Salaam Ashura

Ashura is the 10th day of the New Year, where Muslims observe an optional fast. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) came to know that people of the Jewish faith observed Ashura by fasting on the day. Upon speaking to them, they related that Prophet Moses (blessings upon him) fasted upon Ashura. The Prophet (pbuh) then made a statement saying that Prophet Moses meant more to Muslims than Jews and instructed his followers to observe the Ashura fast.

Those who do observe the fast will help their smaller sins of the past year forgiven, insha'Allah, and will be able to start afresh for the new year.

Ashura also marks the martyrdom of Prophet's grandson, Husayn bin Ali (peace upon them all). In Husayn's valiant quests to promote and defend Islam throughout his life, it is even more befitting for Muslims to observe the fast. It reminds us of Husayn in all of his piety. Though some Muslims mourn his loss, many believe that Husayn and the other righteous relatives and friends of the Prophet (pbuh) would rather be remembered through forms of worship such as fasting and charitable events.

Ashura is not a celebration but a moment to reflect on the becoming of Islam and our own personal sacrifices we have made for the religion.

The Hajj's Qiblah

Is the Hajj season ever marginalised in your country? I know in Malaysia it falls second to Eidul Fitr, which is celebrated for a month with continuous bingeing. I know that is not right. You should still obseve a healthy diet, especially after that wonderful Ramadhan de-tox - yet Malaysians are seen stuffing their faces at 3 in the morning while watching a football match live from Chelsea.

Anyway, it is also wrong to marginalise Eidul Adha. Hajj commemorates the plight of Prophet Abraham (peace and blessings upon him) and his families during difficult times. It was then when sacrifices to feed the poor was established; the Hajj rituals completed; and where zam zam water was found. All this happened through Prophet Abraham and family (peace upon them) submitting in totality to the Hands of Allah Ta'ala.

Not many of us can do that today. Submit. There are so many distractions that allow us to look away from the Ka'bah - change the Qiblah if you like. Maybe that is why Eidul Adha falls second to Eidul Fitr in some countries.

I had a run in with an old friend a few weeks back. Naturally, you would think we would be delighted to see each other after her brief disappearance. When we were studying together, she was, in my opinion, a wonderful Muslimah. I did not know her well, but I liked her alot and respected her even more.

She was always humble, and popular - everyone had something nice to say about her, especially all the lecturers! She observed hijab strictly and was ALWAYS modest around the opposite gender. She was an excellent student and frequented the prayer room. She kept good relations with everyone. She was also ambitious - and she had high prospects to be extremely successful. After all, she was intelligent, hardworking, devout and had excellent interpersonal skills.

I got to know her better after we graduated and had high hopes for her. She looked forward to a rewarding career and a wedding ring.

Then she disappeared.

I thought she had fallen off the face of the earth. But I learned of her thriving career overseas and her engagement. I was really happy for her. It seemed like everything was falling into place.

And then she returned - a few years later - a few weeks back - wealthier than ever, with one failed marriage.

Naturally I would be delighted to run into an old friend. But my old friend was gone.

It was quite saddening actually. Ok, so I am lying. I was furious! Initially, I was so mad. She was condescending, belittling, a little to inquisitive about my income and then my husband's income. And then our household income. She raised her eyebrows when she found out I had left my career. She did not think much of my children and by the fact that I was running around after them the whole day. She sniggered at the tv which was full of children's channels.

Then she dropped the bomb. She said she did not want to interact with people who were not worth her time or worth the effort for expanding her wealth.

It was horrible - that meeting - it was horrible.

And then it got worse.

I spoke to a mutual friend today and she brought my "old friend" up in our conversation. I found out she's not all that "classy" as she seemed to be after all that assessment on my "modest" lifestyle, as she put it. At least, not around the opposite gender.

I still was not sad enough to feel sad, because for some reason I was still fuming after a few too many condescending remarks about her valuation of our friendship, but our mutual friend threw me a javelin and it hit me in the eye. So I stopped my dramatic monologue about the sanctity of marriage.

