Unemployment Series

Being out of a job does not equate to being out of work. There are plenty of opportunities out there to keep yourself busy while you search for a new position, allowing you to gain valuable skills, and even earn yourself some ākhirah points.

—
2008 was a very good year and a very bad year for me. It was the year I completed my PhD in Molecular Biology and officially became a 'Dr'. It was also the year I started my 18 month stretch of unemployment.

I wanted to be a scientist since I first learned the meaning of the word. But after four years of stress, tears, and broken dreams, the only conviction my PhD left me with was that nothing on Earth could make me go back to the lab. Job hunting was a major chore, as most Bio-sector openings were for postdoc positions in research. In the end, my period of unemployment was extended by a complete lack of direction; for the first time in my life, I had no idea what to do next.

Depression began to creep in as I felt the weight of societal expectations on my shoulders: that of my parents, my family, my neighbors, and even strangers I met at weddings. It was so embarrassing to admit that after eight years of higher education, I had failed (FAILED in big, bold letters) to do what most school-leavers have achieved: to get a job.

Alḥamdulillāh for me, the story did not end there; rather, it was the lowest point from which the only way was up. My situation began to improve when I launched my first social media initiative, SignLabs.org. It was the catalyst that rapidly converted my time of aimless thumb-twiddling into a time of self-discovery, proving to be one of the most productive and creative periods of my life so far.

There were many positive consequences to working on SignLabs: first and foremost, I was helping the community – that's always a win, māshā'Allāh. Producing the promo videos reawakened my love for film-making, an activity I hadn't engaged in since I was a teenager. I also learnt that as much as I loved it, I wanted media and film to remain a hobby, and not a career.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It was this same confidence that allowed me to break societal norms once again: in March of 2009 I made the somewhat controversial decision to go back to university, to study for a government-sponsored Masters in Bioinformatics. Yes, a Masters after a PhD (!). As much fun as I was having with social media, I missed my first love, the sciences, and wanted to give them one last try to see if we could work past our differences.

Alḥamdulillāh, we did. Twelve months of hard work and copious amounts of pleading with Allāh led to my first, official, full-time job as a newly qualified Bioinformatician in 2010. I literally walked out of university one day and into my new work place the next. That is the power of du'ā'.

I am still benefiting from my 18 months as an un-employee. I am now less phased by positions of responsibility, both in and outside of the work place, and continue to collaborate on a number of community initiatives, māshā'Allāh. I also really, really enjoy my new job – a job that I only found having had the time and space to re-think my career path. Verily, after hardship comes ease, alḥamdulillāh.

A large part of the negative emotion we experience during unemployment comes from believing that we have let the world down somehow. That we are failures, and not worthy of success. Volunteering your skills, and indulging in creative pursuits during this trial can help you to feel useful and productive once again, whilst earning the blessing of Allāh through your efforts to serve Him. Use this time away from the usual 9-5 routine to improve yourself for the benefit of everyone. It is a silver lining that you cannot afford not to mine.

My Journey

Last year I was blessed by Allāh to move to Dallas for a year and attend Bayyinah's 10 month Dream program. After graduating from the program in July 2011, I returned to the pure land of New Jersey (pun intended) where I am currently studying at Montclair State University for a Business degree.

A few years back, I developed a desire to some how understand the meaning of the Qur'an. I developed an intense yearning to leave off everything for some time to go study Arabic abroad (at that time). In the process of looking for a place to study, I came across the Dream program in 2008 and intended to go when it was originally announced. That same year, Bayyinah announced that they wouldn't be starting due to logistical reasons, which lead me to research various institutions to study with in Egypt and other countries. This eventually started to pan out for me. I did my research about the areas, food, living, programs, etc available for an American student wishing to travel abroad, and knew what I wanted to study and how to go about it. I also had a friend who had previously traveled to Egypt and was willing to come study with me.

In early 2010, Bayyinah announced that the program would begin later in the Fall. After consulting my parents who felt more inclined for me to stay in the USA as opposed to traveling overseas, I applied to Dream and was accepted.  One year later,  I feel I made the right decision, alhamdulillah.

Studying in the USA vs. Studying Overseas

Though some may feel strongly about traveling overseas to study, I will present my personal conviction as to why I felt it was more beneficial for me to have studied in Bayyinah over studying overseas:

1. I had no prior experience in understanding or speaking Arabic. I felt this was a hand-crafted program for me which catered to my needs as a student of the language.
2. The faculty was diverse. We had linguists, scholars, and all around experienced people to learn from.
3. My studies were more focused. I had teachers and senior students on my back making sure I was doing my work, studying, and getting ready for weekly exams. Knowing myself and the way I study, I think I would have found myself in a shwarma shop, goofing off, or just not being serious if I went overseas.
4. The faculty was well versed in teaching the Qur'an in a way which is relevant to us as American Muslims. We went over passages in light of pressing issues such as feminism, Atheism, life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Makkah vs. Madinah, terrorism, extremism, down to how to conduct a beneficial conference, marriage in light of the Qur'an, and more. I don't think I could have gotten that in Egypt.
5. Translation and commentary of 10-12 'ajzaa (plural of Juz [which means part]) of the Qur'an. I believe that 100% of the student body of the class of 2011 would agree that this was the best part of the program, hands down. Again, I don't think I could've gotten that overseas.
6. Seeing friends and family 3-4 times in the year. Without a doubt, I probably couldn't have done that if I went overseas.
7. I would've had my classes cancelled because of revolutions spawning from fed-up populations who were overthrowing their dictators.

You Get Out What You Put In

The Dream Program is not any different from other learning institutions in this regard. They will provide you the keys to opening a gateway to learning the Qur'an, but will not put the keys into the door and open it for you. You will need to work and exert yourself to open this new pathway of seeking guidance from Allāh. Whether in the past or now, a teacher can only motivate a student to learn, but it is up to the student to use that motivation by making the right decisions through studying, memorizing what is given to them, and putting in the extra effort needed. As our teacher Shaykh Abdul Nasir said in the beginning days of the program, “Get off cruise control and hit the pedal to the metal.”

Just as universities have students who graduate Cum Laude, as well as those who graduate with barely a 2.5 GPA, those who attend yet don't learn anything, those who go on to graduate school, and those who attend and don't graduate, Dream is the same way. All students aren't equal, so we can not  judge them equally.

Curriculum and Teachers

Instead of me typing out the curriculum, the bulk of our studies are based off of this FAQ sheet. Give or take a few items, we fulfilled 75-85% of this curriculum, alhamdulillah. The objectives of each module are listed as well.

The bulk of the program was taught by Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan and Imam Zia Sheikh (May Allāh keep them steadfast and safe). Hafidh Wisam Sharieff taught a three-month tajweed/Quran fluency module which ran until December. Ustadha Menahal Begawala conducted a weekly session of root analysis of the Quran which ran throughout the year. Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda taught us classical texts, Ustadh Nuh Fares was the main instructor for Arabic conversation and literature. We also had a reporter from Al-Jazeera, Ustadh Bashir Ansari, who taught us media Arabic.

