Allah's communication with us.

There are various ways Allah SW wants to get our attention. He is always showing us his signs of presence, it is for us to look for them and  recognize them; a confirmation came from Allah SW is....
 "say, praise belong to Allah, he will show you his signs, then you will recognize them"  (27:93) 
In one of the verses Allah explains the mode of his communication clearly. 
"It is not possible for human beings that God should speak to them except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with God's permission, what God wills, for He is Most High, Most Wise." 42:51

some scholars explains "behind the veils" are those dreams that foretell the future events to take place. I have tried to gather some supporting verses that explain Allah's several ways of connecting with us.

1) Through the nature:  Allah speaks through the nature sometimes there are solutions scattered around that are needed. The best example i remember is the story of Habil and Qabil! when one of the brother killed the other one, the righteous one. The killer felt deep sorrow and repented his sin. But didn't know what to do with the dead body. Allah SW sent a crow to show what needs to be done....

"Then Allah sent a crow digging up the earth so that he might show him how he should cover the dead body of his brother. He said: Woe me! do I lack the strength that I should be like this crow and cover the dead body of my brother? So he became of those who regret." 5:31

Truly Allah has not created anything in vain!

2) Through the "small voice"/ the inspiration in our mind: I would like to give that example from prophet Musas' AS mom. when he was born his mother was fearing for her son's life, as she was inspired to take a bold step. so Allah said in the Quran

 "And We had already conferred favour upon you [Musa] another time, When We inspired to your mother what We inspired, [Saying], ‘Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.’” (20:37-39)

‘And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”’ (28:7)

3) Through other people's advise, information or even exchange of ideas:   Allah SW send message through other people around us. In the story of prophet Musa AS we see one day in a state of anger prophet Musa AS struck a heavy blow accidentally to a man from the people of Egyptian. He immediately realized he murdered him in mistake and  asked for forgiveness from Allah . He knew the punishment for killing an Egyptian is death. so Allah sent a man with a message for him  "And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Moses! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am to you of those who give sincere advice." (28:20)

4) Through dreams and vision: we all know the story of the prophet Yusuf AS. Whenever the word dream comes to my mind i remember the verse about the king's dream. Allah has communicated through his dream and gave the prophet an opportunity to interpret it for a reason. 

“And (once) the king (of Egypt) said: ‘Verily I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows which seven lean cows were eating; and seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry. O’ chiefs (of my court)! Explain to me my dream, if you are able to interpret dreams’.” Surah Yusuf verse 43

This is a clear proof that anyone is able to see visions or dreams about a future event if Allah wills. 

5) Through life circumstances( condition, events that are connected with), incidents of our own or people around us:   We are constantly learning from our mistakes and from our success. same goes with the people around us, we learn from them too. "we" all get selected by Allah to face  " situations " so that we can be an example regardless of good or bad for that community. That means our life has been planed out by the creator based on our choices we make. And there is a lesson for everyone in it even though our perspective may differ. look at The story of Habil and Qabil, one of the brother had been selected to carry out the first murder on the earth. let's look into our own family members who passed away; aren't they the example for us to do things in certain ways or to bring a change into our life? Allah says this in the quran

"God wishes to make it clear to you and guide you through the example of earlier people, and to forgive you, for God is all-knowing and all-wise." 4:26 

There are numerous verses addressing " have you seen the  one who"......25:43  to grab our attention to see what are the lessons behind peoples' the trials who are given something or taken away from them or are put in an unique situation only by Allah. I think the big questions to ask is " "why am i seeing it? Is there anything Allah is trying to tell me ?

7) Through His word:   Allah spoke through all the prophets of all times. He has protected his words in the Quran for a reason. One great reason i believe is to communicate with us. No matter what our situations are there will always be something for everyone, for every types of hearts and temperaments in the Quran. After the prophets, it is our conscience and soul are the "communicator" from Allah. It is necessary to nurture that soul to be an attentive listener. Because by the faith that dwells within us, Allah will focus our attention on particular verses or passages in the Quran in order to communicate or guide us.

