Contents Under Pressure, Author: Issa Abbasi

It’s no secret.  This Sunday is the biggest day for all (American) football fans.  Yes, that’s right; many hours will be spent (and have already been spent) analyzing the big game, before, during and after the big game, Super Bowl XLIV (44).  But besides all the analysis and hype leading up to the big game, one thing is for certain; Super Bowl parties will be rampant.  If you so happen to be invited to and intend to be at a Super Bowl party be warned, your nafs’ (soul’s) contents may be under pressure.

Let’s take the following scenario.  You are invited to a Super Bowl party by a non Muslim friend.  This friend can be as trustworthy as any Muslim can ask for in a non Muslim, but what about that person’s friends?  What if you were going to this party and didn’t know who was going to be there?  Even if you knew who was going to be there, what’s to stop someone from casually asking you to enjoin in a small drink? Don’t be naïve; alcohol and football go together like peanut butter and jelly.  This is the company you want to stay away from because this is how the shaytan gets to you.  Have you ever heard of the expression “the devil is in the details?”  It’s so true.  Think about it.  The shaytan (devil) tempts you into something small by saying “oh it’s okay; it’s only a sip of beer.”  But then, that sip turns into two and then three and four sips.  Before you know it, you’ve just ingested a whole red cup of beer and now the taste is wearing on you and you like it.

The above scenario can apply to anything from alcohol to smoking and drugs.  But, what was the point of this story?  Peer pressure is created when you are put in a compromising situation.  I am almost sure that you can find a Super Bowl party in your community hosted by Muslims if not one in a local Masjid.  If you can’t find one, try to host one yourself and you will be a lot more comfortable at the end of the day.

The best example for all mankind, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said in an authentic hadith, “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.” Not only will you follow the same faith of your friend, but you will also take their good and bad traits as exhibited by the following hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows.  So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.”

Can you imagine smelling like your friend?  The meaning of this metaphor shows that friends are so close to you and whatever their scent is, you will pick it up, whether good or bad.

Ibn Abbas said: “No one may taste true faith except by this (i.e. building relationships for Allah’s sake), even if his prayers and fasts are many. People have come to build their relationship around the concerns of the world, but it will not benefit them in any way.”

Ibn Hazm said: “Anyone who criticizes you cares about your friendship. Anyone who makes light of your faults cares nothing about you.”

Finally, don’t think for a moment that selecting good friends is a bad thing.  It’s quite the opposite; when you enjoin with friends in good and forbid the evil, a lot of people around you will respect you for that and will even take an interest into our principles.  So go ahead, watch the Super Bowl this weekend if you want to, but enjoy it with the right crowd for a better experience and sense of relief.

“And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so- and-so as a friend! He has led me astray from this Reminder (the Qur’an) after it had come to me. And Satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need.” Qur’an 25:27-29

A.L.I.F.! Author: Issa Abbasi

Friday is hands down my favorite day of the week.  And Alhamdullilah it’s Friday (A.L.I.F.) (well the day this was published it was at least).   I’m sure any reader of this post loves Fridays too.  I mean, what’s not to love? People are for the most part paid on Fridays, the weekend starts as soon as the work day ends, most college and all high school students are off the next day and for many, Friday is casual day in their office.  Non-Muslims love Fridays so much that at bars they have a “happy hour” where drinks are discounted!  But why do I love Fridays?  Besides being paid every other Friday, casual Fridays at work and the day a new blog post is unveiled, I love Fridays for a few more reasons.

Friday is the first day of the Abrahamic religions’ weekend and Muslims go to the Masjid to hear their respective leaders deliver a khutba (state of the community speech).  Fridays for the Muslims are considered to be a “mini Eid” and it is liked that we don’t fast on Fridays for that reason (Ramadan and recommended sunnah fasts don’t apply to that rule).  Friday was the day Adam (a.s.) was created and the day he was put on earth, so essentially, mankind was created on a Friday and put on earth on a Friday.  How cool is that?!

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best of days on which the sun has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to earth.” (Al Bukhari)

There are so many blessings to Friday that it is remarkable.  In another hadith, Salman al-Farsi spoke about some really simply manners to observe on Friday that a lot of individuals in communities cannot seem to follow (especially the separating of two people already seated).

