MagzNetwork

New Blog

Posted by Sadiyah | | 0 comments »

Assalamu Alaykum!


I'm all done alhamdulillah! Here's the new url:

http://www.pen-marks.com

For now I'll be moving my favorite posts from here to there, but it that won't take too long hopefully.

So update your blogrolls and links. I'll keep this blog open though.


Bismillah Ar-rahmaan Ar-raheem,

I know I've been slacking off these days, but I'm back with a new announcement! I'll be moving Pen Marks to a new domain. Inshallah I'll be finished with everything some time this week.

I will post the new address as soon as the site is ready.

Cya then!

Sadiyah


For the handles of some watches to be able to glow in the dark it is necessary that the watch receives enough light during the day.

Similarly, if we want to glow in the darkness of the grave, if we want to shine of the day of Judgement, if we want to guided by the light of Imaan then it is inevitable that we provide ourselves with this light during our lifetime. It is necessary to prepare for the darkness while there is still light.

Like the saying goes, do not start digging for a well when the fire has commenced. Meaning that it is hopeless and too late to start digging for a well when the fire has broken out; there is no time for that now. Similarly, it will be hopeless to start searching for the light in the grave if we have not prepared luminous acts beforehand.

لسانك لا تذكر به عورة امرئ *** فكلّـك عورات وللناس ألسـن

وعينك إن أبدت إليك معايباً *** فدعها وقل : يا عين للناس أعينُ

Let not your tongue mention the shame of another
For you yourself are covered in shame and all men have tongues.
If your eye falls upon the sins of your brother
Shield them and say: “O my eye! All men have eyes!”

Short Break

Posted by Sadiyah | | 0 comments »


Inshallah I'll be driving with my aunt to the rainy city tomorrow for two or three days (about a two to three hour drive from Portland.) I probably won't be posting untill i get back but inshallah, if I get a chance I'll try to update with a post. I've been to seattly many many times, in summer, fall, winter, and spring. Yet every time we drive over there, it rains - which in my opinion is really cool - but it does ruin our plans many times.

Inshallah pray for a safe (and fun - hopefully) trip.

أغرى امرؤ يوماً غلاماً جاهلاً * * * بنقوده كيما ينال به الوطر
One day a man tempted an ignorant boy Using his money, in order to achieve his objective


قال ائتني بفؤاد أمك يا فتى * * * ولك الدراهم والجواهر والدرر
He said, “O young one, bring me the heart of your mother And money, jewels and pearls will be yours!”


فمضى و أغرز خنجراً في صدرها * * * و القلب أخرجه و عاد على الأثر
So he went and plunged a dagger into her chest And took out the heart and returned the way he came


لكنه من فرط سرعته هوى* * * فتدحرج القلب المعفر إذ عثر
But because of his haste, he fell And the dusty heart rolled away as he stumbled

ناداه قلب الأم و هو معفر * * * ولدي حبيبي هل أصابك من ضرر
The heart of his mother called him, and he was covered in dust, “My son! My beloved! Are you hurt?!”


فكأن هذا الصوت رغم حنوه * * * غضب السماء به على الولد انهمر
The voice, although it was so gentle, yet It was like the wrath of the Heavens had fallen on the boy


ودرى فظيع خيانة لم يأتها * * * أحد سواه منذ تاريخ البشر
Thus he understood the enormity of his betrayal that nobody Had committed but him in the history of mankind


فارتد نحو القلب يغسله بما * * * أجرت دموع العين من سيل العبر
So he rushed back to the heart washing it with the tears Of his eyes that flowed from the flood of sorrow


و يقول يا قلب انتقم مني و لا * * * تغفر فإن جريمتي لا تغتفر
And he said, “O heart! Take your revenge from me and do not Forgive, because my crime is unforgiveable.


و إذا غفرت فإنني أقضي * * * انتــحارا مثل من قبلي انتحر
And if you forgive then surely I will kill myself Like those before me who have committed suicide.”