Brothers and Sisters Getting on Each Other's Nerves (In their respective genders—well, eh. Read below!)

We're a big ummah with many different personalities. It was like that for the companions and for us too. It wasn't until the Dream program I truly internalized the meaning of the hadith “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim” [Reported in Muslim]. If you have a younger/older brother/sister, you know how you guys knock heads sometimes, agree, disagree, fight, yell, make up, go out to eat, etc. Girls do the silent treatment thing when they get mad, etc (I'm not a girl so I can't really comment here). Basically, everyone knows each others' dirty laundry after living together. It's really important that as people who lived together that we don't broadcast each others' faults to the rest of the world. The Prophet (SAW) said, “A servant does not hide the faults of others in this world except that Allāh will hide his faults in the Hereafter” [Bukhari].

Family is defined by the fact you know each others' faults, yet persist in loving one another, being friends, and helping each other in becoming better Muslims. Don't EVER get sidetracked from this.

Conclusion

The program did have some hiccups throughout the year, but we all knew this wasn't going to be easy.  This is the only program in the West of its nature. Advice to current students, when hiccups happen, they eventually go away. Buckle down, stop complaining, and do what's asked of you. Look at what YOU can do better.

I wasn't the top student in the class, but I hope I wasn't the worst either.  None the less, there's always room for improvement. I could've invested my time better, spoken more Arabic on campus, and a whole ton of other stuff. But in  all honesty, I can keep putting up bullet points and commenting on them and keep speaking about how you need to be cognizant of going to the masjid for Fajr and 'Isha, studying hard, calling your parents daily, regarding your knowledge as sacred, understanding that respecting your teacher is what will bless your knowledge, etc. But for now, I want to keep it short. Be sincere in your intention to learn Allāh's book and he'll take care of you.

But I Can't Attend the Dream Program

It's okay. No, seriously. You'll be fine. Dream is a means to the goal, not the goal itself. If your intentions are clear to study the Arabic language to learn Allāh's book, then know that your intentions will take you where you want to go. I personally know of people in the United States who are fluent in the Arabic language simply by keeping up with a teacher whom they meet once a week, hanging out with others around them who speak classical Arabic, or by attending online classes. Don't wait for Bayyinah Dream to start your Arabic studies.

Arabic Resources

1. Qur'an Intensive – This is a 1-month summer intensive Bayyinah conducts usually in June. It requires the student to be present in Dallas for 1 month in which fundamental lessons in Quranic arabic are taught. The program is conducted and taught by Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda.
2. Shariah Program – This is a program known for their Quranic Arabic department. It's run by Mufti Yusuf Mullan, a graduate of Darul Uloom, Dewsbury, UK. Though I haven't taken the program myself, I've heard a lot of good things about it. I'd recommend starting here for Quranic Arabic.
3. Studio Arabiya – This program has a good spoken Arabic program. It's based out of Egypt through an American student at Azhar. They also have a Quranic Arabic department as well.
4. LQ Toronto – This website teaches the Madinah books with a video to go with each lesson. In my opinion, this is currently a trending curriculum to learning Arabic online. It's 100% free.
5. Qibla (Formerly SunniPath) – I know a lot of people who study Arabic with them online. Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan also has good things to say about them and their Quranic Arabic program.
6. Bayyinah E-Learning – The website is not complete yet, but there are still some very good resources on there. Also be sure to check out Ustadh Nouman's notes on the 10 day course on the Bayyinah website. Heck, you might as well listen to the podcasts while you're there too! :).
7. Islamic Online University – This is a program run by Dr. Bilal Phillips and Shaykh Ismail Kamdar (fellow MM author). They have an Islamic bachelor's degree program in which they teach Arabic grammar courses parallel to Islamic studies.

You can also read about a few of my experiences at Bayyinah Dream here. This was a blog which I started with the intention of blogging everyday. But due to time constraints and other priorities, I could only keep up for a few weeks.

I hope this post helped shed some light on the program. Feel free to post a question/comment below. I look forward to hearing from you all.

By the way, if you're part of the graduating class of  Bayyinah Dream 2012, just remember that we (Class of 2011) set a standard really high for you guys…and we're not expecting you to break it :)

Follow me on Twitter.

ISoc2Sick

A classic tip from King's College London graduate, Bushra:

“Seek out your university's Islamic society and SIGN UP! They will be your lifeline out in the scary world of student-hood.”

A lot of ISocs (a.k.a. MSAs for you Americans) have Freshers' (first-year) events in the first few weeks of term for new students. You can contact them before you start via their websites and Facebook pages (Google is your friend). If your university doesn't have an ISoc, try searching for Muslim cultural societies, like Pakistani, Indonesian, Malay, Arab, Somali, etc. Even if you're not from those cultures, they should still welcome you, and at the very least, show you where the best places to pray and eat halal are , inshā'Allāh.

It's also important to remember prayer room etiquette: give salām, smile, be friendly and welcoming to all. Just because someone doesn't seem as pious as you are (note: thinking you're better than others is a sure sign to check yourself!), or they pray a little differently than you, doesn't provide any excuse for you to give them the cold shoulder. You don't want your prickly nature to be the reason why someone doesn't offer their ṣalāh in congregation, or avoids attending circles of knowledge, or even regular ISoc socials, a'ūdhu billāh.

“Don't be judgmental- whether you are super-practicing or not. University will introduce you to many more different characters than those at school and will test your own patience by making you accommodate for these people. It will refine you.” – Bushra

Freeeeedom!

A warning from graduate of Imperial College London, iMuslim:

“Don't let your first taste of 'freedom' go to your head – especially true for those sisters like me, who were rolled up in cotton wool most of their young lives! Suddenly teachers and parents aren't there anymore to keep their beady eyes on you, and Shayṭān's whispers becomes more like Shayṭān on loudspeaker!”

Without raining on your parade, the amazing high of your first few weeks away from home can also be dangerous for your īmān. You don't realize how much of your Islam is dependent on the opinions of family and other authority figures until they disappear from view. Strangers, especially non-Muslims, aren't going to care whether you pray your ṣalāh, or 'eat of the good things'. Now it really is between you and Allāh; time to familiarize yourselves with His Attributes: As-Samee', the One who hears all; Al-Baseer, the One who sees all; and Al-'Alīm, the One who knows all. In conclusion: feel free to disobey Allāh in the place that He can't hear you, see you or know about it. {smile}

However, greater freedom and a strange place also has its advantages:

“Starting uni is a great opportunity to renew yourself. Often school can be a very suffocating place because there is so much peer pressure from your friends – and even the people you dislike! If you've always wanted to start praying, wear hijab, clean up your language, volunteer more, and so on, but your peers were holding you back, uni is the best time to break the chains, wipe the slate clean, and start again with a 'bismillah'.” – iMuslim

Friends Forever

Leaving behind childhood friends can be hard, especially if it takes time for you to make new ones. As lonely as you may feel at times, try not to fill that void in your heart, and the gap in your social calendar with just any company:

“Surround yourself with good people. Not just ISoc members, but also good friends on your course who may not be Muslim, but they live clean, and they respect you and your faith. If you left one bad group of 'friends' behind, don't fall into the same trap again now you've been given a second chance. The Prophet, ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 'A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so each one should consider whom he makes his friend.' [Sunan Abu Dāwūd]” – iMuslim

Campus Superstar

With all the fun of new friends, clubs, and societies, you may forget that university is actually for something called, STUDYING.

