Reviving the Islamic Spirit: the annual faith recharger

`I just got back from a trip from downtown Toronto, Canada at the 9th annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention, "Rules for the Road of Life - Reviving the 10 Commandments in the Modern World" during Christmas weekend.

The convention is a yearly effort usually during Christmas break to revitalize Islam - especially in the youth- overcome misconceptions and strengthen society at large. It's not only for Muslims either. There are non-Muslims who attend, evident by the handful of people who convert on-the-spot at the convention.

Speakers come from around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

The program attracts nearly 400 volunteers (as of 2009), and up to 20,000 participants.

RIS has annual themes - this year's was the 10 Commandments given to Prophet Moses - and honored by the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A similar set of guidelines was given to Noah, also known as the seven Noahide Laws.

Summed up in 10 rules: (1) not associate anything with God, (2) do not make any carved images, (3) do not take the name of your Lord in vain, (4) remember the Sabbath is holy (as Jummah is for Muslims) (5) honor your parents (6) do not commit murder (7) do not commit adultery (8) do not steal (9) do not bear false testament against your neighbor and (10) do not covet (take from that which is not yours).

RIS took the Islamic and humanity aspect of the 10 commandments to look for clues on how these instructions still apply in the modern world and how following the commandments effect life.

Muslims are a part of the Human Family:

The three-day weekend long lectures and speeches hosted topics reaffirmed the necessity of having morals, tolerance, and accepting others and working together for the sake of humanity.

Sherman Abdal Hakim Jackson, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, said those who are on the wrong side of the 10 commandments, they will not be a part of the moral code of society.

To do this, Jackson said Muslims need to abide by the same rules they expect from non-Muslims.

"We want non-Muslims to be truthful about us. What do we say about them?," he said, referring to journalists who cover the Muslim populations fairly.

Jackson said fairness comes with a price.

Aisha (radiallah-hu-anha) said Prophet Muhammad (sallalahi-wa-salam) said, "Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure at the expense of men's displeasure, will win Allah's Pleasure and Allah will cause men to be pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please men at the expense of Allah's displeasure, will win the displeasure of Allah and Allah will cause men to be displeased with him. (Ibn Hibban, Saheeh)."

In other words, when people commit actions in order to please people, they lose the blessings and pleasure of God, but when they do the right thing for the sake of God's pleasure, they are rewarded and liked by God and the people.

Jackson asked the audience, "What are you willing to give up for the honor of your people...and for Allah?"

For example, if a person helps an elderly person cross the street to please God, they will be rewarded and people will like them. If they do the same action to show off, they will be disliked and their actions will show it.

Muslims need to be dignified, said Jackson. "When people see how much you respect your own religion, people respect you."

(To be continued)

Tension Headaches

I'm getting tension headaches.


Often caused by stress, not enough sleep or anxiety, tension headaches minimally effect day-to-day activities. They can last up to 15 days, or 60-90 days in chronic tension headaches.

They are considered moderate headaches which often come and go, in 15-minute intervals or larger variations and last for a while. They are not migraine headaches, which effect the nerves and can cause loss of strength, vision or minimize functional activity.

Tension headaches usually occur on the sides of or on the forehead, and the back of your head or neck.

Although they can be relieved by over-the-counter pain killers, sometimes stronger medication is needed.
Talk to your doctor.

The other thing to do is manage your stress. Stress is based on perception of tasks, with minimal everyday tasks (which can still be stressful) being the smaller end of the spectrum to major stressors such as losing a loved one (which can take longer to deal with).

(Picture: Atlas Chiropractor and Nutrition Center)

Busy.

FYI in case you're wondering where I've disappeared.

List of things to do:

3 book reports
1 major 2,500 word feauture profile
read, read, read
internship reports
design community newsletter
complete online course
take language requirement test
complete independent study
triple re-edit religious report on local communities

charge phone and call M before she beats me with a jarooo

Playing with Fire.

Would you let your kids play with matches?
Then why let them play with fire?

Why not hold them back from sinning?
From eating forbidden food and random chilling.

Do you think it's any different?
Do you think they are not worth it?

Are your children no longer in need of your advice?
Does their own judgment suffice?

How can we turn the other way when...
Sins are burdening the backs of our children.

Picture: undergroundshack.wordpress.com

Faith Rush

It's been days since I've been away and pretending to be the housewife.
I need a rush of faith and it's about time I've made time for that.
I can't help but make excuses over and over again.
Why I can't flake out 1-2 hours on a particular day for my faith rush.
 

