_ Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by God’s decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere, it will never come your way, but if it is yours by destiny, from you it cannot flee – Umar bin al Khattab [Radi-Allahu anhu]

What is success? What is happiness?

Take a second. Or a minute. Think about what your ideal day looks like. Is it an accumulation of small routine tasks or one big achievement? What would your first step be? And your second?

First off, let’s contemplate for a bit on why it would be beneficial to plan out a set of goals, daily or for a period of time and to describe what would make said period of time successful and productive. God tells us in the Qur’an, “Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between.” [21:16] This verse relays the importance of time and its proper use in the life of the Believer. There is a purpose for all of God’s Creations. The purpose of mankind is to worship as revealed in the Quran, “I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except for the purpose that they should worship Me.” [51:56] However, worship comes in many forms and throughout our daily lives, whether it is habitual activity or an accomplishment after weeks and months of tiresome commitment, it is important to remember that everything that is done is for the sake of God alone, and none other than Him.

Now, bring your thoughts back to what forms of worship your ideal day consists of. Picturing and visualizing what you as an individual define as “a good day” helps to hone in on what your goals are in your public and personal life, while remembering your purpose. It is important to realize that everyone has a different idea about what he or she would want to accomplish. God has given us free-will and choices that create the life we want, that is what makes your life, yours. Everything that you do does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation; it can be a process as most of life is.

Consider success in life not as a destination or an end, but as a means; it is a process of culminating deeds that eventually determine your Reward from God. As you live your daily life, it can be helpful to realize that there is no worldly perfection that exists at the end of the path you wish to pave for yourself. The idea that you must be acknowledged for every good deed and the pursuit of fame as a means of success is an unstable lifestyle of continued dissatisfaction. The fulfilment of goals in this life is not dependant on being the best or the most or the highest. Seeking any form of reward other than that of God’s [reward] itself would be a hindrance. The intention and action for the sake of God alone is enough to say I am happy with what I have done. I am happy with what God has enabled me to do. I am grateful. Alhamdulillah.

Now, happiness – just defining the word is a heavy task in and of itself. Happiness is a state of being, a being that is variable amongst all peoples. It cannot be the heading of a list of synonyms or extravagant possibilities that may or may not come true. It is the assurance of knowing that what you have is enough, the clarity of Truth that guides your life through childhood, adolescence, your acquisition of knowledge, work and parenthood. However, happiness is a mere portion of what it means to be truly whole – a sense of satisfaction with whatever God has willed, whether they are moments of joy or sorrow. Being human implies the need to experience all emotions, opening possibilities and changes about learning how to deal, how to accept, how to act and react. Through the journey of knowing yourself, you learn and recognize that from Him you came and to Him is your inevitable return. The lack of material wealth or renowned fame is not an indicator of success or happiness, but rather serves as a reminder of all that is left behind in this world.

In your own daily life, make changes to keep your goals in mind at all times. Prioritize your needs to continuously remember your purpose. Purify your intentions to establish a relationship with God. Make time for yourself, make time for your family, your community and do it for the sake of God. To worship Him is our purpose and Paradise is our final goal, insha’Allah.

With immeasurable Mercy, Guidance and Compassion, God tells us in the Qur’an,

“Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!” [13:28]

Marzia holds the Treasurer position at KIH
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Saadia Humayun stuides at NED University of Technology in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a blogger on the WordPress street and a bio-engineer  to-be, who loves writing about anything that captivates her, whose work is a  collage of memories, reflections and life-changing experiences, frustrations and
her latest  infatuations. Blogs at http://callofthedusk.wordpress.com.
 
_ I’ve been looking back at my basketball days and thinking how much similar life is to team spirit. Anyone who has ever played any sort of sport at some point in his life would be familiar with the drill all too much. Focus! Don’t let your guard down. Practice till you drop. Close in and score! Keep aside those personal differences and work on it together. We are a team! It’s not a one-man show, we’re all in this together.

It’s tough- people with their psyche poles apart work together for one cause. If you’ve ever been a part of any group (sports or any project you got yourself in), you’ll agree it’s one heck of a job to pull. If you’ve never been a part of it, ask someone who has been through it all. He’ll give you the real insider account. The times he had to smother his ego for the team’s good, had to let go of his place and make room for the other, stand back and watch the better ones take his limelight… those moments when he had to eat it every time life turned unfair, or just that saintly feeling when he backed up his mate and helped improve his weaker points. All for the win. Believe me this is what that makes a team great. The reasons behind their winning streaks are the players who know what sportsman spirit is all about.