To help you along, here are some awesome study tips from University of California student, Meena, and University of Washington graduate, Safia:

“Don't give up the work habits that you established in high school. Most people have chiller schedules once they go to college and all forms of self-discipline and timeliness disappear. The hardest workers will do the best. Being “smart” isn't enough. Make iḥsān in everything you do – even school.” – Meena

“Be a known presence, not just in the university community at large, but also in the classroom. It's critical to visit during office hours and get to know your professors more. This is more general academic advice (of course, it's a da'wah opportunity also), but when you familiarize yourself with the teacher, it has many advantages:

• One, they'll know you're a serious student because you went beyond the classroom.
• Two, the more memorable you are to professors, the easier time you'll have getting the critical letters of recommendation that you will need for jobs and grad school.” – Safia

And a bucket load of academic advice from Wharton School of Business MBA grad, Amad:

• Remember why you are at college: to earn a degree. Keep the focus. It's only 3-4 years and if you put your mind into it, you'll reap the benefits
  for the rest of your life. You almost have to treat it as an extremely important investment that may dictate your career, your future family, and where you might live.
• Talk to senior students in your major. You can usually get great advice on professors, classes, and when you need something to lighten the load, professors who repeat the exam questions every year!
• It's not important just to “like” something to make a career out of it. If you want to be bread-earner, then you have choose something that will get you a job after you graduate. It affects what area you might be able to make a living in. For example, if you desire moving to the Middle East at one point in your life, scan the jobs that may be available in the region.

More practical advice can be found in this must-read MM post.

Don't Forget Your Roots

Our EIC, Hena – graduate of the University of New Orleans – keeps it real:

“Call your mom!! Dad, siblings, grandparents, and old friends too – if you call them and keep in touch, it is less anxiety for them and they won't think that you have changed.”

Absence makes the heart grow fonder – but also more forgetful! Don't let the excitement (and stress) of college life make you forget those who helped you to get there in the first place. That goes double for the One who provides for you in every way: Al-Razzāq. Keep in touch with your Creator via your daily worship, dhikr, and regularity of good deeds.

—

We hope that our sincere advice is of benefit to you. May you be successful in your studies, and enjoy every moment of this new and unique life experience, āmīn!
Feel free to share your own pearls of wisdom in the comments below.

Related Article: A Message to Anyone Interested in a College Degree

This year Ramadan coincides with back to school for many families. Realizing that many of our Muslim brothers and sisters do choose the public school system for their kids’ education, this is a resource to help make the best out of Ramadan in public school. This blessed month is such a vital part of being Muslim that enjoying it and sharing it with others, instead of hiding it, goes a long way in maintaining Muslim children’s Islamic identity while attending public school. After the will of Allāh, it begins with parental involvement in the lives of their children. You owe it to them.

Elementary School

Send in a letter or email to the school principal and the classroom teacher introducing your family and informing them about Ramadan. This sample letter to your child’s principal includes an offer to come into class and do a presentation on Ramadan.  You can correlate it to the phases of the moon in science especially for first and third graders as it is a part of the curriculum. One year, we did the phases of the moon craft and asked the kids to watch out for the waxing and waning of the moon throughout the month.

To preempt any misunderstanding, meet with the teacher and/or principal and show her your material. For example, the Adam’s World Ramadan DVD is a great resource, so I asked the classroom teacher to preview it beacuse she is more familiar with the school disctrict’s rules; she chose to show the second stanza onwards of the nasheed “We scanned the sky” by Dawud Wharnsby Ali – it was such a hit!! The kids kept asking her to replay it over and over again.

There are several great books on the subject that are perfect for sharing during story-time.

My First Ramadan by Karen Katz – this little book is perfect for preschoolers – 2nd graders and makes a great gift for the class library.  You can mix in a nasheed. It was amazing watching my daughter’s preschool class holding hands in a circle singing along to the chorus of ‘These are the days of 'Īd.”

Hamza’s First Fast by Asna Chaudhry – I read this book to my daughter’s third grade class, which led to a great discussion where kids of all different faiths talked about how their parents fast too. “Oooh, my mom fasts too, on Lent! Mine fasts to lose weight! We do it too on Yom Kippur” The kids gushed after I finished my presentation. My daughter loved being the center of attention and the discussion was alive for days.

The Three Muslim Festivals is a beautifully illustrated book that has stories of Muslim kids celebrating Ramadan, 'Īd ul Fitr and 'Īd al-Aḍḥa in a western country. It is a must-have for every Muslim kids’ library, and to educate others, gift it to your school library.

Print out some Ramadan activities for your kid’s classmates to color or crafts that they can make.

Send in 'Īd gifts – its great da'wah. It’s the beginning of the school year; it will break the ice and help your child feel special. Alhamdulillah, the children in our elementary school look forward to being in my kid’s classroom and remember that Zahrah doesn’t celebrate Christmas. They don’t have to be elaborate; pencils, dollar-store toys, chapsticks, a handmade rendering of their names in Arabic, etc. Attach a tag that says 'Īd Saeed/Happy 'Īd.

If your school has a newsletter and the administration wishes the students on their religious holidays then do ask for Muslim holidays to be acknowledged as well.  This little note started the beautiful tradition of wishing Muslim students Happy 'Īd in our elementary school.

For Middle/Junior High and High School Kids-

Fasting is fardh for most Muslim youth this age. A letter should be sent to the principal, homeroom teacher and especially the P.E. teacher. In this letter, explain your child’s physical and spiritual needs. This sample letter for high school can be adjusted to fit your family.With so many Muslim kids participating in team sports, coachs have to be included in this conversation. They are often concerned out of care and liability issues but a friendly letter or talk can ease their worries.

If your son wants to  follow the example of Muslim atheletes i.e. Hakeem Olajuwon and Husain Abdullah and man up to attending P.E.class, then let them. It is hard being the only guy in class sitting on the sidelines. (My maternal instinct says no way in this 102 degree weather, but  I give this advice based on talks with Muslim teens).

Make sure you make them get up for suhoor - if they are in the pratice of getting up for fajr this should be easy if not, use these tips for waking them up. Have them eat a healthy breakfast, say yes to the smoothies, multi-grain pancakes, oatmeal, and eggs their way. This is not the time to insist on a traditional meal from the home country. Keep them hydrated through the night with a water bottle designated just for your teen at their bedside.

Don’t go back to sleep after fajr – this is a great oppurtunity for family time. Read Quran together. It is one thing to tell your kids “Go read Quran” and quite another to read Quran to each other. They can also study at this time and do homework as well. This frees up the afternoons for dhikr, helping around the house, reading Quran and napping so your teenager is fresh for taraweeh.

Empower your children with information. When they are younger role-play with them so if friends ask them why they are fasting or if they are made fun of, they have some standard answers to give. For high school kids, have honest discussions about Ramadan, its virtues and its spiritual aspects; listen to or watch a lecture together.  They want their whys answered – so talk to them about the psychological aspects, about reflecting on their lives, about cleansing their spirit, about using this time to set up good habits for the rest of the  year.

Ask you teen to go to the library during lunch time or help out a teacher in class. Staying away from the cafeteria helps makes fasting easier.

Urge them to have a good attitude – “If you complain and say I am hungry – that’s just not good da'wah and frankly people don’t care or will urge you to eat.” Listening and sharing other Muslim youths’ stories on how they handle Ramadan in school can spark great dialogue between teens, their parents and siblings.

Teens want to see you “walk the walk not just talk the talk.” Organize an event with your teen, i.e. an interfaith iftar or initiate a recycling drive at the masjid. My friend N and her 17-year old daughter bond over long drives to the downtown Los Angeles to feed the homeless for Humanitarian Day.

Suggest your teen host a fast-a-thon and  donate the money to charity. I remember many non-Muslim dormies fascinated by the concept; who wanted to experience fasting. Hungry for Change is an interfaith initiative run by the Muslim Student Association, the fast-a-thon encourages non-Muslim students to fast for one day in the month of Ramadan. For each student who pledges to fast, local businesses make a donation. MSA students then donate the proceeds to a local food shelter or soup kitchen.

Bring them to the masjid - they might whine and not want to go but remember you are the parent. Once they are there, they meet friends, some they haven’t seen for the whole year. It is halal fun. A student of mine told me that the largest dance is held on the first Friday after her school starts. “If I go to the masjid instead of going to the dance, its halal fun, I won’t be bombarded with texts from school kids because they know I am at the masjid.” Even though it is unconventional, encourage this line of thinking, at this age, peer pressure is momentous. The idea is to make their moral compass swing back to Islam regardless of what is happening around them.

Let them invite their friends to the masjid. Many times, I have witnessed non-Muslim kids at our masjid experiencing what Ramadan is, first-hand. The young Muslims who invite them have the most wonderful look on their faces, an awesome pride often missing in Muslim youth.

The Muslim Council of Britain is very active; they issued guidelines about Ramadan based on parental concerns. Using these guidelines, Stoke-on-Trent city council has advised the Staffordshire schools not to hold swimming lessons in Ramadan and informed teachers that Muslim kids’ sleep schedules may be disrupted due to late taraweeh and early suhoor. Here in the U.S., Council of Islamic Organizations in the Greater Chicago has a resource guide on Muslim Cultural Education that parents can send in to their respective school districts. Committed parents and activism can bring about understanding and make your child’s Ramadan a positive and engaging experience even while attending public school.

“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it to others.”

Despite this hadith being so familiar to most of us, I can not tell you how many times I have heard a Quran teacher being referred to in derogatory terms – in some Muslim countries they are treated like servants, worse that the children's nanny. If you don’t respect them personally than please respect the Kalam of Allāh that they teach and give them honor based solely on the majesty of what they teach: the Quran.

The following is advice that Amir Al-Mu'mineen, Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allāh be pleased with him, gave: “From the rights of the learned over you is that you do not ask too many questions, you do not divulge his secrets, you do not backbite about him to anyone, you do not look for error in him, if he made a mistake you accept his excuse. It is incumbent upon you to respect and magnify him as long as he keeps Allāh's orders; you should not sit in front of him; if he has a need the people should race to serve him.”

In a hadith related by At-Tirmithi the Messenger of Allāh, (saw) said, “He is not of us who does not respect our elderly, is merciful to our youth, and knows the rights of those who teach us.”

Quran lessons are a combination of effort on behalf of the children, the teachers and the parents. Many of us have played one of these roles, I have played all three. I feel many times the teacher, the child or the parent want to say the following things to each other but don't out of humility, cultural taboos, or just can't be bothered. Hope this will spark some very important conversations.

What a Quran teacher wishes s/he could say to the parents:

1. We are human beings and your child’s teachers, please accord us more respect or at least the same that you would give to you child’s secular teachers.
2. If you are paying us, please treat it like any other bill and pay us promptly – we would not charge for this noble cause unless our homes did not run on this money.
3. Please be punctual – value our time, especially when we teach without payment as it is usually time we take away from our own families.
4. Inform us in advance if you are canceling the class.
5. Have the students use the bathroom and make wudu before lesson time as valuable time is wasted.
6. Have your child dress appropriately for Quran class – the adab is head/satr covered, no faces or bad language on clothing.
7. Please teach your children to respect us – if you call us names at home they will internalize this attitude, too.
8. Revise the lesson at home especially if your child only comes a few times a week.
9. If we have moved them back from one lesson to another it is usually because they haven’t completely learned the skills in that particular lesson.
10. Don’t be offended or take it personally if your child is not performing well and we talk to you about it – we have their best interests at heart.
11. If you are unhappy about anything please talk to us without your child present – it weakens our authority when your child knows that you do not respect us.
12. Many parents question why the child is spending so much time on the “Qaidah” or “Yassarnal Quran.” Let the teacher spend the time required to learn the foundations, if the makharij are messed up then it takes a lot of work to fix them at a later stage.

Since I am not a hifidh teacher, I asked what one would say to parents: These are thoughts of a hifdh teacher:

1. Please don’t tell me how to do my job…Memorizing a few surahs is not the same as memorizing the whole Quran.
2. I am a teacher, not a miracle worker.
3. Don’t enforce your selfish expectations on your children. Accept them for who they are and I guarantee they will perform better.
4. Please do this for the sake of Allāh and not as a status symbol. You're affecting your child’s education in ways you do not know.
5. Your child will not die because he has the sniffles…Don’t make him miss days unnecessarily.
6. If you don’t make sure they learn their lesson at night…..you can't expect them to become hafidh.
7. Do not make long term plans, they do not work…make short term realistic plans.
8. Please do exactly as I tell you, or else don’t blame me when things are not going well.
9. I love my students very much and we have a very deep bond…that is why I am hard on them; not because I have a bad temper.

What a child wishes s/he could tell their Quran teacher:

1. Please do not hit me if I do not know my lesson.
2. Smell good it is hard to learn when the teacher doesn’t smell good.
3. Tell me if I did a good job – it motivates me.
4. Please do not humiliate me in front of the whole class.
5. Urge me to read more even if I am being lazy, sometimes I just need an extra push.
6. Please do not take me back all the way to the beginning of the Qaidah or Quran if I have already done it – it is so discouraging – maybe you can review the past lessons AND give me new lessons too.
7. Tell me your rules upfront because every teacher is different and sometimes I may do something because my previous teachers let me.

