Poem: Dear Husband, Thank You, Loving You Has Brought Me Closer To Allah's Love.

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 Dear husband, the man whom Allah chose as my soulmate, 

Other half and travel companion to Jannah's gates, 

For the nth time, I'd like to state I appreciate 

You for all the loving things you've done and gifts you gave.

~•~

Thank you for the souvenirs bought each time you traveled, 

For your patiently putting up with me I'm grateful, 

For all delightful moments, few but memorable, 

And for accepting me when I'm not so lovable.

~•~

Thank you for encouraging me to be more lenient 

And forgiving to my siblings, loved ones and students. 

Thank you for training me to be strong, independent, 

And patient each time I deal with your frequent absence.

~•~

Thanks for the lessons on how to be less immature, 

For helping me be more thick-skinned and less insecure 

When I tolerate your late messages because you're 

Busy, and recalling our dreams keeps me reassured.

~•~

You dream of performing Hajj and attaining success 

In both worlds. I yearn for Allah's Love, to pass His tests, 

And that we make it to Jannah with our relatives, 

Grateful to Allah for guiding us through this marriage.

~•~

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If I were to order anyone to prostrate to another, I would have ordered a wife to prostrate before her husband."

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhī 1159

Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to At-Tirmidhi

Ali Al-Qari said, "That she prostrates to her husband is due to the number of his rights over her and her difficulty in maintaining gratitude for them. This rhetorical point conveys the obligation of the wife to obey her husband in his rights. Indeed, prostration is not lawful to anyone other than Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala."

Source: Mirqāt Al-Mafātih 5/2125

📖 Ibn 'Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "I was shown the Hellfire and (found) that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful." It was asked, "Do they disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam replied, "They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you."

Sahih Al-Bukhari 29

In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 22

USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 29

📖 Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: On Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Adha, Allah's Messenger SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam went out to the Musalla. After finishing the prayer, he delivered the sermon and ordered the people to give alms (charity). He said, "O people! Give alms." Then he went towards the women and said. "O women! Give alms, for I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-Fire were you (women)." The women asked, "O Allah's Messenger! What is the reason for it?" He replied, "O women! You curse frequently, and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. O women, some of you can lead a cautious wise man astray." Then he left. And when he reached his house, Zainab, the wife of Ibn Mas`ud, came and asked permission to enter It was said, "O Allah's Messenger! It is Zainab." He asked, 'Which Zainab?" The reply was that she was the wife of Ibn Mas'ud. He said, "Yes, allow her to enter." And she was admitted. Then she said, "O Prophet of Allah! Today you ordered people to give alms and I had an ornament and intended to give it as alms, but Ibn Mas`ud said that he and his children deserved it more than anybody else." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam replied, "Ibn Mas`ud had spoken the truth. Your husband and your children had more right to it than anybody else."

Sahih Al-Bukhari 1462

In-book reference: Book 24, Hadith 65

USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 2, Book 24, Hadith 541

https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2020/09/note-how-happy-are-you-with-your.html

Poem: All Good Deeds, Including Fasting, Must Be Only For Allah The Almighty.

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 Your intention of fasting shouldn't be to lose weight, 

Not to deprive yourself from blessings that Allah gave 

So your strength, devotion and piety are displayed, 

Not because your parents ordered or when friends persuade, 

But you fast sincerely and purely for Allah's sake.

~•~

Fast in Ramadan to obey Allah, as Muslims, 

And to fulfill Islam's pillars with their conditions. 

Join the righteous who love fasting Sunnah fasts often, 

Like on Mondays, Thursdays, in Muharram and Sha'baan, 

To be from the special ones who enter Ar-Rayyaan.

~•~

The virtues of fasting include: Gaining Allah's Love, 

Feeling poor people's hunger so you're more generous, 

Discipline in shunning what Allah prohibited, 

Preferring Allah's Pleasure to dunya's brief pleasures, 

And higher status in Jannah through increased rewards.

~•~

📖 Umar Ibn Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, deeds are only with intentions. Verily, every person will have only what they intended. Whoever emigrated to Allah and His Messenger, his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger (SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Whoever emigrated to get something in the world or to marry a woman, his emigration is for that to which he emigrated."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 54 

Sahih Muslim 1907

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Sahl Ibn Sa’d RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter it along with them. It will be said: 'Where are those who fasted, so that they may enter?' When the last of them enters, it will be closed and no one else will go through it."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1797

Sahih Muslim 1152

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will move his face away from the Hellfire by a distance of seventy years."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 2685

Sahih Muslim 1153

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, "Allah says to the angels: 'If My servant intends to do a bad deed, do not record it unless he does it. If he does it, record it as one bad deed. If he leaves it for My sake, record for him one good deed. If he intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, record for him one good deed. If he does it, record for him ten good deeds like it up to seven-hundred times as much.'"

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 7062 

Sahih Muslim 128

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah has recorded good and evil deeds and He made them clear. Whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, Allah will record it as a complete good deed. If he intends to do it and does so, Allah the Almighty will record it as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred times as much or even more. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, Allah will record for him one complete good deed. If he does it, Allah will record for him as one evil deed."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6126 

Sahih Muslim 131

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Poem: I Can't Cry Over Former Friends If Their Departure Was By Allah Destined And It's All For My Protection

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 If I were asked, "What can you say about those who left, 

Potential friends with whom you couldn't smoothly connect, 

Who suspected your motives then refused to forgive, 

Or your language, needs and interests they failed to get, 

So they disappeared, wanting you confused and bereft?"

~•~

I say, Allah the Almighty always knows what's best. 

Through letting them go, Allah just wanted to protect 

Me from their wicked tendencies to be dishonest, 

To abuse my kindness, to whine without benefit 

And accumulate people's sins through childish gossip.

~•~

If some of those ex-friends can't be described as "toxic", 

And by their speech or conduct I've never been upset, 

I accept that Allah made the connection short-lived. 

To trust none except Allah through it I'm reminded. 

By humans' flaws and limits you'll be disappointed.

~•~

Truthfully I can't cry over those who departed, 

Specially if their fleeing is what Allah wanted, 

To return me to Him and not remain distracted 

By clinging to His slaves who can't always be trusted. 

Alhamdulillah with Allah's Love I'm contented.

~•~

📖 Suhayb RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Amazing is the affair of the believer, as there is good for him in every matter. This is not the case for anyone but for the believer. If he goes through ease (or happy moments), he thanks Allah and it is good for him. If he goes through difficulty, he shows patience and it is good for him."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2999

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: 'If only I had done something else.’ Rather say: "Allah has decreed what He wills." Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of shaytan."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2664

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

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https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/03/poem-secret-to-feeling-indifferent-when.html

Hadith: Virtues Of Fasting Many Sunnah Fasts In Sha'baan

📖 Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam would fast until we said he will never break his fast, and he did not fast until we said he would never fast. I did not see the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam complete an entire month of fasting except for Ramadan, and I did not see him complete more voluntary fasts than in the month of Sha’ban.

In another narration, Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha said: The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam would fast Sha’ban and then connect it to Ramadan.

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1868 

Sahih Muslim 1156

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Al-Nawawi said, “It is part of the Sunnah to fast in the month of Sha’ban.”

Source: Al-Majmū’ Sharḥ Al-Muhadhab 6/386

📖 Umm Salamah RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: I did not see the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam fast for two consecutive months in a row except for Sha’ban and Ramadan.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 736

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Sahl ibn Sa’d RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter it along with them. It will be said: 'Where are those who fasted, so that they may enter?' When the last of them enters, it will be closed and no one else will go through it."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1797

Sahih Muslim 1152

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Usamah ibn Zayd RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as you fast during Sha’baan.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It is a month that people neglect between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Rabb (Lord) of the worlds and I like that my deeds are raised while I am fasting."

Source: Sunan Al-Nasā’ī 2357

Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani

Note: Why Muslims Who Love Allah The Almighty Don't Need To Go On Dates Before Marriage

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 When asked by a non-Muslim, "How can you marry someone you barely know?" or "Why start a family with a complete stranger? Shouldn't you go on dates first, observe if you're compatible, fall in love then propose and live happily ever after?" we unapologetically respond with "Alhamdulillah as Muslims, we live according to Allah's rules and strive to do only what He commanded. We avoid premarital relationships, waiting for marriage, not only because Allah the Almighty prohibited unlawful love or zina/fornication, but playing games with people's hearts temporarily then breaking up with them to find a different potential partner is a despicable abomination.

Since women in Islam have an honorable status being ordered by Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala to wear the hijab and clothes that are modest, preventing them from premarital relations is one way to emphasize they mustn't be treated as cheap objects.

A woman isn't a car that any man can give her a test drive to see if he likes the vehicle or not. Similarly a man who knows his duties to Allah the All-Knowing wouldn't put himself in an ignoble and obnoxious situation, lowering his manliness levels by running after several lovers before getting lawfully married, as though he is a stray puppy licking anything it gets its paws on in a dumpster until it finally found 'the one' it's been looking for.

True love in Islam is discovered, learned and valued after marriage. Muslims who are knowledgeable of what Allah expects them to be don't need to imitate the misguided societies that ironically idolize cheesy forbidden love stories while questioning the value of Islamic modesty and polygyny.

One beautiful aspect about Allah's prohibition of zina is that when a woman willingly accepts the marriage proposal of a man she never dated, after praying Salat Al-Istikhaara, is the feeling of contentment and gratitude within the wife and husband upon knowing that their soulmate was chosen by Allah the Most Wise with wisdom. Their marriage especially becomes a blessing by submitting to Allah's Will patiently. Mutually discovering more about each other in gradual stages after the wedding ceremony is what makes the journey of love more exciting, memorable and noteworthy." 

How can a man find a pious wife if dating isn't permitted? He can consult his mother, sisters and aunties asking if they could suggest a lady whom they know who is willing to accept his marriage proposal or he can ask his friends and male colleagues if they're interested in having him as their future brother-in-law. In case that guy is a student or employee in an environment where males and females often interact for professional reasons, and he realizes he's "in love" with a hijabi or niqabi who is single, he can approach her guardians/wali, parents or brothers and propose after he prayed two Sunnah Rak'ahs of Salat Al-Istikhaara. Before the lady agrees or declines, it is recommended for her and the suitor to see each other face to face not in a secluded area but in the presence of her mahrams. If the woman said yes to the guy's proposal, Alhamdulillah, and if she rejected his proposal after seeing him personally, then he must patiently accept Allah's Decree. Forced marriages are not allowed in Islam. The guy can try proposing another time with a different woman when Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala knows both souls are beneficial for one another and ready to marry.

📖 From Al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah RadhiAllahu anhu: “I proposed marriage to a woman, and the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: ‘Have you seen her?’ I said, ‘No.’ He SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, ‘Look at her, because it is more fitting that love and compatibility be established between you.’” According to another narration: “So he did that, and he married her and mentioned that they got along.”

(Reported by Al-Daaraqutni, 3/252 (31, 32); Ibn Maajah, 1/574)

https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/02/poem-genuine-love-is-in-getting-married.html