Praying at home or the masjid, and then sneaking out to party at a nightclub. Wearing hijaab around family, and then turning into a fashion diva at school.One person, two worlds, and a desperate struggle to juggle them both.
 
This is the reality which many Muslim youth in the West are living in. We can call them "cultural chameleons," or describe them as having"split personalities." Whatever the label, the situation is the same… with often tragic consequences. We are not just referring to your community brother or sister's devastating death, but rather we refer to the many grievous examples of teens running away from home, getting into drugs, and much more -the worst of which is turning away totally from Islam, rejecting it completely. We are not exaggerating. It's a reality, and those who deny it are either willfully blind or pitifully naive.
 
It is time that we addressed the situation seriously. First there must be awareness of the reality and knowledge of its causes. The next step is to know what to do when faced with it directly (hint: it does NOT involve killing anyone). And finally, we need to know how to nip the problem in the bud - an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
 
Causes
 
Although each situation is different, there is a general list of what can cause this worst nightmare of any Muslim parent.

    * Lack of strong Islamic foundation in the home. As with most things, it begins in your own backyard. If you aren't raising your children as Muslims with a strong understanding of what it means to be a Muslim, then you can't expect them to be happy about having to follow strict rules all the time. It's also important to note the difference between Islam and culture. If you don't pray five times a day, or encourage your kids to pray, yet freak out if a female family member walks out with her head uncovered, then you really need to straighten out your priorities.

    * Double standards. Related to the first point, here we're talking about when parents are setting a double standard for themselves and their children: in public they seek to ingratiate themselves within Western society, to achieve the Western societies dream of big house, fancy car, and being best friends with the Joneses next door; yet at home they are obsessed with their children following cultural practices that aren't even necessarily Islamic. It should be no surprise, then, when the children follow in their parents' footsteps and start living a double life themselves.

    * Lack of personal understanding/ conviction of Islam. This is another major factor in youth straying from Islam. Again related to the first point - if you don't have a strong Islamic foundation in the home, then there will be most likely a lack of understanding of what exactly it means to be a Muslim. If you don't know the reason behind something, how likely are you to do something if you view it as restrictive and interfering? If you tell your children to pray because if they don't they'll burn in Hell, then trust me, they won't be doing it out of love for Allah - they'll be doing it out fear… and not even fear of Allah, but fear of you. Similarly, if you tell a girl she has to wear hijaab because otherwise she'll "stain the family's honour" or some-such rubbish like that, then once she's exposed to the Western mentality of freedom (and total lack of anything resembling honour) she won't give two hoots about the hijaab or your notions of honour. On the other hand, if your child has a personal relationship with Allah and knows exactly why we do some things and stay away from others, they will be far more willing to tough it out and continue to obey Allah.

    * General teen rebellion. Sometimes, teens can just be idiots. Common sense is a rare thing amongst youth these days, and it shows… sadly, some take it too far - beyond the streaked hair and pierced bellybutton (hey, as long as it's covered up by hijaab, be cool with it!) - and make some really bad choices. The Messenger of Allah[pbuh] said: "Youth is a kind of madness"[Hadith].Being intoxicated by the passions of youth we never ponder for a moment that we shall we questioned by Allah.

    * Insecurity. This is something which affects people everywhere, regardless of their race, religion, or even age. The desire to want to "fit in" and become an accepted member of the crowd is human nature - sometimes it can be a good thing; other times it can be so harmful and detrimental. For girls, the issue is often about body image and beauty, which is why hijaab becomes such a struggle. For guys, it can be about proving their "manliness" (by pursuing other girls, or getting involved in 'tough guy' activities like drinking alcohol, drugs etc.). Build your child's self-esteem at home and let them know that they don't need to seek approval from anyone except Allah. Compliment your children, praise them, let them be confident in their faith and in themselves. Tell your son that he's cool. Tell your daughter that she's beautiful. Don't demean them or belittle them; honour them as the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) honoured his daughter Fatimah (radhiAllahu 'anha) by giving her his sitting place.

    * Bad companions. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "The example of a good companion and a bad one is the bearer of musk and the worker on the bellows. A bearer of musk would give you some, you might buy some from him, or you might enjoy the fragrance of his musk. The worker on the bellows, on the other hand, might spoil your clothes with sparks from his bellows, or you get a bad smell from him." (Hadith-Al-Bukhari and Muslim).Undoubtedly, the kind of people your kids hang out with will have a huge influence on them - especially at school, which is what a teen's life pretty much revolves around. Non-Muslims (and even so-called "Muslims") who have totally different standards morality-wise will definitely make life difficult for your kid: challenging Islam and belittling all that it stands for. While we know that many will say it's a great Da'wah opportunity, or that it builds character and can be a way to strengthen emaan, the reality is that not all youth are strong enough to emerge the company of such people unscathed. Sadly, we have lost too many of the younger generations to Shaytaan's misguided lifestyle, and we can't use a minority of successful young Muslims to deny that reality. The Messenger ofAllah[obuh]informed us that: "A man follows his friends religion, you should be careful whom you make friends with."[Hadith Abu Dawud/Tirmidhi]

    * The "Adolescent" Myth. This mentality is one of "I'm young, let me have fun and then I'll be religious when I'm older!" It's an attitude of irresponsibility, immaturity, and misunderstanding of Islam and the purpose of our lives. By absolving oneself of responsibility, it's easier for teens to indulge in the haraamwithout feeling so guilty about it. Thus, it's obviously very important to instill a sense of responsibility and dutifulness to Allah in our youth - basically, to abolish this kind of mentality. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: " An intelligent person is the one who calls himself to account and and does deeds to benefit him after death and a foolish person is he who follows his desires and hopes from Allah"[Hadith-Tirmidhi]

 Symptoms
 
How do you know if your child, your sibling, or your friend is a "cultural chameleon"? It can be difficult to spot it, but however much a kid can try to sneak around, those closest to them can usually figure out what's going on. Here are some of the symptoms of the double-life syndrome.

    * Change of attitude - Increased rebellion, aggression, and disrespect are major red flags. If they're behaving like that towards you, do you think they won't behave like that towards Allah? In fact, if they are acting like that with you, then already they're showing their defiance of Allah! Taqwa and good behaviour to parents go hand-in-hand: "And your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents." (Quran-Surah al-Israa, verse 23)

    * Shows dislike of Islamic practices ("Yuck, hijaab is so old-fashioned," "What's the point of praying? It's stupid!" etc.) This is particularly obvious in a household that is generally religious, or has more than just a tentative connection to the Deen.

    * Secretive, sneaky. It's important for parents to keep an eye on their kids and know where they are and what they're doing. If you notice that your child is being secretive, sneaky, and generally deceptive about their activities, then it's a major red flag that your son or daughter isn't doing the right thing. This goes for pretty much all families, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, but for us Muslims it means more than just that your kid is with bad company or doing bad things: it means that they're losing their connection to Allah and to Islam, and this in itself is far worse than whatever sinful activities they're engaged in.

Solutions

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Educate your child from a young age, build a strong (but loving) Islamic environment within the home. Make them aware of their identity as Muslims, emphasize pride in their Muslim identity. However, we can't say that prevention is the only thing that we can do - the reality is that even children who were raised in a strong Islamic environment can be "lost" in the Dunya… and this is the reality we have to deal with, not deny.

Having said that, here are some practical solutions on dealing with such situations.

    * Do not react angrily or violently. If you find out your kid is lying to you and is leading a double life, do NOT freak out at them, scream at them, hit them, etc.
      This will :
      1) scare them,
      2) reinforce their belief that "Islam/ Muslims are evil/ violent", and
      3) not be productive in any way, shape, or form.

    * Take some time to cool off after you find out. Pray anaafilah (voluntary salaah), and make lots of dua i.e. ask Allah to grant you the patience and strength to deal with the situation.

    * Talk to them. Ask them what has led them to do the things they've done, what their state of belief is (cases differ drastically: some teens still have emaan and are just confused; others go to the point where they deny Islam completely), and how they feel about their situation in general. Try not to judge them; the key is to listen to them and know where they're coming from. This will give you information on how to best approach them when the time comes to try and "fix" things.

    * Serious counselling may be needed. If you feel as though you are unable to deal with the situation correctly yourself, contact a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and understanding

Imam,Moulana or Shaykh in your area (or use the Muslim Youth Helpline). It's best to have someone involved who not only knows the Islamic perspective of things, but can also relate to and understand your child. There must be someone whom your child can feel comfortable enough to work with/ talk to if they don't feel they can open up to you (the parents).

In this stage, there has to be a lot of give-and-take, questions-and-answers. If you already had a long talk with your child previously and asked them all those questions, then now is the time to bring forth your feelings. If you haven't had the talk, then now is the time to initiate it.

Counselling is a long and sometimes painful process, and only one step forward towards healing. One cannot expect things to change overnight, and it will be very difficult - all I can say is, trust in Allah and look to the Sunnah for help. Have emaan, taqwa, and lots of patience and forbearance. Constantly turn to Allah in du'a, especially the last third of the night. Indeed, this is something that should be done at all times… it is a means of prevention, as well as part of the path to the cure.

Allah Most Wise and Most Merciful says:

"No one despairs of solace from Allah except for those who are unbelievers"[Quran12:87]

Source: Received as an Email

by Muhammad Alshareef

Many of those at Hajj may find themselves sitting in a tent thinking to themselves, “Now what do I do?” Some pick themselves up and go around doing things pleasing to Allah; others may not capture the moment due to inexperience.

So here is a list of beneficial things to do during your Hajj trip. If you are not going for Hajj, why not forward it to someone who might benefit from it on his or her journey. At least they can practice number 26.

May Allah ta'aala make it a safe journey for all the hujjaj, aameen.

1. Smile in another Muslim’s face
2. Say salaam to strangers
3. Shake someone’s hand and ask about his/her health
4. Buy tea for someone
5. Offer to get someone’s groceries
6. Sit with a Hajj group from another country and ask about Islam in their village
7. Carry someone’s bags for them
8. Guide someone ill to the infirmary
9. Shun vain talk
10. Recite talbiyah loudly, encouraging others
11. On the days of Eid, walk through the tents reciting talbiyah loudly reminding others
12. Gather stones for people
13. Offer to throw on behalf of unable hajjis
14. Guide people to the Jamarat
15. Lower your gaze
16. Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabaa
17. Read Qur’an with the tafseer
18. Do the authentic dhikr of the morning and evening
19. Make du’a during your sajdah
20. Stand to the side of a gate and offer people water/tea as they leave
21. Give major attention to shy people in your group
22. Remind people of patience, why they came here, and the example of our ‘ulama in Hajj
23. Explain a Hajj khutbah you may have heard to those around you
24. Explain the importance of purifying ones actions for the sake of Allah
25. Phone relatives (from Makkah) on Eid day
26. Make du’a for forgotten friends (and the author of this list)
27. Don’t allow Muslims to fight during Hajj
28. Help people find a place to sleep
29. During the heat, remember the unending torment of the Hellfire
30. Say Laa ilaaha illAllah, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer 100 times
31. Say the du’a of entering the market place when you go there
32. Give charity to those who sell meager things (i.e. sandals, eggs, etc.)
33. Attend the halaqas that are given in Mina
34. Stay for the 13th of Dhul Hijjah
35. Remind people to go home as better Muslims
36. Forgive people who wrong you
37. Talk to 10 different people from 10 different countries
38. Compliment someone sincerely
39. Visit the hospital and thank Allah for all that He has given you
41. Take young Muslims and invite them to sit with the elders. Make them the center of attention.
41. Give a tafseer class after salah / ask someone knowledgeable to deliver the class
42. On the days of Eid, offer perfume to those around you (for men only)
43. Ask about the health of senior women in your group. Make sure they are attended to.
44. Focus hard on helping those immediately near you
45. Take people to the slaughter house and help them or assist them in purchasing their slaughter coupons
46. Remember specific blessings Allah has bestowed upon you and say alhamdulillah
47. Pray to Allah using His 99 Most Beautiful Names (Al-Asmaa’ Al-Husna)
48. Use a miswak
49. Fill your pockets with candies and give some to the children you meet
50. Always hope for rewards from Allah for everything you go through during Hajj

 

Source: www.khutbah.com
Re-published with permission

To read the previous part: Click Here

By Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

Obviously, the death of a dear one causes boundless grief and pain for the family. However, the pain is eased when they are mentally and spiritually prepared to accept the inevitable will of Allah. A true Muslim also finds inspiration from the example of the Prophet (upon whom be Allah's blessings and peace) who had to cope with the death of many of his beloved ones, including his only son Ibrahim, whom he loved so ardently. When Ibrahim died, the Prophet (upon whom be Allah's blessings and peace) expressed his grief with these words, "Our eyes shed tears, and our hearts grieve, but we speak only in a manner that pleases the Lord. O Ibrahim! We are indeed deeply pained by your departure.!" (Reported by Muslim and Abu Dawud)

On another occasion, when the Prophet's grandson passed away, he sent word to his daughter saying, " Allah has taken what is rightfully His to take, and He gives what is rightfully His to give, and so be patient before the decree of Allah, and seek rewards from Him." (Reported by Bukhari).

A Muslim, therefore, exercises patience, and ensures that the dying is off to meet his Lord in the best manner.

Once the person has breathed the last, those attending to the mayyit should complete the following steps:

1. Close his eyes immediately. You may also pray in the manner that the Prophet (upon whom be Allah's blessings and peace) prayed when he closed the eyes of Abu Salmah when he died:
   
   
   
   Allaahummaghfir li (name of the person) warfa' darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeena, wakhlufhu fee 'aqibihi fil-ghaabireena , waghfir-lanaa wa lahu yaa Rabbal-'aalameena, wafsah lahu fee qabrihi wa nawwir lahu feehi.
   
   "O Allah, forgive [name of the person] and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave and shed light upon him in it." (Reported by Muslim)


2. Remove all the personal ornaments, jewelry or belongings such as rings, necklaces and dentures from the body.


3. Tie his chin to the head with a broad piece of cloth or band so that the mouth is not left wide open.


4. Tie both legs together with a band.


5. Cover the body with a sheet, preferably white, so that it is not exposed. The only exception is if the mayyit (deceased) is a male pilgrim, in which case the head should be left uncovered in deference to his starte of Ihram (consecration for Hajj).

Once death has been verified, all necessary steps should be taken to arrange a funeral without delay. Since it is most desirable that as many people as possible attend the funeral, all relatives and friends should be notified of the death.

According to the Qur'an, the faithful who face calamity, tragedy or death, should instantly recognize the sovereignty of Allah over life and death, and pray:

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ

Innaa Lillahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'un

"To Allah we belong and to Him is our return." (Al -Qur'an 2:156)

When a dear one passes away, a person tends to lapse into a state of despair and a feeling of helplessness. This is one of those times when the devil tries his best to cast doubts into a person's heart about Allah's decree, and prompts him to question Allah's wisdom. A Muslim should resist this temptation by immediately turning to Allah for strength and support.

Allahumma 'indaka ahtasibu museebatee, fa aajirnee feehaa wa abdilnee bihaa khayran minhaa

"O Allah! I seek rewards from You in my tragedy (by my patience to accept Your will without protest), so reward me, and follow up this tragedy with a beneficial outcome for me."

To read the next part: Click Here

By Caroline Corda 

Growing up in Dubai and being around Muslims all the time never made me feel different towards them, they seemed to blend in, and yes sometimes I would see hijabis and niqaabis in malls but gave little or sometimes no attention to it at all. I had Muslim friends that I could divide in 2 groups, one who either were practicing but never showed it much and the others who didn’t practice, I don’t think I had the third group who were open about their beliefs and came about doing dawah work.

I’m very fond of nature and animals, discovery channel and animal planet till today fascinate me. I was so content within to see things around me take its own course without worry, unlike people who were always caught up by some or the other stress.

Sitting alone on the patio looking up at the moon and stars, enjoying the sounds of the waves rushing towards the shore or sometimes being so calm that I would doubt I was at the same place. I would feel the sand in my feet and touch the rocks that I would sit on little did I realize that this content that I felt within would bring about a question in my life. That would take me to a whole different level that still takes my breath away.

I would bring home injured birds because I could not keep a dog or cat, ‘my house was too small and it would not be fair for the animals to be in such a confined space’ my mom would say, so I somehow forced her to buy me a rabbit, I got so attached to having pets around that learning their habits and watching shows on animal planet got me even more caught up with all of this. I would read about their habits and how they would take care of their young ones, and what mainly amazed me was that how I never heard on these shows of how animals would go in search of food and always come back without something, so who was taking care of them and their needs? I did believe in God so this just pierced my heart so deep and I started looking at all this in a much deeper way, I would look out of the window of my car not to see the buildings but to see the sky, the clouds, the trees, the flowers bloom, and when I would come to a point where I would be so filled with it inside me I would research more about this.

I was a girl who would attend Mass (Church Service) and Bible Study and I was even given a Quran but I guess I wasn’t so bothered about both, for me they were books from different religions and people are different they believe in different things and all that was fine for me. I never pushed it I never asked even though I then started to have Muslims who were getting too personal with their questions something I didn’t like and as such I would tell them to stay away with their beliefs. At the same time when I was given the Quran I showed it a friend who is a Hindu and she said don’t read it I have heard that people who do they become Muslim (she thought there was some spell in it) and I laughed and said well I don’t believe that a book would bewitch me and now that I have the Quran I will read and see what’s in it that was a challenge I took on but I didn’t care as much to read it from cover to cover I read in between and was ok with what I read.

But mainly all I did was ponder over what fascinated me, and all that fascinated me was creation, questions like how is it that my rabbit can understand me and my sparrow, but I can’t understand a single noise they make unless it’s a very disturbing noise then too I am I guessing what it is? So my sparrow likes to take an afternoon nap and would screech so loud if the TV was disturbing her. Yea that was funny but it also made me think about her intellect, it made me think about mans intellect how much he changed his life from the age of having no gadgets to the most sophisticated ones today, I enjoyed discovery channel because of this it gave me insight on how man progressed in various fields such as medicine, law, etc.

I was a rebel according to some or most people, I had a mind of my own did my own thing, I guess I never wanted to ever regret saying that if only I made that decision on my own I would not be upset of having taken that persons decision and as such I never asked for advice but asked for opinions. And in our families this is not respected unless you take a decision that would favor them.

As time went by then I started to look into religions and I made my decisions that Islam was the right one. Simple and made sense – tawheed never made sense in any other better than it did here. Cause I had to connect this to the most important thing that I admired so much…. I couldn’t believe that there had to be more that one who created this and manages it all so smoothly subhan Allah I still am amazed today.

So what really got me come to Islam was Allahs creation the beauty in it, Allahs wisdom in creating so much that I can feel to some extent but not fully understand. Why it is till date new species are still being found, strange species and how they survive in the places even man can’t go subhan Allah.

So please guys give some reverts a break and ask them the reason and not ask them with a question like I get all the time.

So Caroline how did you come to Islam is it because you didn’t believe Jesus was God, is it because you lived in a Muslim country and saw how the Muslims were?

Well my question to that I didn’t care at that time if it made sense of Jesus being God, and I grew up in a Muslim country where every second person was a Muslim, that too didn’t affect me either.

Allah chose to guide me differently and when I read the ayahs mentioning about the verses of how He created the moon, the earth, the animals and man that’s when I tear up cause that was my path to this beautiful religion. And it still works till today I admire nature but when my emaan is low I give few minutes to myself and just look at a tree or the sky (how difficult it is to find that thank Allah for that some don’t even have that) and subhan Allah that reminds me how Great our Creator is, so perfect in every way.

.....................................................................................................

Something to laugh about…

Spanish dog

My neighbors dog chases my cat and I stand in between both so he doesn’t attack my cat and tell him “No! No!” he doesn’t understand and his owner yells from the other side saying “He understands only Spanish”

Gift for you

One of my cats will bring a bug from the garden home, and I would joke with my mom and say “ see Ronnie has brought you a gift”, no one was there to see a bug he brought home one day so he went to the basement where my mom was walked in front of her she had to tell him to go upstairs and throw it he listened and walked up with it (no idea what he did with it then) so what I said to my mom about the gift was true he always brought it to show it to her.

Bodyguard and my little miracle

Zizou my other cat who is very attached to my mother never leaves her side unless she is sleeping alone in the room then he may leave the room depending on his mood. He sleeps on the bed touching his back towards her, don’t even bother to touch my mom or even move towards her side or he will snap at you, but if she is sleeping alone on the bed he might not even be there. He even chases the other cats from them… its more like “shes all mine”

One thing that is really good about him is that he like an alarm clock, at 10:45 - 11pm he comes to the bedroom cause that’s my moms time to head to bed so no matter where he is in the house at that time he comes to my moms bedroom and wakes her sharp at 7am.

Why is he my miracle boy!?…notice he never comes to wake anyone else up except my mom and he wakes her walking around her till she pets him.

For me it was different I had trouble with fajr I was not used to getting up and praying and my alarm was not really helping me get out of bed, those days he would come and wake me for fajr and would keep tapping my face slowly I never felt his paws, I would always cover my face completely under the covers, he would continue doing that till I showed him my face and got up that’s when he would go. He never walked around me to be petted there was no reason for him to come to my bed (with my mom he wants to be petted, Ronnie my other cat goes to my mom in the morning for her to put food, Bentley the 3^rd cat wait for my mom to get out of bed to let him out in the backyard)

But why did Zizou wake me, there was no reason I noticed that stopped as soon as my emaan got stronger and I was able to get up without much trouble Alhumdullah. He doesn’t do it any more

Translated by Muhammad Alshareef from the book Azzaman Alqaadim compiled by Abdulmalik Al-Qasim.

I was a teacher in the Qur’anic study circle at our neighborhood masjid at the time. I would see this young boy after Maghrib prayer who was about fifteen years old. He held a pocket Qur’an and sat alone reading from it. He wasn’t actually reading from it, he was just trying to make it seem as if he was. Now and again, he would shyly steal a few glances at us, curious to know what we were doing. Once in awhile, you would see him straining to make out what we were talking about. Every time I caught his eye, he would avert his head and continue with his recitation, as if he had not intended to look this way.

Day after day, he sat in the same reserved manner, revealing the same timid glance. Finally after Isha Salah one day, I resolved to confront him.

“As salamu alaykum. My name is Salman. I teach the Qur’anic study circle in this masjid.”

“And my name is Khalid.”

It was strange that he replied so fast, as if he had been waiting to share this piece of information for a long time and expected to be asked.

“Where do you study Khalid?”

“In the eighth grade…and I…I love the Qur’an a lot.”

Why did he add that last sentence?

Confidently, I asked him, “Listen Khalid, have you got any free time after Maghrib? We would be honored to have you join us in the class.”

“What? The Qur’an? The halaqah? Yes…why, yes of course (happiness overcame him). I’ll be there, in sha Allah.”

That night, I couldn’t think of anything other than this young boy and the haze that surrounded his behavior. Sleep would just not come. I attempted to interpret an answer for what I saw and heard, but there was none. A verse of poetry came to mind:

The coming days shall unravel the mystery And the news may appear from where you could never see.

I turned on my right side and slipped my right hand under my cheek:

O Allah, I have surrendered myself to You and to You I turn over my affairs.

PART II

Subhan Allah, the months were passing quickly. Khalid was now a regular in our Qur’an circle, energetic and successful in memorization. He was friends with everyone and everyone was friends with him. You could never catch him without a Qur’an in his hand, or find him in any other line in Salah other than the first.

There was nothing wrong with him except for his occasional long lapses of attention. There were times when his stoned eyes would reflect the fathomless thought going on in his mind. Sometimes we knew his body was with us, but his soul was somewhere else, suffocating in another world. Occasionally, I would startle him with a question. All he had was a mumble to reply with, and he would have been the first to admit its fabrication.

One night, I walked with him after class to the beach shore. Maybe his big secret might meet something equally large, relax somewhat, and release its distress and pain.

We arrived at the beach and traced the waves. The full moon was out. It was a strange sight. The darkness of the night found the darkness of the sea, with a lit moon in-between them.

I sat somewhat embarrassed at its intrusion, similar to my shyness towards Khalid right then. The rays of the silent moon rested on the silent waves of the sea. I stood behind the silent boy. The scene was silence.

It all shattered and crushed to the ground as the young boy fell to the bottom, bleeding his heart out with tears. I chose not to interrupt Khalid’s emotional release, perhaps the saltiness of his tears might help him relax and cleanse his distress.

After a few moments he said from behind his tears, “I love you all…I love the Qur’an…and those who love it. I love pious brothers, moral, pure brothers. But…my father…it’s my father.”

“Your father? What is wrong with your father Khalid?”

“My father always warned me not to hang around with you people. He’s afraid. He hates you all. And he always tries to convince me that I should hate you too. At any chance he gets, he tries to prove his point with stories and tales.

“But…when I saw you people in the halaqah reciting Qur’an, I saw something entirely different. I saw the light in your faces, the light in your clothes, the light in your words, even when you were silent I could see the light even then.

“I doubted my father’s tales and that’s why I would sit after Maghrib, watching you, pretending that I was part of the circle, trying to share in the light.

“I…I remember Ustadh Salman…I remember the time you approached me after ‘Isha prayer. I’d been waiting for that moment for such a long time. When I began the classes, my soul locked itself into a world of purity with your souls. I began the circle and was persistent. I wouldn’t sleep; my days and nights became Qur’an. My father noticed the change in my routine. He found out, one way or another, that I had joined the circle and that I was now hanging out with ‘terrorists’.

“Then, on a dark night…we were waiting for father to come home from the coffee shop, his daily ritual, so that we could all have dinner together. He entered the house with his hardened face and slaps of anger. We all sat together at the dinner mat. Silence settled on the gathering. As usual, all of us were afraid to speak in his presence.

“He knifed the silence with his roaring and immediate voice.

“‘I heard you’re hanging out with the fundamentalists.’

“I was caught. My tongue looped and failed. All the words in my mouth attempted to come out at the same time. But, he didn’t wait for the answer. He snatched the teakettle and threw it maliciously at my face. The room spun and the colors united before my eyes. I could no longer tell the ceiling from the walls from the floor, and fell.

“My mother held me. A damp cloth on my forehead reminded me of where I was. The vicious voice turned on my mother, ‘Leave him alone, or you’ll be in the same lot.’

“I crawled out of my mother’s lap and whimpered away to my room. He followed me down the corridor with the cruelest curses.

“There was not a day that he didn’t beat me in some way – curses, kicks, throwing whatever was nearest to his hand. My body had finally become a shiver of fear, grotesque colors formed all over. I hated him.

“One day while we were sitting at the dinner mat, he said, ‘Get up! Don’t eat with us!’

“Before I could get up though, he pounced immediately and kicked me in the back, making me slam into the pots. At that moment, lying there on the ground, I pretended to stand taller than him and shout back in his face. ‘One day, I’ll pay you back. I’ll beat you just like you beat me, and curse you just like you cursed me. I’ll grow up and become strong and you’ll get old and become feeble. Then I’ll treat you just like you treated me; I’ll pay you back.’

“After that, I left home and ran away. I just ran, anywhere, it didn’t matter anymore. “I found my way to this beach. It helped me wash away some of the sadness. I held my pocket Qur’an and began reciting until I could continue no longer because of my excessive crying.”

And here, a few of those innocent tears descended again, tears that sparkled under the moon like pearls under a lamp. I couldn’t say anything. The surprise had arrested my tongue.

Should I be aghast at this beast of a father, whose heart knew nothing about mercy? Or, should I be amazed at this patient young lad, whom Allah had wished guidance for and inspired with faith. Or, should I be shocked at them both, at the father-son bond that had broken, causing their relationship to transform into that of a lion and a tiger, or a wolf and a fox.

I held his warm hand and wiped away a tear from his cheek. I reassured him, prayed for him, and advised him to remain obedient to his father. I told him to remain patient and that he was not alone. I promised that I would meet his father, speak to him, and try to evoke his mercy.

PART III

That incident slipped further away with each passing day. I tried thinking of ways to bring up Khalid’s case with his father. How should I speak to him? How was I going to be convincing? How was I even going to knock on his door?

Finally, I collected my courage, rehearsed my plan, and resolved that the confrontation, or meeting, would be that day at five o’clock.

When the time arrived, I left for Khalid’s house with all my ideas and questions for his father dangling from my pockets. I rang the doorbell. My fingers trembled and my knees were melting. The door opened. There he was, standing in the shadow with his frowned lips and veins beating with anger.

I tried beginning with a candid smile hoping it might smooth out some of the wrinkles before we even started. He snatched my collar and jerked me towards him. “You’re that fundamentalist that teaches Khalid at the masjid, aren’t you?”

“Well…uh…yes.”

“God help me, if I ever see you walking with him again, I’ll break your legs. Khalid won’t be coming to your class anymore.”

And then, he mustered all the saliva in his mouth and spit on my face. The door slammed shut.

Slowly, I unfolded a tissue that was in my pocket, wiped what he had honored me with, and retreated down the stairs consoling myself. Allah’s Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam suffered more than this. They called him a liar, cursed him, stoned him with rocks and caused his feet to bleed. They broke his teeth and placed dung on his back and expelled him from his house.

PART IV

Day after day, month after month, there was no sign of Khalid. His father forbade him from leaving the house, even for the congregational prayer. He even forbade us from seeing or meeting him. We prayed for Khalid...until we forgot about him. Years passed away.

One night, after the ‘Isha prayer, a shadow walked behind me in the masjid and rested a familiar harsh hand on my shoulder. It was the same hand that held me years ago. The same face, the same wrinkles and the same mouth that honored me with what I was not deserving of. But something had changed. The savage face had shattered. The angry veins had subsided, belittled and still. The body looked tired of all the pain and conflict, weakened by sadness and grief.

“How are you?” I kissed his forehead and welcomed him. We took a corner of the masjid. He collapsed on my lap sobbing.

Subhan Allah, I never thought that that lion would one day become a kitten.

Speak up. What’s wrong? How is Khalid?

“Khalid!” The name was like a dagger piercing his heart, twisting inside, and breaking off. His head slumped.

“Khalid is no longer the same boy that you used to know. Khalid is no longer the generous, calm and humble young lad. After he left your circle he befriended a pack of evil boys; ever since he was little he loved to socialize. They caught him at that time of life when a youth wants to leave the house.

“He began with cigarettes. I cursed him, beat him, but there was no use; his body had grown accustomed to the beatings, his ears were used to the curses. He grew quickly. He started staying up with them all night, not coming home until dawn. His school expelled him. Some nights he would come home to us speaking abnormally, his face loose, his tongue confused, his hands shivering.

“That body, which used to be strong, full, and tender, passed away. What remained was a feeble worn frame. That pure frosty face of his transformed; it became dark and filthy. The scum of misguidance and sin clung to it. Those shy and simple eyes of his changed. They shot red like fire as if everything he drank or took showed immediately in his eyes like some sort of punishment, in this life before the next. Hostility and disrespect replaced that shyness and cowardice he once knew. Gone was that soft, respectful young heart. In its place grew a hardened center, like a rock, if not harder.

“Seldom would a day pass without incident. He would curse, kick, or hit me. Imagine it, my own son. I’m his father, yet he still hits me.”

After releasing all that, his eyes returned wet and bitter. But he added quickly, “I beg you Salman, visit Khalid. Take him with you. You have my blessing, the door is open. Pass by him sometime. He loves you. Register him in the Qur’an study circle. He could go with you on field trips. I have no objection. In fact, I am even willing to allow him to live in your homes and sleep over. The important thing, Salman…the important thing is that Khalid returns to the way he was. I beg you lad. I’ll kiss your hands, warm your feet, I beg you and beg you…”

He collapsed, crying and wheezing, into the memories of the grief and pain. I allowed him to complete everything he had to say. Then I addressed him:

“Despite what has passed, let me try. Brother, you planted this seed. And this is your harvest.”

Source: http://sisters.islamway.com

By Maryam Abdullah

This is the 1st and the 2nd part of Maryam's struggle to find her way to Islam.

I finally pulled it together and asked my husband to take three steps back. I told him that he almost succeeded in killing me the last time. I told him that he can kill me now, if he wants to, but that he will have to live with that and answer to God. I will be in a better place.

I then told him again to take three steps back. He did, I ran, picked up the little baby, and told my two year old and three year old to run, and they did. We went to the neighbor's house, and called a shelter. They picked us up. We never looked back. Allah saved us.

I was 27 years old. I started a journey of survival for my little family. I was in a new county, and new city. There were no mosques in the area. I was at the mercy of the hands that were willing to help us. I went to the churches that we were told to go to. And we continued to survive.

During those years, I worked full time, and eventually went to school while rearing my children. I never forgot what the sisters had taught me. There were so many times when we needed a miracle, to get food, or keep our heat, and little by little, miracle by miracle, one day at a time, we found ourselves doing better. It was 20 years of a very rocky road.

And the dramas of life did not end at the shelter. But Allah was there for us, every step of the way, even if we did not know how to worship Him or understand Islam. And I never forgot the story of Lady Hajar. That is what kept me going when I did not have enough money for food, or shoes for my children.

I remembered. But I did indeed venture off. I dedicated myself to learning the truth about God. I studied every religion I could, and read every scripture I could find. I was not satisfied with contemporary Christianity. I studied the history of Christianity, and found the truth.

The history will teach the inquirer, about how the Abrahamic religion was reintroduced by a wonderful teacher and messenger, and this message became merged with the other religions of the land.

A man and prophet who will one day return to us. The hope is to understand the real message through all of the layers of additions and omissions to the teaching that he wanted his followers to understand. And it may be impossible to grasp it from what we have left.

So, where do we turn for truth? I had studied Sikhism, Buddhism, several versions of Christianity, Hinduism, and read so many scriptures. All of which had become distorted over time. I continued to have an unquenchable hunger to live a spiritual life...but I was lost. I even tried new age philosophy and how to direct my own life… but this too was futile.

My life had improved dramatically. I was now employed as a doctor and able to pay my bills, and my children were older now. By the time I was ready to graduate, I was also ready to make one final search of my heart and my mind.

But I wanted something more than just another religion. I wanted a way to live close to God… in Reality. And the only way to do that is to submit to the will of God. The ultimate secret. And I had forgotten my Islam, the Quran through this search. So strange. But my journey led me to a friend that is truly the friend of Allah. I know that Allah has been leading my journey all the while.

In July of 2006, I started my post doc position at a state mental hospital and worked on a unit with a clinical team. On the team was a Muslim psychiatrist. We had to work together and discuss patients. Somehow, our conversation turned from patient care to religion, and I shared with this person my history with Islam.

We began talking some more, and the memory of those days, more than 20 years ago. I began remembering all the years of struggle, and all the times when "Divine Order" seemed to take over and care for me and my children when we could not care for ourselves.

I wondered how in the world I made it this far. And my heart once again turned to God, Allah. I determined to settle my mind as to the right path once and for all. I had been studying most of the world religions, and the history of religion. And I did conduct one last "investigation", if you will.

Nothing made more sense to me than acknowledging that there is only one God. No matter how you look at it, that is what you will realize. You can realize this truth through humanities, science and religion. All paths lead to the one god. There just isn’t any getting around it. It isn't a theology. It is All-theology. So, my intellect was finally at rest. And after a long intellectual journey, this was truly a blessing.

But was the Quran truly a revelation? Was Muhammad a messenger? I pondered. I compared some o the other religious scriptures to the Quran. I reviewed what I had learned about the history of the contemporary "Bible" that contemporary Christians consider the "word of God". And I knew that the religion of Abraham was the one that put an end to the illusions and confusions of deluded people.

And I am aware of cycles and how we humans can have a realization, then lose all sight of it very quickly, and how Moses had to tell people to stop worshiping cows. And when I read the Quran again, with the knowledge that the Arabic version is still pure and authentic… I knew both intellectually, and in my heart, that the Quran was a revelation to Muhammad, Muhammad was/is our messenger.

To tell us again, what we have forgotten and to show us the way back to peace. Then I had no reason not to want to submit to the will of Allah. We are so much better off aligning our will with the will of Allah, and putting our heart, our hope and our life in Him.

I had come full circle. This is what I knew at age 8. And now, I had so much to reflect on. Why didn't I die? With an extensive background in cognitive challenges, I had to ask myself why I did not have brain damage. My children had been provided for through all the years.

This is the Grace and Mercy of Allah. I realized that I had been living from the Grace of Allah, and only Allah. And now, I had the compass that I was looking for. I reverted back to my original faith. I reverted back to my original awareness. And I am now making a concerted effort to submit to the will of Allah.

It is a daily work for me to let go of programming and mental and attitudinal habits that I picked up along the way, that get in my way of submission… but every day gets better. The prayers really help me to surrender and stay in that "consciousness" where I can let go, and allow Allah to unfold my life according to his will.

I know and have a true trust now, that this is in my best interest, and I experience Allah as my protector, my provider, and a love that transcends comprehension. For me, this is my first step into Islam, and I am wondrous and excited to follow deeper, as Islam is fathomless and eternal.

I am so grateful to Allah for bringing me here… bringing me home. My colleague and his wife brought me into their home, and treated me like family. They took me to Ramadan every day. And they taught me. I declared Shahada, testimony of faith, on Oct 1, 2007. Back home to Islam. On that day, our community Imam named me Maryam.

It was a new start to an eternal journey back to God.

Source: www.readingislam.com

By Arjuman Khan 

Allah says in the Qur’an:

[It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (33:36).

ASSALAMALAIKUM

I am 32 years married to a loving husband Mehmood and with 2 lovely children, Alhamdulillah. As all women I am also busy with household chores, taking care of husband and kids. Oh I am so tired with all these tensions and worries of life.

I met 2 of my friends ‘X’ and ‘Y’ on internet after 10 long years, we started talking daily and sharing our lives. Both happily married Alhamdulillah. One friend told me to check the site [www.areweprepared.ca]. She asked me to read it. I SAID YES, and started reading, it went on and on to my surprise I was loving it and waiting daily for new posts. I was happy that I started understanding my religion better and clearing all my doubts. I was changing now, I loved my husband for the sake of ALLAH [SWT], took care of my kids and home for the sake of ALLAH[SWT],all work seems easy along with the dhikr of ALLAH[SWT]. Now I prayed five times sincerely. I wait for all adhan’s as this is the time when I spend direct contact with my Lord ALLAH, the Most Gracious Most Merciful.

Allah says:

[“Those who believed (in the oneness of Allah) and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (13:28)

All tensions and worries were gone as I know ALLAH [SWT] knows what’s best for me.

One day ‘Y’ asked me when are you going to start wearing hijab, I replied soon Insha Allah. She said do it now as only ALLAH [SWT] and no one knows when is our last breath. Allah says in the Qur’an:

[“Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone)” (31:34)

This was a statement which changed my life. She also told me that even if my family does not support me, I should not listen to them.

Prophet Mohammed (SAW) said: “There is no obedience to any creation in which the disobedience of the Creator is involved” (Sahih Ahmad)

We all as kids obey our parents, in school obey our teachers, at work obey our bosses, and after marriage obey our husbands. Just give it a thought; are we obeying our Creator, the Most Powerful and Superior ALLAH? For most of us the answer will be NO.

Allah says:

[“Therefore Remember Me, and I will remember you, and be thankful for Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.”

Once I decided to wear hijab, I could hear satan whispering, WHAT ARE U DOING? WHO WILL ADMIRE YOUR BEAUTY? ALL WILL LAUGH AT YOU? CALL YOU BY FUNNY NAMES? I shook my head and thought I am not here to please everyone; I am here to please ALLAH [SWT].

[“Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. He has no partner. This am I commanded, and I am first of those who surrender (unto Him)” (Al-An`am6: 162,163)

This made it easy for me now. I feel secure and confident when I leave home now. I know soon people will respect me for my obedience to ALLAH [SWT].Ameen. I thank ALLAH[SWT]who gave me the support of my parents, my children, my two internet friends, who encouraged me to become a better person, and last but not the least my husband without whose love and support I would never be able to face the harsh world.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

["And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss."

I pray to ALLAH [SWT] that he gives hidayah to all Muslim women around the world. Ameen. Now I know there is no other religion except Islam which gives respect to women.

"There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence. This [the Qur'an] is not a narration which has been invented but confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe." (Surah Yusuf: 111)  

Why should you, a young Muslim, be helping to bring your friends closer to Allah?

After all, you've got your own struggles to deal with: trying to explain why you pray to hostile teachers, Hijab discrimination, standing up in class when the professor attacks Islam, dealing with parents who think you've gone nuts because you're growing a beard, or all the other difficulties faced by a number of practicing Muslim youth?

Islam was never meant to be an individualistic faith, reserved for the "chosen few". Muslims have a duty to spread the Deen, and practicing Muslim youth, whether beginners, activists or leaders have a crucial role to play.

"Allah has put them in a position that perhaps no one else is in," notes Sheema Khan, former Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) advisor for eastern Canada. "They have the means to communicate with their peers, they have an understanding of what they're going through plus they have the guidance of Islam."

Who is your childhood friend, who would rather spend Fridays at MacDonald's than the Masjid, or your classmate who is Muslim in name and only knows that "Muslims don't eat pork" going to listen to: the nice Imam of the Masjid who would freak out if he saw the way they were dressed and talked or you who may have grown up with them, joked with them, or see them everyday in school?

The answer is obvious: you.

Don't panic. Here are some tips and advice which can help from other Muslims, many of whom have been there and done that:

Tip # 1: Make Your Intention Sincere

All work we do should ideally be for the sake of Allah. That includes the task of bringing someone closer to Allah. That of course means this should not be connected to arrogance, thinking you're the teacher and everyone else should be lucky you've embarked on a crusade to save them. Guidance is from Allah. Make Dua and make sincere efforts and remember Allah can also misguide you if He wills (we seek refuge in Allah from that).

Tip # 2: Practice What You Preach

Not practicing what you preach is wrong and you will lose the confidence of anyone, young or old, once they figure you out. Don't do it.

Tip # 3: Use The Quran & Seerah (biography of the Prophet peace be upon him) As Dawa Guides

Read and understand those chapters of the Quran which talk about how the Prophets presented the message of Islam to their people. Read the Seerah (for some good Seerah books) to see especially how the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought Islam to so many different people, including young people.

Tip # 4: Talk To People As If You Really Don’t Know Them

Don't assume you know someone just by looking at them. You don't know that the Muslim girl in your homeroom who walks through the school's hallways as if they were fashion show catwalks is not someone you can talk to about Allah because she looks like a snob. Or that the Muslim guy who you've never seen at Juma at your university is a "bad Muslim". Maybe he was never really taught Islam and has no idea what importance Friday prayers have in Islam, especially for Muslim men.

Tip # 5: Smile

Did you know the Prophet was big on smiling? But many "practicing" Muslims seem to have "their faces on upside down" as one speaker once said-frowning and serious.

Smiling, being polite and kind are all part of the manners of the Prophet, which we must exercise in our daily lives. If we want to approach others with Islam, we have to make ourselves approachable. Smiling is key to this.

But note that being approachable does not mean being flirtations with the other gender. There are Islamic rules for how men and women should deal with each other which have to be respected. Dawa is no excuse to have long and private conversations and meetings with the other sex, for example. Set up a system where someone expressing an interest in Islam is referred to someone of the same sex.

Tip # 6 : Take The Initiative & Hang Out With Them

Take the first step and invite someone you may have spoken to a couple of times to sit at lunch together, to check out a hockey game or invite them over for Iftar in Ramadan. Also, share difficulties, sorrows and frustrations. Help with homework, be a shoulder to cry on when depression hits, or just plain listen when your friend is upset, discuss common problems and keep their secrets. There are few things as annoying as a snitch and backstabber. But an important note: if the problem is of a serious nature,(i.e. your friend is thinking of committing suicide or is taking drugs), notify and consult an adult immediately.

Tip # 7: Show Them Islam Is Relevant Today, Right Here, Right Now

Young people may think Islam is too "old fashioned" and not in tune with the modern age. Prove this wrong. Show how Islam is really about relating to Allah, which any human being can do, anywhere, anytime. Allah is always closer to you than your jugular vein and He hears and knows everything. Encourage friends to ask Allah's help during tests, exams, and in dealing with problems at home with parents and siblings. Also point out how Islam relates to teenagers: Islam gives you focus and an understanding of who you are and where you are going, which most of "teen culture" does not.

Tip # 8: Get Them Involved In Volunteer Work With You

If you are already involved in the community, get your friend to help out. Ask them to make a flyer for one of your youth group's events or brainstorm for ideas about activities to hold this school year. This involvement makes them feel part of the Muslim community and deepens your friendship, since you are now working together on something beneficial for both of you. Make sure you thank them for their contribution.

Tip # 9 : Ask Them 4 Fundamental Questions

As your friendship develops, you will notice the topics you discuss may become more serious. You may be discussing, for instance, future goals and plans. The four questions to ask that can steer the topic to Allah and Islam:

    * Where am I going in life and what would make me really happy deep down inside?

    * What do I believe?

    * Who should I be grateful to?

    * Did I get to where I am today without the help of anyone?

Tip # 10: Emphasize Praying 5 Times A Day Before Any Other Aspect Of Islam

A person's main connection with Allah, on a daily basis, is through the prayer five times a day. Don't emphasize any other aspect of Islam until your friend starts making a real effort to pray five times a day. Emphasize the direct connection one has with Allah in prayer. If they are facing a problem, tell them to pray, and to ask Allah for help in Salah and outside this time. When possible, make it a point to pray together during your "hang out time". If your friend begins to pray, that is the first step to other aspects of Islam like giving up swearing, treating parents with respect or dressing Islamically.

Tip # 11: Help Instill Confidence in Adults

Adults, like Bart Simpson's dad Homer, are considered bumbling idiots in the eyes of "teen culture". Your job as a young Muslim is to help turn the tables on this false and unIslamic belief. All you have to do is this: when a Muslim adult does something good (i.e. saving someone's life, donating money to a worthy cause, the Imam gives a good speech, taking good care of his/her family) bring it up in the course of your conversations with your friend and praise the adult in question. Doing this regularly may not only change your friend's perspective, but could lead to them seeing their own parents in a more respectful way.

Tip # 12: Support Them Even When They Become More Practicing

Remember, just because a person starts practicing Islam more regularly, this does not mean everything will be okay from this point onwards. There will still be hard times, difficulties. There may be times when your friend may have doubts about his or her newfound practice of Islam. Be there to reassure them.

Source: www.islamonline.net

To read the previous part: Click here 

One of the most dangerous and the biggest mistakes committed is that sometimes people pray only to be seen of men. Only if they are in a gathering in which friends or family pray, only then do they pray so that their friends or family don’t think bad about them. Do they think what Allah will think about them?

Those few people are hypocrites who do not pray from their house but will pray when in such a gathering. They can fool the people around them, but they can NEVER FOOL ALLAH!

Allah says in the Quran:

“Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” (6:162)

Prayers should be offered only for the sake of Allah and pleasing Allah and not for anybody else to see.

Narrated Umar Bin Al Khatab: I heard Allah's Apostle(SAW) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”  (Bukhari)

Allah says in the Quran:

“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allâh, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salât (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allâh but little.” (4:142)

Allah Says:

“So Woe to those who pray, but are unmindful of their prayer. They Like to be seen of men, and withold legal alms.” (107:4-7)

“And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion. “ (73:8)

We should always remember that Allah is watching us. We can deceive the people around us, but we can never deceive Allah. We can hide from friends and families but we cannot hide from Allah.

What are we going to get by pretending in front of others that we pray? Will we attain Jannah by doing this?

To read the next part: Click here