In part 1 of the series, I discussed the goals of motherhood and how we can raise our children to be great, Productive Muslims in sha Allah. Here are more tips I’d like to share.
6. Make chores fun!
We know as Muslims that cleanliness is half of our faith. If being clean is a large part of us being Muslims, we need to cultivate in our children at an early age how to maintain their home and own space. In their development, we all must play an active part to keep both our internal and external environment clean. A friend of mine who is a nanny taught the kids not to litter the ground; when she was asked why, she said: why litter the bed we will be sleeping in – i.e. the ground? I think this was beautifully put!
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Ever felt like you’re having an Iman dip? That after being a very active, productive Muslim – praying on time, reading Qur’an frequently, always looking forward to doing good deeds – you are becoming lazy and that your enthusiasm to perform the same way is fading?
I’ve felt like that so many times. Life is full of ups and downs, and the downs are sometimes powerful enough to distract us and lower our enthusiasm. Yet, there are easy solutions that can help us get over an Iman low. Here are some tips that can help you refresh your Iman in sha Allah:
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![[Productive Professions] Interview with a Doctoral Candidate in Computer Science - Productive Muslim](http://productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Hasheem_EngD.jpg "[Productive Professions] Interview with a Doctoral Candidate in Computer Science - Productive Muslim")
Hashem Ghazzawi was born to a Palestinian family in Saudi Arabia. He came to the UK after finishing high school to pursue a degree in control and systems engineering (medical) in Sheffield University. He is now in his final year reading an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in York University in computer science.
1) Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us what motivated you to read Systems Engineering and eventually, Computer Science at university?
It all started from my childhood, subhan-Allah. Whenever I watched movies showing machines interacting together in a systematic way, I’d wonder how these pieces of metal can understand what is going on around them. Those scenes were stuck in my memories and, over time, made me more eager to study automation (engineering). My favourite cartoon show was Sanshiro; the fact that the little boy built a robot that can follow his commands amazed me a great deal. I look back at those memories now and smile, subhan-Allah, nowadays I understand how these things work. Continue reading →
Islam encourages Muslims, after fulfilling their obligatory duties, to use their spare time in beneficial pursuits which help one draw closer to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) – from the moment they wake up until it’s time to sleep. This leaves a Muslim with no time to waste in activities that drain his energy or squander it in inappropriate ways. One of Islam’s highly recommended leisure activities is sport.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.” [Sahih Bukhari]
What can you gain from engaging in sports?
- It’s fun! : It gives you something to do and a group to belong to, a group of friends that have the same goals and interests.
- Develops self-esteem: Research has found that those who play sports are more likely to have a positive body image and higher self-esteem, as they are less likely to be overweight. Continue reading →
“Judge yourselves before you are judged, evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest investigation (the Day of Judgement).”Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allāh be pleased with him)
Every new year kicks off with a whole lot of New Year’s resolutions which sound like:
- “2013 is going to be a fresh start.” That’s the spirit!
- “No being quiet and shy; this time I’m going to get my voice heard.” Good for you!
- “From now on, I shall stop writing in text language- coz u no dats jus soo unprofessional.” Maybe leave that for next year?
New Year’s resolutions are a worldwide practice for people to critically evaluate themselves, pinpoint something specific that they would like to change, and then try their level best to implement that change. While it all sounds so easy and awesome, every year there is probably only a handful of people who, a few months down the line, are still actively trying to stick to their resolution. Why? Because our approach to what our resolutions should be is rooted in far- fetched and broad ideas which are impossible to work towards.
Furthermore, while New Year’s resolutions are an excellent way to make a positive change, should we as Muslims really wait a whole year before we think about renewing our lives and character? Shouldn’t we make time now to look deep within ourselves and see how our character compares to that of the pure and compassionate, the best of creation, our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)? Continue reading →
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