The Beauty of the 99 Names of Allah (swt)

The 99 names of Allah (swt) or, in Arabic, Asma ul-Husna, are the epithets of Allah’s attributes that are mentioned throughout the Quran and Hadiths. The phrase “Asma ul-Husna” contains the whole of His names in a general meaning. However, each of the names contains its own beautiful manifestation. The power and wisdom of God is what sustains the whole world and what is in it and our only way of understanding His magnificence is through learning the 99 attributes and reflecting on their meaning and articulacy. Allah (swt) says in the Quran, “...and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do" (29:45).

                Everything we see in this world is a veil that reflects the power of God and therefore every moment in everything that we do is a perfect time for servitude. But before we are able to reflect on His power we must be close to Him. Having knowledge of God is different than having wisdom for knowledge is that which is known and wisdom is the application of knowledge. This wisdom comes through putting things in perspective and rarely thinking of the benefits of this world. For example simply knowing the 99 names would not be as beneficial as learning the wisdom behind them. This type of wisdom is the accumulation of knowledge through the most sublime nodes, for God is most sublime. Once wisdom is attained, spiritual excellence becomes a more realistic goal.

                So how does this relate to the 99 names of Allah (swt)? Well, once we begin to feel Allah in our hearts through the light of his attributes, we can achieve wisdom. This wisdom that becomes engraved in the heart can then spread outward and affect the body, the tongue, and every aspect of our lives. Allah is the only one that can provide this wisdom that can reach the heart for, "Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." (13:28)

                Thus, memorizing the Excellent names of Allah (swt) will result in remembering Him, remembering Him will result in illumination and goodness in the heart, and goodness in the heart will result in good deeds and Inshallah good deeds will result in Paradise. When remembrance of God is abundant, there is no room for bad thoughts to enter, and it is easier to avoid sins.

                So this winter break, let’s make it a goal to learn the 99 names of Allah (swt). Not simply learn them though, but implement them in our lives. Each name has its own beautiful attributes and it will take time before we can say we have them all understood. For example, if you say "Ya Baseer" 100 times after the Jumma prayer constantly, Allah will grant strength to your eye-sight and Noor (light) to your heart. And that is only one of the names. To attain the benefit of learning these names, all our acts of worship must be planted in the soils of a humble heart. Make the intention to learn one a day or one a week and implement it throughout your day. Slowly, Inshallah, you will find more blessings in your days.

**Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "There are 99 names of Allah; he who commits them to memory (in the narration of Ibn `Umar this part of sentence is: "he who enumerates them") would get into Paradise. InshAllah.

Solitude

It was during my writing class that I first had the opportunity to visit the University Abbey. As a Muslim and as someone who has never entered an abbey before, I didn’t know what to expect. Instantly, upon walking in, I sensed the serenity and peace present in the building. There were not many statues and posters, rather simple hallways and areas for deep contemplation. The man that took us on the tour struck me as a man who enjoys alone time and time to contemplate God and his creations.

One of the first things that were very interesting to see was the fountain in the center of the first hallway. The man claimed that this fountain was filled with holy water and reminded them of their baptism and commitment to finding God. 

After seeing the fountain, we went through a big hallway to one of the main prayer rooms. The monk said there are certain prayers that they must attend during the day. In between those prayers they are able to contemplate in some of the available rooms; he mentioned that he liked to take a quick trip around the forest with his bike.To me, the monk seemed like a humble man who simply likes to stay away from the materialistic life and live a life only for the purpose of finding God. His simplicity echoed throughout the abbey as well, for it was not adorned with many embellishments, lights, or statues. He seemed like a man that found the beauty in the simplest of things and never took anything for granted. In the way he described his lifestyle, I could sense the sincerity and commitment. Religion did not matter at this point; I was simply amazed by his dedication and spirit.

This opened up my thinking about how I live my own life. I found that sometimes I am too attached to technology, to money, and to a social life that distracts me from dedicating some time to think and reflect on life, on religion, on family, on blessings. I realized that happiness is not something that is felt right away rather it is more like a journey. Happiness should not be our destination, but more like decoration to our own personal journeys.

Going to the abbey refreshed my view on living a simple and modest life. Extravagance is not always needed to live a life of happiness. It’s truly in the simplest of things that we can find true happiness. Simplicity makes us more aware of the important aspects of life, allows us to cherish every one of God’s blessings, and really permits us to delve inside ourselves and thrive. Solitude is not necessarily loneliness. Everyone can truly benefit from alone time.

