Fatimah Khan,
WAMY [Dammam]
What causes someone to Backbite his Muslim brothers and sisters?
Satisfying Anger
This is done by backbiting the person who kindles his anger. Every time the person makes him angry, he subsides it by backbiting the person. Through this (the backbiting), he feels he is getting even with the other person.
The cure for this is the advice of the Messenger (pbuh) when a man came to him and said advise me, "(Laa Taqhdab) Do not become angry!
Wanting to Make or Keep Friends
In order to maintain friendship with others, a person indulges in backbiting. As he is afraid of losing their friendship, he does not reprimand them when they backbite, but indulges in it with them.
To cure this he must remember the saying of the Messenger (pbuh) "Whoever seeks the pleasure of men by displeasing Allah, Allah will abandon him to the people." [At-Tirmidhi]
Playing Around, Joking and Making Fun of Others
This could involve mockery and sarcasm. It is enough to remind those indulging in this practice of what Allah, the Most High said: "O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter is better than the former..." [Al-Hujuraat 49:11] It could very well be that Allah loves them and does not love us.
Anger for the Sake of Allah
A person may become angry because of a sin committed by another person, and so he talks about it mentioning that person's name instead of concealing it.
Sufyaan ibn al-Husayn narrates: I was sitting with Iyaas ibn Muaawiyah when a man walked by and I said ill of that man. Keep Quiet! Iyaas said to me. Have you fought the Romans? I said no. He asked, Have you fought the Turk? I said no. He then said, The Romans were saved from you and likewise the Turk were saved from you. But your own Muslim brother was not saved! Sufyaan said, After that I never backbited anyone.
Having Too Much Spare Time
This can cause a person to fall into backbiting, because it is easy for an idle mind to become busy with men, and their faults. To correct this, a person must spend his time in acts of obedience to Allah, worship, seeking knowledge, and teaching others etc.
Conceit and Lack Of Awareness Of One's Faults
People should think about their own faults and try to correct themselves and feel ashamed to criticize others when they have many faults themselves.
It was said to Rabee ibn Khaytham, We never see you finding fault in others. He replied, I am not satisfied with myself enough to dedicate my time to finding faults in others.
Uqbah ibn Aamir narrates: I said, O RasulAllah! What is salvation? He (pbuh) said, Hold your tongue! Your house should suffice you! And cry over your (own) faults! authentic, narrated by Tirmidhi.
Shaykh Al-Qarnee narrates in one of his lectures: Abu Bakr once disputed with another companion about a tree. During the dispute Abu Bakr said something that he rather would not have said. He did not curse, he did not attack someones honor, he did not poke a fault in anyone, all he said was something that may have hurt the companions feelings.
Immediately, Abu Bakr ordered him, Say it back to me! The companion said, I shall not say it back. Say it back to me, said Abu Bakr, Or I shall complain to the Messenger of Allah. The companion refused to say it back and went on his way.
Abu Bakr went to Rasul Allah and told what had happened and what he said. Rasul Allah called that companion and asked him, Did Abu Bakr say so and so to you? He said, Yes. He said, What did you reply. He said, I did not reply it back to him. Rasul Allah said, Good, do not reply it back to him (do not hurt Abu Bakr). Rather say, May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr!
The Companion turned to Abu Bakr and said, May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr! May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr! Abu Bakr turned and cried as he walked away.
How can we revive this air of mercy and love and brotherhood that the companions lived?
The Messenger of Allah showed us in the following ways:
Having Eman in Allah and doing acts of goodness.
[96. On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will the Most Gracious bestow love.] Surah Maryam
Spreading Salam to those whom you know and those whom you do not
In Sahih Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah: RasulAllah said, You shall not enter Jannah until you believe, and you shall not believe until you love one another. Shall I not guide you to something that if you do it you shall love one another? Spread Salam amongst yourselves.
And in Bukhari and Muslim, from AbdAllah ibn Amr: a man came to Rasul Allah and asked him, Which Islam is the best? He said, To feed the hungry and to give salam to those you know and those you dont know.
Giving gifts to your brothers and sisters
Suffice is the statement of Rasul Allah, Tahaaddu Tahaabbu. (Give Gifts and you shall love one another). narrated by Imam Bukhari in his book al-Adab al-Mufrad. Saheeh lishawaahidih.
Telling your brother or sister that you love them for the sake of Allah
This is one of the ways to solidify the brotherhood/sisterhood when your brother or sister knows that you love them.
These days people are loved for the clothes they wear, so they buy more expensive clothes. Others are loved for the cars they drive, so they buy newer models. But how many are loved for the sake of Allah, and what kind of effect would that have?
Conclusion: If you cannot say good things about a person, keep quiet.
O Allah! Show Us & Guide Us All through the Straight Way.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
If Arabs are Rag-Heads and Sand-Niggers, so does all Biblical Prophets!
By: Shahid Bin Waheed ÔÇåÏ ÈTM æÍíÏ
Bible is about the accounts of Arabs and as we know that all the Biblical Prophets were Arabs. But extreme hate and hypocrisy is one of the many bigoted rituals among Judeo-Christian traditions when they degrade Muslims in general and Arab Muslims in particular making fun of their turban by calling them and/or referring them as rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. The Judeo-Christian literature and pictures in the Bible shows that all the Biblical prophets, including Jesus and his disciples were using the similar attires and/or turbans that are still used in that part of the world. But no one makes fun of that and/or call the Biblical prophets rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. This is what I have discovered in the Bible that explicitly proves that the Biblical prophets and people including high priests were the rag-heads & sand-niggers, if Arabs are rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. We can safely declare Moses to be the chief sand-nigger and/or towel head, since he spent most of his life in Sinai desert beside other Biblical figures. That will lead us to believe that Christians Sham god Jesus was also a sand-nigger and/or rag-head. Following the evidence derived from Bible, Revised Standard Version.
Bible, Revised Standard Version
Exod.28
[4] These are the garments, which they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a girdle; they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
[37] And you shall fasten it on the turban by a lace of blue; it shall be on the front of the turban.
[39] "And you shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a girdle embroidered with needlework.
Exod.29
[6] and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown upon the turban.
Exod.39
[28] and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
[31] And they tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Lev.8
[9] And he set the turban upon his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Lev.16
[4] He shall put on the holy linen coat, and shall have the linen breeches on his body, be girded with the linen girdle, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and then put them on.
Job.29
[14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Isa.3
[23] the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
Ezek.21
[26] thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.
Ezek.23
[15] girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chalde'a.
Ezek.24
[17] Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners."
[23] Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another.
Ezek.44
[18] They shall have linen turbans upon their heads, and linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat.
Zech.3
[5] And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.
1Esdr.3
[6] He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine linen, and a necklace about his neck;
Jdt.4
[15] With ashes upon their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all their might to look with favor upon the whole house of Israel.
Sir.45
[12] with a gold crown upon his turban, inscribed like a signet with "Holiness,"a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert, the delight of the eyes, richly adorned.
In conclusion, I must say that Muslims should not feel bad or let Jews and Christians mock them. You are free to respond them using the above PROOF; by saying that if I am a rag-head or towel-head or sand-nigger, so does was Moses, David, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Isaiah, Solomon, and Jesus. In other versions of Bibles, this correct word has been deleted and replaced with some fancy word/s. But in the Dictionary of the Bible it can be found.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Home Page
ÈÓã Çááå ÇáÑÍãTM ÇáÑÍíã
ÇáÍãÏááå ÑÈ ÇáÚÇáãíTM æÇáÕáæÉ æÇáÓáÇã Úáì ÇÔÑÝ ÇáÇTMÈíÇÁ æÓíÏÇáãÑÓáíTM TMÈíTMÇ ãÍãÏ Õá Ç ááå Úáíå æÚáì Âáå æÇÕÍÇÈå æÇÒæÇÌå ÇÌãÚíTM - ÇãÇÈÚÏ
Thanks to be Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.
Bible is about the accounts of Arabs and as we know that all the Biblical Prophets were Arabs. But extreme hate and hypocrisy is one of the many bigoted rituals among Judeo-Christian traditions when they degrade Muslims in general and Arab Muslims in particular making fun of their turban by calling them and/or referring them as rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. The Judeo-Christian literature and pictures in the Bible shows that all the Biblical prophets, including Jesus and his disciples were using the similar attires and/or turbans that are still used in that part of the world. But no one makes fun of that and/or call the Biblical prophets rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. This is what I have discovered in the Bible that explicitly proves that the Biblical prophets and people including high priests were the rag-heads & sand-niggers, if Arabs are rag-heads, towel-heads, and sand-niggers etcetera. We can safely declare Moses to be the chief sand-nigger and/or towel head, since he spent most of his life in Sinai desert beside other Biblical figures. That will lead us to believe that Christians Sham god Jesus was also a sand-nigger and/or rag-head. Following the evidence derived from Bible, Revised Standard Version.
Bible, Revised Standard Version
Exod.28
[4] These are the garments, which they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a girdle; they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
[37] And you shall fasten it on the turban by a lace of blue; it shall be on the front of the turban.
[39] "And you shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a girdle embroidered with needlework.
Exod.29
[6] and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown upon the turban.
Exod.39
[28] and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
[31] And they tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Lev.8
[9] And he set the turban upon his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Lev.16
[4] He shall put on the holy linen coat, and shall have the linen breeches on his body, be girded with the linen girdle, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and then put them on.
Job.29
[14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Isa.3
[23] the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
Ezek.21
[26] thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.
Ezek.23
[15] girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chalde'a.
Ezek.24
[17] Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners."
[23] Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another.
Ezek.44
[18] They shall have linen turbans upon their heads, and linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat.
Zech.3
[5] And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.
1Esdr.3
[6] He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine linen, and a necklace about his neck;
Jdt.4
[15] With ashes upon their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all their might to look with favor upon the whole house of Israel.
Sir.45
[12] with a gold crown upon his turban, inscribed like a signet with "Holiness,"a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert, the delight of the eyes, richly adorned.
In conclusion, I must say that Muslims should not feel bad or let Jews and Christians mock them. You are free to respond them using the above PROOF; by saying that if I am a rag-head or towel-head or sand-nigger, so does was Moses, David, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Isaiah, Solomon, and Jesus. In other versions of Bibles, this correct word has been deleted and replaced with some fancy word/s. But in the Dictionary of the Bible it can be found.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Home Page
A Cry from A Chat Victim
Translated By IslamWay SistersQ & A from http://www.saaid.net/
A Girl Wrote an email saying:
Assalam Aleikom wa Rahmatullah wa barakatuh I hope you can be of use to me in this problem: I'm a 17 year old Arab girl living in an Arab country and still in high school.Unfortunately, I learned about the internet yet, I misused it and spent my days chatting with guys and watching prohibited websites (I did such things behind my parents back and no one knew about them) even though I used to be religious and hated girls who chatted with guys.I then got to know a 21 years old guy-through the "Messenger" living in the same country but of different nationality and we went on chatting till we exchanged true and untainted love "just for the sake of Allah".He used to educate me about teachings of religion and lead me to righteousness and guidance. He allowed me to see him through a camera, we sometimes prayed together.Later he started to show me parts of his body which in return caused me to become an addict to the secret habit. Such situation went on for a month in which we learned a lot from each other. We maintained voice chatting and when I trusted him I allowed him to see me, my hair and most of my body parts through the computer camera. My love for him grew more and I thought only of him and nothing else to the extent that I couldn't concentrate in my studies, consequently causing my level of educational pursuit to decline.He then told me about where he lived and so did I. I called him on his mobile a while after that and checked the validity of the information he gave me. He said he wanted to marry me, I agreed to his proposal for marriage, although I'm supposed to marry my cousin, yet I'm now so afraid of my parents' disapproval especially after he started to threaten me saying: "If you leave me I'll disgrace you and spread your pictures"! Also he said:" I'll cal you using the numbers you dialed to reach me and tell your folks all about you." When I discussed this matter with him he said that it was just threats yet I feel that he is not threatening me and that he's really going to do something, and now I'm thinking seriously of leaving him and returning to the path of Allah.My parents are Muslims and religious and if they knew that I'm in love with a guy and actually in contact with him they're gonna kill me( by "kill" I mean beating and humiliating) to avoid the scandal and bad reputation.I don't know what to do! I'm so scared;I want guidance; I want to be happy and safe; I'm sick of thinking and feeling scared.Please help me. Because of this problem I quit praying; I quit worshiping in general because I'm bored and desperate with my life; my sisters' reputation and futures-as well as mine- will be destroyed if I don't die, and I want to, today before tomorrow.I want to leave him but I fear the scandal. He will call back so how can I stop him? Will Allah forgive me if I return to his path? What are the conditions of repentance and how should I repent and?I fear that I may go back to what I used to do? Where's the way out? How could I get rid of my addict to the secret habit? And now that I suffer from sexual frigidity, how can I treat it without my parents knowing about it?I seek your reply so bad; don't throw my mail away.Please help me as soon as you can; there's no one else to help me; please help me, please.The sister's message is over; a message that is truly rich with lessons and examples Is anyone out there willing to learn?--------------------------------------------------
I shall pause at her saying: we exchanged true and untainted love, "just for the sake of Allah") The problem is that every girl thinks that the guy who tries to hit on her is her dream prince and the fulfiller of her dreams, while he is actually the prince who brings failure, the maker of sorrows and the destroyer of hopes. She pictured such love to be (... true and untainted love) but she smells the rotten of it all before the end of the story; and he appears to be a stereotype of those wolves who care for nothing except fulfilling their desires. The hopes are vanishing and the pains are aching and there he is threatening her saying: "If you leave me I'll disgrace you and spread your pictures"! Is this true and a "for the sake of Allah" kind of love?! This is the American way of love! She says: "I'm so scared; I want guidance; I want to be happy and safe; I'm sick of thinking and feeling scared" Wasn't she at peace and overwhelming bliss, following the path of guidance and performing her prayers before stepping into the hellish land of "Chat"? Why is she scared now? Why did she quit praying? It's the ominous of disobedience that deprived her of the pleasure of obedience. What was she looking for in "Chat" vaults? Looking For happiness? She is left now screaming "I want to be happy and safe How weird the following words are:" My parents are Muslims and religious and if they knew that I'm in love with a guy and actually in contact with him they're going to kill me to avoid the scandal and bad reputation (by "kill" I mean beating and humiliating)" All this happened while the parents where inattentive to their child; they've been so careless and so wasting of the Trust. It's the ultimate confidence that parents have specifically in young ladies which results in such a disaster. A father may say: "I have sheer blind trust in my daughters and my unmarriageable relatives in general". They're no better than Mothers of the believers, nonetheless Allah Exulted and Majestic be He said about their ethics:" O Consorts of the Prophet! ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just"; and Said about the Believers' ethics towards them:" And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want ask them from before a screen"Why did He say that?" that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs".Is anyone out there willing to learn?"Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth)."[Chapter 50, verse 37]This message has been mailed to me and I took permition from the sister to publish it, and so I did with the exception her nationality
A Girl Wrote an email saying:
Assalam Aleikom wa Rahmatullah wa barakatuh I hope you can be of use to me in this problem: I'm a 17 year old Arab girl living in an Arab country and still in high school.Unfortunately, I learned about the internet yet, I misused it and spent my days chatting with guys and watching prohibited websites (I did such things behind my parents back and no one knew about them) even though I used to be religious and hated girls who chatted with guys.I then got to know a 21 years old guy-through the "Messenger" living in the same country but of different nationality and we went on chatting till we exchanged true and untainted love "just for the sake of Allah".He used to educate me about teachings of religion and lead me to righteousness and guidance. He allowed me to see him through a camera, we sometimes prayed together.Later he started to show me parts of his body which in return caused me to become an addict to the secret habit. Such situation went on for a month in which we learned a lot from each other. We maintained voice chatting and when I trusted him I allowed him to see me, my hair and most of my body parts through the computer camera. My love for him grew more and I thought only of him and nothing else to the extent that I couldn't concentrate in my studies, consequently causing my level of educational pursuit to decline.He then told me about where he lived and so did I. I called him on his mobile a while after that and checked the validity of the information he gave me. He said he wanted to marry me, I agreed to his proposal for marriage, although I'm supposed to marry my cousin, yet I'm now so afraid of my parents' disapproval especially after he started to threaten me saying: "If you leave me I'll disgrace you and spread your pictures"! Also he said:" I'll cal you using the numbers you dialed to reach me and tell your folks all about you." When I discussed this matter with him he said that it was just threats yet I feel that he is not threatening me and that he's really going to do something, and now I'm thinking seriously of leaving him and returning to the path of Allah.My parents are Muslims and religious and if they knew that I'm in love with a guy and actually in contact with him they're gonna kill me( by "kill" I mean beating and humiliating) to avoid the scandal and bad reputation.I don't know what to do! I'm so scared;I want guidance; I want to be happy and safe; I'm sick of thinking and feeling scared.Please help me. Because of this problem I quit praying; I quit worshiping in general because I'm bored and desperate with my life; my sisters' reputation and futures-as well as mine- will be destroyed if I don't die, and I want to, today before tomorrow.I want to leave him but I fear the scandal. He will call back so how can I stop him? Will Allah forgive me if I return to his path? What are the conditions of repentance and how should I repent and?I fear that I may go back to what I used to do? Where's the way out? How could I get rid of my addict to the secret habit? And now that I suffer from sexual frigidity, how can I treat it without my parents knowing about it?I seek your reply so bad; don't throw my mail away.Please help me as soon as you can; there's no one else to help me; please help me, please.The sister's message is over; a message that is truly rich with lessons and examples Is anyone out there willing to learn?--------------------------------------------------
I shall pause at her saying: we exchanged true and untainted love, "just for the sake of Allah") The problem is that every girl thinks that the guy who tries to hit on her is her dream prince and the fulfiller of her dreams, while he is actually the prince who brings failure, the maker of sorrows and the destroyer of hopes. She pictured such love to be (... true and untainted love) but she smells the rotten of it all before the end of the story; and he appears to be a stereotype of those wolves who care for nothing except fulfilling their desires. The hopes are vanishing and the pains are aching and there he is threatening her saying: "If you leave me I'll disgrace you and spread your pictures"! Is this true and a "for the sake of Allah" kind of love?! This is the American way of love! She says: "I'm so scared; I want guidance; I want to be happy and safe; I'm sick of thinking and feeling scared" Wasn't she at peace and overwhelming bliss, following the path of guidance and performing her prayers before stepping into the hellish land of "Chat"? Why is she scared now? Why did she quit praying? It's the ominous of disobedience that deprived her of the pleasure of obedience. What was she looking for in "Chat" vaults? Looking For happiness? She is left now screaming "I want to be happy and safe How weird the following words are:" My parents are Muslims and religious and if they knew that I'm in love with a guy and actually in contact with him they're going to kill me to avoid the scandal and bad reputation (by "kill" I mean beating and humiliating)" All this happened while the parents where inattentive to their child; they've been so careless and so wasting of the Trust. It's the ultimate confidence that parents have specifically in young ladies which results in such a disaster. A father may say: "I have sheer blind trust in my daughters and my unmarriageable relatives in general". They're no better than Mothers of the believers, nonetheless Allah Exulted and Majestic be He said about their ethics:" O Consorts of the Prophet! ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just"; and Said about the Believers' ethics towards them:" And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want ask them from before a screen"Why did He say that?" that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs".Is anyone out there willing to learn?"Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth)."[Chapter 50, verse 37]This message has been mailed to me and I took permition from the sister to publish it, and so I did with the exception her nationality
Friday, May 27, 2005
The Role of Women in the Call of Islam
Dr. Mohammed H. Khlais Al-Harbi, Arab News
Women had a vital role in spreading the message of God. Throughout history women had participated in the intellectual and political struggle enduring all sorts of torture and intimidation. They spoke boldly and called for the true religion without fearing the loss of power or wealth. Lady Maryam (Mary), the mother of Jesus, is honored in the Qur’an and was revered by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She is depicted in the Qur’an as an ideal model of virtue not only for women but for all mankind.
