Study Motivation

Assalamulaykum

Diging out the motivation to study at times (unless you got an exam the next morning or in a few hours!) can be hard at times, so reading through Psychology: An Internationl Perspective, I came across this:

Some advice from Eyseneck: (you know this sounds alot like what we did with Ustad Muhammad in Discover U)

The best type of motivation is goal setting, and the most effective forms of goal setting are as follows:

1. You must set yourself a goal that is hard but achievable.
2. You need to commit yourself as fully as possible to attaining the goal, perhaps by telling other people about it.
3. You should focus on goals that can be achieved within a reasonable period of time (e.g. no more than a few weeks). A long term goal needs to be broken down into a series of short term goals.
4. You should set yourself clear goals, and avoid very vague goals such as simply “doing well”.
5. You should obtain feedback on how well you aremoving towards your goal (e.g. checking progress with a friend or teacher)
6. You should feel pleased whenever you achieve a goal. However, avoid complacency and set yourself a slightly higher goal for the future.
7. You should try to learn from failure by being very honest about the reasons why you failed: Was it really “just bad luck”?

Remember: Set realistic medium-term goals, setting impossible goals are more likely to reduce than increase motivation.

From a personal view (not just cos im an organisation freak) this is very effective if you take into account the 7 points, organisation in every aspect of life brings about a sense of peace and lets you get on with your work without constantly wondering “what next” or “have I forgotten something?”.

It reminds me of the hadith:
“Calmness and patient deliberation is from Allah and haste is from Shaytaan”

I remember my ustadah saying when teaching, in regards to the tafseer of this hadith, that when you make a plan for something don’t rush into it, but carefully look at all avenues, then go into it.

Duas Requested

Ma’assalam

What Is A Teacher?

Asslamaualaykum WaRahmatuAllah

My umm (mum) was advising me and my brother (we’re both teachers):

“A teacher only has full rights over students, when that teacher wakes up for tahujjud and prays (makes dua) for their students, as a parent makes dua for their child, the teacher is a guardian of their students.
So stand up in qiyaam like the Prophet Muhammad (saw) did for his ummah, for the ulema (people of knowledge) are the waaritheen (inheritors) of the Prophet (saw), and Allah has put the spreading of His deen in the hands of the people of knowledge.”

WaAlaykumAssalam WaRahmatuAllah

The Ultimate DUH! Realisation.

“A Teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops”

“Teaching is not a lost art. But the regard for it is a lost tradition”

Assalamualaykum WaRahmatuAllah;

So whilst teaching the other day I had the Ultimate “DUH” moment …

I’ve been teaching kids for 2 years minus a few weeks now … Alhumdulillah

So one of my beloved little students who’s 5 has been with me since learning the arabic alphabet from Alif Baa, now MashaAllah she’s on Juzz Amma with complete fluent recitation and a good grasp on tajweed, SubhanAllah the amount of effort this little girl puts in is amazing, when she doesn’t know her dars I can just tell, cos she comes in to class in tears.

Now you can say she cries cos she’s afraid I’ll shout, Unfortunately that isn’t the case, I’m apparently the biggest walk over teacher.
But she cries cos she feels she’s let me and her self down. SubhanAllah I love this child!

I ask her why she comes into class crying:

Child: Apa I dont know my dars
Me: Its ok, you know I won’t shout, let me help you learn it.
Child: No apa its not that, Its because I dont like it when I don’t know it.

SubhanAllah! This love for learning Quran is becoming very rare, How the child finds happiness in every page they advance in Quran.

I ask the child, what do you wish to become when you grow older? She says I want to become and Apa like you.

That bought me to tears … such innocence and love for teaching deen!

That bought on the “DUH” moment …
I thought I have taught this child from alphabet through to Quran, now each time she recites Quran, reads salah all the ajr comes back to me. And she wants to go on to teach so the line is infinite … Woooooooooooaaaaah!

SubhanAllah, We all know teaching is a sadaqah jariyyah but this time the realisation actually caught up with me in real time.

Alhumdulillah! I make dua to Allah that he bless’ each one of my students and the muslimeen with the love of deen, love for the Quran. May Allah grant them barakah in their lives so they may grow up to work for his deen.
May Allah instill in me in the correct adaab, so that I may teach them in the correct manner, and May He forgive me for my shortcomings.

Duas Requested for Me and My students.

WaAlaykumAssalam WaRahmatuAllah

Talk: Etiquettes of Dua

Assalamualaykum WaARahmatuAllah

Carrying On from the Ramadan talk inshaAllah. This sunday there will be a short discourse on Dua (supplication), So that we may InshaAllah make the best of the upcoming blessed month.

