Organization Spot Light: I Inspire Inc

I Inspire is a non-profit organization that uses the motivational power of the arts with interactive technologies and educational tools to bring comfort to the sick, promote volunteerism and inspire local communities to come together for positive change.

Some Food for Thought

Because I also need it from time to time, I thought I would share some quotes that were given to me by a friend.

beautiful Dua for Lailatul Qadr pt 2

Beautiful Dua for Lailatul Qadr

Friday Truffle: Poem by Fida

As Salaamu Alaikum

I would like to share a very nice poem on this blessed day! It is called, "Lailatul Qadr," by a poet named  Fida Islaih. What drew me to this poem was her description of the evening. By Allah, I felt the same way a couple nights ago! Here is the poem and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. May Allah bless sister Fida and continue to bless and strengthen her poetic skills. Please check out her poetry blog.

Lailatul Qadr 

Last night felt like Lailatul Qadr 

I came home feeling happy and peaceful 

the weather just right, 

not too cold and not too hot 

It might be time for bed 

but Dhikr plays in my head 

some of us sit outside 

enjoying tea in the quiet 

Looking up at the sky 

all the stars are out 

and I notice it all 

and some in it's constellation 

But crickets come calling 

and so does bed 

but it might be Lailatul Qadr 

and you'd want the blessings 

of a night worth more than a thousand months 

I wash myself 

and dress back into modesty 

all wrapped up 

I stand on my prayer mat 

keeping myself focused 

I praise and ask for forgiveness 

All this to God. 

Five Things....

.... I got out of the taraweeh prayer last night.

1. Peace - It was such a peaceful prayer, no children running around playing making noise. I could concentrate on the prayer and listen to the Imaam as he recited the word of Allah (swt)
2. Security - Just hearing the words of Allah (swt) and being in the masjid with my family gave a sense of security and that Allah (swt) was with us and watching and protecting us with His angels.
3. Unity - I love praying with large groups of Muslims. You get to see old face and new, from a variety of cultures and countries but we all have one thing in common... Allahu Akbar, standing in rows praying to one creator, one Lord, one God, Allah (swt).
4. Nostalgia - Praying at the masjid brought back fond memories of going to do the taraweeh prayers with my mom and family when I was younger and also during my college years and study abroad.
5. Iman Boost - I felt so close to Allah (swt) as I stood in prayer. As it ended and we left, I could not help but feel excited about going again for the next taraweeh prayer insha Allah.

Objectives of Fasting and Ramadan: SuhaibWebb (dot) com

Masha Allah, I have been finding lots of wonderful lectures and articles online. I feel like I just got an iman booster shot! :D So here is an article I read called, "The Objectives of Fasting and Ramadan." They start off with a hadith of the Prophet (saw) which states:

“Maybe a fasting person gains nothing from his fast except hunger and thirst. And maybe a person who prays in the night gains nothing from their prayer except staying up late.”

That made shivers go down my spine. I would hate that my fasting was nothing but hunger and I got no spiritual benefit from it. :( As I continued to read on, the article goes into just what the objectives of fast and Ramadan is. Yes we are fasting, abstaining from food, drinks, relations with spouces, etc, but there is so much more. The article focused on six objectives:

1. Attaining Taqwa
2. Fasting is a Shield
3. Fasting and Patience
4. Ramadan is the Month of Qur'an and Ibadah
5. Ramadan is the Month of Generosity
6. The Importance of Time

I highly recommend you read this article and increase your knowledge of what the objectives of fasting and Ramadan are and so that your fasting is not wasted on hunger and thirst.