Islam

Sometimes Allah opens a new chapter by closing an old one. Don’t be afraid of starting again. Leave the past behind, keep the lessons, and walk forward with faith. Make dua for the life you want, work toward it, and trust Allah with the things you cannot control. A new beginning can be the start of a beautiful journey.

“He is the true God in the heavens and the earth. He knows what you conceal and what you reveal, and He knows what you earn.”

Surah Al-An’am, ayah 3 🤍

OFTEN WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?

Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom or for other reasons? Don't rush back to sleep. It could be that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is giving us an opportunity to perform an act of worship taught by the Messenger of Allah Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.

From 'Ubadah bin As-Samit radhiyallahu 'anhu, from Rasulullah Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he said:

"Whoever wakes up in the middle of the night and then recites,

La ilaha illallah wahdahu la syarika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli syai'in qadir. Alhamdulillah wa Subhanallah wa La ilaha illallah Wallahu Akbar wa la haula wa la quwwata illa billah

'None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, with no partner, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things. All praise is for Allah. Glory be to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Allah is the Greatest. And there is no might nor power except with Allah.'

Then he says,

Allahummaghfirli
'O Allah, forgive my sins.'

Or he makes another dua, then his dua will be answered. If he performs wudu and prays, his prayer will be accepted."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari: 1154)

After finishing your need, take wudu and pray as much as you can. It doesn't have to be long, even two rak'ahs can be a good start. Especially if it coincides with the last third of the night, use that time to supplicate and seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.

So, when you wake up at night, don't waste the opportunity to do dhikr, make dua, and get closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.

Allahu Ta'ala a'lam bishawab.

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"Hijab is not mentioned in the quran"...yes it is....“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests…” (Quran 24:31)

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PRAY BEFORE YOU ARE PRAYED UPON!

Today we are still given the opportunity to stand before Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and perform salah. However, there will come a day when we will no longer be able to do it. At that time, it will be other people who will stand to pray over us (Janazah prayer).

Salah is not a small matter. Don't waste this obligation until death comes and the opportunity to do good deeds has ended.

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says about the regret of the inhabitants of Hellfire:

"What put you into Saqar (Hellfire)?"

They will answer, "We were not of those who used to pray."
(QS. Al-Muddaththir : 42-43)[74]

This verse is a warning for us not to underestimate salah. While we are still alive and given the opportunity, let us guard our salah and perform it in the best way.

"Pray before you are prayed upon" is not a hadith of the Prophet Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, but it is a piece of advice that reminds us not to wait until death to realize the importance of salah. Because one day, we will no longer pray. We will be the ones who are prayed upon.

Allahu Ta'ala a'lam bishawab.

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May Allah make this week lighter for anyone carrying something silently.

May He ease what feels heavy, open doors we cannot see yet, and give us sabr while we wait for what is written for us.

Ameen. 🤲🏽

Human emotions are Unique.
The Peak of Happiness is Crying and Tears.
The Peak of Sadness is Laughter.
The Peak of Anger is Silence.

“AFTER ONE YEAR, I WILL COME BACK AND PICK UP A HAFIZ…”

Those were the words of Hajiya Zainab Aliyu Muhammad when she brought her 13-year-old son, Ismail Muhammad, to my office on 20th September 2025.

She entrusted him to our boarding Qur’an memorisation programme and told me:

“Malam, correct him, discipline him if necessary. I don’t mind what it takes. My lifelong wish is that after one year, I will come back and pick up a Hafiz.”

From that day, Ismail began his journey.

But his mother also became a mother to our boarding students.

Almost every Thursday she would call:

“Malam, the children are fasting. Please let me send their Iftar.”

Not only for Ismail.

For everyone.

Even when she travelled, the food would still come. Her son belonged to her, but somehow, all the students of the Qur’an became her children.

Then came 1st May 2026.

I received a call that Hajiya was critically ill and on oxygen.

I immediately took Ismail to the hospital.

There, struggling with illness, she held her son's hand.

She wasn't talking about his certificates.

She wasn't talking about wealth.

She wasn't talking about what he would inherit.

She simply said:

“Ismail, all I want is for you to become a Hafiz of the Qur’an.”

Then she looked at me:

“Malam, this is my Wasiyyah to you. Please make sure this child becomes a Hafiz.”

That was the last time I saw her.

On 17th May 2026, Hajiya Zainab returned to Allah.

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn.

She had promised:

“After one year, I will come back and pick up a Hafiz.”

But she never came back.

And now…

Today is 12th September.

Shehu Giwa Exclusive Academy is celebrating Ismail Muhammad as a MEMORISER OF THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN.

The little boy she brought to my office…

is now the Hafiz she prayed for.

But Mama will not be sitting among the audience.

She will not hear her son's name being announced.

She will not embrace him after the Walīmah.

Her seat will be empty.

Yet, her dream lives.

The Qur’an she desperately wanted in her son's heart is now there.

Perhaps every time Ismail opens his mouth and recites:

Alif… Lām… Mīm…

rewards begin travelling to a mother resting in her grave.

Dear parents, we invest millions preparing our children for a world they will eventually leave.

What are we investing in the life they will never leave?

Give your children the Qur’an, give them Islamic knowledge, sacrifice for their Ākhirah.

And when you hear this story, please don't only shed a tear.

Give Hajiya something more valuable: your Du‘ā.

May Allah forgive Hajiya Zainab Aliyu Muhammad, illuminate her grave and make every letter of the Qur’an recited by Ismail a continuing reward for her.

May Allah reunite them in Jannatul Firdaus, where there is no sickness, no oxygen, no separation…

and no goodbye.

Āmīn.

Ibrahim Shehu Giwa,
Director of Schools,
Shehu Giwa Academy.