Depending on the culture and beliefs you have grown up with, your view on marrying young can be a positive one or a negative one. I myself, grew up with cousins and friends who married at the age of 20-23 years. Thus, it was a norm in our family, and an expectation in my head.


When my husband and I got married young, our family and friends were excited for us, while those who were not familiar with this concept, became rather concerned. My peers and teachers saw me go from 'Single' to 'Engaged' and then 'Married' in a matter of 7 months, and automatically assumed the worst. For them, I was forced into a relationship with a stranger, and would now have to live as a housewife for the rest of my life, unable to finish my education or begin a career. Despite them knowing full well that I was always passionate about my education and career goals, I believe they felt this way due to the religious/cultural stereotypes they had heard of regarding Muslim girls that marry young. From day one, I felt the need to prove wrong all those who assumed that I had married a stranger, whom I didn't love; I wouldn't finish my undergraduate degree; I wouldn't start a career now; and I would be 'stuck' as a wife for the rest of my life. I'm not saying that you need to try and please the world, or that there's anything wrong with either of this. But I wanted to show these people that all the stereotypes they had heard were false, and that marriage would not make me fall behind in my goals, education, or career. Instead, I could accomplish even more now that I was married, Insha'Allah.

The other day, my friend came across my high school teacher, who asked my friend whether I had any kids yet. I know that if the answer had been 'yes' she would have assumed the worst, despite there being no fault in this, if it were my decision. Similarly, whenever I meet some of these classmates and teachers, and they realize that I graduated, began my career, and have accomplished so much more than many guys and girls my age have, despite being married, they are shocked. But I know full well that much of this was made possible due to the blessings of marriage. Islam has the teaching of getting married young for this reason - because there are so many blessings in it. Especially in today's age, when there is so much sin in the world, marriage is one way to safeguard against it. Although getting married young may not be for everybody, and definitely depends on a lot of variables, I know it was the best decision I could have made.

For anyone else who feels as though they are facing criticism for marrying young, the following are some tips that I believe can help you prove wrong all negative connotations associated with it.

1. The 'Other' Perspective
When you state that you are getting married young, you are automatically seen as crazy. There is this notion that the early 20's are meant to be the experimental years. Apparently, you are meant to 'find yourself', find your passions and hobbies, travel the world, experiment with your relationships and whatever else you wish to do before 'getting tied down in a permanent relationship'. But, if you and your husband are financially able to support yourselves, and have the maturity level that's required in accepting this huge responsibility, what is wrong with marrying young? Why do you have to wait for society to tell you what the 'ideal age' is to get married? Understanding the other perspective is a good first step in standing up for what your beliefs are, and knowing that you can have differences in your views but still respect one another.

2. People Assume the Worst
When you decide to tell the world your plans of marrying young, they automatically assume there's a different reason for this. Either you're pregnant, you're forced, and if it's neither of these, well, then you're altogether making a mistake. But it's important to remind the world that you only wish to marry this man/woman now, because you are excited to spend the rest of your lives together and live with them for the years ahead, Insh'Allah. Why waste more time, when you can start your adventure together NOW?

3. Remind the World that You Are Happy
Similar to my point above, those who look down upon your decision can oftentimes be projecting their own fears. They fear that you'll get a divorce, lose your freedom and live the rest of your life not happy with the man/woman you married. Being confident in your decision, and replying with this confidence is the way to go. Remind them of the many couples who get married young, and do not get a divorce or have a miserable marriage. And those who get married at an older age can also get a divorce or have a unhappy marriage - this is not dependent on age. Showing them that you're doing just well while married can help ease their anxieties and negative perspective on marrying young as well. Tell them of all the things you now get to enjoy with your life partner - travel, milestones, accomplishments, and so much more.

