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!

• 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 many of you know, Salat is one of the five fundamental requirements for a Muslim. We are told in the Holy Qur'an, 

"So glorify Allah when you enter the evening and when you enter the morning. And to Him belongs all praise in the heavens and the earth — and glorify Him in the afternoon and when you enter upon the time of the decline of the sun [Holy Qur'an Chapter 30, Verses 18-19]. 

Moreover, Huzur (aba) consistently directs our attention towards offering prayers regularly, on time, and in congregation. Not understanding its importance, some of you may have yet to establish your prayers, while others may go through periods of time in which you lose the momentum. Nevertheless, we must remember that the first thing that we will be asked on the Day of Judgement will be in regards to our prayers. Knowing that a little push in the right direction can bring you back on track, I have developed a list of tips and tricks to help you maintain your Salat!



1. STOP PROCRASTINATING

The most important thing for you to remember is that prayer comes first! Listen to that voice in your head that is reminding you to pray, and get yourself up to pray. The longer you drag it on and avoid praying, the longer it will linger around in your head and be a source of distraction. But remember, prayer shouldn't feel like a burden. Regardless, once you know that you have prayed, you will feel accomplished and ready to complete the remainder of what you need to get done thereafter. 

2. PLAN AROUND YOUR SALAT
The second tip is one I am sure you have heard before, and I can confirm that it's definitely the easiest way to stay regular in Salat - plan around your Salat! For example, if you set your alarm for Fajr prayer, it can be a great way to start your day on time! Of course, when Fajr prayer falls at around 4am, it is more reasonable to pray and go back to sleep. Same thing goes for Ishaa prayer, which can be the perfect time for you to end your day, especially during the summer months. 

If you're a student who has a break between two classes that fall between Zuhr/Asr time, use this time to pray your Salat! Similarly, if you're someone has a job, take your lunch break during the prayer times so you don't miss your prayers on a daily basis! This can become much easier if perform your ablution before leaving the house, and maintain it for the prayer times. 

Something else that can make it is easier is carrying your prayer mat in your purse or school bag, if you do not have access to one at work or school. If you're a germaphobe like myself, you will be much more comfortable praying on a clean prayer mat!

3. PLACES TO PRAY
Of course, it is much easier to pray on time when you are at home. However, the majority of us spend much of our day outside of our homes (ex. school, work, etc.). It is during the period of being outside of our homes that we can often miss our Zuhr, Asr and Maghrib prayers. 

My suggestion is that if you are at school, find areas where you can pray! I know many Universities have designated prayer areas that even provide prayer mats for Muslims. If you have access to such areas, benefit from them! Otherwise, find an empty lecture hall or empty corner of the school where you are able to take 5 minutes to pray.

For those of you who work, try to ask your employer during the interview process whether you can have a silent area for a few minutes a day to pray. Remind them that Muslims are obligated to pray 5 times a day, for which you will need 5 minutes (during your break) to pray.

Finally, when you are out running errands with your family, you should try to be home before it's time to pray. However, knowing this can be difficult, I suggest you look for Mosques nearby, and go there to pray. If you are unable to do this, you can easily pray in your car! Finally, if you're in a clothing store or mall, pray in the change rooms. This is a simple way for you to pray, and then continue with what you were doing, without needing to go home.



4. SET REMINDERS
Your smartphone can be a great blessing when it comes to reminders. There are many apps out there that can remind you to pray, either in the form of a notification or by playing the Azaan. I suggest every Muslim download an app of this sort to assist with praying Salat on time. If you do not have a smartphone on you at all times, write down the prayer timings in your planner, so that you are mentally aware and reminded. For your home, you can find an Azaan alarm clock like this one, that can notify you and your children to pray on time! 

I hope that these tricks assist you with becoming regular in your prayers if you have yet to establish them. You must remember that I can list 100's of suggestions on here for you to establish your prayer, but it is up to you to have the strong desire to do so. If you do not put in the effort to make prayer a habit, no amount of tips will get you to pray on time. As Muslims, we must remember our true purpose in life, which is to worship Allah. May Allah enable us to do so, Ameen.

WHERE DID THIS HOLIDAY COME FROM?

Halloween originates from old Irish pagan practices. It was believed that on October 31st, supernatural forces gathered in the human world. Supposedly, the lord of the dead gathered all the souls of the dead from the previous year who dwelled in animals, and would announce which animal the souls would dwell in, in the coming year.

TRICK-OR-TREATING

It is said that if a household gives something to a costume-clad child, the dead will not harm their household.

ISLAM'S PERSPECTIVE

Shirk, Shirk, Shirk. (idolatry)

No matter how 'fun' this day may look to be, it is wrong for a Muslim child to dress up in a strange manner and beg at the door of strangers - even if it may just be for candy.

