January 28, 2008 · 5:58 am

Seven Strategies to Train Kids this Ramadan

By Shehnaz Toorawa 

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No father has given a greater gift to his children than good moral training.” (Tirmidhi)

The many aspects of Ramadan—fasting, prayers, moral values, charity, Qur’an, family, `Eid—provide a valuable opportunity to train kids. Whether they are your own kids or kids you teach, education or training isn’t an automatic or easy process. Children don’t bring empty minds and fill them with what we say. Training requires effort, energy, and a few techniques to take off.

Here are some training tips and techniques to transform your children’s minds and memories this Ramadan:

(1) Let them get their Hands Dirty

“The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.” Herbert Spencer

Children learn by “doing.” On average, students retain 75% of a lesson when they learn through hands-on activities compared to 5% through a lecture or 10% through reading (Brunmer, Jerome).

If, for example, you want to teach your kids the concept of zakah, get them to help you calculate your zakah, decide where to send the money, and mail the envelopes. Action and implementation can occur while children learn, not necessarily after!

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bring his grandchildren Hassan and Hussein to the mosque as toddlers before they knew how to pray.

A concept becomes real and important to children when they experience it rather than simply read about it. They’ll remember how to do it years later when you may catch them telling their friends “I’ve been calculating zakah since I was a kid!”

(2) Involve their Emotions

When children get emotionally involved in an activity, they rarely want to leave it. Video games and TV shows target children’s emotions. As parents and educators, we can use the same technique for training.

Stories, songs, skits, crafts, and games grab children’s emotions. Once a child is interested and excited, they’re more likely to stay attentive till the end and get the message you want to give. Just as we remember events in our lives that were emotionally significant, children remember concepts learned through activities that were “fun,” “funny,” “exciting,” or “different.”

Don’t be afraid to stir some fun into your training—you don’t have to lose any content. Write a song about `Eid, create a Hadith treasure box, organize a Ramadan trivia night, or read a story about Ramadan in Madinah. If the kids enjoy it, they’ll come back for more!

(3) Reveal the Purpose

We often hear students complain, “why do we have to do this?” or “this math exercise is pointless.” Unfortunately, we often hear responses like “because I’m telling you to,” or “because you have to,” or worse, “you’ll get a new CD player if you finish the book.”

Like us, if children don’t see the purpose or importance of an action, they won’t have the motivation to complete it. To avoid getting similar comments from your kids about prayer or fasting, make sure they understand the purpose. Before you begin any lesson, whether it’s a story about the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)or an `Eid craft, explain exactly why you are the doing the activity and what benefits the children will gain from it.

Remind your children that they are doing acts of worship to please Allah, not you. Explain why we need to please Allah and how every action, including washing dishes or math homework, will help us achieve that goal. If children are praying only to please you, when you leave, their motivation and prayers will disappear.

If children are motivated to fast Ramadan or complete the Qur’an for a material incentive (like a CD player), they may never develop a love of Allah or an intrinsic desire to perform the action. They may, instead, learn to value material rewards and when the rewards disappear, the actions may disappear with them.

Help your children understand that for Muslims, rewards don’t necessarily always come in this life. They may have to wait for the bigger and better rewards of the hereafter.

(4) Highlight the Big Ideas

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” Albert Einstein

Ask yourself how many equations or formulas you remember from your Grade 12 math textbook. It may be five, two, or none. Let’s be honest—most of us retained very little of the details we learned.

Children will not retain all the fiqh rulings of zakah, wudu’, or Salah, and they won’t need to! Make sure the little that they retain is exactly what you want them to remember. Focus on the big ideas, such as the awareness that Allah is watching us, that we get our rulings from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that Prayer is a means of self-purification, etc. Repeat these ideas every day in different ways. While your children instil these principles in their minds, show them how to learn the rest on their own when they need it.

Help your kids learn “how to learn.” Teach them where to find the fiqh information they need or how to research a topic and who to ask for information. They will be better prepared if they master the basics and know how to get the specifics. Memorizing every ruling will be a waste of their time and yours.

(5) Let them Lead!

 Children often take responsibilities more seriously than adults. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Usamah ibn Zaid who was a young boy at the time, as commander of the Muslim army although many older and more experienced companions were present. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) trusted Usamah’s capability for the position.

Give children leadership over important tasks and step out of the picture. Assign one child to wake up all his siblings for suhur. Let someone else be in charge of updating the iftar time every evening. Allow the children to plan, budget, and buy `Eid gifts for all the relatives. Let them choose which task they want to be in charge of.

Allow children to make mistakes and realize on their own what they should have done. Experience often trains better than instruction. Once a child goes out into the cold without a jacket, he’ll remember, before you can remind him, to put on his jacket next time.

Train kids to be responsible for their own learning. If a child asks, “Does brushing teeth break my fast?” a simple “yes” or “no” may give them the answer, but it won’t provide any long-term training. Ask them instead, “Where can you look to find that answer? Let’s do some research.”

Begin the month of Ramadan by asking your children to do a research project on what breaks the fast and what does not. If they find the information themselves, they are likely to remember it and know exactly where to get it again next year.

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.” Carl Rogers

(6) Get Excited!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” W. B. Yeats

Kids catch on to your enthusiasm. Show some excitement and passion about the topic you’re teaching. Show your kids that you can’t wait for Ramadan to begin. Be cheerful at Prayer times. Decorate the house in anticipation of `Eid.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught by example. His character and actions motivated people to love and emulate him. Be the example you want your kids to be. Make a genuine effort to love the activities you want your kids to love.

7) Combine Love with Learning

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would greet children warmly by hugging them, kissing them and picking them up.

