Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Best dua for seeking Forgiveness- Sayyidul Istighfar

Sayid al Istighfar
(The Best Dua for forgiveness)
 
 
 
 
 


 
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana 'ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta

(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.)

Shaddad ibn Aws (radiAllahu anhu) relates that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that he (Sayyid al-Istighfar) most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say (the above du'a). That "If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise."
[sahih al-Bukhari; 8,75,318, at-Tirmidhi; 3393, an-Nasa'i; 5522, Ahmad; 16662]

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Winter Tips

9 Hot Tips For Winter Souls

By Umme Ammarah

(For our readers in the Northern Hemisphere save this article for later in the year when winter creeps in!)
 

It is said winter is a time when people suffer from so called winter blues. But it is interesting to see how many people welcome winter because they see it in a different light. Instead of being down and in active you can be pro active revive your energy in ibadah (worship), increase your good deeds, take care of your obligations and earn the pleasure of Allah all at the same time. Here are some tips to benefit from winter:

1.  FASTING

Winter is the best season for the believer because Allah Ta'ala makes worship easy for him. This is because in winter, the believer can fast during the day with ease without suffering from hunger and thirst. The days are short and cold, and he therefore doesn't feel the hardship of fasting…

It is reported The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "Fasting in the winter is the easy prize'

'Umar bin al-Khattab(RA) said: "Winter is the prize of the worshippers."

2. QADHA (missed)FASTS

We all know that making up the days of missed fasting is fardh (compulsory) on every adult Muslim man and woman and not doing so is a sin. So if we have missed a fast for a valid reason (travel, sickness etc) we need to "catch-up".

Thus, we should hasten to fast the number of days we missed and what better opportunity than this?  How much easier could it get? The days are short and the weather is cool, so you don't really get thirsty or even feel hungry.

3. SALAAT

The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in." [Hadith-Majma' az-Zawa'id' (3/203)]

As for praying at night in the winter due to its long nights, one can have his share of sleep and then get up to pray afterwards and recite all that he usually recites of the Qur'an while he has enjoyed enough rest.

4.WARM WOOLIES

The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever feeds a hungry believer will be fed by Allah on the Day of Judgement from the fruits of Paradise, and whoever quenches his thirst will have his thirst quenched from the Sealed Nectar, and whoever clothes him will be clothed from the green silk of Paradise."

Try and involve our own family in these activities. Buy some blankets, gloves and warm hats and take your kids along to distribute it to the needy. There is so much good we can do if we just put ourselves forward.

5. HOT SOUPS

We can prepare some nutritious soups for our family and also hand out to the poor in and around our neighbourhood. I'm sure a hot cup of soup would definitely be appreciated on a cold winter day.

 The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "Worship the Most Compassionate, Feed people and spread salaam (greetings) and you will safely enter paradise."  (Hadith –TirmidhiI)

6. COZY FAMILY TIME

Allah says in the  Noble Qur'aan :"Oh you who believe save yourselves and families from the fire." (Quran 66:6) .So plan such activities that will bring us closer to Allah. Be innovative and have fun within the confinements of Shariah.

As it is cold, we can enjoy quality time indoors with our family which we often find difficult because we are "busy"! Plan and do such activities that will bond the family and bring us closer to Allaah. Let the kids be involved in what you plan to do for winter. Sit around the warm fire and read some stories of the Sahabah (RA) to the children and introduce them to the true heroes of the world. Mums and dads… use these long nights to re-kindle that flame of love.

7. KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP

Allah says in verse of Quraan: "verily, in the Remembrance of Allah hearts find peace and satisfaction." (Qur'aan 13:28)

Use this time indoors to learn duas (prayers) from the sunnah, in recitation of Qur'aan, make the Zikr of Allah etc..The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said; "everyday Allah showers kindness and charity on his slaves and no kindness is better than inspiration of His remembrance that Allah grants to his slaves.(Hadith-tabarani)

Choose a good Islaamic book and increase your Islaamic knowledge. A Believers thirst for knowledge is never quenched. He continues to hear and learn until he enters Paradise Hadith-Tirmidhi. It was narrated that Ibn Mas'ud (RA)said: "Welcome to winter! Blessings descend in it, its nights are long to pray in, and its days are short to fast in." This is why Mu'adh(RA) wept on his deathbed and said: "I weep because I will miss the thirst I felt when I fasted, praying at night during the winter, and sitting knee to knee with the scholars during the gatherings of knowledge.""

