No. For it doesn’t discriminate. It falls equally on every being.

And so too is the parable of Allah’s mercy.

Allah says in the Quran:

الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Alrrahmani rraheem (1:2)

Ar Rahman means the Most Merciful. It doesn’t mean just merely merciful but One who is The Most Merciful Being in all the universe. Notice again that there is al attached to the Rahman which gives it more emphasis. We talked about the al in this post too.

The mercy that is referred to in Rahman is reserved for all of creation. This means that Allah is Most Merciful to the one believes in Him AND the one who doesn’t believe in Him.

Do you ever wonder why so and so down the street has such a perfect life when they don’t even worship Allah? How could Allah give them a huge mansion, lots of cars, a prestigious job and lots of other goodies when they are not even Muslim!

Well that is one of the sifaat or quality of Allah. He shows mercy to the one who believes and the one who doesn’t believe.

Allah could destroy the non-believer if He wanted but He lets them go in this world. And He is the Most Just.

But does Allah stop there with His mercy? No! The next word in the ayah is ar Raheem. What’s the difference between ar Rahman and ar Raheem? Don’t they both mean mercy?

Well, there is a difference. A big, beautiful difference. Ar Rahman is the mercy reserved for all of creation but ar Raheem is the mercy reserved especially for the believer. How majestic is that.

Not only is ar Raheem reserved for the believer but it is also a mercy that is consistent. Meaning Allah keeps showing mercy to the believer. He doesn’t waiver in His qualities like humans do. He is free from all imperfection.

Out of all the mercy in the universe, Allah gave one percent to humankind and He reserved ninety-nine percent for Himself, to show to His creation.

Maybe the parable of the rain wasn’t a true depiction of Allah’s mercy. Rain sometimes comes and sometimes doesn’t. Moreover, there are violent rain storms. There are also many impurities in rain water.

But Allah’s mercy is being showered on us every second of our life. The mere fact that He is allowing us to use our eyes this very moment is a mercy. For how many times have we used these very same eyes to disobey our Creator.

His Mercy is Perfect, Infinite and always upon us.

It knows no limit.

Similarly, because surat ul Fatiha is so beautiful and loved, it is given many different names.

It is known as the Opening of the Quran, Shifa and the backbone of salah. Without surat ul Fatiha, there is no salah.

It is also known beautifully as Umm ul Quran, Mother of the Quran.

The first ayah of surat ul Fatiha is:

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAalameen.

The first world alhamd has a beautiful meaning.

Firstly, the al (alif and laam) is added to hamd to give it emphasis and make the following word khaas. It’s the difference between saying a show and the show. Adding “the” in front of show makes it more definite and important. Similarly, the al makes the hamd important.

But what is hamd?

Hamd is tareef or praise. And there are two types of praise. There is hamd and then there is mudha.

Hamd is reserved for Allah. Hamd is a type of praise that is perfect and is only for Our Creator. In this praise, there is love and respect. So when we exalt Allah azzawa jal, we do it out of love and respect for Him.

Mudha, on the other hand, is reserved for humans. This praise has imperfections. Buttering people is not the same as singing Allah’s praise. There is no comparison for He is perfect and we are far from that perfection.

The next word is lilah. This word has a laam and then the word Allah.

In Arabic, even single letters can have meaning. So, in this case, laam means for. For who? For Allah. All the perfect praise is reserved for Allah. And why is all the praise reserved for Him? Because He is rabbi al Alameen.  He is the Lord of all the creation.

Allah is al-Khaliq, al-Malik and al-Mudabbir. He is the Creator, the King and the Planner.

Rabb is the next word. Allah is our rabb. Some people do us some favours and they think they own us but only Allah truly owns us. He is our rabb.

He is the Lord of al Alameen. Al Alameen is all of creation, from the sun to the sky to the stars. Alameen comes from the word alum. And alum means a pointer like a flag points to a country. Similarly, all the creation points to the Creator.

