jakazallah khair to all!!
of course everyone here will remain in my dua's.. i'm fairly certain Allah kept this bug from turning into what everyone else at work has had and for that i am so grateful. I do know how blessed I am.. I really do. I wish my family would at some point be so blessed as well and i can do little other, other than pray for that.
Serena
well it's about time! ;D just kidding, Sister.
try to focus on the Beauty of Islam and the Mercy of Allah. remember how easy it is to earn Reward from Allah. Patience is an act of Worship. being all alone means that you will probably be "in a few pickles" here and there. each and every one of these episodes will be a gift from Allah that give you an opportunity to gain Blessings from Him. Mufti Menk has this great lecture here:
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part4
a quick google listed some references here:
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part4
[i didn't examine the whole website, just giving you those quotes to ponder.]
try to learn the Seerah as it helps to understand the "rhyme and reason" of so many things. remember that for most of the 1st ten years of Islam there was very little Shariah [don't associate partners with Allah, pray twice a day- 5 times after the Night Journey, don't kill your newborn daughters, and remain steadfast] , most of the short Surahs in the Qur'an were revealed then. don't overburden yourself. when you are familiar with the Seerah, explaining things to others can be easier. an example might be when someone [esp in Bible belt areas] tries to persuade you that Islam is a bit backward and sever, then you can remind them that we are taught that Forgiveness is paramount in Islam:
7:199 Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them).
15:85 And We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and the Hour is surely coming, so overlook (O Muhammad SAW), their faults with gracious forgiveness.
so much of what Christians believe [the
correct stuff] is also part of Islam that wisely answering questions can be of great benefit. another great quote is one of the 40 Hadeeth in Imam An Nawawi:
HADITH 13
On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the messenger of Allah, that the prophet said :
"None of you [truely] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."
related by Bukhari and Muslim
another great Hadeeth that can avoid dispute:
HADITH 15
Abu Hurairah narrated that the messenger of Allah said :
"Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest."
related by Bukhari and Muslim
40 Hadeeth:
http://www.40hadith.com/40hadith_en.htm
Br Bashar Shala is an elegant speaker and his audio of Seerah lectures can change your world:
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah_an_Nabawi (saw)
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh)
there is also history on the site, and my favorite of lectures are these, especially the Man of the 2 Gardens:
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/m...tories+of+Quran/14_Stories_from_Surah_Al-Kahf
a misconception Christians will toss at you is, "you only pray 5 times a day? huh, i pray whenever i want to!" check out this great lecture by Muft Menk:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2389926761126106509
explaining the 1st half of Al Fatihah surprises many a evangelical:
Bismi Allahi arrahmani arraheem
we begin EVERYTHING asking for Allah's Mercy!
so who is this Allah? some moon god?
Alhamdulillahi rabbiil AAalameen
ALL TRUE heartfelt Thanks and Praise is to to the ONLY One Worthy of ALL Worship, that is, the Creature, Sustainer, Cherisher, Nurturer, Healer of ALL of Creation.
Arrahmani arraheem
the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful (we focus on Allah's Mercy, not His Anger, ie, a Loving God)
Maliki Yawmid Din
the One who i will face on Judgment Day, THAT is who we worship!
Iyya k'nabudu wa Iyya k'nestaeen
this in nutshell is Islam, 5 powerful words: You [Allah] Alone we worship, and [from] You [Allah] Alone we seek benefit.
Mufti Menl has many heartwarming lectures here:
http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html
the bottom Tafseer one is Reasons of Revelation:
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Tafseer2005.html. it's awesome to hear and great for explaining things to others.
May Allah guide you and yours and may He assist you every step of the way!
:wa: