Shouldn't Muslims respect each other?

With everything that has been happening in my life, I can only thank Allah for the amount of hope and strength He has blessed me with to help me through each day. Not to mention, the amount of positivity He has granted my mind with. Alhamdulillah.

So, I like to believe that with everything seemingly "bad", there is a hikmah behind it. Likewise, with everything that I disagree with, there is something I can learn from. There have been endless squabbles with regards to the deen - over the internet and in real life. Muslims are fighting to prove to one another who's got it right and who's got it wrong, who's a better Muslim and who might just as well be going to hell.

Perhaps, I've mentioned this before but if it is necessary I shall mention it again. Islam will not be altered and will not change with accordance to your whimsical, fanciful opinions. Allah subhanallah ta'ala completed this religion 1,400 years ago. Your arguments and debates with each other are petty, unnecessary and invalid.

Has anyone ever tried to look at the good side of each sect (despite your disagreements with one another), though?

Look at the Shia3s. Look at how much they love the Ahl ul bayt. I think that it is entirely inspiring and beautiful to look at how much they love the household of Rasulullah sallahu 'alayhi wasalam and how they strive to be like 'Ali ibn Talib, Hassan ibn 'Ali, Hussayn ibn 'Ali, Fatimah Az Zahra etc. SubhanaAllah.

Look at the Salafis. Look at how much emphasis they place on straightening their aqeedah and following the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallahu 'alayhi wasalam. Are we trying as hard to follow the Prophet's Sunnah like they are ?

Look at the Sufis. Look at how much of praise they speak of the Prophet sallahu 'alayhi wasalam and Allah subhanallah ta'ala. The amount of zikr they fill their hearts with is moving, subhanaAllah!

I'm not asking you to be a shia3 or a salafi or a sufi if you don't feel that is the way they practise Islam is the way you wish to. I'm asking you to RESPECT one another. That is the least you can do to bring the Ummah together - the least you can do to promote unity amongst each other.

A'qilah Saiere

; Fight on

I lost my grandmother about a week ago and ever since, I had been wallowing myself in utter depression. I looked like a morgue everyday and I disgust myself when I think about the amount of time I wasted doing absolutely nothing but engage in thoughts that brought about nothing but disappointment. The amount of negativity I had chosen to fill my heart with was indescribable. Few knew what I was doing to myself but I knew Allah was watching and I knew He knows how much pain I have been in.

After allowing myself to feel awful for an entire week, I decided to slap myself in the face and help myself realise that I wasn't helping anyone and most of all, I wasn't helping myself. Indeed, it's been quite a miserable week for me. How could it not be with the passing of the person that I spent all my childhood with, the news that my only maternal uncle had been diagnosed with cancer and most of all the pain I witness in the eyes of family members?

However, being sad and feeling awful and not doing anything at all, hasn't brought about any change in the situation. So yes, my grandfather had passed away and so did my grandmother but won't we all return to our Lord? So yes, my uncle has been diagnosed with cancer but doesn't it say in the Qur'an that Allah tests who He loves?

I am still standing here, blessed with good health and Iman. What am I doing wallowing myself in self-pity? So I thought perhaps, it's time I put some good use to this pain. I'll fight. I'll fight to excel. I'll leave for Allah to heal my heart and while He takes care of that, I'll work on bettering myself in this dunya (here) for akhirah (hereafter).

To anyone at all that has had tough days and perhaps has been feeling sad or awful,

La tahzan, innallaha ma3ana.

InshaAllah.

A'qilah Saiere.

"You don't wear scarf? Y u so unislamic?"

I think it's insulting and degrading Islamically or not for someone to judge another based on whether or not she has a scarf over her head.

I understand that most sisters have great intentions on encouraging their non-hijabi sisters to take upon the responsiblity that they have all chosen to bring themselves closer to Allah subhanallah ta'ala. What many fail to do is to understand that the hijab is not merely a piece of cloth over your head. It is modesty in an entirety. Just because your hair is covered, it does not mean you have fulfilled the hijab entirely.

