Muslim Youth for Truth

A Letter To All Those Hater's Out There

2011-04-03T16:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Fear and Hate Monger’s of the World,

Hi. I’m writing to you because you’ve stolen my banner, and I finally want it back.

No, don’t give me that confused look...you know exactly what I’m talking about. That banner is my faith...and you seem to have taken ahold of it, determined to hide it’s beauty from the rest of the world.

You see, I wouldn’t have minded sharing my banner with you, except you’re adamant on holding it backwards. And to make things worse, it looks like you’ve painted all over it so I can barely tell what was written on there in the first place. And yet, you claim that it’s the same banner I’ve proudly displayed my whole life.

Hmm. I’ll admit, part of me is very angry at our predicament here. I mean, that banner is one of my most prized possessions...and here you are trying to rip it apart...thread by thread. And what’s worse, myself and co-protectors of it and its message aren’t doing enough to stop you.

As I pondered what to do, an unsettling realization dawned upon me. The anger that I’m feeling is exactly what exactly what you want me to feel. You want me to feel alienated. You want me to feel robbed of my identity. You want me to feel helpless. You want to win.

You know, I’m not some overly important policy maker (yet) or an arrogant politician. I’m just your average American citizen. Born in a little suburb someplace in Florida. Spend my Sunday’s watching football. Not really a big fan of apple pie, but you get the picture...

Wait! Before you think you can step on me and get away with it, I warn you, I’m armed with something that might give you goosebumps...I follow the Qur’an. Yes, you just read the QUR’AN! :O

Woah, before you go to call the authorities and start painting me as some crazed jihadi militant, let me elaborate a little more about what I mean exactly...

The Qur’an teaches me to be tolerant of all people...regardless of faith, ethnic background, or race. It teaches me to be kind to my neighbors...to smile in the face of those who rather argue...to have mercy on the old...to give charity to the needy...to give the salutations of peace to everyone...yes, everyone...even you.

Surprised? I figured you would be. I mean, you could have known that if you hadn’t painted lies all over my banner before getting a chance to read it...

So, I write this with one message in mind: I won’t let you win. WE won’t let you win. As human beings, we can’t afford to let you take over....to continuously drive wedges between families, neighborhoods, and nations.

I stand here with my fellow Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Spiritual, Atheist and anyone else in between with understanding in their heart, united against your tactics. Only once we stand together, hand in hand, willing to learn from and educate one another, do we have a chance in countering this wave of hatred sweeping our world.

As to those out there who are doing Fear and Hatred’s bidding: I know we’re not exactly on good terms right now...and that’s okay. You might be a bit misinformed about what I stand for, and given the present state of world affairs, I forgive you for that.

But I hope to meet you one day, even for just a minute, and smile. You know, we have a lot more in common than you think. I hope to have the opportunity to get to show you that.

For now, you see me as your enemy...However, I see you as my future friend.

And no offense to you, future friend, but you’ve been holding on to my banner for far too long. I’m taking it back now. With a little time, patience, and teamwork all the paint can be removed and the frayed edges mended...allowing its true message to finally shine through.

Don’t worry, I’m not letting you walk away empty handed. As a parting gift, here’s a short poem I read the other day:

World Peace

It’s not just an empty slogan or bumper sticker

No!

World Peace is our struggle

A struggle to overcome our fear and prejudice of others

By reaching out to learn, understand, appreciate

To discover new friends and ancient ways

Only then

Can we change...

Terror into Security

Hate into Love

And War into Peace.

My Sincerest Regards,

Sarah Kassem

University of Florida

Muslim Youth For Truth Co-Founder

Everyone Has A Story: How Ungrateful Was I!

2011-02-13T03:11:00.003-05:00

Packing my first box for the children in Afghanistan during class on Jan 24, 2011

Often times we get lost in the bubble of our hectic lifestyles, and forget that beyond the lines of this country, people do exist. These are people who dream of a better future, which they hope one day to achieve. People with families and friends who they hope will never leave. People with a desire to learn, grow, and better themselves so that one day, they could be as great as those they look up to.

So many times I have been told, “You can do anything you want to do if you just try hard enough,” but now I see how untrue that might be. How ungrateful was I before I noticed the suffering of others who did not have a pencil to write with, or paper to write on, or a book to read just for fun! How ungrateful was I before I realized the blessings of something as small as having four pencils in my bag that I rarely even use. How ungrateful was I.

I did not expect to be in this position two months ago when I first registered for this class nor did I expect to attain such a passion for the cause when the descriptions for the classes were first being read aloud! I heard “homeless awareness” and thought I had made my decision right off the bat! Until I heard the name, “One Pencil can help bring Peace,” a project dedicated to benefit the students of Afghanistan who did not have the simplest necessities required for education. My perception of this class suddenly turned upside down. I expected to learn from this class through the standard methods of lecturing and writing meaningless essays. However, I found myself becoming a part of something amazing, an opportunity that would give students like myself, who are yearning for knowledge, a chance to learn.

I was always taught the importance of education throughout my life and how it can make or break my future, but I have never truly appreciated that statement until now. The power of education is one that extends beyond our understanding. It has the ability to transform an entire community by allowing them to perceive and comprehend the mechanics of society as well as illustrate the crucial role they play in it. Education plays a pivotal role in showing these people that they have the capability to change the world.

Children in a classroom without walls at the Abdul Hali Mazare School in Mazar I Sharif, Afghanistan (Photo courtesy: The Stony Brook School)

When SMSgt. Rex Temple came into our class to present to us this project and the situation of the Afghan children, it brought about a sense of urgency for myself. These children want to learn but are hindered from doing so, because of the lack of schools and teachers and because many of them simply cannot afford to pursue an education. But the rebuilding of their country cannot occur without the future generation being educated and built into strong leaders of tomorrow. Progression can only occur with strong heads leading the way. The importance of education is exemplified through this need. It has the ability to create strong minds and people that can alter the future of this world, uniting it.

Some of the supplies that our class shipped to Afghanistan on Jan 24, 2011

I have slowly begun to realize the importance of everything that I have in my life and how grateful I should be of it. These people do not have a pencil to write with, while we have the luxury of owning 3-4 computers in a single family – computers that have made our lives so easy. These people – the Afghan people - are just like us. They desire the same things that we do. They have the same goals as we do. They want to learn just like we do. They want to grow and become prominent members of a society to help it grow and prosper just as we do. They are our brothers and sisters in humanity, and their suffering is our suffering. That is why I am here.

Mohammed Ali Ismail

University of South Florida

MSA @ USF President

Muslim Youth For Truth Contributer

So I Could Get Good Deeds...By Eating A Salad?

2011-01-26T12:28:00.000-05:00

Crunchy, fresh lettuce; ripe, red tomatoes; dark, green cucumbers; topped with goat cheese, red onions and chopped dates; drizzled with olive oil and some…sunnah dressing? That’s how you make a scrumptious, sunnah salad.

SubhanAllah, the deeper I study Islam, the more I realize how easy it is. The fact that I could simply set my intention and turn everyday activities into acts of worship is just amazing. We could transform our every meal into a form of worship. Ever notice all the foods mentioned in the Qur’an and sunnah? These foods definitely weren’t mentioned by accident. It requires no extra effort if you just redirect your intention, every action and every bite you take can translate into an act of worship! Olives, onions, dates; these are all foods that are incorporated within the Quran and sunnah just to name a few. If I could make my own nutrition labels for these foods, right under ‘calories from fat’, I would add ‘good deeds from sunnah.’ Why would you not want to incorporate these foods into your daily lives? Not only can you be blessed, inshaAllah, with reward for adhering to the Qur’an and practices of the Prophet (pbuh), but also with all the tremendous health benefits of these foods.

So I’ve got my day job and my night job: civil engineer by day; health and fitness guru by night. Sometimes they overlap. Here’s the engineering nerd in me about to come out: so as civil engineers, we deal a lot with the soil that’s underneath everything we want to build. The more I learned about the characteristics of soils, clays, and sands the more I understood the human body. We were all created from clay, and I don’t want to get too nerdy here, but if we came from the earth, wouldn’t it make sense that the place to get our nourishment would be from, well… the earth. In a society where manufactured and processed foods are the norm, it has become more and more challenging to eat healthier foods...you know, the kind that grow from the earth! This stigma surrounding salads and vegetables has gotten the majority of people thinking that anything healthy can’t taste good! Wrong! How could a chemically processed, mystery meat concoction is more appealing to us that a balanced salad, filled with food items the Prophet (pbuh) himself used to eat?!

From a larger perspective, health is a part of our deen. Allah gave our bodies to us. We are entrusted with our bodies, and only we can control what we do to them. No one is holding up french fries and candy bars and forcing us to eat them. No matter what’s served in front of us, at the end of the day, we’re the ones who control what our hand picks up to place in our mouths. We are eating way too much and our food selections, simply said, aren’t the best. It’s time to take drastic action before we further harm our bodies and teach our younger generations the same unhealthy eating habits. So what do we do?!

Here we are almost a month after we’ve established our new year’s resolutions. I can almost bet that if you’re a female (and perhaps the occasional guy), ‘losing weight’ or ‘working out’ were probably up there on your list. Whether you’ve lost sight of these goals or you’re still continuing strong, I hope this has rejuvenated you or opened your eyes to a new way of looking at being healthy.

For you ladies out there, there’s an organization aimed at women’s health and fitness with an interesting incorporation of Quran and sunnah. I recommend all to check it out because it really makes eating healthy and staying fit fun and easy! Check out www.Nadoona.com and get started on a healthier path in life.

Sunnah salad for dinner anyone?

Nadine Abu-Jubara

Nadoona

Executive Director

Muslim Youth For Truth Contributor

P.S. Here’s some tips to help you get started:

1) Water water water. Drink lots of water before you decide you need a big huge plate full of food to satisfy yourself. The part of your brain that tells you you're hungry is conveniently the same one that tells you you're thirsty. Sometimes your body is just telling you it’s super thirsty, not super hungry!

2) Take it slow! It takes 15-20 mins for your tummy to tell your brain that you're full. Try not pile up your plate, fully chew all your bites, and give your body time to process what's going on before you jump right into seconds.

3) Soda is NOT a staple! Try some icie cold water or FRESHLY squeezed fruit juice please. High in phosphorous and phosphoric acid, soft drinks infiltrate bodily fluids and corrode stomach linings, upset the alkaline-acid balance of the kidneys, and eat away at your liver like Hannibal Lecter. Is that really want going into the 1 body you own?

4) Vitamins- you should take a multivitamin once a day. What kind, or which brand you ask? The multivitamin of the Prophet (pbuh)! They contain natural fibres, proteins, oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. Have you guessed it yet? yep dates, eat one :) Sorry Centrum, the Quran beat you to it.

5) BREAKFAST! Breakfast, breakfast, breakfast. The most neglected meal of the day. Most common excuses for not eating breakfast are “I’m not hungry” or “I have no time.” You haven’t eaten for 8 hours! How are you not hungry?! I don’t care if you’re ‘not hungry,’ after 8 hours, you need to eat! Time an issue? Try preparing something the night before. I boil my eggs the night before so in the morning all I need to do is peel, heat a little, and enjoy. I think it’s worth the extra 5 minutes in the morning! Ladies! Women who eat breakfast burn 300 calories more in a day than women who don’t…do it!

JUST DO IT! (....I think Nike might be onto something)

2011-01-19T23:12:00.002-05:00

So it’s a new year! We’ve all decided that we are going to start working out and start eating healthier. This year is going to be a good one. This summer I will be the leanest, meanest, most ripped I’ve ever been in my life - even more than when I used to be a high school athlete who trained hard every single. Why? Because I’ve made a RESOLUTION. No more playing games and joking around.

Oh, but wait. First I have to make a training plan. Ehh, but how can I start training if I’m not even eating properly? It’s just going to make my stomach hurt and I’m never going to see results with this horrible diet. So, I also first need to make a nutrition plan. Actually, you know what? I’ll first let one week of classes pass by so I can get used to the new semester. God knows I don’t want to overdo it all at once; baby steps right? Hmm, I just thought about it, but I have an evening class every day. So, I’ll train in the morning. BUT! There’s no way that I’ll wake up on time, so first I need to get into the habit of sleeping properly. Once I’m used to waking up early, I’ll train right after Fajr. You know, now that I think about it, I can’t workout with this crick in my neck. I’ll wait for that to heal before I start working out, too.

Subhan’Allah it’s February now! And by the mercy of Allah all these conditions have been met. NOW I can start training. So, I was reading online, looking for the best workout plan, and I found about four that are really good. But I can’t pick one because they all have some good things about them. Hmm, I should create my own plan and save myself the headache.

Yes! It’s only March and I’m done creating my own workout plan! Now time to put it to the test! Ahh!!!! I have to study for midterms!!!! Okay, I promise myself that after midterms I’ll start working out every day! Oh no, but I can’t because my cousins are visiting for Spring Break. Well, after they are gone it’ll be all dedication! No social life, just training! Then when they all see me in the summer, I’m going to be a no fat machine!

So Spring Break is over, but I ate too much junk food with my cousins and we stayed up late every night. I need to realign my life first before I dive into this whole workout thing.

Crap! It’s summer time! Everyone is going to know that everything I said about getting ripped was a lie! I have no results to show! But it’s okay. Alhamdulillah, I’m going overseas this summer, so no one will have to see me in my sorry state.

Hmm. Does this sound familiar? ALL OF IT!?!?! If not, then Masha’Allah, you are blessed. But if you are like most people including myself, THINKING about working out is one of our greatest hobbies. We think and think and think. We plan and plan and plan. We do all the research in the world. We spend all the time making sure everything in our lives is perfectly ready to handle the training. We spend so much time reading about and watching videos about the success of others . We are so determined. We are so driven. We are so passionate. We think about it so much that we look into the mirror and without having worked out a single day, we believe we already start seeing results. We start telling others that we feel so much better. That we’ve gotten so much stronger or faster. But in reality, all we’ve done is planned and thought we were training. What we’ve done is made excuses. What we’ve done is cut our own legs from under ourselves.

