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It is important to eat and drink right during Sehri (Suhoor), in order to survive the long and hot summer fasts. Sehri is an important part of keeping a fast, and thus should not be skipped.


It is important to indulge in a hydrating and nourishing Sehri to give our bodies the strength to make it through the fast. Unfortunately, many people are starting to skip Sehri in order to sleep in longer. However, doing this, they are missing out on the rewards and blessings that come with this important part of keeping a fast.

Be sure to include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

Here are some quick and easy options:

DRINKS

SMOOTHIES/MILKSHAKES
There are so many different options for making a smoothie depending on what you have at home. Personally, I love using frozen berries and spinach in mine!
    • Banana, Strawberry, Peach: granola, nuts, greek yogurt, chia seeds
    • Mixed Berry: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, spinach
    • Mango: mangoes, yogurt, milk, banana
    • Banana-Peanut Butter: bananas, peanut butter, nonfat milk, honey  

    FRUIT JUICE
    Drinking pure fruit and vegetable juice is a great alternative to water in the morning. It's high in vitamins, that you won't be getting otherwise, due to fasting. You can either buy these pre-made, or make some with a juicer the night before. 

INFUSED WATER
If you're someone who enjoys water, you can always infuse it with fruits, in order to drink more. Some great options are:
        • Watermelon & Mint
        • Orange, Lemon & Lime
        • Lime, Kiwi & Strawberry
        • Strawberry, Mint & Lemon

PRE-MADE IDEAS

PROTEIN SHAKE MUFFINS
It can be hard to get protein in during Ramadan. An easy way to include some protein in your Sehri is to make a batch of protein muffins! This is a great snack and easy to prepare ahead of time.

Here are several options.
Click the links for some of my favourite recipes!
  • Banana Bread Protein Muffins - for the banana bread lover
  • Cinnamon Role Protein Muffins - for the cinnamon bun lover
  • Chocolate Mocha Protein Muffins - for the brownie lover



OATMEAL
Oatmeal is full of carbohydrates and protein which will boost your energy for the day ahead. It's also full of fibre, calcium and potassium, which is great for the heart! This can also be made the night before, and served cold or warm for Sehri!

Here are several options.
Click the link for some of my favourite recipes!

  • 8 Classic Overnight Oats Recipes
    • Classic (my favourite)
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter
    • Carrot Cake
    • Banana Chocolate Chip
    • Tropical Fruit
    • Strawberry Cheesecake
    • Pumpkin Spice
    • Chocolate Coconut

OMELETTE  MUFFINS
For someone with less of a sweet tooth, omelette muffins are a great way to incorporate eggs and vegetables into Sehri. Here is my recipe for making these:

Serves 12
Ingredients:
  • 12 - 15 eggs 
  • ground pepper and salt (to taste)
  • Any toppings you prefer: cheese, green pepper, onion, broccoli, red/green pepper, mushrooms etc.
Steps:
  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Spray your muffin tray or use 12 muffin liners.
  • Finely chop your vegetables.
  • Divide the vegetables evenly (fill 2/3 of the liners)
  • Beat the eggs in a bowl, pour into something with a spout, and pour into the trays (fill 3/4 of the liners).
  • Top off with your favourite spices!
  • Bake 25-35 minutes, until muffins have risen and are slightly brown, and set.
  • Muffins can be refrigerated for no more than a week. Microwave on high for about 45 seconds to one minute before serving. (Egg muffins can be frozen and reheated but I like them better when they are refrigerated. Frozen muffins will release some water when they thaw).

FOOD

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE 
This is a quick and easy way to have a filling breakfast full of dairy, protein, vegetables and grains!
Click here for one of my favourite recipes!
This recipe can easily be substituted for vegetables and meat you have access to in the moment. It's also a good recipe for larger families, serving 10-12.

Image from: http://littlespicejar.com/veggie-loaded-breakfast-casserole/

OVEN-ROASTED BREAKFAST POTATOES
This is a nice savoury breakfast which will keep you full for quite some time. It's also not too time consuming, just let it bake while your praying or reading the Qur'an in the morning.
Click here for my favourite recipe!

Image from: http://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/easy-oven-roasted-potatoes-recipe/
BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
You can never go wrong with a quick and easy sandwich! Here is a list of recipes for sandwiches for the meat lovers... or the veggie lovers...and anything in between!