Halloween sends across the message that it is 'okay' to believe in witches, evil spirits, and satanic worship. By trying to please these dead spirits, as if, equal to God, it is definitely a form of shirk/idolatry. Moreover, Islam believes that spirits cannot come back from the dead, nor can they be reborn in any form (eg. animals) in this world. As a Muslim, do not try to mix in with the West and get embroiled in hidden shirk/idolatry.

The Qur'an says:

HALLOWEEN TODAY

Nowadays, Halloween is a holiday that is being abused by older children as a way to frighten people in their homes, disrespect elders, and cause disturbances. Thus, Muslim children should instead increase their connection with God.

Many people start following practices that they see practiced in society without thinking. Carelessly, some Muslims parents let their children participate in these traditions without any thought to its origin. But as Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has stated, "any 'fun' that is based on shirk is to be avoided".

6 TIPS FOR PARENTS

It can be difficult for a child to fully grasp the reason he/she is not allowed to dress up or go trick-or-treating - especially in the West! Children see their classmates in costumes, and may feel left-out if they are unable to do the same. I've compiled a list of a few actions that parents can take, to ensure that they can help their children better understand the reason for not celebrating Halloween.

1. Get The Facts - Parents should know where Halloween originated from and why it is harmful so that they are able to explain it to their children (I hope this post has helped with that!).
2. Unity - Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page! The last thing you want is for one partner to be explaining the reason Halloween is harmful, while the other spouse counters their arguments!
3. Explain the Facts - Children are smarter than you think! When children ask "why," a simple, "because you can't!" will not suffice! You need to explain all the facts, as stated in this post! 
4. Accept Reality - Children will compare themselves to other Muslim families who perhaps do celebrate Halloween. It is important that you explain to them that every family does things differently, it does not mean their decision is right for your family!
5. Get Their Mind Off Halloween - If you and your child agree, keep them home from school on Halloween. Instead, do activities with them to get their mind off of what they feel they may be missing out on. Remind them that they are not missing out on anything! 
6. Build Up the Excitement for Islamic Holidays - Living in the West, it is hard to avoid the excitement for Western holidays. Sometimes it looks as if Halloween and Christmas decor is literally everywhere. It seems that everyone is talking about their costumes on Halloween or presents on Christmas. For this reason, it is important for parents to ensure that there is an excitement being built up at home for the children to know Eid is coming up. It is not necessary for you to spoil them with presents or adopt new traditions. However, don't make them feel as if the other holidays are 'better' just because they live in the West. 

Sources:
Friday Sermon - October 29th, 2010 - Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba)

1. Pray Your Salat
The importance of Salat has been emphasized in the Qur'an countless times. Allah has stressed that Muslims offer Salat regularly in order to achieve the benefits that come with it.

• Gain Nearness to Allah: With prayer, we can develop a bond with our Creator and learn to pray to thank Allah and seek help during difficult times.
• Taqwa: Piety or righteousness is achieved through Salat. This is because Salat keeps us away from wrongdoing, ensuring that we learn to do what's right in order to please Allah.
• Reward in the Hereafter: The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The first thing the people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement is prayer, Allah will say to His angels: "Look at my servants prayers. Were they complete or not?" If they were complete It will be written as complete. If they were not fully complete Allah will say: "See if my servant has voluntary prayers, If he has them Allah will Say: Complete his obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers." Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner", (Reported by Abu Dawood).
• Protection from Satan: Satan is an enemy of the believers and tries to stray them from their path of righteousness. Not offering prayer is actually a sign of us following Satan, whereas those who offer prayer are resisting temptation from Satan.

In the Holy Qur'an, Istighfar is seen as drawing the strength and support of Allah which leads to attaining nearness to Allah and salvation. The Holy Qur'an states:

But surely the righteous will be in the midst of gardens and springs, receiving what the Lord will give them; for they used to do good before that. They used to sleep but a little of the night; and at the dawn of the day they sought forgiveness...[51:16-19]

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Happiness - "The state of being happy".
Happy - "Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment". 

With this definition in mind, would you consider yourself happy and content?


I recently came across a video by Mohamed Zeyara, a humanitarian activist and public speaker.
In it, he talked about his interview of a young orphan. He asked the orphan, "What is the most difficult part of your day?" to which he replied, "Nothing". Confused Mohamed asked the question, "What is the most difficult part about living in an orphanage?" to which the boy replied "Nothing, I don't have any problems". Shocked, Mohamed continued the interview with, "If you had one wish and it would be granted, what would it be?" to which the boy replied, "I would like a Qur'an, the book of the Qur'an, because over here they don't have the physical book Qur'an".

ARE WE HAPPY?
This video got me thinking of the desires of the youth living in developed countries and seeking happiness. When we think about happiness, we constantly desire for more, "If I pass this exam, I will be happy. If I get these shoes, I will be happy. When I get married, I will be happy". But is this what happiness is?