When we look at the swaying of the beautiful leaves as the wind gently caresses them, we can’t but help think of their beautiful Creator.

Look at how much depth there is in just the first ayah of surat ul Fatiha. And we are merely touching the branch of the tree.

Next time you recite this verse, focus on the meaning and let it open your heart.

Open your heart towards the guidance of Allah.

Reference: Taleem ul Quran Diploma with AlHuda Institute

It’s actually very true. Duh, it’s from the Quran. It must be true!

I know today is not Friday, which is my normal posting day. But once in a while, I like to write a gratitude post.

In March 2004, almost eight years ago, I first got the (un)fortunate news that I have bipolar.

I write (un)fortunate because so much hardship has come out of bipolar. At the same time, there has been so much good.

The thing I am most grateful for is the network Allah has allowed me to set up.

I remember searching endlessly, late in to the night, for some Muslim support. I looked especially online and found nothing. Nada! Bilkul kuch nein!

That’s when I decided that if you can’t find a road to your goal, pave one yourself.

And ma sha Allah, what a road Allah has allowed me to pave with your support and help.

Alhumdulillah I came from feeling isolated and feeling angry towards Allah (astagfirullah) to:

- Appreciating the bipolar hardship Allah sent to polish my heart

- Meeting supportive Muslims like you

- Setting up and running this MorningWind support blog

- Conducting live and online support groups

- Writing two ebooks (hopefully third one coming out in sha Allah)

- Speaking at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and McMaster (in sha Allah)

I am so grateful for all your help in making my recovery of bipolar easier. Without your support, I would feel isolated.

I have big plans for the months and years to come.

Please keep me and the many Muslims suffering with mental illness in your du’a.

Wishing you many blissful moments,

Saba Malik

I wish I was. That would be much easier.

But I am talking about cutting oneself, particularly the wrists.

I first started cutting or doing self-harm when I was in high school. I had no idea what I was doing. Nor had I seen it from some show or read about it in a book.

I just cut my wrists because the emotional pain and screams were too much bear. I was feeling invisible pain and I just wanted some physical sign and validation for it.

I wish someone had taught me that cutting was a warning sign. A warning sign that I needed professional help.

Therefore, I am teaching all my readers that when a loved one cuts, get help. See a mental health professional right away.

I know it seems obvious when it’s written so cleanly in words but cutting doesn’t happen so neatly.

Usually the person who does it hides it. Some signs of cutting are random scratches and bruises on the body

So if you suspect that your loved one is cutting, keep all sharp objects away from them. And then get help.

Cutting usually happens during deep depression. Make sure to always surround the person who is depressed with company, no matter how much they want to be alone.

Here’s some more info on cutting. Click here.

What if you’re the one cutting yourself? What then?

Cut it Out!

I stopped cutting. Now what?

Click here to listen >>> Iman booster

The above is a recording of my appearance on the Iman Booster radio show on Inspire FM 105.1 in Luton, UK.

Enjoy and share!

They don’t want the label of a crazy person. They don’t want to be stigmatized. Or maybe they’re afraid that they’ll lose their jobs and their friends. Or maybe there is a whole array of reasons that I’m just oblivious to.

I know it can be tough to come “out of the closet.” I did it.

But the rewards have been great.

Firstly, I feel confident to have bipolar now. I can call myself crazy and feel good about it.

Secondly, so many people now turn to me for help because I’ve gone public with my craziness. That means a greater chance for me to gain rewards.

Thirdly, I’m a happier person. The conflict between Saba and bipolar has subsided.

So I encourage you to embrace your crazy side. It feels really good.

And when you think you’re ready to go public, go for it.

Going public may not be for everybody.

But if you find that telling others about your mental illness will help you progress, it’s worth a shot.

Then you can sing “I’m crazy and I know it”

There was a lot of discrimination in my school towards the mentally disabled, and since they couldn’t speak and I could, it went without saying that I had to make sure that anyone who would look at these special needs students the wrong way would have to go by me.