"Feel sad," she urged, "she used to be such a nice person. So kind. So 'alim."

After a little chin scratching I realised there was something in my eye. It was not the pointed end of the javelin. That was sharp, and painful. This was liquidy and moist. So I pulled out the javelin and decided that I should feel sad, rather than insulted.

"Hopefully she will change."

I guess it struck me tonight with the Hajj season coming up, that my old friend had changed her Qiblah. There were other things that struck an important chord with her, in her life, in her dunya. The fancy car, men maybe (I still cringe at that thought), her money. Her career.

Hajj is a way of remembering our roots. Where Islam was born and where a pillar of the religion was formed in the barren desert of Makkah. Where a mother ran back and forth, sand sieving through her toes, with no sign of help from passer bys. She had nothing but a wailing baby and alot of faith to keep herself focused in the right direction - her Qiblah. That was the same wailing baby whose ankle struck the sandy surface of the desert, allowing water to spring forth. And when the baby grew up, his father was to obey his Lord's command to sacrifice him, with a sharp knife to his throat. And he willingly accepted his father's dream - to be sacrificed - he even shunned the devil for taunting him with distraction.

So many things happened for Eidul Adha to materialise. Yet the festival is being marginalised by some Muslims. It is a pity, because that is where the Qiblah is formed, and will never change. Like my old friend, who decided to change, just by changing her Qiblah.

Would you like a rainbow?

I read this on a Malay blog and I found it brilliant. I had to share it with you (translated by yours truly). Will paste the link when I find it.

"Sometimes Allah hides the sun. He brings thunder and lightning embalmed in darkness. That is when we cry in fear, and ask, where has the light disappeared to? Where is the sunshine?"

It turns out "Allah has a plan. He wanted to give us a gift - a rainbow."

"Love will not fade away if there are memories. A broken heart will not mend itself if peace is not found. A soul that strays can return if there is hope. We will recover from old scars if there is imaan in the wound."

Does this strike a chord with you?

I think every once and again we fall into uncertainty, something that was unplanned, unexpected - totally out of the blue and way beyond your comprehension. Will you survive? How will you manage? It is not possible... it cannot be possible!

La illaha illallah means so much more than "there is no god except for Allah." You can say this over and over again, throughout your prayers, but in truth, practicing it is far more difficult. Can you possibly believe in the kalimah while telling yourself that "this is not possible!"?

It has to be possible if Allah said "be!" Kun fa ya kun. It is possible, for if Allah says it will happen, it definitely will.

So if you are in difficulty now, or in darkness and in blindness. If you are lost or have lost hope, feel discourage or scared, just remember La illaha illallah.

Insha'Allah a rainbow will follow.

Is Your Marriage a Bed of Roses?

Marriage is highly stressed in Islam, with husbands and wives described as being garments for one another (an-Nur: 30-31). That's nice - we can say alot of nice things about clothes, especially when they are fashionable, comfortable and clean.

Marriage is one of those things that happen in batches. When one couple ties the knot, it seems like everyone else is doing it too. There were weekends where my husband and I were invited to 3-4 weddings held on the same day. Luckily, due to the traditional Malay wedding being a staggered feast that goes on for several hours, it is possible to attend 3 wedding banquets on the same day.

After the wedding however, the opening chapter of marriage begins.

It's not a bed of roses, definitely. Many enthusiastic youngsters who have found their other half tend to look forward to endless sleepovers and chit chats. Allah has other plans though, all geared to make us grow stronger.

Over the few years that I and about a million of my friends have been married, I have noticed a distinct pattern that hits the newly weds. There will always be trouble within the first 6 months of matrimonial harmony.

The most common problem are financial issues. One of the couple usually loses his or her job. This is not intentionally, in most cases but due to other factors such as economic cut backs in companies. Otherwise, it would be the great debt the couple has to bear repaying the wedding loan. That causes substantial financial strain. Suddenly, the gleeful, rather shallow life most of us lived while depending on parents or just taking care of ourselves on a single salary disappears into a nightmare of financial turmoil. I found this most common in most couples.