Unfortunately, arranged marriages while young are seen as even worse than relationships that go from dating to marriage. When I  got engaged I was often asked how I met my husband. I would then have to explain how the 'rishta' process goes in Islam. Remind the other person that Islam doesn't want you to get married to a stranger, but it also doesn't want you to marry someone whom you've gotten to know inside and out. Islam wishes for you  to know just as much as is required to know that you will get along with the person who is a potential life partner, and that you both have compatible personalities. It does not require years of dating and daily conversations to get to this level of understanding. The beauty in Islam is that you know your partner well enough upon getting engaged/married to know that you are making the correct decision (Insha'Allah), and then throughout your marriage you get to know each other further. Remind them that an arranged marriage is not the same as a forced marriage - and that forced marriages are not a part of Islam.

In the end, if you know you made the right decision by marrying at an age society deems 'young', don't let others change your mind. Hopefully your marriage sets an example for the world, and dispels the many negative stereotypes associated with marrying young.

For those of you who don't know, I work a full-time job, and I've been married for over a year. Many of you enjoyed and found useful my posts about "Managing University with a Religious Life", and "Being Married While in University". So naturally, I felt the need to write a post about managing a full-time career with married life, and religious responsibilities. I hope this post is helpful to all those who are trying to find a balance in life and juggle their responsibilities gracefully.

I want to begin by reminding you of our purpose in life which is to worship Allah. Yet, oftentimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day routines that we put off our Salat and dedication to the Jama'at because, we don't have time. We forget that these actions are the greatest source of blessings and investment towards the Hereafter. As depressing as this may sound, with the bloodshed and chaos in the world today, each additional day we have in this world is truly a blessing. We must stop putting our spiritual progress off for tomorrow, because tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone. I often hear many young adults say, "my life is too busy right now, I'll increase my regularity in prayer, service to the Jama'at, and seeking of religious knowledge for when I have time". If there's one thing I can promise you it's this, you will never have time you need to make time. First, you'll be busy with high school, then with University, then comes married life, managing a home, a career, having children, raising children, etc. Chances are, you will always be busy! Without time management and incorporating things into the schedule you have now, years of your life will go by the same. What's the point of waiting until most of your life is over before you make room for spiritual progress in your life? Why wait to share the knowledge you can gain, when it is so valuable to you in these stages of your life - as a student, coworker, and mother? I can attest to the fact that the time you dedicate seeking, sharing, and applying religious knowledge at your Mosque and within your community is never wasted time. For example, my husband and I have always made it a requirement in our lives to be active in the Jama'at. We both have responsibilities within the Jama'at, and are always kept busy. But, with the busy weekdays and weekends, week after week, I know for a fact that Allah is showering His blessings on us. We witness the fruits of this time spent dedicated to Allah, each and every day. So, if you ever think that you don't have time to dedicate towards serving Allah and His Community, I want you to remember that you are truly missing out on the blessings that follow. Make an effort to attend programs, help arrange events, assist with the clean up after events, and see for yourself how rewarding it is. Moreover, read Islamic books and share your religious knowledge by putting aside any embarrassment you may have of professing your faith publicly.

With all of that said, I want to share with you a few techniques of building on your spiritual life on a day-to-day basis, even when it may feel as though you don't have enough hours in the day.