Salman al-Farsi reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.w.s.) said: “A man who performs ghusl on Friday, purifies [himself] what he can and uses dye [for his hair] or perfumes himself in his house, goes to the mosque, and does not cause separation between two people [who are already seated], prays what Allah has prescribed for him, and then listens quietly while the Imam speaks, all his sins between that Friday and the next Friday will be forgiven.” This is related by Ahmad and al-Bukhari, while Abu Hurairah used to say: “And for three more days as for every good deed Allah grants tenfold reward.” The sins mentioned in this hadith are the minor sins as Ibn Majah recorded, on the authority of Abu Hurairah in the words: “For one who has not committed major sins.”

That’s not all, trust and believe that there is more.  There is even a time on Friday (we do not know when, some say between Asr and Maghrib) that a person’s du’a (supplication) is accepted albeit it this window is very short as mentioned in the hadith.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) it is related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) talked about Friday and said,

“There is such an hour on Friday that if any Muslm makes dua (supplication) in it, his dua will definitely be accepted.” And He (Peace be upon him) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands.

Lastly, whoever recited Surat al Kahf (chapter 18) from the Qur’an on Friday (before Maghrib), he will be forgiven of his sins until the next Friday.

Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday, light shall shine forth for him between the two Fridays. [Ibn Hajar, Talkhis al-Habir]

If all of these benefits of this glorious day do not make you want to absolutely love and look forward to Fridays, then I honestly do not know what would.  All I have to say is, alhamdullilah it’s Friday (A.L.I.F.)!

End note: Jazaka Allahu Khairan to my sister who taught me about the new acronym A.L.I.F. two weeks ago!

Extend a Hand, Author: Issa Abbasi

The nation of Haiti is in dire need.  After last week’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake and a reported 33 aftershocks, relief agencies estimated a death toll measuring anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people with 250,000 Haitians injured and 1 million left homeless.

All of these numbers are enough to boggle one’s mind.  But one essential question that I have heard some ask is “Should we help those who are not Muslim?”

In my personal opinion, that question is absurd.  It’s ridiculous and preposterous to think this way.  How can anyone ask that question?

The answer obviously is a large YES!  Muslims should help anyone in any time of need and we have clear evidence in the history of our religion that commands us to extend a hand, even if we don’t know whether or not someone is in need.

“And remember when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel: ‘You shall worship none but Allah, be good (ihsaan!) to your parents, relatives, orphans (yateem), and destitute (masakeen), and speak fair to the people, establish salah, and pay Zakah.’ But you broke the covenant except for a few of you, and you paid no heed.” (Qur’an, 2:83).

And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin (the poor), the orphan, and the captive, (saying) “We feed you seeking Allah’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you.  “Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike to it).” (Qur’an, 76: 8-10)

The verse above from the Qur’an reminds us also in the nature of giving charity.  If we give, let us purify our intention and give charity, food, clothing, whatever the item may be, in secret and expecting no reward from anyone but our Lord.  This helps us a) keep our intention pure and b) protects us from showing off and being arrogant.

Sadly, with natural tragedies such as the earthquake in Haiti, many children will become orphans.  But you and I can help.  And when we help, our reward will be so great in the Hereafter.  Just read the following hadith to see what you can expect if you support an orphan, anywhere, anytime in this world.

“I and the guardian of an orphan will be in Jannah like these two fingers and he joined his two fingers.” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 4892)

And yet, we have people questioning why they should help people, I know, it’s sad that some think this way.

“As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in Al-Husna (good). We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).” (Qur’an, 92:5-7)

I close with a profound quote by this blog’s creator, Ahmad Yousaf, who in my study group last night said, “How can you go wrong when you extend a hand?”

May Allah s.w.t. accept all of your monetary and in kind donations for any cause.

Additional Links to help Haiti

http://islamicrelief.com/Emergencies-And-Appeals/emergency.aspx?emID=66

http://www.ifrc.org/

Run, Don’t Walk! Author: Issa Abbasi

Do you remember when you were a young child? A young, rambunctious child who had more energy than ConEdison and PSEG…combined?! Well, chances are, when you were this rambunctious child that your mother would sometimes interrupt your fantasy land of “Cops and Robbers” with her trademark saying “DON’T RUN IN THE HOUSE!”

