Author: Ahmed Saleh

I hope this message reaches you in an excellent state of health and imaan. This article is primarily a reminder to myself.

All praises are due to Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and only the mistakes have been mine.

———————

Check this.

12:34. Time for Dhuhr. The Athan goes off. Straighten the lines.

It’s still 12:34. 1 meter away from the congregation of Muslim students, on the other side of the room, four non-Muslim students are sitting in a circle, previously socializing now ready to begin their spiritual session.

“Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem”

One non-Muslim student leads the other three in a foreign language. On the other side of the room, the Muslims have begun their prayer.

“Allahu Akbar”

The prayer voices among the 4 non-Muslim students simultaneously reach crescendo.  Despite this, the Muslims continue:

“Sami’ allaahu liman hamidah”

The prayer voices are at full blast. Foreign hymns collide with the eternal chatter in our brains. Our physical presence is now like a ship in a storming sea, our conscious struggling and scrambling to put up our sail of sincerity towards Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala. We squint our eyes and hearts, hoping that just maybe; it shall isolate the foreign hymns and align us with our connection to Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala.

“Allahu Akbar”

The voices are thriving but not as loud. Putting our head to the ground, feelings of anxiety climbs up our spine out of fear of breaking the Divine connection, but still we prepare to meet our Creator as we submerge ourselves into sujood.

“As Salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatulaah”

The unfamiliar voices cease. Our hearts are screaming Alhamdulillah and Astafirugallah all at the same time. Some of us continue with our personal dhikr. Some of us curse and kiss our teeth at the four students. Some of us wish we could have our own prayer center. The medium-sized Jamaa, within a few seconds after salaat, has exploded into a wide spectrum of emotions in response to the “distraction”.

Distraction.

From a distance, the man saw the figure of ‘Abbad ibn Bishr silhouetted at the mouth of the valley and he knew that the Prophet and his followers must be inside the valley. Silently he drew his bow and let fly an arrow. Unerringly it embedded itself in Abbad’s flesh .

Calmly, ‘Abbad pulled out the arrow from his body and went on with his recitation, still absorbed in his Salaat. The attacker shot a second and a third arrow both of which also found their mark. ‘Abbad pulled out one and then the other. He finished his recitation, made ruku and then sujud. Weak and in pain, he stretched out his right hand while still in prostration and shook his sleeping companion. Ammar awoke. Silently, ‘Abbad continued the Salat to its end and then said: “Get up and stand guard in my place. I have been wounded.”

Ammar jumped up and began to yell. Seeing them both the attacker fled into the darkness. Ammar turned to ‘Abbad as he lay on the ground, blood flowing from his wounds.

“Ya Subhanallah (Glory be to God)! Why didn’t you wake me when you were hit by the first arrow?” “I was in the midst of reciting verses of the Quran which filled my soul with awe and I did not want to cut short the recitation. The Prophet had commanded me to commit this surah to memory. Death would have been dearer to me than that the recitation of this surah should be interrupted.”

Everyday at York University at the Scott Religious Centre, we face the challenge of praying in an area that allows other worships, whether loud or silent, to occur simultaneously. Without a doubt, it has become for difficult for Muslims to establish prayer without excessive noise. But we must not complain and become intolerant; instead we should look into the legacy of the Sahaba. This is no easy task, but we must not be discouraged.

But really brothers and sisters, without further analysis and explain, after reading about ‘Abbad, should we still complain? Do we even have the right to complain? If ‘Abbad was able to pray with arrows in his body, how can we ever complain of a bunch of students distracting us during prayer? Do you have arrows in your flesh during prayer? Even if so, shall you stop praying?

‘Abbad didn’t.

Raise the standards of your khushoo’ in salaat. Raise the standards to the point where, no foreign hymns, not even arrows can hinder your spiritual state of mind during salaat. Let your salaat be like an arrow, seeking a destination without interference from external forces.

The human species has been given the ability to speak. Our mouth and tongue are guards to the human voice so if anything leaves your mouth, let it be beautiful, simple and elegant.

If people are misguided, do not mention them in a bad tone, rather ask Allah to guide them.

