Introducing a brand new productivity academy from Productive Muslim. A learning platform for Muslims to lead a productive life, by successfully juggling worldly struggles and spiritual progress!
From the website...
"Â For a Muslim, productivity isn't merely about getting things done.
It's about getting the right things done in the right balance, so that it may bring you benefit, fulfilment and reward, In sha Allah.
As khalifahs (vicegerants) of this earth, we haven't been created to simply eat, sleep, get married, have children and die!
We have been created to do everything that pleases Allah (Subhanu Wa Ta'ala) and refrain from what displeases Him, and thus be productive in this life for the success of the next life.
Yes, in today's hectic world and age of distraction, it's easy to get caught up in a lifestyle that is "busy doing nothing"...
So how can you be meaningfully productive in the path that pleases Allah (Subhanu Wa Ta'ala)?"
Amal Kassir: Fighting Injustice with Poetry
"Why I'm a poet:Â
I just want stories to be shared. All kinds of them. The kind that make you remember, the kind that a politician couldn't buy, the kind that don't require academic credibility or argument or a law degree or a large vocabulary. Stories like Homs' sunsets and my grandmothers dinner table and what walking through the desert did to your feet and how the glass felt when it hit your face and and getting stung by a jellyfish and how peaches taste from Spanish markets and swimming in Minnesotan summers and manaish from Lebanese bakeries and the smell of Chicago smog and the quiet of Detroit and it's so simple. It's so easy.
We may have nothing in common, but I swear theres something in a story. Something in the silence of the listeners. Something that could solve all this, ballots wouldn't even be necessary. Veto wouldn't be necessary. Mass graves wouldn't be necessary.
And it's big thinking for such a tiny voice. Im not trying to change the world. Im just trying to heal it.
Tell me stories"
Connecting Muslim Writers To Reclaim Our Own Narrative: Interview with Amina Hachemi, founder of the Muslim Creative Writers Network
Amina Hachemi is a writer, translator and editor. Amina started Muslim Creative Writers Network in September 2012. The network has several main aims: to connect and support Muslim writers, to bring Islamically-appropriate reading options to the attention of Muslim readers and to take a stronger, more decisive hold of our own narrative through creative writing.
   What are your passions?
"Weâre diving straight in here! I sometimes feel that I am interested in more things than are good for me; I want to master everything! Most of my interests can be summed up in a few general categories though: language and culture, creativity and, most importantly, trying my best to make sure those passions are always taking me and others closer to Allah."
  How did you decide that you were going to start the Muslim Creative Writers Network? Was there a key moment where it dawned on you, or was it a long thought process?
"Iâve always found a great pleasure and warm satisfaction in language, whether learning it, translating it or recreating it as my own. Once I discovered my own ability to write creatively, I knew I wanted it to become a big part of my life, not just for myself, but also for others. At this point, I started looking for other Muslim writers and realised there were not many spaces, online or offline, that were dedicated especially to connecting and supporting Muslim writers. This frustrated me and remained at the back of my mind for quite a long time as I reflected on different ways I could change this. One day, I decided to just go for it and use the resources available to me to start, not really knowing where it would take me or if indeed it would lead anywhere!"
  After the idea came to you, what steps did you take to put it to action?
"I spent some time thinking about what I would like to use the space for and what would be most useful to users. I designed some basic graphics to give the âbrandâ some identity and then made the Muslim Creative Writers Network page on Facebook and started posting!"
 How has your project evolved since you started it? Has it taken a different direction to what you had initially envisioned? Whatâs next?
"Alhamdu Lillah. The page now has over 2,000 likes on Facebook. There are some regular visitors and others who pop in from time to time, which is lovely. Itâs also great to see people posting their own writing and literary projects - one of the main motivations behind the project!"
 "A significant development is our anthology, Survival of the Hardworking. It is a collection of short stories and poetry from Muslims across the globe â it certainly reflects the beautiful breadth of cultures and identities that make up our ummah. In addition to promoting the talented writers featured, all the proceeds from sales of the anthology go to charities working in Syria and neighbouring countries. Iâm deeply grateful to have played a part in such a project - may Allah accept it from all those involved."
 "In sha Allah, I am aiming to take the next step soon and start a website which will host more in-depth discussions about writing and the Muslim identity in the creative fields, book reviews, event reviews, writing tips and prompts and of course creative writing! I look forward to receiving submissions from many more wonderful people, in sha Allah!"
