Reminders · AlMaghrib Journals

Lessons in Loneliness from The Quran

AlMaghrib — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:22:40 GMT

This article was extracted from Ustadha Sarah Sultan’s course on handling mental health struggles from grief to anxiety, loneliness, and more. It’s called Grounded, and it’s available as free or ‘pay what you can’. You can access the course here

There is a particular kind of loneliness that comes with trying to live by faith.

It shows up at the office party where the drinks are flowing, at the restaurant where half the menu is a question mark, and at the family wedding that looks nothing like what a believer hopes a wedding will be.

Going with the flow would be so much easier. But going with the flow is not necessarily the right thing.

The Many and the Few

Look at how Allah describes most people in the Quran:

وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“But most of the people do not know.” [Quran, 7:187]

وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

“But most of the people do not show gratitude.” [Quran, 2:243]

وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

“But most of the people do not believe.” [Quran, 13:1]

Now look at how He describes the few:

وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ

“And few of My servants are grateful.” [Quran, 34:13]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began, so glad tidings to the strangers” (narrated by Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, Sahih Muslim).

So being a stranger is not such a bad thing after all.

It means being counted among the few. Holding on to an unpopular belief is okay, as long as it is the right path, the one most pleasing to Allah.

It isn’t easy. But it is one of the tests.

The Tests a Person Chooses

Many of life’s tests arrive without warning. Allah sends a struggle, and a person has to persevere through it and, hopefully, come out stronger on the other side. But there is another kind of test, where a person does have a choice: the tests of worship.

Will I pray? Will I fast and feel the hunger of Ramadan? Will I endure the exhaustion of Hajj? Every act of faith requires patience and perseverance.

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا ۝ إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

“Indeed, We created humans from a drop of mixed fluids in order to test them, so We made them hearing and seeing. We already showed them the Way, whether they choose to be grateful or ungrateful.” [Quran, 76:2-3]

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

“We have indeed made whatever is on earth as an adornment for it, in order to test which of them is best in deeds.” [Quran, 18:7]

Will a person get distracted by the lights, the luxuries, and the many temptations of this life, or strive to be among the best in deeds? That takes patience and resilience: the ability to please Allah in times of ease and hardship, and the ability to stand firm and obey Him even when His command runs against personal desire.

For many Muslims, these tests look very ordinary. A child prays at an amusement park beside a parent, wondering the whole time who is watching. An employee finds a way to skip the work social because alcohol will be there.

A diner passes on the menu item whose halal status is still debated. Someone stays away from the wedding of a person they love because of what will happen there.

That last one is the hardest. When the people living differently are the people a person loves most, it stops being a simple line between Muslims and everyone else.

The differences show up within families and within friend groups, and that makes the loneliness even deeper.

“Indeed, I Am of the Muslims”

What can make this journey easier? Allah says:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

“And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah, engages in righteous behavior, and says, ‘Indeed, I am of the Muslims.'” [Quran, 41:33]

This verse draws a strong connection between proclaiming a Muslim identity and living it out through worship and good deeds. A person’s actions, thoughts, and emotions are all interconnected, and all of them shape who that person becomes.

In psychology, identity is described as the way a person brings together their drives, abilities, personality traits, beliefs, and history into one consistent image of themselves. A stable identity requires deliberate choices, especially about values.

So many parts of a person’s identity change over a lifetime. Someone will always be a son or daughter to their parents, but they may also become a husband or wife, a mother or father, a student, and then an engineer or a doctor. Each of these roles can shift and look different at different stages of life.

Having one foundational identity that doesn’t change is very powerful, both for an adult’s development and for a child’s: I am a Muslim. This is who I am at my core. It gives stability and continuity through every other change.

It also makes possible something called self-integrity: acting in ways that align with one’s values and with who one believes oneself to be. Picture a flight where an announcement comes over the speaker: “Is there a doctor on board? Someone needs help.” The doctor gets up. Helping is part of who they are, and in that moment, it is their role.

Calling oneself a good student isn’t about self-praise. It is about wanting to deserve that description by choosing the actions that lead there. Being an ʿabd, a servant of Allah, is a privilege, and owning that identity means choosing the actions that lead toward truly living it. Saying “Indeed, I am of the Muslims” works as an affirmation. It renews the intention, today, to act in a way that aligns with the person one is striving to be.

Ibrahim عليه السلام shows what this looks like:

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

“When his Lord ordered him, ‘Submit,’ he responded, ‘I submit to the Lord of all worlds.’ This was the advice of Ibrahim, as well as Yaqub, to his children, saying, ‘Indeed, Allah has chosen for you this faith; so do not die except in a state of full submission.'” [Quran, 2:131-132]

He submitted right away. At the core of a Muslim’s identity is submission: the knowledge that whatever Allah prescribes, even when it isn’t easy, is where a person is meant to be and what is good for them, because Allah knows best. Surrendering completely to Allah and obeying Him is how a strong Islamic identity is built.

Asiya عليها السلام: Conviction in the House of a Tyrant

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do for your faith? For some, it was putting on hijab. For others, it was starting to pray, or fasting. Have you ever faced criticism for trying to get closer to Allah? Have you had to give things up to practice Islam, even when it meant going against family, friends, or a spouse? And have you ever met someone who clearly knew who they were and never let anyone shake that, no matter how much criticism came their way?

People like that are admired for the strength of their character. And there may be no greater example of a solid Islamic identity than Asiya عليها السلام.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Many men reached perfection, but none among the women reached perfection except Maryam, the daughter of ʿImran, and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh” (narrated by Abu Musa al-Ashʿari رضي الله عنه, Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

Asiya lived in ancient Egypt under one of the most oppressive rulers in history, and she wasn’t simply one of his subjects. She was his wife. She had wealth and status, and she came to believe in the one true God while married to a man who claimed to be god himself. She lived through the slaughter of the baby boys of Bani Isra’il, carried out on her husband’s orders.

Then one day, in the middle of all that, a gift floated by: a baby in the water near the palace.

She turned to her husband and said:

وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ ۖ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

“And the wife of Pharaoh said, ‘[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ And they perceived not.” [Quran, 28:9]

She raised Musa عليه السلام in her home, and she came to believe in the message of the one God with her whole heart. She could feel it deep in her soul that this was the truth.

One of the most powerful lessons from her life is this: the people a person is surrounded by do not determine who that person is. Married to perhaps the worst man in history, she became one of the best women in history, and believers still speak of her strength thousands of years later. She did not let her circumstances define her.

At the same time, if she had been able to, she would almost certainly have surrounded herself with people who believed as she did. Community is powerful. It builds resilience, protection, support, and goodness. Asiya didn’t have that privilege. Many believers today do.

A Look at the People Closest to You

Here is a simple exercise.

Take a piece of paper, fold it in half, and think of the two friends you spend the most time with. Write their names at the top of the two columns.
Under each name, write four good qualities that person has and three not-so-great ones, the things they struggle with.
Look at both lists. Circle every quality, good or not so good, that you also see in yourself.

Most people end up circling quite a few. Human beings become a product of the people they spend time with; that is simply how the brain works. The more time invested in something, the more it shapes how a person thinks and acts, and watching others leads to copying them. Research has found that college students whose friends study more tend to earn higher grades, even when that friend is an assigned roommate rather than someone they chose. Coworkers, too, leave their mark, even though no one picks them.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The believer is a mirror to his brother” (narrated by Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, Sunan Abi Dawud).

So think about the person you spend the most time with. Do you want to be just like them? Because they are your mirror.

He ﷺ also compared a good companion to a perfume seller and a bad companion to a blacksmith. From the perfume seller, a person will either be given some perfume, buy some, or at least leave smelling something pleasant. From the blacksmith, they will either get their clothes burned or walk away with an unpleasant smell (narrated by Abu Musa al-Ashʿari رضي الله عنه, Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

Friends leave their scent behind, good or bad, small or huge.

Sometimes mere presence is enough. Studies have found that teenage boys drive more riskily when another teen is in the car, whether that passenger is urging them on or saying nothing at all.

And the influence runs both ways. The question is also: am I the perfume seller or the blacksmith? The goal is to leave people with something good to take with them, like a free perfume sample.

The Hairdresser Who Said “Bismillah”

After embracing faith in Allah, Asiya had to keep it hidden for a while. She knew what would happen if her husband found out. But as she watched in horror the punishments and public executions he carried out against anyone who refused to worship him, her faith only grew stronger. His violence and threats did not turn her away from Allah. They did the opposite.

It is reported that someone else in that household also had a great impact: the woman who combed the hair of Pharaoh’s daughter. One day the comb slipped from her hand, and as it dropped, she said, “Bismillah.”

Pause on that for a moment. When most people drop something, bump into something, or roll a tire onto the curb, what comes out? “Oops,” if they’re lucky. Some people have far more colorful language. This woman had trained her tongue so thoroughly that Bismillah came out on its own, in front of someone who posed a real threat to her. If she could do that, what is anyone’s excuse for not having the remembrance of Allah so constantly on their tongue that it comes out automatically?

Pharaoh’s daughter asked, “Do you mean my father?” The woman answered, “No. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allah.” The daughter threatened to tell him, and she did. Pharaoh summoned the woman and asked, “Do you have a Lord other than me?” She answered, “Yes. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”

Pharaoh had a pit dug and copper melted into it, and he ordered that she and her children be thrown in. One by one, in front of her, her children were thrown in, until only her nursing infant remained in her arms. She hesitated. Then Allah sent a miracle: her baby spoke. “O Mother, go ahead, for the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the hereafter.” With hope and trust in Allah, she went forward.

The Prophet ﷺ said that on the night of his Night Journey, he smelled a beautiful fragrance and asked Jibril عليه السلام what it was. Jibril told him it was the fragrance of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter and her children (narrated by Ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما, Musnad Ahmad).

“Build for Me a House With You”

According to reports, Asiya witnessed all of this and finally decided she would no longer stay silent about the injustice. She revealed her belief to Pharaoh.

Worshiping Allah is a person’s purpose, and that still doesn’t make it easy. This was terrifying for Asiya. Standing for the truth won’t always be easy in the moment. So how does a believer handle the discomfort of holding different values from the people around them, especially as a minority?

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ۝ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

“And there are those who would dedicate their lives to Allah’s pleasure. And Allah is Ever Gracious to His servants. O believers, enter into Islam wholeheartedly and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Surely he is your sworn enemy.” [Quran, 2:207-208]

A person who dedicates their life to Allah’s pleasure is choosing Allah, and in the same choice, they are choosing themselves. Worship lets a person put their purpose first, and stay true to who they really are. It is not a favor to Allah. It is a favor to oneself, even when it doesn’t feel that way. Asiya was very likely afraid when she went to confront her husband. Feelings come and go. The reward of Allah is permanent.

It is reported that once Asiya confronted Pharaoh, he began torturing her to force her to renounce her faith. His servants dragged her into the desert and tormented her in front of his daughters, who laughed at her. She had no supporter, no food or water, and no shelter from the sun. His cruelty knew no bounds, and he had plenty of practice. Yet no matter how they tried to hurt, demean, and degrade her, Asiya refused to give up her faith. While her own husband tortured her, she turned to Allah:

رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

“My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.” [Quran, 66:11]

Allah answered her. In place of the companionship of the worst man on earth, He gave her nearness to Him and a home in Jannah. According to the reports, she looked up after making this dua and saw her house in Paradise, and angels were sent to shade her, and she laughed. Pharaoh was so furious that all his torture had failed to break her that he ordered a huge boulder pushed down onto her from a mountaintop. But Allah took her soul before it reached her, sparing her that torment.

Asiya owned her faith, her heart, and her mind. Her identity as a worshiper of Allah was so solid that it stayed unshakable even in those circumstances, and she was willing to sacrifice whatever it took. Which raises a simple question: what small sacrifice am I hesitating to make?

Faith like hers still exists today. Many people who embrace Islam face fierce opposition from their own families, sometimes intensifying when they begin to wear hijab, with backlash and even bullying from the people closest to them. And many stay firm through all of it. It is a lonely journey. Those who have families that support and encourage them when they want to get closer to Allah may not realize how powerful that gift is, because not everyone has it. May Allah bless those who embraced Islam even when their families, friends, and society turned away from them, reward them tremendously, and grant them ease on their journey.

Asiya navigated a situation where she was alone and lonely, living in the home of a man who oppressed her and opposed everything she valued. She could do it because she understood that her self-worth came from only one relationship: her relationship with Allah. That is the goal for every believer, to let self-worth rest on being a servant of Allah, rather than on people’s opinions, judgments, and perceptions.

Picturing Your Best Possible Self

One practical way to start moving toward the person you want to become, rather than staying stuck in an identity that feels unstable, is an exercise called the Best Possible Self. Picturing your best possible self opens the door to change. It helps a person learn about themselves, rearrange their priorities, and see the obstacles that might be keeping them from taking back control of their life. Research has found that writing a description of your best possible self for a short time each day, over a few days in a row, brings an immediate lift in mood and a greater sense of well-being in the weeks that follow. It can be especially helpful when feeling down on yourself.