Here’s the truth: You are never going to find the perfect workout plan. The average human being does not need a special training plan to see results- movement in itself is enough. If one becomes a pro-athlete, then one needs to start worrying about tailoring your training to make it personalized. But the average person can do any decent training plan and see results IF they actually do it and if they stick with it.

Your lifestyle will never be perfect so stop saying that I’ll wait until my eating habits are good, or until my sleeping habits are good. There will always be something you can improve.

No more, I’ll start slow by first getting used to my course load then I’ll start training. Why? One hour of working out a day is going to destroy your studying? If you have cousins over, one hour of working out is too much time away from them? Okay maybe an hour is too much. You can’t do 20 push ups (on your knees if you have to)? You can’t do 20 burpees? You can’t do 10 minutes of running? You can’t do a 8 minute Tabata workout? You can’t crank out 10 pull-ups, 20 push ups, and 50 squats?

The problem is not that you need the perfect training plan. Because all there is to know about working out is easy to learn. The problem comes when you decide you haven’t learned enough and so you sacrifice your workout so you can do more “research”. And of course that research will prompt more questions leading to more research and thinking and planning.

For those people who know me well, when asked about training advice, I usually point out the best exercises and the best routines and the best style of training for specific goals. But I intentionally am not giving any training advice now. Why? Because you all already know what to do. You might even know better than I do. Now the only thing left is to do it.

Go! Do it! Right now get out of your chair and do as many push ups as you can. Go! Now! Why are you reading this still if you haven’t done the push ups? Do them! I just finished doing mine. And you know what? It feels good! It’s humbling though. Now I just realized that I cannot do as many as I imagined I could. But at least I did them. Now I have a starting point. Now you have a starting point. Tomorrow let’s beat that number. And then next day beat that number. Very soon, those of us who did 5 push ups will do 40. Those of us who ran a 13-minute mile will run 5- minute miles. Those of us who power cleaned 50 pounds will clean 250 pounds. Insha’Allah

All it takes is the mentality that NOW I’m going to do it. There is no tomorrow! There is no “tired”. There is no too much homework! Too much homework to fit in a 10 minute workout? C’mon please! We spend more time browsing Facebook.

Sure it’s going to be hard in the beginning. But no one said it was going to be easy. Nothing worth having comes easy. What’s easy is eating until you have diabetes---- then it’s all-hard from there. But being able to run when you are 65 is hard. But it’s worth working for.

Start now! Stop making excuses! It’s already the New Year! We all already know WHAT to do. Now we have to do it. We all have a goal in our minds. Now it’s time to achieve that goal. Let’s collectively tell ourselves that we will start. Because once we start, the habit is easy to build. It’s just that the beginning step is the hardest. So why not start now? I don’t care if it’s 3:00am and you are reading this! Do as many push ups as you can! Now!! No push ups? Fine do squats! Now! The point is to get started NOW because there is no tomorrow.

If you’re reading this and haven’t already done push ups or squats, then I’m sorry to tell you that this year is going to be just like the last year for you. And you’re going to stay in your out of shape condition. You are going to continue making resolutions and telling your friends about them. But you will never show them results. In fact you’re simply going to get worse. The gut is going to grow. The spare tires are going to be joined by more. Joint pain will not be too far behind. That is IF you haven’t started yet. So start now!!! The pain is worth it! You know it is. You wouldn’t have made the resolution otherwise!

We all want a secret pill, a secret formula, some special shortcut; but the only secret formula that is battle tested and proven to work is the one we don't want to hear: HARD WORK.

Let’s get off of our lazy glutes and start busting them. A whole new you is a little elbow grease away!

By now I’m expecting you all to have finished 200 push ups……………………… (Sarcasm)

Insha’Allah, make dua’a that our path easy for us to follow so that we may reap the rewards of living healthier lives. And Insha’Allah we use our health to serve Islam and our Lord to the best of our abilities. Allah helps those who help themselves. So let’s get started. Click here for some motivation.

Enjoy and Asalamu’Alaikum.

Ashkaar Qazi
University of South Florida
Project Downtown Tampa President
Muslim Youth For Truth Contributor

Going Green For The Deen (...Oh, And Yourself Too)

2011-01-12T22:40:00.000-05:00

Most Muslims know what ‘deen’ is – religion, faith, way or path. Deen is the Arabic word. Islam is a deen. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and other faiths are deens.

What many Muslims may not know is that their religion encourages them to live a Green Deen. Catchy name, right? It’s quite brilliant and author Ibrahim Abdul-Matin in his new book, Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet, has presented to Muslims and anyone interested in what Islam has to say about the environment what a green deen is. It fosters awareness of one’s environment and surroundings in order to become a God-conscious and conscientious human being of one’s actions on the planet and thus, towards other fellow earthlings.

Abdul-Matin’s passion for being an environmentally-conscious Muslim and person of this planet is from his father telling him the hadith of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, “The Earth is a mosque.” Hence, everything in it is sacred. Abdul-Matin went on several nature ventures with his father throughout his childhood and when prayer time arrived, his father would take the time to pray by finding an appropriate area and brush it free of twigs and leaves. Abdul-Matin explains how this connection to nature was instilled onto him during his youth, and has remained and continues to propel him to be better person via his actions on this planet.

Divided into four parts, “waste, watts (energy), water, and food,” Abdul-Matin’s book provides great examples of what Muslims are currently doing to be more green, while also offering ample solutions of how to build or modify mosques that are more earth-friendly. An interesting preexisting model is the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina. Both recycle wastewater called gray water which is treated and used for wudu’ or ablution before prayers. The Saudi Arabian government issued a fatwa that this method of water recycling is encouraged.

What is most remarkable about the book and a great motivator for readers, is six Islamic principles Abdul-Matin elaborates on that align Islam and the environment so closely. They are: 1. Understanding the Oneness of God and His creation (tawhid) 2. Seeing signs of God (ayat) everywhere 3. Being a steward (khalifah) of the Earth 4. Honoring the covenant, or trust, we have with God (amana) to be protectors of the planet 5. Moving toward justice (adl) and 6. Living in balance with nature (mizan).

Abdul-Matin constantly draws upon these concepts and reminds the reader of them when talking about a Green Deen. An example is water. Allah (swt) reminds us in the Qur’an, “We made from water every living thing.” (21: 30). Being a Muslim means taking wudu’ and let’s be honest, how many of us put the sink on full blast, wasting gallons of water and being passive in our ritual ablution before facing our Lord? Well, you can change that. If we keep the six principles in mind with water usage, we can be better stewards, khalifah of this Earth.

Unfortunately, many water sources are filled with toxins. Large corporations dump their chemicals into our water. Thankfully, there are people whose lives are occupied with cleaning up these messes, which contaminate water. The author introduces his sister, Tauhirah, as an example of a Muslim trying to instill the six Islamic principles into her work. Her company cleans up these messes and Tauhirah sees firsthand how the signs, ayat, of God in nature are polluted by human action and neglect, writes Abdul-Matin. The delicate balance, mizan, is in peril and it is Tauhirah’s job to work for justice, adl, every day to improve ecological struggle. She is a khalifah who, as Abdul-Matin explains, takes the trust, amana, she has with God seriously and wholeheartedly.

Alhamdulillah, there are other great examples of Muslims working for a greener planet such as Tauhirah in all four areas: waste, watts, water and food.

Abdul-Matin’s passion and enthusiasm is clear in this eye-opening book which should be a must for all Muslims and all people who want to better their home, Earth. The author is a policy advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office and works on issues of long-term planning and sustainability.

The green phase that has been going on lately is something Muslims should not take lightheartedly; rather, it should not be a phase, but become a lifestyle. Abdul-Matin provides a plethora of ways to live this lifestyle, which is essential to Islam. It is unfortunate that Muslims forget this, do not care to recycle or at least use less, and actually contribute to the degradation of our planet. It doesn’t matter your faith to be a greener person, but Muslims should step up to the plate. We have the tools, Alhamdulillah. Let’s green deen-ify our life! Of course, we must first pray sincerely to Allah (swt) to give us the energy and care to take of this planet, which our Creator has blessed us with us. Ameen for a Green Deen!

Nora Zaki

University of Florida

Muslim Youth For Truth Co-Founder

For more information about this book, please visit www.greendeenbook.com.

"Verily, Allah (God) never changes the condition of a people until they change themselves."*

2011-01-05T20:09:00.007-05:00

I finally made it to my apartment door, gasping for air. I could barely stand up straight, and instead, was propping myself up against the door handle, looking for my room key. If you’d seen me, you would have thought that I had run a 10K while being chased by full-sized Siberian huskies...you know, those really big, scary looking dogs with razor-sharp teeth.

So, what really happened...?

I stupidly opted to live on the third floor while signing my lease, and now have to suffer the consequences of climbing three flights of stairs daily, while being pathetically out of shape.

It wasn’t always like this, you know. For the most part, I thought I was pretty “fit”. I used to go to the gym five times a week. I even ate all the main food groups. Climbing stairs used to be no big ordeal...I actually used to see elevators as one of the reasons America’s obesity percentage is steadily rising.

As I fumbled in my bag for my keycard, I noticed a disturbing pattern in my train of thought...the phrase “used to”.

‘Uh oh’, I frantically thought to myself. ‘I’m becoming a bum!’

It had been almost a month and half since I moved out of my parents house and decided to embark on the road of getting a higher education solo. Part of the reason was the fact the Journalism program in this new town is ranked higher than the one I previously attended. The other part was that I needed to prove to myself that I could make it in the real world strictly on my own. And that last bit, well, is a lot more challenging than it sounds.

It also meant no more of my mom’s healthy-without-you-knowing-it-so-it-still-tastes-amazing cooking. Now THAT was probably one of the biggest blows.

The first few days after moving in to my new place were fine. I still kept up the healthy routine. Jogged to the gym daily. Raced up the stairs. I felt amazing.

But after the first two weeks of school and the work started to pile up...that’s when it all went down hill.

The evidence

Maybe I’ll go the gym tomorrow instead...I’m too tired today....Ah, ran out of groceries...Is McDonalds really that bad? Come on now.....

The vicious cycle officially began....that one day became two....two became three...and so on. Gym time became rare. Racing up the stairs was slowly starting to become more difficult. Soon, I began dreading it.

As I finally made it inside and sat on the couch panting, I realized that I was treading down a very treacherous path.

Fast food is like a drug...once you get hooked, it becomes very difficult, and for some, almost impossible, to stop. Part of you knows that this garbage is killing you, slowly clogging up the arteries that feed the very organ that keeps you alive...your heart. But the attraction of the laziness and convenience involved force you not to care. As your health worsens, physical activity starts to become less and less attractive, until you eventually stop exercising at all. And that garbage starts to build in your system, with no means of escape.

I thought about what my life would be like in thirty years (if I'm blessed to live that long). If I had kids inshaAllah, would I be able to get through a game of tag without collapsing midway? No, probably not. I thought about all the time I’d be spending in a doctor’s office being treated for God knows what...heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol.....the list of possibilities is endless. As someone who tries to live every minute to its fullest potential, did I really want to waste valuable time in hospitals and clinics? And whenever I wasn’t in one, did I want to be hindered by the symptoms of these various diseases and the side-effects caused by being medicated to treat them? Especially when many of these diseases are preventable if the right measures are taken early?

One of the greatest blessings Allah (swt) bestowed on us after our belief is our health. The Prophet (saw) said, “Ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health.” (Tirmidhi)

We often take our health for granted. However, Allah (swt) has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time and will hold us to account on how we utilized them, which is a reflection of our health. With this in mind, we have a duty to make sure we undertake all necessary actions to protect this blessing.

I looked down at those spicy mystery-meat Mc Nuggets in my lap and wondered if they were really worth it.

‘Nah’, I sighed.

That was three months ago, and alhamdulilah, putting down those mini-heart attacks was one of the best decisions I ever made. I wish words could adequately describe the difference in how you feel while being fit and healthy versus the attractive, yet completely poisonous alternative. No, poisonous is not an exaggeration...It seriously is poison, or at least, near poison!

All this is why we at MAS Tampa Media have decided to start the New Year with practical tips on how to improve both your nutritional intake and fitness routine, hopefully leading to a more holistic and wholesome lifestyle. We’ll also discuss the importance of going “green” and how it relates to our daily lives. You might think this “green” thing is just a fad, but it goes much more beyond that.

It’s 2011 people. There’s a whole year ahead of you to send your bad habits packing and invite new, better ones to stay. Seriously, give it a shot. Trust me, you won’t be sorry that you did :)

Sarah Kassem

University of Florida

Muslim Youth For Truth Co-Founder

* Quranic Verse, (13:11)

To Make An International Impact, Look No Further Than Your Own Backyard

2010-12-26T14:53:00.000-05:00

“This great increase of the quantity of work which, in consequence of the division of labour, the same number of people are capable of performing, is owing to three different circumstances; first to the increase of dexterity in every particular workman; secondly, to the saving of the time which is commonly lost in passing from one species of work to another; and lastly, to the invention of a great number of machines which facilitate and abridge labour, and enable one man to do the work of many.” Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations (1776)

It has been many years since I’ve read Adam Smith, but amidst prying open my 43rd plastic zip-lock bag, inserting my 43rd packet of Ceralite, and handing it over to the girl next to me so she could contribute her 43rd bottle of hand sanitizer (before handing the bag off to the girls in charge of soap, etc), I looked up for a brief second and saw before me a sight that would have made Mr. Smith proud: over 50 Muslims and Muslimahs lined up along four long tables working in an assembly line fashion, quickly grabbing a bag from their predecessor, inserting their respective piece, and handing it over to the next worker, and so on. The final product was a complete hygiene kit that would soon travel across the Bahamas and wind up in the hands of our long awaiting consumer: a brother or sister in Haiti who was at risk of contracting the deadly disease known as cholera.