   Who inspires you?
 "I have been and continue to be inspired by the fantastic work of many people and organisations. Here are a few:
Productive Muslim is one of the first Muslim-run websites that I came across that had a clear and productive (naturally!) goal and was run with such shining professionalism, ma sha Allah.
SISTERS magazine, while it is not in creative writing, has shown me that you can make a difference to individualsâ lives through publications with hard work and dedication. They are also not afraid to broach subjects that may not please everyone but that they feel need to be talked about and they do this sincerely with true Islamic manners.
My family are the foundations of any success I may have. My parents have always encouraged me to follow where my talents take me, shown me the value of hard work and belief in myself and built in me from a young age a deep sense of God-consciousness. Alhamdu Lillah. May Allah preserve them and give them the highest ranks of Paradise. My wonderful brothers gave me the belief to try something new and encouraged me when I needed reassurance. May we be united in Paradise.
You, Houda! You are so unwaveringly dedicated to making a difference and do what it takes to make that a reality. You have supported my projects and I am in awe of how quickly you have developed this project. I canât wait to see what wonderful content is to come, in sha Allah!"
  What does your typical project-work day look like?Â
"Since I started the Muslim Creative Writers Network, I have always had other work or studies that required my time, so I donât generally dedicate whole days to the page, unless there is a significant project underway like the production of the charity anthology. I usually dedicate an hour or so in the day to finding suitable content to post on the Facebook page, answering emails, promoting the anthology and whatever else needs doing! I donât really follow a strict routine, but work with the time constraints I face; that project work hour is usually in the evening, though."
  What advice would you give to someone who is about to start a project of their own?
"From my experience so far, I think there are a few key factors that shine out:
Be brave: if you have an idea that you are passionate about, donât be afraid to give it a go (and be willing to work hard)!
Be specific: know what you want to achieve with your project and keep that target in mind whenever you make a decision. A project that achieves a particular goal well is better than one that does a bit of everything without much effect.
Be sincere: as Muslims, we know that this life is not about doing things for the sake of doing them â before you start your project, think about why you are doing it. This doesnât mean your project has to be humanitarian or that you shouldnât make money off it, it simply means that whatever youâre doing should be for the pleasure of Allah. This will also make sure that you always do the right thing. And, in the end, is there a more successful project than one that pleases Allah?"
  How has your project changed you as a person? Has it changed your life in a big way?
"It has challenged me greatly, not only in terms of having enough time and resources, but also in my personality. I have never been very comfortable being at the centre of attention and interacting with large numbers of people (the stereotypical writer, in that regard at least!) so for me to decide to start this venture alone and deal with the resulting responsibilities was rather terrifying. But, alhamdu Lillah, I havenât regretted it once. It has forced me to face some of my own fears and helped me realise that we can often do a lot more than we expect of ourselves, alhamdu Lillah! It has also allowed me to meet (even if virtually) some wonderful, generous and motivated Muslims who are all changing the world in their own way.
 May Allah give all Muslims the strength, vision and sincerity to bring positive change to this world and give them continued and increasing success on His blessed and illuminated path in this life and elevated positions in the next."
"Expressing the Inexpressible": Interview with Dawoud Kringle, musician and author of 'A Quantum Hijra: A Sufi Science Fiction Story'
Dawoud Kringle was born in Milwaukee, WI, US. He began studying music at age 10, and in his teens started doing performances. Since then, he has performed all over the US and Europe, produced recordings, appeared on many recordings, worked with people such as Lauryn Hill, James âBloodâ Ulmer, Nona Hendrix, Marie Alfonzo (formerly of Zap Mama), and others, and composed and performed music for film, theatre, and dance. He also has experience as an audio engineer, radio broadcast engineer, producer, and on air personality, music teacher, writer, and is an Islamic minister with the volunteer service of the New York City Department of Corrections. In 2013, Leilah Publications released Dawoudâs first novel, 'A Quantum Hijra: A Sufi Science Fiction Story'.
With his music, Dawoud Kringle attempts to transcend the boundaries of style and genre, and focus on the psychoactive properties of music. His writing also experiments with form in an effort to expose the reader to multiple perspectives.Â
What are your passions?
"My passions are to find and experience reality, and to share this experience. All else is amusement (although I do enjoy indulging myself on occasion)."
