Sila Connections

The contemporary discomfort in America with referring to people as “poor” comes as a liberal reaction against Protestant & capitalist trends that view those who cannot make ends meet as being lazy or incompetent. People who dislike this judgmental attitude will avoid even using the term “poor” in intellectual discussions, resorting to softer terms like “socioeconomic difference” in order to er...

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  said: “The worst food is that of a walima to which the rich are invited while the poor are excluded.” (Bukhari 5177) We have seen from our elders the desire to include all kinds of people in the great celebrations of their lives. Many of them had a Prophetic sentiment at the heart of their actions: they did not want their gatherings to become exclusive to only the rich and...

There are numerous Prophetic teachings ( ahadith ) that emphasize the duty of spouses to fulfill each other’s intimate needs. When taken together, what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us about this matter is sensitive, comprehensive, and extremely helpful in preserving the sanctity of marriage and the feeling of tender care ( mawadda and rahma (Q 30:21)) that is so important in a marital relationshi...

We should give charity and do good for others for their sake . That is from spiritual excellence ( ihsan )—to want for your brother what you want for yourself. But not everyone can live up to that high level of ethics. For those who cannot, there is still Prophetic guidance that compels one to do good in the world. If I do good or avoid harming others only for the sake of my own benefit in the Aft...

“I’d rather be understood than forgiven” is an unusual sentiment, but one that many modern people can relate to. Forgiveness as a concept and as an aspiration has lost its allure in contemporary society. However, in more religious societies of the past, it was an obvious thing to aspire toward. Unfortunately, when we do not see forgiveness as a moral value in society, our relationships with each o...

Having to care for kids, to cook and feed everyone their iftar and suhur meals, and then not being able to pray and fast during the days of menstruation…These factors lead some women to feel as if they are missing the blessings and benefits of Ramadan. The idea that women simply cannot catch up with men is so engrained in the modern Western mind that some modernist type Muslim activists will even...

It’s one thing to accept the rules, but it is another to actually experience how much they work in our favor. As Muslims, it’s important to start off with an Obedience Mindset (as we covered in Episode 11). Once we have that down, the implementation of the rules of the Shariah can bring more and more peace and confidence to one’s heart. This is because one starts to see how Allah Most High really...

We use many techniques to motivate children toward positive actions and behaviors. However, when teaching young people to problem solve, we should make an intentional effort to establish ubudiya and train a child to make their intentions for Allah.   Knowing the practical benefits of our actions is helpful for young people. And understanding how our good deeds benefit others is a motivating factor...

“ La yukallif Allah illa wus‘aha .” We won’t be burdened with religious duties that are too much for us to bear. Allah Most High has promised us that in the Quran. But sometimes our duties at home and within our families become too much, and those are religious duties too! Maybe it’s just juggling all the tasks needed to raise one’s kids right, or the harder challenge of staying in a bad marriage…...

Family, society and relationships are fundamentally determined by how we think about sexuality. When we change the way we think about the sexual aspect of the human being, it affects how we think about marriage, gender roles, and a host of other critically important social institutions. Due to its religious and political history, Western civilization only allows for one moral extreme or the other...

It’s common to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we carry on our plate. Surprisingly, a major source of simplification is a simple trick of the mind. When we shift focus, by making Jannah our goal and the Shariah our standard for personal assessment, things become a lot easier. TEXT IN FOCUS: أوجب عليك خدمته، وما أوجب عليك إلا دخول جنته “He has made obligatory for you His service. And...

There’s a lot of confusion and talk regarding masculinity these days. In Islam, masculinity is tied strongly to a man’s spending. There are Islamic guidelines for what and how a man should spend, and upon what and whom he should spend it. Doing it right makes him a man of real worth. With women claiming independence, and with religious practice becoming rigidly defined, it is harder for men to see...

The rulings regarding inheritance within the Shariah are fixed and clear, but few Muslims today follow them. In this episode, we reflect on how the inheritance laws of Islam help keep families together, even after death. TEXT IN FOCUS: Narrated Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (RA): The Prophet ﷺ  came to visit me in my sick illness in the year of the Final, Farewell Pilgrimage when the illness was intense [su...

DESCRIPTION : Life is complicated enough as it is. Today’s emphasis on finding the “real You” just makes things even more stressful. Alhamdulillah as Muslims, we have a Prophetic legacy to rely on that gives us direction and helps us find meaning in even life’s most mundane tasks. By finding purpose beyond ourselves, we find relief and fulfillment, even when times look tough. TEXT IN FOCUS: عن كعب...

This episode offers the phrase “sexual responsibility” as a value-affirming alternative to the trending phrase “spiritual abuse.” When a community uses the phrase “sexual responsibility” to affirm that it upholds appropriate, Godconscious behavior for itself and its community members, it sends a statement that is clear, positive, and self-confident. On the other hand, when the phrase “spiritual ab...

Loneliness plagues a lot of people today, and our social habits aren’t helping. But a good social life starts with the simplest steps. This episode focuses in on four, almost-too-simple-looking, tips for how to build a healthier social existence. When these prophetic tips are implemented, they help both the individual and the collective society get healthy and stay strong—physically, emotionally,...

This episode explores societal perceptions of aging, focusing on cultural differences between Western and Islamic perspectives. Key topics include the role of women as they age, the concept of khidma in Islamic culture, and the spiritual significance of aging. It also examines the impact of individualism on family dynamics and the challenges of self-reliance in old age. TEXT IN FOCUS: You have let...

This episode explores the role of emotional intelligence and vulnerability in marital relationships, using examples from the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Key topics include the balance of tenderness and firmness, the concept of 'Naz,' and the impact of modern individualism on vulnerability. The discussion emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space in relationships and the role of...