The Hijab is a responsibility you take upon that involves not just the covering of your awrah but your akhlak and the purity of your heart and soul. Just because your sister's hair is not covered, it does not in any way give you a right to judge her and label her to be somewhat less Islamic, or say, less practising.

Have you ever thought of the deeds that she may have done and be rewarded for that are not in your book of deeds? Have you ever thought that perhaps, even with her hair uncovered, her akhlak is more exemplary than yours? Have you ever thought that perhaps in the eyes of Allah she is just as modest as you are if not more?

You may be Hijab-ed over your head but are you Hijab-ed in your heart and soul? Are you hijab-ed in your heart and soul the way the sister that you just labeled "Less Muslim" is?

Remember, the disease of pride and arrogance deletes all traces of goodness and piety in a Muslim.

N, the most beautiful girl I have been blessed to be acquainted to, may Allah erase the hurt that these people have caused to your heart. May Allah reward you for the good that you've done and may you forever be modest and beautiful in the eyes of your Lord. <3

A'qilah Saiere

Opportunities and Chances

About two and a half years ago, as I took my first step into college, I signed up for a (rather adequately planned not entirely the best but still mashaAllah) camp. A camp that introduced me to an MSS (Muslim Students' Society) or as some may term it MSA.

I've spent my entire life living around non-Muslims that I felt distant from the Ummah for some reasons. I asked Allah to grant me a platform that will allow for me to reach out to my people, His people, the people of the Prophet (sallahu 'alayhi wasalam).

NPMSS was my granted dua'. Before I knew it, I was actively involved in the society and was even blessed with the opportunity to be a part of it's managing committee. It wasn't entirely rainbows and butterflies but this bittersweet journey has taught me lessons that I could never possibly gain anywhere else.

My nights were filled with meetings after meetings to organize activities for my brothers and sisters, my weekends were filled with camps and halaqahs and rehlahs to discuss the deen and understand it better but the best part of it all are the bus rides home after those meetings, camps, halaqahs, rehlahs - the bus rides that allow me to detach myself away from dunya to submerge in thoughts that allow for my heart to speak to my Lord. Amidst my seemingly busy and hectic lifestyle, this the time I choose to spend to reflect on myself, on the organization and everything else altogether.

The amount of knowledge I've gained, the love I've felt and the people I've met, I couldn't possibly ever ask for more.

NPMSS, I ask Allah to grant you success throughout your future years of operation.

I will miss you with my whole heart but never will I forget you. I will speak of you with pride and happiness and will love you always.

A'qilah Saiere

; Hell-o-ween

I seem to always have something to say when it comes to Halloween every year. One of the many pet peeves I share with many sisters is when Muslims not only acknowledge this holiday but participate and ANTICIPATE attending related events.

I don't understand why some think it's alright to celebrate Halloween but Haram to celebrate Christmas & Valentine's or vice versa. Don't they all fall under the same category?

Halloween is a highly commercialised Pagan holiday called Samhain which is pronounced as "Sow-ween"

I have tried speaking about it to a handful of sisters but most just push it aside and say "We're not celebrating halloween, we're just attending the party" Lol what. When I try to explain to them that acknowledging a celebration that is out of the religion may fall under shirk or haram, they give me the "Are you a fundamentalist?" look.

If there are some of you who mistake for it to be a CULTURAL celebration like Chinese New Year then I'm telling you it's not. If you must know ( I have mentioned this before in my Halloween-related post a year ago), some Christians don't even celebrate halloween for they do not acknowledge for it to be a part of Christianity.

So Muslims, are we saying that this is part of Islam?

A'qilah Saiere

; Just a couple of Issues.

Perhaps I've spoken about this before but I'll speak about it again if it brings any good to anyone. It saddens me to see how brothers and sisters choose to spend their times arguing about rulings trying to prove to one another of who the better Muslim is.

What I don't understand is how these Muslims do not understand that their opinions do not determine how Islam should be. Allah subhanallah ta'ala completed our religion 1400 years ago and ever since, 'ulamas who lived from the time of the golden ages have debated and laid out numerous rulings for people like us to refer to and practise which we are most comfortable in practising. We spend our days debating about what WE think is seemingly right without having to think about the repercussions of our actions.

Change is constant in everything - everything except for Islam. We can debate day in and day out about little things we choose to fuss about and create massive chaos within the ummah but Islam will NEVER change with accordance to our opinions. We will eventually practise the Islam that we feel is right and whatever that Islam may possibly be it shall remain to be (inshaAllah) the religion that Allah subhanallah ta'ala has blessed us with and the one religion that Muhammad (sallahu 'alayhi wasalam) has taught us.

If only we could stop bickering and start to learn to be a servant, we'd all then realise the sweetness of having the shahadah at the tip of our tongues.

Now that I have brought that point across, I just wish to spread the word across to the Singaporeans reading this blog that FMSA (amongst the many other Muslim organizations) is organizing a Qurban programme for those who wish to conduct their sacrifice in the neighbouring SEA countries.

Here's the link for more info - http://www.qurban-fmsa.blogspot.com/

A'qilah Saiere

Why do we reduce our Lord's greatness?

We're all human and we tend to make a thousand mistakes a day. One of the many that we do is one to reduce our Lord's greatness.

Allah has many names to His incredible nature and one that we hear everyday is "Akbar".

He is the greatest.

One that we have at the end of our tongues before we do almost anything is "Ar Rahim".

He is the most MERCIFUL.

I have met so many brothers and sisters that speak about how there is no use in them seeking forgiveness from Allah subhanaAllah ta'ala because of their seemingly mountainous amount of sins. With that, they see no point in standing up in prayer or remembering Him in supplications and move on with their lives to commit the same mistakes/sins over and over again.

But do they not remember that Allah is He who forgives His servants.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:

“Allah the Almighty said:

‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.’”

One of my biggest pet peeves is when Muslims make excuses for their laziness. You are not standing up in prayer not because you see no hope in being granted forgiveness but because you're lazy to spend a couple of minutes five times a day to stand before Allah.

Allah is Akbar, Allah is Ar Rahman and Allah is Ar Rahim -

How dare you reduce His greatness, generosity and mercy with your assumptions of how He wouldn't forgive you?

If you want respect, you earn it. If you want forgiveness, SEEK IT.

A'qilah Saiere

; Give them some credit will you?

When I actually get some time to spend my nights on the internet, I'd log onto youtube and check out some swagging Hijabi sisters on their vlogs or hijab tutorials or say outfit and fashion videos. I've been on youtube for ages and though I am not as active nowadays compared to how I used to last time, I still do see them keyboard warriors spamming people's profiles.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when MUSLIMS start to criticise their fellow brothers and sisters in their "attempts" of making da'wah. I see sisters commenting on these youtube stars' channels telling them how they deserve to be stoned to death because they are showing off their faces on the internet and cracking jokes and "encouraging their sisters to be wearing things they are not supposed to".

Look I can understand how maybe some sisters tend to reduce the value of the hijab to a mere fashion statement or say, they accesorise themselves to an extend that the hijab loses it's modest value but who are you judge them of their intentions.

Even if you do not agree with the way they wear the scarves or the way they dress there is no need for you to publicly humiliate them with your seemingly religious opinions. If you are genuine about wanting to make them realise then you should probably send them a private message. There has to be some sort of respect even if you wish to correct someone.

Also, have you any idea how many sisters have been motivated to wear the hijab because of them?

Give them some credit will you? This could be their form of da'wah to promote the hijab.

If we judge our own sisters and start creating fitnah and be critical of their intentions then who are they to rely on for protection? Who are they to rely on for support?

A'qilah Saiere

; just a little something personal for a change.

I've been out of touch with blogging ever since I started college haven't I. It has sucked out quite a bit of my life, I have to say and for the past two and a half years, my days have revolved around attending tutorials and lectures and my nights, meetings for my MSS. I spend my Semester Breaks working as an Assistant teacher over at early education centers to ensure that my teaching skills do not get rusty. If I actually do spend my time writing, I do so either on my private wordpress or my little pieces of paper at random hours of the night. In any case, I met up with a group of brothers and sisters today for a debriefing meeting for a Ramadhan event we had. Afterwhich, I spent some time with a college junior. Lol subhanaAllah, she mentioned about how she's been reading this blog for quite some time now but she never got the chance to find the right moment to tell me. LOL, wallah it feels different to actually meet your blog readers in real life. In any case, here's a shout out to you Aishah! <3 7abibty, you're so cute, I love you :*

