In this article I will share two inspirational stories I came across in a book titled, ‘Parent’s Love’ written by Ishrat J Rumy. These stories serve as excellent reminders as to how we can better ourselves as Muslims.

Story 1: The Ungrateful Human Being

One day, a man climbed up a tree.

All of a sudden, a strong wind started to blow when he was on one of the top branches. He was so scared that he felt his heart in his mouth. He raised his head to the sky and prayed: “Oh great God, I promise to sacrifice all my sheep for your cause if I can safely climb down this tree.”  

“Oh, it seems the wind is not blowing so hard anymore! I think it would be alright, God, if I gave away my sheep’s wool for Your cause. Oh, it seems that the wind is becoming weaker and weaker. God, I shall give away their whey if I reach the ground safe and sound.  

“Oh, that wild wind has turned into a breeze now and I’ve reached the ground quite safely.”

‘What was I saying....sheep, wool, whey? What whey? What wool? Who will lose them all? A fool!”

  The moral of this story is to be grateful to God for all of the blessings in one’s life-in times of difficulty and in times of need. As well, it is a reminder to always fulfill the promises one makes to God.

Second 2: Insha Allah

A man was heading for the market with enough money to buy a donkey. On the way, he saw one of his friends.

“Where are you going?” asked the friend.

“I’m going to the market to buy a donkey.”

“Say ‘Insha Allah’ (God willing) before you hope to do anything,” advised the friend.

“Come on, no need to say that. My money is right here with me and there are a lot of donkeys in that market,” replied the man.

His friend only shrugged and didn’t say anything more. The man began walking towards the market. On the way, a thief stole his money bag and he didn’t find out until he had reached the market. All of a sudden, he realized that his money was gone and he had no choice but to go back home. On the way he saw his friend again.

“Where are you coming from? What happened?”asked the friend.

“I’m coming from the market, InshAllah! I was robbed of my money, InshaAllah!”


  The moral of this story is to always remember to praise God for the countless blessings in one’s life. It is a lesson which shows us that we must never be boastful because we are unaware of our future. Therefore, instead of being boastful we should be humble.

I hope that we all benefit from these little reminders, inshAllah. 

Growing up as a Muslim in today’s society is particularly difficult, especially in non-Muslim countries. I was once a teenager not too long ago and I do understand the trials one has to go through when going to public high schools. I am not going to write about “how to go through high school with no sins”; you and I, we all know that is practically impossible. The problems all of a sudden do not come to a halt as soon as you graduate high school and go off to College, University, Work (or whatever you decide to do), they just keep getting bigger.

When someone asks the general group of students, “What is the main problem with youngsters of today, in an Islam understanding?” – What are the most common answers?

-Girls/Boys/Dating
-Music
-Drugs
-Alcohol
-Clubs/Parties
-Clothes/Beards
-etc…

These are probably the most common answers anyone will ever get, but are these the actual problems? They are really not, they are all the result of a bigger problem: weaknesses in one’s imaan. I am not implying that my imaan is on spot, definitely not! Everyone has problems in their imaan, your imaan fluctuates; protecting it from the lowest levels is what matters. And Allaah subhana wa t’Alaa made it so easy for us, the only one thing that literally takes you out of the folds of Islaam is shirk.

Why do we become so vulnerable to the life of this dunya when we know it is the shortest travel of our lives? As Allaah azza wa jal stated in the Qur’aan, Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 86:

Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.

We know what is to come after but yet we cave in to the short pleasures of this world acknowledging the haram that accompanies it. The dreamland, which is this life has successfully kept us hypnotized with all the shiny glittery stuff handed straight to us and with Shaytaan’s deceitful whispering in our ears constantly – do we forget that other voice we hear telling us to go against those deceitful word. That other voice is the helping voice given to us by our Rabb; He appointed everyone an angel who whispers good when the Shayateen whisper bad.

Why were we created? The answer to that question is what puts everything in perspective, and Allaah subhana wa t’Alaa clearly and explicitly states the purpse in the Qur’aan,  Surah Adh-Dhariyaat, Ayah 56:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

It does not get clearer than that. This does not imply that Allaah expects you to pray 24/7 – there are millions and millions of forms of worship. The easiest and most pleasing one is doing everything for the sake of Allaah alone. Keeping your intentions cleaned and renewing them.

This life is not everything; in fact it is nothing. Anything in this life that takes us away from our main purpose of life is bad for our imaan, and whatever brings us to our purpose of life is good.

Build your relationship with Allaah, learn about His deen – because, how do you possibly build a relationship with someone if you do not know anything about them?

If I asked you to tell me what you’ve learned so far to have the best, happiest, most successful life, what advice would you give me? What are the rules (or rules of thumb) you’ve learned in your 20,30,50, 80 years of life?