Times may be hard, but always remember, your salaat is like an arrow, a force to be reckoned with.

Allah alone gives success.

May Allah increase us in patience.

May Allah grant us sincerity in salaat.

May Allah bestow us guidance in this life.

Author: Umm Aasiyah

We live in a world where we constantly find the need to differentiate. However, the beauty of life is that everyone (despite genetics, culture or any barrier) has received a beautiful gift of health. Such a big concept can be divided further into three realms, the mind, body and soul. This word, health, is seen as the absence of disease to many or can be seen as an empty wooden pallet, left to the owner to fill it with colours.

Let us begin by adding our first colour to our empty pallet. I shall begin with the colour white – symbolized for purity or according to a science student, it is just the perfect colour to represent the brain. MashAllah, the mind is an extraordinary beauty by itself. Such a beauty allows us to recognize objects, ability to make thoughts/decisions and co-ordinate with the body. However, beauty is merely associated with physical appearance and to maintain such an appearance many turn towards products to either enhance one’s features. But what about maintaining the beauty of the mind? Curiosity and quest for knowledge is the answer! As students of this Ummah, we need to increase our knowledge with regards to Islam. The amazing thing about Islam is that there is just so much to learn that it will always have its believer seeking and thriving upon knowledge. Also, knowledge is best when shared; likewise the white paint on the pallet needs to be used and if not, it dries up and starts to crumble. The crumbling could be a sign of memory loss as we age or could possibly lead to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in the latter phase of our lives. Ever seen a friend/relative/patient suffer from memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease? Or a closer to home question to ask would be: Ever written a test or exam where you completely went blank or could not remember idea/concepts you had learnt? What if these moments turned into everyday moments that disable your activities of daily living? Thus, Ummah of today rise and maintain that beauty that we in laymen’s term call Mind.

Now, let us rewind our memories to Art class 101; the colour red and blue makes magenta. (I googled this up by the way, as I’m no expert with colours). So, Magenta is the next colour I would like to add to the pallet, and ironically enough red and blue can symbolize arterial and venous blood that runs through our bodies. Thus, lo and behold Magenta can be THE colour that symbolizes our bodies. Our bodies are capable of performing countless number of activities and are meticulously designed by our creator, Subhan’Allah! So, how do we maintain these beautiful bodies? Brothers, I’m not talking about working out, however it definitely is considered part of being healthy. But obvious enough, every York University student is aware about eating healthy and staying fit, thus I will not bother to write about it as I am a culprit first and foremost of not following the healthy regime. But as a health care professional, taking care of patients, is a constant reminder to self about the endless things we have to thank Allah subhana wat’ala about, which I would like to share with you all. Picture yourself confined to a bed due to an illness, unable to go to the washroom and make wuhdu to cleanse yourself before appearing in front of your Lord. Secondly, not being able to go into rukhu or prostrate and submit thyself in front of your Lord; you are just too weak and feeble to even utter the beautiful words of the Qur’an. Yes, one can pray in bed as Allah subhana wat’ala is Most Merciful and Forgiving; however having to ask someone to bring you a washcloth, or a prayer mat to pray, and being dependent on others in order for you to have a moment with your Lord. Can you picture this? Unfortunately these are the lives many people are living today. These are just some thoughts that run through my mind while caring for some of my patients. Thus, first and foremost this piece of writing is a reminder to myself because I have so much to thank Allah subhana wat’ala for that I take for granted; from my hands that allow me to make wudhu, from those legs that enable me to walk to the Masjid, the eyes that allow me to weep, the dry lips in Ramadhan that is a reminder of all the people worldwide unable to have clean water to drink, and this list can go on. Point of it all, if you can leave this article with one message, I would like it to be that we have many things to Thank Allah subhana wat’ala for and let us implement good habits in our lives such as eating healthy, staying fit in order to prevent chronic diseases that take over our bodies and possibly debilitate our physical means but more so our means to speak to Allah subhana wat’ala.