A Voice

5-6-7-8, let the people chose their fate. These words rang in my ears like an alarm waiting to be answered-there was no time to snooze. The weather was cold and the stares increased my self-consciousness, but I let the fervor in my heart guide my path. I gripped the poster in my hands and marched on. I let my voice unite with the crowd around me; I let my instincts guide me. Where there is injustice, there is no room for silence. And if there is a chance for hope, I must be there to help grab it. I must be there to make a difference.

It was on the day that I attended a rally in solidarity with the innocent victims of Libya and Syria that I found my voice. I had seen the atrocities committed by Libyan president Maummar Gaddafi and heard the pleas from the many oppressed but began to question how I, a teenager from the United States, could make a difference. There are times in our lives where injustice will arise and overpower the weak, but I realized that we must take the road of change however small it may be. I found my road to change in this rally. Clicking attend on the Facebook event, I discovered that to achieve justice, action was the only way.

The day finally came and before I knew it, I was already on the bus, poster in hand, gazing out the window. Sitting on the bus reminded me of the justice Rosa Parks achieved in 1955, while refusing to give her seat up to a white man. Rosa achieved this noble cause because she had the determination and the passion in her heart. Before looking to change, we must change ourselves. We must carry the power of knowledge and the keys of experience. With this rally, I was hoping to change myself. With that change, I could finally gain the power to do greater things. I could gain the confidence to challenge injustice wherever it may be. Weather demanding equality on a bus or gaining freedom in an oppressive country, courage is the only route.

I took my first steps off the bus only to be greeted by cold wind and large crowds. I could hear the voices chanting in the distance. I slowly found myself merging with the crowd. I hesitated to chant at first, thinking my voice wasn’t going to make a difference next to the thundering sound of the megaphone. But then it hit me. We will always be in large crowds, surrounded by people who agree and disagree with us. There are times where we will feel our voice won’t make a difference, but this is where the courage plays in. The images of the innocent victims played in my mind and I slowly found my voice growing louder and louder. If I wanted to make a difference, I had to take a route and follow it through. I had to let my voice be heard.

Why Volunteer?

As Woodrow Wilson once said, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and to impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” This quote summarizes many of my beliefs towards the idea of volunteering. Caring for others is not something that comes naturally. It is something acquired through experience and through knowledge. Volunteering is something that can provide these components.

First, volunteering, though many do not realize, truly does make a difference. Many people question the impact one person can make on an entire population or in some cases part of an entire continent dying of hunger. It may be hard to believe, but one person doing good and helping others can in fact make a tremendous difference. This does not mean that change will be seen instantly, for the change must start from within. But by making the intention to help others, we are helping ourselves learn the art of empathy. When we care for others what we care for ourselves, then volunteering, no matter how small of a task, can make a difference.

Over the summer, I volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, an organization that packages food for those that are dying of hunger or malnutrition. Walking into the building, I did not see too many people. I remember asking myself how a room filled with only twenty people was going to help children in Africa who were dying as we spoke. But as time progressed, I was proven otherwise. For an hour we packaged boxes of food with specific samples of nutrients and in the end we learned that each box made 217 meals. That day we packaged six boxes. That comes to a total of 1,302 meals, and we were just one group that was packaging. It then hit me that no matter how small the task may seem to be, there is always a way to make a difference.

By volunteering, you are expanding your horizon. Instead of hearing about a calamity, you are standing up in the face of it to create change. Instead of reading it in the newspaper, you are reaching out with a helping hand. When we see the true pains that others are in, we are able to sensitize ourselves to the world. One may then wonder why he was chosen to have such blessings or why he isn’t the one starving. This type of thinking truly makes us appreciate our blessings. Volunteering is an activity everyone should partake in in the community. Because by volunteering, we are helping ourselves through helping others.

The Final Home

سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ “Peace be upon you for all that you have endured patiently. Now how excellent is the final home!” [13:24]

Ayah Reflection

As Ramadan came to an end, I began to reflect on what the month has taught me and what I could improve on. It was easy to notice certain things, but some came in the form of bigger realizations. For example, during Ramadan, it was easy to feel that sense of community. Whether it was praying side by side with my Muslim sisters during qiyam or listening to the beautiful echo of “Ameen” all throughout the mosque on taraweeh nights. It was this sense of community that also helped me fast until 8pm because I knew that an entire Muslim Ummah was doing the same. Although this unity helps strengthen bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, there is still an aspect of Ramadan that I learned only comes from within. It is the aspect of patience. This patience only comes when we realize we are not fasting because it is obligatory or because everyone around us is doing so—it is the patience that comes with fasting out of sincerity from the heart and cleanliness of the soul. 

