Gratitude Journal - Baby Girl

Alhamdulillahi ala kuli haal these past nine months were so hectic and depressing, I had to make a conscious decision to write down at least one thing that I am grateful for every single night. Gratitude helped me cope with the pain. Gratitude shifted my outlook on life, it made me more appreciative of little things, more compassionate towards everyone and patient in all circumstances. 

 Alhamdulilah, I am concluding the gratitude journal today by giving thanks for, perhaps the greatest blessing of Allah in my life.  I am super thankful to Allah for the cute little addition to my family.
Alhamdulillah, Allah blessed me with a beautiful baby doll. I am grateful to Allah for her health. I am grateful for the happiness galore I felt. She is the light of my eyes, and the warmth of my heart.
I ask Allah to help me prize the great treasure of parenting and sustain us with the skills and discipline necessary to raise her as مُسۡلِمَـٰتٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَـٰتٍ۬ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٍ۬ تَـٰٓٮِٕبَـٰتٍ عَـٰبِدَٲتٍ۬ سَـٰٓٮِٕحَـٰتٍ۬ - Muslim woman, sincere believing woman who is obedient and devoted to Allâh, turning to Allâh in repentance, worshipping Allah with genuine humility, love and respect, committed to fasting and traveling in search of knowledge - aamen. 

Surah At-Tahrim:5

Gratitude Journal - Khatam Qur'an

T - 1
 I cannot thank Allah enough, I just finished studying the Tafseer of the entire Qur'an for the third time. To be honest, Qur'an isn't something that I can ever "finish" reading. Even if it consumed my entire lifetime, I will still not be 'done' studying the Qur'an. 

'Finishing' the Qur'an was a pregnancy resolution. I wanted to read the entire Qur'an as some one-time task to check off on my to-do list before the baby was born. Now I am convinced that reading the Qur'an inshaAllah needs to become a daily spiritual discipline in my baby's and my life. 

Without studying the meaning, our understanding of Quran is like a collage of little pictures glued together on a poster board. We know bits and pieces of the Quran and a lot of Quran stories, but we don't know how everything fits together. We don't know a lot of the context behind the content of the Qur'an. 

Alhamdulillah Allah guided me to undertake a six month journey through the Qur'an. I opened the Qur'an to Surah Baqarah in Ramadan, under the tutelage of Ustadh Nouman and began to listen to his tafseer reflections everyday. Averaging a few verses a day, I walked with Ibrahim in the deserts of ancient Mesopotamia and sailed along with Nuh (a.s) as he waited for the promised land. I observed the brutality of Pharaoah and climbed the mount Tur with Musa (a.s). I witnessed Allah's displeasure and disapproval of oppression and injustice and rape and infanticide and the idolatry which led to it all. Verse after verse, I saw the suffering, sin always brings and Allah’s continual, tender call to His people: “Come to Me. Make Me your refuge. Give your hearts to Me and no other. Turn from your sin and suffering and come to Me.” I concluded that the Qur'an isn't a rule book; it was a love story between me and my Rabb (Master).

Even now, Allah who called Adam (a.s) and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), is calling me to Himself through His Surahs. His love for me pulses through every point of time and pursues me right now—even through the modern day technology of this blog! Every time I open the Quran and read Allah's Words, I realize that:

1.  Allah's is closer to me than my heartbeat. 

2. Allah is in control and no one in all of history has ever thwarted His Plan. Allah's plan for His believing servants is always good and I can trust that Allah will bless me with goodness during and after every difficulty. Nothing can derail His blessings from me. Also that Allah keeps His promises, always. 

3. Allah's concern for me is steadfast and it presents itself as a constant theme in theme Qur'an. Allah is absolutely undeterred in His mission to save me from suffering caused by sins. His punishment comes from a place of deep grief and with the intent of rehabilitation, not revenge.  

4. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), along with all the other prophets and messengers, are the real heroes of this world's history. From the beginning of time Allah has sent us heroes who will guide us to our highest potential as human beings and back to Himself. 

