Story: The Carpenter

The Carpenter

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. 

Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. 

The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."

The carpenter was in a shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he ever built!

Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah Ta'la has sent us to this world to build our homes in paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes where we will live forever.

Your life in the Hereafter will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Revert Story of Selma: softly...“returned”

Assalamu 'alaykum waRahmatullahi Ta'ala waBarakatuHu

I am very glad to tell you the story of my “return” to Islam, and I hope that more Italian girls will follow the same Path and accept Islam insha’Allah.

Everything began very slowly; I had always believed in God, but I really never practiced Catholicism. I never liked going to church, as I didn’t feel comfortable, and honestly I didn’t find the priests’ teachings totally correct, although I felt it was not my duty to judge them...Allah alone, the Most High, sees and knows everything.

Since I was a teenage girl I began to read several books about different types of “spirituality”: I was looking for something but not knowing exactly what it was. I also found books on Islam, especially Womens’s status and the much debated veiled Muslim Woman.

The more I read, the more I became attracted and intrigued by anything related to Islam; it was a light, but constant sensation.
Days passed by and my feelings towards Islam were taking shape. My interest was growing and I finally bought myself a copy of the Holy Quran, Alhamdulillah.

I was not happy with my life-it was empty and I felt it had no purpose. I was feeling morally and physically worse each day.
Islam has been like a light that has brightened up my mind, body and soul, Alhamdulillah.

The actual transition from Christianity to Islam began more or less a year ago. I was working in a shop where, a group of Arab women would occasionally come to do their shopping. I was particularly struck by two of them: Fatima and Saida. I used to observe Fatima with her veil; I felt that I wanted to talk to her and ask her so many questions about Islam, but I felt embarrassed to approach her.

One day Saida came to buy some bread. She smiled at me and I quickly found an excuse to talk to her, although I didn’t ask about Islam straight away. Instead I told her that I was really in love with Arabic bread, but I wasn’t able to make it as nice as they do. Without delay, Saida invited me for a coffee in her home, saying that she would teach me to make the dough. I accepted on the spot, and from that moment onwards I became a regular guest in Saida’s home, where I had the possibility to get lots of information.

Then I decided one day it was time to embrace Islam and asked Saida what to do. She hugged me; she was extremely happy, but she advised me to think about it very carefully as it was a huge step. Nevertheless I was very convinced in my heart, and the following week we organised the “ceremony” of my return to Islam.

That day I was really excited; after I made ablution I gave my Shahadah and we all prayed together. The sisters were so happy they hugged me. We even had tears of joy in our eyes, Alhamdulillah.

I am now a Muslim woman and when I’m with my other muslim sisters, I go to the Mosque or I try to widen my knowledge about Islam. I am happy.
A few months after converting to Islam I decided to wear the veil. It happened in such a natural way that I myself was amazed, Allahu Akbar.

I was initially worried about telling my mum that I became a Muslim. Then one day, we were eating at the dinner table, and very calmly, I told her that I had changed my religion. I was waiting for a reaction, but she just replied that I was big enough to make my own decisions and the important thing was that I felt good about the decision I made.
I was so relieved, Allahu Akbar. She didn’t even arguing about my wearing the hijab. On the contrary, she points out to me when some hair is showing. Ma’sha'Allah she already knows how it works!

This is my story. I hope it makes you understand how Great Allah is, the Most High, and when He calls you, nothing and nobody can stop you.
Everyday I thank Allah, the Most High, for guiding me to His Way, the Right One, and I pray Him to keep me on the Straight Path forever, Amin!
I am grateful to Him for allowing me to meet many righteous sisters, who helped me, and still do, in my study and journey to Islam.

Selma (Italy)

Source: Piccola Biblioteca per la Donna Musulmana.