Do you remember that now?  If you don’t, there are other occasions you must have been told not to run somewhere or these days, not to speed on the road, it’s really the same.  Well, there is a case where your mother’s rule does not apply to this saying and you wouldn’t be breaking any law or scabbing your knees and hands in the process!

What can this possibly be you ask? It’s simple, you should always run…towards good deeds!  A good deed Islamically is anything that starts and ends with the intention to do good and is solely for the sake of Allah s.w.t.  Anything from removing a harmful object in the road to studying or even smiling, can be considered good deeds.

So why should you run and not walk or stroll to good deeds?

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hasten to do good deeds before there come tribulations like pieces of a dark night, when a man will be a believer in the morning and a kaafir by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kaafir by morning, selling his religious commitment for worldly gain.”

Examples of good deeds include:

• Praying in congregation in the mosque
• Attending funerals and offering the funeral prayer
• Saying “Laa ilaaha illa Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things)” one hundred times each day.
• Upholding the ties of kinship, and more ideas can be found at the link below

Source: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/36546/good%20deeds

Even a smile in the face of your brother or sister is considered a good deed and charity!

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.” He was then asked: “From what do we give charity every day?” The Prophet answered: “The doors of goodness are many…enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one’s legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one’s arms–all of these are charity prescribed for you.” He also said: “Your smile for your brother is charity.” – Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98

You know those donation boxes you see every Friday after salah?  Well even your monetary contributions have a way of helping you gain good deeds for monetary donations extinguish sins like water extinguishes fire!

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Save yourself from hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498

Finally, the most important piece of the puzzle in doing good deeds is to purify one’s intention that the deed is solely to please the Lord of the Universe.  The best way to do this is to keep your action a secret for the less who know of your work, the better and more inclined your deed is for being pure and rewarded.  Don’t worry about who sees you enjoining in good, because He sees All and knows All.

“They ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend in charity. Say: ‘Whatever you spend with a good heart, give it to parents, relatives, orphans, the helpless, and travellers in need. Whatever good you do, God is aware of it.’” – The Holy Quran, 2:215

“ And everyone has a direction to which he should turn, therefore hasten to (do) good works; wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.- The Holy Quran, 2:148

May your good deeds be rewarded based on their intention, inshaAllah.

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The Time Traveler: Fajr Productivity, Author: Issa Abbasi

For the past week, I am sure most of you have all heard the same greeting at school, work and in other endeavors from those around you; “Happy New Year (insert your name here)!” Before 2009 left us, Imam Muhammad AlShareef started a series called the “Time Traveler” and may Allah (s.w.t.) reward him for his efforts.  In the first installment on his blog of this new series, he posted a picture depicting a person with two scenarios one faces on a daily basis.  His picture of these two scenarios is found below.

During my winter break last week, I decided to experiment this illustration by implementing both scenarios.  Naturally and alhamdulliliah, I am by nature a morning person (weekends are tougher for me to be a morning person), but after seeing Sheikh Muhammad’s illustration, I wanted to really live the experience of both scenarios in detail.  Alhamdullilah, on weekdays I stay awake after Fajr and get to work early and the first scenario works well for me five days a week.  But as for my weekends, a different story exists.  On the weekends, I normally give one day to sleep after Fajr and one day to stay awake.  In any case, I have two examples that relate to Sheikh Muhammad’s Time Traveler series on Wednesday, December 30^th and Sunday, January 3^rd, 2010.

Scenario 1: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I was blessed with the opportunity to wake up a few minutes earlier than the Fajr athan.  I contemplated going to the Masjid for Fajr, but the combination of being sick and freezing weather was one of my main reasons for staying home. That and receiving the reward of waking everyone up for tahajjud and Fajr in my house tilted my decision to stay home.  So alhamdullilah, I prayed a few raka’s of tahajjud, read Qur’an and proceeded to wake up my siblings to try and do the same.

