A Challenge

Assalaam Alakium ladies!

So KnewU didn't turn out very well, no one showed up for the class so I've got some extra time to write this post! As I was sitting here waiting for the Writer to finish up I thought of all of the things I am grateful for when a little light went off. 

I had the idea that whenever you have a few minutes to spare, jot down all of the things you are grateful for in your life on a piece of paper, your phone or a special notebook. At the end of the night thank Allah for everything you've written down. You can also bring the notes with you before prayer and after praying thank Allah for it then as well. You can never thank Allah enough. 

InshAllah, I'm going to try to jot down all of the things I'm thankful for this coming weekend. Saturday and Sunday, whenever something pops in my head I'm thankful for, I'm going to write it down. At the end of the night, before I sleep, I'll thank Allah for it all. =)

So here's the challenge! I challenge you all to write down all of the things you are grateful for in one day. Pick any day you'd like and throughout the day just jot it all down on a piece of paper. And at night, make sure you thank Allah for it. 

If you complete this challenge, please leave a comment below sharing how it worked out for you. Did you remember to write things down? Was it refreshing to turn to Allah and thank Him for everything? Did it help you become more mindful of all the things you have? Share whatever you like and pass this challenge around to your friends. 

Have a great night and inshAllah, I'll post a recap on Monday sharing my thoughts on the challenge. 

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Routine

Assalaam Alakium ladies!

Good morning! How's your morning been? It's just another Tuesday over here. The Writer and I were slow getting out of bed so no after fajr workout for us. Instead, I got up and made him breakfast, dropped him off at work then went to go workout. 

When I pulled into the parking lot of the gym I noticed it was packed full of people! The gym I go to is never like that and I have to admit that for a second I thought about just turning around and going home. I have no idea why that thought crossed my mind maybe I just wanted to give myself an excuse not to workout. I went in anyway and completed 45 minutes on this cross trainer type of machine. It's awesome because it's kind of a like an elliptical but the arm handles don't move leaving me with a perfect chance to read The Hunger Games. Can you tell I like love this book! I'm about 3/4 of the way through it and can't wait for the movie to come out later next month. Watching the trailer totally pumped me up!

As for the rest of my day it's going to be pretty routine. Nothing exciting over here. The Writer and I live by routine. We like to come home from work at night, eat dinner, talk and lounge around until bedtime. Weekends are spent catching up on sleep, reading and family time. I thrive on routine. When something is thrown out of whack in our schedule it's hard for me to overcome. I often get upset when something pops up out of the blue changing my day around. Structure is my middle name. I know this is something I need to work on and become more flexible especially if we ever have kids inshAllah. 

As for now though, I'll try to be less annoyed when the little things change and thank Allah for everything He has given me. I really have nothing to complain about and when I do, I need to "gut punch" myself and think of all of those people out there who don't have what I have.

A man plans his course, but Allah (swt) guides his steps.


Below is a great video on avoiding extravagance and living simply. Please share any thoughts you have on the video in the comments below.

I'll see you later with another post inshAllah!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Death and Denial

Assalaam Alakium ladies!

Here we are again, another Monday. Monday always feels like a fresh new start for me, even though I hate getting out of bed so early. I couldn't sleep last night. I was up thinking about death, life and how I still have so much to learn and accomplish.

Death scares me sometimes, I know I'm not ready and I hate to think that someone I love dearly could pass away any minute. I know we all have our day, it's just sad to think about. Alhamdulliah I haven't had to deal with death too much. The only close relative that has passed, has been my grandfather. I remember that day vividly. It was so sudden. 

At the time I wasn't Muslim, I was 18 years old and had just started college. I was researching Islam and was planning on converting soon. The last time I seen my grandfather he was watching his favorite television show, The Price is Right. That show always reminds me of him. =) 

I remember getting a frantic phone call from my mother saying that my grandfather had a heart attack and that she was coming to get me and bring me to the hospital. When we arrived, we couldn't see him and no one was telling us anything. It never crossed my mind that he was going to pass on that day. I was in BIG denial. All of a sudden the doctors wanted to take us to a room. All seven of us gathered in the small quiet room. The doctor told us he was gone. A flood of tears came cascading down my face, I couldn't help it. We went to go say our last goodbyes and I still could not believe he was gone. It was so hard for me to grasp that he was no longer with us.