I guess life is the most dangerous game of all- and the only one we play (with) ever so carelessly. As Muslims and as humans too, we’ve got it all wrong from the beginning. The goal is not to win this rat race or survive this rat-hole as Darwin so “wisely” says in his “survival of the fittest” theory. It’s not to show other people down while you hog the spotlights. The point is to work together. For what? For this life and the life after death. We tend to blow this part out of proportion though. To keep the balance in check, just keep this in mind- ‘work for this life as much as you are to stay here, and for the hereafter as much as you are to stay there.’

And worldly life is nothing but an amusement and play and the Last Abode is the real life indeed. Only if they know! [29:64]

Practice! Probably the most grueling part of anything. But this game of life which you play, practice is not about getting perfect at it. It’s about trying and not giving up, avoiding slip-ups and picking yourself up after every fall. It’s like watching your step while climbing a ladder and holding on tightly when it sways, and each day, you find yourself a step higher.

And that man can have nothing but what he STRIVES for. And that his DEEDS will be seen. [53:39-40]

The results do not matter. It’s the input quality that counts.

Work together. Instead of laughing at others, laugh with them (read this somewhere). If you see anyone falling out of place or failing to keep up with the pace, stop to help them out.

I swear by the Time, Man is in a state of loss indeed, except those who believed and did righteous good deeds, and EXHORTED each other to follow the truth and EXHORTED each other to observe patience. [103:1-3]

This is when you’ll win. And when others will win along with you. At every step you’ll need support to side-step your enemies (your nafs and sahytaan). Just like in a basketball game, when an opponent closes in to intercept the ball, your team mate signals you the way out- he takes the ball from your end and throws it back to you in perfect timing. So your team player in life too, will zap you back if you sway. Because all of you have the same goal- a better hereafter for me and everyone around me.

“When you keep your final goal in sight, you’re constantly reminded of what you’re working towards, you’re constantly planning ahead and envisioning the end. How much more are we in need of doing this for the project called “life”! How much do we need to do to win this game called “life”?

Keeping the hereafter in mind changes the way we live this world, and makes this experience – with all it’s pain and joy, struggles and hopes, trials and triumphs – worth it, by the will and mercy of Allah.”

Where are the bright ones, the handsome-looking ones, and where are those who took pride in their youthfulness – where have they gone? Where are the great kings who built cities and castles and fortified them with towering walls? What happened to the lionhearted valorous ones who made their enemy suffer humiliation in the battlefields? Time waned under their feet and they ended inside dark graves. Think of it and take heed.
— Abu Bakr as-Sideeq

We’re all hanging by a moment on this court. The thrill of the game is- we don’t know for how long we’ll be playing it. Any second, time-out will be flashed and we’ll be called in for the Marking. So you know what any wise player would do? He’ll make sure the scoreboard always reads in his favour- that he exits the arcade a winner. The timer is ticking. I know we can still turn the score around. Let’s work on it!
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Fuego is the KIH goat. He works hard to promote KIH when he is not at work because he believes in the good work KIH does. He does bite, but only if you've missed a weekly installment of articles and art on KIH. Fuego's favourite song is Kumbaya.

It’s tough to be a goat in today’s society. Seem like everyone is looking down at you thinking you’re a part of some inferior species. Staring at you like you are a piece of meat. But you ignore it, keep going. 

And then there are those things that are marketing temptations of what kind of grass you should be seeking and how you should be looking and at times like that you work your hardest to keep your graze down. You’re working hard, doing your thing and hoping for a better tomorrow. Yet sometimes they don’t leave you alone, asking why don’t you go back to where you came from? And sometimes you feel like you should, but then you remember why you came here; you have to do it for your kids. Cause back home they were slaughtering goats and kids alike with no disregard every lunar year. Yeah you were a doctor back home and now you’re nothing but a farm animal working 12 hour shifts each and every day, rolling over whenever the big man says so. But hey at least the kids are safe. 

One day the kids will grow up and be more. They’ll appreciate all the sacrifices you made and almost been a part of. It’s tough to be a goat, but keep striding along and days will get baaaa-tter.  