Find a comfortable seat, relax, and close your eyes (as long as you aren’t driving).

Imagine the future. Picture yourself after everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You’ve worked hard and accomplished your life goals. This is your full potential realized. Think of the biggest duas you have been asking Allah for, and imagine all of them answered. It may feel strange at first. Let yourself picture it anyway.
Notice the details. Who is there with you? What is different about this future you? Is there something different in the way you carry yourself, or in the way you interact with others? What is your faith like? What does your connection with Allah look like? What are you struggling with today that is no longer a struggle for your future self?
Trace the path. How did you get there? What did you need to do to achieve all of this?
Notice the feelings. Stay with the image for a few moments. What do you feel as you picture yourself this way?
Turn it into a dua. Ask Allah to pave the way for you to reach the good you imagined. Ask Him to let the changes you seek bring you closer to Him, to help you choose the actions most pleasing to Him, and to make them a source of richness in this life and the hereafter.

Never Neglected

Living by faith will sometimes mean standing apart: from the majority, from coworkers, and at times from the people a person loves most. That loneliness is real. But Hajar alone in a barren valley and Asiya alone in a tyrant’s palace both show where strength comes from. It comes from knowing, at the core, I am of the Muslims, from taking one step and then another even when nothing seems to be happening, and from resting one’s worth on a single relationship that never fails. Allah never neglects His people.

Ustadha Sarah’s course on navigating emotional struggles is available for mental health awareness month as free or ‘pay what you can’, to remove all barriers for you. You can get access to the full course here.

Dealing with Anxiety

AlMaghrib — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:36:02 GMT

Some experiences make the heart pound and the palms sweat.

A hard conversation, a big exam, a phone call that goes unanswered for too long. The discomfort can feel so intense that the only thought left is how to make it stop.

A lot of Muslims feel guilty about anxiety on top of the anxiety itself. There is a common assumption that if someone truly trusted Allah, they wouldn’t feel this way at all. Sometimes anxiety can show up as a lack of trust in Allah. But in general, anxiety is something every person experiences at different points in life. It is an emotion Allah created human beings with, and it is normal.

The real question is what a person does with it.

A Companion Overwhelmed by Worry

It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ once entered the masjid and found a man from the Ansar, Abu Umama رضي الله عنه, sitting there. It wasn’t time for prayer. It was an odd time for anyone to be sitting in the masjid, and the Prophet ﷺ noticed. He could probably see it on his face. So he asked him, “O Abu Umama, why do I see you sitting in the masjid when it is not time for prayer?”

Abu Umama answered honestly: he was overwhelmed by worries and by debts.

Look at how the Prophet ﷺ responded. He didn’t say, “Come on, you’re a believer, there’s no space for anxiety in this faith.” He didn’t dismiss him at all. He acknowledged what Abu Umama was going through, and then he gave him something practical to do: “Shall I not teach you words which, if you say them, Allah will remove your worry and settle your debt?” Then he taught him to say, morning and evening:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and sadness. I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness. I seek refuge in You from cowardice and stinginess. And I seek refuge in You from being overwhelmed by debt and from the oppression of men.” (Narrated by Abu Saʿid al-Khudri رضي الله عنه, Sunan Abi Dawud)

Abu Umama said that he did this, and Allah removed his worry and settled his debt.

What started as one man’s anxiety became a gift, for him and for every Muslim who has said these words since. Sometimes the biggest struggles yield the most amazing gifts, and seeing them that way makes them easier to bear.

The Prophet ﷺ himself, the most beloved and most perfect of human beings, would often seek refuge in Allah from worry and grief (narrated by Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, Sahih al-Bukhari). And it is interesting that the two are paired together. Grief looks to the past: regrets, sadness, things that already happened. Anxiety looks to the future: everything a person is afraid might happen. If one of the righteous companions struggled this deeply, and the Prophet ﷺ regularly asked Allah for protection from it, then no one is above a struggle with anxiety.

Everyday Worry and Clinical Anxiety

Anxiety is incredibly common. During the COVID pandemic, anxiety rates shot up. Everybody was anxious, and people who had finished therapy found themselves back in it. Around a third of adults still report struggling with intense anxiety, and young people were hit especially hard.

So how can someone tell the difference between ordinary worry and something more serious?

The average person spends about an hour a day on some kind of worry. “I forgot the sour cream for the tacos tonight, when am I going to get to the grocery store?” “I’m running late for my meeting.” Small, normal, daily anxiety.

A person with clinical anxiety might spend around five hours a day worrying, and the worry looks different. They ruminate. Their thoughts go around and around in a spiral. They replay a conversation with a friend: “Why did I say that? Was she offended? Maybe that’s why she hasn’t answered my text.” They jump to the worst-case scenario: “He’s not picking up the phone. What if he got into a car accident? How would I even live as a widow?”

Some describe anxiety as an endless loop of negative thoughts. Others feel it physically, as an uncomfortable feeling in the gut. At its core, anxiety is an intense feeling of discomfort, and almost all of it is tied to some kind of fear: fear that someone won’t come home, or fear of walking into a meeting late with everyone already seated and feeling embarrassed.

False Refuges

That discomfort is hard to tolerate, so the natural reaction is to get rid of it. The moment the butterflies start and the heartbeat speeds up, the mind goes straight to “How do I make this feeling stop?”

But what you resist persists. When a person constantly tries to escape an uncomfortable feeling, it comes back in different ways, and often in worse ways.

The things people reach for in those moments can be called false refuges: anything that provides temporary relief from discomfort. Every person wants to feel safe, protected, and loved, so it makes sense that they would grab whatever offers that feeling quickly. A false refuge gives a temporary sense of comfort and security, and avoiding the problem feels so much safer. But the longer someone lives inside that refuge, the more problems they find there, and the more suffering it causes.

False refuges are everywhere:

Doom scrolling. Scroll, scroll, scroll, anything to stay distracted.
Netflix binges, or getting lost in a book to avoid what needs facing.
Productive procrastination. Cleaning the entire room the night before a final. The room is clean, which is nice, but there is now less time to study, and the studying still has to happen.
Reaching for the phone the second it gets uncomfortable. Waiting alone at a restaurant for a friend to arrive feels awkward, so out comes the phone.
People pleasing. Saying yes to everything to avoid the discomfort of someone being unhappy. It leads to burnout and resentment.
Avoiding dua. Some people stop asking Allah for something because they are afraid of being disappointed.

Picture a wife who texts her husband: “When you get home, let’s finish that conversation from last time. I know it got heated, but I really want to resolve it.” He replies, “Sure.” Then he stays late at work, finding more and more to do. When he finally gets home, they never have the conversation. Instead, they fight about the fact that he avoided it. That is a false refuge: temporary relief that causes more pain in the end.

And modern life is built for false refuges. So much of what people have access to every day exists to help them avoid feeling uncomfortable.

The Refuge That Cost Everything

The Islamic tradition shows false refuges too, and one of the most painful examples is the death of Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ.

As Abu Talib lay dying, the Prophet ﷺ was at his side, and so were Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah, two men deeply tied to Quraysh and completely unwilling to leave their tribal loyalties. The Prophet ﷺ pleaded with his uncle: “My uncle, just say la ilaha illa Allah, a word I can use to testify for you before Allah.” Just say it. Please, just say it.

The other two turned to Abu Talib and played on his pride: “Will you abandon the religion of Abd al-Muttalib?” Would he really turn his back on his father, his tribe, his forefathers? The Prophet ﷺ kept asking, and they kept repeating their question, until Abu Talib gave his final answer. He would stay on the religion of Abd al-Muttalib. He never said la ilaha illa Allah (narrated by al-Musayyab ibn Hazn رضي الله عنه, Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

This was an immense loss for the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Talib had protected and supported him for years and had a very special place in his heart. Anyone who has embraced Islam while their family hasn’t knows how painful this kind of loss is. When a beloved relative passes away without ever saying the shahada, it is a double loss: they are lost in this life and in the next.

But look at what held Abu Talib back. He was so uncomfortable with the thought of people looking down on him that, even on his deathbed, even if some part of him felt Islam was true, he was willing to risk the entire hereafter for a false refuge: his standing in the eyes of people who, in the end, didn’t matter.

How often do people make decisions the same way, based on discomfort and on “What will they say?” It is a familiar theme in Muslim communities: “You can’t do that, people will talk.” But what about doing it, or not doing it, for the sake of Allah? Doesn’t He have more right to be feared? Taking refuge in other people’s opinions is a false refuge that will always backfire. And throughout the stories of disbelief in the Islamic tradition, the same pattern shows up again and again: people turning to false refuges to manage their fears.

One Small Step Away

So how does a person identify their own false refuges and start breaking down the walls that keep them from real peace and safety?

Two questions are a good place to start:

What have I been avoiding because it’s uncomfortable?

What is one small thing I can do today that I wasn’t willing to do yesterday?

The step can be small. It might be reading a page of Quran even though fatigue won out yesterday. It might be putting the phone down, turning off Netflix, and facing whatever has been pushed aside. It might be finally answering the email that has been sitting there for two weeks, the one that will start with “Sorry for the delay.” (And how good does it feel once that’s off the plate?) It might even be reaching out to someone from a falling-out years ago, the person who comes to mind at night and makes you cringe.

Just one small change, slowly stepping away from a false refuge, can be a very powerful step in the right direction.

True Refuge

If there are false refuges, what is the true one?

Think of Yaqub عليه السلام. After losing Yusuf, and later Binyamin, he did not run from his grief. He took it to Allah, and he held on to hope that his sons would return:

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“He said, ‘I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.'” [Quran, 12:86]

The true refuge is with Allah: hope in Him and tawakkul, trust in Him. Just as the stories of disbelief are full of false refuges, the stories of the prophets and the righteous show people who managed their fear and anxiety through worship and connection with Allah.

Anxiety brings up fear and discomfort that a person naturally wants to avoid. Trust in Allah makes it possible to face that discomfort without running to a false refuge. It allows a person to face their reality instead of escaping it.

This changes how self-care looks. Many people think of self-care as buying some chocolate and taking a bubble bath. But real self-care is creating a life you don’t need to escape from. What can change in a person’s life so they don’t feel the need to run away from it? A huge part of that answer is attachment to Allah, trust in Allah, and a real understanding of who Allah is.

Facing reality is also part of what it means to be Muslim, a person who submits to Allah. It is a test of submission to accept circumstances that are uncomfortable or unwanted, and to accept the things that can’t be changed. That acceptance frees up energy. Instead of spending it fighting a reality that won’t change, a person can channel it toward what they can actually do.

Allah is As-Salam [Quran, 59:23]. He is the source of peace, safety, wholeness, and well-being. When things feel like they are falling apart, when the discomfort feels too much to face, the best thing a person can do is turn to the One who makes them whole. That is the true refuge.

Turning Hope Into a Plan: The Hope Map

Hope in Allah is not passive. It can be paired with a clear plan, and one simple tool for that is a hope map. All it takes is a piece of paper.

Fold it. Turn the paper sideways and fold it into three equal sections.
Goal (right section). Write one goal. It can be about personal life, relationships with people, or a relationship with Allah.
Pathways (left section). Write at least three different ways to reach that goal. Personal strengths are a good place to look.
Obstacles (middle section). For each pathway, write at least one thing that could get in the way. Research shows people are more likely to succeed when they plan for possible obstacles ahead of time, because then the obstacles don’t send them into a negative spiral.
Motivation (around the border). All around the edges, write what will keep you encouraged along the way. Include what you want to ask Allah for, and which of His names and attributes show that this goal is possible with His help. Alongside personal effort, the map draws on Allah’s capability to give strength and keep a person going.

Here is what that can look like.

Goal: Read more Quran. Pathways might include setting aside 15 minutes every morning, not opening social media until a page has been read, or not going to sleep until a page is done. Another very helpful approach is to attach it to something already done every day. A daily bus or train ride to school is a perfect example: the routine is already there, so pair it with Quran. Reading while waiting for a class to start, or changing the phone background to a reminder to read an ayah first, can help too. Obstacles? Missing one day, then pushing it off to tomorrow, then losing the habit. Procrastination. Being too tired, or too busy with exams. Very specifically: the phone dies, and there’s no habit of reading from a physical mushaf. That one has a simple answer, which is why multiple pathways matter. Keep a physical mushaf on hand too. For motivation, turn to dua: ask Allah to increase motivation, to help make the Quran a priority, to make you among those who memorize it, and to let it intercede on your behalf on the Day of Judgment. Call on Him as Al-Wahhab, the Giver of Gifts: give me the gift of a relationship with the Quran.

Goal: Stop leaving schoolwork to the last minute. Pathways will look different depending on personality, and that’s a good thing. Some people will set up a workspace they actually enjoy being in, not a dark corner they dread. Others will bring positivity into the routine by studying with friends or building in rewards. Others will make a comprehensive list of every assignment and prioritize it by due date. A time limit on social media can cut down on the distraction behind so much procrastination. Obstacles might be something unexpected coming up and making it hard to get back on track, study friends not being available, or thoughts like “I’m so tired, I’ll just take a break today” and “This is so boring, I can’t deal with it.” The point is to decide in advance what to do when that happens. For motivation, ask Allah to make the work easy, to put barakah in your time, to help you do what’s needed in the best way, to grant success, and to make this knowledge a source of benefit in this life and the next.

A hope map does two things. It makes a goal clear, and it keeps the goal from feeling heavy and draining. Planning for obstacles means a hard day isn’t the end of the road, and the border around the page is a reminder that no one works toward a goal on their own strength alone.

The Way Forward

Feeling anxious does not mean a person’s faith has failed them. It means they are human, the same as a companion who sat in the masjid overwhelmed by his worries. The Prophet ﷺ met that worry with compassion and a practical tool, and the same path is open to every believer: notice the false refuges, take one small step away from them, return to Allah as the true refuge, and build a hopeful plan for the road ahead.

Ustadha Sarah Sultan has an entire course on handling mental health struggles from grief to anxiety, loneliness, and more. It’s called Grounded, and it’s available as free or ‘pay what you can’. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate emotional difficulty, access the course here

Is Seasonal Depression Tied to Low Eman?

AlMaghrib — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:10:20 GMT

This article is based on part of a podcast discussion between Shaykh Ammar AlShukry and Ustadha Sarah Sultan. You can listen to the full discussion here.

Some sensitive topics discussed in this piece may be triggering to some readers. Discretion is advised.

“I pray all of my salah, I read Quran, I give sadaqah, I make dua constantly. So why do I still feel so hollow inside? Am I a bad Muslim?”

Mental health is still one of those conversations the community often feels too ashamed to have, and that silence comes with a heavy assumption: if someone is struggling emotionally, the problem must be their faith.

“Maybe her eman is low.”

“He’s being ungrateful to Allah.”

The reality is very different.

The World Health Organization estimates that around 5% of adults worldwide live with depression. That is roughly 1 in 20 people, and Muslims are not exempt from that statistic.

And for many people, fall and winter are the times of year when it starts to show up.

What is Seasonal Depression?

Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder as it is called in more clinical language, is when a person experiences a serious dip in their mood at the same time every year.

The first signs tend to be physical; with seasonal depression, there is typically an increase in appetite and an increase in wanting to sleep. Alongside that comes a consistent low mood.

From there, it starts to affect everything else.

A person might feel a sense of sadness a lot of the time without being able to explain why, and their thought process starts to drift into negative territory. Their energy is low, so their relationships take a hit. They just don’t have it in them to show up for people the way they normally would. Over time, their ability to function in everyday life can be affected as well.

Chemically, seasonal depression usually stems from a lack of sunlight.

That is why it tends to hit in the fall and winter, as the days get shorter. But it depends on where a person lives. In a place like Houston, where the summer heat keeps families stuck indoors for months, some people might actually experience it in the summer. The season can be different depending on the place.

The Season That Speeds Everything Up

Shorter days are only part of the picture. Something people rarely talk about is how much the pace of life changes when fall arrives, especially for mothers.

The slow, relaxed rhythm of summer is suddenly gone. The kids are back in school. There are lunches to pack every night, everything to get ready for the next morning, and after-school activities to drive to.

Life shifts into go, go, go mode, and that can have a really big impact on mental health.

Some cultures have found a healthier way to approach long winters. In Denmark, the concept of hygge is all about embracing the good that winter can bring: community, warm blankets, a cup of tea by the fire. It gives people something to look forward to during those months. That kind of mental reframe can be so helpful, and it is something American culture has not embraced very well. Instead of slowing down and coming together in the colder months, the pace gets turned up, and the result is more isolation.

The Islamic tradition offers its own beautiful reframe. Winter has long been seen as a season of worship. The days are short, so a family can build a culture of fasting together. The nights are long, so there is time for qiyam al-layl. Winter can become something to look forward to rather than something to get through.

Misconception: “They’re Just Being Soft”

Picture someone who moves to a city with long, dark winters. Every year, around the same time, their energy drops and their mood sinks. And the people around them say, “Come on, you’re just being soft.”

That reaction comes from a very common misconception: that through sheer willpower, a person should be able to power through the symptoms and get themselves to feel better.

But depression is not the same as a simple low mood day. There is a real chemical component in the brain, and that is not something that can just be changed through willpower.

Understanding this matters for the person who is struggling, because they may already be blaming themselves. And it matters for everyone around them who might be tempted to tell them to just try harder.

How to Recognize It in Someone You Love

A lot of people can’t put into words what they’re feeling, let alone name it. So how can family and friends tell when something more is going on?

With any kind of symptom, the key is to understand the pattern. What is happening at the root of it? Where is it coming from?

With seasonal depression, the pattern is the clearest sign. It hits at around the same time every single year, and the same symptoms show up: changes in appetite, changes in sleep, a shift in mood, and lower energy.

Recognizing that pattern changes how people respond. It builds empathy, because it becomes clear that this is not a choice. The person is not deciding to give up on their responsibilities or stay in bed all day. Seeing how they function during the rest of the year makes it obvious that this is not characteristic of them.

It is also important to know how serious it can get.

In severe cases, seasonal depression can lead to depressive thoughts that reach the point of suicidal thoughts. That is a sign to be especially aware of and cautious about, and it is a clear signal that professional help is needed, because that is not something a person can just overcome through willpower.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to a local crisis line or emergency services right away. In the US, you can call or text 988.

Practical Steps for the Darker Months

A few steps that can help:

Ask a doctor about vitamin D. Since seasonal depression is tied to a lack of sunlight, a lot of doctors recommend a vitamin D supplement.
Wake up early. Rising early allows the body’s circadian rhythm to regulate to the sun’s schedule.
Get out in the sunlight as much as possible. Whatever amount of sunlight is available, take it. Anyone working from home can try to work in the sun during daylight hours.
Reframe the season. Build in things to look forward to during the colder months, whether that’s cozy, low-pressure gatherings with friends or a renewed focus on fasting and night prayer as a family.
Get professional help when it gets serious. When the symptoms deepen, a licensed professional can provide support that willpower alone cannot.

Faith and Help Go Together

So, back to the question at the start: is depression a sign of weak eman?

Being tested is a guarantee in every person’s life. Allah says:

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits” (Quran, 2:155)

Accepting that a test comes from Allah is one thing. The real question is what a person does with that test.

Will they still look at it through the lens of Allah’s wisdom? Will they find something to be grateful for? What strength is being built through this that they never would have gained otherwise? And ultimately, is this test bringing them closer to Allah or further away from Him?

One of the steps that can bring a person closer is professional help when it’s needed. A simple way to know when that point has come is when daily functioning is affected over a long period.

If someone is having trouble keeping up with their job, going to class, or taking care of their family, and it keeps happening, professional help could be really beneficial. Everybody has days where they’re down. Some days, it’s hard to even get out of bed, and that’s okay. But when there are a lot of those days, that is the signal.

Getting help can even become an act of worship. When a person is not functioning at full capacity, they are usually not functioning at full capacity spiritually either. If they seek that help for the sake of Allah, with the intention that it will help them be more consistent in their salah and draw closer to Him, then that can be an act of worship too, inshallah.

Struggling with depression does not mean a person has failed in their faith. Taking the means Allah has provided, whether that is sunlight, community, or a counselor, can be part of how they hold on to it.

Understanding Hardship Through Surah Balad

AlMaghrib — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:33:35 GMT

This article is based on a khutbah delivered by Shaykh Ammar AlShukry. You can watch the original sermon here.

In Surah al-Balad, Allah makes a number of oaths:

He swears by the sacred city of Makkah and by Adam and his descendants, and we know that every oath in the Quran has a purpose, that is to affirm the truth of a statement.

Which is why the verse that follows these oaths is so profound:

“We have certainly created man into hardship.”

[Quran, 90:4]

All of us spend our lives searching for ways to avoid hardship, stress, pain, anxiety, and all forms of difficulty, but the reality of life is this: hardship is built into it.

Hardship at Every Stage of Life

If you ask a child whether their life is problem-free, they will say no.

School brings bullies, homework, and conflicts. As children, we think that becoming adults will solve our problems, but adulthood brings its own challenges.

The single person thinks marriage will solve their problems, only to discover it doubles them. Children arrive, and the challenges multiply.

Imam al-Qurtubi, in his tafsir, talks about the journey of human struggle: from the first hardship of cutting the umbilical cord, to early life, education, the busyness of marriage, the burden of building a home, raising children, enduring the decline of health, and even after death, when we experience the constriction of the grave, the questioning by the angels, resurrection, and standing before Allah.

This continues until a person reaches their eternal home: either Paradise or Hell.

By understanding this truth, your perspective will completely shift. When we understand that hardship is part and parcel to the test of life, we stop being disillusioned by our hardships and stop envying others whose lives seem perfect on social media. Every human being, no matter what they display, is living with some form of struggle.

Complaints About Giving and Allah’s Response

Allah continues in Surah al-Balad:

“Does he think that no one has power over him?

He says, ‘I have spent a great deal of wealth.’”

[Quran, 90:5-6]

This verse was revealed about a hypocrite who committed a sin and was instructed by the Prophet ﷺ to pay an expiation.

Frustrated, the man complained that since entering Islam, his money was constantly being spent on charity and expiation.

Some of us today feel “squeezed” by all the masjid and charity fundraisers we see every Ramadan. Yet Allah reminds us of the blessings we could never repay if we were to buy them:

“Did We not make for him two eyes?

And a tongue and two lips?”

[Quran, 90:8-9]

Our eyes work tirelessly from morning until night without fatigue. Our tongues and lips are instruments of communication that never tire. Above all, Allah has guided us — something we could never have attained without Him.

The Path to Paradise

Allah then says:

“And We showed him the two paths.

But he has not attempted the steep path.”

[Quran, 90:10-11]

What is this steep or challenging path that Allah refers to?

It is to undertake great acts of virtue: freeing a slave, or feeding people in a time of extreme hardship.

Think back to the early days of the pandemic, when even toilet paper felt scarce.

Giving in such moments, when fear of shortage grips people, is one of the most difficult acts, but it is in those times that these acts mean the most.

But above all of them, Allah mentions:

“‘…and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion.”

[Quran, 90:17]

Hardship is where your eman is truly put to the test, whether you will rise above the obstacles before you, or buckle under the pressure.

This Life Is a Test

This dunya was never meant to be problem-free. Do not let life’s struggles overwhelm you, because they are part of its design.

Everyone is tested, whether their test is visible or hidden.

Paradise is the place without problems, and this life is the journey to get there.

May Allah grant us Jannah and all that leads to it in word and deed, and protect us from the Hellfire and all that leads to it in word and deed. May He grant us taqwa and purify us. May He have mercy on our parents, forgive our deceased, heal our sick, and grant victory to the Muslims.

Great Muslim Leaders Do This

AlMaghrib — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:45:44 GMT

This is the story of a boy who dreamt of becoming a warrior for Islam… but Allah & His Messenger ﷺ had greater plans.

Young Zayd ibn Thabit was not yet 13 when he approached the Prophet ﷺ and courageously dedicated himself to the Muslim army.

He was disappointed when the Prophet ﷺ turned his offer down, patting his shoulder with tenderness.

Zayd was still too young to fight, but the Prophet ﷺ was not going to let that stop Zayd from pursuing greatness in other ways.

He ﷺ recognized that Zayd had a unique quality: A strong mind that needed to be nurtured. So he ﷺ encouraged Zayd to learn to read and write, not just Arabic, but other languages such a Hebrew as well.

Zayd ibn Thabit became the personal scribe of the Prophet ﷺ , of the few honored with such a task, and above all, he was among the companions who memorized the entire Quran, and little did Zayd know how all these years of education would come into play.

Years later, after our beloved ﷺ returned to his Lord, and many of the Hufadh of the companions had been martyred in the way of Allah, Abu Bakr (R.A), the first successor of the Messenger ﷺ had a great mission on his hand: compiling the entire Quran into one physical manuscript, so as to preserve it for the Ummah.

Who did Abu Bakr choose to oversee this tremendous task? None other than Zayd ibn Thabit (R.A). All because the Prophet ﷺ recognized his talents, and chose to nurture them.

This is one of the great qualities of prophetic leadership; putting the right people in the right places.

Throughout the seerah, we consistently find that the Prophet ﷺ recognized and nurtured talent, never letting a person’s gifts go to waste.

Bilal (R.A) was gifted with a beautiful voice, so the Prophet ﷺ made him the Mu’adhin of Madinah.

Khalid (R.A) proved his miltary prowess, so the Prophet ﷺ kept him on the frontlines of the Ummah.

Hassaan bin Thabit had a way with words, so the Prophet ﷺ made him the poet of the Ummah.

The Prophet ﷺ never overlooked his companions, each of them had their place and purpose, because this ummah is not a nation of ‘nobodies’.

