I spent my teens in the prayer room at school. Surrounded by the cold damp walls, the screams as the girls went past. The sharp voices of my teachers as they geared up for their lessons and the tenderness of my du’a, my only strength, along with my tears.

The common room I began to despise, where the young, savvy disobeyed. These were my friends, company I had entertained. I missed them, I really did, but I knew, for now I wasn’t strong enough to be with them and thus it was time to be alone, for His sake.

And looking back it was wise, it was needed and I believe, due to the sacrifice, I’m still going strong, it was that tough. As our beloved Messenger (salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said; “You will never give up something for the sake of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, except that Allah will replace it with something that is better for you than it.” - [Ahmad]

These words worked wonders then and they still do, for you and I, insha Allah.

Don’t run away from fate…

Dreams begin as mere reflections, then they become passing thoughts, deep down in hope they’d materialise. As you delve deeper into your thoughts you begin to experience the need for them to conceive in order to breathe, peacefully. Then as time goes by you either comply or live a life of a lie. And those who comply, in turn, not only help themselves, but others in their aim to survive.

And truly through our history, we have learnt through the Messengers (as) that when you’re given a mission you cannot run away from your fate, because when you do, your fate chases after you.

Finally, du’a changes destiny, but du’a is an action from your end first and when you decide to act and pray, Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala) turns to you and replies :-)

It’s finally sinking in that I’ll be travelling to Tanzania this June to assist in helping the local community in Kisrawe, to appreciate their struggles, happiness as well as their pain. I’m hoping the experience will be my turning point, a means to soften a heart which has become hard to all the blessing I take for granted, insha Allah.

Picture Courtesy of Islamic Help, Mission Possible (www.islamichelp.org.uk/MissionPossible)

I love you…

As I await your return… I turn to the One above who gives when you’ve dismissed your obedience of Him. I ask in hope He’ll give, when you withhold. I know your care, I know deep inside you despair. I believe in your potential to excel and and I know He’s just waiting for the right time to return back your fear of Him, insha Allah.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala) guides whom He wills, but we must never lose hope in those whom we love. We believe not only in potential, but the belief that if Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala) was to will our dreams, then they’d be and they shall, insha Allah. :-)

Crazy drivers…

My heart sank, I couldn’t believe we’d just taken a wrong turn. Mum was stressed, whereas I was a tad bit amused. But I felt bad, she’d never embarked on the motorway before and she wasn’t ready now.

Then again life doesn’t always work in our favour at first, and as we returned home an hour later, I felt content. We’d passed as far as the sheeps of Worchestershire and felt the air of Kiddiminister.

And through this I learnt, even after the trials you’ll *always* return.

Even after taking so many wrong turns, or being beeped at as you try to make sense of the roads. Or after heading so deep into the motorway, that you think you’ll be forever lost. Or calling so many friends only to realise all of them are asleep.

As someone answers, you see a sign and you realise it’s the plan of the Divine. Finally the roads begin to oblige and you begin to appreciate the ride.

Life is full of wrong turns, rowdy drivers and the odd chase, but still, if you’re persistent to return home, you’ll never lose! Insha Allah :-)

The moment when sadness should engulf you, but within the sadness you sense a ray of hope. And thus your sadness leads to a sense of security, as it seems once again you’ve been protected by the One above.

Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.

Advice maybe given, but it may not be accepted, still it is loved.

Don’t worry about numbers. It is density, not mass that adds weight. Sheep no matter how many are still sheep. The tiger always walks alone.

Yawar Baig

Bismillah…

So today I started dreaming, I’ve decided to write another book, this time it’s a fictional story insha Allah. I’m going to take this one slowly, in hope that the end result will be spectacular with the help of Allah (swt). Powerful, emotional, full of meaning and adventurous endevours.

Now that I’ve said it, hopefully there is no going back!! Planning starts today insha Allah :-)

Alima Ashfaq

Dreamer, Founder of I am Alima; Author, Instructor, Presenter at Unity FM