1. Salat & Holy Qur'an - The first and most important thing for you to remember is making your prayers and recitation of the Holy Qur'an a habit. Start your day with Fajr, pray Zuhr and Asr when you get home from work (if you don't have time at work), and never go to sleep without reading Maghrib and Isha'a. This is the bare minimum of our remembrance of Allah! If you have a car with you, try praying your Salat in your car during your lunch break, or before driving home, to ensure your Salat is read on time, and not combined. Remind yourself that Salat is mandatory! Many of us would not miss work without a solid reason, so why do we miss our prayers - even though Salat is mandatory and work is not? On my way to work, I like to leave the house early to ensure I arrive on time. Depending on traffic, I can arrive at work 30 minutes early, or totally last minute. On days I'm lucky enough to get to work early, I sit in my car and read the Qur'an with English Translation on an App on my phone. This is honestly a great way to start your day positively, and give you something to ponder upon throughout your day. 
2. Rearrange your schedule around Jama'at events - This can only be done if you make every effort and intention to go to these events! Get your cooking, cleaning, and other responsibilities taken care of before or after the time of these events. Yes, some programs can take up a good portion of the day, but start by going, even for 1-2 hours. Once you start with this small sacrifice, it will become much easier for you to sacrifice more and more time. If you typically work on the weekends, ask for either Saturday or Sunday off every week. This way you can ensure that you are able to make it to at least 50% of the programs - assuming most are held on the weekend! Similarly, don't say "no" to Jama'at responsibilities on the basis of not having enough time or knowledge. You can make time, and accepting the role will result in an increase in knowledge, Insha'Allah! I can give you an example from my life - shortly after receiving the responsiblity of Nasirat Secretary, I landed my current full-time job. I was told by some that now I could use that to excuse myself from the Nasirat secretary role, by saying that I have a full-time job and home to manage. But, I had to remind myself that this was a poor excuse and reason to give up a responsibility that was assigned to me. While my job may have been able to benefit me in this world, the time and effort I put towards my Jama'at duties would benefit me in this world and the next. While I was putting 50+ hours a week towards my job, why couldn't I sacrifice another 3-4 hours a week for Allah? That's how I reminded myself that I could make the time Insha'Allah, and Allah would help me manage this and all my other responsibilities. 
3. Listen to Jama'at programs and audiobooks - If you commute to work/school, try listening to an MTA program or an Islamic audiobook. I'm not saying you have to do this all the time - I know some of you will say that you value your music. But even if you make it a habit to listen to something that will increase your religious knowledge on the way to work/school, and then listen to whatever you please on the way home, it ensures you don't waste the 1-2 hours you may have otherwise wasted everyday listening to music. If you have a 1-2 hour commute everyday, you are probably spending 5-10 hours every week listening to music. Similarly, when cooking dinner, try to listen to a religious program on your phone/laptop/TV, instead of watching shows or listening to music. Typically, you can spend 1-2 hours in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning. So using 30 minutes of that time to build on your spiritual self should not be considered a waste of time.

Just think for a second about your daily schedule - how much of your time do you actually spend doing homework and working? How much of this time is wasted? Now don't tell me every second you spend on your laptop, consists of you doing homework - I'm sure Netflix or YouTube is just a tab away. Next comes the question, how much time do you waste? Wasting time does not mean giving yourself a 30 minute break to watch an episode of your favourite show after a tiring day. Instead, spending hours upon hours doing things that are not necessary, and putting off your other responsibilities. Now, how much time do you spend for Allah - gaining knowledge, praying, tabligh, etc.? I promise you, keeping yourself busy is the best way for you to waste the least amount of time. And knowing that you have to go to a meeting at  specific time, work at a specific time, pray at a specific time, is the best way for you to accomplish more! It frightens me to see the young generations pull so far away from their religious obligations and dedication to the Jama'at. The future of this Jama'at rests in our hands. We are the ones who will be raising the children who will grow to be Lajna and Khuddam. If we ourselves don't value our faith, there is no way our children will. If we allow "having too much school work" and "a job" as valid excuses for missing prayers and Jama'at events, our kids will grow up with the same mentality.

Please start with one thing at a time. Do little things that slowly become habits that will benefit you in the Hereafter. Stop thinking of this life as being longer than it is. Realize that your life is passing quickly! Please remember your purpose in life! Stop disobeying the commands of Allah. Do you not see the state of the world? Sin is rapidly spreading. We are exposed to horrible things every single day. How else can we ensure that we are not negatively influenced, if we don't pray for protection against Satan? By not realizing how important your religion is, you are truly hurting yourself! Being born a Muslim is not enough. There are so many who leave behind their culture, beliefs, family, friends, country, everything, in search for the true religion and purpose in life. We are so beyond blessed that Allah allowed us to be born into this religion, and Community! Please do not take this for granted. You are capable of being a better Muslim!

May we be the recipient of Allah's mercy and live a life that ultimately pleases Him, Ameen!

Women sometime wonder why they are restricted from some daily acts of worship during 'that time of month'! Unfortunately, we can sometimes shift away from our religion because we are prohibited from praying, touching or reciting the Holy Qur'an, or fasting during our menses. The restriction of Salat is given to us as follows, "A menstruating woman cannot perform Salat" (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud).