I am so grateful to Allah alhamdulilah for giving me the opportunity to study the Tafseer again. Quran is the foundation of all learning, a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development, 

Gratitude Journal - Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan

T - 2 Alhamdulillah I am really grateful to Allah for Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan. 
 Without question, Ustadh Nouman is by far the greatest English speaking commentator on Tafseer of our time; his examples are universal and timeless in application; he speaks with inexhaustible wisdom.  More than that, through him, I have come to appreciate the Arabic language so much more. 
His literary explanation of the Qur'an has alhamdulillah helped me think deeply about Allah and understand His plan for my life. No other speaker, besides Ustazah Dr. Farhat, has never had such a wide ranging, positive and constructive impact on my life. His explanation beautifully invigorated the way I think of Allah, my prayers and my ambitions in life. Because of Ustadh Nouman, alhamdulillah I made a regular habit to not only study the Qur'an, but make it the centre of my life again. Alhamdulillah every day, for the past six months, Ustadh Nouman helped me improve my faith, my morals, my religious practices and my relationships. 

In these past six months, I have experienced a wide range of reactions, emotions, and feelings from listening to Ustadh Nouman's tafseer, depending on the Surah. Alhamdulillah through the verses, I found comfort in his explanation during times of anxiety and stress, answers to lingering questions about theology and morality,  purpose and direction in my career and marriage, deeper insight of what it means to adopt Islam as mission nd not just a religion, and practical advise for coping with life's challenges. Alhamdulillah his tafseer closed the gulf between my beliefs and practical life. 

Gratitude Journal - thumma alhamdulillah

T - 13 Alhamdulillah for the ability to give thanks to Allah, to see good in all of Allah's decisions.

T - 12 Alhamdulillah for bigger room

T - 11 Alhamdulillah for people who make dua  for me

T - 10 Alhamdulillah for unlimited wifi

T - 9 Alhamdulillah for brothers

T - 8 Alhamdulillah for my personal library of 300 books

T - 7 Alhamdulillah for warm water

T - 6 Alhamdulillah for warm soup

T - 5 Alhamdulillah for Salah al Bukhatir Surah al Baqarah recitation

T - 4 Alhamdulillah for epidural

T - 3 Alhamdulillah for feminine hygiene products 

Gratitude Journal - Istikhara

T - 14

Alhamdulillah for Istikhara dua. Every time I have asked Allah for goodness in my Deen, dunya and akhirah through Istikhara dua, Allah has put my mind to peace and given me relief from anxiety and stress. Alhamdulilalh for every time Allah has blessed me with clarity of mind and ease in my life through istikhara. 

Gratitude Journal - Conference

T - 15

Normal kids transition from high school to the adult world by getting a part-time job at Walmart or by playing in the arcade all summer. I did it by volunteering for a conference. My whole life was preparing me for this mission. Alhamdulillah in the summer of 2011, I was part of something international. 
I had recently quit my four years of voluntary service at another institute and I was internally compelled to serve the Deen in some capacity elsewhere. I knew the desire was planted inside me by Allah and I was prayerfully begging Him for some religious work. The opportunity came when I got picked up by the conference's Operations' Team as Content Coordinator. They let me fill their website and program book with biographies and articles, slogans and poems. Alhamdulillah they published me. They harnessed my gift of writing. Sure I didn't get remunerated but the experience was incredibly empowering. Thousands of people read my writing and took it home.  Church leaders and Synagogue heads across Toronto received dawah letters written by me. I corresponded with international speakers to help organize their talks on stage. I wrote lines for the MC-s. I pray that during this process, somehow, someone's life was impacted positively because of my words.  I thank Allah for allowing me to use my words for the public good. I ask Allah to continue to use me and my words for the work of His Deen amen. 

Gratitude Journal - Winter

T - 16

I am grateful to Allah for winter - I find cool weather relaxing; I love being stretched out on the overstuffed couch with my favourite fluffy blanket, a good book and a steamy cup of sweetness. I love the ethereal beauty of frozen trees, that stand like giant crystals decorating the sidewalk. I am thankful to Allah for the cold winter air which is brisk and invigorating. It makes me feel alive, it tickles my cheeks and chill my nose. I love stamping my feet on freshly fallen quilt of snow. It feels like I am walking on volume and bulk but its actually powder, light at feather. I love how sound is dampened when snow falls, every thing becomes timeless, peaceful and tranquil. As I walk outside, the cold air and the snow pleads my mind to be still, to purify itself, to be prayerful and appreciate the profound stunning beauty of Allah's creation.

