your iman

[*Mahzala*]

I will tell you something funny, whenever I used to wake up early for studies or something other than tahajjud, I used feel so much shame that I used to not pray tahajjud. Then I thought to myself, why not pray it may bring tawfiq from Allah.

Another funny story, when I was in Islamic Jamia, I used to wake up early just so that I could grab the shower (because there would be a line up and not enough time if I had not woken up early) and study a bit, and at the same time I used to pray tahajjud. When I left Jamia, I did not continue with tahajjud, I used to question myself why (because I used to do it in Jamia). After some self-reflection, I realized my intention for waking early.

Every action will be rewarded by its intention.

May Allah grant everyone, who is sincerely seeking to wake up for Allah's sake, the ability to do it with ease, and until their last breath.

Ameen. And worthy stories to ponder over too.

My stance on this: what happens in the midst of the night happens for a reason. If no one can see you praying to Allah, alone, then one should make little reference to it in his conversations. If the purpose is encouraging the other party, it is understandable. But, as I said earlier, I know people who have made this topic the reason they converse, which almost comes across as boasting, which, in my opinion, is wrong. Because as I said earlier, this act is not from oneself, it is from Allah. At the end of the day, I like to believe, that the difficulty of Tahajjud is exaggerrated.

I think we're drifting off topic. Apologies Sitaara. Though I do hope there is something to gain out of this exchange.

[Sitaara]

Thank you all for your wonderful replies. Each reply was very helpful. i loved reading each reply n thank you for taking your time to reply.

I say this with a lot of hesitation, but, you're a woman, and it is bound to happen. Imaan, like other things, is affected by our surroundings, our company and our environment. Asking Allah for that closeness is the only thing that comes to mind, for I am one, who is up and down quite often. Despite the fact that we keep our Ibadah constant, sometimes we lack satisfaction and peace. For some, that is low imaan, for others, it is the inability to engage in more Ibadah because of our ill desires. I'll share a few short clips which are very worth listening to. They help, in low and high times.

I share this too: Na Qarara Zrhe: The Tree of Imaan

May your current state of imaan be the weakest state you experience, InshaAllah.

Thank you for sharing the link. very good to read it.

I will list some points and we can discuss them if you wish:

1. Waking up for tahajjud
2. completing the five daily prayers in congregation
3. performing as many nawafil as possible during the course of the day
4. praying with one's eyes open (something extremely important that most people who say that they enjoy their prayers with their eyes closed don't understand)
5. following all the movements properly
6. praying slowly
7. performing one's ablution properly and slowly
8. always being in the state of taharat (cleanliness, i.e. ablution and state of mind)
9. always being in the state of remembrance of Allah
10. and many more

i will keep this list in my mind. thanx.

I sometimes feel the same way and trust me when I say it has a lot to do with your surroundings.

i agree with you. it is like the story if your friend sells fish and if you go to his store , fish smell will come out of you and if your friend has a perfume store and when you go there, you will smell like perfume when someone passes by you.

Coming back to this thread and reading some of the replies, I thought I should mention that to everyone, a low state of imaan means something else. No two person's low state is the same. As I said in my earlier post, for some, it is the lack of voluntary actions (nawaafil), for others, it is the lack of obligatory actions (fardh), for others, it may be avoiding the recommended actions (sunnah) and for others, it may mean a lack of satisfaction or contentment despite engaging in all of the latter. Ashiq, I agree with the actions you have suggested, however, I highly doubt, without underestimating anyone, people engage in those actions when their imaan is low. Those are hard acts of worship that require a constant spiritual high to be running within you, that require dedication and sincere devotion and commitment. And so, Sitaara, answering your question comes down to the current level of one's imaan, which well and truly differens for each individual.

yup true sister, each one has a different level of iman. for example i used to wake up for tahajjud prayer so easily but now even when i fix an alarm i turned it off when it rings. i'm really working on waking up for morning prayerr and tahajjud.

Agreed.

The point about tahajjud is that if one has the desire then one will force oneself, and I do agree with you that it is an invitation from Allah. I could not have put it better myself. May I have your permission to use this coinage you created: it is an invitation/gift from Allah?

sometimes when you are going to sleep, and you have the intention to wake up for morning prayer then when the times come Allah just opens your eyes.

Ameen. And worthy stories to ponder over too.

My stance on this: what happens in the midst of the night happens for a reason. If no one can see you praying to Allah, alone, then one should make little reference to it in his conversations. If the purpose is encouraging the other party, it is understandable. But, as I said earlier, I know people who have made this topic the reason they converse, which almost comes across as boasting, which, in my opinion, is wrong. Because as I said earlier, this act is not from oneself, it is from Allah. At the end of the day, I like to believe, that the difficulty of Tahajjud is exaggerrated.

I think we're drifting off topic. Apologies Sitaara. Though I do hope there is something to gain out of this exchange.

i'm gaining alot!

Sister just listen to lectures and be aware of your environment. There are many great people here like *Mahzala* who can be your mentor.

yes i can see Mahzalal has knowledge about islam. i will definately listen to lectures.

