Worship

Subhan’Allah Moments: Reflecting on the Blessings of Allah

Published

October 6, 2010

I don’t know about you, but life can be a real roller coaster. Some days, I wake up and think, “This is going to be a good day, insha’Allah.” The kids are listening without talking back, food tastes particularly good, people seem unusually positive and supportive, time for worship is plentiful and beneficial, life is good. Then, the downward spiral of the roller coaster begins. Suddenly the storm clouds come out and crisis sets in.

Allah challenges the believers in the Quran, asking “Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to the test? No, we have tested those before them…” (Quran 29:2-3) Indeed, Allah has decreed for mankind a life of hardships and struggles, tests of one’s true faith and resolve. Each person feels their individual trial as intensely as the next person, and life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Perhaps the test is in your relationship with your spouse, or with even finding a spouse. Maybe obeying your parents or taking care of them in their old age brings on hardship. Of course there can be problems at work, difficulty in finding work, financial instability, trials with parenthood, academic struggles, health problems; the list of possibilities goes on and on. Sometimes, the trial is long and your patience grows thin. You begin to believe the trial will never end, that this will become your permanent life situation.

It is during these times that one most needs a “Subhan’Allah” moment, a remembrance of purpose and a refuge in the beauty of creation.

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I wanted to share with you some of my “Subhan’Allah” moments. These are moments I return to when I am feeling most distressed that help bring back balance and perspective to my situation. I encourage you to try to slowly read each of the following moments out loud, one by one, allowing each to enter your ears and travel to your heart. Close your eyes after each one and experience the sights, smells, and feelings of each moment until your tongue responds with the thikr of Allah.

Moment #1: Embracing my child as he sits in my lap and softly explores my face with his tiny, roaming fingers

Moment #2: Listening to a new Muslim nervously struggling through their shahadah for the first time in front of the entire masjid

Moment #3: Feeling the hint of coolness in the air on the first day of fall, and wrapping my sweater tighter around me

Moment #4: Finally pondering a Quranic verse I have skimmed over numerous times and understanding it to the extent it brings tears to my eyes

Moment #5: Inhaling the wonderfully intense smell of brewing coffee on a cold winter day

Moment #6: Passing a grave site and thinking of the possible torture of its inhabitants

Moment #7: Feeling the first drops of water roll down my parched throat and fill my belly with cool relief after a long summer day of fasting

Moment #8: Reading a hadith about the Prophet (SAWS) that exemplifies the beauty and compassion of Islamic manners, comforting me when I am feeling tested by the outside world

Moment #9: Listening to the Imam struggle through his recitation as his voice weighs heavy with tears and fear of the hellfire

Moment #10: Finally getting confirmation of the first day of Ramadan, and anxiously calling my phone tree to spread the good news to friends and family

Moment #11: Being humbled by a new Muslim’s sincerity and struggle for the deen that I take for granted

Moment #12: Staring at the dark night sky as a million stars dance around the crescent moon

Moment #13: Standing at Arafat during Hajj with millions of believers from all over the world, mutually grieving from the fear of the Day of Judgment

Moment #14: Realizing the weight and immensity of Allah’s favor upon me when He guided me to the Truth

The next time we are driven to the brink of insanity from the so called realities of life, let’s seek refuge in the true realities, and say Subhan’Allah!

So, what are your “Subhan’Allah” moments?

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Related Topics:reality refuge Sincerity SubhanAllah tests Thankfulness Trials

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Hebah Ahmed

Hebah is a Muslim American with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UIUC. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Egyptian immigrants. She currently resides in Albuquerque, NM with her husband and two children. Hebah is a social activist who works to dispel the myths about Islam and Women in Islam through community presentations and panel discussions. She also heads Daughterz of Eve, a local Muslim girls youth group.

46 Comments

Basir

October 6, 2010 at 4:41 AM

My subhanAllah moment is when talking to a muslim or non muslim and trying to win their mind and heart so that they follows Islam as a comprehensive way of life.