Complaint on BBC Reporting About Gaza

If you want to complain to the BBC about its coverage of Gaza you have four options

Option 1: Make a Freedom of Information request on foi@bbc.co.uk asking them

-          who booked certain guests (names and dates needed)

-          why certain guests were excluded

-          who made decision to not have representing the Palestinians / Gazans

-          is there an editorial briefing or guidance on use of words, word patterns, terms of reference and such like to discuss Israel, Gaza, Palestinians or any other matter related to this conflict or surrounding matters

Option 2: Write a complaint using the online form here: https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/?reset=#anchor

Option 3: Email Newswatch, the BBC program which handles complaints, using some or all of the template below: newswatch@bbc.co.uk

Option 4: Complain to OFCOM: https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/specific-programme-epg

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to you to lodge my complaints and express my dissatisfaction about broadcasting and reporting bias, relating to coverage of the current situation in Gaza.

Since hostilities began, you have:

a.       presented spokespersons representing the Israeli government, or interests, without also presenting someone representing the Palestinians

b.      allowed information to be transmitted from Israeli representatives without verifying, challenging or scrutinising the information being transmitted  (in some cases the where the information is clearly disputed or controversial)

c.       failed to apply professional or reasonable levels of journalistic scrutiny

d.      presented Israeli representatives, or those with Israeli interests and affiliations, without checking credentials or declaring their interests or partiality

e.      used language which has been used to demonise or denigrate Palestinians, Hamas and Gazans

f.        misrepresented facts, and omitted to present other relevant facts, in relation to the current conflict which would reflect badly on Israeli interests

These have been evidenced on BBC News broadcasts, BBC Breakfast and in particularly on Newsnight.

It is contended that to a reasonable person who was in receipt of the relevant facts, this would appear biased.

We call for an immediate investigation into these matters, a public admission of the nature of these complaints and where required a public statement issues relating to any incidents of biased coverage.

Yours sincerely,

My hijra to Allah

Assalamu 'Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

"And if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whomsoever follows my guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. But those, who reject Faith and belie our Signs, they shall be companions of Fire, They shall abide therein." [Qur'an 2:38-39]

I receive emails and comments including several questions about how I came to Islam (please read the previous post 'How I came to Islam') how my non-Muslim family accepted me and above all why I left Italy to live in the UK.

It is the latter that I will try to reply. Insha'Allah

It has been now almost 15 years that I left Italy, a long time indeed! If you ask me if I miss it, yes of course I do. I do miss it. That will always be the country where I was born, where my family resides and where my journey started many years ago.

The first time I left Italy, it was in 1998. I left because I needed to get a job within the tourism industry and English has always been the language required in such jobs. So I left my home town to embark on a journey which I thought, back then, it would have lasted just few months. Little did I know back then, that the journey would have lasted more than 14 years...

So I landed in London, UK, leaving behind all my loved ones, my belongings, my life, all that I know until then...just had a bit of cash in my pocket and one luggage with few clothes.

The first night I slept on the floor of a youth hostel, not ideal I know but I didn't know what else to go.

Back then I was not a Muslim although I believed firmly in one God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. I prayed to Him before sleeping and many days I would sit in a church or a chapel, kneeling down, asking Him to guide me and protect me.

Those were dark days. I was often questioning my decision of leaving home but I had not choice. I had to study and work to reach my goal: finding a job within the tourism industry.

Days, weeks and months went by. During that period I often found myself crying and praying to God. I often would remind myself that the hardship I was going through had to finish one day. Nothing is for eternity.

After 7 long months away from my family, I was finally ready to go back home but was I ready to go back to my old life?

Back in Italy I felt trapped as if I was a prisoner. I felt not joy and something inside me was telling me to leave again. During those months away I changed, something inside me changed. I realized then that staying away from my family, depending only on God have had a profound impact on my soul.

Those dark days taught me to call upon God, to ask for His help, to rely on Him only and understand that He is the Provider, no one else.

So there I was back in my hometown, feeling unhappy, in need of an escape. I was about to embark on a new journey but this time it would have been the biggest journey of my life. A spiritual journey that has changed me forever.