[Catya Sher]

Very edifying discussion indeed.

I have long refused to wear a watch for a little bit of the same reason as I hate alarm clocks too.
It means you have to rely on a mechanical object instead of trusting that Allah will wake you up when it's necessary.

By skipping "watch dependency" one relies on one's spiritual attunement rather than on worldly demands and schedules as most of people do.
This sets one more free.

My two dinars here!

[Alchemist]

Bismiallah Rahmanul Rahim

I can only speak for my self.
And having lived a while, and still in the twilight of youth I can say that much of what young people think, is just what they think. Dwelling on thoughts and lost in the aspirations of our "time". I didn't keep a watch for a few years because I believed that I could "go-with-the-flow" naturally but then I'd get late to appointments. And no matter what anyone says about the mendacity of urban life; I will still keep a to-do list. In real world we are all biologically trap and biology is just "the change of phase of life". I don't know about "individuation" or "transcendence" but I'll let you know if I reach the forty.

I believe the sahaba were curious of the same phenomena you observe in yourself. One companion asked Abu Bakr (radiallahu anhu) why he felt so invigorated with spirituality when in attendance of The Prophet's, peace be upon him, sermon but lost that aspiration later on. So the later confessed he felt the same way and they both decided to go and directly ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) why they couldn't maintain the same spirit always. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told them that if they were constantly cognizant of Islam without fail then the Angels would come and greet them on the streets everday.

It's just our human nature, or the nature of this universe, but whatever it is, it's always in phases. Corporations use what they call biorhythm programs that supposedly calculated your peak performance days and your worst days based on three variables: physical, mental and spiritual cycles...all of which are arbitrarily set. But like Ashiq said...persistence is Key. And Allah loves good habits and routines that are performed daily and ever frequent rather than those performed once in a while.

[*Mahzala*]

Sitaara, these are some of the clips that give me a boost when I need it.

YouTube - "The Goodly Life" - Sheikh Muhammad Mukhtar Ash-Shinqitee [HD 720p]

YouTube - "Would That I Knew..." - Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Ash-Shinqitee [HD 720p]

YouTube - Where is your heart?!

YouTube - Are You Seeking For Happiness? A Story About A Revert!

[*Mahzala*]

yup true sister, each one has a different level of iman. for example i used to wake up for tahajjud prayer so easily but now even when i fix an alarm i turned it off when it rings. i'm really working on waking up for morning prayerr and tahajjud.

Sitaara, I recently came across a Hadeeth which explains the importance of Fajr and Asr prayer times, and how these moments in the day are very dear to Allah. Allah says he sends two angels, one in the morning and one in the afternoon to report the affairs of His servant. The angels return to Allah, upon where Allah asks them, despite his knowledge of what we are doing, what was my servant doing during Fajr time? And the angel will respond: Your servant was praying ya Allah. The angels will return at Asr time, to once again note the affairs of the believers, and again return to be questioned. Again the angels will respond: your servant was praying Asr ya Allah. And he will receive his due reward. Like many others, this Hadeeth served as an awakening, that it would be embarassing to say the least, if these angels were to return to Allah saying: your servant was sleeping, or your servant was engaged in worldly affairs (at the time of Asr). So, being mindful of these angels, and that, in a sense, Allah waits for His servants prostration (even though He doesn't need it) is one of the reasons we should strive to pray on time.

[Catya Sher]

Alchemist wrote the very key thought:
"Allah loves good habits and routines that are performed daily and ever frequent rather than those performed once in a while."

I see it the same way. That's why the prayers set up the way they are.

I don't know if any official commentaries bear out this idea, but I always imagine to myself that the person who is performing his or her prayers regularly and dependably is much loved by Allah because, too, the prayers may be used by Angels to go help someone in crisis somewhere else.
Or even someone whose iman is undergoing vicissitudes..>

So, when one person misses his or her prayer, that may cause less help to go to the person in need at that juncture. Perhaps they are halfway around the world, but just getting the boost from the Angels will make all the difference to help them to keep going in the face of adversity.

So a reliable prayer can help out immensely without even realizing it!
He or she could, by their prayers at the prescribed time, save someone from being rounded up and sent to a horrible fate [like the recent story posted on here...]

As far as wearing a watch, I suspect that sometimes Allah may wish for a person to be a little late. Maybe there's a reason for why He does not send Angels to tap us on the shoulder to say "hurry up!"

Dramatic examples would be missed plane flights that met catastrophe.
But there are many cases where, for example, we rush to a meeting and find out that they are late anyway and had no time until just the minute we arrive!

I see the watch question as about trusting Allah completely and serenely. Shelving that human fear of displeasing others by tardiness.

Perhaps it was meant to be that way...besides watches cut off circulation to the wrist and all the acupuncture meridians that run through there, too !
I despise them, myself. I think they are ugly and masculine for women to wear. Instead, bangles are classically feminine and graceful ! They probably do more good in the long run due to those characteristics, anyway.