My mind immediately went to the grave. I had learned about the questioning after death and the life in the grave. I was scared for my grandfather. I wanted him to know the answers to the three most important questions: Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet? What religion are you? I spent the entire night thinking about it. 

When we buried him, I didn't want to leave the grave because I knew the questioning would start. I wanted to stay for as long as possible even though I knew eventually the questioning would have to take place. I prayed that he would be okay. 

To this day I still wonder about him and from time to time will find myself crying out of no where. I didn't have a father growing up, so he was my only "father" figure. He was the nicest person around and I'm sad he never got to meet my husband, I know they would have hit it off. =) 

Death isn't an easy thing to come to terms with but we all are going to face it. We can't prevent death and no one is immune. Prepare for death every. single. day. you are alive and remind yourself of the grave frequently. Don't pretend that death will never come and know the answers to the three most important questions of your life:

Who is your Lord? -Allah, the One and Only God

Who is your Prophet? -The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him

What is your religion? -Islam

Please feel free to share your thoughts down below in the comments. 

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Sprucing Things Up

Assalaam Alakium! 

How has your day been so far? I lost myself in Photoshop for about two hours creating that background you see over there! What do you think? Yay or Nay?

I guess you could call today a semi-productive day since I was away from home. I went to my usual hang out, Barnes and Noble and did some reading which I talked briefly about in my last post. I had lunch with the Writer at Subway then went to work for a few hours and finally to the library and got the background done.  I actually enjoy sitting at the library with my laptop. It's peaceful and I have nothing to distract me...well except Twitter. I just recently made a Twitter for this blog and have been posting little tidbits here and there. If you wish to follow me just search for "hijabibutterfly", I'll follow you back. =) I like to get Islamic wisdom sent directly to my phone. Love technology. 

I like to surround myself with Islam. I'll gladly sign up for anything that will give me a quick little blurb on Islam. It keeps me refreshed and always remembering Allah. Before Islam, I rarely ever picked up the Bible or researched anything. I only knew the basics and whenever I would try to learn something I got so confused that I just gave up. Islam is so straight forward that answers are readily available. I only research at sites I know and trust are legit. Anybody can make a website and post whatever they want (like this blog) a little bit of digging will uncover if a website is reputable. Here are a few websites I trust:

www.islamicity.com    All around a great website

http://www.guideus.tv/live/   Great for watching videos on Islamic topics

http://www.imaanstar.com/index.php    Free software for help memorizing the Qur'an among other things

http://www.studying-islam.org/      You can take free online courses here. I've taken a few myself and they are very detailed

Share some of your most frequented reputable Islamic websites in the comments below. I love finding Islamic gems. 

Have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow with a new post! Early Jummah Mubarak!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Assalaam Alakium!

How's it going? I finally figured out how to write a post via test message yesterday! InshAllah, that will be something I can use in the future when I'm not near a computer. I'm home for the day and don't have much planned. Maybe some meal planning? 

Now for today's focus on post, slow and steady wins the race. I remember thinking that I had to learn everything about Islam before I converted. I insisted on learning how to pray and even fasted two complete Ramadans before I even took my shahada (declaration of faith). Of course now, I know I should have just converted as long as I read the Qur'an, which was when I knew Islam was the truth. 

Whenever I meet a new Muslim or someone who plans on converting I always mention to take Islam a day at a time. I pretty much tell them to do the opposite of what I did. Simply because tomorrow is never promised. I spent two years learning as much as I could about Islam and hadn't even took my shahada yet, Alhamdulliah for everything though. 

There are so many aspects of Islam to learn and it can be pretty overwhelming if you try to learn it all in a few years. You never stop learning until the day you die so pace yourself. It's better to learn slowly and master what you learn than learn everything so quickly you forget it all. Try to find support from friends who can relate to you. Everyone learns in their own way, so be patient with yourself. If you are struggling with something (like praying) find someone you are comfortable with to help you out. It's a lot easier to learn with a friend than by yourself. 

Certain aspects of Islam come easier for some but can be a huge challenge to others. For example, prayer and fasting came easy to me while the hijab was something I had to get used to. I needed to "warm up" to the idea of wearing it. It took me six months to start wearing the hijab full time. It's important to do what is easiest for you and to not compare yourself with other Muslims. Make du'a (supplication) that Allah will make it easier for you and guide you on the straight path. 

"If we learn one new thing about our Deen (way of life) every day, we open our minds to a better day."

What tips would you give a new Muslim in regards to acquiring knowledge?