Sunday 9th Spetember 2007 - 9PM GMT / 4PM EST

Room name: Sisters Study Centre (Under Religion /  Spirutuality - Islam)

Password or questions: email : SeedsOfRealisation@googlemail.com

Download PalTalk at

www.paltalk.com

Please Pass on, If this time is inconvenient there will InshaAlah be a recording available for the sisters. Please email on the above address.

Dua’s Requested.

WaAlaykumAssalam WaRahmatuAllah

Online Talk: Profit From Ramadan

Assalamualaykum WaARahmatuAllah

To kick off the Sisters Study Centre on paltalk, InshaAllah, I will give a short Discourse on Ramadan and how we may profit from it.

Thursday 6th Spetember 2007 - 9PM GMT / 4PM EST

Room name: Sisters Study centre

Password: email : SeedsOfRealisation@googlemail.com

Download PalTalk at

www.paltalk.com

Please Pass on

Dua’s Requested.

WaAlaykumAssalam WaRahmatuAllah

The Seeds Are Sprouting

Allah says in the Qur’an:
“When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me.” [2:186]

The place of duaa is so high to Allah , that the Prophet had said:
“Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a.”
[Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].

He also said: “The most excellent worship is du`a.”
[Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

Assalamualaykum

Alhumdulillah had a roller coaster weekend!
Its started of on Saturday By having to recite in an awards evening organised by the local committee of mosques.
I chose to recite Surah Maryam, the ayaat of the conception of Isa (as) through to his birth.

Alhumdulillah it went really well, its funny I don’t really suffer stage fright but once I actually get up there its kind of daunting.

The evening wasn’t an all an all out dawah event, non-muslims were invited, and I was asked to recite so why miss out on a dawah opportunity! It was received well by the non-muslims as well Alhumdulillah!

There were local muslim female councillors there who spoke about their work in politics and when she asked the crowd (which consisted of mostly under 18’s) who was thinking about going into politics, no one raised their hands! It just doesn’t seem appealing, yet ask anyone if they would want to become Prime Minister it would have been a different matter!

The entire event well Alhumdulillah, and it was beautiful to see the sisterhood between all the sisters, all working together for the sake of Allah :-D

Then today it was the Al Birr Hifz Competition (we were stationed at the girls one obviously!), subhanAllah, some of the contestants were so young, they made me feel ashamed, yet in a way enlightened in the heart, seeing these young muslimahs memorise, showed in reality Allah ’s promise to always protect the Quran. AND it motivated me to pick up memorising again, inshaAllah I’m hoping to enter the competition one day, Make dua for me!!

I met some amazing sisters, friends of a friend, but also sister’s from sunniforum (oh how small is the world!!), I love meeting like minded people and one of the sisters was from Vancouver (Yup my ultimate dream place!), and I could see the mysterious ways in which Allah works, and how meeting everyone is for a reason!

Over all it was such a beautiful weekend, working for the sake of Allah through most of it! You can’t get time spent better than that!! SubhanAllah, and bonding together in the way only muslimah’s can, the power of sisterhood!

May Allah grant us all the ability to carry on working for His deen.

May He accept from us our humble efforts and prayers, and grant us what He befits best for us.

May He keep our intentions pure and only for His sake.

May He increase us in Ilm and bestow on us deeper bonds of brotherhood, as He did upon the Ansaar and Muhajireen.

May He grant us all Jannatul Firdous.

Ameen

Please keep me in your duas in these blessed days and the days to come.

If anyone wishes for special dua’s especially for Ramadan please just leave a comment.

WaAlaykumAssalam Wa RahmatuAllah

So to fulfill our needs and wants, we must call on Him. Making Du’a to Allah , is a recognition of our weakness and His greatness. The Prophet had said: “Ask Allah for everything, even the lace of your shoes. If Allah does not provide, it will never be available.”
Tirmidhi

And let not there be anyone who says: “… my Lord won’t answer my prayer, because of this and that.. or because of so and so..”. No! Indeed Allah is the Most Generous King. Is there anyone who met a king, and praised and glorified him, and then asked, yet the request was not granted? So what about Allah , the King of the Heavens and the Earth - who has total control over your life, your wealth and your future. Why would He not grant you your request? Indeed, our beloved Prophet had said: “Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty.”
Abu Dawood

Offering Ilm (Knowledge)

Assalamualaykum

I’m planning on teaching some lessons on PalTalk insha’Allah , for the sisters.

Currently Im thinking of Quran tafseer and Women’s fiqh, but If you have any other suggestions please let me know.

Start date to be confirmed yet (within the next two weeks insha’Allah )

9Pm - 10Pm GMT
4pm - 5pm EST
3/5 days a week

If you want you can schedule specific class’s with me for weekends, Insha’Allah .