To be fair and since I am a parent, I realize that there are all sorts of teachers – some good, some great and some…let's not go there. When looking for a person to teach Quran to your child check and make sure the teacher has proper tajweed. A good Quran teacher will not mind if you ask them to recite some verses to you or to someone who knows proper qiraat before choosing your child's teacher.  This shows that you are serious about your child's learning. Ask for references especially from parents in the locality. Ask if they teach individually or in a class format.

What a parent wishes the Quran teacher knew:

1. Please do not hit my child to enforce a lesson – they will start hating coming to your class and in turn have horrible memories associated with learning the beautiful book of Allāh.
2. Please give my child proper attention and inculcate the love of Allāh’s Book by being kind and gentle with them.
3. Keep us in the loop – let me know if my child is being rude or not performing properly.
4. As a parent I know my child better – please listen to our input about their learning styles or issues.
5. Encourage my child and reward him/her with positive feedback  especially when they did well or learnt their lesson properly.
6. Let us know in advance if you are canceling a class.
7. Please be sincere and do not treat this like a money-making scheme.

We would like to make a resource for our brothers and sisters looking for qualified Quran teachers for thier children. So if you have had a great teacher and would like to pay homage to them or refer a wonderful Quran teacher please leave their name or their school's name contact # ( with their permission) and location. May Allāh (SWT) make it a sadaqah jahriah for you.

—
With over 100,000 Muslim students in the UK now in higher education one would imagine that the future of Muslims in the UK, academically at least, would be extremely positive. Over the years the numbers of Muslim students attending university has rapidly progressed from a time when it was simply international students to a point now where the majority of Muslim students are British born and emerging as leaders of our communities. The importance of British Muslims who are able and willing to go to University cannot be understated.

Through education we are living those timeless teachings that we all know: “Read! In the name of your Lord”, “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?”, “Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for people who have understanding”. Education is at the heart of a change of condition and the fulfilment of a command; at an individual as well as a collective level.

Let us realise the particular immense value of higher education. Through educating our youth in Universities today we are insha’Allāh planting a seed, where we will grow Muslims who are successful leaders, business people, academics, politicians, community leaders, scientists and so forth. We will insha’Allāh through this develop individuals who are not only able to achieve and contribute from a level playing field in a country where many go to University, but who are also serious leaders able to tackle the challenges of our time and reform the world we live in.

The UK’s reputation for providing world-class higher education and facilities is clearly evident and is something that Muslim students have long been privileged with. That four out of the top 10 universities in the world were UK-based institutions, with Cambridge knocking off Harvard from the top spot for the first time since 2004, is telling. Moreover, there are thousands who seek to apply each year to the country’s top institutions. For Muslims in the UK, it has almost been taken for granted that we will naturally enter higher education.

However, this is where the good news stops. This could all change very quickly as government proposals seek to radically change the funding structures to higher education. As well as poorer communities, Muslim students in particular face being disproportionately affected by these proposals.

Amid the global financial crisis, universities in the UK face major cuts to teaching budgets and the former system of a maximum £3,290 per year tuition fee has been deemed unsustainable. Thus the UK’s coalition government last week announced proposals that universities could charge students £9,000 a year, meaning students studying a 3 year university course could end up with an average debt of at £25,000 – before even considering the cost of living at University. Of particular concern for Muslim students is that any student loans taken out to pay for the tuition fees would have to be paid with a market-rate of interest of 3% plus inflation. This differs to the current system where student-loan interest is linked to the rate of inflation.

These proposals are contrary to the pursuit of a fair and accessible education system and would increase social inequalities. The prospect of a £25,000 debt in university fees alone will not only serve to deter people from less advantaged backgrounds from applying to university, it will result in our highest quality institutions becoming financially ring-fenced, outside the reach of the majority of students.

Secondly, these proposed changes will have a devastating impact on Muslim and black and minority ethnic (BME) communities who are under-represented in Higher Education and already face a number of barriers towards participation. The encouragement of BME and Muslim participation in Higher Education is crucial, however, if enforced, these proposals will further discourage Muslim students, a significant number of whom are from deprived backgrounds, from continuing onto university.

Unlike the US, where high tuition fees are often subsidised by scholarships, the UK has only recently began charging students to enter into higher education, and as such, there are no effective systems or processes to ensure that the poor are not priced out of university. When one takes into consideration that the Muslim community is the poorest in the UK – nearly 50% of Pakistani and Bengali people in the UK are below the poverty line and are likely to earn less money than any other ethnic community – we can begin to see the dire ramifications of these new proposals.

Finally, this issue is compounded by the market rate of interest on student loans, the main form of “assistance” provided by the government. In the past there has been a discussion in the Muslim community as to whether such loans are permissible, as the interest due would be paid back at the rate of inflation. However, at a market rate of interest of 3% plus inflation this is the point-of-no-return for a number of Muslim students.

As responsible leaders we realise that this is an issue for communities around the UK; and in particular, we realise the impact on Muslim students. It is wrong for the poor to be priced out of education and face a debt of over £25,000 before even starting; education should be accessible to those able and willing, not just those that can afford it. And we realise that a market-rate of interest is no solution to rising debt-levels for students – interest is at the heart of social inequality and will only increase debt for all students. We cannot accept the door of higher education being shut to young Muslims.

Unless of course, we work hard to prevent these proposals from being passed.

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies has been working with a number of Muslim organisations, scholars, community leaders and the National Union of Students (NUS) to campaign against the proposals. The response has been fantastic, and in collaboration with the Muslim Council of Britain, we disseminated a khutbah to a number of Masaajid and university Islamic Societies on the topic.

We have had phenomenal support from a number of scholars and community leaders, including Abu Eesa Niamatullah, who realise the significance of these proposals and the negative impact this will have on the Muslim community. The response from Islamic Societies has been equally impressive and in conjunction with FOSIS, many Islamic Societies have signed a joint statement expressing concern with the HE funding review. FOSIS have also been working closely with the NUS, highlighting the issue to raise concerns with MPs, and worked to get as many students to attend a national demonstration that took place on 10th November 2010 in Central London.

We will continue to publicise the issue and work to campaign on behalf of Muslim students. We were interviewed by BBC News, and we hope that this is just the start, but we need your support!

What can you do?