God addressed men and women alike. Historically, many women had played effective roles in the lives of prophets and their missions. They had their share in the Muslim society at all levels. This is illustrated in the story of Prophet Ibrahim who struggled against his people in Babylon, Iraq, fought Nimrod and was saved from fire by a miracle. He then migrated to Syria, then Egypt, with his faithful wife and companion Sarah. The Qur’an describes this trip and tells about the effective role of Hajara, Ibrahim’s second wife who came with him from Egypt to Hejaz. Hajara was the symbol of a woman with deep faith and endless patience, and she raised her son, Prophet Ismail in that valley to be the ancestor of the greatest Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an says: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House” (Ibrahim: 37).
The Qur’an mentions the mother of Prophet Musa and describes how she understood the divine message and protected Musa against the tyranny of Fir’aun. Then Maryam, the mother of Jesus and Asya, the wife of Fir’aun are both set forth by God as examples to be followed by all those who believe. The verses say:
“And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Fir’aun: When she said; “O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Fir’aun and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong”; And Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (Servants).” (Prohibition: 11-12).
The fact that “Allah set forth” “an example to those who believe” proves a unique concept of faith related to woman: A role model for males and females. The wife of Fir’aun faced the power of that mighty ruler, and Maryam stood against the arrogance of the children of Israel and their plots against her. Similar to the important roles played in the lives of Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (Jesus) is Khadijah’s in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Khadijah who was a noble and rich social figure in Makkah was the second person — after Ali — to embrace Islam, and she supported the Prophet all her life enduring all persecution and hardships. This is why the Prophet described the year in which she died as the Year of Grief. The Prophet described Khadijah’s role and his respect for her several times. He also mentions his other wife, Ayshah and his daughter Fatimah. These sayings reflect the Prophet’s and Islam’s acknowledgement of the importance of women to the human race. Islam respects woman for
her vital role in protecting and supporting the prophets, notably Ibrahim, Musa, Ismail, Isa and Muhammad.
Allah in the Qur’an mentions women who received the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, migrated to Madinah with him, and strived to support Islam. The verses that mention women in general are abundant, such as: “The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil!” (Repentance: 71).
“O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, all who enter my house in Faith, and (all) believing men and believing women: And to the wrongdoers grant Thou no increase but in Perdition! (Noah: 28).
“One Day shalt thou sea the believing men and the believing women; how their Light runs forward before them.” (Iron:12). In these verses women are exalted to the noblest position a human being can have on earth and in the hereafter. Under the mission of Islam, males and females are considered peers that collaborate in faith to reform society, combat vice, and crime and promote virtue, peace and prosperity on earth.
The Qur’an describes the aura of glory around all believers, men and women, on the Day of Judgment facing the Lord and being rewarded for their deeds on earth.
A manifestation of the nobility of woman’s position in Islam is the fact that the first martyr in Islam was a female. Umm (mother of) Ammar ibn Yassir who was a companion of the Prophet. She was killed by Abu Jahl, a polytheist leader. All the oppressed and persecuted found in Islam salvation of their human rights and liberation from ignorance and fellowmen’s slavery. Many wronged women believed in the Prophet’s teachings at the onset of his mission. They endured hardships and persecution and had to flee to Ethiopia and to Madinah. They persisted in their belief in God and support of His Prophet.
The Muslim woman has not yet discovered her real position in Islam, nor has the Muslim man known the real entity of women in Islam. This explains the imbalance in relations and treatment that can be corrected only by going back to Qur’anic principles that define the rights and responsibilities of men and women. Women can be sure that, through Islam, their roles are valued and their rights are protected.
— Dr. Mohammed H. Khlais Al-Harbi is human resources and training consultant, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=63813&d=16&m=5&y=2005
Women had a vital role in spreading the message of God. Throughout history women had participated in the intellectual and political struggle enduring all sorts of torture and intimidation. They spoke boldly and called for the true religion without fearing the loss of power or wealth. Lady Maryam (Mary), the mother of Jesus, is honored in the Qur’an and was revered by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She is depicted in the Qur’an as an ideal model of virtue not only for women but for all mankind.
God addressed men and women alike. Historically, many women had played effective roles in the lives of prophets and their missions. They had their share in the Muslim society at all levels. This is illustrated in the story of Prophet Ibrahim who struggled against his people in Babylon, Iraq, fought Nimrod and was saved from fire by a miracle. He then migrated to Syria, then Egypt, with his faithful wife and companion Sarah. The Qur’an describes this trip and tells about the effective role of Hajara, Ibrahim’s second wife who came with him from Egypt to Hejaz. Hajara was the symbol of a woman with deep faith and endless patience, and she raised her son, Prophet Ismail in that valley to be the ancestor of the greatest Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an says: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House” (Ibrahim: 37).
The Qur’an mentions the mother of Prophet Musa and describes how she understood the divine message and protected Musa against the tyranny of Fir’aun. Then Maryam, the mother of Jesus and Asya, the wife of Fir’aun are both set forth by God as examples to be followed by all those who believe. The verses say:
“And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Fir’aun: When she said; “O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Fir’aun and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong”; And Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (Servants).” (Prohibition: 11-12).
The fact that “Allah set forth” “an example to those who believe” proves a unique concept of faith related to woman: A role model for males and females. The wife of Fir’aun faced the power of that mighty ruler, and Maryam stood against the arrogance of the children of Israel and their plots against her. Similar to the important roles played in the lives of Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (Jesus) is Khadijah’s in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Khadijah who was a noble and rich social figure in Makkah was the second person — after Ali — to embrace Islam, and she supported the Prophet all her life enduring all persecution and hardships. This is why the Prophet described the year in which she died as the Year of Grief. The Prophet described Khadijah’s role and his respect for her several times. He also mentions his other wife, Ayshah and his daughter Fatimah. These sayings reflect the Prophet’s and Islam’s acknowledgement of the importance of women to the human race. Islam respects woman for
her vital role in protecting and supporting the prophets, notably Ibrahim, Musa, Ismail, Isa and Muhammad.
Allah in the Qur’an mentions women who received the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, migrated to Madinah with him, and strived to support Islam. The verses that mention women in general are abundant, such as: “The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil!” (Repentance: 71).
“O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, all who enter my house in Faith, and (all) believing men and believing women: And to the wrongdoers grant Thou no increase but in Perdition! (Noah: 28).
“One Day shalt thou sea the believing men and the believing women; how their Light runs forward before them.” (Iron:12). In these verses women are exalted to the noblest position a human being can have on earth and in the hereafter. Under the mission of Islam, males and females are considered peers that collaborate in faith to reform society, combat vice, and crime and promote virtue, peace and prosperity on earth.
The Qur’an describes the aura of glory around all believers, men and women, on the Day of Judgment facing the Lord and being rewarded for their deeds on earth.
A manifestation of the nobility of woman’s position in Islam is the fact that the first martyr in Islam was a female. Umm (mother of) Ammar ibn Yassir who was a companion of the Prophet. She was killed by Abu Jahl, a polytheist leader. All the oppressed and persecuted found in Islam salvation of their human rights and liberation from ignorance and fellowmen’s slavery. Many wronged women believed in the Prophet’s teachings at the onset of his mission. They endured hardships and persecution and had to flee to Ethiopia and to Madinah. They persisted in their belief in God and support of His Prophet.
The Muslim woman has not yet discovered her real position in Islam, nor has the Muslim man known the real entity of women in Islam. This explains the imbalance in relations and treatment that can be corrected only by going back to Qur’anic principles that define the rights and responsibilities of men and women. Women can be sure that, through Islam, their roles are valued and their rights are protected.
— Dr. Mohammed H. Khlais Al-Harbi is human resources and training consultant, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=63813&d=16&m=5&y=2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
A Muslim Girl's Guide For Dealing With Guys
(From one Sister To Another)
Life is full of crazy obstacles, but the o?ne that will probably bug you the most and always be getting in the way is the opposite gender. Here, from o?ne sister to another, is a Muslim girl's guide for how to deal with guys.
No Touching: Muslims are forbidden to touch any non-Mahram (Mahram is your dad, brothers, father-in-law, husbands, grandfathers, and the siblings of your parents) person of the opposite gender.
That means no patting o?n the back, no hand shaking, no pushing, no shoving, no holding hands, and obviously no kissing and all that. If you're in a difficult situation where you think someone will try to shake your hand, the best thing to do is just smile and say, "My people don't shake hands" and then explain why. And why, is because we believe a woman's touch is a privilege and she doesn't just share it with anyone.
No Flirting: Not even with Muslims, not even in an Islamic school, especially not in a masjid! Flirting means that you're saying or doing things o?n purpose that make the other person attracted to you. There's no set criterion for what flirting is, but any girl knows what is and how to do it.
Muslim women are supposed to behave better than the average woman, who has to be beautiful for all the men around her all the time, who are trapped behind their looks and o?nly judge themselves to be worthy if half the men they know are in love with them. A wise dude o?nce said, "Don't start the mower unless you intend to cut the grass".
If you don't want a guy's advances, then don't do anything to earn them. There's no point in throwing yourself all over guys and trying to seduce half the world. You really o?nly want to marry o?ne guy, and you want to spend the rest of your life with him, and chances are he isn't going to be some dork you fluttered your eyelashes at in high school.
No Boyfriends: As a Muslim, you know that having a boyfriend is haraam because it counts as Zina - fornication. Fornication, in easy English, means `sexual sin'. Allah expressly forbids romantic or sexual relationships outside of marriage. When people go against that rule, then you get the typical western society where people play sexual merry-go-round with each other, giving each other STDs [sexually transmitted disease], using and abusing each other, and destroying the sacredness of marriage as an institution.
You can't even be sort of engaged to a guy, and then "date" to get to know each other. In Islam, non-Mahram men and women aren't allowed to be alone together (that includes talking o?n the phone!), to touch (not even shake hands), or even gaze at each other. It doesn't matter if the guy you like is Muslim, a great guy and the Prince of England, you can't date him.
No Boy—friends: The easiest way to ensure that you don't end up falling in love with some guy before you're ready to get married is to avoid making friends with boys. Of course in school you have to interact with boys all over the place, but that doesn't mean you should be best buds with them. Probably 90% of relationships begin from friendships. Chances are you're not ready for marriage, your parents aren't ready to let you get married, you're still in school/college and your crush is not the sort of fellow you want to spend the rest of your life with, so just avoid being friends with the opposite sex in the first place. It really is the best formula for saving yourself from needless temptation.
When you have to talk to boys in school as teammates, lab partners, group members, and peers, it's best to maintain a distance. That means that you don't confide in them, you don't let down your guard, you don't unnecessarily engage them in needless conversation, don't joke around, and never flirt. Yeah it may be a little hard, but this is your afterlife we're talking about.
So many great sisters have put themselves in really sticky situations because they allowed a boy to get to know them, and either ended up liking the boy, or having the boy like them. O?nce that happens you either end up becoming a pair (which is HARAAM!), or having to end your friendship.
Instead of letting it get to that point, and then having to kill a friendship that you probably worked hard o?n cultivating, you should just stop it before it begins. There are plenty of great girls all around who can be your friends and if you really think o?nly a guy will understand your problem, then talk to your REAL brother, or your father, or an uncle.
No Talking o?n the Phone with Boys: In Islam its forbidden for non-related guys and girls to be alone together because there is the chance for physical zina, vocal zina, and zina of the eyes. That means, with no o?ne there to watch you guys except that boogery shaitaan, then you might be tempted to actually DO something, or say gross things, or just stare at each other all lustily. With that in mind, it's also a safe bet to assume that talking o?n the phone with non-Mahram guys is a no-no too. Why? Because unless you've both got it o?n speaker-phone and you're chaperoned by a responsible person, then you're still kind of "alone" with him.
The people in your house can't hear what he's saying to you, and his family can't hear what you're saying to him. There's a chance for some bad stuff then, so just avoid it. Not to mention, having some dude saying things into your ear that no o?ne else can hear would be gross in real life, why is it okay for him to talk into your ear via the telephone? For the most part it's just too intimate.
Work place: Even in work place keep a distance with the opposite sex, discuss only about the work not more than that, more importantly keep distance, dont involve yourself in lot of giggling etc. When a female smiles it gives the space for a man to come closer for those who have a disease of bad intentions. Always prevention is better than cure.
Be Disaffected: What does that mean? Disaffected means un-affect-able. That means that nothing a dude can say can hit your nerves, make you blush, or get a reaction out of you. It also means that you are uninterested in what they do as well. Imagine yourself being in an airplane looking down o?n the scenery below.
You're a little interested in what's going o?n down there, and it may look really nice, but you know that to get to the scenery you have to jump off the plane. Like the scenery miles below you, the guy may look really nice, but you know that to get him you have to jump off the plane ...errr...commit spiritual suicide, and though the fall may be fun, you will eventually hit the ground 600 meters below and go -splat– o?n Judgment Day. Maybe even sooner.
Short of becoming an ice-princess, being disaffected involves putting up a mental wall between you and all of male-kind. They don't know your thoughts and you don't care for theirs. You can interact with guys at school/college within the bounds of Islam, but always maintain a formal distance.
Don't ask a guy how his infected toe is doing. Don't give him a hug when he looks down. Don't offer to help him with his homework. Don't go out of your way to remind him that you exist, and that you're not half bad looking. Even if you don't feel like behaving, make yourself behave anyway, your afterlife is important enough to discipline yourself for.
The safest philosophy when dealing with guys is remembering this "He's not what I want, so why should I do anything to make him interested in me? That'll just make for a painfully awkward situation and it's not worth the sin anyhow."
Remember that you're always being watched! Would you act all giggly and stupid with boys if the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) could see you? No, right? Because you'd feel like an ungrateful idiot for disregarding the religion that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) took so much pain for just to deliver to you. Well, imagine how ungrateful it is to act like a supreme idiot when Allah can see you all the time, and it's really stupid to disregard the religion that Allah prescribed, the favors He's bestowed upon you. How dumb is it to take the eyes that Allah gave you and do things with them that He told you not to? (like goggle at boys?) How much stupider is it that He can see you doing this, and you know it!
You have no secrets! Not because Big Brother (whoever that is…) is watching you, but because every single thing you ever did will become public domain o?n the Day of Judgment, and you'll be brought to trial to defend what you did. Just don't do anything that you wouldn't want your parents, your siblings, your teachers, your friends, and the whole world to know about, ok?
Life is full of crazy obstacles, but the o?ne that will probably bug you the most and always be getting in the way is the opposite gender. Here, from o?ne sister to another, is a Muslim girl's guide for how to deal with guys.
No Touching: Muslims are forbidden to touch any non-Mahram (Mahram is your dad, brothers, father-in-law, husbands, grandfathers, and the siblings of your parents) person of the opposite gender.