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Khalil Andani is a young professional from Toronto. He is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and graduated with Bachelors of Math (BMath) and Masters of Accounting (MAcc) degrees from the University of Waterloo in 2008. Khalil is a contemporary Muslim thinker whose areas of focus include theology, philosophy, metaphysics, hermeneutics (ta’wil), comparative studies and the Perennial Philosophy (sophia perennis). Through his literary and intellectual activities, Khalil seeks to revitalize the Muslim intellectual tradition of philosophy and esoteric thought and unveil the common ground between Islam and other faiths. He can be contacted at kandani@gmail.com.



“Say: O People of the Book! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).”

(Holy Qur’an 3:64)

A unique feature of the modern age is the encounter taking place between people who belong to different religious traditions.  Unfortunately, some have branded the particular encounter between Muslims and non-Muslims as a “clash of civilizations” when it is actually a “clash of ignorance”.   An important aspect of such an encounter is the dialogue between Christians and Muslims – adherents of the two largest faiths in the world – and in this article I present a reflection on how such a dialogue can be approached from the eyes of a Muslim.

The Qur’an instructs Muslims to invite people to the recognition of God but also prescribes a specific manner in which this should be performed:

“Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and debate with them in the most beautiful manner…”

(Holy Qur’an 16:125)

This verse is often taken to refer to what Muslims today call da’wah – summoning people to the faith of Islam - and has taken many forms including preaching, debates, arguments, etc.   I ask us to direct our attention especially to the words “debate with them in the most beautiful manner” (jadilhum bi allatee hiya ahsanu) – with emphasis on the term ahsan (the superlative quality of “most beautiful”.  In the modern age, I would like to propose a method of dialogue – which is in fact a da`wah based on knowledge as opposed to adversarial debate or polemic – that seeks to fulfill the spirit of the Qur’anic emphasis on beautiful discourse.  The objective of such a “da’wah of knowledge” (da’wah ilmiyyah) is to attain “recognition” of one another – something which the Qur’an mentions as the very purpose of human diversity:

“O mankind! We created you from male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (lita‘arafoo).”

(Holy Qur’an 49:13)

This “recognition” (ma‘rifah) can only occur if all participants in the dialogue (as opposed to an adversarial debate) are permitted to clearly present the principles of their faith tradition whereby all parties are able to truly understand each others’ positions.  This is the only antidote to the “clash of ignorance” which has sometimes paralyzed such engagements. In light of this objective, I would like to propose some steps a Muslim can take in participating in such a dialogue involving Christians:            
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A common recurring phenomenon in the Qur’an is that God asks and invites us to reflect on His signs in the heavens and the earth, as the following verses can testify:

    “and there are many signs in the heavens and the earth that they pass by and give no         heed to” (12:106)

    “We have made Our signs clear enough to those who have solid faith” (2:118)

Furthermore, we often hear the same invitation to contemplation in lectures and sermons by Islamic scholars. The problem is many of us just can’t, and don’t, see these manifestations of majesty around us. Without saying they don’t exist, so much of our cognitive capacity is hoarded by the things directly affecting our daily lives (midterms, assignments, what we’re having for dinner, and the rest), that we tend to miss these signs.

The purpose of this article is to, God willing, introduce a way of thinking that might make us more aware of these signs of divine glory around us.  To begin, I’d like to present a scenario.

Suppose you work in a laboratory dealing with potentially harmful chemicals. As you prepare substances with meticulous precision, you begin to feel lighter all of a sudden. The next thing you notice makes your heart drop: the chemical that so obediently was making it’s way down into a vial is now slowly moving up. Your feet leave the ground and you are gently lifted like a feather. In this moment of suspension, you come to the realization that gravity, that old pal who always kept you down to earth, has given up. After a few minutes of the most surreal moment of your life, you slowly begin to descend. As gravity returns, you once again curse your luck as you now have a dangerous chemical spill to deal with.

Regardless of how unreal this scenario may be, it serves a purpose. It shows us that something like gravity is such an essential part of our lives that we never even think to imagine how things would be if gravity didn’t work in the obedient way that it does. What would happen if gravity chose to torment us and stopped working from time to time? One can only imagine how Newton would have felt if the apple only fell half the time. Clearly such a situation would be anything but desirable.

So how does this relate to our contemplation of God’s magnificence? Well, if you have never had to experience a shortage of gravity, you have experienced God’s mercy.

God, out of His infinite mercy, has created this world with various laws and constants, which we can come to understand, one such being the law of gravity. He has provided us with a world that is balanced and predictable which is why we do not live in fear that something as essential as gravity will fail us.

