Tawakkul means perfect reliance and trust. The root of tawakkul is wao-kaflam. One of the words derived from this root is wakil - the person whom we trust. The person who trusts someone is called mutawakkil. Naturally, every one of us wants the best wakil for guidance in all our affairs, and who could we trust more than our Creator, Allah (SWT)? In Surah Al-Imran, Allah (SWT) says, “Allah [alone] is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs” (Qur’an 3:173). Is anyone more capable to guide us than Allah (SWT)? But unfortunately, because of our weak eman, we put our trust in worldly sources of advice and assistance to resolve our problems.

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Whether we look to the outer world or to the inner realm of self, we find countless Signs of the existence of God, of Truth, and of an intelligent order. We can reflect on human conception and how in a microscopic dimension, an egg is fertilized by sperm in the woman’s reproductive system. Reflect on how we are each blessed with a unique and amazing body and a sentient self endowed with broad-ranging abilities and potentials. Reflect on how we emerged into the vast world from the protection of the mother’s womb, equipped with an autonomic nervous system which is responsible, without our conscious awareness or direction, to keep our breathing, heartbeat, and digestion functioning from the day of birth till maturity and old age.

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In this cosmic system where everything is ordered and purposeful, how can the creation of a man be accidental and aimless? Where all created things are given perfect proportion and efficiency, how can the creation of man be lacking good measure and effectual value?

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“I don’t believe in God.” Five small words that no Muslim parent ever wants to hear uttered by their teen. Unfortunately, the reality is that many Muslim youth today do question their faith and may potentially follow a path of denial. Unlike other fears that parents may have regarding raising their children, lack of faith is one that can go unnoticed initially since the teen might outwardly continue to share in the religious rituals, but internally he or she may feel their faith fading away. Parents and community members often look for overt signs or indications that a teen is rebelling against the deen such as not praying or fasting, use of drugs or alcohol, or evidence of dating or inappropriate relationships. Yet, the complexity of losing one’s religion lies more in the state of the heart than in outward rebellion seen in the behavior. “Indeed in the body there is a lump of flesh; if it is good, the entire body will be good, and if it is corrupted, the entire body becomes corrupted, and that is the heart” (Sahih Muslim).

By Dr. Suzy Ismail | Jan-Feb 2015 issue

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Freedom of choice is a unique privilege and blessing enjoyed by mankind. This choice is given not without purpose, however. It is central to the divine plan. As the Qur’an says: “He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action - He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving” (Qur’an 67: 2). Since human beings are endowed with the capacity for discernment and reason, and given that they are held accountable for their actions with consequence of ultimate reward or punishment, it follows in perfect congruity that each human being is accorded the right to choose a way of life for himself.

By Dr. Mahbubur Rahman | Jan-Feb 2015 Issue

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This is the question I’ve constantly discussed with Atheist academics. The discussion is often put forward in different guises but the premise is always the same; does God exist and what evidence is there to support this belief? In fact, I would argue that we don’t need any evidence for God’s existence. So the question itself needs debating. It shouldn’t actually be “does God exist?”, but rather “what reasons do we have to reject His existence?”

By Hamza Tzortzis | Jan-Feb 2015 Issue

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One of the most vexing questions for people is why God allows evil and suffering in the world. Some think that since God is all-powerful, He could create a world in which human beings always do good and no suffering exists. In fact, He has created a place of perpetual happiness,

free of sin, hardship, pain, misfortune, or any sort of distress. That place, of course, is Paradise, in the Hereafter.

Jan-Feb 2015 Issue

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Many of us know someone who is going through or has gone through a crisis of faith. Perhaps we have had the painful realization one day - “Oh my God, so and so, did he actually do that or say that?” Or “Did he actually renounce the faith?” We are seeing more and more people question and doubt their faith and become either agnostic or atheist and the fact of the matter is that very few of us are really qualified to deal with this when it happens to someone we know.

By Dr. Yasir Qadhi | Jan-Feb 2015 Issue

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At some point in our lives, everybody asks the big questions: “Who made us,” and “Why are we here?” So who did make us? Most of us have been brought up more on science than religion, and to believe in the Big Bang and evolution more than God. But which makes more sense? And is there any reason why the theories of science and creationism cannot coexist?

By Dr. Laurence Brown | Jan-Feb 2015 Issue

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This article is an excerpt from the book 'Losing My Religion - A Call for Help' by Dr. Jeffrey Lang who is also the author of two best selling works: Struggling to Surrender and Even Angels Ask: A Journey to Islam.