How did the idea of Quantum Hijra come to you?
"An amusing story! One day, I was standing in line at a grocery store, and the idea for a short story came into my head. I decided to try writing it. It grew and grew, until I realized I was writing a book. Four years later, I decided it was finished. Two years after that, I was offered a publishing deal with Leilah Publications."
Do you feel like your different areas of interest (eg. Your music, your writing) mesh with one another in a way that enriches your perspectives overall? Does your music influence your writing, and vice versa?
"Itâs all informed by the same primordial need to express the inexpressible. Music and writing simply happen to be that which I have a natural inclination. The two tend to overlap in the idea of composition and structure. However, they diverge in the area of time. With writing, the expression is fixed in time. With music, it is something that must be constantly recreated; especially with music such as my own, which is largely based in improvisation."
What does your typical project-work day look like? (Or, if you donât work on the project for entire days â what does your typical day look like (do you have a morning routine, etc)?
"After I have my morning coffee, thereâs no such thing as a typical day for me. Every day is different; every day is a new experience. I do try to carve time to work on my music and writing. With music, I must make time to exercise my fingers, and learn new techniques (as well as maintain and upgrade my instruments and equipment). With the learning side of writing, it is more fluid. Inspiration for either comes on its own terms and its own time."
What advice would you give to someone who is about to start writing a novel?
"Try to envision the entire story finished in your mindâs eye. Make sure of the form of your writing, even if youâre experimenting with a new literary form. Be patient with the process, for the process is to you the most important part. See your work as a service to the reader. And try to get someone impartial to edit your book."
  How has your project changed you as a person? Has it changed your life in a big way?
"Iâm not sure! I found it to be fulfilling, and was happy for the accomplishment. It simply seemed to me to be something that needed to be done, and I did it. The idea behind the project, i.e. the spiritual essence of Islam presented with the barrier between religion and science obliterated, had to be demonstrated. It seemed a necessary step in the unfolding of things.
But I will tell you this: when I received the first hard copy of my book and held it in my hand, my very first thought was âI better get to work on the next book!â I think itâs because whatâs really important to me is the process; the artistic unfolding and manifesting thatâs of primary importance to me. I rarely re-read what I write, and rarely listen to my own music. Eyes and ears forward!"
A Muslim, A Mother and An Artist: Interview with Rusaila Bazlamit
 Rusaila Bazlamit is a digital designer, visual communicator, lecturer of Design, art curator and an experimental artist. She has lectured Architecture, Design, Digital and Interactive Media for 6 years in Jordanian universities. She has exhibited several digital and video art projects,  interactive installations and photography works in Jordan, Scotland, Lebanon, Egypt and Greece. She had a solo exhibition [Techno Me] in Amman, Jordan.
Rusaila has a B.Sc. Degree in Architecture from Jordan University, Jordan. She also has an M.Sc. Degree in Design and Digital Media from University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Currently she is working on her PhD in Design from Curtin University, Australia.
Rusaila is the founder of Lab Tajribi | Experimental Expressions, which is a non-physical art atelier for experimental art and forms of expression. Recently she also curated the exhibition No Added Sugar: Engagement and Self-Determination, which featured works by a diverse group of Australian Muslim women.
Rusaila is of Palestinian and Macedonian heritage. She is currently based in Perth, Australia.
  "What are your passions?"
"Passion is a very general word. As a person I have many passions in life. Iâm passionate about nature, about baking, about the moon, and about my son to name a few.
But as an artist there are concepts that drive me, that challenge me and make me want to create.
Mainly Iâm interested in concepts that speak to me. Issues around Palestine, current political scenes in the Arab world, digital media impact on human lives and emotions and multi-dimensional exploration of identity."
 My Homelands, video art by Rusaila Bazlamit
This video art has been screened at Cabriolet Film Festival, Lebanon, Festival Miden 2013 , Greece and the 5th Cairo Video Festival at Medrar, Egypt.
  "How did the exhibition No Added Sugar come to be?"
 "No Added Sugar is a ground-breaking visual arts exhibition that is the outcome of a national initiative, the Australian Muslim Women's Arts Project. The project vision has been an expansive one, developed over a number of years, with community engagement and artist development critical to the outcome. The project was funded by Australia Council for the Arts and Human Rights Commission and supported by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Liverpool City Council. I was commissioned as the curator for this project to work along side Alissar Chidiac who was the creative producer of this project.