Due to these restrictions, we can often feel as though we are unable to grow spiritually, or be the recipient of the Allah's blessings that come with these acts. However, I hope that this post helps you understand the steps you can take to please and worship Allah during your time away from the regular acts of worship.

Sometimes, we can get so caught up in the fact that we are unable to fast or pray during our menses, that we forget that they are a sign of a healthy woman. Don't forget that your body is functioning as Allah has willed for it to function. Be grateful for this!

Let's take a step back for a second. All Muslims know that praying Salat is incumbent upon every Muslim because Allah has made it the sole purpose of our lives. Moreover, by obeying Allah, and praying Salat we can be rewarded!

Similarly, when Allah tells us woman NOT to pray at an appointed time, we can obey Him and be the recipient of the same blessings. Allah has allowed women to take this time off, because our energy levels are low. We are told not to pray our Salat, BUT can still be rewarded as if we had prayed! This should make us even more grateful to our Creator, and the Mercy He has on us!

Oftentimes, when women reach the end of their menses, they may truly miss that time they would have spent praying Salat or reading the Qur'an, causing them to come back to these acts with even more fervor! This too is a blessing.

OTHER MEANS OF WORSHIP
Worshipping our Creator is not limited to praying our Salat, reading Qur'an, or fasting. Allah has developed many means for us to draw closer to Him through other acts of devotion:

1) Make Dhikr
Whilst on your menses, make dhikr day and night, and glorify Allah. Contemplate over His magnificence and all that He has created. However, be sure to remember Allah with your heart, and not just verbally! You can say:

• Astaghfirullah
• SubhaanAllah
• Alhamdulillah
• Allahu Akbar
• Sub-haan'Allahi wa bi-hamdihi sub-han'Allah-il adheem

2) Say Du'a, Taubah, and Istighfar
Women can turn to Allah and pray to Him or repent! The place of dua is so high in front of Allah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than Dua." So while taking part in your day to day activities, you can still repent, and say prayers verbally or in your heart, without needing to perform Salat.

3) Study Books & Gain Knowledge
Remember, that Islam stresses that, "Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male and female)". This is why, women can take this time to read Islamic books and increase their knowledge of Islam and Islamic history! If you would like to stick with the routine of your five daily prayers, so that the transition back to your prayers is not difficult, try reading a few pages of an Islamic book during the time you would normally pray Salat.

4) Listen to the Holy Qur'an
During the time of day in which you would normally have read the Holy Qur'an, perhaps you can take 5-10 minutes to listen to it instead. Listening to the recitation of the Qur'an is a great way for you to calm your heart and feed your soul. By listening to the translation and commentary as well, we can study its deeper meanings. This will also give you something to reflect on throughout the day!

5) Watch Lectures
When your body is tired and achy, what better way to relax then laying down and watching an Islamic Program? This in itself is an act of worship and can bring you closer to Allah, if done for His sake.

Thus, we must remember that a woman's devotional acts do not have to decrease while on her menses. If she so wills, she can continue with her devotion and worship of Allah through other means! Allah has not prohibited you from worshipping Him through Salat because He doesn't want you to worship. Instead, Allah has showered His mercy upon women, knowing the pain that women go through during their menses, and that the physical performance of Salat would be difficult to do.

Islam is a religion that brings ease into the lives of its followers. It has a response to every question, and a method for every type of scenario. If, Allah had not made it evident that women are exempt from praying Salat whilst on their period, this would have started a debate among all Muslims. Women who were in extreme pain, and unable to pray, would be looked down upon if they missed their prayers. Thus, Allah has made our lives easier, and we should be very grateful for this!

May we all realize how blessed we are to be women and continue to show our gratitude to Allah, Ameen!

Ramadan - a month that Muslims around the globe look forward to each and every year. For those of us who get to cross paths with Ramadan once again, we should be truly grateful. This means that we have been blessed with another year to live, another year to worship, another year to do good, and another year to repent! Before the start of Ramadan, it is important that we reflect on the month of blessings that is to come and determine how we can make the greatest use of it!