 "Surely, there is a reminder in this for anyone who has a heart or who listens attentively with presence of mind." 50:37

"This is the book, whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)." 2:2        

Communication is always open from the lord and he will keep showing the signs but only those who have the faith are able to grasp it. As this is a promise from him...  "we will show them our  signs in the horizon and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth from their lord". 41:53

May Allah register our names as his faithful believers who will try their best keep this communication going!  

You are being tested not thrown out of his Mercy!

Have you notice even though prophet Yunus AS was punished being in the belly of the whale, he was still in a safe surrounding? Punch line is Allah will tests us or even  punish us, but he will still keep us covered with his mercy! It is our responsibilities to feel that mercy and thank him for being the most merciful to us.
by the way, Why did prophet Yunus AS was punished in the first place? For giving up hope on his people. And getting angry at them. Not waiting for Allah's decision about them.

what was the purpose of the punishment? Setting aside "some lone time" for self-reflection! Acknowledging his weaknesses,repenting for making wrong decision realizing how helpless he was without Allah SW! And prophet's words came out in deep sorrow " “There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.”(Surah Al Anbiya, 21:87)
You are being tested not thrown out of his mercy!

Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Ar Raheem!!

Signs, communication, and Allah SWT

Allah SWT communicates with us in silence with his signs. And we will find those signs in his book. That's why he instructed us to read, he says in his book, The Holly Quran  " We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things?" 

(41:53). Allah speaks to us in various dramatic tones. sometimes some of us hear it from unexpected places. We don't need to go further to hear it, sometimes from the nature around us, the voice and the body languages of the people, from illness, disappointments; surprisingly, even from a song! All i pray to Allah( SWT) to show me his signs more clearly and make my heart contented, comforted and be inspired with his words. 

What a best replacement !

Our parents are one of the best blessings of Allah. That's why we are instructed to take the best care of them according to our ability. But what happens when they are gone from our life and they are taken away from us? We feel a deep hole inside as if the entire grand canyon is in our heart. We feel the deep wound of the earth in our own flesh. We ask Allah why did he do that to us? Doesn't he know what we would feel? I know how it feels as both of my parents are now in the best care of Allah. But wound didn't heal until i found a better replacement of them. I strongly believe our creator, Allah recompenses. Our prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us to ask for replacement for our loss by saying " Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, Allahumma ajirni fi musibati wa akhlif li khairan minha‘ (Verily we belong to Allah and truly to Him shall we return. O Allah! Protect me in this calamity that has befallen me and replace it with something better), Allah will accept his prayer, grant him reward for his affliction, and replace it with something better.”  But what does Allah replace our parents with? That question, anger and grief swallowed me until i ponder upon some thoughts. when we lose our near and dear parents one or both, we have lost the worldly best treasures of the world, which can never be replaced with any worldly possession. But wait! look how Allah replaces ! Since Allah is the most merciful, and most generous and he always rewards better for loss; he himself comes more closer to us! SubhanaAllah! what a great reward for OUR LOSS! 

In times of difficulties......

when i am in times of difficulties what do i need most? From my personal experiences, i need knowledge; information .During these hard times I need to know about myself, who i am, what causes these difficulties? is it something from my own ego ? is it from any wrongdoings that i have undertaken but didn't realize ? or something i am already aware of it? Is there anything i could do to prevent them? Then  the most important thing i would need is the safest shelter; a hint  of indication that would inspire confidence, for that  I would read all the events, trials and tribulations of the prophets and see how Allah (SWT) tested them. And what these wonderful and patient personalities have done during these troubled times of their lives. And i would read lots of verses of the Quran that indicates belief, Hope, patience and glad tidings. 

sometime procrastination" I will do it Later" thought is helpful.

I was reading a post from a blog about how to keep your focus on something when you are depressed. I found a good numbers of tips that are useful for any brain.  If i talk about my own brain, do get distracted at reading time, so i gave some thoughts about it; and came up with one tip for staying focus, which i am trying for myself first when i sit for reading. I sit with a small memo book and a pen, as i read so many thoughts rushes into my head. i quickly write the thought down with a note" I will do it later". Then i go back reading and keep dragging myself to focus on again . It is working for me now a days, i hope it will be my " solution" forever. So the bottom line is procrastination is not bad all the time. It's just how you look at it and use it for your benefit!