فاستل خنجره ليقتل نفسه * * * طعناً فيبقى عبرة لمن اعتبر
So as he unsheathed his dagger to kill himself, A stabbing that would remain as an example to those who seek lessons,


ناداه قلب الأم كف يداً و لا * * * تذبح فؤادي مرتين على الأثر
The heart of the mother called him saying, “Stop your hand and do not strike my heart twice in succession!”

Prejudice

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 3 comments »

If we were to wake up some morning and find that

everyone was the same race, creed and color,

we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.

I downloaded a certain app a few days ago. I pretty much loved it. It's basically a database for Dua's and supplications. Last night while i was going through them, I found one very very short Dua that melted my heart. Its just beautiful in its power and simplicity, and I am sure it can break the hardest heart down...


لا ملجأ منك إلا إليك
لا ملجأ منك إلا إليك
لا ملجأ منك إلا إليك

There is no sanctuary from You except to You
There is no sanctuary from You except to You
There is no sanctuary from You except to You

Abu Bakr

Posted by Sadiyah | | , | 4 comments »


I've made up my mind of who's my favorite Qari. Before, I couldn't decide between Shuraim and Ghamidi, but now I have a new favorite.....

Abu Bark Ash-Shatery!

He is simply, mashallah, amazing! There's something about his recitation that just fills you up with a love for Quran and makes you want to listen to that surah over and over and over again.





Isn't it nice?


A Change?

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 4 comments »




I think my blog needs a change of looks, yet I'm hesitant... and a bit lazy. What do you think? Should i change the layout? Yes? No? Maybe?

Just 3

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 1 comments »

Just 3 more days of school! I'm so relieved, its like a heavy burden was taken off my back Alhamdulillah. Now I'm really looking foward to summer break.


Another thing, I just bought a 8 GB iPod touch, 2nd generation on Saturday. I would've preferred the iPhone more but this one is pretty cool too. I spent the entire weekend downloading apps and putting mp3's and videos on it. 

(PS. I just noticed the number of followers on my blog is 9 now. Kool.)

My first Tag

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 3 comments »

Bismillah Ar-rahman Ar-raheem,


Let's see, I've been tagged by CooL Muslimah, lol my first one since starting this blog,

1. Do you think you are hot?
The weather is pretty cold today actually.

2.upload your favorite picture of you?
Here? No thanks lol

3.why do you like nature?
Nature is beautiful if you take out the insects and other critters. Its part of Allah's creation and its a means aof reflection.


4.when was the last time you ate pizza?
Yesterday

5.The last song you were listening to......?
Nasheed by Abu Ali last night called Tamanna 

6.What are you doing right now besides this?
I'm suppose to be studying, besides that i'm eating.

7.What name would you prefer besides yours?
Layal or Aisha

8.people to tag:
Noor
Asmi

9.who is no.1?
My mom

10.no.3 is having a relationship with?
No one 

11.Say something about your best friend?
She's changing. (in a good, no great way)

12.how about your enemy?
He's getting pretty stubborn *frowns*

13.who is the best person in the world?
Muhammed (PBUH)

It rained really hard today. They called it a 'severe thunderstorm' on the news and were making a big deal out of it, but I really liked it. It had been scorching hot the past few weeks so the rain came as a relief, alhamdulillah. It also put me in a mood to write so I modified my story that I’m working on.
Alhamudulillah for the rain.


- Prologue -


Adam inserted the key that the Residential Life Manager had given him into the door’s lock. The manager had told him that he would be sharing his room with two new students. Adam went inside and saw some shoes on the rack. “I think they’re probably here by now.” Adam thought out loud and walked into the living room. “Hey… what on earth?!” He took a step back startled by what he saw. Two boys about his age were in the living room both with their foreheads touching the floor. They had small green colored mats under them. Adam watched them as they rose up and down at the same time. He noticed how calm and soothed they looked. When they finished they both stood up and one of them took away the rugs.

“What were you doing?” Adam asked in a state of shock. He had never seen anyone do such movements before.
“You must be Adam.” One of the boys grinned. “I’m Muhammed, and this is my cousin Nuradeen.” The other boy nodded at Adam as a form of greeting. “We were praying.” Muhammed went on.

