༺ 𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙉 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝘿𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝙀𝙏 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 ༻

 

༺ 𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙅𝙐𝙎𝙏 𝙎𝙋𝙀𝘼𝙆 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝙀𝙉 — 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝙄𝙏 ༻

➖➖➖

It is not uncommon to see people reminding others about righteousness while they themselves struggle to live by the very words they speak.

Islam teaches us that enjoining good and doing good are both required. Our own shortcomings do not make reminding others unnecessary—but our reminders should also become a means of correcting ourselves.

🔸 Do Not Forget Yourself

Allah ﷻ says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ۝ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is to Allah that you say that which you do not do.”

[Aṣ-Ṣaff 61:2–3]

And Allah ﷻ says:

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

“Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Will you not then understand?”

[Al-Baqarah 2:44]

The warning is not against calling people toward righteousness. Rather, it is against forgetting ourselves while telling others what we ourselves neglect.

🔸 Let Your Reminder Begin With You

The scholars explained that a person should strive to be among the first to practice what he encourages others to do.

If you remind someone to pray—guard your own prayer.

If you remind someone to lower their gaze—lower your own gaze.

If you remind someone to leave sin—fight your own sins.

If you remind someone to remember Allah—remember Allah yourself.

Every reminder you give to another person should also become a reminder for you.

🔸 The Prophet ﷺ Warned Us

عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ

يُجَاءُ بِالرَّجُلِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ، فَتَنْدَلِقُ أَقْتَابُ بَطْنِهِ، فَيَدُورُ بِهَا كَمَا يَدُورُ الْحِمَارُ بِالرَّحَى

The Prophet ﷺ described a man who will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. The people will ask him:

أَلَيْسَ كُنْتَ تَأْمُرُنَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَانَا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ؟

“Were you not commanding us to do good and forbidding us from evil?”

He will say:

كُنْتُ آمُرُكُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلَا آتِيهِ، وَأَنْهَاكُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَآتِيهِ

“I used to command you to do good, but I did not do it; and I used to forbid you from evil, but I did it.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3267; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2989]

This is a terrifying warning.

🌿 YOU FIRST…

Do not stop reminding others because you are imperfect.

Instead, remind yourself first.

When you call someone toward Allah ﷻ, let your own heart hear the reminder.When you speak about repentance, repent.When you speak about ṣalāh, protect your ṣalāh.When you speak about sincerity, examine your intentions.When you speak about Jannah, strive for it. Every reminder we give others should be a reminder we desperately need ourselves.

May Allah ﷻ make us people who practice what we preach, purify our intentions, forgive our shortcomings, and allow our words to benefit both ourselves and others.

آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

۞ THE MANY FACES OF SABR : Patience Through Every Test

 

                     

                      

 

 ◇ Ṣabr: Strength, Faith and Perseverance✦

Understanding Ṣabr in Our Everyday Lives

✦ 1. WE ARE ALL BEING TESTED

Allah ﷻ says:

﴿ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا۟ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴾

“Do people think they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested?” — Surah Al-ʿAnkabūt 29:2

✦ We all say that we believe. ❖ But faith is tested through life. ✧ It is tested through hardship. ☾ It is tested through comfort. ◇ It is tested through our families. ❋ It is tested through our worship. ❈ It is tested through our character. ⚜ It is tested through our reactions. ✦ Every day gives us another opportunity to practise ṣabr.

❖ 2. THE PATIENCE OF EVERYDAY LIFE

✦ You wake up. ❖ You pray. ✧ You prepare breakfast. ☾ You get the children ready. ◇ You go to work. ❋ You clean. ❈ You cook. ⚜ You care for your family. ✦ You deal with difficult people. ❖ You become tired. ✧ You become frustrated. ☾ You wonder what needs to be done next. ◇ Then tomorrow comes. ❋ And you do it all again.

✦ These things may seem ordinary. ❖ But they require patience. ✧ They require consistency. ☾ They require self-control. ◇ They require us to keep going even when we are tired. This too can be ṣabr.

