I re-discovered a fondness for hiking during preparations for last year’s UVP/AMP Hike Day. And I realized that, although I’ll find a million excuses to avoid the gym, I’m always up for a hike. Here’s why:

1. 40 minutes of walking actually gets you somewhere.

2. Mountain air is better than gym air.

3. Hiking is open to variety.

Trails vary in many ways–terrain, width, incline, length of time needed to complete, etc. You can work on completing increasingly difficult trails and/or hike at different locations–It’s easy to keep hiking interesting.

4. Hiking is a buddy activity…

…and a good family activity. Contrary to what my mother used to think, hiking does not mean you will have to machete-hack your path through foliage. Trails can be wide, flat, and open, and an easy hike can be a great way to start a monthly hike day tradition with your family. Pack some sandwiches and fruit to eat and prayer rugs to pray on together at your trail midpoint. To keep younger kids interested, try playing “I spy” or other games as you hike and choose trails with landmarks like creeks or lookout points. Make sure to take varying skill levels into consideration when choosing a trail. Try it with a group of friends too!

5. It’s good for the soul.

Have you ever looked straight up to the sky on a clear night? I like seeing the stars and thinking about the expanse of the universe. It reminds me of how small I am and reinforces my dependence on Allah. In the day, I can get a hint of this feeling when I’m hiking and surrounded by nature. Taking the small effort to notice the intricacies and variety of Allah’s creation is, personally, very humbling.

Something I want to do someday is go on a night hike and pray in a clearing. If you have guide who knows what he/she is doing, and it’s safe to do so, try it!

6. Hiking is cheap (and environmentally friendly)!

You can start hiking with as little as a sturdy pair of athletic shoes and a backpack with a water bottle and first aid kit. Note: If you want to hike at a national park, you might have to pay a small fee per vehicle entering.

7. It’s quiet, peaceful, and usually seclusive.

Except for your trusted hiking buddy and the occasional passerby/forest creature, nobody has to watch you struggling to catch your breath.

Remember to check the weather, pack the essentials, start early in the day, and tell someone where you’re going and who you’re going with. After you come back from your hike, you can call the gym to cancel your membership.

In order to love others for the sake of Allah (swt) we must first love Allah and his messenger above all else. Loving for the sake of Allah (swt) is the truest expression of Iman because it reflects the totality of submission to Allah’s decrees. Love becomes an act of worship. It generates a compassion within that compels you to help others purely to gain the pleasure of Allah (swt). Any act of charity strengthens that compassion. Islamic character is strengthened through this unselfish love. The poor, the sick, the oppressed are all reminders of the person you want to be because those in need present you with the opportunity to take action in order to develop into that person. Loving for the sake of Allah reminds you of the ultimate goal.

If every single one of us loved one another for the sake of Allah (swt) where would we as an Ummah be? If the desire to obtain the blessing of Allah (swt) through love was everyone’s goal the world would be different. The poor and needy wouldn’t be shunned. The helpless and oppressed wouldn’t be ignored. To love for the sake of Allah is to love for your brother what you would for yourself and to stand against anything less. The plight of those in need would grab hold of your heart as it would if you truly began to see them as brothers and sisters. Although we may not know each other and we may be separated by distance, we are all connected and united under the most important and eternal banner of Allah the All Mighty.

Analysis of Piety

From the morals and manners of the righteous was that they would strictly analyze their taqwa (piety) never claiming to be a possessor of such. Allah the Most High has said, “Therefore do not declare yourselves as being purified. He knows best who has taqwa.” [53:32]

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him), said, “Taqwa is here,” and he pointed to his chest. [Muslim (16/120, 121) in al-Birr..and at-Tirmidhi (8/115) in al-Birr and Ahmad (2/277)]

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azeez, rahimahullaah (May Allah have mercy upon him), used to say, “None can reach the station of taqwaa until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter.” He was once asked, “When does the worshipper reach the peak of tawqa?” He replied, “If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there.” He would frequently say, “The sign of muttaqi (pious person) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihraam bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqi needs to be a scholar (‘aalim) of the Sharee’ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves taqwa without realising.”

Abu Darda, radhiAllaahu ‘anhu (May Allah be pleased with him), said: “From the completion of taqwa is that the slaves fears from his Lord even with regards to things the weight of an atom.”

Abu Hurayrah, radhiAllaahu ‘anhu, was asked about taqwa. He said, “It is a road full of thorns. One who walks it needs to have extreme patience.”

Sufyaan ath-Thawri rahimahullah said, “We met a people who loved it when it was said to them – Fear Allah the Most High. Today you find that people only become annoyed at this.”

A person asked Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaad rahimahullaah, “Which country would you like me to live in? Fudhayl replied, “There is no connection between you and any nation. The best country for you is the country which helps you to acquire taqwa.”

O brothers and sisters! Search your soul. Have you feared Allah as the righteous have feared? Or have you fallen short of that. Seek the forgiveness of Allah as all praise is to Him the Lord of the worlds.