On Vertere, Fraternity of Humanity, and Hijr.

By: Bassam Javed

Delivered during an ‘Islam Awareness Week’ volunteer prep session 2009.

Islam Awareness Week, as its name suggests, is a week in which Muslim university students inform their fellow non-Muslim students about Islam. We begin with a caveat, however. Our purpose is not to proselytize. Simply said, our job is not to convert. The Latin origin of the word “convert” contains the word vertere, which means to turn round. This is quite similar to the Arabic root of the word qalb, which linguistically means to turn or flip over. Within the Islamic framework, qalb refers to the heart. Indeed, the hearts are flipped over, towards or away from Allah, the Almighty. It is only within His Infinite Power, and not in the infinitesimal power He has divested in us, to qalaba or to verterethe hearts, that is, to turn them towards Him. And so, take heed that you cannot convert anyone. Our purpose is simply to deliver the message, and clarify the image of perfection that Islam is; an image which has been muddied amongst some of our fellow brothers and sisters in humanity. We leave the act of converting, to the One who has the ability to convert, Allah, Al-Haadi.

This leads to our second point. Indeed, we are in a fraternity of humanity. Those you will speak to, during IAW, and otherwise, are of the same lineage as you. A lineage, not borne of primates, but of a Prophet of the One: Adam, peace be upon him. What a noble lineage! Our father, metaphorically speaking, was a Prophet. Never forget that those you speak to are your brothers and sisters, borne of the same forefather. Be respectful of members of your human family. They have not received the message of Islam as you have, so deliver a portion of the message to them. Do so gently. Family is gentle with each other.

Thirdly, remember the first word, revealed to our dear and beloved Prophet, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, may peace and blessings be upon him. Iqra. Read. Allah, Glorified be He, has revealed this word in fi’l ‘amr, the command tense. He is commanding us to read, to go forth and seek knowledge. The Islamic tradition is an intellectual one. It is incumbent upon us that we acquire at least a minimal amount of knowledge. Allah, Al-Hakeem, tells us in the Qur’an in surat al-fajrthat those having knowledge are hijr, meaning confined. This confinement is in terms of our actions; it is to “confined” by taqwa, consciousness of Allah, in the actions we perform. Indeed, those grounded in knowledge are those possessing taqwa; and those possessing taqwa are those beloved to Allah.

So let us proceed to seek knowledge, so that we may deliver the message of Islam to our human family. The One who guides may guide whom He wills; perhaps somewhere along our path of knowledge seeking and delivery, He may regard us amongst the mutaqoon, the God-conscious.

May Allah make us amongst His beloved.

 

A Break From Life

By: Nada Eltawil

If you’re always on the sixth floor and have not yet witnessed the following, then you’re definitely not paying enough attention:

It’s super quiet. Everyone is crouching over their books and computers in intense focus-mode. People occasionally yawn from lack of sleep and stretch in their chairs because of sore muscles, before resuming in their self-torture… The scene is quite lifeless until the Muslims do something rather interesting. They all abruptly look up from their computer screens… Then they all exchange rapid glances with one another, maybe even a gesture or two—an awkward type where the hands flail to the sides of the head, maybe a point toward the washroom…? A nod followed by a smile…? What on earth is going on here? I think by now, a non-Muslim would really want in on the joke. Hmmm…

Well, clearly every one of us has their Athan software up and running on their computers, AlhamdulillahJ! Because it is indeed that wonderful time of day, that breath of fresh air—believe it or not, even if you’re on the most depressing floor with no windows and dinky, cluttered desks, you would still think there really was fresh air—that awesome break like no other: Salah!

So the second the much-anticipated Athan starts going off on our screens, the heavy studying, reviewing, essaying, and whatever else is causing your head to feel like it’s swollen up with a brain tumour, is more-than-welcomingly interrupted. The Muslims get up and cause a silent ruckus: The brothers synchronize almost mobbishly, while the sisters do the roundabouts and whisper to any sister they see: “Are you going to pray?” For a Muslim to see this, it’s quite invigorating. It gives every one of us something to look forward to. For the struggling, starving, sleepless students, prayer time it is a much wanted and much needed break. And you wonder why we hurry…

Of course, the scene in the prayer room is even more beautiful. I must admit, during exams, the prayer room is especially crowded. Prayer time is not only a time to pray during exams, but it also becomes a time for much needed socialization with our fellow brothers and sisters. Even if it only lasts a few minutes, we can exchange du’as for each other, give each other reassuring hugs, pats on the back, whatever it may be… You leave with an internally satisfied state. You’re suddenly refreshed and smiling despite the pile of work you have to do…It is amazing what meeting for the sake of Allah can do to the soul.

But it is not just the socializing that makes prayer time what it is. We would be missing an important ingredient if that were the case: Prayer itself. SubhanAllah, when we are so strained because of our books and the overwhelming amount of studying we have to do, it is as though Allah provided us with Salah as an outlet. It is indeed a gift of mercy. A break from life’s hectic schedules, into a blissful time to silently converse with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and none other than Him. A time to dwell on what you want to achieve and feel free to ask of Allah whatever you desire. A time to not feel bad because you’re doing something else other than studying. A time to know that you are actually passing the real test—Allah’s test. It is the one time where you can really enjoy a break. It is Salah time my friends, there is no reason to rush. After all, you are entitled to take as long as you wish!

 

“Summer Escape”

By: Aruba Mustafa

 

For you is your religion

By: Aruba Mustafa

In the midst of battling our identities as muslims and as westerners we pummel through the uncertainty plastering on a façade of strength. But as we alternate our time between our homes and mosques and the real world, we are faced with varying lessons. Lessons of sexuality and then modesty, of prayer and then idolatry, of community and then ‘individuality’. For an impressionable mind it is a lot to process, and sometimes it is hard to distinguish where to draw the line and where to erase it. The lessons we learn from our elders teach us that this western culture is ‘evil’ and astray. And yet we must immerse ourself in this very culture if we seek any sort of success and growth. Simultaneously, our peers encourage us to perceive our elders as ‘backwards’ and unwelcoming of change and modernity.

So, for me at least, finding clarity is always a long and often inconclusive journey. In the meanwhile, my questions are left unanswered, but what drives me to uphold my convictions is a simple but eloquent ayat in Surah Al-Kafirun. It goes: “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion” (109:6). This ayat makes real the strength that was formerly just a pretense. Because if I can be content that my believes are  for me and yours for you then it leaves me with no need to prove myself to any one else. And it leaves me with no desire to seek out your belief when for me my religion is satiating enough.

 

Conquering Fear

By: Meaghan Williams

I am only familiar with the Muslim woman’s experience, but I am sure that there are also Muslim men who face similar challenges when it comes to participating actively in the non-Muslim world. For many of us, this means the world in which we study, work, volunteer or travel. Even I, who am so familiar with the intricacies of non-Muslim society in Canada, have experienced my fair share of doubts and hesitations, nervousness and even outright fear.

Particularly for women in hijab and/or niqab, the prospect of job-hunting is a daunting one. When I began my co-op interviews last fall, I was terrified at the thought of conducting an interview wearing hijab, dressing modestly. Around me, similarly qualified individuals wore skirts and short-sleeved blouses. I found myself in a long-sleeved pantsuit, long-sleeved blouse and, of course, wearing hijab. I was keenly aware of the fact that everyone in that waiting room was qualified for the position, that the interview was intended to be the place for the employer to determine who would best “fit in” with the rest of the team at the organization. I had 10 interviews and it took all of my strength and du’aas to gather the courage to continue conducting myself in an upbeat, positive manner that exuded confidence and reliability, as well as passion and a desire to be a part of the organization. Especially after one particularly rough interview where the question of my “level of religiosity” came into question, I look back now on that rough period of self-doubt and I smile.

I smile because it reminds me that I received, Alhamdulillah, the best possible fit for me. I was hired by a think-tank styled organization and I have spent the last four months working on research in a wide variety of public policy areas that my head spins to think about it. I attended meetings with politicians and policy-makers – including, among others, the premiers of 2 provinces, the federal finance minister, the federal deputy minister of foreign affairs and provincial ministers of education and First Nations peoples. My workplace was small and highly intellectual so my religion was discussed, but in a manner that left me comfortable and feeling welcome. And I have no doubt that this extraordinary workplace opportunity was a blessing from Allah subhanna wa ta’ala for the conquering of a fear that so many of us face.

For those who attended Ilmfest last night, the topic of fear was tackled by Shaykh Basyouni. I sat there, remembering my own experiences and could not have felt in greater agreement with any other Shaykh’s statements than I did in those moments. Having just discussed this topic with close friends who are also having similar misgivings, I have advice: whether you wear niqab or hijab, or are simply open about your faith, understand that putting Allah at the forefront of your character will never bring you harm; it may bring consequences and some that are negative, but it only means that there is something better in store for you. As Muslims, we should not fear becoming active members of the non-Muslim community – by doing so, we conquer not only the perceptions non-Muslims have us, but we conquer the perceptions we carry about ourselves. For many of us, we don’t classify as first-generation immigrants anymore. We do not have to relegate ourselves to the sidelines of society. We have much to offer and we should share our generosity, our diversity and our faith with those around us so that we can structure a respectful society. The first steps are with us, whether it be by wearing hijab in the workplace or volunteering at a charitable event on the weekend – we make the first move. Wear your faith with pride, but not arrogance and conduct yourself with confidence, not fear.