The project culminated in the exhibition that brought together eight diverse artist projects, grounded by the creative words of artist Eugenia Flynn. The 18 artists from Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra have become part of a dynamic national network. They committed themselves to an intensive process, which included two artist laboratories in 2011, as well as their own independent community cultural engagement projects, all with the support of Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
No Added Sugar has won Arts Hub People's Choice Award for Contribution to the Australian community by a group, organisation or company in 2012."
 No Added Sugar logoÂ
Image courtesy of Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
  "What makes No Added Sugar a unique art exhibition?"
 "No Added Sugar is not your expected Muslim Women's Arts exhibition. It is a brave world determined by the artists honest creative imagining. The artists had brought up issues and worked with concepts that they have chosen. They didn't have to conform to any pre-determined conceptual or visual frameworks that are usually placed on them as Muslims, as women, as Australians, as artists or a mix of these four elements. Artists have chosen various themes, from exploring deeper understanding of faith to challenges facing young Muslim girls, working with objects of memory and creating visible dialogues, from refugees' experience of enforced separation to children's tales of migration, personal stories of war and raw feelings of divorce. In a parallel dimension,poetic words by Eugenia Flynn have opened up the Australian Indigenous connection to Home, Place, Land and Sea."
 A workshop by artist Idil Abdullahi as part of No Added Sugar
Image courtesy of Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
  "Art is often overlooked by people as an extra, or an optional subject at school. Something fun and sometimes beautiful, but still rather useless. As a curator, and for the women of No Added Sugarâwhat do you feel is the true importance of art (both on a personal, and societal level)?"
 "Of course I canât speak on behalf of the other artists. But for me, I always thought art is an important aspect of the human civilisation. I donât care much about art that is locked in white cube galleries and rich people's foyers. I care about art that speaks to the masses. Art that is both accessible and rooted within societies.
Art is a significant part of the visual culture of any society. Art documents history, it shares stories, it challenges perspectives, it speaks beauty, it delivers raw emotions, it moves hearts and elevate souls. Art is part of what makes us as humans connect across borders, languages and other barriers."
  "What advice would you give to someone who is about to start an art project?"
 "Be genuine and passionate. And experiment."
  Image from Rusaila Bazlamit's interactive installation "Through The Veil"
Photography by Rusaila Bazlamit
  "As an artist, how do you feel your passion for art shapes and enriches your life? How about your spirituality, as a Muslim?"
 For me, anything you create or express comes out of your inner self and thus is spiritual. Beauty is from the Divine and it is manifested in so many things around. Though art shouldn't be visually beautiful by rule. But the act of creating art remains beautiful. You have something inside of you and you are allowing others in. That is beautiful.
A thousand small-scale projects will have more positive and long-lasting impact than any revolutionâanytime, anywhere. Here are some quick tips on how to get it right.
To browse projects by Muslims from around the world, visit the Bricks section.Â
My Healing Nation is a platform for the discussion of issues relevant to Muslim communities today, and their solutions.
Increasingly, it is felt that our detractors are eager to point to the cracks in our walls. We arenât here to prove them wrongâthey are irrelevant. We are here to openly and honestly look in the mirror and think up ways forward for ourselves.
Our guiding principle is that every problem has a solution, and any negative situation can be turned into positive change. Human energy, when harnessed constructively, becomes immensely powerful and transformative like alchemy.Â
To prove this, the Bricks section of the site showcases brilliant examples of innovative ideas, creativity and initiative that have emerged from our communities around the world.
While their scope is very diverse, they all have in common that they create positive impact in some way.
We look forward to hearing from your own, so say bismillah, and go for it!
It's all about having the right mindset. These 5 quick principles sum it up.
  Principle #1: Doing Something Imperfectly Always Beats Doing Nothing
Does this seem obvious? Not always. Here at MHN, we refuse to criticise new initiatives or to focus on a projectâs shortcomings. Nothing a human being produces is ever perfect. But if it canât be perfect, it can still get done.
So to keep in line with this pragmatic principle, we encourage our followers to leave behind narrow paradigms (âThis is a waste of timeâ, âItâs not really Islamicâ) and avoid passing negative judgment on somebody elseâs work and efforts.Â
If you think it should be done differently, then go do it yourself!Â
   Principles #2: All Change Starts Within Yourself
The Discussions section of this website points to issues affecting Muslim communities; but we make sure that each article includes solutions at the end, little steps every day people can implement in their every day life.
