The Voices in My Heart

Assalamu
Alaikum

Marriage is an acquired relationship between a man and a
woman as part of bringing together and expanding families. In Islam, utmost
importance is given to marriage by Allah. Several reasons for marriage are: 1)
Establishing Kinship

 2) Protecting One’s Chastity

 3) Spread Islam Through Children

  4) And
many more…

It is important to realise that nothing in the world happens without Allah’s (swt)
intentions. No marriage is a curse, especially if it is between two God-fearing
people. In fact, marriage is more of a test for every couple to understand and
accept each other’s differences and build their lives around it. Once married,
a person is no more an individual, they would have to think about the other
half of them they have left behind at home.

Anger is shaithaan. This is clearly stated in the Quran and
in hadiths; that when one gets angry, say “a’uzubillahi minashaithaannir
rajeem” (Sahih Al- Bukhari 8.136). Anger spoils Imaan. Therefore, anger should
be kept at bay, especially in a marriage. The more composed one is, the better
his life would be. Marriage is about compromise; one cannot say that he/she is
always compromising and the spouse isn’t and be angry about it – because that
is what Allah (swt) has intended. Keep Allah’s (swt) intentions for your life
in mind and anger will not come upon you, Inshah Allah.

Marriage is about overcoming each other’s insecurities. In a
marriage, patience and tolerance are the best virtues to be kept forward. One
is to be patient and his/her spouse and in case of any wrong doing, to correct
it in any way that neither party is offended or hurt.

One way to maintain marital relationships strong is by doing
religious duties together; from praying fard prayers to Haj and every other
religious activity like reciting the Quran and teaching each other the
religion. No man can know the religion so perfectly that he needn’t have
someone tell him something he does not know. That is in fact the beauty of
Islam – which it is a learning journey that never ends. Memorise surahs together, decipher the
meanings of ayahs together; these are indeed ways to build your relationship at
the same time taking more steps in the path to Jannah.

The primary
thought that every individual have to keep in mind is that the world is a
battlefield and we as Muslims are warriors of Islam. No more emphasis can be
given to KEEP SHAITHAAN AT BAY. Always think in terms of Allah (swt) and Islam,
fear no one except Allah (swt). No entity is worth to be feared by a Muslim
other than God. Keep in mind that respect and fear are entirely different.
Respect your fellow Muslims, humans and all of Allah’s (swt) creations, but
fear on Allah (swt). Allah (swt) alone has been responsible for you have been
through and what you would be going through.

Marriage is
a blessing from Allah (swt) and loved by Allah (swt). And it is almost natural
for shaithaan to hate whatever Allah (swt) loves. Therefore, shaithaan is
always persuing ways to break a marriage. It is the duty of a married couple to
keep shaithaan at bay by not getting angry, being entirely devoted to Allah
(swt) alone and being prepared to face every test that is ought to come your
way.

In the mind
of every married person, there should be no doubt about the marriage. It should
be instilled in every individual’s mind that no marriage is destined for
divorce. Every marriage can work, if both parted put equal effort in making it
work. A marriage should not be broken because one cannot tolerate the character
of his/her spouse. That is such a shame one brings onto him/herself.

Work on
compromise, Ask Allah (swt) for guidance and accept all kinds of guidance be it
being from a close relative or one’s child. It does not matter who is the one
giving the advice, it is about what is being said in the advice. In the end,
every word you hear or say is with Allah’s (swt) intentions.

Our duty as
good, God fearing Muslims is to work our way towards Jannah, nearer to our Lord
in the path He has cast for us. Marriage is a blessing that comes with its fair
share of Allah’s (swt) tests in it. Our job is to overcome the difficulties, not
give up and make the best out of what we are given.

Salaam.

Irfana
Ikbal

Hey guys…

Isn’t it kinda sad that everything is like coming to an end? just about a month ago, i was estatic that my time in NYP is soooo over! but now…. why does it have to be that i’m closer to my classmates only during the last few weeks of the final sem?

like seriously, i have never felt closer to some of u guys in MB0404 than now in these 3 years. i have never really got to know any of u guys any better than i have in year 1. it’s a sad thing, i know… but what the heck, it’s all over now right.

I hope u guys got the testimonials i have personally, PERSONALLY written for u. those who didnt get it….. do u have a friendster account to start with?  if so, lemme noe, i do have something to say to u. you may never know, it might be the best thing that ever happened to u. whahahaha

but whoever got it, don’t be disheartened if u see repetitions in another’s profile k. some stuff that i repeated time and again

1. HEY YOU!
2. Surprised?
3. all the best in the exams and everything after that!
4. though i have not much memories to share…
5. It was great to have u as my classmate
6. buzzing off… ~fana (i can’t change my name to lydia yet)

but just to let u know…(slow music plays i the background) every single word i said, came from the bottom of my heart. i’m really gonna miss u guys like crazy…Some of u guys really make me look forward to coming to class everyday, whether u know it or not… although some testimonials were short and some were long… it doesn’t mean i love u any lesser (haha, i sound like a mum talking to her kids.. eww), maybe i said less coz i have so much to say, but i don’t know where to start…

u guys are great, though we were like the silent-est, most dysfunctional class EVER! i think it’ll take a lot more than a hard knock on my head to forget all of u.

even if u have hated me for the most of the 3 years… dun hate me anymore k? haha. but i can tell u one thing though… if u have known me enough… ur not gonna meet another person like me ever. i’m pretty sure of that. u know y? coz I’m fana. whahaahahhaa! 

to Jy, kelly, CJ, kim, michelle, geraldine and whoever i forgot to mention…(you guys did not receive anything frm me. dun blame me k, gimme ur friendster acct la! i have so much to say!)

All the best in ur exams and everything after that…

buzzing off…
~fana

This is a
conversation between a friend of mine and I on Music.

It may seem like,
what’s there to talk about… 

But this
conversation has some information that websites and other sources don’t easily
give u.

Remember, this
chat is between 2 people from this era, very normal people like u guys. So if u
can’t understand what this is about, I don’t know what u can understand.

Islam is a way of
life. How does Islam affect a daily activity like music? Here are two different
views for you.

m s: ok got a topic

m s: Music!!

fana: ok

m s: so wht do u think
of it

fana: The best music is
reading the quran melodiously.

fana: and music other
than that… like modern music - hip hop blah blah

m s: tht aint the music
im talking abt!!

fana: are deeds of shaitaan.

m s: wht abt singing?

fana: see, listen to
what i have to say 1st before jumping into conclusions…

fana: singing.. depends
on lyrics. singing in praise of Allah is alright…. but other than that.. no.

fana: so songs and
stuff……. im trying my best to drift away from them

fana: what about u?

m s: well i dont find
any thing wrong ; like singing love songs coz u already knw tht wthever u say
sing or speak in tht is not true and its to the best of ur knowledge and even
everybody knows pretty well tht whtever sung is nt true but jus and
"imagination"

m s: coz i too do sing
some songs ; seldom;

m s: but songs
containing filty vulgar or worst words shud no way be excused!

fana: but why do
something untrue and imaginative when there are real stuff to worry about?

fana: when a mum sings
a lullaby… i can understand… there’s purpose.. but what the purpose of
these songs?

m s: coz in this world
imagination is the only thing every1 can think abt!

m s: and even its my
own opinion ;The most easiest thing in this world is Imagination only; wheras
the toughest thing is Doing it practically!

m s: my own theory@

fana: i can think about
tons of stuff other than imagination. like memorizing the quran for God’s sake.

fana: yes, that’s
true…..

fana: imagination is
easy…. bringing it to practice is tough…..

fana: go ahead and
imagine….

m s: ya

fana: but don’t waste
time and money on others’ imaginations, coz their only desire out of imagining
songs out is to make money and fame…

fana: how much of it do
u think goes to Praising God?

fana: almost none.

m s: well ok lets
accept as u said tht music is wrong; but how did u declare it wrong? i mean the
reason?

m s: yeah true i agree
with u; but singers are not only to sing love or pop songs ther are even
singers who sings songs praising allah

fana: it’s based on
questions…… why would one… wanan sing out his/her personal/intimate
feelings? isn’t that s’posed to be restricted to one’s imagination only? where
is haya (this
term is explained later in the convo.) in that?

fana: yes, singing
songs in praise of Allah is by all means agreeable

fana: but love songs
and stuff? i feel it’s a waste of time.

m s: hmmm..ok

m s: but whts the
reason for wch music has been prohibited in isalm?

fana: it is a
distraction… that’s the main reason…. if im not wrong

fana: distraction from
Worship. don’t u think?

m s: the reason? as i
already said earlier: ther is no rule existing in islam thts has no specific
reason; and to add to it. it has been proved scientifically /is being /and will
be proved Scientifically (every rule) (say alcohol and pork as we discussed on
it)

m s: how cud u say
distraction? was tht the correct or exact word?

fana: ok… tell me the
hadith related to musical instruments

m s: nope sorry not
acceptable ..distracting! coz u may go to salat do everything as usual and
listen to music in

ur

free time..so wht do usay

m s: ok talking abt
hadees

m s: music was
prohinited in isalm ; coz of the main reason ..it intoxictes ppls mind..

fana: ok, im speaking
from my personal experience… it is a distraction because, when im praying, in
the back of my mind…. i’m singing the song i just heard. and it diverts my
concentration from prayers.

m s: it acts as
intoxicant..like many of the rock’ pop english musics do i agree ..but not all;
ther are amany kind of musics as mentioned rock; pop; slow; etc;.

fana: yes, exactly,
intoxicates the mind.

fana: no matter slow or
fast……

fana: it is still
intoxicating

fana: does one go off
unpunished coz he killed a person with a slow poison and the other gets
punishment coz he used a fast poison? [analogy]

m s: hmm okie but it
never happened with me..though i dont hav a TV or music sys in my home; to be
frank; i hear the music  whn my neighbours play it loud..and for jus a 3-4
times if i hear it it gets memorised in my mind even if i dont wish ..saying
truth..

m s: nope slow poison
and fst poison is entirely diff

fana: it still kills

m s: considering music
slow and pop makes a lot of difference

fana: the punishment
for murder is still the same.

m s: whn u hear a slow
song it touches ur heart and reflects ur feeling whr as a fast song doesnt do
tht abv but jus make u tap ut foot like of pop or rock music

fana: yes, but what
touches

ur

heart is the lyrics and the music. and the lyrics are intimate
(in a love song) and if im not wrong…. wind instruments are not allowed?

m s: well hang on i
remember another hadees

fana: intimacy is
limited between a married couple or one’s mind. it’s not somethnig that can be
shared out in the public. in this way, how can a song, slow or fast….. be
appropriate?

m s: hav u heard of
tambourine (which is open on one side and covered on the other).known as daff
..

fana: yes

m s: well ok but as i
said b4 it shudnt contain filty vulgar words unless ; otherwise its ok

m s: so hw come prophet
allow it in islam?

m s: as u said slow
poison or fst poison has the same ppunishment?

m s: so y isnt tht ; i
mean

ur

theory applied at this instant?

m s: i mean y was it
allowed by prophet saw?