Teachers used to call me at least once a year to speak to their classes on how to deal with those that might be different.

I did this for two-and-a-half years before I turned to Islam. When I did, things drastically changed in my approach and outlook.

ISLAM HELPED ME MAKE PEACE WITH MY DISABILITY

Before Islam, I used to tell people of my experiences as a disabled, sometimes having to give some painful details so people would get the point.

Even though my approach was significantly positive, it still had a bitter tone. I had been through some very rough times as a child.

But as I was embraced with the peace of knowing that my disability was something special from my Lord, I couldn’t get the same point across anymore.

After a while, it just started becoming something I could no longer do, for I had found my peace and reconciliation with my situation. My battle was finally over.

THE QURAN AND SUNNAH ACCOMMODATE ALL KINDS OF MUSLIMS

By reading the Quran, and the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), one finds that the manner of the Prophet was to offer ease to those that weren’t in ordinary situations.

When one reads about the time when Islam was spreading in Mecca and Madinah, one finds that the first followers were the poor, the weak, the orphaned and the disabled.

This should not be taken to mean that Islam was laid upon a poor foundation.

Instead, it meant that it offered those who didn’t have anything, something more to look forward to with Allah.

The superficial didn’t matter, because all that Allah asked of them was a pure and clean heart. When I came across all of this, every ill feeling or dreading moment dealing with my disability was put to rest. For Allah has laid this task upon me to try me, and my fellow believers wouldn’t make a trial more difficult.

All that was within me was resolved, but it was the without that surprised me.

THE REALITY CHECK: LITTLE ACCOMMODATION OF DISABLED MUSLIMS

Going to mosques, meetings, camps, and conferences I became saddened discovering that there was no special effort made in the community to accommodate to the needs of the disabled.

There were no chairs in the mosques or attempts to have places with elevators or wheelchairs at conferences. I suddenly felt the difference between the Muslim community and the non-Muslim one.

Even though the non-Muslim community (or society as a whole) is filled with strangers, I still have the right to ask that my needs be looked after.

In the Muslim community on the other hand, even though everyone knows one another, I become shy of asking, for it seems no one really wants to make the effort to make Islam accessible to all.

Though I don’t need much accommodating myself, I was and am still worried about those that can’t communicate their needs, and so are turned away from Islam. In our religion there is a special place for every sort of individual, so why can’t Muslims have the same in their hearts and agendas?

At times I realize with great pain that maybe my battle is not over, and I still have to tell everyone how to treat those who are faced with similar circumstances as myself.

You see, I’m not disappointed that I have to inform people of how to make others more comfortable. Rather, I’m disappointed because as Muslims it is a collective responsibility to offer comfort for those who seek Islam.

I’m just so happy and comforted by all the projects that are growing in the Muslim mental health field.

When I first got bipolar, I searched endlessly but didn’t find any Muslim support. Well times have changed, for the better alhumdulillah.

Here’s a list of online resources and lovely links you wanna facebook (click on their names for more info):

Rabia Khedr

She is the executive director of Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities or CAMD. She is also blind What an inspiration she is!

Emma Apple

Besides running Muslimas Oasis, she’s all about Autism awareness.

Manal Khalife

Got postpartum depression? She’s the sister to see. She also works on emotional healing.

Hafsa Khizer

She has a cool approach to dealing with psychiatric vulnerabilities.

Smile

Smile is mandated to develop community based awareness of the limitations faced by children with disabilities and critical illness.

Muslim Mental Health

This is a great professional resource. They have links to Muslim professionals in the mental health field. They’ve also published a Journal of Muslim Mental Health.

What other resources do you know? Share!

I hope you are feeling blissful.

I’m proud to say that MorningWind.org presents the first live support group for Muslims facing mental illness, directly or indirectly.

It’s happening this Friday from 6pm-9pm in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada.

For the exact location, please email me at saba@morningwind.org

For more info, click here.