We believe that complaining without thinking of solutions is a waste of energy. When dissatisfied, always make sure to put yourself under the microscope: what can I do to change the situation I dislike?
Principle #3: If You Really Want The Power, It's Yours
We donât believe a revolution that replaces the head of a country or group has any long-lasting impact. Change starts within the individual at the lowest level of society. A lot of the time, a trait we dislike about the system or an entire group, finds its roots within ourselves. Eg. âI hate that my Ummah is disunited, so why do I judge my neighbour negatively for having different ideas?â
The real revolution is happening already: a thousand small-scale projects that together create a big wave, and may soon change the status quo.
 Principles #4: Use Kind Words Or No Words
Criticism is rarely constructive or genuinely caring, even though one might think so. Before tendering advice not asked for, make sure that your intention is truly to help. Then, make sure to word your advice in a way that neither belittles nor humiliates the person it is aimed at.
For more info on this, here is an psychological take on what motivates negative judgement between Muslims and why it needs to stop.
 Principles #5: Children Are Our Best Hope
As Maria Montessori (and Rumi) would say, there is more we can learn from our children than they can learn from us. It is time we stopped replicating incorrect parenting ways inherited from tradition and previous generations; and embraced a more positive, more Islamically authentic outlook.
The For Parents Section of this website offers a wealth of tips on how to bring out the best in your children and how to let their potential unfold as Allah, our ultimate Educator, intended.
7 Ways Starting a Project of Your Choice Can Change Our Ummahâs Status Quo
    This is sincere and loving advice for all my sisters and brothers that do a job they donât enjoy. For all my stay-at-home mums, all the wonderfully curious children of my ummah; all the students navigating through uni waiting for some adventure in their life, all my brothers and sisters who chose not to get into further studies after they left school for whatever reason.
  To all of you, I make a promise: starting a project of your choice and sticking with it will change your life.
    Reason #1: Living With A Passion Makes You A Better Person
  When people wander aimlessly through life with a very vague sense of purpose, they experience low self-esteem and boredom. When they canât channel their thoughts in a constructive way into a passion that supersedes all their other concerns, it leaves a lot of mind room for negative thoughts and feelings. As they watch others succeed, they lose confidence in their own capabilities, they shrug with bitter resignation and tell themselves that they werenât made to accomplish anything grand. ExceptâŠ
    Except it doesnât have to be monumental; it doesnât need to change the world. All it has to be, is something that interests you, and something that you really want to do, not something you feel you have to doâotherwise you wonât maintain it in the long-term. The keyword in the title of this article is âchoiceâ: a project, be it small-scale, that will organise your thoughts and your talents into a linear progression curve.
  The point is that youâll be able to draw satisfaction and fulfilment from your progress on something of value, as opposed to slaving away to a million meaningless tasks (typically housework).* And as a result, you will be too busy with your personal project to indulge in negative thinking or behaviour. Less worrying, more excitement. Less judging, more tolerance. Less jealousy, more words of encouragement to others. Youâll feel empowered to step up and finally be that person that deep down you really wish you were: positive, self-satisfied and excited to get out of bed in the morning.
  Really, ensuring that you stay positive, and invest in your personal growth by channelling your energies into a project that adds value to your existence does change the world; because itâs a little less bitterness and idleness and a little more positivity and proactivity. And if we all do that, who knows what will come next?
    *Note: Of course these tasks need to get done; and they are time consuming. But the point here is that they shouldnât be your utmost function in this world. You want to leave this world having added value to it, not simply having survived through it. (At the end of the day, none of us will!)
    Reason #2: Itâs Completely, Absolutely, Definitely Encouraged By The Teachings Of Our Religion.
  Adding to Reason #1, our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, âI have come only to perfect noble character.â And as demonstrated above, feeling useful and skilled by applying yourself on a personal project is helpful in the matter.
  Then, there is the idea of productivity and using your time to accomplish something as a core trait of the ideal Muslim individual. For more info on this, I urge you to (if you havenât already) to visit Productive Muslim, a website that changed my life.
    Now I can hear some of you saying that what Muslims really should do is devote their time to a project that is clearly Islamic: pursuing Islamic knowledge, or sharing Islamic knowledge; doing charity work, raising money for Syria or Palestine⊠I agree with the second part of that sentence: such projects are truly wonderful and have more positive consequences in the world that we can possibly imagine.