That means no patting o?n the back, no hand shaking, no pushing, no shoving, no holding hands, and obviously no kissing and all that. If you're in a difficult situation where you think someone will try to shake your hand, the best thing to do is just smile and say, "My people don't shake hands" and then explain why. And why, is because we believe a woman's touch is a privilege and she doesn't just share it with anyone.
No Flirting: Not even with Muslims, not even in an Islamic school, especially not in a masjid! Flirting means that you're saying or doing things o?n purpose that make the other person attracted to you. There's no set criterion for what flirting is, but any girl knows what is and how to do it.
Muslim women are supposed to behave better than the average woman, who has to be beautiful for all the men around her all the time, who are trapped behind their looks and o?nly judge themselves to be worthy if half the men they know are in love with them. A wise dude o?nce said, "Don't start the mower unless you intend to cut the grass".
If you don't want a guy's advances, then don't do anything to earn them. There's no point in throwing yourself all over guys and trying to seduce half the world. You really o?nly want to marry o?ne guy, and you want to spend the rest of your life with him, and chances are he isn't going to be some dork you fluttered your eyelashes at in high school.
No Boyfriends: As a Muslim, you know that having a boyfriend is haraam because it counts as Zina - fornication. Fornication, in easy English, means `sexual sin'. Allah expressly forbids romantic or sexual relationships outside of marriage. When people go against that rule, then you get the typical western society where people play sexual merry-go-round with each other, giving each other STDs [sexually transmitted disease], using and abusing each other, and destroying the sacredness of marriage as an institution.
You can't even be sort of engaged to a guy, and then "date" to get to know each other. In Islam, non-Mahram men and women aren't allowed to be alone together (that includes talking o?n the phone!), to touch (not even shake hands), or even gaze at each other. It doesn't matter if the guy you like is Muslim, a great guy and the Prince of England, you can't date him.
No Boy—friends: The easiest way to ensure that you don't end up falling in love with some guy before you're ready to get married is to avoid making friends with boys. Of course in school you have to interact with boys all over the place, but that doesn't mean you should be best buds with them. Probably 90% of relationships begin from friendships. Chances are you're not ready for marriage, your parents aren't ready to let you get married, you're still in school/college and your crush is not the sort of fellow you want to spend the rest of your life with, so just avoid being friends with the opposite sex in the first place. It really is the best formula for saving yourself from needless temptation.
When you have to talk to boys in school as teammates, lab partners, group members, and peers, it's best to maintain a distance. That means that you don't confide in them, you don't let down your guard, you don't unnecessarily engage them in needless conversation, don't joke around, and never flirt. Yeah it may be a little hard, but this is your afterlife we're talking about.
So many great sisters have put themselves in really sticky situations because they allowed a boy to get to know them, and either ended up liking the boy, or having the boy like them. O?nce that happens you either end up becoming a pair (which is HARAAM!), or having to end your friendship.
Instead of letting it get to that point, and then having to kill a friendship that you probably worked hard o?n cultivating, you should just stop it before it begins. There are plenty of great girls all around who can be your friends and if you really think o?nly a guy will understand your problem, then talk to your REAL brother, or your father, or an uncle.
No Talking o?n the Phone with Boys: In Islam its forbidden for non-related guys and girls to be alone together because there is the chance for physical zina, vocal zina, and zina of the eyes. That means, with no o?ne there to watch you guys except that boogery shaitaan, then you might be tempted to actually DO something, or say gross things, or just stare at each other all lustily. With that in mind, it's also a safe bet to assume that talking o?n the phone with non-Mahram guys is a no-no too. Why? Because unless you've both got it o?n speaker-phone and you're chaperoned by a responsible person, then you're still kind of "alone" with him.
The people in your house can't hear what he's saying to you, and his family can't hear what you're saying to him. There's a chance for some bad stuff then, so just avoid it. Not to mention, having some dude saying things into your ear that no o?ne else can hear would be gross in real life, why is it okay for him to talk into your ear via the telephone? For the most part it's just too intimate.
Work place: Even in work place keep a distance with the opposite sex, discuss only about the work not more than that, more importantly keep distance, dont involve yourself in lot of giggling etc. When a female smiles it gives the space for a man to come closer for those who have a disease of bad intentions. Always prevention is better than cure.
Be Disaffected: What does that mean? Disaffected means un-affect-able. That means that nothing a dude can say can hit your nerves, make you blush, or get a reaction out of you. It also means that you are uninterested in what they do as well. Imagine yourself being in an airplane looking down o?n the scenery below.
You're a little interested in what's going o?n down there, and it may look really nice, but you know that to get to the scenery you have to jump off the plane. Like the scenery miles below you, the guy may look really nice, but you know that to get him you have to jump off the plane ...errr...commit spiritual suicide, and though the fall may be fun, you will eventually hit the ground 600 meters below and go -splat– o?n Judgment Day. Maybe even sooner.
Short of becoming an ice-princess, being disaffected involves putting up a mental wall between you and all of male-kind. They don't know your thoughts and you don't care for theirs. You can interact with guys at school/college within the bounds of Islam, but always maintain a formal distance.
Don't ask a guy how his infected toe is doing. Don't give him a hug when he looks down. Don't offer to help him with his homework. Don't go out of your way to remind him that you exist, and that you're not half bad looking. Even if you don't feel like behaving, make yourself behave anyway, your afterlife is important enough to discipline yourself for.
The safest philosophy when dealing with guys is remembering this "He's not what I want, so why should I do anything to make him interested in me? That'll just make for a painfully awkward situation and it's not worth the sin anyhow."
Remember that you're always being watched! Would you act all giggly and stupid with boys if the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) could see you? No, right? Because you'd feel like an ungrateful idiot for disregarding the religion that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) took so much pain for just to deliver to you. Well, imagine how ungrateful it is to act like a supreme idiot when Allah can see you all the time, and it's really stupid to disregard the religion that Allah prescribed, the favors He's bestowed upon you. How dumb is it to take the eyes that Allah gave you and do things with them that He told you not to? (like goggle at boys?) How much stupider is it that He can see you doing this, and you know it!
You have no secrets! Not because Big Brother (whoever that is…) is watching you, but because every single thing you ever did will become public domain o?n the Day of Judgment, and you'll be brought to trial to defend what you did. Just don't do anything that you wouldn't want your parents, your siblings, your teachers, your friends, and the whole world to know about, ok?
DRUGS Is It a way to escape your responsibilities?
DRUG Defined as - Any chemical substance, whether of natural or synthetic origin, which can be used to alter perception, mood, or other psychological states. Today, the topic of drug abuse is a serious issue amongst every community in Britain. We the Muslims have it staring at our faces on our very doorsteps if not in our homes. Within this article I would like to explore the dangers and concerns surrounding drugs as well as point out to my fellow Young Muslims that it is HARAAM.
Too many young people, some as young as ten, smoke or take drugs. Of course there are different classes of drugs, some more addictive and damaging than others but the most commonly taken, Cannabis, seems to appear almost every where. You can smell it on the user's, their clothes, out of car windows, in phone boxes and even find the buds from spliffs on your doorsteps.
According to Professor Heather Ashton, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
"Cannabis affects almost every body system. It combines many of the properties of alcohol, tranquillisers, opiates and hallucinogens,"
Before I explain the bottom line that intoxicating yourself is Haraam, I would like to explore the role of drugs in our society. From my own knowledge and experience of drug users, especially those that smoke cannabis, I am quite adamant that these individuals are not wreckless nor a physical danger to anybody, but as research shows they use it as a lifestyle drug to deal with stress and anxieties as well as for mere stimulation. However, during an interview with a community worker in an ethnic majority area of Northern Birmingham, I was bought into the New Millenium as they say.
The number of young people, especially Muslim boys and girls addicted to 'Brown', 'Crack' and other hard drugs is not just on the increase but also tragically visible. My dear respected readers this is just a mere snapshot of the larger scale of this issue. Studies conducted in some parts of ethnic-majority London show that the strong stigma of a family member addicted to drugs is not a deterrent at all. The Metropolitan Police say a:
...significant number of street robberies, burglaries and girls entering prostitution is definatelly related to feeding a drug habit...
What makes one person take drugs while, another abstains from doing so?
Entertainment Industry and Peer pressure certainly play a major role in starting many on a life of drug abuse, the young are especially susceptible to adopting it.
The entertainment industry is particularly plagued with drug abuse. Top performers in the music world often become victims of heavy drug use. Entertainers can give drugs a glamour and appeal that youths seem to find irresistible. The world of drugs is also glamorised in fashion, movie and television.
Many factors play a role in getting an individual attracted and hooked on drug taking. Among these are lack of purpose in life, depression, disillusionment, poor parental control.
Some users attribute their situation to having little or no confidence to mingle in social situations and therefore by taking drugs they are more at ease in such circumstances. Others use drugs to simply avoid taking on responsibility.
To put this into context despite Muslims already facing Racism and discrimination in the work place and almost everywhere else in Britain, many in these areas have to contend with being victims of crime perpetuated by their own ethnic group.
Furthermore, statistics show that the majority of the Muslim community in Britain is very young, i.e. under 30 years of age and that in some parts of Cities like Birmingham there are more young people per household than ever before. With more young people around, it means more are likely to be vulnerable to drugs and our jaws may have hit the floor on hearing the scale of the above mentioned tragedies but what about if I was to say this is just the tip of the iceberg and that this is a Time Bomb waiting to be set off! So why is Drugs such a big thing?
Because we live in whats called a post-modern world where nothing is fixed staight forward or even real such as - internet communities, life is very hectic and disorderly. Young people. especially are exposed to countless media images which are conflicting. For instance on the one hand they are advised to live life to the max and be trendy whilst on the other hand they are expected to work extremely hard besides discrimination and barriers to be successful Professionals. On top of this they have Satan dragging them on all directions.
The easiest way to explain it is by the need for STIMULATION. With so many of the above pressures young people need room to chill out and go into their own little world, even if it means it has to be an unknown flat or digs where theres a cloud of smoke every time you walk in. This search for stimulation isn't only applicable to people who take drugs, it also applies to the rest of us who have a reliance on heavy doses of media and capitalist ways of life, such as flash cars, fans of celebrities, Hollywood and Bollywood and even businessmen who think of nothing but making profits.
Warnings - About the harm drugs can do just don’t seem to scare youths, the common phrase used to avoid thinking what the ill-effects of drug use is to have attitudes like "Ahhhh- it won’t happen to me" or "We only live once - so lets just enjoy it to the max ". Anyone with a little sense would realise that having such views can and will harm the individuals own life.
There are many reasons why the young view life in this way, one of them is because the young are very resilient and full of vitality that they don’t believe their health will suffer. To appreciate how important your own health can be, just ask someone who is terminally ill or has just recovered from illness.
So what is causing the young of today to adopt a life of drug abuse?
The mass adoption of drug abuse, the acceptance of drug use for social interaction e.g. All night parties. Is an indication at the state of our society it shows how feeble we have all become. Otherwise why should a significant number of people prefer drugs to the reality of the present day.
Materialistic modern living styles and preoccupation with achievement often fails to meet an individuals spiritual and emotional requirements - parents eager to bring in that extra pound rather than spending that valuable hour with their child at home, schools and teachers more obsessed with attaining grades to improve the league status rather than helping develop an individual with his or her own identity.
However, a Drugs help worker explained quite simply that it is a matter of 'Choice'. Not everybody who has a hard life turns to drugs, but those that do, especially drug addicts, are thrill seekers who know quite well what they are getting into and the damage it can do to them and their families, but yet they can't be responsible enough to give a damn.
The upsetting instances when a young brother is approached to attend the masjid for salah and he tells you in a very respectful way that "I would, but I can't because am not 'Pak' ( Clean ) cos I’ve been smoking." Then what we do is meet them later after we've finished our prayer, without a care for the hereafter of this brother. What such an instance shows, is that if they had not intoxicated themselves then the likely hood is that they would be a regular Mussalee. And for every person seen to be attending the Masjid more may have followed the habit but the chances of that now grows thin. Our tolernace of drug use stems from our inability to persuade and help our fellow school mates, bredrens, college mates, cousins and neighbours that the daily pressures of work, education and family life can be overcome by one gift from Allah. Salah-The five daily prayers. It seems it is easier to risk punishment of the hereafter let alone breaking the law to buy drugs and use them regularly than
to remain Pak for even a week to attend the masjid where the performance of salah is easy and fulfilling.
The benefits of Salah are extraodinary as Muslims who follow this basic requirement will tell you that if you have to pray regularly your body has to be pure, so you can't smoke drugs or drink alcohol or be in a state of ghusal. Thus you're kept away from such bodily sins. Plus if you have to keep away from such sins, you naturallly will find yourself away from locations where such sins are committed.
Okay; what is the answer to avoiding the above pitfall?
Fortunate for us all, is that there is a way. However it is not an overnight remedy but requires patience and dedication. Once you manage to attain some degree of perfection you will then realise how easy it becomes to handle the pressures and stresses of modern living.
This solution is not new nor is our problem. Since the start of time we humans have been susceptible to leading ourselves down the wrong path and each time our creator and sustainner Al’mighty Allah has, through his kindness provided us with devine guidance the last of this was via our Prophet Mohammed Rasulullah Salallahu Aliahi Wassalam and it is ISLAM as we all know.
In the face of adversity do not resort to worldly help before seeking help from Allah for He is the one that can elleviate your problems and guide you on the right path.
Now that you have asked Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) to solve your dilemma, your saying to yourself:
" What’s happening; I asked for that flash car a week ago, but I don’t seem to see it, parked outside my house yet ".
Unfortunately your prayers arn’t answered in that manner. As with anything in life you need to put some effort into making sure that your approach to seeking help from Allah is perfected and conducted with some degree if not complete regularity, only then, will you start to see results. However; you should not be discouraged if your prayers aren’t answered as you would have liked, since Allah knows best.
Some verses from the Quran with regards to seeking help from Allah:
" ...Seek help from Allah and be patient, the earth belongs to Allah. Anyone He wishes from among His servants shall inherit it... " (7:128)
" Our Lord, fill us full of patience and make our feet firm. Help us against the disbelievers. " (2:250)
" And anyone who acts patiently and forgives, truly he is persevering in affairs. " (42:43)
http://www.theunseen.co.uk/Content.asp?ArticleID=17&ArticleTypeID=2&category=social&RootArticleID=17
Too many young people, some as young as ten, smoke or take drugs. Of course there are different classes of drugs, some more addictive and damaging than others but the most commonly taken, Cannabis, seems to appear almost every where. You can smell it on the user's, their clothes, out of car windows, in phone boxes and even find the buds from spliffs on your doorsteps.
According to Professor Heather Ashton, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
"Cannabis affects almost every body system. It combines many of the properties of alcohol, tranquillisers, opiates and hallucinogens,"
Before I explain the bottom line that intoxicating yourself is Haraam, I would like to explore the role of drugs in our society. From my own knowledge and experience of drug users, especially those that smoke cannabis, I am quite adamant that these individuals are not wreckless nor a physical danger to anybody, but as research shows they use it as a lifestyle drug to deal with stress and anxieties as well as for mere stimulation. However, during an interview with a community worker in an ethnic majority area of Northern Birmingham, I was bought into the New Millenium as they say.
The number of young people, especially Muslim boys and girls addicted to 'Brown', 'Crack' and other hard drugs is not just on the increase but also tragically visible. My dear respected readers this is just a mere snapshot of the larger scale of this issue. Studies conducted in some parts of ethnic-majority London show that the strong stigma of a family member addicted to drugs is not a deterrent at all. The Metropolitan Police say a:
...significant number of street robberies, burglaries and girls entering prostitution is definatelly related to feeding a drug habit...
What makes one person take drugs while, another abstains from doing so?
Entertainment Industry and Peer pressure certainly play a major role in starting many on a life of drug abuse, the young are especially susceptible to adopting it.
The entertainment industry is particularly plagued with drug abuse. Top performers in the music world often become victims of heavy drug use. Entertainers can give drugs a glamour and appeal that youths seem to find irresistible. The world of drugs is also glamorised in fashion, movie and television.
Many factors play a role in getting an individual attracted and hooked on drug taking. Among these are lack of purpose in life, depression, disillusionment, poor parental control.
Some users attribute their situation to having little or no confidence to mingle in social situations and therefore by taking drugs they are more at ease in such circumstances. Others use drugs to simply avoid taking on responsibility.
To put this into context despite Muslims already facing Racism and discrimination in the work place and almost everywhere else in Britain, many in these areas have to contend with being victims of crime perpetuated by their own ethnic group.
Furthermore, statistics show that the majority of the Muslim community in Britain is very young, i.e. under 30 years of age and that in some parts of Cities like Birmingham there are more young people per household than ever before. With more young people around, it means more are likely to be vulnerable to drugs and our jaws may have hit the floor on hearing the scale of the above mentioned tragedies but what about if I was to say this is just the tip of the iceberg and that this is a Time Bomb waiting to be set off! So why is Drugs such a big thing?
Because we live in whats called a post-modern world where nothing is fixed staight forward or even real such as - internet communities, life is very hectic and disorderly. Young people. especially are exposed to countless media images which are conflicting. For instance on the one hand they are advised to live life to the max and be trendy whilst on the other hand they are expected to work extremely hard besides discrimination and barriers to be successful Professionals. On top of this they have Satan dragging them on all directions.
