The Benefits of Ayat Al Kursi ♡

Everyone knows that the Quran is a great way to keep bad things away and learn about anything you need to know, to living a blessed life. However, there is an ayat in particular that even the prophet Muhammed PBUH spoke of, that is said to give it's reader great benefits in this life and the after life upon reading it. Unless you haven't read the title of this article then by now you should know that the ayat is ... Ayat Al Kursi. (It is found on verse 254 - 255 of the Quran I believe in Surat Al Baqara).

Here are some of the many advantages of this blessed ayat :

1 - It is the cheif ayat of the Quran & is said to be from the threshold of the throne of Allah.
2- It includes 'Ism el Azeem' (the blessed name of Allah, that when made in a duaa the duaa will be fulfilled )
3-  Whoever recites ayat al Kursi after each prayer will be protected until the next prayer ; and there will be no barrier between him/her from Jannah (paradise) except for death.
4- When it is read before bed, God will send down an angel to protect the reader until morning.
5- Whoever reads it upon entering a home ; Satan will find it impossible to stay and will run away.
6-  When the ayat is recited upon leaving your home ; Allah will send down 70,000 angels to do 'istighfaar' (repent) for the you.
7-  When the ayat is recited in the morning, the reader will be protected by Allah until the evening.
8-  When the ayat is recited ,the reader, his children, home, wealth, property and the homes of his neighbours are safe.
9 - When recited with the last Ayat of Surah Baqarah then the plea of the reader will not go unattended.
10 - Whosoever reads it together with the last Ayats of Surah Baqarah (including ayat al kursi), Shaitaan does not enter his home for at least three days.
11- When one is alone in the house, recitation of Ayatul Kursi and asking Allah for help will make you remain calm and you will not fear.

Here are some quotes by the Prophet Muhammed PBUH and other holy men about the ayat :

 Hadhrat Abu Qatada (RA) narrates that Prophet (SAW) : Whoever reads Ayatul Kursi and the last Ayat of Surah Baqarah when in difficulty, then Allaah listens to that plea."

Hadhrat Ibne Anas (ra) says the Prophet  (saw) said: The one who recites Ayatul Kursi after every Fard Salaat, Allaah will grant him a gratifying heart, actions of the truthful and reward like the prophets (ambiya) .Special mercies will descend upon him, and death is the only barrier from his entrance into Jannat. On dying he will enter Jannat"

Hadhrat Ibne Masood (ra) says that a person requested Rasulallaah (saw) to teach him something that will benefit him. "Nabi (saw) said "Read Ayatul Kursi, it will protect you, your children, home and even those houses surrounding your house."

Holy Prophet (SAWW) said: Qur’an is a great word, and Surae Baqarah is the leader of the Qur’an and Ayatul Kursi is the leader of Surae Baqarah. In Ayatul Kursi there are 50 words and for each word there are 50 blessings and good in it

Allah told Prophet Musa (AS): If one recites it after every salaat, the Almighty will make his heart a thankful one (Shakireen), will give him a reward of the prophets, and his deeds will be like those of the truthful (Siddiqeen).

Holy prophet (SAWW) said: whoever recites the first 4 ayats of Surae Baqarah, then Ayatul Kursi and then the last 3 ayats of Surah e Baqarah, will not be inflicted with any kind of difficulty in his wealth or himself, Satan will not come near him and he will not forget the Qur’an.

Ayat Al Kursi (in English - arab pronounciation) :

Allahu la ilaha illa huwa Al -Haiyul-Qaiyum
La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm
lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fil-'ard
Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnihi
Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum
wa la yuhituna bi shai'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'a
Wasi'a kursiyuhus-samawati wal ard
wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma wa Hu wal 'Aliyul-Adheem

If you don't have any time to read it or you don't own a Quran , take some time and listen to this beautiful recitation of the ayat (EVEN if you are not Muslim) :

This is also a really good website to read the Quran online : http://www.quranflash.com/en/quranflash.html

To read more about the benefits of quran click here

I always wanted to announce to all you guys ... to check out & follow 'muslim941' on instagram ! They post very beneficial posts about Islam including daily duas ! Really encourage you all to check it out :) so Inshallah we all benefit ! :)

Stay Blessed,

For the Love of Allah ♡

Ibn Qayyim said that there are ten things that bring about the love of Allah:

1) Recitation of the Quran with reflection and with understanding of its meanings.