As God says in the Qur’an:

    “Among His signs, too, is the fact that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His             command.” (30:25)

This idea also illustrates that this world is a gift and so is our ability to subject it to our whims. We can survive here without fear as God has allowed the world to be a sandbox of predictable rules.

As the Qur’an tells us:

    “He has made what is in the heavens and the earth beneficial to you, all as a gift from Him. There truly are signs in this for those who reflect” (45:13)

This means that we must constantly be thankful for this ease and never be so arrogant as to expect the world to work in the way it does without acknowledging God’s divine decree. He could have just as easily given an unpredictable hostile world where each human would have to fend for him or herself. Instead He gifted us a beautiful playground to see which of us would be thankful.

So the next time you hear a mention of the signs of God, reflect on how the world has subjected itself to you so that you may live and prosper, for in this is a sign of God’s mercy. Then, be thankful.

…and God knows best.

Saad Mahmood holds the secretary position at Keeping it Halal.
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The most blessed and auspicious month of the Islamic calendar is around and Muslims are looking for ways and steps to prepare for this holy month. Most Muslims are of the view that as soon as the holy month of Ramadan arrives and the devil is imprisoned, it will be easier for them to start worshipping and amending the way they live. However, this is not true and it is best if Muslims start preparing for Ramadan in advance.

The companions of the Prophet (PBUH) would make it a habit to prepare for Ramadan six months before its arrival. The Prophet (PBUH) 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)

Using the ways and steps given below, you can easily prepare for Ramadan.

1. Voluntary Fasting

The best way to prepare for Ramadan is to fast voluntarily before the arrival of this holy month. You can set a schedule to fast from Monday to Thursday and rest for the next three days.

According to Abu Hurarirah, the Prophet (PBUH) would fast from Monday to Thursday and when inquired, he replied,

“The deeds of people are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting each other." He says: "leave them for later”. (Ahmad; Hasan)

2. Reciting Quran

Allah says in the Holy Quran,

“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)

Ramadan was first revealed during the holy month of Ramadan. For this reason, the reward of reciting the Holy Quran during Ramadan is much higher. Muslims should spend as much time as possible to read and recite Quran.

Therefore, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims should set targets and a specific time for the recitation of Quran. they should also try to read the Quran with meaning so that they can understand its meaning.

3. Offering Superogatory Prayers

Superogatory prayers mean Nawafil or prayers that are not mandatory but Muslims offer them to please Allah or thank Him for His limitless blessings. During Ramadan, voluntary prayers carry the reward that is equal to mandatory prayers and hence are very beneficial.

The Prophet (PBUH) 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)

4. Making Dua

The reward of making dua and seeking the forgiveness and support of Allah is immense. The reward increases during this holy month. Allah says,

"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me."

Conclusion

Therefore, it is best to follow the ways mentioned above to prepare for Ramadan. You can also read Quran online to earn rewards. 

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I am sure many of you have heard about the decision that Toronto District School Board (TDSB) made about supporting religious accommodations for Friday prayers  at Valley Park Middle School, if you haven’t then you should check out the KIH article that summarizes the decision and the situation (http://www.keepingithalal.com/50/post/2011/07/politics-valley-park-friday-prayer-conflict.html). I support this decision as it is both reasonable accommodation and consistent with the Charter of rights and freedoms.  Now, what I am here to talk about is what happened after this decision, and why I have joined the Thank You TDSB Movement.

Before you jump to conclusions, when I say movement I mean a grassroots group of students, alumni, teachers and concerned citizens who support religious freedoms in our public schools. My story begins a week or two weeks after this decision by the TDSB, where I received an event invite on Facebook for a “Thank you TDSB rally”, which was actually a counter to the protest being held that opposed TDSB. I didn’t care much for it and hit attending for solidarity and thought about what I was going to do that evening instead.

Like many of my Muslim peers I went through the regular emotions, I first asked why are these people protesting this decision, the answer is probably that is an election season. Historically speaking in Ontario whenever there is a “Muslim” issue Muslims always get nailed by crazy protesters and the rights of Muslims eroded; be it the proposal to extend public funding to faith schools (translate to: funding radical Madrasas) or voluntary resolution of family disputes using Islamic Family law (translate to: beheadings and Sharia in Ontario). I am not here to advocate for these earlier issues as I disagree with some of them but there is a trend that cannot be denied. Next, I thought these anti-TDSB protesters are crazy fringe groups (which is true) and I shouldn’t waste my time with them (which is also true). And finally, I thought this will blow over and there is no point in me going so I will stick my head in the sand.