Reply
Reza

October 6, 2010 at 5:07 AM

Nearing the end of Ramadhan, in the Taraweeh when the imam has successfully finished reciting the entire Qur’an, and everyone are shedding tears of tawbah.. a very special feeling indeed

Reply
Abu_Isa

October 6, 2010 at 6:39 AM

Seeing the Haram in Makkah for the first time.. I didnt know what to expect but I was overwhelmed.. it was a rather incredible experience

Reply
- Smira
  
  October 6, 2010 at 3:57 PM
  
  Wonderul Akhi….Mashallah….that is just a breathtaking experience akhi…..I could not help but weep at the beauty and honor of seeing the Haraam. Inshallah I ask Allah to give me strength…
  
  Asalamu Alaikum
  
  Reply
- Hebah Ahmed
  
  October 6, 2010 at 9:27 PM
  
  Ditto 1000%!!!!!
  
  Reply
- Asrar Ahmed
  
  October 10, 2010 at 9:30 AM
  
  That is indeed the most intense sensual feeling when you see the Haram shareef for the first time with your own eyes!!! Overwhelming!!
  
  Reply
BintB

October 6, 2010 at 10:25 AM

MashaAllah, Barak’Allahu fik’ for the great article!
This article came at the right time! SubhannaAllah!

Each person feels their individual trial as intensely as the next person, and life can sometimes feel overwhelming.

: Amazingly true!

One of my subhannaAllah Moments is when I pray in congragation, when we all simultaneously prostrate in sujud to Allah, the All Mighty, everybody seeking the Mercy of ALLAH, The Mercifful… SubhannaAllah! It is beautiful!

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Sammy

October 6, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Beautiful article.

My subhanallah moments would have to be a sunset on a cloudy day, my dog giving me puppy eyes (pun totally intended), waking up on my own at the time I asked Allah to wake me up WITHOUT an alarm (this has happened WAAAAAYYY too many times to be coincidences), my parents enjoying the most mundane of activities, patients who we were expecting to pass away, survive and vice versa. There are SO many subhanallah moments, I could totally hijack this article hehe!

Alhumdolillah!

Reply
- Hebah Ahmed
  
  October 6, 2010 at 9:30 PM
  
  Jazak Allahu Khair…didn’t you know you should never use the word “hijack” on a Muslim website!!!!!! LOL! :) Otherwise, go right ahead and “overshadow” my moments…
  
  Reply
- Ameera Khan
  
  October 7, 2010 at 6:24 AM
  
  Ahaan… that would be you, Sammy, for sure. ;)
  
  Reply
Bushra

October 6, 2010 at 1:00 PM

Reading this article was itself a Subhan’allah moment. :)

Reply
- Li
  
  October 6, 2010 at 1:04 PM
  
  co-sign.
  I actually felt my heart melting, like the hardness that’s been built around it melting away, as small tears start forming in my eyes… SubahanAllah.
  
  Reply
  - Hebah Ahmed
    
    October 6, 2010 at 9:31 PM
    
    WOW, what wonderful feedback. What better response could a person hope for to their article…SUBHAN ALLAH!!!! (There’s another moment!)
    
    Reply
    - MaryamW
      
      October 7, 2010 at 7:09 AM
      
      Ditto to Sis Bushra :-)
      
      After I finished reading this article, the only thing I could say was “SubhanAllah!”
      
      Reply
ummi

October 6, 2010 at 1:11 PM

subhanallah when my son (7yrs) leads 20+ women in salah.
Oh Allah keep our children strong and on the straight path, ameen

Reply
- Hebah Ahmed
  
  October 6, 2010 at 9:32 PM
  
  AMEEN! Barak Allahu Fee to him and the one who is raising him.
  
  Reply
Amad

October 6, 2010 at 1:58 PM

in the middle of the night, on top of a dune, next to the beach, gazing at the stars, praying qiyam in Ramadan… subhanallah moments all night!