☾ 3. PATIENCE THROUGH HARDSHIP

Allah ﷻ says:

﴿ وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴾

“And We will certainly test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” — Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155

✦ Some people are tested through hunger. ❖ Some through poverty. ✧ Some through illness. ☾ Some through the loss of someone they love. ◇ Some through fear. ❋ Some through uncertainty. ❈ Others through private struggles nobody else can see. ⚜ The tests are different. ✦ But Allah knows every one of them.

✧ 4. WHEN WE LOSE SOMEONE WE LOVE

✦ There are some tests that words cannot describe. ❖ Losing someone we love is one of them. ☾ The heart grieves. ◇ The home feels different. ❋ Memories suddenly become painful. ❈ Ordinary moments can bring tears. ⚜ Yet even through grief, the believer can turn toward Allah.

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah ﷻ says:

« مَا لِعَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدِي جَزَاءٌ، إِذَا قَبَضْتُ صَفِيَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، ثُمَّ احْتَسَبَهُ، إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ »

“My believing servant has no reward with Me other than Paradise when I take away his beloved one from the people of the world and he patiently seeks My reward.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 6424

✦ Patience does not mean that you cannot cry. ❖ It does not mean that you cannot grieve. ✧ It does not mean that your heart cannot hurt. ☾ It means that through your grief, you continue turning toward Allah.

🌿 5. PATIENCE THROUGH ILLNESS

✦ Illness can change everything. ❖ Plans can suddenly disappear. ✧ Strength can become weakness. ☾ Certainty can become fear. ◇ The future can suddenly feel unknown.

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

« مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ، وَلَا وَصَبٍ، وَلَا هَمٍّ، وَلَا حُزْنٍ، وَلَا أَذًى، وَلَا غَمٍّ، حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ »

“No fatigue, illness, sorrow, sadness, harm or distress befalls a Muslim—even the prick of a thorn—except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.” 

— Sahih al-Bukhari 5641–5642

❋ A person may see only the pain. ❈ Allah sees the reward. ✦ A person may see weakness. ✧ Allah can make it a means of purification.

⚜ 6. PATIENCE DOES NOT MEAN ACCEPTING ABUSE

✦ Islam does not command a person to remain in danger. ❖ Seeking safety is not a failure of ṣabr. ☾ Seeking help is not a failure of ṣabr. ◇ Protecting children is not a failure of ṣabr. ❋ Seeking justice is not a failure of ṣabr. ❈ Leaving an unsafe situation is not a failure of ṣabr.

Allah ﷻ says:

﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلُوا۟ بُهْتَـٰنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا ﴾

“Those who harm believing men and believing women undeservedly bear the burden of slander and manifest sin.” — Surah Al-Aḥzāb 33:58

Ṣabr is remaining faithful to Allah while facing a test. It is not permission for an oppressor to continue harming someone.

❖ 7. PATIENCE IN WORSHIP

✦ Sometimes the test is getting up for Fajr. ❖ Sometimes it is praying on time. ✧ Sometimes it is opening the Qur’an when you feel tired. ☾ Sometimes it is remembering Allah when life is going well. ◇ Sometimes it is continuing a good deed when nobody notices. ❋ Sometimes it is simply staying consistent.

You pray. You worship. You continue. Consistency requires ṣabr.

✦ 8. PATIENCE AGAINST SIN

✧ Sometimes ṣabr means saying no. ❖ No to backbiting. ☾ No to gossip. ◇ No to anger. ❋ No to revenge. ❈ No to temptation. ⚜ No to what Allah has forbidden. ✦ Nobody may know about your struggle. ❖ But Allah knows. ✧ You walk away because you want His pleasure. ☾ You control your tongue. ◇ You control your anger. ❋ You control your desires. That is ṣabr.