Secondly, I always find, many newlyweds are separated after marriage. Work, family circumstances, studies - they all amount to some sort of separation where the couple only meet during weekends or holidays. This is strange but I have seen it so many times that it can be quite comical, in a mean way.

There are other problems couples face during the first few months of marriage. Living with in-laws, literally or not, sometimes poses a problems. Especially if the in-laws are the type that have not accepted their son or daughter sharing his or her life with someone else other than them. I guess it is difficult to see a child leave the nest but I have seen couples batter with overbearing parents that cause more distress upon the marriage than harmony.

What else? Babies, oh yes. Miscarriages, difficulty to conceive - all this can happen during the first year. Complicated pregnancies, no less. I've seen them all. And although there is a work around to every problem that Allah throws upon us, many couples find they break before building up strength to overcome their obstacles.

It is probably best to remember that Allah will not place a burden upon ourselves that we are unable to shoulder. And since we are garments to our spouses, it is time to be the best garment yet.

But no matter what the work-around is, nothing can be better for you marriage than complete surrendership to Allah's will, filled with prayers and supplication.

"Verily, for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves [before God], and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly, for [all of] them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward."
(al-Ahzab: 35)

With Knowledge Comes Power

Now, who said that? Was it Uncle Ben in Spiderman? Or one of Kent's parents in Superman. I'm pretty sure Stan Lee used this line in one or more of his many lengedary comic books.

I am also pretty sure it is somewhere in the Qur'an and / or the Hadith. There are plenty of sayings by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek knowledge, and to even seek it to the depths of China (Bukhari). So, there is power in knowledge, and the opposite of knowledge is pure ignorance through and through.

Alot of misconceptions of Islam and Arabs in the non-Muslim world, is pretty much due to the mainstream media that easily lines up the "good guys" against the "bad guys." Not everyone is given the opportunity or makes that extra effort to read up on the other side of the story.

However, there is a fair segment of the Muslim and Arab society who sometimes encourage negative perceptions of the religion to be formed.

Personally I have found that many misuderstandings about Islam are due to cultural interferences in Islamic practice that give rise to the perception that the religion is tedious and embalmed in ritual practices without the sense of logic.

Some examples are such as wedding celebrations, funeral proceedings and even simple things like the 'Eid festival. While Islam makes everything really simple, without much weight on obligations, many cultures practice this differently and often forget that Islam frowns upon many of their superstitious traditions that usually translate into a waste of money, valuable time and energy. Some practices can even turn into shirk - associating partners with Allah. Astargfirullah....

Coupled with the fact that all of this done without knowledge, stress and anger quickly settle in. For example, dealing with debt after and elaborate wedding, not having to hold "follow up" ceremonies after a funeral, or wasting time on the night of 'Eid baking cookies until 4 in the morning and missing the 'Eid prayer.

If you are a Muslim and you reading this, you would probably know what I'm talking about. Islam outlines the complete way of life without any hardship upon us, but we always manage to find ways to complicate matters.

When in doubt of traditions, it is probably best to consult the Qur'an and / or the Hadith, to ensure what we are doing does not violate Islamic teaching. :)

The last thing a Muslim wants to do is to displease Allah Ta'ala and it is obligatory for every Muslim to make that extra effort to read His side of the story.

Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minkum!

Something I love about Islam.

After a month's fast and worship worship worship... we finally skip along happily to the Masjid for the congregation we have all been waiting for. Though, during Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) time, he would hold the prayer in the outdoors, many Muslim communities pray within the compounds of the MAsjid or Islamic centre.

That's fine, as long as your heart is there. I mean, baring your soul to Allah for a sturdy month is enough to bring tears to your eyes and swell up your heart. Not only did your body undergo changes (for the better), you are also reminded of so many less fortunate Muslims who may not even be able to perform 'Eid prayers without the echoes of gun fire. May we all pray for them.

