Author Archives: Ashraf Elessawy
Our Lord, write us down among those who bear witness
رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
Rabbana amanna bima anzalta wattaba ‘nar-Rusula fak-tubna ma’ash-Shahideen
Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger. Then write us down among those who bear witness
Al-Imran Verse 53
There is no doubt; for Allah never fails in His promise
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Rabbana innaka jami’unnasi li-Yawmil la rayba fi innAllaha la yukhliful mi’aad
Our Lord! Thou art He that will gather mankind Together against a day about which there is no doubt; for Allah never fails in His promise.
Al-Imran Verse 9
O our Lord! Cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Ibrahim Verse 41
Rabbana ghfir li wa li wallidayya wa lil Mu’mineena yawma yaqumul hisaab
O our Lord! Cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness – me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!
polite and tender
عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم :
ألا أخبركم بمن يحرم على النار أو بمن تحرم عليه النار ؟ تحرم على كل قريب هين لين سهل
رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن
Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Shall I not tell you whom the (Hell) Fire is forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch a man who is always accessible, having polite and tender nature.”
[At-Tirmidhii].
O Allah, assist me in remembering You
اللهم اعني على ذكرك وشكرك وحسن عبادتك
Alahumma a’innee ala thikrika wa shukrika wa hus nee ibadatik.
O Allah, assist me in remembering You and being grateful to You and performing Your worship in an excellent manner.
O my Lord! Expand for me my chest
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbishrah lee sadree wayassir lee amree wahlul ‘Uqdatam-mil-li saanee yafqahoo qawlee.’
O my Lord! Expand for me my chest; ease my task for me; and remove the impediment from my speech; so they may understand what I say.)(Surah Ta-Ha, 20:25-28)
When buying or selling at the Market
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ السُّوقِ وَخَيْرُ مَا فِيهَا وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُصِيبَ فِيهَا يَمِينَاً فَاجِرَةً أَوْ صَفْقَةً خَاسِرَةً
“I entered in the name of Allah, I seek refuge in You (Allah) for the good in the bazaar and for the good of what is in it (the bazaar). O Allah, I seek refuge in you from false oaths and deception in transaction”
7 practical steps to help you face any difficult situation
Here are 7 practical steps to help you face any difficult situation
- Salah. Make sure you stick to praying on time – 5 times a day. Never miss a salah and do your best to pray each Salah with sincerity as if it’s your last salah in this world.
- Read Quran. This Quran is so beautiful that no matter what difficulties you face you’ll find solace in it.
- Make Dua. Especially the dua for removing anxiety.
- Give Sadaqah. Give lots of charity, as much as you can, because it helps push away hardship. And if you can’t give money, even kind words or physical sadaqah can do (i.e. helping people physically or emotionally).
- Set Goals and Have Vision. Don’t let shaytaan play with you and keep replaying the video of your hardship in your mind over and over again, move on! Set new goals, new projects, and remember you’re with Allah, nothing should stop you!
- Wake up Early. Wake up before fajr and work on your ideas and projects, or simply read Qur’an. Getting busy before day break is a definite way to move away from your hardship and overcome challenges. Get most of your ideas/work done in these early hours, these are blessed hours.
- Hardship is Not Lost. Remember, Allah will never forget the injustice/hardship you faced, so don’t worry about seeking revenge or trying to get justice
In the end, I pray that Allah (Subhanahu Wa’Tala) removes all your ordeals and hardships, blesses you all with a good life and helps you remember Him day and night, for “Verily, with remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest”. (Surah Ar-Ra’d , verse 28)
Allah is sufficient for us
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
“Allah is sufficient for us and He is the Best Guardian”.
(Quran, Surah Al-Imraan)