It is vital that the Muslim community takes an active role in opposing these proposals and here are ways to get involved:

• Lobby your local MP, particularly Liberal Democrat MPs who were looking to scrap tuition fees altogether before the general election
• Raise awareness locally about the issue – for example, for a copy of the khutbah on education and higher education for Muslims please contact us (see below) – add this article to your Facebook or post-up Abu Eesa’s video
• If you are a local institution or mosque please sign our statement (email to below)
• Contact FOSIS and get involved in some of the initiatives we are running: vp.studentaffairs[@]fosis.org.uk

In grade 7, I asked my Islamic studies teacher why we were studying Seerah again. He replied that we are studying it with a bit more detail this time. It was the fourth time we were studying Seerah since grade one and I could not see the benefit in the repeat syllabus. Reflecting back now, no one took Islamic Studies very seriously when we were in school.

A good example was when the teacher told us to memorize the 99 names of Allāh for a test. I was the only boy in my class who did so, and even that I forgot a few months later. I am not proud of this but it shows something about the Islamic studies syllabus and how much students cared about it in a renowned Islamic school.

Many years later, I would discover that Islamic knowledge is beautiful and exciting to learn and my life would begin to revolve around it. This raises the question as to why the Islamic studies syllabus in school did not have the same effect on me?

I have identified some of the problems and proposed some solutions. Feel free to add your own:

Problems:

1. The syllabus is too basic

In terms of Arabic, from grade 1 till 12, we only studied an amount which we could have learned in one year outside of school. In fact, the children whom I teach Arabic to privately are way ahead of their classes in school and get an average of 99-100% on school tests. This shows that children have the potential to learn a lot more Arabic in a shorter space of time. The Arabic syllabus in schools needs to be revamped and it should not downplay the potential of students to grasp the language.

It is not just Arabic. The Aqeedah syllabus in some high schools where I have taught or studied is no different from that of the primary levels. Nothing interesting, new or even important is taught which the students have not already learned. When the syllabus is too simple and students feel they already know a subject, their minds switch off and they lose interest. Islam is so vast and so deep, why is it that we underestimate our children and teenagers and limit their access to knowledge to only the basics?

2. Content is not relevant

The Seerah and stories of the other prophets (peace be upon them all) are a great way to teach young Muslims valuable lessons and provide them with role models. Sadly, many institutes teach these stories as historical facts without delving into any significant lessons. The Seerah, in particular, is taught with  a focus on the wars and battles, while not much time is spent on the issues of relevance to Muslim youth in Western countries.

There is so much potential to bring these stories to life and make them relevant. Many scholars today like Abdul Hakim Quick and Tariq Ramadan have done this for adults, it's time we did this for children and teenagers as well. Not only would it make them more interested in history but it will increase their love for the prophets and companions.

3. Uninspiring teachers

Many Islamic studies teachers whom I have met just don't seem motivated to make a difference. Teaching Islamic studies is their job, their source of income and that's all. Such teachers cannot have an inspiring impact on their students. It is only those who teach Islam with passion, love, enthusiasm and the desire to ignite change that can motivate students and get them to love Islam and want to practice it. Parents and schools need to focus on such qualities when looking for teachers, and institutes need to work at training teachers who possess these qualities.

4. Teachers not being role models

Too often, I have seen Islamic studies teachers that make me cringe. Whether its  a sister who wears hijab in class but you spot her at the beach dressed in the most indecent of manners, or the Moulana who smokes with his students and makes inappropriate comments about their sisters. I have encountered many Islamic studies teachers whose practice is the opposite of what they preach.

Now nobody is perfect and everybody has their faults, and I also understand that there is a difference of opinion on some issues, but when a teacher openly teaches one thing in class but his/her practice in front of students is opposite to this, it causes students to lose respect for the teacher and the subject. As Islamic teachers, we need to be very careful regarding what we say, do or post on the internet.

Proposed Solutions

1. Choose the right syllabus

My favorite Islamic studies syllabus for teenagers is the four-part series written by Dr. Bilal Philips. However, this series is for Grade 7 onwards, I do not know of any syllabus for the grades below that which I am happy with, yet. That is why when I teach, I make my own syllabus as I go along. Any suggestions on a good syllabus for children?

2. Change of attitude

Teachers and parents should not look at Islamic education as a chore, job or burden. Islamic education is our chance to inspire a new generation to love, learn and live Islam. We cannot do this unless we are passionate about what we teach and the students feel this passion in our classes.

An average teacher imparts information, a true teacher inspires a generation!

3. Do not be afraid to do something different

Many times, teachers are discouraged from making any changes. They are put in a position in which, if they change something, it is seen as finding fault with their elders and their methods. Truth is that times change and our methods need to change in order to engage a new generation. Islam allows for such change and there is no one method of teaching which Islam restricts us to follow. As long as the means are permissible, it should be used as a tool in education.

Children and teenagers (even adults) enjoy lessons presented with nasheeds, videos, jokes and slideshows far more than straight up lectures. Teachers need to use their imagination and creativity and invent fun methods to impart their knowledge to others.

4. Goals need to be set

Islamic education should not be done just for the sake of it. There need to be goals in place, both short term and long term. Teachers and parents need to decide what they want children to accomplish by the age of nine, thirteen, seventeen, etc.

A lot of thought needs to be put into the priorities, objectives and purpose of Islamic education. When such goals are made, it becomes easier to see a bigger picture and thus formulate a syllabus that works towards such goals.

These are just some problems which I have observed as well as potential solutions. Feel free to add to this list or politely disagree.

“The particular characteristics of Arabic make it hard for the right hemisphere to be involved. When you are starting something new, there is a lot of [right hemisphere] involvement… The particular characteristics of Arabic make it hard for the right hemisphere to be involved.” - Source from BBC News

This study pokes a small but ‘scientific’ pin into the voodoo doll of Islam's world image. Because apparently it’s not enough that we smell bad, beat all four of our wives, threaten people with grammatically incorrect protest placards or terrorize the world, now our language is hard to read, too.

Also, hummus tastes funny.

As Muslims, we greet each other in Arabic, we read the Qur’an in Arabic, we memorize pages of it and copy out lines from it.  We have children completing the memorization of the entire Qur’an- 114 surahs in 30 sections – before they’re out of grade school, and on top of that we believe that God said:

وَلَقَدÙ' يَسَÙ'رÙ'نَا الÙ'قُرÙ'آنَ لِلذِÙ'ÙƒÙ'رِ فَهَلÙ' مِنÙ' مُدَÙ'كِرٍ ﴿القمر: ٤٠﴾

“And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?” (Quran 54:17)

So how should we feel about this study?  Warily amused, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.  It would seem that the study was fraught with many major errors, a few of which were very kindly pointed out in a recent article by Shaykh Riyad Nadwi, PhD, published by the Oxford Cross-Cultural Research Institute. The biggest of errors, it would seem, is the lack Arabic literacy of those conducting the study.

The preceding image is a sample stimuli sheet from the study itself, and anyone literate in Arabic, regardless of their fluency level, would have a hard time reading it.  Why?  Because it’s been written wrong.  Arabic script flows in the way that cursive does in English – with the letters of a word joining together according to set rules and forms that make it very clear which word each letter belongs in.  The joining is similar to the use of spaces that separates two words from another.  It also helps determine whether certain letters, like 'Ya', will act as consonants or vowels.

