Monday, February 23, 2009

ONE DAY CAN CHANGE MANY THINGS!

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what ' s true,
One life can make a difference,
You see, it ' s up to you!

The True meaning of Life is to Plant Trees under whose shade you do not Expect to Sit.

British Mosques Promote Community Cohesion

MCB welcomes independent Charity Commission report on Muslim centres of worship



The Muslim Council of Britain today welcomed the findings of an independent Charity Commission survey of mosques in Britain. The survey shows that mosques contribute to their local communities through a wide range of services and activities in addition to providing space for worship, from sport and leisure activities to healthy living programmes and assistance for senior citizens.



The survey charts how an overwhelming majority (94%) deliver educational programme for children and young people and three in five (61%) carry out women's groups/activities. It is also a welcome information that increasingly more and more mosques have young people (52%) and women (15%) represented in their management responsibility. Far from being a source of separation, mosques are integral to community cohesion and development.



Dr Manazir Ahsan, the Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's Mosques Committee said, "I fully concur with Dame Suzi Leather the chair of the Charity Commission that 'this new survey reveals the important contribution that Mosques are making to communities across England and Wales'. We agree with the primary conclusion of the report, that mosques should not only be a place of solace and worship, but should also benefit local communities, irrespective of faith. We are in no doubt that some mosques -- with very little resources -- require the necessary help and assistance to serve its users and the local community. To that end, we endorse the Charity Commission call to mosques to engage with the Commission and benefit from its services in order to have proper policies in place."



"Despite the good work emanating from the majority of our mosques, and regardless of authentic, and citable evidence such as those presented by the Charity Commission, I am in no doubt that bigots and doommongers will nevertheless continue to peddle Islamophobic hysteria, insisting that mosques are incapable of promoting community cohesion. We must prove these naysayers wrong by opening up and welcoming all people to our mosques."



[End]



NOTES TO EDITORS

The Muslim Council of Britain is an umbrella body of some 500 mosques, charities and schools.

For further information please contact the MCB:
The Muslim Council of Britain,
PO Box 57330,
London,
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk

Sunday, February 22, 2009

AMS UK Press Release Regarding Civitas Report

AMS UK CONDEMNS DIVISIVE AND DISHONEST ARM CHAIR ANALYSIS THAT ENDANGERS COMMUNITY COHESION. ‘Lying, Slander and other sins’. Just another Denis MacEoin “report”.

The Association of Muslim Schools UK is astonished that another misleading, intolerant and divisive report based on prejudices rather than evidence, Music, Chess and Other Sins: Segregation, Integration and Muslim Schools in Britain, has been published by Civitas today. Contrary to what this report claims, Muslim schools provide an outstanding standard of education for thousands of young children across the country. Ex-pupils of Muslim schools have developed into exemplary citizens and participate in all aspects of civic society.

Independent analysis and thorough Ofsted Inspections have demonstrated that academic achievement, behaviour and personal development in Muslim schools as is true of many faith schools is consistently and substantially better than local and national averages. It is this focus on higher standards that has meant that an increasing number of parents choose to enrol their children in a Muslim school. The report contains rhetoric which is not only inaccurate but also breeds distrust and disharmony and adds nothing positive or constructive to the debate on the future of education or social cohesion in our country.

We are particularly disappointed but not surprised that the report has been drafted and edited by individuals who have a track record of producing literature that is divisive, poorly researched and does not stand up to serious independent scrutiny, the authors of the report did not visit a single Muslim school as confirmed by page xiv of the summary.

The leading involvement of individuals who previously contributed to the discredited report ‘Hijacking of British Islam’ which, claimed the BBC’s Newsnight in December 2007, used ‘fabricated evidence’ should ensure that this latest attempt to divide British society is dismissed with equal contempt. Like the DCSF the AMS UK considers it inappropriate to comment on any specific allegations contained in this poorly drafted report as it is not based on any solid evidence collected according to well known and respected research methodology.

The Association of Muslim Schools UK and all of its affiliated member schools will continue to work hard with all stakeholders, including the DCSF to provide an outstanding standard of education and contribute to our collective efforts to develop young people who have the qualifications, skills and abilities to play a positive role in society as British citizens.

[Ends]

For any further information or comments, please contact:
Dr Mohamed Mukadam (Chair AMS UK)
07710 251 901 / 08444 820 407

http://www.ams-uk.org/

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Irish vs French

The French President is sitting in his office when his telephone rings.



'Hallo, Mr. Sarkozy!' a heavily accented voice said. 'This is Paddy down at the Harp Pub in County Clare , Ireland . I am ringing to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you! We voted to reject the Lisbon treaty!'


'Well, Paddy,' Sarkozy replied, 'This is indeed important news! How big is your army?'



'Right now,' says Paddy, after a moment's calculation, 'there is myself, me Cousin Sean, me next door neighbour Seamus, and the entire darts team from the pub. That makes eleven!'



Sarkozy paused. 'I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100,000 men in my army waiting to move on my command.'



'Begoora!' says Paddy. 'I'll have to ring you back.'



Sure enough, the next day, Paddy calls again. 'Mr. Sarkozy, the war is still on. We have managed to get us some infantry equipment!'



'And what equipment would that be Paddy?' Sarkozy asks.

'Well, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Murphy's farm tractor.'



