Khadijah Goes To School, Community Survival Book

"It's a concept, a tool, a bridge, it isn't just a book for me." Ontario resident and published author Asim Hussain shares his new book 'Khadijah goes to School' with MUSLIMNESS readers in the United Kingdom.

A Story About You
Beginning as a self-funded project just under a year ago, Khadijah goes to School is a 28 page interactive book published in June 2011 for a universal audience. With a tag-line 'A story about You', the book's central theme is empowerment through contribution. It teaches readers about personal contributions to the local and global society as a means to build bridges between communities and to break down stereotypes.

Opening the book I found it breaks a 'bedtime' convention, flipping instead from left-to-right as is found in Arabic literature. Page numbers are accompanied by their Arabic counterparts and the main character Khadijah wears a hijab, all adding to the dual identity of the book.

Asim Hussain took a year out to create and self-publish Khadijah goes to School; feedback from family, work colleagues, strangers and the homeless were all essential before finalising the story. The effort has definitely paid off.

Author Asim Hussain reads from his new book, Khadijah goes to School, surrounded by his children, from left, Zayd, Sayf and Yusra Hussain, who did most of the illustrations. (Photo: Mississauga.com)

Ditty illustrations drawn by Asim's own children accompany the deeply cultured story line. We see images of mosques, 'Baba', the Arabic/Urdu title for father, and frequent use of the Islamic concept 'Read', historically revealed as the first word of the Qur'an. A book of ideas, Khadijah seems to reach out and talk to readers - an endearing personality for younger children.

Why Khadijah Goes To School

The first few sentences set a mantra of ethics from which the book flows. Human potential is explored and the importance of schooling for children is explained from a child's perspective. Khadijah is a young student, encountering time away from home at a new school, surrounded by new faces who in turn teach Khadijah how to cope - with life.

Khadijah learns about the lessons of life through a relatable struggle during her first week at school. An innocent child narrative makes an otherwise "grown-up" wisdom more translatable to all age groups.

MUSLIMNESS Reads Khadijah To Children (And Adults)
We took the book out to see what reactions it receives and found a genuine perked interest as we handed Khadijah goes to School to a group of young children aged 3-12.

Children from as young as 3 find the book's main text and hand drawn pictures easy to grasp; new phrases like 'pink monkey' creates giggles and smiles. Adults too have flipped through the pages with intrigue - questions and ideas inevitably followed. Toward the end of the book, a multi-lingual spread is dedicated to translations of the word 'Read', over 200 translations take over 5 minutes to digest and ponder which is an educational language lesson in itself.

The book creates a great discussion which is what we love the most about it. Every reader takes something unique for themselves, whether it's a new word added to their vocabulary or an lesson in ethics which they aspire to implement. Author Asim Hussain, wanted to ensure this book had value,

"This book is my ambassador to Canada, the United States, and wherever else this book may go. This book shares experiences and tells stories. It's a bridge builder, a device for communication, and discussion, and is for all people. It's something friends and neighbours can share across this nation," says Asim Hussain, author of Khadijah goes to School.

One and the only critical response was based on the type/font used on the front cover and back page. Sophisticated children found it difficult to read in one sitting as the calligraphy inspired text is for sharper eyes and faster readers.

There are no paragraphs (hurray!) and conventional story-telling is thrown out of the window since reading the book right-to-left we see a deliberate change in text size, pace and dialogue. Like a child's mind, the story speaks with an accent and a questioning tone. It's clear the book is the result of creativity that only children have the ability to create.

Bring Khadijah To Schools
To date, Khadijah goes to School has been launched in cities across Canada and Chicago, USA. I strongly think the book could be introduced to British schools, in particular for the new curriculum encouraging diversity and tolerance.

The book would make an excellent resource for younger minds and hopefully achieve a "classic" status. Thought-provoking questions end the book allowing to continue a discussion on the self, on education, on personal identity and stereotypes of other people. As the story of growing up and learning does not quite finish, we are left with a motivator; "This is not the end, this is just the beginning."

Stay updated on Facebook.com/KhadijahGoesToSchool

Official site {Khadija Goes To School}

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So here's a random thought.

I think a lot of Muslim marriages are slapped together on this metaphorical production line. As they whizz down the line the different parts are primed and trimmed, they get their coat of spray paint and eventually they're stuck together. They mostly work, but maybe for a long time people are not sure if the end product will stand the test of time. Sometimes they only work because they have to. After a while the cheap coat of shiny spray paint peels off revealing the true colours of the constituent parts; they're not always the prettiest underneath.

Poor build quality is not uncommon, various cracks exist beneath the surface. Parts are prone to break easily and people generally lack the competency and patience to piece things back together. Few understand how to use the trouble-shooting manual that comes free with each product; it is after all in a different language.

The novelty wears out quickly and people envy the latest designs on the market. With the slightest scuff or scratch people are quick to rush to the manufacturer and too often they find their way back to the factory to find a replacement. Sometimes broken parts will be recycled but sadly, more often than not, broken pieces are quickly forgotten about.

I guess you used to find a lot of little family run production lines, each offering unique customisations, service with a smile. Increasingly there are fewer and fewer of these, instead we are seeing the dominance of more and more mass production lines.

(Still with me?)


So the picture you can see here is probably the most random image I have pulled off Google. The punch bowl on the right came off a production line, the one on the left is hand made.

I guess they both fulfil the function they're designed for, but there is a value to the handmade one that you cannot really put a price to. Painstakingly, with so much care to detail, that bowl was put together. Only the people who made the bowl (and the little cups) know its true value. There's nothing else like it. It is the imperfections that make it perfect, as opposed to the machine made bowl whose pseudo-perfection renders it worthless in comparison to the handmade.

British Muslims in their twenties are met by a plethora of challenges as they face the prospect of getting married. There are various obstacles to manoeuvre around, each compounding and intertwining with the other. The fusion of our tangled British identity with our parents Asian/Arab/African culture presents one such challenge, and this is clouded by the general confusion that surrounds the whole marriage process, and how best to approach things.

Further complicating matters is our inability to separate the (not always bad, but often skewed) Hollywood, Bollywood and Disney images and expectations of love and marriage that have been imprinted on us. We also have to be honest about the streaks of emotional immaturity and lack of wisdom and foresight that taint our relationships (men tend to be plagued by this moreso), as well as our mental fragility and deficit in our psycho-social prowess to deal with life changes in general (women lead this ever so slightly more).

Most importantly for single British Muslims, however, is the weakness of our Islamic grounding and our relative distrust with what we know to be the loftiest principles to which we should choose our partners.

I apologise for focusing on the bleaker side of things. In any case, the resolution?

With ever increasing divorce rates, prevalence of hostile domestic environments, unidentified masses of empty-shell marriages, as well as a scary rise in the number of unmarried Muslims in their late twenties and thirties, we are yet to find model solutions to the marital conundrums that afflict generations of Muslims in Britain. The issues are real and aren’t going away, and it can only be enriching to reflect upon how we each stand in relation to them.

At least on an individual level, before going about finding a partner we need to appreciate that each and every one of us are misshaped, quirky pieces with our own unique history. The conventional assembly line "marriage machines" may give the illusion of a shiny flawlessness counterpart, but know that no two pieces fit together exactly, in fact there is a third piece in this jigsaw.

The Master Craftsman in His Wisdom created us with our bumps and flaws.

But know that regardless of how misshapen you are, you can ‘fit’ into His Divine jigsaw piece; the way of the best of creation (peace and blessings upon him,) the way of al-Islam. 

I read once, that “your heart should be so close to God, that one must seek Him in order to find you.” The issues and challenges that surround getting married are plentiful and complex, but what we are charged with is to work on ourselves:

“...Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur'an, 13:11)

One of the surest ways of securing a fruitful and happy married life is to develop a deep and wholesome understanding and grounding in Islam, this coupled with a constant beautifying of your character.

A believer loves and is loved easily. Early 21st century psychologists explored how young men look for wives that resemble the endearing qualities of their mothers. Taking a step further we can look to the beautiful nature of the Mothers of the Believers, the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon them.) Often you will see brothers gazing into the distance, saying “I want to find my ‘Khadijah’... my `Ayesha’...” But what they fail to realise that they first must become as ‘Muhammadi’ as they can, embodying the best of men (peace and blessings be upon him,) before hoping to find such a gem of a woman. Expect your partner to be nothing but a reflection of you and your state, after all “A believer is a mirror to another believer”.

Prophetic tradition recognises the important role that beauty, attraction, wealth and family background play when choosing a life partner. But what is stressed beyond everything else is "Deen – (piety)" and "Akhlaq – (character)". We read in numerous hadith that one of the most desirable character traits in a partner is that of taqwah, God consciousness; that a pious partner is the most valuable treasure on this earth. What is interesting, however, is the mentioning of character; that decorating a secure Islamic foundation is the subtleties of one’s personality. We cannot underestimate this issue of compatibility, and this is where seeking the counsel from family and friends plays an integral role in giving an objective, detached perspective.

Rumi once wrote “if you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” Just like the time and effort put into the handmade punch bowls, the sincere tears, the nights in prayer and the days fasting adds a unique and deep value to your persona. It’s easy in the confusion of it all to feel disconnected from Allah, but remember it is in these moments when He's inviting you to Him.

Ibn Ata'illah wrote:

"If you make intense supplication, and the timing of the answer is delayed, do not despair of it. His reply to you is guaranteed; but in the way He chooses, not the way you choose, and at the moment He desires, not the moment you desire."

Remember this path we find ourselves on is a well-trodden one. After striving to better yourself, put your trust in your Creator for truly “...Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)” (Qur'an, 3:159)


By Bilal Hassam, British Muslim doctor and activist.
Bilal recently appeared on 4Thought.tv to share his Muslim views about putting the elderly in care homes.

Co-founder of The Leaf Network, Bilal chairs the Planting Seeds Forum, an innovative and ambitious initiative connecting together the best of emerging Muslim voices with the highest levels of scholarship.


More on Muslim marriage:
Muslim Marriage: Husbands, Know Your Rights
Sabr In A Marriage, EXTRA Sabr With The In-Laws
What's Love Got To Do With It?

Now had I known then what I know now I would have gone right back to bed after fajr (morning prayer) in Madinah on day 2. We woke up about 3 hours later for fajr and I was alert and ready. I was downstairs and bright eyed, bushy tailed, ready for the day. Morning prayer in the Prophet’s masjid was just as tranquil as ‘isha, I loved it!

My friends knew that it was a wise idea to go back to bed, I however was still on Arizona time, and was wide-awake. So instead of sleeping like a normal person, I decided to explore the city. Bad idea. I had so much to do that day that by the end I was so in auto-pilot it is not even funny. I walked and talked to the street merchants, went into the local shops and saw all the items they had for sale. It was surreal in some way but freer.

I like to go to stores that are not a corporate owned Walmart, something that is original and real. Honestly, I was amazed that I could buy two thobes and two kufis, as well as two pairs of pants for about $20 U.S. dollars. I looked into all the small shops and restaurants, smelled all the foods and investigated whatever I wanted to, wherever curiosity took me. I felt a comfort that I hadn't felt in a long time, as if no matter where I went no harm would come to me. It was a very homely feeling to have. For those of you who have not yet gone on Umrah or Hajj, plan on spending a few days getting lost and falling in love with Madinah.

I probably walked around, had breakfast, wondered back around the city and what-have-you for a good 5 hours, and the next thing I knew it was 11am. I woke up my comrades and we got ready for our day. We had a busy day ahead of us, and so now I was starting to get tired, how wonderful right?

Our first stop was to have a VIP tour of the Prophet’s Masjid. It was like the night before, but we were taken underneath the Masjid, at an exhibit that I guess is not open to everyone. This was a shame because it was very informative and interesting.


We watched a twenty-minute video about the construction and reconstruction of the Prophet’s Masjid, as well as the various rulers who have influenced its design. This was probably the only time that I have watched a historic video I was genuinely impressed with it. I could understand why the exhibit was not open to everyone; it would be packed all day and night.