I regretted my decision not to attend 2 days after the July 25th protests. I discovered that of the 1000 people invited on Facebook to attend, only two showed up, both sisters, one who just completed her first year and the other a high school student; this compared to the over 100 anti-TDSB protesters. It became worse when I saw footage of the torment these two sisters went through, people telling them that Islam is about cutting off people’s hands and that Islam is a satanic cult. No one, should go through what they have and their video has recently been shown on the Council of American Islamic Relations Facebook page in the US (the video is very heartbreaking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30asz_WnWsE). After seeing this video I asked myself why did I come up with excuses and not be there for my Muslim sisters.

I quickly decided that no matter what reservations I had before, I needed to be there for them. I talked to many of my Muslim friends about this some agreed that what happened to them was sad and they wish they could be there, while others simply said they hope this blows over, as they repositioned their heads in the sand. Yes this will blow over as all things do, either people will forget about it (like in the case of Park51) or the TDSB will reverse their decision (like in the case of Muslim family courts).  Either way, the Muslim community would have ended up doing very little and next summer there will be a whole new Muslim issue.

On Aug. 8 I went to the second Thank You TDSB Rally on my own, this time the Thank You numbers were a bit better ranging between 15-20 high school and university students; all of whom were fasting for Ramadan. This was a diverse group of people whom I have never met in my life (even though some of them went to the same university as me). It was nice seeing different types of people come together for the common cause of supporting the rights and freedoms of not only fellow Muslims but fellow Canadians. Our event was peaceful and with a larger group, the anti-TDSB people didn’t dare try to corner or yell at us, like they did at the first protest.

At the 2nd rally I learned two important things; the first is a lot of those who were supposedly there opposing the TDSB were actually there to oppose the religious freedoms of Muslims. With signs like Ban Islam in Canada, what will Muslims ask for next?, and the ever so popular NO ISLAM, these people were there in opposition to Islam and Muslims in Canada. Even those who approached us opted to argue issues in far off countries rather than the decision made by the TDSB, suggesting their premise is that being a Muslim means we are foreign rather than Canadian.

The second is that this Thank You Rally was actually not a counter-protest. We kept our distance from the crazies and actually opted to talk to the general public about our support for the TDSB decision. Our Thank you Rally gave us the opportunity to reach out to the general public who may not be familiar with this issue and to talk to the media showing that YES there are Canadians who do support TDSB’s decision. Teachers and others who lived in the area thanked us for supporting them and encouraged us to come out in greater numbers because if people don’t show support for religious accommodations in school, then the crazies can claim that they “represent” the values of Canadians.

So that’s my story on how I got involved in supporting reasonable religious accommodations at our schools. Now if you’re asking yourself how you can get involved visit www.facebook.com/thankyoutdsb for info on what you can do, pictures and videos, articles and upcoming rallies (and yes we are planning a rally that is not a counter :D). So this Ramadan please support a worthy cause and give the freedom to your brothers and sisters in public school practice their faith.

Home Page Picture: Chris Faisal Design
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From Nov.3rd to Nov.7th the homes of many Indians, Sikhs and Jains were decorated with lights in the honour of celebrating the victory of good over evil known as DIWALI. Diwali is a five day festival that starts the Hindu New Year. On this cultural celebration the lights are placed in the homes in small clay lamps called diya representing the happiness over the victory. This is mainly done on the third day when the main activities take place. The fourth day is celebrated as new years and on the fifth day brothers and sisters get together and share food to honour the bond between them.

On nov.16th / nov.17th the Muslims around the world celebrated EID AL ADHA which is one of the two annual celebrations for Muslims. Eid al Adha is in the remembrance and honour of the complete submission of Abraham to God when he was told to sacrifice his son. The Muslims commemorate this by offering a sacrifice of a goat, sheep, etc and sharing the meat with close relatives and the poor. There are three days to this Eid; the first morning Muslims attend the Eid prayers and then is followed by visiting family and friends wishing them “Eid Mubarak” as well as a prayer – “May God accept it from me and from you.” 