This means of not having to thank Allah subhana wat’ala, or not being able to ask forgiveness for the countless deeds that are accumulating weakens our spirituality. This leads into the perfect colour that I would like to add to our pallet, which will be yellow – representing our souls. This is by far the hardest part to describe because every moment or experience of reviving one’s soul is unique to every individual. Some acts to revive our souls that many perform are: being in solitude in prayers and communicating with the most divine, attending lectures, reading the Qur’an, Dhikr and the list may go on, because there are countless ways. The more important note is that everyone’s intention is to connect with Allah subhana wat’ala and asking for guidance to be on the path that is right. However, the things I mentioned may appear “deep” to some, but there are other ways that please others for example, smiling, being patient, controlling anger/frustration, having humility; basically working on those personality traits that need work and is different to every individual. Also, living in a western world as a Muslim, we will come across many challenges, but remember, if the Prophets (peace be upon them all) prayed with the hardships they went through, we are incomparable but our spirituality is the strength to overcome these hurdles. Thus, my brother and sisters in Islam, spirituality is our drive to make a difference, let us use this and strengthen it to make a positive transformation.

In conclusion, as a health care professional I cannot emphasize the importance of health. The colours on the pallet (white, magenta and yellow) as seen in the picture are at the core, which is why we first need to work with what we have (our primary colours) in order to grow and develop to get to the core of things. Thus, get acquainted with mind, body and soul, as they are independent parts yet quite inter-related.

On this very same note, I would like to share a hadith from Tirmidhi, The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgement until he is questioned about his (time on earth) and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body and how he used it.”

Alhamdulillah 2/3 of Ramadan has passed, how have you spent it? Have you spent it gossiping on the phone or keeping your tongue busy reciting the Qur’an? Have you spent it sitting in front of a couch watching television or sitting in the masjid waiting for salaah? If you’re one of those who have yet to take full advantage of this blessed month then I have good news for you … … … it’s not over.

Why are you fasting this month? Really, ask yourself. Some people may fast because everyone else is doing it and they don’t want to feel left out, others may fast because they do not want to be shunned by their parents or spouse, while others may fast with the proper intention; to draw closer to Allah.

On the authority of the Commander of the Faithful Abu Hafs ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab who said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying: “Surely, all actions are driven by intentions and, verily, every man shall have but that which he intended. Thus, he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, [then] his migration was for Allah and His Messenger; and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a woman in marriage, his migration was for that which he migrated.”
(Hadith #1, the 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi)

From this hadith we learn that actions are by intentions and each person will be rewarded according to what he intended. So if you are fasting this month to improve your relationship with your creator and sustainer, then may Allah reward you for it. However, if you are fasting with an incorrect intention then you should purify your intention before your deeds go to waste.

While I was spending time with a friend of mine he asked me why Muslims fast during Ramadan. One common answer we hear is “so that we know how the poor feel.” Though this may be one of the wisdoms behind why we fast, Allah tells us the exact reason why we fast. As with everything else in this Deen when faced with an issue we go back to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah clearly states in the Qur’an:

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) taqwa (piety/self-restraint)”
(Surah Al Baqarah 2:183)

Will you be among the Muslims who learn self restraint and thus become more pious during this blessed month, or among those who continue and/or increase in their disobedience to Allah. A friend of mine said a statement which gave me some understanding of why we fast during Ramadan, he said: “one thing I love about Ramadan is the fact that it shows the strength of the human will”. If you can not eat, refrain from sexual intercourse and everything else that we are prohibited from indulging in during the days of Ramadan then surely you can refrain from committing sins throughout the year. If you can leave the acts that Allah has made permissible for one month then you should be able to leave the acts that Allah has made impermissible for 12 months; self-restraint is a pre-requisite of attaining taqwa.

There is 1/3 of Ramadan left, if you have not already, it’s not too late to begin exerting yourself to become among those who have taqwa because Allah says in the Qur’an

“That man can have nothing but what he strives for, that (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight, then will he be rewarded with a reward complete, that to thy Lord is the final goal”
(Surah An-Najm 53:39-42.)

