As Salaamu 'alaykum and peace to all,
Friday Reflection:Secret Twenty Five from Life is an Open Secret Ramadan Special: Motivational and Inspirational Story about Celebrating 'Eid ul-Fitr in Month of Syawal
Jumaat Mubarak everyone!
Today, we are at the 28th of Ramadan 1430H. This means Ramadan is leaving us really soon.
How has your Ramadan been up to now? As for me, it was a challenge right from Day 1. But I have hopes that Allah took mercy on my soul, took pity of my weaknesses and still pardon me at the end of this Ramadan, ameen. And I pray the same for you too, my brothers and sisters.
And as how there is always the other side of the coin, when daytime leaves nighttime arrives and how when something goes up it must come down- when something goes, there will be another thing that awaits, right?
That is how life goes for us..
And with the leaving of holy and blessed month of Ramadan, awaiting us is the month of Syawal, alhamdulillah. This is the month when Allah has allowed us to celebrate our success and victory in withstanding His test and command made upon us, you agree? Even if the command is against our natural habits like eating and drinking, alhamdulillah.
Of course, there are always definite reasonings and benefits of why Allah has command us to fast, right? But that is not the point in today's post.
Today's post is all about celebrating success and victory of Muslims against their own nafs, inshaAllah...
Therefore, for Friday's Reflection Story this week, I am posting the last story from my latest book: Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special for your reading pleasure. Hopefully, inshaAllah, we will all benefit from it.
And as usual, if you want to share this story, please share it in its entirety! :)
Specially from me to you,
Secret Twenty Five - 'Eid ul Fitr
~ A Champion Bull Starts From Birth ~ Luyia Western Kenya Proverb
That day I woke up at my usual hour with a smile. Another day alive, another day living and another day breathing, SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah, I whispered to myself.
I absolutely love waking up during such wee hour in the morning. Nothing can beat morning time for me.
I remembered how I accidentally irritated a few of my friends by being so chirpy, bubbly and happy so early in the morning!
“Sorry, you guys, I am a morning person, I can't help it!”, I said to them as they groggily and sleepily took their towels making their way to the ladies for their morning bath.
I don't know exactly what it is about mornings that I love so much.
Perhaps it is the silence, the stillness, the calmness, the tranquility and the quietness that totally gives clarity, peace and serenity to my heart, mind and soul, Alhamdulillah.
And I happen to agree with Emme Woodhull-Bäche when she poetically said,
I love the sweet smell of dawn –
our unique daily opportunity to smell time,
to smell opportunity -
each morning being, a new beginning.
Yes, each morning is truly a new beginning, you agree?
Totally!
As I continued doing what I usually do in the morning, I suddenly heard a melodic voice, saying the beautiful, peaceful and soothing words that acknowledge the Greatness of One God, One Lord, Allah the Al Mighty, subhan Allah.
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar,
laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar,
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa Lillaahi'l-hamd
(Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god except Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great , Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah).
This only denotes one thing- First day of Shawwal is here.
SubhanAllah, subhanAllah, subhanAllah…
Alhamdulillah, Ya Rabbi, for allowing me to taste the blessings of Shawwal again, for the umpteenth time…
Indeed, the sound of Takbir, glorifying our Lord has never failed to bring tears to my eyes, deliver serenity and peace to my heart and put a smile to my face….
I remembered the Words of Allah in His noble Book,
(He wants you to complete the same number (of days) and that must magnify Allah (takbir) for having guided you and so that you may be grateful to Him.) (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
Allahu akbar… Allahu akbar… Allahu akbar….
Ya Allah, indeed I am your grateful servant Ya Rabbi… for all Your countless blessings and guidance to me, my loved ones and all mankind…
Immediately, I started thinking. What should I do now this very first day of `Eid?
I 'scanned' through the invisible checklist in my head:
Bathe – checked
Look my best- checked
Takbir – checked and on-going
Perform `Eid Prayer– preparing
Did I forget anything else?
Oh yes, I remembered one more thing to do- to eat dates before going off to the mosque as how my beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do,
"Allah's Apostle never proceeded (for the Prayer) on the Day of `Eid al-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet used to eat odd number of dates." (Al-Bukhari)
SubhanAllah, amazing, isn't it?
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) ate dates before going to the mosque, my friends.
Dates! Not cookies, not cakes and sure not biscuits too!
Immediately, I went to the kitchen, opened up my refrigerator and grabbed hold of those healthy yummy dates.
“Let me see… one, two, three, four and five. That's enough for now. Odd numbers - just like what the Prophet advised,” I whispered to myself, smiling as I know I am following exactly as what he (peace be upon him) used to do 1429 years ago, alhamdulillah…
As I write my last post for this Ramadan Special, I would like to wish all my brothers and sisters the greetings of Taqaballahu minna wa minkum’ [may Allah accept (our deeds) from you and us] as being practiced by the companion of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as below,
Ibn Hajr Al-`Asqalani (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We have related in “Mahamiliyat” with a chain of narration that is hasan, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr who said: 'When the companions of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) met on the day of `Eid, they would say to each other, 'Taqaballahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from you and us ).” (Fath al Bari 2:446)
So, again my dearest friends, 'Taqaballahu minna wa minkum’ [may Allah accept (our deeds) from you and us].
May Allah accept our deeds from you and from us, Ameen…
And as I reflect on the first day of my graduation from my 30-days of Intensive Training Camp, and with the release of my biggest avowed enemy ready to ‘pounce’ on me anytime now, I pray to Allah that my Self-Restraining Training has benefited me and has changed me into the Zabrina 2.0 version I so much want to be.
At the same time, I pray that Allah, my Lord, my Creator the Most Merciful will continue to bless me with strength, willpower and determination befitting of the Graduate of Ramadan Class 1429H, ameen.
And lastly, let us all recite this beautiful words that could only be recited twice a year, as the sign of thankfulness for all the He has give us, Alhamdulillah. And one of them is today…, a beautiful Takbir and Tahmid glorifying our Lord, our Creator, our One and Only God, the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Magnificent Allah subhanahu wa taala, mashaAllah…
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar,
laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar,
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa Lillaahi'l-hamd
(Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great,
there is no god except Allah, Allah is Most Great,
Allah is Most Great , Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah).
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Secret 25: ‘Eid ul-Fitri is taken from one of the 25 stories in Sis Zabrina's book: Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special. Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special carries 25 motivational and inspirational stories specifically tailored for the month of Ramadan when Muslims worldwide are required to observe the act of fasting from dawn until sunset for a period of one month. This special month brings along with it many benefits and blessings that are sometimes forgotten. Thus, the stories in this book serve as a reminder as to what Ramadan is truly about. All stories are written in a simple, chatty, humorous and witty way that promises to touch your heart, tease your mind, soothe your soul and make you reflect along the way.
If you are curious to know what Ramadan is about, this is the book for you.
If you want to know why Ramadan is important, your curiosity stops here.
If you feel you have lost the essence of Ramadan, this book shall remind you.
If you think fasting is only about not eating and drinking, you need to read this book.
If you dream of becoming a better person this Ramadan, flip the pages of this book.
If you wish to improve spiritually this Ramadan, find them all here within the pages.
If you are seeking for the blessings of Ramadan, this book has secrets to share.
If someone you love needs a reminder of Ramadan, send this book to him or her as a gift.
Life is an Open Secret. Always has been. Always will be.
A must-have motivational and inspirational book for you and the ones you love!
Copyright (c) 2009 Sis Zabrina
Sis Zabrina also known as Zabrina A. Bakar, is a Life Storyteller, motivational and inspirational writer and speaker; and author and creator of National Bestseller Islamic Motivational Book Life Open Secret book series http://wwww.LifeOpenSecret.com. She maintains an active blog at http://www.WisdomThruWords.blogspot.com. and social networking platform a Web 2.0 at http://www.LifeStoryteller.ning.com
Copyright © Sis Zabrina 2009
Sis Zabrina
Life Storyteller
Author of Life is an Open Secret Islamic Motivational Book Series:
Life is an Open Secret- Think about It
Life is an Open Secret- You, Me and We
Life is an Open Secret- Ramadan Special
Hidup Bukan Rahsia http://www.lifeopensecret.com
-18 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary life experiences-
Now blogging at http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
~ Life Storyteller Blog: Your Source for Islamic Motivational and Inspirational Stories~
Tags : motivational stories, islamic stories, inspirational stories, spiritual stories, storyteller, muslim, islam, life is an open secret, motivational book, motivational quotes, short stories
Sis Zabrina, also known as Zabrina A. Bakar, is a Life Storyteller, motivational and inspirational writer and speaker; and author of Islamic motivational book series Life is an Open Secret http://www.lifeopensecret.com She maintains an active blog at http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
and her personal Social Networking Platform http://www.LifeStoryteller.ning.com
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