A 'Ya' in its initial form is a consonant. A 'Ya' in the middle of the word can make one of two vowel sounds – 'ee' or 'ai', and a 'Ya' at the end of a word most often makes the sound ‘ah’.  Even if you don’t read Arabic, a simple comparison between the following two words yield some very obvious differences.

The image on the right shows how the word is supposed to look, and the image on the left shows how it was displayed.  Given a few seconds, you could easily work out the word intended, but the students in the study were shown each incorrectly written word for only one-fifth of a second.

And if you still don’t get what the problem with the study is, then try writing out a few words in English, in all capital letters, removing the spaces and a majority of the vowels, and when university students can’t understand what you’ve written when flashed for less than a fifth of a second, tell them that English is hard.  And also, that beans on toast give people gas.

Linguists and university professors attacking our language can get in line behind the politicians, playwrights, journalists and news anchors attacking everything else about Islam.  And the whole lot of them should relax and work on something more useful like finding common ground.

Arabic is left-hemisphere specific?  How nice, so are German, Spanish, Urdu, and a minor language known as English.

People find Arabic difficult to learn? Well, they also struggle with math, chemistry, and tap dancing.

The publicity this study is receiving might be justified if it were a slow news day for the world.  After all, when was the last time the BBC talked about the distinctive right-brained approach used by people reading Kanji Japanese?  However, the prominence it’s receiving right now, when political issues are being heated to boiling point in the US about the Park 51 Mosque and Jesus-Loving Christians are advocating ‘Burn a Qur’an Day,’ this is simply in poor taste.

Finding long-term peace is contingent upon finding similarities instead of digging up differences, and common ground instead of bright new battlefields.  An academically unsound study conducted by a university located in a country locked in a bloody, 50+ year land-battle with Arabs that takes a linguistic jab at the language their holy book is written in – is not international news.  It's bad science and bad journalism.

Link to all Ramadan 2010 posts

This year Ramadan coincides with the first day of school for many families. Realizing that many of our Muslim brothers and sisters do choose the public school system for their kids' education, this is a resource to help make the best out of Ramadan in public school. This blessed month is such a vital part of being Muslim that enjoying it and sharing it with others, instead of hiding it, goes a long way in maintaining Muslim children’s Islamic identity while attending public school. After the will of Allāh, it begins with parental involvement in the lives of their children. You owe it to them.

Elementary School

Send in a letter or email to the school principal and the classroom teacher introducing your family and informing them about Ramadan. This sample letter to your child's principal includes an offer to come into class and do a presentation on Ramadan.  You can correlate it to the phases of the moon in science especially for first and third graders as it is a part of the curriculum. One year, we did the phases of the moon craft and asked the kids to watch out for the waxing and waning of the moon throughout the month.

To preempt any misunderstanding, meet with the teacher and/or principal and show her your material. For example, the Adam's World Ramadan DVD is a great resource, so I asked the classroom teacher to preview it beacuse she is more familiar with the school disctrict's rules; she chose to show the second stanza onwards of the nasheed “We scanned the sky” by Dawud Wharnsby Ali – it was such a hit!! The kids kept asking her to replay it over and over again.

There are several great books on the subject that are perfect for sharing during story-time.

My First Ramadan by Karen Katz – this little book is perfect for preschoolers – 2nd graders and makes a great gift for the class library.  You can mix in a nasheed. It was amazing watching my daughter's preschool class holding hands in a circle singing along to the chorus of 'These are the days of 'Īd.”

Hamza's First Fast by Asna Chaudhry – I read this book to my daughter's third grade class, which led to a great discussion where kids of all different faiths talked about how their parents fast too. “Oooh, my mom fasts too, on Lent! Mine fasts to lose weight! We do it too on Yom Kippur” The kids gushed after I finished my presentation. My daughter loved being the center of attention and the discussion was alive for days.

The Three Muslim Festivals is a beautifully illustrated book that has stories of Muslim kids celebrating Ramadan, 'Īd ul Fitr and 'Īd al-Aḍḥa in a western country. It is a must-have for every Muslim kids' library, and to educate others, gift it to your school library.

Print out some Ramadan activities for your kid’s classmates to color or crafts that they can make.

Send in 'Īd gifts – its great dawah. It’s the beginning of the school year; it will break the ice and help your child feel special. Alhamdulillah, the children in our elementary school look forward to being in my kid’s classroom and remember that Zahrah doesn’t celebrate Christmas. They don’t have to be elaborate; pencils, dollar-store toys, chapsticks, a handmade rendering of their names in Arabic, etc. Attach a tag that says 'Īd Saeed/Happy 'Īd.

If your school has a newsletter and the administration wishes the students on their religious holidays then do ask for Muslim holdays to be acknowledged as well.  This little note started the beautiful tradition of wishing Muslim students Happy 'Īd in our elementary school.

For Middle/Junior High and High School Kids-

Fasting is fardh for most Muslim youth this age. A letter should be sent to the principal, homeroom teacher and especially the P.E. teacher. In this letter, explain your child's physical and spiritual needs. This sample letter for high school can be adjusted to fit your family.With so many Muslim kids participating in team sports, coachs have to be included in this conversation. They are often concerned out of care and liability issues but a friendly letter or talk can ease their worries.

If your son wants to  follow the example of Muslim atheletes i.e. Hakeem Olajuwon and Husain Abdullah and man up to attending P.E.class, then let them. It is hard being the only guy in class sitting on the sidelines. (My maternal instinct says no way in this 102 degree weather, but  I give this advice based on talks with Muslim teens).

Make sure you make them get up for suhoor - if they are in the pratice of getting up for fajr this should be easy if not, use these tips for waking them up. Have them eat a healthy breakfast, say yes to the smoothies, multi-grain pancakes, oatmeal, and eggs their way. This is not the time to insist on a traditional meal from the home country. Keep them hydrated through the night with a water bottle designated just for your teen at their bedside.

Don’t go back to sleep after fajr – this is a great oppurtunity for family time. Read Quran together. It is one thing to tell your kids “Go read Quran” and quite another to read Quran to each other. They can also study at this time and do homework as well. This frees up the afternoons for dhikr, helping around the house, reading Quran and napping so your teenager is fresh for taraweeh.

Empower your children with information. When they are younger role-play with them so if friends ask them why they are fasting or if they are made fun of, they have some standard answers to give. For high school kids, have honest discussions about Ramadan, its virtues and its spiritual aspects; listen to or watch a lecture together.  They want their whys answered – so talk to them about the psychological aspects, about reflecting on their lives, about cleansing their spirit, about using this time to set up good habits for the rest of the  year.

Ask you teen to go to the library during lunch time or help out a teacher in class. Staying away from the cafeteria helps makes fasting easier.