Abu Huraira reported that al-Aqra’ b. Habis saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing Hasan. He said “I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them,” whereupon Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who does not show mercy (towards his children), no mercy would be shown to him. (Muslim)

Show children that you love them, regardless of how they perform. Allow each child to progress at their own pace. Saying, “look at your cousin Aminah! She’s already finished the 15th Juz,” will only lower your child’s self-esteem and discourage what she’s already accomplishing.

Excessive competition and comparison can often result in helplessness and lack of motivation for children who learn in different ways or at a slower pace. Allow children to judge their own progress and compare themselves to their former level rather than that of others.

Make this Ramadan the beginning of a memorable and long-lasting training experience for you and your children!

Sources:

Bruner, Jerome S. The Process of Education. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1977.

Published on IslamOnline.net and SoundVision.com

1 Comment

Filed under Family, Parenting

Tagged as , , , ,

January 27, 2008 · 7:05 am

The Fasting of Ramadan: A Time for Thought, Action, and Change!

By Taha Ghayyur & Taha Ghaznavi

“Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society (which makes up more than one fifth of world’s population) in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and for the same end. No sociologist or historian can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan. People have been crying throughout the ages for acceptable ‘belonging’, for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have met…” says Hammudah Abdalati in Islam in Focus.

“What is fasting?” “How does the fasting of Muslims in Ramadan differ from the fasting of other faiths?” “Why should one ‘torture’ one’s body in the first place?” “What do you really gain from fasting in the end?”…These are a few questions that a number of non-Muslim friends and colleagues often ask us, usually out of fascination with this spiritually-uplifting practice of Islamic faith, and at times out of pity and sympathy for us, thinking, why should anyone suffer from hunger and thirst like Muslims? I wouldn’t be surprised if many of us shared the same negative perception of Fasting.

It is important to note that Fasting in Arabic is called, “Sawm”, which literally means ‘to be at rest’. Fasting in the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) is one of the Five Pillars upon which the “house” of Islam is built. During this month, every able-bodied Muslim, is required to fast, everyday from dawn until dusk

12 Reasons To Fast!

1. Fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character of human being. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in some than in others. The Islamic Fast, as opposed to mere starvation or self-denial, is an act of worship and obedience to God, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and self-examination.

2. Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is a time to give our selves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with. In hectic times, such as ours, and in places like the West, this valuable time to think about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed! It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one’s moral and spiritual ‘assets and liabilities’.

3. Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social and humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else in sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and responding to their needs. “It is the month to visit the poor, the sick, and the needy to share their sorrows. It is the month where the food, sustenance and the earnings of a believing Muslim increases and they are blessed,” says the Final Prophet of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him), a man who was known for his noble humanitarian causes, for social justice, and for being the first to respond to other’s needs, despite the fact that he himself lived a very simple and humble life. It is only during such a trying time as Ramadan that we can reflect on the condition of those in this world who may not be as fortunate as us.

4. Fasting in Ramadan enables us to master the art of mature adaptability and Time-Management. We can easily understand this point when we realize that fasting makes people change the entire course of their daily life. When they make the change, they naturally adapt themselves to a new system and schedule, and move along to satisfy the rules. This, in the long run, develops in them a wise sense of adaptability and self-created power to overcome the unpredictable hardships of life! A person who values constructive adaptability, time-management, and courage will appreciate the effects of Fasting in this respect as well.

5. It cultivates in us the principle of sincere Love, because when we observe Fasting, we do it out of deep love for God. And a person, who loves God, truly is a person who knows what love is and why everyone on this Earth should be loved and treated justly, for the sake of God.

6. Fasting elevates the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It strengthens our will-power as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to master their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their emotions. Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over- or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above their carnal passions. “A fasting person empties his stomach of all the material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and Faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution,” says H. Abdalati in Islam in Focus. The person who can rule their desires and make them work, as they like, has attained true moral excellence.

7. With the clarity of mind and absence of distractions, also comes a greater focus. As students, the period of fasting, especially early during the day, serves as a tool to focus our minds on our academics. In the month of Ramadan, many Muslims try to avoid watching TV, listening to music, and some other leisure activities, which spares them more time and energy to be spent on more productive activities such as academics, intense study of Islam, voluntary prayers, social and humanitarian causes, and a quality time with the family, to name a few. It is a reminder of our duty to God, our purpose and higher values in life, as God Himself describes the purpose of fasting as follows, “O you who Believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop consciousness of God” (Quran 2:183).

8. Fasting has numerous, scientifically proven, benefits for our physical health and mental well-being. The time, length and nature of the Islamic Fast all contribute to its overall positive effect. One of the medical benefits is a much-needed rest to the digestive system. The reduced food intake during the day allows the body to concentrate on getting rid of harmful dietary toxins accumulated as natural by-products of food digestion throughout the year. The length of the Islamic Fast itself (around 12-14 hours) is in sync with the ‘transit time’ of food from the mouth to the colon of the large intestine, ensuring that no stimulus reaches the stomach or digestive system while it remains in homeostasis. Therefore, for the vast majority of healthy individuals fasting poses no medical risks but in fact provides many health benefits, such as: an increase in serum Magnesium, essential for cardio-vascular health and prevention of heart complications; improvement in the quality and depth of sleep; improvement in memory and slower skin aging over time; increased production of growth hormone, etc. Also, as a general note, it has been observed that underfed animals live longer than their heavily fed counterparts and suffer fewer illnesses during their lives.

9. The month of Ramadan provides us with a sort of “Boot camp.” It is a month of intense moral training. Since we know that Fasting is a special duty prescribed by God, we learn that any sins may spoil our record of fasting with God, so we go through great lengths making sure we are on our best behavior. Many people who experience fasting in this month, feel the impact that this intense training has on their habits, and realize the power of this transformative tool designed to make us better human beings- the ultimate goal of any spiritual exercise. The entire Ramadan atmosphere provides the driving force for this positive change.

10. It makes us realize the reality of life and death. Fasting makes us realize how dependant our lives are on things that we often take for granted, such as food and water. It makes us think about our dependence on God and God’s mercy and justice. Moreover, it reminds us of the life after death, which itself has a great impact on our character and our world-view.

11. Ramadan is a blessed month for a special reason: It is actually the month in which God first revealed His final message and guidance for mankind to our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This message has been perfectly preserved both orally and textually in the form of a Book, called the Qur’an (The Reading/Recital). Therefore, Muslims try to do an intense study of the Quran in this month especially, and evaluate their lives according to the standards and guidance contained in it.

12. After the month of Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate one of the two most important holidays in the Islamic year: EID-UL-FITR, or the Festival of the Fast Breaking. It is a day to thank God for the blessing and training that He provides us with throughout the month of Ramadan. EID-UL-FITR is marked by praying in a huge congregation at an Islamic center or mosque, and by giving a small donation to the poor in the community. The adults give the donation on behalf of their children as well. Dinner parties, family outings, fairs, carnivals, and great joyous celebrations follow the prayer and charity.

In a nutshell, even though the real purpose of the dynamic institution of Fasting is to discipline our soul and moral behavior, and to develop sympathy for the less fortunate, it is a multi-functional and a comprehensive tool of change in various spheres of our lives, including: social and economic, intellectual and humanitarian, spiritual and physical, private and public, personal and common, inner and outer —all in one!

Originally Published in The Medium, University of Toronto at Mississauga. Re-published by IslamiCity.com & WhyIslam.org.

Leave a comment

Filed under Dawa & Outreach, Personal Development

Tagged as ,

January 26, 2008 · 5:50 am

Helping Parents Come Closer to Allah

A guide for young Muslims in their ‘Super-Muslim’ phase

By Taha Ghayyur

“I have spent several sleepless nights praying to Allah to guide my parents,” is what Karima, 15, once wrote.

“My parents are so corrupt that I just hope they could make it to Paradise!” is how Tariq, 19, vented his frustration over his parents’ un-Islamic practices.

Perhaps in every home today, there is a Karima or Tariq, a youth who is concerned about their parents’ moral condition.

This phenomenon involves a youth whom, perhaps not so long ago, Allah has blessed with Guidance and they are struggling to revolutionize their life-style in the light of this new-found faith.

In this energetic ‘Super-Muslim’ phase of our journey to Islam, we find two types of youth:

A- The model of Karima– who is constantly seeking Allah’s help in making her parents understand and live Islam; humble and sincere, but simply over-whelmed.

B- The example of Tariq- who is sincere in his relationship with Allah, striving to change himself for the better.

In the process, however, he has become a bit arrogant; even though he desires his parents to change and reach Jannah (Paradise), he is often frustrated and confrontational with his parents.

The stress and grief a concerned Muslim youth experiences at the spiritual and moral state of their parents is only natural. Inviting our culturally-oriented parents or elder siblings, closer to Allah is perhaps the most pains-taking and distressing task a young Muslim would have to undertake.

How could we rest in peace? They have, after all, spent their whole life caring for us at times when we were too young to even recognize and appreciate their compassion towards us. At the same time, we could only do so much to help our parents change their lifestyle. It is Allah who is ultimate changer of the hearts.

Before we embark on a ‘crusade to save’ our parents from the clutches of Hellfire, let’s consider the following tips:

1.  Before anything else, thank Allah to have guided you and empowered you with the beautiful message of His Deen! Ask yourself: “What and where would I be today, had Allah not blessed me with His Message and Mercy? What makes me feel that I am the only chosen one?”

2. Your task:  simply convey the message of Islam through your actions and counselling, while expressing your sincere love, obedience, care, and wisdom. It is ultimately their decision to choose to come closer to Allah.

3. Avoid preaching to your Parents. i.e. Help them realize their ‘opportunities for improvement’  through non-verbal, and non-confrontational means. Perhaps, by now you have begun growing a beard as a brother or observing Hijab as a sister, memorized a few Arabic words and Hadiths, and you are all puffed-up to become a ‘Super-Muslim’. These dramatic changes in your appearance and style of speech may be shocking enough to your parents. Parents do not want to listen to their children lecturing them on how and why they are wrong and sinful.

4.  Emphasize strengthening relationship with Allah through understanding and studying the Quran. Ultimately, after our death, it’s our intimacy with Allah that really matters.

5. Adopt flexibility, give up rigidity. Using wisdom means, doing the right thing, at the right place, the right time. Often, due to our desire for the well-being of our parents, we become stubborn and fail to realize who we are speaking to; respect is disregarded in the name of ‘establishing the Truth’. How often we come across young Muslims making a great fuss over their parents celebrating birthdays  (which is often part of family custom) to the extent that emotions run high, party is boycotted,  and parents/elders are branded ‘ignorant’, ‘corrupt’, ‘people of innovations’…etc.

While such celebrations are not considered Islamic, we need to evaluate and set our priorities straight: What would you gain by using such offensive language and by boycotting a function that is so dear to them? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once advised his companions: “Make Islam and its affairs easy for people, and do not create hardships for them (through your behaviour). Spread the glad tidings, and do not make people run away” (Bukhari.) Sometimes, it is better to remain silent in the heat of the moment and discuss the Islamic perspective in greater detail at a later stage.

6. Change comes gradually. Let’s try not to pick the fruits before they are ripe. You can’t expect your mother to observe Hijab right after a two-day intense Islamic conference. Nor should you suppose your father praying 5 daily prayers on time the day after his friend took him to a Masjid! There are no ‘quick-fixes’ in the area of faith and guidance. However, parents do change over time, as they feel embarrassed to see their children striving hard to serve their parents and maintaining their Islamic identity.

