MY AUNTS INCREDIBLE HIJAB STORY
by Marwa Atik:
In 1979 my grandfather made the decision to leave his home in Syria and start a new life the U.S. The plan was that my grandfather would come to California first and then my grandmother would follow along with their 7 children. Their American Airlines Flight #191 reservations included a stop in New York then a connection in Chicago before finally arriving in California.
They landed in New York first. All immigrants first had to apply for a green card before their next destination. My then 13 year old Aunt Hala had recently put on the hijab. When it came time for her photo, they asked my aunt to remove her hijab(headscarf) and she said NO. They consistently informed her that she would not be able to move to America or go to their next flight until she took this photo but she was steadfast and insisted on her rights.
By now my grandmother became impatient, having flown half-way across the globe and having spent close to their life savings on these tickets, she did not want to miss the next flight out to California. My grandmother pleaded and told her to remove it and to do what the immigration officers told her to do, but my aunt continued to refuse. They called her into the back and she told them It doesn't matter how many people you call in, I will not remove my hijab for this photo. After the officers called their supervisors and three brutal hours later, they finally released my aunt and allowed her to keep her headscarf on for the photo. However, by then it was too late, the entire family had missed their connecting flight and they had to purchase new plane tickets and stay overnight in New York. Furious and upset, my grandmother lectured my aunt the whole flight to California.
By the time they finally arrived to LAX California, my grandfather greeted them with the biggest hug and was in tears. He kept repeating "Hamdulilah you're alive! Hamdulilah you're alive!" And they were like, well yeah why wouldn't we be??
He said, " The original flight you were supposed to get on crashed, and all 271 passengers died."
They were all in shock and overwhelmed; everyone was brought to tears.
This story is an important reminder for us that everything in life is written and one should always be principled and stick to their beliefs no matter the situation you're put in. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala was testing her belief and if what you believe in is right, then Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala will never forget about you. ️ Stories like this make me fall in love with the hijab all over again.
With all the islamophobia going around, I just wanted to remind people the importance of staying strong in your deen, no matter what anyone thinks or says.
Her story reminded us of the following verse in the Qur'an:
Qur'an: 3:159:
" Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in ALLAH, certainly, ALLAH loves those who put their trust (in him)."
FURTHER READING
WHAT ISLAAM SAYS ABOUT DATING
NEVER SAY NEVER
CO-WIVES SPEAK OUT
WHAT’S BETTER: BEING A CO-WIFE OR A MISTRESS?
REALITY OF “MUSLIM” WEDDINGS
ENGLISH NAZMS
URDU NAATS – NO MUSIC
CHILDREN’S NAZMS
ARABIC NASHEEDS – NO MUSIC
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The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stood at the edge of a grave and cried and he then said: "O my brothers! For this (death), prepare yourselves."
(Ibn Majah)
A man asked the Messenger: "Who is the most wise of people O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "The one who remembers death most often and the one who is well-prepared to meet it; these are the wise; honourable in this life and dignified in the Hereafter."
[Ibn Majah,Tabarani]
Do good deeds before it's too late
Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions.'' Then (giving a warning) he said, "Are you waiting for poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion, or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or a disease which will disable you, or senility which will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death which will take you all of a sudden, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected, or the Hour; and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter.''
[At-Tirmidhi]
Your death is nearer than you think it is
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) drew a few lines and said, "One of them represents man and another indicates death; and a man continues like this until the nearest line (i.e., death) overtakes him.''
[Al-Bukhari]
The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "How can I feel at ease when the Angel of the Trumpet (Israfil, who blows the trumpet on the Judgement Day) has put his lips to the Trumpet and is waiting for the order to blow it."
He (Peace Be Upon Him) also said "O people, remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first Blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all living beings to die) has come, followed by Ar-Radifah (i.e., the second Blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises. Death has approached with all that it comprises.'
4 Simple Tips to Prepare for Death
1) Learn the do’s and dont’s: When you have recognized Islam as the true religion and chosen it as your way of life then you must know the laws of the deen so that you can start practising it. Learn about the permissible and impermissible matters, so that you know which actions will make you a beloved slave of Allah and take you to Paradise, and which actions will make you a follower of Shaitaan and take you to Hell-Fire.
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make the path to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari)
2) Attain Taqwah: If you have knowledge but lack Taqwah, then you cannot practice the deen with devotion. Only those who have knowledge about Allah and about the life after death, truly fear Him as He should be feared, and only those will stay away from His disobedience. So, read about what awaits you in the life after your death and infuse the love for Jannah and fear of Hell in your heart.
'Umar (RadiAllahuanhu) said, "Taqwa is not by fasting the day and not by praying the night. And its not by mixing between the two of them. But Taqwa is leaving what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) has made forbidden and by doing what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) has made obligatory. After one has done this, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will provide good things for that person."
3) Be passionate about performing good deeds: Grab opportunities to do good deeds. Learn ways to make your scale of good deeds heavy on Judgment Day (such as these ahadith- Allah’s Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "The heaviest thing to be placed in the balance of a believing slave on the Day of Judgement will be good behaviour." (At-Tirmidhi).
"There are two statements that are light for the tongue, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-'Adheem.'' [Al-Bukhari].
"If the seven heavens and the earth were placed on one side of the scale, and 'la ilaha ill-Allaah' was placed on the other, the side in which 'la ilaha ill-Allaah' is placed will be heavier." [Al-Bukhari])
Allah Ta’ala says "And the weighing on that day (Day of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing). So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise). And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their ownselves (by entering Hell), for they wrongfully treated Our Signs." (Qur'an 7:8)
4) Invoking Allah Ta’ala for His Mercy and His guidance: Remember it is only Allah Ta’ala who creates ways for you to earn hasanaat (good deeds) and it is He who gives you the strength to stay away from evil. So sincerely pray to Him to guide and have mercy on you, your family and the ummah.
Allah's Apostle (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the Hell Fire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah's Apostle?" He (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)."
(Sahih bukhari)
May Allah make it easy for us.
Further Reading
SMILE
SEVEN BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERISTICS WHICH MAKE A WIFE EXCEPTIONAL
BEAUTIFUL POWERFUL SAYINGS OF BELOVED MASTER ﷺ
KIBR (PRIDE/ARROGANCE)
DOUBLE DOSE OF …?
10 THINGS TO HAND DOWN TO YOUR DAUGHTER
11 TIPS FOR MUSLIM WOMEN FACING MARITAL DISPUTES
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HUSBAND HAPPY
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