The world today seems to be overflowing with reasons to be sad and depressed for every human being.  However, this should not be true for the Muslims, who live in the eternal promise of Mercy and Forgiveness from their Lord, Allah the Almighty.

This issue focuses on the reasons and ways to find the balance between fear and hope in the daily life of the Muslims.  From the causes of fear and how to overcome it, to the causes of depression and why it is necessary to understand tasavvuf and the need integrate it into the modern  psychological thinking.

Included in this issue as well are some reflections by a new Muslim making her first trip for Hajj.  You will see that it was a time for her to reflect on her life and her place in the religion of Allah.  There is also an article on fear and its causes so that worry and stress can be removed from the life of a Muslim.  This issue also focuses on dispelling some of the myths surrounding the history of Muslims in China for the purpose of clarifying the reality of life there for the Muslims today. 

Osman Nuri Efendi’s article focuses on calling Muslims to their proper place in the religion of Allah by reminding them that they are the manifestation of the Divine Names of Allah.  By contemplating this, we are called to rise above the things that worry us and cause our depression, and keep us focused on remembering and being grateful to Allah for creating us in such a high status.

We hope you enjoy reading all the articles in this edition.

May Allah Almighty grant us give praise to him for all the blessings that Allah has bestowed on us.