Although not capitalistic in nature, our goals were very much like those of any other company: to produce the greatest amount of product while pressed for time. We had 4,000 kits to make and the speed with which cholera was (and still is) spreading made our mission all the more urgent.

But unlike the workers of a company, working for several hours in a day to produce a product that is far removed from them, for a cause that is completely irrelevant, for the satisfaction of their $13 per hour pay check plus benefits, I was part of a system that would have shocked any laissez fare economist. The Muslims around me who were toiling away were consumed by an entirely different and more important purpose—one that was larger than any of us. It is the duty of a Muslim to treat his neighbors with kindness: “And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful;” (Surat An-Nisā, Verse 36)

I am sad to say that many of my neighbors in Haiti have so far died. Two hundred-thirty thousand died from the earthquake almost a year ago, and almost 3,000 have died from the more recent cholera epidemic. Over a million of my brothers and sisters in Haiti are currently homeless, making them extremely susceptible to the deadly disease brought about by the lack of such a basic requirement as hygiene.

That Sunday, amongst the laughter, the secret competitions that arose among workers (“How many bags has your table made? Ha! Look at our box!”), aside from the pizza we enjoyed, the prayer we held in jamaat, the time we spent with our friends; a silent cognizance was continuously present in everyone’s mind. We were doing this for our neighbors across the Bahamas who may never get a chance to enjoy the luxuries of friends, family, and peace of mind that we all enjoyed that evening. For each grin that blossomed into laugher in that room, tears of pain and loss followed throughout the world. Brother Shafi, founder of Muslims Without Borders, talked about his experiences in Haiti and made us realize our own blessings. He made us realize just how desperate a people’s situation can become. We soon realized that, much in our Prophet’s (p.b.u.h.) example, we were obligated to extend our blessings to those whose situation vastly contrasted our own…which reminds me of another quote:

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.” (Smith, Wealth of Nations).

Yes, I think Mr. Smith would have indeed been proud.

Adeeba Khan
University of South Florida
Muslim Youth for Truth Contributer

Editor's Note: The event Ms. Khan is referring to occurred on Sunday, December 19th, 2010. Muslims Without Borders Tampa Bay Chapter teamed up with Muslim Aid Australia, the Muslim Student Association at University of South Florida, Sisters United Muslim Association, Project Downtown, MAS Youth, and other student volunteers in Tampa, FL for a local "Day of Action". Volunteers met at the Islamic Community of Tampa (Peace House) at 4:00pm to assemble thousands of hygiene kits that will be distributed at schools and survivor camps in Haiti over the winter holidays, in an effort to help stop the spread of cholera. They hope that wide-scale distribution and education initiatives will produce a shift in hygiene standards and general awareness among the local Haitian population.

Hijab-Me-Not?

2010-12-17T01:12:00.005-05:00

I wrote this a while ago, but I heard something about someone very dear to me that broke my heart. I figured it was time I threw some of these thoughts out there for you to digest if it relates to you, because recently, I've had several people bring up their insecurities with wearing hijab ...

Let’s just say, this isn’t preaching because that’s not me, nor am I anywhere near any level to preach even if I wanted to lol. If you know me well enough , then you know I’m a pretty outspoken person, with an “I call them as I see them” mentality- the last person to judge, the first to care and give advice.

So, as of lately, a lot of girls around me who wear hijab have been saying that it makes them feel not as pretty, less confident, and like they don’t fit in. Or they wish they didn’t wear it, and perhaps waited more before putting it on, or some are even considering taking it off....

Some have taken it off, and I’ve heard many reasons ranging from “I was never ready”, to “I did it for someone else not Allah”, to “my hijab is making me go bald so the doctor told me not to wear it”. I’ve heard it all, however, all the reasons you give people don’t matter ,because hijab was never something between you and other people.

But it is something between you and Allah...

As I said, I don’t judge, I don’t really care if you wear hijab, if you don’t, if you took it off, whatever. It doesn’t affect my life ,and I'll never be in your shoes to experience what you go through from your perspective . I’ll never know why you do what you do, hence why I don’t judge, and don’t care.

Then what’s my point ?

I just want to get down to some issues that some girls wearing hijab encounter... People sometimes don’t want to talk about them because they feel guilty for questioning a decision they already made, but I mean if you don’t talk about it ,how are you ever going to find ways to amend your insecurities? Now mind you, mashaAllah, you may be reading this and feel like "well I never think about those things, I don’t feel like that, I’m perfectly content, and I never have a doubt" . Then more power to you my friend, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala has blessed you in this particular aspect more than some of the rest of us.

Here you are, a young college girl in America wearing hijab. Most of my friends are in Florida, and we're constantly surrounded by girls in really short shorts, and low-cut tops. The thoughts that cross your mind are...

1. "Wearing hijab makes me feel less pretty; I'm so much prettier with my hair out, and so much better looking than the rest of those chicks people are flipping out over"

Well ya duhhhhh, that’s what hijab is for, to conceal your beauty. To leave you humble and modest, so people will not judge you based on your physical appearance. We sometimes over look this nifty little fact, only remembering the "hijab is mandatory" part ,and don’t think about why. Let us be honest now, this is all vanity and human nature to compete and want to be the best [looking, in this case] .

2. "Wearing hijab makes me less confident"

This relates to point number one, when you’re saying this, you really feel that because hijab doesn’t show off your physical beauty as much(making you feel ugly) , you’re not as not confident . Refer back to #1, in order to amend the "I feel ugly" thought ,and then let me spin your perspective on this whole confidence thing anyways.... Who is more confident? The brunette in shorts who walks into class late, but no one even gives her a second glance cause she blends in, or the hijabi who walks in a few minutes after her? You see the heads turn towards her because she’s different. Let’s face it, she sticks out, and not necessarily in a bad way. A girl who wears hijab definitely isn’t dressed just like any other girl when its 100 degrees outside. People look, and they usually even remember you. Do you know how many times I’ve met people in classes and they’ve said to me "oh ya I’ve seen you around, I saw you walk in late the other day"... You ,my dear little hijabis, should feel confident because you’re not just a dime a dozen, and it always takes more confidence to stand out than to blend in—that’s just a fact of life. Use it to your advantage, not to make you feel isolated or belittled. At one point you chose to wear hijab because you knew it was right, so do not let the struggles or your vanity make you question your morals or decisions.

Furthermore, on the topic of confidence, if wearing hijab makes you feel less confident—then you’re never going to be truly confident, even without hijab. If it’s not one thing it’s another. If it’s not hijab covering your hair and body, then tomorrow it’s going to be your nose, face, stomach, height, and it’s always going to be something. This feeling of “ having no confidence because you wear hijab”, stems from a need to gain approval from others . It also stems from comparing yourself to others, which will still happen ,with or without hijab. There’s always going be someone prettier, taller, cuter, nicer, whatever-er, and that’s life . There’s also always someone uglier, meaner, fatter, etc lol .

3. "Hijab makes me feel like I don’t fit in"

I’ve heard girls say this before ,and sweetie, this is all how you choose to look at it .It is not hijab that makes you feel that way, it’s either your lack of confidence ,or because you’re trying to fit in somewhere you shouldn’t be. For example, do not complain that hijab makes you feel like you don’t fit in if you’re at the club ,grinding up on some random dude with a drink in your hand lol .... But seriously, there are some hijabis that are very abrasive, especially to non-Muslims ,and even towards Muslims.

And I don't understand why.

Yes as a hijabi ,you should behave with a certain manner, but you don’t have to sit there with a scowl on your face ,making people not want to approach you just ask a simple question. I have even had non-Muslim girls ask me why other hijabis they have encountered are so un-approachable, I’m just like “well that's just her personality, the rest of us have normal personalities” lol. Once you talk to people and they talk to you, you will start to see that hijab does serve its purpose, and you can get your point across without worrying that your looks are pushing you forward, or holding you back. Most people, especially people in college, are accepting, and if they aren’t, then they shouldn’t be people you care about fitting in with anyways...

4. "Mid- Hijab Crisis"

My last point, which maybe should have been my first, is what I've seen some girls go through and what I like to call a"mid-hijab crisis". Everyone knows what a mid-life crisis is, so you should be able to deduce what I'm implying. Many girls started covering when they were obligated to (i.e. when they reached puberty, or even slightly before). That means these girls started covering at the age of about oh say 12-ish.I don’t know about you guys, but at age 12 ,I had no concept of beauty ,vanity, wanting to look pretty, or any thoughts like that. Maybe I was slightly tom-boyish, and, quite possibly, this younger generation may start to think about these things earlier. Either way, I'm pretty sure that most girls my age who started covering when they were about 12, were like me, not concerned with how they dressed or looked or if they wore make up or did their hair and all that jazz. So, putting on hijab wasn’t even a big deal, other than that it making us a little hotter in the summers.... But, then you grow up, and your self-esteem hits the floor, making you realize that you want to look pretty, you want to do your hair, and you want to wear that short sleeved shirt! If nothing else you just want the EASINESS of not having to put on an undershirt or a jacket over everything because you get lazy or it’s too hard to match lol. Who hasn't walked into a store and been like “ I wish I could wear that?!” . You turn the corner just to see that other girl with her hair down looking so pretty ,and you know you could look just as good as her, maybe even better. If only you had your hair down too! This ,my friends, is your mid-hijab crisis. You've been wearing hijab for several years, and suddenly, you find yourself questioning it for silly vanity reasons. Once again, those reasons you suddenly give yourself, and that desire to impress others and outdo others are all just your need to win acceptance from other than Allah. Are you really willing to defy Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala’s commands for other people? At the end of the day, at the very end of the day, who do you really want acceptance from? Sarah, Jim, Bob, and Sally?

Or Allah?

Never regret a decision you've made that is pleasing to Allah, even if you struggle to fulfill it. Remember that Allah compensates us for every struggle we encounter.

“Truly in the heart there is a void that can not be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that can not be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness.” — Ibn al-Qayyim

Reem Akel

Barry University

Muslim Youth For Truth Contributor

To Flirt, Or Not To Flirt: That Is The Question

2010-11-17T22:50:00.003-05:00

Flirting with the opposite gender is becoming a common practice in our community, even amongst the most “religious” brothers and sisters. We have all witnessed some degree of flirting, whether it is a scene in a movie, at the library, or even while buying something at a store. Defined straight from the dictionary, the word “flirt” means: to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections. In addition to describing what flirting is, we will also explore how to avoid it, as well as how to stop if we are already engaging in it. Please note that any advice I give is a reminder to myself before anyone else.

There are Muslims who choose to stay away from the “flirting frenzy” , while avoiding interacting with the opposite gender ( unless it is strictly for business reasons. And, if this person chooses to talk with the opposite gender , he/she does so with a business-like attitude, keeping in mind the example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) when talking to non-mahrams) . It is so easy for these Muslims to look at all of our “flirting” brothers and sisters as sinful , but has anyone tried to advise them in a kind way? Or do they just over look the issue , and say “ At least they are not touching each other”, or “ it could be worse, they are not committing a really big sin anyways”. While these statements may have a tiny bit of truth to them, we cannot ignore the problems this type of logic leads to. This is a trick of shaytan , which leads a Muslim to commit larger and larger sins. We need to stop the lower levels of Zina before they escalate.

In surat Al Israa, ayat 32, Allah Subanahu wa Ta’Ala says : "And come not near to unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a great sin and an evil way." .Zina is unlawful sexual intercourse, and anything that leads to unlawful sexual intercourse is a lesser type of zina. We all have heard the story of Barsees, a man among The Children of Israel, who was a close servant to Allah Ta’Ala , who worshiped Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala for over 60 years. During those 60 years, Shaytan was unable to misguide Barsees. Four brothers came to Barsees, asking him to watch over their sister while they fought in the war. Barsees finally agreed to let the girl stay in a tent in the back of his house. Step by step, shaytan started to tempt Barsees to come in contact with the girl. And, in order to cut a really long story short, Barsees eventually commits zina with the sister of the four brothers . Not only does shaytan convince Barsees to commit zina, but he also convinces Barsees to commit murder, and shirk. Barsees spent his whole life worshipping Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala ,and died committing shirk. SubhanAllah, what a great importance there is in ending small sins and immediately repenting to Allah Ta’Ala.

We have already defined flirting, but what exactly is it? I will provide some examples of business-like communication, and examples of communication infused with flirting. For example, You are a sister who wants to know the date of a certain event in the Muslim community, and decide to ask a brother. Here is an example of communication infused with flirting.

Sister: “ Salams, What day is the event? I am looking forward to you organizing a great event, cause you always do ;) MASHA’ALLAH =]”

Brother: “ Wa Salams, the event is on the 31st. Stop making me blush, we all know the events are only successful because of devoted volunteers like yourself, MashaAllah” .

Sister: “ I am not trying to make you blush, because you know it’s true. You are the best community organizer ever, alhamdulilah. I would also like to volunteer for this event, can you let me know what you need me to do ? =)”

Brother: “ Of course sister, here is my number 813-000-0000, and meet me at the library before every one else gets there so we can get in some extra planning in for this event”

Sister: “ Sounds like a great idea! , count me in, inshaAllah”

Here is an example of a conversation with a business-like attitude:

Sister: “Salams, what day is the event? InshaAllah all goes well with your planning”

Brother: “Wa salams, the event is on the 31st , and InshaAllah all goes well”

Sister: “ I would like to volunteer for this event, so please let me know how I could help out”.

