New Muslim: How to Minimize the Stress?

Source: onislam.net

By: Theresa Corbin

With negative pressure from fellow Muslims at the mosque, the daily media pressure of negative news about Muslims and Islam, and all the challenges of learning a new religion and getting the right understanding about Islam, many new Muslims find themselves more stressed than ever before.

Which can lead them to wonder where is the peace promised in Islam?

How does a new Muslim cope with all these pressures?

The Envious Eye

Source: blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com

By: Aishah Ahmed

“[Of these stories mention] When Joseph said to his father, “O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me. He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.” [Surah Yusuf, 12: 4,5]

Ibn Katheer in his explanation of this ayah says, “….Ya`qub feared that if Yusuf narrated his vision to any of his brothers, they wouldenvy him and conspire evil plots against him.” [1]

Yes, brothers and sisters in Islam, the evil eye is true. The Prophet  said:

“The evil eye is real, and if anything were to overtake the divine decree (al-qadar) it would be the evil eye.” [2]

This is a trait that Allah  mentions in the Qur’an and our Prophet  has warned us about:

‘The disease of previous nations has crawled its way to you: envy and hatred.’ [3]

What is Evil Eye?

The Arabic word al-‘ayn (translated as the evil eye) refers to when a person harms another with his eye. [4] Its counterpart is hasad(jealousy), which is the hoping in the removal of the blessing from the one who is envied.

Simply put, when one sees his brother blessed with what Allah  has given him, he hopes that his blessing disappears from him for no reason except for his envy towards him.

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Satan said: “I will bring (Adam’s) descendents under my sway”

Source: islamtoday.net

“(Satan) said: ‘See You this one whom You have honored above me? If You will but grant me respite to the Day of Judgment, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway – all but a few!’ ” [Sûrah al-Isrâ’: 62]

When Allah created Adam and breathed into him his spirit, He commanded the angels to prostrate themselves before him. Satan, who was not an angel but from the Jinn, was in their company, had been worshipping Allah along with them.

The Evil Twins : Jealousy & Envy (Video)

 Jealousy and envy is basically when you see someone has something and you want it for yourself. Islamically, there is a concept known as hasad. Hasad is similar to jealousy and envy, expect in hasad, you not only want what they have, but you also want that they don’t have it.

For example, let’s say you know someone who has more friends than you on Facebook or more followers on twitter. Hasad is you wanting more followers and friends than they have and that they have less. Thus, whatever they have and they’ve been blessed with be taken away from them.

It’s normal for people to feel jealous or envious of others when you see they’ve been blessed with certain things. The best possible tip I have for you, whenever you’re feeling jealous or envious make a very simple du’a (supplication/prayer to Allah).

That du’a is, “Allahumma zid wa barik”

You’re saying, “O Allah, increase them in what you’ve given them and put blessings in it.”