Sarkozy sighs amused. 'I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 6,000 tanks and 5,000 armoured personnel carriers. Also, I have increased my army to 150,000 since we last spoke.'



'Saints preserve us!' says Paddy. 'I'll have to get back to you.'



Sure enough, Paddy rings again the next day. 'Mr. Sarkozy, the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We have modified Jackie McLaughlin's ultra-light with a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Bar have joined us as well!'



Sarkozy was silent for a minute and then cleared his throat. 'I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100 bombers and 200 fighter planes. My military bases are surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I have increased my army to 200,000!'



'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!' says Paddy, 'I will have to ring you back.'



Sure enough, Paddy calls again the next day. 'Top o' the mornin', Mr. Sarkozy! I am sorry to inform you that we have had to call off the war.'



'Really? I am sorry to hear that,' says Sarkozy. 'Why the sudden change of heart?'



'Well,' says Paddy, 'we had a long chat over a few pints of Guinness and packets of crisps, and we decided there is no fookin' way we can feed 200,000 prisoners.'

MCB Seeks Clarification on Government Counter-Terror Strategy

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the MCB, has written to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith seeking clarification about recent media reports about certain proposals in the next phase of the Government's CONTEST strategy.



In his letter, Dr Abdul Bari said: "The community is deeply concerned about these reported proposals. If they prove to be true, then these provisions will not only affect the already fragile state of community relations but will also contribute to a self-perpetuating climate of fear that is unfolding before our very eyes...many in our community [now] ask whether British Muslims are being set yet another oath of fealty as demanded by xenophobic commentators who profit from creating a hostile atmosphere from which bigots can draw from. "



Read the complete letter by clicking the following link.



http://www.mcb.org.uk/uploads/LetterToHomeSecretary090219.pdf



[END]



For further information please contact the MCB:
The Muslim Council of Britain,
PO Box 57330,
London,
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

LOVE OF ALLAH

Today, upon a bus,

I saw a girl with golden hair.

And wished I was as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave,

I saw her hobble down the aisle.

She had one leg and wore a crutch.

But as she passed, she smiled.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two legs the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.

The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

If I were late, it `d do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me,

"I thank you, you've been so kind.

You see," he said, "I `m blind"

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two eyes the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play.

He did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said,

"Why don't you join the others, dear?"

He looked ahead without a word.

And then I knew. He couldn't hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two ears the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I am blessed indeed, the world is mine.

Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif

How I Came to Islaam - By Shariffa Carlo

My Story: How I Came to Islaam
Shariffa Carlo
The story of how I reverted to al-Islam is a story of plans. I made plans; the group I was with made plans, and Allah made plans. And Allah is the Best of Planners. When I was a teenager, I came to the attention of a group of people with a very sinister agenda. They were and probably still are a loose association of individuals who work in government positions but have a special agenda - to destroy Islam. It is not a governmental group that I am aware of, they simply use their positions in the US government to advance their cause.

One member of this group approached me because he saw that I was articulate, motivated and very much the women's rights advocate. He told me that if I studied International Relations with an emphasis in the Middle East, he would guarantee me a job at the American Embassy in Egypt. He wanted me to eventually go there to use my position in the country to talk to Muslim women and encourage the fledgling women's rights movement. I thought this was a great idea. I had seen the Muslim women on TV; I knew they were a poor oppressed group, and I wanted to lead them to the light of 20th century freedom.

With this intention, I went to college and began my education. I studied Quran, hadith and Islamic history. I also studied the ways I could use this information. I learned how to twist the words to say what I wanted them to say. It was a valuable tool. Once I started learning, however, I began to be intrigued by this message. It made sense. That was very scary. Therefore, in order to counteract this effect, I began to take classes in Christianity. I chose to take classes with this one professor on campus because he had a good reputation and he had a Ph.D. in Theology from Harvard University. I felt I was in good hands. I was, but not for the reasons I thought. It turns out that this professor was a Unitarian Christian. He did not believe in the trinity or the divinity of Jesus. In actuality, he believed that Jesus was a prophet.

He proceeded to prove this by taking the Bible from its sources in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic and show where they were changed. As he did this, he showed the historical events which shaped and followed these changes. By the time I finished this class, my deen had been destroyed, but I was still not ready to accept Islam. As time went on, I continued to study, for myself and for my future career. This took about three years. In this time, I would question Muslims about their beliefs. One of the individuals I questioned was a Muslim brother with the MSA. Alhamdulllah, he saw my interest in the deen, and made it a personal effort to educate me about Islam. May Allah increase his reward. He would give me dawaa at every opportunity which presented itself.

One day, this man contacts me, and he tells me about a group of Muslims who were visiting in town. He wanted me to meet them. I agreed. I went to meet with them after ishaa prayer. I was led to a room with at least 20 men in it. They all made space for me to sit, and I was placed face to face with an elderly Pakistani gentleman. Mashallah, this brother was a very knowledgeable man in matters of Christianity. He and I discussed and argued the varying parts of the Bible and the Quran until the fajr. At this point, after having listened to this wise man tell me what I already knew, based on the class I had taken in Christianity, he did what no other individual had ever done. He invited me to become a Muslim. In the three years I had been searching and researching, no one had ever invited me. I had been taught, argued with and even insulted, but never invited. May Allah guide us all. So when he invited me, it clicked. I realized this was the time. I knew it was the truth, and I
had to make a decision. Alhamdulillah, Allah opened my heart, and I said, "Yes. I want to be a Muslim." With that, the man led me in the shahadah - in English and in Arabic. I swear by Allah that when I took the shahadah, I felt the strangest sensation. I felt as if a huge, physical weight had just been lifted off my chest; I gasped for breath as if I were breathing for the first time in my life. Alhamdulillah, Allah had given me a new life - a clean slate - a chance for Jennah, and I pray that I live the rest of my days and die as a Muslim. Ameen.