1. Seek Knowledge About Ramadan
Before Ramadan begins, do your research! What is Ramadan? Why is it important? What does it entail? It's vital that you seek answers to these questions and truly understand the importance of Ramadan. This way, you can ensure that you do everything that you are required to do, and refrain from anything that you are discouraged/prohibited from doing throughout the month. By reading articles or  books, and listening to videos or podcasts, you can ensure that you have the correct mindset and intentions before the start of Ramadan.

2. Make a Plan
For those of you who like routine in order to get in the habit of doing things, creating a plan is essential. Your plan could look something like this:

3 am - Wake Up, Read Nafl, and Have Sehri
4 am - Pray Fajr & Read Qur'an
5 am - Sleep
7 am - Wake Up for Work
1:30 pm - Lunch Break: Pray & Read Qur'an
6 pm - Reach Home, Pray, Read Qur'an
7 pm - Rest
8 pm - Prepare Food for Iftari
9 pm - Open Fast, Maghrib Prayer
9:15 pm - Eat, Clean, Prepare for Tomorrow
9:45 pm - Go for Taraweeh Prayers at the Mosque, Pray Ishaa
10:00 pm - Read Qur'an, Sleep

In order for a plan like this to be fruitful, you must keep it at the forefront of your mind at all times. If you don't intend to wake up for Sehri or go to Taraweeh prayers, it is likely that you will not! Our minds and bodies need to follow a schedule to successfully get things done. And the first step in getting things done is setting intentions!

3. Set Goals
With "Making a Plan' comes 'Setting Goals'. Some goals consist of:

• Finish Holy Qur'an x1
• Read 5 Islamic Books
• Keep All Possible Fasts
• Read Taraweeh Prayers at the Mosque

6. Stack Pantry Items
If you can, stack your pantry with items that won't go bad. This way, you won't have to go out in the heat, while fasting, to grab your groceries. Instead, you will have many pantry items, which can make your trip to the grocery store much shorter!

7. Meal Prep
Before Ramadan begins, cook staple foods and freeze them for days when you have little time or energy to cook a huge meal for either Sehri or Iftari! Freezing certain foods early will definitely help you throughout the month!

I hope that these tips are helpful for you as you prepare for Ramadan. May this Ramadan be a blessed experience for all of us, and may we extract all of the blessings that this month brings with it. May we be better Muslims by the end of this month than we are at the start, Ameen!

University or college education is not an easy endeavour. The many readings, difficult assignments, countless exams, and lengthy class schedules can make it a very stressful and challenging experience. But when you add marriage into the mix your responsibilities only increase drastically. The time you would have spent on assignments and studying prior to marriage must now also be allocated towards running a home and strengthening a relationship.

For those of you who don't know, I got engaged at the start of my 3rd year in my undergraduate program, and married in the summer before the start of my 4th year. And so, my 1st year of marriage was spent enrolled in full-time studies to complete my 4th and final year of my undergrad, while married and living alone with my husband. I assure you, the thought of this really stressed me out in the months leading up to my wedding. If you are in the same boat as me, I can promise you that it will not be easy, but it is definitely manageable! This post is a compilation of the challenges I faced, how I overcame them, and my suggestions for how you can manage all of your responsibilities as a wife and as a student.

TIME MANAGEMENT
As a student, you know the time constraints and pressures with deadlines and schedules. It may already feel impossible to fit studying and assignments into your day alongside attending classes and having a social life - and thus, the thought of adding another huge responsibility (i.e. marriage) into the mix may overwhelm you. Totally fair! Time management is definitely key when it comes to successfully meeting your responsibilities! This is the only way you can meet your academic demands and needs, spend time with your spouse, manage your house, and make time for yourself!

a) Weekly Schedule
Use an agenda or planning method that works for you, to create a weekly schedule taking into account your class schedule, other responsibilities, and your husband's schedule! It really helps to get into the swing of things when you dedicate certain days to getting specific things done. If you do not do this from day one, you will easily get overwhelmed! This is the weekly schedule I had for myself in regards to the bigger responsibilities!