One of the greatest things you can do that will make your fellow Muslim feel valued and appreciated is to recognize their talents and motivate them to use those gifts in a halal way that benefits the ummah; physically, intellectually, creatively, financially.

Each of us has a role to play, so what will yours be?

4 Lessons in Rizq from The Sahaba

AlMaghrib — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:57:44 GMT

Muslims have the wrong idea about wealth. So many of us believe that more wealth = less piety, That focusing on the Akhira means ignoring this Dunya… but that could not be further from the truth.

Islam does not demand us to renounce the dunya and not seek our share of it. A true Muslim works with his hands whilst putting his trust in Allah.

Many of the Sahaba of our Prophet ﷺ were wealthy individuals, and by looking into their lives, you can learn some incredible lessons on rizq.

Here are 4 powerful stories from the lives of the Sahaba and what they can teach us about rizq.

1. AbdurRahman ibn Awf

He was from the Muhajireen, he was a veteran of countless battles alongside the Prophet ﷺ , he was from the famous 10 promised Paradise, and he was among the wealthiest of the Sahaba, both before and after the Hijra.

But there was a time where AbdurRahman ibn Awf had nothing to his name.

When he left Makkah for Madinah after 13 long years of persecution, he was forced to abandon all his fortunes, and arrive in the budding new city with nothing but the clothes on his back.

The Prophet ﷺ had assigned pairings between the Muhajirun of Makkah and the Ansar (helpers) in Madinah to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the Muslims.

AbdurRahman (R.A) was linked with the Ansari companion Sa’ad ibn ar-Rabi’ah, an affluent and generous figure in Madinah.

Sa’ad was committed to supporting his new brother with half of everything he had, to the extent that he said:

“My brother! Among the people of Madinah I have the most wealth. I have two orchards and I

have two wives. See which of the two orchards you like and I shall vacate it for you and which

of my two wives is pleasing to you and I will divorce her for you.”

AbdurRahman was taken aback by Sa’ad’s generosity, but politely declined, saying:

“May Allah bless you in your family and your wealth. But instead, can you please direct me to the marketplace?”

AbdurRahman (R.A) began working in the market, studying the local mercantile practices, and began trading with what little he could earn, growing and accumulating his wealth.

By the time the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found AbdurRahman dressed in fine clothing, perfumed, and newly wed.

All in just several months of hard work!

And his fortunes continued, until he was once again one of the wealthiest companions in Madinah.

It was said that at a point he had a caravan of camels so large that whenever they returned from a journey, the people believed the city was being invaded!

The lesson in his story:

While there is no shame in taking help from others, there is barakah in being independent and assertive.

2. Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqas

There is no rizq like an accepted Du’a, and one companion of the Prophet ﷺ known to be blessed abundantly in his supplication was Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqas (R.A)

Another great companion from the 10 promised paradise, he was one for who the ayat of the Quran regarding goodness to parents were revealed.

He is the one about whom the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Let my parents be sacrificed for you!”

However big or small, the people noticed how frequently Sa’ad’s supplications were answered almost immediately.

On one occasion during the khilafa of ‘Ali (R.A), it is said that a man in Iraq was cursing the Khalifah, and when Sa’ad (R.A) heard of this, he warned the man to stop.

When he refused to heed the warning, Sa’ad prayed two rak’at of Salah and made Du’a cursing that man, after which a beast entered the city and trampled on him.

Needless to say, being on the bad side of Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqas was not a place you wanted to be!

But what made his Du’a so special?

Many scholars will note that one outstanding quality of Sa’ad (R.A) was incredibly strict in what he consumed.

“I do not put anything in my mouth except that I know where it came from; I purchased it, and I

know its source.”

It is said this level of stringency upon seeking only that which is halal and tayyib aided his Du’a.

As Abu Hurayra (R.A) reported, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: ‘O Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat (pure things), and perform righteous deeds’ and Allah has said: ‘O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you’.”

Then he ﷺ mentioned a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can he be answered?

[Sahih Muslim]

The lesson in his story:

If you want barakah in your rizq and for your du’a to be accepted, be cautious with how you earn your wealth and how you spend it.

3. ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan

The third Khalifa in Islam.

A son-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ .

A man known for his devotion the Qur’an and immense modesty, to the extent that even the angels were shy in his presence!

Some may not be aware, however, that Uthman (R.A) was also among the wealthy elite of the Arabs before and after accepting Islam.

He was also known for his incredible philanthropy throughout his life, and his contribution is being witnessed to this day!

During the time of the Prophet ﷺ , there was a severe drought affecting the city of Madinah.

Water was already a scarce resource in the harsh climate, and at a time where it was needed most, one of the only sources available in the city was a well owned by a Jewish man who would sell the water at an extortionate price.

Uthman (R.A) purchased that well for around 20,000 dirhams, and made it a waqf (public charitable trust) so that the water would be free for the whole community to benefit from.

That well, known as Bir Rumah, would be used not only for day-to-day purposes like drinking and cleaning, but also watering entire fields of crops for local farmers.

Over time, the area around the well developed into a plantation which became a lifeline for the Muslim economy in Madinah, and the wealth generated from its crops would be reinvested in the community for generations to come.

Believe it or not, that waqf established from a single well is still active to this day!

The wealth generated from the waqf of Uthman (R.A) goes into an account under his name, which is overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Endowments, and continues to be used to support charitable projects.

The lesson in his story:

When you give for the sake of Allah, it will continue to grow, and the benefit will always return to you, whether you see it or not.

4. Abu Bakr as-Sidiq

The best of men to walk this earth after the prophets of Allah.

The closest companion to the Messenger ﷺ.

The man who will accompany him ﷺ through the gates of Paradise…

And another wealthy and successful merchant in his time.

Countless stories can be recounted to illustrate the many virtues of Abu Bakr (R.A), but here is one demonstrating his attitude to wealth:

In an authentic narration in Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A) mentions the Prophet ﷺ ordering the companions to give in charity.

Umar narrates:

“I said to myself that today I will outdo Abu Bakr, if ever there were a day to outdo him.”

So he brought half of all his wealth to the Prophet ﷺ

And when he ﷺ asked, “What have you left for your family?”

Umar responded: “The same amount.”

Then, Abu Bakr (R.A) arrived, bringing his entire wealth as charity.

When the Prophet ﷺ asked him: “O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?”

Abu Bakr responded: “Allah and His messenger.”

It was then that Umar (R.A) said: “By Allah, I will never do better than Abu Bakr.”

Now, did Abu Bakr put his family into poverty by doing this? No, he (R.A) was known for working diligently in the marketplace.

In fact, in another instance, shortly after becoming the first Khalifa, Abu Bakr was seen going to the market to work on his business, and it was Umar who would urge him to give his full attention to his new role.

Earning back his wealth was not a concern.

But this story shows just what that wealth actually meant to him.

He did not fear poverty, he did not have any deep attachment to that wealth.

He was ready to give it up for the sake of Islam, and had full trust in Allah.

That is what our attitude to wealth should be, as Ibn al-Qayyim famously said:

“When there is money in your hand but not in your heart, it cannot harm you; even if it is alot, and when it is in your heart, it will harm you even if there is none in your hands.”

[Madarij as-Salikin]

The lesson in his story:

Keep wealth in your hands, but never let it enter your heart

A Muslim Parent’s Guide to Summer

AlMaghrib — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:33:32 GMT

Summer holidays can feel like a gift and a challenge all at once. The same days that promise lazy mornings and family memories can also slide into boredom, screen time, and that low hum of guilt that we are not doing enough.

But the summer break is one of the richest opportunities we have as parents.

With a little intention, these weeks can become a time when our children grow closer to Allah ﷻ, build their bodies and character, and carry memories they will hold onto for life.

Here is how to make this summer special for your family, without burning yourself out in the process.

Take Advantage of the Sunnah Games

When it comes to connecting our kids to the Prophet ﷺ, we think of stories and lectures, rather than action.

But every storyteller knows the all-important rule, “show, don’t tell.”

Sports are a practical way of making the seerah tangible to our kids.

We often think of worship as something that happens on a prayer mat. But our deen honours the body too, and the summer is the perfect season to revive a set of activities the early Muslims took seriously.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه famously wrote to his governors instructing them: “Teach your children swimming, archery, and horsemanship.” [Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq].

The spirit behind it is firmly rooted in the Sunnah, and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged these very activities in authentic narrations.

Here are a few you can build your summer around:

Swimming: A skill ‘Umar رضي الله عنه singled out, and a perfect summer activity. Beyond the fun, it builds confidence, strength, and a life-saving ability. Frame it for your children as something our tradition actively encourages, not just a way to cool off.

Archery: The Prophet ﷺ placed real emphasis on this. He once passed a group competing in archery and said, “Shoot, sons of Isma’il, for your father was an archer.” [Sahih al-Bukhari].

He also said, repeating it three times, that “strength is in archery” [Sahih Muslim]. Many areas have beginner archery sessions over the summer, and few activities make a child feel the link between themselves and the Sahaba quite like holding a bow.

Racing and running: ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها reported that she raced the Prophet ﷺ on foot and won. Years later, he raced her again and won, and said, “This is for that race.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]. A footrace in the park is free, it is Sunnah, and it is a memory your children will keep.

Horse riding: This one might not always be accessible, but if a local stable offers a taster session, this is a great way to connect directly to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, who raced horses himself [Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim].

Show your children that being active, strong, and capable is part of who we are as Muslims.

Bring ‘Ibadah Into the Mix

Without the rhythm of school and work, worship can either fade into the background or, with a little planning, become the gentle backbone of the day.

The goal is to weave small, repeatable acts of worship into your child’s natural routine.

Make the morning and evening adhkar a family habit.

Allah ﷻ commands us to remember Him “in the mornings and the evenings” [Quran 7:205].

Summer mornings are calmer, with no rush out the door, which makes this the ideal time to start. You do not need to do everything at once.

Begin with the three Quls (Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and al-Nas), recited three times each, blowing into the hands and wiping over the body.

The Prophet ﷺ said these “will be enough for you against everything.”

Once that becomes second nature, add one more, such as:

Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’, wa Huwas-Sami’ul-‘Alim

“In the name of Allah with whose Name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing” (recited three times).

The Prophet ﷺ told us that whoever says the above in the morning and evening, “shall be safe from the reach of anything evil or harmful” [Tirmidhi].

Race towards goodness.

The Sahaba would compete in their deeds, whether it was in sadaqah or on the battlefield.

Likewise, a bit of health competition is a simple way to encourage ‘ibadah in your home.

Who is going to wake up for fajr first? Who is going to send the most salawat on the Prophet ﷺ this Jumu’ah? Who is going to make it to the first row in the masjid?

The aim is to make ‘ibadah something they are excited about, rather than making it feel like a chore.

Build Quran into the day. With more time on your hands, set a small, achievable daily goal together, even a few lines. Let go of the pressure of perfection. As the Prophet ﷺ taught, the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if small. A little every day beats an ambitious plan that collapses by week two.

Turn Jumu’ah into a weekly highlight. Without the school timetable, Fridays can become a proper family event. Teach the children to bathe, dress in their best, and apply a nice fragrance, just as the Prophet ﷺ described. Make coming early to the masjid something they look forward to, and tell them about the reward that grows the earlier you arrive. Reading Surah al-Kahf together on Friday is a lovely habit to start over the summer.

For the Parents: Surviving the Summer Without Drowning

Let us be honest. Long days with children at home are wonderful, and they are exhausting. The guilt of not doing enough, the frustration that boils over, the feeling of being pulled in ten directions: every parent knows it. So here are a few parting words:

Focus on the present. Many parents carry a quiet guilt about what they did not do yesterday or should have done better. But the Prophet ﷺ taught us not to say “if only I had done such and such,” because that word “if” opens a door for shaytan. Instead, ask: what can I do now? Every single moment is a fresh chance to turn back to Allah and to start again. You have not missed your window. It is right in front of you.

Aim for consistency rather than perfection. That all-or-nothing thinking (“if I cannot do the whole plan, why bother?”) is what leaves us stuck. Allah loves consistency, not perfection. Even a partial effort counts. Something is always better than nothing.

Be intentional, and worship through your ordinary tasks. Not every path to closeness with Allah looks the same. The endless cooking, tidying, and driving of summer can themselves become worship when you attach intention and dhikr to them. The Prophet ﷺ said, “do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” Smiling at your child, preparing their meal, taking a deep breath instead of snapping: all of it can be ‘ibadah when done for the sake of Allah.

On anger: see yourself from the outside. Frustration is inevitable when everyone is home all day. Shaykh Yahya Ibrahim offers a powerful exercise: picture the small child looking up at you, and picture how you appear to them in that moment of anger, towering and shouting. Ask yourself, if someone filmed you right now, would you be proud for it to be shown at your workplace or your masjid? Children read our faces and body language far more than our words, so guard how you carry yourself.

Choose your battles, and step away from the heat. Not every issue needs to be settled on the spot. When things get heated, break the moment. Take a walk, go to the masjid, pray, and come back to deal with it once you have cooled down. Never try to solve a problem in the heat of anger.

Keep the relationship wholesome. Anas رضي الله عنه, who served the Prophet ﷺ as a young boy, said the Prophet ﷺ never once spoke harshly to him or scolded him for what he did or did not do. No hand was softer, and no words were kinder. That is the standard we reach toward: correcting our children while keeping the relationship gentle and positive.

Dhul Hijjah Diaries [4]: ‘Arafah

AlMaghrib — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:32:00 GMT

‘Arafah is a day of intense Dua and immense mercy.

It’s the pinnacle of Hajj, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to Jabal al Rahma (The Mountain of Mercy), dusty and dishevelled, seeking Allah’s forgiveness as our father Adam (A.S) did.

But the blessings of dua on the day of ‘Arafah are not limited to those performing Hajj.

They are for the whole Ummah!

This is prime time to occupy yourself with dua, and those who succeed on this day are those who invest the most in supplicating Allah.

Here are a few ways to raise the quality of your dua on ‘Arafah.

Remember the stakes

Reminding yourself of the virtues of dua and the timeliness of it can be an incredible source of motivation driving your worship on this day.

Perhaps the greatest motivation for this blessed day can be found in the narration of ‘Aisha (R.A).

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is no day upon which Allah frees more of His servants from the Hellfire than the day of ‘Arafah…”

[Sahih Muslim]

What greater success could there be for a Muslim than to be saved from Hell?

If you have ever fallen into doubt about yourself, felt ashamed over past sins, and believed you are too far gone, let this hadith be your sign that things can turn around!

Allah’s mercy is there, so long as you are determined to turn back to Him.

Understand how dua is answered

The Prophet ﷺ taught us something amazing about how Allah responds to our dua.

He ﷺ said:

“There is no Muslim who makes a dua that doesn’t involve sin
or breaking family ties, except that Allah gives them one of three things:

An immediate answer
Something stored for them in the Hereafter
The prevention of something bad”

The companions said, “Then we will make plenty of dua!”
And the Prophet ﷺ replied, “Allah is even more plentiful in His response.”

[Musnad Imam Ahmad]

Make your own dua list

If you know anybody going on Hajj, chances are they have a list of duas ready for all their friends and loved ones.

But what is stopping you from making your own?

Come prepared for this blessed day by compiling a list of dua for yourself and others.

Pour out everything you hope for in this life, and ask for even more in the hereafter.

Make note of all your loved ones, your friends and neighbors, and all those suffering in the Ummah.

Be sure to include dua and adhkar from the sunnah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best supplication is that which is made on the day of ‘Arafah. The best of it is what was said by myself and the Prophets before me: There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.”

[Tirmidhi]

Learn the etiquette of dua

Begin by praising Allah, invoking His perfect names and attributes
Face the Qibla
Raise your hands, ask humbly and submissively
Be present, remove all distractions
Send salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ
Be certain in Allah’s answer

May Allah accept all of your supplications on this day, and include us all among those freed from the fire.

Dhul Hijjah Diaries [3]: Fasting

AlMaghrib — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:41:52 GMT

Around this time of year, we are reminded of the tremendous sacrifice of Ibrahim (A.S) and his family.

The Hajj is the ultimate symbol of their many sacrifices for the sake of Allah.

But for those millions of us who may not be able to perform this sacred rite, Allah has blessed us with another great opportunity to sacrifice… and we are not talking about the udhiya/qurbani you give every year.

We are talking about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah.

The Prophet ﷺ said regarding this day:

“It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” [Sahih Muslim]

While many of us know of this great sunnah, how many of us truly internalize the spiritual aspect of this noble act?

One of the ways you can make the day of ‘Arafah truly transformative is to focus on the inner dimensions of fasting; to go beyond simply going through the motions and draining hunger, and remind yourself of what you are giving up for the sake of Allah.

Your State: SINCERITY (Ikhlas)

The only way that your actions count is if they are sincere, and fasting beyond the month of Ramadan is a true demonstration of sincerity.

Why? Because nobody else knows.

It is a silent ‘ibadah, a secret between you and your Lord, for the attention of none but Him.

The individual acts that no one else is involved in, develops a special link with Allāh.

Your Battle: FIGHTING YOUR DESIRES

This is where the element of sacrifice shines through.

When a Muslim is fasting, they forgo what is permissible for them: food, drink, intimacy with their spouse, all for the sake of Allah.

You are giving up the most base urges built into all human beings, even in their halal form…

So if you can give up what is halal for us for an entire day, despite every urge you may feel, what about what is haram?

Fasting helps you to build resistance and resilience against your desires, but it is also a testament to yourself that you are able to control yourself, no matter what the Shaytan wants you to believe.

Your Goal: PIETY (Taqwa)

“O you who Believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, that

you may achieve Taqwa.” [Quran, 2:183]

Taqwa is to erect a barrier/wall to protect oneself against Allah’s punishment, and to

increase in this way.

A part of Taqwa is to know that Allāh is constantly watchful of you.

Fasting is an act that is unique in this manner; it is SOLELY between the slave and

Allah.

No one else knows you are doing it, so why do it? Because you are aware that

Allah knows and will hold you to account- it is that piety/fear/awareness of Allah

that makes you do it.

As the day of ‘Arafah approaches, do not enter the state of fasting blindly or aimlessly. Do it with purpose, with the intention of not only attaining Allah’s forgiveness on that day, but to gain nearness to Him for the rest of your life.

May Allah accept your fasting on the blessed day to come.

Dhul Hijjah Diaries [2]: 4 ways to fall in love with The Quran

AlMaghrib — Wed, 06 May 2026 15:29:55 GMT

As many khutbahs and reminders we hear about not becoming strangers to the Quran for 11 months of the year, only to dust it off in Ramadan, the truth is that for many of us it’s not always easy.

But the best of days are upon us, and just as the weight of our deeds is increased in the month of Ramadan, so too do our deeds increase in magnitude in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

So what can you do to reconnect with the book of Allah in these blessed days and in the year ahead?

Here are just a few small but powerful tips:

Use the power of moments

Time is a major crutch for most people.

Work, studies, family commitments, all get in the way of the relationship with the Quran you’ve always wanted.

But here is the harsh truth; nobody has time!

Chances are, your schedule in Ramadan was just as busy as the rest of the year.

The same work, the same school and university deadlines, the same family matters.

The difference is that you made time for the Quran.

The same applies in these blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah, and for the year ahead.

You have to choose your priority in those spare moments you find in the day.

Whether it’s listening to it on your daily commute to work, reading a few pages on the bus home from school or university, reciting before you go to sleep etc.

Be intelligent with those smaller moments, and you will find more opportunities to recite than you realized.

Take advantage of the Sunnah

Many of us have this idea that reading the Quran has to always be a cover-to-cover effort, as if just reciting it off from memory or opening up a random page isn’t the same.
But why is that? Does reciting a surah you know already not count?

There are moments throughout the week tied in with specific passages and verses of the Quran, that we know carry major reward.

So make the intention to recite those too:

Abu Sa’id al Khudri narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever recites Surat al Kahf on Friday, a light will shine for him between this Friday and the next.”
[Bayhaqi]
Make Surah Kahf a part of your jummah routine! At the very least the first 10 verses.

Likewise, take advantage of reciting the Quran in the mornings and evenings, and make it a consistent habit over these ten days.

Jaabir reported that the Prophet ﷺ would not sleep without reciting Surah as-Sajdah and Surah al-Mulk [Tirmidhi]

Focus on consistency

Another major trap people can fall into is setting unrealistic expectations for themselves.

Maybe you found yourself reading 10 pages, 20, a whole juz a day during Ramadan, and though you are trying to find that same energy now, it may not be as easy.

The important thing is consistency.

As you push yourself to read more, try to focus on what is achievable and what you can maintain beyond these ten days.

Set a daily wird, a daily devotional, that you can confidently maintain no matter your circumstances, and make the intention now to commit to it.

As the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”

[Musnad Imam Ahmad]

Make dua for it

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are a time for increased supplication, especially the day of ‘Arafah.

So if you are serious and determined to make the Quran your companion for life, then make intense dua for it as your build these habits.

One beautiful dua from the Prophet ﷺ relating to this is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِي حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِي قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي
O Allah, I am Your slave, the son of Your male slave, the son of your female slave.
My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me). Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Quran the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.

[Hisnul Muslim]
In these blessed days, may Allah make the Quran the spring of our hearts and the light of our chests.

Dhul Hijjah Diaries [1]: Your Salah in The Best Days

AlMaghrib — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:22:05 GMT

The period between Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah is where many of us fall off.

Those habits and routines you built up over that 30-day marathon are all but gone.

But from the mercy of Allah is that He granted us Dhul Hijjah at the end of the year, almost as if He (S.W.T) is giving us a launchpad into the year to come.

Just as the final nights of Ramadan are the greatest of nights, the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best of days, as the Prophet ﷺ told us:

“No good deeds are better than what is done in these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.”

[Sahih al Bukhari]

This time you have been given is worth more than the rest of your year, so what can you do to make the most of it?

In this short series of articles, we will explore just a few acts of worship you can focus on to maximize not only these days but the years to come, with Allah’s permission.

Starting with the cornerstone of your worship: The Salah

One of the major habits we lose as soon as Ramadan ends is the routine of praying qiyam al layl or Taraweeh.

It’s natural, not all of us are able to keep up with 8 or 20 rak’at every night.

So rather than trying to recapture that level of devotion at night, start by building and improving your worship in the day.

Here are just a few ways you can improve your Salah in the daytime:

Pray the Sunah Rawatib

In an authentic hadith narrated by ‘Aisha (R.A), the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever perseveres in performing twelve cycles of prayer from the Sunnah, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise…” [Sunan al Tirmidhi]

They are:

2 before Fajr
4 before Dhuhr and 2 after
2 after Maghrib
2 after ‘Isha

And from there, work on adding more nawafil where possible.

One of the benefits of maintaining the sunnah prayers is not only the reward of them, but that they also make up for any shortcomings in your obligatory Salah.

As narrated by Tamim al Dari, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is complete, then the voluntary (prayers) will also be recorded for him (as an increase). If it is not complete, then Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look and see whether you find any voluntary prayers for My slave, and take them to make up what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then all his deeds will be reckoned in like manner.” [Sunan ibn Majah]

Don’t rush your Salah!

Take things slow, and do not rush through your conversation with Allah.

One of the main reasons why people lack mindfulness in their salah is because they believe they don’t have time.

When we have countless engagements and tasks waiting at the door, praying with diligence can be daunting.

Overcoming this challenge requires patience and acceptance of one hard fact:

You do not control time; Allah controls time.

Bring yourself back

Abu Hazim at-Tammar from al Bayadi narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to the people while they were praying and their voices were raised in the recitation. He said, “When you pray, you are talking confidently to your Lord. So look to what you confide to Him, and do not say the Qur’an out loud so that others hear it.”

[Al Muwatta, Imam Malik]

It’s a simple exercise with regard to attention that you become aware of distraction.

As you are thinking even now, right now your mind is probably going in different directions.

So practice bringing yourself back and being present. Switch things up & add variety to your Salah

When you are on your daily commute, whether it’s work, school or anywhere you visit on the regular, however you get to that place, do you actively think about the journey?

Probably not, because it’s so ingrained in your mind that going there and back is instinctive, like muscle memory.

But what happens when you encounter a roadblock?

Something is forcing you to change your route, and all of a sudden, you are more alert and present.

Even though you are going to and from the same destination, something shook up your routine, and you are no longer driving on autopilot.

The Salah works the same way. When you get used to reciting the same surahs and going through the same motions over and over, your brain switches off, because you have settled into the same routine with your prayers.

Switching things up within the realm of acceptability will force you to be present and mindful in your Salah.

Instead of reciting the same surahs, recite one you haven’t read in a long time. Instead of just reciting the same adhkar in your bowing and prostration, change up the number of times you recite them, or choose a different du’a or form of dhikr in those positions.

How To Stay Connected To The Quran After Ramadan

AlMaghrib — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:14:19 GMT

You spent 30 days with the book of Allah, reading it, listening to it, contemplating it, but suddenly you’re back to your regular routine, and things don’t feel the same.

The motivation isn’t there, you feel rusty, and reading just a single page at a time feels like climbing a mountain!

What can you practically do to keep the Quran as part of your daily life?

Here are 5 tips on how to maintain a daily habit of reciting Allah’s book.

1- Don’t do it alone!

If Allah wanted, He could have simply revealed the Quran in full to the Prophet ﷺ without anyone in between…

But He (S.W.T) sent Jibril (A.S) to teach it.

The Prophet ﷺ would revise the Quran with Jibril every Ramadan, and twice in the final Ramadan of his life ﷺ .

What can we take from that?

You don’t have to go at this alone.

A big mistake many people make when trying to build any skill or habit is doing it all on their own.

But, as the famous saying goes:

“If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

Having a teacher is ideal, but even if you don’t, just having a friend there to motivate and hold you to account will make a huge difference in your Quranic goals.

Set a daily or weekly check-up, try reading together, and have a system in place to make sure you’re reaching your daily milestones.

“Did you read X pages today?”

“Have you recited Surah Kahf this Friday?”

“Have you memorized your ayat for this week?”

2- Focus on what you can do

Another major trap people can fall into is setting unrealistic expectations for themselves.

Maybe you found yourself reading 10 pages, 20, a whole juz a day during Ramadan,

But now doing even a fraction of that feels infinitely harder, and you’re feeling demotivated.

Look, Ramadan is the month of more… you will push yourself past your limit in that month in your worship, in your recitation, etc.

And that’s exactly the point, you can’t expect yourself to be the same throughout the year!

The important thing is consistency.

If the most you can do is a page, half a page, or even a few verses a day, then stick to it.

Don’t let a day pass without opening the book of Allah.

3- Memorize

Having a clear goal and direction in mind makes the journey a lot easier.

For most, that goal comes down to memorizing the Quran.

Memorization demands repetition, over and over,

You force yourself to become intimately acquainted with each and every ayah you read.

It’s a small but achievable task that will help you become more fluid in your recitation.

Set aside time dedicated purely to memorization:

15, 20, 30 minutes a day focused on a select few verses you recite repeatedly.

Maybe you can dedicate that time between your prayers, before you head to work, or during your lunch breaks.

Another great aspect of memorization is that it demands revision too, so when you do it right, you will find yourself returning to each surah you learn again, and again.

4- Use the power of moments

Time is a major crutch for most people.

Work, studies, family commitments, all get in the way of the relationship with the Quran you’ve always wanted.

But here’s the thing; nobody has time!

Chances are your schedule in Ramadan was just as busy as the rest of the year…

The difference is that you made time for the Quran.

Now committing the same amount of time might not be sustainable year-round, but in principle you can always allocate small amounts time within your schedule to spend with the Quran.

Whether it’s listening to it on your daily commute to work, reading a few pages on the bus home from school or university, reciting before you go to sleep etc.

Be intelligent with those smaller moments, and you will find more opportunities to recite than you realized.

5- Take advantage of the sunnah!

Many of us have this idea that reading the Quran has to always be a cover-to-cover effort, as if just reciting it off from memory or opening up a random page isn’t the same.

But why is that?

Does reciting a surah you know already not count?

There are moments throughout the week tied in with specific passages and verses of the Quran, that we know carry major reward.

So make the intention to recite those too:

Abu Sa’eed al Khudri narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday, a light will shine for him between this Friday and the next.”

[Bayhaqi]

Make Surah Kahf a part of your jummah routine! At the very least the first 10 verses.

Jaabir reported that the Prophet ﷺ would not sleep without reciting Surah as-Sajdah and Surah al-Mulk [Hadith in Tirmidhi]

So make them a part of your bedtime routine!

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Verily, Satan flees from the house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited.”

[Sahih Muslim]

So change things up and make time to recite it every now and then.

Look for every reason and opportunity to be with Allah’s book, make yourself its companion, and it will be yours!

7 Sunnah Actions of Eid

AlMaghrib — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:30:32 GMT

From our AlMaghrib family to you and your loved ones, may Allah bless your Eid and make it beautiful and memorable in the best of ways!

May Allah accept from us and you!

The Prophet ﷺ gave us a beautiful set of Sunnah actions to mark this day, and following them is part of what makes the celebration feel like a celebration.

Here are some of the Sunnah actions of Eid you don’t want to miss!

1. Make Ghusl Before the Prayer

The scholars are in consensus on this one: making ghusl on the morning of Eid after Fajr time and before you head out for the prayer is a recommended action.

Not obligatory, but something that sets the tone. Start this blessed day clean and refreshed.

2. Wear Your Best Clothes

Your best clothes, best smell, and best smile.

The Prophet ﷺ actually had clothes he reserved specifically for Eid, he didn’t wear them any other time. That’s how seriously he took showing up for this day. It’s a day of joy, so dress like it.

3. Eat Before You Leave (Eid al-Fitr)

This one is specific to Eid al-Fitr.

Before heading to the prayer, eat something. An odd number of dates is the established Sunnah. The point is that you’re making it visually clear that you are not fasting. Ramadan is done. Today is a day of happiness.

4. Make Takbeer

This is arguably the greatest Sunnah of Eid. Allah ﷻ says:

وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“…so that you complete the period and glorify Allah for having guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Al-Baqarah: 185)

The companions took this seriously. Abdullah ibn Umar and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنهم would walk through the markets saying the Takbeer out loud, strong, proud, and joyful. They weren’t shy about it.

As for the exact wording, there’s no specific form authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ himself. But we have narrations from the companions. The most well-known, narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه, is:

Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd.

Another narration adds a third Takbeer at the beginning:

Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd.

Both are acceptable. The matter is flexible, what counts is the attitude behind it, the gratitude and love.

The Takbeer starts from the night of Eid (when the moon is sighted or 30 days have been completed) and continues through the night, the morning, on the way to the prayer — and it stops when the Imam comes out to the musalla.

5. Pray in an Open Area

The traditional Sunnah is to pray Eid in a musalla, an open, outdoor prayer space, not inside a masjid. In climates where that’s possible, it’s the ideal.

For those of us in the northern regions where the weather has other plans, praying inside a masjid is what most communities do, and that’s fine.

6. Take a Different Route Home

Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ would go to the Eid prayer by one route and return by another. [Bukhari]

Part of the wisdom in this is spreading the Takbeer as widely as possible, giving maximum exposure.

There’s a deeper layer to it too: the earth, the trees, the pavement beneath your feet, these inanimate objects are witnessing you. They have their own form of dhikr, and they’ll be witnesses on your behalf. Walking through the streets in a state of glorifying Allah ﷻ is never meaningless.

7. Congratulate Each Other

Spreading congratulations is a Sunnah, in spirit, if not in a specific form. There’s no established narration from the Prophet ﷺ about how to congratulate. What is narrated from the companions is phrases like:

TaqabbalAllāhu minnā wa minkum ṣāliḥ al-aʿmāl

May Allah accept from me and you our righteous deeds.

“Eid Mubarak” and similar expressions are perfectly fine. The point is the warmth and the joy. Imam Ahmad, by the way, didn’t initiate greetings himself — but when someone said it to him, he’d respond. So if people say it to you, respond with something good.

[BONUS] Remember Those Who Are Often Forgotten!

The spirit of Eid is joy for everyone. The obligation of Zakat al-Fitr exists precisely so that the poor are part of the celebration. But poverty isn’t the only thing that can leave someone on the outside of Eid joy.

Think about the immigrants, the foreign students, the converts in your community, people who don’t have the family networks or the history in the community that others do.

Make an effort. Invite people into your home. Push your masjid to organise Eid gatherings. Make sure no one spends this day feeling forgotten.

TaqabbalAllāhu minnā wa minkum. May Allah accept from all of us.

5 Deeds to Do on Laylatul Qadr

AlMaghrib — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:27:44 GMT

Laylatul Qadr is a single night that brings a reward greater than the worship of a thousand months.

It is a gift given to this ummah and one that every Muslim should strive to take advantage of.

The question is, how can you make the most of this night if you catch it?

Here are 5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr:

The Night Prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever stands the night of Laylatul Qadr out of faith and seeking its reward, their previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Now is not the time to socialize, scroll on your phone, or dip in and out of taraweeh.

Now is the time to increase in your worship throughout the night and make the most of it.

Work Smart AND Hard

Not everyone has the ability to spend the entire night in prayer.

Fortunately, Allah has graced us with incredible opportunities to maximize our reward still.

Pray isha with the imam and all of taraweeh (including witr). The Prophet ﷺ said:

“ Whoever prays Qiyam with the Imam until he finishes, Allah (SWT) will record for him the Qiyam of a (whole) night.” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah)

So by committing to praying the entire Isha and Taraweeh package at the masjid, in sha Allah, you will get the reward of praying the entire night.

Praying Isha and Fajr in congregation also accounts for this reward.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“One who performs ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night. And one who performs the Fajr prayer in congregation is as if he has performed Salat the whole night.” (Muslim)

Perfect Your Obligations

In a hadith qudsi, Allah says:

“My servant does not come closer to me with anything more beloved to me than what I have obligated on them. And my servant will continue to come closer to me with voluntary actions until I love them.” (Bukhari)

The most beloved acts of worship that a person can offer then on Laylatul Qadr is what Allah has made obligatory.

Focus on perfecting the Maghrib, Isha and Fajr prayers that you offer.

Offer your zakah if it is due.

Show kindness and birr to your parents.

Perform the obligations with intentionality and seeking their perfection, for they are most beloved to Allah.

Forgive Others

This one can be challenging, and it’s not the first thing that comes to people’s minds, but there is great reward in it.

Empty your heart of rancour, malice, envy towards others.

As you are seeking the forgiveness of Allah. forgive others.

“and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran, 24:22)

It could be as simple as a text, a phone call, or a knock on the door, and it could be the deed that frees you from Jahannam!

Dua, Dua, Dua!

“Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, for We always warn [against evil].” (Quran, 44:3)

Laylatul Qadr is the night in which every matter is decreed.

Ibn Abbas said:

“Allah decrees what will transpire of life, death and provision.” (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)

So if ever there was a moment where your destiny could be rewritten, it would be this night.

So increase in your dua throughout the night.

A’isha asked the Prophet ﷺ:

“If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say?”

He ﷺ told her to recite the following:

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ اَلْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

“Oh Allah you pardon, you love to pardon, so pardon me.” (Tirmidhi)

May Allah allow us to witness the night of Al Qadr and grant us His forgiveness and mercy in it.

10 Big Mistakes To Avoid This Ramadan

AlMaghrib — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:14:21 GMT

This article is based on Shaykh Waleed Basyouni’s complete guide to Ramadan. If you want to know about the fiqh of this month from fasting to prayer, menses, travel, sickness, and more, watch the full video here

Alhamdulillah for another Ramadan and Alhamdulillah for the chance to cleanse our hearts and draw closer to Him ﷻ.

There are many traps we fall into every Ramadan that prevent us from incredible reward.

Here are 10 mistakes to avoid this Ramadan.

Neglecting the obligatory acts:

People focus on nafl (voluntary) acts of worship while neglecting what Allah has made fardh (obligatory) on them.

Like attending taraweeh but missing the five daily prayers, especially Fajr.

Doing improper zakat calculation or delaying zakat until Ramadan when it might be due even earlier.

Missing Salat al Eid for work, or not being obedient to one’s parents.

Allah says in a hadith qudsi:

“My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him…” [Arba’in al Nawawi]

2. Not avoiding the haram:

Backbiting, watching or listening to haram media, lying, or entertaining bad habits. All of these drastically reduce your reward and go against the spirit of Ramadan.

This month is your chance to refine your character, not to starve yourself.

As the Prophet ﷺ said:

“One might fast, but he gets nothing from his fast except hunger. One might pray at night, but he gets nothing from his prayer except fatigue.” [Sunan ibn Majah]

One of the Salaf said:

“Leaving a small amount of haram earnings is more beloved to me than 10 or 15 voluntary Hajj pilgrimages.”

3. Delaying iftar:

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Hasten your iftar.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

4. Skipping suhur:

This is especially common among young people.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Have suhur, for indeed in suhur there is barakah.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

5. Being short-tempered and angry:

Don’t get angry at children for making noise, phones going off, or minor disruptions.

Smile. Educate gently. This is especially important for imams and elders.

As one of our instructors likes to say, “If you find someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”

6. Talking during the khatirah/reminder:

It’s disrespectful to the speaker and to the knowledge being shared. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni told us about a non-Muslim visitor at his masjid who once remarked that he couldn’t understand why people listened to the imam before the prayer but not during the announcements after: “In our church, when someone speaks, everyone listens.”

7. Basic courtesy issues:

Blocking exits, leaving shoes in walking paths, refusing to follow parking volunteers, and being unfriendly altogether.

Fasting is a lesson in self-control, if you are able to withhold yourself from your most basic needs, then what’s stopping you from a little bit of patience?

8. Not finishing Taraweeh:

It’s understandable for those who have legitimate reasons; they are working in the early hours or must do night shifts and cannot attend.

But often you will find the congregation thinning out after 4, 8, 10 rak’at, and that is not correct.

Some mistakenly do this, believing the taraweeh should not be more than a certain number of units. But the reality is that there are various reports of this practice being of different lengths from the time of the Sahaba and the Salaf.

Others go to socialize, scroll on their phones, or find other ways to waste time, in which case they should seriously reflect on their priorities.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Verily, whoever stands for prayer in Ramadan with the Imam until he is finished, it will be recorded as if he prayed the entire night.” [Sunan al Tirmidhi]

9. Being unfair to women:

In many cultures, Ramadan becomes an excuse for lavish dinners and nightly festivals, and the ones who take on the weight of that burden are the women in our families.

Yes, feeding people and sharing meals bring great reward, but let’s not miss the wood for the trees.

Ramadan is a month of sacrifice, and if it means giving our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters the space to focus on their ibadah a little more, then surely we can sacrifice our big iftars.

10. Missing out on dua:

The dinner table is ready, it’s almost time for iftar, and after a long day all you want to do is finally eat.

It’s understandable, but this time is also a golden hour for dua that many of us miss out on.

The Prophet ﷺ told us:

“There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: ‘By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’” [Jami’ al Tirmidhi]

May Allah ﷻ accept our siyam, our qiyam, our dua, and draw us nearer to Him throughout this month.

6 Tips For an Amazing Ramadan

AlMaghrib — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:59:51 GMT

The month of Ramadan is Shahrul Mubarak; the month of blessing.

Ramadan opens the doors to immense reward.

The gates of Jannah are wide open, and the gates of hell are shut, and the devils that whisper in your ear for 11 months of the year are locked away for this golden month.

This is your chance to maximize your deeds, your connection to Allah, and to undo the bad habits you gained over the year.

Here are 6 simple ways you can make the most of this blessed month.

Don’t Feast, But Feed!

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting person’s reward.”

[Jami’ al Tirmidhi]

Ramadan is a month of feeding, not the month of food.

People seem to waste Ramadan in dinner parties rather than worshiping Allah and feeding the people in need.

If there are only two things you can focus on this Ramadan. Let it be the Quran and feeding others.

“When Ramadan came, al-Zuhri used to say, ‘There is only reciting the Qur’an and feeding others.’”

– Ibn Rajab ِal Hanbali

Work on Your Manners

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah has no need that he should leave his food and drink.”

[Sahih Bukhari]

Ramadan is training you for life all year long by forbidding what’s halal like eating, drinking, and sexual relations while fasting.

On top of that, you are depriving yourself from sleep in the night for the sake of worship!

When you can withhold yourself from the most base urges every human experiences, then what’s stopping you from holding back from everything else?

Smoking, drinking, anger, bad language, missing salah etc.

Ramadan proves to you what you have always been capable of doing; holding back.

So let this month be your training ground to work on your bad habits.

Ramadan is not limited to putting a pause on bad habits but about breaking them permanently.

Increase Your Charity

Ramadan is the month of giving and mercy, and in it Allah blesses the believers with forgiveness and saves them from Hellfire. Therefore, whoever is merciful and giving in Ramadan, Allah will be even more Merciful and Giving, and will bestow upon him countless bounties and blessings.

Ibn `Abbas said:

“The Prophet ﷺ was the most charitable amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month.”

[Sahih Bukhari]

Observe The Night Prayer

Praying Qiyam al Layl (The Night Prayer) will make your Ramadan unforgettable.

Make an effort to catch Taraweeh as frequently as you can, and if you are a mother unable to attend the masjid, then don’t miss out on praying your Qiyam at home when the kids are asleep.

Maximize your benefit from prayer and make it your priority.

The night prayer in Ramadan has a special consideration different from any other time of the year, as the Prophet ﷺ told us:

“Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Sahih Bukhari]

Increase Your Dua

“When My worshipers ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the supplication of the suppliant when he calls to Me; therefore, let them respond to Me and let them believe in Me, in order that they will be righteous.” [Quran, 2:186]

This ayah was mentioned in between the verses talking about fasting to show us the importance of dua. Make dua for this life and the hereafter.

Allah will answer your dua, either in this life by giving you what you asked Him or by protecting you from a calamity or great harm that could have happened to you, or Allah will keep it as a reward in the hereafter for your patience.

It was narrated from Abu Sa’id that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is no Muslim who does not offer any dua in which there is no sin or severing of family ties but Allah will give him one of three things in return: either He will answer his dua sooner, or He will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an equivalent evil away from him because of it.”

The Companions said:

“We will make a lot of dua.”

He ﷺ said:

“Allah is more generous.”

[Narrated by Imam Ahmad]

Repent, Repent, Repent!

The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, said:

“May he be humbled, who enters the month of Ramadan, and it passes before he is forgiven.”

[Sunan al Tirmidhi]

Why? Because when someone knows how vast Allah’s mercy is in Ramadan above all months, and yet they still refuse to seek that mercy, then what can you expect of them for the rest of the year?

What greater humiliation could there be?

Ramadan is a chance to reset, it’s a spiritual station for renewal and redemption for the rest of the year.

Don’t fall back into bad habits and lesser ibadah.

Continue doing the good deeds to the best of your ability even after Ramadan.

“O you who has fulfilled and completed [the blessed month of] Ramadan in the best of manner, should not change [unless for the better] thereafter in the month of Shawwal.”

– Ibn al Jawzi

Want to See The Prophet ﷺ in Your Dreams?

AlMaghrib — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:58:18 GMT

You’ve heard his description from the Sahaba, how they were in awe of him ﷺ, how his presence brought them comfort, how his beauty was greater than the moon itself!

You’ve heard the hadith:

“Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for Satan cannot imitate me.” [Sahih al Bukhari]

And you have probably heard countless stories of those who were gifted this incredible blessing of seeing the Prophet ﷺ.

So how does someone receive this blessing?

There’s a famous story that’s frequently shared about this exact question.

A man once came to a scholar asking about what he could do in order to see the Prophet ﷺ in his dreams.

The scholar recommended that the man eat fish for dinner that night and that he abstain from drinking water with his dinner.

The man excitedly followed suit, stopping by the market on his way home and preparing his evening meal.

It was an extremely salty dish, and while his body urged him to take just a sip to quench his thirst, he refused.

The next day, the man returned, frustrated.

“I did as you told, and did not see the Prophet ﷺ in my sleep!”

The teacher asked what he saw in his dream, and the man responded:

“I saw the ocean!”

The scholar then responded with sincere advice:

“You saw that which you busied your heart and mind with. If your heart and mind are busy with him ﷺ and his sunnah, then you will dream of him too.”

There is a lesson in this story for all of us.

If you ask any Muslim whether they would like to see the Prophet ﷺ in their dreams, the answer would, of course, be yes.

But what are we doing in our waking lives that demonstrates our longing to see him?

Are we as diligent in acting upon his teachings like this man was in following the advice of his teacher?

Are we occupying ourselves with learning about his life and character, longing for him as this man longed for just a sip of water?

Are we sending abundant salawat upon him ﷺ ?

In a hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud, Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“The people most deserving of proximity to me on the Day of Judgment are those who send the most salah upon me.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Those who send the most salah upon the Prophet ﷺ are not only closest to him on the Day of Judgment but also closest to him in this world.

Shaykh Muhammad Hassan, a famous Egyptian scholar, mentioned meeting a sixteen-year-old girl who had seen the Prophet ﷺ in her dreams numerous times. When asked how often she sent salah upon the Prophet, she replied, “Every day, no less than 10,000 times.”

He also mentioned meeting a sick elderly woman in a poor Egyptian village who did not stop sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ, her every breath invoking blessings upon Rasulullah. When he offered to bring doctors for her ailment, she declined, saying:

“I know my ailment and I know the cure. My ailment is that for the past three nights, I did not see the Prophet ﷺ in a dream.”

She was so accustomed to seeing Rasulullah ﷺ in her dreams through her abundant salawat that when she didn’t see him for three days, she became distressed.

The key to seeing him ﷺ is through love: the more we express our love for him ﷺ in our actions and our abundant salutations upon him, the nearer we become to him, and even if you are not gifted the blessing of seeing his face ﷺ in your sleep, there is something greater to look forward to.

When a man once asked the Prophet ﷺ regarding the day of judgment, he ﷺ said:

“What have you prepared for it?”

The man said, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Messenger.”

To which he ﷺ responded:

“You will be with those whom you love.” [Sahih al Bukhari]

Our love for him ﷺ is expressed in the effort we make to learn about him, his life, his character, and how to emulate him in our lives.

May Allah make the Sunnah the heart of our lives, and may He unite us with those we love in the hereafter.

Overwhelmed by Work & Exams? Do This…

AlMaghrib — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:26:31 GMT

Summer is almost here, and the pressure is on!

Whether it’s the stress of work in this heat, or the anxiety of exam season.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and burned out around this time of year.

But beyond coffee, sleep, and staying hydrated, what can you do to boost your energy and help you through this season?

There is actually a special dhikr that can give you the boost you need to help you in your exam prep, work, and daily routine.

The Story

One time, Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ was complaining to her husband ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A), about the amount of work in the house and how her hands were becoming dry and how it was becoming very exhausting.

It came to their attention that the Prophet ﷺ had some prisoners of war who were either being ransomed or sent off to work around the homes of Madinah.

They intended to ask if the Prophet ﷺ could provide them with a servant who could assist their daily chores, to ease some of the pressure on them.

So Fatima (R.A) went to her father’s house, when ‘Aisha (R.A) opens the door.

Fatima asked, “Is the Messenger ﷺ home?” To which ‘Aisha answered no.

Fatima explained her predicament to ‘Aisha before leaving.

When the Prophet ﷺ finally returned home, ‘Aisha informed him of his daughter’s situation.

The Prophet ﷺ, being the great father he was, did not wait till the next day, rather that same night he left his house and went to the house of ‘Ali.

When ‘Ali and Fatima attempted to get up and greet the Prophet ﷺ, he told to remain seated. And the Prophet sat between them ﷺ.

He sat so close in fact, that ‘Ali (R.A) said: “I felt the Prophet’s feet touching my skin.”

The Prophet ﷺ then said: “Should I not tell you of something better than what you ask for?”

He ﷺ then taught them a simple but powerful habit for before they go to sleep each night.

The Solution

Say SubhanAllah 33 times

Glorify Allah, acknowledge that He is free from all imperfections and negativity.

2. Say Alhamdulillah 33 times

All praise and gratitude is due to Allah.

3. Say Allahu Akbar 34 times

That Allah is the greatest, and is greater than anything and everything.

The Prophet ﷺ told his beloved daughter and son-in-law:

“This is better for you both than a servant.”

[Sahih Muslim]

How can this dhikr help you?

Some of the scholars have mentioned this means that Allah will grant you a kind of strength and energy as if you had an extra pair of hands assisting you.

Another meaning is that you will not feel as exhausted when you do the general tasks that usually get exhausted towards any other day.

So whether you are burned out from long work days, or exhausted from late nights of studying and revision:

Do not skip this powerful Sunnah, because it might just be the boost you need!

Additional Supplications for Students

When facing stress, anxiety, and worries, the Prophet ﷺ also taught us to recite:

For Ease & Success

اللَّهُمَّ لاَ سَهْلَ إِلاَّ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً
وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً

“O Allah, there is no ease except for that which you make easy, and only you can turn hardship into ease.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]

2. For Anxiety, Inability, and Laziness

In the mornings and evenings, recite:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ

“O Allah, I seek protection in You from anxiety and grief. I seek protection in You from weakness and laziness. I seek Your protection from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek Your protection from being overcome by debt and being oppressed by men.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud]

A Message on Eid Al-Fitr

AlMaghrib — Mon, 10 May 2021 20:09:52 GMT

All praise is due to Allah ﷻ for all our blessings.

We offer sincere and complete gratitude for His guiding us to Islam; and truly it is sufficient as a blessing.

All praise and all glory are to Allah, the One, and none is comparable to Him.

He is the Exalted, the Majestic, the Creator, the Sustainer,

The Provider, the Helper, the Maintainer,

The Protector, the Merciful, the Oft-forgiving, the Most Loving,

The Most Kind, the Most Wise, the Magnificent!

He is an-Noor, the Light of the Heavens and the Earth, guiding us out of the darkness and into the light of truth.

The First and the Last, He is al-Waasi’, the All-encompassing, and His Mercy is vast.

He is as-Salaam who sends His peace and blessings, Lord of the worlds, King of all kings.

And may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His beloved and final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ and all of his family and all of his companions and all who follow him correctly until the Day of Resurrection.

Eid al-Fitr Mubārak to our brothers and sisters around the world! May Allah accept our prayers, fasting, charity, Qur’an recitation, good deeds, and the fulfillment of all our responsibilities for His sake. We celebrate Eid with gratitude, and we emphasize the happiness and joy of this day.

Let us be joyful for the vast blessing, the powerful and unimaginable enlightenment and rewards we are able to access during the month of Ramadan. Let us be joyful for the countless blessings of Allah upon us that we cannot begin to numerate. As He ﷻ tells us, “If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 16:18). Let us be happy for the vast number of believers who found hope and solace and renewed energy during this month to excel in worship. Let us be happy and spread this happiness to our loved ones, our families, our friends, our communities, the old and the young, believers from all walks of life.