Reply
Amatullah

October 6, 2010 at 1:59 PM

reading the Qur’an and feeling the words penetrate my heart.

hearing my parents make duaa for my siblings and I.

having an outlet (like MM) to spread good reminders and articles to Muslims, then seeing how far your words have gone and how they have helped others with the Help and Blessings of Allah.

seeing Allah’s plan for you come together in ways you could never imagine.

SubhanAllah.

Jazaaki Allahu khayran sis Hebah for this beautiful article. may Allah accept it from you.

Reply
- Hebah Ahmed
  
  October 6, 2010 at 9:34 PM
  
  Ameen and I totally second your moment of “having an outlet (like MM) to spread good reminders and articles to Muslims, then seeing how far your words have gone and how they have helped others with the Help and Blessings of Allah.”
  
  May Allah reward you and all the enjoiners of good in this world. Ameen.
  
  Reply
Iman

October 6, 2010 at 2:10 PM

BarakAllahu feeki ukhti, you helped soften a heart with the remembrance of Allah, may Allah accept it from you, ameen

my subhanAllah moment: watching the incredible mercy and love of a mother as she struggles to carry her toddler while praying salah….and then realizing Allah has even more mercy on us

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Smira

October 6, 2010 at 3:50 PM

Subhanallah Moment:….You know… I had planned to pray every taraweeh and tahhajud this past ramadan and to be honest …being 18..I didnt think i could do it…but Subhanallah Allah Subhanallah Wa Ta’ala had given me the strength to do so…but there was something very special about the last Tahhajudd.

At the last night of 10 consecutive taraweehs and tahhajudd I began familiar with the face who were praying along with me for the 10 days. As we prayed our last Tahhajud salah approaching the last Rak’aa. The lights in the mosque were off and only the strong utterance of the Sheikh was echoing in the mosque…with every one else listening attentively.The Shiekh began to recite the Dua-Qunoot in the most beautiful fashion I Have ever heard. I began to weep and so did the others. You can hear almost everyone crying as we were standing in front of Allah S.W.T. I dont even know what happened…I dont usually cry but that night i was shedding every tear that my eye was able to give. It was as if the world had stopped and its was just me and Allah S.W.T. I was literally shaking and couldnt hold myself together…..the sheikh began to cry and was at this point struggling to recite the dua……..that was the most intimate and sincere moment that I had ever experienced in my life…and there will be nothing like it :) Al Hamdoulilah

Reply
- Hebah Ahmed
  
  October 6, 2010 at 9:37 PM
  
  “It was as if the world had stopped and its was just me and Allah S.W.T”
  
  Masha Allah…I felt like I had this same feel one of the nights I prayed tahhajud alone in my home. May Allah give us all many of these moments! SUBHAN ALLAH!!!!!
  
  Reply
Adnan

October 6, 2010 at 11:15 PM

Making dua and knowing for a fact that Allah is listening to you…The Lord of the World Hears your small dua…

Reply
Aideh

October 6, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Sitting on a rooftop in solitude and gazing at the stars and hills and inhaling all the beautiful creations of Allah as I realize my insignificance and affirming in my heart: truly Allah is Akbar and He is Al Khaliq and He did not create this in vain!

The last day of Ramadan, a roller coaster ride of feelings: heart-wrenching to be away from it, grateful to have completed the entire month and only hoping to be able to witness the barakah of the next Ramadan. insha Allah.

Hugging and kissing my mommy good-bye as I leave her apartment to go back home to another city, realizing how much I took her for granted. The du’aa resonates in my sujud: Rabbirham waalidayya kamaa rabbayaani sagheera.

Reply
- Smira
  
  October 7, 2010 at 10:54 AM
  
  Awwwwe….so compassionate…your post brought tears to my eyes….quite lovely..
  
  Reply
sajid

October 7, 2010 at 6:33 AM

Salam, I have this strong desire to meet MM team ( I am in India) .subhanallah what an article ,may Allah take more such work from u.
You people are doing fabulous job. I pray to Allah to benefit all Muslims and non Muslims from this great site.