Strive to use your time more beneficially during this blessed month and the months that follow. Strive to improve your relationship with the Qur’an because this is the month in which it was revealed and nothing will increase your iman like reciting the Qur’an (and don’t forget to reflect upon it). Strive to increase the amount of deeds you do because Prophet Mohammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.”

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887)

Likewise, be sure to say what is good or keep silent and to keep renewing your intention. Time is the most valuable resource in life and as Muslims we should use it effectively. Before we know it Ramadan will be over and some of us may regret how we used our time. Make the intention now that you will take full advantage of this Ramadan before it’s over, that you will exert yourself in trying to get closer to Allah and the Qur’an, and that you will strive to be among those who have taqwa. If you started your Ramadan weak, then end strong, and if you started your Ramadan strong, then end even stronger!

We seek assistance from Allah in all of our affairs because Allah is the best of assisters. May Allah accept our deeds, make us among those who are sincere, among those who humble themselves in salaah, and make us among those who strive to please him, ameen. Success is with Allah, have a blessed Ramadan!

How often do things not go your way? Whether it be missing the last bus, or failing a test even though we made du’ah? How do you deal with the problems that arise every single day? In the moment when you are upset, you are most likely to say things such as “Why is this happening to me?” or “What have I done to deserve this?” The answer is simple; it is the Decree of Allah, ‘Azz wa Jal. How we deal with the trials we face in life is up to us- pleased or displeased. Dealing with them in a way which Allah will be pleased with however, should be our ultimate goal.

Every so often we find ourselves falling into the trap of the shaytaan and are easily swayed if our supplications are not answered. We should remind ourselves, constantly, if need be, not to hasten in supplication. No matter what difficulties have befallen us, whatever our circumstances and situations may be, we should strive to persevere in patience. It goes without saying that we should put aside our problems and difficulties and count our blessings.

It is reported that Shurayh – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “If I am afflicted with a calamity, I praise Allâh for it four times: I praise Him because it wasn’t worse than it was, I praise Him when He gives me the patience to bear it, I praise Him for enabling me to say al-istirjâ’ (‘To Allâh we belong and to him we will return’) in hope of a great reward, and I praise Him for not making it a calamity in my religion.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of Shurayh Al-Qâdî. Source.

This serves as a reminder to me, first and foremost, that we should be patient and not lose hope in Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala).

Being content with the Qadar or Divine Decree of Allah is of great significance. This Pillar of Faith is something that we all believe in, and is also something that we should all be satisfied with, as Allah, the Most High, has chosen this way for us. For all we know, the reason for our anxieties and difficulties could be trials and tests decreed for us by Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala) to make us better Muslims. Patience with that which Allah has decreed is of great reward and is beautiful in the Sight of Allah, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure, but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.”
–Narrated by Tirmidhi

Ask yourselves, when it comes to the tests that you face in your day to day lives, are you earning the pleasure of Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala) or are you earning His wrath? Wa iyadubIllah, may we be protected from that, aameen. Being discontent with the circumstances we face is not wise, as what initially seems bad for us may turn out to be what is best for us.

Allah, The Blessed and Exalted, says in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.”
– Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216

We should really be thankful and grateful for our circumstances. It may be that something you really want is actually the reason that you will be led astray from the path of Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala). In truth, missing out on something you’ve been making du’ah for may be a good thing. This may be why He has kept it away from you. Now it may also be that you loathe something which turns out to be beneficial to you for you, both in this life and the hereafter.

As Muslims, we should realize that we have to be content with our situation and know that whatever He has chosen for us is for the best. Rather than complain to Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala) about our problems and why our prayers are not answered, we should count the numerous blessings that have been bestowed upon us and be thankful. How often does something not go our way and suddenly our imaan has decreased? Do we turn away from Allah, ‘Azz wa Jal, or do we say “Alhamdulillah, QaadarAllahu wa maa shaa fa’al” and be pleased?

