THE DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yaum Ath-thalaatha, 21st day of Jumaadal Aakhir 1440, (Tuesday, 26th February, 2019). ISLAMIC MARRIAGES TODAY, BLESSINGS OR A SOURCE OF DISTRESS? Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Let's continue from our reminder yesterday. Please request for a copy if you couldn't receive the reminder yesterday before reading this one. Here are a few steps that may facilitate the process of marriage: 1. Maintain a good relationship with ALLAH. The other day I reflected upon this thinking to myself, if I do not have a good relationship with ALLAH, then how will I expect myself to have a good relationship with others? Work on your relationship with ALLAH. Leave your sins and take yourself to account. Check your attitude towards others daily including your anger level, character, patience and if its faltering, work on it. Also when it comes to Salaah, rush for it. Pray with Khushoo(concentration). Remember, the happiest person is the one who submits himself to ALLAH. 2. Tell your parents. If you are closer to your mum or dad, or if you have a big brother or a sister who is closer to them to talk to your parents on your behalf. Try to convince them with a kind attitude. If you are good to your parents, they will definitely listen to you as to who you want to marry. Tribalism and Nationalism is not Islamic, find learned respected imams to talk to your parents only if the one you want to marry is good practicing Muslim or Muslimah. If all efforts fails, stick to your parents advice bcs some ignorance take advantage of parents refusal to maltreat sisters if ALLAH test both in the marriage. Never ignore your parents if it means you marry someone you never loved but to please your parents, ALLAH will put his or her love into your heart and make the marriage a successful one and I personally know of such marriages which is now so much lovely for almost 15years now AlhamdulilLah. 3. Make lots of duas. I have known a few sisters who have made lots of duas for righteous husbands. Furthermore, make sure to wake up in the night for Tahajjud and ask ALLAH for a good spouse. Once you have done that, keep making dua until a good proposal comes to you. Do not stop no matter what or how long it takes. This is where Shaytan will get to you! Do not Stop! Do not agree to any brother or sister unless if you are sure he or she is a good practicing Muslim. Don't gamble with beauty but choose good character and good practising partner. Be like a child, who would say, "I asked my mother to bring me my lunch to school." The lunch time almost comes to an end and all his friends would say, "I don't think your mum is gonna come. The lunch time is almost over." The child would not stop and will say over again, "Say anything you want, I know my mum will come and give me the best lunch ever!". No sooner than he turns around, he finds his mother holding his favorite lunch. The child would then tell his friend, "I told you, she would! My mother is amazing. She loves me so much." The reason I have mentioned the story of a mother and a child is to show the pure innocence of the child. How he trusted his mother and waited patiently on her that she will bring him his favorite food he asked her to get. Also the relationship between a mother and her child is amazingly remarkable. A mother loves her child so much and never asks for anything in return. In your life you will always find people who love you but no other love in the world compares to that of a mother. Now, imagine your relationship with ALLAH Subhana Wa ta'ala. ALLAH loves us more than our mothers. So if you ask HIM for something, don't lose hope, know or be assured HE will give you the best! Always Expect the best from ALLAH. To be continued tomorrow in shaa ALLAH. May ALLAH ease our ways to marry and take good care of our partners for ALLAH sake. Aameen.