But like I said, something I so love about Islam is about how, in the end, it comes down to the ummah.... building a strong ummah.

Turns out your fasting, dzikr, Tarawih, Qur'an-reading and charity that you had done during the month is to be celebrated by all of whom you meet during the 'Eid prayer. "Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minkum," you say to each other, imploring that Allah accepts all good deeds from you and your comrad in faith.

There is no merriment in celebration unless it is to please Allah. There are no cheers unless a good deed is done. There is no happiness unless a fellow brother or sister is standing next to you in line for prayer.

So to you My Dear Reader, since we are on the home-stretch, Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minkum, I hope this Ramadhan was the most meaningful Ramadhan you had ever had!

The Midi Market of the Future

In a general 3-stage guide, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) advised his followers on how to treat their children in accordance to their age group.

"From birth to the age of seven, play with them; to teach them thereafter, until the age of 14; and to be their friend throughout the teenage years, until they reach 21."

To any parent, these guidelines are extremely wide and have many dimensions of interpretation, yet they come with undeniable wisdom and allow us to develop our parenting skills with relentless care and sensitivity.

Zooming in on the second age-group of children, the one he (peace upon him) relates to as the "learning age group" of 7-14, any parent would know that children this age learn quickly, absorb new lessons effectively and are able to rationalise on what they have learned.

Children this age look up intently for role models and tend to find comfort in the parent that shares the same gender. Parents in turn should pay alot of attention to these eager minds and nosy parkers because this is the right age to start teaching children right from wrong.

From age 14 onwards, children tend to grow into the wonky hormonal stage of puberty and teenage years and from then on, communicating with your child takes on a whole new meaning.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) talked about teaching children, he did not only mean sitting down and looking over homework. Learning at this stage can stand is a daily activity for a child.

Bare in mind then, however conscientious we are at "teaching" our children, there is also the danger of them learning lessons subconsciously from our own carelessness.

Once upon a time, when I was in that age bracket of 7-14, (it was not that long ago really, lol), we had an opportunity to live in Brussles, Belgium. My siblings and I attended an International School, comprising mostly of European students, mainly British.

Being a Muslim family living in the West, the hunt for halal food was inevitable, and the one place in Brussels that Islamically slaughtered chicken and meat was available was in a place called Midi Market.

Midi Market was represented the home for the Morrocan community in Brussels. You would really feel different upon entering the marketplace. It was like standing on the border of Morroco, if you like, though I have never had the pleasure of visiting that country. There were no Belgian people there, just Morrocans and more Morrocans.

Unfortunately, there was a general sentiment amongst the locals, as well as other inhabitants in Belgium that these Moroccan people were really not that nice. Many Malaysians had encounters with them, the youth mostly, asking for money and mostly causing problems on public transportations. Many were also known to pick-pocket. One of my dad's friends had his coat spat on when he refused their requests for loose change.

No, Morrocans were not nice. This was what I was told, over and over again, through a series of many stories.

After a while, my siblings and I never ventured out to Midi market with my parents for their weekly groceries. Too many Morrocans, they would warn, as they drove across the city to the only place halal meat was available.

I would lie if I said I did not agree with them at the time. A few years later during my wonky teenage years I was waiting for a friend during a shopping spree and a Morrocan teenager came up to me. He asked for money, so I said "no." Then he asked again, and I persisted "no." Then he said I had a nice winter jacket and he had nothing to eat. I plonked in some coins into his cup but before I heard them jingle against the plastic, three other guys were advancing towards me, palms outstretch for change. I fled the scene.

After I nearly killed my friend for making me wait for so long I saw my Morrocan buddy chain-smoking at the corner of the street. I concluded he was an idiot.

That incident just fortified my dislike for the Morrocan community living in Brussles. To me, they were all trouble makers.

A couple of wonky years later, in an undisputed peculiar twist of fate and faith, I decided to wear the hijab. That is a different story all together. I was not living in Belgium, but had moved back to my home-country to study.

My family remained in Brussles and I would visit them during my study breaks.