The second time around, while leaving Italy for London, my mum was more sad, she was crying more at the airport while saying goodbye. It was different. She must have had that 'motherly instinct'', she must have known that I was leaving for a longer time, I was not going back...

The second time, I was leaving again all my loved ones, my belongings, my life etc. but this time my heart was content and at peace.

During this second journey, I was not just leaving one country for another, but my heart was going to migrate too, it was migrating to God!

It all happened within a year of being in London. While working, studying and meeting friends. It was a gradual change within myself.

I was leaving behind all the material world I was trapped into and finding my way to  a more spiritual life.

The day I took my shahadah, (declaration of faith to become a Muslim), with each word I uttered I felt like a weight was being lifted off my chest until there was no more pressure or pain. I felt free. My heart felt pure and I was finally back to my Creator.

On that day, when turning my face back to the congregation of sisters who were waiting behind me while I was in front of the Imam repeating the words of the shahadah, I've realized why I was put through the first journey. Allah wanted to prepare me. He was preparing my soul and heart to detach from my old life, my old friends, my belongings, even my family.

And when Allah empty our hands, it is not to take away but it is to fill them with greater gifts. I had acquired a much bigger family, a much greater gift and more than any belongings or material wealth I could ever imagine; my heart was going through the biggest journey ever: the Hijra (migration) to Allah.

Now I knew why I have had to go through those dark days during my first travel. Why I have had to give up all that I had, including my family. Allah wanted to show me that there is a much greater and more rewarding life after this temporary journey in this earth. I could see it all clearly and it was amazing!

Everything took a new meaning from the day I declared my shahadah. I changed my ways, my life and started afresh.

I miss my family, my friends, my city, my job, even my old pair of favourite jeans that I left behind in the last drawer of my bedroom closet (duh!). 

But since accepting Islam 14 years ago, I became aware of the purpose of my life. I now look at things around me with different eyes, I appreciate the little I have and find happiness in the small things. I understand Allah has a plan for all of us and everything happens for a reason. 

I feel blessed and at peace.

Wa 'alaykum assalam wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, 

Ayesha 

Let it go

'No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future'. 

[Umar bin Al Khattab (r.a.)]

Assalamu 'Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

sometime ago I received this question: 'How do we let go of a painful past?'
I could not answer this question straight away but I have had to give it a thought for sometime before actually give my answer.

What is the past? 

A collection of memories, at times good and peaceful, other times filled with tears and sadness. Some memories will stay in our heart forever and we cannot let go of them, some others we would rather they never existed. Nevertheless they are all memories, part of our past. 

We are who we are because of our past. We came to be who we are today because of the tests we have had to endure during those sad, tearful period but also during those happy moments of peace. We are. 

Why do we remember?

Without our memories we would not be able to reconnect with part of our life that otherwise would be lost. 
In medical terms the  inability to recall information that is stored in the memory is called 'amnesia' from Greek Ἀμνησία. People who are suffering from amnesia not just cannot remember the past but find it really hard to imagine the future. Our ability to recollect events and experiences is a very complex brain process that experts are still studying.

Amnesia have several symptoms but above all: confusion or disorientation, failure to recognize faces and places, inability to learn new information and neurological problems.

Now think for a minute what would your life be without memory, no recollection of the past, living with those symptoms...

Let it go.

It is somewhat hard to let go of something we have truly cherished like someone we loved, a house we used to live in, a gift we were given by a special person...At other times we wish we could let go of those painful memories like the dead of a loved one, the loss of a job, an accident we have had. 
But sometimes letting go it is exactly what we have to do. 

Children cry when we remove something from their hands that may cause harm to them. By removing the object of their desire, they start to cry and ask for it back. What to do? Give them something better, something that can engage them in a safer way. Something they may like more. 