WRAPS
If you enjoy wraps, I have a recipe for you! It consists of salsa, black beans, avocado, corn, and more!
Image from: http://veggieprimer.com/black-bean-wrap-quick-and-easy/

Hopefully these recipes help you decide what to eat for sehri this Ramadan so that you can change it up! It can be hard waking up early to prepare a large sehri, nonetheless, there are some who are willing to do this, and so I've added several recipes for such people. On the other hand, some people wake up a few minutes before Fajr, and for these people I've included several breakfast ideas that can be made in advance and eaten quickly, yet still keep one full throughout the day.

May Allah bless you this Ramadan and forgive your sins, Ameen!

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Finals can be hectic and sometimes it may feel as if they will never come to an end. Trust me, I've been there. With 8 midterms for 6 weeks straight, I basically studied every day for 1 month straight. I know how stressful it can be! Finals were no different. So, before finals roll around for secondary school students, I thought I would share a few tips and tricks to help you all make your way through them. These tips are not only for you to be successful in your exams Insha'Allah, but also for you to not lose track of what's important.

1) MAKE A SCHEDULE

I thought this was a fairly normal thing to do, until I talked to some people who thought I was crazy. 

"How can you follow a strict schedule?"

I guess being a Muslim, and having to follow a schedule ever single day (the 5 daily prayers) has something to do with it. For real! Prayer has helped me to self discipline myself in terms of what I should do and when I should do it. Keep in mind, your schedule cannot be 'Study from 7AM to Midnight', because you will never be able to stick to such a schedule. Make it realistic, reward yourself, and take breaks!

Start by creating an exam schedule for the entire week/month. For each day, write down the chapters for each course that you want to accomplish. My rule to divide up chapters for each course is as follows: If you have 10 chapters to study, and 5 days until the exam, study 2 chapters a day. Once you have this monthly schedule, you won't have to cram, and you'll know the minimum amount of studying you should get done each day. Once you have this, create a schedule every morning for the day. This should start from the moment you wake up to the time you wish to sleep at. In it, include the hours you will spend studying (with what you intend on studying from the weekly/monthly schedule), breaks, and meal times. This is a simple and effective way to keep your mind at ease, and not have to cram the night before the exam. I always get asked how I continue to make time to eat, sleep and everything in between, while staying on top of studying. Well, this right here is the answer to that!

2) DON'T CRAM

This goes hand-in-hand with what I stated above, scheduling. You've probably heard this a million times before, but cramming does nothing for you. It only leads to stress, and 

studying + stress = burnout. 

Try to plan out your time so that you start studying far in advance. Make your study load heavier early in the exam season because you will get tired of studying! Having fewer chapters to study closer to the exam date will be a huge weight lifted off your back! Make the day before the exam a review day! Don't spend that day studying the entire course! Remember, it's not about studying hard, it's about studying smart. 


3) PRACTICE QUESTIONS & FLASHCARDS


The more times we see something, the better our brain is at remembering it. This is why cramming will not help. You want to study in advance and review everything you've studied already each day. Seeing a definition or concept multiple times will help you remember it way better than if you cram. To do this, flashcards are a great way to go! Flashcards made by hand can work really well, but may take a lot more time if your notes are typed out. I love Quizlet, it's a great way for you to not only make flashcards, but turn those flashcards into multiple choice questions, true and false questions, games and more. It's a great method that I like to use when it comes to formulas and terms - things I need to memorize.


Also, use the resources given to you! Textbooks have a bunch of review questions and you can find so many online! Use these resources so that you can learn to apply what you've studied. Knowing a term is one thing, but comparing that term with similar terms, or knowing how to set it apart from similar terms is what will help you succeed. Nowadays, teachers/professors are no longer testing students on memorization. There's a lot more case questions and such, that require the student to know more than just the definition of words.

4) PUT IN TIME FOR GOD

Sometimes it feels like we don't have enough hours in the day to study, and so it can be quite challenging to make time to pray. However, I assure you, success without prayer is not the right kind of success. Incorporate the prayers into your schedule, start your day off with Fajr and give yourself an early start to your studying. Finally end your day off with Ishaa, and go to sleep. This will really help you get 6-7 hours of sleep! Pray and ask Allah for help! This is not only the best stress reliever, but it's also a good way to force yourself to get up and move. I don't know about you, but when I'm studying, I feel like I sit for hours straight just trying to get information in my head. To prevent your body from getting soar, get up, move a little, and pray. And if you're worried about time still, 5-10 minutes will not harm your studying! Trust me :) 

Some little prayers that are helpful for exams are:


رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

O my Lord! Expand me my breast; ease my task for me; and remove the impediment from my speech, so they may understand what I say.
I really hope these little tips help you plan out your finals week (or month) a little better, and I really hope you all succeed! Just remember, try your hardest and don't lose hope, one low mark doesn't ruin your life. Good Luck!