2) Seeking closeness to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after having performed obligatory ones, for that leads one to the highest levels of love.

3) Remembering Allah during every situation—with one’s time, heart, and deeds…one’s share of that love is to the degree of one’s share in that remembrance.

4) Preferring what He loves to what you love when your desires are strong.

5) Allowing your heart to reflect of His Name and Attributes.

6) Reflection on His many favors and blessings, both the apparent ones and the hidden ones, for that leads to His love.

7) Having your heart softened as it is worshipping Allah.

8) Being alone with Him in worship when He descends during the last third of the night. And this means to invoke Him, to recite His Speech, to stand with all sincerity and with good manners and with good submission, and then to end that with repentance and with seeking His forgiveness.

9) Sitting with those who are truthful in their love of Allah.

10) Staying away from all that creates barriers between the heart and Allah.

Not so hard is it ?

Stay Blessed ,



Cure for a Bad Day ♡

O Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.

I love this dua, I always try to remember it whenever I have a bad day or get in to a sticky situation. Oh and for those who don't know what 'Allah' means... it's 'God' in arabic. Islam, has taught me that people will change, times will change, minds will change but one thing that will always stay the same is the AlMighty. He will always be there, He will always be watching, His love for his creations is endless , even stronger than the love of a mother to her newborn baby. So, when my world seems to be crashing ... I turn to him. Even though it is tempting sometimes, to blame everyone and everything include Allah but, that's what the Shaytan wants from us. It's one of his oldest most effective tricks. However, it's really important to remember that Allah has put you in to the situation, as a test , it is the Shaytan who is trying to make you fail and Allah is the only one who can get you past it. Turn to him because you know that you don't have anyone else to turn to.

This is a really motivating video by one of my favourite Islamic Lecturers , Nouman Ali Khan. Please Watch it, it really inspired me !

Allahu Akbar ♡





Remember, relax , chill ... God knows exactly where you are and where you are heading. He's going to bless you very soon !

Stay Blessed,



Meet Islam ♡

Islam.

It's more than just a religion. It's a way of life.

Islam, means something different to everyone. This post, is about how I see Islam. If you don't already know, I am a Muslim - so no, this isn't one those posts where I voice my view on something that I've recently learned about or anything like that. I've been Muslim since the day I was born and inshallah until the day I die.

Islam to me, represents simplicity. It's about believing in one God. Putting all your faith and trust in him and knowing that one day you will face him and you will be judged for everything you do / did. It's about believing in the message that Prophet Muhammed was assigned to bring to humanity as well as , all the other prophets such as Moses, Abraham, Loot, Issa (Jesus) etc. It's about believing in angels who record your every deed whether it be good or bad. It's also about believing that everything in this life is written in a book - that only Allah knows about. 

He is the creator and to Him we will all return one day.

Islam, is about building a strong relationship  with your creator. It's about not being affected with this world or in arabic 'dunya'. This world, it's hard for us to not be attached to. But, once you've figured out that Jannah (that's paradise for all you non arabic speakers) is where your true heart lies, then dismissing this 'dunya' will get easier and easier by the day.

However, luckily Islam doesn't make you sacrifice that much, if anything at all. If you've read the Quran then you will know what I am talking about - if you haven't then I really recommend you do, even if you are not a Muslim. All Islam asks of us, is to be a good role model. To be a good citizen. To set good examples. To be good to your parents and treat them with respect. Most of all, it's about believing in one God.

If you call to Him, He will answer you . If you walk to Him, He will run to you. If you turn to Him, He will shower His blessings on you. 

So, before you judge Islam make sure you've read the Quran for yourself. Because it really has different meanings and a different story to tell for each of us. 

& Remember, Islam is Perfect , Muslims not so much.

Stay Blessed,







Blue Blood Series ♡

 

Right then. There's no easy way for me to admit this but , I'm an addict. I am the worst addict in history. Yes, you read it right, I have an obsession. A dirty, little secret. Something, that can be used as a weakness against me. Want to know what it is? Blue Blood Books.I've always thought that, getting hooked on a book series, was a pointless and a complete waste of time. I mean come on, abandoning my warm bed, for the cold frosty streets of london to stand in a queue waiting for the lastest installment, that I would probably finish in an hour ? Puhleeeease ! (Apoligies to the die hard harry potter fans out there) However, all of that changed when Melissa de la Cruz walked in to my bookshelf and changed my point of view, forever!The Blue Blood series, is literally one of the best books I have ever read in my life. No, I am not exaggerating. It has everything, that I love in a book; it's got romance, hot characters with dynamic personalites, mystery, action, vampires (that don't look like fairies and don't possess a strange emotional attachment to humans) and it's based in a very glamourous setting - the Upper East Side, do I need to say more?

My first impression, when I started reading the Blue Blood series, was that it was a lot like 'Gossip Girl', the setting, the snooty preppy private school teens, the flamboyant houses all seemed to bring me back , to the 14 year old girl in me, who was so intrigued by the Gossip Girl books. On the other hand, the star crossed lovers, the whole vampires living amongst human missions, the burdens that the 'gift' brought with it; also reminded me a lot of my favourite CW show 'The Vampire Diaries'. So whilst reading it, I literally felt like I was reading a 'Gossip Girl' meets 'The Vampire Diaries' collab. I loved it because as a big fan of both shows and novels, I always wondered what would happen if the two tales collabed - and this book definitly did it for me!

Now don't get me wrong, or judge too hastily. Melissa de la Cruz, does more than collaberate upper east side snobs with vampires, she adds her own twist to it as well; making the books even more addictive than they already are. The characters, are all different yet so perfectly compatible with each other. You just end up loving all of them , even the ones you are supposed to hate! For me, reading a Blue Blood book brings me the same pleasure as reading a Teen Vogue or Glamour magazine - it's filled with elite fashion and juicy gossip. For me, reading a Blue Blood book gives me the same rush and excitement as watching a Gossip Girl episode or a TVD and the mystery is just too good to pass.

I really recommend for you guys to read this book, I have to warn you that the first book is not as good as the other books. The reason being, that the first book spends a lot of time introducing you to the characters and the various love triangles and issues between the characters - which is imperative as it makes you understand the other characters more. My favourite book so far, is 'The Van Alen Legacy' , I could not put this book down and  for me it was such a page turner especially since, it ends with the best and worst cliffhanger you could possibly imagine ! I am going to be writing a review on each separate book , so if you are interested you can get a better look at what's happening. This review was simply, to get you as crazy and as hooked as I am !

Stay Blessed ,

Revision Tips for Exam Success ♡

I don't think I've ever met someone, who actually enjoys revision. We all want to lead a successful life by getting amazing grades ; however the unfortunate truth is, you can never achieve amazing grades without revision. No matter how dull and boring it can be, revision is the only key that we have in order to achieve academic success and lead their dream life. Personally, I don't enjoy studying - to me it's pointless , unless I have an exam coming up and only then, I revise by probably two weeks, a week sometimes even 3 days before the exam. People are always shocked that I didn't bother with taking a time out to revise for the full academic year but, still I'm able to catch up with everyone and sometimes even beat them at getting a higher grade. My secret? My revision strategy. I've written a couple of tips, that I personally do and have worked wonders for me and I hope they will for you too. Enjoy.

Tip #1 - Declutter your space.
Whether, you enjoy revising in your room, your living room or even on the roof. You will not be able to get somewhere, without cleaning up your 'study space' and making sure you have everything you need to start your revision session. So start off by polishing your study table, putting away all the items that have nothing to do with your revision away e.g. magazines, ipod, phone etc. Then start loading all your revision items on the table (or the floor) wherever you are studying really. Make sure everything is nice and organised. As a messy study area = a messy state of mind and very messy revision.

