THE KHALIFAH DIARIES Be The Best Muslimah For Allah SWT

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Quarantine has become a major part of our lifestyle in this pandemic.

Many people are going through some serious trials and hardships. I hope all of you are taking care of yourselves and hanging on to Allah for strength. We really don’t know why Allah tests us with such calamities, but one thing for sure is – everything is a test. A test to see who remains steadfast in their faith and iman in Allah during these hard times.

Who remains the most patient and continues to trust in Allah for a better future. Only those who remain strong in their faith and steadfast in their iman will be the winners to receive Allah’s greatest rewards. In sha Allah. But having said that, being the weak human beings that we are, we constantly need guidance and remembrance in Allah to remain strong in our pursuit to constantly please Him, our Creator. How do we do that? These tips can help 🙂

1. Update Allah on what’s happening in your life 

Tell Him what’s going on in your life. This is not for Him, this is for you. Allah does not need you but you need Allah. 

“Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled.” – [Surah Ghafir, 40;60]

You can talk to Allah anytime whether out loud, in prayer or just in your heart. But the closest you can get to Him is in the position of sujood (prostration) 🙂

Allah loves it when His servants vent to Him, cry to Him, and seek Him in every situation in life whether in good or bad times. He created us human beings despite being intelligent and sophisticated, we are very weak and full of limitations.

So, constantly reconnect with Allah by telling Him what you’re going through in life and what you need from Him. That’s what He created us for.

The Messenger of Allah said: “A man who weeps for fear of Allah will not enter Hell until the milk goes back into the udder, and dust produced (when fighting) for the sake of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never coexist.” – [Timidhi]

2. Update your knowledge of Islam

When was the last time you read the Quran or listen to any topic about Islam?

It can just be a lecture of Norman Ali Khan on youtube or the stack of Islamic books that you bought but haven’t read.

I’ve always wondered if we can binge-watch series of dramas or TV shows, why can’t we watch just one lecture on any Islamic topic a day? I’m guilty of this too.

We can replace the time wasted with so many more beneficial things to increase our knowledge in Islam, maybe join a new Islamic online course or read that book that you’ve always wanted but never really put aside the time to read.

Action suggestions:

1. Read the Quran, the words of Allah will soothe your heart. In sha Allah.
2. Watch an Islamic lecture on youtube of your choice a day. Small pieces of advice accumulated each day can go a long way. Don’t stay stagnant🙂
3. Commit to reading a page a day of an Islamic book of your choice.
4. Upgrade your voluntary prayers to connect to Him 

Aside from the obligatory 5 Prayers, Allah loves it when you add something extra for Him (the sunnah prayers). Something special that you do voluntarily just to show that you’re a special servant to Him and you really want Him to notice you among the 7 Billion people on this planet. It’s like a teacher in a sea of students.

If you’re a teacher (I use to be one), you know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s always that 1 or 2 special students who are always the apple of your eye because they’re always doing something extra just to please you and make you proud.

And of course, Allah is infinitely more Merciful and loving than any teacher out there, so you’d want to be in His good books and go the extra mile just to please Him. I’m sure your life will incrementally change for the better. In sha Allah🙂 

3. Rekindle old and new relationships

Time and time again, research has shown that relationships are one of the biggest denominators of human happiness.

So, always rekindle your relationships with friends and relatives especially your parents if you haven’t spoken to them in a while.

If you can’t visit them you can just contact them or text them and see how they’re doing. Are they doing okay? Are they healthy? Are they still alive?! Yes, you have to know these things.

The ummah is one, we are all connected, we need to check up on each other constantly especially during these hard times. Don’t let the situation deter you, Allah is in favor of those who help others and bring goodness to others,

He will help you keep good relationships with others.

