Voices are powerful tools. Whereas creatures such as ants communicate with chemicals, and honeybees by movement, humans primarily rely on language for communication. It is the foundation for building relationships, voicing our concerns, and sharing our ideas. It is an essential aspect of day-to-day life. In medical school, we are taught the importance of communication. Likewise, within Islam, communication and mutual respect are emphasised.  وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ …٨٦    And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly…   Surah Al Nisa (4:86) But communication isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone- and that is okay. A nice analogy I was once given compared life experiences to a deck of cards: everyone will have a different set of skills and disadvantages. It’s how we learn to play our cards and adapt to the challenges that make or break the game.  I am someone who v...

  Reorienting the Mind and Heart A Muslim’s journey through medical school can be fueled by ambition, curiosity, and an altruistic drive. However, a key goal here is to correctly find and set one’s intentions behind one’s studies. I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr Husain Abdul Sattar, a Sheikh, Pathology professor and founder of Pathoma, where I asked a few questions relevant to us as medical students. He reflects on how Islam has influenced his path in medicine, and how it guides his approach to practice and teaching. In this article, I will discuss the key messages and takeaways from our conversation. How did Islam influence your decision to enter medicine? Dr Sattar’s entry into medicine did not begin with a single defining moment, but with a gradual convergence of interests and beliefs. From early on, he was interested in science, becoming more serious in high school, where he attended a summer programme focused on recombinant DNA. He went on to study at the Univer...

The Porsche is a beautiful thing. Even the most dedicated dialectical materialist feels the tug of capitalism as it drives past. It sums up the things we love in the world: status, art, power, and technology. And perhaps we all have our own Porsche, the one fruit of materialism that makes chasing the Dunya worth it for us.  Yet Islam is not a dry set of rules and prohibitions, rather a comprehensive and all-consuming way of seeing the world. It doesn’t dictate simply what to avoid, but rather how to make sense of each situation we find ourselves in. And if that is true, then even something like a Porsche cannot be meaningless, it must have its place in our cosmology. The early believers faced the same tension. They lived in a world obsessed with status, wealth, and visible power. The pull of the Dunya was not in cars but in camels, not in logos but in fine silk. What is striking is that the Quran does not ignore or condemn this sentiment, rather addressing it so directly. Allah SW...

For many of us, the medical elective is one of the most  anticipated  parts of medical school. But as Muslim students, our lens is slightly different. It is not just about clinical exposure or trave l,  it is about finding barakah in the journey, staying grounded in our  d ee n , and reflecting on Allah’s signs wherever we go.   First, consider the placement itself. Is it a meaningful learning experience? Will you have flexibility to explore different clinical settings? Are the clinicians  supportive?  After a demanding academic year, the last thing anyone wants is a difficult environment. Some may prefer a system  like  the NHS, while others seek something new—but what matters most is how you engage and benefit.   Second, think about the destination. Is it safe? Is there a language barrier? What about accommodation, travel costs,   activities ,   nature , food,  and  culture? These factors shape your overall experien...

Ibadah is one of the most difficult things for a person learning about Islam to grasp. One may translate it to worship- fair enough- it's the closest translation in a single word. But it differs from the normal use of the word, as it is not an act done in its own dedicated time and space, where one momentarily engages in submission to a deity. In Islam, acts of ibadah can be far broader, yet the same acts can come to nought despite being done outwardly in the same manner. 3 Muslims can pray salah behind the same imam, next to one another, and the reward may not be equal. The key to ibadah is that the action is secondary to the intention behind it. In my last blog, I wrote about how to use your time better, and I didn’t mention this topic intentionally, as I felt it was deserving of its own dedicated post; it is one of the most important ways to create a maintainable schedule focused on fulfilling your duties of worship. This is because here we will focus on using the actions you al...