The Race is On.

Sisters! How is everyone? How was your Ramadan? Did you do anything special for Eid? Did you eat lots of yummy stuff, hehe? Taqabal Allah mina wa minkum! May Allah accept our righteous deeds in the month of Ramadan. Jazak Allah to the sweet sisters who told us they missed us! awww! Just made my heart melt :)

So...what's going on here?

Well, one thing that tends to happen after Ramadan is we put our Qura'ns away- and soon enough, they start collecting dust all over again. We don't want that to happen, so....

we're hosting our very first competition, right here!

The competition: Answer 25 out of 30 questions right. The first person to answer (at least) 25 questions right, WINS!

The prize: I wanted to get us a sponsor but didn't end up finding the time to do that (sowwy), but I think the real prize is keeping our commitment with the Qur'an and striving to be one of those 'people of the Qur'an' known as the special people of Allah :)

Some of the questions are 'oh-so-easy' and some are 'a little challenging'...We have to take into account the different levels we have here at Dear Little Auntie :) We've got sisters who've just discovered Islam again and maybe just started reading the Qur'an...and we have some people who've been taking Islamic classes for years, ma'shallah :D :D

Now...We would prefer if you guys tried to find the answers by opening the Qur'an yourself, rather than using 'Mr.Google' or even a 'Quran Search'....But if you need to, sure, you can use them. You can have a partner or two! You can get your family involved, even :D

So....are you ready? (Just remember to write the surah and verse number and to type up/copy paste the verse, itself).

Part I:

List an ayah (write the verse and surah number) for each number written below.

For example: 12

Eg. You have a number of possibilities. You could write:

And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." (2: 60)

a. 4
b. 9
c. 300 (or you could think of it as 309)
d. 19
e. 10
f. 40

Part II Give an example (list verse and surah number and paste the actual verse):

a. ab animal talking to a human
b. a daughter talking to her father
c. a son (prophet) talking to his father (non-believer)
d. a son (non-believer) talking to his father (prophet)
e. a mother talking to Allah

(Together, those are the first 11 questions).

12. There is only one companion whose name is mentioned in the Qur'an. Who is he? Surah and Verse number please...


13. The Qur'an tells us to take two women as role models. Who are they? (Surah and verse number)


14. Name an  ayah in the Qur'an that is made up only one word and is not an 'oath'?


15. Name 4 surahs whose names are names of the Day of Judgment.


16. What are 5 characteristics of the servants of the Compassionate (Ar-Rahman)? (Surah and verse number)


17. Who does Allah declare war on in the Qur'an?


18. Which sura begins with a woman complaining about her husband?


19. The Qur'an mentions a man whose keys required a group of strong men to carry them. Who is he? 


20. What will testify against us on the Day of Judgment that didn't use to talk in this world...(There are a number of verses you can put).


21. There was one city that transgressed against Allah so He punished them by making the 'highest part of the city, the lowest" and raining upon them marked stones...What city is this?


22. What is the first and last call that Allah gives to people in the Qur'an?  In other words, the first and last time "O, mankind/people" appear in the Qur'an...[ So, here you are listing two separate verses.]


23. The Qur'an gives an example of people who take others/allies other than Allah as a certain creature and its home... Surah and verse number, please :)


24. In one verse in the Qur'an, there are two things mentioned that NONE of us know and can know. What are they? What verse is it?


25. Which surah has the word Allah in every single ayah at least once?


26. What was the last verse to be revealed? (There are '2' different ones that scholars have a difference of opinion on..)


27. What is the longest verse in the Qur'an?


28. The Qur'an tells us what the hell fire will say on the Day of Judgment. What will it say?


29. Where does the word Allah follow Allah immediately in the Qura'n? (In other words, the word Allah appears twice in one aya right after each other).


30. Find a verse with at least 6 of Allah's Names written.


Ready? Steady? GO!

DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENT SECTION. Any comment with any answer will be deleted. Just write in the comments if you're working on it/ will try to take up the challenge/ need clarification for any question.

Turn in your answers by e-mail or through the new and special contact form ONLY for this QUIZ below:




Alrighty?

The race is on :)

وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ

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Who is My Lord?

Asalamu aliakum wa rahmatullah wa barkatoo!

I read this poem by Shireen (over here) and had to share!

Who is My Lord?

Everything in my life is a blessing from my creator,
The one who creates life, The dominant - all maker
HE knows about everything in the heavens and the earth
From his Greatest creations to the small particles in the dirt

He blesses me with things that I need,
Even the ones about which I never speak
Its only His fear that causes me to weep
HE keeps forgiving me because I am weak

HE honors whom he wants and so does he humiliate
HE is the one who is ever willing to appreciate
Even the smallest of deeds that I do for His sake
I just need to turn back to him, no matter how grave the mistake.

He is the Lord of the Kingom, Majesty & Generosity
His help is all I need in the times of Adversity..
Nothing in this world matters, Except His Approval,
HE is my Lord, The Ever Living, The Eternal.