Brother: “ Jazaki Allahu Khair, it is much appreciated. You could help us by cleaning up at the event. Here is Sr.Sisters number813-000-0000, please contact her first if you have any questions. If she cannot answer them, I would be able to answer your questions inshaAllah, at 813-000-0000 “.

Sister: “ Jazak Allahu Khair for your help, inshaAllah I will be able to volunteer, and I am sure Sr.Sister will be able to answer all of my questions inshaAllah”.

Do we notice the difference between the first conversation and the second conversation? In the first conversation, the “friendliness” has no boundaries, and could lead to something that is haram. In the second conversation, the brother and sister have respect for each other, saying only what needs to be said, while being nice and formal.

The best way to avoid flirting with the opposite gender is to avoid talking to the opposite gender unless it is absolutely necessary. I cannot stress this enough. What is cute and simple can turn into something bad . Real Quick. This is our deen we are talking about—and it certainly is not something to risk. So how exactly do we do this? If we know that there are 2 brothers and 7 sisters volunteering for an event, and we want information about it, we can contact the gender that matches our own, thus avoiding talking to the opposite gender. We are not suggesting that we never speak to the opposite gender and all become hermits. Eww. Haha.

What I am suggesting, however, is that we try to avoid that which can lead to harm. It is the best way to prevent something from happening.

So, now that we have a general idea of what flirting really is, how do we avoid engaging in it? There is a simple formula that can be used to stop anything we want to change:

What are we getting out of what we are doing?

• As stated by Dr.Phil, “ People do what works”. If we engage in the same behavior over and over again, we better believe it is for a reason. We would not do something if it did not work for us.

• What does this mean? It means that even though we know we are doing something wrong, we still continue to do it because we are getting something out of it . Even though we know that flirting with the opposite gender could lead to something extremely haram, we still do so because it helps us to feel better about ourselves. Or maybe we do it to get attention, or to feel loved.

 Once we know why we are doing what we are doing, we can create a plan to slowly( I cannot stress the SLOWLY enough=])end this behavior. The companions of the Prophet SAW memorized 10 ayat of Quran at a time, then implemented what they memorized into their lives.

• I do not know what level everyone is at when it comes to this issue, however, I will use a generic example to explain what I mean.

• Let us say that a girl or guy tends to flirt with everyone he/she talks to. Maybe the first step to ending this issue would be to flirt with two less people at a time. If the girl or guy flirts with 20 people a day, then decrease it to 18 people a day.

• The following steps would be to keep decreasing it until it reaches to as low of a number as possible.

 While we are making these changes, we must find a way to get the same “ payoff” as Dr.Phil says, for the better behavior as we did for the old behavior. If we flirt with someone to feel “special”, then we must realize that there are other ways to feel that way that do not involve doing something haram. We can feel special by writing a poem, running a mile, reading a book, laughing with our family, and, most importantly, worshipping Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala .

 Even though this should be obvious, I will point it out anyhow

• Make Duaa, and ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala to help us all to stay away from those things which displease him. Read the Quran often, and reflect upon its meaning.

• Make your intention to change only for Allah Ta’Ala, because if you are changing for your friend who you want to impress, your future husband or future wife, then you will stop when you think they are not looking. The change will have meant nothing if you only do it when people are watching you.

• Keep your tongue in constant remembrance of Allah Ta’Ala. The world is full of Masha’Allahs and SubhanAllahs. Just go outside one night and gaze at the stars. Run through freshly cut grass. Drink ice cold water. Talk a walk with your family. And do not forget to say Alhamdulilah =)

We live in a place and time where people tell us what is right, and what is wrong. Advertisements set the standard for what is normal. We think something is okay if “everyone is doing it”. We spend so much time doing meaningless tasks that we forget about the things that really matter. It is time for us to start paying attention to things that matter, even if they are as small as “flirting”. There will come a day when a mother will forget her child. When our tongues and limbs will speak on our behalf. Let us remember this day.

And prepare for it. Daily.

“Your souls are precious, and can only be equal to the price of Paradise. Therefore, sell them only at that price.”

— Ali ibn Abi Talib

Anonymous Contributor

Everyone has a story: My Experiences in Pakistan

2010-10-17T00:07:00.004-04:00

Badshahi Masjid

The first time I went to Pakistan is something I will never forget.

It was my first time going on a plane, and my mom had not visited Pakistan for nearly 14 years. When we arrived, we were greeted by 20 or more family members. They all knew exactly who I was ,while I was completely unaware of who most of them were. I had no idea I had so many relatives.

While we were heading back to the house ,I saw donkey carts, small Suzuki vehicles—and of course— many Pakistanis. I was not used to seeing so many Pakistanis because I grew up in Oregon where everyone was either White or Mexican. When we arrived home, I was amazed to see an enormous house with a gate surrounding it. It was even nicer from the inside; the ceilings were nearly 15 feet high, and there was a bathroom in every bedroom. All the walls and floors were made out of marble. I went upstairs and stood on the roof looking at everything below. In the distance I saw countless numbers of mosques . The athan was called for every prayer –and it was loud enough for the whole country to hear.

When I went downstairs I was greeted by even more people, and all I could think to myself was do I really have this many relatives? Yes, I have a huge family mashaAllah, and till this day I still do not know all of their names. Everyone had on Shalvar Camise – a kimono looking clothing which is the traditional attire in Pakistan .People do wear shirt and pants sometimes—but it is not worn often. I had a good first impression of Pakistan. The day I had to leave was a sad one. I stayed from April 4th to July 21st 2004. I really wanted to stay longer because I had so much fun.

Six years later, I returned to my beloved country on July 2nd 2010. The day before my plane arrived in Lahore, Pakistan, a bomb blew up near my grandmother’s house. When I was younger, my country was much safer and the economy was “better.” Life in Pakistan is not the same as I remembered it. It is not safe to leave your house at night. It is not safe to be alone anywhere. It is not safe to have your head uncovered.

People are desperate, and the living conditions here are saddening . While everyone needs help , some need it more than others. Alhumdulillah my family is not poor and we are not living on the streets, but we do not have much money either. My first night here, I tried to fall asleep in the blistering 120 degree heat and all of a sudden I heard a whistle near my house. I sprang up out of bed and my eight year old brother grabbed a hold of my arm and reassured me that it was nothing—only a guard warding off burglars. Every time we go out, our car is encircled by beggars. Beggars include old people who cannot make money any other way, mothers holding an infant, people who are disabled, and children. It breaks my heart to see that this as the only way of income for the less fortunate in Pakistan. I give them money here and there but I cannot help every poor soul.

Building with the Pakistani flag

You are probably wondering, why on earth would I ever come here to begin with?. And my answer is: for a little vacation from America. I was becoming too engulfed in not-so-important- every- day- problems. Coming here made me more appreciative of everything I have. All I see here are people praying. When I returned in the habit of praying 5 times a day, I wondered why I kept finding excuses not to pray. It is not as difficult as I was making it out to be. But in America it was “Oh it is prayer time… **continues to watch television**. I find myself bored at times, but it gives me time to think about things. All we really have in this world , is God. When nothing is around, you always have Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala to turn to. Religion is everything here, and people are constantly reminded to be fearful of God. Try living in a place that once you turn on the news it is about another city being bombed . All you can think is, “uh oh, again?”—Flips channel—. Being bombed is normal? What an awful thing to get used to. I then realized that the only reason why I am in this world is for Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala. THAT thought alone helps me go on with my day.

Random Guy making wudhu in the canal , MashaAllah

America is home to me, and lately, I have been extremely homesick; In America, I was never bored. Even when I was home alone with nothing to do—I had T.V, movies, friends, video games, my yard, and my dog. I had something, and here it seems like I am just waiting for the day to end just to begin the next one. Days seem long and endless . At the end of the day, at approximately 2am, I fall asleep only to wake up and do the same thing I did yesterday. Days seem long and endless, but, according to my relatives, there is a lot more to Pakistan that I have yet to see.

McDonald's in Pakistan

When I was talking to my cousins they said that there is everything here. You name it. It has bowling alleys, arcades, indoor ski resorts, parks, HUGE shopping malls, beaches, and the list goes on and on. But apparently they are hidden, and you only know where they are located if you are a true Pakistani. I am (unfortunately), an A.B.C.D., an American Born Confused Desi, and I do not yet know where everything is . I have 3-5 months left in my stay , and I have plenty of time to experience the fun activities, inshaAllah.

Please remember to keep me and Pakistan in your Duaa. People here are suffering every day. And it is up to us to do something about it. May Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala ease the pains of every person enduring hardship around the world . Ameen.

Anonymous Contributor
*Please note that all pictures were taken by the contributor herself .

Burn A Qur'an Day: How We As A Community Should React

2010-09-17T00:17:00.007-04:00

I'm sure you've all heard of the Pastor Terry Jones threatening to wreak havoc on the entire world by burning around 200 copies of the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11. Yes, he came out and said he would never do something like that again alhamdulilah , but Allahua’lam where this ends up.

When you hear of someone wanting to do something that inflammatory....something so blasphemous and despicable, it's natural to feel angry. Reallyyy angry. This is the QURAN we're taking about. The book of Allah (SWT). I mean, how could someone leading a congregation of a place named "Dove 'peace' Church" do something that hurtful...and just plain wrong?

But the trick is, how to do we deal with this anger? On my recent drive back to Tampa, I had a lot of time to think about my last few weeks in Gainesville and how the Muslim community there has been reacting to all this controversy. The world's eyes would be looking and critically evaluating our every move. As someone who’s worked in the media from the inside and knows what damage they can do if we even made one mistake, I can tell you, it's a creepy thought.

SubhanAllah, guys. This tiny Muslim community has so much to teach our broken Muslim ummah. And if we cared to learn, one could only imagine how far a few simple lessons could take us.

It could all really be summed up into one short sentence:

Practice what you preach.

Let me elaborate more about what I mean exactly.... Here we go:

One of the first things that crosses our minds when we hear of something going on that we don't agree with that we want to speak out against is, "Where are the picket signs? We need to plan a protest for this thing!"

But have you ever just stepped back for a second and wondered how effective you were really being? Sure, you might have let go of some steam you were bottling up inside. There'll probably be a 30 second spot about it on the evening news. Then what? Business as usual and people go about their lives like nothing ever happened. End of story.

Want to know something that surprised me while I was there? Not a single protest about this issue. By the Muslims at least...I know the International Club for the Resurgence of the Socialist Party was planning a few lol.

What did they do instead? Exactly what Islam teaches us to do. A particular ayah from the Qur'an comes to mind:

"And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best , when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend....And none are made to receive it but those who are patient, and none are made to receive it but those who have a mighty fortune" (Surat Fussilat: 34,35)

It's easy to become provoked in tense times like these. But is letting your emotions get the best of you going to help the situation? You can yell at the top of your lungs saying that those maniacs committing brutal acts in Allah's (swt) name aren't practicing Islam the way it was meant to be practiced, but when all is said and done, your words will fall on deaf ears. Because they're just that: words.

"....Repel (the evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend"

I saw that particular part of the ayah in action. The community made a pact when this all started to become part of the national spotlight that they would NOT plan demonstrations. Instead, they would use all their time and energy to start something called the Gainesville Muslim Initiative, a series of planned events targeted at letting the community get to know their Muslim neighbors and teach them what Islam is really about. It also involves encouraging Muslims to get more involved in their community as a whole.

You could almost see the transformation happening in front of you. People would randomly stop to tell you that they’re 'in solidarity' with the Muslim community and asking if there was any way they could help. Professors would stop class just to condemn the Pastor's actions. Questions about Islam were flooding the IOC (the UF version of MSA). A movement was begun.

The ball is on our court everyone. We're on fourth down in the in-zone. Top of the ninth inning.Stoppage time on the field. I don't know what the sport reference you prefer is , but I hope you get the idea. We cannot afford to waste any more time. What can YOU do?

If you see trash on the street when walking to class, pick it up...cleanliness is half our faith after all. Smile while dealing with people...it's charity. Ask about your neighbors, they have a right on us. When a friend doesn't show up to class, ask if they're okay. Start up a conversation with the person behind you while standing in line at Publix. If you see a janitor cleaning up a public restroom, let them know that you appreciate their services. Open the door for the person behind you. If an older person enters the room, offer them your seat. Be kind and understanding to the disabled. Say 'thank you' when someone does something nice for you. Do you catch my drift...?

None of these is essentially life altering. They all have to do with how we deal with the people we interact with every day. The best dawah we can do is the kind we do unconsciously...it makes us better people and doesn't make others feel like we’re preaching to them. SubhanAllah, Islam first spread across the Middle East and Asia when people started to notice the conduct of Muslim traders who visited their region. Their honesty and politeness were uncommon, and the more they learned, the more interested they became.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him up. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult.'' [Al-Bukhari].

The best way to get people to understand Islam is to lead by EXAMPLE. Only once we as Muslims start fully embracing Islam into our lives do we have any chance of showing others that their assumptions are wrong. Actions speak much louder than words, my friends. People are more likely to listen if you SHOW rather than TELL. Okay, I'm gonna stop with the clichés...

Don't get me wrong...I know it isn't easy being a young Muslim in this country. Pressure to give into the social norms is suffocating. Temptations are everywhere. Falling into the hole of disobedience to Allah (swt) is becoming easier by the day...

But remember, the more difficult times become, the more good deeds we get for adhering to Allah's commands. We need to be in a constant state of self re-evaluation to correct ourselves whenever we go astray, and to make sure that when we are on the right path inshaAllah, we're on it for all the right reasons.

Something from the book Agenda to Change Our Condition is ingrained in my mind: "Struggle with the self is the means by which we purify our hearts of false deities. It is the ancient way of the Prophets. It is to walk towards a realized state of submission to the will of Allah."

The battle with ourselves and our desires will never be over. But may Allah (swt) make it easy on us and make us fit to deliver His message. Ameen.