If you are interested, please email me at:

seedsofrealisation@googlemail.com

WaAlaykumAssalam

Wanna Earn Ajr? Help Required

Assalamualaykum

If you want to earn great ajr, please Allah and Insha’Allah be part of an effort for sadaqh Jaariyah (on going charity) read on…

Alhumdulillah only by the qadr of Allah have I managed to nearly complete the first stage in the Children’s seerah course.

I was given the permission to take this book:

And simplify it for children aged between 6+ especially aiming at children who have a slower learning ability.

I wanted to make it a complete accessory to the book, so I chose to make a ful project of it.

1. summarise the core of the book (26 chapters)
2. Include little add ons with more info
3. Include sections for Muhamamd (s)’s sahaba’s, wives and daughters
4. section on just the Prophet (s)’s character
5. How to incorporate sunnah in daily lives.
6. additional background history
7. include pictures to colour, puzzles and games etc.

Alhumdulillah I’ve nearly finished the summarisation.
Now I am in need of proof readers:
What is required:

• Be able to read English.
• Have an understanding of the type of language children can comprehend.
• Dedicated to help only for the sake of Allah
• Be able to comment and criticise

If you could help it would be most appreciated.
email me at:

seedsofrealisation@googlemail.com

Subject: I wanna earn ajr!!

JazakumAllah Khair

WaAlaykumAssalam

My Ultimate Dream

Dreaming is FREE

Talking is FREE

Making Dua is FREE

(Ustad Muhammad AlShareef) 

Assalamualaykum

Those of you who have joint DiscoverUlife By Ustad Muhammad AlShareef, know how he encourages us to talk about our dreams.

So here goes …

Firstly my ultimate dream is to go to a place where they are in need of ustads, and to help teach the Ilmiyyah course, until graduation of Aalimahs who could carry on the work. If such a call had not been answered by Aalimahs of the subcontinent such Ilm would not be so widely availble in the UK today.

Secondly, for many years, I’ve always wanted to teach in a place where there is a great need of Ilm, a place where there are Muslims who are in need of it, to start up madaaris, to teach women and children with a husband who would be willing to help do the same for the males of the community.

I had never thought exactly where this place would be or how I would go about it, but about a year back my father took a trip to Vancouver, Canada. He saw that there are muslims, but they did not have madrasah’s etc where children can go to learn and where sisters could also learn.

With that I learnt of Jamia Aisha Siddiqua opening in Toronto, and the need for female ustads there also.

Finally I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do.

so my ultimate goals:

• Marry a sincere muslim who is willing to spend a life working for the deen.
• Teach in Toronto until atleast the 1st Graduation , where upon after they will have their own Aalimahs to be able to carry on the great work.
• Go to Vancouver and set up a strong Muslim community insha’Allah .

I make dua Allah keep my intentions sincere, and I ask the few who come across this blog to make dua for me also insha’Allah .

WaAlaykumAssalam

Carving The Character

 “The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

“A man’s errors are his portals of discovery.”

Assalamualaykum

At times I feel as though teaching has been given the wrong name, ever since I’ve started teaching I feel as though I’m the one learning more and more everyday. Understandably I do teach, hence the occupation, but the lessons learnt aren’t lessons of paper but great lessons of life.

I’ve always lived by the simple rule of “don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like done to yourself”, as the hadith goes “Wish for your brother what you wish for yourself”.

Same when teaching, you often might shout at a student, or punish them for misbehaving, and believe me kids really know how to make some-one feel guilty, the looks they can give! I often just have to harden my heart and keep strict.
I’m not a great fan of being the “mean teacher” but at times you just gotta bite the bullet, and be super strict even if it kills you inside.

In the same way in life people often might seem to just hurt you for no reason, but comes the making excuses for  a person, maybe they had a good intention for doing it, and you misread it, but the essence is as Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran that no hurt can come to you except that Allah wills.

Another of my strongest beliefs is that, experience carves a persons character, either for the better or for the worse. With each experience good or bad is the opportunity to use it to make you a better person or the opportunity to become the opposite. There is no better teacher than experience.

True carving of one’s emaan and character is taking some-thing from everything, no person is perfect, you can sit back and cry over the past or get up and use it to improve yourself and the future.
Live by the constant reminder that we’re nothing in this world … Even if some-one does hurt us, are we some major artifact of perfection ourselves? This world is nothing but a Prison for the true believer, what more do you expect from a prison if not hurt and trials? Take a step back and look have I broken a rule some-where along the line?

Its easy to blame others, the hardest step is to take a step back and look at ourselves, the evaluation of our own actions. We ourselves aren’t capable of reaching perfection, so how can we expect it of others?

“And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can keep back His favour; He brings it to whom He pleases of His servants; And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
- Qur’an, surah Yunus; 10:107

WaAlaykumAssalam