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!