🌸 9. PATIENCE WITH OUR FAMILIES

✦ Family life requires patience. ❖ Children require patience. ✧ Marriage requires patience. ☾ Parents require patience. ◇ People will sometimes disappoint us. ❋ People will sometimes misunderstand us. ❈ People will sometimes hurt us with their words. ⚜ We may become tired. ✦ We may become irritated. ❖ We may want to react. ✧ But the believer learns to pause. ☾ The believer learns to control the tongue. ◇ The believer learns to forgive. ❋ The believer learns to respond in a way that pleases Allah. Patience can begin with the people closest to us.

☼ 10. PATIENCE WHEN LIFE IS COMFORTABLE

✦ Hardship can make us remember Allah. ❖ But comfort can make us forget Him. ✧ When we are hungry, we make duʿāʾ. ☾ When we are sick, we make duʿāʾ. ◇ When we are afraid, we make duʿāʾ. ❋ But what happens when everything is going well? ❈ Do we still pray with sincerity? ⚜ Do we still read Qur’an? ✦ Do we still give charity? ❖ Do we still remember Allah? ✧ Do we still thank Him? Comfort is also a test.

❈ 11. YOUR TEST MAY LOOK DIFFERENT

✦ You may look at someone else's hardship and think, “I could never survive that.” ❖ Perhaps you don't have to. ✧ Allah has given you your own test. ☾ Maybe your test is your health. ◇ Maybe it is your family. ❋ Maybe it is your marriage. ❈ Maybe it is your finances. ⚜ Maybe it is your emotions. ✦ Maybe it is your desires. ❖ Maybe it is simply learning to remain consistent. Your test does not have to look dramatic to matter.

⚜ 12. PATIENCE IS NOT WEAKNESS

✦ Ṣabr is not weakness. ❖ It is strength with faith. ✧ It is controlling yourself when you could react. ☾ It is continuing when you feel like stopping. ◇ It is remaining obedient when temptation is strong. ❋ It is trusting Allah when you cannot see the outcome. ❈ It is holding onto hope when life feels difficult. Ṣabr is strength guided by īmān.

☾ 13. ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT

Allah ﷻ says:

﴿ وَٱصْبِرُوا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴾

“And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.” — Surah Al-Anfāl 8:46

✦ When nobody understands your struggle, Allah knows. ❖ When nobody sees your tears, Allah sees. ✧ When you are exhausted, Allah knows. ☾ When you are trying your best, Allah knows. ◇ When you quietly resist sin, Allah knows. ❋ When you continue worshipping despite weakness, Allah knows.

Allah knows.

🌿 14. THE MANY FACES OF ṢABR

✦ Ṣabr can be found in a grieving heart. ❖ It can be found in a sick body. ✧ It can be found in a tired mother. ☾ It can be found in a patient father. ◇ It can be found in someone resisting temptation. ❋ It can be found in someone forgiving another person. ❈ It can be found in someone praying when they feel spiritually empty. ⚜ It can be found in someone waiting patiently for Allah's decree.

✦ The circumstances may be different. ❖ The struggles may be different. ✧ But the connection is the same. ṢABR.

✦ 15. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR A GREAT TRAGEDY

✦ We sometimes think patience is something we will need when something terrible happens. ❖ But ṣabr begins much earlier. ✧ It begins today. ☾ When you are irritated. ◇ When you are tired. ❋ When you are tempted. ❈ When you are disappointed. ⚜ When you are waiting. ✦ When you are raising your children. ❖ When you are caring for your family. ✧ When you are trying to improve yourself. ☾ When you choose obedience over desire. Every day gives us another opportunity to practise patience.

🌿 A FINAL REMINDER

✦ You wake up. ❖ You pray. ✧ You work. ☾ You care. ◇ You give. ❋ You forgive. ❈ You struggle. ⚜ You fall. ✦ You get back up. ❖ You make duʿāʾ. ✧ You continue.

✦ Nobody may see how difficult some of those moments are. ❖ But Allah sees. ✧ Nobody may know how much patience it took. ☾ But Allah knows. ◇ Nobody may thank you. ❋ But Allah knows.

Sometimes the greatest act of patience is simply refusing to give up on your relationship with Allah.

