1. Five Daily Prayers: Allah has given us timings that divide up our day so well. Fajr, (usually around 5AM or 6AM) is a great time to start our day. We can wake up, pray, and start the day by pleasing Allah and praying for a good day. Also, we can get done any homework assignment or task we have yet to do. Did you know that our brain cells are more alert at the break of dawn? Not only do we wake up with a fresh mind, but we also have minimal distractions at this time. Zuhr, is usually around 1:30PM, this being lunch time for students and working men/women, is ideal to pray and eat lunch. Asr, which is usually around 4-5PM is a time that most students and working men/women come home. This allows us to freshen up, and pray before starting homework or other tasks. Maghrib, falls around 6-7PM, which can be the time for us to take a break from studying or other tasks, and perhaps pray, and then eat dinner with the family. Then comes Ishaa at around 8-9PM, which can easily be read before going to sleep. By sleeping at this time, instead of studying till midnight, we can ensure that we wake up for Fajr, as well as get our work done in the morning. This is why, we should create our schedule around these prayers, they allow us to get more done, while accomplishing our purpose in life. 
   
   
   
2. Monthly Schedule: For the most part, we know the due dates of our assignments, exam dates, and Jamaat event dates far in advance. This is why, having a planner or organizer is a great way to ensure that we have all of these important dates marked down. This way, we can have assignments done in advance, if we know that the assignment date and an event date clash. This is a great way to attend Jamaat events to gain knowledge, yet not fall behind on assignments. 
   
   
   
3. Time Management: We must remember that most events at Masjid take around 2-3 hours. In these 2-3 hours, we not only get to learn something new, but we can also pray and socialize in order to keep our bond with the community. Now, if we make the excuse of not attending an event because we need this time to study and get other stuff done, we don't have our priorities straight. These 2-3 hours, when we are at home, can easily be spent watching TV or movies, talking to a friend, scrolling through social media etc. but we won't care. So why don't we give up these things that could easily add up to 2-3 hours and not benefit us, instead of the event that would add up to around the same time? Attending the Jamaat events is not only going to bring us closer to the Jamaat and Khilafat, but it will also help us build a stronger relationship with our Creator. So these 2-3 hours will in fact be an investment in the life to come, and not wasted at all.
4. MSA & AMSA: I remember when I was in highschool, I spent around 6-7 hours there, 5 days a week. I was blessed with a Muslim Students Association (MSA), that had many services offered during school, allowing me to continue building on my spiritual life at school. On Friday's, Jumaah would be offered, and teachers had to grant any student that wanted to go pray, the permission for this short time. I would attend the Jumaah, listen to the Khutba which was very informative, and then not read Jumaah (behind the non-Ahmadi Imam), instead offer Zuhr (and/or Asr prayer). Also, MSA held several fundraising events, allowing me to give back to the community, and this was a great way to earn blessings. Later, in University, I joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Association (AMSA), which is an amazing blessing at University. I not only got to meet many amazing Ahmadis from different Masjids, but now some of my closest friends are Lajna from other cities, which was a blessing when I started University not knowing many people who attended! Also, Jumaah is offered to the Lajna and Khuddam, enabling us to pray it, despite being at University at the time. Also, it has been a great platform for Tabligh, whether this be information tables or the organization of events, it has allowed me to gain so much valuable knowledge and share the teachings of Ahmadiyyat with others. I honestly believe that AMSA has been a blessing for me to keep a strong link with the Jamaat even while being at University. Moreover, the girls that I have met, don't bring me away from the Jamaat. Instead, when we're together, we go and pray together, and keep each other connected to Ahmadiyyat and on the right path. It's groups and opportunities like these that will help us in this life and the life to come.
   
   
   
5. Prayer Areas: Most schools and universities have an area assigned for praying. I know at my University, there are prayer areas set up in libraries and other buildings, with prayer rugs available at all times for Muslims to go and pray. This has been a blessing for me with my lengthy University hours. It allows me to pray whenever I have time, in between classes, and not miss any of these prayers despite being at school. One thing I've realized is that the peace I get when I pray at school is different than when I pray at home. I'm more focused, and more relaxed. Perhaps this is because I set aside all of my school-related worries momentarily, to worship my Creator. Whereas, at home, it's not always as quiet, and there are many distractions. 
   