Tip #2 - Make sure you have everything you need
By having all your equipment with you , you are less likely to disturb your revision and waste your time on looking for what you need. My revision equipment consists of : a couple of biro's (usually black, blue and red) , 2 pencils, a highlighter or two, a notebook, some scrap paper, an eraser, my calculator if I need it and of course the essential sources I need to study from.

Tip #3 - Mindmap your subject
This tip, is especially useful for planning out essays. Start on the centre of the page and write out the subject or the topic you need to revise. Then start out by branching out, everything that is linked to the subject as well as, everything linked to each separate topic. Your mindmap, doesn't need to be super complicated, it just needs to be clear and concise. It should be able to highlight, everything you need to know, by splitting each part of your revision in to sections. If you need to revise for more than one exam, then do separate mindmaps for each subject.

Tip #4 - Organise your time
I've heard so many stories about people spending too many hours revising. They're the ones who usually come on the day of the exam half dressed, with blue bags under their eye. Talk about asking for beauty help 101 ! If you don't want to show up to your exam, looking like you were attacked by an animal on your way to school, then you need to organise your time. By organising your time, you will be less stressed and will feel less overwhelmed by the revision. I try to study for 45 minutes for each of my subjects , taking around 5 - 15 minute breaktime between each study interval. I do this because I have the concentration span of a fish and studying for hours for me, would be like commiting academic suicide. I'd learn nothing and will achieve a migrane.

Tip #5 - Start with the basics
Start revising using your textbooks and class notes and highlight all the information that you find useful, or if your book is borrowed, just get those sticky notes and sticky-fie your textbook. I like to start my revision by learning all the key definitions that I need to know. This is because definitions are usually worth around a mark on the exam and I believe that a mark is all the difference between getting a B and A. After, you've done that. Start studying from other books and resources, like the internet - there are so many useful sites you can study from. After gathering your notes from each of the sources you used; start by combining everything together and try to make your 'final' notes as simplified but, as factual as possible. Some people like to colour code, their notes. Personally, I think that's a waste of time. However, if you have a very visual memory, colour coding could do wonders for you, especially on the exam when your brain remembers something because of a certain colour you used. Just don't go overboard.

Tip #6 - Get rid of your distractions.
If you are a big procrastinator like me, then this is something you NEED to do. Deactivate your facebook account or twitter or whatever social network you use and switch off your phone and hide it somewhere or give it to someone until you are done revising. I like to, do everything I want to do before I start revising because then I'd have no choice but to actually study. Also, I've noticed that sometimes, revising at home can be actually one of the biggest distractions ; so try studying at the library or if you are an outdoor person like me and love nature, then study at the park . This is exceptionally fun, in the summer time, when you get a free glowing tan whilst revising at the same time.

Tip #7 - Practise Practise Practise !
Do as many exam papers you can and study the markschemes so you'll know exactly what the examiners want. They repeat the same questions every year just with different wording, so make sure you know exactly what to expect before the exam.

Tip #8 - Stay Calm, Cool and Collected
Exams are no big deal, so don't stress. Although they are an important part of student life. The world will not stop rotating if you fail an exam. However, by following these tips, I gaurantee you , you will be able to pass your test. As long as you stay calm and don't panic. Try not to ask your friends about what they've been revising and for how long, as this can put you off your revision and make you either too lazy to bother, or too unmotivated to try. Everyone revises differently, but the important thing to remember is , it doesn't matter how much you know what matters is how well you understand.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and if you have any other tips that you do , then feel free to comment below and tell me about them !

Stay Blessed,

Peel Off the Stress ♡

One of the downsides of January, is it's back to school and work season. Which means, dealing with the joys of stress and added work to catch up on because of the winter break. Especially, for schools and universities that like to kick start their January back to school season , with an end of unit exam! Yaaaaay... no. I don't know about you , but when I stress out , my face becomes a breeding ground for bacteria causing acne. Yep, that's right , I break out so bad that even my mother starts telling me to jog on to the dermatoligist and get some help. The worst thing is, I never knew the cause of the breakouts due to the fact, they always like to arrive a week after the stressing event. So, last week whilst preparing for the big exams that I had this week, I decided to stock up on some exfoliating and soothing masks - just so, after I finished all my exams, I'd have a nice treat for my facial skin, to remove all the excess dirt and oil that may have accumulated on it during the week.

