The Power of Gratitude: How Islamic Prayer Can Improve Your Day Islam is a religion that emphasizes the importance of remembrance of God in all aspects of life. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to say a prayer on almost every occasion such as eating, drinking, sleeping, traveling, and entering one’s home. This article will highlight the psychological and mental benefits of one such supplication, the one recited when one wakes up. Islamic Prayer Upon Waking: A Reminder of Death and Resurrection Muslims are encouraged to begin each day with a prayer that says “All thanks are due to God who gave us life after death and to Him is the resurrection.” (Sahih Bukhari). This prayer highlights the importance of recognizing that sleep is a form of temporary death and that waking up in the morning is a new lease on life. It also reminds us of the ultimate reality of death and resurrection, and how every day is a rehearsal for the day of judgment. What is similarly important is that it encourages Muslims to start the day with a prayer of gratitude. The first words that are uttered upon waking up, when one’s eyes are barely open, is “Thanks to God.” This has a tremendous impact on one’s psychology. It sets the tone for the rest of the day and helps to cultivate a positive mindset. Gratitude is a powerful psychological tool that has been shown to improve well-being, increase resilience, and enhance interpersonal relationships. How Gratitude Can Better Your Mental and Physical Health Research has shown that practicing gratitude can increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which are neurotransmitters associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness. Gratitude can also reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which is associated with a range of negative health outcomes, including anxiety and depression. Gratefulness is an antidote to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and stress. When we express gratitude, we shift our attention from what we lack to what we have, and this shift in mindset can have a powerful effect on our overall outlook on life. Grateful people are more optimistic, have better relationships, and are more resilient in the face of adversity. Gratitude and Patience: The Keys to a Happy Life The reality is that everyone has some kind of problem in their life. When we wake up, we often think of what we have to do that day or the challenge we have to overcome. However, Islam teaches us to be grateful not just for the blessings we receive, but also for the challenges and difficulties we face. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim) Gratitude and patience are important in all circumstances, whether they are good or bad. It reminds us that challenges are opportunities for growth and development and that even in difficult times, there is always something to be grateful for, even things we often take for granted, such as the fact that we wake up each day. Practicing Gratitude Regularly Can Lead to a More Meaningful Existence Starting the day with a prayer of gratitude is an important practice in Islam that has both psychological and spiritual benefits. It reminds us of the temporary nature of life and the ultimate reality of death and resurrection. It also helps to cultivate a positive mindset and increase feelings of happiness and well-being. Gratitude is a powerful tool that can be used to enhance all areas of our lives, and practicing it regularly can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence. The Prophet Muhammad’s Teachings on the Purpose of Life Ultimately, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are full of wisdom that has real-world benefits. The act of sleeping and waking up is a rehearsal for the Day of resurrection. It is a mini death and resurrection every day. This prayer reminds Muslims of the ultimate purpose of life. It is a reminder that all humans are accountable for their actions and that they should strive to do good and avoid evil. This awareness can help people make better decisions throughout the day and align their actions with higher moral values. All of Islam’s teachings are meant to bring good and ward off bad from the lives of humans. It is only through Islam that one experiences actual peace, tranquility, and serenity. Have more questions? Call 877-WhyIslam, you deserve to know! Read Other Articles on whysialm.org

In an otherwise normal, decent world, pornography is not a topic that we would wish to publicly discuss. Talking about issues with negative connotations often brings out the very destructive impact on the public that we intended to avoid.  But once a destructive issue is already in the public sphere and impacting society, it is important to discuss it. The case of pornography in the West and most countries in the world is exactly that—it’s way past the threshold. In fact, it’s wreaking havoc in society. Pornography has manifested in its most extreme state of vulgarity in our current time, using the omnipresent technology of the internet and mobile devices. Pornography has always been a part of human culture, going at least as far back as the fertility cults, with their pornographic drawings, that existed throughout the world. Some researchers suggest that fertility symbols were used as early as prehistoric times. The digital age has given pornography new dimensions and raised concerns about its negative impact on individuals and society as a whole. It’s just like “sugar” in the modern diet causing a public health disaster, it’s omnipresent—you don’t need to seek sugary products explicitly, but added sugar comes to you in every food you buy, be it kids’ milk pouches, juice, bread, ketchup… you name it. Similarly, pornography or the likes of it doesn’t need to be sought explicitly but comes to you as an ingredient in your everyday life—you go to a TV channel, a web page, YouTube, or internet gaming sites—you constantly get