  But I have an issue with the first part, where it says âMuslims really shouldâ: it means that we try to impose on others the direction of their efforts, and replace their passion with duty (sort of like schools love to do). Unfortunately, a project that is passionless has little chance of succeeding. Additionally, telling people what they should do and making them feel bad for not doing it doesnât encourage them to actually do the thingâbut it certainly stops them doing that other thing that they might have liked to do, but âisnât Islamic enoughâ. And we end up with people who have zero initiative and no faith in their own abilitiesâwhich arguably extends to entire countries from which very few breakthroughs have emerged in any field in the last decades.
  This is due to the unfortunate misconception that not all knowledge is encouraged by the religion, and not all work is valid from a religious standpoint. But such a view is profoundly skewed and very superficial: absolutely all things in life are a creation of our Lord, and therefore everything relates to the faith in some way (sometimes itâs less apparent).
  What are mathematics, but man-made symbols that express fundamental truths about the Universe?
  Does modern art not relate to the faith by exploring a world of pure, abstract ideas detached from earthly concerns, encouraging reflection and letting us catch a glimpse of the depth, breadth, and multi-dimensionality of divine creativity?
  If more religious Muslims remembered that more, and quit dismissing every new initiative with narrow paradigms (âIs it really Islamic?â, âIs it really ok?â, âShouldnât we memorize the Quran first?â, âItâs a waste of timeâ) our communities would flourish.Â
        Reason #3:  [FOR PARENTS] Projects Are The Absolute Pinnacle of Deep And Long-Lasting Learning.
  Projects are the heart of your childrenâs learning and development. You can sit them through lectures and take them to school every day for a year; but youâll see more dedication, more enjoyment, and more long-lasting impact in a DAY of project work.
  Here I refer you to my absolute favourite source of inspiration for childrenâs project-based learning, which I use everyday for my work as an educator: Project-Based Homeschooling. Thereâs a website, a book, and a fantastic blog featuring some of the amazing, jaw-dropping creations and initiatives children have come up with as part of their PBH-inspired homeschooling.
  If you have children (and I especially think of those struggling with their kidsâ so-called âproblem behaviourâ), by all means, go find out more! And I especially urge you to visit the blog for inspiration.
  Let this be the start of a rich and flourishing learning relationship between you and your childrenâfilled with positivity, trust, gratitude and personal growthâinshaAllah. Youâll love it, I promise.
      Reason #4: [FOR STUDENTS] Youâre Talented And You Will Finally Have Something To Show The World For It
  For my brothers and sisters struggling to find a job in their field, because the times have changed and the baby boomers are crushing us with their accumulated experience, I say three words:
 Young.
Creative.
Portfolio.
 No matter how many years of experience these guys have on you and myself, the future is ours: weâre young, full of fresh perspectives, we grew up with technology and weâre the breeding ground of the highly sought after âinnovative ideasâ that there is a general thirst for nowadays. So believe in yourself, and get projecting on the things that you love. Then, wrap it all up into a portfolio with great presentation and youâll be able to show the world your skills and talent, regardless of how tiny the âExperienceâ section of your resume is. Youâll have gained such an edge from doing things yourself that it wonât really matter anymore to the employers out there.
      Reason #5: It Will Empower You Like Nothing Else
   If the journey matters more than the destination, then working on a project of your choice from start to finish canât be valued purely on how much money it earns you or how much attention it attracts on Twitter.
  No, there is something much more valuable to be gained here: the powerful self-confidence that is born from the knowledge that you have pushed through the ups and downs on the road to accomplishing something. You have put hours of work into your project, and maybe money too. You have channelled your thoughts in a constructive way for a prolonged stretch of time, until the small seed turned into a tree: a little idea that emerged in your mind has now been birthed into the world, and people can see it, touch it, use it. Perhaps they can benefit from its positive consequences, perhaps they admire it. Or else if it didn't work out: you'll still grow from having tried, and knowing better how to do it next time.
    Whatever your project was, the sensation you feel now that you have finally finished it is overwhelmingly empowering. You fully grasp your power and impact on your environmentâyou feel like you can do anything you want, God willing.
     Reason #6: Projects Are A Portal To The Creative And Innovative Breakthroughs Of Civilisations
   Discoveries and breakthroughs in any field always have come, and always will come from⊠pointless experimenting.