   
   
6. Importance: I can give you many techniques, but the truth is, it all comes down to what we give more importance to. Remember, this life is a droplet, in the ocean that is the Hereafter. When we die, our education and careers won't be of any concern to Allah, instead it will be our prayers, our Tilawat, our good deeds etc. We must realize that, yes, an education and career can be important in a world that revolves around money. However, when we pray and develop a strong bond with Allah, our education and career will be blessed by Allah. As I've grown up, I've realized that my average in school has always been around the same, since the start of high school until now, and when I got closer to Allah, and started spending more time praying and attending/organizing Jamaat events, it reduced the time I was able to give to my education, however, my average didn't go down. Alhamdulillah! Meaning, Allah blessed my education, with marks that I may or may not have deserved.

About: A Tribute to Hadrat Sayyedah Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra) The Wife of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) - The Promised Messiah.

Author: Munavara Ghauri, Lajna Imaillah UK 2011

• How Hadrat Amman Jan's Parents Became Acquainted with the Family of the Promised Messiah (as)
• The Parentage of Sayyedah Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra)
• Prophecies Relating to the Promised Messiah's Marriage to Hadrat Amman Jan (ra)
• A Blessed Match
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Life Passion: Worship
• The Fulfilment of Hadrat Amman Jan's (ra) Prayers
• The Fulfilment of Hadrat Amman Jan's (ra) Words
• Hadrat Amman Jan's (ra) Love for the Promised Messiah (as)
• Hadrat Amman Jan's (ra) Relationship with the Promised Messiah's (as) First Wife and In-Laws
• Hadrat Amman Jan's (ra) Relationship with Her Daughters-in-Law
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Financial Sacrifices
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Daily Routine
• A Simple Lifestyle
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Appearance
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Beahviour towards Her Household Helpers
• A Lovely Sense of Huour and Gaiety
• A Revolutionary Wedding
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Kindness ot Orphans, the Needy and Students
• Respect of Teachers
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Moral Training of Children
• Hadrat Amman Jan's Immense Steadfastness and Unshakeable Faith in the Promised Messiah (as), During Times of Great Loss
• Hadrat Amman Jan(ra): A Paragon of Patience In Her Final Illness
• Some Opinions of Hadrat Amman Jan's Children About their Mother
• "Top Tips" From Hadrat Amman Jan (ra)
• Hadrat Amman Jan: Where She Lives Now
• A Final Message for the Jama'at

These past few months have been extremely hectic in terms of weddings. From what I can remember, I attended 4 full weddings (3 days each), as well as 4 engagements, as well as several single walima and rukhsati ceremonies here and there, adding up to roughly over 17 wedding related events. This blog post is going to be quite different in comparison to what I usually post on this blog, however, I feel like this needs to be addressed. The following is a list of all the things I've learned this wedding season:


1. Things  don't always go as planned.
Okay, let's be honest, who doesn't have an ideal image in their minds of what they want their wedding to be like? We grow up with this dream of 'finding our true love and having a huge wedding' because of how often we see it in movies and TV shows. I'm not gonna lie, I have an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to my wedding (Insha'Allah). However, we all have to realize that simple weddings are stressed in Islam. Also, the more we focus on everything being perfect, the more likely it is that we'll end up being disappointed. Whether that means "a child knocking over something from your wedding decor" or "audio and video problems," things will always go wrong in one way or another. Basically, don't let those little things ruin your day. Always remember that everything may not go as planned, but when you look back on you wedding day, those things will be the least important.

2. The amount of food that is wasted.
Weddings usually go something like this:
By the time the food is served everyone is usually starving, hence they fill their plates up assuming that they'll be able to get through it all. Trust me, I'm guilty of doing this as well. However, we later realize that the food was too much and proceed to hand our half-filled plate over to the waiter, who then throws it out. Just remember, that the food we waste is another person's meal. If we don't put enough food in our plates, we can always get up and get more. However, if we put too much in our plates, chances are it's going to be wasted. So take what you want, but eat what you take.

3. When namaz is missed.
Oftentimes, weddings are held around Asr, Maghrib & Ishaa prayer. There's only been one wedding that I've attended before where prayer has been offered at the wedding. Why is it that prayer (something that should never be missed) is missed on a day that's so important? It's a day that starts a new chapter in the couple's life, and you're going to start it without prayer? Think of all the prayers and blessings the couple could earn on their wedding day by setting aside 10 minutes for Namaz. Chances are, when you come home from a wedding at 10 or 11PM you're going to be extremely tired, this in itself can be an excuse for some people to miss prayer. I personally believe that Namaz should be a part of the wedding.

