Ta'leef Collective

Salam Sisters :)

 One of my closest teachers and mentors in Islam sent me a link to this really cool website called Ta'leef Collective and it's basically an independant orginization that works to "provide the space, content and companionship necessary for a healthy understanding, embracement and realization of Islam". They help people who are looking into Islam and wishing to convert, as well as young Muslims who find it hard to practice Islam, practice and learn about Islam. They are "a collective of teachers, volunteers, and peers who understand firsthand the challenge of living as Muslims in the west and they strive to provide the necessary means to facilitate that reality."

So please check out their website at this link:  Ta'leef Collective Website :) We hope you like it and you find it helpful.

Salam

Short Story Give-away!

Salam Dear Sisters :)

MYGA is super excited to announce our first ever give-away contest :) We want YOU to be a part of it for a chance to WIN awesome prizes! All you have to do is send in one of your own short stories to muslimyouthgirls@live.com along with your name, age, and an address that you would like your prize mailed to - (confidential formalities below).

The story should somehow be linked to Islam and it will be judged on overall quality and creativity - so be unique, fresh, funny or dramatic - were open to anything and everything :) There will be first, second and third place prizes of hijabs, accessories, and Islamic books. Winners of the contest, aside from their cool gifts, will have their story and name published on the MYGA blog. Runner up's will also have their stories published on the blog.

All information sent to MYGA will be held confidential unless otherwise stated by the sender. Names of winners will be published along with their stories unless they don't want their name up, in which case we'll place it as anonymous, however, we will need names for contest entries. The contest is open to Muslim girls of all ages and locations. So send this link to your friends even if they are not followers :)

Deadline ends May 30th.

Ayat al-Kursi

2:255

The Throne Verse

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Allah! There is no God but He,

the Living, the Self-subsisting, the Eternal.

No slumber can seize Him, nor sleep.

All things in heaven and earth are His.

Who could intercede in His presence without His permission?

He knows what appears in front of and behind His creatures.

Nor can they encompass any knowledge of Him except what he wills.

His throne extends over the heavens and the earth,

and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them,

for He is the Highest and Most Exalted.

Allah, the Most High, speaks the truth



The benefits of this ayah are many, but it mainly provides you with protection

So read it in the morning, night, on trips and when you leave the house.

Actually...read it whenever you can :)

Over Spending

Many Muslim youth around Canada and around the world have trouble dealing with the temptation of overspending. In a hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Allah has prohibited three things: gossip, much questioning and wasting money.”

Overspending can lead to bankruptcy or debt and eventually you will not have enough money to meet your needs. We must recognize the difference between “need” and “want”. Ask yourself, do I really need this or do I simply want it? We should ask ourselves this question every time we attempt to spend money. If we are honest with ourselves, we can make a wise choice and follow through.

Here are four easy steps that will help to decrease overspending:

1) When shopping is necessary, make a list of the things you need to buy.

2) Don’t spend time in a place where it is easy to spend money. If we spend a lot of time at certain places such as malls, cafes and movie theaters, we may be drawn to spend more money. Instead of spending your free time at these places try and go to the park or visit your friends.

3) Give yourself strict income limits. If you have problems controlling your spending, try to create and stick to a weekly budget. Any extra money can be saved in your personal bank account.

4) Avoid impulse buying. If you see something that you would like to buy, try waiting a day before actually buying it. If you really want it, you will come back. This also gives you the chance to find other things that may be better in quality or price.

Keep in mind that spending money in and of itself is not bad, in fact, spending money can be good if we spend wisely. The Prophet commended money when he said, “It is very good that a righteous man has righteous money.” Instead of spending money on useless things, you can spend money on good things such as charity, buying gifts for parents or siblings or using it towards your education and personal development.

Next time you are out shopping with your friends and about to purchase something, stop and think: Is this something I really need?

Written by MAC Youth London's High School Sisters' Youth Group (SYG) 

As seen in: MY Voice Online Magazine

Spring @ MYGA

No satisfaction for Terry Jones

Salam

A few months ago, American pastor Terry Jones was in the news for wanting to burn the Quran. Although he had few followers in his church, he sparked fire around the world when he began appearing all over the media for his plans of "burn the Quran day".  After much dissaproval and uproar by people, he stated he would not be going through with his plans. However, two weeks ago he did go through with his plan and burned the Holy Quran. His actions are extremely vulgar and contemptible and as Muslims one way we could help not give him any satisfaction for his actions would be by not giving him press. The more he's in the news, the more he's googled, the more that video (Quran burning) is watched, the happier he is. Although the anger of many is completely understandable, we shouldn't give him any satisfaction by hurting ourselves by watching the video or becoming extremely upset. He should be fined and even sent to jail, but the way some people in countries like Afghanistan are taking out their anger is not justified ...only he should be held accountable for his actions, and the government of America for serving justice.

A good example of patience in the time of trouble would be Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the famous story of his journey to the city of Ta'if. When he went there to peacefully invite the people to Islam, they responded by pelting him with stones and hurting him until he was soaked in his own blood. After leaving the city, Angel Jibrail  approached him and told the prophet that if he wished, he could bring the two mountains on either side of the city together, crushing the city of Ta'if and it's people for what they did. The Prophet declined and said even if none of these people become Muslim, I pray that their children may worship Allah and serve His cause. The beauty and moral of this story is that even when the prophet suffered so much pain and had the absolute opportunity to annihalate this town, he did not. He had patience, and hope. And instead of cursing them, he prayed for them. Lets look at the Prophets example and follow in his footsteps.

We should also always remember that Allah says in Surat Hijr (15.09) "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)."

Again in Surat Hijr He says "Leave them alone, to enjoy (the good things of this life) and to please themselves: let (false) hope amuse them: soon will knowledge (undeceive them). "

May Allah (swt) guide us, give us patience and Iman. We need to keep faith that he will receive his due from Allah, and we should not let him even think he can affect us or our deen, because he can't.