While in sujud, as Muslims, we pray and glorify our Lord (Allah); we sincerely maintain our humility and seek Allah’s forgiveness throughout our voluntary and involuntary prayers.

During that period, what truly comes to my mind most time are those terrible sins of mine. Those sins l pray Allah never expose on the day of reckoning. At one point, l quickly wanted to take my mind away from them, like l don’t wish to remember them, for indeed l wish l never committed them. I wish I didn’t do them in the first place. Alas, Allah forgives us, as much as we strive never to go back to our terrible sins. Thus, one of the best moments to seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness is during our sujud.

Ramadhaan has truly prevented most of us from sinning against our Rabb. It has assisted us to be more conscious and God-fearing. I pray Allah to assist us to be able to maintain it during and after Ramadhaan. We are humans who forget, while Allah never forgets. May Allah forgive all our terrible sins and rectify all our affairs. Ya Rabbal ‘Ala’aameen!

Umm Sumayyah Mai

We are in the second ten days of Ramadhaan already. And this period is the period of Magfirah. The period of forgiveness. Make it a great deal to seek Allah’s forgiveness over your enormous sins which are filled to the brim.

The first ten 10day are Rahmah (blessings) for us. As we continue with the second phase, let’s appraise ourselves. Ask yourself, am 1 still engrossed with the affairs of Dunya, or l have begun to feel the connection between myself and Allah?

What have you given up for Allah, especially during the month of Ramadhaan? What habit do you still need to work on before the month closes upon you? That you do not regret not doing enough. I wouldn’t like the month to come, leave, and l am not able to stop that act or deed l know for sure isn’t something to write home about. I want to be proud of what l have done in total humility for Allah and ask that He accept it from me.

It’s truly important to build a relationship with Allah in Dunya, and He wouldn’t let you down in Akhirah. Forget the frivolous excuses, if you haven’t opened your Quran during this holy month, you are not connecting with Allah. If you haven’t observed any prayer in Jama’ah and or prayed Taraaweeh behind the Imam, especially as a man, your heart is far from HIM. If you are financially upright, and you haven’t given to the needy, you are missing a great deal. You should treat this month uniquely as if it’s your last.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

Ramadhaan 14, 1443AH

Being grateful is a blessing many do not take seriously. Yes, we are grateful for the good and the bad.  We are grateful for doing things that please Allah.  We are grateful when we are put to the trials and tribulations of life. We are grateful for being able to handle it with caution. We are grateful for putting smiles on the faces of the poor and the needy.  We are grateful and happy for doing it to seek the face of our lord without showing off to anyone.  We are grateful for the men in our lives.  We are grateful for the gift of beautiful children in our lives. We are grateful for putting others before ourselves. We are grateful for making people happy.  We are grateful for those who appreciate us and those who pray for us. We are grateful for the love and support we get from people.

This morning, I express my gratitude to Allah, and then all of you, for your love and support.  Thank you for your prayers and kind words. Thank you for your silent wishes for me, my supporters, and my family. I am grateful.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

Practicing gratitude can help us focus on the good things in life and increase our overall happiness. Yes, l understand how things are difficult as we speak. I know and heard how expensive things are, and the amount of suffering going on.

Yet, l want you to practice gratitude and appreciate Allah for some of the things people do not think are worth being grateful for.  For example, you have a home, good health, children, and a sane mind.  You should be grateful for your sights and fitness. That you can work around while some people can’t, deserve praise. Be thankful and hopeful in the mercy of Allah.

Always look at those below you and not those above you. Be grateful for all the positive things you have accomplished and continue to ask Allah for the remaining.  May Allah grant us a heart of gratitude.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

There is no better person to turn all our affairs to except Allah – The Mighty, Merciful. You are indeed going to be tested if Allah will. But the one to direct your pain and anxiety toward is your Rabb – The King of the day of questioning.

What is about this life if not delusional, deceptive, and degrading? And yes, Dunya is fascinating and can be thrilling. But, do you constantly remind yourself of the killer of joy? Yes, death, is the destroyer of happiness. I have witnessed it. I have felt the pain of losing a loved one and l have shared the pain of my patient’s families when they finally kick the bucket.