On Dec.1st the Jews lighted the first candle on the menorah commencing the beginning of the eight daylong celebration of HANUKKAH. This celebration is in commemoration of the “miracle of the container of oil” in the temple of Jerusalem. The oil left in the container was only enough to fuel the eternal flame for one day, but as a miracle from God it lasted eight days which was long enough for the Jews to make more oil for the particular oil they used for the eternal flame took eight days to make. To honour this miracle the Jews light one candle on the first day, two on the second and so on. They sing hymns, give presents to kids and the infamous game of dreidel … ‘dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made It out of clay … ‘

On the night of Dec. 24th the Christians prepare for the big CHRISTMAS day coming. Families and relatives come over to visit and a mass is held at the church at night in which the story of the birth of Jesus is told. A glass of milk and a plate of cookies are left on a table next to the tree for Santa. The next morning the presents are opened from under the tree and the rest of the day is spent visiting family and relatives. The Christmas tree symbolizes the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The celebration of Christmas is in commemoration of Jesus’s birth. After dec.25th some celebrate the Christmastide, a twelve day celebration lasting up till Jan.6th.

On Dec.26th the seven day celebration of the African Americans called KWANZAA begins. The kinara has seven candles and the people gather for candle lighting each day. There are three colours of candles; black for the people, red for the struggle, and green for the future. Each of the seven days are dedicated to a particular characteristic; unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, co-operative economics, purpose, creativity and lastly faith. Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 to “give blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society” – as said by Maulana Karenga who created this holiday.

*note: the dates of the celebrations of Diwali, Eid, and Hanukkah change every year because they are based on a different calendar than the Gregorian calendar. Following the Lunar Calendar, Eid is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Dhul Hajj of the Lunar Calendar which is the month in which millions of Muslims mark the journey of Mecca to perform the pilgrimage. Due to the difference between the two calendars, Eid is moved 10 or so days back each year. When I first came to Canada Eid was the month of Ramadan came during the holiday season, and now it comes in the summer. Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev based on the LuniSolar calendar. Hindus follow a similar calendar in which they change the months to balance out the difference between the lunar and the solar calendars by adding a month every couple of years or so.

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Are you up for a challenge?

Actually there are two challenges. The first is being harnessed 1,168ft away from the ground and walking around the outside of the CN tower.  The second challenge is to raise at least $1,500 that will go towards digging wells and building sanitation systems in developing countries through the Islamic Relief Water & Wells Project.

Inadequate water, wells, sanitation and hygiene not only cause sickness and death, as shortages in water can lead to harvest failures and even famine. All of  these factors combine together to contribute to the continuing cycle of poverty in developing countries
Islamic Relief's water & sanitation activities include:
Building water supply systems in deprived areas
Digging and restoring water wells
Implementing water purification projects
Undertaking integrated sanitation programmes
Community mobilisation and awareness programmes

Here are some exmples of Islamic Relief's water and sanitation projects:

Albania: Clean water for Lumturie

Indonesia: Bamboo water pipes

Niger: Community Solidarity


Take the EdgeWalk challenge and help provide clean accessible water to help overcome the numerous problems associated with the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities.

For more information,to register as a walker and to download pledge forms, check our website:
http://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/client/edgewalk.aspx
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The increasing penetration of internet and technology in our lives has affected our lives to a great extent. Technology has greatly influenced human lives, from altering the way they interact with each other to the way they perform different daily tasks. The move towards using technology for every aspect of life has also affected the way individuals look for marriage partners.

Using Marriage Services

Using marriage services has become very popular. Many Muslims now try to find partners by registering to Muslim community websites that provide individuals with the opportunity to meet new people. These websites provide a safe and confidential service that is compliant with Islamic laws in order to provide prospective partners with the opportunity to interact with each other and lay the foundations of a strong relationship.

Standing in Islam

Although these services are completely secure and Islamic, some people still wonder whether using such services to find a partner is right or not according to Quran. Interacting with an individual with the idea of marriage is not forbidden in Islam. Individuals are allowed to share views and opinions in an Islamic and religious way to ensure that one is willing to lead the rest of the life with that individual.

Such misconceptions arise because individuals do not have sound understanding of Quran and its teaching. Therefore, it is essential to learn Quran with translation so that you understand what rules Allah has laid upon its people.

Conclusion

Moreover, make sure you teach Quran to your children as well. If you are living in a non-Islamic country, you can simply ensure Quran teaching via online means. Online Quran tutors are available who teach during flexible timings.  

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