Have a wonderful day!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

"Why did you become Muslim, sister?"

I get asked this question A LOT, in fact more than anything else. People want to know what drew me to Islam and to eventually become a Muslim. I remember being thrilled whenever someone asked me because I loved telling my story however, as the years have gone by I wonder if this is the only thing that matters to some people.

I understand the need to know "why", I ask "why" questions frequently. So much so, some people get irritated that I just can't take things at "face value". It's in my nature to know the why behind things so I totally understand this question. I also want to get it out there that as a convert, I don't want to be "just a story". I'm more than just my journey to Islam. There are so many reasons I chose this way of life but there are so many different layers as to what makes me......me. Get it?

Maybe someday I'll post an in-depth story, but for now I'd like to just write about my experiences as a non Muslim, new Muslim and Muslim of almost four years. I've evolved over the past five years and want to share it with you all. I think my experiences will be of more benefit than just my story and can help people who are in the those three stages I spoke of.

Converts need more than just a "Salaam, how are you?" approach. Converts need to know they have someone to talk to and can understand what they are going through. As a new convert, I was comforted with so many changes and it took me awhile to adapt certain things, like the hijab. Not all converts are the same, just like anyone else. Some converts start wearing the hijab as soon as they convert, maybe even before while others pray before they have converted.

My advice for those of you who were raised as Muslims, please be patient with us converts especially in our early days. Knowledge isn't learned overnight. It's important to think about what you are going to say before you say it and to always give your sisters in Islam the benefit of the doubt.

That's just a little insight from me, I need to get to bed soon. Huge headache... :(

I'll be back in the morning inshAllah

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Al Jumuah Magazine

Assalaam Alakium!

Finally it's Saturday! What are you all up to today? After the Writer gets back from some video production stuff we're going to visit family. Maybe I'll bring them some of the red velvet cake pops I made! :)

I love to bake, especially fun things like cake pops. Yesterday was my first time making them, I need to tweak a few things and then inshAllah I'll do a how-to post. 

On another, healthier note, I wanted to discuss a magazine I'm subscribed to, Al Jumuah. Before I was Muslim I subscribed to all of the big magazines one of which was Cosmo. After becoming Muslim I went on the hunt for an Islamic magazine that was available here in the United States. I found a few that were for sisters but they had gone out of business before I could subscribe to them. :( Last year I finally found Al  Jumuah and I subscribed immediately. They always have a great range of articles to read like family matters, Quranic miracles, fatwas on frequently asked questions and plenty more. I highly recommend this magazine for those of you who subscribe to magazines. 

http://www.aljumuah.com/

I love getting a new issue in the mail each month. The articles are so informative that I saved them in sheet protectors and put them in a binder for future reference. InshAllah, in the future I plan on doing some feature posts on topics discussed in this magazine. Is this something you are interested in? 

Spotlight on hadith:

"Do you know what is better than charity, fasting and salah (prayer)? It is keeping peace and good relationships between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Do you subscribe to any magazines? Is Al Jumuah one of them?

What kinds of posts would you like to see here?

Have a great morning!

Wasalaam, 

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Don't Be Sad

Assalaam Alakium again! 

How's the day been so far? The sun is finally coming out here in Houston, Texas. Love. I wanted to write a blog about a book I adore. Don't Be Sad by Al-Qarni 

Whenever someone asks me for a book recommendation, I automatically think of this one. It's a good size book and it took me about six months of off and on reading to finish it. The great thing about this book is you can read however much you want. A short five minute read would brighten your day. I recommend reading it before bed or whenever you start feeling down. I like to say this book can "gut punch you" aka make you see the other side of things. But don't get me wrong, this is a great read for whatever mood you're in. 

If I had to share a favorite part of the book or a quote from the book I loved, it would be the entire book, seriously. I'm the type of person who takes notes while reading, especially Islamic content. I picked up this book and before I started to read it, I took out a notepad....As I began reading I realized I would be re-writing the entire book! I loved it that much. 

This would be a great book to give someone who is feeling down and needs a pick me up. InshAllah I plan on giving this book as an Eid gift to a few sisters I know. 