Don't forget...make dua'a for you, make dua'a for me, make dua'a for our parents, make dua'a for our teachers, make dua'a for our scholars, make dua'a for peace, make dua'a for the victims of world hunger, make dua'a for the ummah and just keep making dua'a for everything and anyone that may need it! We could all use the power of Allah’s (swt) Mercy in our lives.

Anything I said was meant to be first and foremost a reminder to myself before anyone else. Feel free to share your own thoughts as well :) Jazakum Allahu khair for reading.

Take care,

Sarah Kassem

University of Florida

Muslim Youth for Truth Co-Founder

PS: A dua'a the Prophet used to say every morning...let's make it a goal for us to say it too inshaAllah:

Allahumainny Aa3uthu bika min al-ham walhazen, wal 3ajl walkasal, waljubn wal bukhol, wa a3uthubika min ghalabet al- daynwakahr al-reejal.

O Allah, I seek refuge from you from grief and anxiety, impotence and indolence, cowardice and greed, and from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men.

A Penny For Your Thoughts: My Reflections—And Hopefully Yours—On The Words of Allah

2010-09-08T02:22:00.007-04:00

SubhanAllah, Ramadan has come and gone once again, for the 20th time in my life. It’s actually kind of hard to comprehend. Twenty years of blessed life—at least eight of which I was conscious of my thoughts and actions, at least to some extent (as if I wield more wisdom now or something)—and I really can’t claim to be confident in being questioned about their contents. I’ve been given—unlike so many others—the chance to win Allah’s Mercy over and over again, but have I capitalized on that opportunity? Did I strive to ensure that my sins were forgiven every time I witnessed this blessed month? Or did I win myself a place among those whom our Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said are cursed—the ones upon whom Ramadan enters and exits, but who do not receive its blessing?

I find myself scared to face these questions as I type them—but I find solace in Allah’s promise of Mercy. As Imam Ash-Shafi’ee once said, “When my heart was hardened, and my courses constrained; I made my hope a stairway to Your forgiveness. My sins burdened me heavily, but when I measured it by Your forgiveness, Lord, Your forgiveness was the greater.” But since I can guarantee that Imam Ash-Shafi’ee’s shortcomings pale in comparison to mine, I think I might need a little more reassurance.

Here, I’d like to make mention of one of Allah’s ultimate favors upon us: In these last ten days of Ramadan, Allah promises to save his devout servants from the torments of the Hellfire. Allah—Glorified is He—gives us a golden opportunity, a chance to avoid the worst of fates. You’re thinking, “Yeah…I heard that in the khutba last year…and the year before that…and the year before that…so is Eid on Thursday or Friday?” But let’s pump the proverbial brakes for a second—what exactly are we talking about here? Should we be grateful for this chance? Is it even a big deal? I mean, should we really be worried about whether or not we’ve secured Allah’s pardon in these nights?

The other day I was reading a short Hadith in Riyadh-us-Saliheen, in the Book of Tawbah (i.e Repentance), which read: "Ibn Abbas and Anas ibn Malik (radiy Allahu 'anhumaa) reported: the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'If a son of Adam were to own a valley full of gold, he would desire to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who turns to Him in repentance.'"

The value and meaning(s) of this Hadith aside (for now), it was a note in the Arabic commentary that really caught my attention. In explaining the Arabic phrase for "Nothing can fill his mouth except dirt", the author said "i.e. the Son of Adam is never satisfied until he dies and finds himself under the dirt/earth, and this same person is just like Jahannam (bear with the comparison for a second <-- my comment), in that as much as is thrown into it, it says, 'Are there any more to come?!' "

This is referring to an Ayah in Surat Qaf, and here begins my "reflection". The Ayah reads: "One Day We will ask Hell, 'Art thou filled to the full?' It will say, 'Are there any more (to come)?!' SubhanAllah, whenever I hear this Ayah, and the ones before it, I cannot help but become overwhelmed with humble fear—and if it's in Salah, the closest thing to true khushoo' that I have yet to experience.

“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” [Quran: 38: 29]

The passage from Surat Qaf (Ayahs 16-30) reads:

16. And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein

17. When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left.

18. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].

19. And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.

20. And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.

21. And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness.

22. [It will be said], "You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp."

23. And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."

24. (The sentence will be) "Throw into Hell every contumacious Rejector (of God)

25. Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter

26. Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment."

27. His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."

28. [ Allah ] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning.

29. The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."

30. On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there more (to come)?!"

These Ayahs bear many messages, but I'd like to quickly highlight a few points, and then I'm done; please note that all "advices" are directed at me first:

Allah knows us and our natures with omniscience; we should always remember this when our trust in Him begins to waver—the times when we prefer our desires and intellectual exercises to His Orders.

We are all to meet death. This is known, and this is unavoidable. However, all of us—perhaps myself especially—often live as though this is a distant reality. Ayah 19 affirms this illusion of ours. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) advised us to remember the "destroyer of pleasures" (i.e. death) often—because when we do, we give ourselves a pointed reminder; we awaken, if only momentarily, from our state of heedlessness ("ghaflah"), and realize that everything we're currently pursuing is temporary and worthless when compared to the eternity that we should be working for. Life loses that addictive flavor that we get caught up in—a blandness we need every now and then.

We will experience Yaqeen (certainty of knowledge in its utmost form) of the Akhira no matter what, because on the Day of Judgment no one will be able to deny its Truth; might as well work towards establishing that Yaqeen NOW, so that it doesn't haunt us when Ayah 22 becomes manifest.

No one will bear our sins for us. We must own up to our mistakes, and do all that we can to avoid them. Part of this is avoiding those who encourage us to do wrong, however slight it may be. You don't want Ayah 27 happening to you. Allah also says in Surat-ul-Baqarah that, on the Day when evil "leaders" claim nothing to do with their followers, those followers will wish that they had but just ONE CHANCE to go back to the dunya and change things.

Allah is Ultimately Just; He will never wrong any of His servants, and so we must understand that the fruits of our actions—ripe or rotten—are ours to bear.

Hellfire doesn't have a maximum capacity. Don't get caught up in relative determinism. Don't assume that, simply because we are living in a society that is being rapidly consumed by fasaad and jahiliyyah, we are "good enough" or that we will be ok as we are. The standard for Allah's Pleasure is still the same as it was during times of antiquity. Make sure you don't fall for Shaitan's whisperings that you are among the "saved".

However, Paradise is just as vast. Never give up on the Mercy of Allah. He (subhanahu wa ta’ala) addresses His servants in the Quran, explicitly urging those of us who wrong our own souls to never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah. Strive to be among the steadfast, and Allah will provide for you a path.

So is salvation from the Hellfire something to be thankful for? I’d say so. In Surat Ibraheem Allah mentions that, no matter how hard we can try to enumerate His blessings upon us, there is no way we’d encompass them all. One more to add to the list I guess. But it’s definitely one we should shed tears of gratefulness for. Allah only knows how many nights we fall asleep soundly, content in our sinfulness, when we should actually be gripped with the fear of our inadequacies. Let the tranquility of Allah’s Mercy wash over you, but never take it for granted. Alhamdulillah, we have the Quran to remind us—and verily, it is the best of reminders.

That's all I have for now. Please keep me in your duaa. Anything beneficial in this post is from Allah, and anything incorrect is from me.

Jazakum Allahu khairan, wassalamu alaikum.

Pee Ess I’d definitely like to hear your thoughts. Please share, so that we can all benefit.

Anonymous Contributor

Tampa, FL

We Went to Give, But Instead Received So Much More in Return

2010-07-21T20:33:00.007-04:00

I held her hand as the elevator navigated its way to the first floor. It was time for her to go back. Neither of us wanted to let go.

The Alzheimer's ward of any nursing home is one of the most depressing places one could ever visit. The people there are living in an alternate universe, complete with fantasies that can sometimes be unnerving. Not being recognized by your own mother, father, or sibling can be unbearable to some. Most stop visiting at all.

3....2....1. The elevator came to a complete stop. I felt her hand gently squeeze mine as the doors opened, revealing the stark white lobby before us. The attendant was already waiting down the hall to escort my new friend Lela to her room.

Our time together was up.

After exiting the elevator, I leaned down to tell her how much I had enjoyed her company. As she listened, I felt her squeezing my hand tighter, her face contorted in deep thought. I couldn’t help wonder what she was thinking.

She tapped my shoulder, pulling me in for a hug. The force she used was surprising for such a frail body. She loosened her grip but made sure our faces we’re still eye level. Holding my gaze, she did the most unexpected thing of all...she spoke.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I stood there, paralyzed in shock. Besides communicating with smiles and hand gestures, she’d barely said a word all day. The nurses said Lela’s Alzheimer's made it difficult for her to communicate with the outside world, forcing her to go days, sometimes weeks without speaking to anyone.

What about to someone she’d never met? I asked. “Forget it,” they had said.

Yet, for that moment in time, Lela proved them all wrong. She wasn’t a “hopeless case”. All she needed was for someone to show her that they cared. Even if that person happened to be a complete stranger.

Our eyes stayed locked for one more second before the attendant wheeled her away down the hall and disappeared around a corner. I stood there a minute longer, letting the weight of that moment crash over me. Tears welled up in my eyes.

The day had definitely not gone as planned. All the meticulous planning, pretty schedules, and sheer organization we were armed with had all evaporated the second we stepped foot into the John Knox nursing home. Everything felt like it was falling apart.

But as I stood there in that deserted hallway, reflecting on the events that ensued as a result, none of that initial chaos mattered.

I thought of the joy I saw in our new friend Ana’s face as Ala, Hadeel and Sundus played a high paced game of pictionary with her and others. She told us solemnly that at 90 years old, she expected “to die in this place.” But her face quickly brightened when she recounted how much fun she had with us today.

Or the amusement that filled our new friend John’s face as Mohammad and Imtiaz taught him how to play Connect Four for the first time. I remember glancing over to see how the game was going, instead finding them engrossed in a deep conversation....Connect Four was never really that interesting anyways.

The sound of Elizabeth, Saira, and Riazul’s laughter at our new friend Peggy’s sarcasm was still ringing in my ears. Her spunky personality definitely seemed like it was cultivated over a lifetime of traveling and interesting experiences. All that she needed to shine was an audience....and now that she had one, her face couldn’t be anymore radiant.

“Excuse me ma’am, are you lost?”

The nurse’s voice echoing from the distance cut through my thoughts and brought me spinning back into reality. I hadn’t realized how long I had been standing in that hallway. I shook my head and slowly started walking back to the elevator.

Something Peggy had said earlier that day really stuck with me. “Never put something you could do today on hold. Ever,” she sighed. “Or you’ll end up sitting one day wondering if you had spent your days actually living your life or watching it being lived from a distance.”

SubhnaAllah, there’s one gift Allah (swt) gave so many of us that we often take for granted. We never think about it, even though we live it everyday. How we make use of this gift could possibly make or break our entire life.

That gift is youth.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (raddyah Allahu Anahu) once said, "Everyone who is taken by death asks for more time, while everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination.”

So many times we are tempted to push things to tomorrow. How often do we wonder, however, if there’s going to be a tomorrow?

Or if we’re lucky enough to make it to old age inshaAllah, do we want to be among those who end up regretting a lifetime of not seizing opportunities as they came our way, those who are scratching their heads wondering, “What If?

Life was never meant to be put on hold. It was meant to be cherished. There’s a big difference between living and simply being alive.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his (time on earth) and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body and how he used it."

When you think about all the time we waste, its a scary thought, isn’t it? But subhanAllah, Allah would never test us with a challenge that we wouldn’t be able to handle. Its matter of realizing where we’re going wrong and making a change before it’s too late.

Being busy is a blessing, not a curse. It gives us a chance to fully live every moment of our life, because time, unlike anything else precious in the world, cannot be bought back with anything.

When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you really are. Things go wrong so we can appreciate them when they’re right. Good things sometimes fall apart so better ones can fall together. It’s the divine scheme of things that makes living so absolutely invigorating.

I felt a smile creeping upon my lips as I watched the elevator doors starting to close. There was only one word left on my mind:

Alhamdulilah.

Sarah Kassem

University of Florida

Muslim Youth for Truth Co-Founder

The Golden Rule: Treat Others Like You Want To Be Treated

2010-06-30T01:15:00.007-04:00

In the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

If one were to imagine a 'perfect world,' coexistence would be a paramount element. If people could eliminate any preconceived resentment that they held against a particular person/people in accordance to their race, religion, etc., the world would be a more pleasant place. Even though coexistence may seem like something imaginary, it is possible to attain a society where people legitimately live in peace. It goes without saying, that the three monotheistic religions all share the common principle of "doing to others what you want done to you."

In Islam, the aspect of coexistence is very significant as we see in the following verse of the Qur'an: "O mankind! We created you out of a single pair of male and female, and We made you into different nations and tribes so that you may get to know and love one another. Not that you may despise each other. Surely, the greatest of you in the eyes of God is the most righteous." [49:13] In an ancient conversation regarding Judaism, someone asked for the explanation of the religion [in the time it took them to stand on one leg]… the response given was: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow..." In a verse from the Bible it is said: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…” [Luke 6:27]

The parallel that can be drawn is that all three religions regard the treating of others as imperative matters. Neither religion creates special exceptions how to treat people, but instead the address of being good to your neighbor is applicable to all of humanity. Although this commonality of kindness is apparent in each of the main religions, I want to focus more directly on two of them. Judaism and Islam. The reason I bring up Judaism is because unfortunately when Muslims think of Jews- hateful stereotypes penetrate into their minds' and pierce their hearts'.

Being a Palestinian Muslim, I identify with the frustration and hurt that is felt… Similarly, I understand that the same feelings are felt on the opposite side in regards to the Jews. However, unlike many Palestinians I am also somewhat exposed to the other side. One of my closest friends since childhood, who lived in the next neighborhood is Jewish. Right down the street from me lives a Jewish family; an Israeli family. They are, by far, and without doubt some of the best and most genuine people I know. One thing about America, is that because it is "a melting pot" it allows a person to be separated from their people without loosing their identity or beliefs. In America, people who would normally throw stones or missiles at each other, can come together in authentic harmony and share a life of friendship together [without the contamination of a conflict. etc.] In America, the beauty of coexistence can flourish.

I choose to coexist with my neighbors because Islamically, they have that right upon me, and out of the sincere kindness they've shown me and my family, I owe them that much. Whether the piece of land between Egypt, Jordan, and the Mediterranean is called Palestine or Israel, the inhabitants: Muslim, Christian, or Jewish can still find a way to live peacefully like they did for hundreds of years under the Ottoman Empire and in so many other places.

As continual as it sounds, the first step to a permanent coexistence has to come from within your heart. If you are fully capable of truly accepting and loving another human being for the sake of pleasing God, without holding a prejudice against them for any particular reason [ie. religion, political views, color of skin] then you can honestly declare that you coexist with others. If not, you should evaluate your heart because in an authentic saying of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it was said that: "God does not show mercy to those who aren't merciful to others." This is only a reminder to myself before anyone else. I ask God to make us amongst the righteous: those who easily forgive the people who wrong them, and those who are intent on loving one another for His sake only. Ameen.

Malak Fakhoury
Vanguard High
Muslim Youth for Truth Contributer

Everyone has a Story: Beauty or the Beast: My Quest to Find the Real Me

2010-05-16T00:59:00.007-04:00

What is Beauty? To a model, beauty may be having a certain body type. Beauty from a doctor’s point of view could be to the ability to help other people in their time of need. To a writer, beauty could be the crafting of words to convey a message. To a painter, beauty might mean the ability to convey a feeling through an image. From a reader’s perspective, beauty could be the way writing captivates imagination. There are many different ways human beings view beauty. What way is the best way to view beauty you ask? I can’t answer that question—that is a question you have to answer yourself. One thing I can tell you is how to not view beauty. We all face struggles in life—and it was through these struggles that I learned what beauty really is. I know for a fact that I am not the only human that endures hardship in life. That being said, I am not writing this to be praised or recognized. I am writing this for the sake of Allah (SWT), in the hopes of bringing light to a topic that is not really discussed. I also know that I am not alone in what I faced. I hope that I am the voice for everyone that has never had the courage to say anything about it. I debated for many days whether or not I should make this story anonymous—I decided not to. I want everyone who reads this to know that this story is real. And what better way to do that than to reveal my identity?

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I was in a square desk all to myself, as the rest of my classmates arranged their desks in a circle. I got out of my desk to move it into the circle because we were about to read a chapter in American History. As I was moving my desk, someone yelped:“Oh my goodness Sundus your nose is so big! Hahah, you look just like Toucan Sam!”. My heartbeat raced and my hands started to shake. What could I possibly answer back to such a statement? My nose certainly is not small, so I could not tell this person that he/she is lying. I decided I would ignore his/her statement. As I ignored the hurtful comments, they only got worse. Now, I had almost everyone in the class making fun of my nose in some way. This was no longer a joke, I went home everyday crying. I hated the way I looked, and I wanted nothing more than for people to accept me. But they never did. The teasing got so bad that I finally decided to stick up for myself. I remember saying:“What you are saying to me is not nice, please stop”. Little did I know that by saying this, I would get made fun of even more. The people that made fun of me said in a very sarcastic tone:“ Oh Sundus says it’s not nice, like we care !”

When this happened to me, I was very young, and it was very hard for me to deal with. It is one thing to be made fun of by a couple of class bullies occasionally, but it was not like that for me. Practically everyone in the class made fun of me every day. I heard that I was ugly because of my nose so often that I started to believe it. For two years straight, I was made fun of by more than half of the class. When I looked in the mirror, I would examine my nose for long periods of time asking myself whether or not something really was wrong with the way I looked. My thoughts were consumed with the “so-called” flaw my peers pointed out to me. As I got older, the teasing stopped. People were still pointing out others “flaws”, but I guess they didn’t bother pointing out mine anymore because they did it so much that it was an old story.

Even though the bullying stopped, I was still self-conscious about my nose and image in general. And how could I not be? I was teased for two years straight everyday! Many life experiences helped me see past what my peers said were my “flaws”. The experience that helped me the most was when my sister Layla had to have a brain surgery in the middle of the night. Her shunt was no longer working properly, and she had to have a new shunt put in. I stayed up all night with my family in the waiting room, awaiting the results. As I sat in the waiting room, I thought about my life. I thought about how my sister might not survive. I thought about how close death is to everyone, even though I was not the one having the surgery. Death is not always expected, just as my sister’s surgery was not planned.

As everyone waited in the waiting room, I walked into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror like always, but this time, something was different. Tears started to flow from my eyes as I stared into my reflection. Why would I spend one more second thinking about the way I looked when it would never benefit me? How could I criticize my nose when there are some people that wished they even had a nose because they were born without one? This time, when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see myself as an ugly girl with a messed up nose. I saw a servant of Allah (SWT), and it was then—and only then –then that I was truly happy to look in the mirror. I saw my physical features as the creation of Allah (SWT), and I could never be upset with the way he created me. From that day on, it never bothered me in the slightest when someone made an offensive comment towards my appearance.

When I was younger and made fun of often, I wanted nothing more than to change who I was so that the people who made fun of me would accept me. I remember making Duaa to Allah(SWT), asking him why he gave me a different nose ,and why so many of the people that I thought were my friends would make fun of me. It was not until many years later that I got the answer to my Duaa-- this life is not about being accepted by other people, but it is about gaining acceptance from Allah (SWT).

At the time I was being teased, I thought it would be the greatest thing in the world to get plastic surgery to change my nose so that I would be accepted. But Allah (SWT) knew what was best for me, and he didn’t give me plastic surgery. Allah (SWT) did not give me the acceptance that I longed to have for so long. What Allah(SWT) gave me was so much better than what I wanted. Allah (SWT) gave me the ability to see beauty in all of his creation. He gave me the wisdom to realize that no one is worth pleasing except for him.

Many people have had to deal with bullying – even in the Muslim community. What happened to me is not a unique story. If you are being teased or you know someone who is being teased, then please do something about it. We don’t realize how much the demeaning statements can hurt someone until we are victims of them. As for the people that made fun of me, I have nothing against any of them. I know that when this happened, they were young and unaware of how what they did would hurt me. Many of them apologized to me years later, and I accepted the apology. If I made a similar mistake, I would want someone to forgive me as well. I do not blame any of them, because I know they did not intentionally hurt my feelings.

I did not write this to receive praise, sympathy, empathy or recognition. Please, hold your “ Thanks” and “ You are such a good person” comments. I wrote this with the intention of pleasing Allah (SWT) . Without Allah(SWT) guiding me, I would have never realized all of the beauties of life that cannot be seen. It would be wrong for me to say that I realized all of these things on my own, because I did not.

If we want to find beauty, we must remember the simple things that we sometimes overlook. This is a reminder to myself before anyone else.

Beauty is the love for Allah (SWT) that fills my heart when I am making sujood. Beauty is the laughter I share with my father when he tells me a funny joke. Beauty is when my sister shows me how to be content with little. Beauty is serving Allah (SWT). Beauty is when my little brother whispers in my ear that he loves having me as a sister. Beauty is when I chase Sara Samaha down the beach with a sand-ball in my hand prepared to throw at her . Beauty is when my mother hugs me tightly before I leave to class. Beauty is strong character. Beauty is the recitation of the Quran. Beauty is the Masjid on Eid.

I know from personal experience that it is not easy to see beauty beyond appearance. But it is possible. Once you find beauty beyond what your eyes can see, you will never look at things the same again.

Literally.

Sundus Alsharif

Hillsborough Community College

Muslim Youth for Truth Contributer

Everyone has a Story: Elizabeth's Journey to Becoming Muslim

2010-02-19T18:17:00.003-05:00

I’ll start by saying that practically everyone in my family is of a different religion. Prior to converting to Islam, I called myself an Agnostic, along with my mother and older sister. All I knew was that I believed in God and everything else was product of man. I wasn’t even looking for a religion to convert to when I found Islam; I was perfectly happy as an Agnostic. During my junior year in high school, I had my first boyfriend who just so happened to be the only Muslim in town (it was a very small town). I knew he was Muslim but I had no idea what that was or meant. Meanwhile, I had a job at a hotel working nights and whenever I had a free chance I would get lost looking at all the information there was on Islam on the internet. I learned so much that it overwhelmed me at first. The only reason I ever looked any of this stuff up was to learn exactly what my current boyfriend believed in. I thought it was ridiculous for me to be so close to someone and not know their morals and beliefs. However, after a few weeks of doing research, I told him what I had learned and he was dumbfounded merely because none of his other girlfriends ever made the effort to do this. He was my first (and only) boyfriend I had, so I thought it was only normal for me to do this: apparently not. In any case, he was extremely supportive of me learning about Islam and he would further my interest by telling me things I hadn’t learned yet. It was at this point I gave up pork and alcohol forever, although I did not drink alcohol prior to this for personal reasons.

A few months after researching Islam, it was Ramadan, and my boyfriend had told me it was totally up to me if I wanted to fast, so I did. It was very hard the first few days because I was working and had school, but I got through it alhumdillilah. All my friends and family knew I was reading up on this new religion and fully supported me. In fact, I was able to give them some helpful information about it that many don’t realize: such as the fact that it is NOT polytheistic and actually stems from Christianity and Judaism. These were primarily the main misconceptions. During my first Ramadan I was given an English Qur’an and began reading it as well as highlighting certain phrases that stuck out to me.

During my first semester of college I took an Intro to Islam course that was taught by a convert. This course was incredibly interesting to me and since the class was often quizzed on Arabic words, it forced me to learn them and become familiar with them. I enjoyed the professor’s teaching so much that I am currently taking my fourth class with her. This class gave me so much knowledge on the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and others, as well as the history behind Islam. This class made me realize Arabic is a big part of being a Muslim; therefore, I decided I needed to take Arabic before my conversion.

   It would be two years later that I would get into an Arabic class. Although I took so many Islam courses to pass the time in college, I had a better understanding of Islam than some Muslims I knew. Not to mention, every Ramadan, YouTube was my best friend. I would listen to so many young people talk about their conversion process and how they are enjoying their lives now. One main problem in my life that kept me from becoming Muslim was in fact the person that brought it into my life: my boyfriend. I knew I couldn’t date someone after saying my Shahadah, nor would I want to, but at this point in our three and a half year relationship, it was too hard to break up with someone you loved and spent every day with.

   During the summer of 2009 I had a hard course load and could not work that much, and without my scholarships, I had a hard time paying bills. This took its toll on me physically and mentally. I had accumulated so much anxiety I had to see a doctor because my parents were getting worried about me. It was as if the stress of life was getting too hard and my relationship with my boyfriend was getting worse and worse because of anxiety. I realized once Ramadan started that’s what was missing from my life, Islam. It had been probably a year since I had taken an Islam course, so I figured I needed Islam back in my life.

The beginning of my 3^rd year in college, just a few months ago as a matter of fact, it was three days until Eid al-Fitr. I came home from work and my boyfriend told me he wanted to break up with me because he felt it was wrong for us to continue a relationship. I completely agreed and understood this to mean we were still on our path to getting married in the future. So the next day at work, I realized that I am enrolled in an Arabic class and have no boyfriend; therefore I had nothing holding me back. I told a Muslim lady I worked with and that I feel its time for me to convert soon. She immediately suggested I convert on Eid in front of the entire congregation. This was NOT what I had in mind. I was thinking more private with just Muslimas but she had convinced me that it was an honor to witness someone say their Shahada, so I figured, who was I to take that away from the men? That night, my friend at work gave me clothes to wear as well as a hijab, or headscarf, and made all the arrangements with the Imam. All I had to do was show up.

When I get there with my friend the morning of Eid I cannot stop crying. At the time I felt so foolish because here are all these Muslim women looking at me like I’m crazy. I told my friend I didn’t think I could get through the Shahadah without crying. I had made it a point that I would never speak the words of the Shahadah even in a whisper because I believed those words were saved for the day I converted, so when everyone told me to practice, I firmly said no. But when the time came to say it, I spoke clearly and without any sniffles. Shukran Allah. However, the rest of the time I was back to crying. It was an amazing feeling though. Everyone hugged me and congratulated me. Some of my Muslim classmates were there, as well as my Islam professor.

      The rest of the day did not go as smoothly as it should have. My now ex-boyfriend decided that this was the day he was going to tell me we had no future together; that he no longer loved me. This made me fall into a very deep depression that I’m now glad to say it was thanks to Allah I am still here. My determination to prayer was the only thing keeping me from the dark. For two months I lived like a hermit and didn’t bother to meet my fellow Muslim sisters or go to any Islam meetings. I felt too alone.

   November was my saving grace. A young girl in one of my Islam classes introduced me to some Muslim girls that were on the Executive board of Islam on Campus. They took me to my first Jumaah on campus and out to eat later that night. Just their company alone meant so much to me. Later I was invited to a Halaqa where I met other Muslim girls and began friendships with many of them. In fact, the person who asked me to write this blog is one of those people who has no idea how much her kind words kept me out of the dark and on the road to living life as a proud Muslim convert. I am currently extremely happy I converted and am so thankful to Allah for giving me such wonderful friends.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

-Plato

Elizabeth Wood
University of Florida
Muslim Youth for Truth Contributer

"My friends made me do it." How to deal with peer pressure and getting the courage to finally say NO.