The Fern and the Bamboo.....

One day I decided to quit....
I quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality. .
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have
One last talk with God.

'God', I said.
'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?'

His answer surprised me...
'Look around', He said.
'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?'

'Yes', I replied.

'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds,
I took very good care ofthem. I gave them light.
I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from
the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant
and plentiful.

And again, Nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo'.

He said. 'In the third year, there was still nothing
from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from
the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.

He said. 'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout
emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small
and insignificant.

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to
over 100 feet tall.
It had Spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong and gave it what
it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a
challenge it could not handle.'

He said to me. 'Did you know, my child, that
all this time you have been struggling, you
have actually been growing roots?
I would not quit on The bamboo.
I will never quit on you.
Don't compare yourself to others.'

He said. 'The bamboo had a different purpose
than the fern, yet, they both make the forest
beautiful.'

'Your time will come, ' God said to me.
' You will rise high!'

'How high should I rise?' I asked.

'How high will the bamboo rise?'
He asked in return.

'As high as it can?' I questioned.

'Yes.' He said,'Give me glory by rising as
high as you can.'

I left the forest and brought back
this story.
I hope these words can Help you see that
God will never give up on you........

Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you Happiness.
Bad days give you Experiences.
Both are essential to life.
Keep going...
Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!

Mohammed (SAW) is the mercy of Human kind

His eyes slept very little,
For nights were precious,
His prayers he treasured much greater.
To wake and pray in the depths of night,
Seeking forgiveness, and being nearness his Creator.

He broke his tooth for me at Uhud,
And bled for me at Ta'if.
He cried for me, tears of concern,
Just so I could have this belief.

His enemies admired his teachings,
Uniting every religion, every clan.
Till ISLAM came to every corner of the world,
Yet, indeed, he was only one man.
To own a house, or build his wealth

Was not his main priority.
To establish ISLAM was more essential,
To bring us under a Higher Authority.
Don't you want him to plea for your case?

When before ALLAH, The Judge, you stand?
Don't you wish to be around his fountain?
Burning desire to drink from his hand?
So love him more than all creation,
Our Leader, OUR Humble Prophet.

Muhammad is a mercy to all of humankind, And to me, he is MY BELOVED!

Importance of Time

"Take benefit of five before five:

your youth before your old age,

your health before your sickness,

your wealth before your poverty,

your free-time before your preoccupation,

and your life before your death."[Hadith- al-Haakim, al-Bayhaqee,
Saheeh]

MANY people forget or neglect the importance of time although man's
life on earth is a span of time. Islam gives due attention to the
issue of time because if people waste their time, they are actually
wasting their life.

The Noble Qur'an gives due attention to the idea of time and this is
clear in many verses of the Qur'an when Allah swears using the
different places of times of the day to reveal the importance of
time, "By the break of Day," (Qur'an, 1:89) "By (the Token of) Time
(through the ages),' (Qur'an, 1:103) etc.

Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam says in one
Hadith: "There are two things that people are not aware of how
important they are: health and time." This Hadith stresses two
facts: People are not aware of the importance of being in good
health till they fall ill and people are not aware of the importance
of time and therefore waste their time doing trivial things.

There was research published in one of the magazines about how man
spends his time. The research revealed that if man lives for 60
years, he spends one third of his life sleeping because man usually
sleeps eight hours a day. Remaining years are spent in public
transportation, watching TV, eating, in the bathroom.etc. This means
that the larger part of man's life is spent in worldly matters. If a
person, Karen Armstrong, refers to this aspect of time in Prophet
Muhammad's Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam life. She indicated that what
the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam did in 23 years was
miraculous and what he accomplished required thousands of
philosophers, reformers, intellectuals and mentors to do in hundreds
of years.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who has failed a
grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth
to a pre-mature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask an editor of a weekly
newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage labourer who has
kids to feed.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the bride who is waiting to
meet her groom

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who has missed the
train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who has avoided an
accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who has won
a silver medal in the Olympics.

The Characteristics of Time

We are to bear in mind that time has certain characteristics, among
of which are the following:

Time passes quickly.

Time that passes can never return, nor can it be compensated for,
for time is irretrievable.

Time is the most precious thing that man possesses.

The following are some of the most important duties demanded of
Muslims:

Ensuring benefitting from time.

Utilizing leisure time.

Racing for good deeds.

Learning from the passage of time.

Seeking the superior times.

Planning and organizing time.

Fulfillment of time commitments.

Necessary awareness of time wasters.

One of the methods of managing his time properly is for a Muslim to
get up early and sleep early, for early hours always yield great
blessings. Starting his day with prayer and the supplication of the
morning brings the Muslim Allah's grace. A Muslim should always bear
in mind that every time has its own task that suits it. Doing tasks
in their due times brings about peace of mind and comfort. The most
important aspect being gaining such knowledge of Islam that will
enable and empower one to do such actions at a given time that
pleases Allah abundantly! A Muslim is disciplined and uses every
second constructively and productively!

