Meeting Allah, (The Ever-Living) Survey

If you knew you'd pass away and meet Allah (The Ever-Living) tomorrow, what would you have wished you've done before your time on earth is over?(4 responses)

Prayed every salah with more khushoo'. Acted and practised any knowledge I gained. Cleansed my heart of any ill feelings or negativity in any shape or form. Memorized and recited more Qur'an. Did more khayr and good deeds (towards my family, others, myself, the Earth, animals). Lived my life to my true potential. Worked towards a project to count as Sadaqa Jaariyah after my death. Did Sillat Ar-Rahim (ties of kindship) to all my extended family members.

The thing that comes to my mind is how I've wasted time. A few months back I figured out that I have about 5 hours per day to spend in personal pursuits. Now a few months later I look back and think how all that time has been wasted with nothing gained. When I say gained, I mean, something meaningful and fulfilling, something that would be pleasing to Allah, the Most Kind. In sha Allah, I will benefit from this question in that it will be a starting point to refocus my life on growing closer to Allah, the Most Forgiving, by various methods; using those hours consciously.

Where can I start? I would have wanted to do everything better and spent more time in prayer and fasting and in remembering Allah. I would have taken the time to contact all my family members and chat with them and hug and kiss my kids and husband.

Alhamduillah just now I was thinking and these were my thoughts that I should do my share of deeds and things that will please Allah. Also when I will be questioned for all Naimat that Allah has given me I have no right or best answer hence I will do my best to do all goodness that I can act on and then maybe there will be some right answer InshaAllah.

Halaqa # 66

Rabi’ Al-Awwal 16, 1438

“Meeting Allah ~ The Ever-Living”

Year 3

Attendance:

• 2 Sisters
• 1 Junior Sister

Location: Sister Sara’s home

Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)

• OPENING DUA

O Allah, bless this Halaqa, allow us to gain, act upon  and share beneficial knowledge. Guide us, forgive our sins and grant us Jannah with our families and loved ones. Ameen

• QURAN RECITATION

We read Surah Fatihah aloud altogether, then sisters individually read  aloud a few letters/words, ayahs (according to her ability and with the help and encouragement of her fellow sisters). We read Surah Al-Anfaal from Ayat 1 to Ayat 8.  In sha Allah, this will be an ongoing part of our Halaqa and one day in sha Allah, we will have Khatam Quran and begin again.

• SISTERS TALK

Sisters read and discussed the following article:

What are you striving for? Dunya or Akhirah?

• PIC PICK

Sisters reviewed the following picture.

• NEXT HALAQA and News

In sha Allah, our next Halaqa will be held in two weeks on Jan.5th at Sister Sara’s home.

• SISTERS TALK

Sisters read and discussed the following article:

The Reality of the Akhirah

• MEETING ALLAH  (The EVER-LIVING) ~ Survey

Click here to read the 4  replies we received to our simple survey:

If you knew you'd pass away and meet Allah (The Ever-Living) tomorrow, what would you have wished you've done before your time on earth is over?

• SISTERS TALK

Sisters read and discussed the following article:

Ibn Atta's Words of Wisdom - 20th Step: Certainty of Faith and Indifference About the World (Page 78-80 of Pdf file)

• SISTERS TALK

Sisters reviewed the following:

Hadiths on Death

Quranic Verses and Hadiths on Death

• VIDEO  

The following short videos were chosen for today’s Halaqa:discussing Death:

Nouman Ali Khan: Physical And Spiritual Death (1:03)

Nouman Ali Khan ┇ Death is not an "IF" it is a "WHEN" (4:15)

What Happens After Death? | Mufti Menk (4:02)

Nouman Ali Khan on the Afterlife: Live Before You Die [CelebrateMercy] (5:59)

We're All Marching Towards Death | Nouman Ali Khan (7:`17)

• CLOSING DUA

For the expiation of sins, said at the conclusion of a sitting or gathering. To listen to this dua click here

196 - "How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. I bear witness

that None has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your

forgiveness and turn to You in repentance."

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Subhânaka l-lâhumma wa bi-hamdika. Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illâ

anta, astaghfiruka wa atûbu ilayka.

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If any of this information was good and true, know that it comes from Allah subhanahu

wa ta’ala.  If there are mistakes we ask for Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy.

INNER PEACE ~ Survey

What are the top 5 thoughts or inner dialogue that you think or say to yourself that put you down?(4 responses)

I am so far behind...... I am so tired..... I should not have done that..... That was stupid..... I failed.....