The adhan came and went and my whole family prayed Fajr together as usual.  What happened next was amazing.  I was so energized that I chatted a little with my father, and then ironed eight shirts (yup, 8!) while watching the news recount the year 2009’s events.  I ate breakfast early (I wished I could have exercised had it not been for my sickness), shaved around my beard, showered and dressed, all by 9:30 AM on my day off!  But wait, it gets better.  The rest of my day was so energetic considering I had only 4 to 4.5 hours of sleep the night before.  I think I know want to do my best to stick to this routine for future weekends and days off from work.

Scenario 2: Sunday, January 3, 2010

I woke up to pray Fajr with my family alhamdullilah.  Unfortunately, there was no way I could have prayed in the Masjid because it was already 6:45 AM when I woke up (they pray by 6:20 AM).  After we prayed Fajr, my family and I had a short discussion before everyone returned to their rooms at 7:30 to work or catch up on sleep.  I remember telling myself “I’ll sleep for another hour or two then I will wake up and carry on with my day.”  That didn’t happen.  By the time I woke up, the clock read 10:02 AM.  Alhamdullilah my sickness was gone, but I felt horrible regardless.  It was already 10 AM and I had almost nothing except praying Fajr on time to show for my day.

By the time I ate breakfast with my family and got ready for another day off, it was 11:30 AM.  I managed to pray Duhr in the Masjid and after running errands, I arrived back home by 3 PM and prayed Asr.  Before I knew it, Maghrib came in and I barely replied to my emails from the morning!  The adhan for Ishaa came and went before I knew it and my family had just eaten dinner.  My thought at the time was  “Great, tomorrow I go back to work and I didn’t get to finish the rest of my “to do list” over my 10 day break.”  Sleeping in after Fajr I used to say is a guilty pleasure, but I don’t think I can even use the word “pleasure” with sleeping in anymore; it’s more like just plain guilt.  Don’t get me wrong, unless one really needs to sleep after Fajr, they should do so, but if one can stay awake and benefit from their time, it is the better of the two options.

The purpose of this post was to inshaAllah give a firsthand account of how productive one can be when starting their day after Fajr.  Staying awake after this salah is so key to a productive day that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said: “Allah made the early hours blessed for my Ummah.”

Now that alone makes me more enthused to get to bed earlier!  How about you?  Are you ready to become an “early bird?”  If you’re still not ready, then I encourage you to be convinced by Sheikh Muhammad AlShareef through his “Time Traveler” series.  His series blog can be found at http://timetravelmaster.blogspot.com.

May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us all the next level of Eman!

Too shy to post comments on this page? Send them to islampoetry.wordpress@gmail.com instead and let us know what you think or what topic you would like to see written about!

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Why (not) me? Author: Issa Abbasi

You always hear this phrase whenever a sad news story is played.  The victim, given their ailment, sickness, trial, tribulation, etc., asks the reporter “why me?” regarding their situation.  Well, have we ever stopped to ask ourselves another question, “why not me?”  If we haven’t, then now is a good time for us all to ask ourselves, “why not me?”

There are many ways to approach this question.  We are actually given direct answers from Allah s.w.t. for the “why me” question in the ayahs below:

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones [2:155-157] .” [Translation by Dr. Mohsin Khan]

No one likes being sick, or losing money, but this ayah should be able to keep anyone going who truly believes and remembers in the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe at the beginning of an affliction.

“…But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. God knows while you do not know [2:216].” [Translation by Dr. Mohsin Khan]

Abu Suhayb ibn Sinaan narrated that the Prophet said: “How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him; and if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” [Muslim]

Also, do not forget what Allah s.w.t. asks us to reply when faced with a challenge, trial, or tribulation.

“Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return [2:156].” [Translation by Dr. Mohsin Khan]

If you ever feel inclined to ask yourself the “why me?” question, just remember the following hadith:

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction”.
[Al-Bukhari]

Finally, remember that a trial is from the Lord of the Universe, the One who created the sun, the moon and well, everything.  He is the Best multi-tasker such that He has given everyone a special test for their own life!  Imagine that you are a security officer for a large department store.  You are sitting in the command room and can see every angel from 20 cameras in the store.  Do you know what is going on with each and every person’s life? Nope, you don’t, but Allah s.w.t. does.  Remarkable, isn’t it?  So the next time you get a test from the Best, remain calm, accept the situation and know that “Verily, along with every hardship is relief [94:5] [Translation by Dr. Mohsin Khan].”

