When the student is ready, the teacher will appear (Lao Tzu). Alana wanted to discover a weight-loss solution. She wore maternity clothes despite not being pregnant. For women, the worst invention ever was stretch pants. The day an elastic waistband dawned forever transformed a woman’s waistline. From tight tummy to bloated belly, a woman’s body could balloon overnight and remain hidden because her trousers accommodated the growth.
Alana’s weight had yo-yoed throughout the course of her years. She had tried every fad diet with no success. Then, one day, everything changed. Mrs. Clemmons, the school nurse, invited her to try a plant-based diet. The term vegan sounded so strict, but if done properly, a vegan diet could reverse chronic illness, like kidney disease and diabetes. It was worth the discipline and investment.
So, Alana headed to the grocery store in search of nutritious plant-based foods, like dairy-free yogurt, faux eggs, unsweetened oat milk, and vegan cheese. Her taste buds adapted to these rich substitutes, which were a little pricy compared to the alternatives, but worth every penny. This boosted her health. Let food be your medicine was Mrs. Clemmons’s motto. This became Alana’s new strategy.
After five months of going vegan, Alana had lost 55 lbs. She regularly exercised - lifting weights and doing cardio. She had the body she had been waiting for - a dancer’s physique. Truly, Mrs. Clemmons’s advice was right on time. It resulted in Alana’s breakthrough and for this, she was grateful.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “The best among you is the one who is of the most benefit to others.” Mrs. Clemmons guided Alana and countless other students to better health. She looked at each individual holistically and balanced thought with action. She made a concerted effort to make a powerful impact in the lives of others. This made her the best of the best. And now you know her weight-loss secret.
Alana revealed her weight-loss secret to her mom, who was an Orthodox Christian. Alana’s mom appreciated the change in her daughter and winked as she smiled at her.
“Remember the church fast involves consuming no animal products. We fast for the majority of the year. There is wisdom in our ways.”
Alana had adopted Islam and only at that moment returned to her mom’s very important point, as if for the first time. She wasn’t ready for the lesson before, but for the first time in months, if not years, Alana’s mom was way ahead of her.
In Islam, it’s important to enjoin the good and forbid the evil. That’s figuratively the sixth pillar of Islam. Generally, Muslim practitioners shouldn’t forbid the good or whatever’s halal. So, it’s rare you find Muslim vegans, because Allah made permissible meat and dairy, with few restrictions. Muhammad, peace be upon him, was not vegan or vegetarian, and he was a walking Qur’an. Muslims should avoid innovation.
However, in becoming vegan, Alana identified with her mother who sanctified her body by fasting. Her mom recommended fasting and prayer. These open the gates to well-being. When Alana thought of fasting, she assumed it meant complete abstention, like the Muslim fast during Ramadan, which meant no food or drink from sunrise to sunset. The Orthodox Christian fast was different; food and drink were permissible, but what mattered was the type.
So, with Ramadan and Lent approaching, this meant a vegan fast with no food or drink between sunrise and sunset. Moreover, this meant no mixing of meat and dairy, which is kosher. This all made Alana proud. Her ancestors were a mixed bag of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. She followed in their footsteps. May Allah be pleased with her.
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