  I really like this example: Gever Tulley is the man behind the Tinkering School, a school that lets its students experiment freely on projects of their choice in order to foster self-confidence, initiative and creativity. At some point in this presentation, he says that the aim is for children to come to âthe deep internal realisation that you can figure things out by fooling around. Nothing ever turns out as planned, ever. The kids soon learn that all projects go array, and become at ease with the idea that every step in a project is a step closer to sweet success or gleeful calamity.â
  He says something else that is crucial: âSuccess is in the doing, and failures are celebrated and analysed. Problems become puzzles and obstacles disappear. When faced with really difficult setbacks or complexities, a really interesting behaviour emerges: decoration. Decoration of the unfinished project is a kind of conceptual incubation. From these interludes come deep insights and amazing new approaches to solving a problem that were frustrating just moments before.â
  It might be hard to accept, but thereâs no such thing as a waste of time: when youâre projecting on something random and seemingly useless, youâre actually accumulating knowledge and exploring new parts of your mind, which helps reframe the question and brings on fresh perspectives. Finding a solution to a problem or creating something innovative is never a straightforward, A to B sort of routeâŠ
  Indeed, the secret to successful projecting is to deeply immerse yourself and commit to finishing what you have started; regardless of the actual outcomes of the project. As Gever put it: âSuccess is in the doing, and failures are celebrated and analysed.â Personally, I would favour the âgleeful calamityâ of a project gone array over passive TV-watching any day⊠Wouldnât you?
    Reason #7: [FOR ALL OF US] A Million Small-Scale Projects Can Topple The Status Quo
   Now this is a big claim, but it is my conviction that if we all put our minds to making something happen rather than complaining of the unfavourable status quo (your government is bogged down in corruption, Israel is your neighbour, you donât have any money, your married life is complicated⊠the list goes on), everything could change.
  A good example to illustrate this is the terrible waste disposal situation in Algeria, my fatherâs home country. Rubbish is found on every corner of every street, whether youâre in the affluent parts or the remote countryside. The smell is foul, itâs unhygienic and it ruins any pretty landscape. And every one complains about it. Why doesnât the government do something about it? Why canât we find a rubbish bin in miles? Lazy, corrupt, over-privileged politicians! Itâs a fair complaint. But itâs also true that if one person per apartment building took charge of putting a public bin on their street, and word went around that itâs a new initiative and people should join it, people most likely would join it. And soon enough the status quo on this particular issue would be overturned. And on to the next one!
  Any negative situation can be turned into positive change, if human energy is harnessed towards that. Complaining and excusing your inaction with a victim status is a waste of your energy. Human energy can be transformative like alchemy. If you want the power, youâll have the power. What little things can you do to impact your environment and create positive change for yourself and others?
  To further illustrate this I would like to quote the following Quranic verse. It is often quoted by religious scholars to enjoin the ummah to be more closely observant of the Islamic rites; but really it extends beyond praying Fajr at the mosque and fasting extra days: it applies to the bin outside your apartment building, tooâand your own sense of initiative.
     Now as Peter Gould (a Muslim who works on fantastic projects) would say, âSay Bismillah and go for it!â
   May our communities always improve in character, flourish in knowledge and grow in willpower. Amin.
This Saudi TV ad 'sparked controversy' because Saudis don't want the world to know that some of them abuse their maids.
It's the reason why we're so effed up: the minute someone tries to talk about a problem, the Muslims get all offended and complain of 'misrepresentation'. They'd rather it stayed a secret.Â
How can things move forward when everyone is facing backwards?
Broplem #7486: We Put Others Down To Raise Our Selves (and 6 Things We Can Do Instead)
 A widely used practice across many cultures: the shaming of another to fuel oneâs own self-importance.
 The ummahâs broplem these days is that being Muslim seems to serve as a great pretext for it: guided by the noble intention of defending God Himself (!), one can now darken someoneâs character âwithout risking too great an exposure of [oneâs] own malevolenceââand feel good about it too.
 Via The Rumpus, image by Lucas Adams.
  Typical Example
 Person A experiences unpleasant levels of shame in regards to person Aâs own shortcomings.
