Kaching: £2100

Salaam,
Alhamdulillah, back safe and settled in blessed Loughborough.

I met this brother Nazeel Azami in Birmingham a few months ago, mashaAllah, he’s a nasheed singer under the same record label (Awakening records) with Sami Yusuf. Cool no? Anyways, I got to briefly chat to him, he told me how he was criticized for choosing the nasheed path for it is seen as a very weak form of Da’wah. “What’s important is your niat brother”, I replied.

That statement from his critics proved more wrong than ever yesterday when I youtube’d one of his songs called Isharaa. I have to thank him one day inshaAllah.

Upon the start of the new academic year, I’ll be receiving £2000 starting allowance. I halfheartedly agreed to give my mother a tiny fraction of it, with suppressed grumblings and ongoing thoughts of why didn’t I give her less.

Come yesterday, I was randomly listening to Isharaa and reading the lyrics, subhanAllah, the words really affected me when the song went

Who taught the mothers of the world
To love us the way they do
When all the trials unfurl ,
All they think of is you

I remember brother Nazeel saying he used to sing this to his mother all the time before she passed away recently. Kesian.

Astaghfirullah, I am miserly with my own mother. The day before I flew off to Uk, she didn’t even think twice in buying me a new laptop when I told her I need a new one. Imagine how many hundred thousands have she spent for me in sincerity over a period of my whole life. And here I am, tight fisted with a mere amount of £2000. Allah has only given me a taste of money. How will I be when I get a job in the future?

Why am I still attached in this dunya? Why am I miserly with my own mum? When in Al-Baqarah: 215, Allah clearly tells us to give a fraction of our wealth to our parents, family, orphans, the poor and those who travel. Notice in the ayat that parents are stated first.

I thank Allah for always giving me a lesson when I’ve wronged in the strangest ways possible. May Allah forgive me.

Salaam

Coincidence?

Salaam brothers and sisters,

Is it a coincidence that you ask your friends for the reference of a hadith and the few days later you attend a lecture explaining that hadith?

Or when you read about the conquest of Makkah and the accompanying verse that was revealed (49:13), at the exact time your computer plays the same surah containing that verse?

Or when you get approached by christian missionaries and you don’t know where to start about islam? So you go back home unsatisfied and clueless, only to find a facebook video link on the “Divine book” a few days later which explains the islam beautifully.

Or when you excitedly tell a few brothers that you attended a talk by Yusuf Estes recently? Only to find out that one of them personally reverted after he randomly met Yusuf Estes in a shop in London and asked about Islam (Unbeknown to him who Yusuf Estes was at that time).

Or when you have doubts playing in your head about the legitimacy of Sufism? Only to be given a free taxi ride to the mosque by a sufi brother and explaining what Sufism is all about a few days later.

Or when you buy a little book a few days earlier in Manchester; the Ma’thurat (a beautiful compilation of wirid (litany) of Qur’anic verses and hadith, along with it’s spiritual benefits). After reading it with fervour on the train back from Manchester, you meet Dr Tariq Ramadan, the writer of the foreword of the book and grand son of the deceased compiler of the litany on the London tube the very next day. wAllahiOr when you are asked to write about Shaytan? You casually read the Qur’an and you just happen to come across the very verses explaining the origin of Shaytan.(7:11-22)

Or when you rejected and invitation from a friend, after feeling guilty you hope to meet him. The following afternoon, you stumbled upon him, unplanned.Or when you tell a friend that you wish to learn Arabic? The next day you randomly pick a mosque for fajr prayer. Only to meet your long lost Egyptian ustadh that you once learnt Arabic from 9 years ago.

Allahu akbar. Too many to be considered coincidences. And they say God does not exist, astaghfirullah. Each and every one I thank Allah and will always remember.

Predestination is a curious thing. How Allah readily puts everything into place at the precise space and time. Perfectly in balance. SubhanAllah.

“…you can see no fault in the creation of the Most gracious. Then look again, do you see any rifts?”( Al-Mulk 67:3)

Allah grants favours after favours to those who seek for it and trust Allah, in strange and unexpected ways. “And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts trust his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set measure for all things.”( At-Talaq 65:3)

All we have to do is just open our eyes, hearts and minds. Observe, pause and reflect on your life and on His creation. Read and ponder the Qur’an (careful not to interpret haphazardly) to realize the awe, grandeur and majesty of Allah and His favours He has granted us.

Then ask yourself. Allah tells us to do just that. 31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman, after realizing Allah’s bounties, ask yourself, “Which of Allah’s favours do you deny?”

Happy fasting,
Salaam

Jerk!

Salaam dear brothers and sisters, it's been a while no? Alhamdulillah, i've been busy with my parents coming here for my graduation alhamdulillah. Anyways, I just want to share my experience which happened last week if it's alright with you.

I was at the central mosque bookstore in london when this man appeared before me." I just gave da'wah to a drunken man, isn't it our duty to give da'wah? For he will drag me to hell with him if i didn't?" he stuttered to the shop keepers. He had a worried looked as though he had just committed a heinous crime, justifying his actions.

I was taken aback, there he was openly telling people this. At a first glance, he was this mad preacher, the clothes of a beggar, foul stench emanates from him, sweat dripped down his face, mangly, scruffy untidy,dirty, strange. Astaghfirullah, how i judged this man before knowing him. I nervously turned away in fear, disgust and reproach astaghfirullah.

I went into the prayer hall and sat in the corner, beside this egyptian brother. Lo and behold, a few minutes later, to my horror, there he was sitting down and facing me. I sat there awkward and uncomfortable. The whiswhas of shaitan, whispering into my ears, telling me to stand up and walk away.But alhamdulillah, i stayed.With a sincere smile, he gave salaam. "wa'alaikumsalam" i replied timidly. He had this permanent look in his eyes that you get when you are struck with a brilliant idea. Like the eyes of a mad scientist. Scary yet brilliant, astaghfirullah.

He and the other brother beside me began sharing beautiful stories about islam, about the Isra' Mi'raj, Prophet Adam As, Prophet Salleh AS, Rasulullah SAW. How he aspired to go for Hajj, how he yearns to read the qur'an excellently and understand it. How he cries every time he listens to a beautiful recitation. I listened intently, only to butt in with my little knowledge that i have.

But MashaAllah, this brother, a revert, was so enthusiastic, so sincere and pure that i asked myself,How dare i judged him by his exterior, how dare i think that i was better than him, when in fact he is pure of heart, what an evil person i am. Subhanallah. Uncontrollable tears flowed down my cheeks. Constantly wiping it off and putting on a smile while i continued listening to him quietly.

After an hour of sharing stories, it was time for the azan. We both got up, and i gave him a big mighty hug. No smell, honest. "I am sorry i talk too much akhi, thank you for listening, i usually drive people away you know" he apologised. When really, i should be apologising.

I performed the salah in self reflection, asking for Allah's forgiveness for my pride and judgement. Astaghfirullah.

(10) O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers). Al-Hujurat 49:10.

Sometimes we have to ask our selves, are we really better than other people? Do we really have the right to scoff and ridicule our brothers and sisters? Regardless of their appearances and actions.

May Allah forgive me.

Typical bruneians

Salaam brothers and sisters, have you ever wondered why bruneians are so polite, soft spoken, shy and smile a lot. I might be exagerating here and tooting my own horn, but try to put a bruneian in an international crowd and see what i mean.

The cypriot hotel owner,(forgot the name of the hotel in Norfolk square just infront of Brunei Hall) asked us this question.Why are you bruneians so good, very polite, never make noise, never make mess in the room? All bruneians that lived here i have no complaints for them.Akhi zawawi (hi zaw) explained to him almost word for word what His Majesty the Sultan replied when Sheikh Ahmed Babikir asked his Majesty the very same question.

Oh yeah, we went to the Fosis conference in Birmingham 2 weeks ago when there was Sheikh Ahmed Babikir telling this story to the whole audience (with only 2 bruneians hehe). The talk was about preserving the legacy of islam and one of the methods was da'wah through good character.

He went "I was invited a few years ago by the Sultan of Brunei to give a lecture, and MashaAllah it is one of the most beautiful places i have ever seen, not because of its structures but because of its people, so after the lecture i came up to His Majesty asking him how come your subjects are very nice, polite, well mannered?"

And wAllahi brothers and sisters, this is what His Majesty's reply is " Islam came to Brunei through good character, the traders of Yemen brought Islam and showed good character, the locals fell in love with their good character and embraced Islam as a way of life." Allahu akhbar, MashaAllah, very wise words. A perfect example that Islam did not spread by sword. MashaAllah.

Abu Hurayrah reported that Rasulullah SAW said "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should either say good things or be silent and be kind to his neighbours and hospitable to his guests"(Sahih Bukhari &Muslim)

The quality of hospitality has been one of the most powerful means of propagating Islam.(Dr Bilal Philips,1997)When Muslim traders settled in SE Asia and Africa , this quality of hospitality amazed the populations and many accepted Islam because of the superiority of these virtues(Dr Bilal Phililps,1997). SubhanAllah.