baited or even sampled (sampling is a direct marketing technique that offers the consumer a small sample for free so that they will be motivated to purchase the full product after that). Baiting is most often done with soft porn, a gateway to more hardcore pornography. According to definitions.net, softcore pornography is… “…commercial still photography or film that has a pornographic or erotic component but is less sexually graphic and intrusive than hardcore pornography, defined by a lack of visual sexual penetration. Softcore pornography includes stripteases, lingerie modeling, simulated sex and emphasis on the sensual appreciation of the human form. It typically contains nude or semi-nude actors involved in love scenes and is intended to be sexually arousing and aesthetically beautiful. The distinction between softcore pornography and erotic photography is largely a matter of taste.” Islamic Clarity About Pornography For Muslims, there is no distinction between soft- and hardcore porn. Islam is clear on the issue of producing or consuming sexually explicit material of any kind. It hasn’t just declared it unacceptable but creates barriers surrounding it so that society can prevent individuals coming close to it. Islam is the religion of haya, modesty. In that way, Islam provides, so to speak, a natural immunity to pornography. So, we shouldn’t be worried, right? Far from it. This danger is like an infectious virus—indiscriminately attacking Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We’ll go over why the Muslim “immune system” to pornography isn’t working. Let’s understand first the “immune system,” if you will, that’s inbuilt in Islam. Islam has put modesty of men and women as a criterion of faith. It’s not just about wearing modest outfits and restricting the mixing of men and women; it is also a lowering of the gaze by both men and women. Islam accepts the reality of human biology that drives us sexually. Thus, Islam puts marriage as a top priority to channel sexual impulses in a healthy and productive way. The Qur’an is very clear on every able man and woman getting married unless there’s a condition of prohibitive disability or abject economic hardship where they are advised by God to “fast” to counter the effect of human biology and hormones. The Qur’an then takes it to the next level: advising men and women to not even come close to sexual involvement outside of marriage—knowing that humans are created weak and that one must stay away from the slippery slope of immoral activities. At a societal level, the Islamic economy has made it very explicit that anything harmful to society shouldn’t be a money-making industry. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, etc., are prohibited in the Islamic system. That’s a macro-level immunity that Islam provides. One should then ask why all the above aspects of such a broad-based defense mechanism is not working for Muslims. The answer is simple — we’re living in a society that promotes a lifestyle that compromises the “immunity” that we are supposed to have. Do not think that it’s only in America or in the West. It’s also ubiquitous in many Muslim countries as most of the world is now following the West as a cultural role model without giving any critical thought to religion or societal stability and well-being. Pornography is a legal business in most countries. Some may deny that Muslim countries have such an industry. I would argue, however, that the entertainment industry is not far removed from it, and most Muslim countries allow the almost unrestricted flow of Hollywood or Bollywood movies. As mentioned above, soft porn, which is prevalent in movies, is just one step from more hardcore pornographic material. To make the effect worse, marriage between a man and a woman is being hollowed out, while the uncensored mixing of men and women is encouraged or, many times, structurally necessary in the workplace. Harming of Faith and Healthy Relationships The most devastating harm pornography or the entertainment industry does is that they eat away the foundation of the faith (iman). Imam Ghazzali wrote in his book Minhajul Abedin that if our nafs (self, soul) is a wild beast that drags us to follow our desires, then the gates through which it’s fed are through our senses. The most important sense is our eyes. The more the beast is fed, the wilder it becomes. And it drags you further away from the remembrance of Allah. It’s like a rain shower on a barren land with a downward slope—you put soil on it to farm crops, but the

Laura El Alam When people first embrace Islam, they are often filled with energy, optimism, and positivity. The joy of connecting with their Creator and discovering His plan for humanity makes them feel like they have a new lease on life. When they share their new mindset and lifestyle with their loved ones, they might experience a variety of reactions. In the best case scenario, their friends and family are willing to listen, learn, and support them on their journey. Sadly, that is not always the case. Some new Muslims face opposition, hostility, and rejection. They are ostracized by their family or abandoned by their friends. What should you do if your loved ones reject you because you became a Muslim? 1. Try not to be too worried if their initial reaction is negative. People’s hearts can soften over time. If someone responds in a way that is unsupportive, challenging, or upsetting, you should remind yourself that it might just take a while–months, or even years– for their feelings to settle. Some people find change to be extremely hard to cope with, but over time, many can adapt and broaden their outlook. 