Anyway, I did this quiz thingy about 2 years ago and imma try answering them all again and see how much I've actually changed. (Are you not glad, I am back to being a lifeless keyboard warrior? Hahahaha)

Name: A'qilah Saiere

Age: Turning 19 in December InshaAllah

Location: Singapore. (Oh God, I wonder when this is ever going to change)

Background: Javanese(Indonesian Extract)/Indian

Are you a revert? Nope, A born Muslim (Al7mdolellah!)

Have you been to Hajj or Umrah? YES! Al7mdolellah for the opportunity Allah swt granted me to witness His magnificent holy lands!

How many masjids have you been to? I've been to quite a number of mosques in the country itself and in Malaysia. I've also visited the mosques in the Al Aqsa compund, several in Madinah including Masjidil Nabawi as well as a couple in Makkah including Masjid Al Haram

Have you ever been involved with a masjid? A couple of times. Mostly when MSS collaborates with the Mosques for events.

Who are some of your favorite lectures by? Brother Suhaib Webb, Brother Nouman Ali Khan, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Bilal Assad and selected speakers on Huda TV

Who are some of your favorite recitors? Sheikh Mishary Al Afasy, Sheikh Abdur Rahman As Sudais, Qari Abdul Wadood Asim, Sheikh Maher Al Muayqali (He was the imam when I was in Makkah for the 6 days of Umrah <3)

Some of your favorite Islamic books? You can be the happiest woman in the world - Dr. 'Aid Al Qarni, Al Shamail Al Muhammadiyah - Al Tirmidzi, Bidayatul Hidayah - Imam Ghazali, Fathul Qarib - Imam Syafi'e

Describe your most memorable Eid: I can barely remember my past 3eids anymore but every 3eid has always been special because of the time with the family. Nonetheless, the one I remember distinctly was the last 3eid I spent with my grandfather.

When did you first start fasting? My parents trained me to fast since the age of 5. I started off with half a day of fast though.

When did you start hijab? Ramadhan 2008 :)

What's your usual outift like when you go out? Depends on how my mood is like. On lazy days I tend to just throw on an 3abaya lol.

What do you like about blogging? I love writing hence I channel my writing energy to blogging because I genuinely feel it's a catharsis for me.

Describe your first feelings wearing
Hijab: I remember being really nervous and horribly paranoid. I kept thinking I was getting stares and it made me start questioning myself if I was really ready. Al7mdolellah though, I have not lifted it off ever since. InshaAllah, I never will <3
Abayah: The best thing a Muslim ever came up with wallah. 3abayas are so comfortable and so easy to be around with. Not to mention how they are fit for almost any occasion, always allowing you to look your best even on days you're most lazy to dress up!
Niqaab: I wore it when I was in Madinah and Makkah and it was beautiful to be have another layer of covering. MashaAllah. I have massive respect for Niqaabis, wallah!

How do you pin your hijab? Again, it depends on my mood. On some days I wear the loose shayla style. Other days, the 5aleeji style. Sometimes the Dina To-kio style. These few days, I have on this casual wrap that I recently came up with. Really easy to go around with. :)

What was on the last prayer mat you made salah on? The mat I bought when I was in Makkah doing my Umrah over at Bin Dawood; Museum. It's a really pretty mat mashaAllah, it's some sort of the Palestinian colours actually. Here's a peekture -http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr24qsG3Vl1qd3ak7o1_500.png heh :) I love it so much. It's handmade from Kashmir! <3

What's your ideal iftar? Doner Kebab & Punch. Lol. Of course with dates and all that.

What type of adhaan really gets to you? Anytype of Adhaan gets to me. Particularly Al Haram's but subhanaAllah, Aqsa's Adhaan is just as enchanting!

What's something that annoys you at Jummah: When people are busy gossiping while the Imam's giving Khutbah. If they knew the amount of ajer they are missing out on, they'd understand the importance of keeping their traps shut.