4. Male photographers.
As a female photographer myself, I can assure you that in Canada, UK and even the US, finding a female photographer isn't too difficult. It can be extremely uncomfortable for the female side of the hall, when a male is taking pictures. Also, the bride and groom, if getting pictures taken, shouldn't do so with a male photographer, as this goes against purdah (especially if the bride wears a hijab). If you can, try to hire a female photographer. From my experience, Ahmadi weddings with female photographers tend to be a lot more comfortable for all the women present, in comparison to a male photographer. However, if you do need to a hire a male photographer, they shouldn't be coming to the female side of the hall.

5. Jealous guests.
Unfortunately, there's always the few guests who aren't genuinely happy for the couple, due to personal reasons or mere jealousy. Don't let them ruin your day! You did your part by setting aside all differences and inviting them, now they should do the same. Just remember what our Prophet (pbuh) taught, to "Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood".

All this aside, I definitely enjoyed each and every wedding that I attended, and congratulate all of the couples! Weddings are a huge blessing in Islam, but let's try not to incorporate traditions which go against Islamic teachings. A quote that I like to remember is, "If the Holy Prophet (saw) was invited to your wedding, would he have attended"?

• Boredom: Usually gossip starts up when you have nothing productive to do with your time.
•  Low Self Confidence: In order to make ourselves feel better about the way we look/act/talk etc. we feel the need to put others done and talk badly about them.
• Envy/Jealousy: Jealousy is a trait that we don’t want to show. However, when we gossip, our jealousy shows threw.

• Avoid People Who Backbite
• Ever hear the saying, “Bad company corrupts good character”? This is why it is so important to befriend people who have similar morals and values as yourself.
• Change the Bad to Good
• Instead of talking badly about someone, try to say something positive about the individual.
• The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever defends his brother’s honour, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection” (Tirmidhi).
•   Avoid Places of Gossip
• At university, work, and even online, certain meeting places are used for gossip (i.e. lunchrooms, cafeterias etc.). If you tend to get involved in backbiting in these locations, find different places to unwind or eat lunch.
• Stop Asking Leading Questions
• Avoid the use of questions that can lead to backbiting.
• For example: “Have you seen so-and-so lately?” will most likely lead to “Did you hear that so-and-so…”.
• It’s None Of Your Business
•  Oftentimes we get involved in conversations that are of no concern to us, we’re merely involved to kill time.
• It can be very difficult, but saying something along the lines of, “It doesn’t concern us”, or anything that will stop the discussion from continuing with more backbiting, is a great way to end the gossip.
• Change The Topic
•  Sometimes the best thing to do is find something else to talk about.
• If someone’s talking about someone, bring it to something along the lines of:
• Students: “How are your classes/exams going?”
• Work: “Are you working tomorrow? When does your shift end today?”
•  Stay Silent
• Sometimes the best thing to do when you’re unsure of whether you’re backbiting or not is to remain silent. When someone is not present in the conversation, don’t talk about them.

Jalsa UK was held last weekend, and Jalsa Canada will take place this Friday-Sunday, Insha'Allah! In light of this blessed time, I decided to remind everyone of the blessings and importance of Jalsa Salana.



We constantly here the words 'this is no ordinary gathering', but what is it that makes this gathering so special? The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) stated that, "It is essential for all those who can afford to undertake the journey, that they must come to attend this Convention which embodies many blessed objectives. They should disregard minor inconveniences in the cause of Allah and His prophet (peace be upon him). Allah yields reward to the sincere persons art every steps of their way, and no labour and hardship undertaken in His way, ever goes to waste. I re-emphasize that you must not rank this convention in the same league as other, ordinary, human assemblies. This is a phenomenon that is based purely on the Divine Help, for propagation of Islam" (Istihar 7 Dec. 1892, Mahmoo'ah Ishtiharat Vol. 1 Page 341).


PURPOSE
"The primary purpose of this Convention is to enable every sincere individual to personally experience religious benefits; They may enhance their knowledge and - due to their being blessed and enabled by Allah, The Exalted - their perception (of Allah) may progress. Among its secondary benefits is that htis congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this Community..." (Istihar 7 Dec 1892, Majmoo'ah Ishtiharat Vol. 1, Page 340).