7.  Help them distinguish between “Islam” and “their Culture”. It is indeed very challenging for parents, grown up in a certain Muslim culture, to realize the difference between Islamic values and their cultural practices. For instance, in the case of choosing marriage partners for their children, parents’ criteria are naturally more inclined towards cultural influences, than Islamic principles. Moreover, there are parents who believe that speaking the mother-tongue is a tenet of Islamic faith, an oft-debated issue among the elders and youth in the West. It is not necessarily the fault of parents; it’s the way they were brought up and were taught Islam.

8. Discuss Islamic alternatives because mere criticism without any solutions is usually harmful. For e.g. suggest some Halal entertainment to replace cinema trips. Demonstrating Islam’s relevance to the contemporary social issue helps a great deal in orienting our parents’ thinking towards Islam.

9. Dealing with Inferiority-Complex: Due to the sense of inferiority to the Western lifestyle in the sub-conscious of our parent’s generation (since most of them have experienced and lived under prolonged western colonial rule in the past), it is difficult for them to understand how Islam could be ‘modern or relevant enough’ to face today’s challenges. To many parents, due to this inferiority-complex, any religious expression seems to be an obstacle in the way of financial and academic progress. Many elders still think Islam is just about rituals, dealing only with ‘rewards and sins’ in the next life, i.e. Islam has no constructive role to play in one’s social, academic, personal, political, and economic spheres of life. Be sensitive to their cultural.

10.  Fulfilling your parent’s dreams: How often do we hear our parents say, especially to those children showing signs of religious-orientation, “The only thing I want for you is good career and education. Once you are done your school and establish yourself financially, you may go ahead and spend as much time as you like calling humanity to Islam.”

While you may consider such wishes as insignificant, it is extremely essential to pay due attention to your parents’ genuine desires, especially if you desire their reform. No doubt, most immigrant Muslim parents exhaust their time, energies, and finances to get their kids the best level of education. Learn to show some gratitude and concern. You cannot necessarily always fulfil their academic dreams for you by becoming either a doctor or engineer, but you can certainly excel in a professional field that you are passionate about and could specialize in. What could be of greater joy to a parent to see their son or daughter a winner in BOTH worlds?  Your ‘success’ in academic career and Islamic activism will In-sha-Allah leave a profound imprint on their thinking, hearts, and perception of Islam

11. Abu Hurairah’s success story: Keep Obeying and Serving your Parents and be Respectful. Obey them as long as they do not ask you to disobey Allah as the Prophet (pbuh) has advised us, “There is no obedience in the disobedience to the Creator” (Bukhari). Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), a companion of the Prophet (pbuh) who narrated the greatest number of Hadiths, would often become upset at his mother’s stubbornness in rejecting the message of the Prophet (pbuh). Abu Hurairah would engage in verbal confrontation with her because she constantly accused the Prophet (pbuh) of being a magician. One day he went to the Prophet (pbuh) and described his situation in pain, “O Messenger of Allah! I have always been trying to make my mother accept Islam, but she always refuses to accept it… But today, when I asked her to believe in Almighty Allah, she became extremely angry and started insulting and rebuking you, which I could not stand and tears began to flow from my eyes. O Messenger of Allah! Please pray to Allah that may He open the heart of my mother to Islam.” Abu Hurairah has perhaps echoed the voices of many distressed religious youth today going through the ‘Super-Muslim’ phase.

Interestingly, the Prophet (pbuh) advised him to be kind to her, as Allah would soon open her heart to Islam. Then he prayed, “O Allah! Guide the mother of Abu Hurairah.” As Abu Hurairah returned home that night, he realized her mother had just taken a bath and was ready to declare Shahadah, Al-hamdulillah!

12. Maintain a light sense of humour. A pleasant environment and good sense of humour win many hearts and develop a healthy dialog. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was big on light, decent jokes that made others feel special and closer to him.

13. Spend quality time with parents: It is strange that so many practicing Muslim brothers and sisters could hang out at Islamic events or simply chat over the phone with friends for hours, yet they have no time to spare for parents. Ever wonder why your parents don’t feel the need to listen to you and ‘your’ message any more? Such an attitude indeed reminds us of the reality of Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement about the coming of the Day of Judgement: A time will come when people will greet their friends warmly, and approach their parents with cold attitude (Bukhari).

14.   Biggest Mistake: attacking your parents in front of other family members! Very often we loose our credibility by simply ridiculing, or even politely pointing out the mistakes of our parents in front of others. It only makes matters worse for your Dawah and generates tension in the family. Perhaps we do it thinking if we discuss ‘the fault’ in other people’s presence, our parents may decide to rectify themselves due to the embarrassment.However, exactly the opposite happens! Don’t forget, in most cases, even if they realize their mistake, at that very moment they would make sure to defend their stand. Last thing your parents would want to do is to admit to their young ones that they were wrong and sinful!

15. Give a gift:When was the last time you presented a sincere gift to your parents? Are you aware of the Prophet Muhammad’s words, “Exchange gifts to reinforce love and intimacy”? If your parents like reading books, give them a thought-provoking and appealing book on Islam or on the purpose of life.If they like watching or listening, there are numerous tapes available from the Islamic media today to assist you.

16. Be extra caring and concerned in their difficult times: such as illness, financial problems, depression, etc. This is the phase of life when they need you and are more willing to listen to you; they may finally come out of their superficial world of comfort and taste the reality. In fact, most people change their lifestyles and beliefs around in the low phases of their lives. Your presence, physical help, and religious counselling are crucial at this point. Remember, on the other hand, your insensitiveness and indifference to their trying situation, would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Don’t delay your service to them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once warned us, “May he be disgraced,” repeating it three times, “who finds his parents, one or both, approaching old age, and he does not enter Paradise by serving them.”