You can find this book in your local Islamic bookstore or at Amazon for around $15:

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Sad-Aaidh-Abdullah-al-Qarni/dp/9960850447

Excerpt from the book:

“They should remember about the Companions of the Prophet pbuh who were severely persecuted or even killed after becoming Muslim. Even the prophets of Allah, the best of all people who ever walked on the face of the earth, were persecuted by their community without exception. Even our beloved Prophet Muhammad pbuh was not spared from trials and tribulations. Was Yusof (pbuh) not thrown into a well, sold as a slave, and then thrown back into a prison? In fact, the Qur’an tells us that many prophets were brutally killed by the unbelievers.”

Enjoy!

Have you read this book before? If so, would you agree with my recommendation?

What one book do you recommend?

Have a great rest of the day, 

Wasalaam

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Coming to you from....

Assalaam Alakium! 

Good morning, inshAllah you all had a great nights rest. Again, it was hard getting out of bed this morning, the Writer just started a new job so we're still getting use to his schedule change. 

I'm coming to you from Barnes and Noble this morning. Today I'm sticking around the Writers job so we can go to lunch later....Souper Salad anyone? We both work in the same area and share a car so today I'm saving some gas by staying in the area. I love bookstores, I could get lost for hours looking at books, and ending up buying maybe one haha. 

I thought I'd share a picture of a butterfly just to give this blog some visual appeal and since I absolutely adore butterflies. I think it's the metamorphosis/change that occurs. They start out being a caterpillar and change into a completely different animal, a beautiful butterfly.  

People have asked me why I chose the name Hijabi Butterfly, I guess it's because I think of myself as a butterfly in a way. I'm a convert to Islam so in a sense I had to go through a type of metamorphosis to become who I am today. I'm ever evolving into a better person, I hope, everyday so my metamorphosis is still in progress. I have a lot more left to learn and plan on sharing what I learn with you all. I want this blog to be a place for anyone really but specifically, Muslimahs. I found a lack of blogs dedicated to Muslim sisters and I feel that I can fill a void somehow. I want this blog to be a place of knowledge, so please let me know what I can do to make it a better place to come and read. 

Spotlight on hadith:

Reported by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whenever a group of people sit in a gathering in which they do not remember Allah the Exalted, nor supplicate to elevate the rank of their Prophet, such a gathering will be a cause of grief to them. If Allah wills,  He will punish them, and if He wills He will forgive them." (At-Tirmidhi) 

Have any of you gone through a type of metamorphosis so to speak? 

Have a blessed day and inshAllah (If God wills) I'll be back with another post later today. 

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Piece of humble pie anyone?

Assalaam Alakium!

How's Monday treating you all? I was slow getting out of bed this morning, I don't think I slept very well since it's midday and I'm still fatigued. I'll sleep well tonight inshAllah. How awesome does that Oreo pie look?! Now onto the topic at had....

Humility...what exactly does this word mean? Simply put, it is having a modest opinion or view of one's self aka not letting your ego get the best of you. The word pride comes to mind when I think of humility. Pride CAN be a good thing, in it's proper time and place but we should never, as Muslims, let our pride or ego come before humility. Now, I'm not saying lets all feel down on ourselves and never feel accomplished but to always have a mindset that you can do more, especially when it comes to Islam.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was and is still the best example of humility for us. He never let his position as a prophet and great leader "go to his head". He gave more than he ever received and never asked for anything in return. Here's a great example of the Prophet's (PBUH) humbleness:

"Related by al-Bayhaqiyy, at-Tirmidhiyy, and Ibn Majah from the route of Abdullah who said: The Prophet (PBUH) lay down on a mat, which left some marks on his skin. So I began stroking my hand over his skin so that the marks would disappear and said: O Messenger of Allah, please give us permission to put something on the floor for you to sleep on without leaving such marks on your body?

The Prophet replied: 'Keep the worldly pleasures away from me, and keep me away from them, for the lifespan of one in this world goes so fast that it is similar to the time a riding person would spend to rest in a shade under a tree after which he has to leave and continue his journey."

The root of the Prophet's humbleness came from his love for the hear-after and not for this world. He lived everyday for the next.

I encourage us all to read and reflect on these stories of the Prophet (PBUH) and to become more modest and humble everyday. Just when you start thinking you have accomplished it all or are better than someone think of a story like the one above and reflect upon it. We can all use a little reminder.

Please share an authentic hadith that illustrates humbleness.
In what ways do you think we can all become more humble people?

May Allah bless you all.

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

To Rent or To Buy?

Taken in the early morning from my balcony. 

Assalaam Alakium!!

