Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Suffering
Al-Anbiya (The Prophets) - Chapter 21: Verses 83-84

"And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, 'Suffering has truly afflicted me, but you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' We answered him, removed his suffering, and restored his family to him, along with more like him, as an act of grace from Us and a reminder for all who serve Us."

That there is always hope is well illustrated in the story of Prophet Job. First, he lost his wealth. But he was not grieved. Then his children were killed. Still, he remained steadfast. Then he was struck with an unbearable illness that left him incapacitated. Indeed, his body was so afflicted that people felt disgusted when they looked at him. In excruciating pain, he cried to God.

There are three lessons to be drawn from this story. First, suffering is a natural part of life: anyone can be inflicted with pain and sorrow, and no one, not even a prophet, has the right to escape pain. Of course, no one wants to suffer; and we must do all we can to alleviate pain and reduce suffering as much as possible. But there is no absolute right that states that we should not suffer. Second, suffering has a value. It is only through seeing the pain and agony of others that we learn what compassion is all about. People found it difficult to look at Job: but only by looking at him could they realize that they too can become a victim of such affliction. It is through that connection, of seeing someone suffering, that one understands the true meaning of human compassion. Three, one should never give up. At each stage of the story, Job remains steadfast; he does not ask for death as an escape from his suffering, but prays for an end to suffering itself. It is his steadfastness that is ultimately rewarded. When it comes to suffering and death, mercy comes only from God; it is not a human prerogative.

Compiled From:
"Reading the Qur'an: The Contemporary Relevance of the Sacred Text of Islam" - Ziauddin Sardar, pp. 346-347

From Issue: 1025 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Transformer of Hearts

The Prophet, peace be upon him, asked all those around him who were not convinced of the truthfulness of his message to seek, to observe signs, to search for meaning while fighting the illusions of the self and its conceit. He taught Muslims - those who had recognized the presence of the One - to carry on their inner struggle, to remain humble and aware of their fragility, to seek to derive spiritual nourishment from dhikr (the remembrance of God), and to ask God to keep their hearts firm. The Prophet used to pray to God and say, "O Transformer of Hearts, keep my heart firm in Your religion!" [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]

Thus, in peacetime, some were searching for truth and some were searching for sincerity, while they all experienced a new form of inner conflict that required effort, patience, and a perpetually awake consciousness. At a time when the prospect of the final establishment of the last religion seemed to be opening up , each of them was sent back to his or her own inner universe to seek light or forgiveness, to find peace and the clemency of He Who constantly returns to those who come, or come back, to Him.

Compiled From:
"In The Footsteps of The Prophet" - Tariq Ramadan, pp. 194, 195

From Issue: 737 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Connecting to Prayer

Praying five times a day can be a struggle for adult Muslims, but an even greater one for young people. At a time when texting and other technology offer fast-paced distraction, encouraging our youth to establish Salah can seem impossible.

But this pillar of Islam keeps us all grounded in our faith. It is that necessary daily reminder of Who we are accountable to, as well as Who is our greatest Benefactor. It keeps us connected to Allah in all circumstances, and it is a gift and obligation we must pass on to young Muslims.

Here are a few ways to start that process.

1. Set the example

As is the case with all other good habits, parents, mentors, teachers, and others young Muslims look up to must be praying themselves. But we need to not only be offering our prayers. We must also truly reflect the level of concentration and commitment it takes, by praying on time, doing our best to focus, and offering the prayers diligently.

2. Establish prayer in the home

Kids learn faith first and foremost from the family and within the home. This is where prayer as a way of connecting to Allah needs to be discussed and shown in practice. Make it a habit to pray in congregation when going to the Masjid is not possible. Avoid having everyone pray in their own little corner of the house.  Start today by designating one space of the home for this purpose.

3. Don’t discourage even small steps toward prayer

Prayer is a long-term commitment that requires the kind of dedication that’s hard to muster for many older people, let alone young people distracted by the ding of texts on their phone or other issues. Praise even the performance of a short, two-Rakat prayer, and encourage youth to take it to the next level.

4. Don’t discount strength in numbers

Whenever possible, pray in congregation with other Muslims outside of the family, especially other youth. This can be at weekend school, or even joining one of the prayers at a full-time Islamic school with the administration’s permission. This will show that prayer isn’t something "weird" that only you and your family do. Rather, it is something other young Muslims do regularly, as well.

5. Make prayer time parent time

Spend a few minutes after each prayer with your young Muslim connecting, asking or answering questions about an issue of concern, or simply making it a time for hugs, jokes, and lighthearted hanging out.

Compiled From:
"8 Ways to Connect Young Muslims to Prayer" - Samana Siddiqui

From Issue: 679 [Read original issue]