Please share and leave your feedback below, Jazak'Allah!

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Happiness - "The state of being happy".
Happy - "Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment". 

With this definition in mind, would you consider yourself happy and content?


INSPIRATION
I recently came across a video by Mohamed Zeyara, a humanitarian activist and public speaker.
In it, he talked about his interview of a young orphan. He asked the orphan, "What is the most difficult part of your day?" to which he replied, "Nothing". Confused Mohamed asked the question, "What is the most difficult part about living in an orphanage?" to which the boy replied "Nothing, I don't have any problems". Shocked, Mohamed continued the interview with, "If you had one wish and it would be granted, what would it be?" to which the boy replied, "I would like a Qur'an, the book of the Qur'an, because over here they don't have the physical book Qur'an".

ARE WE HAPPY?
This video got me thinking of the desires of the youth living in developed countries and seeking happiness. When we think about happiness, we constantly desire for more, "If I pass this exam, I will be happy. If I get these shoes, I will be happy. When I get married, I will be happy". But is this what happiness is?

With the definition above it is clear that happiness is current and not dependent on what you have. Are you happy despite what you have and don't have? Those objects shouldn't be your ladder for happiness, and trust me, they never will be! You can't expect to keep getting things and eventually reaching happiness. If this were at all the case, the richest people in the world and the celebrities we see on television would all be happy. They have the money to buy anything they desire, but are they happy?  The answer is clear the majority is not. This is why many rely on drugs and alcohol, cosmetic surgery and more, in order to reach a state of happiness. Despite all of this, a lot of them get trapped in a downward spiral and never truly reach a state of happiness. Now look at the less wealthy, those who have the bare minimum, are they happy? It's shocking to think, but many are. They don't have everything, and they barely have the basic necessities to get by, but they are happy. Now ask yourself, "Am I happy"?

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE HAPPINESS?
If no amount of things will make us happier, what will?

  • Be Grateful: It is said in the Holy Qur'an, "Be grateful to Allah for whoso is grateful, is grateful for the good of his own soul" [31:3]. I remember my mother constantly saying the following phrase to me while growing up, "Stop comparing yourself to the people who have more than you, compare yourself to those who have less than you". It's amazing how such a simple reminder made me a more grateful person. The number of times I have heard, "Why can't I have _____, so-and-so has one?!" But when do we ever hear, "Maybe I don't need ______, there's people without it who are doing just fine". From this point on, promise yourself that you will no longer allow the materialistic possessions of others take away your happiness, because "Comparison is the thief of joy" - Theodore Roosevelt. 
  • Spiritual Happiness: "It is they who follow guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper" [Holy Qur'an: 31:6]. Worldly satisfaction is nothing compared to spiritual happiness. The Holy Qur'an is full of instructions on living a life that will please Allah and ultimately grant us Heaven on Earth. Develop a relationship with Allah, only then will you be able to live to please Him and no one else. In a world where everything and everyone is constantly changing, we can never truly be happy.  There will always be new things to spend our money on, and we will always want them. That's the power of marketing and the electronic world we live in. But only with Allah can we find true happiness. 
  • Self Purification: No one is perfect. But with this said, we should try to make ourselves better each and every day. We should get rid of all the negative thinking that leads to unhappiness: greed, jealousy, pride, arrogance, envy, and revenge. Instead, we should adapt the qualities of love, justice, patience, and sympathy. Read and understand the Qur'an, read Islamic books, and gain knowledge. Without knowing what is acceptable in Islam and what pleases God, it will be harder to adapt these good qualities and live by them.
With all this said, think of your life from the eyes of the orphan. If asked the question, "What is the most difficult part of your day?" I'm sure many of us would say: going to school, going to work, waking up early, etc. But it's a blessing to not only be alive in the morning, but also to have a bed to wake up in, or job/school to go to. Yet, I'm sure none of us would ever be able to reply to the question with "nothing". What about if we were asked, "If you had one wish, what would it be?" what would your answer be? I'm sure many would say: having a house, a car, paying off debt, having a good job, etc. all of which is nothing but mere materialistic desire. Once you have that one thing, you would always want more. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad to want things, but once you start associating happiness with objects, you can't expect yourself to be happy for very long. 