How are you all? InshAllah it's been a relaxing Sunday for all of you. The Writer and I just got back from visiting my in laws. They are in the process of buying a house. It's been a long time coming for them and inshAllah they'll find something that fits their needs soon. Ameen.

The Writer and I, on the other hand, just signed a new lease to our apartment today. There are definitely pros and cons to renting and buying. Personally, I like renting especially since the Writer and I are a pretty young couple and don't have any kiddos yet. I like renting because I can just call maintenance and have someone come and save the day, for nothing. When you buy a home you have to do all the repairs by. your. self. We aren't too handy over here. Buying is nice though because you don't have to follow strict rules and can pretty much do what you want to the place. A definite con in buying a house for me is the interest or riba thang. Not to into that. As Muslims, we know to stay as far away from interest as possible, but we all know that can be pretty tough.

It can be hard sticking to the no interest/riba thing, especially in buying a home. Here in the United States, it's near impossible to buy a home without interest attached, unless of course you're buying the home straight up which not too many people can do. We all want to feel secure and have a place to call home, a place that is actually yours to do what you please with. The question is: Is it worth it? Is it really worth buying a home and having to live with interest knowing that Allah hates it? It's a tough thing to face for sure but Allah is also the Most Forgiving and inshAllah he'll forgive those of us who are sincere in our repentance.

What do you all think about the interest associated with buying a home?
To rent or to buy, which side are you on?

Have a good rest of the night!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Allah is with those who are PATIENT

Salaam again!

How has your Saturday been? It's been pretty chill over here. Mr. Writer (husband) and I just got back from one of our favorite Mexican food spots: TACO CABANA! If you live in Texas, you know what I'm talking about. We love this place! The Cabana Bowls are amazing along with the fajitas and tres leches for dessert...who can resist tres leches! They have the best sauces, the green sauce is by far the best sauce I've ever had before. It's made from tomatillos and is love in a cup. :)

Now for the topic at hand. Patience. Everyone knows the famous saying "Patience is a virtue", Islam agrees. You will often times read about patience (sabr in Arabic) in the Qur'an and Allah specifically speaks about patience a number of times to show it's importance.

Allah tests us with different trials to see how patient we will be. Illness is a time for patience; Islam teaches that when you are inflicted with an illness and you bear that illness with patience, you will earn Allah's forgiveness. How great is that? We are all bound to fall sick and as long as we bear that aliment with patience we will earn Allah Al-Mighty's forgiveness. I'll take that!

One of my favorite surahs (chapters) of the Qur'an is chapter 94 Ash-Sharh: Solace or The Relief. When I think of patience I think of this surah.

Surah 94: Ash-Sharh

"1. Did We not expand for you, your breast?, 2. and We removed from you, your burden 3. which had weighed upon your back 4. and raised high for you, your repute. 5. For indeed, with hardship (will be) ease. 6. Indeed, with hardship (will be) ease. 7. So when you have finished (your duties), then stand up. (For worship). 8. And to your Lord direct (your) longing."

When you have endured your hardships, whatever they may be, with patience, Allah will grant you ease. You  must be patient and know that Allah is the ultimate planner. Whenever any of us are conflicted with hardships and find it hard to be patient we should look to our Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace be upon him). His life was full of trials and hardships, but Allah has granted him eternal ease, the best ease of all, paradise. The Prophet (PBUH) spent 12 years of his life preaching the message of Islam, often times to those who opposed his messaged and persecuted him until his death. He slept on a mattress made of palm tree leaves and often only had a few drops of milk to nourish himself with. Throughout all of this, he never became impatient with Allah. 

InshAllah in the future I'll talk more in-depth about patience in Islam. Please let me know what other topics you'd like to read about. 

Share a time where you had to be patient. 

Take care all, 

~Hijabi Butterfly~

TAIF! (Thank Allah It's Friday)

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had a blessed day. It's a gorgeous 70 degree day here in H-Town, I definitely don't miss the weather in Minnesota! It's taken me a bit to get use to the change in climate here, it's like Summer/Spring year around....I'm not complaining. :)

A great thing about Houston is the large population of Muslims here, you don't have to travel far to find a Masjid (Mosque). Back in Minnesota most of the Masjids were in the suburbs and they were few and far between. I love being able to experience different Masjids and get a feel for the community. The Muslim community here is good, but like most could use a little help. Being a convert I have a lot of wishes for the Muslim community. Some would be: a place for children to enjoy the Masjid on Fridays and therefore, allow their parents time to listen to the khutbah (lecture), to make the Masjid a place youth WANT to be and to make it more friendly to converts and non-Muslims. One Masjid I discovered here in Houston is doing a great job of all of the things I just spoke of. They have a great facility and it's more than just a Masjid, it's more like a community center and I seen a lot of families enjoying the space. InshAllah (God willing) I'll write an entire post on the things this incredible Masjid is doing, for now I'll grace you with a beautiful picture of the place.