Reply
Outstanding Muslimah

October 7, 2010 at 6:34 AM

Great article, especially liked this one:
“Moment #13: Standing at Arafat during Hajj with millions of believers from all over the world, mutually grieving from the fear of the Day of Judgment”

My subhan’Allah moment is when I reflect on the wisdom behind certain hardships in my life – how they have made such an impact on my life and changed me for the better. Alhamdulilah.

Reply
MaryamW

October 7, 2010 at 7:38 AM

My “SubhanAllah” moments:

1. Waking up in the morning, and immediately being grateful that Allah blessed me with another morning.

2. Realizing that even the fact that I feel grateful to Allah is something I need to be grateful for.

3. Examining people walking, eating, sleeping, talking, interacting- and realizing how wonderfully designed and complex the spinal cord itself is, let alone the entire human body.

4. I am a Muslim :-)

5. Reading the Huruf Muqatta-at and realizing I (we) don’t even understand the FIRST letters of guidance.

6. Understanding that eagerness of wanting to learn the Quran and take Islam seriously is a blessing only from Allah.

7. The fact that I can even see the computer screen as I’m typing this “Subhan’Allah Moments” list

8. Embracing the fact that I have parents who are alive and Muslim, Alhamdulillah

9. Be humbled realizing that, even though I have a TON more to write, I still can’t even count and fully appreciate ONE blessing from Allah SWT.

I have to force myself to stop here. If I go any futher, my list might be longer than Sister Hebah’s article itself
;-)

JazakAllahu Khayran to Sr. Hebah and MM for this AMAZING reminder.

Reply
elham

October 7, 2010 at 4:59 PM

SubhannAllah,I felt almost every one of those moments.

One of mine, is when I reflect on the sheer vastness of His Mercy, His Patience,His overlooking of sins and then the overwhelming feeling of shame that envelopes me.How forgetful can one be!.

Another is saying in sujud ”Rabbana ma ‘abdnaak haqq ‘ibadatak….” ”Our Lord,we have not worshipped You Truly or we have not worshipped You as You deserve to be worshipped…”

Jazakallahu khairan, for the reminder.

Reply
Hina

October 8, 2010 at 7:13 AM

Assalam-o-Alaikum….there is only one thing that I could say after reading this subtle yet so profound article…SUBHAN-ALLAH !

Jazakallah khair.

Reply
Sabeen

October 8, 2010 at 7:50 AM

Mashallah what a moving article!

I had one such moment when the sisters from our halaqa left the room and I was the last one to leave. As I glanced around the deserted room I felt as if the angels were still there. A deep sense of gratitude flooded my heart that Allah had given me the opportunity to learn his deen and sit in the company of people that ardently desired His love and in the company of His unseen messengers.

Jazakallah khair.

Reply
BM

October 8, 2010 at 12:03 PM

Mashallah, outstanding article. Most of my subhanallah moments have already been mentioned. Some remaining moments are:

01. When I listen to the emotional recitations of Sheikh Saud Ibraheem Ash-Shuraim. Sheikh Saud Ibraheem Ash-Shuraim is an imam of Masjidul Haram. In fact it was one of his emotional recitations that caused my religious and spiritual re-birth. I used to be a mechanical Muslim. Then one day I was listening to his recitation, when the Sheikh became emotional when he recited the story of our father Adam in Surah Al-Araf. The Sheikh became extremely emotional when he recited the verse, “Oh our lord! We have wronged ourselves and if you do not forgive us now, we will surely be among the losers!”. The humility of the imam filled my heart with shock and awe. Subhanallah! The imam was a zillion times better Muslim than me, yet when he recited to his lord that ‘he wronged himself’, he started weeping, whereas I am spiritually a dead person, yet I can eat and sleep easily? That was one of the greatest Subhanahllah moments in my life. Since than I understood what it means reciting the words of Allah. Since then I have understood what it means pondering over the meaning of Allah’s words. Since than I have understood how lucky I am that Allah has bestowed me the honor to recite and listed to his greatest and mightiest of His Books.