Life is a temporary journey.  And the reality of it is not knowing your last day on earth.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

I remember the day of my final exam at the university some years back. That day was one of the extremely hottest days in the United States.  So, we were asked to move to another location for the exam and behold, everyone felt the heat within.

As a user of the face veil, l felt the heat deeper within – just like every other person in the room. It was so hurt that the AC couldn’t be more effective than it was. Imagine having exam in an extremely hot weather as such.  No one bothered to ask if it was too hot for me or not. This is because we were all feeling it. I recall a sister in the same room with me who took her small hijab off. l was very sad, but she was a struggling sister then. It is worth saying that while l will be rewarded for pleasing Allah, they won’t. Even though we were all in the same situation.

To enter paradise, you have a lot to sacrifice – you have a lot to be patient about. You indeed have a lot to put on the table for your Jannah. There is no easy path to enter paradise. It’s going to be a lot of dedication, perseverance and patience. You will know if you are doing enough, or doing little.

I have been constantly reminded to be more patient. And this is indeed crucial in worshipping and seeking the face of Allah. To be safe from hell, you must have worked your whole life pleasing Allah and seeking forgiveness for your enormous sins. May Allah forgive us and grant us a good ending.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

I sometimes see that some Muslim parents whose children are left-handed do not pay attention to them using it for meals. I have one, but we made sure the child uses the right hand to eat from being a toddler. It’s fun to see their creativity, but wrong to allow them to use their left to eat. As Muslims, our left hand is for purification while we use the right to eat. Yes, they are allowed to write with their left hand without any problem. I wouldn’t take that away from any child. I wouldn’t force a child to change his writing side.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) once said: “O young boy, say the name of Allaah and eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you.” ( al-Bukhaari)

He also advised that “No one among us should eat with his left hand or drink with it, for the Shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with

it.”  (Muslim).  We ask that Allah grant us steadfastness.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

I have a colleague who happens to be a very good person to me, but she is being tried with having a child. The first time she shared her story with me, I narrated my own story to her about my delays and losing my first pregnancy. This, she felt sorry for me as much as l did for her. This person isn’t getting younger anymore.

I have people around me with the same issue and still spoke with someone today who had lost two pregnancies. My heart bleeds for them.

Dear sister, while you are waiting to be blessed by Allah, ensure you are steadfast and thankful to Allah. Do all it takes in a halal way to seek a solution. But also use the period beautifully. Ensure you do something meaningful about your life and your Deen that you will be proud of and add to your story in the future. Be sad moderately and do not lose your health carelessly. May Allah answer your secret prayers. Amiin.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

When l think of the Palestinians, l see in them what is perseverance, steadfastness, bravery, and pure faith in Allah. The women and children of Palestine have proved to us what eeman does to the one who upholds it firmly and wholeheartedly. I have seen strong devotion in the children and women, and that really and truly made me proud.

We have witnessed how some of our brethren behave when calamity befalls them. It is on this street that we saw women who committed suicide due to a test from Allah. Yet, Qu’ran tells us the trials and tribulations our predecessors went through and how they were able to scale through. If you can stand firm when trials strike you, you are a hero. You are worthy of emulation.

The patience, perseverance, and story of our mother Asiyah (May Allah be pleased with her) is a great one that can’t ever be forgotten in the history of Islam. This is a woman who was confined and oppressed by her husband. Who would have believed any man would behave cruelly to his wife?  This is why we advocate for resilience in the face of adversity. And that’s exactly what the Palestinian women and children are facing right now- being deprived of food, and water, and murdered on their land as evidenced by all the videos we saw online. We can only be grateful for their strong eeman in Allah.

When Fir’aun ordered that “Asiyah’ be chained to the ground, she wouldn’t denounce her faith. She was bold, brave, and confident on the basis that, Allah keeps a watchful eye on her and there is no true salvation except in Islam. While she was cruelly whipped and tortured, she didn’t give up.  She was shaded by the Angels, and the more she was tortured, the more her faith in Allah grew. What a strong woman! If you happen to find yourself in a similar shoe, as the Palestinians are right now, it’s important to hold onto your faith and remember the struggle and patience of Asiyah in the hand of the tyrant Fri’aun. Indeed, the affairs of this world are nothing but temporary.  May Allah come to our brethren’s aid.

Umm Sumayyah Mai