Happiness and Gratitude on This Day

We should be happy on this day, as was the Prophet ﷺ, but this happiness doesn’t mean that we’re forgetting our brothers and sisters struggling around the world. We make dua for them that they also can celebrate and find happiness on this day, and we wish for the entire Ummah to be happy. Our happiness today is because Allah has allowed us to live to enjoy another Ramadan, to worship once again in Ramadan, and to potentially be of those whose worship and fasting and deeds are accepted in Ramadan. Indeed, the more a person worshipped and strived with dedication during Ramadan, the more happiness they experience on this blessed day of Eid. Still, no matter one’s state, he or she should never lose hope in Allah and should continue to strive towards Him, for when we take one step towards Allah, He takes many towards us. He does so because He ﷻ loves us and wants us to succeed. He wants us to be happy.

A precondition of that happiness is gratitude. In the verses about fasting during Ramadan, Allah says:

وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“…so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the
greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful” (2:185).

Our gratitude to Allah, of course, should be year-round. Some Muslims wonder why so many enter the masjid during Ramadan and on Eid but do not enter the mosque the rest of the year. They try to understand why many Muslims recite the Qur’an in Ramadan in abundance, but they do not look at this treasure throughout the rest of the year. They wonder why many people give generously, repent passionately, increase their good deeds significantly, but just in the month of Ramadan.

There are some who are judgmental and condescending and think, “These are just terrible Ramadan Muslims.” There is a prophetic etiquette, however, of beautiful compassion and true genuine desire for everyone to succeed, and that we look for the best in each person. Someone who finds hope and solace in Ramadan should not be pushed away by being negatively perceived, but brought closer to Allah by our encouragement and, if appropriate, our advice. Who are we to prevent someone from finding hope in this month, from praying more and fasting and reciting the Qur’an and finding the capacity to finally ask for forgiveness? We should focus on his or her fasting in Ramadan with faith and heartfelt hope for redemption and ultimate reward. For each and every one of us, Allah gives opportunity after opportunity to receive His forgiveness and mercy, and this beautiful month in which some people found hope can remind them that Allah is always present and ready to guide and help, not just in Ramadan. The doors of mercy are open throughout the year, every day and every moment of our lives.

Allah is the Lord during the entire year, not just Ramadan. If you found the capacity to do even slightly more during this blessed month, then have hope and confidence and conviction that you can certainly change for the better, but it must begin with a sincere and strong intention and yearning for His closeness and guidance. This Ramadan has passed and will never return, but Allah is forever present, Ever-Living, and will continue to be there for us, wanting to forgive us, waiting for us to ask of Him in sincere humility, and submission. Allah, the one we submit to with love, hope, and fear, intending to develop our taqwa for His sake during Ramadan and throughout the year.

Allah Is Greater!

We submit because Allah is greater than our desires, our worldly attachments, our worldly concerns, and the entirety of His creation. Allah is greater, Allah is greater. This is why we express takbir (“Allahu akbar”) frequently on Eid and throughout the year in our prayers and acts of worship. Allah is greater than our future uncertainties, our pain, our setbacks, and the enemies of the Ummah. Allah is greater, Allah is greater.

This is a time for us to reflect on the state of the Ummah and the state of humanity, and to return back to the reality that God is greater. This pandemic has been a powerful reminder of Allahu Akbar, for people to return to Him, to humble themselves before Him, and to fulfill their purpose in life. A difficult reminder and trial in this world is actually a blessing preventing much of humanity from regrets and difficulties on the Day of Resurrection.

The Muslim Ummah has all the tools necessary to be successful in this life and the next, and yet our quantity is greater than our quality, if we’re being honest with ourselves. The Speech of Allah that’s known to us is a solution for the world’s problems, oppressions, injustices, and struggles, and yet as Muslims we don’t connect to it enough, understand it deeply, or implement it in our daily lives. And because of that, the rest of humanity does not see the precious blessing of Islam and its truthfulness as the religion of God. If we truly desire to be people of success, then we are required to fulfill the rights of Allah in our everyday lives, to helping and supporting His plan for us and humanity. He ﷻ tells us “O you who believe! If you support [the religion of] Allah, He will support you …” (Qur’an 47:7).

In one hundred years, those who are currently alive will likely be dead, having departed to the Creator, as every human before us has. When we’re long gone and our names are forgotten on earth, we won’t be thinking in the graves about the worldly status we held, the brand name clothes or jewelry we bought, or the type of car or house we owned. We’ll be reflecting only on our deeds, the eternal currency, that which leads to punishment or reward. The believer never loses hope and continuously strives to accumulate good deeds while alive, for life is too short to waste on limited pleasure.

As we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, we pray for those who are suffering and prevented from practicing Islam openly, and for those who are unable to ever pray in a mosque or wear hijab or exemplify any teaching of God. We celebrate the day joyously while keeping the Ummah in our prayers, advocating for their relief from oppression or injustice of any kind, and living by – and spreading – the true message of Islam in order to celebrate eternally in a blissful home in Paradise.

Eid Mubarak to our brothers and sisters around the world. May Allah accept all that we have done for His sake and keep us consistently growing and striving throughout the year.

Reflecting on Taqwā During & Beyond Ramadan

AlMaghrib — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 12:44:34 GMT

In this article:

The objective is taqwā
The overlooked aspects of taqwā
Taqwā & fear
Taqwā & mercy
The path to taqwā

Every Ramadan, we are reminded about the verse of fasting and other verses that guide us to the objective of taqwā.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those
before you—so perhaps you will gain taqwā” (Qur’an 2:183).

And every Ramadan we need to reaffirm our understanding of the comprehensive facets of taqwā, for ourselves, our families, and our communities, so that we are aiming for its bountiful scope, not just one or another of its aspects. Consider the following verses of the Qur’an.

“O you who believe, have taqwā of Allah as His right upon you” (3:102)

“O you who believe, have taqwā of Allah, and let every soul reflect
on what it has sent ahead for the afterlife” (59:18)

Taqwā is translated variously as God-consciousness, fear of God, being in awe of God, awareness of God, mindfulness of God, and conscious obedience to God. However, the Arabic term ‘taqwā’ is far more extensive and multi-faceted than the narrow translations found in one or two English words. One can understand the various facets of taqwā based on the verses of the Qur’an, the authentic aḥadith, and the commentary of the companions of the Prophet (r) and scholars of Islam throughout the ages.

What is Taqwā?

Taqwā is to be mindful and conscious of Allah, recognizing His Majesty and Perfection, acknowledging one’s status as a human being in need before the Creator, and recognizing the importance of submission to Allah out of love, hope, and fear, all with a consistent equilibrium. Thus, the internal state of taqwā leads to external manifestations such as obeying Allah’s commands, staying away from His prohibitions, and regularly reviewing one’s actions in order to progress towards Allah. Taqwā is a safeguard against complacency in this life; it is a fortress against sinning without remorse; it is to protect oneself with cautiousness in everyday life, so that nothing risks harming one’s relationship with Allah and, consequentially, one’s place in the afterlife.

Taqwā is a shield, but it is not inert like a physical shield. It is a dynamic consciousness, a vitality infused into the believer’s soul so that he or she sees broadly and minutely while walking in a field of thorny bushes, walking cautiously so that they are not harmed by the prick of the thorn. Taqwā is a protection against recklessness whether with one’s thoughts or actions, or with choosing one’s companions or environment. Taqwā is to be so aware of one’s purpose in this life, and of Allah’s Perfection and Majesty, that the only reasonable lifestyle in this temporary and relatively insignificant world is that of awareness and vigilance. There is an adage that a prudent caution precedes wisdom.

A Healthy Fear that Is Part of Taqwā

Oftentimes, taqwā is wrongly taken to be a type of fear that is so debilitating that an adherent is living with excessive paranoia and spiritual paralysis. While fear is healthy to have in the proper proportion, it must be coupled with hope in the mercy of Allah, to the extent that one always recognizes their ultimate need for Allah’s mercy regardless of how often they repent or do good. Taqwā is to be so mindful of Allah that one’s actions change for the better. In the modern world, when people know they are being recorded, they tend to be more conscious of what they say or do.

Then what about the mindfulness we should practice in the sight of Allah, Al-Baṣir, the All-Seeing, and the effect this should have on our lives? While taqwā has within it the aspect of fear, everything in Islam is imbued with a healthy apportionment.

The component of fear in taqwā is multifaceted: it is fear of misguidance, fear of shortcomings in good deeds, fear of sinfulness, fear of God’s anger, fear of the hellfire — fear of any and all things that can result in ultimate and eternal loss. This fear, however, must be coupled with recognition of Allah’s vast mercy, as He promises to forgive the sinner every time he or she sincerely repents – and that sincerity is demonstrated by stopping the sin, having remorse, and intending to never return to the sin again. Allah’s mercy is so explicit that no believer can reasonably fall into paranoia and debilitating fear unless they have failed to reflect upon His mercy.

The All-Merciful says,

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“O my servants who have transgressed upon themselves in sins, do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for certainly Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Ever-Merciful” (39:53).

Furthermore, Allah says in a hadith qudsi, “O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and then you asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you” (Tirmidhi).

Grasping the vast mercy of Allah prevents a believer from experiencing the fear of Allah in such way that it is paralyzing, preventing him or her from thriving mentally and emotionally. That is why it is so crucial for every believer to recognize the formula for equilibrium: it is to worship Allah out of true love and humility, with a balance between fear because of one’s shortcomings and hope for Allah’s mercy.

The opposite extreme is when believers ignore the element of fear in taqwā and thus, they typically find themselves disregarding Allah’s prohibitions, ignoring His commands, missing some (or all) obligations, and thinking only of Allah’s mercy while ignoring the balancing weight on the other side of the scale: “Inform My servants that I am the Ever-Forgiving, the Ever-Merciful; and that My punishment is the most painful punishment” (15:49-50).

Taqwā is to recognize Allah’s right over His creation, and as a result to humble oneself and follow His command. Taqwā is what leads the humble, wise, human being to recognize that true success and salvation cannot be achieved without Allah’s vast mercy, but that it is Allah’s right that He be worshipped and His Oneness not denied, praised and His guidance not forgotten, called upon in need and His punishment not downplayed.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim says: “Such a person [of taqwā] will be convinced that he cannot rely on his actions, lest he be destroyed. Many people think about their rights over Allah and not about His rights over them. This is how they are detached from Allah and deprived of the desire to meet Him. This is the epitome of ignorance of their Lord and of themselves.”

The Path to Taqwā

If taqwā is a necessary shield, fortress, lifestyle, mindfulness, and a condition of salvation and success, then it is only reasonable that every believer should strive to become a muttaqi, or one who has taqwā. Taqwā comes through holding oneself accountable in this world by reflecting on one’s thoughts and actions, before one is held accountable on the Day of Judgment. Taqwā comes through recognizing that this life is the only opportunity for good deeds – the currency of success! – and that the Day of Accountability is for justice, whether reward or punishment, with no more opportunity for good deeds.

It was Umar (r) who said, “Hold yourselves accountable before you’re held accountable, and weigh your deeds [by reflecting on them] before they are weighed [on the Day of Judgment].”

Similarly, Al-Hasan al-Baṣri (r) said: “Those who frequently hold themselves accountable in this life find their accountability in the next life easy, and those who take this matter lightly will find their accountability very heavy and difficult in the next life.”

Taqwā is to check oneself frequently by reflecting and measuring. What is measured is oftentimes managed, and what is measured oftentimes progresses. What greater thing to measure — to manage and to facilitate progress — than one’s own journey to Allah? Taqwā in everyday life is to avoid the consumption of anything damaging to one’s journey to Allah such as watching inappropriate videos, movies, or any other form of improper entertainment, or listening to anything displeasing to Allah, or reading that which distances oneself from Allah’s mercy. Taqwā is to choose one’s environment cautiously and one’s friends carefully, in the hopes of finding support on one’s journey to the Ever-Merciful.

Imam al-Ghazali (r) wrote, “It is incumbent on every person who believes in Allah and the Last Day that he should not be oblivious of self-accountability. Every breath of life is a precious jewel which can buy eternal treasures. Wasting these breaths or using them for detrimental purposes is such a great loss which no intelligent person could justify.”

It was reported that Umar (r) donated a valuable piece of land when he missed Asr prayer in congregation, and that his son, Ibn Umar, used to pray qiyam all night if he missed a prayer in congregation. Thus, disciplining the self when one falls short helps to raise the believer in rank, to preserve the default level and standard of taqwā, and to experience true liberation from worldly desires and attachments, all while connecting to Allah the Ever-Merciful.

Taqwā puts a proper order and proportion in one’s life, giving the believer a means to facilitate and measure his progress on the journey to Allah. Taqwā reminds the believer of Allah’s punishment while, at the same time, relieving the believer of distress by assuring him of the incomparable grace and power of Allah’s mercy. Taqwā is remembrance that Allah’s mercy is available so long as one ascribes no partner to Him and calls upon Him with true sincerity of repentance.

وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا-
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا

“…And whoever has taqwā of Allah, He will make for him a way out. And He will provide for him from where he could not imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is He for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose. Verily, Allah has set for all things a measure” (Qur’an 65:2-3).

This Ramadan, let us fortify, through remembrance and reflection, a broad understanding of taqwā and then strive for its fullest application in ourselves, our families, and our communities.