The Shayateen are in chains
No, no, not like I’m observing this with some kind of jinn vision. But I have noticed that it is now supremely easy to wake up for fajr. My alarm is set for 4:50 am, but with only an average of two hours sleep I’m waking up before the alarm even goes off. I wake up wide-awake and alert, and with ample time to effectively use the last third of the night and eat suhur.
In the absence of Ramadhan, I usually have to fight grogginess and Matrix-type confusion whether I’m actually asleep-or-not. I have three alarms set-up, placed in different parts of my room. Yet, it’s nowhere near as easy enough to wake up for up fajr as it is now. Some people may say I’m waking up so easily so that I can eat suhur, I don’t know if this is true and Allah ta’ala best knows my intention. Still, I’m immensely grateful for the opportunities now, I just need to use them InshAllah.
The Youth are in the Masjids
This is my first Ramadhan back home, after spending 5 years as a student in London and Reading. I have to say Ma’shAllah the Masjids have been packed for the last two taraweeh prayers that I attended. This has been really noticeable, since five years ago this was not the case. The new attendees are now in the age range of 12-17. When I was 17, the same group of youth were in junior school, now they’re grown up (my, my, how kids grow?).
I know it doesn’t mean all of them know why they’re spending 2 hours a night praying. Some are following the crowd, some are just there to chill with mates, and some have been pulled along by their dads. Not to forget the “˜disappearing line’ trick that will begin next week. Still, for me, I was just glad that they were in a good environment and at least trying to pray. The Muslim youth are now growing in large numbers, many are on the right path, but many have gone astray. It is imperative to focus our da’wah efforts on the youth, without so, our future will be lost.
Nobody gives credit to my Ringtone
The one thing interesting I have noted about the high school/college youth is their propensity to display the latest phone on their necks, with ringtones on the phone that are not tones but actual full-blown musical tracks.
Given my efforts to be more of a youth, I decided to do the same. Though I went for something more decent than usual r&b/rap rubbish – I chose the xylophone introduction from Sami Yusufs’ “˜Allahu’ track. You see, it sounds sweet, is quite sharp (as in easy to hear) and I thought brothers would recognise the piece. Yet, NO-ONE has done so. When my phone rings, I let it ring for some time, hoping brothers would recognise the sound and then hoping for a comment like
“Ma’shallah, that’s from Sami Yusuf? How did you get that? Give it to me bro, InshAllah that would be a good thing to pass onto other brothers and the youth.”
Instead, it comes out like
“What are you doing bruvs? Did you spend 3 quid and download one of Madonna’s tracks?” (Walks away in disgust)
With me frantically trying to explain
“Nooooo, wait bro, bruvs, akhi, it’s Sami Yuuuuus-”
“Speak to the hand”
Ok, that’s somewhat exaggerated – any recommendations would be appreciated.
