As-Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

Ramadan Kareem!!!

حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.”  – Sahih al-Bukhari

Interesting. It sounds a lot like, “On My Honor, I will do my Duty to God…” More on that later. For now, I wanted to give a special shout out to Troop 114 of Fairfax, VA and especially to the young man from that Troop, who designed this patch that is now available through the National Association of Muslim Americans on Scouting (NAMAS) online store.

It was designed by Adam B last year after the Scout Iftar for Troop 114 last year in 2018. I personally know Adam B. From the first day I met him, Adam has shown a keen interest for Scouting. When I think of the Rank Requirement for Scout Spirit, I think of Adam’s enthusiasm for Scouting. His enthusiam to create a patch is just one way of him showing his Scout Spirit. He was the only one when asked who was willing to design a patch, that actually followed through. I think he did an amazing job.

Many of you could design patches, or help design websites, or report on what the Troop is doing, or so much more. It’s totally possible. For the youth, these are skills that can be learned in the merit badges that you take. It depends on the Merit Badge Counselor AND you. Scouting is what you want to make it. Outdoors is just the beginning of the adventure. For the adults, maybe you are the one teaching them or maybe you are the one learning with them. Either way, be with them because they will be memories that will last a lifetime.

There are many other ways of showing Scout Spirit. Helping your parents or your spouses during Ramadan with the cooking, the cleaning, and the keeping of your prayers. Staying on top of your academics or your work. When you’re with the Troop, the same things apply. Make sure the person who is in charge of cooking has help and the one in charge of cleaning gets help. Make sure the tents are put away properly and taken care of. All the equipment is clean and stored. At night when it is time to sleep, everyone is quiet so the Scoutmasters can sleep easily. Maybe it’s helping your fellow leaders, or maybe, it’s the time you start volunteering to help lessen the load of the one who is always out there volunteering.

Whatever your situation is. If you’re a husband, a wife, a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a friend, or just an acquaintance. I hope that you take the time to re-evaluate your relationship with one another. Relationships are tricky. Remember, A Scout is Friendly. Allah has reminded us in numerous examples about relationships. Relationships to our spouses, to our kin, to our children, to our neighbors, and to the strangers. Take this time to see how well you are doing. 

Did you catch how many times I talked about the Scout Law and did I make references to our Islamic values? The Scouting Ideals are very Islamic. The Scout Oath and the Scout Law are two key parts of what make up the Scouting ideals. The Scout motto, “Be Prepared”, and the Scout Slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily” are simple phrases to help remind us to live an Islamic life. A Scoutly life if you will. I have provide links to the Scout Oath and Law. Just click on the words. If you print them on very nice paper and frame them, they will be nice reminders for you.

Try to do your best. It isn’t easy. I know. I will try my best. I plan to take this time during Ramadan to reflect and refocus myself. Renew my intentions and do my best to evalutate how closely I am following the Scout Oath and Law. I invite you to do the same. All of us are always on a constant path to do our best. In fact, when one writes something like this, you have to ask yourself, is it to remind others, or is to remind oneself?

Ramadan Mubarak!

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Yours in Scouting,

Abdul “Rashid” Abdullah
Executive Director, National Association of Muslim Americans on Scouting