We're blessed to have a Qur'an in our homes, many Qur'an's for some. That, to this child, means the world. We are the owners of this child's dream. Yet so many of us don't even take the time to open the Qur'an, instead it rests on the shelves in our homes gathering dust. Open the Qur'an, read it, and understand it. Through the Qur'an you can attain happiness, not through the things you think will make you happier. 

If there's one thing you take away from this post, I hope it's this: don't place your happiness within temporary objects, and never forget about those who are less fortunate than you. 

I pray that we can all find true happiness, Ameen!

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1. Place Prayers Around Your House.
Sometimes, all it takes is the right reminder at the right time. Try printing little prayer cards out, and placing them around your house. For example, an entering and leaving the house prayer on your front door, a going to sleep and waking up prayer on your dresser, a before and after eating prayer in your dining room and so on. This is not only a great way to teach your kids these prayers, but also a great reminder for parents as well as older children to read these prayers despite already knowing them.

  • Click Here for a set of 16 door knob dua cards ($4.95)
  • Click Here for free printable dua cards


  • If you want to go about it in a different format, you can download free printable pages of this Dua Book by clicking here.

2. Listen to the Audio of Knowledgeable Shows

Take a moment to think about your commute to work or school. How long is it? Maybe a 30 minute drive there and 30 minute drive back? Longer? If you think about this being a daily thing, that's a lot of time! Listening to something knowledgable and motivating during this time can really benefit you through the day and in the long the run. I suggest the following:

  • Faith Matters
  • Real Talk
  • Khutba/Sermon

Simple download one in the morning, or stream it live and listen to it in your car, on the bus etc. It will really help you be more motivated throughout the day!

3. Read a Prayer When You Wake Up

Start your day with prayers. Read a prayer on success or good health. Whatever you please! This is a great way to start the day positively and with the remembrance of Allah. The Treasure House of Prayers in one of my favourite books with prayers for everything possible. You can buy it here.


4. Set a Prayer as Your Wallpaper 

We're all busy, I get it. It can be hard to take out the time to sit and memorize a prayer. A great way to go about doing this is by setting a prayer as the wallpaper on your phone or laptop. By doing this, you can read it whenever you come across it, and you'll have it memorized in no time!


5. Read Before You Sleep

We live in a time where we're all so obsessed with being connected to the world at all times. Trust me, I'm guilty of this as well! How many of us haven't turned off our laptop, only to go on our phone and spend another hour on that. Reading before we sleep is a great way to rest our eyes and put some good thoughts in our head before ending the day. If you haven't read my New Years Resolutions post, you can do that here. In it, I talk about reading a few pages of a book a day, in order to finish one book a month. I also give a list of great Islamic books to read!


I hope these 5 tips help you all out! And hopefully they help build us up spiritually!
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Time management is a skill that, although takes time to develop, is a very crucial in managing our lives. Time is a limited resource, so no matter how we go about our day, there will always only be 24 hours. With time management comes reduced stress, leading to an overall healthier life. As well, time management allows us to accomplish more tasks in shorter periods of time, leaving more time for what's important.

So much of our days are spent doing things that are only benefitting us in this life, and not in the next. Think about your day. What did you get done today? You probably went to school and/or work, maybe spent some time socializing, homework assignments, preparing meals, eating, chores, showering, running errands etc. How much hours of your day is that? 11-12 hours? Maybe even more if you work full time, or attend University with lengthy hours. Then add to that, the time you spend sleeping, which could be either 7-8 hours for some, or 4-5 hours for those that are less lucky. So that leaves maybe 4 hours, which could have been spent watching movies, TV shows, or doing something that will benefit us in the life to come. Basically, what I'm saying is, there's so much stuff to do that occupies our day. But let's not forget our main purpose in life, that has been clearly given to us by Allah, "And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me" [Holy Qur'an Al-Dhariyat Chapter 51: Verse 57]. Keeping this purpose in mind, ask yourself, did I achieve this purpose today?