Afterwards we met up with an Imam of the masjid, one of many Imams, and I discussed Guantanamo Bay prison with him as well as my reversion to Islam. It was a pleasant talk, my first in the Middle East about GTMO, and he was very aware, smart, and articulate to the matter, which was refreshing. Perhaps he even knew more than most of the Westerners and people in the U.S. do, sadly. We had a language barrier, but my friends were there by my side to take care of the matter, and all came through very well.

Next was the site of the Battle of Uhud. A very chilling feeling came upon me. I could recall feelings in my life of panic, of terror, of loss and that "oh no" moment, and that is all I felt while we were standing there. I walked to the area where the Companions (Sahabah) were buried, and asked Allah that they be granted paradise (soon). I was sad to see that there were people peddling their merchandise right there on the battle site, but I suppose in this world, you aim to survive wherever you are.

It was also a little discerning to me to see all the trash that had just been thrown around in Madinah, as if people had no reverence for the environment or for the significance of the Uhud site and what had taken place here.

I am a very critical and cynical person, this is well known, maybe I need to work on changing that in me insha’Allah. We walked up the mountain of Uhud that the archers were told to have stood on (but didn’t). I tried in my head to envision what had taken place here, and to see the forces as they came into the valley.

The entire valley at Uhud is secured by towering mountains and rocks - rocks that would be hard on the feet of a camel or horse. This was truly a strategic way to go about the historic battle, being that it was not a welcomed battle, and still it occurred. Too bad the Muslims did gain an outright win, although in the long run we did, for Allah is the best of planners!

We then hurried back to the Prophet’s Masjid for dhuhr (midday) prayer, and just as quickly as we hurried there, we hurried off to another location that I did not know was on our travel stops. We visited the Masjid Qublatain, where the qibla direction changed in mid-prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah. This was really an interesting stop, I was just happy to have the opportunity to see something so interesting and historic.

I was wrapped up in the idea of thinking that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions had once been here. And further in my mind I thought of its distance from other locations we had been to already, and having used a car, it must have taken so much longer on horseback. I think this is when I finally started to look around me and begin to feel thankful for all the blessings that I have in my life, and the blessings that I have overlooked. This is probably when it set in, "We will never have it as hard as the sahabah had it". How many times a day we hear this but how many of us understand this, I mean really understand this? It isn't just a matter of being grateful for what we have, but we also have to realize what the earlier and the new Muslims went through, and I have found that Ibn Ishaq's "The Life of Mohammed" is probably one of the best ways to learn about our beloved Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.

I was absorbing all of this as we arrived at the mosques and the site of the Battle of the Trenches. Lucky for me one of my escorts who was a student at Al-Madinah, was also a history buff and gave me a quick refresher on what had occurred here. For those of you who are not aware of the history behind this battle, do not Google it, do not Wikipedia it, go to get a researched book. Get An Islamic history book and read up on the Battles of the Trenches. Please.

I prayed in the Masjid Al-Fath, and again that feeling of having been somewhere that the Prophet ﷺ had been came to me, and it is an amazing feeling to have. I looked over the valley from where we were, and tried to envision it without all the commerce and buildings, just the desert.

And what it must have felt like to be this humble man who was being messaged by Allah Himself, and setting the world aright. What a significant burden to have on one's shoulders, and what a blessed man he, our Prophet, was!

Why did we have Asain food? I didn't eat, I came to Saudi to see giant spiders and ride a Camel and eat lizard and such, not have Chinese food, if I wanted Chinese food I would go to California.

Next on our stop of the-day-that-never-ended, and believe me we are only half way through it as of now, was an Asian restaurant - because everyone knows that you go to Saudi for the Chinese food, not for religious pilgrimage, right…? I have a hard enough time eating once a day usually so I passed on lunch, which freed me up more time to talk with one of our guests. We discussed my book ‘Traitor’ that I have been trying to get published for years, and it seems as if it will never see the light of day, but I continue to have faith.

We spoke of my life and his life, rapped for a while about future ideas and what sounded to be good and bad projects. All in all, I think I made a great friend with this visitor at lunch. I should probably mention at this point, not everyone who was a part of my trip or involved wishes to be mentioned, so I am avoiding using names. This is not to discredit anyone or their efforts, as this whole document stands to be one great big "thank you" note for them all. It is just better to leave with anonymity. Nonetheless, it was a great lunch, and it lead to a friendship that I look forward to continuing for many years to come, insha’Allah. (By the way, the Chinese food did smell and look quite good, I just didn't want to slow myself down since this was only about 2pm in the afternoon and we were still looking to keep going until nearly 11pm that evening, I was really beginning to regret having explored all morning.)


Then it was back to the Prophet's Masjid for ‘asr (afternoon) prayer, and as quickly as we arrived, before I had finished the fourth rakat, boom, we were back in the car and off for another visit. We went to visit a doctor who specialized in the Prophet’s ﷺ life, and had quite an amazing library. We exchanged greetings of pleasantry and got down to actual discussion afterward. Again we spoke quickly of GTMO, and on to various matters; a good conversation. He was a very warm and welcoming man, and shared with me some great du`a (supplications), and facts I had not heard before, so it was nice to have some new knowledge in the ol' grey matter upstairs.

We toured his extensive library, literally an entire floor of an apartment building. I began to drool when I arrived upstairs, and wished I could read and write Arabic so badly, so as to spend months of my life up here with a 6 pack of Coke and these books. All of the wonderful knowledge contained therein that I would not be able to read, any time soon, that is.


I began to think more heavily about how dearly I wanted to go to school here, and how I wanted to live in Madinah for the rest of my life, but I was also beginning to see a repeating pattern occur. In every conversation someone would tell me how important it was that I stay in the states. I do not want to stay in the states, especially with how the U.S. harasses me when I travel, they must not want me there either. They might be willing to come to a plea bargain, where they send me to some other country to live, give me a yearly allowance, and I just never come back. Sounds plausible.