Oh that, Adam thought. Praying. He had heard enough about religion from his parents. “Oh.” He replied nonchalantly and hurried to the room to change.
The next morning he woke up to find breakfast on the table.
“Good morning.” Muhammed seemed cheerful.
“Good morning.” Adam replied sleepily. They ate in silence for some time.
“So… what are you guys?” Adam found himself asking.
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Muhammed raised one eyebrow and turned his head a few degrees questioningly.
“You know, with that prayer and all.”
“Muslims.” Was the reply.
“So because you’re Muslims, you have to wake up at 4 AM to pray everyday?” Adam asked. He had been awakened this morning to the cousins’ prayer. He was shocked that anyone would wake up that early just to pray.
“We pray five times everyday. Fajr, the morning prayer is just one of them.”
“What about the call you were making?” He asked Nuradeen.
“It’s called the Adhaan; it’s a call to prayer.” Nuradeen answered as he sipped his morning coffee. They were quite for a moment.
“So you guys pray to that guy?” Adam asked breaking the silence.
“Guy?” The two cousins asked simultaneously.
“Yeah, he has the same name as you.” Adam nodded towards Muhammed.
“Muhammed, peace be upon him was only a Prophet just like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. We don’t pray to prophets. We pray to God.” it was Muhammed who corrected him.
“Jesus wasn’t a Prophet, and neither was Muhammed.” Adam argued.
“Who said that?” Muhammed asked with challenge in his voice.
“What?” Aaron asked slightly caught off guard.
“They were both Prophets from God. And they were both given the same message.”
“What proof do you have for that Muhammed was a Prophet?” Adam surprised himself with his question.

“Listen, in this argument, there can be only two possibilities. First, that Muhammed peace be upon him, was a prophet from God, or second, that he was an apostate, a false prophet. Agreed?” Muhammed asked him. Adam nodded in reply.
“So using what we know of his teachings, sayings, and acts, we can conclude is he’s real or not. First, let’s look at the environment which he was in.” Muhammed stood up to get a pen and paper. “He lived in Makkah, with the highest tribe when it comes to status. If he was going to pretend to be a prophet, he knew he would be challenging their gods, idols, honor, and status. So he has to have a motive because he could get mocked, expelled, or even killed. So what could his motive have been?” It took a few seconds for Adam to realize the last question had been addressed for him to answer.
“Money?” He asked indifferently.
“Money? It can’t be.” Nuradeen spoke up as he stood to take the empty dishes to the kitchen.
“Why not?” Adam asked surprised by Nuradeen’s confidence.
“When his tribe couldn’t take it anymore, they offered that they would make him their kind and give him all the power, wealth, and women he asked for in exchange for him to stop preaching. But…” Nuradeen placed the plates in the sink and came back, “but, he refused. So you can remove wealth, power, fame, and women from your list.” He sat back into him chair.
“Maybe he was crazy or had mental problems?” Only after the words left his mouth did Adam realize how silly they sounded, but they didn’t show any reactions.
“You only have to look at that from one angle, and you can cross that out.” Muhammed reached for a book that was on a small stand. Adam had seen him and Nuradeen reading from it that morning. “The Quran was sent down in a period of twenty-three years, yet it never contradicts itself and it remains consistent. If we assume that he was the one who wrote it, then he couldn’t have been crazy or with any mental problems, because this kind of thing,” he said as he pointed to the book “isn’t and can’t be the works of a crazy or mentally challenged person.”
Adam felt like he was being attacked. Muhammed was so confident with himself that it scared him. What was it that was giving him that self assurance? He didn’t know, but he did know that he had to get away from that table if he feared for his beliefs.
“I have a class I have to get to.” He excused himself while knowing that he didn’t have any classes for another hour.
“Ok, we can finish our conversation later.” Muhammed grinned. Adam only slightly nodded, but he knew that he didn’t want to have another conversation like that one ever again.


