By Khadijah Roberts

My intentions is to be a reminder to others as well as to myself is to put our trust in Allaah (Tawakkul) in all circumstances. Obey Allaah and follow the ways of our beloved prophet Muhammad May The Peace and Blessings Be Upon him Aameen. Alhamdulillah we have been guided and directed in all circumstances through Quran and Sunnah gifted with the salaah, duas, fasting, eating habits, how to sleep, purification etc; All forms of wellness to hold on to. Wellness is now a priority for most people as well as awareness mode; which is a good thing. Alhamdulillah! Allaah created us with a priceless body that has built-in fighting soldiers the commander and chief is the Immune System. The Immune System protects the body against disease or foreign damaging substances. Once upon a time our food was a lot more nutritious. Due to the depleting of the soil the food we eat is not the same. A healthy diet and lifestyle is so important. Supplements in this day and time is a must have. Also support your Immune System with probiotic rich foods. Probiotics support a healthy gut and gut health is directly tied to Immune System health. Did you know that 70% and 80% of the body’s immune cells are housed in the gut? Drink plenty of clean water(not contained in toxic plastic bottles). Sleep is vital! Lack of sleep can weaken your Immune System. Exercise or do some type of body movements or brisk walks is an important role. In my opinion another supplement that I don’t go without is certified pure therapeutic essential oils. At times we may have immune challenges but keep maintaining your Wellness Lifestyle. As for those who have not; this is a Wake Up Call. It’s nothing to fear but to be aware and know that we should be doing or at least striving to do most of the things mentioned regardless of any circumstances. So with awareness take action by washing your hands frequently. Be aware of not touching your face towards your mouth without sanitizing your hands. Sanitize your work and home environment. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze with tissue or into your upper sleeve if you don’t have tissue. Be mindful not to spread germs. I truly hope this was a benefit! 

Disclamer: It’s important to keep in mind my role as a health coach is only to guide and mentor. The goal in mind is to coach a positive wellness lifestyle. All information provided is intended for educational and informational purposes only and can not take the place of professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed or registered practitioner. No information provided has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to be considered medical or psychological advice. I assume no liability! Khadijah Roberts, HC

​A dose for the Soul: “Put Your Trust in Allaah and Throughout your day make Dua!" May Allaah grant us good health and protect us from harm Allahumma Ameen sali ala Muhammad Aameen!!!

By Sakeena Abdul-Hakeem

​The kids call me “aunty.” What else are they expected to call a nearly 40 year old American lady who suddenly shows up in their third grade classroom? After living in Senegal, West Africa for two years, looking for educational opportunities for adults, I was dissatisfied with the options. My understanding of Wolof was too rudimentary to attend lectures by the resident scholars. And my Arabic knowledge had too many holes in its foundation to be useful. I was attending a one hour Arabic class, four days a week, but the main focus was on memorizing poetry. I struggled through basic Arabic conversation, but could parrot lines of ancient prose. I was no closer to my goal of understanding the language of the Quran than when I’d first arrived in Africa.

That’s when the director of a local private school invited me to attend the El Hajj Abdullahi Niass Institute. I’d thought for sure that the local K-12 schools were for children up to age 18, just as they are in the a United States. Boy was I wrong.

Have you ever thought about going back to school? What did that look like for you? Perhaps you can enroll in night classes or weekend courses at your local college. Maybe you’re looking to achieve a financial goal that earning another degree or a certificate will ensure. Not for me. I was going all the way back. Back to primary school.

After an initial assessment, which I didn’t realize I was taking until half way through, I was placed in 3rd grade. I thought I was just having a polite conversation with the principal. In Arabic, he asked me my name and where I was from. He asked if I could recite a Hadith, a surah from the Quran, and if I knew the difference between verbs and nouns. He scribbled a quick note and directed my young translator to show me the 3rd grade classroom. I thought perhaps I’d peek in, greet the teacher and make arrangements to start attending class the following week. Nope! The teacher rearranged the rows of girls and squeezed me onto a narrow bench besides two of them. This was to be my first day of class.

As I sat in the classroom, I noticed some major differences between our American educational system and theirs. Instead of colorful posters pasted to the walls, they were bare. All attention was focused on the huge blackboard in the front of the room. There were about 80 students to one teacher. And some of these kids didn’t look like 8 year olds- what I would consider to be a 3rd grader. In fact, a man sitting two rows over from me had a speckled beard!

What could I learn in 3rd grade in Africa? I really had to humble my nearly 40 year old ego to learn from Muhammad, which I would discover was the name of almost every teacher in the entire school. We baked in the hot classrooms without so much as a fan, but no one complained. The students stood at silent attention whenever the teacher, or a visiting guest, would enter the classroom. If the teacher was in class before them, the students stood at the door of the classroom waiting for permission to enter. They ooh’d and aah’d in appreciation whenever a fellow classmates was called upon to recite a lesson from the Quran. They stood to respond whenever the teacher called on them. The girls took turns sweeping the classroom each morning while the boys cleaned the blackboard and arranged the desks properly.