2010-02-05T00:19:00.008-05:00

When you hear the words peer pressure, what comes to mind?

Defined straight from Webster’s Dictionary, peer pressure means “influence of one’s friends on morals”. That being said, peer pressure can be both positive and negative. However, I am going to discuss the negative sides of peer pressure in the Muslim community. In addition to looking at the dark side of peer pressure, we will explore how to avoid peer pressure and what to do if you have already endured peer pressure.

From the outside looking in, it is so easy for all of us to look at our Muslim friends that are engaging in haram activities as “bad” or “sinful”. But what we fail to understand is that our friends did not end up this way overnight. They did not just wake up and say “Today, I feel like displeasing Allah (SWT)”. Changes in behavior, whether they are beneficial or malignant, take time. I remember reading somewhere that shaytan whispers to people to engage in small sins first, then he works his way up to the larger sins. This is a very dangerous tactic. In our minds, it is only a small sin, right? But to shaytan, and some of our friends, it is a plan that leads us to bigger sins.

The best way to avoid peer pressure is to avoid any situation that makes it easy for haram activities to occur. What do I mean by this? If you are invited to a party by people that are known to drink, and you think / know there is going to be the consumption of alcoholic drinks there, simply do not go. Come up with an excuse as to why you cannot go. If you keep making excuses and not showing up, the people inviting you will eventually get the message in a kind way that you do not want to be around risky environments. Even if you think you can handle going to a party where risky behavior is going on, there are no guarantees. Once you are in that situation, it does not matter how religious you are. It does not matter how much Quran you have memorized, or how many Sunnah prayers you make. Human nature is human nature. Which is perfectly illustrated when we see the most religious family turn out to have kids that are addicted to drugs, partying, and more. This could happen to anyone, and it does not happen over night. I am not saying you will be able to avoid every situation that could lead to haram. Why that would be impossible! All I am saying is that it is essential we avoid all the situations that could lead to haram as we can. That way, if we have to battle one or two situations every once and a while, it would not be as difficult as avoiding that situation every time you have an outing with friends.

Now that I have discussed how to avoid peer pressure, it is imperative we look at what to do if you have already given into negative peer pressure. If you have already been affected by peer pressure, the first step is recognizing it. Most people that have been affected by peer pressure do not even realize it. Or, they convince themselves that they are doing these haram activities out of their own wishes, and that other people have nothing to do with it. The question you must ask yourself is, “If I was living alone on Earth, only with the purpose of serving Allah (SWT), would I be engaging in this haram activity? Anyone that is a true Muslim would answer no to that. We all want to please Allah (SWT) and have the reward of the hereafter.

The second step is having patience when making change. As I said earlier, the changes made in life happen over a span of time. None of us makes a change completely correct after the first attempt. Change at a pace that you are doing something, but not too slow that nothing gets done. A quote I find really helpful for destroying habits is “There is no need to fight old habits. Start new ones. It is the resisting of an old habit that puts you in that trench. Starting a new pattern is easy when done with childlike disregard for imagined difficulties. You can prove this to yourself by your own experience.”- W. Timothy Gallwey.

The third step is making the change for Allah (SWT) only. When you try to change for your parents, friends, or strangers on the street, the change does not last. The reason it does not last is because those people are not always with you. If you are changing for other people, you will go back to your old ways as soon as no one is looking. This is between you and Allah (SWT), no one else. Making a change can be difficult. Not only do you have to deal with the personal struggle between you and Allah (SWT), but you also have to deal with what everyone else says about you. You have to deal with people scorning, saying things like “Oh so you want to change now, after all of the bad things you have done?!!!” You have to deal with saying goodbye to your friends that used to put you into haram situations. The way to deal with it is to focus on you. People are going to make hurtful comments, especially if they are not following the way of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Remember, this is not about them. It is about following Allah (SWT), and trying to make new, Islamic choices. And maybe, just maybe, you will stumble upon some people that know how to give advice islamically. If you do, hold on to them. It is rare to find a person that gives advice with gentleness, which is what we all need in times when we are engaging in haram activity.

Before you think you are alone, remember, this could have happened to anyone. Even if we all are not facing your problems exactly, we are all struggling in this religion to obey Allah(SWT).

But it is something worth struggling for.

Anonymous Contributor

MAS Tampa 3rd Annual Conference: Not Until You Change Yourself! December 19, 2009 8 am to 6 pm Held at USF Marshall Center

2010-01-04T23:43:00.015-05:00

Asslamu Alkuim,

Alhamdulilah, the MAS conference held on December 19, 2009 was a huge success. As someone who attended, I left that night feeling very invigorated to go out there and make a change within myself. The speakers compelled us to think about issues that we are often faced with and see them from a purely Islamic perspective. For those of you who could not attend, we have included links to both the introduction of the conference as well as an excerpt from the Gender Relations lecture. Additionally, MAS Media member Nora Zaki has complied brief notes from each lecture in the young adult program that will, inshaAllah, give you some of the benefit we all experienced on that day. Lastly, if you scroll down towards the end of the post, we have included the MAS Media promotional video that was shown in the conclusion of the conference.

The Notes:

9am – 10 am: Role of a Muslim: Our Duty to the Muslim Community and American Society

Speakers: Imam Abdul Latif

we are the ummah wasat: the middle/balanced ummah

in order to be witnesses to be humankind, we must be examples!

our faith seems weak now, but there are glad tidings to those who are holding on

Ayman Hammous, VP of MAS

Surah Anfal states that one person can be equivalent to ten in Battle of Badr: It was never about the number but the quality of Muslims

Surah Hud, verses 116 and 117: Prohibit corruption on ALL earth, not just Muslim lands

Mecca was Muhammad’s ( saw) country and America is our country

Angel Gabriel gave the Prophet ( saw) the option to even destroy the Meccans after Taif but he refused to; instead, she he said that he wanted to guide his people

Why don’t we care about the 42 million uninsured Americans? Why don’t we care about the 22 million Americans with drug problems?

He mentioned an article that is Islamophobic with the title “A Knife in the Name of Allah” ( New York Times, I believe)

10am -- 11am: Transforming the Soul: Practical Steps for Purifying the Heart

Speaker: Imad Bayoun

the criteria for success is the soundness of the heart

One must remember the golden rule of treating people the way they would like to be treated: This rule must be followed by all Muslims

Cultural baggage has unfortunately become part of the religion, Islam

The change that comes is from the Islamic path, not cultural or anything else

The ashab were humans who had shortcomings too, so we should strive to change just like they did; Whenever a sahaba was inflicted by hardship, he would run to prayer

We have unfortunately reduced religion to fiqh, but the worship of the heart is different from the senses

How we can make our prayer better:

understanding the meaning: ‘khushu

true appreciation and a fear of God

know who you are talking to: it’s God!

the more you learn about God, the more everything changes

we are neglecting thikr, remembrance, so ponder on God’s many wonderful names

Really, close your eyes and ponder 

Count the blessings of Allah swt, but if you, you won’t be able to count them all

Think and ponder about the creation of Allah, but not the self of Allah swt

Books the speaker recommends:

The Character of the Muslim by Mohammed Al Ghazali

The Way of the Seeker by Ibn Qayyim

Imadbayoun.com

11a – 12pm: Reflecting on the Scripture: Quranic Guidelines for the Muslim Activist

Speaker: Imad Bayoun

where do we draw the line to blind faith and rationality? (In Islam, there is no blind faith).

Our mind tells us there is a God

We need to believe in the source, the Messenger, saw

We must also acknowledge the limitations of the mind

The Qur’an is mostly a book of guidance

Knowledge comes before iman because it guarantees that what we are believing is the truth

The call to act in Islam came in the very beginning:

~ We should be achieving certain standards of worship

~ Each person has an area they can contribute to

Surah Al Muddathir: God calls for work

Surah Al Muzammil: God calls for the spiritual connection of qiyam al lail

Read the Qur’an in slow parts, segments: tarteela ترتيلًا

What was revealed in Surah Al Muzammil was not enough to do qiyam al lail, but Muhammad (saw) performed the qiyam for 2/3 of the night. SubhanAllah!

You don’t have to be a hafeez to perform qiyam al lail. Muhammad (saw) had only a few verses and still did the prayer for this long of the night 

Muhammad (saw) read one verse the whole night: it was from Surah Al Imran

A person cannot say they do not know enough

Surah Muzammil was the fuel for Surah Muddathir **The work came from the beginning

What four elements must a Muslim activist have?

knowledge

action: work

spiritual connection with God

connective spirit of working with groups

The surat revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saw) after the Taif incident were meant to comfort him. These were Surat Musa, Qasas, Lut, Hijr and Ibrahim, for example. This was the same path taken by others before him.

Muhammad (saw) endured hardship: A great end is not possible without hardship in the beginning

When going through hardships, don’t focus entirely on them because they will change

Look back at stories of earlier people

And remember, it doesn’t take many people to have an impact 

It is a truth without exaggeration: “You are carrying this message after everyone has rejected it.” – Hassan Al Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood

Feed the heart, direct your effort and find balance

Be accommodating to others

Don’t be judgmental

Accept people for who they are

1:20 pm – 2:30 pm: Gender Relations: Working Together within Allah’s Boundaries

Speaker: Hadia Mubarak

gender relations need to be normalized, not stigmatized

the extreme has become an overly powerful sexual image: Muslim men are growing up with images of non-mahram women

the women during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) were not shunned from Islamic society

Allah swt sees you even if you think no one else does

The sahaba knew the names of their women companions

Modesty is more than just hijab; The women are not the only ones wearing the burden of the hijab

A man should not approach a woman for marriage unless he is FULLY ready

Hadia Mubarak mentioned a pre-marital questionnaire by Muhammad Majid. You can ask your potential spouse questions about each other with pre-made questions.

** Just keep marriage out of Islamic work and focus on helping the Muslim community

Speaker: Ayman Hammous

don’t mix Islam with a particular culture

whatever fiqh contradicts, pick the one that is more applicable to the culture in which a society is living in

After Muhammad (saw) died, his wives still continued to talk to men about religious matters and were still modest

There is no generic fatwa applicable to all gender relations, so set up the example most relevant to a society

Speaker: Imad Bayoun

the one who created is the one who legislated

there is a modesty of knowing that God is watching

Nothing goes for free: there is some struggle and resistance

Keep in mind the goal of paradise

Book recommendations: Al Alim: a book of Muslim women – all narrations from Bukhari and Muslim about the interactions between Muslim men and women

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Social Manners: Dealing with Non Muslims

Speaker: Imam Abdul Latif

Don’t be harsh 

Remember Prophet Musa ( as) approached Pharaoh with gentle words. Look in Surah Taha

Muhammad (saw) treated the Jews with the utmost kindness and always helped people, regardless if they were Muslim or not.

We think we cannot help non Muslims, but that is very incorrect

Muhammad (saw) said: Let he who believes in Allah and the Last Day care for his neighbors

Speaker: Yousef Elyaman

We are supposed to invite all through wisdom and beautiful preaching: we aren’t doing our job 

Dawah efforts:

Love the person, but hate the action

Show them the truth in your religion and they will find faults in their religion

Infidel is a Catholic word

Kafir is a person who is a believer, but rejects the truth

People are asking the same questions over and over about Islam, but we are not getting better at responding to them

4:00pm – 5:30 pm Closing Session: Progressing Towards an Ideal Community

Speaker: Hossam Al Jabri

Muslim institutions compared to other minorities are very premature

We have an opportunity now that Islam is front AND center: everyone wants to know about it

America is still trying to make up its mind about Islam, whereas Europe has already decided how they want to

We cannot isolate ourselves from society no matter how hard we try

We can and need to preserve our identity without taking the rights of others in order to inform them about Islam

We have to realize that America is our country

Muslims need to love America just as much as Prophet Muhammad (saw) loved Mecca from an Islamic perspective

An ideal community is the Medina model: Muhammad (saw) established the masjid as the center of the community and so the love of the mosque needs to be brought back to the community

The underlying point of hijra from Mecca to Medina was to worship freely: Americans have this, but are we doing so? Are we doing this right?

An ideal community is brotherhood

Speaker: Hadia Mubarak

emphasized that both genders have the responsibility to keep everyone in check

we need to evaluate the role of women in Islamic spaces

barriers in mosque are not traditional or Islamic

Speaker: Ayman Hammous

There are two types of fiqh

1. Fiqh al Jadid: New Fiqh فِق الجديد

2. Fiqh Al Qadeem: Old Fiqh فِق القديم

- We need fiqh that is relevant to the Muslim community

- We need sisters who can reach the point of writing fatawa

We hope that you found these notes beneficial. Next year we encourage you all to attend. It was really an amazing experience.

Sincerely,

Sarah and the MAS Media Team

The links:

Introduction to 3rd Annual MAS Conference

Speaking out Against the Massacre

2009-11-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

May Peace be Upon You,

My name is Nora Zaki and I am a student at UF. I am also a Muslim. After hearing about the mass shooting by Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan at Fort Hood, TX this past Thursday, I am just so shocked and upset. I want to express some comments from a Muslim perspective about this unfortunate event.

First, I want to express my sincere condolences to the victims of this horrible incident. Muslims pray five times a day, and so after each prayer, I will ask God to help the families of the victims and the Fort Hood community. I also express my prayers for the family of Maj. Hassan for I am sure they are dealing with a hard time too.

Second,I want to express my disgust and shame for what Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan committed. I know that the media will portray the unfortunate fact that he is a Muslim and I have already seen him being labeled a Muslim terrorist on several news websites.
The Council on American Islamic Relations was the first Muslim organization to denounce this act in the CAIR Statement which said, "No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer Army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured."

The circumstances regarding Maj. Hassan's harassment by fellow military members is unfortunate and discriminatory. But, no human being has a right to take the lives of innocent people. And, that goes for soldiers fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, too.
I am sure Maj. Hassan was upset by the fact that many innocent Muslims are killed by U.S. soldiers, but that doesn't justify him killing some people at Fort Hood, regardless if they are Muslim or not.

I just hope Muslim Americans realize how lucky they are to live in America. Truly, what a great country this is. I was born and raised here and have taken it for granted until I've learned more about how other Muslims are treated in other Muslim minority countries, and even Muslim majority countries. I don't agree with all of U.S. foreign policy, but I respect the values this nation was founded on and I respect the country America, and in fact, these values are complimentary to Islam. Hamza Yusuf, an Islamic scholar and convert, wrote, "Indeed, I have marveled at how most of what western society claims as its own highest ideals are deeply rooted in Islamic tradition."

Finally, I would like to end with a historical story, an encounter between different peoples. During the time when the Prophet Muhammad was revealing his message in Mecca, the most powerful clan realized that his message was challenging their unfair social order and polytheism which led to lucrative business for the clan. So, some of Muhammad's followers emigrated to Abyssinia, which is known as Ethiopia today. The Abyssinian king, who was a Christian, was known for his tolerance and "being respectful and fair with his people", writes Tariq Ramadan, author of In the Footsteps of the Prophet. Some emissaries from the clan that tried to persecute the Muslims tried to magnify the differences of the Muslims and Christians by presenting them to the the Abyssinian king. The Muslims told the king about their religion and he heard the meaning of what they said: "their God is the same, whatever the differences between their texts and our beliefs; their values, of respect and justice, are the same whatever the discrepancies between the religions' text. The king heard and welcomed those believers of another faith," writes Ramadan.

Muslims in America can relate to this story. America has allowed Muslims to live their lives seeking opportunity while maintaining their faith. Of course hardships and some unfairness exists, but Muslim Americans should be thankful nonetheless.

Muslims, like any other group of people, are a mixture of human beings; some of whom choose to do good and and some of whom choose to do evil. is a beautiful and perfect religion, but a few Muslims have distorted its teachings. Please do not confuse the religion with its followers, because they can be completely different.

"And be patient in adversity: for verily, God does not fail to requite the doers of good!" Qur'an ( 11: 115).

Nora Zaki

Muslim Youth for Truth Contributor

Where will your next 5 dollars go?

2009-11-11T19:21:00.000-05:00

Have you ever complained about having to go to school every day? Have you gone school supply shopping every year before school began? Now, I would like you to picture yourself not being able to go to school when you really want to; Not having a pencil and some paper to be able to do your work on when you need to.

What are YOU going to do when you find out that exact feeling of deprivation is going on every day around the world, and especially to fellow Muslim brothers, sisters, and families in Sierra Leone? Are you willing to help change that for young Sierra Leonean girls and boys in that real-life picture?

The West African country, Sierra Leone, went through a twelve-year civil war (1991-2002) which resulted in the deaths and maiming of tens of thousands. Francis Mo Roberts (formerly Mo Haidara), a native of Sierra Leone and FSU Law graduate, founded an organization called “Help Sierra Leone” to help the situation he saw upon his visit home. He said, “witnessing, firsthand, the daily plights of ordinary Sierra Leoneans, especially children, was very disheartening. During my trip, I visited schools, hospitals, orphanages, amputee camps and villages. These visits not only saddened and angered me, but they also motivated me to do all I can to help the people of Sierra Leone. I realized that with just a little help and generosity, we can change the life of children and families.” Check out pictures and more info: http://fsustudentbar.com/index.php/article/help_sierra_leone/ and http://www.jobeyme.blogspot.com/

Did you know that: with just $20, you can pay a grade-school child’s tuition for a full school year in Sierra Leone; with $50, you can pay for that child’s tuition and books for a full school year; and with $100, you can pay for that child’s tuition, books, uniform and shoes for a full school year.

The goal of this non-profit organization is to provide scholarships, food, clothes, shoes, school stationery and other necessities for the children and families of Sierra Leone. Education is at the heart of what Help Sierra Leone seeks to provide to children because it gives them hope in an otherwise hopeless society. Since its inception in 2007, Help Sierra Leone has offered over 100 full scholarships, donated money to local needy causes, donated rice to residents of a small village and an orphanage, donated clothes to new and expecting moms of a maternity hospital, donated shoes, bags, toys, and clothes to children and families.

I am calling on you all to join me and give what you can. Please donate and encourage your friends and family to do the same. With your help, not only can we send some children to school and feed some families, but we can actually change lives. I thank you in advance for your help and may Allah (swt) reward us all for even our smallest efforts!

So are your next $5, $10, or $20 going for candy, fast-food, shoes, accessories, etc. OR are you going to invest it in charity to be returned to you multiplied?

Safiah Afify

Muslim Youth for Truth Contributor

FSU Law Student

Everyone Has a Story: "Are you a terrorist?"

2009-10-03T22:16:00.000-04:00

“Are you a terrorist?” How do you think you would feel if the first day you chose to wear hijab (headscarf) in public someone you don’t know just randomly asked you that. Now, imagine if every other person you saw that day asked you that. Well, that was my first day of school. I‘m not going to lie, it was hard for me to keep myself from taking my hijab off. Everyone’s eyes were glued to me. People that I thought were pretty good friends just walked right by. I felt ashamed to be supporting my religious beliefs. It was crazy how so people just acted so ignorant. Some boys even tried hitting it off. The sad part is, I let everyone get to me. The next day of course I didn’t wear it. I thought, well if I just cover up the rest of my body it will be fine. Boy was I wrong. Sure, those annoying questions and stares went away, but my feeling of being ashamed didn‘t. It was a different type of shame though. Now, I felt ashamed for not wearing it. Like, I let not only myself, but Allah (God) down for letting everyone get to me. It was on that day I made the decision not let people make me feel ashamed for being who I was. I was going to wear my hijab, whether they agreed or not. Soon enough, the people who used to frown at me started smiling again. My friends realized I was still the same jokester I‘d always been. And the questions changed from “Are you a terrorist?” to “Hey what’s that thing your wearing?” and “What do you believe in?” Now, no matter where I go wearing hijab, I hold my head up high and look pass all the stares. I was content in what I believed in, and no one can take that from me unless I let them. That wasn’t going to happen.

~Cheyanne Lennon

Muslim Youth for Truth Contributor

Everyone Has a Story: "Who am I? It is within human nature to posses the quality of mercy. Was I human?"

2009-09-11T22:18:00.000-04:00

For 16 years I've only seen the part of the world that I wanted to, turning a blind eye on the part that gave me a guilty conscience. For 4 hours I expected to leave a world different from the one in which I lived in, only to realize that all I had to do was open my eyes to the truth that was right in front of me: reality was scary.

For a moment, I wanted to run, to escape the pain that pierced the bottom of my heart as I watched the homeless embrace the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that we had prepared. I was only aware of my conscience, finding its way out from the corners of my mind. It was yelling at me, accusing me for things I never thought I had to do with. It made feel responsible for the way in which they lived.

How did I sleep soundlessly every night, I thought, where these people slept on the cold ground? How did I bear the fact that my stomach was full beyond the max, while theirs lay hollow? Who was I? It is within human nature to posses the quality of mercy. Was I human?

Going to Project Downtown aided me in lifting my blindfold of a perfect America. Opportunity was plentiful, I thought, anyone who was on the streets was simply not working hard enough. At least thats what I told myself to keep my state of mind. Talking to so many different people, who before lived perfectly normal lives, immediately lifted that misconception. The story of their lives, seems just like the one of an ordinary person: A perfect plan gone wrong. While we had the resources to lift ourselves from the ensuing black hole, they just weren't as lucky.

Despite the gloomy environment, I noticed a flame of hope. Hope, that one day they too would be lifted from their misfortune and go back to college or obtain their dream job. Hope that their will be enough upcoming meals. Hope that the Project Downtown radiates with its genuine Humanitarian issues. I am more than honored to have participated in such a program.

Sally Kassem

Musilm Youth for Truth Contributor

Editor's Note: To learn more on how to get involved, please visit the website www.projectdowntown.org

Athletes During Ramadan?

2009-08-30T19:08:00.001-04:00

Asalamu’Alaikum brothers and sisters. Before I say anything on the topic, let me post a disclaimer that I am not, nor do I claim to be, a professional or expert on this subject. I speak only from my lifelong experience as an athlete, through trial and error, and any personal research I may have conducted. For that kind of advice please consult your own health professional. Also, everyone’s body is different, so what may work for me may not work for you.

Now, with that caveat out of the way, let’s talk training while fasting. There is no reason to cut physical activity during Ramadan if you go about it intelligently.

First, know your body, its limits, its warning signals, and its potential. The first rule of being a great athlete is to know and respect your body. Only focusing on cranking the weights and ignoring other factors, such as sleep, will result in minimal gain and more likely possibilities of injuries, catabolism, and just constant fatigue.

As far as nutrition goes, during Ramadan, I recommend increasing protein intake during Suhur and Iftar- or any other time you may eat. This is because while you are fasting, the body starts to catabolize and eat away muscle for energy. Increasing protein intake can help to limit this phenomenon. But still, don’t forget your carbs and essential fats.

Once that’s taken care of, we can move on. If it is the off-season for your sport, yet you still wish to train, you have the advantage of creating your own schedule. I would recommend timing your workout to one or two hours before Iftar. This way, you can train, then immediately after, you can eat and consume the essential nutrients you would need for recovery and sustenance- remembering to maintain increased protein intake. As far as how many days of the week you train with this schedule- that is up to you and how well you know your limits. Again, if it’s the off-season, you create your own schedule so take advantage of it and be smart with it.

If your athletic training is during the sport’s season and you are with the team, it may be a little bit more difficult- but definitely possible; I’ve done it my whole life without negative consequences. First, talk to your coach. S/he is your best friend on the team. Tell your coach as much prior to Ramadan as possible about fasting and how you shall be partaking in this. Assure the coach that this is not an excuse for mediocre performance because even during Ramadan you should be playing with full effort. Maybe, the coach may modify the practices a little bit to be closer to Iftar time. During practice, ask the coach for breaks whenever you feel the need. Don’t be afraid- your team is your family and they will understand. Don’t dress in a way that will cause you to overheat. And if you do feel tired, try to cool off a little before continuing. All the while you should still be working as hard as you would be while not fasting. Ramadan is not an excuse. Rather take it as an opportunity to increase you mental strength. Very few things can increase mental toughness like training on an empty stomach can. You will be respected for it- so again, do not be afraid or ashamed or embarrassed to talk to your coach and team. They need you as a player and will help.

After the practice, immediately consume high levels of sugary fruits (possibly blended into a shake) to replenish glycogen stores that were depleted throughout the day and practice. Then consume a high protein meal without forgetting your essential carbs and fat.

Insha’Allah with a little intelligent scheduling, playing your sport will be a breeze during Ramadan. If there are additional questions do not hesitate to post them. Insha’Allah I will answer with my humble advice.

Ramadan Mubarak and Asalamu’Alaikum.

Ashkaar Qazi

Muslim Youth for Truth Contributor

USF

So, I'm a girl that's gotta play sports and fast the same time....HELP!

2009-08-22T11:12:00.000-04:00

Sports and Ramadan may seem like an oxymoron to many. But, there is nothing wrong with keeping active during this holy month of fasting. Here, I offer some tips of how to exercise or participate in physical activity while remaining healthy and safe. These are based on my experience playing basketball as a high school freshman and common sense :-)

- You must be sure that your body can handle physical activity without any sustenance during the time you partake sports or exercise. So, it may be wise to consult a doctor and think about your current state of health and fitness.
- Having the proper gear/clothes is essential. As a Muslim young woman, speaking to other Muslim girls and women, wearing light but modest clothing is no problem. Exercise pants, a loose long sleeve shirt, an easy and light-colored scarf ( if you wear one), a hat and/or sunglasses, quality tennis shoes and sunscreen are appropriate and easy. Having a water bottle with you so you can rinse your mouth with water is good as well. And, applying chap stick or lip balm also will help to lessen dried lips and a parched mouth.
- If you are an athlete and practice with a team, you should tell your coach that you will be fasting for religious purposes and may need to take additional breaks. You won't be asking for an easy way out of practice, but simply telling your coach that you need to take it a bit easy for the next month during practice. This is also a great way to do dawah ( outreach) by explaining why you fast to your teammates and coach.
- When you complete your physical activity, it would be refreshing to go into a pool or take a cool shower. When you exercise, you lose water due to sweat. So, even though you cannot drink immediately to replenish your body internally, you can externally cool yourself down. And, it's fun to take a dip in the pool!
- Know your limits. Don't over exhaust yourself. If you are feeling really awful, then please stop. Allah swt will, InshAllah, give us all the strength during this Ramadan and give those whose bodies undergo more exertion, extra blessings. Ameen.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Nora Zaki

Muslim Youth for Truth blogger

So...What's the point of this thing?

2009-08-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

Picture, if you will, a group of youth, tweens, teens and college students, in Tampa, FL on a Saturday morning. They are helping their community. They are a diverse group. They are getting rid of stereotypes about themselves. They are Muslim and proud of it.

Welcome to the Muslim American Society (MAS) Tampa's new Media Movement. This aforementioned scene is what we, as members of this beginning group, hope will blossom and thrive. We make no bones about it: Muslims around the world are definitely in a tough situation now. They can no longer remain indifferent to the current social climate. Rather, they must stop waiting for the world to change. Instead, we firmly believe that it is the duty of every able-bodied Muslim to take initiative and change the world for its betterment, especially the youth.

The Holy Book of Islam, the Qur'an, reads: "Verily, Allah (God) never changes the condition of a people until they change themselves." (13:11)

We have decided that it's about time to step up to that challenge and take the lead. If we don't care about our future, who will?