Turning to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) and being a compliant, educated patient, which we discussed in detail in Part 1 and Part 2, are mostly concerned with the individual’s inner state and attitude toward their disease. However, human beings remain social creatures who need other people in their life to share their joys and sorrows with. As our role model, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was accompanied by his best friend Abu-Bakr (may Allāh be pleased with them) on the hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah), while the Mother of the Believers Sayyida Khadijah (may Allāh be pleased with her) comforted her husband when he returned home in shock after his first encounter with Archangel Jibril (Gabriel) (peace be upon him).
Likewise, a sick person in particular needs a support system to cope better with their situation and receive both moral and physical support. This support system consists of family, friends, the medical team, and sometimes even strangers who have had a similar experience. All of the aforementioned categories of people have helped me greatly throughout the years in many different ways—from hugs, personal assistance, and hospital visits, to lengthy conversations and invaluable words of advice and encouragement. In the third and final part of this series, I will focus on some tools related to social interactions. Continue reading →
Part 1 of this series covered medical-related advice that is meant to equip patients with the knowledge they need to manage their disease effectively as well as improve their quality of life and maintain good health.
In Part 2, I move on to the spiritual tools, which every Productive Muslim cannot do without during any trial, including severe or sudden illness. Know that in spite of advances in modern medicine, the outcome of any treatment, progression of any disease, and how our entire body functions, lies within Allah’s dominion, not science or a world-renowned surgeon. He (glorified and exalted be He) is whom we turn to in times of need and supplicate with a sincere heart, expecting good. Continue reading →
Click to read Parts 2 and 3!
Two years ago in Ramadan, my kidneys shut down. Over the following six months, I underwent dialysis in the form of three weekly 4-hour sessions. A few days after Mubarak stepped down, I was being prepped for a life-changing event: a kidney transplant.
Not to delve into my medical background, over the years I’ve tried to befriend a chronic illness for the sake of leading a normal life, enduring hospital stays, and undergoing painful medical procedures. On this journey, I faltered and got away with noncompliance, taking Allah’s blessings for granted. After 11 years of more downs than ups, I finally got it. Yes, the damage was done, but then it was all set in stone even before I was born. Continue reading →
The sweat beads trickle down your forehead until they reach your chin and fall to the ground; the tension is releasing, serotonin flowing and heart racing. You reach for your ice-cold water for a sip and internally applaud yourself for a great workout.
What does exercising have to do with being a productive Muslim? Firstly, your body is an amanah (trust) and you are required to maintain it, not just by nourishing it, but also by keeping it in good working order. Consequently, you will have the health and energy to be proactive and productive.
There are many facts, theories and myths out there on exercise; but the most important point to remember is the infamous motto “just do it!”. InshaAllah this article will serve to highlight some basics of exercise.
We’ll start off with the important components of a proper workout. The anatomy of your exercise routine should comprise of 3 parts: flexibility, strength training, and cardio.
Continue reading →
In the unrelenting world of the 21st century, where break in work is equal to a comparative regression in achievement, an echoing complaint from the hearts of the Muslim ummah is that of constant fatigue. My first instinct in writing this article was that it would be easy; after all the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would spend nights in worship of his Lord, and would proceed to spend each and every moment of his blessed life demonstrating to humanity how to live perfectly. Whether it was teaching, learning, communicating, or handling household affairs, he exemplified all actions to the highest caliber. How did this man, the best of all creation admittedly – but nonetheless a man – achieve such standards? Believers and non-believers alike stand in awe. Libraries of books have tried to explain how Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) achieved so much with so little.
So how can we strive to achieve as much as possible? Continue reading →
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