17. Have your meals together as a family whenever possible! Sharing food together brings people’s hearts together, coupled with Allah’s blessings. It’s a proven way of effective communication and of increasing affection.

18. Arrange an exquisite pot-luck: Organize a one-dish party, where all your close friends and their parents are invited. Make sure the parents have minimal involvement in cooking and logistics. Parents should come as guests, and you, the “religious” kids, should serve that evening! At first, your parents may laugh at the idea even. However, when they come together and see your love and dedication as a group, they cannot but help understand your desire for their guidance. Moreover, it will help them realize that their ‘kids are in safe hands’ and that they are ‘fun-loving’ people. It will give the parents a sense of belonging in a more religious setting.

19. Consult your parents’ religious friends. Sometimes finding a religious friend or relative of your parent, who has some influence on them, could also help. It’s been observed that some people just change and return to Allah as soon as they find a good environment and a role model that they admire.

20. A simple thank you: How often do you say simple “Thank You” or “Jazakallahu Khayran” to your parents for daily favors? And what about their perseverance in raising you as a good Muslim? Don’t forget, most likely they are the first ones to have taught you “La-ilaaha illallaah…” (There is no God but Allah), the first pillar of Islam that we claim to live by today. You owe them a big Jazaks, every breath of your life!

21. Involve parents in decision-making: When was the last time you consulted your parents regarding your academic goals? Did you ever update them on school grades (apart from the reason that the grades may be floating ‘below the C level’, hence not too impressive!)? Do you discuss with them the Islamic criteria that you wish to use in selecting your marriage partner? Simple acts of mutual consultation or ‘Shura’, gives everyone opportunity to ‘open up’, share, and listen.

22. Do not stress yourself out. We know even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was warned by Allah in the Quran to not to be so distressed over the state of his beloved uncle, Abu Talib, after the Prophet (pbuh) had exhausted all the efforts to remind him about Allah’s message, promises, and punishment. Allah says, “Perhaps, you would kill yourself (O Muhammad) in grief (and concern) over their footsteps (for their turning away from Allah), because they do not believe in this narration (Quran).” [18:6]

23. Don’t give up the Dua! Sincere Dua (supplication) to Allah can change many things. Therefore, make Du’a as your primary tool in helping your parents come closer to Allah.

Leave a comment

Filed under Dawa & Outreach, Family, Muslim Youth

Tagged as ,

December 28, 2007 · 5:54 am

Preserve Water, Preserve Life

“Get out of the shower!” your little brother shouts as he bangs on the washroom door. “You’ve been in there for twenty minutes!”

During the 20 minutes you spend in the shower, you use up approximately 400 liters of water (Environment Canada, Quick Facts). The Prophet, peace be upon him, performed the ghusl, a complete bath, with one saa` of water — that’s just 2.03 liters.

Abu Jafar narrated: While I and my father were with Jabir bin `Abdullah, some people asked him about taking a bath. He replied, “A saa` of water is sufficient for you.” A man said, “A saa` is not sufficient for me.” Jabir said, “A saa` was sufficient for one who had more hair than you and was better than you [meaning the Prophet].” (Al-Bukhari)

The Current Picture

You may ask, “How is that possible? Taking a shower in six cups of water? The times sure have changed.” You’re right. Times have changed. The problem of water scarcity is worse today than during the time of the Prophet. We have come to passively accept the luxurious North American lifestyle. While the average Canadian uses 335 liters of water per day, the average sub-Saharan African uses 10-20 liters per day (Environment Canada, “How Do We Use It?”). It may seem impossible for us in North America to conceive, but in today’s world, the level of conservation practiced by the Prophet has become a necessity.These statistics may explain why:

  • Less than one half of one percent of all water on Earth is freshwater suitable for human use. The rest is seawater or frozen in the polar ice caps (Barlow).
  • 1.4 billion people, that is 20 percent of the world’s population, lack access to an adequate supply of clean drinking water (Ward).
  • Global water consumption is doubling every 20 years, at more than twice the rate of human population growth (Barlow).
  • 31 countries currently face water scarcity (Barlow).
  • More than half the world’s major rivers are either polluted or drying (Ward).
  • In developing countries, water causes 80 percent of illnesses. Each year three to four million people die of waterborne diseases (Environment Canada, Quickfacts).
  • By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in conditions of water shortage and one-third will live in absolute water scarcity (Barlow).

Water Politics

“What we call man’s power over nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with nature as its instrument.” (C.S. Lewis)

The problem is not the amount of water. The amount of water on Earth remains constant — it doesn’t increase or decrease — and there is enough to meet everyone’s needs. The problem is unequal access and use.

Different regions of the world naturally hold different amounts of freshwater. India, for example, holds 20 percent of the world’s population but only 4 percent of its water (Ward). This natural division of water is easy for governments to overcome with the right technology. The problem of water scarcity arises when limited water is coupled with social inequalities and political agendas. Who gets access to a region’s water and how they use it is usually determined by who has power and money.

Water is increasingly being privatized by large transnational corporations who own it and sell it like a commodity. Hungry for profit, these corporations drive the price of water out of reach of poor people and deliver it to those wealthy individuals and industries that can pay for it. Only the wealthy who can install plumbing systems receive subsidized municipal water, leaving the poorest in developing countries to pay the highest price for water. In Lima, Peru, for example, poor people pay private vendors up to US$3 per cubic meter for water that is supplied in buckets and is not even potable. At the same time, the affluent pay US$0.30 per cubic meter for treated water that pours out of taps in their homes (Barlow). In India, some households spend 25 percent of their income on water (Barlow). During droughts, governments often reserve water for the elite who can pay for it.

