Monday, 30 May 2011

You Owe Me!

....Big Time!

We hear these three words a lot and I'm sure you've used them sometime in your life also - I know I have! (maybe minus the 'Big Time' bit - but that's how I would say it).

Whether its in jest or in a heated argument - these words have been used and we want something from that somebody whom we are talking to at that point (*fill in the blanks with whatever it is 'they' have owed you*) - we believe that they owe us! Maybe they have hurt us so now its pay-time. Maybe you did a favour for someone and you just remind them that; 'Remember dude - You Owe Me! (big time/on this one/one day/money etc).

But why should anyone owe us anything? Who are we to ask and want? Why is it always; 'me, me, me?'.

This whole thing about; 'You Owe Me' can become very selfish and also a vicious cycle - because it can create a 'victim mentality' where we feel that someone has wronged us and now they owe us.

It all depends on if and how someone has been hurt - some I'm not labeling it all in this one big group - I'm just talking about it in general terms - for if you have borrowed someone money, well then they do owe you of course (interest free!).

Keeping an attitude of gratitude is a must for us as it can help us progress in life - otherwise we will be stuck in a rut feeling that its always 'us' being wrong so everyone in this world must be the bad one!

I'm leaving you with a quote as today's 'Reflection Moment'. Please copy/paste and write it down in your diaries, journals, whatever and do share it (and this post and this blog) with all your loved ones. Remember, if you have benefited then please pass the benefit on as you don't know whose life you may touch and change! :)

****Monday Reflection Moment****


...“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” Mark Twain

I know! So simple and straight forward - yet so profound!!!


Oh, by the way before I forget - We Be Inspired is now on Twitter so do follow and be inspired - (@WeBeInspired) and I will try and put a Twitter link on this blog and if you haven't already then check out the temp website on http://www.webeinspired.co.uk

Monday, 23 May 2011

You've Been Fitna'd!

So, let's get straight into it for this Monday.

Its an observational post - that is I've observed this issue A LOT and now I can't stay quiet so I have to share my thoughts.

Its a 'reflection + action = results' type of a post.

***Fitna is overrated on Social Media!***

Yes, I said it! And before you think I'm challenging Holy Scriptures or work of scholars - far from it! - I'm not (as I said its an observational piece) - so hang on to your *astagfirullah's* for abit!

On popular social media we have today's youth (the elders don't say much on this) becoming social media scholars - in that they think its OK to go around telling everyone that their actions are right, wrong, in accordance to Islam or not and...if they are the cause of FITNA!

Fitna - what is it? Its trials, tribulations, problems, issues temptations...

Many people on social media say that one should not use it because it causes a lot of 'fitna' between the genders, illicit relations can form between them and this is a big bad thing for our society - for our deen (that stuff can happen and has happened and is happening - no denying).

They claim that we should not use social media and we are wasting our time, causing 'fitna' and its corrupting our pure innocent minds.

Its that bad that people dedicate their statuses, notes and even spend hours in groups discussing the horrific effects of fitna and how we should use our time wisely. They even spend hours discussing and arguing on other peoples wall and status comments.

Check this out - the same people who claim that social media is fitna'ing us and it is so so bad for us and killing our time are still there - YES! They are still there - I'm like, hello?!

*Pause - think - reflect - ponder*

(***Hears a chorus of; 'Oh yeeeaaeah...'***)

Here's my simple take on it in bullet point form (you're free to agree/disagree - I'm still gonna say it!).

a) Social media and new age technology is not a form of fitna but our own mentality is the cause of it becoming a fitna - ie use your brain and judge for yourself - *be wise*

b) If someone is using social media for the wrong reasons - why are you still interacting with them?! (*Doh!*)

c) Did you know that God actually gave you 'aql' - intellect - you can use it you know - its free - we all have it - top up is free as well - learn knowledge and put it into practice! Simple

d) Yes I know 1400 years ago there was no Internet - there was no cars and planes either - stop using them - God gave us legs, right? - So stop using excuses

e) Create more awareness - youth clubs, events - hey, have a seminar or event - even webinar highlighting this issue - as in raising awareness

f) The Prophet of Islam was sent as a 'Mercy' to mankind - he was told by his Lord - the Creator of all - to be gentle and merciful when inviting people, talking to them and reasoning with them. However there is a serious lack of that happening today.

g) Do not confuse arrogance with assertiveness - completely different - and arrogance has its roots from the accursed shaytaan - so beware of the trap - again use your aql

h) Everyone is on a different level on the deen - and some are not even on the deen - so at least do your homework so you know how to deal with different people - ie you cant treat a 24month old baby the same as a 24 year old!

i) Did you know that this whole 'br/sr that is fitna/mind your modesty/no you mind your modesty/no you should blah blah blah' is in fact also fitna?

j) Just because we may have learnt a couple of things on our deen does not elevate us to scholarly level (unless your a scholar reading this - then you know the hours, days, nights you have put into learning the deen).

k) Etiquette's of Manners - we all need to learn more about this - as this forms our daily life!

l) This is a Big One - stop adding the opposite gender and interacting with them on social media if its going to cause you fitna!!! Simple!