The first mask, which I used is the 'exfoliating superfruits mask' - with raspberry scent, that I purchased off Superdrug, for the good price of 99p. My first impression of it when I ripped off the satchet, was that it smelt so good ! The raspberry scent comes off so strongly. The actual mask, consists of a rich creamy texture (for this mask it was a pale colour of lilac, which just added to theme of the product) once you apply it to your face, it covers it up fully - so you definitly need to apply it sparingly and equally around your face. Oh and don't look in the mirror once you're done, otherwise you'd be faced with a purple coloured look-a-like of yourself !

The best thing I liked about this mask, was that once I applied it - it dried quickly and in the 5 - 10 minutes that I was waiting for it to dry , it didn't crack or make my face feel particularily dry, like some masks tend to do. Another thing, was the amazing feeling that I had, when I was washing the mask away - my skin felt instantly soft and velvet like and all the red marks and excess oil around my face and nose, were gone and replaced with soft, porcelain - ish , skin. Lovely. I was so happy, relaxed and just ready to enjoy my weekend exam free and most importantly stress - free !

So what do you do , to get rid of stress acne ?

Stay Blessed,



SNOG ! ♡

Ok, so it's January. You're cold. Tired. Overworked and the weather is too dull for words. You can't stop reminincing about last christmas and you've already broken half of your new year's resolutions on a nice juicy big Mac... Don't worry, I feel exactly the same and it's not even halfway through the month yet!

One great way, I found to help cure me of the after christmas season blues , is a nice old visit to the frozen yoghurt cafe near my house called 'Snog'. Apart from the , mouthwatering frozen yoghurt they offer complete with your choice of either fresh fruit, or nut dressing (you can have as much as you want btw) The design of the place is absoloutly gorgeous... it's so pink! Complete, with cheeky little signs on each table that state the seat is reserved for snogging, which my sister and I couldn't stop giggling about whilst guzzling down our delicious frozen treats. It's just a very unique concept I suppose, that makes the place so lively and attractive to go to and try out.

The main Snog in West London, is situated in Westfield and it's ALWAYS packed. I definitly recommend for you guys to check it out. Especially , if you are out with your love, or having a girlie day out - check it out and try out their natural frozen yoghurt with pistachio and chocolate. It's delish! Ofcourse, if you have a sugary tooth, don't worry they have both healthy and less healthy choices at hand. Just ask one of their helpful waiters to give you some advice and they will show you the entire range. Oh and for those who are skeptical about how much of the dressing is put on to their yoghurt or any health and hygenic reasons... they make the yoghurt right in front of you. In my opinion, it's a bit like a frozen yoghurt version of the Subway, for those who love to have a nice, sweet, cold treat to make their day. Oh and the prices ? Well they range at about £3.20 + depending on the size you order, the yoghurt type and the dressing.

Stay Blessed,

Hello January ♡

Hey Lovelies,

I'd like to wish you all a very happy new year, filled with blessing and success. 2011 was a GOOD year, but lets make 2012 an AMAZING year!

This January, I have so many things planned and things that I want to accomplish, that range from academic success to running this very blog. So look out for a month filled with , beauty reviews, restaurant reviews ( I plan to have a lot of brunches this month) and of course a healthy lifestyle tips post. This month, I will be introducing a new segment in my blog, which is 'my monthly favourites' and that will probably be up at near the end of the month. I also will be launching my YouTube channel, with a surprise video coming up . So keep a look out for all these exciting things coming up.

Contact me at : nouralovee@rocketmail.com
Tweet me at : http://twitter.com/nouralovee
Or Comment !

What are your goals for this month?!

Stay Blessed,