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The Many Virtues of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa

Many people mistake Al-Masjid A-Aqsa with the “Dome Of The Rock Mosque”, however it is an entire sacred sanctuary! It is actually a vast piece of land which includes many buildings and facilities. These facilities vary between prayers halls, schools, museums, and graves. It is held in a great status in Islam for its many virtues. Here are a few of these virtues..

1- It is where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) began his Israa’ and Mi’raj journey.

2- It is the place where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) led the Prophets (as) in prayer.

3- It was the second mosque to be built on earth.

4- Allah blessed and mentioned it in the Holy Quran numerous times.

5- Praying in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa is equivalent to 250 prayers anywhere else.
(Except for Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid An-Nabawi)

6- Prophet Lout and Prophet Ibrahim (as) immigrated to Quds after leaving their hometowns.

7- Prophet Musa (as) was buried there.

15 Tips To Attain Great Mental Health

Maintaining good mental health boosts our confidence and makes us happy across different aspects of life. It is so easy to get lost in the Thicke of life, and we forget to take some time out to nurture ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Better mental health boosts our performance as individuals in everything we do, as parents, spouses, or even in the workplace. For example, exercising regularly releases negative energy in our bodies and promotes the secretion of lots of happy hormones. These 15 tips are centered around being mindful of your own needs.

1- Get plenty of sunlight.
2- Eat well.
3- Get a good night’s rest.
4- Don’t forget your prayers.
5- Learn how to connect with others.
6- Surround yourself with positive people.
7- Exercise daily.
8- Manage stress effectively.
9- Be helpful to others.
10- Don’t feel ashamed of prioritizing your needs.
11- Do the things you love.
12- Avoid drugs and alcohol.
13- Cut out bad or unhealthy habits.
14- Take up a new hobby.
15- Give yourself time.

It is also important to know that sometimes, putting yourself first is good for everyone else in your life, not just YOU.

World Animal Day!

As always, Islam has always called for kindness in everything we do; especially when it comes to treating a weaker creature; let it be a human, an animal, or even a plant. Islam commands Muslims to treat animals with compassion, and it forbids abusing them. In numerous Qur’anic verses and Hadiths, it was clarified that animals should be treated with dignity and due care. These aspects of kindness towards animals were reflected in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s Hadith “A good deed done to an animal is just as noble as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is just as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being.”.

Not only that, but in Surat Al-An’am, Allah swt shows us that there is a lot of similarity between human and animal communities, with an intent to highlight that being human doesn’t make us much different, and that we should give due respect to all creatures.

May Allah swt soften our hearts and bless us with compassion and mercy ❤

6 Tips on how to support Alzheimer’s patients

Some of the symptoms include:
– Repeating the same sentences or questions repeatedly.
– Forgetting appointments or recent conversations.
– Forgetting the names of close people.
– Having trouble finding words.
– Being unaware of their place.
– Losing track of time.
– Having trouble remembering to carry out their daily routine.
– Sudden unexplained mood swings.
– Distrusting others.
– Depression and fear, that may lead to violence.

Little changes in how you deal with someone with Alzheimer’s can help make them feel more at ease. These tips are a good example for how we can help and support them:1- Have calm, clear, and slow conversations so they can comprehend easily.
2- Applying a simple daily routine makes things more familiar for them.
3- Be patient and gentle with them.
4- Offer them a relaxing atmosphere, free of stress or triggers.
5- Surround them with family and friends.
6- Let them feel your love and support.

5 Lessons from Prophet Muhammad’s Life

The twelfth of Rabi’ Al-Awwal marks the day on which the best of all mankind was born, Prophet Muhammad! He (pbuh) was known to be a remarkable person, so much so, that even non-Muslim scholars and historians have acknowledged him as an exceptional person. There are countless stories about the form of life that Prophet Muhammad embraced, how he treated his companions and those around him, and how he conveyed to the entire world the purest and best of morals. Speaking of non-Muslim scholars and historians, Gandhiji had said, “I wanted to know the best of the life of one (Muhammad) who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind. I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days, it was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission.  

Here are 5 of many lessons to learn from the richness of Prophet Muhammad’s character and life. May Allah grant us all the honor,  joy, and pleasure of joining the Prophet in Al-Jannah insha’Allah <3

1- Honesty

Before his Prophet-hood, Prophet Muhammad was known as Al-Sadeq Al-Ameen (the honest and trustworthy) by all people. Although, back at this time, merchants used to go after more profit even if it involved lying to or deceiving their customers, Prophet Muhammad was loved by everyone for his honesty and integrity, whether it came to his life affairs or trades.

2- Humbleness

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the best example for humbleness. He ate what his people ate and wore what they wore. He (pbuh) forgave his enemies and those who hurt and spread lies about him. He treated everyone with respect, his friends, family, followers, and even enemies.

3- Consistency

His dedication in leading Assayeda Khadija’s massive trade and most importantly in promoting and spreading Allah’s message despite the hardships he had to face doing so was the most inspiring thing ever. He was always driven by his faith in Allah (swt).

4- Listening to other people’s advice

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) always listened to the advice and opinions of his companions. This is called Shura, and Prophet Muhammad relied on it before going through major decisions that affect the Muslim Ummah. This strengthened his leadership and resulted in the optimum decision-making.

5- Resourcefulness

Prophet Muhammad was keen on learning new things and finding other perspectives on different matters. He (pbuh) strived so he can put everything to good use, with the guidance of Allah (swt). He believed that knowledge brings us closer to the Almighty. He even encouraged all Muslims to attain knowledge and learn new information.

These are just a few of Prophet Muhammad’s beautiful traits, ones that made him the best man who has ever lived. For Muslims, he (pbuh) is the last and most perfect Prophet and for non-Muslims, he is considered as a respected, admirable, and eloquent person who has millions of people following his Sunnah up to this day, Alhamdulilah.

May we all learn from his life lessons and be granted the blessing of applying it and following in his footsteps, amen <3