This patience is obtained with determination and selflessness. I learned these through, for example, ignoring the loud grumbles of my stomach or through rereading certain difficult ayat of the Quran again and again until I got it right. It also means saying no to our desires and befriending something wiser—something with advice and the best of knowledge: The Holy Quran. As I would read the eloquent verses, sometimes I would feel guilty that I had never looked up the meaning or applied it to my life. There is so much advice and inspiration within every page and all we have to do is simply pick up the Quran and read: whether one page or an entire chapter, there is always something to take away. We must read, reevaluate, apply, and change for the better.  

On one of the days where I was reading, I came across this ayah that struck me. It made me both tremble and smile. In Surat Al- Raad verse 23, Allah(swt) describes the everlasting Gardens that those who have endured patience will enter. Angels shall enter from every gate saying, “Peace be upon you for all that you have endured patiently. So most excellent is the final home!” (13:24). The Final Home. I could not continue reading. For that moment, everything turned into a blur. How I wished to enter that Final Home, where I would be greeted by the Angels. What is this life in comparison, I thought? It is but a rest under the shade of a palm tree; it is but a test we must endure with patience. It is but a mere pit stop before the true destination. We all have the guidelines and we all have the keys to this Final Home, it is our job to protect these keys and to balance mind, body, and soul in the process.    

As I finished the surah, I realized that although this life is short and unimportant compared to the life of the hereafter, it is still the opportunity for us to connect with our Lord and become closer to Him in hopes of reaching that final destination. With patience, this life can bring us happiness, success, and contentment, but we must always remain on the straight path with the words of the Quran as our inspiration for living. Surely then, we can reach the Final Home inshAllah.  

Reminiscing Syria

As Francois Voltaire once said, “Our country is that spot to which our heart is bound.” But what is a bounded heart? Is a bounded heart tied with the ropes of love or the obligations of family? Over the summer of 2010, I discovered where and why my heart was bound. It was to the beautiful soils of “The City of Jasmine.” Syria was the destination of my travel and the departure of my unawareness. It was where I learned to love my country and admire its people.

The sound of honking cars made its way through the crowded streets of Damascus and into my grandfathers two by two. It was a sunny day, and I was squished next to my brother. I had no idea where we were going. “Mama, can’t we just go to the mall?” I asked. “Today we’re going somewhere different,” she replied. I trusted my mother, leaned back, and closed my eyes.“Get up, we’re in Old Damascus,” by brother yelled while slamming the door. I stepped out of the car, wondering what this trip would have in store for me. My camera was in hand and the streets of Syria where ready to be explored. We entered a narrow road, and I visualized a perfect picture. I pressed the button on my camera, but nothing happened: my batteries were dead. Here I was in one of the oldest cities in the world, and I had forgotten to bring extra batteries. “It’s ok, we can buy from these mini shops,” my mother said. Maybe there was hope.

I then went on a journey to find double A batteries, but little did I know that this quest would teach my something about the people of Syria. We entered one of the shops nearby. The man jumped to help us, no silent stalking like they do in America. He lined up all the kinds he had and I grabbed a pair. I placed it into my camera, but again nothing. He rushed to open another box, not caring about the mess around him. I took the next pair and placed it into my camera, making sure the positive and negative signs were aligned. It was again a failure. I began to question my own camera, when the man, again, began to rip the covering off a third pair. I prayed for the best, and finally got the green light. Even though it was his fault and we paid our price, the man also paid a different price. He demonstrated kindness and hospitality. He truly wanted to see the green light as much as I did, and he did anything to make me happy. This was just an ordinary man, but to me, he had extraordinary character. This sympathy and lack of selfishness is what defines many Syrians, and is the reason for my admiration.

Now that I had my camera, I was ready to see one of the oldest mosques in the world. I entered The Amawi Mosque with my right foot. Immediately, I felt blessed to enter such a magnificent place. The forty five minutes that I spent in that mosque felt like an entire day. From Syedna Yahya’s shrine to praying the Mughrib Prayer, everything was so authentic and faith instilled. It made me forget what I would do tomorrow and made me focus on how I would remember today. I could not believe that such a marvelous place was in Syria’s backyard. Who needs malls or restaurants, when you can travel back in time in a way that makes you love the present? Syria was my present, and I finally learned how to open it.

The day was over and it was time to head back. I seemed to enjoy everything about the ride home. The honking noise from cars now sounded like melodies while the scent of jasmine slowly flourished. My trip to Syria was one that I would never forget. It brought to my attention the kindness of its people and the significance of its history. I let my thoughts wonder until we finally got home. I left my grandfather’s car a new person. I left my grandfather’s car with a bounded heart. 

Please keep the people of Syria in your prayers. Freedom is for everyone.

