Coolness of the Eyes

By Ammarah Usmani We live in a world where most of us don’t really consider the home a peaceful haven or a sanctuary. To some, seeking refuge inside one’s home seems overrated, antisocial, and makes one seem reclusive and bereaved from the lively, rambunctious happenings of the outside world. Be it even somebody else’s home, [...]

Unplug and Re-connect: How to Keep Families Connected During Technology Time-Outs

At the risk of aging myself, in the 90’s, the term “unplugged” referred to a show where artists musically entertained a small audience without the aid of electric instruments.  These days however, when families are encouraged to go “unplugged” they are persuaded to spend time together free of “electronic distractions” or as my older brother, [...]

Asking for Mercy

Mercy. Allah’s Mercy. It’s what we crave. It’s what we pray for. It’s the only means for getting into Paradise. We know that we are constantly sinning and that without His Mercy, none of these sins will be forgiven. We know that without His Mercy, not only will our entire lives be filled with misery, [...]

Dwell In Tranquility

Dwell in Tranquility: an Islamic Roadmap to the Vibrant Marriage is aimed at helping Muslims—at any stage in the marriage process— to understand themselves and what they want in their marriage in order to build a strong and loving partnership. The following is an interview with the author, Kamal Shaarawy, who is also the founder [...]

Reality Check: Domestic Violence and Muslim Families

Salma Abugideiri is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in trauma and couples therapy.  She is also the co-director of the Peaceful Families Project, an organization devoted to ending domestic violence in Muslim families. Salma develops and conducts awareness workshops about domestic violence for Muslim leaders and communities, and trainings for people who work with [...]

Single Parenting

Parenting is a tough job, but single parenting is an even tougher challenge, as one parent tries to fulfill the roles of both a mother and a father to their child.  Single parenting is highly demanding physically, emotionally and financially.   There can be numerous reasons and circumstances for single parenting, such as divorce, a spouse [...]

Two way Streets

By Ahmed Zaafran A short while ago, my wife and I took our two kids to the local public library. Going to the library today is much different than it was when I was a child.  I remember the distinct smell of old books and how their pages seemed to coalesce into a never-ending narrative. [...]

People leave each other. But do they return?

Why Do People Have to Leave Each Other? Part I | Part II Leaving is hard. Losing is harder. So a few weeks ago I asked the question, ‘why do people have to leave each other?’ The answer took me into some of my life’s deepest realizations and struggles. But it has also led me [...]

Mother, Not Martyr

Being a mother is certainly not easy. As Allah describes in the Qur’an, “His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years.” (31:14). These weaknesses are often referred to as pregnancy, birthing and nursing. But that is just the beginning. Mothers are in the daily “trenches” of [...]

The Muslim Family Response to Hatred

by Kari Ansari Last month, an annual fundraiser was held in Yorba Linda, California to raise money for combating homelessness and domestic abuse in the local community. Sounds great, right? It’s something that Christians, Jews and other faith groups do frequently, except this event happened to have been organized by Muslims. Families who had given [...]

Family Values

Becoming the Servants of the Most Merciful Series Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV People have different notions of defining contentment when it comes to their family. Many people feel [...]

Good and Evil

It’s drilled into our heads time and time again that advice, in Islam, holds high status. We are commanded to enjoin good and forbid evil whenever it is possible. But the truth of the matter is, sometimes it’s just downright hard. We carefully coin the advice that we want our friends to understand, but even [...]

Toiling…and the Light at the End of the Tunnel

It’s amazing what motherhood teaches you. Three weeks ago today, I took my turn in one of the greatest struggles a woman endures. It was an experience that would forever change my life. Three weeks ago, I gave birth. The pain of childbirth is certainly called labor for a reason. But in that struggle, and [...]

The Woman at the Coffee Shop

He looked straight at her as he called her profane names, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Dude, you’re embarrassing me! Stop. Besides, I don’t think she is Muslim,” I said. “She is Palestinian, isn’t she? What is she doing? Going out with a white guy…” he said conspicuously in Arabic, adding in several more [...]

Mending the Fabric of Brotherhood

The Fatal Mistake It was one of the most intense moments of his life. Those around him had likely never striven so hard and moved so fast. As the battle waned and the fighters retreated up the hill a sense of relief and calmness overtook them: they had made it out alive. Allah `azza wa jal [...]

Musings on Management

In the introduction of “One Minute Manager” by Ken Blanchard, Confucius says, “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to use it.” This is my attempt to do just that. If you haven’t read this book before, you should. It’s a well-written short story, if you will, about a young man who sets out to [...]

Anger

by Izzah Zaroon Have you ever had a moment when you feel the bile rising in your throat, face flushed, and nostrils flaring? Your hands are balled into fists, and you could strike – you’re filled with that sudden urge to destroy something. It might be a vase, a plate in your hand or your [...]

“Baba! I want a GPS!” Parental Growing Pains in the Trenches of Childhood

Asalamu alaykum, A few months ago, while speaking to my 6 year old, the following transpired: Six Year Old: “Bob [Short for Baba]: can you bring me something from America?” Suhaib: “Sure, insha’Allah. What is it?” Six Year Old: “I [makes that cool six year old breathing sound between thoughts], I wanna GPS?” Suhaib:  Thinking [...]

Nurturing The Family

“Until They Change What Is In Themselves”