When we got back into the car that day at about 4:30pm, I was too tired to bother talking to my travel companions, so I just stared out the window as we drove around the city and tried to take in all that we visited that day. I am still trying to recall what happened from mental notes during the process. Having been sleep deprived, I will have to expand on these thoughts and the following events a little further.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3


Images: Holdbrooks ©


More by Brother Mustafa:
'Islam Is A Prison', Discuss
Islam At Guantanamo, Guardian Interview
Terry Holdbrooks: Detained By FBI

With Eid celebrations well under way and the month of Shawaal now upon us, each day that passes by takes with it a small part of the legacy of Ramadan. As time separates us from the blessed month, we are presented with another opportunity to test our faith and enhance our spirituality.

Many of us experienced a spiritual high during Ramadan, no matter how much or how little we were able to achieve, we all experienced a sense of peace and spiritual enlightenment at one moment or another. No words can describe that feeling of satisfaction and contentment that Ramadan brings with it.

During the past few weeks we were able to sacrifice food and drink all day; we controlled our needs, our wants and were still able to stand in prayer at night. We woke up a little earlier, slept later, at times we didn't sleep at all but I know most of us learned something about ourselves during it.

It's important to look back and reflect on what we were able to achieve during Ramadan. If we push ourselves to our limits during Ramadan, what is stopping us from continuing that lifestyle outside of Ramadan? Ask yourself. I believe it's a lack of motivation.

Reflecting on Ramadan shows us our real potential to excel in prayers, charity, kindness and above all, patience. Patience with ourselves, patience with others, patience in God. It may have been down to Allah's mercy and blessings that descended and boosted our faith but the real change came from within ourselves. We all made an effort, we all experienced the change and Insha'Allah, God willing, we will all be rewarded for that.

The month may be gone but our efforts and achievements shouldn't end with it. Waking up for fajr may not be as easy any more, and I'm speaking from experience here - it's all good and rewarding to do it for 30 days with a community and festive spirit but the true test comes the day after Eid. The first day when we're all recovering from the celebrations and feasting. I believe it's our actions during the first few days after Ramadan that determine whether we are able to maintain our spirituality and carry on the legacy of Ramadan throughout the year.

After a month of hard work and dedication, take a little break to adjust your routine. Perhaps make up for some lost sleep and enjoy the festivities of Eid. As we celebrate our achievements and return to our normal daily life, remember the month of Ramadan, remember what we achieved, remember the effort we made and remember the peace and contentment we experienced. And reflect on how we got there.

May Allah accept our efforts, allow us to maintain our faith through the year and may we witness many more blessed months Insha'Allah.

And remember: “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.”

Image {flickr}


Read more by Abdullah Osman

More:
Top Ten Ramadan Blogs
Ramadan Reminders: Iftar Parties
Muslims In The West, Cool Photo Journal

Throughout our lives most of what we do is driven by the thought of consequence. More specifically, the benefits that doing something good might bring good for us, or the troubles it might repel us from. We do whatever we do, seeking some form of goodness in it.

And yet, no matter how much good one has in this world, it cannot come close to the rewards that the life after death holds for the believers of Allah. What is of this dunya after all, stays of this world and will deteriorate and wither away. It is not designed to last. But whatever is with Allah will always stay. Whomever loves Allah, will stay in Allah's love.

Whilst reading Surah Ya-sin from the Qur'an, I would often pause upon the verses,


"Indeed the companions of Paradise, that Day, will be amused in [joyful] occupation - They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches." (Qur'an, 36:55-56)


I would read, and re-read these verses thinking about what a beautiful reward it was. The eternal bliss of paradise, the company of one's beloved wife, all without the fear of death, sorrow or despair.

That's something most of us would sell our souls to get, I would think. It was the promise of lasting comfort, tranquility, happiness and love, all expressed beautifully in a single verse. What more could one possibly want?

It was only last night, as I was reading the chapter again, that the answer dawned upon me. The very next verses stated,

"For them therein is fruit, and for them is whatever they request [or wish]." (Qur'an, 36:57)

Subhan'Allah (glory be to God).
While most of those deserving of paradise would be perfectly content with receiving their eternal reward, there are others who will have requests, a desire for something else. And to them, Allah has promised that they would find in Jannah all that they wanted, provided they led righteous lives.

Surely there could be no reward greater than this, I thought. There couldn't possibly be anything more that someone could want, could there?

Then as I read on, I came across something that shook me. The next verse in Surah Ya-sin read,


"[And] 'Peace, a word from a Merciful Lord." (Qur'an, 36:58)

My heart skipped a few beats.
All this while, I had been excited about the prospect of an everlasting paradise, companionship that would last forever and the fulfillment of my every wish. But I had ignored the fact that beyond the 'material' rewards Allah mentions, lays a higher degree of reward for those who sought it. The reward of getting to meet Allah, our Lord. Knowing He was pleased with you, seeing Him and having the honor of Him saying 'Salam' to you.

Imagine that.

The Lord of the heavens and the Earth, extending His greetings to you and personally congratulating you for your success. How could there ever be a more perfect reward?

The recompense described earlier in comparison to earning Allah's pleasure seems so 'little' once this reward comes into sight.

Yet, most of the time, when we worship Him and perform good deeds it is because we don't want to be left behind, because we want to enter paradise with those who enter it. Similarly, we abstain from many harmful things because we are afraid we will end up in hell, and there's inherently nothing wrong with that mindset.

But perhaps we need to realign our intentions and aim for something even higher, to set our eyes on the Salam, peace, from our Lord, most High.

To Allah belongs Paradise and His is the Hellfire; He punishes whom He wills and He rewards whom He wills (Quran, 5:118). If He decided to forbid us from Paradise, it would not change our role to worship Him and Him alone, and to serve only Him.

Allah, being the Lord, Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, has the only right to be worshipped. We say this when we testify our faith, "Laa ilaha, il'Allah", there is nothing worthy of worship, except Allah. It is His right that we, His servants, strive to please Him in the life that He has ordained for us.

