There is no creation through evolution either in Paradise or in Hell

Almighty God has revealedthat following people's deaths He will
recreate them, in a different form and in a manner appropriate to
their lives in the Hereafter. In the same way that He created human
beings without evolution in this world, they will be resurrected in a
single moment for their lives in the Hereafter, by His commanding them
to"Be!" In the same way, as with human beings, our Almighty Lord has
not created all the entities in Paradise and Hell through evolution,
either. The guardians and demons of Hell and the handmaidens in
Paradise revealed in verses are all brought into existence by our
Almighty Lord without natural causes. Some of the versesof the Qur'an
that refer to the resurrection of human beings after death and to
people in the Hereafter read as follows:
Mankind! if you are in any doubt about the Rising, know that We
created you from dust then from a drop of sperm then from a clot of
blood then from a lump of flesh, formed yetunformed, so We may make
things clear to you. We make whatever We want stay in the womb until a
specified time and then We bring you out as children so that you can
reach your full maturity. Some of you die and some of yourevert to the
lowest formof life so that, after having knowledge, they then know
nothing at all. And you see the earth dead and barren; then when We
send down water onto it it quivers and swells and sprouts with
luxuriant plants of every kind.Thatis because Allah is the Real and
gives life to the dead and has power over all thingsand the Hour is
coming without any doubt and Allah will raise up all those in the
graves.(SuratAl-Hajj, 5-7)
We have brought maidens into being. (Surat al-Waqi'a, 35)

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The Secrets of Success

When I woke up this morning I asked myself:
"What are some of the secrets of success in life?"
I found the answer right there in my very room:
The fan said : Be cool.
The roof said : Aim high.
The window said : See the world.
The clock said : Every minute is precious.
The mirror said : Reflect before you act.
The door said : Push hardfor your goals.
And finally, the carpet said : Kneel down and pray.

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Don’t Make Yourself a Prisoner

It's possible to make ourselves the prisoners ofothers. How? By caring
somuch what they think that we let if affect how we practice our
religion, how we dress, how we speak, even what names we call
ourselves.
Prisoners have their names taken away and are given numbers. We do it
voluntarily when we change Muhammad to Mo, Wael to Will (I've been
advised by some to do this but I have always refused), and Khadija to
Kim.
Prisoners are told how todress. We do it to ourselves by giving up our
hijabs and kufis in order to fit in. We enslave ourselves to the
cultural dictates of others. We humiliate ourselves by suppressing
everything that says, "I am Muslim."
Prisoners are sometimes refused the right to pray or to have a Quran.
We do it to ourselves by missing our prayers because we are afraid of
being seen in public; or putting away our Quran and letting it gather
dust.
Prisoners are given no choice in their diets. We do it to ourselves by
eating the non-halal meat that is put in front of us, because we are
ashamed to say, "I only eat halal."
Prisoners learn to remainsilent. We do it to ourselves when others
speak of faith and religion – sometimes even criticizing Islam in our
presence – and we remain silent because weare embarrassed to speakup.
"And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is
[already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do
not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear[only] Me." – Quran,
Al-Baqarah, 2:41
Allah gave us a great gift,He gave us truth and guidance, and others
are hungering for it, so don'thide it! We must be ourselves, be proud
(not the pride of arrogance but of gratitude), let our faith show,
shine our light! A lamp in the darkness cannot be hidden!
Don't make yourself a prisoner! Wear your Islamic clothing without
embarrassment, eat halal without apology, speak your name with pride,
pray on time no matter where you are, read the Quran on the bus or the
subway if you wish, and when people ask you about your faith, tell
them with a smile, "I am Muslim." Speak your truth without fear. Be
proud of Islam. Be free, and hold your head up high, bowing only to
Allah.

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Getting Through Mini-Depressions

Many people periodically go through short depressions when they feel
negative about everything in their lives. There are ways we can
minimize these depressions, and steps we can take to ensure wedon't
sabotage our relationships when we'refeeling blue.
In my case, I go through regular periods of mini-depression every few
months. My mood will be utterly black, my mind filled with
self-critical thoughts: "I'ma failure, I'm a hypocrite, I have no real
friends, I've wasted my life…" But even in the depths of depression I
know that the mood will not last. One good night's sleep will restore
me to normal, Insha'Allah. So I keep my mouth shut and do not express
those negative thoughts to family or friends, becauseI know I will
regret it later if I do….
Does this happen to you? If so, then pay attention to your own
emotional cycles so that you know what to expect. Control yourself
when you're feeling down. Speak onlywhat is good, or stay silent.
Let's be very clear: You should not ignore genuine problems in your
life. If something is missing or making you unhappy, work on it
Insha'Allah. I'm also not saying that you should remain silent about
real issues that you face. If you've got problems in your family, it's
important to communicate to resolve them. It's also good to talk to a
therapist or counselor.
But when you are depressed, your viewpoint becomes skewed, and it's
not necessarily representative of reality. So when you have those dark
thoughts that say, "My life is worthless and Ihate everyone," don't
express those to anyone except your therapist or counselor. Don't call
up your best friend and say, "You're not a true friend, you don't care
about me." That's not productive and will only destroy your
relationship.
When you're depressed, hold on to your lifeline with God, eat well and
get plenty of rest, and be patient until the mood passes Insha'Allah.
Try to fill your life with good things: people you care about, work
that matters,hobbies you love, good books to read, exercise you enjoy…
these good things provide a safety net when you're feeling blue.
For example, photographer and human rights activist Asmaa-Deanna Dee
says, "When I am feeling low and downtrodden I just find a quiet place
and sit alone with my favorite book (the Quran)! When Iturn each of
its miraculous pages my heart begins to feel lighter and the world
around me brighter! The love, warmth and security of each word sets in
and it is in these very moments that I know for sure in my heart how
much Allah really loves me! Alhamdulillah! Subhanallah! Allahu Akbar!"
Also remind yourself of the good things in your life, and try to be
gratefulfor them. Do not look to those who have more than you, but
those who have less. Think of the times in your life when God has
helped you, guided you, and saved you. He will do so again.
By the way, I don't get those mini-depressions as often anymore. I'm
notsure why, but it could be that I exercise every day now. Also, I am
active in the Muslim community, I write passionately about subjects
that are important to me, and I have a daughter who I love… my life is
full of good things Alhamdulillah.
May your life also be full of good things.

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