I'm not pretty enought for people to want to be around me/befriend me; I don't carry myself in a put-together way which makes people take me less seriously (don't have it all 'together'); I have missed so many prayers I'll never get into Jannah; on the same note, I've sinned so much Allah can't possibly forgive me; I find difficulty sticking and being consistent with certain tasks which likely means there is no barakah in my actions

Don't know what I'm talking about Don't have time to do these things I've done enough

- you are not good enough - you are not doing enough of (a list of any number of things) - you are not doing this right - you are a failure - you are not good at anything

What are 5 positive and self-care ones you can tell yourself instead or think to replace the above?(4 responses)

Focus on one step at a time, and you will catch up eventually. Take a short nap to revive yourself. Acknowledge your mistake, apologize and repent (if needed) and move forward. No one's perfect, See the humor in situations and focus on improving. Everyone fails, but the important part of failure is to keep trying.

True friends and those who love me unconditionally will look past my looks and care about me anyways, if they don't then I need to accept myself and move on; I can continue trying and striving to improve the way I approach life and Deen, perhaps with sincere intentions I will get past this phase of my life and on to something better if Allah sees my intention, reading motivational and self help books might help and increasing the amount of Quran and worship and thikr I do will raise my iman and the barakah in my actions

It's important to try even if I don't get the result I want.

- you are enough - you are special - you are blessed - you are loved - you are capable - you are strong - you can grow from emotional pain and heal your heart

Halaqa # 65

Rabi’ Al-Awwal 2, 1438

“Inner Peace”

Year 3

Attendance:

• 3 Sisters
• 3 Junior Guests

Location: Sister Sara’s home

Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)

• OPENING DUA

O Allah, bless this Halaqa, allow us to gain, act upon  and share beneficial knowledge. Guide us, forgive our sins and grant us Jannah with our families and loved ones. Ameen

• QURAN RECITATION

We read Surah Fatihah aloud altogether, then sisters individually read  aloud a few letters/words, ayahs (according to her ability and with the help and encouragement of her fellow sisters). We read Surah A'raaf from Ayat 179 to Ayat 206.  In sha Allah, this will be an ongoing part of our Halaqa and one day in sha Allah, we will have Khatam Quran and begin again.

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Marwa read the following:

Beautifying Our Inner Dialogue

• PIC PICKS

Sister Sara discussed the following two pictures.  Then she drew our attention to the description

of “Jugular Vein ”. Click to read more.

• NEXT HALAQA and News

In sha Allah, our next Halaqa will be held in two weeks on Dec.15th indoors at Sister Sara’s home.

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Winnie read the following:

5 Daily Mindfulness Practices

• INNER PEACE ~ Survey

Click here to read the 10 replies we received to our simple survey:

What are the top 5 thoughts or inner dialogue that you think or say to yourself that put you down?

What are 5 positive and self-care ones you can tell yourself instead or think to replace the above?

• SISTERS TALK

Sr. Reena Vanza is a Health Promotion Specialist who believes in empowering individuals with knowledge, awareness, and resources, to help people  improve their health, and increase their control over it.  

She has an Honours BSc in Psychology and a Master of Science in Health Promotion.  She has over 10 years of experience in the field of Community Health Promotion and has conducted seminars and workshops with  adults, youth, and children on various health and mental health wellness issues.

She currently works with women in the community to increase their understanding of positive mental health within the overall concept of wellness. Her approach to health is  holistic-taking care of mind, body and soul in order to live optimal lives. You can find more of her work at her website: http://abeautifulhealth.ca/ She shared with us the following article, which Sister Winnie read to the sisters present at Halaqa:

Mindful thoughts for the morning

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Tamara read the following:

It's My Mind and I'll Think What I Want To

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Sara read the following:

5 Self-Care Tips

• VIDEO  

We watched the following videos:

Finding Inner Peace - Nouman Ali Khan  (6:42)

Healing for Emotional Suffering - Nouman Ali Khan (5:35)

• CLOSING DUA

For the expiation of sins, said at the conclusion of a sitting or gathering. To listen to this dua click here

196 - "How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. I bear witness

that None has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your

forgiveness and turn to You in repentance."

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Subhânaka l-lâhumma wa bi-hamdika. Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illâ

anta, astaghfiruka wa atûbu ilayka.

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If any of this information was good and true, know that it comes from Allah subhanahu

wa ta’ala.  If there are mistakes we ask for Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy.