NorthWest Muslim Magazine

E MERALD L1AKE, Y OHO N ATIONAL P ARK, B RITISH C OLUMBIA

E DITORIAL

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think many social evils of our society can be warded off, if we understand the rules, ideas and advice stipulated in Surah-e-Hujrat.

The common theme of this surah is about how we should feel and deal with others. Whether it is to see other humans as our equal or keep

our hands away from others. Or, to be vigilant of our thought processes, and cognisant of what we say; especially when others are involved.

When I read through the translation of this surah, it was pretty easy to understand and didn't require a lot of explanations. The funda-

mental lesson is to keep away from other people's flaws and focus on ourselves for person-

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

2

al, spiritual, moral and ethical development.

This surah tells us how we should behave and think. How we should be mindful of our behavior affecting others. Also to keep a vigilant eye on what our intention (see Beyond Intention) is when we engage in a

nasty or hurtful behavior.

I hope we internalize the advice and understand how beneficial it is for our personal and collective betterment; I pray it becomes easier for us to implement in our daily lives. May Allah help us all in understanding His signs and help us to create goodness everywhere, Ameen.

Back to Contents 3

C ONTENT /A BOUT U S

Who Are We

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LAYOUT, DESIGN & ILLUSTRATIONS: Shaista Khurshid

EDITOR:

CONTENTS & ARTICLES BY:

Beenish Khurshid

Amina Bajwa

PROOFREADERS:

Beenish Khurshid,

Harris Nami

Shaista Khurshid Imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi

QURAN AND HADITH www. Quran.com , www.Sunnah.com Photo By Jamie Street on Unsplash

4

Content Editorial ··························································································· 2 Humility ···························································································· 6 Financial Literacy– Credit Cards ········································ 12 Speechless ························································································· 18 Hadiths to Live By ······································································· 22 SEND US A LINE AT: northwestmuslim@gmail.com

VIEW US AT : https://issuu.com/northwestmuslim/ https://www.facebook.com/NorthWestMuslim/ https://www.instagram.com/northwestmuslim/ 5

F EATURE

6 Photo by Fernando Puente on Unsplash

This Khutba has been Formatted into an Article.

By: Imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Ottawa, Ontario

M

genuinely humble is very relevant for all of us, not just elected leaders. According to the Harvard Business Reost democratic socie-

view: “The Best Leaders Are Humble

ties pick someone to govern them

Leaders". It is a trait we all need to in-

through elections. These elections take

troduce ourselves to, and work on it to

place every few years. On election

make it grow. Our Prophet SAW was a

night, after the results have come in,

great example of humility. Allah said to

there is a lot of attention paid to the

Prophet:

party leaders and their speeches, both

‫َوٱ ْخ ِف ْض َجنَا َح َك ِل َم ِن ٱت َّ َب َع َك ِم َن ٱلْ ُم ْؤ ِم ِن َي‬

victory and concession ones. There is a

“And lower your wing [i.e., show kind-

certain tone that leaders try to strike –

ness] to those who follow you of the be-

positive, optimistic, grateful, and confi-

lievers.” (26:215)

dent. One of the traits people look for in leaders is humility. In Islam, humility

‫َو َ​َل ت َُص ِع ْر َخ َّدكَ ِللنَّ ِاس َو َ​َل تَ ْم ِش ِ​ِف ٱ ْ َْل ْر ِض َم َر ًحا ۖ إ َّن ٱ َّ َ​َّلل َ​َل‬ ِ َّ ُ ‫ُ ُِي ُّب‬ ‫ُور‬ ٍ ‫ُك ُم ْخ َتالٍ فَخ‬

is not a trait that should just be found in leaders, though it is emphasized for leaders.

“And do not turn your cheek [in con-

The reality is that we are all either lead-

tempt] toward people and do not walk

ers in some way, or are going to be in

through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Al(Continued on page 8)

the future, so having this trait of being 7

(Continued from page 7)

jid, he wouldn't know who the Prophet

lah does not like everyone self-deluded

was until he asks, "Which one of you is

and boastful.” Saheeh International

Muhammad"? This is because he Proph-

(31:18)

et ‫ ﷺ‬would not sit, dress, or be treated in a way that distinguished him from the

It is a very important characteristic to

people, unlike the way leaders and fa-

have in humans. Humility is the opposite

mous people generally carry themselves

of conceit, pride, and arrogance, which

and are treated in public. Whenever a

have repeatedly been described as one

stranger enters a gathering, it becomes

of the traits of the stubborn rejecters of

quite clear to the stranger which person

the truth, disbelievers, in the Quran.

is noteworthy amongst the people.

The traits opposite to humility can cause

Abdullah ibn Amr ‫ ريض هللا تعاىل عنه‬said: 'The

various problems inside a human heart

Prophet ‫ﷺ‬entered upon me, so I gave

and it also causes several challenges with

him a pillow (to sit on) made from skin

others. Many times, people know what’s

and filled with date palm fibers. The

right and true, but their pride and arro-

Prophet ‫ﷺ‬refused to sit on it and he

gance create a wall between them and

chose to sit on the (bare) ground, and he

the truth. The downside is that a person

left the cushion between him and my-

who is stuck in pride and arrogance is

self'. Bukhari/Muslim

not willing to understand that there is

Aisha )‫(ريض هللا تعا يل عنه‬was asked, 'What did

more to learn, and much more to im-

the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬use to do when he was in

prove in every way. Eventually they get

the privacy of his home'? She replied, 'He

stuck in the now, no desire to continue

used to be in the service of his family'.

to seek truth, to learn more, to seek

He used to repair his sandals and sew/

guidance, or to work on improving them-

patch his own clothes and he would milk

selves, which is a major impediment to

the sheep. Sahih al-Bukhari

worldly and spiritual success.

،‫ َع ْن إ ْب َرإ ِه َمي‬،‫ َع ِن إلْ َح َ َِك‬،‫ َح َّدثَنَا ُش ْع َب ُة‬،‫َح َّدثَنَا َح ْف ُص ْب ُن ُ َُع َر‬ ِ ‫ قَا َل َسأَلْ ُت عَائِشَ َة َما َ​َك َن إلنَّ ِ ُِّب صىل هللا عليه‬،‫َع ِن إ َْل ْس َو ِد‬

One of the clearest examples of humility, is that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬would sit in the Masjid with his companions and

(Continued on page 9)

if a stranger or visitor came to the Mas8

‫ َوَل ي َ ْب ِغي ٱ َح ٌد عَ َىل ٱ َح ٍد وعن عياض بن حامر ريض هللا‬، :‫ قال رسول هللا صىل هللا عليه وسمل‏‏‬:‫عنه قال‏‏‬

(Continued from page 8)

‫َض ِت‬ َ َ ‫ فَا َذإ َح‬،‫وسمل ي َ ْصنَ ُع ِ​ِف َٱه ِ ِِْل قَالَ ْت َ​َك َن ِ​ِف ِمهْنَ ِة َٱه ِ ِِْل‬ ِ .‫إلص َال ِة‏‏‬ َّ ‫إلص َال ُة قَا َم إ َىل‬ َّ ِ

"Allah has revealed to me that you should humble yourselves to one anoth-

I asked `Aisha what did the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬

er. One should neither hold himself

use to do at home. She replied. "He used

above another nor transgress against an-

to keep himself busy serving his family

other.” (Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 601

and when it was time for the prayer, he

We can also understand the importance

would get up for prayer." (Sahih al-

of deep hearted humility with one of the

Bukhari 6039)

companions of Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬Umar Ibn Khattab )‫ (ريض هللا تعا يل عنه‬As narrated by

This was genuine humility, and not just

'Urwah ibn Zubair )‫ (ريض هللا تعا يل عنه‬he said: 'I

for a show. There are many personal,

saw Umar carrying a large leather water

communal, and spiritual benefits of exer-

canteen on his shoulder. I said to him,

cising this trait. The first benefit of exer-

'Oh Amir-ul-Mu'mineen, you shouldn't

cising humility is the ability to recognize

be carrying that'. Umar replied by saying,

our true worth in the world and especial-

'A delegation came to Medina, and I saw

ly in front of Allah. Living in this small

their obedience to me, and some conceit

world compared to the universe we de-

entered into my heart, and I wanted to

velop this idea in our minds that we are

destroy it'.

very substantial, but in fact we’re just a tiny part of this universe; and in front of

Everyone knows the strong personality of

Allah, we are even more miniscule and

Umar :)‫ (ريض هللا تعا يل عنه‬yet, when a small and

insignificant. By understanding this, we

minute amount of pride (nakwah) en-

can truly strive towards the path of true

tered his heart, he hurried to destroy it,

submission to Allah (turning to Allah with

before it destroyed him.

utmost humility and dependence on Him). This way we would feel the true hu-

There are many key benefits of having

mility when we worship Him.

true humility in our hearts : As this exam-

-‫إ َّن هللا ٱ ْو َ​َح إ َ َّيل ٱ ْن ت َ​َوإضَ ُعوإ َح ََّّت َل ي َ ْفخ َ​َر ٱ َح ٌد عَ َىل ٱ َح ٍد ‏‬ ِ

(Continued on page 10)

9

·

(Continued from page 9)

mility, it is evident in all his actions

ple explains, ·

‫إَّلل َع ْبدً إ ِب َع ْف ٍو إَلَّ ِع ًّزإ َو َما ت َ​َوإضَ َع ‏‬ ُ َّ ‫َما نَقَ َص ْت َصدَ قَ ٌة ِم ْن َمالٍ َو َما َزإ َد‬ ِ ‫إَّلل‬ ُ َّ ‫َٱ َح ٌد ِ َّ َِّلل إَلَّ َرفَ َع ُه‬ ِ

This is the essential trait for true success (worldly, spiritually)

·

.Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger

Humility raises a person’s rank, either in world, hereafter, or both

is saying: Charity does not decrease

‫ﷺ‬

The Prophet was filled with hu-

·

wealth, no one forgives another except

Be conscious of behaviour, how it

comes across (perception is im-

that Allah increases his honor, and no

portant)

one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status. (Sahih

·

Muslim 2588)

Actively work towards increasing humility by serving others, especially when feeling conceit fully

This hadith can be understood in two

proud or arrogant

ways: 1) Allah will raise a humble person (in

Reference:

status) in this world, and give him status

https://hbr.org/2014/05/the-best-leaders

in people’s hearts because of his humility

-are-humble-leaders

(for Allah, and not humility for the showoff), and give him a high status in people’s eyes 2), Or his status will be raised as a reward in the Hereafter, because of his humility in this world.

There are great lessons from the above hadith, few are as follows. ·

Allah loves humility because it is conducive to submission to Allah, and is opposite of arrogance/pride

(trait of the enemies of Allah)

Back to Contents 10

Photo By: Madiha Khurshid

11

T HOUGHT P ROVOKING

Financial Literacy: Understanding Photo by Ron McClenny on Unsplash

12

C

By: Beenish Khurshid, San Francisco, California

BALANCE - this is how much you owe the lender at any given time. redit cards are a fundamental part of

CLOSING DATE - this is the date on which

modern life. But what is a credit card, and

your balance is due. If you do not pay the

how does it work?

full balance by this date, interest will be charged on any remaining amount.

A credit card is a line of credit - an agreement between you and a bank or financial STATEMENT - A monthly document either service - the lender. You can use a credit

sent to you in the mail or in a digital state-

card to make payments, purchases, and

ment in your lender’s website outlining

take out cash, and pay back your lender at your purchases and spending that month, a later date. This all sounds great, but

the interest rate, balance due, and due

credit cards can be tricky, and if not used

date.

right, they can lead us to a precarious financial situation.

INTEREST RATE OR APR- This is the percentage that will be charged on the balance

CREDIT CARD BASICS:

remaining after the closing date. How interest is charged is a bit complicated.

CREDIT LIMIT - this is the maximum the

lender is ever willing to lend you.

Let’s say that your balance on your statement was $6000, but you were only able 13

(Continued from page 13)

to pay back $1000 by the closing date. This means you still owe $5000. Every day you don’t pay your balance off, you are charged interest.

Say your credit card agreement says your interest rate is 30% APR (APR means annual percentage rate). This means your daily interest rate is 30%/365 (365 days in a year), which is about 0.082%. Credit cards also use a concept called compound interest. This means, for every day you don’t make a payment, interest is charged on yesterday’s balance including interest. This means, you pay interest on the interest you owe. Confusing right?

Let’s do the math. Say it takes you another 15 days to pay off your balance. Every day after the closing date, you will owe a bit more than your last day - based on how much you owed yesterday

CLOSING DATE

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

BALANCE

$5000

$5004.11

$5008.22

$5012.33

DAILY INTEREST

$0

$4.11

$4.11

$4.12

Let’s keep applying the daily interest rate and see what happens by Day 15.

DAY 12

DAY 13

DAY 14

DAY 15

BALANCE

$5049.53

5053.68

5057.83

5061.99

DAILY INTEREST

$4.15

$4.15

$4.15

$4.16

So by Day 15, you owe $61.99 extra, on top of your $5000 original amount owed, a steep cost to pay in such a short amount of time!

(Continued on page 15)

14

the next bank statement to realize your

(Continued from page 14)

mistake. In the 30 days since you took out

CASH ADVANCE - A cash advance is

when you use your credit card to take out the cash, this happens: cash. You can request a cash advance at a

Daily interest rate = 0.30 / 365 = 0.00082

store teller, or at an ATM. While it may

90 Day interest rate = (1 + daily interest

seem like cash advances aren’t much dif-

rate) ^ 30 - 1 = 0.025

ferent than using your debit card to take

out money from your account, especially if Interest owed at day 90 = $12.48 Total Balance = $512.48 your credit card is bank issued, cash advances are *not* the same as taking a cash withdrawal from your personal account.

MINIMUM PAYMENT - this is the minimum amount you have to pay per

Compound interest is charged on cash ad- month to stay in good standing with your vances - usually the same interest rate as lender purchases or higher. In addition, interest is charged starting the *day* of the cash ad- SPIRALING DEBT - when your monthly vance, not starting the due date.

payments don’t cover the interest charged, your debt can quickly spiral un-

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.

controllably.

Let’s say you have a checking account with Bank of the Great. Say you have

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.

$5000 in your account. This account comes with a debit card. Let’s also say you Let’s say you start off with a $6000 bal-

have a credit card with Bank of the Great,

ance on your credit card. The credit card’s

with a $6000 credit limit, and a 30% inter- interest rate is 24% APR, and you put $100 est rate.

towards it every month.

Let’s say you go to the ATM, and instead

If the card didn’t charge any interest (0%

of using your debit card, you accidentally

APR), you would be able to pay off the

use your credit card to withdraw $500 - to

(Continued on page 16)

buy a second hand phone. It takes you till 15

(Continued from page 15)

card in 5 years ($6000/$100 = 60 months).

But since the interest rate is 20% APR, you’ll see how this debt spirals out of control quickly.

Monthly interest rate: 1.991526%

MONTH 0

MONTH 1

MONTH 2

MONTH 3

$6000

$6019.49

$6039.37

6059.65

MONTHLY PAYMENT

$100

$100

$100

INTEREST ADDED

$119.49

$139.37

$159.65

BALANCE

As you can see, the monthly payments are not keeping up with the interest added every month.

Let’s see what this looks like over 5 years YEAR 0

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

STARTING BALANCE

$6000

$6256.31

$6555.48

6965.08

TIME TO PAID OFF IF 0% APR

5 years

5 years and 3 months

5 years and 6 months

5 years and 10 months

PAYMENTS MADE

$1200

$1200

$1200

INTEREST ADDED

$256.31

$299.17

$409.6

(Continued on page 17)

16

As you can see, despite putting $1200

with Allah. But whoever returns [to deal-

per year to a $6000 debt (1/5th of the

ing in interest or usury] - those are the

debt), the debt keeps growing, and the

companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. (2:275)

time to pay it off keeps increasing.

RIBA - The Arabic term for interest is

FINAL NOTE:

Riba. Charging interest is haram in Islam.

Here is some of what the Qur’an says

Credit card balances can quickly spiral.

about Interest:

Here are a few recommendations:

“And if someone is in hardship, then [let

1.

Never use cash advances

there be] postponement until [a time of]

2.

Always pay your statement balance

ease. But if you give [from your right as]

before the due date

charity, then it is better for you, if you

3.

only knew.” (2:280)

Never spend more than you have in your bank account

4.

For a better credit score, pay your

And whatever you give for interest [i.e.,

current balance in full before the

advantage] to increase within the wealth

statement for the month is issued

of people will not increase with Allah. But what you give in zakāh, desiring the face

If you are in spiraling debt, know that

[i.e., approval] of Allah - those are the

there are ways to get out of debt. Benefi-

multipliers. (30:39)

cent is one such organization that offers interest free loans for those in high inter-

Those who consume interest1 cannot

est debts. (Beneficent.cc)

stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests

Back to Contents 17

C RITICAL T HINKING

Speechless!

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

18

By: Shaista Khurshid , Calgary, Alberta

I

themselves without the concerns for others and how their actions are impacting others. n many places of the

world, people are suffering from the suppression of their humanity - humiliation, inequality, racism, denial of basic human rights and even death. Whether they are black, Indigenous, Muslim, poor, women, or anyone; people are suffering. It seems that the world does not see the difference and variety in humanity. Is it fear? Is it

self-preservation? Are we apathetic? Why so? Or is it something much deeper?

One of the signs of Allah is that He has created a variety of humanity among us. He has made us into a man and a woman and diversified

into many sizes, colors, shapes, languages, culture, and ways of life a human can have. Allah says in the Quran “Mankind, fear your

Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another,2, and the wombs.3 Indeed Allah is ever,4 over you, an Observ-

The answer might lie deep inside our hearts. Our humanity is suffering from a grave and hugely impactful sin, arrogance. It seems like everyone is revolving around 19

er”.5” (4:1) So, what is arrogance? Arrogance is when someone feels and treats (Continued on page 20)

(Continued from page 19)

from insecurity and worthlessness. And

others as lesser, and denies the signs Al-

insecurity comes from comparison. When

lah has spread around us to see, thus

we compare ourselves to others, we feel

creating social injustices.

either haughty or deprived. Never grateful (which should be the result). When we

So, what makes us think that someone is

feel insecure, it develops the opposite re-

lesser than us if they are different from

action of entitlement, haughtiness, pride

us? The answer might be that conceit is

in wrong things. When this security is

residing in our hearts. If this hubris re-

threatened by other people’s differences,

sides in any heart, whether it is a size of

opinions, beliefs, or way of lives, we recoil

smallest grain or even size of an atom -

or lash out. The sign of an unhealthy

its ramification disbalances the soul and

soul. That is what we are seeing around

leans it towards evil.

the world, where people are oppressing in ways which are brutal, confusing, and

‫إلنَّ ِ ِ​ِب صىل هللا عليه وسمل قَا َل‏‏" َ​َل ي َ ْد ُخ ُل إلْ َجنَّ َة َم ْن‬ ‫ قَا َل َر ُج ٌل إ َّن َّإلر ُج َل‬.‫َ​َك َن ِ​ِف قَلْ ِب ِه ِمثْ َق ُال َذ َّر ٍة ِم ْن ِك ْ ٍْب‏‏"‏‏‬ ِ ‫ قَا َل‏‏" إ َّن‬.‫ون ثَ ْوب ُ ُه َح َس نًا َون َ ْع ُ ُِل َح َس نَ ًة‏‏‬ َ ‫ُ ُِي ُّب َٱ ْن يَ ُك‬ ِ ‫إَّلل َ َِجي ٌل ُ ُِي ُّب إلْ َج َما َل ْإل ِك ْ ُْب ب َ َط ُر إلْ َح ِق َو َ َْغطُ إلنَّ ِاس‬ َ َّ ‫‏‏"‏‬

mind boggling at the same time.

Questions arise: Why? Is this world so attractive that we want to redesign the demographic Allah had designed? How much narcissism do we have that we want everyone to either be like us or else

“He who has in his heart the weight of a

be subjugated? Or is it that our insatiable

mustard seed of pride shall not enter

greed takes over so much that human life

Paradise. A person (amongst his hearers)

becomes worthless? Or is it that the atti-

said: Verily a person loves that his dress

tude of me, myself & I, makes us arro-

should be fine, and his shoes should be

gant and inherently insecure?

fine. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked:

What makes us do evil?

Verily, Allah is Graceful, and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out

‫َون َ ْف ٍس َو َما َس َّوٰىه َا فَأَلْهَ َمهَا فُ ُج َورهَا َوتَ ْق َوٰىه َا‬

of self-conceit) and contempt for the people.”

(Continued on page 21)

Every atom's weight of arrogance is born 20

dignified human and not an arrogant

(Continued from page 20)

And [by] the soul and He who propor-

ones.

tioned it. And inspired it [with discern-

‫ صىل هللا‬-‫ َٱ َّن َإلنَّ ِ َِّب‏‬-‫ رىض هللا عنه‏‬-‫َو َع ْن َٱ ِ​ِب بَ ْك َرةَ;‏‬ ‫ { إ َّن‬1‫ ِ​ِف خ ُْط َبتِ ِه ي َ ْو َم َإلنَّ ْح ِر ِب ِم ً​ًن ‏‬:‫قَا َل‬-‫عليه وسمل‏‬ ِ ‫ َك ُح ْر َم ِة ي َ ْو ِم ُ َْك‬,‫ِد َم َاء ُ ُْك َو َٱ ْم َوإلَ ُ َْك [ َو َٱع َْرإضَ ُ َْك ] عَلَ ْي ُ َْك َح َرإ ٌم‬ ‫ ِ​ِف َش ْه ِرُ ُْك َه َذإ } ُمتَّ َف ٌق عَلَ ْي ِه‬،‫ ِ​ِف ب َ َ َِل ُ ُْك َه َذإ‬،‫َه َذإ‬ .‫‏‏)‏‬1761 ( ‫ ومسمل‬،)‫‏‏‬76 ( ‫ روإه إلبخاري‬.‫حصيح‬ ‫ ‏‬.‫‏‏‬2‫‏‬

ment of] its wickedness and its righteousness, — Sahih International- 91:7-91:8 Our souls are designed to understand

the difference between good and bad and have both inclinations. It is the test

Narrated Abu Bakra (RA): In his

for us to find where we would incline,

(Rasulullah SAW's) Khutbah (religious

and steer ourselves towards the end we want to have. This makes us people of

talk - sermon) on the Day of Sacrifice at

free will. We are not angels who only

Mina, the Prophet said: "Your blood, your

obey, or devils that only reject. Quran

property and your honor are forbidden

says:

for you to violate, like the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours,

‫َاب َمن د ََّس هٰىَا‬ َ ‫قَ ْد َٱفْلَ َح َمن َزكَّ هٰىَا َوقَ ْد خ‬

in this city of yours “

He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].

— Sahih International- (91:9-10) Truth of the matter is that our life, our property, and our honor is nobody’s business. And others, whether we like them or not, carry the same right. So, if we all start treating others like us, maybe people would still die, but that would be Allah’s decision, not ours. We will still cel-

ebrate life and mourn death, but as a

Back to Contents 21

Y OUTH C ORNER

Photo By Carolyn on Unsplash

By: Amina Bajwa , Los-Angeles , California

S

After the Quran, Hadiths guide us majorly in accordance with religious law, and moral conduct. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬tried his best to spread the word alaam Friends,

of Allah to all. Most of his work recorded

I want to elaborate on two ahadith stated is called Hadith or Sunnah.

by Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬this time.

InShaAllah.

Abu Bakr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Nobody which has been nour-

Firstly, we must understand that sayings,

ished with what is unlawful will enter par-

verbally spoken thoughts of the Prophet

(Continued on page 23)

Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬are known as hadiths.

22

his strength, but the strong is the one who

(Continued from page 22)

adise.” Mishkat al-Masabih 2787- Book 11, controls himself while in anger." Sahih alHadith 29

Bukhari 6114- Book 78, Hadith 141

OUR FIRST TOPIC:

OUR NEXT TOPIC:

The body nourished with unlawful means

The Powerful one is not he who overpow-

will not enter paradise.

ers somebody, but the powerful one is he who restrains himself when angry.

This statement is basically defining, if you

fill your body with haram items, such as

This phrase means the one with power is

alcohol/ pork /etc, you will not go to

not the one who controls others; but in Is-

heaven. This especially includes food and

lam powerful person is who controls him-

drinks that are considered haram. In addi- self when aggravated. To expand upon tion, if these things are acquired unlawful- this, the messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬moves ly, for example by thievery or theft, or

one's attention from hedonism to spiritu-

through illegal means, you will automati-

ality. Highlighting that one who is able to

cally be directed in the path of Jahannam

protect himself is more powerful because

(hell fire) because this is ultimately not the he has been able to conquer one’s enemy way of Islam. Allah SWT wants us to stay

- Anger. The amount of self discipline it

away from what is bad for us, meaning

takes to be calm, composed and in control

this is an effort to protect us, not punish

during anger, if one were to achieve this

us. Many consumables we use do not

status, they could defeat any enemy or

seem to have any problems but, the rea-

obstacle in a peaceful manner.

son for such things being seen as bad is

because of the ingredients they contain,

In conclusion, these lessons and state-

and what harmful effects it may lead us to. ments are crucial for our daily lives. They The overall message is do not consume

help us to maintain our physical, mental

that which is labeled as haram.

and spiritual well being accordance to what Islam say and what is best for us.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

These should be taught to be infused and

Allah's Messenger )‫(ﷺ‬said, "The strong is

incorporated into our everyday lives.

not the one who overcomes the people by 23

Back to Contents

Downtown, Calgary, Alberta 24