Start now! Don't hesitate
27th February 2022
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
If only you could see me jumping for joy as I send out my first ever weekly newsletter. Alhamdulillah, I got this far.
On my way to this point, I bumped into sheikh But. You know him? I’m sure you do. He’s that voice in our head who says ‘not now, later’ whenever you plan to take action. You plan to setup a website, pray tahajjud, or call a relative you haven’t spoken to for a while and the voice says ‘not now, later’.
You know the action is beneficial for you in this life and the next Insha’Allah, but you hesitate and make excuses.
That happened to me as I setup tajimustafa.com and this newsletter.
I like to be prepared and study what I am about to start before taking action. One thing I've learnt and need to do more of is to JUST DO IT. Start, take the first step, and make dua for Allah's help in whatever that endeavour is.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get a general idea or plan of where we want to go but we shouldn’t wait till all the steps are absolutely clear before starting. What's the worst that can happen? We fail and learn and are richer from the experience so better prepared to try again. What’s the best that can happen? Starting and taking action builds momentum and clarity of how things should be done, insha’Allah.
May Allah (swt) put barakah in our projects and enable us to take action. Ameen
How do you overcome that inner voice saying ‘not now, later’? Let me know.
Have a great week, insha’Allah. Love and salams.
Taji
🧔 What have I been up to?
I wrote an article on Russia's invasion and when I lived in Ukraine. I remembered my time there as a student and the situation of Muslims in the Crimea under Russian occupation.
📖 Ayah and Hadith
وَٱذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا
Remember what is recited in your houses of God’s revelations and wisdom, for Allah is all subtle, all aware. [Sura Al-Ahzab 33:34]
“Quote of the Week
“Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” ― Anonymous Greek Proverb
I love this. We need to strive for Allah’s pleasure and embark on Islamic projects knowing that even though we might not live to see the fruits, we know we obeyed Our Lord (swt), fulfilled our duty, and that Allah’s reward is awaiting us in the hereafter, inshaAllah.
❤ My Favourite Things
Podcast - When We Remember Him – The Digital Sisterhood. Halima Aweis, popularly known as Jedi.limz on Tiktok shares her story of how the sudden awareness of her father’s illness pushed her towards understanding that true rest only comes from Allah (swt). Great listen.