Our days and nights, months and years are based upon the orbit of the Earth around the sun. This sun is over 148km away from us but a day will come where it will be brought only 1 or 2 miles away from us. Imagine the intensity of a sun brought this close to us with a temperature of over 5000 degrees celsius and a vastness such that over a million Earths could fit inside it. We find the temporary heatwaves in this world unbearable so how would we cope with the heat and severity of a day equivalent to 50,000 years?

“The sun will be brought close to mankind on the Day of Resurrection until its distance from them will be one mile”. Then the Prophet (saw) said “Because of this, people will become submerged in sweat, the severity of which will depend on their deeds. Some will be submerged up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists whilst others will be submerged to their jaws.” The Prophet (saw) then pointed to his mouth. [Muslim]

On this unrelenting day filled with much calamity and hardship, Allah has guaranteed His shade for 7 groups of people. The shade on this day will be provided by Allah’s arsh and this will be the only shade available on this day, it will be a form of salvation to those who are extended it. We’re constantly striving to make our lives in this dunya as comfortable for us as possible so let us also prepare ourselves for this day too by learning who these 7 groups of people are and what we can do to be amongst them bi’ithnillah.

“There are seven types of people whom Allāh will give protection with His Shade on a Day when there will be no shade except His Shade.

(1) A just ruler;

(2) a young person who grew up with the worship of Allāh; 

(3) a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; 

(4) two persons who love, meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allāh; 

(5) a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces, but he rejects this offer by saying: ‘I fear Allāh’; 

(6) a person who gives a charity and conceals it to such an extent that the left hand might not know what the right has given; 

(7) and a person who remembers Allāh in privacy and his eyes weep.”

[Bukhari]

1: A Just Ruler

This first category isn’t limited solely to those in great positions of authority such as those who are leaders of countries or large nations but rather extends to any individual who is in a position of authority over people and acts justly. When in such a position, it can be so easy to be more lenient towards those with whom we have personal connections with but remembering and fearing Allah allows us to treat everyone equally. This includes not accepting bribes or taking sides and giving everyone their due rights.

“The people of justice will be given pulpits made from light. They are those who do justice in their rulings, amidst their families and in all that which they have authority over.” [Muslim]

2: The Youth Raised In The Worship of Allah

These are the people who spent their youth in the way of Allah. This time is the prime of our life and we should therefore spend it in complete submission to Allah. The people who come under this category would frequent the masjid to pray and dedicate their time to circles of knowledge and remembrance. They would surround themselves with righteous company and use their youth to serve their parents. They would give in the way of charity and use their abilities to engage in projects that work towards benefitting the community as a whole. Our desires and urges peak at this time and with the haraam being so widespread and accessible, it can be hard to stay away from them but this is why the reward for our patience is so great. We will be held accountable for how we spent our youth and it is for this reason we should spend it in servitude to our Lord with the hope of attaining His pleasure and shade. 

Action point: We could make an effort to drop some change in our local masjid bucket each time we visit. We could start up projects in our community or even contribute our time and services to existing projects, this is a way to utilise our strengths to help us add benefit to our ummah. We can surround ourselves with company that encourage us to be in obedience to Allah swt, those who we gather with for the sake of Allah, and those who we feel ashamed to sin in front of.

3: A Person Whose Heart is Attached To The Masjid

Lockdown caused many of us to reflect on our relationship with the masjid. When we had full access to it, were we utilising it to the best of our abilities? Or were there so many more opportunities we could’ve taken up to spend more time in the houses of Allah? The people whose hearts are attached to the masjid are those who love to stay in the masjid to pray in congregation, recite Qur’an, make dhikr, attend halaqas and so much more. 

“When a man goes out of his house to the Masjid, one foot records a good deed and the other erases a bad deed.” [Bukhari]

Action point: This category is one we can still work to come under. We can take the first step from now to amend our relationship with the masjid by taking every opportunity we can to attend congregational prayers and stay a bit longer to engage in some dhikr too.

4: Two People Who Love One Another For The Sake Of Allah

Most of the people we meet and tend to get along with best are those we feel we have much in common with, be it mutual hobbies, culture or work. However these are things that can constantly be changing and as we grow, we may find we no longer have that same love and passion for the things that once excited us. When this happens, it is completely natural that the company around us may also change as our interests evolve.

Our love for Allah is not based upon the temporary situations of this dunya, rather it transcends time and borders as it is infinite. Our love for Allah is something that can only increase so when two people unite for His cause only, it is one of the strongest and purest forms of love. These are people who care intensely for each other’s akhira, meet purely for remembrances of Allah, guide each other to good and advise against the bad in the hope of an eternal reward. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will call for those who loved each other for His sake and will shade them with His shade. 

A man set out to visit a brother (in faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to visit my brother in this town. The angel said: Have you done any favor to him? He said: No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious. Thereupon the angel said: I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake). [Muslim]

Action point: If you already have someone you love purely for Allah’s sake, hold onto them and tell them of your love, or reach out and find someone with the sole intention of guiding each other towards acts of good

5: A Person Who Resists A Direct Temptation From The Opposite Gender

This is the person who, when faced with the opposite gender seducing them, turns away saying they fear Allah. The opposite gender is one of the greatest fitnas for our ummah and with it being so widespread, it is one that can be so easy to fall into. However, by suppressing this desire and walking away out of fear of Allah, we realise that the shade of Allah is much more precious than any fleeting desire we may experience in this world. 