Here are some of the bullets points for you to ponder upon and search for their answers:

• The #1 thing you need to bear in mind, if you ever want to really tap into your potential

• A key mind-set shift that will put your life in perspective

• The Quranic ayahs & authentic Ahadith that concisely explain what the purpose of your life is,
and how to live up to it

• The 3 trials everyone faces in life, and how to deal with them (NOT preparing for these can cause
a serious blow to your Iman, that may last for years)

• 7 ways to ensure you can ‘chill’ on the Day of Judgement (Note: This is literally what one of the
hadith says!)

• Exactly what to expect from the moment you die, to the moment you meet your Lord (there’s a
deep sense of inner-ease and contentment that can
only come from knowing this)

• The 3 stages you’ll pass through when you die – knowing them in advance is an essential part
of our faith, and the ONLY way to prepare for death.

Let me know what you think, if you have any comments or would like to share your answers here!

Turn your attention to the lives of bees and the lessons and signs they involve. One of the well-shaped figures, a hexagonal dwelling, is the most carefully crafted without gaps or looseness and without the use of any instruments, measurements or devices. It is all by the inspiration of Allah and His guidance and teachings, as explained in the Quran:

“And your Lord inspired the bee saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch;

“Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of Thy lord, made smooth for thee. There comes forth from their bellies a drink diverse of hue, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! Herein is indeed a portent for people to reflect.” (16: 68-69)

We notice here that the Quran offers preaching and healing to people at large, while it confines guidance and knowledge to some. Nothing is described by Allah and His Book as being a healer except the Quran and honey; they are the healers, one is the healer of the hearts, healing from misguidance and aberration, their doubts and confusions; and the other is the healer of bodies from many of their diseases, complications and ailments.

A bewildering fact about the bee, something that most people do not realize or notice is the way the bee reproduces, whether it is by delivery or transformation. Very few people imagine or get to know it! Indeed it doesn’t produce by either of those two methods, but by the most mind-boggling one!

As a bee goes to the meadows to pick nectar from the purest stuff on leaves, petals, flowers, grass etc.; it sucks it and this forms the essence of honey. Then it presses the condensed bit of that stuff onto the face of a leaf and sticks it onto its leg, forming it in the shape of lentil; then it fills with it the empty hexagons made of honey. Later on, the queen makes a round beginning with its habitation, breathes in it, and goes to other habitations for the same purpose. From this, life emerges by the will of Allah Almighty and so they come out as flying creatures.

This is a curious miracle and a sign that only a few get to know; it takes place by Divine inspiration, which guided the bees and taught them management, travelling, living, constructing and production.

“Whatever is in the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is All-mighty and All- Wise.” – Quran 59: 1

Say Thanks To Allah:

I wonder,

Do you see how magnificently blue the sky is?

Or, the clouds

Do you ever just look at them and exhale at their complexity?

Do you notice the continuous changing of the night and day?

Do you ever pause from your life and Thank God?

What makes you happy?

Do you sometimes smile for no reason?

During twilight when the wind bites at your skin, do you shiver a little?

Do you appreciate the small things in your life?

Do you have,

Gratitude.

Love

And

Respect,

For God.

Do you feel love when your mother hugs you?

Do you say nice things to your spouse when they say they love you?

Do you see how the flowers dance to the rhythm of the wind?

Do their colours mesmerize you?

Do you ever just stop and think about the bliss in your life?

Because,

It is God who makes you happy.

It is He who covers the naked trees with sufficient leaves.

And it is Him who knows when every leaf falls.  

There are signs for those who reflect.

So I ask you,

Does the warm sunlight warm your heart?

Do you sing the praises of God?

Do you ever think of the countless blessings in your life?

Your ability to read and to write: A chance to excel at school.

Sufficient food.

Running water.

Your family.

Your home, a place to come back to after a tiring day.

The good company of your friends.

Do you care about those who care for you?

Do you try your best not to hurt those who respect you?

A smile is an act of charity.

Do you remember and Thank God for the beautiful moments in your life?

The peace in your mind?

The contentment in your heart?

I ask you,

What are you thankful for?

Ponder and reflect on the blessings in your life.

Please don’t forget to thank God.

It’s important for us to always try and better ourselves. As such, taking good advice from
others is crucial. At the same time, if you see that someone you know can use your advice,
it’s equally important to help them. However, there is a certain way in which the nasiha
(advice) should be given.

Sincere intention: As with every other action,  your intention before advising
someone should be sincere. If you’re doing it to make yourself look better than the other
person or to simply make the other person look bad, there’s really no point.

Give the nasiha privately: Failure to do so will embarrass the person you’re trying to help.
Furthermore, remember that if you hide the flaws of others, Allah subhana wa ta’ala will
safeguard yours.