P.S. Allah s.w.t. uses trials for those who believe to become closer, not further away from Him, so the next time “why me?” crosses your mind, seek refuge from Shaytan and realize that your Lord picked you and this trial for a reason.

“A calamity which makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah” ~ Ibn Taymiyyah

A New Moon, Author: Issa Abbasi

A new moon marks the beginning of the next Islamic month.  Just like the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar has twelve months, but instead revolves around the moon rather than the sun.  On Friday, December 18, 2009, a new moon was spotted marking the beginning of the Islamic month Muharram and the new Hijra year (1431).  This month has much significance and many benefits in it and will be closely examined in this post.

As stated, Muharram is the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and is one of four sacred months (the other three being Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Rajab).  I know what you’re all thinking, “what about Ramadan?”  Well, Ramadan is the most sanctified month of the year, but the four aforementioned months’ sanctity was accepted by the pagans of Makkah (Source: http://www.albalagh.net/general/muharram.shtml).

So, why was this month so special?  Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram (reported by Muslim).”

We should all especially do our best to fast the day(s) around Ashura.  The day of Ashura is the 10^th day of Muharram and is the most sacred of all days.  This day used to be an observed fast by the Jews because it was a righteous day.  It was the day Allah s.w.t. saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and so Musa (a.s.) fasted on this day.  Upon hearing of this , the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said “We are more closely related to Musa (a.s.) than you,” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ (Abu Dawood).”  The Prophet (peace be upon him) also practiced fasting days around Ashura, either the 9^th day of the month or the 11^th, or the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th together.  The 9^th of Muharram will inshaAllah be Saturday December 26^th with the 10^th being the next day, Sunday, December 27^th, 2009.  Let us do our best inshaAllah to establish the fast on what we can from these days.  (Source: http://www.albalagh.net/general/muharram.shtml).

Fasting the Day of ‘Aashoora is an expiation of a year of sins. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Fasting the day of Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Aashoora I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” [Muslim]

Doing extra good deeds in this month has a greater reward than other months as exhibited by the following hadith:

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve (in a year): It was so ordained, by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36], that good deeds done during the four sacred months bring a greater reward. (Ibn Katheer)

What other good deeds can be done in this month besides fasting?

• Increasing in duaa when you are fasting. “The prayer (duaa) of the fasting person will not be refused.” [Al-Bayhaqi, Saheeh]

• Qiyaamul Layl. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said in the hadeeth, “and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” [Muslim] In this month we can complete two deeds that the Salaf encouraged in winter. Al Hasan Al Basri rahimahullah said, “The best season to a believer is the winter, its nights are long for those who wish to pray, and its days are short for those who wish to fast.”

• Protecting yourself from sins. Allah azza wa jal said about the sacred months, “so wrong not yourselves therein” (9:36)

(Source:  http://muslimmatters.org/2009/12/18/the-month-of-allah-muharram)

May Allah s.w.t. accept all our fasts and good deeds in this month!

The Loch Stress Monster, Author: Issa Abbasi

For college students, this time of year is critical.  Exams are around the corner or have already begun and students are looking for means to cope with their stress.  Some sadly succumb to prescription drugs that they should not be taking, others to drinks caffeinated so much that they are dangerous and the rest have exercise or their own technique.  This entry is designed to help an individual cope with these trying times and to remind us of our purpose before, during and after one’s exams.  Of course, you’ll also find out how to beat the Loch Stress Monster as well.

Before you crack open your books in the coming days to start studying for your exams, I want you to remember our purpose in this life, the purpose that Allah s.w.t. mentions in the Glorious Qur’an:

” I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. ” [Surah adh-Dhariyyat, verse 56)

If we remember this constantly in our lives, trust and believe that there will be much blessings and bounty in our affairs.  If you begin any action on good intention, you will be richly rewarded for it, if not now, then inshaAllah in the afterlife.  Even while you’re studying, take time to remember that you want to do well to show that Muslims can achieve anything in this world.  Be the best Organic Chemistry student you can be for the right purpose; to please your Lord.  While you’re studying, re-check this intention and after you exam, finalize your intention so that it may be kept pure.

