Sincerely, Sumayah

To be absolved before your Lord There's a dangerous finality to what's happening in Ghaza right now. The fear is that Allah (awj)'s anger is not far away from descending to affect humanity collectively and those who supported this massacre and injustice specifically. Civilisations/nations were destroyed for taking part, standing by, and not taking action against the injustice and oppression happening around them. Seeking Allah's forgiveness and calling people back to Allah is the only hope to be spared. It's not a luxury or something extra, it's an absolutely critical, individual obligation right now. “And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.” Qur'an (11:117) Being righteous for yourself is not enough. A reformer is someone who is doing the work on themselves and they are impacting, influencing, reminding, calling those around them to do the same. You and I will stand in front of Allah to answer for ourselves. I am terrified by this. May Ar-Rahman have mercy on us. “And when a community among them said, Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment? they [the advisors] said, To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him. And when they [i.e., those advised] forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a Wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying” Qur'an (7:164-165)

The power of Istighfar: Recorded from an event for sisters who had participated in and completed an Istighfar challenge.

Ramadan Mubarak! This is the Ramadan plan episode. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Substack at sumayah.substack.com

Allah's plan is perfect. He is teaching us constantly and aligning our affairs in the way that's best for us. Sometimes that doesn't look like what we prayed for. Asking for what's best means staying open to whatever comes, even if it looks like the opposite of what we wanted. “W Aleikum Assalaam Sis, please be consistent with your Istighfaar and aim for high numbers 30k and above. When you are constantly doing Istighfaar there is little to no time for these thoughts, and even if Shaitan persists with these negative thoughts keep up with your Istighfaar and say it out loud ( loud enough for you to hear it ). You will see with time that these thoughts dissipate. You will also see that your Iman grows stronger with Istighfar. Istighfaar does internal Cleanse of negative thoughts and Emotions, keep up with it and see the change for your self. May Allah Swt aid you in overcoming these emotions and strengthen your Iman.” — Nafisa's final message to the Telegram group Nafisa's Fundraiser (May Allah have mercy on her): https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/help_build_a_masjid_on_behalf_of_nafisa_shire Istighfar and Surat Al-Baqarah Support Group on Telegram: https://t.me/+zP-eHfVKDQZjNmJk Lighting Up Little Hearts with Qur'an: https://zhcalligraphy.com/products/books Jazakum Allah Khair for being here, if we don't connect before then, Ramadan Mubarak to you and your loved ones, use every minute. May Allah accept from all of us and allow us to witness Laylatul Qadr and send our intentions ahead in case we don't witness it ourselves. Sincerely, Sumayah

Attachments, Doubts & Fears • The Journey to a Sound Heart. Yasmin Mogahed's book: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/reclaim-your-heart-personal-insights-on-breaking-free-from-life-s-shackles-yasmin-mogahed/4068903?ean=9780998537337 Muhammad Hijazi on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@muhammed_hijazi1?si=c3Qy-bUBQNFCXHf5 Coach Ehsan on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ehsanalhsan8194?si=uAxhNKvCVQPc6Pvr

Allah (awj) knows what He is doing. You are in good hands, in the best hands. Keep a notebook/journal or digital record of your answered Duas and all the small miracles that you encounter along the way. Trust that what's happening in any given moment is the very best outcome that could happen. It will happen when the time is right. Allah (awj) is with you. He heard your Duas. He knows your heart. You are not forgotten. He hears you now and always.

Remember who you're dealing with.

“We keep going, even when the light seems impossibly far away. That's precisely the type of darkness required for yaqeen to be born.” Under the weather but still wanted to share this with you guys.

What your days can look like with Allah's permission. I've shared different practices here and there, now this is what a day with Allah looks like start to finish.

We spend so much time trying to change our habits. We start, stop, try, fail and start again. What if there was a way to create a permanent/consistent change? ...without needing to wrestle yourself in the mud. Talking about Tawassul — the practice of asking Allah with a sincere offering you presented at some point in time, with the hopes of Him answering your desperate Duas in the present.

Certainty, Trust, Spiritual healing and hijab

I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm a good person. What's happening?

Why isn't this working? Am I doing it right? What's holding me back? Keep going. Keep heading towards Allah. You're on the right track 🩷

A message for anyone trying to heal, improve, stop or leave but finding themselves slipping up over and over

This episode is about what happens when Allah wants something to happen for you, waiting for answered Duas, understanding delays and asking what it would cost/mean to be without His blessing and pleasure.

What happens when you are regular with Surat Al-Baqarah and you slip up and fall back into mistakes you used to do? How do we handle setbacks, delays and being in limbo?

If you knew there was a magical way to fix, heal and bless everything would you do it? Thikr is easy rewards, abundance and blessings that we've been leaving on the table.

Have you tried to start reading Al-Baqarah and stopped? Did you notice yourself getting sleepy, distracted, unwell, or overwhelmed? Do you struggle with thikr, consistency and motivation? Today I'm talking about ways to overcome those obstacles and how to put these different acts of worship into context & perspective.

