For many people, Ramadan is celebrated with others, from community iftar dinners to collective taraweeh prayers as well as numerous gatherings aimed at charity or worship. However, some of us struggle with social anxiety and isolate to cope, while others may be grappling with a loss and crippling grief, and still some …
Cleaning Heart-Blockages with Dua and Dhikr
This is the third article in a series entitled “Under the Throne of Allah: Dua and Dhikr.” There can be seasons in life when, outwardly, you may be doing everything …
“He Has Spoken the Truth:” Instilling Abu Bakr’s Attitude in our Children
This is the first article in a series titled, “The Real Champions: The Companions as Role Models for Muslim Youth.” Abdullah ibn Uthman, widely known as Abu Bakr, had …
The Kids Are All Right About Ramadan’s Sacrifices. You Should Be Too
A few months ago, quite out of the blue, my oldest child, a teenager, said, “I’m excited about Ramadan.” I won’t lie; I was pretty surprised. To verify whether this …
Hijab, Identity, and the Cost of Belonging
Hijab is a personal journey but also a collective effort. Individual actions seldom exist in a vacuum. Our choices shape culture, our visibility matters, and our struggles can affect those …
The World Has Dry January. Muslims Have Allah’s Guidance
With January nearly over, it’s likely you’ve heard about Dry January when New Year’s resolutions inevitably come up. You’ve probably seen this term floating around your social media feed, talked about in your workplace, or popping up in turn-of-the-year and mid-January news articles. In late …
Social Media as Sadaqah Jariyah: A Reflective Piece
In an age where a single post can reach thousands in seconds, it becomes impossible to ignore the powerful influence of social media. What was once created for connection and …
Feeling Overwhelmed? Shift Your Perspective and Embrace Gratitude
My fellow Message writer Bibi Watts recently published an article entitled “Back to the Basics of Worship.” In it she detailed how the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said, …
Homelessness & the Housing Crisis in America
In cities across the country, the number of people either experiencing homelessness or who are one paycheck away from it is – in my opinion –staggering. What’s more, that number …
Domestic Violence Versus Domestic Peace
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States, and for good reason: The statistics are staggering as well over half of all females’ deaths in America come at …