 

8. PONDER OVER ALLAHS GREATNESS AND THANK HIM FOR HIS BLESSINGS

 Actually, if you think about it, winter is a big blessing from among the innumerable, uncountable blessings of Allah. He is honoring us by the bounty of His Giving, His Gracious Blessing and His Great Favour, so that we may be able to pray at night, fast during the day and worship Him

9. REMEMBER REALITIES OF HELL

The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)said: "Hell complained to its Lord, saying: "Parts of me have consumed the other parts." So, He allowed it two breaths of exhalation: one in winter and one in summer. As for its breath in winter, that is the bitter cold, and its breath in the summer is the extreme heat."

Among the virtues of winter is that it reminds one of the extreme cold of Hell and pushes one to seek refuge from it and to do such noble actions that will ensure one is protected from Jahannam (Hell)!

May Allaah Ta'ala, Most High enable us all to make best use of our winters. Ameen.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Miracle of PositiveThinking

The Miracle of Positive Thinking
By Sister Shahnaaz Bemath



Thinking positive can work miracles. You may have been told to "guard your thoughts", but felt the advice to be pointless. After all, your thoughts are private. How can they possibly affect someone else? The fact is, thoughts do seem to boomerang in some mysterious ways. Science has not found a way to measure them as they have invisible sound waves. In order to understand how positive thinking works, and how to use it efficiently, it is important to understand the power of negative thinking.

"Negative thoughts and tensions are like birds. We cannot stop them from flying near us but, we can certainly stop them from making a nest in our mind."

The mind can be directed towards positive thinking or negative thinking. The power of thought is a neutral power. The way one thinks determines whether the results are positive and beneficial or negative and harmful. It is the same of energy acting in different ways. Persistent inner work can change habits of thoughts. You must be willing to put energy and time to avoid negative thinking and pursue positive thinking, in order to change your mental attitude. Think of those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, in other words, to fill your mind with noble, good thoughts, leaving no room for negative ones to take root.

The Noble Messenger of ALLAH (peace be upon him) has reported that ALLAH, The Most Wise, said: "I treat  my servant as how he thinks of Me" (Hadith- Bukhari/ Muslim). In other words, ALLAH TA'ALA treats His servant in the way how he thinks of ALLAH, what he hopes from and how he sets his hopes on ALLAH. So, those who come positive and with a great hope to the door of Mercy of the Almighty Creator will Insha Allah not return empty-handed.

The most powerful weapon you have at your disposal is Du'a (prayer). Use it and use it often. The basis of prayer is to lift us and situations to Almighty ALLAH -- an inner act of visualisation. A further step is to contemplate on our beautiful teachings of Islam -- this involves controlling and directing out thoughts. A simple way to think of this is to imagine your mind to be like a garden. That garden can be spoilt and overrun by negative, destructive thoughts (weeds), or it can become a place of peace and harmony by the cultivation of flowers (uplifting thoughts).

"Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers. Or you can grow weeds."

Are you prone to depression? Do you see your life as a hopeless mess... consider yourself a failure? If you do, then you will close your mind, see no opportunities, and behave and react in such ways, as to repel people and opportunities. You let the power of negative thinking rule your life. Try replacing such negative thoughts with positive ones. Talk to your beloved ALLAH, ALLAH does not create a lock without a key, and ALLAH doesn't give you problems without its solutions. Trust HIM! While recognising these problems, picture yourself as mastering each one. Visualise yourself handling each situation creatively; being a success; gradually allowing your given potential to blossom.

The beloved Messenger of ALLAH (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) advised us if you look forward to good things, it will happen In'Shaa'ALLAH. Thinking positive is a very important element of Islam. Always think that ALLAH has a plan for you, if something goes wrong, it will probably lead you to something good. HE is working things out for you, even if you don't feel it. Have faith and be thankful. Where faith and hope grows, miracles blossoms, ALLAHU AKBAR!

At first, this kind of thought control may seem like an inner game -- but you'll be surprised at how, slowly but surely, your outer circumstances begin to change. For thought precedes action, and the right thoughts precede a chain of good actions. Destructive thoughts, on the other hand, act as poisoning agents. They embitter and limit the thinker, preventing him or her from developing good relationships, because others sense the wrong thoughts telepathically, and shy away instinctively.

Conversely, if you greet people with the thought that they'll probably be nice to know, such a positive thought will affect their response. If you're afraid of someone, replace that fear with a thought which recognises that the person's given potential "core" is probably hidden under layers of unhappiness and wrong thinking. Silently bless that person, and ask that his or her true self be given a chance to manifest.