Narrated Abdullah Bin Mas`ud Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alyhi Wa
Sallam said:"A man shall be asked concerning five things on the day
of resurrection: concerning his life, how he spent it; concerning
his youth, how he grew old; concerning his wealth, whence he
acquired it, and in what way he spent it; and what was it that he
did with the knowledge that he had." [Hadith]

May Allah guide us to use our time correctly and
beneficially! !!...Ameen

REMEMBER ALLAH IS ALWAYS THERE!!!

In your times of deep despair,
Do you feel there is no hope?
As the darkness closes in on you,
Do you feel you cannot cope?
As you struggle on through every trial,
Do you say "When will it end"?
As you cry yourself to sleep at night,
Do you wish you had a friend?
When your body's racked with aches and pains,
Do you feel you are alone?
When you think about the future,
Do you fear the great unknown?
There is someone who really cares,
And He hears your every cry.
His arms are reaching out to you,
And on Him you can rely.
When things close in around you,
He sees your fear and doubt â€"
He wants to hold you in His arms,
And He will never cast you out.
As you stumble through the darkness,
He will be your guiding light.
He wants to wipe away your tears,
For you are precious in His sight.
Reach out right now to Allah,
And let Him take complete control â€"
He'll take that heavy burden,
And He'll touch and make you whole.
He's reaching out His arms to you,
And He wants to be your friend.
Let Him take you in His loving arms,
For His love will never end.
In the HADITH we are informed that if we WALK towards ALLAH, HE will run unto us!!!

I LOVE ALLAH

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Muslim duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Allah to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands He held a book;
It was the book of life.
Yes, I do Love ALLAH!

MP makes Israeli troops Nazi link

http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/uk_news/ england/manchest er/7834487. stm

A prominent Jewish MP has compared the actions of Israeli troops with Nazis who forced his family to flee Poland.

Sir Gerald Kaufman, MP for Gorton in Manchester, drew the parallel during a Commons debate on the Gaza conflict.

Some members of the Jewish community - including his fellow MPs - have questioned the comments.

Louise Ellman MP, of the Labour Friends of Israel group, said the "dreadful" war in Gaza was not comparable to German actions in World War II.

Sir Gerald, who was brought up as an orthodox Jew and Zionist, told MPs: "My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town .. a German soldier shot her dead in her bed. "My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza."

"The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploit the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians. "

Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip have passed 1,000, medical sources in Gaza say, but Israel has continued to resist international calls for a ceasefire.

The Israeli government says the action is necessary to prevent Hamas rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Labour MP Louise Ellman said: "The Nazis were about rounding up and exterminating people because of their origins.

"What we're witnessing in Gaza is a dreadful war and the Israelis are trying to stop Hamas continuing to launch rockets from Gaza, targeting and killing and murdering Israeli citizens."

But speaking to the BBC on Friday, Sir Gerald said he was standing by his comments.

"We had an IRA bomb in Manchester which destroyed much of the centre - we didn't send troops over to Belfast to murder 1,000 Catholics."

Sir Gerald said he had been a long-term supporter of Israel and has personally known many of its prime pinisters.

But he added: "I am not going to stand by and keep silent when the Israeli troops - with a dreadful government sending them there - kill large numbers of innocent people with no useful result at the end of it all."

Think About It

Always Be the reason of someone's happiness…
Never just a part of it

Be the part of someone's sadness…..
Never the reason for it

Today before you think of saying an unkind word
Think of someone who can't speak

Before you complain about the taste of your food
Think of someone who has nothing to eat

Before you complain about your husband or wife
Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion

Today before you complain about life
Think of someone who went too early to heaven

Before you complain about your children
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren

Before you argue about your dirty house; someone didn't clean or sweep
Think of the people who are living in the streets

And when you are tired and complain about your job
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your
job

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down
Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around

Life is a gift...
Live it...
Enjoy it...
Celebrate it...
And fulfill it....

Live well! Laugh often! Love much!

HAVE A PLEASANT DAY

The True meaning of Life is to Plant Trees under whose shade you do not Expect to Sit.

A Letter form a Sister in Gaza

The following is a translation from Umm Taqi in Gaza

Asaalam Alykum,

My dear sisters and brothers I wanted to take this opportunity to send you a message from the sisters in Gaza . Please hear our situation and tell everyone that you know and don't know.

Our situation is dire but our eman is strong alhamdulillah, even though we have no water to speak of, and when we do it is polluted and we have no money to buy mineral water. When we find the money those that sell it say that it is too dangerous for them to travel out to get new supplies. We have no gas, and have not had for the last four months. We cook the little food we have on real fires that we have learned to prepare.

Our men have lost all of their jobs. They spend their days at home now. My husband can spend a day just going from place to place just for the basic need of water. He usually returns empty handed. There are no schools, no banks, hardly any hospitals open. You are constantly aware that you risk your life when you go out and when you are indoors. They give us a curfew between 1-4pm. We can go out, they say, in safety to get your supplies, but that is a lie. They have often used that opportunity to add more shuhada to their list.

We eat one day rice and one day bread. Meat and milk are a luxury. They are using chemical warfare in the areas which are on the borders.