The easiest way to explain it is by the need for STIMULATION. With so many of the above pressures young people need room to chill out and go into their own little world, even if it means it has to be an unknown flat or digs where theres a cloud of smoke every time you walk in. This search for stimulation isn't only applicable to people who take drugs, it also applies to the rest of us who have a reliance on heavy doses of media and capitalist ways of life, such as flash cars, fans of celebrities, Hollywood and Bollywood and even businessmen who think of nothing but making profits.
Warnings - About the harm drugs can do just don’t seem to scare youths, the common phrase used to avoid thinking what the ill-effects of drug use is to have attitudes like "Ahhhh- it won’t happen to me" or "We only live once - so lets just enjoy it to the max ". Anyone with a little sense would realise that having such views can and will harm the individuals own life.
There are many reasons why the young view life in this way, one of them is because the young are very resilient and full of vitality that they don’t believe their health will suffer. To appreciate how important your own health can be, just ask someone who is terminally ill or has just recovered from illness.
So what is causing the young of today to adopt a life of drug abuse?
The mass adoption of drug abuse, the acceptance of drug use for social interaction e.g. All night parties. Is an indication at the state of our society it shows how feeble we have all become. Otherwise why should a significant number of people prefer drugs to the reality of the present day.
Materialistic modern living styles and preoccupation with achievement often fails to meet an individuals spiritual and emotional requirements - parents eager to bring in that extra pound rather than spending that valuable hour with their child at home, schools and teachers more obsessed with attaining grades to improve the league status rather than helping develop an individual with his or her own identity.
However, a Drugs help worker explained quite simply that it is a matter of 'Choice'. Not everybody who has a hard life turns to drugs, but those that do, especially drug addicts, are thrill seekers who know quite well what they are getting into and the damage it can do to them and their families, but yet they can't be responsible enough to give a damn.
The upsetting instances when a young brother is approached to attend the masjid for salah and he tells you in a very respectful way that "I would, but I can't because am not 'Pak' ( Clean ) cos I’ve been smoking." Then what we do is meet them later after we've finished our prayer, without a care for the hereafter of this brother. What such an instance shows, is that if they had not intoxicated themselves then the likely hood is that they would be a regular Mussalee. And for every person seen to be attending the Masjid more may have followed the habit but the chances of that now grows thin. Our tolernace of drug use stems from our inability to persuade and help our fellow school mates, bredrens, college mates, cousins and neighbours that the daily pressures of work, education and family life can be overcome by one gift from Allah. Salah-The five daily prayers. It seems it is easier to risk punishment of the hereafter let alone breaking the law to buy drugs and use them regularly than
to remain Pak for even a week to attend the masjid where the performance of salah is easy and fulfilling.
The benefits of Salah are extraodinary as Muslims who follow this basic requirement will tell you that if you have to pray regularly your body has to be pure, so you can't smoke drugs or drink alcohol or be in a state of ghusal. Thus you're kept away from such bodily sins. Plus if you have to keep away from such sins, you naturallly will find yourself away from locations where such sins are committed.
Okay; what is the answer to avoiding the above pitfall?
Fortunate for us all, is that there is a way. However it is not an overnight remedy but requires patience and dedication. Once you manage to attain some degree of perfection you will then realise how easy it becomes to handle the pressures and stresses of modern living.
This solution is not new nor is our problem. Since the start of time we humans have been susceptible to leading ourselves down the wrong path and each time our creator and sustainner Al’mighty Allah has, through his kindness provided us with devine guidance the last of this was via our Prophet Mohammed Rasulullah Salallahu Aliahi Wassalam and it is ISLAM as we all know.
In the face of adversity do not resort to worldly help before seeking help from Allah for He is the one that can elleviate your problems and guide you on the right path.
Now that you have asked Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) to solve your dilemma, your saying to yourself:
" What’s happening; I asked for that flash car a week ago, but I don’t seem to see it, parked outside my house yet ".
Unfortunately your prayers arn’t answered in that manner. As with anything in life you need to put some effort into making sure that your approach to seeking help from Allah is perfected and conducted with some degree if not complete regularity, only then, will you start to see results. However; you should not be discouraged if your prayers aren’t answered as you would have liked, since Allah knows best.
Some verses from the Quran with regards to seeking help from Allah:
" ...Seek help from Allah and be patient, the earth belongs to Allah. Anyone He wishes from among His servants shall inherit it... " (7:128)
" Our Lord, fill us full of patience and make our feet firm. Help us against the disbelievers. " (2:250)
" And anyone who acts patiently and forgives, truly he is persevering in affairs. " (42:43)
http://www.theunseen.co.uk/Content.asp?ArticleID=17&ArticleTypeID=2&category=social&RootArticleID=17
LEO~KING~THE~GR8
Women's Rights
You cannot rob us of the rights we cherish,
Nor turn our thoughts away
>From the bright picture of a "Woman's Mission"
Our hearts portray.
We claim to dwell, in quiet and seclusion,
Beneath the household roof,--
>From the great world's harsh strife, and jarring voices,
To stand aloof;--
Not in a dreamy and inane abstraction
To sleep our life away,
But, gathering up the brightness of home sunshine,
To deck our way.
As humble plants by country hedgerows growing,
That treasure up the rain,
And yield in odours, ere the day's declining,
The gift again;
So let us, unobtrusive and unnoticed,
But happy none the less,
Be privileged to fill the air around us
With happiness;
To live, unknown beyond the cherished circle,
Which we can bless and aid;
To die, and not a heart that does not love us
Know where we're laid.
Annie Louisa Walker
Rights of Women, The
Yes, injured Woman! rise, assert thy right!
Woman! too long degraded, scorned, opprest;
O born to rule in partial Law's despite,
Resume thy native empire o'er the breast!
Go forth arrayed in panoply divine;
That angel pureness which admits no stain;
Go, bid proud Man his boasted rule resign,
And kiss the golden sceptre of thy reign.
Go, gird thyself with grace; collect thy store
Of bright artillery glancing from afar;
Soft melting tones thy thundering cannon's roar,
Blushes and fears thy magazine of war.
Thy rights are empire: urge no meaner claim,--
Felt, not defined, and if debated, lost;
Like sacred mysteries, which withheld from fame,
Shunning discussion, are revered the most.
Try all that wit and art suggest to bend
Of thy imperial foe the stubborn knee;
Make treacherous Man thy subject, not thy friend;
Thou mayst command, but never canst be free.
Awe the licentious, and restrain the rude;
Soften the sullen, clear the cloudy brow:
Be, more than princes' gifts, thy favours sued;--
She hazards all, who will the least allow.
But hope not, courted idol of mankind,
On this proud eminence secure to stay;
Subduing and subdued, thou soon shalt find
Thy coldness soften, and thy pride give way.
Then, then, abandon each ambitious thought,
Conquest or rule thy heart shall feebly move,
In Nature's school, by her soft maxims taught,
That separate rights are lost in mutual love.
Anna Lætitia Barbauld
You cannot rob us of the rights we cherish,
Nor turn our thoughts away
>From the bright picture of a "Woman's Mission"
Our hearts portray.
We claim to dwell, in quiet and seclusion,
Beneath the household roof,--
>From the great world's harsh strife, and jarring voices,
To stand aloof;--
Not in a dreamy and inane abstraction
To sleep our life away,
But, gathering up the brightness of home sunshine,
To deck our way.
As humble plants by country hedgerows growing,
That treasure up the rain,
And yield in odours, ere the day's declining,
The gift again;
So let us, unobtrusive and unnoticed,
But happy none the less,
Be privileged to fill the air around us
With happiness;
To live, unknown beyond the cherished circle,
Which we can bless and aid;
To die, and not a heart that does not love us
Know where we're laid.
Annie Louisa Walker
Rights of Women, The
Yes, injured Woman! rise, assert thy right!
Woman! too long degraded, scorned, opprest;
O born to rule in partial Law's despite,
Resume thy native empire o'er the breast!
Go forth arrayed in panoply divine;
That angel pureness which admits no stain;
Go, bid proud Man his boasted rule resign,
And kiss the golden sceptre of thy reign.
Go, gird thyself with grace; collect thy store
Of bright artillery glancing from afar;
Soft melting tones thy thundering cannon's roar,
Blushes and fears thy magazine of war.
Thy rights are empire: urge no meaner claim,--
Felt, not defined, and if debated, lost;
Like sacred mysteries, which withheld from fame,
Shunning discussion, are revered the most.
Try all that wit and art suggest to bend
Of thy imperial foe the stubborn knee;
Make treacherous Man thy subject, not thy friend;
Thou mayst command, but never canst be free.
Awe the licentious, and restrain the rude;
Soften the sullen, clear the cloudy brow:
Be, more than princes' gifts, thy favours sued;--
She hazards all, who will the least allow.
But hope not, courted idol of mankind,
On this proud eminence secure to stay;
Subduing and subdued, thou soon shalt find
Thy coldness soften, and thy pride give way.
Then, then, abandon each ambitious thought,
Conquest or rule thy heart shall feebly move,
In Nature's school, by her soft maxims taught,
That separate rights are lost in mutual love.
Anna Lætitia Barbauld
Punjabianz~The~GR8
Some English Poems From My Dear Friendz
www.punjabianz.cjb.net
Close Your Eyes
Life is a birthday cake with candles
You wait anxiously to blow them out
You close your eyes and make a wish
You dream you are in never-never land
You have everything you need there
You don't want to leave
But the dream has to end
You open your eyes and blow out the candles
Saying good bye to your
hopes and dreams
Friendship
Friendship is a treasure
Or we can say it is a pleasure
The love in it can't be measured
Friends are to share our sorrows and joys
And make us rejoice
They are always ready to give us support
And are even precious than diamond or gold
They are there when they are in pain
And make our courage revive again
The gift of God is in the form of Friends
So you are lucky if you have one of them!
The Beauty of a Woman
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seem within her eyes.
That is the doorway to her heart.
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial more.
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives.
The passion that she shows.
And the beauty of a woman within passing years, only grows!
Love
When I see you my heart jumps for joy ,
My palms are sweaty ,butterflies are in my stomach,
When I touch you I get goosebumps all over ,
my heart begins to beat faster and faster,
When I talk to you it feels as doe i'm on cloud nine
and I am as light as a feather ,
But when you ignore me I feel alone ,
I feel as doe I am in a room with millions of people and
I am a tiny bug,
When you tease me i feel offended,
I feel as doe someone just dropped a hammer on my toes,
But when you kiss me
I will know that through all the sadness,pain, and anger
it was worth it .
To My Own Dear Allah
Forgive me for those dones
and undones
Which i even fancied
In cold moments of night
When my emotions
Burn my heart
Senses tramples me
I doubt you
But you Great ignores
And turns my satanic thoughts
into gems of repentence
Tears trickle down
And out of each one
Bears out a star
Glaring in the Milky way
To lift me to heaven.
www.punjabianz.cjb.net
Close Your Eyes
Life is a birthday cake with candles
You wait anxiously to blow them out
You close your eyes and make a wish
You dream you are in never-never land
You have everything you need there
You don't want to leave
But the dream has to end
You open your eyes and blow out the candles
Saying good bye to your
hopes and dreams
Friendship
Friendship is a treasure
Or we can say it is a pleasure
The love in it can't be measured
Friends are to share our sorrows and joys
And make us rejoice
They are always ready to give us support
And are even precious than diamond or gold
They are there when they are in pain
And make our courage revive again
The gift of God is in the form of Friends
So you are lucky if you have one of them!
The Beauty of a Woman
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seem within her eyes.
That is the doorway to her heart.
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial more.
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives.
The passion that she shows.
And the beauty of a woman within passing years, only grows!
Love
When I see you my heart jumps for joy ,
My palms are sweaty ,butterflies are in my stomach,
When I touch you I get goosebumps all over ,
my heart begins to beat faster and faster,
When I talk to you it feels as doe i'm on cloud nine
and I am as light as a feather ,
But when you ignore me I feel alone ,
I feel as doe I am in a room with millions of people and
I am a tiny bug,
When you tease me i feel offended,
I feel as doe someone just dropped a hammer on my toes,
But when you kiss me
I will know that through all the sadness,pain, and anger
it was worth it .
To My Own Dear Allah
Forgive me for those dones
and undones
Which i even fancied
In cold moments of night
When my emotions
Burn my heart
Senses tramples me
I doubt you
But you Great ignores
And turns my satanic thoughts
into gems of repentence
Tears trickle down
And out of each one
Bears out a star
Glaring in the Milky way
To lift me to heaven.
Dumbfounded by Death
by Shezena T. Mohammed
Everyday while I drive to school and work on the infamous A1A where all of Florida's rich and famous live along the beach, I pass by a graveyard and look to it.
I'm dumbfounded by death. It's like I don't even know what it is. I think it's just like the level up, or the next phase. Maybe it's like waking up. It's like the waiting room to get to your ultimate destination; you've already traveled the path, and now you're just waiting to get in. Often I think that we should be happy when somebody dies. It's wonderful, their journey is over and now they're just waiting to get in. That's why we bury people so quickly, to either rush them to start getting their reward or rid the world of their evil. And we should just be ecstatic for people who are guaranteed Jannah like martyrs, children and people with Down's syndrome. But us, we're still here on our journey to be judged. I don't know, I don't have clear answers, I just think about it.
A few days ago and for the third time, an unborn sibling of mine has died. I think it was a boy. I'm pretty sure it was. It's a very common thing for women to miscarry. Most of the time the woman doesn't even realize she was pregnant, but that's only if the miscarriage occurs in the very early stages. I think when it's later on and the woman has known for a while it must be much harder for her. I know it is for us.
Sometimes I can't help but think, oh how wonderful for him (the unborn child). He's never been touched by Shaytaan, never tempted to do evil; he is untouched, unspoiled, just perfect. He's never going to cry for his sins, he'll never cause anyone to cry for his wrongdoings. He is purely pure. The only pain he has caused on this earth is just because of his absence. And if you subscribe to the theory in psychology that all through life people are just trying to get to that prebirth state in the womb where it was warm and we were perfectly cared for and loved - by finding a nurturing, 'warm' relationship to simulate those conditions - then his short visit here was the best of anything we have.
My six year old brother asked, "Why did Allah take the baby?" and the room filled with silence and sadness. I said, "Maybe Allah thought the baby was just so good that he didn't even have to go through life and could just enter Jannah right away." After I said that I thought that sounded like something a child might say, but either way, how wonderful for him.
A witch came to talk in one of my class the other day. A real witch, not just a questionable Catholic woman, came to talk to us about her beliefs. One of the things that she said that stuck with me is that everything is cyclical. Although I'm still wondering if she made that word up, I think it definitely makes sense. She said the seasons, the moon phases, the tide, animal's migration, life, death, the weather, sunrise, the dew on the leaves, our blood, populations, happiness, grief, the waves of the ocean, our lives, everything, it's all cyclical. Even the chaos theory, a very interesting theory, says after great chaos there comes great calmness, but it can also go the other way too. It's the calm before and after the storm.
I used to live in Texas when I was a child. Texas is notorious for violent and sudden weather changes. I remember very often playing outside and other kids around the neighborhood playing and yelling when all of a sudden all the kids stopped and it was quiet. Everything was completely quiet and still. No birds chirped, not a dog barked and everything was silent. We felt the strange calmness and we all knew what was about to happen. We would all run inside and just as we would make it inside a huge thunderbolt would crack across the sky and within just a few minutes the streets would be flooded and overflowing onto the sidewalks with rain. It was the uncanny calm that warned of the chaos ahead.
It's something that can be observed everywhere. I don't think there is any aspect of life or the world to which this phenomenone does not apply.
I was watching the ocean on the A1A the other day. The waves come in cycles: only when the water recedes a lot will a big swell come, and if you're in the water that's when you know to stand up or you'll be choking on salt water, and after a big swell comes the water will recede a lot. Then of course you need to sit down or you'll feel like you're going to fall. It's all cyclical.
While contemplating all of this, it makes me wonder, are we always supposed to go through these cycles? Times of happiness, then times of grief? Is it like the never-ending waves of the ocean, or the everlasting cycles of the moon? It won't last forever but it'll definitely be there long after we're gone. Not forever, just your whole life. Will it?
Really, I think, you only go through times of grief because you lost those times of happiness. I think that's the only time grief occurs, even if it was just the thought of what was going to make you happy, and even if you didn't realize the times before the grief were of happiness, comparatively at least.
Adam (alayhe salaam) cried for 70 years for his loss of Paradise. Later on he cried for 60 more years after his son Abel died.
Great kingdoms are built, then they fall. You were once known as Superman, then you become paralyzed. For all the order you try to make, you only end up with more disorder. You find the love of your life, then he's taken away. It'll never end. It all amounts to nothing in the end.
I know a woman who was so in love. She speaks so fondly of him and it was just love all around. They got married, fell in love, and then he died. Great happiness, then great sorrow. The sorrow only came because there was happiness. Every time I think about it, I think being happy must be a risk. It must be, because if you lose it, you will suffer the pains of your loss. I find myself becoming extremely irritated with all these cycles. It just never ends. Fine, maybe not never, but just my whole life.
In a philosophy class I took a couple of years ago when I first started college, the teacher wrote on the board in a column the numbers 0 to 10. He said, "This is your life!" He asked us if we could chose what number we would set out lives at, ten being the greatest happiness we could experience, and zero being no happiness, but also, choosing ten would mean the greatest amount of pain a person could bear and zero would also mean absolutely no pain, what would you choose? He yelled, "Shezena! What would you choose?" As soon as he asked the question I knew what my answer would be and it's never changed since. "Ten!" I answered.