Say, “I truly fear—if I were to disobey my Lord—the torment of a tremendous Day.” [39:13]

Action point: We can work towards lowering our gaze and avoiding idle talk with the opposite gender. The Prophet (saw) advised us to marry young where it is possible for us to do so.

6: A Person Who Gives Charity in Secrecy

Charity is highly encouraged and is an essential part of our faith. The Prophet saw told us that charity does not decrease wealth in the slightest, rather it will result in an exponential reward: 

The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing [2:261]

Parting with our wealth can be difficult for us especially when we feel as though we put in a lot of effort to earn it, however when we recognise our wealth is only a blessing from Allah, it is only correct that we spend it in His cause. Giving charity in private purifies our intentions and is a cause for Allah to expiate some of our sins. 

Action point: The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent even if they are small so we can aim to set aside a small daily amount to give in charity, with the sole intention of earning Allah’s pleasure and His shade on that day where there will be no shade but His. One of the ways we could do this is via sharethemeal app, which allows you to give to charity on a consistent basis.

7: A Person Who Remembers Allah in Private and Weeps

How many of our deeds do we do publicly? How many are kept private? Are we as motivated to do good behind closed doors as we are when out in the public eye? Reflecting upon these questions may encourage us to revisit our intentions and think about the purpose of our actions. When secluded, it becomes much easier for us to drop our guard and fall into actions that aren’t beneficial to us but when we have that taqwa (God-consciousness) and are aware that Allah is All-Seeing and All-Hearing, we become much more conscious of  our actions. The more we worship Allah in private, the deeper our eman grows and the deeper our sincerity. When inevitably faced with trials and tribulations, the foundations of sincerity and eman we have cultivated will put us in a much stronger position to stand firm bi’thnillah. 

Action point: By knowing who Allah is and being aware of His qualities and attributes, our taqwa will grow and we will be much more mindful of our actions. This comes from us taking the time to reflect on His names and being aware of them in the different aspects of our life, we can start by making the intention to learn just 1 name per week and seeing all the different ways it manifests in our lives. 

Al Mu’akhkhir is the Delayer, the One who postpones and puts off advancement. The One who holds something back in order to put it in its correct place. He delays the disobedient ones and grants His guidance to those who obey Him. He postpones the penalty of the oppressor because He is Compassionate and Merciful.

This attribute of Allah is a reminder to us to have faith in Allah that He is the best planner. If things happen to us that we do not understand, or if there is something we want but cannot seem to achieve, have faith that it will come in due time and that any delay has khair (good) in it. Often when we are struck with calamity, we want the ease to come straight away, not realising the reward there is in having sabr and understanding that only Allah knows when the time is right. This can be applied to getting a job, getting married, having a baby, loneliness in friendships or troubles at home. Perhaps getting that job when YOU wanted it would clash with something else and put you in a vulnerable situation. You wouldn’t realise this until later and think ‘ah, THAT’S why I was given the job now and not then’. You end up putting these things together afterwards. However, the reward is in having faith in Allah SWT’s qadr DURING your hardship. That is when you are tested at your lowest and show your true imaan. So know that your time for goodness will come and fully trust His timing.

This attribute of Allah also means that oppressors of this world will not necessarily be punished for their sins in this dunya. That perhaps the Delayer knows that their true punishment will be the hellfire and therefore, we must have trust in that. We must believe that all justice will be restored in due time and that terrible things happening in this life does not mean that Allah SWT has turned a blind eye to them. Surely He is Al Aleem – the All Knowing and so knows when to hold something back so that it can be given at the correct time, including both punishment and blessings.

It also refers to guiding those towards the right path. Often, those who are born into Islam, will reach a point in which they ‘re-discover’ Islam on their own terms and at their own pace. This enlightenment is also an act of the Delayer who chose the perfect point in your life for you to truly turn to Him. And the same goes for reverts. Why weren’t they born Muslim? Al Mu’akhkhir post poned the moment they said la ilaha illallah as He knows what the best time would be for them.

For us to learn from this attribute, we must practice when to hold back and say no to certain things in order to prevent greed, so we can obtain those things at a better time instead. It could be holding off buying a car so you can help your parents with the rent, or perhaps not getting married just yet as you have other duties to fulfil first, or dropping some extra curricular work to focus on your studies etc. Surely when we delay something for the right reasons, for the sake of Allah, there will be barakah in it and we will obtain it in better conditions if Allah wills that for us.

Al-Hayyee – The Shy One.

He who loves and inspires modesty and shyness in His slaves and who Himself possesses the perfect modesty, so much so that He swt feels shy to leave those who ask Him empty-handed and doesn’t like to expose the misdeeds of His Slaves.

Hayyee comes from the root haa- yaa- yaa. Linguistically, Haya refers to the attribute of modesty, shyness and humility. The word Haya is used when speaking about the creation, it means to refrain from that which is bad and shameful. The Prophet SAW told us that every religion has its own distinguishing characteristic, and the character of Islam is Haya. [Abu Dawood] Haya is the intrinsic mechanism which prevents us from doing that which is displeasing to Allah SWT.

Shyness and modesty can be perceived as weakness or lack of confidence but in reality, these are among the most beloved characteristics by Allah. Having a deep sense of Haya is a true blessing. The Prophet SAW said, “Surely Allah (is One who) has Haya and is the Protector. He loves Haya and people who cover each other’s’ faults.” [Al-Bukhaari].

So how can we live by this name?
Realise that Haya is not something to be ashamed of and rather it beautifies. The Prophet SAW said, “when lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when Haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful.” [At-Tirmidhi] Therefore, reflect on the way that we talk, the way that we carry ourselves, the way that we interact with people, the jokes that we make – implement Haya within these acts and recognise that everything that we do we will be accountable for.

Moreover, don’t be ashamed to tell the truth, stand up for that which Allah SWT has ordained and forbid the evil. Do not let shyness of people stand in the way of the orders of Al-Hayyee. Allah is the Shy One but ‘Allah is not Shy of the truth’ (Al Ahzab 33:53).
In doing so, strive for Haya with Allah swt. Strengthen your connection for indeed the greatest modesty you must have is with Allah swt. It is He who showers His blessings upon us, but we often use these very blessings to sin, even though modesty is the thing we need most! Know that Allah is Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and that every thought and act is witnessed by Him. Allah says, “- and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing (good or evil), We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it -” (Yunus, 10:61) Let this motivate you to increase in Haya!

Lastly, raise your hands and ask Al-Hayyee. The Prophet saw said, “Your Lord is modest and generous and would never turn the hands of someone without gain when he raises them to Him [in supplication].” [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood] This is Al- Hayyee – the One with perfect modesty, a divine attribute befitting none but Him and suits His majesty and greatness to the exclusion of all creation. This modesty is in no way similar to modesty displayed by any of His creatures, for it denotes His all-encompassing mercy, perfect grace and kindness, and great forgiveness and forbearance.

Ya Allah, Al-Hayyee, we know that You are the One who is shy and who possesses perfect modesty. Beautify us with a strong sense of Haya and guide us in being modest towards the creation and in our relationship with You. Assist us to never being embarrassed in standing up for Your Deen and make our sense of shame a way to enter Your Paradise, Allahumma Ameen♥️

As-Shafi – The Healer.

He who knows of all illnesses, of all their causes and cures and also the provider of all of them; the illnesses of the body, mind and soul; illnesses of doubt, illusions, malice, jealousy and sins. There is no healing except by His and no removing of harm except by Him.

Ash-Shafi is one of the remarkable names of the Exalted in the heavens—Allah—and we must praise Him, because He named Himself this name and is worthy to be characterized by the quality of healing, and He is the only One who heals and recovers the bodies of his worshippers. It is also a name with a clear meaning, and just by its appearance a deep meaning can be reflected upon. Ash-Shefaa (healing) is always related to the sickness. We need to ensure we have imaan and strong faith that all these sicknesses and different illnesses are trials from Allah.

As believers, when we are afflicted with sickness, we see it as a source of good deeds for us. And it is a means in which Allah swt wipes away our bad deeds and raises our ranks and levels in the paradise. This is how the believer sees illness. He sees it as something positive. The prophet AS was narrated to say that there is no calamity that afflicts the believer except that Allah swt expiate his sins. In another hadeeth, the prophet AS said that Allah swt will continue to afflict calamity upon a servant until the servant begins to walk on earth and he has no sins to his name whatsoever. Our predecessors would congratulate one after recovering from an illness, as stated by Muslim b. Yasar, they would say to each other, “congratulations on the purification”. This is the true reward of patience when afflicted with pain and illnesses. It can all become a source of good for you as long as you react to it in the correct and positive way. This is how Allah swt purifies his beloved slaves.

No human being is free from injury. Sooner or later they will be inflicted with an illness; if not a physical illness, then most certainly at least a spiritual one. Each person must pinpoint the source of their pain. Is it a physical pain keeping you up at night? Is it a psychological one that burdens you with terrible anguish and crippling anxiety? Is it an Islāmic illness of doubt, impermissible cravings, laziness, an inability to be productive or a weakness in experiencing the joy of Ibādah? So with your weakness in mind, your pain in sight, and your unwavering certainty in al-Shāfi, use this Majestic name of His in du’ā; “O Shāfi, you see my pains and know of my situation. Heal me.”Allahumma Ameen

Al-Haqq. The absolute truth. Allah is the one whom the truth, all righteousness and justice are revealed. Everything Allah does, says, commands, promises, rewards come from truth! His existence is undeniable and nothing else can exist except through him. If Allah is the Truth, then His words are the truth; His promise is the truth; His threat is the truth; And His acts are the truth.

