How Do Our Muscles Get Stronger When We Use Them? Strength doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built over time, step by step, through effort, challenge, and recovery. It’s a process that mirrors life itself. Rafiq’s mountain climb is a perfect example of this journey—one that speaks not just to physical growth but also to resilience and…

  The Promise of Ease After Hardship “With hardship comes ease.” These are the powerful words from Surah Al-Sharh (94:5-6), a reminder that no struggle lasts forever. Every challenge we face carries within it the seeds of relief, just waiting for their time to bloom. It’s a concept that feels simple, but when you’re standing…

Understanding the Complexity of Sadaqah Sadaqah, or giving in the name of God, is a concept that most would think is fairly easy to convey. Until we actually see all the subtleties of life. Questioning Our Intentions Did you give only so that your community would cheer you and see you as a good person?…

 But mama, baba, I don’t want to fast when I’m older, it’s too hard!     The nightmare—and for some of us, the reality—of our kids’ day-to-day. As soon as we hear those words, thoughts rush through our minds. “Where did I go wrong?” “Why doesn’t he want to fast?” “Doesn’t he realize how bad…

 A in Quran Memorization, F in Manners and Common Courtesy You walk into a park. Fellow Muslim parents are there—so far, so good. Alhamdulillah for your community; it’s always nice to see other Muslims around. Then, your kids start sharing the play structure, and you notice the other kids don’t take turns, don’t show respectful…

 The Isolationist Theory and Why Walls Never Work It was the year 221 BCE, The Chinese Empire decided that in order to protect itself from invaders, it would build the Great Wall of China. The Wall was vast, requiring constant repairs and a massive military presence. Guards and officials were sometimes bribed, allowing invaders to pass.…

Build the Gears, Don’t Give the Finished Product Why do so many parents keep shouting the same orders to their kids, wondering why they don’t follow quickly? It often takes repeating instructions dozens of times, raising their voices louder and louder, before the child finally complies. The Corporate KPIs If you work in a corporation,…

 The Dirty Little Secret of Canada, Dubai, and Malaysia A lot of Muslims in the West dream of moving to one of three places: Canada, Dubai, or Malaysia. These countries are seen as the ultimate destinations, where life is supposed to be easier, better, or at least more aligned with Muslim values. But the truth?…

 The Hidden Truth About Pigs: Teaching Kids the Wisdom Behind Halal Food If you tell your child, “Pork is haram; we don’t eat it,” without explanation, you’re giving them a rule, not the understanding behind it. You, as an adult, reached that conclusion after seeing and learning about different things. But children are a blank…

From Tarbiyah to Tablets: Are We Raising Kids or Entertaining Them?  The Proverbial Golden Ticket Out of the Screen Time Hole Islam teaches us to choose the harder path today so that we may find Jannah in the Hereafter. This principle applies to our daily lives in ways we often overlook. Every day, we make…