My wife, like many a Muslim parent, worries that our children do not seem to have Muslim friends at school. My concern, on the other hand, is that they simply find good friends, of whatever background. If they are to have good Muslim friends — undoubtedly important for their sense of identity — it makes …
Another evening spent providing tech support to an octogenarian, battling with web problems via Zoom. The first of them, quite baffling, but mostly as a result of the antiquated software he uses to manage that particular site. It brought back memories of supporting SharePoint 2007. No, it wasn’t that bad. After much probing, we settled …
Indeed, those men and women who give in charity and lend to God a good loan will have it multiplied for them, and they will have an honourable reward. Quran 57:18 These organisations are on the ground and ready to act. Give all you can.
Turkey has been rocked by a devastating earthquake this morning. How powerful? Well it caused the lights to swing at our place 550 miles from the epicentre — the distance from London to Aberdeen — triggering the motion sensors on our security camera, pinging a notification to our phones. Apparently it was felt across the …
Family returns from weekend in London, but it’s as if they actually went to Turkey.
Must be the perfect night for a powercut. Fortunately we have candles. And the out-of-favour log burner. Alhamdulilah.
I’m a bit disappointed, but perhaps my disappointment is simply founded on my ignorance. Disappointed by the recent output of what I always believed was a progressive community organisation. Disappointed that they seem to be transforming into a reactionary group, just like every other group out there, pushing populist click bait, as they resurrect old …
Our lad was right. As he headed out of the door for a weekend away, he laughed, “Dad doesn’t eat anything when he’s on his own.” I told him that this time would be different, pointing out that his mum had left me food in the fridge. I won’t starve, I insisted. But he was …
“Leave it, for the sake of Allah.” These are the words I set upon after a passionate debate within, which raged for hours through the night. What I really meant is, “Abandon it, for the sake of your redemption.” It is not easy to leave something your heart clings to. This particular idol: a project …
Fear of missing out. The trial of our children’s generation. All of their friends have a slab of glass in their pocket, and spend every free moment endlessly scrolling through TikTok videos. At the start of our discussion this morning, I was the oppressive dad, unjustly preventing his children from participating in what everyone else …
Why not tell the truth? Because it will threaten your fame? Because your audience will shun you? Because your sect will disown you? Because you fear being abandoned? Then shun fame. Abandon your sect. The truth takes precedence over all of these. Be truthful, and be pleased with obscurity if it enables you to speak …
We may set out a vision, based on extensive research, but in the end adoption is premised not on a recognition of best practices, but on the support of the people at the top. Ultimately, they believe they know best, and therefore however they choose to work will hold sway. It’s difficult to challenge powerful …
It’s best not to take yourself too seriously, for in a little while nobody will recall a thing you did. Witness your life at work: you may have more or less single-handedly pioneered a new platform, driven a project forward and seen it through to completion. But does anyone now remember any of it? Does …