Allah says in surah Yunus: “For that is Allah, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?”. Thus, if we are the creation of the ultimate truth, and we worship Allah who is the truth, then we must live our lives by the principles of truth. If we’re sincere lovers of Our Lord, then we must be sincere lovers of the truth and everything that is associated to the truth.

How can we practically implement this name into our lives? First, we must ensure we are honest and truthful in all our sayings, actions and dealings with other people. The truth is not just simply spoken, but rather the truth is something to be lived. We should all strive for honesty in all our actions because that’s living in accordance with the principles of the truth. It’s a whole mindset that we have to adopt which will allow us all to become from the ‘truthful ones’.

Secondly, by understanding who Al-Haqq is and the fact that Allah is the absolute truth and nothing but the truth, we can begin to understand the truths that we are taught and obligated to follow. From this we can strengthen our Yaqeen and Imaan in Our Lord, and know with absolute certainty that whatever happens is from the Qadr of Allah swt, and due to the incredible love and care Allah swt has for his slave, he always wishes the absolute best for us. We must take comfort in Allah’s promise when things become difficult and hard for us, and have peace within ourselves that Allah’s word is true.

Finally, we should aim to be a ‘seeker of truth’. Imam Al-Ghazali said, “realizing this name (Al-Haqq) means that a person is so absorbed in the Truth that he has no room for anything else”. It doesn’t matter if the truth is for or against you. What is important for you is that you are a follower of the truth and you live by those principles entirely in both your personal and professional lives. This is also one of the most important and key steps in helping us to build Taqwa, and to have that absolute faith in Our Lord who sees and hears everything.
I end with a beautiful dua that will allow us all to become seekers of the truth! O Allah! Show us the Truth as the Truth and give us the ability to follow it. And show us falsehood as falsehood and give us the ability to avoid it. Allahumma Ameen.

Al-‘Afuw is the Pardoner – the One who is most Forgiving and the One who eliminates all sin, no matter how hidden it may be.

This characteristic is a reminder of how loving Allah is and how much He wants us to do good and enter Jannah.

He doesn’t want us to be punished, he wants to pardon us at any moment He can, so we do not have to face the torment of the hellfire. In fact, He makes it easier to be good than to be bad as there is forgiveness in the smallest acts that we do.

It is stated in Hadith Qudsi that Allah said to the Prophet SAW, “O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you.” – even if your sin is the biggest there could be, or the smallest there could be, if you genuinely and sincerely ask Allah to pardon you then surely, He will.

“When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face (in the course of Wudu’), every sin which he committed with his eyes. Will be washed away from his face with water. Or, with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every sin which is committed by his hands will be effaced from his hands with the water. Or, with the last drop of water. And, when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed away with the water. Or, with the last drop of water. Until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins” [Sahih Muslim].

This hadith shows us that even if we do not directly ask for forgiveness, Allah will forgive because He knows you are worshipping Him. This is truly who Al-‘Afuw is. The protector, the forgiver, the pardoner, who loves us countless more times than our own mother ever could. If you ask Him to conceal your sin or forgive you or guide you, He will do it all – He is most Capable. And all you have to do is remember Him. 

For us to learn from this attribute of Allah, we must become one of those who will excuse others that have harmed us. Whether they are able to ask you for forgiveness or not, find solace within yourself and through Allah, ease your heart of any grudges or pain. Forgive first, and if you can, do good for that person in return as Allah does that for us. Allah will continue to bless you and guide you and open doors for you even when He knows you are not worshipping Him because He wants to give you as many chances as possible to go back to Him and be good.

Once again, He WANTS to see us succeed – if He wanted to punish us for every wrong we have done, He would have done that from the start. But He is Al-Wadud (all loving), Al-Raheem (all merciful), Al-Ghafur (all forgiving), Al’Afuw and more. So trust Him and stay close to Him.

Turn back to Allah

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un – Verily to Allah we belong and verily to Him we shall return

These are words we have undoubtedly uttered and heard countless times this past year. Each death we encounter is reminder after reminder of how limited and fleeting our time is in this temporary world. No matter how young or old, truly death waits for no one. Our every heartbeat and every breath is bringing us closer and closer to our inevitable end. However, death is not something that we should fear or feel despair over, rather something that should propel us to prepare for it just as intricately and extensively as we have planned for our futures in this world.

This world we live in is full of so much heartbreak and hurt, so many trials and tribulations that our hearts will never find true contentment here, as this is not where we belong nor is it our final abode. It is not worth us sacrificing the eternity that awaits us for the small, short-lived enjoyment we may find here. An eternity that consists of nothing but absolute ease, tranquility, and bliss. A place that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard and no heart can ever conceive, yet the place our souls yearn for, where we will be more familiar with our dwellings than we are with our houses in this world.

We will be living in houses made with bricks of gold and silver; drinking from rivers of honey, milk, non-intoxicating wine, and eating from trees consisting of every kind of fruit; dressed in silk and adorned with gold bracelets, in the company of angels and prophets and all our righteous companions of this world; and where we will finally be pleasured with the sight of our beloved Rabb.

Before our life in this world, Allah assembled all of the souls of the descendants of Adam; it is in this moment where we took a covenant affirming the existence of our Lord.

And remember when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves.

Allah asked, “Am I not your Lord?”

They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.”

He cautioned, “Now you have no right to say on Judgment Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’ [7:172]

Thus, it is because of this first covenant that every human is born with a natural inclination to Tawheed (oneness of Allah). For as long as we have life in our chests, it is never too late for us to return and repent to our Lord – Ar-Rahman, the One whose mercy transcends our comprehension. It is never too late for us to fulfill our covenant. 

Allah the Almighty said: I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a cubit, and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed. [Bukhari]

So, ‘how do we turn back to our Lord?’ you may ask…

Forgiveness/istighfar

How often do we find ourselves immersed in feelings of frustration, disappointment, regret as we find ourselves falling into the very same sins that we repented from? That despite trying so hard to fight against our nafs, it ended up overpowering us and we gave in. Despite this, how blessed are we to still be able to experience these emotions?

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, when the servant commits a sin, a black mark appears upon his heart. If he abandons the sin, seeks forgiveness, and repents, then his heart will be polished. If he returns to the sin, the blackness will be increased until it overcomes his heart. It is the covering that Allah has mentioned: No, rather a covering is over their hearts from what they have earned.” (83:14) [Tirmidhi] 

The fact that we are still able to experience these feelings of guilt means our hearts haven’t completely blackened and that is a blessing from the bounties of Allah swt. It is this blessing that drives us to turn back and rectify our ways. Each and every one of us are sinners and the best of sinners are those who repent.

We may feel as though we have spent so much time away from Allah swt and His remembrance and that there is no point in us turning back now but Allah swt tells us:

As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [25:70]

Know that if Allah guides us to Him and inspires us to raise our hands to Him, He wants to answer us, He wants to extend us his endless mercy. Imagine all the sins we have accumulated over so much time, every single one of them, being converted into good deeds for us instead.

Even after repenting, we may find ourselves falling into the same sins again and again but rather than losing hope, we must keep on turning back to Allah for He loves to forgive and will continue to forgive for as long as we keep turning back to Him. In the same way that Allah never tires of forgiving, we must never tire of asking.

We can better come to know Allah through His names and attributes and we can strengthen our connection with Him by calling upon these names and being conscious of them in our everyday lives. Allah is al-Ghafoor (the ever forgiving) and al-Ghaffar (the all-forgiving), no matter the quantity or the size of the sin, Allah is there to forgive us. Unlike the angels who are unable to sin and therefore unable to experience these qualities, we have been blessed with being able to ask for Allah’s infinite mercy.

O child of Adam! However much you beseech Me and place your hopes in Me, I will forgive you without any reservation. O child of Adam! If you have sins piling up to the clouds and then ask My forgiveness, I will forgive you without any reservation. O child of Adam! If you come to me with enough mistakes to fill the Earth, and meet Me without associating anything as a partner with Me, I will come to you with enough forgiveness to fill the Earth. [Muslim]

A habit we can all aim to implement inshaAllah:
“Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea [Bukhari]

Prayer

Allah swt tells us, He did not create jinns and humans except to worship Him. This is our purpose in life. Many of us may think of salah as a burden, as something we have to do as opposed to something we want to do. But if we think of the context in which salah was prescribed to us, it was gifted to the Prophet saw at the lowest point in his life as a source of peace and comfort for him. 

Salah isn’t exclusively for those who we see as ‘better’ Muslims than us, rather it is for all of us, regardless of background. No matter how hard we find it or how many sins we are committing or how imperfect or undeserving we feel, we just have to take that first step in standing and humbling ourselves before Allah swt. This is what will ground us and aid us in becoming the Muslim we were created to be. This is what will help us to leave those sins behind us and turn our lives around.

When you stand to pray and say that first Allahu Akbar, know that Allah swt is greater than everything in this dunya and leave your worries behind you as you engage in this meeting with your Lord. The veil between you and Allah swt is lifted and He faces you so pray as though you can see Him or at least knowing that He sees you. Imagine angels coming and praying with you and your sins falling away from you with each ruku’ and sajdah. It is in sujood where we are at the closest point that a servant can be to Allah swt.

It is the salah that separates us from the non-believers and will be the first thing that we will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement. If our prayers are sound then the rest of our deeds will be sound too but if our prayers are deficient, then the rest of our deeds will be deficient too. Our salah is therefore our benchmark, we need to set this straight so that our other deeds do not go to waste.

A habit that we can try to implement inshaAllah: “Whoever recites ayat al-kursi after every prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entry into Paradise but death.” [al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr] 

These are just some practical tips to inshaAllah help us all on our journeys towards Allah swt. These habits are very light on the tongue and the few minutes we take out of our day to practise these will inshaAllah be rewarded with an eternity of pleasure.

A few months ago, I went through one of the biggest trials in my life.

People say this a lot, but it really felt like the darkest of all my days. Those moments have swelled to tower over all others in my life, eclipsing the days that came before and the ones that have come since. 

I lost someone very close to me. Someone I loved dearly.

I’ve seen loss and grown up aware that we will all feel its touch at some point. After all, Allah ﷻ says in the Quran ‘Every soul shall taste death’ (3:185). I’ve seen the lives of friends, family, and strangers afflicted by death and I’ve seen what happens to the ones left behind. 

Nevertheless, death felt so far away from me. I know now that the signs were there all along and this is a fact of life that Islam prepares us for. But thinking about death & loss, and experiencing it couldn’t have been more unalike.

I guess what I’m trying to say is pondering upon death, for me anyway, was from a position where I could tune in and out, back to the comfort of everyday, worldly life. Experiencing loss, however, meant it became my relentless companion from the moment my eyes opened upon waking, to the nights where I would will myself to sleep because that was my only respite. I don’t know, perhaps if my Iman had been stronger it would have been different.

I think about death a lot now. Maybe it should have been this way all along, and this was the jolt I needed to make me realise that.

I don’t know but I don’t doubt the wisdom of Allah ﷻ. 

Between the tears and the loneliness, I managed to find refuge in Him. I’d pour my heart out to Him in sujood. When I couldn’t find the words, I know He understood anyway. On the more difficult days, between sobbing until my eyes felt raw, I’d manage to squeeze out “inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” and that soothed my heart a little. 

For many years when the occasion called for it, I’d utter the phrase To Allah we belong and to Him is our return, almost automatically as a gesture of condolence, but the words seemed to take on a new meaning now.

I’m always reminded of what Yasmin Mogahed says in her book ‘How to Reclaim your Heart’ –

“My body came from the ground and it will go back to the ground, as it came. It was only a shell, a container for my soul. A companion for a while. But I’ll leave it here when I arrive. Arrive—not depart. Because that’s my home. Not this. That’s why when Allah (swt) is calling back the righteous soul, He says, ‘irjiee’: return (Qur’an, 89:28).” 

As a society, we are very negligent of death. It is the elephant in the room. We all know it’s there looming in the corner, but we go about our lives trying to ignore this shadow in our peripheral vision. In the end, this does more harm than good, and we find ourselves feeling lost in the face of death. Rather than avoiding this topic, we need to face it head-on with the tools and insight Islam provides us with. 

Islam allows us to view death through a unique lens, as the afterlife is given so much importance and status over the first:

“And surely the hereafter will be better for you than the first (life).” 

(93:4)

By truly learning to appreciate that this life is temporary, we realise that every trial and tribulation we experience in it is part of a bigger plan, for which we will be recompensed and rewarded if we patiently endure (God willing). This in itself, is a blessing that has been afforded to us by Allah ﷻ.

As for me, I don’t wish any of it happened any differently. I know I had my own shortcomings and weaknesses in faith. I know I had love for this Dunya in my heart. Perhaps, if I had internalised the Islamic attitude to death, I would have been more prepared for this unavoidable eventuality.

Despite this all, Allah guided me in the most painful but beautiful way. Sometimes it takes losing something to be able to see the blessings you had all along. 

Grieving the death of a loved one is not a singular event; it is on-going, perhaps an even lifelong experience. Even within this, which may be the most difficult thing any one of us endure in our time in the Dunya, we can find countless blessings.

Even in the pain and sorrow of death, we can witness the completeness of our Deen.

I cannot enumerate the favours Allah bestowed upon me during this time, and I won’t attempt to. However, for me, grief became a catalyst to reassess and realign my priorities. This separation forced me to reflect on how I was preparing for the day that I would depart from this world. What had I sent forth for my akhirah? How much time had I invested in it relative to this life? Was I doing everything I could? These questions, although difficult, were necessary for me to realise how far I was from the state I wished to die in, but also that as long as I am breathing, I still have time to act to change this. 

I don’t wish to tell anyone how to grieve. And I don’t wish to portray grief and the agony of it as a deficit of faith. After the death of his son Ibrahim, our Prophet ﷺ articulated his own pain so eloquently. Turning his face towards the mountain he ﷺ said:

“O mountain! If you had the sorrow that I have, you would be destroyed and broken into pieces. However, we say what Allah orders us to say, ‘To Allah we belong and to Him is our return’.”

During his lifetime, Allah tested his most beloved slave, حَبِيْبَُ ٱلله, with the deaths of so many of his loved ones – his wife Khadijah (R.A), his uncle Abu Talib, and all of his children but one (R.A), amongst countless others. Through his noble example, and the way in which he conducted himself in the face of unimaginable loss and sorrow, we can find guidance in how we too should cope when confronted with death. 

Further highlighting the depth of his sorrow after the passing of Ibrahim, the Prophet ﷺ was also recorded as saying:

“The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim ! Indeed we are grieved by your separation.”

From his example, we learn that not even the Prophet ﷺ was immune to the anguish of separation, despite not being attached to this worldly life at all. From him, we learn it is ok to cry and feel pain and grieve, as he did, however, we should guard our tongues and not let our grief lead us to say that which displeases Allah. Furthermore, he advised us not to wail, tear our clothes, or strike ourselves when mourning our dead but this doesn’t mean we can’t express our grief in other ways.

There is no one way to process loss or a timeline grief should adhere to. But we have been blessed beyond measure with a religion that helps it all make sense. In the end, I know where I am headed and I know, if Allah decrees it, I shall be with my loved one again.

As part of our Islamophobia Awareness Month Campaign we wanted to raise awareness of what is happening to Uighur Muslims in China.

Who are the Uighur?

The Uighurs are a Turkic ethnic group comprising around 13.5 million people. Around 11 million live in the Xinjiang region of Northwest China where they are native to. This region was traditionally known as East Turkestan and is China’s biggest region. Xinjiang is a designated “special economic zone” due to its abundance of oil and mineral supplies. It is also China’s largest producer of natural gas and is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure project whereby Chinese companies are constructing roads, pipelines and railroads globally. It is autonomous, meaning it is theoretically self-governed, however it has faced major restrictions from the Chinese government especially in recent years. There has been a cultural genocide against the Uighur people with human rights abuses, mass surveillance and no freedom of religion. 

History of the Xinjiang Conflict

The Xinjiang Conflict dates back to 1931 and the First East Turkestan Republic was established in 1933, this was then overthrown in 1934 by Sheng Shicai, a Chinese warlord, who received aid from the Soviet Union. Although already in use, it was in this period that the term “Uighur” was first used officially over the generic “Turkic”, as part of an effort to “undermine potential broader bases of identity” such as Turkic or Muslim

The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region was established in 1955. In the late 1950s and early 1960s between 60,000 and 200,000 Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other minorities fled China to the USSR primarily due to the “Great Leap Forward” – a social and economic plan by the Chinese Communist Party which had the aim of taking the country from an agricultural society to a communist one via the creation of “people’s communes”. The political relationship between China and the USSR worsened and the Soviets formed a propaganda campaign criticising China and encouraged minority groups to migrate. 

From the 1950s to the 1970s, a state sponsored mass migration into the Xinjiang province raised the number of Han Chinese people from 7% to 40% of the population. During this time there was a decreasing infant-mortality rate, better medical care and a laxity in China’s one-child policy which helped the Uighur population in Xinjiang grow from four million in the 1960s to eight million in 2001.

Since the 1960s there has been increasing tension and violence in the region and in 1997, a police roundup and the execution of 30 suspected Uighur separatists during Ramadan resulted in mass demonstrations beginning on 3rd February of that year. This resulted in the Ghulja incident, a crackdown by the People’s Liberation Party who after two days of protests, dispersed protestors using clubs, water cannon and tear gas, some were killed by the Chinese Army gunfire. Official reports say 9 people died, while others estimated the number killed at more than 100 and even as many as 167. According to some reports, in the aftermath up to 1600 people were arrested on charges of intending to “split the motherland”, conducting criminal activity, fundamental religious activity, and counter-revolutionary activities following the crackdown.

“Strike Hard Against Violent Terrorism” Campaign 2014

The Chinese government created a campaign known as the “Strike Hard Against Violent Terrorism” campaign in 2014. They began to increase their military presence in Xinjiang under the Chinese Community Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. They also introduced perverse restrictions on the civil liberties of the Uighurs. China has legitimized it’s policies in Xinjiang by using the global “war on terror” of the 2000s to portray separatist unrest as Islamic terrorism. 

The crackdown on civil liberties includes mass digital surveillance through the regular targeting of phones, computers and other digital devices. Authorities have collected the DNA, iris scans, and voice samples of the Uighur population, they also use digitally coded ID cards to track the movements of the Uighur people, and use CCTV cameras to watch their homes, streets, and marketplaces. The Chinese government had increased surveillance through ensuring the police look out for signs of “religious extremism” that include owning books about Uighurs, growing a beard, having a prayer rug, or quitting smoking or drinking. The government had also installed cameras in the homes of private citizens.

Since this campaign the number of people officially arrested has tripled compared to the previous 5 years, according to official figures and estimates by the nongovernmental organization Chinese Human Rights Defenders. The government has held people in pretrial detention centers and prisons, both of which are formal facilities, and in political education camps, which have no basis under Chinese law. Those detained have been denied due process rights and suffered torture and other ill-treatment

Internment Camps and Restrictions

From 2014 onwards the situation in Xinjiang has worsened for the Uighurs. Since 2015, it has been estimated that over a million Uighurs have been detained in Xinjiang’s internment camps, other sources suggest there are up to 3 million people in these camps. They were established under General Secretary Xi Jinping’s administration with the aim of ensuring adherence to national ideology. There are over 85 camps within Xinjiang, which the Chinese government refers to as “re-education centres”, they have justified their actions as responding to “ethnic separatism and violent terrorist criminal activities”. 

In 2017, the Xinjiang government passed a series of legislation that targets elements of the Muslim identity, such as preventing men from growing beards and women from wearing veils. Giving a child a name that would “exaggerate religious fervour,” such as Muhammad, is illegal. A person can be imprisoned in internment camps for the “crimes” listed and also for having WhatsApp on their phone, having family members who live abroad, or for no reason at all.