اللهم انتصر لنا انتصارك لأحبابك على أعدائك
Allahomma n-tassir lana n-tisaraka li ahbabika ‘ala a’daa'ik. 
O Allah, give us the victory You give to those You love over Your enemies. 

Finding Order

Life is filled with desires, emotions, wants, and needs. It's easy to suddenly become obsessed with something or to completely forget something else. There will always be ups and downs and people will always be pulling us in different directions. This is the reality of life. As humans, we are composed of three components, each of which has the power to influence but can also be easily influenced if not maintained and tended to in the proper manner: they are the mind, body, and soul.


In this day and age, many of us tend to focus on our physical appearance. Whether that means taking extra trips to the gym or buying that new brand of mascara. We seek the approval of society and push to reach that outer image of perfection when it doesn't even exist. We were all made in the best manner and embracing our true selves is the real form of beauty. The body is one of the three important aspects and we should tend to it, but in a healthy manner. Prophet Mohammad (S) was one to care for his physical appearance-he always adorned perfume, kept his hair clean, and wore clothing that was well put together. But, he also made sure that every other component in his life was in balance. If all our energy is focused on what people will think of our appearance, then the other two components will lack the proper attention to thrive and reach a peaceful coexistence.

As for the mind, it is one of the most powerful of the components because it has the capability to influence both the body and the soul. It provides mankind with logic, intellect, and intuition. Much of the progress in the world is the result of many minds and the accumulation of knowledge. Seeking knowledge is the duty of every person for it provides the guidance to understanding the meaning of life and it aides in acquiring the ultimate happiness. Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet said, "For him who embarks on the path of seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him the way to paradise." The benefits to using ones mind for the sake of Allah (swt) are endless. From thikr to supplication, from memorizing to teaching, there are infinite ways to gain these deeds by simply using the minds we were granted. Although it seems easy discussing it, it's much harder to do it. Sometimes we find ourselves using our minds for the wrong reasons: engaging in pointless chatting via social networking or memorizing the sequence of events in a TV series. In these cases we are merely using the minimum capability of our minds when we could be further enhancing our knowledge or strengthening our intellect.


Many of us also spend a great deal of our time striving to be excellent academic students. Some feel satisfied making this, and obtaining a successful career, their priorities in life. In reality, there is a third component that builds up the core of a human being and is by far more important-the soul (rooh). When asked about the soul, the Prophet (S) said, "The rooh: it is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." [al-Isra 17:85] Although we know little of what the soul truly is, we know that it is what will return to our Lord and what will aid in testifying for our actions. The soul needs constant maintenance for it will loose sensitivity if not tended to for a long period of time. By reading Quran, praying, and making duaa, the soul surrenders(islam) itself and will feel at ease. This ease causes the body to rejoice and the mind to know its Lord. For "whoever knows his soul, knows his Lord".

Maintaining a balance of these three components is not easy, but it is our own personal task. It is a task that will bring happiness in both this life and the next. When the body, mind, and soul coexist peacefully, the heart will feel at rest for "surely in Allah's remembrance do hearts find peace."


With this concept in mind, I hope that my blog will be a place where there is a variety of information presented in a balanced way: things that pertain to the mind, body and soul. Thus, Miscellaneous Harmony. :)

Intention

As I created this blog for the first time, I began to question my motives. As with every action that we take, we must clearly evaluate our intentions. So in my mind, I layed out some reasons as to why I should click "create blog". 

Oh you want to know what they are...well:

1. To Share: Let's just say I have this one folder in my room. It's on the second shelf of my desk and it's beside a bunch of college-like papers I have so wonderfully collected. This folder is where I would store my short stories from middle school, then my poetry from highschool, and eventually articles for my college newsletter. It's a little ripped and overflowing to say the least. I didn't mind sharing what I wrote, it's just that I never found the opprotunity. I would read it to my family or present it at a dinner, but then it would just join the others. To make a long story short, I realized we live in a society where much is on the internet...maybe too much. But most importantly, that each of us is given a talent, a small special gift, and although sometimes manifested in unnoticeable things, not one gift is alike. So when we share, we are giving a little of our thoughts, our experiences, our lives to the world. So I wanna share. Like we did with crayons when we were younger. Only this time we are coloring the world just a little differently.

2. To Practice: There is a lot of knowledge in the world. (Did you know that Hippo milk is pink?). Not that you would benefit from knowing that, but if we all shared a little piece of knowledge, someone somewhere could benefit. Our lives should be filled with consistant quests for knowledge, and If I could share something with someone that they didn't know, I would feel satisfied. As Bukhari once said, "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." So I hope to practice what I learn, share what I experience, and contribute what I can to your personal quest in life.

I'll explain the meaning of the blog title later. I gotta go break my fast.

-Sarah J