 Person A seeks temporary relief from own discomfort and severe conscience in the shaming of Person B, about a weakness (sometimes debatably so) from which Person A can safely be excluded. Eg: Person B defies hijab stereotypes with her colourful choices of dress, while Person A, being a man, is quite safe from accusations of not observing religious obligations regarding feminine code of dress.
 (Or, similarly, Person C consistently wears traditional abaya, and scarf, and underscarf, making Person D who likes to wear jeans an easy prey.)
 So, person A decides to publicly judge sorry I mean, offer brotherly advice:
    If disapproved of, person A can hide behind the following defences:
  I was merely trying to help person B improve; OR
I am executing my religious obligation of propagating the prophetic message.
   Via Twitter: @SanaSaeed
  Hereâs why it doesnât work, though:
Not only Person A is tendering advice not asked for, but he is doing it in a manner that humiliates Person B. Therefore, there is a 100% chance this will encourage Person B to do just the opposite in order to protect her self-esteem (you make me feel bad, so I donât like you, so I donât listen to what you say). Shame doesnât fix behaviour.
Person A is not displaying prophetic manners by being harsh and judgemental rather than understanding and compassionate. Person A is being dishonest in disguising hatred/negativity/intolerance with Godâs name.
   One consequence of this broplem is the massive number of Muslims (believing, practising to varying degrees) who actively separate themselves from those of us who make their faith clear (with dress or with words). They seek more secular ways and restrict their faith to a very private sphere, not because they are embarrassed of it, but because they have had enough of being shamed.
   An Experiment
  Go to any country in the Middle East and experiment throwing around an emphatic and solemn âassalamu aleykumâ (peace be upon you): more often than you think, youâll become suspicious in the eyes of the people. They will prepare themselves to pass the test of your judgemental presence by filtering everything they say. Your peaceful salute has lost its seal of trust, no one believes you really come in peace. How sad is that?
   6 Things We Can Do Instead
  Make a Friend
Donât make an enemy of the one you think needs to improve. Befriend, compliment, understand, get to know better, form a trusting relationship. Only then will your advice actually be listened to, because itâll be real loving and caring advice, not an excuse to give way to your intolerant instincts.
Look in the Mirror
For every fault you find in another, you can find one in yourself. Stay humble by constantly reminding yourself that everybody (including yourself) is just learning. Remember, if you do better than the next person in one way, they might do better than you in ten.
  Emphasise your good opinion of them. Then, emphasise it again, and again, and again.
The saying goes, âHow you make others feel about themselves says a lot about you.â Ultimately, the best way to encourage someone to improve their behaviour is to assure them of their good nature. So make sure the way you express your thoughts respects the personâs dignity and self-image. Tell your children every day that they are good children. When they make mistakes, never call them naughty. Donât shame the child, but depreciate the behaviour as unworthy of the child.
Make Excuses For Others
Every person walking this earth comes from a different place and has a different story, so comparing yourself to others at your own advantage on the basis of a single trait is quite a rigged game. Before jumping on an opportunity to put somebody down, reappraise their behaviour by thinking of reasons why they might not do as well as you in a certain department. Have compassion, and remember:
Via Invite To Islam
Focus on the Positive
Okay, he drinks. But he does a lot for charity. It might just be that praising him for his altruism and proactive efforts at making the world a better place âwhile keeping negative judgements to yourselfâ will work a thousand more wonders than the reverse. Trust me, he already knows what his fellow Muslims think of his drinking. Heâs been shamed so many times it wonât make a single difference if you add your two cents, so try something different: try fervently believing in his ability to change.
Keep The Long Term Goal In Mind
At the end of the day, whatever advice you give will only matter on the basis of its sincerity. So absolutely refrain from âadviceâ that turns people away where it should invite them. Sometimes itâs better to say nothing at all. Always ask yourself the question: âAm I encouraging, am I inviting?â If notâif you keep on harassing people with unwelcome judgementâpushing them further away from the right thing to do, what have you earned?
Did you know? The Arabic word âRabbâ, commonly translated as âLordâ, originates from the same root as the word âtarbiyyaâ which means âeducationâ, âupbringingâ.
So âRabbâ really means âEducatorâ or âGuideâ!
He is Allah, our Creator who teaches us through the experiences He puts us through, and the signs He leaves for us along the way.
When times are tough, find it in your heart to be grateful for the lessons learned and the new strengths gained, inshaAllah. Trust that God is guiding you through hardship and on the road to personal growth, as opposed to inflicting punishment on you.Â
