What I Learned | A Ramadan Series

No, I don't believe so and I'll tell you why.

 I know this can be a controversial topic especially with coaches and those in the human development field.

I want to share with you why I am saying this in three points:


1- He created us differently.
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا (84) 


2- The second point I want to make is that everyone's best is different. It's not up to us to decide what someone's best is. Our strengths and weakness challenges and what comes easy and hard are different from one another (writing, learning a language, verbal or nonverbal communication, managing anger, staying calm in hard situations, forgiving, etc)
So what God expects from me is different from someone else based on the capabilities he created us with. 

 وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً 
"We shall set up the Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection
More than one Scale (we all have different scales not one scale for all of us. (one right way).


3- " وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ 

If he is only expecting our best why would he create consequences good and bad (hell and heaven) if we were all always doing our best, isn't that what he is asking as to do?

Some choose not to see. Some choose to keep doing the wrong thing... that isn't your best but they choose not to change not to go back to the creator or to step up and.. they get stuck there. 
It's a choice we were created with choice and with it comes responsibility and consequences.

Leave you with this Quote by Brené Brown:
“Steve said, “I don’t know. I really don’t. All I know is that my life is better when I assume that people are doing their best. It keeps me out of judgment and lets me focus on what is, and not what should or could be.” His answer felt like truth to me. Not an easy truth, but truth.”
― Brené Brown, Rising Strong 

Here is what I learned:

Although I don't believe everyone in this world always chooses their best. But it's not up to us to decide what others best is. We are all to focus on ourselves and leave others to Allah.
Only we and God would know what our best is.


Tomorrow we will be answering the question "do people know when they aren't doing their best? Do they know when they can do better or when they chose not to do better??"


Sound Credits:
 A Good Heart
Album: Unconditional
Artist: Marc Enfroy

Are People Always Doing Their Best? | What I Learned #11

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 
 سورة البقرة 30

"And when thy Lord said to the angels, I will make a land in the land as a caliph, saying, I will make those who spoil it and shed blood, and we will praise you, and sanctify you. He said, I know what you do not know."


What I learned:

⇢ Sometimes in life, things will happen that we can't understand. And it's normal to feel confused or want to understand the reason and wisdom behind it

⇢ Asking why is part of our nature but there are two ways to ask:
1- "why me God?/ this shouldn't be happening!?" this why the question comes from a place of ingratitude and rejecting the decree of Allah.
2- The way the prophets and angles asked God when they didn't understand something... by asking him WHILE declaring his perfection and their gratitude and praise. So it comes from a place of being humble and wanting him to shed light on what we cant, but we know whatever he does is flawless and thank you.

⇢ God sees good in us. That's why he created us. Because He knows the good that some of us will choose to do.
➖➖➖
For more visit: www.noorahkareem.com

The Good God Sees In You | What I Learned #25

What I learned:

1 ⇢ Sometimes in life, we get what we want. And it’s totally normal that fear will be a feeling that comes with it. Getting what we want comes with vulnerability… or losing something in the future or something “bad” will happen in the future which keeps us from feeling the joy and gratitude.

2 ⇢ استخارة/
istekhara is basically asking God to open the right doors or close the wrong doors and then make our heart pleased with it.. so after istekara life will unfold the way God sees best(no matter what you do or doesn’t do) and don’t worry about your feelings, He will take care of them too.

⇢ 

فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ(159)﴾.
سورة القرة
“And when you have decided and made a choice out your trust in Allah and go forward with no hesitation”
Once you decide on something Go forward with it.


Visit my website: www.noorahkareem.com

I Got What I Wanted And Now I'm Scared | What I Learned #26

What I learned:

2 ⇢ Self-disappointment is one of the worst feelings ever. That's why some of us choose to throw it as far away as possible! Discharge it by getting angry and blaming others "You made me do it- or not do it!? If only you did this, I would have_____." (Feel free to fill in the blank).


Others hold it too close and let it define who they are. "I'm a failure/ there's no hope for me"

2 ⇢ ٍRepentance/  توبة
can help you and I feel like our hearts have been cleaned again and take away the pain of self-disappointment.

3 ⇢ ٍSometimes in life, even when we repent from something we might still need to later down the line deal with consiquenses. As scary as that may sound right noe, it's OK... becouse God will be on your side making it easy for you and guidning you.

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ 
 (257) سورة البقرة

"God is a friend and supporter to those who believe and will bring them out of the darkness to the light"

He's your friend/ supporter ohhh AND He loves you...

إن الله يحب التوابين ويحب المتطهرين
 (222) سورة البقرة
"And God loves those who repent and He loves those who cleanse themselves"

Visit me at: www.noorahkareem.com

How God Helps Us When We Go Back To Him | What I Learned #27

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
(186)سورة البقرة

"And if my slave asks you about me, I am indeed close I indeed answer the call of the caller. So they should try to respond to me and believe in me so they can be guided."

What I learned:

1 ⇢ God talks to us directly.

 
2 ⇢ God for sure answers our call but he also asks us for something in return: try to respond to Him. What I find amazing is God uses the word "they should TRY". He isnt askign for perfection,. He is askign fro effort. 


3 ⇢ If you ever find yourself in a tough situation needing to comfort from Him. Use this aya to ask Him about Him.. But doent forget to put in the effort first.. try to repsond to him then ask Him about Him.
The way He responses (the HOW) it's up to HIm. (He is The Master and we are the slaves)

Get in touch with me: www.noorahkareem.com

What To Say In Moments Of Need | What I Learned #28

What I learned:

1 ⇢ Sometimes in life, God doesn't give us what we want to test us to see what really lies in our chests and hearts

 وَلِيَبْتَلِيَ اللَّهُ مَا فِي صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
 (154) سورة العمران
"And let God test what is in your chests and check what is in your hearts"

 2 ⇢  Choosing to worship God can come from two different places in the heart:
A- I did something for you God and now I am entitled to ___ (whatever that thing is that you're looking for is). This comes from a place of and doubt in the hearts. (Not our place to do that as slaves to The Master)
B- Or a place of a humble slave.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا 
وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِين
 ( 11 ) سورة الحج  
"There are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn on their faces: they lose both this world and the Hereafter: that is loss for all to see!"


 3 ⇢  The next time you find yourself in a hard situation, what do you want God to see in your heart?

Work with me 1-on-1: www.noorahkareem.com/coaching

Where's Your Heart? | What I Learned #29

بحث عن علم النفس من المنظور القرآني
النية: قلب يعقل(بالعربي والإنجليزي)
Hi! My name is Noorah, and this is where we help close the gap between Modern Psychology and what Allah says about us in His Book (in both English and Arabic).

I also share secrets and insights into the most common questions I get asked in my private 1 on 1 sessions and my thoughts on them that I don’t share anywhere else. 

To help us:

1- Answer life's BIGGEST questions(or at least start with the right questions!)
2- Go back to the core
3- Bring Allah back into our life

A little bit more about me:

I am a coach, an artist, and the founder of In Conversation. I believe we're all created differently and there's a reason why we're here, and it's my job to help you figure it out. 

Psychology in The Quran is my secret hobby, the glue to everything I do, and I am so glad you're here 💛

Your fan,
Noorah

Say Hi: noorah@noorahkareem.com

Want more? Become email-buddies! Sign up here: https://www.noorahkareem.com

Are People Always Doing Their Best? | What I Learned #11

Sometimes In Life With Noorah Kareem