Gratitude Journal - Too many blessings to count

T - 26 Alhamdulillah for Baby'sRus

T - 25 Alhamdulillah for a day off

T - 24 Alhamdulillah for the alone, long, warm, relaxing showers

T - 23 Alhamdulillah for Shaami Kabab

T - 22 Alhamdulillah for the problems that brings family together

T - 21 Alhamdulillah for all the lovely people who made me breakfast/lunch this past month when I couldn't make it to the kitchen on my own two feet.

T - 20 Alhamdulillah for hand-me downs.

T - 19 Alhamdulillah for nieces and nephews who say the wittiest things. I love their honest and unexpected pint-sized perspective. Never a dull moment around them.

T- 18 Alhamdulillah for creative art projects that allow me to express myself and relieve my stress without hurting anyone in the process - jk.

T - 17 Alhamdulillah for raspberry mojito and Philly cheese steak sandwich at BlackOx Bistro. Alhamdulillah for my MIL's shrimp recipe. 

Political Activism 2016-2020

Local politics and activism

1. Know who your local legislators and politicians are 

Here's where to find your House Representative. 

Put your address in here to find a full list of your elected officials. 

2. Know how to get in touch with them (and actually make them listen.)

Here's a great Twitter thread from a former Congressional staffer about how to actually get politicians to listen (your phone is your best ally). 

Here are some general guidelines on how to contact them. 

3. Identify an issue you care about and pursue it

Hopefully you don't need too many resources on this, though here's a good list of social issues to get you started. 

4. Attend town hall meetings 

A town hall is where you, in person, can make your actual voice heard, in front of local politicians who can actually do something about it. Your congressperson will usually have a schedule of Town Hall meetings on their website, or you can check out your city's website as well. 

5. Attend City Council meetings 

Alternately, attend a City Council meeting to get an up-close view of what's important to your city's legislators. 

6. Get to know your local School Board 

If you have kids in school, you probably need to know about your school board. Here's everything about what a school board does and how you can get involved. 

7. Join your local PTA 

Not only can you have a direct communication with your school, you can also volunteer and participate in other ways that directly impact your community. Here's how (and why) to join. 

8. Mobilize more people to support your cause 

You alone are great and awesome and boy, can you make a difference. Now imagine,a dozen more of you. Get a group together to do any of the above things; attend meetings or join an association, and your cause will be magnified. 

9. Join a voting league or political organization 

A non-partisan group like the League of Women Voters is a good way to get informed, or you can choose a political group that aligns with your values. 

10. Register to act on behalf of a political party. 

Here's a starting place for Republicans. Here's one for Democrats. Keep in mind your party has a state chapter, too. Not feeling the bipartisan vibe? Here's a full list of established political parties, along with their missions and contact information. 

11. Join a campaign

If you find a local politician who represents the change you want to see in your community, contact their office to figure out how you can get involved in the campaign! Maybe they'll have you stuff mailers or put up signs or some other boring task, but the boring tasks is what actually gets stuff done. 

12. Volunteer at their headquarters 

Like we said, your state, city and county have party headquarters that are just waiting for your time and energy. Just give it a Google. They WANT you to help out, so it's not that hard to find. If you'd rather stay at home, you can most likely take part in digital activism: Sending newsletters or text messages or organizing online campaigns. 

13. Attend or organize rallies and events 

Just make sure you're safe and lawful. Alternately, there are always political talks and events going on, probably in your area. Look them up here. 

14. Pound the pavement 

If you want to influence people, you're going to have to actually go out and, you know, MEET the people you want to influence. Here's a good article from the New York Times on why this method actually works.

15. Volunteer to work at a polling place

To start, you can get registered on the Election Assistance Commission's website. 

16. Volunteer to register voters 

Here are some openings for voter registration drives. If you can't find what you're looking for, simple search for your city and state, along with "voter registration drive." 