All this and we are being told that people demonstrate all over the world. Masha Allah. the fact that you go to embassies and leave your homes makes us feel truly that we are not alone in our struggle.

But you go home at night and lock your door. We cannot do that. I have to leave my home on the second floor every night and stay with my sister on the ground floor. Should there be an attack, it's quicker to leave from the ground floor.

Yes we are tired. When we hear rockets and bombs and see planes that fly too close to our building, I scream with my young son and my husband feels helpless.

In all this there is no one but Allah (swt) that can save us. But the ummah is asking where are the armies, where is the victory. Don't forget us because you are all that we have now. Your kind sadeqat is not reaching us, and when they open borders it only reaches a few. Keep up the work of Allah and pray that the victory will come soon insha Allah.

Wassalaam.

Your sister umm Taqi.

A Question to everyone who reads this is.

What answer have we prepared to give Allah on Judgment Day when we are asked what we were doing while our brothers and sisters were being massacred, starved and humiliated? What happened to the Ummah being like one body? What has happened to the honor of the Muslims? What have we done lately to help? What has humanity done in name of justice?

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Ways to Help Gaza by Islamic Relief

This is from Islamic Relief's campaign for Gaza:

Islamic Relief is one of the largest aid agencies working on the ground in Gaza. Islamic Relief's emergency team spent Saturday purchasing life saving medication and medical equipment to stock Gaza's main Al Shifa Hospital. The agency is spending £169,000 sourcing life saving medical aid in the next forty-eight hours.

Aid workers report a scene of desperation in Gaza:

"This is the worst situation I have ever seen in Gaza. I visited a hospital and there were bodies outside and people crying. Buildings are totally destroyed. It's really horrific. We are working now to get aid to the hospitals" said Hatem Shurrab, IRW aid worker in Gaza. Due to the ongoing blockade of Gaza and limited humanitarian access Gaza's 1.5 million population has been suffering from increasing poverty. An estimated 1.1million Palestinians in Gaza are now dependent on humanitarian aid.

Malnutrition rates are on the rise and unemployment is at an all time high.
Hospitals are suffering from power cuts and because fuel is in short supply vulnerable patients with medical conditions are unable to receive regular treatment."

ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE (IRW) has launched an emergency appeal to raise £2 million to purchase urgent medical supplies and humanitarian aid to assist civilians in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.

Islamic Relief will be sourcing aid from inside Gaza and from neighboring countries to respond to the ongoing emergency.

Please help us to save lives by donation for medical aid and shelters.

Donate now:

Online - http://www.justgivi ng.com/gazaemerg encyappeal
or alternatively Call 0800 520 0000 (UK)

For donations for Islamic Relief Palestine from Worldwide please visit and join:

http://www.irpal. ps/indexm. php

Why Does Allah Allow Suffering and Evil in the World?

"Indeed Allah is All-Powerful (Al-`Aziz) and He is able to do all
things (`ala kull sha'in qadir). The Qur'an has mentioned this
hundreds of times. It is also mentioned in the Qur'an that Allah is
the Creator and He is the Best Creator. "Glory be to Allah, the best
Creator." (Al-Mu'minun: 14)

But then the question comes why pain and sufferings exist in the world.
We find sickness, old age and death. We see things that are ugly, people
who are insane and foolish. There are storms, earthquakes, floods,
draught and famine. We also see people commit sins, show disloyalty,
unfaithfulness, greed and insincerity. We see people commit rapes,
murders; they fight and make wars. We know all these and many more
problems. There are evils caused by human beings and there are natural
disasters. There are suffering for individuals and there are those that
involve a large number of people.

But we also know that this is not the whole story. Besides all these
negative things, we also see beauty, health, prosperity, life, birth,
wisdom, intelligence, growth and progress. We also see goodness among
people, faith, sincerity, charity, love and the spirit of sacrifice. We
also see a lot of virtue and piety. It is wrong to see one side of the
coin and not to see the other side. Any philosophy that concentrates on
one aspect of the creation and denies or ignores the other side is
partially true and partial truths are no truth at all.

It is also the fact that the element of good is more in the creation
than the element of evil. We all see that there are more people who are
healthy than those who are sick. There are more that eat well than those
who starve.

There are more people that lead decent life than those who commit
crimes. Goodness is the rule and evil is the exception. Virtue is the
norm and sin is the aberration. Generally trees bear fruits, the flowers
bloom, the winds move smoothly.

But then the question is why does Allah allow these exceptions to the
rules?

The Qur'an tells us that good, evil and whatever happens in this
world happens by Allah's Will (mashi'at Allah). Only Allah knows
fully His Will. We finite beings cannot grasp fully His infinite Will
and Wisdom. He runs His universe the way He deems fit. The Qur'an
tells us that Allah is Wise and everything that Allah does is right,
just, good and fair. We must submit and surrender to His Will. The
Qur'an has not given us all the details about Allah's Will, but
it has enlightened us with the guidance that is useful and sufficient
for us. There are several points that we should keep in our mind to
understand this issue:

1.First of all, Allah did not make this world a permanent world. This is
a temporary world and everything here has a time limit. When its times
comes it will die, come to an end and finish. Neither the good things of
this world are forever, nor the bad things eternal. We are here for a
short time and we are being tested. Those who will pass this test will
find an eternal world that is perfect and permanent. Those who will fail
this test shall see the evil consequences of their sins and corruption.