And perhaps, the most interesting part is that when your purpose becomes to please Allah, and you're longing only for His Love and meeting Him, you automatically qualify for all the other heavenly rewards.

It all comes down to 'why' you're doing what you're doing as a Muslim.
Paradise or pleasing the One who provides it all? Just some food for thought.

May Allah make us among those whose eyes thirst to see Him,
Whose hearts long to meet Him and whose only purpose is to please Him.

Ameen.

Peace, love and respect.

More:
Month Of Qur'an, 5 Deeds To Heaven, Your Understanding
25 Prayers To Learn From The Qur'an
The Two Wings

Image:: flickr


Read more by The Shepherd

Ramadan Reminders: Dinner Parties And Iftar

I've noticed some people use the following prophetic statement (hadith) to justify and encourage large iftar (breaking the fast) parties during the month of Ramadan:

"Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person" (Tirmidhi)

I think it's important to see the wisdom behind such inspiration and not to abuse it. There is a blessing in holding a family iftar meal and a attending a congregational ceremony at the mosque. Sometimes larger celebratory iftar parties can often distract people from the real virtues of Ramadan such as patience and moderation. It may even facilitate and encourage back-biting and gossip because after the fast a Muslim feels freer to relax.

The key is to avoid any situation that would distract you from attaining the pleasure of Allah. Just because you've stopped fasting doesn't mean you stop being Muslim.

Charity is very closely associated with the month of Ramadan and some scholars are of the opinion that the above hadith relates to the iftar provided to the poor and needy. I'm not in any way implying that providing iftar to people who can afford it won't earn you the reward but what I am saying is make sure the food "party" is done for the right reasons and in the right environment.

Invite a different person or smaller group over for the fast everyday instead of hosting for a huge group of people in one sitting. Prepare less food, a small portion to one person. Never throw away leftover food - freeze in tubs and distribute amongst friends. Always make du`a for those less unfortunate as you open your fast.

May Allah allow us to benefit from this auspicious month.

Follow Abdullah Osman on twitter.com/abdullah_osman

Image: flickr

Ramadan Reminders: Take a chill pill... (it won't break your fast)

Ramadan is not about depriving yourself of food and drink. Remember to cool down, mind your language and your temper. It's very easy to get emotional and worked up on an empty stomach but resisting crankiness is part of the test.

There are 'levels' to fasting so don't sacrifice your fast to prove a point and lose a higher level of righteousness.

Overlook the faults of others and insha'Allah your faults will be overlooked too.

Remember: “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.” (Bukhari, Muslim).

Follow Abdullah Osman on twitter.com/abdullah_osman

So here’s an interesting fact about the brain: During a period of fasting, a hormone is released that upsets how your body changes food into energy. When that happens, it increases the number of mitochondria in neurons that tell you when you’re hungry.

Neurobiologists at Yale University School of Medicine found that this caused mice to overeat. The study suggests there’s a connection between “breaking fast” and eating more that you need to replenish yourself.

“Typically we have noticed a trend in increased obesity and many incidence of diabetes during the Holy month because of irregular and inappropriate eating after breaking the fast,” said Dr. Wedad Al Maidor, family physician, and member of the Dubai Ministry of Health.

(From WAM’s article ‘Ahlan Ramadan’ encourages Healthy Ramadan.)

An article published by the American Diabetes Association doctors recommend distributing calories over 2-3 smaller meals during non-fasting hours help prevent type 2 diabetes.

So be careful not to binge during this month of Ramadan!

Why Are Dates So Common During Ramadan?

Your brain is like a spoiled little princess; she always wants the crème de la crème.

Borrowing a metaphor from a Medical News Today article, the body gets energy in two ways: high-octane glucose (sugar) or cheap, low-octane fat. Most of our body can take energy from either glucose or fat, but the brain is pickier – it’s glucose or nothing.

So when there is no glucose to be burned, the liver takes protein from the muscles, where it is transformed into glucose then shot up to the brain.

Just one date has about 15g of sugar – that’s a lot. So it makes sense that this would be a traditional way to break one’s fast before Iftar (the evening meal). What better way to raise everyone’s spirits than a small, quick shot of glucose to the brain?

But you only need a handful of dates. Don’t forget about those greedy little mice!

Fasting And Alzheimer’s

There seem to be some mysterious benefits for the brain in Ramadan-style fasting. A study conducted at the National Institute on Aging showed that intermittent deprivation of food can protect the brain from diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

[Mark] Mattson and his colleagues also shared data from research on humans, which shows that populations with higher caloric intakes—such as the United States and Europe—have a greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s than do populations that eat less—such as China and Japan. (From Andrea Useen’s article Why Religious Fasting Could Be Good for Your Brain.)

So how can it stave off degenerative brain diseases? Mattson claims fasting can actually creative new neurons. From his article published by the National Institutes of Health, it reads:

"[Dietary restriction] can stimulate the production of new neurons from stem cells (neurogenesis) and can enhance synaptic plasticity, which may increase the ability of the brain to resist aging and restore function following injury."

Now there was one part that seemed to conflict with what doctors recommend to prevent obesity and diabetes. Mattson suggest that we eat more in one sitting.

"…increasing the time interval between meals is beneficial, even when the size of the meals are increased to a level that results in no overall decrease in caloric intake."

Perhaps both the neuroscientists and diabetes specialists would be content if we slowly graze from sunset to bedtime.

Fasting May Even Affect Sleep

According to Dr. Ebrahim Kazim, a low blood-sugar level can lock the brain into stages of deep sleep. He writes:

"Fasting improves the quality and intensifies the depth of sleep, a matter of particular importance to the aged who have much less stage three and four sleep (deep sleep). The processes of repair of the body and of the brain take place during sleep. Two hours of sleep during the month of Ramadan are more satisfying and refreshing than more hours of sleep otherwise!"

While this may be true if one goes to sleep before eating, we must wonder if this particular phenomenon belongs to Ramadan fasting. Breaking fast at sundown would increase the blood-sugar level. The question is if the evening meal would raise the blood-sugar level enough to improve the depth of sleep.