I'm often asked by friends and family how I remain so calm with assignments and exams as a full time student, house chores, photography bookings, as well as events and Masjid programs to attend. The answer is simple, I don't stress. I don't stress about the exam that I have to do, because I know whether I stress or not, my mark will be the same. All I can do is pray and study to my greatest capacity. I believe that there's no point in isolating myself from my family, social life, religious life, events etc. just to get homework and assignments done. Why would I spend my years in high school and University (8+ years) stuck in my room doing something that's only benefitting me in this world, all while putting my health, family, relationship with Allah and the Jamaat, etc. on the line. This is not to say that I don't spend time in my room studying, but I don't make this a priority. I come home from University and study, but I spend dinner time with my family, and weekends with my family or at the Masjid. 

This is why, I want to shed light on a few habits and management techniques that I like to apply to my life, in order to manage my spiritual as well as University life.



  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.
We must educate ourselves, not to become rich, but to bring ourselves closer to our Creator, and some day educate our children with this education. Sometimes we make our religion a burden on us. Ugh it's time to pray. Another masjid event?! I don't want to wake up for Fajr! But our reactions should not be like this! Our religion shouldn't be a burden on us, if anything, it should help us take lightly, all of our burdens. The world will always have distractions. There will always be other things to do. But when these things come in the way of your prayer timings or Masjid events, ask yourself, will what I'm missing these events for, help me in the Hereafter? 

I really hope that these habits can be adapted in all of our lives, and we all realize the importance of our religious lives over our educational lives, Ameen! 

As University exams roll around, I pray that all of you do really well, and that your efforts are not wasted, Insha'Allah! I would love any feedback below on what I should improve upon, or what I should continue incorporating in to my blog posts, as well as future blog post ideas! Jazak'Allah!

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Title: Hadrat Amman Jan (ra) An Inspiration For Us All


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

I wanted to redirect all of the younger as well as older Lajna members to a great book, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Growing up, I was always told to look up to the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Promised Messiah (as), and I did, in order to become a better Ahmadi Muslim. However, I felt like I wasn't getting as much knowledge on how a Muslimah should live her life, and take on roles such as a daughter, sister, wife, and mother. While reading this book, I was constantly learning  about ways to improve myself by following the example of Hazrat Amman Jan (ra). I definitely recommend this book to all the girls, but especially if you're getting married, this book has great guidelines for being a better wife and mother. The following is how the chapters are laid-out:
  • 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
This book is a great source of knowledge for Lajna, both young and old. It tackles so many of the questions that we have, regarding how we as Ahmadi women should live our lives. I recommend this book to be read by every Lajna member as it truly reminds us of our responsibility as the mother's, daughters, sisters and wives of Islam.

If you are unable to purchase it, it is available online at www.alislam.org.

Let me know if the comments below what you think of this book! 
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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"?



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What do backbiting and cannibalism have in common? Would we ever consider calling ourselves cannibals?

Cannibalism – A person who eats the flesh of other human beings
Backbiting – ‘O ye who believe! Avoid most of suspicions; for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not, nor back-bite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother who is dead? Certainly you would loathe it. And fear Allah, surely, Allah is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful [Holy Qur’an 49:13].

After looking at the above definitions, I’m certain that some of us have unknowingly committed the grave sin of backbiting, or ‘eating the flesh of our dead brother’.



Why Gossip?
  • 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.

How Do I Get Out Of It?
Most of the time, we get dragged into gossip, or conversations that lead to gossip. It’s important to know how to get ourselves out of this situation, or what to do in such situations.
  • 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.


To Summarize
Allah has said in the Holy Quran, “And when thou seest those who engage in vain discourse concerning Our Signs, then turn thou away from them until they engage in a discourse other than that. And if Satan cause thee to forget, then sit not, after recollection, with the unjust people” (6:69).

Backbiting is a hard habit to break loose from. It may seem like you don’t really backbite, but even a 2 second statement about someone that’s not present can be classified as backbiting.

Be aware that death can occur at any time. We don’t want to end up living a life where we read Namaz and Qur’an, and follow the teachings of Islam, yet fall in to this trap of backbiting, and end up dying without seeking forgiveness from Allah.

Just remember the following Hadith:

Abu Hurairah narrated that it was said:

" O Messenger of Allah! What is backbiting?" He said : " Mentioning your brother with that which he does not like." He said " What if what I said about him is so?" He said: "If what you said about him is so, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not as you said, then you have slandered him."
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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
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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.

Let us strive to be those individuals who keep our hearts soft with His praise and His remembrance, Ameen!
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