(at
this moment, I took quite a while to reply – btw, lemme say… I do not get
trapped or confused easily)

m s: trapped? confused?

fana: what was the daff
used for?

fana: no, i was looking
at a site

m s: ok search it on..

m s: daff was used at
many times not a specific situation like whn our prophet saw entered mina city
; to welcome him ther the dance gals played daff; at this abu bakar RA stopped
them by playing the daff ; then prophet asked him not to stop it for its a time
of jashn ; eid..

fana: whatever it
is…. i would stand by what i say…. that music and songs… those that are
from movies and

hollywood

are not desirable. i will not call it haraam. i have no right
to. but singing out personal feelings in terms of songs and enticing people by
that… i do not feel it’s right. singing in praise of Allah (like Sami yusuf),
go ahead.

fana: that’s what i
feel.

fana: singing songs
with no purpose attached to it is just a waste of time.

m s: as alcohol will be
given different names and consumed by ppl; similarly musical instruments wil be
used as a sourceof meeriment to attract men and bring them towards evil acts ;
like attracting men towards sex; thru dancing womens while playing music..tis
is also a reason..

fana: ok, u tell me..
is that reason acceptable?

m s: ya ther u r;
singing songs with no purpose? how could it be w/o a purpose? its feelings and
imagination expressed in words songs..

m s: y not ? how would
u say thts not acceptable.

m s: its a true hadees
narrated by a sahaba ; not my own words

fana: how come u omit
out whatever i said to

ur

convenience? did i not say about singing out personal feelings?
that it is not islamic morale to do that?

m s: hmm hav to think
deep.

fana: singing to attract
men towards evil acts, towards sex thru dancing women while playing music is
acceptable?

fana: that’s what im
asking u?

m s: oh i mean tht
reason was acceptable coz tths true.

fana: it is acceptable
to sing to attract men towards evil acts, towards sex thru dancing women while
playing music in islam?

m s: nope

fana: then?

fana: in what way is it
acceptable?

m s: but if it doesnt
evolve such things then whts worng?

fana: can u define haya
for me?

m s: hmm

m s: u mean the shy
nature

fana: ok, yes

m s: haya as in things
wch u need to keep upto u;

m s: never reveal it to
others

fana: yes……wait,
let me say what i wanna. hold

ur

thoughts

m s: but singing doesnt
contain any such haya things

fana: ok

fana: whn this is all
haya….. and haya is emphasised in islam as morals and manners….. why is
singing about one’s personal feelings for a man/woman… something that one is
even hesitant to share with one’s family and friends be acceptable?

fana: of course, there
is no hadith talking about it in this way….

fana: but in the long
run, it comes to thinking about our deeds

fana: whether it makes
sense

m s: whtever i dont
agree..

m s: Hence Ibn ‘Abbaas
said: “Idle talk” is falsehood and singing. Some of the Sahaabah said one and
some said the other, and some said both. Singing is worse and more harmful than
stories of kings, because it leads to zinaa (sexual relationships out of marriage) and makes
hypocrisy grow (in the heart); it is the trap of the Shaytaan, and it clouds
the mind. The way in which it blocks people from the Qur’aan is worse than the
way in which other kinds of false talk block them, because people are naturally
inclined towards it and tend to want to listen to it. The aayaat condemn
replacing the Qur’aan with idle talk in order to mislead (men) from the path of
Allaah without knowledge and taking it as a joke, because when an aayah of the
Qur’aan is recited to such a person, he turns his back as if he heard them not,
as if there were deafn

fana: well, u have

ur

opinions i have mine. neither of us can force our ideas into
each other.

m s: yeah but i hav to
convince u..

fana: which site did u
get that excerpt from?

m s: okie thts a hadees

fana: yes, but u got it
from a site….

fana: which is it?

m s: yeah thts frm
irf.com

m s: queries ; sorry i
lost tht link; sys was hang so had to change sys

m s: no probs will let
u knw 2morow

fana: ok

(convo ends)

If you have made
it here, wow, I’m glad.

Well, I know my
views can be intense. Im not even intending that any one of u must and MUST
listen to what is said here. Go ahead, have

Ur

own opinion.

I just hope this
makes u think about every activity you do everyday.

Hell is not as
easy as u think it is, and heaven is more heavenly than you have ever imagined.

Your life is in

Ur

hands. Don’t waste it.

Your comments are
very welcomed. (though i doubt anyone of u would say a thing)

Buzzing off…
fana~