What was the last surah you read? Surah Al Baqarah

Do you dry yourself after wudu? Not really but they usually tend to dry off by the time I have my hijab on to perform my Salah. Well yes, considering the desert of a country I live in, I am not surprised.

Do you brush your teeth for fajr salah? Usually, yes. Sometimes with just mouth wash though.

Whats the last Islamic thing you've been involved with? The most distinct memory I have of contributing to the Ummah is planning a camp on the fundamentals of Islam for freshmen in college.

What was the last convention you went to? The Early Childhood Convention. Somewhere last year I suppose...

Have you ever been part of an Islamic matrimonial site? LOL no.

What color is the rug in the masjid you usually attend? Green and Red... if I remember it right.

Is the masjid you usually attend separated? Yes. Muslimahs have a separate section in the building. Something like a balcony over the Muslimin ground.

Have you ever stood in a minbar? Yes, at Masjid Ibraheem in Palestine.

Have you ever washed a dead body before? No :/

What's the last thing you ate in the masjid? I had rice with gravy. It was Suhoor at the Masjid after Qiyamu layl

Where's the strangest place you've seen a Muslim working? I don't know. Nothing seems strange these days. The most odd of places you could possibly find a Muslim have turned into the most common ones. Astaghfirullah.

Have you ever posted a flier in the masjid? Nope.

Rate your masjid's bathroom: It's pretty clean Al7mdolellah.

Have you ever used a bidet for istinja? yes.

What's the weirdest thing that happened to you in salah? I was praying at Masjid Al Haram and this little boy just stood in front of me. I couldn't decide if I was to continue with my ruku' or like invalidate my prayer :/ lol

Isn't it annoying when the imam tells everyone to shut off their cell phones and someone's phone rings in the middle of salah? LOL. Yes. Unfortunately, most people just don't seem to be able to get simple instructions into their heads.

What's some of the best halal food you've had (from a non Muslim country)? I live in a Non-Muslim country and the best Halal food I have ever had was Kofta with Rice at Sheikh el arab at Arab st.

What was it like when you found out skittles were haram? Bleh.

What's something haram that you think most people don't know? I think people know them things are Haram, they just choose to ignore them facts and bring out their own fatwas to make justifications for their Haram actions. Oh well. C'est la vie.

What's the craziest hijabi fashion you've seen? I can't recall any that rings a particular bell in my head.

Lol mashaAllah, I think I have changed for quite a bit since the past two years. Nonetheless, it's all for the good inshaAllah.

Till next time!

A'qilah Saiere

Are you setting your priorities right?

Marriage is a sacred union between two people that is seen as a fundamental building unit for the Muslim community. It is highly encouraged and is even classified as half of one's deen. It is also the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallahu 'alayhi wasalam).

Sadly though, the entire idea of marriage has been materialised from a union where two people start to build their lives together to have their own families to celebrations that cost a bomb where the groom eventually leaves the ceremony with a burnt pocket. (well at least, that is how it's like where I live) People spend their entire lives working their butts off just so they can build up their money in the bank to throw an extravagant ceremony where thousands of dollars are spent on food, decoration and music that blasts right through everybody's ears. Don't get me wrong, I love how celebratory and grand some weddings can get, mashaAllah. It makes you really happy to be present to glorify the union of two souls.

What I'm saying is, these people spend all their lives trying to save up for their dream weddings to please the people in their community and then forget about the preparations they OUGHT to make before building a home together. Especially the brothers. They spend their days working and nights working even more just to get sufficient money but do they spend enough time learning about the adaab of running a family? Does he spend enough time fixing his tajweed so he can get his recitation of the Qur'an right? Does he spend enough time to learn about the rulings in fiqh so that he may teach his wife and children later on?

Does she spend enough time learning how to be a good wife in Islam? Does she spend enough time reading about the wives of the prophet (sallahu 'alayhi wasalam) so that she may take into example their deeds?

The question is, do you spend enough time taking care of your other half of the deen before you complete the next half or are you spending the entire time you have before you sit down for your nikaah slogging your butt off to build up your bank account?

Are you setting your priorities right?

A'qilah Saiere.