MIDDLE NATION
Everything is not well at home, and everywhere else.
As life fragments more and more, so too will the mind separate from the body.
The schism in the exquisite Divine calibration of the biosphere, is due to the aberration of nature, what Dr Gabor Mate calls the Myth of Normal.
The Quranic phrase ‘You are a middle-nation’ speaks to moderation, equanimity, equilibrium and balance. [2:143]
Unfortunately, Muslims take this fundamental principle, upon which the fabric of the entire universe rests, including the cosmos within our bodies, and give a banal platitude, more accurately, a specious meaning.
Allah’s call for moderation is in that which is natural and good, not that which is not. The latter, when consistently normalised, will eventually compound into extreme consequences, even when done moderately.
The point is, you can’t apply this axiom to that which is harmful. A good analogy is the rule: you can’t make intikharah (seek God’s guidance) for things that are clear or forbidden.
Generally, any habit done moderately that harms cannot be fard (mandatory) or sunnah (prophetic tradition). At best, these habits fall under the category of ja-iz (permissible) and could even lead to haram (prohibited).
The interconnectedness of life is a fragile balancing act. Upsetting one strand in the web impacts the entire system. Allah reminds us not to exceed nor fall short of the balance in that which He has established.[55:7-9].
We Love Ramadan
by: Zaahied Sallie, Nurah Tape-Sallie,
We Love Ramadan is a delightful tale about how the spirit of Ramadan captures the hearts of three siblings and sets them on a Ramadan adventure until they arrive at their favourite day, Eid!
THE PEOPLE
The people of New York have just elected their first Muslim Mayor.
The politics dominating the wealthiest city of the richest country prioritises special interest groups above the well-being of the working class. And its people were fed up.
Steps in a Muslim Assemblyman, and offers a politics of inclusion, one of care and concern.
The Prophet (s) said: ‘Afshush salaam wa ummatutta-‘aam—Give salaam and feed the people’ [Sunan Ibn Majah 3251].
Acknowledgement, genuine care and concern for the needs of others, and standing up for people’s rights is a politics that will always win.
It was the way of the Prophet (s), and the message that delivered New York’s mayoralty to Zohran Mamdani.
Often, to rise up, we must first become fed up.
The battlefront of jihad al-nafs (struggle against the self) is first accepting the ugly truth of oneself. One cannot enter the fray if we are in denial about who we are.
Remember, our perceptions of ourselves are generally faulty and thus need a falling out of love with the self to gain a truer glimpse of who we are.
Until next week, InshaAllah
P.S. Remember to write weekly to the President
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
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