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Abû Hurayrah relates that a man said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Counsel me.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not get angry.” The man repeated his request many times, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept saying: “Do not get angry.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]

#umadbro?#patience

Check yourself before you wreck yourself

Our youth all grown up! Taking active roles within the community mashaAllah

Roots bear the fruits---the harvest of patience

Palm Trees and The Muslim

written by Ibrahim Nazar, a senior at Al-Huda School

“Amongst the trees, there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and it is like the Muslim.” said the Prophet Muhammad (S), “It is the date palm tree.” It is no coincidence that the date palm tree our beloved Prophet (S) spoke of happens to have several simple and unique characteristics from which Muslims can derive multifaceted virtues to embody.

The roots of the date palm, the least glamorous feature, are unexpectedly the most essential. Concealed and submerged, the roots provide for a healthier, stronger tree even if its branches are cut off and the trunk is damaged. The roots could naively be analyzed as the personal history, background, and culture that have shaped Muslims today. But that would not be an accurate representation. The “concealed and submerged” feature of Muslims is our faith. Our faith is kept deep within our heart and not one person discerns what belief and conviction we hold. Our personal strength and health come from our belief. It drives us to maintain homeostasis and to adjust, adapt, and harmonize with our environment. The will to live emerges from our loyalty to Allah because a major part of our belief is to continue to thrive for His sake no matter what. Surviving and enduring is not without reward. Allah (SWT) ensures prosperity for those that endure by saying, “O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper.” (3:200 – Al Quran)

The trunk of a date palm is sturdy and established. It soars as high as it can, not only because of a strong network of roots, but also a strong inflexible trunk. A date palm’s trunk is an environmental marvel because it can grow and stretch to fantastic heights in the extreme environment of the desert. A Muslim’s “trunk” is his or her mindset. Durability and hardiness for both the body and particularly the mind is a definite trait that all Muslims should have. We as Muslims in the West undergo a great deal of social pressure from the surrounding non-Muslim environment. Being inflexible in our beliefs is what allows us to withstand the societal burden without going askew from our straight path. Muslims in the East have their own impediments including tensions with other religions, war with western nations, cultural differences between nationalities and a whole plethora of other reasons which, unfortunately, are leading those societies down a bloody path to nowhere, littered with bodies from all factions. The struggles that the believers go through are nothing new. But the resilience of the believers has always been written down in history alongside their struggles. It is marked down in history that the best nation grew from a small group of patient individuals, the Sahaba and our Prophet (S), despite the torture and peer pressure that was forced upon them. It is marked down in history that when the people of Dawud (A) went forth against all odds to face Goliath and his soldiers, they did not back down. They showed the enemy their fortitude, trusting their Lord, proclaiming, “Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (2:250 Al-Quran) They stood stable and solid, like the date palm, and showed a champion’s mentality that with strength and patience, they can weather any storm.

The leaves of the date palm are incredibly versatile. Aside from their medicinal qualities, date palm leaves are very adaptable and their value was duly noted by the Arabs. The Arabs used to cover their houses with date palm leaves, even choosing the leaves over wood. Mats were woven from the tough fibers of the date palm leaves and individually, the leaves were used as buckets, baskets, and cups. Just like the date palm leaf, a Muslim’s true strength comes from his ability to adapt. For example, the media shows Muslims as violent war mongers but we only validate their claims by stomping out onto the streets with large banners and extensive proclamations. Maybe we need to adapt and instead, go small— to help our neighbors with their lawn, to volunteer at nearby clinics and to help the local elderly with their daily routines. If we show patience in these charitable endeavors, enough people will notice and our reputation will improve. It is not thinking idealistically, it is thinking locally. This was proved when a group of Palestinians righteously invited former President Carter and his wife to come fast one day of Ramadan with them despite the limited amount of available resources. Enraptured by their altruism, the former US President and his wife were convinced to start a movement for their rights. It was not rioting and rowdy protesting from Palestinians that gave them this victory, it was simply thinking locally and judiciously. The actions of the group of Palestinians, despite the vast amount of injustices they suffered through, is a fine example of how they were able to elevate themselves in the eyes of the western world through patiently and legitimately acting with beneficence.

The date palm tree produces one of the most beneficial fruits in the world. The date earned its famous name, “the bread of the Sahara”, for being among the most nourishing fruits to grace our planet. The fruit is a staple food meaning that it supplies a large amount of necessary nutrition to ensure survival. There are a myriad of medicinal properties the date also offers to help with ailments ranging from fighting tooth decay to battling heart disease. But for all its usefulness, the fruit is merely a sweet container for the more significant seed. The date seed is an efficient way of reproduction. Wrapped in an attractive shell to entice humans as well as animals to eat from its delicious exterior, the fruit is consumed and the date seed is chewed on and spat out. Unfortunately, the experience of the seed is the same as the experience of many Muslims. Muslims are born into the gentle environment of Islam but grow up to be spat into a reality with shattered illusions of peace and justice. Furthermore, a date seed can only bask in the bright rays of the sun if it is first buried underneath a layer of dirt. A Muslim is like that seed. If he holds onto his faith and endures with patience, he can rise through the oppressive layer of hate and paranoia permeating his environment and bask in the glow of his accomplishments enjoying the fruits of his hard work in this life and if Allah (SWT) wills, the next life guaranteed by Allah when He says, "For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” (94:6 – Al Quran)

The date palm is interminable. Always reaching for the heavens, the date palm merely sways in the strongest of winds, never being pushed down—never being beaten. A towering sentinel, the date palm tree is a strong link to our potential according to the last Messenger (S). Muslims do not have to lag behind society, hindered by the overly attached strings of culture, to rise above the rest. As individuals, if we stand tall and true, those that tried to hold us down lose their grip and are left looking up to us, the true champions. We do not have to conform to meaningless standards set by our non-Muslim peers. We do not have to “experience freedom” by “letting our hair down”. We do not have to live luxuriously and drool over having the newest car or the latest phone. We do not have to immorally and yet “traditionally” go hunting for the sake of sport. We do not have to be part of a society that drinks away their troubles, reserves respect for those that stroll the Hollywood red carpet ,and throws away their lives on green, fine felt tables for a mere game of cards. Turning our backs to the inane and lopsided frivolities of the non-Muslims may cast us in a negative light but perhaps that is why we have already been told by the Prophet (S) to live in this world as if we are strangers.

“Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.” (11:11 Al Quran) The “great reward” declared is none other than Jannah, the eternal abode for Muslims. There is no greater success, no higher attainment, than being blessed to live for eternity in the beautiful, refreshing gardens of Paradise. Abu Ali ad-Daqqaq said, “People who have patience are the true winners in this world and the next, because they have the companionship of Allah.” We need to remember the Prophet’s (S) metaphor to be elevated into Heaven. To embody the qualities of a palm tree is to embody a champion—after all; it is a champion who transcends above all and takes his rightful place in Jannah by Allah (SWT) as a true winner for all of eternity.

One of our Hifzh school graduates leading the DUS taraweeh prayer at UMD!

Come through to the Home of the Heart fundraiser!

Daily Prayer Times!

This post automatically updates itself with the prayer times for the current day.

Need more prayer times? Head to islamicfinder.org.

25 Ways to Enter Jannah

#islam #patience

Al-Huda sophomore students attend the county science fair!

Al-Huda holds a basketball tournament at the UMD armory.

Let DUS speak, #2.

Welcome to the first of a new weekly post, Let DUS speak. In these posts, we will ask a question that’s been flying around the Al-Huda hallways. Answer the question in the comments below anonymously. The best answer will be posted on our instagram page!

This week’s question is:

If you had the choice to be at Al-Huda School, or a public school of your choosing, what would you choose and why?

Congratulations to this week's winner: http://instagram.com/p/W-ukmRHaaq/

Never give up. You never really know how close you are to succeeding.

#motivation #patience

Former Al-Huda school students at their high school graduation.

A senior at Al-Huda school presents his spoken word to hundreds at the Al-Huda "Home of the Heart" fundraiser!

Anything and Everything MIST

MIST website: http://www.getmistified.com | DC MIST website: http://www.dcmist.com

NOTE: OUR LAST MIST MEETING IS OVER! GOOD LUCK AT THE MIST COMPETITION INSHA'ALLAH!

Information about our MIST team:

I like to identify our team profile this year as the "high rollers" going for another all team win, inshallah -- inshallah.

We are 18 girls and 7 young men competing in every competition except 2 (no short film, mobile app, and knowledge test #3)

Our team's make up is mostly novices; fewer veteran MIST competitors than new (1/3 to 2/3); even our veteran coaches will not be with us this year (Sr. Itrat, Sr. Fatuma, Sr. Camille). We will miss them much.

Sr. Fatuma, a veteran coach of 5 years, will be making Umrah; but we had one of our new coaches make Umrah, and she's still out.

We also had a team member make Umrah within the last two weeks, so I'm looking forward to dua'as being heavy weight this year.

Team colors are turquoise, peach, and black; and the girls want the guys to wear ties (will it happen -- Allah knows best).

Information about MIST meetings or events:

A wonderful presentation from Research in Action was held F, 3-15

Business Venture will be introducing their product in real time next week (I won't tell)

Our photo competition is "tight" to say the least

The girl's nasheed is unique, beautiful, and different

Poetry literature is "off the charts" (inshallah)

We have been able to place 2 challengers in all but 1 competition (the DUS strategy is sustained)

Meetings everyday next week

Meeting/time/place for next meeting:

Since the girls are the greater team members, we are able to prep them almost daily at lunch, recess, and after school. These meetings are managed by category and competitions.

Our male competitors are mostly veterans left autonomous because we trust them to compete at a 1st place level due to their experience. However, the challenge is getting products in front of the coaches in a timely manner.

We are also challenged this year because Al Huda's finals week is 2-weeks before MIST and the Spring Break follows. This means that competitors with coaches have 1-week less time to prepare for the competitions.

We are meeting everyday next week (lunch/recess, and after school) with a final all team member meeting on TH 3-21, inshallah.

Information about joining our MIST team:

Criteria for joining DUS MIST team is simultaneous with DC MIST's requirements:

High school student (exceptions with 8th graders who will reach the age of 13 by March and the permission of their parents)

3.00 GPA

Teacher recommendations

Parental approval

Additional requirements from DUS

Character references (overall student performance for academics and character)

This year "diversity" was a requirement: eligibility for 2 or more competitions as well as the proficiency to be placed in competitions other than those desired

Congeniality and motivation to assist, support, and unify with our team dynamics

Students were chosen based on tryouts and submissions of their presentations and products

Teams mission statement:

(Summarization of what I believe is the purpose of our participation in DC MIST.)

To carry the message of Islam with our minds, bodies, heart, and soul into every arena of experience for the pleasure of Allah.

Da'wa is the aim always.

#mist

I love your blog masha'Allah! But may I ask how I could participate in our MIST team? I've heard great things about it, and I think I might want to join!

Hey!

Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Insha’Allah we’ll write a lengthy post about everything relating to our MIST team, such as:

How to join our MIST team

What our mission is

What MIST overall is

When and where our meetings would take place

and general info about our team

Stay patient, we’ll try to get it up as soon as possible!

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