Things were definitely different the moment I entered the country dressed as I was. I now looked like a Muslim.

Walking down the street malls a few years before, I would have never attracted attention - so I was Asian and short, no big deal. With my headscarf however, it was very differnt.

Women would hang on to their handbags and pull them around acorss their chests. Their husbands / boyfriends / friends would tell them to, yelling "hang on to your bag! Hang on to your purse!" And so they did. I would also notice how their pupils would make an indefinite turn to keep me in the corner of their sight, and no matter much shorter I was compared to them, it was actually possible.

Mothers would pull their kids out of the way... or in fact pull them out of my way... and then pull their bags out of my reach.

People would definitely stare and then pretend not to stare, and then stare again, palms around their valuables.

For many moments thereon, I felt like how it would have to felt to be a Morrocan from Midi market. The ones who were marginalised by everyone, except Muslims when their freezers ran dry of halal meat. But even that did not stop them from spreading the nasty stories about the one or two not very nice teenagers on the local tram.

I also realised that I had been taught during my years of learning that anyone who looked vaguely Morrocan was either a loose-change beggar or a pick-pocketer. I had been taught that Morrocans were just not very nice people. Now I was one of them.

The final embellishment came from someone still dawdling in the learning age group - my little brother. He said to me, "Maria, you look like an Islamic terrorist." Did I conclude that he was an idiot. Maybe, at that time, but now, years later I realise that he had been taught to think that way too.

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white except by piety and good action."
(Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) farewell sermon).

You can't help to reflect that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) warned us against racism during his time as Prophet - he even reminded his followers to eradicate racial discrimination during his farewell sermon.

Unfortunately, as much as Muslims are being discriminated against by non-Muslims who are educated by mainstream media, this hate crime exists within Muslim societies of our own. To make matters worse, children, young children, have their ears peeled open and listen to our laments of "other Muslims" of "other ethnicities" with such distaste.

You can't get enough of a certain hierarchy within the Muslim world. Purple Muslims are better than Blue Muslims. Blue Muslims are smarter than Orange Muslims. Orange Muslims are more beautiful than Pink Muslims. Pink Muslims build better Masjids than Green Muslims. The lists goes on, and we are passing on that very same list to the next Muslim generation - that eager mind and nosy parker listening intently as you and your spouse complain about the Brown Muslim family living down the street.

I'm sure there were sour apples in one of the million baskets in Midi market. I had a run in with one of them, a memory that will stick with me forever. What I do not want forever though, is the lesson I learned of Morrocan people so horridly stereotyped that every Muslim would be known as thief or a scoundrel... let alone an Islamic terrorist.

Now that I am way above the age of consent in any country and addicted to the Internet - mostly for work - I find Midi markets everywhere, in every nook and cranny. In fact, I visit them all the time. I interact with them and I learn from them every single day.

I have met Muslim sisters who have reverted to the beautiful faith through their wonderful Morrocan husbands. I have learned how these families manage themselves and live in accordance to Islamic creed. I have met Morrocan brothers and sisters so steadfast in their faith, that any Muslim - Blue, Yellor or Magenta - would pause in awe, and say Masha'Allah.

Maybe that is something we would like to pass on to our eager minds and nosy parkers.

I feel horrible for the Morrocans who live in Brussels mostly because I had such a negative perception on all of them, even though there were many sweet apples in the baskets at Midi market.

With enough problems on our plates, Muslims need to hold steadfast together. This will not only stengthen the present ummah that is grappling dangerously with diversity and constant change with different Muslim societal infrastructures - it is also necessary for our children.

They learn from us every day and it is their right to be taught right from wrong - whether consciously or carelessly.

And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided. (Al `Imran 3: 103)

Muslims still live in trees!

The common insult of a civilisation still leaving in trees probably stems from the belief of evolution, whereby man evolved from the ape. Muslims do not believe in Darwin's theory, which is full of loopholes, on the becoming of man. However, when faced with the comment or insult that Muslims still live in trees... Muslims can respond that the statement is in fact true. There are Muslims living in trees!

