Poem: Tips On How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 
💌 Some tips on how to quit comparing yourself
To others who, like you, are servants of God:
First, Alhamdulillah that you are Muslim,
A lover of truth and denier of fraud.
~*~
If you see yourself closely, you'll notice that
There are good things about you which others lack,
Tough lessons you have learned which many have not,
And good qualities which some folks wish they had.
~*~
Don't compare yourself to others, for each has
A book full of stories, and each has a role.
Each one has his/her own journey to travel,
Experiences, talents and puzzles to solve.
~*~
Some excel at writing, others in speaking,
Some are good at learning, others in teaching,
Some master the art of dealing with people,
While others the art of cooking and baking.
~*~
Some are experts in certain fields such as in -
Sales, fixing things, designing or promoting,
Others have a way with kids, babysitting,
Being sweet or admirably forgiving.
~*~
Some know how to rhyme, some clean well, while others
Show excellence as leaders, or in nursing,
In researching, giving speeches or advice,
Or in being a friend - truthful and caring.
~*~
Everyone has his/her own set of strengths and
Weaknesses - thus, always try to understand -
When Allah gives good things to some and not you,
It's out of wisdom and it's from Allah's Plan.
~*~
Be thankful for all the good that Allah gave -
The ones you're aware of and those not yet known.
Avoid jealousy and envy for these are
Traits of shaytan, who wants Hell to be man's home.
~*~
You are special, you are unique, Allah's friend -
A righteous Muslim happy for his brothers,
Always doing what is right and shunning wrong,
Not obsessed with materialistic matters.
~*~
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Look to those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is the best way not to belittle the favors of Allah."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6125, Sahih Muslim 2963
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim 
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Beware of envy, for it devours good deeds just as fire devours wood or grass."
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4903
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Suyuti
📖 Fadalah ibn ‘Ubayd RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Blessed is one who is guided to Islam, whose livelihood is sufficient, and who is contented."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhī 2349
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

Note: Wisdom Of Why Some Du'as Aren't Answered

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 
💌 Did you ever witness a Du'a of yours go unanswered? Have you earnestly prayed to Allah the Almighty with tears drizzling from your cheeks for something you've been wanting only to find out later on that your supplication was rejected? 
Begged Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala to enable you to do Hajj, but then realized your dream of performing pilgrimage this year with some loved ones wouldn't come true? Asked Allah to bless you with at least one child, but no matter how many times you and your husband have been trying to make babies, you didn't receive the result that you wanted? Cried to Allah to comfort your heart and erase the unwanted feelings of attraction you have for a certain someone, so you wouldn't be distracted, but until now every time you hear their name or see their face, you can't help but feel intensely attracted? Supplicated to Allah that He allows you to marry your childhood friend one day, only to discover that he died from a car accident? Prayed to Allah for several nights in a row during Tahajjud for a high-paying profession which you eagerly want, and be told afterwards that your job interview didn't go well?
Today this year's Eid Al-Adha (1441/2020) I saw one of my supplications go unanswered. Since I couldn't celebrate Eid Al-Fitr and last year's Eid Al-Adha with my husband due to busyness and personal matters, I kept begging Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala to make it possible for me to spend quality time with him this Eid Al-Adha. However that wish wasn't granted because of the current pandemic situation and strict protocols.
Sometimes a lot of us wrongly assume that when Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala doesn't answer a particular Du'a, our nafs would start whispering to us on how life seems "unfair" or there's no use in supplicating if there is no absolute guarantee of a desirable outcome, not knowing that Allah's rejection of some of our Du'as could be:
1] ...to protect us from fitna or futher unpleasant consequences resulting from having that Du'a immediately answered.
2] ...to test us. To examine how strong our faith/Imaan and trust in Allah the Most Merciful is, and then grant us what we requested at a more befitting time.
3] ...to shield us from the negative effects of the thing we're asking for. Often what we request from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is more dangerous, distracting or detrimental for our overall well-being. A responsible mother wouldn't distribute cigarettes to her toddlers even if they cried for them the whole day, just as a reliable pharmacist would refuse to give customers medicine which they're allergic to or their doctors didn't prescribe. 
Our faith/Imaan and reliance upon Allah the Most Kind should be so firm that even if He doesn't respond to a supplication of ours, we patiently accept Allah's decision, aware that He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala always knows what is best for us in both worlds. Oftentimes a dream that we've been hoping to come true but wasn't fulfilled reminds us that we're Allah's servants who have a noble mission to continue serving Him even if what Allah does at times isn't appealing to our desires. Plus we're Allah's humbled slaves who don't get to command Allah the Most Wise to make our stay on earth completely perfect.
Unresponded Du'as can also inspire other Muslims to maintain patience for Allah's sake and remain gratefully contented with Allah's Qadr/Decree.
In Jannah Paradise Inn-sha-Allah we can have all our wishes granted, not this dunya where worries, disappointments and anxiety are only temporary. Reminder to say Du'a for at least a few minutes today Friday before Salat Al-Maghreb, praying to Allah the Most Loving for what your soul needs.
📖 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He (Allah) will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it." They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah has even more." 
Source: Musnad Ahmed 10749 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "When one of you supplicates, let him be determined in the supplication and he should not say: 'O Allah, give me if You will.' There is none to coerce Allah." 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 5979
Sahih Muslim 2678 
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim 
Al-Nawawi said, “It is to have good expectations of Allah the Almighty in answering you.” 
Source: Sharh Al-Nawawī ‘alá Sahih Muslim 2678 
📖 Salman Al-Farsi RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah is the Most Kind and the Most Generous. He (Allah) would be shy, when a man raises his hands to Him, to turn them away empty and disappointed." 
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3556 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 ‘Ubadah ibn Al-Samit RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "There is no Muslim on earth who calls upon Allah in supplication but that Allah will grant it to him or divert some evil away from him, so long as he does not ask for something sinful or to cut off family ties." A man said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Allah has even more."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3573 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to At-Tirmidhi
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam mentioned the day of Friday and he said, "In it is an hour in which no Muslim stands to pray and ask Allah for something but that he will be given it," and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam indicated with his hand that the time is very short. 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 893 
Sahih Muslim 852 
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-excellence-of-supplicating-to-allah-and-the-conditions-for-an-accepted-dua/