Adam leaned against the kitchen counter with a cup in hand, and although he didn’t want it to be, his mind set on the first conversation he had had with his roommates. It had been a month since that conversation. Adam’s interest and curiosity had risen and grown uncontrollable and despite his disinterest for religion, he had read dozens of books on Islam. He lifted his teacup to his lips. The moist steam from the teacup momentarily warmed his face. He stared hard at the box of books that sat on the table. He had asked Nuradeen for some books on Islam and he had given him a box full. Now that he was finished he had to return them.

Sipping the last bit of the tea, he washed the cup and went to the room to lie down on his unmade bed. Adam was pleasantly surprised that he had read them all, but his mind wished that he hadn’t. All his beliefs, everything he had believed in were crushed. All the doubt he had of Islam were not there anymore. He had read everything he could about it, from the prayer to the fasting. All doubts had disappeared, yet he longed for them. He wasn’t ready to submit or at least that’s what he thought. The truth was that his mind had already submitted, had already accepted Islam to be the right religion, the right way, but he was not ready to face the truth, not yet.

“Why me?” He thought. Why did he have to know the truth? He didn’t want to live knowing that he was turning away from the ‘truth’. Not then, maybe when he turned old, sixty, even seventy maybe, but now as a college student. He wouldn’t be able to handle all that stress. What would his parents say? Adam shivered the thought of his parents finding out that he had become a Muslim. He sighed and turned on his bed as he heard the door open and close.

“Are you awake?” Hearing Nuradeen’s voice, he sat up.
“No. Do you need something?” Adam asked.
“Just wondering if you wanted to go somewhere with me.” He remarked as he took a gray colored sweater from the closet.
“Somewhere?” Adam asked surprised.
“There’s a lecture at the local Masjid, I thought you might want to come and listen.”
“Ok.” Adam replied hesitantly.
“Chill, it’s not that scary.” Nuradeen chuckled as he took a turn.
“I’m not scared.” Adam stated even though he knew he was very nervous.
“You look like it.”
“I’ve never been in a Mosque before.” Adam changed the subject.
“It’s ok. It’s just an hour long lecture followed by a questions and answer session. We’ll be sitting down on the floor, no chairs except for the old men and the guys with back or leg problems.”
“Will you guys be praying?”
“No, Maghrib isn’t for another three hours, but you’ll see that people will be praying two units of voluntary prayer when they enter. It’s a practice of the Prophet to pray when you enter the Masjid.”

Adam entered with Nuradeen. There were shoes all around the shoe shelf. Following Nuradeen, he placed his sneakers on a higher shelf and entered with his socks and sat down as Nuradeen prayed. There were many people already there ready to listen. He looked around at the different faces of different colors and races sit together. Men old and young spoke to each other. They seemed like one big family. A part of Adam longed and wanted to be part of them.

“Bismillah Ar-rahmaan Ar-Raheem,” The strange words echoed through the building. Adam turned to the origin of the voice. He was a man with a long dark beard with a little white here and there. His voice had a slight Middle Eastern accent but he spoke strongly and clearly. Nuradeen had told him that he was called the Imam, but his name was Rashid. Adam listened to him intently.

“You ok?” Nuradeen asked later. Adam wiped away the tears that were falling. The Imam’s words were ringing in his ears. “If you don’t submit now, when will you? Next year? Next decade? How do you know that you’ll be still living, walking, and talking by then? You don’t know. That is why, that is why there is no time better than the present. Don’t put anything off to later.”

“Nuradeen?” He looked up. Most of the people had left.
“Yeah?”
“There is no time better than the present. I won’t put it off any more. I want to, I want to become Muslim.” His voice shook.
Nuradeen smiled. “Now?” Adam nodded.

He followed Nuradeen to the front of the room where the Imam was talking to someone, Muhammed. They both turned to us.
“Imam, this is Adam. He wants to take the shahadah.”

Except Allah

Posted by Sadiyah | | , | 7 comments »

Bismillah Ar-rahman Ar-raheem

"And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can keep back His favour; He brings it to whom He pleases of His servants; And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." 
- Qur'an, surah Yunus; 10:107

Nobody Can Remove Hurt Except Allah. 

Even if someone tries to cause you any hurt, stay firm in your belief and remember that no one can cause you any pain if Allah does not desire it for you .