As much as Muslims do not believe that Man are ancestors of the money, they do believe that the many species that make up the ape-kindgom are, in fact, Muslims.

Besides monkeys that "still" live in trees, birds, bugs, bees, sloths (are the part of the ape kingdom?), koala bears and other animals that inhabituate trees are also Muslim.

"There is no animal that lives on the Earth, but forms part of communities like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they shall all be gathered to their Lord in the end."
(Al-An'am: 38)

Obviously we have left out all the other non-tree bound animals that live in the different climates and environments that have been uniquely created to suit their multiple needs and requirements.

In fact, there are plenty of special mention of animals in the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that give animals the recognition of their natural inclination to worship Allah, and Allah alone.

Prophet Sulayman (may Allah bless him) was gifted with the knowledge to decipher the speech of birds and beast alike.

"He (Sulaiman) said: O' People! We have been taught the language of the birds and have been given (abundance) of all things; this is indeed grace manifest (from Allah)." (Al-Naml: 15)

In fact, on one of his da'wa missions, Prophet Sulayman heard ants clamouring for safety in fear of being trampled upon: "At length when they came to a valley of ants, one of the ants said: 0' ants! Get into your holes lest Sulaiman and his hosts crush you without knowing it." (Al-Naml: 18)

In the story of Prophet Yusuf, Prophet Yakob (Yusuf's father) (peace and blessings upon them both), questioned his sons on Yusuf's disappearance. The boys quickly framed a wolf for devouring their younger brother. Prophet Yakob however, was enlightened by Allah that their story was false and there was no incidence of Yusuf's death, let alone had he perished in the jaws of a wolf.

In another story, the chapter Al-Kahf in the Holy Qur'an, narrates the story of a group of young men who hid in a cave away from persecutors of the Islamic faith. It is narrated that a dog stood guard for a great number of years, protecting the righteous young men from enemies.

"Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them." (Al-Kahf: 18)

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) too, in all of his kindness, always reminded his Muslim followers to treat animals the way they would treat one another. He forbade striking animals in their faces, humiliating them, or killing them in a way that would cause horrific pain.

Prophet Muhammad's acknowledgement of the Muslim status of animals was fortified during his flee from hostile Makkah to welcoming Madinah. For fear of their lives, he and comrad, Abu Bakr (peace and blessings upon them both), hid in a cave in the vast desert as men of the Quraysh hounded them down to put a stop to Islam.

A spider sensing the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him), strive for survival, wove a web, cordoning off the opening of the cave. Upon seeing a magnificently woven web across the shelter that hid the two Muslim men, the hunters, tipped off by the Quraysh, left the mouth of the cave, deceived by the spider's flimsy piece of protection - a delicate layer of nature hiding the truth.

There is an abundance of Hadith relaying the importance of caretaking of animals. A popular one is the story of a prostitute being granted Heaven after sighting a thirst-mongered dog. She removed a shoe, collected water from a well and watered and fed the dog, saving it from an untimely death. (Bukhari)

Human Muslims are therefore required to bestow only kindness upon animals regardless of their species, regardless of their habitats. Apparently now for Muslims, "living in trees" no longer poses as an insult.

It may be distasteful for a person's home to be associated with a tree branch, but in fact, there are probably human civilisations still living in trees and who are Muslim.

Nonetheless it is important to remember that all animals too are in fact Muslim and many of them live in trees designed to suit their ecosystem.

Practicing Muslims believe that Allah Ta'ala the Creator of the Worlds has perfected the environment we live in, so much so, that all elements of nature lament in His Glory, each with their own ways of worship.

"In the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and day, and the ships which sail the seas to people's benefit, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky - by which He brings the earth to life when it was dead and scatters about in it creatures of every kind - and the varying direction of the winds, and the clouds subservient between heaven and earth, there are Signs for people who use their intellect." (al-Baqara: 164)

A multitude of talents required, please!

