My reflections on University life

My first day of university was like a school disco – music revelling from every corner of the campus. Was I at the right place? Manning up some courage, I took out an excel gum, bought for a scenario just like this, and descended to HW408 for my first lecture of the day. Students sort of gathered in small groups at the door, no one really talking to anyone. I was hugely excited about my courses but after seeing how everyone was dressed, I became a little frightened of what might be in store for me over the year. Why don’t students dress professionally in the house of learning? Everyone gets nervous before they start university, it’s perfectly normal. The lecture hall filled up quickly; the professor began his lecture.  I found that being confident was key and I needed to be proactive in class to make friends. Then something dawned on me which I like to share in this article.

The pursuit of knowledge – the investment of time, talent and money – is not to acquiesce a reputation or even to secure a job. By coming to university, we embark upon a sacred religious journey. The higher purpose of studying medicine, engineering, mathematics, business, language, politics and/or technology is to benefit us in our relationship with Allah.

Education Serves Allah

Allah calls us to seek knowledge in the broadest sense. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” [ Sunan Ibn Mâjah ].

All work done with the intention of pleasing Allah and following the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is a good deed and an act of worship. This means we are serving Allah by attending and doing well in university.

There are around 750 verses in the Qur'an that encourage us to think about the universe that surrounds us and all that has been created within it and placed at our disposal.

Allah says: “And when the Prayer is finished, then may you disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah: and celebrate the praises of Allah often that you may prosper” [ Sûrah al-Jumu`ah : 10]. Here Allah is commanding us to engage in commerce, investment, and economic development.

Allah says: “It is He who has made the Earth manageable for you, so traverse through its tracts and enjoy of the sustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him is the Resurrection” [ Sûrah al-Mulk : 15]. This verse alludes to agriculture, land development and excavation of natural resources. Allah has made us to live on the earth for the short duration of our lives and we are suppose to develop it, cultivate it and thrive in it. This is considered ibaadah when we do it for the sake of Allah - respecting His limits and seeking His pleasure.

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: verily in that are Signs for those who know” [ Sûrah Rûm : 22]. This refers to studying geography, anthropology, linguistics and tourism.

In the field of medicine, the Prophet said: “Allah did not send down a disease without sending down a cure for it” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]. This is why so many Muslims study science. Science helps us explore the creation of Allah and know Allah better through what He has sent down. As Muslims on campus, we should be motivated to study to know Allah. Allah is the source of all knowledge so the pursuit of knowledge should bring us closer to Him. Furthermore, Allah is honoured when we use our knowledge to serve others at the level of moral excellence.

A Bedouin once asked the Prophet (s.a.w): “What type of people are the best?” The Prophet (s.a.w) replied: “The best of them in moral character.” So go ahead, study the humanities - sociology, psychology, political sciences or public policy and inshaAllah Allah will reward you.

Our Education is Dawah

We are educating ourselves for Allah therefore our grades should be good and our attitude with others even better. The key to bringing Islam back and improving interfaith relations may well be a movement of Muslim students who are known for their intelligence, hard work, unswerving integrity and concern for the welfare of others. Those who do know Allah may be inspired to believe in Him; those who have stopped going to the Masjid may be influenced to reconsider Islam if they clearly see the quality and value of our education and services.

How America Lost Its Freedoms

The United States dissolved its Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments which ensures the many (admirable) freedoms of its civilians earlier this year. Here is how they did it... 

Effective this year (since the past 13 years), to catch "terrorists" Americans have compromised freedom of speech, religion, press, as well as the right to assemble, the right to protest and petition the government. The Americans have accepted and submitted themselves to unreasonable searches and seizures without warrants or probable cause. Subsequently, there will be no due process in America - no fair or speedy public trial or  indictment by grand jury. The accused are secretly and indefinitely detained without counsel or knowing the evidence against him/her. The accused are tortured and punished in captivity. 

 Every government inherently seeks to become a tyrannical dictatorship — the Founding Fathers understood this tendency for nations to slide into tyranny, and they designed a system of separation of powers as well as checks and balances to function as firewalls against runaway oppression. The Bill of Rights is what has made America uniquely capable of fending off tyranny and maintaining some semblance of balance between the People and the government.

The Bill of Rights was a critical firewall that prevented the federal government from crossing the line into tyranny. Each right described in the Bill of Rights was meant to be an immutable, permanent right that could not be revoked, nullified or infringed. The real enemy of the US and traitor to the People are the government officials and media personnel who have actively overturned these sacred rights deliberately. 

What's next? The US government will take away our right to grow food in our backyard, seek homeopathic medicine, blog, own private property, refuse vaccination, have babies, home school our children? Will they stop at nothing? Will we say anything? 

Back to School - Beware!

Well, I couldn’t very well write about the final days of August with summer school ending and

moving into my new place without writing about what is on many minds this week – back to school!  Yes, the post-vacation glow is over, the sleeping in and seeing new landscapes (I hit the stunning shores of Halifax and PEI), the endless family time looking at whales, wondering if we could jump in for a swim with them. What has replaced those activities?  Mentally, it is anxiety of keeping up with all the readings. To be fair, I am reading some pretty interesting stuff this semester from Public Policy making to novels like Truth and Bright Water, Good Soldier, Dracula, Stone Angel, Obasan, Three lives and Women in White etc. Basically I am learning how messed up the government and lives of ordinary people are without Islam (can you spell depressing for me with a capital "D"?).  On a plus note, now I have a lot of blogging ideas to write about but I can't find the time for any of that honestly. I have caught a bad case of exhaustion. Anyone who said they got bored in summer and couldn't wait for school to start should be put in jail. Are you happy now? 

Then, it’s the “WOW, this is early (I have to be at work at 8 a.m.), but I can’t quite go to bed on time, but I feel so tired and weepy” - physical ailments, my flu and sinuses won't go away. The stress of finding a new hijab to wear everyday (or at least, every other day), the realization that if I leave just five minutes late from work, I will be half an hour late for class. The drag of walking to the bus stop - I wish I had my licence. I wish I was not at the mercy of my professors for grades. I think the only thing that is working out for me is my husband's innovative and nutritional lunches, which he packs for me everyday - Allah bless his soul - alhamdulillah for him! In fact three cheers for him mashaAllah for keeping me alive, so far. 

When you are mentally and physically worn out, its very likely that you are emotionally and

spiritually crashing as well. I know believe me, it is hard to go from zero to a hundred and ten percent in one day. You must have been licking Canada's best ice cream at Cow's Ice cream parlor one day and the next day you are playing superwife, teacher, coworker, student, notetaker, cook all at the same time is a bit pushing your limits - for the worst. Don't feel beat up, even if you are. Don't put your guard down for shaytaan. Don't give up praying!

Though we may justify putting it off, Salah - if prayed wholeheartedly with total remembrance of Allah is a real stress buster. As life presses and demands more of you and from you - you have to be in three places at once, don't be frightened or overwhelmed scurrying around unable to accomplish everything on your list.  It is not the end of the world, literally! Take your eyes off your planner and phone, stacks of papers and chocolates and turn to Allah. You don't have to be alone, at the mercy of our own abilities, ground yourself in Allah. He never slumbers, never tires (ayat al kursi, hello!)
Allah will make something good come out of your messy, over-hectic schedule and commitments. Make these tests you are experiencing your testimony on the Day of Judgement. You didn't sign up for this crash course in being a full time student with a job. No, Allah enrolled you in it. He has taken all the little things that irk you and rewoven it into your curriculum. Why? So He can hone out your best qualities. Find a blessing in every challenge, its bound to be there. 


We get too caught up with our lives that we forget the purpose of our lives - to pray. The Sahaba

(r.a) prayed and then kept on praying. They continued to bring their every need before Allah. Just a few days ago the weather in Toronto was excruciatingly humid. Instead of whining about how drenched our clothes were in sweat, did anyone of us step aside to pray? Whenever bad weather struck Medina, everyone in the city would come out to offer Salat al Istiskha - Umar (r.a) himself or Abbas (r.a) would led the congregation before Allah. Their strength was not their own body or minds but the unmatched Power and Greatness of Allah. They rested their burdens confidently in the Might of Allah and His Grandeur. Thus, in everything they were successful for Allah's refuge is the only true refuge. 


So I just wanted to say, in the back-to-school storm when homework is raining like cats and dogs and when your part-time job is also drowning you in a sea of work, take shelter in salah -  in it and through it, Allah will give you relief, aid and escape (aameen). 

ps. I still miss the whales

"Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allah is Knowing of what they do" - Qur'an, 24:41 

Do you know your Tasbeeh?

The Choice of A Lifetime - Dedicated to My Mom

The 20 something Muslim women today are college going, far reaching, career oriented, switching between diets and fashions…seeking heartfelt romances and lasting adventures. We don’t have time, and nor do we aspire to become diaper changing, food-making, laundry-folding, messy moms and boring housewives. The truth is, many of us are running away from these labels. Being a mom and a wife is definitely not the highest paying job in the world; it is also not the most respected job in the world. What will my friends think if I told them I want to get married and raise a family after graduation? They will think I am a no-brainer, pathetic, loser!

A mother’s routine may feel very mundane but her impact on society is massive. The geniuses, the philanthropists, famous celebrities – anyone who has ever made a positive difference in the world was once a child molded into a meaningful person by his or her mother. Christina Pirello wrote for the Huffpost, “Children are living messages we send to the future.” And rightly so, we are all by-products of our mothers; vessels for their values and manifestation of their goodness.

If we go down memory lane and recall all the little things our mothers did for us, we would only feel so lucky to fill their shoes one day. Who fried us smiley faced eggs? Cut out our cards, decorated our room with pink or blue? Who dressed us up and waved us good-bye every morning? Our mothers filled our love tanks all the way to the top when they downed us with chocolates and encouragement. Our mothers are the women who brought faith into our lives. I know I would have never learned how to recite the Qur’an or understand its meaning if not my “Ammi”.  It’s a lifeline that still connects us. We take inspiration from our mothers to wear the hijab, to forgive and work hard.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it takes courage to be a mom – to endure the pains of pregnancy and labour, to nurse a sick and wailing baby till 2 a.m. it is mind numbingly boring and maybe even a tipping-point for some to burp, change, sleep, feed and repeat. But don’t let that fool you – being a mom will always be the bravest, utterly challenging and most difficult, full-time career anyone can never have. Mothers are mighty warriors, they are superheroes of human civilization: purification of our souls, preservation of our morals and goodly education cannot happen without our mothers' shelter, their prayers, sacrifices, watch and well-wishing. I am proud of mothers everywhere and awed by their commitment. I don’t buy it for a second that their job is ordinary. The highest reward in Islam is not for doctors, engineers or lawyers; near Allah, mothers make the claim to the biggest pay cheque - Paradise. We all know too well the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) that “Paradise is at the feet of a mother” (Al-Tirmidhi). Society may no longer give due credit to mothers for their contribution but Allah has enjoined reverence and gratitude to their position for eternity.  

According to Child Welfare Committee 2004, nearly 100,000 children live without their parents in some form of shelter homes or government custody. This number does not include children who spend a majority of their time in day-care facilities or in front of television and computer technologies. What happens to children when they do not receive their mothers’ attention and love? According to Mental Health Canada, an estimated 10%–20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder. The number of 12 to 19-year-olds in Canada at risk of developing depression is 3.2 million. Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies states, “Only 41% of children who do not receive direct attention and care from parents graduate from high school as compared to 81% of children who do.” It is safe to conclude that without a mother, children are more likely to become sick, regress and engage in delinquent behavior. It seems only women can bring an end to the violence, ignorance and chaos rampant in the world today by simply being good mothers.