• Saturday - Plan Weekly Menu, Grocery, Errands, Load Laundry, (Usually a Mosque Event)
• Sunday - Meal Prep Lunches, Sort things out for the week, Spend time with my husband
• Monday - University, Work on Assignments/Readings/Modules, Cook Dinner
• Tuesday - University, Work on Assignments/Readings/Modules
• Wednesday - Deep Clean, Put Away Laundry, Cook Dinner
• Thursday - University, Work on Assignments/Readings/Modules
• Friday - Friday Prayer, Assignments/Readings/Modules, Cook Dinner

This schedule was truly a life saver! It ensured that I was always on track with weekly lunches, laundry, cooking, assignments, and cleaning! In weeks that I swayed away from this schedule due to midterms or exams, I could feel the tasks piling up and it would really distract me from studying.

b) Daily Schedule
As someone who feels the need to clean every single day and prefers to not eat out often, a daily schedule alongside a weekly schedule ensured that I was making the most of the day! This consisted of an hour by hour breakdown of my day ensuring I would make time for my home, university, myself, and my husband. On weekdays it looked something like this:

• 8am - noon - breakfast, clean kitchen and bedroom, pick things up around the house, pack our lunches, get ready, go to university
• Noon - 7pm - attend classes, work on assignments, come home
• Evenings - make dinner, spend time with husband, spend 1 hour on a university task

I honestly can't stress enough how important time management is for ensuring you do not become stressed out! Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed with everything you have to get done. It is okay to take breaks and spend time on yourself but try to have designated days for key tasks and follow some sort of routine!

TIPS AND TRICKS:

1. COURSE LOAD: I was very lucky to have two days of the week off, due to lots of preplanning. Throughout my undergrad, I always took courses during the summer breaks. Leading up to wedding, I took two additional courses! This meant that during my 4th year, I only had 8 courses instead of 10! Truly a life saver!
2. ONLINE COURSES: Each term, I chose to take a course online that was either a mandatory course or a course that contributed to my minor. With this, I was able to watch the modules at home instead of the time it would have taken to commute to and from university, giving me more time during the day! This is another reason I was able to have two of fives days off in Term 1, and three of five days off in Term 2!
3. MEAL PLANNING: Before you go grocery shopping every weekend, plan out your meals for every day of the week! This way you can ensure you have the ingredients at home and won't spend every morning wondering what you'll cook when you get home!
4. FREEZE FOOD: Your freezer can honestly become your best friend when it comes to cooked meals! Typically on days I was cooking dinner (3-4 times a week), I would cook enough for the next days dinner, and a yogurt sized box to freeze for another day. This way, on days when I knew we would be getting home late, I would leave the food out to thaw, and we could come home and quickly heat it in a pan, and eat! 
5. MEAL PREPPING: If you take 1-2 hours on the weekend to prepare your lunches for the week, you will save so much time every morning! The last thing you will have to think of is preparing a lunch for your husband and yourself! Baking some vegetables and chicken, a salad, rice, pasta, or wraps, are all great meals you can keep in your fridge for 3-5 days and pop into your lunch every morning!
6. GET HELP: I can't stress this enough! I myself am guilty of being the girl who hates asking for help and wants to do everything herself. But whether it's your husband, your parents, or your in-laws, don't be afraid to ask for help! I am so grateful for a husband who would help me with dinner on days I was studying, help me with meal prepping and grocery shopping, and never made me feel bad for not cooking or cleaning for a few days! On days we would finish from university and work late, we would drop by my parents house for dinner and no one made me feel bad about it - truly a blessing! 

• Personal Debts - student loans, credit card debts, etc.
• Salaries and Income - will you run off of a single or dual income?
• Spending Habits - do you like to splurge or save? 

This discussion will ensure that each of your financial situations are now an open book for the other. Meaning, in the future, a backload of debt that wasn't brought up, will not be the cause of a dispute.

• Husband's Income - used for expenses and running the house
• Wife's Income - used as savings

This is a great way for you to learn to live with a smaller income in case one of you loses your job or has to stay at home and raise kids in the future! It is also a great way for you to save and be stringent with your money.

