Bismaillah ir-rahman ir-rahim
Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu
We’ve been talking of being a Muslim
and how every act of everyday is an act of worship and for the sake of pleasing
Allah. But we cannot be perfect as the Prophet or as much as the Sahabas but we
can strive to near perfection and earn Allah’s mercy. Allah Subhanahu wa’taala
loves the deeds that are done regularly. The Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The deeds
most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are minor”.
We have Akhlaq, doing Adhkaar, Cleanliness, Being neat, Salah, reading the Qur’an
but how does it happen or how is it supposed to happen in our daily lives, we
are ever busy right? No!! We were not, I don’t believe in being busy, it’s what
you choose to priorities on.
It’s another day granted by Allah
to make it right, that’s what I believe and keep in mind when I wake up every day
and the first thing we should do is thank Allah for give us life and supplicating,
“Alhamdhulillahi ladhi ahyana baada ma’amatana wa
ilayhinushur.” (All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having
taken it from us and unto Him is the resurrection.) As for me, I switch on
the lights, with my yawning and struggling to open my eyes, it’s time for Fajr.
I have to visit the bathroom every morning before anything and at night before
going to bed, it’s my regular routine. So I say the dua before entering, “Allahuma inni audhubika minal khubuthi wal habaithi.”
(O Allah, I seek refuge in you from the evil and evil things) and with my left
foot first I enter the bathroom. After finishing my business, I use water to
perform Istinja and after wash my hands with soap, I brush my teeth as the
Prophet of Allah encouraged and then do wudhu. When am done, I know my supplication
after finishing wudhu but I’ll do it once out of the bathrrom. But before
leaving I have to make sure the next person who is going in won’t find in a
state that is not pleasing thus I flush the toilet, put the sit up after wiping
it with a tissue because of the water used in Istinja, clean the sink too and
wipe off the water with the bathroom clothe then throw the tissue in the bin
and I leave the bathroom with my right leg and say, “Ghufranaka”
(I ask for Your forgiveness.)
As I walk to my room, my parents
are awake too and I greet them, “Assalam alaykum
warahmatullah wabarakatu” (Peace and blessings of Allah be with you) and
what could be better than to say this greeting as it is a dua and smile its
Sunnah, don’t be grumpy that early in the morning. Once I reach my room, I pick
up my Hijab (here I mean as a head scarf), socks and a long, loose Abaya and
using my right hand I put them on starting with my right hand too as the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught. I make my Iqamah
since the Adhaan was already called. I make my attention, find my concentration
like the Prophet said, “When you stand up for Salah
make it as if it was your last Salah; do not say a word for which you will have
to make an excuse the coming day; and build no hope on what is in the hands of
men.” and with Allahu Akbar I start
my Salah. My brothers and father walk to the Masjid as it is near to offer their
Salah. I start with Sunnah as the Prophet insisted to pray the two Sunnah Rakaats
before Fajr. After my Sunnah I begin my Fajr prayer and my mother joins me
since it is better than praying alone and has more thawab. I am now the Imam. When
we are done, I say “Astaghfirullah” 3 times
then the dua after Salah “Allahuma annta salam
waminka salam tabarakta yadhaljalali walikram” (O Allah, You are Salam [the
source of ultimate peace] and from you is all peace, blessed You are, O Possessor
of majesty and honor) and then proceed to do my adhkaar saying, “Subhana Allah, Alhamdhulillah, Allahu Akbar” each
33 times and for the 100th time, “Laillah
illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu lahumulku walahul hamd wahua ala kuli shain
kadir” and I prefer using my fingers instead of the Tasbeeh. There is a
hadeeth that says, “Whoever says this after each
prayer will be forgiven of his sins even if they be as much as the foam of the
sea”. (Muslim) then recite Ayatul Kursi (Q2:255) which in a hadeeth says, “The one who recites it after each of the obligatory
prayers, then death will be the only thing preventing him from entering
Paradise.” (Bukhari), and will be in protection, safety of Allah until
the night. Then I make my duas and not forgetting “Rabii
ghfirli waliwali daya rabii rhamhuma kama rabayani swaghira.” (O Allah! Forgive
me and my parents and bestow on them Mercy as they had mercy upon me when I was
an infant) then I continue to read the Qur’an at least a page, the Prophet of
Allah said, “Whoever reads a letter from the Book
of Allah, he will have a reward, and this reward will be multiplied by ten. I am
not saying that ‘Alif Lam Meem’ is a letter, rather I am saying that ‘Alif’ is
a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter and ‘Meem’ is a letter.” (Tirmidhi) it’s
evident we should increase our recitations to gain such merits and together
with An-Nas, Al-Falaq, and Al-Ikhlas which should be recited after prayer and
after Maghrib and Fajr 3 times. The quiet hours of the early morning is a good
opportunity to recite the Qur’an and do adhkaar for those who can. Personally it
is a cleansing mode of the heart. The Prophet of Allah said: “The recital of the Qur’an at dawn is always witnessed,
the angels of the night and the angels of the day witness it.” There is
no prohibition to return to sleep after Fajr but the preferred choice is to
stay till after dawn in remembrance of Allah. This is what I call my morning inspiration.
After my Ibaadah, I have chores
to do around the house as I get ready for my day at work. I dust and clean the
house then help my mother make breakfast for all of us. As much as doctors or
scientists insist on people eating healthily, Islam does too especially natural
food and avoid processed food as much as possible. If its junk food maybe once
in a while but don’t be eating pizzas and soda from morning till evening, Monday
to Sunday. And as children we should take care of our bodies from being obese
and parents should teach their children and excite them in eating healthy foods.
The Prophet used to eat healthy foods such as, dates, olives, honey, bread,
meat and milk. And if possible dates should be in our kitchen just as we won’t
miss butter or margarine or jam or a pack of Oreo. Naturally seeking to follow
the example of our beloved Prophet with the intention of pleasing Allah will be
a reward as an act of worship. And as we make and prepare several dishes, we
must observe cleanliness too, always.
Yum! Breakfast is ready and as a
Muslim, beginning our meal is with the name of Allah, “Bismillah
wa’ala barakati Allah.” (In the name of Allah, in its beginning and end)
and eating drinking with the right hand. The Prophet did teach etiquettes while
eating and he said, “Mention the name of Allah, and
eat with your right hand and eat what of the food is nearer to you.” Don't see
some chunky meat at the end of the plate and stretch your hand to get it, no! Brother
and sister in Islam that is not what the Prophet taught. Also we should watch
not to pour food everywhere. After the meal, we thank Allah by saying, “Alhamdhulillahi ladhi ata’amana wa sakana wa ja’alana
minal muslimin.” (All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided
it for me without any might nor power from myself). Overeating is unhealthy too
and the Messenger of Allah said, “The son of Adam
fills no vessel more displeasing to Allah than his stomach. A few morsels
should be enough for him to preserve his strength. If he must fill it, then he
should allow a third for his food, a third for his drink and leave a third
empty for easy breathing.” After relieving your stomach don’t just leave
your plate for the house help or your mom to pick it up and take to the kitchen
for you or clean your mess, it should be the other way around. Let them rest
and take their plates and wash them, again don’t leave dirty dishes on the
sink.
This my average morning as a
Muslim, with remembrance of Allah. What’s your morning routine?
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