...more than two weeks actually since i posted. I've been getting quite a lot of comments lately alhamdulillah and i thought i should keep up with the blog world and start posting regularly again.


It's funny how quickly May passed by, it's already June and I don't think I was ready for a new month. Glancing at my planner I have too many things to do this week and also the next. But with school finishing soon, inshallah I'll have more time to do better things than worry about all my appoinments and scheduled events.

I also got my hands on Anwar Awlaki's Hereafter series thanks to a close friend of mine. I can't wait to listen to them.


Bismillah Ar-rahmaan Ar-raheem..

I never did decide on my favorite poet seeing that there are so many, but if I had to make a top five list, Robert Frost would deffenitly be on that list.

It's strange how another's words can often express one's own experience so well that it is as if one had written them!



The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

A Routine

Posted by Sadiyah | | 0 comments »

This action of sheer glory,
this routine of pure delight.
Allows the soul to rest in ease
as it sleeps throughout the night.

And when the ignorant insult their own
knowledge when they call us filth and dirt,
It really doesn't matter what they think,
so long no one else gets hurt.

And when we stand as equals,
rows of prayers known as Salah,
Wudu, it keeps us presentable
during our meeting with Allah.

I still remember something that my favorite Shaykh, Muhammed Al-Aryfy said in one of his lectures. He said “Sometimes, Allah (swt) has to put us through pain so that we return to him." I was just thinking that subhan Allah we are so heedless that unless He subhanahu wa ta’ala puts us through a difficulty or calamity we wont return to HIm.

And I honestly fear that, because I don’t wish for a huge calamity to befall before I
“wake up” and realize what this life is about. Knowing this I don’t know what still prevents me or hinders me from returning or coming closer to Allah. Why am I not awake? The eyes have been dry for too long and I’m just frustrated with myself. But I know nothing happens over night. We are so used to having things done in an instant rather than making an effort and working towards it and being patient. Nothing happens over night and we must strive for the love of Allah because this is something very precious. This is the love of Allah, not a human. We try so hard to earn the love of people that we respect and honor and we are so afraid to be rejected by them. But what about the love of Allah, our Creator, Sustainer, Nourisher? We stand before Him 5 times a day but even during that time, during this personal time, our thoughts wander about the affairs of this world.

Your salah, your prayer, truly shows what type of person you are, what you are concerned with, what you spend your time on. You want a picture of your self, look to your salah- you will find it, the real you.



May Allah (swt) help us to see what this life is truly about and help us to work towards the hereafter. Ameen

Bismillah….

I’ve posted a lot of posts advising others on different matters of the deen and etc. And I just wanted to dedicate this post reminding myself that I am in most need of the advice I give and I need to apply it first and foremost. I need to work on everything I post. The reminders and advice is for me to look back on and apply. So with that being said, I ask Allah (swt) to help me and all of us follow and implement the haqq when it becomes clear to us and to protect us from preaching and advising what we don’t practice ourselves. Ameen thuma Ameen.
We don’t wish to be hypocrites and we don’t wish to have any characteristic of theres. May Allah protect us and make us amongst the true believers

Remember this post? On May 11 2009, one person finally decided to stand in my way and stop  no rather crush that goal. 


That person was very stubborn
                                            Immovable
                                                            That person was....
                                                                                        ....me.

...and he died!

Posted by Sadiyah | | , | 0 comments »

Ash`ab was about to relate a story to a ruler, and he began: “There was a man…” But at that point he noticed a tray of food being brought to them. He paused as he was staring at the tasty food. The ruler said, “Yes…and then?” Ash`ab said, “And he died!”

lol

Not every failure is the end. While walking down a path, someone may fall over a stick, a branch of a tree, their untied shoelace, or whatever; but that path beneath their feet does not disappear. It is still there for them to get up…dust themselves off and move on…that is, ofcourse, if they want to. If they want to just sit there, crying because they fell, there is noway that that person would have a bright welcome at the end of the journey. I mean, for starters, the person would not even finish would they?
And it feels really good, when you finally accept the facts about life that are there to trip you and you avoid them as best as you can. And if you do fall then just get up and you have trust in Allah in every matter and don't give up!