I would gladly give it all to get it all. I would climb a mountain even if I knew I would have to come back down. Whatever the risk for happiness or greatness you might take, it'll be worth it. It may all amount to nothing in the end, but it's not the loss we should be concerned about when it comes to our happiness. It's a risk worth taking and I would take it every time. I think having the thought of this baby in our minds, the love it filled our hearts with while everything was still okay was worth having to go through the pain of his leaving. And how can it get any better than to know that he is not just lost, inshallah in the most perfect of settings we will meet.
Before I used to think that people who still had hope in the most trying of conditions were just fantasizing, being unrealistic. I think I was probably being unrealistic. When Hagar asked Abraham if Allah told him to leave her and Ismail in the barren desert and he replied in the affirmative she said, "If this is from Allah, then we will be okay."
In the most dire of conditions it must be okay if it is from Allah. You should have the most hope then, because if all goes like how it's been since the big bang, you've got the best to look forward to.
Although my family might be at a low right now, I don't think we should be too sad. It's been shown time and time again, after a low comes a high. As I drive I see every single time after those deep recedes there's a huge wave. I can wait for the next wave to come and be thankful I know this one will be gone soon. If this is from Allah, then we will be okay.
http://www.zawaj.com/teen/2004/6-15-2004.html
Everyday while I drive to school and work on the infamous A1A where all of Florida's rich and famous live along the beach, I pass by a graveyard and look to it.
I'm dumbfounded by death. It's like I don't even know what it is. I think it's just like the level up, or the next phase. Maybe it's like waking up. It's like the waiting room to get to your ultimate destination; you've already traveled the path, and now you're just waiting to get in. Often I think that we should be happy when somebody dies. It's wonderful, their journey is over and now they're just waiting to get in. That's why we bury people so quickly, to either rush them to start getting their reward or rid the world of their evil. And we should just be ecstatic for people who are guaranteed Jannah like martyrs, children and people with Down's syndrome. But us, we're still here on our journey to be judged. I don't know, I don't have clear answers, I just think about it.
A few days ago and for the third time, an unborn sibling of mine has died. I think it was a boy. I'm pretty sure it was. It's a very common thing for women to miscarry. Most of the time the woman doesn't even realize she was pregnant, but that's only if the miscarriage occurs in the very early stages. I think when it's later on and the woman has known for a while it must be much harder for her. I know it is for us.
Sometimes I can't help but think, oh how wonderful for him (the unborn child). He's never been touched by Shaytaan, never tempted to do evil; he is untouched, unspoiled, just perfect. He's never going to cry for his sins, he'll never cause anyone to cry for his wrongdoings. He is purely pure. The only pain he has caused on this earth is just because of his absence. And if you subscribe to the theory in psychology that all through life people are just trying to get to that prebirth state in the womb where it was warm and we were perfectly cared for and loved - by finding a nurturing, 'warm' relationship to simulate those conditions - then his short visit here was the best of anything we have.
My six year old brother asked, "Why did Allah take the baby?" and the room filled with silence and sadness. I said, "Maybe Allah thought the baby was just so good that he didn't even have to go through life and could just enter Jannah right away." After I said that I thought that sounded like something a child might say, but either way, how wonderful for him.
A witch came to talk in one of my class the other day. A real witch, not just a questionable Catholic woman, came to talk to us about her beliefs. One of the things that she said that stuck with me is that everything is cyclical. Although I'm still wondering if she made that word up, I think it definitely makes sense. She said the seasons, the moon phases, the tide, animal's migration, life, death, the weather, sunrise, the dew on the leaves, our blood, populations, happiness, grief, the waves of the ocean, our lives, everything, it's all cyclical. Even the chaos theory, a very interesting theory, says after great chaos there comes great calmness, but it can also go the other way too. It's the calm before and after the storm.
I used to live in Texas when I was a child. Texas is notorious for violent and sudden weather changes. I remember very often playing outside and other kids around the neighborhood playing and yelling when all of a sudden all the kids stopped and it was quiet. Everything was completely quiet and still. No birds chirped, not a dog barked and everything was silent. We felt the strange calmness and we all knew what was about to happen. We would all run inside and just as we would make it inside a huge thunderbolt would crack across the sky and within just a few minutes the streets would be flooded and overflowing onto the sidewalks with rain. It was the uncanny calm that warned of the chaos ahead.
It's something that can be observed everywhere. I don't think there is any aspect of life or the world to which this phenomenone does not apply.
I was watching the ocean on the A1A the other day. The waves come in cycles: only when the water recedes a lot will a big swell come, and if you're in the water that's when you know to stand up or you'll be choking on salt water, and after a big swell comes the water will recede a lot. Then of course you need to sit down or you'll feel like you're going to fall. It's all cyclical.
While contemplating all of this, it makes me wonder, are we always supposed to go through these cycles? Times of happiness, then times of grief? Is it like the never-ending waves of the ocean, or the everlasting cycles of the moon? It won't last forever but it'll definitely be there long after we're gone. Not forever, just your whole life. Will it?
Really, I think, you only go through times of grief because you lost those times of happiness. I think that's the only time grief occurs, even if it was just the thought of what was going to make you happy, and even if you didn't realize the times before the grief were of happiness, comparatively at least.
Adam (alayhe salaam) cried for 70 years for his loss of Paradise. Later on he cried for 60 more years after his son Abel died.
Great kingdoms are built, then they fall. You were once known as Superman, then you become paralyzed. For all the order you try to make, you only end up with more disorder. You find the love of your life, then he's taken away. It'll never end. It all amounts to nothing in the end.
I know a woman who was so in love. She speaks so fondly of him and it was just love all around. They got married, fell in love, and then he died. Great happiness, then great sorrow. The sorrow only came because there was happiness. Every time I think about it, I think being happy must be a risk. It must be, because if you lose it, you will suffer the pains of your loss. I find myself becoming extremely irritated with all these cycles. It just never ends. Fine, maybe not never, but just my whole life.
In a philosophy class I took a couple of years ago when I first started college, the teacher wrote on the board in a column the numbers 0 to 10. He said, "This is your life!" He asked us if we could chose what number we would set out lives at, ten being the greatest happiness we could experience, and zero being no happiness, but also, choosing ten would mean the greatest amount of pain a person could bear and zero would also mean absolutely no pain, what would you choose? He yelled, "Shezena! What would you choose?" As soon as he asked the question I knew what my answer would be and it's never changed since. "Ten!" I answered.
I would gladly give it all to get it all. I would climb a mountain even if I knew I would have to come back down. Whatever the risk for happiness or greatness you might take, it'll be worth it. It may all amount to nothing in the end, but it's not the loss we should be concerned about when it comes to our happiness. It's a risk worth taking and I would take it every time. I think having the thought of this baby in our minds, the love it filled our hearts with while everything was still okay was worth having to go through the pain of his leaving. And how can it get any better than to know that he is not just lost, inshallah in the most perfect of settings we will meet.
Before I used to think that people who still had hope in the most trying of conditions were just fantasizing, being unrealistic. I think I was probably being unrealistic. When Hagar asked Abraham if Allah told him to leave her and Ismail in the barren desert and he replied in the affirmative she said, "If this is from Allah, then we will be okay."
In the most dire of conditions it must be okay if it is from Allah. You should have the most hope then, because if all goes like how it's been since the big bang, you've got the best to look forward to.
Although my family might be at a low right now, I don't think we should be too sad. It's been shown time and time again, after a low comes a high. As I drive I see every single time after those deep recedes there's a huge wave. I can wait for the next wave to come and be thankful I know this one will be gone soon. If this is from Allah, then we will be okay.
http://www.zawaj.com/teen/2004/6-15-2004.html
How to get into heaven
"If I sold my house and my car, had a big sale,
and gave all my money to the poor, would that get me into
heaven?" I asked the children in my class.
"NO!" the children all answered.
"If I cleaned the mosques every day, mowed the yard,
and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into heaven?"
Again the answer was, "NO!"
"Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the
children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?"
I asked them again.
Once more they all answered, "NO!"
"Well," I continued, thinking they were a good bit more theologically
sophisticated than I had given them credit for,
"then how can I get into heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!"
and gave all my money to the poor, would that get me into
heaven?" I asked the children in my class.
"NO!" the children all answered.
"If I cleaned the mosques every day, mowed the yard,
and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into heaven?"
Again the answer was, "NO!"
"Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the
children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?"
I asked them again.
Once more they all answered, "NO!"
"Well," I continued, thinking they were a good bit more theologically
sophisticated than I had given them credit for,
"then how can I get into heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!"
Emphasis on seeking forgiveness
Edited by Adil Salahi
We wonder at times whether our prayers will ever be answered. We may face a problem, endure an illness, contend with difficulty or suffer an injustice. We take whatever measures available to us to overcome the problem, correct the injustice or get proper medical treatment. But that may not be sufficient. We realize that we need help which often cannot be given by any human being. That help could only come from God. Hence, we turn to Him with our supplication, hoping that our wishes are soon fulfilled. At times, we experience the fulfillment of our prayers coming straight away. Often we feel it slow-coming. This makes us wonder whether God has accepted our prayer and will grant us what we have requested of Him. Hence the question is asked: What is the factor which guarantees that prayers are answered?
There is a simple formula. A person who puts a request to God should first of all be sincere in his attitude. He should purify himself physically and mentally which means that he should repent of his sins. It is unthinkable that a person indulges in sin and at the same time requests God to grant his wishes, some of which are purely materialistic. He simply does not show any regrets that he has exceeded the limits set by God. How does such a person expect that God will answer his prayers, when he does not expect the same treatment by his fellow human beings? If he has offended someone, he knows that he cannot ask that person a favor. Yet he expects favors from God when he persists in offending Him! The first prerequisite for answering our supplication by God is repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness. This repentance should be sincere, not a mere verbal statement which we repeat like parrots without putting any thought into it.
The second requirement is that one should not be hasty. We should not precipitate God’s actions. He answers our prayers in His own good time, but always in the way and at the time which is best for us. Indeed, we must not entertain any thought that our prayers may not be answered. Abu Hurairah quotes God’s messenger as saying: “The supplication of any one of you is answered as long as he is not hasty, saying: I have prayed God and my prayers were not answered.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others).
In this Hadith, the Prophet advises us against giving up or thinking that our prayers may remain unanswered. A person may get disenchanted and stop praying God. If he does this, his attitude is interpreted as one who considers his supplication as a favor or he may imply that he has done enough supplication to warrant being answered. This suggests, by inference, that he considers God’s favors unforthcoming, while he should realize that God can answer all supplication and can easily grant every single one of His servants all that he or she asks for.
We have often said that a believer’s supplication is always answered. This view is endorsed by the Qur’an, where we read God’s own statement: “Your Lord says: Pray Me and I will answer you.” This is a general statement which does not make any conditions for answering prayers except addressing them to God, the Lord of the universe. Therefore, when a believer prays God, he should be certain that his prayer will be answered, although he may not readily see the effects of his prayers. This is due to the fact that God, in His infinite wisdom, may consider that delaying his request is better for the supplicant, or he may wish to compensate him by something better for him, either immediately or at a later date. Hence, a believer does not hesitate to pray his Lord all the time, because his supplication is part of his worship.
There are, however, certain reasons which may make a particular prayer or supplication unanswerable. In an authentic Hadith, Abu Hurairah quotes the Prophet as saying: “The supplication of any servant of God continues to be answered unless he prays for something sinful, or for the severance of a tie of kinship, and unless he is hasty.” The question was asked: what constitutes hastiness? The Prophet answered: “He says: I have prayed often but I have not seen my prayers answered. He then feels aggrieved and stops his supplication.” (Related by Muslim and At-Tirmithi). This Hadith supports what we have already said. It adds, however, the fact that God does not answer any prayer for something sinful or one which leads to the worsening of ties of kinship.
The question arises: Is supplication obligatory? If so, what is the position of a person who does not do it? We have repeatedly quoted the Hadith which states that “supplication is the core of worship.” As such, it is highly important. There is no set quantity or time or manner for supplication which has to be observed. Each time, a person addresses God with his requests, God rewards him for his supplication. If he does not make any request of God and does not address any prayer to him, then he betrays an attitude of arrogance. He suggests that he is in no need of God’s help. Hence, his attitude is an affront to God. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Hurairah as saying: “He who does not pray God incurs His anger.” In another version, the Prophet is quoted as saying: “He who does not pray Him incurs His anger.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad). It is therefore right to conclude that supplication is one of the most important duties a believer owes to God. To avoid what
incurs God’s anger is certainly obligatory. A person who often prays God does well because he makes his requests of the One who is able and willing to answer.
An important area for supplication is to pray God to repel harm from us. The Prophet has taught us a short supplication and recommended us to say it three times each morning and three times each evening in order to be spared all harm. Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate the Hadith in which Uthman ibn Affan states that he heard the Prophet saying: “He who says three times every morning and three times every evening: ‘(I appeal) by the name of God, whose name prevents all harm by anything in the Earth or in the heavens, He is the all-hearing, all-knowing’, will not be harmed by anything.” (Related by Al Bukhari, Muslim and others). The Arabic text of this supplication is as follows: “Bismillahi allathi la yadurru ma’ ismihi shay’un fi al ardhi wala fi assama’, wa huwa asamee’ al-aleem.” It is sufficient to say that this Hadith tells us of a form of supplication which ensures that nothing can inflict any harm on us when we say it three times early in the morning, after dawn has broken and
three times after sunset. I have heard many people confirming that they have acted on the Prophet’s advice repeating this prayer as he has instructed and found that it works as the Prophet has said. I can add further confirmation from my own experience.
However, the chain of transmitters of this Hadith includes Aban ibn Uthman who reported it once after he had suffered partial paralysis. His interlocutor looked at him in his condition. Aban realized that he wanted to ask him about his illness. He said to him: “The Hadith by the Prophet is as I have told you. It so happened that on the day this occurred to me, I had not said it. Thus, God’s will was done.” The version related by Abu Dawood, quotes Aban’s explanation as follows: “But on the day on which I suffered this, I had been angry and I forgot to say the supplication.” It tells a great deal of Aban’s firm faith in the truth of everything the Prophet has said to continue to teach this Hadith despite his paralysis and to explain it the way he has explained.
026.083 "O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me,and join me with
the righteous;
026.085 And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of
Delight," (THE HOLY QUR'AN) ameen
We wonder at times whether our prayers will ever be answered. We may face a problem, endure an illness, contend with difficulty or suffer an injustice. We take whatever measures available to us to overcome the problem, correct the injustice or get proper medical treatment. But that may not be sufficient. We realize that we need help which often cannot be given by any human being. That help could only come from God. Hence, we turn to Him with our supplication, hoping that our wishes are soon fulfilled. At times, we experience the fulfillment of our prayers coming straight away. Often we feel it slow-coming. This makes us wonder whether God has accepted our prayer and will grant us what we have requested of Him. Hence the question is asked: What is the factor which guarantees that prayers are answered?
There is a simple formula. A person who puts a request to God should first of all be sincere in his attitude. He should purify himself physically and mentally which means that he should repent of his sins. It is unthinkable that a person indulges in sin and at the same time requests God to grant his wishes, some of which are purely materialistic. He simply does not show any regrets that he has exceeded the limits set by God. How does such a person expect that God will answer his prayers, when he does not expect the same treatment by his fellow human beings? If he has offended someone, he knows that he cannot ask that person a favor. Yet he expects favors from God when he persists in offending Him! The first prerequisite for answering our supplication by God is repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness. This repentance should be sincere, not a mere verbal statement which we repeat like parrots without putting any thought into it.
The second requirement is that one should not be hasty. We should not precipitate God’s actions. He answers our prayers in His own good time, but always in the way and at the time which is best for us. Indeed, we must not entertain any thought that our prayers may not be answered. Abu Hurairah quotes God’s messenger as saying: “The supplication of any one of you is answered as long as he is not hasty, saying: I have prayed God and my prayers were not answered.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others).
In this Hadith, the Prophet advises us against giving up or thinking that our prayers may remain unanswered. A person may get disenchanted and stop praying God. If he does this, his attitude is interpreted as one who considers his supplication as a favor or he may imply that he has done enough supplication to warrant being answered. This suggests, by inference, that he considers God’s favors unforthcoming, while he should realize that God can answer all supplication and can easily grant every single one of His servants all that he or she asks for.
We have often said that a believer’s supplication is always answered. This view is endorsed by the Qur’an, where we read God’s own statement: “Your Lord says: Pray Me and I will answer you.” This is a general statement which does not make any conditions for answering prayers except addressing them to God, the Lord of the universe. Therefore, when a believer prays God, he should be certain that his prayer will be answered, although he may not readily see the effects of his prayers. This is due to the fact that God, in His infinite wisdom, may consider that delaying his request is better for the supplicant, or he may wish to compensate him by something better for him, either immediately or at a later date. Hence, a believer does not hesitate to pray his Lord all the time, because his supplication is part of his worship.
There are, however, certain reasons which may make a particular prayer or supplication unanswerable. In an authentic Hadith, Abu Hurairah quotes the Prophet as saying: “The supplication of any servant of God continues to be answered unless he prays for something sinful, or for the severance of a tie of kinship, and unless he is hasty.” The question was asked: what constitutes hastiness? The Prophet answered: “He says: I have prayed often but I have not seen my prayers answered. He then feels aggrieved and stops his supplication.” (Related by Muslim and At-Tirmithi). This Hadith supports what we have already said. It adds, however, the fact that God does not answer any prayer for something sinful or one which leads to the worsening of ties of kinship.
