Muslim Youth Musings

Islam: A Religion of Zero Tolerance

More than 1400 years ago, a system of equality, justice, and tolerance was established. It came with a universal message that all men were created equal. It declared that there would be no compulsion in religion. And it stated that people from all walks of life should come to know one another so as...

26 August 2010 | 2 Comments

The ABC’s of This Ramadan

As a Muslim youth, Ramadan rolls around every year, and it means certain things to each of us. For some, it means being able to go to the Masjid more often. For others, our families come together, and for some, it means a much needed diet. However, it seems that as each year passes,...

12 August 2010 | 0 Comments

IlmSummit Day 2: From Madinah To Yale

Saturday, July 25, 2010 IlmSummit, Houston, Texas Today was our first full day at IlmSummit, and I have to say, this was pretty intense. My roommate Hassan Rasool (a brother from Wisconsin) and I woke up at around 5:40am and quickly got ready for Fajr. We got to the hotel lobby in time Alhamdulillah,...

25 July 2010 | 3 Comments

IlmSummit Day 1: The Rihlah

Editor’s Note: Alhamdulillah, we are excited to present that one of our MYM writers, Arif Kabir, will be live blogging from IlmSummit! Insha’Allah, for each day, he will be posting a brief recap of the day’s proceedings. You can view all of the IlmSummit posts over here. Friday, July 23, 2010 IlmSummit, Houston, Texas...

23 July 2010 | 4 Comments

Earthquake Aftershock

It was almost 5:00 am and I was still in bed. The steady beep of my alarm clock was a sound I’d been pushing to the back of my head for nearly an hour… a reminder that I needed to get up and pray now. Yet, I was still drifting in and out of...

23 July 2010 | 3 Comments

Encounter With Muslim Superheroes

While over a friend’s house, we began to watch The Incredible Hulk. The movie itself wasn’t too impressive, but it was rather interesting to see other superheroes like Iron Man subtly weave their way into this movie. I mentioned this to my friends on our way to the Masjid for the Maghrib Salah, and...

30 June 2010 | 3 Comments

A Pure Mind

Do you get sins based on your thoughts? Two years ago, I witnessed this question being posed to Shaykh Yasir Qadhi in an AlMaghrib seminar. Fortunately, the answer was in the negative and that one does not get sinned based on their thoughts except when in Makkah, Alhamdulillah. I had left it at that...

19 April 2010 | 7 Comments

Towards Unity

The chorus was sung at MIST 2008 (please excuse the screaming crowd): (Verse one) I can’t escape, its everywhere I go In the news in the paper, in all that I know From state to state, shore to shore Plagued to the heart, down to the core Undivided and conquered we’re all torn apart...

16 April 2010 | 3 Comments

A Lifelong Struggle

When I first joined law school, we had a small seminar with the director who asked us various questions. One of them turned out to deal with the existence of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. I found that quite bizarre, because this was a law school that I got myself enrolled into, not a school...

13 April 2010 | 11 Comments

Modesty In My Soul

The law set in life for me to live by, or a trait instilled by the Most High Though it’s not something you can easily find A characteristic to instill, A duty to fulfill, Doing the right thing due to Allah’s will Noticed by my peculiarity, as I live in a foreign country, But...

10 April 2010 | 5 Comments

Only One Of You

Only One Of You They say we lack in heroes Shaytaan says we’re in need of dineros Not a word, but I know what you are thinking He’s too much this, not enough that, he’s a weakling Do you set yourself on automatic mode They set you aperture and shutter speed, do as you’re...

07 April 2010 | 10 Comments

The Extra Mile

Ever wondered what was the difference between an ordinary person and an extraordinary person? It’s just that one remained ordinary, while the other went the extra mile, making him extraordinary. Sounds too simple to be true? Take a quick look at the famous personalities around us. Whether they are famous in the field of...

04 April 2010 | 10 Comments

Get Your Game On

Ever since I was young, my parents never allowed me to get a game console. Never. Whether it be Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Sega Genesis, PS1, PS2, PS3, XBox, Xbox 360, or anything else, I was never allowed to play these at home. This made it really hard while in elementary and middle...

01 April 2010 | 12 Comments

A Bout of Epiphany

“ARGH!!! Not again!!” I grunted with all my strength as I took the thermometer out of my mouth and read the temperature. It was 99.8° F and rising. For the second time this month, I was sick. Two weeks ago, it was the same story. A fever. Clogged nose. Itchy throat. Rib cracking cough....

31 March 2010 | 7 Comments

Surviving The Bomb Blast

I was in the car with my mum and my brother while we were out for shopping. Suddenly, an explosion took place. Our car was trapped in the parking lot, and I knew that was the end. I read the Kalimah and Ayatul Kursi, and I had this overwhelming feeling that I was going...

30 March 2010 | 18 Comments

How Do I Get The Youth To Listen?

This is a question which has been lingering in the minds of many “Islamically-aware” youth in the Muslim community for a very long time. They may be the main volunteers in their Masjid, be active in their MSA, but cannot contemplate at why non-religious Muslim youth do not start practicing Islam after they tell...

29 March 2010 | 11 Comments

The iPod Complex

I walk into the Masjid and meet two youth (only a year or two younger than me). While waiting for our class to begin, I take out my iPod Touch to read some Qur’an. However, one of the two kids eagerly asks if he could see it, pretty please. I allow him. He, along...

28 March 2010 | 12 Comments