A friend was once terribly upset because someone was spreading false rumours about her. She could not deny the rumour publicly. All she could do was pray for the woman, try to think about her charitably and visualise her acting differently. She did this consistently for some weeks. One day, unexpectedly, the woman phoned her to apologise and say she'd been mistaken, Subhaan-ALLAH! It seemed like a miracle! But right thinking can work miracles... Life has many different chapters for us. One bad chapter doesn't mean the end of the book. Be positive and keep your faith in ALLAH. Once we function in harmony with ALLAH'S beautiful laws of love and forgiveness -- and this includes spreading good, true and beautiful thoughts -- our lives will flower as they were meant to.

"Think positive, Think different. Don't waste your precious energy on negative thoughts."

Decide that from today, from this very moment, you are leaving negative thinking behind, and starting on the way towards positive thinking and behaviour. It is never too late. Soon your life will turn into a fascinating, wonderful journey. Wake up every morning with the thought that something beautiful is about to happen. Let's welcome each day with a smile and bid farewell with a smile. We thank ALLAH for HIS blessings. Take advantage of our positive energy and employ them in doing well in this life. Let's learn, read and after that, we will find the entire universe will extend to us it's heart and the whole world will hug us with its beauty... Subhaan-ALLAH!

There is something beautiful in life. You just have to find it....be positive and it will find you!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Dua - Rajab and Shabaan

The Dua of Rasullulah(saw) in the month of Rajab

 

It is mentioned on the authority of Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that when the Holy Prophet (saw) sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words,

'Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha'bana wa ballighna Ramadhan'

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."


Words are Physicians

Words are Physicians…

"They provide healing"

 

A boy Abdulla was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and Abdulla was the apple of their eyes.

One morning, the husband saw a medicine bottle open. As he was late for work, he asked his beloved wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, who was preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot to close the bottle.

Abdulla playfully went to the medicine bottle and fascinated with its colour, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child started shivering and showed signs of poisoning, the mother immediately drove him to the nearby hospital. Despite desperate effort by the emergency trauma unit, doctors were unable to the save little Abdulla and he died in his mothers loving arms. With tears flowing incessantly from her eyes,she recited "innalillahe wa ina ilayhe rajeun"-To Allah we belong and unto Him shall we return.[This prayer was thought to us by the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him when we encounter any loss]

 

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.' They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance." (Quran-2:155-157)


The mother was in a state of shock. She was too terrified to face her husband. Gaining her composure after a few minutes she built up the courage to call her husband and inform him of the tragedy.

 

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw Abdulla, his one and only child lying motionless before him, tears flowed like a river from his eyes…he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.


QUESTIONS :

1. What were the four words ?
2. What is the implication of this story ?
Check with the answers only after you have tried to come up with your
own.

Please scroll down ...........

ANSWERS:

The husband just said
" I Love You Darling ."

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behaviour.
He is indeed gifted by Allah with wisdom and a genius in human relationships. The child is dead.
Allah mentions in the Quran: " Every soul shall taste of death" [Quran 21:35]

 

Abdulla can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding
fault with the mother on this occasion. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.

 

Always be positive in adverse conditions. Allah say:"Those who suppress their anger, and forgive other people – assuredly, Allah loves those who do good."(Quran: 3/134)

There is an alternative to thinking about people, life and the world…You can see the possibilities and opportunities for growth, happiness, wellness and strength....its up to you!

Re: Behind every Dark Cloud there is a Silver Lining

Behind every Dark Cloud there is a Silver Lining

 

 

Hamza married Ruwayda. After the nikaah(wedding), Ruwayda's mother gave her a newly opened bank savings book with a R2000 deposit amount at the local Islamic Bank.

 
Ruwayda's mother said: "Take this savings book. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line...
The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with your husband. When you look back after years, you will know how much of happiness you've had.'
 
Ruwayda shared this with Hamza when she arrived  home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit could be made.
 

This was what they did after a certain time:

- 2 Jan:R200 Hamza became Hafizul Qur'aan.


- 7 Feb: R300, Ruwayda's Dad took us with for HAJ.
- 1 Dec: R300, Hamza graduated
- 20 Mar: R200, Hamza got an excellent job
- 15 Apr: R2000, Ruwayda got pregnant and later gave birth to a baby
- 1 Jun: R1000, Hamza got promoted

 ... and so on...
 
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing over trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the most nastiest people in the world... no more love... Kind of typical nowadays, huh?
 

One day Ruwayda spoke to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We have agreed to divorce. I can't imagine how I have decided to marry this guy!!!'


Mother: 'Sure, Ruwayda, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really cannot stand it. But before that, do one thing first... Remember the savings book I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'


Ruwayda thought it was true. So she went to the Islamic Bank, waiting at the queue and planning withdraw the amounts and to cancel the account. She intended to give Hamza his due share.
 