I’m not sure why the audio is going in and out on this recording but I am sending it anyway. I will not be deterred :) This is probably the most important episode I have ever done. I’m sharing four life-changing habits/practices that you would miss out on if you left them. There’s no gimmick. It’s the real deal on how to turn your life and relationship with Allah around. I cannot wait to hear all of the beauty that comes into your lives and the ways Allah blesses you, fixes your heart, and turns your lives around. Jazakum Allah khair for listening. I look forward to sharing more. Sincerely, Sumayah

The Sincerely, Sumayah podcast is moving to a new platform called Substack. Become a free or paid subscriber to receive new content, videos and podcasts at: https://sumayah.substack.com All of the Sincerely, Sumayah classic edition episodes will remain available for listeners. ______ A brief episode on boundaries, vulnerability and human limitations. “I don't want to let anyone down, and feel like I've failed them if I can't be supportive. Sometimes I am struggling myself and I realized I have no one who actually listens to me.”

What happens when you are going through a challenging time and your closest people let you down? What does it mean when they don't show up for you? Can we acknowledge our personal limitations around being there for our people, and extend that compassion to them when it's our turn?

All of our timelines for understanding and growth differ and we can't rush or control our own timing or those of others. Instead of questioning whether we could have done more to get a message across, a different question would be whether our audience is ready to hear it.

Where's the line between playing the part and being an entire human being? Thoughts on navigating vulnerability, openness, reality and truth in the context of social media and marketing.

Allah (awj) is inviting you to come back to Him. He has not given up on you. He still wants you. He sees the good in you, even when you no longer see it in yourself. Even after a million mistakes. All you need to do is to turn to Him

You aren't unworthy, corrupt or so lost that you should just give up on yourself. You're not too far gone. If you have nothing else, hold on to the one last thing. It may be the thing that saves you.

Where's the line between trusting in Allah and tying your camel? How do you know when you've done enough? What if you miss out on a chance?

This one is for all of the kindhearted, naturally giving, generous people who have become afraid of being used or taken advantage of. You can set boundaries that protect you and allow you to decide when and how you help others. It doesn't make you withholding or selfish, it just makes you human.

This episode is about the fear of being too needy in relationships and how to manage our expectations and emotions.

A lie has a mother & father. Let's examine our role in creating a safe environment in our marriages, families and the community at large.

What happens to a couple when one person makes their partner the center of their universe? Where are the lines between our individual lives and being part of a couple?

It makes it a lot easier for them to show up for you in the right way when you tell them how you want to be loved, and vice versa.

We can both accept things that are outside of our control, and allow ourselves to feel how we do about them happening.

Just like you understand its natural to spend time getting to know someone you just met, you also need to take the time to get to know yourself. It isn't arrogant or selfish to ask questions, reflect or pay attention to your inner world.

A person who gives with the expectation of getting the same in return will feel resentful and empty when they don't get that. When you don't love and respect yourself it can actually drive healthy people away from you. Securely attached, emotionally healthy people aren't usually drawn to people-pleasing or martyr behaviour.

It's really hard to mentor someone who isn't willing to get curious about themselves. People tend to be focused on analyzing others' behaviours and choices. A key qualifier for effective healing and growth is being open and curious about your own inner world.

Taking responsibility for the process of your growth and healing means dealing with triggers and setting healthy boundaries.

I haven't met anyone who meets my criteria without deal-breakers. Does this mean I'm being too picky? Where's the line between having impossible standards and settling?

Each person comes with their gift. Can you be receptive to the gift and let the experience go with grace? Can it mean that Allah (swt) is showing you that you are worthy and that this is possible for you?

There are relationships that primarily take from us, others that nourish us and some that do both. Which is which?

You can always come back home. You've never gone too far or changed too much to be welcome.

In the story of Musa (pbuh) and Al-Khidr in Surat Al-Kahf, we witness an interaction between a Prophet who is also a distinguished leader of his people, and a slave of Allah that had been given knowledge and a special understanding of matters.

Reflecting on Ayah (7:43) from the Quran, and how feeling all that we do is part of the Human experience in this world. It doesn't mean anything about who you are or your character.

Do you pause after an experience to check in with yourself and see how it leaves you feeling? Do you pay attention to the effect people, media, places or even food have on you afterwards?

For everyone who apologizes before sharing their thoughts or feels like what they're thinking isn't normal or probably not even acceptable.

Look at the bigger picture.

This episode is brought to you by Haven for Heartbreak. A safe space for women facing heartbreak, betrayal and Infidelity trauma, facilitated by Sumayah Hassan. Book a session at https://havenforhearbreak.com/book

For the fighters who are in the heart of the storm. You can put down the armor. You are safe with Him (swt) ❤️

Can we move away from the idea of love being something scarce that must be sought or performed for? And move towards seeing love as something abundant and ever-present. If you knew you were loved and supported unconditionally, what would change for you?

On being stuck and making tough decisions.

You have the ability to meet your own needs. A simple powerful shift towards your personal wellbeing.

Treat people as you'd like to be treated. Being disrespectful or unkind thinking that people of faith will tolerate it is a flawed assumption.

A letter to you, beautiful girl with the broken heart. You know who you are ❤️

How do you define yourself? Who are you really? Who do you think we need you to be?

You're doing so much and you make it look so easy! How do you do it all?

Is cultivating a spiritual connection to your faith a substitute for applying yourself and doing the work to grow and heal?

How can I accept the past, make the most of the present and have hope for the best possible future?

Labels, roles, criticism & judgement. This is who you need to be. Says who?

We plan and Allah plans. A story about trust in Allah, hardship and ease.

Putting your heart and soul into making something and presenting it to the world is one of the scariest things to do. It isn't just scary for the first timer, but for every single one of us.

It's true you can't control how other people behave towards you. But it's up to you to decide when something isn't working for you, and whether you want to continue to accept that or not.