Allah, The Glorified, says in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“And surely, We gave you authority on the earth and appointed for you therein provisions (for your life). Little thanks do you give.”
– Surah Al-A’raf 7:10

Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala) states that He has given us ability to do as we please and has blessed us with provisions to live (i.e. food, shelter) and we are still ungrateful. Is this not our condition? Brothers and sisters do not let the whispers of the shaytaan affect you and lead you every which way. Remember not to worry and always comfort yourself with the words of the Messenger (peace be upon him):

“How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him. This does not apply to anyone but the believer.”
–Narrated by Muslim

May Allah (Subhanah wa Ta’ala) open our hearts to contentment with His Decree, give us peace of mind about our matters and concerns, make our hardships easy, fill our hearts with happiness and grant us satisfaction in our affairs. *Aameen*

Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem,

The Fajr (or dawn) salah can be one of the most difficult prayers for practicing Muslims to uphold for the obvious reason that it typically falls at a time when most of us are probably in our deepest stages of sleep and comfort. While some may find it surprisingly easy to simply sleep through Fajr, it takes an understanding of the importance and virtues of Fajr, and effective “sleep-hostile” techniques, in order to build a consistent Fajr cycle and to ensure we are fulfilling the obligations that Allah (subhana wat’ala) has placed upon us.

THE VIRTUES OF FAJR

A detailed discussion on the importance of Fajr salah would require an entire discussion on its own, but here are a few sources which speak towards the importance of being consistent in our salah.

The Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wasalam) said:  “The difference between a man (Muslim) and shirk and kufr is the abandoning of salaah.”
(Sahih Muslim: Kitab ul Iman: Book 001, Number 0147)

The Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wasalam) was asked: “Which deed is dearest to Allah?” He replied “To offer the Salat (prayers) at their fixed times”
(Bukhari)

It has been narrated by Abu Hurairah that Nabi (salAllahu ‘alayhi wasalam) said:  “There is no Salaah that is more burdensome on a Munaafiq (hypocrite) than the Fajr and Eshaa Salaah.  If they knew the virtue of these Salaah they would perform them even if they had to come to the Masjid crawling.”
(Muslim)

In Surah al Maun, Allah says, “Woe to the people who pray, those who with their salah are sahun”

According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir:
They are those people who pray and adhere to the prayer, yet they are mindless of it. This may either be referring to its act entirely, as Ibn `Abbas said, or it may be referring to performing it in its stipulated time that has been legislated Islamically. This means that the person prays it completely outside of its time.

From the above sources alone, we can see just how imperative the salah is in Islam. But while it is evident that those of us who call ourselves Muslims must ensure that we are performing our five obligatory daily salawaat, simply praying is not enough- one must also ensure that all of their salawaat are performed at their prescribed times.  This includes, of course, the Fajr salah.

So what can be done by those of us who are finding it difficult to pray Fajr on a regular basis? Here are some techniques that you might find useful and that I would recommend you consider putting into action if you find yourself having trouble performing Fajr salah on a consistent basis:

1) START WITH THE INTENTION

Firstly, ensure that you go to bed with the clear and sincere intention to wake up that night to perform your Fajr prayer. Think about all of the times you have had to wake up early for an important occasion – be it an exam, work, or anything else. Whether or not you realize it, you have always had the intention of waking up and committing yourself to what you had to do, and the same logic can be applied here. When you buy into the sincere intention to wake up, you will be able to adhere to the next pieces of advice quite naturally.

2) SLEEP EARLY

Getting enough shut eye before Fajr is fundamental to ones ability to wake up on time. Those who are able to wake up on a consistent basis will usually tell you that this is probably the most decisive factor; sleep too close to Fajr time, and by the time you’re supposed to wake up, your body will be in such a deep state of sleep that you’ll either sleep through your alarm, or procrastinate after turning it off and fall back to sleep.

3) RELOCATE YOUR ALARM CLOCK

Have you ever had trouble trying to remember a conversation someone claims to have had with you while they were trying to wake you up? It’s an interesting phenomenon, but our minds function in bizarre ways in the state between sleep and wakefulness, which can lead to confusion and even minor amnesia. This often leads many to shut off their alarms without ever remembering it, only to wake up thinking “Why didn’t my alarm go off?!” If this sounds like you, try relocating your alarm clock to a position in your room that requires you to physically get up and turn it off. This will stop your unconscious mind from instinctively turning it off, and give you more time to reach the state of awareness needed to realize that the alarm is meant to wake you up. When it goes off, sit up in bed, say the shahadah, and in one swift motion, turn it off and head directly to make your wudu. I would also advise turning on as many lights on as possible, as light resets our biological rhythms and “turns on” our bodies, so to speak.