Ramadan Kareem!

Image:: flickr
Source {Muslim Voices} | Megan Meyer

Imam Zaid Shakir delivers a talk on Ramadan at the Islamic Society of Britain's Living Islam 2011 festival.

A brief transcript is included for this video.




Link to video {http://youtu.be/nzxaKLWZH9Q}

"(Du`a) As-salam`alaykum,
An American poet, Robert Frost wrote a poem,
'Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow [...]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Indeed, I'd like to stay here with you and enjoy ourselves, but there are promises to keep, which is why I have to go immediately to Sheffield for a programme after this (conference at Living Islam).

The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an has been revealed. Qur'an is a guidance for Muslims, it is a means to prayer, to worshipping God. The significance of the month is therefore a connective between the difference elements we read about. We read about the revelation itself in the Qur'an. Elsewhere we read about taqwah (Qur'an, 2:185) - that fasting is connected to God consciousness, which translates into a willingness to fulfil His orders.

Ramadan is therefore about fasting, taqwah and Qur'an. But what is our relationship with all three? Through fasting we became more accutely aware of Allah's commands. We're voiding those things that were otherwise lawful, that which is ordinarily halal and good for us - the tayyibaat, like drinking cold water at iftar which makes us feel so good when opening the fast.

If we can for one twelfth of the year avoid what is ordinarly good for us, how easy is it to leave those filthy things that are bad for us? And this is how we increase our taqwah. This quality opens up our hearts and illuminates it.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Taqwah is here", pointing to his heart three times.

The conditions of taqwah are to affect our heart. Our hearts become more receptive to the message. Allah says the Qur'an is a guidance for people WITH taqwah. As Ramadan is the month of Qur'an, it's asking us to increase reading, it's a connection between these elements.

The Prophet ﷺ also said, "All of the actions of people are for Allah, and good deeds are multipled up to 700x and more. Excepet fasting, that is for Him."

Fasting is exempted from those multiplied deeds. It's not limited in numerical terms of reward. Fasting involves patience. And patient people have no limit to their reward. Allah says patient people wil be given their reward without measure in Jannah. Fasting lasts an entire month, it's not a 5 minutes salat or a cheque for zakat, or a week for Hajj. That's done, quickly over with. But fasting is for an entire day, not five separate times during the day like prayer.

In England, the summer fasts are longer and will be in the coming years. Someone said to me, 'it's not fair, in Makkah they have shorter days.' Well, our days in winter were short so we're balancing things out, alhamdulillah. Even our fasts are an opportunity to purify ourselves by fasting longer! We remember the words of the Prophet that fasting is half of patience, and "Ramadan is the month of patience".

We're challenged each day in Ramadan. Some days we feel tired, other days we have a headache, cramps and pains. But we persevere. There are hard times, but there are easy times.

Ramadan is a metaphor for our entire life, like our life's journey. As we move, we have easy years, with easy money and fulfilled needs and difficult years where we struggle. We have good friends some years, and for other periods we're lonely. Sometimes our Islam is clicking and some years it's a struggle to hold on to.

The most important thing we need in life and what we need in Ramadan is: PATIENCE.

Insha'Allah we will realise at the end of our lives that we haven't struggled in vain. We didn't miss those opportunities for material gain by investing in interest or indulging in haram business. We gained something better. We passed on the haram and we stayed patient. We don't do all of that in vain without reward. We do it for Allah's pleasure."

Watch part 2 on YouTube {http://youtu.be/NLWYaCd-BGY}
Image:: flickr

Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship are to grow and nurture a transatlantic network of social entrepreneurs that spans cultural lines.

Cambridge University hosts the world’s only programme that creates an international social entrepreneurs network to improve Jewish-Muslim relations.

The Ariane de Rothschild (AdR) Fellowship brought together Muslim and Jewish social entrepreneurs from UK, France and USA to participate in a unique model for conflict resolution at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School in July 2011. 

The AdR Fellowship is the brainchild of Firoz Ladak, the Muslim executive director of the Edmond & Benjamin de Rothschild Foundations.

Now in its third year, 24 social entrepreneurs will participate in this year’s programme. These include: Dan Berelowitz, director of Tzedec, the UK Jewish community’s response to extreme poverty; Dr Asher Hasan, an Asia 21 young leader, TED fellow and CEO of ‘Naya Jeevan’, a social enterprise providing low income third world families with affordable healthcare and Lejla Mavris, Co-founder of Global Majority, an organisation promoting non-violent conflict resolution through education, training and advocacy across the world.

The initiative is notable for combining cross-cultural dialogue with business skills development.

The Fellowship currently consists of an international network of Jewish and Muslim social entrepreneurs who support each other through peer-to-peer learning and work to create sustainable social change.

The programme’s teaching model was developed through in-depth research with leading practitioners and academics in conflict resolution, Muslim-Jewish relations and social entrepreneurship, including head of Research Chair on Islam at University of Montreal, Patrice Brodeur, Professor Bruce Kogut at Columbia Business School and Director of the Centre of History and Economics at Kings College, Cambridge, Gareth Stedman Jones.

This year’s programme involved tutorial sessions at Cambridge University’s Muslim College, with Dr. Timothy Winters - Shaykh Abdal Hakim-Murad, deemed Britain's most influential Muslim by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).

The Programme was conceived and developed by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (EDRF), an international philanthropic network, and was this year hosted by academic partners at Cambridge University. It consists of three core components:

     • Business skills training
     • Providing academic scholarship to the history and politics between Jews and Muslims including issues of identity, foundations of Zionism or contemporary Islamist movements in Pakistan
     • Practical dialogue workshops

Firoz Ladak, Executive Director of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations said,
“Conflict resolution is not standalone. In a world where challenges of identity, social empowerment and politics are inter-connected, so too should be the approaches to tackling these challenges, particularly in the West.

The AdR Fellowship takes a unique approach to conflict resolution, by moving away from conventional discourse that focused only on religious and cultural themes. It is building an action driven network of social entrepreneurs which is unique, where business acumen, social engagement and exposure to the humanities are combined in a comprehensive training programme.”