The One who answers me and chooses to look beyond my disobedience,
HE deals with me in a gentle manner with abundant amounts of patience
He is Especially Mericful, Yet He is The Most Just
He resurrects us all after we have turned into Dust

Perfection is His attribute and So is Self Sufficiency
He is aware of the struggles that go on within Me
On that day He will bless his slaves with his Mercy
When all his slaves will just say ''Nafsy, Nafsy''

Even if the entire world asks of Him everything they ever wished for
From wealth to health, to women, to children, to heavens and much more
It does not even effect the treasures of My Lord, not in the least bit
It will take fom His treasures as much as a needle takes after an ocean's dip

He is The Guide, He is The Light, He is The One, He is The Last
He knows about each one of us, Our present, Future and even Past
He rewards His Slaves with all that No ear has heard or no eye has seen,
He knows about What Is, What Has, What Will or What could have been

I get tired of worshipping Him but He never gets tired of rewarding me,
I am His slave and nothing is more beloved to me than this slavery...

____

(Go here to read Part 2 of the poem.)

I also encourage you to explore her blog and read her notes on the Names of Allah. Very enlightening and refreshing, ma'sahAllah.

Also, there are some surprises coming up here on this blog. I apologize to all the sisters who sent us e-mail from JULY . Trust me when I say that we didn't really 'get a summer vacation' at all and things have been super hectic. We're trying to fix that :)

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One Day to Live

Asalaamu ailaikum wa rahmatullah wa barkatoo!

Dear Sisters....I thought we could all work on this question together that a reader turned in :) I'd really like to see your suggestions and advice! So I'm putting up the question first and inshaAllah, later I'll add my two cents ;)

I have a question but my e-mail don't work!

I wonder if a person has a short time to live! what can the person do to go to paradise? if the person has not pray as a Muslim should pray for some reasons. If the person feels that nothing he does seems enough because he did not pray like everyone else! and was a real idiot in this life, and if the person wants to get a second chance and become a true Muslim but has a very short time to live what can he do? what would you advise a very sinful Muslim to do if he was dying and had one day left to live?

Anonymous

p.s. I hope you are all having a fantabulous Ramadan :)

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My Broken Family Breaks My Heart

I don't know quite how to say this, I don't want to ruin the Ramadan buzz everyone has going on, but this is really breaking me apart. My family seems so...broken. There are arguments and disputes so much. It really hurts me because I love all my family so much. They should get along...they should see that it's Ramadan and they should make an effort at least. But that's not the main problem...the main thing is that my sister, who has had enough as well, is thinking of running away. I know this won't make anything better and now I need advice...
Thanks,
BrokenFamily

Assalamu Alaykum Dear Sister,

Your letter makes me want to give you one huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge hug. Here it is: HUGGGGG!
I can feel your pain; you really care about your family and it's so frustrating when it seems to be that they just don't get along for the sake of it. But, honey, if you really want to help them, try to look at it from their perspective...
Be empathetic. This means you've got to try to feel how they feel and truly understand what they think. It's really not that hard. Just pretend you're in their shoes. What problems are they facing? Do they really intend to be nasty? Why are they so angry/upset/lost/confused?

See?

You'll figure out that everyone in your family is facing some kind of their own troubles, obstacles and battles.
Now you can't be a superhero and make all these troubles ZAP away, unfortunately.
But you can do something which is actually a lot more amazing, a lot more powerful - you can make DUA.
Just find a quiet corner in your house, raise your hands up and plead. Plead with everything you've got inside you and spill out to your Lord. Allah loves you. He can help you and He wants you to ask Him for His Glorious Aid.

Keep Asking. Keep Asking. Keep Asking. Just Keep Pleading. However many days or weeks or months go by - keep asking.

HAVE HOPE and KEEP THE HOPE. I urge this to you dear sister, because Allah answers all our dua. Just remember to MAKE DUA.

As well as this, you can be a positive role model for your whole family;
You can be polite and respectful. You can be sure not to argue. You can be sure to obey your elders and pray and fast and give charity - and smile.


Maybe they will see this and try to do the same. You never know.


A simple smile can work so many wonders dear sis, please do try to smile more than you already do (: .

Maybe, also, you can try and help your family build more positive times together. Why not asking your sisters to pray with you at the mosque (since it is Ramadban)? Or asking your family if they are interested in having a Eid vacation this year. It doesn't have to be something fancy- maybe just a trip to a nearby town- but sometimes, going out, leaving the negative area, and building positive memories together is all that you need to do. Maybe you can get a simple board game and invite the family to play it together?

I do want to say though that I am a little concerned about your sister though; I think you need to show her that you are there for her. You may not be able to heal the wounds she may carry, but you can show her you're there. You can give her a hug when her face looks glum. You can be there. That may be all she needs.
Please do check this though for further advice for your sister. If it looks like she is very serious, you should bring up the issue with one of your parents.

Most of all, despite the fact you may feel scared and upset - never forget to always go to Allah.
Because He can help you. Pray your Salah with so much sincerity and plead and plead and plead.

'Voyage to your Lord, even if broken and bruised'

It's now your time to shine.

the wound is where the light enters

Have hope in Allah, make dua - Let the Light Enter.

I pray for a peaceful Ramadan for all my sisters, and peace in the home and in the heart. Ameen

Lots of Love. Please try, at least, to smile. :)

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