Runs in the family

So it happened again today.... I .. Sarah Ali.. got mistaken for a 1st yr student again!! That's like the 5th time this year! Like goddd... I'm in my 4th year.. nope didn't fasttrack... and yeah am 22.. you'd better believe it.

Just last Friday, i went into my Optometrists Office to pick up my *new* contacts and this woman was waiting there with her daughter and she started chatting it up with me. Nice woman. Anywho, she was asking me how long I've been wearing contacts and I go to her... a long time.. like 5-6 years. Then she asks me what GRADE I'm in?! I was like... *embarassed laugh*... no, I'm in my 4th yr of University. Her jaw drops and she goes, "I thought you were like 16 or 18!" Oh that's nice... I look like I'm still in High School... well atleast I didn't get mistaken as older I guess.. right??

And then Azfar reminded me of a funny story... about my older Bro. One of my friends got married about 2 years ago... anywho, so we met her husband, Bashir and all, and in an attempt to make small talk, he goes to my bro (who was 24 at the time)... "So you're in OAC, right?" and.... everyone jus starts cracking up... until my bro's friend finally tells him "Nahhh, he graduated from uni last year.."

So i guess you could say.. it runs in the family

Rain on my Parade

I picked up my new contacts today!! They're clear... so don't worry I'll still have the freaky dual color eyes look goin on... So yeah, they're the new Day & Nights contact lenses... which can be worn all the time... so woo hoo I can sleep and nap in them...finallyyyy... my prayers have been answered :) Like I end up sleepin in them in the first place... but that can't be good for my eyes... so now no worries! They're a lil pricey... but its all good.

So when I got home I told my mom bout my new lenses... and she's like "Nahin!! Don't sleep in them..." but I was like "They're made so you can sleep in them and wear them all the time... that's why they're called Day & Nights!" Then we had a little Ammi-Sarah fight... but we're not gonna call it a fight cuz its Ramadan... so it was like a tiff...which consisted of me saying "Ammmmmiiiiiiiiiii!!!" and of her going "Saaaarrrraahhhhhh!!" and that went back and forth for a bit.

Then Papa called... so i told him... thinking he'd be like ok cool... but he said the same thing!!.. "Don't sleep in them... take them off before u sleep!" ... well what's the fun in that!! I got them specifically in time for the wedding craziness... cuz yo won't be getting much sleep in the next few weeks! Speaking of which..... ahhhhh 18 days to go!

Last 10 Days are among us!

The night in which the Qur'an was revealed is Lailatul Qadr, but the specific night isn't disclosed. All we know about it is that its an odd night in the last 10 days. It is kept a secret so that we strive to find it - and Allah loves his servants who strive in his way, for his pleasure. More then finding this night, is finding it with sincerity. Many a people worship all night long but never find this night because they lack sincerity. This is the night better than 1000 months, which is about 83 years! Because it requires sincerity of intention.

1) PURIFY OUR INTENTIONS: We must have the correct understanding of the act we intend to do and the correct intention based on the understanding (ie. for the sake of Allah)

2) READ QU'RAN: Qur'an is the central theme of this month.We should try, in this month, and as much as possible, to spend our time with the Quran. Reading, understanding and most importantly, IMPLEMENTIN... as one condition of understanding is that it changes our life in tangible ways.

3) QIYAAM: "Night Prayer"; Taraweeh is one form of Qiyam. The Second form of Qiyam is in the last third of the night. With a little effort, we can all spend all or part of the last third of night in ibadah of Allah. We wake up for Suhoor and if we wake up 10 minutes early and pray two rakah, it will be regarded as Qiyam ul Layl.

4) DHIKR: The more we remember Allah, more he will remember us on the Day of Judgment. Ramadan is also the time of acceptance of du'a. The time of iftar and the night of qadr are given very high importance in this regard.

5) ITIKAAF: "Seclusion"; Itikaaf means withdrawing from the world, in a permissible manner, for a short while for the remembrance and pleasure of Allah.This is not something we must all do as it is only a collective obligation. However, if we cannot do a 10 day itikaaf, we should do as much as we can with ease.

"New Storm Measures as MOST Intense Ever..."

The season of hurricanes, tropical storms and disaster doesn't seem to be coming to an end... if anything... with each passing storm... the devastation is getting worse and worse. With the current Hurricane Wilma (12th hurricane of the season!)... much of the Caribbean, Central America are being evacuated... it's expected to hit Florida by Sunday.

Insh'Allah let's all make the absolute most of Ramadan and its blessings... a coupla suggestions: pray that extra nafl prayer you always say you're gonna... read that extra ruku of the Qur'an... spend your last dollar in the way of sadaqa.

May Allah have mercy on all of us. Ameen.

Let's Discuss Our Deen (LDOD) Program @ Coopers Masjid on Saturday, October 15th

Feed the Streets on Sunday, October 23rd!!

Young Muslims presents Feed The Streets

Come and Join Us to feed the homeless on the Streets of Toronto!