The question arises: Is supplication obligatory? If so, what is the position of a person who does not do it? We have repeatedly quoted the Hadith which states that “supplication is the core of worship.” As such, it is highly important. There is no set quantity or time or manner for supplication which has to be observed. Each time, a person addresses God with his requests, God rewards him for his supplication. If he does not make any request of God and does not address any prayer to him, then he betrays an attitude of arrogance. He suggests that he is in no need of God’s help. Hence, his attitude is an affront to God. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Hurairah as saying: “He who does not pray God incurs His anger.” In another version, the Prophet is quoted as saying: “He who does not pray Him incurs His anger.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad). It is therefore right to conclude that supplication is one of the most important duties a believer owes to God. To avoid what
incurs God’s anger is certainly obligatory. A person who often prays God does well because he makes his requests of the One who is able and willing to answer.
An important area for supplication is to pray God to repel harm from us. The Prophet has taught us a short supplication and recommended us to say it three times each morning and three times each evening in order to be spared all harm. Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate the Hadith in which Uthman ibn Affan states that he heard the Prophet saying: “He who says three times every morning and three times every evening: ‘(I appeal) by the name of God, whose name prevents all harm by anything in the Earth or in the heavens, He is the all-hearing, all-knowing’, will not be harmed by anything.” (Related by Al Bukhari, Muslim and others). The Arabic text of this supplication is as follows: “Bismillahi allathi la yadurru ma’ ismihi shay’un fi al ardhi wala fi assama’, wa huwa asamee’ al-aleem.” It is sufficient to say that this Hadith tells us of a form of supplication which ensures that nothing can inflict any harm on us when we say it three times early in the morning, after dawn has broken and
three times after sunset. I have heard many people confirming that they have acted on the Prophet’s advice repeating this prayer as he has instructed and found that it works as the Prophet has said. I can add further confirmation from my own experience.
However, the chain of transmitters of this Hadith includes Aban ibn Uthman who reported it once after he had suffered partial paralysis. His interlocutor looked at him in his condition. Aban realized that he wanted to ask him about his illness. He said to him: “The Hadith by the Prophet is as I have told you. It so happened that on the day this occurred to me, I had not said it. Thus, God’s will was done.” The version related by Abu Dawood, quotes Aban’s explanation as follows: “But on the day on which I suffered this, I had been angry and I forgot to say the supplication.” It tells a great deal of Aban’s firm faith in the truth of everything the Prophet has said to continue to teach this Hadith despite his paralysis and to explain it the way he has explained.
026.083 "O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me,and join me with
the righteous;
026.085 And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of
Delight," (THE HOLY QUR'AN) ameen
PERFECT PLANER
I carefully laid my every plan ;
The future seemed so bright
My hopes and dreams they towared high .
I saw no trace of night .
And then at closing of the day
I knelt in usual prayer
And prayed : “Dear lord , bless every plan…
All that I hope and dare .”
BUT day by day my plans all faied ,
My hopes came tumbling down ,
All my ambitions disappeared
And failure was my crown .
Perplexed –I could not understand
Had I not knelt and prayed ?
Why then was every plans and hope
Disappered and why laid ?
Then in the stillness of the night ,
Out from the shadows din ,
I heared a sweet persuading voice
That called me close to him ,
“Why don’t you let me make your plan ?
I know just what you need .
Just leave the future in my hands
And let me take the lead .”
I put my future in his hands ,
And felt him drow so near ,
That I could’nt doubt he’d work things out
Throughout the coming year !
This poem for those who plan their future BUT every thing will be as ALLAH wills because He know the best for us ,so why don’t we let Him to make our future bright.
The future seemed so bright
My hopes and dreams they towared high .
I saw no trace of night .
And then at closing of the day
I knelt in usual prayer
And prayed : “Dear lord , bless every plan…
All that I hope and dare .”
BUT day by day my plans all faied ,
My hopes came tumbling down ,
All my ambitions disappeared
And failure was my crown .
Perplexed –I could not understand
Had I not knelt and prayed ?
Why then was every plans and hope
Disappered and why laid ?
Then in the stillness of the night ,
Out from the shadows din ,
I heared a sweet persuading voice
That called me close to him ,
“Why don’t you let me make your plan ?
I know just what you need .
Just leave the future in my hands
And let me take the lead .”
I put my future in his hands ,
And felt him drow so near ,
That I could’nt doubt he’d work things out
Throughout the coming year !
This poem for those who plan their future BUT every thing will be as ALLAH wills because He know the best for us ,so why don’t we let Him to make our future bright.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Am a Muslim Lady & Proud to be one
I have written this poem few years ago and I penned it for a MAN who thought that a WOMAN was the weakest creature of this earth. Perhaps you will find this poem a bit egoistical or I showed a pride. Mind you, this poem is not at all a self-praising, it's just a fact. Am just sharing it.
Am a Muslim Lady & proud to be one
(Musulmane et fière de l'être)
I am proud to be a Muslim Lady. You'll never understand why.
Whenever I go out in public, I walk with grace and nobility.
When I speak, it's always the truth coming out from my heart
Even if you laugh or mock at me, I don't care a pin.
It's your problem if you fail to recognise my dignity.
You must be stunned since everything I do, I do it freely without any fear
I'm not gnawed with depression or not even feel deprived by people's attitude Alhamdolillah.
I'm neither weak nor disgraced when you hurt me.
But am silent when I see you wasting your time in creating stories about me.
I am not consumed with envy or jealousy for anyone. Guess I'm surely hilarious and cheerful.
I smile both with all the rich and poor ladies I cross around.
Please note that I speak good English. And I know très bien le Francais aussi .
I'm majoring in desktop publishing & linguistics. Be free to come ahead and speak your mind out.
I am not chained and I go shopping as long as I wish.
Because every cent I earn or receive from my husband is mine.
I swim in the sea & pool, I stroll on the beach. You must be stunned when I enjoy myself in sea games.
Remember you once told me, 'hey are you gonna do parasailing'?
I laughingly told you that it was not a crime.
You opened your eyes wide with surprise when I was high on the sky with a Hindu friend.
You always think that if am covered, I must be a fanatic or extremist Muslim Lady.
Ya, you saw me with this friend who in one hand was wearing jeans and in other hand I was with a burqa!!
She and I were in spree, happy.
Before you often gazed with a disgust as I walked by. But now you understand my veil finally.
You finally burst out that yes, I got peace and power in everything I do.
Nowadays you bow your head whenever you see me.
You found out that I am equal to any male even if the latter is a body-builder!
You can see my frail nature and my softly talk, but dear mister don't try to excuse yourself by pity me.
For God has guided me to the Truth.
And now I'm finally free from worldly fun, and with my Allah I feel damn HAPPY!
Hanisha
Am a Muslim Lady & proud to be one
(Musulmane et fière de l'être)
I am proud to be a Muslim Lady. You'll never understand why.
Whenever I go out in public, I walk with grace and nobility.
When I speak, it's always the truth coming out from my heart
Even if you laugh or mock at me, I don't care a pin.
It's your problem if you fail to recognise my dignity.
You must be stunned since everything I do, I do it freely without any fear
I'm not gnawed with depression or not even feel deprived by people's attitude Alhamdolillah.
I'm neither weak nor disgraced when you hurt me.
But am silent when I see you wasting your time in creating stories about me.
I am not consumed with envy or jealousy for anyone. Guess I'm surely hilarious and cheerful.
I smile both with all the rich and poor ladies I cross around.
Please note that I speak good English. And I know très bien le Francais aussi .
I'm majoring in desktop publishing & linguistics. Be free to come ahead and speak your mind out.
I am not chained and I go shopping as long as I wish.
Because every cent I earn or receive from my husband is mine.
I swim in the sea & pool, I stroll on the beach. You must be stunned when I enjoy myself in sea games.
Remember you once told me, 'hey are you gonna do parasailing'?
I laughingly told you that it was not a crime.
You opened your eyes wide with surprise when I was high on the sky with a Hindu friend.
You always think that if am covered, I must be a fanatic or extremist Muslim Lady.
Ya, you saw me with this friend who in one hand was wearing jeans and in other hand I was with a burqa!!
She and I were in spree, happy.
Before you often gazed with a disgust as I walked by. But now you understand my veil finally.
You finally burst out that yes, I got peace and power in everything I do.
Nowadays you bow your head whenever you see me.
You found out that I am equal to any male even if the latter is a body-builder!
You can see my frail nature and my softly talk, but dear mister don't try to excuse yourself by pity me.
For God has guided me to the Truth.
And now I'm finally free from worldly fun, and with my Allah I feel damn HAPPY!
Hanisha
11 simple ways to serve your Deen.
1 – You can serve Islam by having a correct resolve and sincere intention, for Allaah blesses an action that is done sincerely for His sake alone, even if it is little. Sincere devotion, if it becomes a constant feature of acts of worship and obedience, even if they are small or simple in the sight of the one who does them, makes them great in the sight of Allaah, so Allaah will forgive him for major sins because of that, as it says in the hadeeth about the piece of paper on which is written La ilaaha ill-Allaah.
2 – You can serve Islam by knowing the right way and following it. The Straight Path means following the way of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with regard to the principles, ways and means of da’wah and being patient in adhering to that, whilst treating people with kindness and compassion, because they are suffering from the disease of sin.
3 – You can serve Islam by making the most of all available means and circumstances. This is a great blessing, for all means are permissible except those which have been forbidden by Allaah. So we call people to Allaah by all means prescribed in sharee’ah, whilst paying attention to the evidence of sharee’ah and correct etiquette.
4 – You can serve Islam by giving precedence to that which is in the interests of Islam over your own whims and desires. Serving this religion means giving what is most precious of your money, effort, time, thought, etc. Have you not seen those who love sport (football or soccer) for example, how they devote their efforts, time and money to their beloved sport? But more is expected of you than that.
5 – You can serve Islam by following in the footsteps of the scholars, daa’iyahs and reformers, having patience as your companion and putting up with tiredness and exhaustion. For you are doing a great act of worship which is the mission of the Prophets and Messengers and those who follow in their footsteps.
6 – You can serve Islam by shunning laziness, weakness and apathy, for this religion is the religion of resolve, ambition and courage, and its call is only harmed by laziness or reckless ignorance.
7 – You can serve Islam by connecting your heart to Allaah and reciting a lot of du’aa’ and prayers for forgiveness, and persisting in reading Qur’aan. There is nothing that is more effective in cleansing the heart and refreshing the soul, and making it active and energetic so that it will not get tired or bored, than remembering Allaah much and drawing nearer to Him by means of obeying Him and doing naafil (supererogatory) acts of worship.
8 – You can serve Islam by forming bonds with scholars who practice what they preach, those who are known to be sincere and who are well established in jihad and supporting this religion. Marching under their banner and following their lead is very good and beneficial.
9 – You can serve Islam by organizing your time on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. There are actions which should be done every day, others which should be done every week, and others which should be done every month or every year.
For example, you should make da’wah to those whom you see every day and to those whom you see once a week. You may have a family gathering once a month, and there may be annual conferences, or journeys for Hajj or ‘Umrah once a year, and so on.
10 – You can serve Islam by paying it some attention and giving it some of your time, thoughts and money, and making it your main concern. So when you stand up, it is for Islam; when you walk, it is for Islam; when you think, it is for Islam; when you give, it is for Islam; when you sit, it is for Islam.
11 – you can serve Islam by hastening to contribute every time you find an opportunity to do good. Do not hesitate or delay or put it off.
>From Kayfa akhdim al-Islam by ‘Abd al-Malik al-Qaasim,
p. 18. (www.islam-qa.com)
2 – You can serve Islam by knowing the right way and following it. The Straight Path means following the way of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with regard to the principles, ways and means of da’wah and being patient in adhering to that, whilst treating people with kindness and compassion, because they are suffering from the disease of sin.
3 – You can serve Islam by making the most of all available means and circumstances. This is a great blessing, for all means are permissible except those which have been forbidden by Allaah. So we call people to Allaah by all means prescribed in sharee’ah, whilst paying attention to the evidence of sharee’ah and correct etiquette.
4 – You can serve Islam by giving precedence to that which is in the interests of Islam over your own whims and desires. Serving this religion means giving what is most precious of your money, effort, time, thought, etc. Have you not seen those who love sport (football or soccer) for example, how they devote their efforts, time and money to their beloved sport? But more is expected of you than that.
5 – You can serve Islam by following in the footsteps of the scholars, daa’iyahs and reformers, having patience as your companion and putting up with tiredness and exhaustion. For you are doing a great act of worship which is the mission of the Prophets and Messengers and those who follow in their footsteps.
6 – You can serve Islam by shunning laziness, weakness and apathy, for this religion is the religion of resolve, ambition and courage, and its call is only harmed by laziness or reckless ignorance.
7 – You can serve Islam by connecting your heart to Allaah and reciting a lot of du’aa’ and prayers for forgiveness, and persisting in reading Qur’aan. There is nothing that is more effective in cleansing the heart and refreshing the soul, and making it active and energetic so that it will not get tired or bored, than remembering Allaah much and drawing nearer to Him by means of obeying Him and doing naafil (supererogatory) acts of worship.
8 – You can serve Islam by forming bonds with scholars who practice what they preach, those who are known to be sincere and who are well established in jihad and supporting this religion. Marching under their banner and following their lead is very good and beneficial.
9 – You can serve Islam by organizing your time on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. There are actions which should be done every day, others which should be done every week, and others which should be done every month or every year.
For example, you should make da’wah to those whom you see every day and to those whom you see once a week. You may have a family gathering once a month, and there may be annual conferences, or journeys for Hajj or ‘Umrah once a year, and so on.
10 – You can serve Islam by paying it some attention and giving it some of your time, thoughts and money, and making it your main concern. So when you stand up, it is for Islam; when you walk, it is for Islam; when you think, it is for Islam; when you give, it is for Islam; when you sit, it is for Islam.
11 – you can serve Islam by hastening to contribute every time you find an opportunity to do good. Do not hesitate or delay or put it off.
>From Kayfa akhdim al-Islam by ‘Abd al-Malik al-Qaasim,
p. 18. (www.islam-qa.com)
THE GREAT MOTHERS
Ma'il Khairabadi - Mother of Hadrat Sulaiman (Upon him be peace and blessing)
GOOD ADVICE TO SON
The beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.) said that the mother of prophet Sulaiman (upon him be peace) had tendered the following good advice to her son:
My dear son! Spend not your whole night in sleep, because, passing the major part of night sleep deprives a man of many good and virtuous deeds on the day of resurrection. (Tradition). Hadrat Sulaiman (upon him be peace and blessings) firmly bore in mind this piece of advice from his mother, and never thereafter he slept for full night. He used to spend a part of night in prayers and adoration unto Allah.
When he came of age Allah conferred Apostleship on Hadrat Sulaiman (P.B.U.H.), and He bestowed on him great kingdom too. Allah made the Jinn's subservient to him and made the violent winds to blow tamely for him. Allah also taught him the language of birds and ants. This was grace manifest from Allah. In whatever measure and on whomsoever He pleases, Allah showers His Bounties.
MOTHER OF HADRAT ZUBAIR (R.A) THE HARSHNESS OF THE MOTHER.
Hadrat Zubair (R.A.) was a beloved companion of the beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.).
He was one amongst the ten blessed Companions to whom the Apostle of Allah gave good tidings, in their lifetime that they will be admitted to Paradise. Let us see how mother of this blessed and great Companion did bring him up. This account is immensely pleasing and palatable to read and draw lesson from that if our mother or some elderly person in the house treats us harshly with the motive of reforming and mending our character, we should not take it wrong.
Hadrat Zubair (R.A) was yet a small lad when his father died. The orphan child was then under the care and training of his mother, Hadrat Safia (R.A). She extracted from him very difficult and arduous tasks. When people observed this child doing too difficult tasks, they used to tell Hadrat Safia (R.A):
"What are you up to, are you going to kill the child?"
She used to reply: "I am making him wise, fearless and brave."
And it indeed did so happen. When Hadrat Zubair (R.A) came of age he really turned out to be extremely brave. When he was hardly sixteen or seventeen years old he plunged himself into the arena for a wrestling bout. People tried much to dissuade him from encountering the big and mighty wrestler of repute, but he remained first in his resolve. As soon as the bout started, Hadrat Zubair struck such a blow to his opponent that he fell down with a heavy bang and broke his hand people brought the wrestler on their backs. Hadrat Safia (R.A) narrated the whole story thereupon she said: "tell me the truth. How did you find my son, brave or coward?"
On other occasion, during the course of a battle between Muslims and the infields, in which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) also had participated a famous as warrior climbed up the hillock and shouted: "Which Muslim can dare fight with me?" Infuriated at this challenge, Hadrat Zubair (R.A) leaped forward and grappled with him, fight ensued between them. Somehow both fell down the hillock. Hadrat Safia (R.A) was also present and was standing by the side of the Holy Prophet. Seeing the two rolling down she was frightened and exclaimed: "O Apostle of Allah! My Child?"
Quiet Composed, the Prophet replied: "Fear not, Zubair will kill this wrestler."And right enough it so happened. Hadrat Zubair (R.A) overpowered and killed him. This brave feat pleased the Muslims much.
