🇯🇵🌸 This is a beautiful 25-string koto performance under blooming cherry blossoms.
Thank you everyone for the positive vibes about Japan lately. We appreciate it!
The japanese actor who conquered hollywood with discipline and a samurai spirit.
From a young age, Sanada dedicated himself to mastering his craft. Trained in traditional japanese acting and martial arts, he carried with him a deep respect for precision, patience, and honor.
🇯🇵⛩️ Japanese shrine gates (鳥居) are often different but they're very easy to draw. The small differences are because of regional variations, religious traditions, local craftsmanship and materials.
Mark Ruffalo and Joaquin Phoenix pledge to never work with Israeli film institutions that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people
Were it not for Islam, I honestly do not know where I would be today. But—praise be to God—I am grateful for the blessing of Islam.
When I look back and reflect on everything I have endured—the rejection, the hunger, the tears, and the loneliness—I realize that every single step of that journey brought me closer to God.
Islam did not destroy my life.
Rather, Islam set my life aright and guided it.
Islam is not a religion intended to oppress or subjugate people, as many seem to believe; rather, it is a faith that teaches discipline, patience, modesty, respect, and responsibility. It teaches you how to live a life filled with purpose and meaning, and how to treat others with kindness and benevolence.
Today, even some of those who once vehemently opposed my embracing of Islam...
They observe that I stand firm in my convictions—that I am strong.
This is because they never witnessed the nights I spent weeping.
They never saw the days I went hungry.
They never witnessed the moments when I felt utterly alone and lost.
But God—He saw it all.
God knew the sincere intentions held within my heart.
God knew the hardships and trials I had to endure.
And, by virtue of His boundless mercy, He continued to open doors for me and smooth my path, sending people into my life to extend a helping hand.
They were, every one of them, a living embodiment of the divine mercy that has enveloped my life.
My journey has never been easy; indeed, even to this day, my life remains far from perfect and is not without its trials. Yet, God has eased this path for me, making it far more bearable than it once was. For this reason, I will continue to say, "Praise be to God"—forevermore. A message to everyone who has recently found their way to Islam (new Muslims) across the globe:
If you are among those who have recently embraced Islam and are reading these words right now, I want you to know that your story is of great value and significance—and that the difficulties and trials you are enduring are matters that Allah sees and encompasses with His full knowledge.
At times—when you announce your conversion to Islam—those around you may fail to comprehend your decision; they may not grasp its motives or its full implications. Some may cast doubt upon you; others may seek to dampen your resolve; indeed, some may even turn their backs on you entirely.
You may lose friends.
You may face rejection from members of your own family.
You may experience moments where you feel utterly alone.
There may be days when you ask yourself: Is this struggle truly worth all the hardship?
However, remember this well: Allah has chosen *you*.
Out of the billions of human beings in this world, Allah guided *your* heart to Islam—and that, in itself, is a priceless blessing.
Your journey may be arduous at times, but every sacrifice you make for the sake of Allah is never, ever in vain.
Every tear you shed in the privacy of your solitude—Allah sees it.
Every supplication you whisper when you feel weak—Allah hears it.
Every step you take to learn about Islam and put it into practice—Allah records it for you.
And even when people fail to understand you, Allah understands you perfectly.
Sometimes, the path of a new convert (one returning to the faith) is a path tinged with a sense of loneliness in its early stages; yet, through patience, Allah transforms that loneliness into serenity and tranquility—replacing it with righteous companionship and with a bond with Allah that is stronger and more steadfast than ever before.
The trials you are currently undergoing are not a punishment; Indeed, quite often, these trials serve as a means by which God elevates your rank and strengthens your faith.
Therefore... do not give up.
Hold fast to your faith with unwavering resolve, even if the path seems arduous; continue to learn, continue to pray, and continue to place your trust in God.
A day will come when you look back upon your journey and realize that every hardship you faced
A gentle reminder that Jeffery Epstein was a Jew and 99.99% of his partners in crime are Christians.
Never Stop talking about this!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.