• If possible, refinance your student loans to a better interest rate.
• If both of you own a car, ditch one of them and try to share one instead. Cars require a lot of money to upkeep, and these costs add up fast!
• Free and Low Cost Date Nights - there are many great alternatives out there that don't require heaps of money.
• Gifts - oftentimes, newly weds feel the need to gift each other extravagant things very often, which can lead to an additional expense in the start of the marriage. This is not to say you aren't allowed to splurge, but do so less frequently, and while keeping the rest of your expenses in mind!

5. Create a Budget
From the start, it is very important that you set a clear and concise budget to know exactly where your money is going. In an Excel Spreadsheet (or any tool of your choice), categorize your revenue and expenses on a month-by-month basis. This includes:

• Revenue: Sources of Income, Grants, Benefits, etc.
• Expenses: Mortgage/Rent, Insurance, Groceries, Clothing, Entertainment, Gas, Donations, etc.
• Ensure you have a section for savings, so you know exactly how much money you are putting towards your savings every month!

This way, you can visually see where you are overspending and can take the necessary steps to ensure you remain within your budget every month.

• Budget - as mentioned above, include a savings section within your budget
• Savings Account – have an account where money goes in, but no money comes out!
• Emergency - ensure that you quickly pool together an emergency fund incase of a medical emergency, urgent home repair, or loss of a job!
• Retirement Savings - ensure you are putting money away into a retirement fund

7. Sales and Coupons

• Muslims should not take part in any Pagan practices – including Valentine’s Day and Halloween
• We should not fall for this materialistic trap which forces us to buy roses and chocolates under pressure
• Muslims should not have romantic relations with individuals of the opposite gender prior to marriage – contrary to the message that Valentine’s Day sends

• Express your love for Allah through regular prayer and good deeds
• Express your love and gratitude to family and friends often
• Pray for others

Overall, we as Muslims should not associate ourselves with man-made pagan festivals that have turned into superficial celebrations.

As you grow older, you learn a lot about what truly matters in life. There are many things I wish I had known when I was younger, to develop a more positive mindset in my younger self. Although it's impossible to go back in time, I believe these little pieces of advice and things to keep in mind can truly help you or the young ones in your life, embark from childhood into adulthood more positively!




1. Nobody has the PERFECT life
Oftentimes as a child, it can feel as though everyone else's life is perfect.
"Why do I look the way I look?" "Why does everyone else have the best clothes?" "Why does everyone else get the best marks?" "Why does everyone else have all the money in the world?" "Why? Why? Why"

You need to realize that just as your life is not perfect, neither is the life of the person you compare yourself to. You don't know the struggles anyone else is going through. They may be dealing with things that you don't even know about. Just because you cannot see the trials and tribulations in the lives of your peers, does not mean that they have a better life than yours. So stop envying these people! Allah tries His servants in many different ways, to see if they can grow from these trials, and grow closer to Him. I am positive you have a better life than so many individuals around the world! Think about that for a minute. Thus, you must learn to appreciate and be grateful for the life you have!

2. There will never be a RIGHT TIME
You may have the desire to do something in your life, but may continue to wait for the right time.  Just remember, that there will never be a right time. If you desire to accomplish something, start now! Once you begin the journey you wish to begin, Allah will Insha'Allah guide your steps forward. Whether this be a dream to start a business, write a book, travel, etc., just take the first step forward. Imagine how much more you can accomplish when you begin early and put more time and years into your dream. If you continue to wait for the right time, either you will have too many other responsibilities, lack financially, or not have enough time altogether - meaning the right time will never come.

3. You have a lot of FREE TIME
As a child, you sometimes forget how much free time you have. I believe this is true for every stage in your life. Despite being married and studying, I can still say to my current self, "You have a lot of time right now, just wait until you have kids!". If you are still in elementary or middle school, or have just entered high school, be grateful for the time you have. Many children have no other obligations besides school. With good time management skills, you should have plenty of free time during the week. Use this time to build on yourself, nurture hobbies, read, and gain knowledge. The knowledge you gain during this point of your life will definitely benefit you throughout your life. Do not let technology, movies, television shows, YouTube, social media, and whatever other distractions are out there today, steal hours upon hours of your day!