Hadith: Virtues Of Feeding Muslims Who Are Fasting

📖 Abu Qatadah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of 'Arafah and he said, "It will expiate the sins of the previous year and upcoming year." Then, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of Ashura and he said, "It will expiate the sins of the past year."
Source: Sahih Muslim 1162
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 Zayd ibn Khalid RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Whoever helps break the fast of a fasting person, he will have the same reward as him without decreasing anything from the reward of the fasting person."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 807
Grade:Sahih
📖 Umm ‘Umarah bint Ka’b RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam entered her home and she served him food. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:
"Will you eat?"
She said, “Indeed, I am fasting.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Verily, angels send blessings upon a fasting person when others eat in their presence until they finish."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 785
Grade: Sahih

Note: Confident People VS The Insecure

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 
💌 "OA. She's overacting again.", "Stop being pretentious. You're not all that.", and "They act like they're VIPs. Who do they think they are?" are a few examples of complaints which jealous, insecure and cowardly passive-aggressive individuals are likely to say. To be insecure means to lack security and confidence in oneself - when one feels jealously threatened by somebody else that they feel the need to bring the latter down to soothe their insecurities.
🔹 Some of the subtle and obvious signs which indicate someone you know could be very insecure:
1] They enjoy making fun of other people, while forgetting their own flaws and imperfections. Examples: Laughing at you scornfully when you're facing a difficult situation, giggling childishly whenever you make a mistake, and joking about someone's looks or outfit.
2] They do whatever they can to purposely prove they're a lot better than you. Examples: Saying statements like "Oh that's nothing. I've done that before. Not once but many times." and buying the exact same item which you bought except in larger quantities.
3] They're shallow, deliberately stuck-up and extremely materialistic. They either look you up and down arrogantly during conversations, secretly finding your simple clothing deplorable, or they refuse to give you proper eye contact because according to their standards you're not special enough to grab their attention.
4] They habitually gossip offline and online by way of whiny or derisive status updates about people whom they can't stand. They seem to be naturals at making incorrect assumptions and ridiculous guesses about others' thoughts or intentions. If you genuinely didn't fancy a person, you wouldn't grant them the privilege to earn your rewards of good deeds through backbiting. You'd keep your mouth shut. Since they got zero impact in your life, you seldom have their names mentioned.
5] Constantly or uncontrollably expressing negative emotions, when certain sentiments aren't obliged to be disclosed. Examples: "I hate her voice.", "Her attitude makes me cringe.", "This place sucks.", "His hairstyle is awful." and "They are so unprofessional.". If you weren't hired to be a judge in some sort of competition and if nobody's living conditions can be improved by hearing your unwanted opinion, it is wiser to be silent.
🔸 Some traits of people with strong personalities, who are confident and secure:
1] They defend the oppressed or unjustly mistreated, they help the weak, and they uplift others for Allah's sake. Seeing you in trouble inspires them to assist you, advise or at least show sympathy.
2] As they're grateful to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and contented with who they are, they don't regard you as a threat to their self-esteem. You can narrate to them about your joys while they display happiness, understanding and support, rather than proving they're the ones who are superior.
3] They don't form judgments about you based on your financial status and physical appearance. They're more concerned about your faith/Imaan and well-being as a Muslim than measuring your worth in relation to material things.
4] Gossiping or talking trash about others is something they're not into.
Why discuss a Muslim's errors and personal issues when you too aren't 100% perfect? Do you aspire to be a journalist someday who's deluded by gossip?
5] They refrain from uttering words which could offend others, as much as possible. Before verbally sharing anything, they ensure their sentences are true, the information is accurate, necessary or beneficial.
~*~ 
📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever abandons telling lies in support of falsehood, a house will be built for him in the surroundings of Paradise. Whoever abandons arguments even though he is right, a house will be built for him in its middle. Whoever makes his character excellent, a house will be built for him in its highest part." 
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1993 
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to At-Tirmidhi
📖 Abdullah Ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe." 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 10 
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi 
📖 Abu Tha’labah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, the most beloved of you and closest to me in the Hereafter are those with the best character. Verily, the most hateful of you to me and furthest from me in the Hereafter are those with the worst character: The boastful, the pompous (selfishly self-important), and the verbose (who talk excessively on matters that don't benefit)." 
Source: Sahih Ibn Hibbān 5673 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut

Poem: Taqwa, Patience And Trusting Allah During Times Of Trials

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 
💌 Dear Allah the Almighty, I am weak, so guide me 
And help me against my nafs, enhance my piety.
Wherever I go, right and left, trials await me, 
Tests of various length and level of difficulty.
~*~
There are tests that my heart goes through, when feelings compete 
With my mind, when "love" clashes with rationality, 
Where questions like "Why do I feel this way?", "Is this real?",
"Who can I trust?" and "Should I leave?" are asked frequently.
~*~
Either vile temptations unmask themselves before me, 
Or I endure distance and frustrations patiently.
Believe me, striving against desires isn't easy, 
But it must be done so my soul in both worlds succeeds.
~*~
Other exams come in the form of hostility, 
When some view me as a threat so they're filled with envy.
Loathed by many here and there, distrusted unjustly,
I'm either someone's "crush", "stalker", "friend" or "enemy".
~*~
Another kind of trial appears deceptively,
When moments get "too good to be true" they seem unreal,
And queries like "What will I do with all this money?"
And "Who's in need of charity?" are asked frequently.
~*~
Scared that Allah's favors aren't spent profitably 
And that I may sin when fixing my priorities, 
I find this dunya disconcerting, tough and scary, 
Then I recall Jannah and know Allah is with me.
~*~
In this complicated life with roads that are bumpy, 
With increasing fitna and Judgment Day coming near,
I pray that Allah grants me Taqwa, sincerity,
And guidance to pass His tests, to earn Jannah's entry. Ameen.
~*~
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "If Allah intends good for someone, then He afflicts him with trials." 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 5321, Grade: Sahih
📖 Mus’ad ibn Sa’eed RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "The servant will continue to be tried (encounter different trials in this life) until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin." 
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2398, Grade: Sahih
📖 Miqdad ibn Al-Aswad RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. How good is one who is afflicted but bears it patiently!" 
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4263, Grade: Sahih
📖 Ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam drew a line in the sand with his hand and he said, “This is the Straight Path of Allah.” Then, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam drew lines to the right and left, and he said, “These are other paths, and there is no path among them but that a devil is upon it calling to its way.” Then the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam recited the verse, “Verily, this is the straight path, so follow it and do not follow other ways.” (The Noble Qur'an 6:153) 
Source: Musnad Ahmed 4423 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Ahmed Shakir
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: We were gathered around the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam while he mentioned tribulations (trials), saying, "If you see that the people have disordered their commitments, diminished their trusts, and are as jumbled as this," and he interlaced his fingers. I stood to come near him and I said, “How should I act if that happens?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Stay in your house, control your tongue, accept what you know is good, reject what you know is evil, take care of your affairs specifically and abandon the affairs of the common people." 
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4343 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
📖 Abu Tha’labah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "You must enjoin good and forbid evil until you see greed being obeyed, desires being followed, worldly life being preferred, and everyone is impressed by their own opinion. Then you must take care of yourself and leave the common people. Verily, ahead of you are days of patience in which patience will be like grasping a hot coal. The one who does good deeds in that time will have the reward of fifty men who do likewise." 
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3058 
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to At-Tirmidhi 
📖 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Soon (before the Day of Judgment) the best property of a Muslim will be a flock of sheep that he takes to the top of a mountain, or in the valleys of rainfall, fleeing with his religion from tribulations (trials/fitan)." 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 19 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari