Blog
Do yourself a favour(DW#750 )
May 01, 2020
If you do good, you do good for your own souls, and if you do evil, it is for them [the souls]Sura Israa [Holy Quran 17:7]
In verse 7 of Chapter 17 [Sura Bani Israel/Isra], Allah lays out a foundational principle of the way He has created the universe. Whether we do good or evil, the effect of our actions impact us more than they impact anyone else. This is true on this plane of existence as well as the hereafter.
Firstly, this verse acknowledges freedom of choice for human beings. While we have been guided, internally and externally, the choice of action remains ours. We choose, every moment of our lives, whether to take the path towards our wellbeing and His pleasure, or against ourselves and away from His pleasure. (can you see how both are connected?)
So, even when we think we are doing others a favour by doing an act of kindness for them, or harming someone by criticizing them, being mean spirited, gossiping, betraying them, lying to them or any other act, this verse is...
Heed the reminder(DW#748 )
Apr 29, 2020
In Sura Muzzammil, [Chapter 73, Versem19], Allah says: This is indeed a reminder
This verse refers to the Quran where Allah says that He has sent a reminder to the people in the form of the Quran.
A reminder by definition means that it is confirming or reminding human beings of something that they already know. Scholars explain that the verses of the Quran confirm the truth that Allah has already placed within ourselves in the form of fitrah or natural instinct.
Our fitrah or higher selves are guided by our conscience. This is the internal guidance which is confirmed and supported by the external guidance in the form of the Quran.
Since human beings are easily distracted and forgetful, we need to be reminded of our true nature, our best selves and the potential that we can rise up to. The verses also remind us to keep the big picture in mind, the meaning and purpose of creation, that we are on this earth for only a brief...
Do not forsake the Book(DW#747 )
Apr 28, 2020
In verse 30 of Sura Furqan, there is a complaint from the Holy Prophet (saw): And the Messenger cried out: O my Lord! Surely my people have treated this Quran as a forsaken thing. [Holy Quran 25:30]
The Holy Prophet (saw) spent about 23 years of his life preaching the message of the Quran in order to transform his society, to banish ignorance and oppression and to establish social justice. This complaint is made by him to his Lord that despite his best efforts, his community (and those to follow) abandoned the true message of the Quran.
The potential of the Quran is to transform the individual and the society. However, in order to do that, the message needs to be read, reflected upon, acted upon and reflected in behaviour.
While the recitation of the Quran is alive and well within Muslim communities all over the world, its message of hope, mercy, compassion and justice remains an illusive ideal even today.
What do we need to do individually and as a...
Ground yourself in your intention(DW#729)
Apr 02, 2020
Yesterday, we talked about how we can set the tone of the day by setting an intention before we even get out of bed.
Today, let us deepen this practice further. The following is a grounding practice that can greatly help us start the day right and have an anchor to come back to in moments of anxiety or distress. When your mind is racing and going down the anxiety tunnel, a grounding practice such as this can help bring you back to the here-and-now. It is a great way set a calm anchor that you can come back to again and again.
All these steps combined take only moments to practice but can have a profound impact on our wellbeing.
Once you get out of bed, feel your feet firmly planted on the floor.
Stand up tall.
Take a few deep breaths (in through the nose, down and into your sides and into your back).
As you exhale, expand your awareness into your surroundings, taking a moment to notice sounds and smells.
Now remind yourself of your intention and feel...
Set an intention for the day (DW#728)
Apr 01, 2020
Have you noticed that how we begin our morning often sets the tone for the rest of the day?
I remember as a child when I was grumpy, my mom saying to me, "It looks like you have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed this morning"! (sorry mom!) I now realize what she meant was that if I was grumpy at the beginning of the day, I would likely remain so for the rest of the day.
As an adult, I am beginning to recognize that I can choose "which side of the bed I get out of". That I can practice setting an intention for how I am going to show up in the world today.
Let us remind ourselves what we mean by setting an intention.
An intention is about how we commit to showing up in our life everyday, regardless of what is happening around us. It is a guiding principle or value that we act from, and it is very much based in the present moment.
For example, intentions related to the present crisis might be:
I intend to be kind
I intend...