It is never easy to manage time and relationships. Relationship with oneself, relationships between friends and family, and most importantly, the personal connection with Allah (SWT).
It is especially challenging during the current, ongoing pandemic where many feel they are being pulled in all directions. Even more so now, with the shift to remote work affecting many around the world and the cautious approach we are taking to being outside.
With more time spent indoors, you would think that cultivating these relationships would be easier. That isn’t always the case.
If we don’t make a conscious effort to engage in healthy habits that nurture these relationships, we could fall into the pitfalls of time-wasting activities, often misconstrued as relaxing entitlements.
Consider the following guide to help in achieving a more balanced and meaningful personal growth:
Al Quran: Key to Fulfilled Families
In addition to carrying out the daily prayers, a family that reads the Quran together stays together. As a familial activity, such a practice helps in creating more opportunities for interactions, thus strengthening family ties alongside solidifying one’s spiritual piety towards Allah (SWT).
Even as an individual practice, an increase in daily recitation paves the way towards getting closer to Allah (SWT).
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
“WORSHIP ALLAH AND ASSOCIATE NOTHING WITH HIM, AND TO PARENTS DO GOOD, AND TO RELATIVES, ORPHANS, THE NEEDY, THE NEAR NEIGHBOUR, THE NEIGHBOUR FARTHER AWAY, THE COMPANION AT YOUR SIDE, THE TRAVELER, AND THOSE WHOM YOUR RIGHT HANDS POSSESS. INDEED, ALLAH DOES NOT LIKE THOSE WHO ARE SELF-DELUDING AND BOASTFUL.”
[SURAH AN-NISA 4:36]
Consuming Quranic content and planning regular religious activity seamlessly are ways to keep up with that practice. On the Muslim Pro app, with individual and group settings to choose from, parents could plan their children’s Khatam journey while tracking their progress easily, for instance.
Islam Beyond Rituals
Take this opportunity to learn more about Islam instead of just binge watching a reality show online. Ranging from historical to religious facts, learn a new fact through the ‘Did You Know‘ series of cards on the Muslim Pro app daily.
As a start, such bite-sized morsels of information could potentially spark more and deeper questions about Islam. It acts as a stepping stone to searching for other sources — online or offline.
Travel Virtually
Expand one’s mind virtually even during this pandemic. For those itching to traverse physical boundaries across the globe, there is ample time to plan one’s next travel itinerary.
In the meantime, while staying safe in one’s sanctuary, opt instead from the Makkah live stream to explore one of Islam’s most sacred sites, in addition to learning more about specific religious activities that only take place there. Immerse yourself and feast on the different aerial views without leaving your couch or during breaks from your work schedule.
Reignite Passions
With millions of videos and online resources available online for free, there is no excuse to not revisit a past passion or satiate that curiosity in coding, languages or even philosophy.
اِقۡرَاۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَۚ
“RECITE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD WHO CREATED.”
[SURAH AL-ALAQ 96:1]
As exemplified through the above Quranic verse, it is incumbent upon us, as part of the ummah, to carry out one of the very building blocks of Islam.
Connecting with the Ummah
Build upon those relationships by sharing. Connecting with an online community serves as a buttressing factor in solidifying the ummah as an active and continually learning collective.
Various social media platforms provide such opportunities to connect beyond one’s immediate circle of family and friends which could potentially shine a light on certain pressing social issues happening around the world.
by Helmy Sa’at