Be kind: “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty, and it is not
withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.” [Muslim] If your words are harsh, the
person is more likely to get offended than he or she is to heed the advice.

The most important thing to remember is that you should treat others the way you would want to be
treated—give advice in the same manner that you would want to hear it, and in such a way
that the person understands the point that you’re trying to make and that you mean well.

“Heaven liveth at the feet of mothers” –Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)

My Precious:

Sometimes,

I wonder how love can be so pure and beautiful.

You see my mother taught me how to love.

She inspires me.

She supports me.

And tells me I can do anything as long as I put my mind to it.

She wants me to be amazing.

She is always there to comfort me, when all is amiss.

And she hugs me when my heart is breaking.

And when the light is fading, she is there to brighten my life.

And even when she’s blue she smiles and promises everything will be okay.

She says that the pristine raindrops will wash away the pain.

She works so hard so that I can have a happy life.

She is the happiness in my life.

And when she holds my hand, I feel protected.

She hugs me and tells me she loves me: the world is perfect.

She talks to me when no one else will.

She knows I talk a lot, but she cares enough to listen.

She listens to my worries.

And,

My countless stories.

She wants to hear my opinion.

She laughs at my jokes even when they aren’t funny.

She continues to love me even when I become annoying.

She knows how to make me smile.

She reads my stories.

She reads me.

She remembers every detail in my life because it’s the little things that make all the difference.

And she tells me that: all good things come to those who wait.

She teaches me to be patient.

She tells me to live my dreams.

She reminds me that I should

Remember,

And Thank God,

For everything in my life.

She’s special.

She’s the best.

My heart feels content.

She is a flower blossoming.

She is sweet and kind.

She is more than a blessing in my life.

She’s wonderful, patient, lovely, strong and true: my mom.

My mother is amazing, and yours is too.

Tell your mother you love them.

There are no words that can describe the love.

This love that is so pure and beautiful.

So all I can do is love her with all my capacity.

With all of me,

forever.

“Mother: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind.” Kahlil Gibran

And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus do Allah make His Signs clear to you: That you may be guided. (Al-E-Imran, 103)

Avec amour (with love):

I didn’t know this last June.

I didn’t know how much I would change as a person.

I didn’t know how much God would allow me to learn.

Last June when I was looking for courses to fill my electives requirements I came across ‘Islamic Civilization’ and after reading the course description I enrolled in it quite enthusiastically. The whole summer I was looking forward to starting the school year so that I could start the course. Once the school year started and the routine life began I really started to love this course because of the depth and richness of the Islamic history we were learning. As well, this was one course which actually taught me about my own history and in some sense my own roots.

But this article isn’t about the course even though it’s amazing, the Professor really knows his stuff and everyone loves the TA. Rather, this article is about the undying brotherhood/sisterhood and the love I witnessed in this course. Now, reminiscing, I can clearly see how strong young Muslims are and how devoted they are to their religion. The atmosphere created in this class is homely, comfortable and the environment is friendly. I have to admit that this class is truly different from some of my other classes because of the refreshing environment. By just sitting back and really taking everything in one can see the way people are interacting and the amount of harmony that constantly looms. I feel like now days everyone is always talking about the lack of unity amongst Muslims but I wish they could see what I see. Because what I see is love, beauty and harmony amongst the Muslim Ummah.

Brother’s hugging one another with kindness twinkling in their eyes.  

A sister talking to another sister.

The occasional brothers who take out their combs and start brushing their beards during lecture, which is amusing.

 Ultimate Respect.

So yes, I believe in unity.

I believe that the Muslim Ummah is strong.

I believe that Muslim Youth are strong and once they are united they can embark upon the amazing.

It’s true, unity exists.

It’s here; just take a moment to look around you.

I hope you see what I see, with love.

I hope you believe in it to.

I would like to share this poem which I found searching through my old emails. I took it as a good reminder of being thankful for even trivial things in life we often take for granted. Quite often, we find ourselves surrounded by so many responsibilities that we tend to forget the greater blessings of life facilitating us to achieve the goals of this world and the Hereafter.

When I Whine
by Hanaa Ghoneim

Today, upon a bus,

I saw a girl with golden hair,

And wished I was as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave,

I saw her hobble down the aisle.

She had one leg and wore a crutch.

But as she passed, she passed a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.

The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

If I were late, it'd do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me,

"I thank you, you've been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you.

You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play.

He did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said,

“Why don't you join the others, dear?”

He looked ahead without a word.

And then I knew, he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

For our non-Muslim readers, have you ever wondered what specific actions a Muslim must commit to? Well, at the core of a Muslim’s beliefs are five essential pillars; actions that must be done. These are essentially the barebones of Islam.  So, what are they?

And there you have it, the very basics of the actions Islam demands.