 

That's it for now, inshAllah I'll be back soon! Let me know what you'd like to see on this page!

What things would you change to make the Masjid a better place?
What ideas do you all have to make the Muslim youth want to come to the Masjid?

Walakium Assalaam!

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Here We Go Again....

Assalaam Alakium (Peace be upon you),

Long time no type!! I can't believe it's been this long since I've written a blog (over two years). I hope you all are in good health and have been doing well. The last two years have brought a TON of change and I've welcomed it all. I've moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Houston, Texas and have finally settled into my new apartment! More stories to come about the move, adjusting to life away from home and finally being happy!

I can't promise much with this blog, but I'm hoping to become more active and less informative....it was way TOO stuffy in here! I want to add excitement to this blog. I'll be talking more about my life as a 22 year old, white/Native American, convert to Islam and wife. If anyone has any suggestions or questions please let me know. I'm a very honest person...sometimes too honest.

Take care all and I hope to see you soon,


~Hijabi Butterfly~

Why did Allah create us?

Why Did Allah Create Us?

(Sources: The Purpose of Creation Dr. A.A.B. Philips & Varies Hadith)

When you start to think of all the aspects of Earth, and the whole entire universe you may start to wonder how and why it all came about. Everything has a beginning and a lot of people believe that this beginning came from a "higher power". For me, and millions of others, that "higher power" is Allah (God in Arabic). I have decided to write this blog on the whole creation, but mainly focusing upon humans, because of a recent book I have read. I have learned a great deal from this book (The Purpose Of Creation) and thought it would be a great topic to write about. -I just hope people read it!

Okay, so on to the subject at hand. Why did Allah (swt) create? By the word create, I mean everything: humans, animals, everything on Earth, and everything outside of our small planet. (By the way, we only know what Allah (swt) has created by reading the revelations)
As stated in the Holy Quran: 51:47 "And it is We who have built the universe with (Our creative) power; and, verily, and it is We who are steadily expanding it. "
From this one verse we know that Allah (swt) is constantly creating more things, by which we have no knowledge of. So, not only has Allah (swt) created everything we know, Allah has also created possibly millions of things we do not know about. So, the question is, Why? Why, has Allah (swt) created everything?

Allah did not create humans or anything else because of a need. Allah does not need anything he creates. Allah is above the creation, and therefore has no need for any of it. So, why create?

First, we must understand that us, humans, are not the greatest creation. (I know your thinking, "WHAT, how could this be!!!") We know this because of this verse:
40:57 "Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of mankind do not realize it."
Think about it this way, what is more complex? humans or the universe....The UNIVERSE! Since it's so complex, how did Allah create it all. Some people think that the whole universe in a way is part of God. That God has taken a part of Himself and made the whole entire universe. This can not be true, this is based on comparing God to man! God actually denies this comparison in the Holy Quran:
42:11 "There is nothing like Him and He is hearer and seer of all."
So, how did Allah create? We can not possibly think that Allah created us from something that already existed. Only man creates from things that are already here. When an artist picks up a brush to draw something, they are imagining something that they have SEEN! Humans can not imagine something we have not physically seen with our own eyes. Allah CAN.

Allah created everything based on specific characteristics that are exclusive to Him alone.

The All Merciful, The All Forgiving

Can you think of any human being that is ALL merciful, or All forgiving...? ONLY Allah has the power to forgive anything or to be merciful to anyone. Humans do not. We can not simply forgive everything, or be entirely merciful. Only Allah can grant us forgiveness for anything. Think of this situation from a hadith:
"Allah forgave a prostitute who tied her shoe to her scarf and drew out some water (from a well) for a dog that was dying of thirst. Because of that, Allah forgave her." -Sahih Al-Bukhari

The Supreme Justice

Only Allah has the power to judge mankind at the end of the world. Only Allah has the supreme justice and fairness to judge mankind. Humans do not. No matter how fair someone may try to be, they are not always going to be. There are millions of examples of how people have been unfairly judged by humans. Think of all the appeals that are filed. Only, Allah has the consistency to judge all of mankind fairly.