Prophet Muhammad SAW said: ” You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” – [Bukhari]

Talk to your parents often, if you know they would love it if you called, do it. If they prefer you to visit once a week, do it. Your parents are the gateway to blessings in your life, treat them well and Allah will treat you well. 🙂

the Prophet said: “The Lord’s pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure, and the Lord’s anger is in the parent’s anger.” – [Tirmidhi]

Speaking of relationships, you should create a stronger relationship with the Quran – the words of Allah. What better way can you talk to Allah and Allah responding to you than through His words?

They say if you want to talk to Allah – pray, if you want Allah to respond to you – read His Quran. The Quran is a magnificent piece of art, its language and beauty are just mesmerizing.

You need to stay connected to this extensive manual guide to life. Allah gives His guidance to His slaves in so many ways, but when you’re connected to the Quran it’s like you’re constantly charged full on your Iman battery.

Action suggestions:

1. Call your parents and check on them often.
2. Make your niyat (intention) to reconnect with the Quran.
3. Commit to reading the Quran daily, whether an ayat a day or a page a day does not matter. Start small but make it consistent.

4. Help others more

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” – [Bukhari]

Even during quarantine, you can still help others in so many ways. If you are living with others at home, help out around the house. If you want to help your community, volunteer something that can be done online, maybe volunteer to teach English to kids or any kind of classes. 

Even though your good deeds will not make you enter Paradise, if you do them sincerely to please Allah, Allah SWT will give you His mercy and that can be your reason to enter Paradise. In sha Allah. 🙂

Givers in life are the ultimate gainers. When you help others, no matter how small, Allah will help you ease your affairs in so many different ways.

Allah created us human beings as social creatures that live in communities and societies, we need each other to stay prosperous and happy.

The biggest essence of human relations is how we treat each other and how we help each other.

It’s like glue that pulls us together to thrive and make each other better each and every day. This is why people who have no friends or are isolated and ostracized fall prey to depression. We cannot live alone, we need friends and family.

You don’t have to help in terms of wealth if you don’t have the means, you can use your energy and time or whatever Allah has given you. This is probably the fastest way for you to get ahead in life too – by giving.

It just proves to Allah that you are a grateful servant to Him and that you appreciate everything He has given you no matter how small by giving back to society and others. 🙂

5. Clean your Heart with Forgiveness

Can you tell when a person has a clean heart? They almost never have bad intentions or ill feelings toward others, they don’t hold grudges and they forgive others easily.

What makes it easy for them to do these things when for some of us it’s slightly harder?

It may be because they clean their hearts often. When we have a clean heart, it’s easy for us to do good things.

We are in some ways naturally inclined or attracted to things that please Allah, such as helping others, doing more ibadah and forgiving others.

Recently, I’ve finally had the guts to forgive someone who has wronged me for the longest time. In fact they’re still doing it till this day.

But because I’ve advised them and tried to stop them from continuing their wrongdoing, there’s nothing else I can do but to pray for their wellbeing and forgive them entirely.

And you know what? I feel so free. I’ve almost never felt this free in my life. It’s almost as if you have no worries in the world, because you’ve forgiven anyone and everyone who have wronged you and will wrong you in the future.

I’ve vowed to myself to forgive anyone and everyone past, present and future so that no one will ever have a hold on my heart, I’ve let them go and wish them well through my duas. And it’s better this way in sha Allah. 🙂

May Allah give us all the strength to forgive others entirely so that we may all meet again in Jannatul Firdaus insya Allah 🙂 Ameen.

“. . . And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” – [Quran 24:22]

Final thoughts on Quarantine

Not a single one of us is not affected by this pandemic. Some people are seriously affected while others may have it easier.

But either way, this is all a test from Allah. If you have it easy, are you helping those who are in need?

If you are badly affected by this virus, are you going through it with patience and full trust in Allah that He knows and wants what’s best for you? Is your faith or eman in Allah still strong?

May we all be strong together so that Islam can rise from this calamity stronger and the ummah will be more united insyaAllah. Ameen.

Any good from this article is from Allah and any evil is from the shaytaan and me. May Allah forgive our shortcomings in practicing His deen.

Wa billahi tawfeeq wa hidayah

(All successes come from Allah and His guidance).