2.Allah has placed a physical law and a moral law in this universe.
Allah allows suffering to occur when one or more of these laws are
broken. The physical law is based on cause and effect. Sickness comes if
one does not take care of one's health or is exposed to infections.
A car accident occurs when one is not alert, or drives in a careless
manner, or if the cars are not checked, roads and freeways are not made
and kept in right shape, or the traffic laws are not right or not
properly enforced. Study of causes and effects is very important to
facilitate safeguards. Even here we should keep in mind that Allah often
saves us and He does not let us suffer from every negligence. How many
times it happens that we are not careful and still we reach safely to
our destinations. The way people drive in some cities, it is a miracle
that more accidents do not happen and more people do not suffer. Allah
says:

"(Allah) Most Gracious! It is He Who has taught the Qur'an. He
has created man: He has taught him speech (and Intelligence) . The sun
and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed; and the herbs and the
trees both (alike) bow in adoration. And the Firmament (sky) has He
raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), in order that
you may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice
and fall not short in the balance. It is He Who has spread out the earth
for (His) creatures." (Ar-Rahman:1- 10)

The ways we exceed the measures set by Allah and violate His laws of
cause and effect is incredible. It is really the mercy of Allah that we
are saved. Strictly speaking, the question should not be why does Allah
allow suffering, but how much Allah protects us and saves us all the
time in spite of our violations and negligence. The Qur'an says:

But sometimes Allah does punish people because of their violations of
His laws whether they are physical or moral. The Qur'an tells us
that many nations and communities were destroyed because of their sinful
lifestyles:
3. Suffering can also be a test and trial for some people. Allah allows
some people to suffer in order to test their patience and steadfastness.
Even Allah's Prophets and Messengers were made to suffer. Prophet
Ayyub is mentioned in the Qur'an as a Prophet who was very patient.
Good people sometimes suffer but their sufferings heal others and bring
goodness to their communities. People learn lessons from their good
examples. Martyrs die for their faith, soldiers give their lives for
their nations and this brings liberation and freedom for their people.

4. Allah sometimes allows some people to suffer to test others, how they
react to them. When you see a person who is sick, poor and needy, then
you are tested by Allah. Allah is there with that suffering person to
test your charity and your faith. In a very moving Hadith Qudsi (Divine
Hadith) the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

"Allah will say on the Day of Judgment, `O son of Adam, I was
sick and you did not visit Me.' He will say, `O my Lord, how
could I visit You, when you are the Lord of the Worlds.' Allah will
say, `Did you not know that My servant so-and-so was sick and you
did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him, you
would have found Me there?' Allah will say, `O son of Adam, I
asked you for food and you fed Me not.' He shall say, `O my
Lord, how could I feed you and you are the Lord of the Worlds?' And
Allah will say, `Did you not know that My servant so-and-so was in
need of food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that if you had
fed him, you would have found that to have been for Me?' `O son
of Adam, I asked you for water and you did not give Me to drink.'
The man shall say, `O my Lord, how could I give You water, when You
are the Lord of the Worlds?' Allah will say, `My servant
so-and-so asked you for water and you did not give him to drink water.
Did you not know that if you had given him to drink, you would have
found that to have been for Me.' (Muslim, Hadith no. 4661)

So to summarize, we can say that sufferings occur to teach us that we
must adhere to Allah's natural and moral laws. It is sometimes to
punish those who violate Allah's natural or moral laws. It is to
test our faith in Allah and to test our commitment to human values and
charity. Whenever we encounter suffering we should ask ourselves,
"Have we broken any law of Allah?" Let us study the cause of the
problem and use the corrective methods. "Could it be a
punishment?" Let us repent and ask forgiveness and reform our ways.
"Could it be a test and trial for us?" Let us work hard to pass
this test.

Believers face the sufferings with prayers, repentance and good deeds.
The non-believers face the sufferings with doubts and confusions. They
blame Allah or make arguments against Him.

May Allah keep us on the right path, Ameen!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Bonde Joke's

A blonde hurried into the emergency room late one night with the tip of her index finger shot off.
'How did this happen?' the emergency room doctor asked her.
'Well, I was trying to commit suicide,' the blonde replied.
'What?' sputtered the doctor. 'You tried to commit suicide by shooting off your finger?'

'No, silly' the blonde said. 'First I put the gun to my chest, and then I thought, 'I just paid $6, 000.00 for these implants. I'm not shooting myself in the chest.'

'So then?' asked the doctor.

'Then I put the gun in my mouth, and I thought, 'I just paid $3,000.00 to get my teeth straightened. I'm not shooting myself in the mouth.'

'So then?'

'Then I put the gun to my ear, and I thought: 'This is going to make a loud noise. So I put my finger in my other ear before I pulled the trigger.'

A blonde was driving home after a game and got caught in a really bad hailstorm. Her car was covered with dents, so the next day she took it to a repair shop. The shop owner saw that she was a blonde, so he decided to have some fun. He told her to go home and blow into the tail pipe really hard, and all the dents would pop out.

So, the blonde went home, got down on her hands and knees and started blowing into her tailpipe. Nothing happened. So she blew a little harder, and still nothing happened. Her blonde roommate saw her and asked, 'What
are you doing?' The first blonde told her how the repairman had instructed her to blow into the tail pipe in order to get all the dents to pop out.
The roommate rolled her eyes and said, 'Uh, like, hello! You need to roll up the windows first.'

A blonde was shopping at Target and came across a shiny silver thermos. She was quite fascinated by it, so she picked it up and took it to the clerk To ask what it was.

The clerk said, 'Why, that's a thermos..... it keeps hot things hot, and cold things cold.'
'Wow, said the blonde, 'that's amazing....I'm going to buy it!' So she bought the thermos and took it to work the next day.
Her boss saw it on her desk. 'What's that?' he asked.
'Why, that's a thermos..... it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold,' she replied.
Her boss inquired, 'What do you have in it?'
The blond replied..... ...'Two popsicles and some coffee.'

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out.
Her boss asks sympathetically, 'What's the matter?'
The blonde replies, 'Early this morning I got a phone call saying that my mother had passed away.'
The boss, feeling sorry for her, says, 'Why don't you go home for the day? Take the day off to relax and rest.'
'Thanks, but I'd be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it and I have the best chance of doing that here.'

The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. A couple of hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out from his office and sees the blonde crying hysterically.

'What's so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?' he asks.

'No!' exclaims the blonde. 'I just received a horrible call from my sister. Her mother died, too!'

Saturday, February 07, 2009

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year
grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly
grandfather' s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas
rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled
on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in- law became irritated with the mess. "We must do
something about Grandfather, " said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor". So the husband and wife set a
small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of
the family enjoyed their dinners together.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden
bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather' s direction, sometimes he had a
tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for
him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the
father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the
child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
"Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when you
get old." The four year old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears
started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew
what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather' s hand and
gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he
ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor
wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the
tablecloth soiled.

learn that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss
them when they're gone from your life. learn that life sometimes gives you a
second chance.

learn that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on
your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very
best you can, happiness will find you.

learn that children's eyes observe more than there ears ever hear and the
example we set for them determines their actions.

learn that make a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life".

learn that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love
that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the
back.

learn that people will forget what you said ...people will forget what you
did......but people will never forget how you made them feel.

learn that life is about people and making a positive difference.

learn that you should take care of yourself and those you love - Today and
Everyday!

learn we still have a lot to learn!

Jealousy and its Cures

"Beware of jealousy,for verily it destroys good deedsthe way fire
destroys wood."

Hasad (jealousy and envy) is among the most destructive emotions or
feeling which a man may have towards his fellow human being. It causes
him to wish evil for others and to be happy when misfortune befalls
them. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) warned against envy by
comparing it to fire that completely burns the wood. He (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys
good deeds the way fire destroys wood." [Abu Dawood]Hasad is a disease
of the heart and it causes impurity to the heart, when Allah's
Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) was asked who are the best of
people? He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) replied: "the one with a clean
heart and truthful tongue." They asked: 'We understand a truthful
tongue, but what does a clean heart mean?' he answered: 'It is the
heart of one that is pious, pure, and is free of sin, transgressions,
hatred and Hasad." [Ibn Majah]Hasad is such a dangerous characteristic
that Allah revealed verses of the Qur'aan to be recited as a protection
from the jealous, "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn… from the
evil of envious when he envies." [Soorah al-Falaq (113): 1]At-Tirmidhee
narrated from al-Zubayr Ibn al-Awam that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) said: "There has come to you the disease of the nations
before you, jealousy and hatred. This is the 'shaver' (destroyer); I do
not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (destroys) faith…"
[(Hasan) Jamee at-Tirmidhee (2434)]Hasad can cause the person to
indulge in disbelief because it causes the individual to feel that
Allah has not been fair with him; he forgets all the mercy and
blessings which Allah has bestowed upon him. The Messenger of Allah
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "They are enemies for Allah's
bounties." They asked: "Who are they?" He said: "Those who envy people
for what Allah has given them of Bounty." [at-Tabaranee] Allah through
His Absolute Wisdom has given some people more wealth, intelligence,
beauty, strength, children, etc. than others. The believing Muslim
should be content with what Allah has destined for him. Allah says:
[Soorah an-Nahl (16): 71] And: "Allah favored some of you over others
with wealth and properties… Do they deny the favors of Allah?""Do they
envy men for what Allah has given them of His Bounty?" [Soorah an-Nisa
(4): 54]"It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this
world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some
may employ others in their work. But the mercy of your Lord is better."
[Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 32] meaning mercy of Allah is better than the
convenience of the world. The materials of this life do not make one
superior to another in Allah's Judgment. True superiority lies in Taqwa
(righteousness, fear of Allah). He said: "Surely, the most noble of you
to Allah is the most God-fearing. " [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 13] "And
the Hereafter with Your Lord is (only) for those who have Taqwa."
[Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 35]What belongs to the transient world is of
no significance before Allah. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)
said: "If this world were worth a mosquito's wing before Allah, He
would not give a disbeliever a drink of water." [At-Tirmidhee] The
favors of Allah in the world are a test; the more the favors, the more
the tests. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: "Umar Ibn Khattab wrote this letter
to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, 'Be content with your provision in this world,
for the Most Merciful has honored some of His servants over others in
terms of provision as a test of both. The one who has been given plenty
is being tested to see if he will give thanks to Allah and fulfill the
duties which are his by virtue of his wealth…" [Ibn Hatim]Allah, the
Exalted, has therefore forbidden us from desiring what others have, "Do
not wish for what we have favored some of you over others." [Soorah
an-Nisa (4): 32]In order to discourage envy, the Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Do not look to those above you. Look to those
below you, as it will more likely remind you of Allah's favors bestowed
on you." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim] On another occasion, he
said: "If one of you looks at someone wealthier and better built than
him, he should also look at someone of lower standard than himself."
[Saheeh Muslim]