Stephen Shashoua, 2010 AdR Fellow and Director of Three Faiths Forum said, "The fellowship provides a good opportunity for both self development and wider social development. The fellowship brings together diverse social entrepreneurs and that enables us to work together beyond dialogue."

Mussurut Zia, 2010 AdR Fellow and Director of Practical Solutions, a Lancashire based organisation dealing with forced marriage and honour based violence also noted the positive education:
“The fellowship completely dispelled any prejudices I had. It helped me to see other fellows as more than just Jews or Muslims, but as people united by the desire to promote social justice. The Fellowship has added a new dimension to my work, enabling me to challenge the divisiveness of labels and stereotypes in own community in Blackburn. 

The fellows have become like an extended family to me and we stay in touch regularly through quarterly meetings on Skype to support one another’s work and develop new projects."

There was also a social component, in which the participants visited religious sites and other venues in New York City.

For more info browse this year’s Fellowship participants (pdf)

Image:: flickr

As a celebration to welcoming the Islamic month of Ramadan, @MUSLIMNESS has put together this list of Ramadan 2011 messages from Twitter users across the world.

We're also sharing health and motivational advice through the Twitter hashtag #RamadanTip. Submit your own #RamadanTip tweet, share with your friends and help our faith grow this blessed month insha'Allah, God willing.

A huge greeting of Ramadan Mubarak to the following individuals and organisations:

→ https://twitter.com/#!/AmirKingKhan

I came across a story which I later found was documented in Stephen Convey’s book, First Things First. In the story, a lecturer conducts an experiment in front of his audience using a glass jar, many rocks, pebbles, sand and water.

He begins to fill the large jar with rocks until no more rocks would fit. The audience was convinced that the jar was full. He then added a few pebbles to the jar which trickled to fill the gaps between the rocks. This time the audience agreed that the jar was probably not yet full.

He continued, now pouring sand into the jar which filled the smaller gaps between the rocks and the pebbles. When the audience agreed that the jar was still not full, he poured water into the jar which filled the gaps between the rocks, the pebbles and the sand. The audience was convinced that the jar was now full.

Finally, the lecture explained that if we don’t put all the larger stones in the jar first, we will never be able to fit all of them in later. If you think of the jar as your life, what are the rocks in your life? Family? Love? Friends? Religion?

What we must remember is that it is most important to include the lager stones in our lives, because if we don’t do so, we are likely to miss out on life altogether. If we give priority to the smaller things in life (pebbles and sand), our lives will be filled up with less important things, leaving little or no time for the things that are most important to us and for us.

The rocks in our lives should be our family and our faith. Sometimes the less important things in life can distract us, filling up our time and keeping us away from what really matters. If we get our priorities in order, we can fit everything in. So, pray and seek spiritual guidance, spend time with your family, take your wife out, play with your kids and make time to recharge yourself this Ramadan. There will always be time to go to work and do your chores.

May Allah grant us the ability to identify the rocks in our lives and grant us Barakah in our time. Ameen.

Abdullah Osman
Gold Coast, Australia

Imam Suhaib Webb Reflects On Ramadan

As the warm breeze of Ramadan settles, we are reminded of the Prophet’s ﷺ statement, ‘Upon the arrival of Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.’ Ramadan brings with it a host of possibilities. Look at it as a chance to enter into a garden filled with fresh fruits, luscious vegetables and beautiful flowers. Some will fill their baskets to the brim, others will fill them half way, and some will fail to fill their baskets with anything.

Those who filled their baskets will have done so with a varied harvest; some choosing the best the garden has to offer, while others simply settle for those of a lesser quality. One of the best fruits we can reap during this month is one of the most difficult to attain. Its fruit is not found on the ground having fallen from a tree, nor is it found amongst the lower branches. This fruit is found at the highest part of the tree and getting to it takes effort, patience and most importantly truthfulness with oneself. This is the fruit of repentance and reflection. ‘Repent to God, oh believers, and you will be successful.’

Success is a tough word
Success is a tough word, it haunts us at work, home and school. And like a beneficial medicine, it is not easy to swallow. The reality of success is that it is anchored in the tangible; it is not a theoretical enterprise, but, as we say in the United States, “requires one to strap on his boots”.

The Arabs understood this well, thus the word for success falah is associated with the one who farms or harvests al-falaah because the latter cannot come without diligence and hard work. So, repentance is a substantial enterprise, an effort, a struggle towards spiritual inventory. Caliph `Umar (ra) said, “Audit yourselves before you are audited by God.” Hassan, the Prophet’s ﷺ grandson also explains this concept. He said, “Those who have the easiest time in the hereafter are those who are keen to call themselves to account in this life.”

Returning to God while struggling to swim the deep seas of life is a difficult enterprise, no one likes to hear bad things about themselves. But if we are able, during this blessed month, to sit and audit ourselves, to take account of our spiritual principals; investigating our true state and relation with God, family and others, we will have reaped the fruits of a blessed harvest; setting the stage for a new course in our relationship with the Most Merciful. Once the Prophet ﷺ ascended the pulpit and at each step he was heard saying, “Ameen”. Later the companions enquired about the Prophet’s ﷺ statement upon which he responded that Gabriel came to him supplicating against three types of people, one was he who failed to repent during the month of Ramadan thereby failing to be forgiven for his sins.

Overcoming the Obstacles
There are a number of obstacles that lurk hidden for the one who seeks repentance. Perhaps the greatest is the feeling of fear and despondence. Many feel that it is simply too late to change: “I’ve done my dirt and there is simply no way to get back on track.”

Firstly, let’s understand that sinning is part of human nature. The Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him said, “Every person commits sins. And the best sinners are those who repent.” Many have claimed that the feelings of profound guilt and depression regarding their state, chain them from turning to God. This is one of the greatest tricks of the Devil; closing the door of hope to God’s mercy after sinning. Once a man came to the mosque of the Prophet complaining about his sins; the man was so overcome and saddened by his state that the Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Say this: O God, your forgiveness is greater than my sins and my hope in Your mercy is greater to me than my [evil] actions.”

