An excerpt from a favourite article

"wanted to share a moving story that I once heard and will always remember and cherish for its meanings. It’s the story of one of the great Imams of this Ummah, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

His son, Abdullah, asked his father one day: “Abi when will we ever relax?” His father, one of the greatest revivers of the Sunnah and a role model for all Muslims, looked him in the eye and said: “With the first step we take into Jannah.”

Ya Allah, what a beautiful response!

There are days that come to you and you’re tired, you just want to sleep and relax and “shut off” as they say. Those are the days in which you need to ask yourself a critical question: ‘Where am I going with life?’ If it’s towards Allah and for Allah, then regain your strength and continue your work, for Jannah is precious and must be sought. But if you look into your life and realise that it’s not towards Allah but towards Dunya, then your tiredness becomes a blessing, for it is a reminder that you need to change direction and renew your purpose in life.

I love this story on many levels. For one, it shows you that when someone’s focus is Jannah, their priorities change and their outlook on life is different. What we perceive as difficulty, they perceive as ease. What we perceive as calamity, they perceive as reward. What we perceive as obstacles, they perceive as opportunities for sincere dua. Moreover, when your focus is Jannah, this Dunya and its constant demand becomes small and the least of our concerns."

source: http://www.productivemuslim.com/abi-when-will-we-ever-relax/

How to Have Baraqah in your Life

There are certain times in my life in which I can honestly say that it has been truly filled with divine blessings. Here are a few signs of baraqah in my life:
- High grades
- Great relationship with family
- No financial problems
- Increase in physical strength
- A balanced sense of self-esteem

Depending on your context, you have also, probably, more or less, experienced such blessings. Those times in which it feels like life is absolutely perfect! Or have you not? If the answer is no, (or perhaps it is 'yes' for only a few fleeting moments?), you have come to the right place. Tonight, I shall share some secrets that have been the crux of my successful days. Just keep in mind - these are my suggestions only. These are the things that I learnt from others and my own experiences, and can think of from the top of my head (at 11.14 pm!).

1. Dua

Allah is Al-Mujib - The Answer of Prayers! It is one of His names, as mentioned by Him, and as we know, He is also Al-Haqq - The Truth. If He Himself tells us that He answers prayers, who are we to doubt it? Just a make a list of everything in your life that you want to have Baraqah in, and ask for it after every single Fard prayer. He is also the Merciful - He has absolutely infinite mercy! Why not ask for it?

2. Dhikr

There are numerous ahadiths on the virtues and methods of dhikr. A simple google search led me to this vast source of information! Personally, I think constant dhikr keeps your mind and tongue busy with the bigger picture. It helps you to remember that the good that you are doing comes from Allah (swt) and He is also the One protecting you from things that aren't good for you. So, this increases your reliance on Him, in turn, making your mind ready to make more dua! It also keeps you away from thinking about thoughts that you probably shouldn't be thinking about. Remember, thoughts lead to actions. So, think about it - with a few simple words, you are able to prevent yourself from committing sins AND you are running fast on the track of Jannah!

3. Keep your intentions clean and pure

Why do you want to take up that extra job? Is it because you want more money for clothes that you don't need to impress people you don't like? Is it just to add to your resume - that long list of prestigious names you wish to flaunt one day? Or are you intending to earn more so that you can spend more in good? There are many definitions of 'good'. Prophet (pbuh) said that of that which you spend... the one yielding the greatest reward is that which you spent on your family! Why not surprise your mum with a small gift to tell her that you love her? Also, in this day and age, we have so many Islamic charity organisations that it really is of no hardship to donate a dollar a day to the needy. There are plenty other things you can do with your money. Donate it to a mosque fund. Sponsor a child.

4. Start a 'Self-Improvement Book'

Take an empty exercise book and write down everything about yourself that you would like to change. Take one of them and break it up into tiny parts. For example, if you feel like you are losing your faith, you can write 'return to Allah'. And then you can break it up into the ways that you can do so. For example, 'Quran'. Further, 'Reciting Quran'. Then take a very small goal. Recite 5 minutes of Quran every single day. Do this for a few other things and get to work straight away! Remember, if you take one step towards Allah, He will take ten towards you!! So, if you want baraqah, you must be the one to initiate it!

5. Remember:

As Ali (ra) said, when some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness. Keep your tongue busy with thanking Allah. Remember Him, and He will remember you.