There was a lot more to learn here than just reading and writing. There was a wholistic approach to education. It was more so about respect, good manners, honoring knowledge and it’s teacher- developing a whole person as opposed to just the mind- which seems to be the problem with much of western education. Many of the students had completed the memorization of the entire Holy Quran before enrolling in Arabic school, hence the varied ages of the students.

Although, initially it took some getting used to, I really benefited from Arabic school in Senegal. I have a greater appreciation for traditional knowledge and it’s transmission. I believe every person who has the will, should take the opportunity to enjoy learning traditional Islamic knowledge in Africa. The holes in my Arabic foundational knowledge have been filled and I can see great strides in my understanding of Quran. If this is your goal, you too can achieve it, no matter what age. It just takes going back to the basics. All the way back.

By Atiba Jones

​Only 59% of black males graduate public high school in this nation
And only 17% go on to earn Bachelor’s Degrees, is the reality of the situation
And even blacks with degrees, statistically earn far less than their uneducated white counterparts throughout their career’s duration
So it’s no wonder why African-Americans are far more likely to end up on probation
And consistently have the highest percentages in prison AKA the new plantation
Yes, we’ve come a long way, but I believe there’s still need for a lot more salvation
What happens to the other 41% of black males who didn’t complete high school?
What happens to the other 83% without a Bachelors to use as a tool?
Are they to just be forgotten about as if the problem is merely minuscule?
Our educational system has failed them, and no, it’s not cool
It’s time for an alternative system that goes beyond the surface
It’s time to interrupt their cycles of poverty, crime, incarceration and lack of purpose
It’s time for our youth to be exposed to agriculture, vocational trades, entrepreneurship and humanitarian service
The art of service has been used for centuries as a tool for character development and spiritual training
It instills humility, gratitude and decreases complaining
It rids one of arrogance & hypocrisy and leaves nothing but purity remaining 
It focuses one on benefiting others rather than seeking that which is merely entertaining
And the beauty of agriculture is that it reconnects us with nature and our natural state
It helps us to understand where the food comes from that ends up on our plate
It helps us to experience, through our hands, what God can Create
And it allows us to feed our communities healthy foods from what we collectively cultivate
Over the past few decades, from high schools we’ve seen vocational education gradually disappear
“You have to go to college” is all that we’ve begun to hear
And perceptions of inferiority from not having a degree has become a real fear
While many tradesman earn far more than the average college graduate per year
So why is it made to seem as if the only options are either college or the street?
With the only exception being the possibility of becoming  a professional athlete
Or maybe you can make it by learning how to rap some destructive lyrics to a beat
Presenting these as the only options is blatant deceit
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to college, however, it’s not the only way to economically compete
And if you don’t have a degree, there’s no need to feel as if you’re somehow incomplete
And besides this, entrepreneurs are consistently the wealthiest people on Earth
And they create situations for children to inherit enterprises at birth
Beyond money, entrepreneurship helps one to discover their true worth
It shows you that you can build and lead
You can create jobs for those in need
But the key is to not fall into the trap of arrogance or greed
Because the objective is to save ourselves so that we can save our families and others
So that we can uplift our sisters and inspire our brothers
Provide hope and support for all the single mothers
So this is not just about some economic or material pursuit
It’s about radically changing the trajectory of the poor and destitute
Providing a new career path for the dope boy and the prostitute
Snatching up misguided youth from out of the streets and showing them that there’s a different route
And this, my brothers and sisters, has sparked the coming of SAVE Institute

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​The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise dramatically within the U.S., indicating
that the disease is more contagious and spreads more quickly than the seasonal flu. Although
anyone can become infected, high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic medical
conditions are more greatly impacted. With an estimated 10% to 20% of cases experiencing
severe symptoms, hospitals and healthcare staff run the risk of becoming overburdened and not
able to provide adequate care for those who need it most. Add to this scenario the fact that the
novel coronavirus appears to have a considerably higher mortality rate than the seasonal flu and
that there is no vaccine or proven treatment at this point, then it becomes imperative that
preventive measures are utilized to slow down its spread. The burden of doing this falls not only
on the shoulders of the government and public health professionals, but on the general
population as well. The good news is that the average person can help to significantly curb the
spread of this disease by proactively engaging in social distancing.
Social distancing may be the word of the moment, yet its meaning and actual
implementation might still be vague for some people. Put simply, it is the public health practice
of maintaining a physical distance between people in order to prevent the transmission of
disease. On a personal level, it involves staying at home as much as possible and avoiding
crowds and large gatherings. In the case of COVID-19, an infected person can remain
asymptomatic for up to 2 weeks, potentially exposing countless others to infection. However, if
this same person has been practicing social distancing, then this can significantly lower those
opportunities for passing on the virus.