True Brotherhood

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 0 comments »



On the day of the battle of Yarmuk, I went out to find my uncle on the battlefield, and I had with me a container of water. I said to myself that he had some life left in him, then I would quench his thirst with the water and wash the dirt from his face. Suddenly, I came across him, and he was going in and out of conciousness. I asked him: “Do you want me to give you some water?” so, he nodded his head. Suddenly, he heard another wounded man in the distance calling out in pain. So, my uncle motioned for me to go tend to him. I went to him and saw that he was Hisham, the brother of ‘Amr bin al-’As. I came to him and asked if he wanted me to give him some water, and suddenly, we heard the sound of another man calling out in the distance in pain. So, he motioned for me to go tend to him. I came to him to find that he had already died. So, I went back to tend to Hisham only to find that he had died as well. Then, I went back to tend to my uncle only to find that he, too, had died.” So none of them, in their love for others had died without quenching their thirst. Such a proof of sacrifice and brotherhood is unparalleled in human history.

This incident was reported by ‘Abdullah bin al-Mubarak in ‘az-Zuhd’ (1/185), Ibn Hajar in ‘al-Isabah’ (7/34), and also in Ibn al-Mubarak’s ‘al-Jihad’ (1/100) by way of Abu al-Jahm bin Hudhayfah al-’Adawi, by way of ‘Umar bin Sa’id. The muhaqqiq of ‘al-Jihad’ mentions that the chain’s narrators are all trustworthy, and Allah Knows best

Who wants Swine Flu?

The answer is no one, so avoid people and places that are affected by the virus.

The next obvious question is: Who wants
Hell Fire?

Take Precautions Now!

Oink oink

Posted by Sadiyah | | , , | 1 comments »

Allah says in the Quran,
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah." [Al-Qur’an 5:3]



Subhanallah. Looking at the news and all these reports about the Swine Flu, it just makes you stop and reflect. There are somethings Allah orders us to do or obstain from, and we may not know th reason but we obey. But subhanallah sometimes things happen in life that make you think how great Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is.

People

Posted by Sadiyah | | , | 0 comments »

A (very very very vey wise) Poet once said,

لاَ تَعْمَلْ للِنَّاسِ شَيْئاً

وَ لاَ تَتْرُكْ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً


“Don’t do anything for the sake of people!

And don’t leave anything because of them!”



Recordings of the Tafseer Classes

By: Nouman Ali

Surah Al-Naba: (Being Edited For Sound Quality)

Surah Al-Naziat: Part 1 Part 2

Surah Abasa: Part 1 Part 2

Surah Al-Takwir: Part 1 Part 2

Surah Al-Infitar: Part 1 Part 2

Surah Al-Mutaffifeen: Part 1 Part 2



There are days

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 5 comments »

There are days..

Written last year with a certain friend in mind :)

There are days when bubbling from us comes the innocent child within,
who giggles at the little things and wears a silly grin.

There are days when joy grabs a hold of you and me
wraps us up in all its splendor, lifts us up and sets us free.

There are days when sorrow wraps us in its cloak of grief and fear,
'till our hearts ache to the breaking, 'till our eyes can't shed a tear.


There are days when love bestows us with its wonderment and light;
with its beauty and its mystery, its power and its might.

There are days when rewards us and seems to make amends
by granting us a marvelous gift, the precious gift of friends.


There are days when ilm calls to us as we sit collectively
And share the knowledge that Allah bestowed to you and me


There are days when all we can do is raise our hands together
And thank Allah for letting us be with each other

Jewels

Posted by Sadiyah | | | 2 comments »

The Taabi'ee 'Ataa bin Abee Rabah رحمة الله عليه advised the king of his time Hishâm bin abd al-Malik with the following jewels..

...أتق الله في نفسك
...وأعلم أنك خلقت وحدك
...وتموت وحدك
...وتحشر وحدك
وتحاسب وحدك


Fear Allâh in regards to yourself,
Know that you were created alone...
...And that you will die alone,
Be resurrected alone....
.....And taken into account alone