4. Expand your knowledge and MEMORIZE all you can
Building off of the above point I will say, memorize all that you can! In terms of religious knowledge, memorize Surah's, Hadith, verses of the Qur'an, about the lives of the prophets and all that you possibly can. I assure you that what you memorize today, will remain with you for your entire life. I still to this day remember everything that I had fluently memorized as a child! So do not let those early years (when your brain is able to absorb every little thing) pass by without you benefitting from them.

5. PRAY, not because you have to, but because you want to
I'm sure your parents are constantly reminding you to pray. I'm also aware that there must be days in which you pray for the sake of pleasing your parents rather than pleasing Allah. But you must remember that by praying, you are following Allah's commandment to pray and worship Him. Try to understand the true meaning behind why you are asked to pray and then promise yourself to never miss your prayers - not because you have to, but because you want to! Becoming regular in your prayers as a child will not only be a sort of investment for the Hereafter, but will also grant you so much success in this world Insha'Allah!

6. Don't let your insecurities undermine your WORTH
Growing up, you can easily develop a lot of insecurities about the way you look. Trust me, we've all been there! Whether it be your weight, height, hair, glasses, acne, etc., just remember that it does not at all define who you are! Many times you don't realize how insecure you feel about something until someone picks on you for it. Just remember that these people who put you down do not deserve the key to your happiness. The majority of these people will not even be in your life a few years down the line. So try to be comfortable in the way you look and the way Allah created you, because we were all crafted perfectly!

Oh, and you will 'glow up' Insha'Allah ;)

7. The little things will be of no importance in the GREATER PICTURE
Sometimes, you may feel as though a small decision or obstacle in your life is going to change your life forever. Majority of the time, this is not the case. Many of the small obstacles you face as a child, will be of zero importance to you in the future. So if any decision or trial is every stressing you out, remind yourself that it is only for a short period of time and will pass by Insha'Allah!

8. Your FAMILY is always going to be your greatest support system
As a child, there seems to be a social pressure to have the largest group of friends. But you must remember that a few amazing friends are definitely more valuable than many 'friends' who you can barely relate to. Regardless of how many friends you have, you should always be very close to your family! I am not saying to substitute family for friends, because I know you need a social life outside of home.  However, a lot of the friends you make throughout your life will only be there for a short period of time. Later on, you both may move on and lose contact. Family on the other hand, will always be there for you! Thus, it is very important that you build a quality relationship with your siblings and parents. Spend time with them. Build memories with them. I promise, when you're older, get married, and move out, you will miss your family the most! Moreover, it is your family that you will want to share every little bit of happiness and excitement with.

9. Enjoy the PRESENT
At every stage in our lives, we look forward to a stage in the future. Many children are excited to grow up, get into middle school, then high school, get a job, go to University, etc., forgetting about the stage they are currently in. Enjoy the present by reminding yourself that this stage in your life will never return!

When in high school, you will miss the free time you had after each day in elementary school.
When in University, you will miss the simple schedule of going to, and coming back from middle school.
When working, you will miss the feeling of spending time at your University campus and cramming for exams with friends.
When married, you will miss coming home to a home-cooked meal by your mother.

You see what I mean? Every stage in your life is a blessing! There are many people in the world who passed away before experiencing the next stage in their lives. We too, do not know when Allah has planned our return from this world. What if you never reach that stage in your life that you are oh so excited for? This is why it is very important to appreciate today!

10. Life is SHORT
Despite being in my early 20's I am constantly thinking of how short life is. As a child, you feel as though you have an endless number of years ahead of you - Sadly, you do not! This means that you should constantly be investing good deeds for the Hereafter. Pray to Allah, give to the needy, be kind to your neighbours, respect your parents, and adopt in your life all of the positive and blessed teachings of Islam. Remind yourself that this life is a test, and like any test, you can either pass or fail. You do not know when your life will suddenly come to an end. You are not promised to reach old age. This is why it is very important to remind yourself from a young age, of the true purpose of life and the inevitability of death and the Hereafter.