Hadrat Saifa (R.A), herself, despite being a woman, was very brave and courageous. In the battle of Trench she killed a warrior and threw away his severed head into the enemy camp. Hadrat Saifa (R.A) was the real aunt of the beloved Prophet.
HADRAT ASMA (R.A.) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ABDULLAH BIN ZUBAIR (R.A.)
Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A) was among the bravest persons of his times. He had pledged allegiance to our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) when he was only seven years old. The name of his revered mother was Hadrat Asma (R.A) who was the daughter of Hadrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) and wife of Hadrat Zubair (R.A.). She was exceeding prudent and brave. She was so intelligent that the Prophet (S.A.W.) used to consult her. When the Prophet migrated from Makka to Madina, it was she who prepared the provisions for his journey. And when the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) took shelter in the cave of Thaur for three days, it was again she who supplied him food for all the three days, without the Makkans ever coming to know of it.
How did this great lady train and bring up her child?To have an idea about it we narrate below, in brief, some incidents from her life.
After the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) had made Hijra to Madina, Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also went there after some time.
When the Muslims migrated to Madina, the climate there did not suit them in the beginning. Quite some time passed and no child was born in the migrant Muslim families. The mischief-mongering infidels made it out that there will be no issues born to Muslims, because the deities were annoyed with them, and had laid curse on them. Muslims had no belief in such concoctions, but in their inmost heart they were offering benediction unto Allah: O Allah! Put an end to the falsehood of these infidels.
When Hadrat Asma (R.A.) reached Madina, a child was born to her. It was the first baby to be born to a migrant woman. The new-born was named Abdullah. On the birth of Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) there was lot of rejoicing among the Muslims and the baby gave a lie to the canard that had been spread by the enemies of Islam. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) presented herself before the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) with the new-born baby. He too was much pleased at the sight of the beautiful handsome baby. He took Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) in his arms, gave the infant some medicine (to clear the meconium), caressed him fondly and prayed for his well being.
Hadrat Asma (R.A.) trained Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) right from his childhood to be bold and intrepid. When he was four or five years old, the battle of the Trench was fought between the Muslims and the infidels. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) used to make her four or five year old child watch the action and how the battle proceeded. Thus even as a child, Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had the occasion to watch the proceedings of an actual battle. In his youth Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) turned out to be so brave that it was difficult to find his peer amongst his contemporaries. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also used to continuously inspire him to rise to heights of glory. Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had to fight against the powerful Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan. In this battle, the army of Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) was very small in size, yet he clashed boldly against a much larger army. On the occasion of this battle, when he consulted his mother, she advised him in the following morale-boosting words:
My dear son! Understand this fact very well that if you are fighting for the cause of Allah and are siding with truth, then you must put a bold front. Go and fight as befits a brave man. Fear not for your life. Receive the wounds of the sword with dignified valour. It would be thousand times better than life of ease in ignominy. If you are martyred, it shall be my highest pleasure. And if you aspire for mundane wealth and power, and all your striving is to achieve it, then who could be a more wicked man than yourself? How long will you life on this earth? One day death will, of a certainty, come to you, so better it is that you breathe your last while you are on the path of virtue and piety.
Hadrat Asma (R.A.) lived for pretty long time. Even in her old age she had retained much of her vigour and vitality. She was not afraid of even Hujjaj, who was the tyrant ruler of her time. People used to be amazed at the retorts she used to give to Hujjaj, the governor. Once when she was angry with him, she told him on his face:
I have heard from the mouth of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that two persons would be born in the clan of Thaqeef. Of the twain, the first would be worse than the second. So, already I have come across one liar (Mukhtar Thaqfee), and the other tyrant is yourself whom I am seeing now.
HADRAT UMM SALEEM (R.A) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ANAS BIN MALIK (R.A.)
Hadrat Anas (R.A.) was the renowned Companion of the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.). Right from his childhood he was in the service of the beloved Prophet. He was exceeding faithful and obedient. He was ever willing and enthusiastic to do any work assigned to his by the beloved Prophet. He used to listen to the talks by the Prophet very attentively and with keen interest. It was with Hadrat Anas only that the beloved Prophet had cut that palatable joke which is well known as Do Kan Wale (man with two ears). The beloved Prophet had addressed him once as O! Do Kan Wale, which in Arabic idiom means obedient. The delicacy about this joke is that it is a statement of fact that every man has to ears.
He is the same Anas (R.A.) whose mothers name is Umm Saleem (R.A.), the renowned lady Companion of the Holy Prophet. To her credit she performed many good deeds in her life-time and rendered great services for the cause of Islam. Hadrat Anas (R.A.) used to say that he was deeply indebted to his mother because she gave him over to the service of the beloved Prophet. This act of hers provided him the grand opportunity to build up his character emulating the beloved Prophet. We give below some salient events relating to the bringing up and training of Hadrat Anas by his mother, Hadrat Umm Saleem.
Hadrat Umm Saleem was the resident of Madina. The name of her husband was Malik. Hadrat Umm Saleem had accepted Islam, but her husband, Malik, had not.
Hadrat Anas was yet a child when Hadrat Umm Saleem started teaching him the Kalima e Shahadat (the Muslim confession of Faith). When her husband, Malik, noticed that their child was being taught the Kalima, he was much annoyed and said:
First you have forsaken the religion of your ancestors, and now you wish to make this child also irreligious!
Hadrat Umm Saleem (R.A.) replied: He is of course an innocent and ignorant child, but what I really want is that you should convert yourself to Islam.Malik did not convert himself to Islam, and in this state he once went on a journey and was killed on the way. Now Umm Saleem (R.A.) was a widow. But since she was very prudent, brave and enjoyed radiant health, many people sent her proposals for marriage, but every proposal she declined saying that her child was still too young. When the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) migrated from Makka to Madina, Hadrat Anas was ten years old. Umm Saleem (R.A.) was anxious to make Hadrat Anas a man of supreme moral excellence. She conceived the ideal than that she place her son at the exclusive service of the beloved Prophet. Accordingly she presented herself with Hadrat Anas before the Prophet and entreated him:
O Apostle of Allah! I have brought up this child in great hardship. Now I wish you should take him under your care.
The beloved Prophet acceded to her request. Hadrat Anas thus started living in the service of the beloved Prophet. He started acquiring knowledge of Deen (Religion). He keenly observed and remembered every act or saying of the beloved Prophet and meticulously followed in his foot-steps. With the result that Allah was so bountiful unto him that he was being reckoned amongst the great Companions of the Prophet. Many Traditions (sayings of the Prophet) are reported by him, which Muslims read and there from learn knowledge about Islam.
Hadrat Anas admits that if his mother, Umm Saleem (R.A.) had not made this arrangement for him, it would have been a great loss for him.
THE MOTHER OF IMAM RABIYA (R.A.)
Imam Rabiya (R.A.) was great spiritual leader. He was the most erudite person amongst his contemporaries. He used to give religious lessons in the Masjid-e-Nabwi (the Prophets Mosque in Madina). Many men of high learning used to attend his lectures. The young and old all respected him. How did he become such a great religious leader? The secret lies in that Allah had blessed him with a noble mother who ardently desired and also worked hard to see that her son should become proficient in not only learning but also in disseminating the knowledge of Deen (Religion). She spent thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins) on the education and training of her son. The second contributory factor was the remarkable power of comprehension, which Allah had bestowed on him. Imam Rabiya, on his part too had taken great pains to acquire knowledge.
The story of his childhood is very interesting. The name of the father of Imam Rabiya was Farrukh. He served in the army during the reign of Bani Umayyah. On one occasion Farrukh was sent on the warfront for a big battle. At that time Imam Rabiya was in the womb of his mother. Twenty seven years passed by and Farrukh could get no respite from the series of battles. During this period he could not even return home. Imam Rabiya was born during his long absence and grew up to be a highly learned man during this period.
Prior to going on the war front, Farrukh had given his wife thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins). That prudent and virtuous lady spent all those Ashrafis on her sons education and training till he gained proficiency in knowledge of Deen (Religion). After twenty seven years when Imam Rabiyas father, Farrukh returned from war front he asked his wife about the Ashrafis, as to what use those had been put to. Thereupon, his wife replied: They are all kept in safe custody.
In the meanwhile, Imam Rabiya went to the mosque to deliver lecture on Hadith (Traditions). Farrukhs wife requested him: Please pay a visit to the mosque. When Farrukh entered the mosque, he found, to his great surprise, his own son giving lecture on Traditions, and many scholars, much older in age, listening attentively along with a number of others. His joy knew no bounds. After returning home, in an outburst of joy and pride, he praised his son before his wife, and incessantly expressed his deep gratitude unto Allah for it.
His wife then asked: Tell me now, whether thirty thousand Ashrafis are better or this bounty! Farrukh promptly replied: What is the worth of Ashrafis when compared with this blessing of Allah. Then the lady revealed: Those Ashrafis which you had left with me I have spent in the acquisition of this bounty.
Pleased at her reply, he said: By Allah! You have not wasted those Ashrafis. On the contrary you have utilized them for the most excellent purpose.
THE MOTHER OF HADRAT SHAIKH ABDUL QADIR JEELANI (R.A.)
Hadrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani was a great saint. People call him by the name of Bade Peer Saheb (great holy man) also. Only for earning the pleasure of Allah, Hadrat Abdul Qadir performed many great deeds. He eradicated many of the social evils which were rampant in his time. At that time many people had sprung up who were spreading various concoctions concerning and creating misunderstandings about Islam, and also about our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions. Hadrat Abdul Qadir put up a bold front against this avalanche of rumour-mongering until the mischief-makers were all silenced.
Hadrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani was a man of outstanding virtue and learning, a great saint and sage. He used to deliver religious lectures which were highly powerful and effective. How did he turn out to be such a great scholar in the knowledge of Deen (religion)?
The answer to this question is that Allah had blessed him with an excellent noble mother. Right from his infancy she used to tender him sound and righteous advice. She used to inculcate in him fear of Allah as well as longing for reading the Quran and learning the Traditions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). She herself was the Hafiz of Quran (one who commits the whole Quran to memory). She used to recite the verses of the Quran while doing the household work. Thus listening to the Quran regularly right from childhood helped Shaikh Abdul Qadir memorise a major portion of the Quran.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir (R.A.) was still a child when his father died. His revered mother then brought him up. At the time of his death, his father had left behind eighty Dinars (gold coins) for his two sons. Their mother divided the Dinars in equal parts and separated the share of each brother. She got Hadrat Abdul Qadir admitted to a school in the town of Jilan itself, which was his native place. When he finished his studies in the school of Jilan, he expressed to his mother his desire to go to Baghdad for higher studies. Baghdad in those days was famous as a seat of high class learning.
In those days traveling was hazardous and unsafe. Unlike today, in those days there was neither rail or motor, nor any other mode of conveyance except camels or horses. There were dense jungles on the ways in which dacoits used to ambush and plunder the caravan of travellers. This was the dread, which lurked in the mind of the travelers. But the mother of Hadrat Abdul Qadir summoned courage and prepared herself to send her dear son to the distant land, Baghdad, for pursuing further studies. She stitched the forty Dinars in his garment for safe keeping. This was his share in the inheritance of his father. While bidding farewell to him she in very strong words advised him never to tell a lie, even if speaking truth were to cost him dear.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir accompanied a caravan which was bound for Baghdad. On the way the caravan was waylaid by a gang of dacoits. Over powering the caravan the dacoits started looting those in the caravan. One dacoit asked him also if he had anything on his person. He replied Yes, I have. The dacoit took it as a joke and passed him over. But other dacoits too asked him and he frankly gave the same reply. This matter reached the ears of the leader of the dacoits. He made him to be brought before him and then himself asked him the question:
How much amount do you have on your person?He replied: I have forty Dinars with me. where are they?
They are stitched in my garment.
A search was promptly made and the money was recovered. Oh! Why did you show it to us? If you had not shown to us we would not have come to know of it at all, exclaimed the chief of the dacoits.
My mother has bade me not to tell lies at any cost. I have promised to abide by her advice. I have but to honour the promise made to her, was the reply from young Abdul Qudir.
When the leader of the dacoits heard this bold and truthful statement from the mouth of a young child, he was simply amazed and lowered his head in shame. He was absorbed in thought for quite some time. Then tears began to flow from his eyes, and wailing over his sorry state, he said: Woe upon us! We made that memorable covenant with Allah that we shall follow His Commands, do righteous deeds and refrain from the reprehensible, but alas! We have now turned grey yet we have forgotten the covenant which we had made with Allah. And this child, who had made a covenant with his mother, remembers and honours it even in the face of such adversity. What is my worth as compared to this child?
With these words he gave orders to return the looted property to the caravan men. Thereafter he vowed to give up robbery and lead a virtuous life. Seeing this all his gang men too were penitent and renounced their profession. In this way, on account of the noble advice of the mother, not only the property of scores of people was restored to them but a band of dacoits too got Divine Guidance for repentance and gave up the life of sin.
THE MOTHER OF SAYED AHMED SHAHEED
Hadrat Sayed Ahmed Shaheed was a renowned sage of our country. He was the native of Rae Bareily. His mother had given him excellent education and training. That is why, from childhood only he was very virtuous, brave and fearless. He had great love for Islam. Heart and soul, he was ever ready to hold aloft the banner of Islam.
On one occasion it so happened that when he was still a young lad, opportunity came his way to stake his life and all in the cause of Allah. He became anxious to go to the battle-front, but it was necessary to seek permission from his mother. Accordingly he approached his mother. His mother was then offering Namaz (Prayers). When the maid-servant came to know of his intention, she prevented him from meeting his mother, lest his life should be in danger. When the mother finished her prayers, she came to know that her maid-servant had obstructed her son to meet her. She felt bad and told her:
Dear lady! My son cannot be so dear to you as he is to me.Then she addressed her son and said:
My dear son! Go but listen, dont ever show cowardice. Fight valiantly. And if you run away from the battlefield, I shall never see your face.
It was the crowning result of his mothers training only that in later life he was victorious in many battles. He made ceaseless striving in holding aloft the commands of Allah and there never was any occasion when he fled from the battle field. Ultimately he was martyred in the cause of Allah.
See what fruits the striving of mother brought for the son? He adorned himself with glory in this world and made worthy provision for his life in the Hereafter. Today all Muslims praise him and hold him in high esteem and reverence.
GOOD ADVICE TO SON
The beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.) said that the mother of prophet Sulaiman (upon him be peace) had tendered the following good advice to her son:
My dear son! Spend not your whole night in sleep, because, passing the major part of night sleep deprives a man of many good and virtuous deeds on the day of resurrection. (Tradition). Hadrat Sulaiman (upon him be peace and blessings) firmly bore in mind this piece of advice from his mother, and never thereafter he slept for full night. He used to spend a part of night in prayers and adoration unto Allah.
When he came of age Allah conferred Apostleship on Hadrat Sulaiman (P.B.U.H.), and He bestowed on him great kingdom too. Allah made the Jinn's subservient to him and made the violent winds to blow tamely for him. Allah also taught him the language of birds and ants. This was grace manifest from Allah. In whatever measure and on whomsoever He pleases, Allah showers His Bounties.
MOTHER OF HADRAT ZUBAIR (R.A) THE HARSHNESS OF THE MOTHER.
Hadrat Zubair (R.A.) was a beloved companion of the beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.).
He was one amongst the ten blessed Companions to whom the Apostle of Allah gave good tidings, in their lifetime that they will be admitted to Paradise. Let us see how mother of this blessed and great Companion did bring him up. This account is immensely pleasing and palatable to read and draw lesson from that if our mother or some elderly person in the house treats us harshly with the motive of reforming and mending our character, we should not take it wrong.
Hadrat Zubair (R.A) was yet a small lad when his father died. The orphan child was then under the care and training of his mother, Hadrat Safia (R.A). She extracted from him very difficult and arduous tasks. When people observed this child doing too difficult tasks, they used to tell Hadrat Safia (R.A):
"What are you up to, are you going to kill the child?"
She used to reply: "I am making him wise, fearless and brave."
And it indeed did so happen. When Hadrat Zubair (R.A) came of age he really turned out to be extremely brave. When he was hardly sixteen or seventeen years old he plunged himself into the arena for a wrestling bout. People tried much to dissuade him from encountering the big and mighty wrestler of repute, but he remained first in his resolve. As soon as the bout started, Hadrat Zubair struck such a blow to his opponent that he fell down with a heavy bang and broke his hand people brought the wrestler on their backs. Hadrat Safia (R.A) narrated the whole story thereupon she said: "tell me the truth. How did you find my son, brave or coward?"
On other occasion, during the course of a battle between Muslims and the infields, in which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) also had participated a famous as warrior climbed up the hillock and shouted: "Which Muslim can dare fight with me?" Infuriated at this challenge, Hadrat Zubair (R.A) leaped forward and grappled with him, fight ensued between them. Somehow both fell down the hillock. Hadrat Safia (R.A) was also present and was standing by the side of the Holy Prophet. Seeing the two rolling down she was frightened and exclaimed: "O Apostle of Allah! My Child?"
Quiet Composed, the Prophet replied: "Fear not, Zubair will kill this wrestler."And right enough it so happened. Hadrat Zubair (R.A) overpowered and killed him. This brave feat pleased the Muslims much.
