As Salaam Alaykum Iram

As Salaam Alaykum Iram!

I pray that you are doing well, insha Allah. Iram, I’m writing to you from the Tarbiya and Ilm camp and it’s ending today. Alhamdulillah, it went so well and I don’t want it to end today. Alhamdulillah, this year’s camp was very beneficial to me. I really, really, really want you to come next year. I think it would be a positive life changing experience for you as well.

Here I was away from distractions of the dunia and was able to focus only on pleasing Allah (SWT). It is so important to do this! How many times during the school year do we get together for halaqas or wakeup early in the morning with close friends to pray Qiam? We don’t very much, but here I was brought together with Muslim women and we loved each other for the sake of Allah and we remembered Allah in so many ways every day and every night of the camp.

I’m loving the Quran more and more and realizing what an amazing miracle it is. Subhana Allah. The word of GOD, and I used to just let it sit idly on the shelf. Iram, there is so much beauty in this world that Allah has sent down for us and one beautiful thing is sisterhood for the sake of Allah. We all come here to please Allah and no other reason and because of this we loved one another and made sure that we didn’t do anything wrong. In fact we worked our hardest to make sure our sisters were doing things to benefit them in the hereafter.

I’ve come to a point in life where I’m understanding that my worldly obsessions were of no use to me. Looking attractive like any non-Muslim and my own emotional status consumed m heart and intentions. What was I really dong for the sake of Allah? Very little.

Remember our purpose in this life. We have sent a messenger and a book with pure guidance. Open the book, accept it and implement its rules the way you live life. This was difficult for me to do at first because its easier to live life with Shaitan ruling us – he makes us feel good, but for a short while. I want to live life in a righteous way. When I die – which maybe at any time – Allah will ask me about my actions and I want to be able to say that I lived my life to obey Him. Here I was surrounded with good company that always reminded me of his goal. The best of friends that always reminded me of this goal. The best of friends is she who brings you closer to Allah (SWT) (from a hadith I believe) and the worst of friends is one who brings you away from Allah. Let us try to be the best of friends.

I had not thought about death for a long time because I’m so busy with this life. I thought deeply about death this past week and realized that I might die before I finish writing this letter to you. So I’ll take the opportunity before it’s too late to say that I love you for the sake of Allah and hope for only the best for you in this dunia, for your deen, and your aakhira. It’s a difficult journey at times but it’s a journey to the Truth for all mankind. Never lose hope in Allah (SWT) for He knows and understands everything that is happening in our lives and He does all things for a reason. We are being tested always. Will we make the right decisions? Make sincere du’aa to Allah (SWT) and He will listen to you. Just have the strong faith that He will. He is not oblivious to the trials and tribulations in our lives and He loves us because we believe in Him. Let us not ignore the love and guidance of Allah. “And those who disbelieved say: ‘Why is not a sign sent down to him (Muhammad) from his Lort?’ Say: ‘Verily Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides onto Himself those who turn to Him in repentance.’ Those who disbelieved and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah: Verily in the rememberance of Allah do hearts find rest” Al-Quraan 13:27-28

I hope that you can come to this camp next year and if not then I hope insha Allah we can all work to better ourselves and find rest in the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and learn more about the life of the Prophet (SAWS).

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Love,