The story of Umm Salama (r.a.) is an excellent reminder for us. When her beloved husband Abu Salama passed away, she supplicated to Allah with this beautiful duas, taught to her by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji`un. Allahumma ujurni fi musibati, wakhluf li khairan minha (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Compensate me in my affliction, recompense my loss and give me something better in exchange for it). 

Allah answered her duas and granted her someone better; she got married to the best man that ever walked the earth, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). 

That's exactly what we should be doing when letting go of something. Find something better. 

-Realize that everything in our past, present and indeed future is there for a reason and that everything is within our 'qadr' or predestination, decree of Allah.

Allah Says in the Quran: "Indeed, all things We created with predestination". [Qur'an 54:49]

All the disasters and tribulations that happen on earth, or happen to the individual, or to his wealth or family, etc., were known to Allah before they happened.

Everything happens by Allah's leave. "No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.”[Qur'an 64:11]

Hadith of Jabir: 'No slave of Allah will truly believe until he believes in Al Qadr its good and bad from Allah, until he knows that what has befallen him was not going to miss him and that what missed him was not going to befallen him.'(Tirmidhi)

-Understand that everything (good or bad) that befall us has goodness in it.

E.g. Death- makes us think about the Hereafter, encourages us to do good deeds. Sickness is evil but if we remain patient it is something good because our sins are being wiped.

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, 'for any trouble, illness, worry, grief hurt, or sorrow which afflicts a Muslim, even the prick of a thorn, Allah removes in its stead some of his (minor) sins"(Bukhari, Muslim)

-Be grateful for everything you have and everything that you do not. “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me”. [Qur'an 2: 152]

Allah tests His slaves in order to see who will practice gratitude and who will not and He promises increased favors for those who are grateful. 
“…And Allah will reward the grateful.” [Qur'an 3:144] 


-Focus on what is to come. Remember the story of Asiyah (r.a.) when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allah). [Qur'an 66:11]

While been tortured by Fir'aun, Asiyah smiled and the reason behind her smile was because Allah answered her duas by allowing her to actually see her eternal abode in Jannah (Paradise). 

So focus on the prize ahead and do not look back. What is to come it is far better than what is left behind.

Choose the Hereafter because it is eternal and far more greater in beauty and rewards than the life in this earth which is only temporary. 

Allah remind us in the Qur'an: 
“But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” (87:16-17)

Only by letting go of the past we can move forward and really start doing things that can improve our relationship with Allah. 

So let it go, let go of the past and fall in love with something far better and greater: Jannah. 

Wa 'Alaykum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu
Ayesha 

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Verily, with hardship...

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

All Praises and Thanks are due to Allah alone. We praise Him and we thank Him and we seek His aid. Whomsoever Allah guides none can misguide and whomsoever Allah misguides, none can guide straight. 
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His last Messenger and Prophet. 

“Verily, with hardship, there is relief" (Qur'an 94:6).

I always thought what this verse meant was, 'that after the hardship will come the ease'. In other words, after we have a period of struggle and trial we will then have a period of ease and happiness. But the word used in the Qur'an it is not 'AFTER'  but 'WITH'. With hardship, within the hardship there will be ease. How possible is that I asked? 

Life is a test, not sometimes, during certain periods. Life is a test! Always! It is a test for those who believe, as it is a test for those who do not believe. It is a test for the rich and for the poor, the healthy or the unhealthy, for the married or the single...It is a TEST in any case. The ease is at the same time as the hardship because nothing in this life is all bad or all good. There is always something to be grateful for, a lesson to learn, an experience to gain and strength  to develop. 

The way I used to see each experience, was to live it to the max. So if for example it was a sad period I would become depressed, cry a lot and see nothing but dark. I would sit alone not wishing to see anyone. If it was a period of ease I would be smiling a lot, enjoying company and see every shades of colour! So I thought, that's it! That's what it meant in that verse of the Qur'an! After a period of hardship comes ease, all I have to do is wait during hardship because the ease will come. 

But then it struck me! 

During those period when hardship hit me, I focused on the problem itself without seeing the bigger picture. Whenever hardship entered my life, I quickly switched into a depressed mode and allowed the problem itself to become my main concern of every single minute of my day. I shifted my focus from Allah to the problem itself. I forgot that Allah is the Reliever of hardship. The problem started to consume me inside and outside and allowed it to be my main concern. 

Allah tests me not to break me, not to make me fail, not to hurt me. Allah tests me to increase me in status, increase me in strength, increase me in love for HIM, to cleanse my soul from sins. Allah tests me to wake me up! Where is my dependence? Who do I turn to first when I need help? Who do I ask help to, first? What's the cure to my hardship? 

And after asking help from friends and family and searching frantically a solution to my hardship, exhausting all the means in my hands, I realized that I was not asking help from the right source!

When we exhaust all our means and we cannot find any other help, who do we turn to? Who do we call upon? Who's there for us?  

In the state of extreme need, affliction and hardship, when everything else failed, when everyone else cannot help, Allah is there for us. Allah was always there for us but we were asking to the wrong source. So now we get down into prostration and beg for His help because 'There is no power nor strength except with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'Ala'. 

"Truly, it is by the Remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest." [Qur'an, 13.28]  

But what happened when a period of ease comes by? 

As Muslims we are told to “Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty” (Tirmidhi)

In those periods of ease, when we are so high we could touch the sky as they say, let's make sure we are grateful to our Maker for all His blessings. Thanking is recognizing and appreciating. By thanking Allah, we are recognizing He is al-Wahhab (the Giver of gifts), ar-Razzaq (the Sustainer), al-Wadud (the Most Loving). 

In those difficult moments when we feel it is all bad, nothing it is worth living for, Allah will be there for us. 

It is a win/win situation. Because amazing it is the situation of the believer, when something good happens to him, he is grateful and that is good for him. And when something bad happens to him, he is patient and that is good for him too. 

In each situation (ease or hardship) there is good in it. We just have to use the right tools. Remembering Allah in times of ease and be grateful to Him for everything He gave us. During times of hardship use patience and duas (supplications). 

We should know that if we are pleased with our Lord, He will be pleased with us. And if we are pleased with our Lord no matter what the situation is, then we will find that we have earned our Lord’s pleasure.

We should extract the honey without breaking the hive. In other words, extract goodness from every situation, and repel evil. The heart does not benefit through grief. The most beloved thing to the devil is to hinder the worshipper in the path of Allah.

Allah ta'Ala reminds in the Qur'an Chapter 31 verse 17: “…Bear with patience whatever befalls you….”  and Chapter 9 verse 40 “Be not sad, surely Allah is with us.”

So nothing is ever all black or all white, all good or all bad. So nothing is limitless, nothing is forever (except the life in the Hereafter). Everything will vanish but Allah. Everything will have an end but Allah, He has no beginning and not end.

“So do not become weak, nor be sad…” (Qur'an 3:139) “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the owner of Great Bounty.” (Qur'an 3:173-174) By leaving our affairs to Allah, by depending on Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favourably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, we reap some of the greater benefits: peace, tranquility, ease, comfort, care, protection and victory with Allah. Because we will depend on our Lord for everything.

"Whoever Allah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with hardship).” (Bukhaari)

Wa 'Alaykum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. 
Ayesha 

A Brother with extreme tattoos and body piercings reverted to Islam

Assalamu 'alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu dear all,

I came across this short clip few days ago and it really touched my heart for two reasons:

1- This Irish brother (Abdul Malik) who became Muslim 24 years ago, reminds me of my brother so much because of his tattoos and piercings;
2- His story has some similarities with mine. The way the brother was searching for the truth. The questions he was asking himself and his pure belief , before entering Islam, that God is One. But also the life he used to lead before; a rebellious life.

I pray someone out there can benefit from brother Abdul Malik story, ameen.

Wa 'alaykum assalam Wa Rahmtullahi Wa Barakatuhu