02. When I see the innocence in the face of little children, especially little girls. Their innocence shakes my heart and I sometimes realize that how great it would have been if I did not know all the cruelty and dirty things of this world and remained innocent like them. I also instantly pray to Allah so that He bless me with a daughter when I marry in future :blush:

03. When I realize that how much Allah has blessed me with compared to millions of people in this world.

04. When I try to understand that how great Allah is and what a great honor He has bestowed upon us by giving us the privilege to worship Him. Indeed there cannot be any great honor than worshiping Allah alone. I sometimes get this feeling as soon as I stand before Allah and start reciting Surah Al-Fatiha.

05. Sometimes I just ponder over the beauty of Islam and it instantly brings tears in my eyes. All praise to Allah who has blessed us with such a beautiful deen.

06. Sometimes I read the seerah of the Messenger of Allah and say Subhanallah, especially when I read about the sacrifices the greatest Messenger of Allah had made for us. Also I sometimes feel enormous pride (of course with humbleness) that Allah has made me among the the nation of his greatest messenger.

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Smira

October 8, 2010 at 6:37 PM

Subhanallah…..May Allah make amongst the Sabiroon …Inshallah. Your experience has made me really ponder about what it is that really matters in this life…and jazakallhu khairun for that..
Salam

Reply
A-Muslim-Brother

October 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM

MashaAllah fabulous article and wonderful reminder and awesome replies too.

MY ULTIMATE SUBHANALLAH MOMENT IS…
Driving down the scenic A-road (single lane and almost non-existent traffic) in Wales, to my parent’s home, and looking at the natural beauty and wonders surrounding it. In the midst of this, my soul is utterly overwhelmed and screams out “Allaahu Akbar!!” Without doubt, I am just happy to be alive and I am honoured that Allaah actually decided to create me. Then I think wow – Allaah is infinitely beautiful – SubhanAllah – it can’t be described!
That is the ultimate SubhanAllah moment for me, that really is – the fact is, the beauty is just there every day and everywhere! We donâ€™t get this feeling everyday, but it comes, once in a blue moon, I just have to devour it and taste the sweetness of it whilst it lasts. Itâ€™s like a starving lion after a deer in the wilderness! Do you ever get this feeling?

THE NEXT ONE IS…
Looking into the sky and the sheer simplicity of a sunrise and sunset “painting” I get to see just boggles my mind and overwhelms me. Look how Allaah took an oath with his “painting” in the Qurâ€™an . Such an utterly simple thing in the sky that just blows my (our) mind away â€“ SubhanAllah!

REMINDER
Everyday we witness the awesome beauty in creation of our Creator, Allaah Almighty. However, most of mankind seem to take it for granted and treat it as the wallpaper, itâ€™s just there, just in the background, itâ€™s just trivial – we truly do â€“ but itâ€™s not!!!

YOU FORGOT…..
How could anyone forget this oneâ€¦ I canâ€™t believe none of you mentioned it yet!!
What is it, you ask?……….â€¦
g e t t i n g m a r r i e d â€¦ the news that my wife accepted my proposal of marriageâ€¦ on that day, do you know what thought came to my head??â€¦ â€œAllaah loves me!â€ SubhanAllah moment – just awesome â€“ just unbelievable!

MODESTY
Good to see(?) that people stayed away from using their â€œpersonal momentsâ€ as a subhanAllah moment. After all shyness is good in the deen : ) SubhanAllah!

WHICH ONE?
By the way, why not hold a poll to see which moment truly is the top of the Subhanallah league table. I think we need call on our brother, the hero, Super Amad!