So, there you have it - a little about fitna and how to stay away from it - from a lay person - as i said I'm an observer and I'm not acting as an authority on this subject.

Finally peeps - lets practice what we preach - and if we do and make sincere supplication to our Creator - Allah - then He (swt) will help us through it all!


Monday, 16 May 2011

E-Jaazah.com

...I stumbled upon this last week via facebook and checked it out and signed up!

Check it out: http://www.e-jaazah.com/ - Your online majlis for Islamic Studies.

Currently they have a ***FREE*** 9 week course on Surah Maryam (Mary - Mother of Prophet Jesus) and you get to memorize the Surah - couple of verses each week - reciting with the teacher.

The vids are all prerecorded so you get to watch them in your own time and you can download the audio so you can memorize the verses throughout the week.

Its week 2 and since I signed up pretty late last week I have two vids to catch up on and 11 verses to start memorizing! And I shall do that straight after I have posted this - well I can't sign up to something rocktastic and not let you all know about it.

So, check out their website and sign up! Oh and don't forget to forward it to all your contacts so we can all benefit.

Monday, 9 May 2011

Ummuka - Moms Inspiring Moms!

...One of the many blessings that Allah (swt) has blessed us women with is 'Motherhood'.

Every woman has a dream - to be the best mom for her kids. But what many don't realise is that being a mom is a Full Time job and you can't take a day off! Its crazy and you need all the energy in the world to keep going!

All women - whether married or single, whether moms or moms-to-be have a an innate nurturing and caring nature - that's why we can handle 'anything and everything' (yes, I'm being biased!) - headaches? That's nothing for us women! We can handle it all!

But being the best mom that YOU were created to be needs skills - and lots of patience!

That's why I would like to introduce to you my dear sister and friend, Khafayah Abdulsalam.

She is a 'Mommy Coach' and has four rocktastic kids from the ages of 8 all the way up to 19 - masha'Allah. She is here to help you on this wonderful journey of motherhood as she has learnt so much over the years and she is here to share what she has learnt - her secrets revealed!

***UMMUKA - Moms Inspiring Moms***

Her new website is under construction: http://www.ummuka.com (bookmark it and check for updates)

However you can connect with her via her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UMMUKA

Please join as she has some rocktastic daily tips for us all and she will be hosting some webinars and live seminars in your city real soon - so you will need to keep up moms!

So come join this wonderful journey of motherhood, share, participate, inspire, and learn from each other!

Khafayah Abdulsalam - Empowering Muslim Women to be the Moms they want to Be!


Monday, 2 May 2011

Ladies - Are You The Queen of Sheba?

...Or have you ever dreamt about being the Queen of Sheba - (or the Queen of your household? Or just a Queen?)

Would you like yo be Queen???

Ofcourse YOU do! I mean who wouldn't? (unless if you're a male reading this - please answer in the negative!....But, you could always be King Solomon?)

Take me for instance - I'm turBo Queen (and I have lots of names so I add 'queen' or 'princess' at the beginning or end of my name(s)).

And NO, this has nothing to do with the recent 'Royal Wedding' here in the UK - though I guess the timing is right.

I'm talking about a book. And I'm recommending a book to you all (just finished reading it today). It's for you all ladies and if the gents want to read it - well then erm, ok! (I don't discriminate!) (=

The Book is called 'Release Your Inner Queen of Sheba' written by Heba Alshareef.

Visit the website on: www.iamsheba.com - get your copy of the book, read it and be the Queen that YOU were created to be!

And the gents reading this (if you're reading this - no compulsion!) then make your ladies happy - buy them a copy of this book! Trust me, they'll love you til eternity (and your roti might just be on time on the table!)

I would give a book review - but honestly I just want you to buy the book and read it. And you know turBo Queen only recommends the best!

I Am Sheba - I Am Queen - Are You? :)