Industries, also hungry for profit, require vast amounts of water. It takes 215,000 liters of water to produce one metric ton of steel (Environment Canada, Quickfacts). Industries purchase access to a region’s water at subsidized rates from the government. Most of the world’s freshwater is naturally stored under the ground. Industries pump this groundwater faster than it can replenish itself, causing the land to collapse and thus permanently destroying its ability to store water. In the Arabian Peninsula, groundwater use is three times as great as recharge. At current rates of extraction, Saudi Arabia will reach total depletion in 50 years (Barlow). In developing countries, industries dump 75 percent of their untreated wastes into local water bodies (Barlow). When the environment is sufficiently damaged and water disappears, industries move elsewhere, leaving a region’s residents in scarcity.

The politics of power and money also determine which countries can secure water. Since most rivers and groundwater aquifers cross national boundaries, many experts believe that future conflicts in the world will likely involve water. In the early 1970s, Syria and Iraq almost went to war over the waters of the Euphrates when Syria built a dam at Tabaq, blocking a quarter of the river’s flow to Iraq (Ward). Ten African countries share the waters of the Nile and each wants a share of the river. To protect its Nile water supply, Egypt in the past has threatened to use its size, wealth, and power go to war against Ethiopia, a country where water flows abundantly but millions starve to death each year (Ward). In 1978, for example, Egypt’s then president Anwar Sadat stated, “any action that would endanger the water of the Blue Nile will be faced with a firm reaction on the part of Egypt, even if that action should lead to war” (Kendie).

Where Do We Fit In?

The problem of water scarcity is not confined to the developing world. Its roots are connected to us and the way we live in North America. North Americans are the worst hoarders of water. While millions go without water, North Americans use 1,280 cubic meters of water per person every year; Europeans use 694; Asians use 535; South Americans use 311; and Africans use 186 (Barlow).

While North Americans can boast large water supplies — Canada contains one quarter of the world’s freshwater — our extravagant habits won’t save us from danger for long. Water levels in the Great Lakes reached record lows in recent years (Barlow). The Ogallala groundwater aquifer in the US High Plains is depleted eight times as fast as nature can replenish it, causing the land to drop at least a meter each year (Barlow). Americans have dammed, diverted, and polluted the Colorado River until little or no water reaches its destination at sea (Barlow).

The extravagances of our North American lifestyle — lawn sprinklers, frequent car washes, sprawling golf courses, abundant swimming pools, dripping taps, and toilets that consume 18 liters of water per flush — fool us into believing we are safe (Barlow). They help us ignore the world’s water crisis or accept it with a shrug. The principle of “We have so let’s use it now and think about the future later” prevails in most North American minds.

Consider Las Vegas, a city that receives 3.8 inches of rainfall in an average year — comparable to dry areas of Saudi Arabia and the Western Sahara. This desert city sparkles and splashes with the idea that water is limitless. The Hotel Luxor in Las Vegas boasts five-story waterfalls, shark tanks, a 1.3-million gallon dolphin pool, and a miniature Nile River with a boat ride. A full-sized pirate ship sinks again and again into a man-made river that circles the Treasure Island Hotel. The Hotel Bellagio stands beside an 8-acre artificial lake with hundreds of fountains spitting 200 feet into the air. The city flaunts colossal fountains, golf courses, man-made lakes, swimming pools, and even a sailing club. According to Las Vegas Water Commissioner, Patricia Mulroy, each acre-foot of “decorative water” in the city generates US$30 million. Hence the saying, “Water flows uphill to money” (Ward).

How Do We Respond?

“We live in the world’s most technically sophisticated society, yet we are now right back where we were three thousand years ago, praying for rain.” (Garrett Ward)

Every person on the planet has a right to adequate water.

The Prophet said, “Muslims have a common share in three (things): grass, water, and fire.” (Abu Dawud)

Jabir bin ‘Abdullah narrated: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, forbade the sale of excess water. (Muslim)

Ideally, basic water needed for survival should be free, equally available to everyone, and legally protected from waste and contamination. Current global practices and policies are obviously unjust.

We are also responsible for such injustices we see around us, as the Quran outlines: “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.” (Aal Imran 3:104)

Yet, as individuals we have little control over international water politics and policies. How then should we respond to the global water crisis? Here are ways to begin:

  • Don’t lose hope. Although the situation looks bleak, don’t let it depress you. The Quran tells us that, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over all things.” (Az-Zumar 39:62)You and I are only responsible for making an effort. Allah takes care of the results. He knows what’s best for us and He is the Most Just, whether that justice comes in this life or in the next.
  • Be grateful. Allah granted North Americans an abundant supply of fresh, clean water without any effort from us. Allah asks us in the Quran:”Have you considered the water which you drink? Is it you that send it down from the clouds, or are We the senders? If We pleased, We would have made it salty; why do you not then give thanks?” (Al-Waqiah 56:68-70)”Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water?” (Al-Mulk 67:30)Water is not simply “there” and it doesn’t “fall by itself.” As we read in numerous verses of the Quran, Allah “sends down water from the sky.” Allah is the only one who can continue our supply of water and if He wishes, He can remove it any time.
  • Get involved. Raise awareness among your friends and family. Participate in efforts, such as letter-writing campaigns to lobby the government over its international water-related decisions. Join conservation groups in your area that protect local water resources. Many organizations look for volunteers to clean up river banks, monitor water quality, or educate school groups.
  • Change your habits. Although we can’t always control the actions of governments, we can control our own use of water. Allah rewards us for every step we take towards change. Resist the North American habit to overuse and waste water. The Quran tells us:”And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful.” (Al-Israa 17:26-27)”Eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.” (Al-Araf 7:31)Just because we have abundant water, that doesn’t mean we should use it. Begin to fulfill your trust and responsibility towards Allah by conserving the water you use at home.

