How are you preparing, brethren? We often read in a famous hadith that the companions were always ready when it comes to Ramadan preparedness. They lived by pristine Islam, taking every single day, minute, and opportunity seriously, as if it were their last moment on earth.

I’ve been asking myself, what am I giving up before the glorious month arrives? What will I desist from following or watching in the media? How will I maximize my time? Yes, preparedness should start now!

Ramadan preparedness refers to the physical, emotional, and spiritual preparations every Muslim should make before and during the blessed month of Ramadan. Here are some steps we can take:

1. Spiritual preparation: Reflect on past actions, seek forgiveness, and renew intentions to strengthen faith.

2. Physical preparation: Adjust sleep schedules, eat nutritious food, and stay hydrated to manage fasting.

3. Mental preparation: Manage stress, set realistic goals, and cultivate patience and self-discipline.

4. Practical preparation: Plan meals, shop for groceries, and adjust work or school schedules.

I’m currently working on getting the best out of the coming Ramadan. May Allah ease it for us. How about you? Let’s start preparing now. May Allah make us witness it in good faith and sound iman. Amin.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

Again, if Allah has blessed you with righteous children and spouses who refrain from posting nonsense on social media, consider it a rare blessing. The social media world grows crazier by the day, especially with some women exhibiting tons of craziness.

As a Muslim woman who strives to live and die modestly for the sake of her Lord, protecting her honor and dignity, I find many actions taken by women saddening. Although most of these women may not be religiously inclined, it still baffles me. I feel shy for them, and I think, maybe they should take everyone’s phone away, although that’s impossible.

The world is getting worse, and many are unaware of what lies beyond death and the grave. I can only continue to caution myself and my daughters and share a message here. Our Muslim brethren must avoid imitating these crazy acts, especially our youngsters. As the Hadith suggests, beware of entering “lizard holes.” Be cautious of what you imitate on social media. This life is only temporary enjoyment. May Allah grant us steadfastness.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

If Allaah loves a soul, He gives him a heart that trembles at every call on the remembrance of Allaah. A heart that weeps alone, a heart that sheds tears over sins.

A hardened heart is a heart that is careless at every smallest and biggest sin. It is a heart that has become rigid and hard like an unbreakable stone. Those with such hearts are persistent in their sins. They are those who do not help one another in piety and righteousness.

Sa’d ibn al-Akhram (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I was walking with Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) and he passed by the blacksmiths, who had brought a piece of iron out of the fire. He stood and looked at the molten iron and wept.

One of the salafs was asked why he loved to weep, and he was reported to have said; “I do not know what is ahead of me, either “divine pleasure or wrath”

The month of Ramadan is the month of opportunity to weep over our sins. It is the month that should bring a soul closer to his Rabb. A month to make true repentance and be consistent in seeking the face of Allah with fervent acts of worship and charity.

One of our Ustadh’s used to say: weep while alone over your bad deeds to seek the pleasure of Allaah. Perhaps, Allaah will forgive you and shower His mercies upon you. He further said, even if you have to fake it, fake it.  Until your heart becomes softened and you feel the sweetness of loving Allah upon your heart.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A man who weeps for fear of Allaah will not enter Hell until the milk goes back into the udder, and dust produced (when fighting) for the sake of Allaah and the smoke of Hell will never coexist.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i).

From among the salaf-as-saaliheen, are those who used to weep out of fear of Allaah when RasuluLlaah gave his speeches. They were better than us and our forefathers. They fear Allaah more than us, yet, most of them were persistent in this course.

Allaah also mentioned in the Qu’ran that we should weep a lot, and laugh a little. Let us take this opportunity to weep and bow our heads seeking forgiveness during our Qiyaam ul Layl; especially during this month of Ramadan.

Oh, Allaah! The turner of heart, turn our hearts towards your obedience. Grant us a soft heart and bestow upon us your forgiveness. Give us the ability to weep over our enormous sins.

Ya Rabbal ‘Aalameen!

Umm Sumayyah Mai

Ramadan 1439A.H

May, 20th, 2018.

The internet will not be forgotten. And you shall be made to see your good and bad deeds on the day when the truth will be rewarded and falsehood will be punished. The fight for TRUTH didn’t begin today, it had begun several hundred years ago. I saw the GREATEST work of Rasullullah in Medina, the land of peace, and l couldn’t but understand why he had been appointed a Prophet. Rasulullaah was firm and fearless of the Mushrikeen and the Munaffikeen of his time. And Allah granted him victory over them. Perhaps you didn’t know your death could come at any time. What would you leave behind? What would be said about us?

While at Al-Medina Munawarah,  l didn’t understand it at first, but at the Zuhr prayer, l realized people are being prayed (JANNAZAH) after each obligatory prayer. I witnessed it for the five days spent in Medina.

The three companions of the grave based on the title of this write-up, are two newborn babies, and one adult. These three companions were buried together in one single grave as narrated by my husband who accompanied them to the graveyard. Yet, some of us are not preparing well. We only want to be remembered for evil. We want to be remembered for causing fitnah on the land. For wanting to change the Sunnah to suit ourselves. We want to be remembered for insulting the companions of Rasulullah and for making jest at many noblewomen of Islam. We equally will be remembered for following our whims and desires. And for affirming that we would follow our forefathers even if they are wrong and upon misguidance in their mode of worship. We would be remembered for fighting the Sunnah and dehumanizing the people of Sunnah. Yes, the internet won’t ever forget. And Allah continues to keep a watchful eye on us.

Umm Sumayyah Mai

December 25th, 2021

This feeling usually comes to the one whom Allah still loves.  Some people may not feel the emptiness until it takes them out of the fold of Islam. That you feel you have sinned against your Rabb, and quickly turn back is a blessing you should count.

Many hearts had been long dead. So, people in this category do not feel the heaviness in their chest.  They care less about their sins and what they do behind closed doors. While you see others asking to be purified and cleansed of their horrible, terrible sins – these people do not even remember death may knock until the reality comes to them and they lose their faith in this temporary world.

Most time, when a believer commits sins, he knows the gravity and the punishment attached.  But the Shaytan still makes him follow his whims and desires, and then, he sins, seeks forgiveness, and goes back to the same sin. It’s important to work on yourself and surround yourself with people who will uplift you morally and spiritually. The pains that come with being empty spiritually may not be healed!

Those whom you take as companions play a significant role in your life, either positively or negatively. If your friend is a hafiz (Quran-memorized) person, you will want to try to meet his standards at least to the minimum. And if your friends are all Hijabis, you will one day become a wearer of hijab. If your companions are those who go clubbing every Friday night, little will you become an alcoholic, and if you are friends with someone who loves to gamble, you may end up being one. So, take time to appraise yourself before your heart becomes darkened completely. May Allah purify our hearts.

Umm Sumayyah Mai