While she was waiting, she took a look at the book record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home. When she was home, she handed the book to her husband, and asked him to spend the money before getting divorced.
 
The next day, Hamza gave the book back to Ruwayda. She found a new deposit of R5000...and a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you through out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.' They hugged and cried, putting the savings book back to the safe.
 
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask. I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone through all the good years in their life.
 

"When you fall, in any way, Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes."

 

In every moment of our lives, we are given a choice.  How shall we regard this world in which we live? Is it good, or not?  Is there hope for the future, or not?  Is this world full of beauty, life, blessing and love; or is it cold, heartless and ruthless?  In every moment, it is one or the other…and how we regard and react to it is up to us. 
 
"If you are grateful, I will surely give increase My favours unto you" (Quran-Surah Ibrahim 14: 7).
 
"Behind every Dark Cloud there is a Silver Lining"

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Mother's Day in Islam

Mother's Day in Islam
 

 

To such a magnanimous lady in every way

Her pleasure is a visa for you in Jannah(heaven) to stay

Celebrating her not only once a year

A mother is so precious and dear.

Take lesson and to Allah sincerely pray

That Mother's Day should be celebrated EveryDay!

 

The Prophet Muhammad [Allah's peace and blessings be upon him] said:

"Jannah[Heaven] lies under the feet of your mother" (Hadith-Ahmad, Nasai).

 

Allah says:

"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents. If any one of them or both of them reach old age, do not say to them: uff (a word or expression of anger or contempt) and do not scold them, and address them with respectful words" [Quran-17:23]

 

Although honouring and respecting one's parents is incumbent upon Muslims, care should be taken that it is not done in an unislamic way. Our dear and beloved Mother is too precious to be honoured Only Once a Year on Mother's Day. Particular care should be taken to honour this great lady Every Day!

 

HONORING MOTHER'S IN ISLAM

 

The ties of kinship are very important in Islam, with emphasis given to the relationship between children and parents. Children are required to respect and obey their parents unless doing so involves a sin. Furthermore, adult children must continue to honour, respect and show gratitude to their elderly parents, and are expected to care for and support them. In the event the parent has passed away, children should make dua(pray) for them, give charity on their behalf(e.g. sponsoring a well etc) , perform Haj and Umrah on their behalf and treat their friends in a kind manner.

 

HIGH STATUS OF MOTHER IN ISLAM

 

In Islam, a mother has especially high status. She is to be given greater respect and honour than the father due to the difficulty of pregnancy, childbirth, nursing and child rearing. This is supported by many ahadith:

 

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated :"A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is most deserving of my good company?' He said, 'Your mother.' He asked, 'Then who?' He said, 'Your mother.' He asked, 'Then who?' He said, 'Your mother.' He asked, 'Then who?' He said, 'Then your father.'" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

 

 Abu Usaid Saidi said: We were once sitting with Rasulullah when a man from the tribe of Salmah came and said to him: O Messenger of Allah! do my parents have rights over me even after they have died? And Rasulullah said: Yes. You must pray to Allah to bless them with His Forgiveness and Mercy, fulfill the promises they made to anyone, and respect their relations and their friends (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).

 

Abdullah ibn Amr related that the Messenger of Allah[pbuh] said: The major sins are to believe that Allah has partners, to disobey one's parents, to commit murder, and to bear false witness (Bukhari, Muslim)

 

 It is narrated by Asma bint Abu Bakr that during the treaty of Hudaibiyah, her mother, who was then pagan, came to see her from Makkah. Asma informed the Messenger of Allah of her arrival and also that she needed help. He said: Be good to your mother (Bukhari, Muslim).

 

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON MOTHER'S DAY

 

Islamic Scholars are unanimous that celebrating Mother's Day does not have it basis or origins in Islam. In fact it has its origins in Non- Muslim culture and today it is being promoted mainly due to commercial purposes. Therefore mother's should be loved, respected, obeyed and appreciated every day, with no need to single out special days to honour them. Muslims already observe three established holidays (eids) in Islam: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the weekly Jumu'ah eid. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned Muslims not to add or remove anything from their religion, saying: "If somebody tries to introduce into this faith of ours (Islam) something which is not a part of it, it is to be rejected and that person is condemned." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)Therefore, Muslims should be satisfied with their faith and avoid the traditions and holidays of non-Muslims, including Mother's Day and Father's Day. While the intention of honoring parents is good, Muslims should be honoring their parents each and every day, and not limiting that level of respect and affection to a single day each year.

 

We thus can conclude that Islam has emphasized on respecting and honouring mothers, as is evident from the Quran and Hadith. We are not only required to honour mothers during their life time, rather after their demise as well.

 

May Allah Ta'ala grant us all the tawfeeq to fulfill the rights of our mothers and be recipients of their dua's not once a year but EVERY DAY!, Amin.

 

My Mother's Day

My Mother's Day!

Abdur Rahmaan Umar

"I love you, mom," whispered Yusuf as he wrapped the soft pashmina shawl around his mother's shoulders. The vibrant peach contrasted with the dark rings that had grown under her eyes lately, but their brightness had not faded.

Her eyes lit up as she stroked the delicate embroidery on the edge of the shawl, "And this…Yusuf?"

Yusuf looked at her with the excitement of a young boy unpacking his first bicycle, "Wait ma…there's more," he cried, as he removed a burgundy jewellery box. Presenting it in front of his mother, like they were the crown jewels, he gingerly lifted the lid to reveal a string of exquisite cultured pearls, delicately strung together with small black pearls breaking the shimmer of the white pearls.

"Yusuf!" exclaimed his mother, her eyes brimming, "What's all this?"

Yusuf stepped back and looked at his mother holding the pearl necklace close to her chest, admiring it, "Mom, always wanted a pearl necklace…."

"But it must have cost you a small fortune," said Saffiyah as she held the pearls up to the light, studying the delicate changes of colour as she turned the necklace, "Why now…what's special?"

"It's my mother's day!" he beamed.

"Er..," began Saffiyah as she craned her neck to look at the calendar behind her, "But it's not mother's day. Not for a while, yet?" a puzzled look settling on her face.

"I didn't say it was Mother's day," replied Yusuf, "I said it was MY mother's day. But let me explain…."

"You remember I told you about Nasser who recently moved here from the coast?"

Saffiyah nodded in acknowledgement.

"Last night I met him at Sheikh's program and asked him why he always begged sheikh for duas. I just found it strange that he would always insist that Sheikh make dua for him. He gave me an odd reply – he asked me if my mother was alive, and if I had fifteen minutes. I confirmed that I had both. We sat at the back of the masjid and he told me his story."

Yusuf paused to pour some tea, adding a sugar to each cup, handing one to his mother he continued, "Nasser told me that since his door of dua (supplication) had closed a long time ago, he had to seek another door for dua. Not understanding, I asked him what he meant. He was silent for a long time, and I thought perhaps I said something wrong, but he just looked at me and smiled. Wiping a tear from his eye he told me that his mother passed away when he was only five years old. He said that he could still remember the smell of her hair after she washed it, but remembered little else."

Yusuf watched his mother sipping her tea and noticed just how wrinkled her hands had become, the gold wedding ring still sat gracefully on her ring finger. She always took pride in grooming her nails, buffing them to a perfect shine.

"After Nasser's mother passed away he lived in the care of his aunties. They were good to him and cared for him as one of their own. They bought him what he needed and he had much of what he needed. Then he told me "You know, Joe, no one can replace the embrace of a mother. And no one can replace the dua (prayer) of a mother. I lost that dua a long time ago." Then I thought of all the duas you make for me - how often when I rush out of the house you always say, "Yusuf, slow down, Allah Ta'ala be with you!" "Allah Hafiz." "Yusuf, may Allah Ta'ala make your children the coolness of your eye."

"Ma…I never really cherished those duas until I heard Nasser's story," said Yusuf, dabbing his eye with a tissue, "I never knew that those were treasures beyond measure. And then it made some sense to me of what Sheikh said when he quoted Abdulla Ibn 'Abbas (RA), "If any Muslim obeys Allah regarding his parents, Allah will open two gates of the Garden for him. If there is only one parent, then one gate will be opened. If one of them is angry, then Allah will not be pleased with him until that parent is pleased with him."

"And when Nasser told me – 'Joe (as Yusuf was referred to by his friends), you know, I will never be able to call anyone in this world Mum, and I will never know the embrace of a mother. You still have it, Joe, value it, treasure it,' I realised that what Allah had favoured me with was something so special that I couldn't just celebrate it once a year and call it mother's day. I decided that from now MY Mother's day will be Every Day! - Yesterday, today and tomorrow will all be mother's day. I can never repay you, but I know the heart of a mother asks for no repayment. And…if I can do nothing else for my mother's day then I will at least thank Allah that he allowed my door of dua to be open for one more day."

"Forgive me ma….." Yusuf choked, "I need to do so much more for you…."

Saffiyah clasped his hands and stroked his face, "You are a good son, Yusuf, Allah Ta'ala will grant you lots of goodness in this world and the next."