Urge them to have a good attitude – “If you complain and say I am hungry – that’s just not good dawah and frankly people don’t care or will urge you to eat.” Listening and sharing other Muslim youths’ stories on how they handle Ramadan in school can spark great dialogue between teens, their parents and siblings.

Teens want to see you “walk the walk not just talk the talk.” Organize an event with your teen, i.e. an interfaith iftar or initiate a recycling drive at the masjid. My friend N and her 17-year old daughter bond over long drives to the downtown Los Angeles to feed the homeless for Humanitarian Day.

Suggest your teen host a fast-a-thon and  donate the money to charity. I remember many non-Muslim dormies fascinated by the concept; who wanted to experience fasting. Hungry for Change is an interfaith initiative run by the Muslim Student Association, the fast-a-thon encourages non-Muslim students to fast for one day in the month of Ramadan. For each student who pledges to fast, local businesses make a donation. MSA students then donate the proceeds to a local food shelter or soup kitchen.

Bring them to the masjid - they might whine and not want to go but remember you are the parent. Once they are there, they meet friends, some they haven't seen for the whole year. It is halal fun. A student of mine told me that the largest dance is held on the first Friday after her school starts. “If I go to the masjid instead of going to the dance, its halal fun, I won't be bombarded with texts from school kids because they know I am at the masjid.” Even though it is unconventional, encourage this line of thinking, at this age, peer pressure is momentous. The idea is to make their moral compass swing back to Islam regardless of what is happening around them.

Let them invite their friends to the masjid. Many times, I have witnessed non-Muslim kids at our masjid experiencing what Ramadan is, first-hand. The young Muslims who invite them have the most wonderful look on their faces, an awesome pride often missing in Muslim youth.

The Muslim Council of Britain is very active; they issued guidelines about Ramadan based on parental concerns. Using these guidelines, Stoke-on-Trent city council has advised the Staffordshire schools not to hold swimming lessons in Ramadan and informed teachers that Muslim kids’ sleep schedules may be disrupted due to late taraweeh and early suhoor. Here in the U.S., Council of Islamic Organizations in the Greater Chicago has a resource guide on Muslim Cultural Education that parents can send in to their respective school districts. Committed parents and activism can bring about understanding and make your child's Ramadan a positive and engaging experience even while attending public school.

Safia was 4 years old when, by the mercy of Allāh, she was able to flee with my family from the ravaging civil war that took place in Somalia in the early 90′s. 17 years later she's proud to be a resident of the Pacific North West, in the beautiful city of Seattle, where the community is trying to revive AlMaghrib's former Qabeelat Ruhma. She has degrees in Psychology and Political Science, and is currently involved in Political Science research. Inshā'Allāh she would like to join the academic discourse in the fields of International Relations or American government because we are in need of more Muslim voices on college campuses. Krispy Cream and coffee are her favorite pastimes.

This time of year many Muslim students across the country graduate from colleges and universities. A lot of them sit through commencement speeches that are peppered with words of wisdom, reflection, and advice for life. Particularly, for undergraduate students commencement speeches mark the end of one's formal education (unless they will be continuing on to graduate school) and the progression into the “real world.” Yet, with all the precious gems of good natured advice that are weaved throughout these speeches, hardly will you find words of reflection on the purpose of life and the significance of an educational degree in this endeavor. Understandably, most higher education institutions in the US are secular, so one shouldn’t expect commencement speeches that are laced with deep philosophical issues. I, myself having sat through several commencement speeches this spring, including my own, found that I was yearning to have things put into perspective.

What I came across in these speeches is that they were often structured by a theme, be it failure, imagination, legacy of women’s rights struggle, dance, or psychology. The question that kept coming to mind was what would a commencement speech be like if a Muslim student were graduating from a fully accredited Islamic University right here in the US? inshā'Allāh, I believe that dream can one day be realized. But back to those speeches I had to sit through. As many other students will agree, the life advice found in these speeches, even as delivered by non-Muslims are often useful things to keep in mind as we enter an ever more challenging world. But as Muslims our entire religion is a code of ethics, and we cannot talk about advice and inspiration without acknowledging our link to our Creator. I came to the conclusion that the best commencement speech has already been delivered. It was delivered 1400 years ago by the best human being to walk this earth. In his final sermon, the Prophet Muhammad confirmed the delivery of his message, and he gave us true gems of wisdom that are essential for the Muslim throughout the journey of life. No one else can do it as succinctly as he. Below I share with you some of these timeless reminders from his last sermon that I’m sure graduates can also reflect on.

“O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.”

“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.”

“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you…Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.”

“O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allāh, say your five daily prayers (ṣalāh), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.”

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”

“So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, No Prophet or Apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.”

Now THAT is what I call a commencement speech for all time. I’ve selected only a few passages from the Messenger's last sermon, but understand how comprehensive these brief words are. In the sermon he (SAW) reinforces for us the essentials of our living – following the Quran and his Sunnah. Furthermore he (SAW) covers the many forms of injustice that are perpetrated through acts of aggression, finance, relations with women and in interracial conflict. What is even more riveting about this sermon is that it is not bound by time or borders. Truly, the advice found in the sermon is one that the Muslim should keep in mind at any stage in life.

A college degree may not be worth what it was a couple of decades ago, but with it Muslim students are joining the ranks of an elite community, in a country where more people continue to obtain a bachelors degree. Some of this year's graduates are going to continue education in professional schools (i.e. in medicine, law, pharmacy, etc.), others are going to graduate school (i.e. to earn a Masters degree, PhD, etc.), and the final group of graduates are going to hunker down in their parents home to ride out the recession and weather a bad job market. Whatever the scenario, upon completion of a degree the first thing a Muslim should say is “Alhamdulilah” – all praise is due to Allāh, without whom we could not have accomplished anything. Thereafter, as the famous saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility.” As cliché as it sounds, knowledge is power, and with certainty most of us are leaving college having learned information or skills that are important for living. The next step is to use those skills to serve our communities. One thing I learned in my undergraduate experience is that universities and colleges are institutions that hold a lot of influence in the lives of ordinary citizens. Professors and lecturers have the ability to shape opinion and set the discourse on crucial issues, many of which have to do with Islam and Muslims. This is one reason why I urge Muslims to pursue positions in higher education – if we are not setting the narrative, it gets filled in a vacuum. A career in academia is not for everyone, and speaking from a podium in a lecture hall is not the only way to set the agenda concerning Muslim affairs. But whatever Muslim graduates decide to do, be a mentor. Help others in your community to navigate the currents of college life and inform them of the vast array of skills that the Ummah needs. I encourage Muslim students who are currently in college or college-bound to look beyond the confines of a career in professional fields such as medicine and law. Allāh knows we need a lot of Muslim and Muslimah doctors and lawyers, but lets also invest in Muslim oceanographers, anthropologists and sociologists. All I’m saying is don’t limit yourself, explore your options and tailor that to your skill set. And whatever you do, don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments. Congratulations Muslim graduates of 2010!