LESSON TO TAKE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
We all know there is a SubhanAllah moment round the corner, waiting for us now and again – Allahu Akbarâ€¦ so seize the moment like a fasting one breaking oneâ€™s fastâ€¦ make duâ€™a, be thankful and the best way is to deliver it with a sajadah or maybe even two rakahsâ€¦ inshaAllah we may be blessed with forgiveness, salvation and the sublime abode of Paradise. You never know, since sicncerety, ikhlaas, is at our peak – that moment could be the one that truly saves us â€“ and Allaah knows best!!

Reply
Rafa

October 9, 2010 at 10:30 PM

SubhanAllah, a MUCH needed article. JazakAllah Khair for writing this, Sister Hebah. :)

There are so many, but I think my biggest SubhanAllah moment would have to be when I write a new poem. When, all of a sudden, I feel something inside of me wanting to come out, and I sit with a pen and paper as the words literally pour out of me. But is it really me? It feels more like Allah put the words in my heart, through the pen, and onto paper. Its a feeling I can’t explain.

Also, the feeling you get when everything’s been really hard lately, and your faith is wearing out and you don’t know what to do anymore — until you bow down in sujood and suddenly you remember that the sole purpose of your being created is to worship Allah. Nothing more. And I swear, its like every worry, every sorrow, everything that made you hurt, just lifted itself from your heart. You feel light. And you feel Allah. Nothing in the world compares to that.

Reply
UmmUmair

October 10, 2010 at 6:46 AM

..when my 4 year old son realizes a blessing of Allah and says subhanAllah!

“mommy the clouds are coming with us, SUBHANALLAH!”
or when the power went off for a while “mommy Allah is testing us, subhanAllah!”

These moments are truly amazing and I thank Allah that He put His love into his little heart and blessed him with an eye and heart that sees His blessings. May Allah guide us and our children and make us love everything that He loves and hate everything that He hates, ameen.

Reply
211Muslimah

October 12, 2010 at 5:51 PM

SubhanAllah! This article brought tears to my eyes..Jazakallahkhair for posting.

Reply
Mariam Anwer

October 14, 2010 at 6:45 AM

Beautiful Article! :) Jazaki Allahu Khair.

Reply
FAAIKA

October 15, 2010 at 5:28 AM

SubhanAllah is when getting up in the morning , saying shukran allah for everything I have in life , without you it
not possible, just having Allah in my life is a great

Reply
Just a girl

October 16, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Salams Hebah,

Thank you for posting this article. It couldn’t have come at a better time! Hope you continue you to have these moments, and may Allah always uplift you, in the way that you have uplifted others

Reply
Azhar

October 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM

Subhan’Allah

This article and its responses moved me. This article itself was an Subhan’Allah moment to me.

I have a Subhan’Allah moment everytime our Shakyh recites Surah Naba, Last Verses of Surah Hashr, Surah Baqra and Aytal Kursri

Allahu Musta’an

Reply
mariam

October 22, 2010 at 2:20 PM

whenever my eyes relish some amazing sight particularly having nature in it my heart says SUBHAN ALLAH

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Amatullah

February 3, 2011 at 3:51 AM

Salam Hebah,

My SubhanAllah moment is that i got a chance to read this article and all the comments :)

Reply
oussama

February 26, 2013 at 7:32 AM

thank you for this good article
god bless you

Reply
A- muslim- sister

April 11, 2016 at 10:16 AM

My subhunAllah moment is when I make duaa to Allah swt for something that I desire but Allah delays it because it not suitable for me at that moment, or he does not accept it because it is harmful for me and instead blesses me with something far more better. Another sunhunAllah moment is when I am about to commit a sin but Allah swt gave me the ability to remember that it will not be good for me and will destroy me. Also when I do commit a sin, Allah swt gave me the ability to make me feel bad and full of regret which in a way motivates me to increase my imman.

Reply
Yousra

September 6, 2016 at 7:52 AM

Beautiful Post!
Alhamdulillah for everything.
You wrote it so beautifully Mashaa Allah.❤
-Team Ayeina.

Reply