So give your bruneian brothers a break guys, good manners are in their blood.hehe. Just be nice to everyone and treat them as your best friends. Ikram ul muslimeen it's called.This goes for me as well, inshaAllah,

Rasulullah SAW gave emphasis to these characteristics because of the practical value which they have. As Muslims, we believe in Allah and the Last Day, but if our belief is not expressed in practical terms like being kind to people around us, then it may be more than empty words.(Dr Bilal Philips, 1997)

Charming

We met this very kind uncle in London Dr Ameen from Somalia.We were helping him to find a hotel around Norfolk square. He told us a quite a funny anecdote.

There was this patient who asked an Ustadh to write a charm for him so he could wear it to ward off bad health. The Ustadh told him a constant du'a to Allah will be more than sufficient. But the patient insisted. The ustadh gave in and wrote a few words on paper, rolled it into a ball, asked the patient to wear it around his neck.

Finally, the patient was satisfied and felt nothing on earth could harm him.Little did he know, on the paper it read "Don't be stupid,its all from Allah!" teehee.

Ibn Mas'ud reported Rasulullah SAW said, 'Verily spells, talismans and charms are shirk" Ibn Mas'ud said"it would have sufficient for you to have said as Rasulullah SAW used to say:"Remove the the suffering , O lord of mankind and heal it perfectly as you are the true healer-there is no cure except Your cure-a cure which is not followed by any sickness" (Sahih Bukhari)

Regarding Qur'aanic charms, the sahabahs like Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Abbas and Huthayfah were all opposed to wearing Qur'aanic charms. The wearing of Qur'aanic charms contradicts Rasulullah SAW's method of breaking spells and preventing evil (Recitation of Ayatul Kursee, al-falaq, an-nas).

Wearing the Qur'aan in an amulet is like a sick man given a prescription by a doctor, instead of reading it and getting the medicine, he rolls it into a ball puts it in a pouch and hangs it around his neck, believing it will make him well (Dr Bilal Philips).

Lol, so remember brothers and sisters, don't be stupid, it's all from Allah. hehe

Final food posts for the academic year

I've posted both the lamb biryani and assam pedas fish last year. But that doesn't mean we can only enjoy it once.

hehe, the last big dish of the final year, assam pedas salmon fish head.

Assam pedas fish

Things you need

1/3 cup oil

1 cm galangal root bruised

3-4 slices of asam gelugur or 1 1/2 heaped tbsp of tamarind pulp soaked in 4 tablespoons of water, mashed and strained to obtain juice

4 cups water (probably more)

6 thick fich fillets/ heads

4 sprigs daun kesum/bunga kantan( not found in UK so we used fragrant coriander leaves)

3 tablespoons of coconut milk

1 teaspoon of salt

3 anchovy stock cubes

spice paste

15 dried chillies, soaked, cut into lengths and deseeded

10 large onions peeled and cubed

5 cloves garlic shopped roughly

1 Tbs turmeric powder

1 cup water

1. Grind spice ingreidents with a blender (add oil for lubricant)

2. Heat oil and pot over medium heat and stir fry paste and galangal until fragrant for 5 mins.

3. Add rest of water and bring to a boil. Then add the fish,coconut milk, season with sugar and salt. Simmer uncovered for another 8 minutes.

Serve fresh with rice. nyum. Sour and tangy. The thing with malay dishes is its tedious, and leaves quite a mess, but be patient because it is well worth the time and effort.

(Biryani recipe next time inshallah)

Salaam again

Salaam, it's been a very long time since i've updated my blog. I've been on this knowledge seeking adventure from Leicester,Birmingham,Buxton,Manchester to London. MashaAllah. I'll tell you the details of each next time inshaAllah.

Anyways, here's the one of the last dishes we made toward the end of our final undergraduate year. The one above is roast lamb shoulder and the one below is mutton shoulder. Both made at the same time by good friend jerry. Notice the colour difference.The lamb is much more tender too. Simple and easy to make.

On a roast tin, lay unpeeled cloves of garlic, as much as you want and sprigs of fresh rosemary as a bed to rest the lamb/mutton on. Season well with salt and pepper. Lay sprigs of rosemary and garlic on the lamb as well. Drizzle with olive oil.Slow roast in the oven for 4 hours, gas mark 4.Cover the tin tightly with Al foil. When its done, lay it on a plate and rest for 20 minutes and carve to your delight. Alhamdulillah.

Simple. The flavour comes from the meat, not from a sauce. It's what britons crave for in a dish, good quality meat and not the sauce.

Peace