✦ Patience is not only what we need when life falls apart.

Patience is what we practise while life is still ordinary.

﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴾

“Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.” 

— Qur’an 8:46

✦ Your struggle may be unseen by people. ❖ Your patience may go unnoticed. ✧ Your tears may be private. ☾ Your efforts may never be praised. But Allah knows.

🤲 May Allah make us among the ṣābirūn, strengthen those who are tested, heal those who are sick, comfort those who grieve, protect those who are oppressed, and keep our hearts firm upon īmān. Āmīn.

📚 REFERENCES

Qur’an: Surah Al-ʿAnkabūt 29:2; Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155; Surah Al-Aḥzāb 33:58; Surah Al-Anfāl 8:46.

Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 6424 — reward for patience upon the loss of a beloved person. 

Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 5641–5642 — illness, hardship and expiation of sins. 

25 SUNNAH -INSPIRED HABITS TO ADD TO YOUR LIFE

 25 Simple Deeds That Can Transform Your Life

 

1. Start off each day with 'azkar al-istiyqaz' (waking up supplications), thanking Allah for waking up in good shape. 

2. Put Allah (swt) and then Prophet Mohammad (saw) before anything else in your life.

3. Broaden your horizons-learn 5 New verses from the Quran, travel to pray the Fajr in the mosque to brighten your day, take up a booklet having azkar-alsaba (morning supplications) and read them.

4. Pray Salat Al-duha (after sunrise) and also the remaining 4 obligatory salaah of the day.

5. If someone says something mean to you, just shrug it off and dismiss it in a friendly, laidback manner, and pray that Allah shall forgive him or her. They will probably get the message that they're not triggering your anger and they will stop.

6. When you get angry, remember Allah, and how short and worthless life is to waste in being Angry.

7. Remember that you can never have too many friends, but you can have few quality friends that help you fulfil the purpose of your creation (i.e live for Allah).

8. When you're happy, try to share your happiness with others thank Allah for that, and pray its continuation.

9. When something bad or embarrassing happens to you, just think that it could always be worse, remember the reward of patience, and thank Allah that it's not worse than it is.

10. Do something extra of goodness once in a while, like feeding a poor person, or caressing an orphan's head.

11. Never stop believing that you can win Allah's love and thus work for it. Then you can win the love of Allah's slaves.

12. Spend some time thinking of Allah's amazing creation.

13. Always love those who love Allah unconditionally. This way you will ensure that you live for Him, love for Him, and hate for Him (those who are enemies of Him).

14. Find the righteous ways to express yourself, and if you think that what you are about to say shall cause no benefit, maintain silence (this is tough!).

15. Every now and then, give yourself a break. play sports, give time to your family, friends, but always remember Allah and watch that He is watching you (Ihsan).

16. Pray for blessings to come to your enemies, and pray Allah to guide them to the right path. 

17. Show love to your parents and always obey them (except orders that are against Islam, which they’ll never do) especially to your mother as Jannah is by the feet of your mother.

18. Smile to everyone, to all brothers and sisters, for your smile makes a big difference to them and you are rewarded.

19. Forgive, forget and smile.

20. Tears are not for women only... tears are for all human beings with feelings remaining in them. Don't restrain your tears when remembering Allah.

21. When people criticize your actions and effort, revise your actions and see if they please Allah or not. If they do, then ignore those criticism and remember how the Prophet(s) and the Sahaba (ra) were criticized, made fun of and even physically harmed, so have patience.

22. Read the Quran daily and try to have a schedule for completing it every month (or as much as you could) as long as you open the Quran daily, and read with observing, try to understand and transform them into action, not just passing your eyes through the words.

23. Don't let popularity go to your head, for it never lasts and you may lose from it more than gain.

24. Never look down on anybody, for they may be better than you in Allah's eyes.

25. After praying the salaatul Isha and before going to bed ask yourself whether you have gained some points for the day or are you losing. Make repentance for things you have done wrong and think of ways to improve yourself in the following day.