Date: Sunday, October 23rd, 2005

Time: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Where: Allen Gardens (Gerrard St. & Jarvis St.)

Toronto meet up: Allen Gardens

Missisauga meet up:
Soundvision (Hurontario & Dundas)
61 Dundas Street WestMississauga, OntarioL5B 1H7, Canada
Ph. 905.566.1444
- carpool leaves at 11am from Missisauga

What to bring: Bring prepared meal bags containing: A water bottle, an apple and prepared pasta or meat sandwich (no tuna... jazakallahu khair)

*Carpool leaves Mississauga (Soundvision) at 11:00 am please RSVP a spot.
*If you are able to help carpool please contact us
*Bring a friend along to help the needy
*Please join us even if you are unable to make food
*Monetary donations are welcome

Contact Info: feedthestreet@youngmuslims.ca

or call at: 647-294-8297, 647-893-8550, 905-783-0055

Ramadan Checklist!

Ramadan is a blessed month in which we learn discipline, not just in terms of controlling when we eat, but in ALL aspects of our life. Unfortunately, for some, it just becomes a ritual of not eating between sunrise and sunset, with little reflection of the real purpose of Ramadan. Allah does not need our hunger, so we should really try to make improvements during Ramadan and try to become closer to Allah through our actions, and this requires a conscious effort from our part.

Here is a Checklist I found online... it's really amazing.. and insh'Allah has the potential to keep us striving to improve ourselves and attain Allah's pleasure!

Ramadan Checklist

1. Did you complete ALL 5 prayers today?

2. When you prayed, did you pray from the heart and truly feel that you were standing before your creator?
(Praying in a hurry so you don't miss your TV show, or aren't late for a meeting with someone does NOT count!)

3. Did you read Quran today? after Fajr salaah?
(even if you Read one page of the Quran that is still good because the Angels are changing their shifts during that time and there is alot of blessings if you are in a state of ibadah when the first shift is leaving and when the next shift arrives. Also, keep in mind that Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an).

4. Did you remember Allah?
(Dhikr, the best way is to recite Tasbih, recite the 99 names of Allah, read dua's, durood, etc..)

5. Did you reflect on all the blessings that you have, and thank Allah for it?

6. Did you give any charity (sadaqa)?
(one may not be able to do this EVERYday, but we should try to do it as often as possible, especially since the reward for it is even greater during Ramadan)

7. Did you help your parents with ANYthing?

8. Did you upset/hurt anyone?

9. Upon realization of that you made a mistake, did you then seek forgiveness for it?

10. Did you argue with anyone today?

11. Did you forgive anyone's mistakes today?

12. If you felt envy today, did you make dua to Allah to protect you from such feelings?

13. Did you backbite?

14. Did you lie today (even the smallest of lies) ?

15. Did you falsely blame anyone for anything?

16. Did you get angry at anyone ?

17. Did you waste ANY time?

18. Did you participate in useless, idle talk ?

19. Did you gluttonously prepare food for suhoor and iftar?
(its best to keep things simple...not prepare soo much food, and extremely lavish foods as if its going to be the last time you will ever eat)

20. Did you say salaam FIRST to anyone, or go out of your way to say salaam to anyone?
(There is greater reward for saying salam first, than just returning someones salaam)

21. Did you smile often today?
(smiling is a form of charity, so if you don't have money to give, then SMILE as often as possible, and that will be your Sadaqa for the day....see # 6)

22. Did you teach something new to another person today?
(It is NOT enough to just learn something new about Islam, like a dua, or hadith......but one must TEACH it to others as well)

23. Did you ask for forgiveness today, seek Allah's mercy?

Insh'Allah, by the end of Ramadan you will have more check marks than 'x' marked for each item.

Ramadan Mubarak!

May Allah (SWT) strengthen our faith, give us hope, many blessings and the ability to do numerous good deeds in this blessed month. May He accept all of our dua's and fasts this month. May He shower us with His forgivenss. May He ultimately save everyone a spot in Jannah. Ameen!

From my family to yours, Ramadan Mubarak!

[P.S. I hope everyone is eating suhoor in the mornings!]



The Importance of Suhoor

From 'Abdullaah ibn al-Haarith, from a man of the Companions of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) who said:

"I entered upon the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) and he was taking the suhoor and he said: 'It is a blessing which Allaah has given to you, so do not leave it.'" (Ahmad)

It is clear that the suhoor is a blessing since it is compliance to the Sunnah. It strengthens a person for fasting and increases his desire to fast more often due to its not being a great hardship.

He (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

"Take suhoor for there is blessing in it." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Then he (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) explained the value of suhoor to his Ummah, saying:

"The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book in the taking of the suhoor." (Muslim)

Perhaps the greatest blessing of suhoor is that Allaah (SWT) covers them with His Forgiveness and sends His Mercy upon them. The angels ask for forgiveness for them, and supplicate to Allaah that He pardons them, so that they may be granted freedom from the Fire by the Most Merciful in the month of the Qur'aan.