"If you do not feel ashamed of doing something, do whatever you like." (Bukhari)

Arabs are Muslims. Muslims are Arab. Sound familiar? That is just one of the popular misconceptions related to the Islamic faith.

Another popular illustration of Muslims, or Arabs, for the matter, is that they sit around all day, probably in a mosque, or a home, chanting melodic verses from a large book, sometimes in unison, sometimes not. These people who chant comprise mostly of men - no women in sight at all - and boys.

The man, or boy, in focus does not differ a great deal from the man, or boy, sitting next to him. They dress the same, their hair is combed the same way, they both wear a skull-cap and both grow a beard to the best of their ability. Where are the women? Probably sitting in a room down the hall, with the lights dimmed, all wearing black, chanting the same verses too.

Many believe that this picture denotes the only way one can be a firm follower of the Islamic faith.

Scholars though, along with the multi-cultural Muslim society scattered around the globe, beg to differ. With the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) to do "whatever you like," directly reminds Muslims of the infinite amount of knowledge, also scattered around the globe, and the importance of attaining as much knowledge as possible to build a progressive, developing society, known as the Muslim umma. A progressive nation requires a multitude of talents.

Though it is true that there are Muslims who devote their lives in becoming experts in the realm of Islamic creed, it is not mandatory on every Muslim to study Islamic fiqh as their main career in life.

A Muslim, is allowed and encouraged to delve into studies of his or her interests and choose the field that allows him or her to flourish by capitalising on his or her strengths.

Like followers of other faiths, Muslims are doctors specialising in different disciplines; engineers, with sometimes more than one degree to their name; writers and journalists; accountants and bankers; lecturers and historians; politicians and economists; architects and artists.

What Muslims have to observe however, is that whichever field of knowledge they specialise in, they are required to hold steadfast to the Islamic principles that govern their expertise.

For example, Muslim bankers can only enter into banking contracts that are enacted without the element of interest. Architects are allowed to express their creativity provided their architectural designs do not violate Islamic beliefs. For example, they may not incorporate human images in their designs.

These practices are in conjuction with the Muslim way of worship, whereby each follower loves and hates for the sake of Allah, demonstrating that Islam is indeed a complete way of life with Muslims holding steadfast to the truth - together.

By adhering to this Islamic conduct with regards to the various strands of knowledge, Muslims also acknowledge hat infinite wisdom belongs to Allah and to Allah alone. The knowledge acquired by one person throughout his or her lifetime is but a speckle of dust caught in a drop of water resting on a grain of sand on a vast beach stretching a cross a tiny country.

A Muslim, or an Arab for that matter, is not only a lawyer, realtor, warden, police officer, or construction worker - he or she is encouraged to be whatever he or she wants to the best of his or her ability and interest.

The uniqueness of one Muslim to the next is important in order to complement another person's field of speciality. A society would not survive if every member of the community shared the same profession, even if it were a whole society devoted to Islamic creed.

Diversity is the key of a progressive nation. This goes to show that no one person, regardless of faith would ever be able to survive in this world all alone. There is no such thing as living as an island as far as Islamic belief is concern.

This principle is further strengthened by the opening chapter in the Qur'an, which Muslims recite at least 17 times a day during prayers: "Thee do we worship and thine aid do we seek," (Al-Fatiha: 5). The verse clearly reflects the humility of a Muslim towards Allah Ta'ala through his or her invocations and his or her humility towards the Muslim praying next to him or her.

A Muslim worships with his or her brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith, portraying that Muslims need the unique strengths of his brothers and sisters in order to successfully worship his of her Creator.

Therefore the next time a newsclip on Muslims is aired on television, understand that worship in the traditional sense is not the only activity Muslims partake in, 24 hours a day.

Every Muslim is different from the next in what he or she does during the day. At the same time however, it is so important for Muslims to sit down together whether in prayer, reading of the Qur'an , rememberance of Allah (dzikr), or the breaking of the fast (iftar), to remind each other of the greatness of Allah Ta'ala.