Hadrat Saifa (R.A), herself, despite being a woman, was very brave and courageous. In the battle of Trench she killed a warrior and threw away his severed head into the enemy camp. Hadrat Saifa (R.A) was the real aunt of the beloved Prophet.
HADRAT ASMA (R.A.) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ABDULLAH BIN ZUBAIR (R.A.)
Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A) was among the bravest persons of his times. He had pledged allegiance to our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) when he was only seven years old. The name of his revered mother was Hadrat Asma (R.A) who was the daughter of Hadrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) and wife of Hadrat Zubair (R.A.). She was exceeding prudent and brave. She was so intelligent that the Prophet (S.A.W.) used to consult her. When the Prophet migrated from Makka to Madina, it was she who prepared the provisions for his journey. And when the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) took shelter in the cave of Thaur for three days, it was again she who supplied him food for all the three days, without the Makkans ever coming to know of it.
How did this great lady train and bring up her child?To have an idea about it we narrate below, in brief, some incidents from her life.
After the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) had made Hijra to Madina, Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also went there after some time.
When the Muslims migrated to Madina, the climate there did not suit them in the beginning. Quite some time passed and no child was born in the migrant Muslim families. The mischief-mongering infidels made it out that there will be no issues born to Muslims, because the deities were annoyed with them, and had laid curse on them. Muslims had no belief in such concoctions, but in their inmost heart they were offering benediction unto Allah: O Allah! Put an end to the falsehood of these infidels.
When Hadrat Asma (R.A.) reached Madina, a child was born to her. It was the first baby to be born to a migrant woman. The new-born was named Abdullah. On the birth of Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) there was lot of rejoicing among the Muslims and the baby gave a lie to the canard that had been spread by the enemies of Islam. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) presented herself before the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) with the new-born baby. He too was much pleased at the sight of the beautiful handsome baby. He took Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) in his arms, gave the infant some medicine (to clear the meconium), caressed him fondly and prayed for his well being.
Hadrat Asma (R.A.) trained Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) right from his childhood to be bold and intrepid. When he was four or five years old, the battle of the Trench was fought between the Muslims and the infidels. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) used to make her four or five year old child watch the action and how the battle proceeded. Thus even as a child, Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had the occasion to watch the proceedings of an actual battle. In his youth Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) turned out to be so brave that it was difficult to find his peer amongst his contemporaries. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also used to continuously inspire him to rise to heights of glory. Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had to fight against the powerful Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan. In this battle, the army of Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) was very small in size, yet he clashed boldly against a much larger army. On the occasion of this battle, when he consulted his mother, she advised him in the following morale-boosting words:
My dear son! Understand this fact very well that if you are fighting for the cause of Allah and are siding with truth, then you must put a bold front. Go and fight as befits a brave man. Fear not for your life. Receive the wounds of the sword with dignified valour. It would be thousand times better than life of ease in ignominy. If you are martyred, it shall be my highest pleasure. And if you aspire for mundane wealth and power, and all your striving is to achieve it, then who could be a more wicked man than yourself? How long will you life on this earth? One day death will, of a certainty, come to you, so better it is that you breathe your last while you are on the path of virtue and piety.
Hadrat Asma (R.A.) lived for pretty long time. Even in her old age she had retained much of her vigour and vitality. She was not afraid of even Hujjaj, who was the tyrant ruler of her time. People used to be amazed at the retorts she used to give to Hujjaj, the governor. Once when she was angry with him, she told him on his face:
I have heard from the mouth of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that two persons would be born in the clan of Thaqeef. Of the twain, the first would be worse than the second. So, already I have come across one liar (Mukhtar Thaqfee), and the other tyrant is yourself whom I am seeing now.
HADRAT UMM SALEEM (R.A) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ANAS BIN MALIK (R.A.)
Hadrat Anas (R.A.) was the renowned Companion of the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.). Right from his childhood he was in the service of the beloved Prophet. He was exceeding faithful and obedient. He was ever willing and enthusiastic to do any work assigned to his by the beloved Prophet. He used to listen to the talks by the Prophet very attentively and with keen interest. It was with Hadrat Anas only that the beloved Prophet had cut that palatable joke which is well known as Do Kan Wale (man with two ears). The beloved Prophet had addressed him once as O! Do Kan Wale, which in Arabic idiom means obedient. The delicacy about this joke is that it is a statement of fact that every man has to ears.
He is the same Anas (R.A.) whose mothers name is Umm Saleem (R.A.), the renowned lady Companion of the Holy Prophet. To her credit she performed many good deeds in her life-time and rendered great services for the cause of Islam. Hadrat Anas (R.A.) used to say that he was deeply indebted to his mother because she gave him over to the service of the beloved Prophet. This act of hers provided him the grand opportunity to build up his character emulating the beloved Prophet. We give below some salient events relating to the bringing up and training of Hadrat Anas by his mother, Hadrat Umm Saleem.
Hadrat Umm Saleem was the resident of Madina. The name of her husband was Malik. Hadrat Umm Saleem had accepted Islam, but her husband, Malik, had not.
Hadrat Anas was yet a child when Hadrat Umm Saleem started teaching him the Kalima e Shahadat (the Muslim confession of Faith). When her husband, Malik, noticed that their child was being taught the Kalima, he was much annoyed and said:
First you have forsaken the religion of your ancestors, and now you wish to make this child also irreligious!
Hadrat Umm Saleem (R.A.) replied: He is of course an innocent and ignorant child, but what I really want is that you should convert yourself to Islam.Malik did not convert himself to Islam, and in this state he once went on a journey and was killed on the way. Now Umm Saleem (R.A.) was a widow. But since she was very prudent, brave and enjoyed radiant health, many people sent her proposals for marriage, but every proposal she declined saying that her child was still too young. When the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) migrated from Makka to Madina, Hadrat Anas was ten years old. Umm Saleem (R.A.) was anxious to make Hadrat Anas a man of supreme moral excellence. She conceived the ideal than that she place her son at the exclusive service of the beloved Prophet. Accordingly she presented herself with Hadrat Anas before the Prophet and entreated him:
O Apostle of Allah! I have brought up this child in great hardship. Now I wish you should take him under your care.
The beloved Prophet acceded to her request. Hadrat Anas thus started living in the service of the beloved Prophet. He started acquiring knowledge of Deen (Religion). He keenly observed and remembered every act or saying of the beloved Prophet and meticulously followed in his foot-steps. With the result that Allah was so bountiful unto him that he was being reckoned amongst the great Companions of the Prophet. Many Traditions (sayings of the Prophet) are reported by him, which Muslims read and there from learn knowledge about Islam.
Hadrat Anas admits that if his mother, Umm Saleem (R.A.) had not made this arrangement for him, it would have been a great loss for him.
THE MOTHER OF IMAM RABIYA (R.A.)
Imam Rabiya (R.A.) was great spiritual leader. He was the most erudite person amongst his contemporaries. He used to give religious lessons in the Masjid-e-Nabwi (the Prophets Mosque in Madina). Many men of high learning used to attend his lectures. The young and old all respected him. How did he become such a great religious leader? The secret lies in that Allah had blessed him with a noble mother who ardently desired and also worked hard to see that her son should become proficient in not only learning but also in disseminating the knowledge of Deen (Religion). She spent thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins) on the education and training of her son. The second contributory factor was the remarkable power of comprehension, which Allah had bestowed on him. Imam Rabiya, on his part too had taken great pains to acquire knowledge.
The story of his childhood is very interesting. The name of the father of Imam Rabiya was Farrukh. He served in the army during the reign of Bani Umayyah. On one occasion Farrukh was sent on the warfront for a big battle. At that time Imam Rabiya was in the womb of his mother. Twenty seven years passed by and Farrukh could get no respite from the series of battles. During this period he could not even return home. Imam Rabiya was born during his long absence and grew up to be a highly learned man during this period.
Prior to going on the war front, Farrukh had given his wife thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins). That prudent and virtuous lady spent all those Ashrafis on her sons education and training till he gained proficiency in knowledge of Deen (Religion). After twenty seven years when Imam Rabiyas father, Farrukh returned from war front he asked his wife about the Ashrafis, as to what use those had been put to. Thereupon, his wife replied: They are all kept in safe custody.
In the meanwhile, Imam Rabiya went to the mosque to deliver lecture on Hadith (Traditions). Farrukhs wife requested him: Please pay a visit to the mosque. When Farrukh entered the mosque, he found, to his great surprise, his own son giving lecture on Traditions, and many scholars, much older in age, listening attentively along with a number of others. His joy knew no bounds. After returning home, in an outburst of joy and pride, he praised his son before his wife, and incessantly expressed his deep gratitude unto Allah for it.
His wife then asked: Tell me now, whether thirty thousand Ashrafis are better or this bounty! Farrukh promptly replied: What is the worth of Ashrafis when compared with this blessing of Allah. Then the lady revealed: Those Ashrafis which you had left with me I have spent in the acquisition of this bounty.
Pleased at her reply, he said: By Allah! You have not wasted those Ashrafis. On the contrary you have utilized them for the most excellent purpose.
THE MOTHER OF HADRAT SHAIKH ABDUL QADIR JEELANI (R.A.)
Hadrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani was a great saint. People call him by the name of Bade Peer Saheb (great holy man) also. Only for earning the pleasure of Allah, Hadrat Abdul Qadir performed many great deeds. He eradicated many of the social evils which were rampant in his time. At that time many people had sprung up who were spreading various concoctions concerning and creating misunderstandings about Islam, and also about our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions. Hadrat Abdul Qadir put up a bold front against this avalanche of rumour-mongering until the mischief-makers were all silenced.
Hadrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani was a man of outstanding virtue and learning, a great saint and sage. He used to deliver religious lectures which were highly powerful and effective. How did he turn out to be such a great scholar in the knowledge of Deen (religion)?
The answer to this question is that Allah had blessed him with an excellent noble mother. Right from his infancy she used to tender him sound and righteous advice. She used to inculcate in him fear of Allah as well as longing for reading the Quran and learning the Traditions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). She herself was the Hafiz of Quran (one who commits the whole Quran to memory). She used to recite the verses of the Quran while doing the household work. Thus listening to the Quran regularly right from childhood helped Shaikh Abdul Qadir memorise a major portion of the Quran.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir (R.A.) was still a child when his father died. His revered mother then brought him up. At the time of his death, his father had left behind eighty Dinars (gold coins) for his two sons. Their mother divided the Dinars in equal parts and separated the share of each brother. She got Hadrat Abdul Qadir admitted to a school in the town of Jilan itself, which was his native place. When he finished his studies in the school of Jilan, he expressed to his mother his desire to go to Baghdad for higher studies. Baghdad in those days was famous as a seat of high class learning.
In those days traveling was hazardous and unsafe. Unlike today, in those days there was neither rail or motor, nor any other mode of conveyance except camels or horses. There were dense jungles on the ways in which dacoits used to ambush and plunder the caravan of travellers. This was the dread, which lurked in the mind of the travelers. But the mother of Hadrat Abdul Qadir summoned courage and prepared herself to send her dear son to the distant land, Baghdad, for pursuing further studies. She stitched the forty Dinars in his garment for safe keeping. This was his share in the inheritance of his father. While bidding farewell to him she in very strong words advised him never to tell a lie, even if speaking truth were to cost him dear.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir accompanied a caravan which was bound for Baghdad. On the way the caravan was waylaid by a gang of dacoits. Over powering the caravan the dacoits started looting those in the caravan. One dacoit asked him also if he had anything on his person. He replied Yes, I have. The dacoit took it as a joke and passed him over. But other dacoits too asked him and he frankly gave the same reply. This matter reached the ears of the leader of the dacoits. He made him to be brought before him and then himself asked him the question:
How much amount do you have on your person?He replied: I have forty Dinars with me. where are they?
They are stitched in my garment.
A search was promptly made and the money was recovered. Oh! Why did you show it to us? If you had not shown to us we would not have come to know of it at all, exclaimed the chief of the dacoits.
My mother has bade me not to tell lies at any cost. I have promised to abide by her advice. I have but to honour the promise made to her, was the reply from young Abdul Qudir.
When the leader of the dacoits heard this bold and truthful statement from the mouth of a young child, he was simply amazed and lowered his head in shame. He was absorbed in thought for quite some time. Then tears began to flow from his eyes, and wailing over his sorry state, he said: Woe upon us! We made that memorable covenant with Allah that we shall follow His Commands, do righteous deeds and refrain from the reprehensible, but alas! We have now turned grey yet we have forgotten the covenant which we had made with Allah. And this child, who had made a covenant with his mother, remembers and honours it even in the face of such adversity. What is my worth as compared to this child?
With these words he gave orders to return the looted property to the caravan men. Thereafter he vowed to give up robbery and lead a virtuous life. Seeing this all his gang men too were penitent and renounced their profession. In this way, on account of the noble advice of the mother, not only the property of scores of people was restored to them but a band of dacoits too got Divine Guidance for repentance and gave up the life of sin.
THE MOTHER OF SAYED AHMED SHAHEED
Hadrat Sayed Ahmed Shaheed was a renowned sage of our country. He was the native of Rae Bareily. His mother had given him excellent education and training. That is why, from childhood only he was very virtuous, brave and fearless. He had great love for Islam. Heart and soul, he was ever ready to hold aloft the banner of Islam.
On one occasion it so happened that when he was still a young lad, opportunity came his way to stake his life and all in the cause of Allah. He became anxious to go to the battle-front, but it was necessary to seek permission from his mother. Accordingly he approached his mother. His mother was then offering Namaz (Prayers). When the maid-servant came to know of his intention, she prevented him from meeting his mother, lest his life should be in danger. When the mother finished her prayers, she came to know that her maid-servant had obstructed her son to meet her. She felt bad and told her:
Dear lady! My son cannot be so dear to you as he is to me.Then she addressed her son and said:
My dear son! Go but listen, dont ever show cowardice. Fight valiantly. And if you run away from the battlefield, I shall never see your face.
It was the crowning result of his mothers training only that in later life he was victorious in many battles. He made ceaseless striving in holding aloft the commands of Allah and there never was any occasion when he fled from the battle field. Ultimately he was martyred in the cause of Allah.
See what fruits the striving of mother brought for the son? He adorned himself with glory in this world and made worthy provision for his life in the Hereafter. Today all Muslims praise him and hold him in high esteem and reverence.
"SEX, VIAGRA, AND ISLAM"
By Dr. Shahid Athar
Sex to most Muslims is a dirty word. A word that they don't even want to talk about. On the other extreme, many Muslims' are obsessed with sex. This I can say from the questions about sex that I receive on E-mail from the Islam-USA Web-page. The desire to have a better sexual performance for men is again, not a new preoccupation. Muslim Hakims (traditional physicians') have been working on medications for over one thousand years trying to achieve a magic love pill. Now that this "love pill" seemingly has arrived, wealthy Muslims' are ecstatic. Viagra which is sold around $10 per pill in the U.S.A., is being sold at $100 per pill on the black market in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait recently had allowed the sale at about $49 per pill officially. The grand religious scholar of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Baaz has allowed it to be used by men if it does not cause any harm to the body.Recently a visitor from Pakistan wanted to get some samples of Viagra, and I asked him why. He stated " that he wanted to give them as a gift to his boss". Obviously, he did not get the gift. Sexual desire is a gift from God, just like all other desires that He has built in us. It is not our fault that we get aroused at sexual thoughts. These are built in physiology. In order to have a legitimate outlet for this built in desire, God has created mates for us. Quran says, "He that created you mates from among yourselves that you can dwell in them in tranquility". (30:21) Sex outside of marriage is not permitted in Islam.Impotency is a disease and should be dealt with as any disease. To seek a cure for a disease is advised by Prophet Mohammed (P) who said that "God has created no disease unless he created a cure for it as well, except old age". Thus, before we physicians' start a new treatment, we either must find out the cause for impotency which could be vascular, neurogenic, infection, diabetes, or hormonal deficiency. To treat all the causes with one type of treatment would be wrong, and that is why many patients' on Viagra do not respond because they have not been screened properly to see if they would be good candidates. In addition, if the mental stimulation is not present before, then Viagra alone will not achieve the desired results as the brain is the most important sex organ. The appropriate way for a man to deal with this is to see his physician for a thorough evaluation, hormone testing, and psychological testing. There is some suggestion that patient's who may have underlying coronary artery disease, who have not been actively involved in sex, should be screened first for coronary artery disease before using Viagra. About 20 men have died after sex while taking Viagra. It is not clear that any of these deaths were directly related to Viagra. I see several social problems in the use of Viagra indiscriminately. It may lead to more sexual promiscuity and infidelity. Recently and old man in New York who used Viagra, left his wife and then went for a much younger lady. His wife sued the company. It is also being called "the party drug", or the "love pill", and it is being distributed by some of the night clubs. What is the difference between getting high on marijuana and cocaine, or on Viagra? Many women are also complaining that they are being subject to Viagra attacks by their husbands' and boyfriends even if they are not in a mood.Sex is an _expression and extension of love. In the absence of love, sex becomes a boring routine. Forced sex even in marriage is rape. Instead of trying to achieve potency, men should try to achieve love and respect for and from their wives. Prophet Mohammed (P), who was ahead of his time, had encouraged foreplay before intercourse saying "Do not attack your women like a wild beast, but send a message before". He also was known to have said, "Do not leave her before she is satisfied". Thus Islamic sexuality is based on nature and not attempting to achieve a quick result. The human body is a wonderful creation of God, but not a sex machine. It will not run better on a high octane oil or any potency drug.
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