Disclaimer: Although this method can be effective, please do not solely rely on this approach, as I know some people who have practiced much more sophisticated methods (such as having an alarm app on their phone which forces them to do a math problem before they can turn the alarm off, or setting up multiple alarm clocks around their room, or both) only to end up shutting off their alarms off and going back to sleep.

4) SET UP A NETWORK

If all else fails do not despair. You are not alone. Why not set up an agreement with a group of friends to call each other for Fajr to ensure each is awake? This can be practiced for a few days or weeks until everyone in the group becomes consistent. In fact, the MSA here at York University already has a framework set up called the Fajr Network, where a local brother or sister will give you a personal wake up call everyday. Perfect!

http://www.yorkmsa.ca/blog/programs/fajr-network/

5) GIVE YOURSELF RESPONSIBILITY

I have personally found that I am much more likely to wake up if I force my parents and siblings to keep their alarms off and entrust me to act as a global alarm clock for the household. This puts the onus on me to wake everyone else up for prayer, and makes me that much more determined to wake up on time. InshaAllah practicing this method will not only lead to you being rewarded for your efforts in calling others to prayer, but you might even become motivated to ensure that you are not to blame for everyone missing their salah.

6) KNOW THIS…

And finally, know for certain that those among us who obey the commands of Allah and His messenger have been promised victory in this world and/or the next (and Allah knows best). These commands include, but are not exclusive to, praying the five daily prayers at their prescribed times. Take a minute to think about that for a moment; Allah, the All-Mighty and Most-High, has promised us victory and success in this life and the next, inshaAllah, and Allah always keeps His promises, especially to His slaves who struggle and strive in His path. For those of us hoping to attain some goal in this life, and the ultimate goal of Jannah in the next, know for certain that being consistent in salah- the first thing we will be asked about on the Day of Resurrection- will have a direct correlation to our success.

Research shows that, on average, it takes approximately 2 months to make a habit (Lilly et al. 2009), so make sure to put in a real and honest effort to wake up on a consistent basis if you haven’t yet established a routine.

Is there anything here that I missed, or are there any specific techniques that you use which you find effective in helping you wake up for Fajr? Please feel free to share them with us in the comments section below. Who knows, someone may end up using your advice for the rest of their lives!

Author: Kulsoom Kazim

We should take everything as a blessing, and not be saddened over small things.
We need to open our eyes and see those who smile despite every reason to cry.

Take a look around and see the people who are not happy with their Blackberries,
Or at those stressed with home renovations, because of extra money on their hands.
Take a look at the upset child without his favourite meal – rather he ate at a restaurant.

Now close your eyes, and imagine those without a roof on their head.
Imagine the little boy who continues to smile despite having lost a leg.
Imagine having only one piece of bread to eat every day.
Just imagine the lives of others on the Earth.

Why? Why are we so ungrateful?

Are we ungrateful because we have extra clothes to wear?
Because we have a variety of foods to choose from?
Are we upset because we have to share a room with our siblings?
Or are we sad because we have to attend school with our friends?

Is that a reason to be ungrateful?

We often wake up day after day and go to school with big frowns on our faces.
We greet people with negativity and walk around as if we haven’t been given anything.
We think so much of ourselves that we forget about the whole planet around us.
It’s so sad, pathetic actually. The world can be such an evil and selfish place, but we don’t have to be!

Take a moment to think about others.
Put yourself in others’ shoes and walk around to understand the paths they have to tread.

“Indeed, We guided him [i.e., man] to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful”
[Quran 76: 3]

We can choose one of two paths, so why not choose the one with the better ending?
Why not choose the one that will benefit you in this world and the hereafter
Open your eyes, and look around now, you have endless blessings to be grateful for.
Open your eyes, and look around now, you have every reason to say “Alhamdulillah“