Souls of Believers

"O content soul, come back to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing. So, enter among My (special) servants, and enter My Paradise."

Surah Fajr Verses 27 - 30

I attended a short lecture at the Masjid (mosque) yesterday (Sunday) - about the 'Souls of Believers' (delivered by UKIM).

The brother went through the description of the believing soul - what will happen at the time of death - how the angels will be around him and take him above to Allah's Throne and how he will be honoured - and the grave will welcome him/her.

Amazing and beautiful description from the Hadith!

He also talked about role models for our youth today - both for girls and boys - how the wrong role models are being followed - because its 'cool'.

***Action Point*** - 'to check whom our role models are, or whom our young ones (kids, siblings, nieces, nephews) are following or imitating and fix up! Like now!'

The lecture was short, sweet and to the point - and although it was based around the Hadith and what happens to a soul at the time of death - I couldn't get the above ayah (verse) out of my head.

Believing souls have nothing to fear and should hope for Allah's mercy - they have everything to look forward to - believing souls - who worship Allah day in day out and never tire - they speak the truth and protect their chastity - they keep a hold on their relations with their kith and kin and volunteer their services wherever possible - believers whom Allah will be well pleased with.

***Reflection Moment*** - Please read the above verse - and for those who can't read the Arabic then I've put the English translation.

Reflect upon it - its truly amazing! (:

My Inspirational Geniuses

...We ALL have someone or a group of some people who have inspired us in our lives or who are our daily inspirations.

It could be just the one person who inspires and uplifts you - your coach, your mentor, your parents, friends, siblings, colleagues - or even prominent politicians, historical and even religious figures (and for Muslims, Prophet Muhammad is just awe inspiring in every way - as well as all his companions and followers from the advent of Islam).

We can be inspired and in fact should be inspired by all walks of life and all people - who have made a difference in the world - for the better - for peace and happiness.

***Who's YOUR daily inspiration?***

My daily inspirational dose comes from my nieces (Yes, I love my nephews too - too much!). My nieces are 'Geniuses' and they never fail to inspire, motivate and encourage me!

As part of my 'We Be Inspired' venture (http://www.webeinspired.co.uk), I inspire and motivate people to live their bestest life - to help them find their 'Unique Purpose' in life. I am a 'Spiritual and Creative Mentor'.

Now with that revelation and disclaimer (y'all knew that right?) you would assume that I'm on a turBo flow on a 24/7 (which, I am!) and never lose sight of inspiration or motivation, right?

Wrong! I'm a human being - and like everyone else I also need my daily motivational soup for the soul.

My nieces are my inspiration and there is so much to learn from them.

If you have kids, nieces, nephews, younger siblings - then please spend some quality time with them - play with them, let them teach you!

Do you remember when you were little? What was that life like? All those dreams? Imagination running wild, games, fun time with friends.

Why do we lose that when we grow up? Who said that we had to be so serious and not dream any more or imagine the best life that we once used to imagine? Who made these rules? How did adults become so boring?!

My nieces (and nephews) all remind me of me! They all have a bit of me somewhere and it's amazing to see them talk, explaining their dreams, their visions - it reminds me how I was when I was little.

They teach me to continue living with passion and always be happy - to always smile and laugh and to always remember that tomorrow is brighter.

I'm so blessed to have such beautiful moments and I try my best to spend time with them all whenever I can. Each enjoys something different. One likes me to push her on the swing and listen to her school stories, the other I'm training football with, yet the other one is a biz woman with ideas all over, another is a bookworm and yet the others are into hair and beauty - and the boys? Ah, well, my boys will always be boys!

I have so much to learn and be grateful for on a daily. I'm blessed with my very own inspirational geniuses.

So go on - go out today and get YOUR inspirational Geniuses - to inspire and motivate you on your journey in life! And whilst your at it, don't forget to sprinkle a bit of your own inspirational and motivational dust on all those whom you meet - you never know whose life you may touch today! (:

Learning, Knowledge, Empowerment, Treasure

I'm working on my thesis for my Masters Degree - LLM International Human Rights - (due in Wednesday 6th July 2011 - duas please) and I thought I would share something short, sweet yet very inspiring and profound (thesis is on education).

Learning really is fun! It's not just restricted to formal schooling, but our whole life is one big learning experience - the good, the bad and the not so good! There's so may 'life lessons' to learn and implement - and then we pass on our knowledge to those around us, young and old - so they don't make the same mistakes as us or again, are inspired - just the way we are.

Knowledge should become our best friend! We should make dua to Allah (swt) that He blesses us with knowledge which firstly benefits us and then we apply it and lastly we pass on our knowledge to everyone else. I mean, what fun is it to learn and gain knowledge when we will never apply it or use it? Its wrong and useless and we miss out on the great opportunities life has in store for us and we miss out on being empowered by learning knowledge and implementing it.

Imagine you're at the beach - a remote beach, far away from 'normal' civilization - like you're on an expedition or something (yes, I'm still thinking about the beach, even though I went couple of weeks ago - and in fact another beach trip is on its way in two weeks!) and you suddenly come across a big box - a shining box - an ancient box and you go up to it and look at it, touch it and are at awe! You try to open it, but realise its locked - it has a big, bulky, lock - but wait - no key?

You frantically start looking around - digging the warm, golden sand with your hands and lo behold you find the key and with that massive grin on your face you rush back to the big, shining, ancient, box. You pop the key in the lock and...*click* - you open it - and then open the heavy lid and inside....WOW!!!...inside you find all the treasures you have always been looking for...all the Knowledge you ever wanted to learn and be empowered by!

How does that feel? :)

This life is a journey - so spend it in the good - learn all the knowledge you will need to implement to be empowered to lock the dormant treasures within you to live the best life YOU were created to live! Allah made you a treasure amongst treasures, a gem amongst gems, a diamond amongst diamonds!

I have a deadline to make - so I'm off! keep me in your duas (prayers) as you're in mine and I leave you with this Chinese Proverb;

***"Learning is a Treasure that will Follow its Owner Everywhere."***

Make sure YOU always keep your treasure close to you! :)

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Energetic for Life!

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

Albert Schweitzer

(Keep those energetic and bubbly people/friends close - their positive energy will light up your life!) (:

Beach Party

...Isn't that such a beautiful picture of the beach? It was taken on Saturday 18th June 2011 at Western-Super-Mare, which is off the coast of Bristol.

It was a family day out - well half the family - the other half weren't able to go.

I decided the Sunday before that I wanted to go - kinda a 'last minute dot com' thing - and then dragged mama with me!

I got real excited about it - you know kiddy excited lol.

Though my schedule is off the hook right now and I have so much study and biz work to do I decided to go - short break - clear the clutter.

It was a rocktastic day - I made a vlog and will upload it when its edited (niece is editing it). I had a very hard bang on the head - and I mean 'VERY' hard - I can now, after 48 hours, feel the aftermath - its painful!

Beach was beautiful - golden sand - all clean - brand new 'Grand Pier', went indoor Go-Karting - spent time on the beach walking, pondering, reflecting and making dhikr.

Tide was out and didn't come back til very late - and we had to leave - so missed the sea water splashing on my feet - usually the highlight of beach day - but never mind.

Nieces and nephews enjoyed themselves and I enjoyed spending a whole day with them.

***Take-away*** - to spend more family time together - outside of home and to take frequent breaks.

***Wish-Time*** - to travel and see all the beauty of the UK and then travel abroad! (:

Monday Blues

...YOU have the Monday Blues?

<------ Monday Morning Mantra!!!

Isn't it so negative to associate the colour 'blue' with a day in the week and then just ruin everything?!

I mean, you end up 'hating' Monday's, then you start hating the colour blue, and then you start hating everything that is blue and like, what if on a Monday a big blue happy bear came up to you and said; 'Hey there buddy, its a Monday - Happy Monday!!!' What would your reaction be???

**Picture if you will!**

Why do people suffer from the Monday blues?

If we look at this and dissect it from all angles then we realise that the true reason why people have the Monday blues is because they are not happy with their current state, their life maybe lacking some important meaning and their soul is yearning for happiness.

The 'simple' solution? Give meaning to your life and start living the life YOU dream and will be happy with!

*Ducks before all those rotten tomatoes come my way*

Okay, okay - I get it, something happened at home, with friends or at work etc etc and so its lingered on and now you have to return to work on a Monday (weekend you could lie in and never get out of bed, never face the world - or go out and party hard until you woke up and realised you weren't in familiar surroundings - and by the way, both these types of scenarios do happen and aren't good for anyone!) BUT don't ruin the start of YOUR week on negative thoughts - because whether this kinda makes sense to you or not - the only one not happy is YOU and its YOUR week that will be ruined - everyone else will be getting on with what they want to get on with - so why do you want to start YOUR week on a downer?

**Reflection Moment**

Easy said than done! So is a lot of things in life, but we get on with it when we have to, right?

Listen, this is about YOU - so before the week begins for YOU then do the quick following exercise. Grab your journal or pen and paper and write down all the negative thoughts and feelings you're having and why they happened. Do a bubble map or mind map and let things out - just get them out your system - this is your cleansing time. Once all those thoughts are out then close your eyes and picture your perfect Monday - see everything, feel everything, smell the beautiful smells (perfumes, spring, nature, baked cakes) and feel the warm energy flow all around you and inside you, taste the tastes and use all your senses to feel your perfect Monday!

Then when you're full inside - with all the warm positive feelings and feeling happy then open your eyes and plan for your day ahead - whatever it is that you will be doing. Jump into bed (make sure you sleep in wudu (ablution)), say your prayers, and make intention to wake up for Fajr prayer (dawn prayer). When you start your day for the Monday (at whatever time - work/school/college/Uni - whatever) just before you leave for your day then close your eyes and quickly but surely run your perfect Monday in your mind - feel all the emotions you felt when you did the exercise the night before and then open your eyes and say; 'I'm going to have a Rocking Monday', say the Basmallah (starting with the name of Allah (God)) and then just go for it - and whatever happens - keep repeating your new Monday Mantra!'

So, on that note - wherever you are in the Universe (reading this); 'Have a Rocking Monday'!!! (=

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Be Authentic!

...To live a successful, productive, powerful, energetic, fulfilled and spiritual life you have to 'Be Your Authentic Self.'

***What does this mean?***

It means being who you were created to be.

It means your soul being happy in your body.

It means accepting your flaws and shortcomings and working to better yourself.

It means celebrating your strengths and achievements.

It means having an 'Attitude of Gratitude' - thanking Allah (swt) at every point and really truly appreciating from within - from the soul.

***But what if the 'Authentic Me' is not so good?***

Simple - you work on yourself, daily!

Everyday we work on ourselves to make ourselves better - there is no such thing as perfect but YOU are the perfect YOU and there is only one of you - so nurture the YOU.

You were put in this world as a unique being so celebrate that and allow yourself to grow, learn, develop, mature and enjoy the one life you have in this world.

If you spend a life time of trying to be like someone else then you are only harming yourself as you will never be happy or fulfilled in any area of your life.

Don't compare your life to anyone elses - as each one of us has a unique journey and we are all travelling upon different roads.

When you are not the authentic you then you are being one way to one person and another way to someone else - a bit like lying - and we know that lying ultimately hurts only us.

So go ahead, make a vow today to start being the authentic you and working on your daily self-development - atleast 30 minutes each day.

When you are being your authentic self then all the doors of opportunites will open up to you, you will make a greater impact in the world and you we be the complete person that you were created to be.

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