Let me ask you this? Have you ever been in the presence of good people, without adapting at least one good trait? Have you ever listened to a speech without taking away one new piece of information? Have you ever heard the word of Allah, without being touched by the beauty of it? Now multiply that by the number of hours you sit in the presence of all these people, the number of speeches that are presented, and the number of times you hear the recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Finally multiply this by three. How can we even question the amount of knowledge we can take away from these days?

PRAYERS
The Promised Messiah (as) prayed for everyone attending this convention that, "May Allah, the Exalted, be with him, reward him in abundant measure, have mercy on him, ease up for him his circumstances of hardship and anxiety and eliminate his anguish and grief. May He grant him freedom from every single hardship and lay open for him the ways of [achieving] his cherished goals, and raise him up, on the day of Judgement, among those of His servants who are the recipients of His blessings and Mercy. May He be their Guardian in their absence until after their journey comes to an end. O Allah! O Sublime One and Bestower of bounties, the Ever Merciful and One Who Resolves all problems, do grant all these prayers, and grant us Victory over our opponents with scintillating signs, because You alone have all the prowess and power. Ameen! Ameen!" (Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo'ah Istiharat Vol. 1, Page 342).

I pray that may we all gain the blessings of this Convention, and be the recipients of the prayers of the Promised Messiah (as) for all those who attend this beautiful Convention, Ameen!

http://www.jalsasalana.org/objectives.html

Being grateful is an essential part of living a happy life. I believe that being grateful opens up so many new doors and opportunities for us to further be grateful for. Unfortunately, many of us have fallen into the trap of Satan, who said to Allah, "Then I will surely come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right and from their left, and Thou wilt not find most of them to be grateful" [Holy Qur'an Ch7:18]. Are we going to allow Satan to turn us away from Allah? We have gotten so busy with the material things of this world, that we forget to thank the Creator and Provider of these things. Look around you, I can tell you right now that there's plenty to be thankful for at this very moment. There's a roof over your head, food in your fridge, family around you, good health, a job to go to, and so much more! The mere fact that you were able to wake up this morning is in itself a complete blessing taken for granted. However, we should learn to show gratitude to Allah for blessing us with each of these gifts, and realize that these blessings are not a result of our efforts alone.

BE THANKFUL
"If I only..." a common phrase said to compensate for not having to show appreciation. "If I only had a better house, I would be more grateful", "If I only had a better job, I would be more grateful". But what is gratefulness, if we need something of better quality to show it? The Prophet [ﷺ] said:
"Look at those who are less fortunate than yourselves, not those who are better off than yourselves, so you will not belittle the graces of Allah" [Narrated Abu Hurairah, Saheeh al-Bukhari, No. 6509]. If you honestly believe that there's nothing in your life to be thankful for, you're not thinking hard enough. Having access to an electronic device to be reading this on, is in itself, a blessing. When you begin to recognize these blessings in your life, you will see that you have more to be thankful for than you think.
SEE THE GOOD IN EVERYTHING
We all go through obstacles in our lives that seem unfair, and never ending. However, you must realize that everyone experiences obstacles in their lives. Allah puts forth various different challenges for everyone. Your challenge may seem more difficult than someone else's, however you don't know the strength of the other person. With every obstacle you face, there's something to learn. "And He gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the favours of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude" [Holy Qur'an Ch14:35]. Just remember that everything happens for a reason. Allah may have brought you through an obstacle to make you realize something that you wouldn't have realized any other way.

APPRECIATE MOMENTS IN LIFE
Oftentimes, we take life for granted. We think of moments with our families, friends, etc. as a right, and not a privilege. Allah has blessed us with every second of this day for a reason. He believed that we deserved to live an additional second; an additional day. So why should we waste it? I grew up hearing, 'Live every moment as if it's your last', and believed it to be a complete cliche. But when you hear of tragic incidences of young people losing their lives, you realize that this moment can easily be your last. You don't know when your life will come to an end, so appreciate these moments and live them to the fullest. When we become thankful, only then will our hearts be free from envy, greed and jealousy. Being thankful to Him, will be a constant reminder of His Mercy towards us, allowing us to be more humble.