The man said this and the Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Say it again.” The man repeated it, then the Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Say it again.” The man did it and the Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Arise for, indeed, God has forgiven you!”

For this reason Ibn Kathir reports that the Prophet ﷺ said about the verse, “Say [Muhammad] to My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of God’s mercy. Indeed, God forgives all sins and He is the One who forgives and is Merciful”, “It is more beloved to me than anything under the Heavens and on Earth.”

Secondly, sins should be seen as a strategy for one to turn in humility back to God. One of the early scholars said that, “A person could enter Paradise because of a sin he committed.” Upon hearing this, his student challenged him by asking, “How could that be?” The scholar responded: “The sinner persistently thinks about it, which causes him to fear it, regret it, weep over it and feel humiliated in front of his Lord due to it. He stands before God, broken-hearted, with his head lowered in humility. So this sin is more beneficial to him than doing many acts of obedience, since it caused him to have humility and humbleness – which leads to his happiness and success – to the extent that this sin prevents him from entering Paradise.”

Thirdly, rebounding from sin is one of the simple fruits related to our success. If we were to ask many people what it was that brought them back to faith, many would mention a mistake they made in the past. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Repentance is regret.” That regret is one of our greatest fears. In reality, however, it is a mercy from God which pricks at our conscience until we ultimately return to Him.

God says, “And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the Earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness, and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from God except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, God is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (9:118) Notice the wording at the end of this verse “Then He turned to them so they could repent.” Thus, repentance doesn’t start with the sinner, but begins when God turns to him with His mercy, love and compassion; awakening his heart with guilt, gently guiding him to His forgiveness. The sinner was lost in a sea of confusion and misery and God found him, guided him and forgave him.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “God has greater joy at the repentance of one His servants when he turns towards Him than one of you would have over his mount, which, having escaped from him saddled with food and drink in the middle of the desert, so that he has despaired of finding it and gone to a tree to lie down in its shade, it suddenly appears standing by him while he is in that state, so that he takes its reins and then says out of the intensity of his joy, ‘O God, You are my slave and I am Your Lord!’ getting confused because of his intense joy.”

Fourth, I’ve done so many things in the past and failed to repent. How is it that, after all of these years, I could face God with such a blackened record? The Prophet ﷺ said, “God the Mighty and Majestic accepts the repentance of His servant as long as his death-rattle has not begun.” Thus, no matter when, as long as one turns to God seeking His forgiveness, only then can that person expect to be forgiven.

Furthermore, there is no sin greater than God’s ultimate mercy and forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said:”God the Almighty has said: ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds in the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins and were you then to face Me, without having associated anything with Me, I shall grant you an earthful of pardon.’”

Ibn Rajab noted that this Prophetic tradition begins with “O son of Adam” because of its context, repentance and forgiveness. Thus, when one despairs over his mistakes and shortcomings, he should recall God’s favour upon mankind, exercised upon their forefather Adam. Thus, just as Adam repented to his Lord and, as noted in the Qur’an, “He immediately forgave him,” his offspring should do the same.

The Qualities of Repentance
Scholars noted that sound repentance should be coupled with the following qualities:
1) Leaving the sin 2) Regret, and 3) Resolving never to return to the sin again.

The month of Ramadan is a time of serious reflection, increased awareness and devotion. Its beginning is mercy and its ending is marked by forgiveness and salvation. Let us take advantage of this time to set aright our affairs, rebounding from our mistakes and sins from the past. Let us turn to the Most Merciful.


Imam Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator and activist, raised in Oklahoma with Islamic education from the prestigious Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Suhaib Webb runs the blog dubbed the "Virtual Mosque" {www.suhaibwebb.com}.


Image: flickr

From emel | August 2009 | Imam Suhaib Webb

Attempting to eat better, feel healthy and exercise during Ramadan sounds like a monstrous feat. So ask yourself, do I want to stay fit enough to Fast, Pray, Work, and Study whilst fasting?

Gaining the blessings of Allah through Qur'an is step one to a healthy mind. The second step is maintaining a healthy body.

What is Fit4Ramadan?
Fit4Ramadan is the first web program launched to give Muslims a head-start to healthier fasting.

The training program was created from over 8 years of research in the health and fitness industry by personal trainer Imran Ilahi, a London based Muslim.

"I have developed a revolutionary new Fit4Ramadan Program, which is designed specifically to help busy Muslim men and women, students, business owners, and parents with young children, get the most effective results in the least amount of time in Ramadan." - Imran Ilahi

In defiance of "fad diets" and dubious advice, Imran Ilahi's program is scientifically proven and tested with inspiring results. The training begins by following a simple workout schedule before suhoor - the morning meal before each fast, and another workout after iftar, the second meal for opening the fast.

The Fit4Ramadan program boasts a host of additional benefits, including:

1. Improved energy to perform Tarawih prayer
2. Strengthening of muscles used for prayer
3. Controlling weight gain
4. Improving mind and body health
5. Reduced stress
6. Planning to help you live a healthier Ramadan
7. More personal productivity during Ramadan

Imran's personal mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of Muslims in Ramadan by teaching them the correct way to integrate manageable fitness methods into their Ramadan plan and daily lives. "My goal is to help 1 million Muslims around the world to get into the best shape of their lives", said Imran.

The success of Fit4Ramadan in the past, from television appearances to published articles, has boosted Imran Illahi's reputation as one of the UK’s most respected trainers.


Members who register for the program will also receive personalised advice. The free e-book available after registration is an information-packed 30 day fitness guide providing detailed guidance on meal planning, checking your nutritional intake, battling bad habits and strategic rewards - well, you have to reward yourself on `Eid don't you!

And the part MUSLIMNESS respects the most: 10% of the proceeds will go to charity. Masha'Allah, whatever Allah wishes.

"Achieve your goals. Get Fit4Ramadan. All you need to do is take action."


Register now to receive the awesome free Ramadan ebook: