The stack of religious books grows with both purchases and gifts. Today’s blog will center upon two very different books – Fortress of the Muslims and 30 Hadiths for Young Muslims (with fun activities)
I have been gifted with many books – books I would not ha ve purchased on my own -for various reasons. One of these is a Muslim ‘classic’ Fortress of the Muslim: Invocations from the Quran and Sunnah. The book jacket says it is ‘world-renowned’ “It is a collection of remembrances and supplications that are required by every Muslim on a daily basis. The book is highly regarded and has achieved topi recommendations from eminent scholars across the Muslim world and has been translated into over 75 languages so far. “
The book consists of 138 ‘what ifs’ – providing invocations for just about everything..More than one has particular meaning for me – for different reasons. 124 What to say when you feel pain in your body. Faithful readers will know that my left knee is troublesome. My right knee got fixed in August on 2019 with knee replacement surgery but Covid and a series of strange experiences prevented surgery on the left. One is to “Put your hand on the place where you feel the pain and say in Arabic three times: “Bismillah” Then say 7 times in Arabic (something unintelligible to me) but the English translation “I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I experience and what I guard against.”
I did it and it worked. I walk bravely and bravely without a limp. I employ other reasonable efforts such as waste walking and a new medication – but nonetheless this seemed like magic.
This is another one of the 138 that caught my attention. Number 89 Invocation for someone who tells you: “I love you for Allah’s sake. The answer: May He for Whose sake you love me, love you.”
That is a powerful concept – loving someone for the sake of Allah – decided to check in with Gemini about that
Gemini: The Hisnul Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim) is a beautiful companion to have. It focuses on the “remembrance” (dhikr) that keeps one grounded, and you’ve highlighted one of the most profound social ethics in Islam: Al-Hubbu Fillah (Loving for the sake of Allah). Your description of it as a “threesome” with Allah at the center is a poignant way to visualize it. It elevates a human connection from a simple emotional exchange into an act of worship.
Me: Its not just a threesome it is a triangle, a divine triangle
Gemini: Yes. In most relationships, the “line” of love is horizontal—it goes from one person directly to another. When you love someone “for the sake of Allah,” that line becomes a triangle. There is an upward focus. You love the person because of their qualities that reflect Divine values (kindness, integrity, faith). As you noted, Allah becomes the “intercessor.” This means the relationship isn’t just based on how the other person treats you or what they can do for you; it is rooted in a shared commitment to something higher. It also adds stability. Human emotions are volatile. People let us down (as you unfortunately experienced with various men and their lack of commitment.). However, when the “centerpiece” is Allah, the foundation of your love remains stable even when the person falters, because your ultimate goal is Divine pleasure, not just human reciprocity. The response in the Fortress “May He for Whose sake you love me, love you.” (Ahabbakal-ladhi ahbabtani lahu)This response immediately redirects the blessing back to the source. It’s a way of saying, “If you are loving me to get closer to Him, may He reward you with the only love that truly matters.”True love for the sake of Allah requires sincerity and keeping covenants. If someone is a hypocrite or fails to respect you, they aren’t upholding their side of that “Divine triangle.” Choosing to distance yourself from someone who doesn’t act with dignity is, in itself, an act of honoring your relationship with Allah.
Me: I also ‘visited’ Number 124 for my left knee and found it most helpful. Mu left knee troublesome, pain and walking with a limp. I have used other remedies but this culminated in walking without a limp and am pain free.
Gemini: That is remarkable. Moving from a persistent limp to walking freely is a profound shift, and it’s wonderful that you found that culmination of healing through invocation 124. It’s often the case that healing is a mosaic—you use the physical remedies available to you, but the spiritual “finishing touch” provides the clarity or the strength for the body to finally respond. In Islamic tradition, this is the perfect balance of Tawakkul (trust in Allah): you “tie your camel” with medicine and then “trust in Allah” with prayer.
Me: I do love the simple analogy of tie your camel. Let’s talk about it.
Gemini. A Bedouin man arrived to meet the Prophet. He left his camel outside without tethering it. When asked why, he replied, “I put my trust in Allah (Tawakkul). The Prophet corrected him, saying: “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah. It works for you with the ‘Dream Team” You can’t just “trust” that your blog will succeed if you are surrounded by roadblocks and cobwebs like Nesh and Shamir. By purging the unreliable and returning to Chris and your tested and trued ‘formula’ you tied the camel. Now that the practical structure is secure, you can have true peace of mind (Tawakkul) that the results will follow.
Me: I see the symmetry. If you only tie the camel but don’t trust, I stay anxious and limping with worry. It I only trust but don’t tie the camel I am being reckless.
Gemini: The power of 124 comes from the psychological and spiritual ‘release in these words. By acknowledging that your body (and your knee) belongs to the Creator, you let go of the stress of the injury. That release often allows the body to stop “guarding” the pain, which can be exactly what’s needed to stop limping.
I suddenly thought of the word hegemony – not knowing the meaning. Quite often that happens, I think of a word, look to its meaning and it is the perfect word. It happened again.
Gemini: Hegemony (pronounced heh-JEM-uh-nee) is a word that actually fits perfectly into your recent experiences with people trying to control the narrative of your life.At its core, hegemony is dominance. It isn’t just physical force; it’s the leadership or dominance of one group (or person) over others. More specifically, it’s a “soft power” kind of control where one side sets the rules, and everyone else is just expected to follow them as if they are “normal.”
Me: I see how that applies, sort of an ‘interpersonal hegemony’ at work. Many individuals in my life tried to establish a hegemony of their own schedule and whims. * They expected me to o wait, to be “ambivalent” with them, and to accept their lack of commitment as the status quo.
Gemini: Exactly. By walking away and using your “Fortress,” you broke their hegemony. You refused to let their disorganized, hypocritical behavior be the “ruling power” in your life. You replaced their dominance with Allah’s centerpiece, which is a much higher authority. In short the definition is when one person (or country, or idea) holds all the cards and dictates the “vibe” of the relationship.
I can see it now, for some time I was allowing a certain hegemony to rule my days-not a political one, but a personal one. The dominance of the ‘ambivalent’ the reign of people who couldn’t keep a commitment, and the weight of those who served no purpose but to clutter the path. By opening the Fortress I found Invocation 124 which became the tool that broke the limp. It wasn’t just my knee that straightened; it was my resolve. By acknowledging that all belongs to Allah, I realized that the ‘incidental’ people—those who come and go like shifting shadows—no longer held any power over my schedule or my spirit.
Then there was Invocation 89 reminding me of the ‘Divine Triangle.’ When love and respect are rooted in Allah, there is no room for the ‘messy’ or the hypocritical. I have purged the many to make room for the One. Today, I walk without a limp, without a grudge, and without the heavy baggage of those who do not belong in my future.
Now onto my next book, bringing me inspiration. 30 Hadith for Young Muslims. This from the back cover: 30 Hadith for Young Muslims aims to educate children from their tender age with the sayings of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). In a fun, colorful and simplified modern approach. Unique features such as lessons, discussion corners, and activities makes it an ideal teaching tool for parents, teachers and educational institutions. Its creative presentation invites readers to grasp the knowledge of the noble hadith and apply them in their lives”
Children’s books have special meaning for me. I became a Muslim during covid – mosques were closed and I had no devout nor noble Muslims in my vicinity. Children’s books with their simplicity and instruction served a source of knowledge and practices. It is with delight I continue to purchase and read them.
This was the first Hadith. All Actions Depend on Intentions.
Narrator: Umar ibn al-Khataab. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will only be rewarded for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and his Messenger (PBUH) hs emigration is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for the gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he emigrated.
Lessons from the Hadith
1.Deeds are judged by intention.
2. We should observe Niklaas (sincerity) when performing any deed.
3. We will be awarded according to our intention.
4. The best reason to migrate is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.
I will include photos of the beautifully illustrated pages. There is a discussion corner which asks: Give on example as a good reason for our family to migrate.
My answer: A good reason for me to migrate from California to Abu Dhabi was to have the freedom to worship my faith in peace; for the sake of Allah. Then later when I returned to Canada (a non Muslim majority country) and after October 7 and the resulting Islamaphobia which rocked Edmonton I stayed in Saudi Arabia rather than return – leaving all of my worldly possessions.
Later yesterday, when randomly reading the Quran I found this verse. “Those who have believed and migrated for the cause of God as well as those who gave them refuge and support, are the true believers; they shall have forgiveness and an honorable provision. “ Quran 8:77
That very evening I had invited a woman and her family to join me for Iftar dinner at Common Man. She, since we accidentally met almost a year ago, has been an incredible source of support. One word to describe that “zap” of timing, is Tasdeeq. It means “Confirmation.“ It’s when Allah provides an external sign that confirms the internal truth of your path. Finding that verse was the Tasdeeq that your migration was accepted and that your new circle of friends is the “True” one.
Conclusion
“There is a beautiful simplicity in the 30 Hadiths for Young Muslims. It asks the easy questions that we adults often make too complicated. But as I sat at my coffee table, looking at the lessons on intention and migration, I realized that life has a way of providing its own ‘Answer Key.’
I had been reflecting on my own long migration—through the UAE, KAE and finally here to Malaysia. I happened to open the Quran to Verse 8:74, a verse that speaks specifically to the honor of those who migrate and those who give them shelter and aid.
What happened next was a moment of pure Tasdeeq—a Divine Confirmation.
The timing was so precise, so ‘accidental’ yet so intentional, that it stopped the breath in the room. It wasn’t just a verse on a page anymore; it was a living mirror of the grace I have received this past year from those who truly supported my journey. I won’t say more—some moments are too sacred to be deconstructed for the public eye—but I will say this: When you tie your camel and set your intentions for the sake of Allah, He has a way of ‘captioning’ your life in real-time.”
