Active Gratitude

Making an active effort to be grateful this week has been an incredibly useful exercise. Yesterday I was feeling a bit down, so I thought I’d make a partial list of things I’m thankful for, that have come to mind over the last little while. That always, always seems to instantly boost my spirits. Try it, it really works.

So here goes, a few random thoughts about gratitude, as well as things I am grateful about right now.

The upcoming SP semester. There are lots of perennial favourites being offered that look fantastic, updates to course software that are being made, and plans in the works to offer many new courses this semester. Shaykh Abdul Kareem Yahya will be offering a new class, there will be a new Sirah course insha’Allah, and now SunniPath will even be offering tajweed courses! Alhamidullah, it’s good to know that I can continue my learning while I’m still at home, with teachers that exude an incredible love for the deen at all times, and in a setting that is incredibly cosy. (Separate post about SP coming soon insha’Allah)

I’m glad I can close my eyes and remember and visualise Madinah. It is a real gift having managed to travel there this summer, and I’m glad that when we have the gift of salawat-a chance for us to deliver salaams to the Prophet wherever we are in the world. That helps with the emotions of being away from the City of the Beloved.

I’m grateful for sturdy hijab pins. It’s much easier being able to wrap my scarf in the morning, and not have to worry about all day, then constantly fussing about it all the time.

I’m happy that Ramadhan is just around the corner, and alhamidullah I don’t have too many other commitments going on at the same time this year. For the first time in many years insha’Allah I’ll have more time to devote to maximizing the month. Yay Ramadhan! And I’m excited about the SunniPath Ramadan classes.

I’m grateful to have people in my life who care enough to point things out when my behaviour needs a bit of readjusting.

I’m grateful for online bookstores (where else would we be able to find great resources about Islam?), and the ability to read.

I’m grateful for the chance to get to know the coolest, newest member of our family. He is awesome.

6 means to improve character..

From the SP character class with Shaykh Abdul Kareem Yahya. A class I highly recommend.

6 means to improve character

1) Sincere truthful seeking (giving your all to the endeavour, devoting all your faculties)

2) Having a firm resolve

3) Engaging in self observation, persisting in muraqba

4) Remembering Allah’s reward

5) Reading the narrations of those who possess noble qualities

6) Affecting the qualities you wish to inculcate in yourself..discipling the soul.

A beginning..

Assalamu alaykum, -)

I was reading “Wayfarers to God” by Habib Ali Jifry today, and Habib Ali has a beautiful section in the book where he says:

“Allah has commanded us to do three things: to acquire knowledge, to act in conformity with that knowledge and to teach. Whoever learns and does not act upon his knowledge and does not teach, has fulfilled one obligation and neglected two. Yet, he who learns and teaches others whilst falling short in conforming to that knowledge has fulfilled two obligations and neglected one. Action, by fulfilling two obligations whilst neglecting one obligation, is better than fulfilling one obligation whilst neglecting two. And what is best and what is more excellent and fitting, is to fulfill all three obligations. And for this reason, you should establish this understanding firmly within you.”

Actions are according to intentions, as the famous hadith tells us. And so, despite the multitude of masha’Allah incredible blogs out there, reading Habib Ali’s words was enough motivation to start a blog of my own. Insha’Allah this will be a place to reflect on what I’m reading, courses that I’m taking, life events that are happening, and anything else that seems appropriate, so that I can strengthen my own learning and share what is going on with others.