I Will Miss These Kind Of Moments When It Comes To An End.. 4am Studying Vibes Never Come To An End For

i am listening to 5 year olds in gaza beg for ceasefires and talk about the warplanes and drones and carry language no one should carry but especially no one so small. they should be sitting in classrooms reading fables, solving silly word problems but the world decided they were born guilty, from a guilty womb, from guilty blood. and people on the other side of a wall and the other side of the world cheered on their death. i want no part in that world, i reject every politician, every news anchor, every celebrity. i reject their movies, their music, their UN work, their empty calls for peace. i want no part in this machine of death. i want no part and can no longer desire anything from life except for the people of palestine, sudan, congo, yemen, and a hundred other places to never have the murderous reach of western imperialism near them ever again.

Over the years, I developed a habit of subconsciously reciting واللہ المستعان whenever I faced something that disturbed my peace. But I was never aware of the background story of such powerful word until only recently when I heard about it in a lecture by Noman Ali Khan on Surah Yousuf. The word, Wallahul Musta’aan, as mentioned in the Quran, was said by Yaqoob A.S. when his sons came up with a false story of what happened to Yousuf A.S. Yaqoob tried his best to find the truth but his sons teamed up to defend their heinous act and lies. Tired of the situation, Yaqoob asked Allah for Sabrun Jameel (beautiful patience) followed by Wallahul Mustaa’an. According to the commentators of the Quran, Wallahul Musta’an is used to call for Allah’s help when you find yourself in impossible situations, when people team up against you to defend their lies, when people accuse you of something false, when you have given your best and desperately waiting for desired results, when you feel you’re in a situation where there’s no way out. It’s literally saying to Allah that I have given my best and now I am taking a backseat, I want You to take charge of the driving seat and solve this matter with your Divine intervention. And patience automatically becomes beautiful when with all your heart, mind, and soul you leave the matter on Allah.

Sharing it with you all because I thought it might brighten someone’s day. Don’t worry if the situation seems impossible, remember you’re asking the One who just have to say ‘Kun’ and it is. You are asking the One who calls Himself, Al-Fattah. Who creates a way out when there seems to be no way. So take a backseat and let Allah do the rest.

واللہ المستعان ✨

Via@عائشہ خالد

Kaveh Akbar, from Calling A Wolf A Wolf: Poems; “Heritage”

Tarq-e-ta'aluqaat pe roya na tu na Mai, lekin ye kya k Chain se soya na tu na mai...

O Lord, how many people say Your name without being truthful in their hearts?

Zainab Cobbold (Lady Evelyn Murray) was a Scottish Muslim diarist, traveller and noblewoman who was known for her conversion to Islam in the Victorian era.

Cobbold spent much of her childhood in Algiers and Cairo in the company of Muslim nannies. She considered herself a Muslim from a young age despite not officially professing her faith until later.

— excerpt from Pilgrimage to Mecca by Zainab 'Evelyn' Cobbold

Her story is interesting because it provides a peek into the lives of Victorian-era Muslims of Britian, such as herself and other historic pioneers such as Abdullah Quillam, Lord Headley and Marmaduke Pickthall, among others.

How to develop discipline:

1. Set clear goals. What do you want to accomplish and why does it matter to you? Break the goals into small, actionable steps (feels doable).

2. Create a daily schedule that prioritizes most important items on the list. Keep it consistent to form habits over time.

3. Start small. Focus on one discipline building habit at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed. Gradually increase your commitments little by little.

4. Get rid of distractions that hinder your focus (e.g., social media during work).

5. Use accountability partners if possible. And/or track your habits. Use an app or check off from your list (this feels so good!)

6. Have self control! Resist small urges to build willpower (e.g., delay instant gratification). Commit to showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it.

7. Stay consistent. Discipline is built by sticking to your commitments daily, not just when it’s convenient. Progress, not perfection is what matters.

8. Embrace the discomfort. Challenges are growth opportunities. Train yourself to act despite discomfort or boredom.

9. Celebrate every win & reward yourself for milestones to stay motivated.

10. Reflect on failures without judgment and adjust your plan. You will have to adjust your plans quite a few times. Don’t get set in your ways.

11. Spend time with disciplined and goal oriented people. You become who you surround yourself with. Their habits will inspire and influence you positively.

12. Keep your WHY in mind.