Inside the camps, Uighurs are forced to learn Mandarin Chinese, sing praises of the Chinese Communist Party, memorize rules applicable primarily to Turkic Muslims, swear loyalty to President Xi Jinping, and criticise or renounce Islam. They are told they may not be allowed to leave the camps unless they have learned over 1,000 Chinese characters or are otherwise deemed to have become loyal Chinese subjects. 

A former detainee, Omir, said regarding the concentration camps:

“They wouldn’t let me sleep, they would hang me up for hours and would beat me. They had thick wooden and rubber batons, whips made from twisted wire, needles to pierce the skin, pliers for pulling out the nails. All these tools were displayed on the table in front of me, ready to use at any time. And I could hear other people screaming as well.”

Outside of the camps there is no freedom of religion: there have been around 5000 masaajid demolished in the region and those that are left are heavily monitored, however there are no Imams left as they have been put into concentration camps. In one area, Kashgar, over 70% of the masaajid have been destroyed. Praying, fasting, saying salaam, celebrating Eid, halal food, having Islamic weddings at home are all forbidden and the government rewards people that have reported Uighurs with up to approximately £5600. 

The government has encouraged Uighur couples to have fewer children and incentivised marriages between Uighurs and Han Chinese people, giving around £1,085 per year for the first 5 years to intermarried couples. In January 2020, a CNN report based on an analysis of Google Maps satellite imagery said that Chinese authorities have destroyed more than 100 graveyards in Xinjiang, primarily Uighur ones. In 2018, Chinese public servants began compulsory home stays with Uighur families for assimilation aid. Human rights abuses have taken place including forced sterilization and contraception. A 37-year-old pregnant woman from the Xinjiang region said she attempted to give up her Chinese citizenship to live in Kazakhstan but was told by the Chinese government that she had to come back to China to complete the process. She received an abortion and said it was required to prevent her brother from being detained in an internment camp. There have also been allegations of organ harvesting in Xinjiang since the 1990s and in 2001 a Chinese asylum-seeking doctor testified that he had taken part in organ extraction operations

It’s clear to see that the Chinese government has long propagated anti-Muslim sentiment across China and fostered a culture of fear, suspicion and hostility within the Xinjiang region, contributing to the increasing globalised Islamophobia and stigmatisation of Muslims. The Uighur people are victims of human rights atrocities and forced political indoctrination, restrictions on their movement and communication, and mass surveillance in violation of international human rights law. They are facing the erasure of their Muslim and cultural identities as a result of the Chinese government’s state-sponsored genocide.

Yes, that’s right – I’ve just made quite a bold statement that there is a science to the perfect cup of chai, bear with me. Notice I said chai and not tea, that’s because the humble English breakfast tea cannot compare with chai – a drink of rich culture, beauty and pure happiness. 

To you, chai might be  چائے, شاي  shaah, or even chaa – but regardless of the name, it is truly something that transcends borders and sometimes even continents. With chai being a staple at most ISoc events, we want to equip you with the know-how on a fantastic, fool-proof cup of chai from the comfort of your own homes – for your parents, for those long days of zoom lectures, or even before the weekly story night 😉

For the ingredients, you will need:

–   Water

–   Tea Bags (PG TIPS are elite but we’ll let Yorkshire tea slide)

–   Sugar or any other sweetener of your choice

–   Chai Masala (because as students we can’t be dealing with the hassle of using whole spices)

–   Cardamom (Elichi) Powder

–   Milk (full fat of course, but semi skimmed is calm too – PSA: RED TOPPED MILK SHOULD BE ILLEGAL – FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY NEVER USE IT)

–   Mint/ginger (optional)

Utensils:

–   Mug

–   Saucepan

–   Tea Strainer

[This recipe serves 2]

Step 1: In your mug of choice, measure out a full mug of cold water from the tap ? (or filtered water if you’re boujee like that), pour into a saucepan at medium high heat with half a teaspoon of chai masala and half a teaspoon of cardamom powder – bring to boil [just as you would water for pasta].

Step 2: Add sugar (for me it would be 1 and a half teaspoons – controversial, I know) and add the tea bag when you see bubbles in the water but a roaring boil hasn’t been reached.

Step 3: Allow the tea to infuse in the water and spices, when a roaring boil happens, put your hob on medium heat.

Step 4: Add a mug’s worth of milk ? into the pan and let it simmer on low for about 3 mins.

Note: If you are Libyan ?? and reading this, please add evaporated milk!

Note two: To my Somali ?? people out there, don’t forget to add nido milk powder, your Hooyo will be proud insh’Allah!

Step 5: Crank up the heat to medium, it will eventually start bubbling and rising, when this happens, QUICKLY put the heat on low (spilt chai you’ll definitely cry over)

Step 6: Add mint or a small bit of peeled ginger (it’s especially nice in winter❄️), if you’re too excited you can skip this step and strain your tea into a mug – ready to drink (remember to say bismillah).

I hope all of you guys try this at least once, let me know what you think ?in the comments below, tag your stories with @manchesterisoc so we can assemble our chai family and put these local chai shops to the test! Most importantly, do share your own chai recipes in the comments below and see if you one-up us. We’d love to hear them 🙂