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On the Corruption of Religious Practice Through Guilt
You will not find perfection. Take a look around you. I assure you that you will not find it. Look within you – there, you’ll also very certainly not find it. You know this best. It’s easy to let guilt take over you. Guilt that will slowly eat at your practice of Islam, and then, sometimes, at your faith. When you do not see yourself as what you imagine a perfect Muslim to be, you may start to slowly pull away from that part of your identity. In these moments, it’s very important to remember that, in Islam, perfection is not expected from you. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger SAW having said: “By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence, and He would replace [you by] those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.” [Sahih Muslim 2749] It’s very difficult to sit down and read from the Qur’an when you only expect to be called out by it. But when you ignore God’s Word out of embarrassment, you also miss out on the many hopeful reminders it offers. Missing out on these reminders means you forbid yourself the opportunity to get better. Moreover, we can only choose to ignore God’s words and His commands for a short while. Sooner or later, death will find you, and you will face it. So, do good. Fulfill your obligations. While you may not be the perfect Muslim you wish you could be, practicing your obligations as a Muslim is a commitment you make throughout your life. Do not let the wrongs you commit be your only commitment. Remind yourself of Allah’s SWT words: “As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an 25:70] Additionally, remind yourself that life is a cycle of good and bad. This cycle does not end, because it is not meant to. Embrace it. On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junadah RA, the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Have taqwa (consciousness) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people.” [Hadith 18, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi] And remember, again and again, that the Qur’an exists to offer you hope: “Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. But whoever comes with a bad deed will be punished for only one. None will be wronged.” [Qur’an 6:160] In desperate moments, it is also immensely important to remember that we need God and that God is free of need. Flip the script in your mind. Think about how your wrongs are wrongs against yourself, not only against God. This will make you want to match your wrongs with the good you do. Fulfilling obligations for external reasons can often feel like a chore. However, when you remember that they are for yourself, they can feel like self-care. God made the journey easier for you by giving you hope through His Book. What comes next is you making the most out of that hope. God does not need what you offer Him (see verse below). You need it. “Moses added, “If you, along with everyone on earth, were to be ungrateful, then [know that] Allah is indeed Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.”” [Qur’an 14:8] Be grateful for the hope that Allah SWT inspires in you. Be grateful to Him for allowing you to commit continuous sin, yet still offering you an opportunity to return to Him. Be grateful for the way He made repentance, redemption, and the possibility for sin to be temporary. You are not expected to stop sinning. You are also not expected to stop praying, giving zakat (charity), and fulfilling other obligatory acts. There will be two forces pushing against you in life, but ultimately, you are the one to choose your path. If the force of evil destroys the other completely, it is only because you allowed it to do so. So, remain strong and rely on the hope Allah SWT gives you. Crimson Soil
Tania Rahman What do you see, crimson soil? You absorb the blood of the innocent children killed by the hunger for power and land Instead of rain, does the blood of people nourish the olive trees now? Do they disintegrate the same way any other body does? Are you more gentle with them than the people in this world? Do you give them a refuge that they couldn’t find in this world? Are they resting in peace? Do innocent lives matter more to you than to us humans? Are you the silent scroll of history who knows the true counts of the lost innocent lives? Cookie Chronicles
Soundous Louardiane Khansa had a problem. She needed 20 cookies for the next MSA council meeting. After profoundly reflecting on this matter for about three seconds, she resolved to query the grandma’s legacy group chat. Now this wasn’t just any old group chat (pun unintended): it was where all the greatest food lovers on the MSA council gathered to discuss… food. Khansa thought it was the perfect place to ask, and she was right. Not five minutes had passed before she received a positive reply from the MSA’s unofficial cookie caterer, Ainaa. Ainaa had an impressive track record: she had provided cookies for at least three fundraiser events this semester and won the MSA Charity Week Bake-Off (ma sha Allah, may she be rewarded for all her efforts!) A few minutes later, Sumayya and Kenda also volunteered. Kenda wondered why only 20 cookies were needed, since more than 30 people (209 according to some (dis)reputable sources) were expected at the council meeting. Khansa revealed the purpose of the 20 cookies, but quickly redacted her reply at the insistence of the MSA secretary Zoyeb, who wanted to keep it a government secret. This narrator was not sworn to secrecy and therefore has no qualms about disclosing that the cookies were meant to be a prize for the winners of an MSA council Family Feud game. It was decided that Ainaa would bake 10 regular chocolate chip cookies and Kenda would bake 10 white chocolate chip cookies. A brief discussion followed on the importance of using good quality (organic) ingredients, and it was unanimously agreed upon that our ummah deserved the best (and healthiest) food options. The cookie verdict was then changed to Kenda pledging to bring 20 brookies, and that was that. Or so everyone thought… The next evening, Kenda had some bad news: she had a lot of assignments due that week, so she didn’t think she’d be able to make it to the council meeting, let alone bake for it. Ainaa immediately stepped in to save the day; she would bake 20 chocolate chip cookies. Kenda was very appreciative, but she also felt bad because Ainaa was always baking for the MSA, but Ainaa strongly reassured her (in caps lock) that she was happy to help. They briefly turned on Zoyeb, wondering why he couldn’t bake the cookies himself (since he didn’t have any exams), but he quickly defended himself by providing a long list of assignments that he had to complete, and that appeased them. Ainaa then proceeded to question the need for cookies at all and was reminded that the winners needed a prize. Sumayya offered once again to bake the cookies, but Ainaa said it was all good and she would do it, and that was that. Or so everyone thought… An hour later, Ainaa quit. She finally came to her senses and realized that she had five exams and three assignments to work on, and therefore, no time to bake. There was no cause to worry, however, because Sumayya, the cookie warrior, bravely took on the task. And that was that (for real this time). Sumayya ended up making two types of cookies because she didn’t have enough of some ingredients for a full batch. The cookies also (accidentally) turned out ginormous, but no one was complaining. Sumayya claimed that, although she had tried unleashing her inner baker, the three batches she made proved that she was no baker at all and that the task should be delegated to someone else next time. This, of course, is an entirely subjective opinion, and this narrator, having tasted Sumayya’s cookies, can confidently state that they turned out just fine. Ainaa and Kenda flocked to encourage and console Sumayya in a beautiful show of sisterhood, and she stopped worrying about the cookies. At the council meeting, the MSA Family Feud game was played (many claimed that it was rigged, but we shall give the organizers the benefit of the doubt in a show of Islamic spirit). Team A was ahead and about to win, but Team B took the victory right from under their nose in an incredible turn of events. It was a perfect storm of doubled points in the last round and the right question asked to the right person. Team B enjoyed their prize cookies. Ainaa and Sumayya did not get to enjoy the prize cookies, as they were, in an unfortunate twist of fate, part of the losing team. Kenda missed out on the whole thing because she was busy with her assignments (may Allah give her, and everyone else, the strength to get through). Khansa and Zoyeb were quite happy with how things turned out. And that’s how the cookie crumbled. It’s More Than Daylight Savings: Silent Causes of Exhaustion
By: Rumia Owaisi It’s More Than Daylight Savings: Silent Causes of Exhaustion The clocks have fallen back, exams and assignments are coming in full swing, and we’re all exhausted. It's just that time of the year again, right? Well, maybe it’s not so simple. In this post, I’m going to share three underlying causes of exhaustion and how to address them. 1. Weakened Immune System Although it may not hit you until you’re actively feeling sick, your immune system is constantly fighting off viruses and other intruders. If you frequently feel tired, it may be because your immune system is working in overdrive. Here are some ways to support immune system function: a. Sleeping: I know it’s cliché, but trust me! I’ve been in school for a long time, so I know the challenges, but please try to prioritize sleep as much as possible. b. Getting vitamin D levels checked: Most Canadians are deficient in vitamin D. As students, a lot of us are now in class before the sun comes up, and out of class after the sun goes down, leaving us even more vulnerable to this deficiency! Consider getting bloodwork done to see if you’re low in vitamin D (which you likely are) and take supplements accordingly. c. Eating nourishing foods: Broths, soups, and whole fruits and vegetables are the way to go when looking to support immune system function. Keeping up with the latest wellness trends, on the other hand, can get overwhelming and complicate things! Eating an apple a day can genuinely help with keeping the doctor away. 2. Keeping Tabs Open In Your Mind When considering the sources of your exhaustion, it’s easy to focus on the physical causes and symptoms. While it’s important to watch out for the physical signs of overworking yourself (it’s not a flex to constantly hit the gym without resting), a lot of us may overlook the physiological toll of mental exhaustion. Keeping 57 tabs open in your mind catches up to you in expected ways and contributes to bodily fatigue. Consider: a. Getting things done in the moment: If you remember tasks at a time when it’s possible to get them done, try to complete them immediately so you can focus your mental capacity on larger tasks. Examples include the daily prayers, emails, and washing the dishes. b. Mixing things up: Being in school is an inherently intellectual activity. Giving your mind a break and engaging with your creative and practical side can free up some much-needed headspace. Doodling, baking, drawing, and fixing things around the house are all examples of activities that can help with relaxing the mind. 3. Carrying Emotional Weight While most of us act like we’re okay, many of us carry emotional weight from all that is unfolding in our lives. Over time, suppressing emotion can feel suffocating and result in prolonged periods of bodily tension. I’ve been there before myself, and don’t suggest just holding it all inside. Instead, consider: a. Feeling things out: While it may be counterintuitive, spending time sitting with your feelings can help with letting your emotions process and flow through you. This way, uncomfortable emotions are less likely to linger and weigh you down for long periods of time. b. Channeling your energy into movement: Emotions are meant to push us toward something. For example, anger may motivate us to stand up for ourselves. Many times, however, we may not be able to act on our emotions in the moment and end up bottling them up, resulting in tension. Releasing emotion somatically through engaging your posture, de-clenching your muscles, stretching, and doing anything that will support your circulation can immensely help you physically feel better. c. Reaching out for support: You are not on this journey alone! Talking your situation out with somebody trustworthy can help with processing emotion and problem-solving :) There is free counselling available through UofT Health and Wellness, as well as through the Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto. |