A Divine Love

Allah's love is greater than any humans love could ever be. Allah has created human beings whether believer, or disbeliever, to enjoy life. For the believers Allah has created paradise. Allah states in the Holy Quran:
5:13 He loves those who do good
5:42 those who are just
9:4 those who are pious
3:146 those who are patient
3:159 those who put their trust in Him
2:222 those who frequently turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves
And Allah loves those who follow the prophets. These people are most beloved to Allah. In Chapter Aal 'Imraan, Allah instructed Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) to say the following to the believers:
3:31 "If you really love Allah, follow me and Allah will love you and forgive your sins"

Divine Grace

Those of us who enter paradise will not enter it solely based on our good deeds. It is by the grace of Allah that we will enter paradise. Prophet Muhammad (phub) said:
"Try your best to do right, and be happy. For none will enter paradise only because of his deeds." His companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! Not even you?" He replied, "Not even I, unless Allah envelops me in His mercy and grace. And bear in mind that the deed most loved by Allah is one done constantly, even though it is small."
Human beings can not do this for each other. It is not by the will of one another that we enter paradise, but by the will of Allah. Allah's grace is also not arbitrary. Allah's grace is based on correct faith and righteous deeds. As stated in the Holy Quran:
6:160 "Whoever brings a good deed, will have (the value of) ten like it, and whoever brings an evil deed will only be punished with one like it, and they will not be wronged."

What purpose was man created?

Allah has created us to worship Him alone and nothing else.
51:56 I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship."

We are instructed to show gratitude to Allah by glorifying Him.
110:3 "Glorify the praises of your lord."


Why glorify Allah? Because obedience to divine law is the key to success in this life and the next.

Why Remember Allah? In order to glorify and worship Allah, we must remember Allah consistently throughout the day. It is only natural for humans to forget things. In order to stay on track and remember Allah, we need to pray five times a day. This is required upon every Muslim, and we will be judged on our performance. Allah states this in the Holy Quran:
20:14 "Verily, I am Allah, there is no god beside Me, so worship Me and establish regular prayer for My remembrance."

Why did Allah create human beings in this world?

This life is only a test. Day to day, we are confronted with tests that Allah is giving us to test our iman.
67:2 "(It is He) who crated death and life to test which of you is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving."

18:7 "Surely I have created all that is on earth as its ornaments that I may test which of them is best in conduct."

We are constantly being tested on our conduct. Whenever we are doing something we are being watched by Allah and our deeds are being written down by angels. We are never fully alone. Allah is watching and observing, angels are writing down deeds, and shaytan is constantly tempting us. We must always be aware of these things.

Our purpose in this world is to worship Allah (swt) in every possible way. We must not let material things or people distract us from remember Allah and obeying His commands. Just remember you will be asked about everything you have done in this world, and this world is short compared to the next. Pick your path, paradise or hellfire, it's up to you.

~Hijabi Butterfly

Top Ten Reasons why Jesus CAN NOT be God.

Top Ten Reasons Why Jesus (pbuh) Cannot be God. Summary!!

with

The Deen Show
&
Joshua Evans- Former Christian Youth Minister

Facts In Islam about Jesus (pbuh)

-Muslims love Jesus

-Muslims believe in Jesus

-Jesus was a messenger of God.

Note: You cannot be a Muslim if you do not accept that Jesus was a messenger of God.

In Descending Order

10. God Cannot be Born - God was not born or created. Jesus was born and created. God has no beginning or ending. God created life so he is not subjected to life. Making God subject to life is making him lesser than. Jesus and God cannot be the same.

9. There are no explicit verses in any spiritual text including the Bible that states Jesus is or was God.

In Isaiah 46:9 God states, "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me"

Jesus says, here oh Israel the Lord our God is but one and there is no one else

If Jesus was indeed the son of God, God would be explicit about it. God does not beat around the bush. If Jesus being the son of God was the way to salvation, then God would be very explicit about it. Jesus would have clearly said I am God and I'm here to save you from your sins. Did he say that??

God is explicit (clear) about himself and his characteristics. God does not beat around the bush about himself, simply because he does not want it to be too complicated that someone would not understand!!

Note: You can make any spiritual text (including the Holy Quran) say what you want it to if you pick and choose verses out of them.

8. No one has ever seen God in any time

Facts:

-No one has ever seen God

-People saw Jesus

-No one can see God in this life.

"I and the father are one" –is speaking in terms of purpose. God and Jesus were one in purpose. They had the same mission. Jesus was simply a representative of God.

God is too great to be put into a box labeled with worldly characteristics and descriptions. Putting God in a box and giving him humanly characteristics is making him less then he is. God is simple too great to be seen by us.

7. This concept was not taught by Jesus (the concept being he was the son of God or even God himself)

Jesus went to the temple and worshiped God the same way the other messengers of God did. If Jesus was the son of God or God himself he would have built his own place of worship and told people to go and worship him. Did Jesus ever do this??

Jesus fell down on his knees and prayed to God. Why would Jesus fall down and pray to himself??

The trinity is no where in the Bible! The 1st and 2nd Century Christians worshiped God and thought of Jesus as their prophet. They considered themselves to be practicing Jews. In the 3rd century was when the trinity was developed. (So Jesus didn't preach the trinity!!) In 325 AD there was the Council of Nicea where all of the Bishops and Scholars of the time formed the doctrine of the trinity and said this is something we have to believe in. Paul said this is a doctrine we must follow. Paul never say Jesus, walked with Jesus, eat, slept, prayed with Jesus. Paul came up with the concept of the trinity and the word Christian when he had a vision on his way walking to go persecute the Christians!! Paul was the first to come up with the word Christian, trinity, and Jesus being the begotten son of God.

1st John 5:7 "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."

Almost all Biblical scholars have taken out this verse because it was not found in the first manuscripts of the Bible. This verse was not in the Bible until after 1200. (man made verse)

6. Jesus eat, slept, and prayed.

We know God does not eat, sleep, or pray. God is self sufficient he does not need anything to survive. God made the creation he does not need what he has made.

We know that Jesus eat, slept, and prayed. If Jesus wouldn't have eat he would have died he was dependent on these things just like all of us. He prayed for help from God, he was in need of prayer.

5. Jesus claimed that Gods knowledge is Greater then his.

If the trinity is true how can one know something with out the others knowing?

Jesus said that he is less then God. God has knowledge of everything, If the trinity was true how can one be greater then the other if they are all the same? The trinity can no be explained to everyone. The concept should be able to be explained to everyone weather they are illiterate or not. Everyone should be able to understand the concept of God.

Trinity: ??

1+1+1= 1 ? No it equals 3

3 carriages with 1 person split into 3!!

God says even in the Bible that he is no the author of confusion. What is the trinity? (confusion)

4. Jesus explicitly states that he is not God!

John 17:3 Jesus says he has been sent from God to teach people about God and for them to know God.

Jesus clearly states that he will ascend to God, you God and my God. Jesus would not have ascended into himself!

3. "Son of God" is not an exclusive title to Jesus

Adam is called the son of God. Even everyday people are called the sons of God. Jesus did not have a father but either did Adam or Eve.

Adam and Eve did not have a father or a mother. So if anyone had the "exclusive" title of "son of God" it would have been Adam.

Jesus was not sent to the whole entire world. Jesus was sent to the Children of Israel. Every nation has a prophet sent to help them.

Note: Muslims must believe that Mary was the most pious women to ever be on Earth Surah 19 Maryam in the Quran describes the miraculous birth of Jesus (pbuh) .

2. God Cannot Change

In Malachi God says I do not change.

Gods nature does not change. God is not subjected to hunger, time, thirst ext. So God does not become hungry, thirsty, ext.

God cannot go to hell or heaven. God does not die his attributes do not change.

He is the truthful: He cannot lie

He is merciful: He can no be unmerciful

He is the most just: He cannot be unjust.

God is simply perfect. Anything that will make God less then God he cannot do. That is why the trinity does not work, God is consistent. God cannot be one and then change to three. God cannot change from one thing to another. God does not change!

Note:

God does not die

God does not have Children

God does not have human needs

1. God is the essence (object) of worship.

If Jesus were God he would have told people to worship him.

In Matthew 15 and 18 He told people in vain you will worship me. You will teach in doctrines made by men.

God will ask Jesus (pbuh) on the day of judgment if he told people to worship him and Jesus will say of course not you know that I did not.

Jesus did not like when people called him master. He would say the master is God not me.

Adam, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad… all of Gods prophets worshiped one God.

~Hijabi Butterfly