It's been more than nine months since I've gone to the "Saturday halaqa" at "Sr. Amina's house."
Halaqa means a get-together to talk about Islam.
For example, we talk about how to become a better Muslim by honoring and respecting your parents, being honest, and how to be sincere in your actions.

We don't say, "You should do GOOD things. You shouldn't do BAD things. The End. Go home."

Seriously.

After doing a little bit of self reflection, I thought about some of the characteristics I'm trying to improve in myself. I know of two off the top of my head that can be worked on. But I do realize I'm human and need somewhere to feed into that reminder.

I can make 100 excuses of why I can't do something. I can blame people. I can accept failure. But why not be proactive?

Before I got married (excuse #1 for not being able to "do anything") and had a kid (excuse #2) I made a commitment to attend as many Islamic lectures as possible. So that included weekly Muslim Students Association 30-45 min. lectures at the college library, the Saturday program, a Sunday program (which I now coordinate) and sometimes combined men-woman halaqas at school. At the time I was also taking a class about Prophet Muhammad's life.

That's what got me motivated.

There was so much to learn! (And so little time.)

But now I'm busier than ever, If I want to be.

For example I could wait for cooking and cleaning instructions, and to feed my baby the last minute and not pray exactly on time so then I can't get out last minute for programs. I could also not have a ride, but also not ask anyone to pick/drop me off. I could also take in cultural formalities and try to do all the housework and wait on people to finish what they're done eating to clean up after them. Or let them do it themselves.

I could also say "Well my husband is home" or "I have to take care of my child" or "I can't leave the house with my elderly in-laws at home" or I can do them in a balanced proportion.

Too much of anything is not good.

Make strong intentions to do good and God will help you attain those goals.

Usually Saturday mornings we have a lot to cook. Today I wanted to go to the Saturday program, which I had been thinking about for the past three days. We didn't have a lot of cooking. I helped. I ate. I prayed and went to program. I did a little bit of everything.

There were no random guests. There were no excuses, no complaints nor was there any ride problems (although I didn't have my own car and did have to get picked up by my awesome father).

I feel motivated. I feel great.

I got my faith rush.

Picture: UH Houston, TX Facebook group

To do...

Do this. Do that.

Take care of your son.
Do your homework.
You must cook.
You must clean often a lot.

Help others.

Spend time with family.
Go out and have fun.

Attend weddings.
Visit the sick.
Accompany/ take family out to visit other family friends.

Do your homework.

Project.
Research.
Homework.

No car.
Baby. Husband.
Myself.

Sleep.
Feel lazy.
Annoyed.
Disappointed.

Waste time.
Prioritize.

Explain everything.
Say nothing.
Rationalize.

Pray, eat, sleep.
Tasks. Chores.
Snores.

Feed the kid.
Eat.
Sleep.
Clean.

You may not like it, but it's good for you.

Allah tests us in many ways.

Sometimes it's "easier" tests. And sometimes it's not.

For example, it's easy to give advice to people we don't know rather than your friends (who will be able to say something back). You also feel a little softer for your friends even if they're doing something unhealthy for their mind body or souls.

It's easier to like/love or hate someone. It's harder to forgive someone (once they hurt you).

Sound familiar? 

Well that's probably why Allah says in the Quran, "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]."

We like our bad friends.

We like to do what's fun.

It's easier to do wrong than right.

It's easier to get caught up in materialistic things.

But wait - there's an afterlife. A place where all judgment comes forth.

A place and time when there is no "wrongs" only "truths."

"Surely, falsehood is ever bound to vanish." [Quran17:81]"

Today as I was talking to a dear friend about dating, in terms of haram (forbidden) and halal (acceptable), dating is haram. Everything done with the other person (looking, holding hands, hanging out, etc) is haram outside the union of marriage.

Therefore, I told her how concerned I was for her and only wanted to save her from the hellfire.

I know some people may think I'm crazy to say that (as she even said to me how scary that sounded), I have the duty to say something. I'm afraid I haven't done enough.

But we will be asked.

People only like to hear what they want. People are afraid of reality. Reality is heaven and hell.

Reality is scary.

That's why Allah says in the Quran the heavens are laced with hardships while hell is laced with ease.

Now for some humor...

"You may dislike something which is good for you," (including eating your vegetables), breaking up with a dude, getting married in the first place, waking up early in the morning.

What a wonderful life.