2. Don’t try to convince them of Islam by debating, arguing, or attacking their religion. You might feel like you now understand the Truth and you want to share it with them. However, pressure tactics usually backfire. Instead, focus on showing the beauty of Islam through your actions. Be as kind, gentle, and helpful as you can. This will teach them about Islam more than any lecture could, and it will also reassure them that the “new you” is positive, wholesome, and more loveable than ever. 3. Decide who is worth your efforts. In Islam, maintaining family ties is extremely important. If the people who are opposing your conversion are your parents, siblings, or other close family members, you should make a sincere effort to preserve your relationship with them, and God will reward you for any patience you display. On the other hand, if a friend, colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance rejects you because you chose to become a Muslim, you might want to consider whether this person really deserves to be a part of your life. A worthy person will try to understand your point of view, support you, and want the best for you. So, if someone outside of your close family refuses to respect your new lifestyle, then they are probably not deserving of your emotional energy. Save your efforts for the people who truly matter. 4. Once you have determined that someone is worth your effort and energy, you will need to summon up a lot of patience. If they are unhappy with your conversion, they will likely question your beliefs and possibly even debate or argue with you. One helpful thing to remind them (and yourself) is that each and every one of us is in charge of our own soul. Our primary responsibility is to our personal connection with God, and other people’s approval and opinions do not matter in the crucial decision of Whom to worship. We can still love and respect our family without letting their negativity affect our core beliefs. We can also choose not to debate or argue, especially if the other party is not listening to our point of view. 5. Understand that a variety of emotions might lie behind negative reactions. What looks like anger is often a manifestation of different feelings: fear (of losing you, or of stereotypes they have about Muslims), anxiety (about how their life and/or your relationship might change now that you are a Muslim), sadness, or even insecurity. It’s quite possible that they aren’t aware of their true feelings, or they don’t know how to identify – much less verbalize – their feeling of “I love you and I don’t want to lose you.” If someone is lashing out when you tell them about your decision to embrace Islam, you can say something like, “I can see this is hard for you to accept right now. Just know that I love you and I intend to keep being a good daughter/sister/friend to you. Someday I hope you will find a way to support me because I am happy with my choice, and my dedication to Islam is making me a better person.” 6. Recharge your battery with supportive people. All the negativity can be draining and might even take a toll on your iman (state of heart, or spiritual health).  Make sure to spend time with Muslims who teach and inspire you. If possible, join a class for converts to learn more about your faith, make friends, and find sympathetic listeners. If you find that certain people in your life are so toxic that they are making you doubt Islam, then take a break from those people. Nothing is more important than your faith, and you must guard it carefully.

In late summer, students across universities in Bangladesh hosted various demonstrations, protesting a revival of a quota system where descendants of the fighters of Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971 would be awarded with government jobs. This accounts for around 30% of government jobs. At the time of the protests, there were 18 million unemployed young people in Bangladesh. Students formed a countrywide movement to protest for reform of the quota system, coined “Students Against Discrimination.” What started as peaceful protests quickly turned deadly, with Bangladeshi police killing a student coordinator, Abu Sayed. The video of Sayed’s killing sparked even more protests, with thousands of students pouring into the streets. Protesters were sparked further by the way the government refused to meet any demands. Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s prime minister, ruling for over 15 years, called protesters “Razakar,” which is an offensive term used for collaborators. Protests turned more violent when police started attacking more and more student protesters in Dhaka. The government then shut down universities and cut off the internet. According to Al Jazeera, at least 187 people were killed, and 1,000 were arrested between July 10 and July 20. On July 18, it was reported that the internet in Bangladesh was cut off by authorities. The next day, armed forces fired at large crowds of protesters. After the days of violent response to protests, the Supreme Court on July 21 decreased the 30% quota to 5%, and reserved a 2% quota for ethnic minorities. The rest of 93% of civil jobs will be decided on merit. However, protests continued because a curfew was still imposed on universities, internet was not fully restored, and the arrest and killings of student demonstrators were too violent. Protesters renewed their demands, which then included the release of protest leaders, lifting of curfews, and reopening of universities. An estimated 300 protesters died at the hands of the government. BBC reports that around 32 children died during the demonstrations. A mass protest in Dhaka’s central square eventually forced Hasina to resign and flee the country, ending her 15-year rule. After Hasina’s escape, the Bangladeshi president released several prisoners charged under false circumstances, that were imprisoned by Hasina’s orders and under her direction, among them her opposition leader. Though her long-standing rule was unpopular for many reasons over the years, it was the violence against students which finally led to the collapse of her rule. Students could not bear the injustices perpetrated against their friends and community members.