With the definition above it is clear that happiness is current and not dependent on what you have. Are you happy despite what you have and don't have? Those objects shouldn't be your ladder for happiness, and trust me, they never will be! You can't expect to keep getting things and eventually reaching happiness. If this were at all the case, the richest people in the world and the celebrities we see on television would all be happy. They have the money to buy anything they desire, but are they happy?  The answer is clear the majority is not. This is why many rely on drugs and alcohol, cosmetic surgery and more, in order to reach a state of happiness. Despite all of this, a lot of them get trapped in a downward spiral and never truly reach a state of happiness. Now look at the less wealthy, those who have the bare minimum, are they happy? It's shocking to think, but many are. They don't have everything, and they barely have the basic necessities to get by, but they are happy. Now ask yourself, "Am I happy"?

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE HAPPINESS?
If no amount of things will make us happier, what will?

• Be Grateful: It is said in the Holy Qur'an, "Be grateful to Allah for whoso is grateful, is grateful for the good of his own soul" [31:3]. I remember my mother constantly saying the following phrase to me while growing up, "Stop comparing yourself to the people who have more than you, compare yourself to those who have less than you". It's amazing how such a simple reminder made me a more grateful person. The number of times I have heard, "Why can't I have _____, so-and-so has one?!" But when do we ever hear, "Maybe I don't need ______, there's people without it who are doing just fine". From this point on, promise yourself that you will no longer allow the materialistic possessions of others take away your happiness, because "Comparison is the thief of joy" - Theodore Roosevelt. 
  
• Spiritual Happiness: "It is they who follow guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper" [Holy Qur'an: 31:6]. Worldly satisfaction is nothing compared to spiritual happiness. The Holy Qur'an is full of instructions on living a life that will please Allah and ultimately grant us Heaven on Earth. Develop a relationship with Allah, only then will you be able to live to please Him and no one else. In a world where everything and everyone is constantly changing, we can never truly be happy.  There will always be new things to spend our money on, and we will always want them. That's the power of marketing and the electronic world we live in. But only with Allah can we find true happiness. 
• Self Purification: No one is perfect. But with this said, we should try to make ourselves better each and every day. We should get rid of all the negative thinking that leads to unhappiness: greed, jealousy, pride, arrogance, envy, and revenge. Instead, we should adapt the qualities of love, justice, patience, and sympathy. Read and understand the Qur'an, read Islamic books, and gain knowledge. Without knowing what is acceptable in Islam and what pleases God, it will be harder to adapt these good qualities and live by them.

1. Place Prayers Around Your House.
Sometimes, all it takes is the right reminder at the right time. Try printing little prayer cards out, and placing them around your house. For example, an entering and leaving the house prayer on your front door, a going to sleep and waking up prayer on your dresser, a before and after eating prayer in your dining room and so on. This is not only a great way to teach your kids these prayers, but also a great reminder for parents as well as older children to read these prayers despite already knowing them.

• Click Here for a set of 16 door knob dua cards ($4.95)
• Click Here for free printable dua cards

• If you want to go about it in a different format, you can download free printable pages of this Dua Book by clicking here.

2. Listen to the Audio of Knowledgeable Shows

Take a moment to think about your commute to work or school. How long is it? Maybe a 30 minute drive there and 30 minute drive back? Longer? If you think about this being a daily thing, that's a lot of time! Listening to something knowledgable and motivating during this time can really benefit you through the day and in the long the run. I suggest the following:

• Faith Matters
• Real Talk
• Khutba/Sermon

Simple download one in the morning, or stream it live and listen to it in your car, on the bus etc. It will really help you be more motivated throughout the day!

3. Read a Prayer When You Wake Up

Start your day with prayers. Read a prayer on success or good health. Whatever you please! This is a great way to start the day positively and with the remembrance of Allah. The Treasure House of Prayers in one of my favourite books with prayers for everything possible. You can buy it here.

4. Set a Prayer as Your Wallpaper 

We're all busy, I get it. It can be hard to take out the time to sit and memorize a prayer. A great way to go about doing this is by setting a prayer as the wallpaper on your phone or laptop. By doing this, you can read it whenever you come across it, and you'll have it memorized in no time!

5. Read Before You Sleep

We live in a time where we're all so obsessed with being connected to the world at all times. Trust me, I'm guilty of this as well! How many of us haven't turned off our laptop, only to go on our phone and spend another hour on that. Reading before we sleep is a great way to rest our eyes and put some good thoughts in our head before ending the day. If you haven't read my New Years Resolutions post, you can do that here. In it, I talk about reading a few pages of a book a day, in order to finish one book a month. I also give a list of great Islamic books to read!