Certain lifestyle adjustments should be made in order to practice social distancing at this
time. Those who can work from home should do so and shopping trips to get essentials should
be strategic so that they are limited in frequency and duration. If one does encounter another
person, say during a weekly grocery run, then experts recommend keeping a safe distance of 6 ft.
from each other. For those whose jobs are considered essential and cannot work from home,
effort can still be made on a personal level to keep a safe distance from others in any
environment. In addition, frequent and thorough handwashing should be coupled with social
distancing for maximum benefit. All of this is done regardless of infection status, in order to
reduce the opportunities for exposure. Those who do become exposed to COVID-19, for
example through contact with an infected individual or recent travel, will have to quarantine
themselves using stricter isolation measures.
Social distancing is a public health practice that involves the community making some
behavioral changes and sacrificing in order to curb the spread of disease. In the case of the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is the primary tool available to protect ourselves from this dangerous
virus right now. And at a time when the situation may seem overwhelming, it gives people the
power to make a difference for themselves, their loved ones, and the greater community.

By Reshelle Abdul-Malik

Social Distancing has caused an unprecedented obstacle for families across the globe.  Families are missing Jumuah, daily congregational salah, afterschool, and Sunday school classes.  The Islamic community has responded by making a wide variety of courses available from the comfort of your home.  Check out our list of some popular online free and paid Islamic Studies courses for the young or seasoned. 

Al Qalam Institute
Offers weekly classes from seerah to tafsir. These classes are completely free.

Jannah Institute
Offers hifd and tajweed for women and girls

Al Huda Online
Offer Quran, Hadith, Tazkiyah courses online

Al Madrassatu Al Umarriyah
Offering free daily Islamic Studies courses.

Thought Bubble
Online Arabic Courses for children

Studio Arabiya
Arabic and Quran classes for all ages.

Seekers Guidance
Online Islamic Seminary that offers free classes.
International Open University
Started by Dr. Bilal Phillips offers undergraduate and graduate courses on a sliding scale. They are offering diploma courses for free for the next two months.

Imam Ghazali Institute
Offers free weekend school for children and teens as well as courses for adults.

Knowledge College
Offer Fiqh, Arabic, Quran, Tajweed, and Hadith courses

Islamic Institute of Toronto
IIT is offering all of their courses for free for the next 300 days!  Check out the wide variety of topics from Aisha RA to Ramadan, to Salah.

Faith Essentials
FaithEssentials is free for 3 weeks. Register and get immediate access to our 23 modules on fundamental subjects of belief, worship, and daily life.

Kiflayn
Offers online Islamic studies courses that range from Hadith, Quran, History, and Fiqh.  

Bayyinah TV
Offers over 2000 of hours online of video lessons from Nouman Ali Khan and other Islamic scholars.

Ribaat
Offers online courses for women by women.  Subjects include Islamic Sciences, Arabic, and Quran.

Al Maghrib 
Is offering free courses in response to COVID-19.  Some topics include faith essentials, how to protect yourself from disease, and Faith and Fiqh in Uncertain Times.  Courses are free for the next three weeks.

This list is not exhaustive, please share your resources in the comments section below.

By Coach Najwa

​As there is an airborne illness creeping it’s way around the world, there’s also a change coming about. There are also babies being born, accomplishments being made and ultimately, life to live. Here in the states, we have the blessing of entering into a new season: Spring. Spring is a time to newness. It is a time for us to focus on what we’d like to grow. Would we like to grow in fear or grow in peace? The Creator of all things has given us the ability to choose. Let’s make that choice wisely…

       Choosing to grow in peace could look a little something  like this: Establishing a morning practice of prayer, meditation and gratitude, journaling to set the tone for your day. These practices connect you to The Creator of all things and align you with similar universal energy. We could pray and meditate for peace, protection and healing. We count our blessings from the clothes on our backs to the food on our tables. We journal to get clear on what’s going through our minds so that we can process it with our hearts. 

       The Spring is a wonderful time to “awaken” our physical bodies from the season of winter and give our organs some rejuvenation! Doing an internal cleanse and resetting your diet with fresh fruits and vegetables allows you to heal from the inside out. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen. Our bodies use the food we eat as fuel. Being mindful about what the fuel is, helps us to maintain physical peace when we need it most. Not to mention the benefits of boosting our immune systems to be strong against Covid-19 and any other virus out there.

       As we embark upon a journey of peace during a time of panic, it is important to remember that there will be times where you may feel the emotions of the world and need to process that as well. After all, we are all connected and thrive in community. Check in with yourself daily on a mental, emotional, spiritual and physical level and ask “What do I need today?” It may seem strange at first but asking this question and sitting quietly to receive the answer opens you to caring for yourself in a holistic manner. And don’t hesitate to act on what comes up and give that to yourself. You deserve it! If we can get our entire family onboard with cultivating peace - Mind, Body and Spirit - I believe we could see a beautiful and much needed shift in our health and the health of those around us.  


Najwa is a Life Coach, Health Coach and Personal Trainer specializing in helping women release overwhelm and cultivate a life they truly love. As a working woman with a family, she understands the toll “doing it all” can take and have created a system to help others manage that and still feel like they are reaching their dreams and goals.

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