We are awaiting our second Ramadan during the pandemic, which means it will bring some of the same unique challenges we faced last Ramadan. Among these challenges is how to balance our spirituality with our work and family life.

Now that work, schooling, family time are all entwined in one, it can be difficult to separate your work, spiritual, and family time.

Fasting has so many health benefits that many people, including non-Muslims, have taken it up as a regular health practice! Of course, we as Muslims primarily fast to build our taqwa, our consciousness of Allah, but Allah has also placed countless benefits in this practice, so that we may gain maximum benefit from it in this life and the next.

There are different ways to approach the physical effects of fasting on the body. So, in this blog, we're looking at fasting from three different lenses; The first is the approach utilized by Tibb (natural medicine) practitioners, the second is the hour-by-hour approach, and the third is the weight loss and metabolism benefits of 30 days of fasting.

The past year has been very testing for most of us here in the UK and across the world. Our mental, physical, and spiritual health have been affected severely during the third lockdown, and maintaining our food intake had proven to be difficult.

But, The Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAW) provides us with a substantial amount of information on foods with innumerable health benefits that help to cleanse our immune systems and prevent and cure certain illnesses.

Prophetic foods are foods that the Prophet (SAW) used to eat daily. They are foods that are packed filled with nutritious goodness that help you feel great about yourself, prevent diseases, and help you stay physically and mentally fit.

Ramadan is a special month for us all for many different reasons. This month helps us grow into our worship and gives us the best opportunity to develop our relationship with Allah SWT. There have been some significant events that have occurred during this holy month throughout our Islamic tradition.

Below are some of the more well-known events as well as some lesser-known moments that took place. It is important to look at the sacrifices and the hardships endured by our pious predecessors who all helped make it easier for us to practice our religion with ease and paved the way for us to arrive at this point in our lives. We must remember their struggles so we can truly appreciate how much those who came before us. It is also equally important to reflect on the miracles gifted to us by Allah SWT in this holy month.

What are the 99 Names of Allah? Allah SWT is best known by His Name, Allah, which means ‘The God’ in Arabic. He refers to Himself as Allah in the Qur’an, but He also mentions that He has other names:

“Allah—there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Quran 20:8) He also says in a different place in the Qur’an:

“And to Allah belong the best names, so call on Him by them.” (Quran 7: 180) These are the Names and Attributes that Allah SWT has described Himself with. We do not ascribe to Allah SWT anything except that which He has prescribed to Himself, but He has given us plenty of Names with which to remember Him by and call upon Him in dua.

The state of our heart determines our spiritual state. Our spiritual state either positively or negatively impacts our interactions and experiences in all areas of life. Being in a good spiritual state does not take all our problems away, but it gives us the strength to bear them. We can perform our religious duties with enthusiasm and love instead of with guilt and fear. As such, it becomes clear that purifying the state of our heart is crucial from both a Dunya and an Akhirah perspective.