Maybe someone has left her a clue to help recognize it.

The first seemed with nothing familiar. She moved to the second, which completely looked the same. It took her a while to reach the third door as it started getting crowded. There has to be something wrong. They were all similar to her. Why did she ever think God has left her a sign on her door!

Anxious people all around were pushing; probably they were looking for their doors too. She passed by another group of people who looked different…why they seemed so confident…maybe they have an answer. "Umm excuse me Miss…ehhh sister…sister?" The stranger looked at her with disgrace & twisted her head away. She turned again to face her "Umm, yes you miss…lady in white…May I ask Y..o.." She didn't even finish & the lady left giving her that look but fiercer this time.

"Ok no more ladies" She murmured. "Hey sir…Mr., over here!" Same disappointment. What's with the look nowadays!

By the time she moved to the sixth door, it was almost impossible to move, harder to breathe & no one even bothered to look. She had to search alone. After endless trials, she managed to scan the main eight doors. There was not a single sign for her!! What kind of sign was that!!

She seriously had no other option except dive through all those queues again to catch a closer look at the doors. "Maybe I missed something." She thought.

While on her way, a thought hit her, perhaps there was a parchment or so hung on each door stating its people. "Yea, how stupid of me to think that someone would leave me a sign." She whispered. "It's a LIST for God's sake"

"Here we go again Besm Allah", the first door said "AL Salaah"(The prayers)…how come she didn't notice the label before. She ran to read the list & was stopped every three seconds. She was kicked, shot & pushed until she penetrated the crowd & her face hit the firm door. The pain was unbearable but at last, she stood in front of it. God it smelt so good. She wondered what was on its other side.

She raised her head up to its maximum & then down again. "No waaaay, it could take me ages to finish reading this." She had no one to help & no other choice. She had to look for her name. The letters were arranged alphabetically. The list seemed endless & she was running out of time. Some of the names were familiar & others weird that were hard to pronounce or even determine their nationality.

By the "Salaah" door someone tall was standing. He looked so pure, calm & serene spreading warmth & radiance. She has never seen such shiny beauty before; it was not the Earthly looks we were used to. "He must be an angel." she thought. She admired him for a while & was then sure angels were made of light. Angels are good natured, she felt he would definitely offer help.

She couldn't wait to tell her friends she saw an angel but she even wondered how come they didn't check on her up till now, even her family didn't.

"Assalamu A'laykum dear angel, I was wondering if that's my door…. I mean my door to Paradise you know" pheew at last some one listened.

His beautiful face looked at hers, scanned it for a while, and shook his head with sorrow. "But why….wh..e..r..e?" She sobbed. In no time he disappeared & left. She didn't know where he went or what was she supposed to do.

Her feet carried her far. Weeping, wailing & screaming from door to door, she had no more time, people were almost in, the doors were closing & every time she received the same disappointing sign. That's not the sign she was looking for; not that ugly sorrow expression.

She took a deep breath; He was her last hope, her only salvation. "God…God I..I..am n..o..t" She sobbed . "Ya Allah I wasn't among those who knelt to pray day & night, so I was rejected at 'the Salaah' door. Allah Your generosity has always granted me with blessings, yet I returned them every time with more greed & complain. Little did I give you thanks & praises to you ya Allah. Ya Rrr…uh..Ya Rabbi & I was rejected again at 'The Shaakerin' door & 'Al Rayyan door'. I…I…knocked at the other doors again. But they were all closed at my face & locked. "

Silence broke her words as tears drowned her eyes & ran over her blushing cheeks.

"Ya Rabbi I often had ugly feelings that crept to my heart. I felt superior to others, though who I am right now & what I possess were all destined & given by you Ya Razzaq. I forgot that …that I'm your servant & was only made from worthless Earthly mud…I …I commit tons of sins & did a lot of wrongs, though deep inside I knew from the start you hated them ya Rabb…. Allah I have nowhere to go now, I was rejected. I count on you now. You're my only & last resort."

Like never before tears burst. Fiercely they echoed like thunder on a still desert night.

" I beg you"

"I beg youuuuu"

"I beg youuuuuuuu"

She got no reply & she stood all alone. All people crossed the gates & knew their doors except her. The doors' labels failed to recognize her. A brutal thunder was heard. It echoed everywhere, inside her body & out. She looked once again up; pleading for one last chance…but to her disappointment that has refused to depart her that day…there was no sky. There was no sky!!! Where was she?

"Where am I?"

Knock…knock…Knock. Was that real!!…knock...knock…Her whole body shivered as if washed in a second & her face lit …"God forgaaaaaaaave me?"…knock…knock…knock…. "He gave me one more chance. Which door was that…the First?? No, no...the sound was near."

Knock ...knock. "My door is calling me, I'm crossing to paradise." She shouted.

"Hanaaaaaaa……" The voice echoed clearly.

"Oh, oh, oh!! My sweet door is calling my name. Yes, yes I'm coming." She screamed excitedly.

"Hanaaaa, wake up it's too late, I've been knocking on your bedroom door for ages here, wake up honey, we're late...get ready. Hurry!"

"Huh, what? Why hurry? Ah…good morning mum. Hurry? Yea...ok" She lifted her head & stared at her soaked pillow. "Yea, I need to hurry…we're not that late. It's never too late"

The beginning…