Keep the following du’a in mind while you’re studying.  It is very important to note however, that just because you read these du’a (supplications) does not guarantee your success.  You must still study hard and put in the effort and rely on Allah s.w.t. at all times, especially on the result.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, can happen without the will of Allah s.w.t.  That is after all what being the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe implies.

Dua’s for studying: http://bit.ly/6SkWfS

Finally, I would like to share some personal tips for exam time I tried in my undergraduate and graduate years are below:

1) Create a list of your exams and what dates you will have to write them.  With the completion of each exam, cross off the exam you just finished.  Human nature desires completion, so the more you see that your load is decreasing, the more drive you will have to keep your studying pace going.

2) Prioritize your exams (see last week’s post “Procrastination Nation” for more on this tip).  Also, don’t even think about cheating.  It is un-Islamic and violates Academic Integrity.  One of my high school teachers always reminded our class before an exam that “cheaters never win, and winners, never cheat,” so, don’t be a loser.

3) Channel your stress into alternative means like exercise, leisure reading, etc. on a break.  Don’t rely on stimulants such as caffeine or prescription drugs to help you out.  Your exam will come and go, but your health is with you for a long, long, time.

4) Remember the Hadith (I will try to get the official citation as soon as I can) that if life were placed on a scale, it would be worth less than the wing of an insect.  Again, study and do your best, but don’t stress, worry, or agonize about the result.

5) Study in bursts.  One of the scholars I study Islam under believes in 40 minute lectures with a ten minute break because a human’s attention span is so finite.  Do your best to keep your study sessions short, then take a short break and come back to studying.

May Allah s.w.t. grant all students knowledge to benefit them and help to ensure their success on their exams!

P.S. Jazaka Allahu khairan to Ammar Idelbi for coming up with the title for this post!  His blog can be found at idelbigreat.wordpress.com.

P.P.S. Feedback is encouraged! Leave a comment or feel free to email us with suggestions for future posts! Islampoetry.wordpress@gmail.com.

Procrastination Nation, Author: Issa Abbasi

How do you eat an elephant?

One piece at a time.

Let’s face it, we are an ummah (nation) of procrastinators.  How many times do we joke that as Muslims, we’re on MST (Muslim Standard Time) or South Asian or Arab Standard Time?  I wish I could even say that being late or procrastinating was a genetic trait, but I can’t honestly make this claim.  So what solution is there to procrastination?  I mean, you can go pick up a self help book to help you overcome procrastination, but are you actually going to read it?

Procrastination as commented by scholars is a learned behavior.  No one is born as a person who puts off tasks.  But once we learn this behavior, it is tough to break the habit.  Some tips on breaking the habit of procrastination include being dynamic in one’s life, having a positive mindset and repeating better behaviors.  One of the most sound pieces of advice I read was to start one’s work after Fajr for the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated that his ummah in their early morning endeavors. 

Another helpful tool for us against sloth is du’a.  Allah s.w.t. tells us that if we supplicate to him he will listen and bring the answer to our supplication, so why not give this du’a a try when you’re feeling lazy?

Allahumma innee a`dhu bika mina al-‘ajzi wa al-kasal wa al-jubun wa al-bukhl wa ghalabati al-dayni wa qahri al-rrijaal
(O Allah, I seek refuge in You from helplessness, sloth, cowardice, niggardliness, and burden of debts and domineering men.)

Normally after all of this, I would say you should be alright, but we still need practical tips we can practice daily (you can make that du’a daily and multiple times a day though).  I picked up a book called Eat that Frog a few years ago and found it has 21 practical tips on over coming procrastination.  I recommend it as a good purchase if you seriously have issues with procrastination, but for now, I will give you a few of the tips outlined by author Brian Tracy.

1. Set the Table: What do you want to accomplish in life? This is a big question, so break it down into three categories: What are my short term goals (1-2 years)? Midterm goals (3-5 years)? Long term goals (6-10 years)?

2. Plan Every Day in Advance: Again, “How do you eat an elephant? One piece at a time.”

Break down your goals (short, medium and long term) into sizeable pieces.  If you want to become a hafidh, don’t say you’ll finish a juzu’ a month, rather, do your best to memorize 2-3 ayahs a day or 3 lines a day.  Even the Nabi s.w.s. said the best of deeds are those that are small and consistent!  So again, with any project, make a list of every step that needs to be done from start to finish.

3. Apply the “Pareto Principle” or 80/20 rule to everything. The Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, believed that the top 20 percent of people in terms of money and influence drove society while the 80 % of society was at the bottom.  IBM in its early years found that if it focused its efforts on fixing the top errors in its products, 80 % of their inquiries would be solved!  Focus your efforts on the top major tasks you have in front of you and do not fall into the trap of doing the smaller tasks that are easier first.

4. “Long term thinking improves short term planning.” When you think for the future and not the short term, you also think of your short term consequences for your actions.  As Muslims, we need to always keep in mind our main goal of pleasing our Creator and if we did not keep this in mind, we would “live every day like it was our last” in a bad way.  Non-Muslims consistently fall into this trap, will you?

5. Practice the ABCDE method.  This method is a priority planning method.  Rank your tasks from A to E.  If some are important enough to be “A” tasks, feel free to sub rank them, (i.e. A1, A2), etc.  By doing this, you will discipline yourself to set your priorities and tackle harder tasks first.

These are all practical means to combat this issue of procrastination, but planning and action will inshaAllah soon rid you of this horrible behavior and change your mind set.  No longer will every day feel unproductive, but rather a new opportunity to accomplish more than you ever imagined!

And Allah s.w.t. knows best.

P.S. Ahmad Yousaf is sick and is now back from Ghana. Keep him in your du’a inshaAllah!

The Greatest Trial, Author: Issa Abbasi

How “bad” do you have “it”?  Yes, seriously, ask yourself that question.  Do you not like your hair color? Eye color? Are you stressed out? Do you have little to no “free” time? Well, this week (sorry for the delay in this post by the way!), let’s see how “bad” our Prophets used to have “it.”

None of us will ever have a trial or test like our Prophets, ever.  The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to see every trial or test as an empowering experience.  I am sure many of you have heard that see a person’s true character based on their behavior when they are under, well, it’s true.  On Friday, November 27, 2009, Muslims around the world will commemorate a specific trial given to our Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismael (Ishmael).

Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) wanted a son his whole life and Allah (s.w.t.) blessed him with one at an old age through a second wife, Hajar, since his first wife Sarah was not capable of reproducing offspring.  So how did the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe test this Prophet?  After Ismail grew up, Allah (s.w.t) gave Prophet Ibrahim the command to slaughter his only son.   But why slaughter and not kill his son, isn’t it the same?  Let’s think about this.  Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) could have thrown his son off a mountain and his job would have been done plus he would’ve obeyed his Lord’s command.  But nope, God said he had to “slaughter” his son.  Wow.  Just think of annihilating anything you love in this world.  Could you do it?

The beauty of this story is that all the characters in it obey their Lord.  Ismail (a.s.) even told his father that he should execute the command with a sharp sword so that a) the cut is fast and so that b) he does not become weak and disobey the commandment.  So to keep a long story short, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) goes to slaughter his son and he is relieved of his duties by his Lord and told he passed his test of obedience.  Even better, he didn’t even sacrifice his son, but a ram instead!  That is a miracle and why we should entrust all our affairs to the One and Only Lord of the Universe.

So just as a reminder to all of us as we celebrate Eid  Al Adha this weekend, there is nothing, no exam, no test in life, no sickness or illness, that we cannot overcome without putting our faith in Allah s.w.t.  And if you need more proof, I give you the best proof there is to reiterate my statement:

2: 155 Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,

2: 156 Who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:-

2:286 Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope

Sahih Bukhari 7.548 Narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the believer! When the believerreceives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and gets a reward; and when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also) rewarded.”

May you all have a blessed Eid!