17. Vote 

Make sure you're registered. And do it in every election, not just the big ones.

Political education

18. Subscribe to a paper or other publication you believe in 

If you're unhappy with journalism or media coverage, find a publication that represents good journalism to you. Click on it often. Pay for a subscription. Support it any way you can. 

19. Read up on American history and civics 

USA.gov is your best friend. There's history and civics there, but it's just the beginning. Here's a link to the National Constitution Center where you can read a word-for-word breakdown of the document. Here's a link to the American History section of the Library of Congress. Go crazy. 

20. Share that knowledge 

Have discussions with your friends and family. Engage in respectful debate when appropriate (and no, that doesn't mean on Facebook timelines). Spread the word.

Community outreach

21. Volunteer at a place that benefits your community 

Ideally, you can align your volunteer work with your most important causes. Volunteer at church, at the local VA hospital, at a homeless shelter or at a school. The possibilities are endless, but this website is a good place to start. 

22. Volunteer at a museum, state or national park, cultural center or historical society 

Volunteering isn't just about serving others, it's also about making sure the organizations that are important to you can continue to serve others. 

23. Hell, GO to a museum, state or national park, or historical society 

SUPPORT. EDUCATION. IN ALL. FORMS. 

24. Donate 

At the very least, let your wallet do the talking. If you're looking at a specific charity, checkCharity Watch to make sure your money is being well-used. 

25. Get off the internet 

Complaining on social media only gets you so far. Get out, meet people, use your hands and your time.

Balancing Home and Work

Having a good career is important for many married women - the obvious reason: money. It is hard to live a comfortable without having a steady income of your own. Second reason is passion. Many married women are seeking fulfillment outside the home. However, having a thriving career with a failing marriage is no great achievement. We as wives and mothers must realize that the report card of respect comes not from the size of our pay checks, but the level of radiance from our husbands and children, whom we claim to be priority in our lives. Raising children with faith that lasts is our symbol of success. Our husbands' love is our greatest achievement.

Marriage and parenting are a challenging commitment. There is a cost involved. Maybe a dream that cannot be chased, a career advancement that cannot be taken, or a schedule that can't be followed. The bottom line is that our work should never compromise our marriage and our parenting. So before we sign ourselves up for more pay for more hours, we should ask ourselves, do my children feel cherished? Does my husband feel I am taking responsibility of the house in areas where he needs me? Am I fulfilling the role Allah called me to play in my ibaadah?

It is the same for husbands - before they enrol for another course or schedule another meeting, they should check if their wives are more starved for their time. There is nothing wrong in having a thriving career. Just never at the cost of our spouse and children, about whom we made a covenant with Allah.  

SuperMom

Conceiving a human being and parenting it - from delivering to nursing and potty training, transitioning it to sleep alone at night to teaching it how to read and write; coping with its teenage tantrums and spending on its interest expansion -  is perhaps the most difficult job on earth. This is why motherhood incorporates forbearance, long-suffering, perseverance, patience and composure.
A mother is Allah's vessel for the procreation of future generations. Her hand which rocks the cradle, rules the world for many centuries to come. Therefore, relationship between the mother and her kids should be one that will bring peace in the hearts and in the homes. No matter what occurs inside the family and outside, a mother needs to raise her kids with utmost prudence, guidance and love.

The following is a to-do list for mom, recommended by Dr. Farhat Hashmi in her lecture, "Achhi Maain Achhi Naslain": 

1. A mother embodies all the good qualities she wishes to transfer to her children. Especially when it comes to Islamic education, it is basically imitation; children tend to imitate the attitudes of their parents. They never lose sight of their parents praying, reciting the Qur'an and following the sunnah in little matters. They have some kind of radar, which detects everything their parents are saying and doing. They absorb the values and repetition of the behaviours which they see in their parents. 

Therefore, parents educate or un-educate, first, through their example, and particularly, through the orientation they give to their whole existence; in the end,
a) either to love of self, the TV, the dunya
b) or to love of Allah and, in akhirah and for the Deen.

2. A mother prays for what she desires her children to become. Imaam Bukhari's mom used to pray tahajjudd and cry endlessly in supplication for her son which led him to become the most legendary scholar of all times. Hannah (a.s) was also devoted to prayer for her kid and focused on protecting her child from the influences of shaytan. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) made dua for his baby cousin to be educated in the Qur'an. 

3. A mother speaks to people (especially her husband, her parents and in-laws) as if they are wise, kind, beautiful human beings, for her children will treat people the way they see their mother.

4. A vast majority of mothers work and earn their own money. More often than not, moms expect dads to pay for all of their children's expense. This frequently leads to marital conflict. When a mother spends on her kids from her own money, she gets the reward of giving double sadaqah (charity).  Abdullah bin Masoud's wife (r.a) was a working woman and she would spend a portion of her salary on taking care of their kids. 

5. The whole process of meals  and snacks - packing lunches, coming up with a versatile menu, preparing the food and cleaning up is like getting a root canal and a kidney stone removed at the same time.  No matter how gruelling, feeding children in a mother's primary responsibility. A mother who takes the time to feed her kids will be protected from Hellfire. A woman came to Aisha (r.a)'s house and requested something to eat. She gave the woman three dates. The woman fed the dates to her starving baby girls and went hungry herself. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, Allah is so pleased with her sacrifice that He has rescued her from Hellfire. 

6. A mother seeks medical treatment for her kids and does ruqiyah on them. A sahabiyah noticed that her kids get affected with evil eye and fall sick often. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) gave her permission to do ruqiyah on them. 

7. A mother prepares her kids to pray Salah by the age of 7, she makes her kids fast with her and go for Hajj and Eid salah with her. 

8. A mother teaches children to respect other people's privacy.

9. A mother introduce kids to good environments - friends and relatives, teachers and role models, print and online media that will be a positive influence on them.

Gratitude Journal - Canadian

T- 28 With all the barbarous confrontations all over the United States between the minorities and armoured goons of Trump propaganda, racist wolves have four years to run wild before the next big round up.

From everything Hillary has done - the Benghazi massacre, the war on Libya to the TPP to grovelling before Wall Street to promoting fracking around the world to sabotaging the Sanders campaign - I can't believe I trusted her to be less politically brutal, scapegoating and double-crossing than Trump. 

I haven't really slept much since Tuesday night. Economically undercut, recession ruined 98% voted for vindictive and racist rhetoric, for sexual misconduct and rage. 

Alhamdulillah, Trudeau is God-sent compared to Trump. Trudeau's government aims to be just and equitable towards all people; Trump's is a fascist government. Trudeau says tolerance and inclusion is a proven path to political peace and economic/social prosperity; Trump is the apogee of warrior culture. Trudeau sees cultural diversity as a strength; Trump wants to weed off minorities. 

I am grateful to Allah for being Canadian and having Trudeau -  an optimistic, big-hearted and broad-minded man as our Prime Minister. May Allah keep him committed to individual liberties and freedoms aamen. 

We have a responsibility to Canadians and to the Americans, to preach inclusive diversity and force them to vanquish intolerance, radicalism and hate. 

Gratitude Journal - Shopping

T - 29 - This goes against everything I believe in, but yesterday I was actually grateful for going shopping. Spending money on “self-treats” (without busting your budget) can alhamdulillah improve lingering sadness and stress. I don't mean that shopping is the best coping mechanism (there is not enough money in the world to deal with the endless supply of problems). However, small indulgences every now and then, like Vanilla Bean Crème Mocha, a pair of small square faux zircon earrings or Robert Ludlum's new novel, alhamdulillah can be an instant mood booster.

Gratitude Journal - Doctors & Nurses

T – 30 Medicines can cure, but a good doctor’s inspirational words can give the strength to fight from within.

I am also thankful to Allah for doctors who understand responsibility better than privilege; practice accountability more than business. Going to a hospital can be scary and traumatizing for many, I am grateful for all the doctors and nurses who diagnose beyond the medical reports and heal the emotional suffering and pain of their patients. Alhamdulillah for every member of the medical apparatus who prescribes encouragement and positive attitude.