Ten Easy Ways You Can Conserve Water

  1. Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket or flush it unnecessarily. Toilets consume a quarter of our municipal water supply and use 40 percent more water than needed (Environment Canada, Quickfacts).
  2. Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth or soap dishes.
  3. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge. Don’t run your tap for cold water.
  4. Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full.
  5. Check pipes and faucets for leaks and get them fixed. Many homes lose more water from leaking taps than they need for cooking and drinking (Environment Canada, Quickfacts).
  6. Install low-flow shower heads and flow-restrictors on faucets. A 5-minute shower with a standard shower head uses 100 liters of water while a low-flow shower head uses 35 liters of water (Environment Canada, Quickfacts).
  7. Water your lawn every third day and water during the cool times of the day.
  8. Sweep patios and sidewalks, don’t hose them.
  9. Limit pesticides on your lawn to prevent them from reaching our water supply.
  10. Drive less! It takes approximately 10 liters of water to produce a liter of gasoline (Environment Canada, Quickfacts).

“He it is Who hath placed you as viceroys of the earth and hath exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that which He hath given you. Lo! Thy Lord is swift in prosecution, and Lo! He verily is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Al-Anam 6:165)

Sources:

  • Barlow, Maude. Blue Gold. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 2002.
  • Environment Canada. “Quickfacts.” Freshwater Website. Accessed 15 Mar. 2006
  • Environment Canada. “How Do We Use It?” Freshwater Website: Did You Know? (Water – Domestic Use). Accessed 15 Mar. 2006
  • Kendie, Daniel. “Egypt and the Hydro-Politics of the Blue Nile River.” Northeast African Studies 6.1-2 (1999): 141-169.
  • Ward, Diane R. Water Wars. New York: Riverhead Books, 2002.

Originally Published on IslamOnline.net. Re-published by TurkishWeekly.net and The Saudi Gazzette.

Leave a comment

Filed under Environment

Tagged as , , ,

December 25, 2007 · 5:57 am

Seven Ways You Can Save the Planet

By Shehnaz Toorawa

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “The world is green and beautiful and God has appointed you as His stewards over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves…” (Muslim).

Allah tells us in numerous verses of the Quran, that He has created everything on Earth—animals, rain, plants, oceans, stars, the sun, the moon—for the benefit of humans. With these favours comes the role of Khalifah, or guardianship.

The Quran tells us,“He it is Who has placed you as viceroys of the earth and has exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that which He has given you” (6:165).

Today the planet is in a mess. Deforestation, desertification, water pollution, air pollution, soil erosion, extinction of species and the dwindling of resources indicate that humans are not fulfilling their role of Khalifah adequately. What can we do to fulfill our responsibility to protect the Earth? Here are seven small, but effective steps each of us can take to begin the process:

1. Buy less, consume less, waste less.
On average, an individual in a developed nation consumes twice as much grain, twice as much fish, three times as much meat, nine times as much paper, and eleven times as much gasoline as an individual in a developing nation. (1)

Yet, shopping malls, TV commercials, flyers, billboards, and the fashion industry continually tell us we don’t have enough and we need to buy more. The 12 percent of the world’s population that lives in North America and Western Europe accounts for 60 percent of the world’s private consumption spending.(2) The Quran correctly describes our materialistic society in the verse, “The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things) until you visit the graves” (102:1-2).

While North Americans squander wealth and waste it in luxuries, 825 million people in the world are undernourished (3), 2.4 billion live without basic sanitation, and one billion lack adequate shelter.(4) Destruction of forests, desertification of grasslands, water pollution, depletion of fossil fuels, and the collapse of fisheries around the world warn us that the world’s resources are limited—certainly not enough to support the lifestyle habits of an average North American. In the Quran, God warns us not to take more than our share of the world’s resources:“…Do not squander (your wealth) wastefully. Surely the squanderers are the fellows of the Devils” (17:26).

In a world of limited resources, we have an obligation to resist consumer culture and squelch the urge to buy, consume, and eventually waste. The words of the Prophet (pbuh) are a beautiful example of how to live:“Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a traveller along a path” (Bukhari).“The best livelihood is the bare minimum” (Ahmad).

The Quran reminds us that we will be accountable for every item we own and resource we use:“Then (on the day of judgement) you will certainly be questioned about all the favours you enjoyed” (102:8).

Next time you’re in line at the cash register, ask yourself if you really need what you’re buying or if you can live without it.

2. Reduce your shower time to five minutes.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Excess in the use of water is forbidden, even if you have the resources of a whole river” (Tirmidhi).

Ever noticed how long you spend in the shower? A five-minute shower consumes 100 litres of water. (5) That may not sound like much, but consider that less than one half of one percent of all water on Earth is fresh water for human use. The rest is sea water or frozen in polar ice caps.(6) Every person on Earth has a share in this water, yet 20% of the world’s population already lacks access to an adequate supply of clean drinking water.(7) While the average Canadian uses 335 litres of water per day, the average sub-Saharan African survives on 10-20 litres per day.(8) The Prophet (pbuh) would perform ghusl, a complete bath, with one Sa’ of water—that’s just 1.6 litres. In a world where water scarcity and pollution are increasing, every drop counts.

3. Buy locally grown food, without the packaging
Where does the food you eat come from? The local farm or a land far away? In the United States, the average food item travels 2,500–4,000 kilometers.(9) The farther food travels before it reaches your plate, the less money the rural farmer retains. Multinational corporations that haul, package, and process the food collect a larger portion of the profit.

The farther food travels, the more energy it consumes for pesticides, preservatives, ripening, packaging, processing, transportation and sales. Eating local food results in a healthier diet, more equitable profit distribution, less energy consumption and less environmental pollution.

