Optimized Muslim Weekly Newsletter ✅
Jun 07, 2022 6:41 am
Update for 07 June 2022.
as Salaamu Alaykum,
Update on Optimized Muslim
Alhamdulillah. I have a new White Board Animation style video featuring a clip on Liberalism from Dr Atae Ali to be uploaded this week. I have reviewed the work and I think it is the best animation so far. Credit goes to a Hafiz Saab I saw on Upwork and despite his low feedback, I gave him the job and he delivered massively alhamdulillah. I am also intending to write one solid blog article accompanying the main video of the week. Anyway, the better stuff:
Islamic Advice I was thinking about this week
I was happy to hear the advice from a classically trained scholar, Sh. Amer Jamil (Hanafi) on advising people who have not yet developed a habit of praying to start with just the fardh salah. Sounds obvious but you will be surprised at the amount of people who despite not praying themselves advise others that they HAVE to pray all the Sunnah prayers too. Based on the basics of habit formation (see James Clear's book) and common sense, if the amount of action deemed necessary to "pray Salah" is burdensome, the level of adherence from those trying to build the habit will decrease. The old adage of "start small" comes to mind. Needless to say, this is only acceptable advice given that by praying the faraaidh, you are still completing what is obligatory upon you. Don't get too airy fairy and decide to pray half a rakah, thinking "yay habit formation,bro" 😂
Hadith
“Strength is not to overpower people; real strength is to control oneself when angry.” (Related by al-Bukhārī.)”
Seerah 💚
"He ﷺ was nicknamed Al-Amīn, which means “the trustworthy.” This trait was acknowledged by his ﷺ opponents, and even those who wished him ﷺ dead admitted that he ﷺ never failed to be true to his ﷺ word." Muhammad ﷺ, Adil Salahi
A quote to think about
"[showing off] is that which is done out of fear of the scornful gaze of people."
Sh. Hamza Yusuf, Purification of the Heart
Book recommendation
Purification of the Heart Hamza Yusuf My rating: 10/10 One of my favourite books I use on like a read-a-topic-when-needed basis after having read through it a couple of time. It is like a self-development manual.
"Afflictions that assail and control people--such as miserliness, envy, treachery, malice, and arrogance--are examined in a study that discusses the causes and cures of these diseases and reveals how Islamic spirituality deals with spiritual and psychological problems."
Content I found beneficial this week:
A Podcast with Lex Friedman and Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the effects of social media on mental health. How the statistics show a massive change in reported mental health after 2010 coinciding with the rise of social media. Check it out
Health Tip
"Saunas have traditional roots in Scandinavian cultures. For centuries, many who regularly use sauna have noticed a correlation between their sauna use and improved mood. The body responds to heat with a release of dynorphins and endorphins in the brain; dynorphins at first cause discomfort and agitation but biochemically set the stage for endorphins to have enhanced effects on our mood and body, which is why after sauna we feel a mild, happy euphoria."
Deliberate Heat Exposure Protocols for Health & Performance, Huberman labs newsletter, 01/06/22
More quotes:
"Daily Law: Make a list of the people in your life who live with purpose. Prioritize spending more time with them." Robert Greene
A man gets credit only for that part of his Prayer of which he is conscious.’ (Location 582) Inner Dimensions Of Islamic Worship, Imam Al Ghazali
One question to ask ourselves
To borrow from a quote by Ibn Jawzi, are we busy rearranging the furniture on a ship we know is headed for the cliff?
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Forwarded this? Want to Join:
Short/Reel: 🎥 How to Encourage Muslims to Pray?
Youtube Video 🎥 How To Start Praying Salah Consistently (Best Advice To Give) Sh. Amer Jamil
How to give advice to someone who has asked you or you want to encourage to start praying Salah.
You want to enjoin Good and forbid evil الأمر بالمَعْرُوف والنَهي عن المُنْكَر - how to go about it?
I was happy to hear this advice from a classically trained scholar (Hanafi) as I've previously thought about and heard the same from other sources.
Click here to listen to the podcast
Please share if you learned something or found it interesting or you think it's silly.
Aadil