4. Take the transit or walk more often
Cars not only guzzle the world’s dwindling supply of fossil fuels, but the burning of those fuels contributes to urban smog, acid rain, and other air quality problems. Cars produce large volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The average car produces about 2.4 kilograms of CO2 for every litre of gasoline‚ or three to four times its own weight in CO2 every year. (10) This means more air pollution, more extreme weather and storms, more water contamination and more diseases.

Public transit, cycling or walking are simple ways to reduce energy consumption, improve air quality and lead a healthier lifestyle. If you normally drive to work, take the transit once a week for a refreshing change.

5. Install energy-saving bulbs and appliances in your home
North Americans consume 30% of the world’s energy—an amount similar to that consumed collectively by all developing countries, holding more than 80% of the world’s population. While we may flick the light switch without a second thought, 2 billion people in the world lack access to electricity or other modern energy supplies.(11)

While it may be impossible for North Americans to forego the luxuries of electricity, heat, stoves, dishwashers and microwaves, we can reduce our energy consumption through efficiency. Europeans have done it—although they lead a similar lifestyle, people in the United States and Canada consume 2.4 times as much energy at home as those in Western Europe. (12) Home appliances are the world’s fastest-growing energy consumers after automobiles, accounting for 30 percent of industrial countries’ electricity consumption.(13) The good news is that energy-efficient lighting and appliances have become common in the North American market. Making your home energy efficient is an easy and effective way to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing convenience.

6. Eat more vegetables
Vegetables capture energy for growth directly from a renewable source—the sun, while meat production in industrial countries requires a high input of non-renewable fossil fuel energy. When farmers raise animals on pasture, they require little grain, consume little energy and their manure becomes valuable agricultural fertilizer. Today, in most industrial nations, rather than being pasture-fed, corporations raise animals in factory farms that consume huge quantities of grain, water, hormones, and electricity and produce tonnes of toxic wastes. Producing one calorie of beef or poultry requires 11–17 calories of feed.(14) Producing 8 ounces of beef requires 25,000 litres of water.(15) This means that a diet high in grain-fed meat requires two to four times more land than a vegetarian diet. Health is another consideration—the crowded conditions of factory farms along with an absence of waste recycling make livestock easy targets for disease.

The Prophet (pbuh) allowed us to eat meat and, like all other foods, meat is one of Allah’s favours that He permits us to enjoy. However, we need to apply the principle of moderation, a key aspect of the Prophet’s lifestyle, in our diet. Eating more vegetables, without abandoning meat, can make a significant difference in the amount of natural resources each of us consumes. Next time you bite into that steak, think of the energy that went into producing it.

7. Recycle and compost
Canadians generate approximately 1.7 kg of waste per person per day.(16) When we use recycled materials along with recycling and composting our household waste, we significantly reduce our energy consumption and waste production. Producing aluminium from recycled material, for example, requires 95 percent less energy than manufacturing it from raw materials.(17) Keep in mind that having a recycling box or a compost bin doesn’t justify consuming more and wasting more. Reducing consumption is still the best way to reduce our impact on the environment.

Where do you Stand? Calculate Your Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint is a tool that assesses the environmental impact of an individual, a region or an activity. Your ecological footprint indicates the amount of biologically productive land area required to support your lifestyle based on the amount of resources you use and the amount of wastes you produce. Calculations show that the planet has available 1.9 hectares of biologically productive land per person to supply resources and absorb wastes—yet the average person on Earth already uses 2.3 hectares worth. These “ecological footprints” range from 9.7 hectares claimed by the average American to 0.47 hectares used by the average Mozambican.(18) Calculate your ecological footprint and discover your impact on the planet at http://www.redefiningprogress.org/. The results may shock you!

Endnotes:
(1) Gregory Mock, “How Much Do We Consume,” World Resources June 2000, 22 Feb. 2006 http://earthtrends.wri.org/features/view_feature.php?theme=6&fid=7.
(2) The Worldwatch Institute, “The State of Consumption Today,” State of the World 2004 Jan 2004, 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.worldwatch.org/features/consumption/sow/trendsfacts/2004/02/04/.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Molly O’Meara Sheehan, “Urbanization,” 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.worldwatch.org/topics/people/urbanization/.
(5) Environment Canada, “Quickfacts,” 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/e_quickfacts.htm.
(6) Maude Barlow, Blue Gold (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 2002).
(7) Diane R. Ward, Water Wars (New York: Riverhead Books, 2002)
(8) Environment Canada, “Quickfacts.”
(9) The Worldwatch Institute, “Watching What We Eat,” State of the World 2004 Jan 2004, 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.worldwatch.org/features/consumption/sow/trendsfacts/2004/06/02/.
(10) Natural Resources Canada, “Climate Change—We’re All Part of the Solution,” 25 Jan. 2006, 22 Feb. 2006 http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/climate-change.cfm?attr=28#cct.
(11) People and The Planet, “Energy: Supply and Demand,” 16 Jan. 2003, 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=559.
(12) The Worldwatch Institute, “Making Better Energy Choices,” State of the World 2004 Jan 2004, 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.worldwatch.org/features/consumption/sow/trendsfacts/2004/07/07/.
(13) Ibid.
(14) The Worldwatch Institute, “Watching What We Eat.”
(15) People and The Planet, “Deadly Impact of Growing Demand for Meat,” 7 Jul. 2004, 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2277.
(16) Environment Canada, “An Environmental Citizen…Who Me?” 22 Feb. 2006 http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/udo/who.html.
(17) The Worldwatch Institute, “Making Better Energy Choices.”
(18) The Worldwatch Institute, “The State of Consumption Today.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Environment

Tagged as , , ,