Islam permits GhibtahWhat Islam permits in contrast to Hasad
(destructive jealousy) is Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice),
which means neither loving the loss of the blessing nor hating for it
to remain with the person, but desiring the same for oneself without
the removal of the blessing from others.The Messenger of Allah
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Envy is allowed in two cases, in
case of a man whom Allah has given the Qur'aan and who recites it
throughout night and day; and a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth
who gives it away throughout night and day." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and
Saheeh Muslim] and he (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) also explained what
may be said: "I wish I were given what he was given and did with it
what he did."The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)
said: "The similitude of the people of this Ummah is like four
individual. One whom Allah has given wealth and knowledge, so he
handles his wealth with the knowledge. One whom Allah has given
knowledge but not wealth and he says, 'Lord, should I have wealth like
so-and-so I would have handled it like him.' So they both have the same
reward. Such a person loves to have wealth like others so he can do
good like others without wishing that the others lose their wealth.
Another man, Allah has given him wealth but no knowledge and he spends
his wealth in disobedience to Allah. And last, a man whom Allah has not
given knowledge nor wealth but he says, 'Should I have wealth like
so-and-so, I would spend it in the way he does.' So, both will have the
same sin against them." [at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Majah]

Some Reasons that cause a person to have JealosyAnger and Malice: When
one is hurt by someone for any reason, he is angered, and his anger
produces malice and urge for revenge in the heart. The slave begins to
desire harm for the other person, he enjoys when he sees him in
hardships and he may further think that Allah has done it to him as an
evil reward!And if the person is blessed with a gift, he grieves and
this is Hasad, which does not harm the envied person but it hurts and
destroys the Hasid (one who has Hasad) himself.In order to close the
door to this evil Islam advises the Muslims to be forgiving in nature
and control one's anger. Allah says in the Qur'aan: "Those who spend
(in Allah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger,
and who pardon men. Verily, Allah loves the good doers." [Soorah
al-Imran (3): 134]Arrogance, Pride and Love for fame: When a person
achieves a high status and position in the society or gains wealth, he
hates to see someone other than him compete or go ahead of him or be
praised over him. So, he envies the former person.An example of this
can be taken of the Jews and their Hasad towards Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) for the Prophet-hood that Allah entrusted
him with. Their envy made them reject the divine message given to him,
because he was an Arab and not from the Children of Israel. It was
their Hasad which caused them to make statements as such, "It is these
that Allah as favored among us?" [Soorah al-Anam (6): 53] "And they
say: 'Why is not this Qur'aan sent down to some great man of the two
towns?" [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 31] and in Soorah al-Muminoon (23):
34, "If you were to obey a human being life yourselves, then verily,
you indeed would be losers." This also shows one of the grave dangers
of Hasad that Hasad hinders the person from following the truth and
accepting advice from others just as the Hasad of the disbelievers
prevented them from accepting Islam.Evil Nature of the person: Some
people, even though they may not be harmed or threatened by other
people's success, grieve when they hear about some good happening to
others, and enjoy in their adversities. Neither do they seek progress
for themselves nor do they wish others to progress!! Such kind of
defect is difficult to cure for the reason behind their evil attitude
is the evil nature of the person which does not allow him to accept
other people's success.

Repentance and Getting Rid of JealousyFirstly, the believer should have
sincerity in repenting from Hasad as Allah's Messenger (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Three things that every heart of a believer
should not hate to have is sincerity in actions, rendering advise to
leaders and holding to Jama'ah (community) of the Muslims, for their
supplication surrounds everyone with them." [Ahmad and Ibn Majah]Second
requirement to get rid of Hasad is to get rid of all those means which
cause one to have Hasad like anger, hatred, love for the world and
discontentment. Discontentment comes from the slave's ignorance of his
Lord. If he recognizes his Lord with the attributes of Perfection,
All-Knowledgeable and All-Just to his slaves, he would not be
discontent and as a result would not develop Hasad.Imam Ibn Qayyim
(rahimahullah) said: "It (contentment) opens the door of peace and
security for the slave." It makes his heart pure from hatred, evil and
malice. The more contented the person is, the purer his heart is.
However, this does not mean that the slave should not make efforts to
improve his situation. A slave should work to gain success and progress
but he should not envy those whom Allah has granted more wealth or
possession but he should be content with the decisions of
Allah.Thirdly, the slave should turn towards the Qur'aan which is a
healing for the diseases of the heart. Allah says: "O mankind! There
has come to you a good advice from your Rabb and a healing for that in
your chests." [Soorah Yunus (10): 57]Supplicate to Allah to purify your
heart. Allah said in the Qur'aan: "And those who came after them
say: 'Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in
Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have
believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful."
[Soorah al-Hashr (59): 10]Give Sadaqah (charity) for it purifies the
heart and sanctifies the soul. It is for this reason Allah said to His
Prophet: "Take Sadaqah from their wealth in order to purify them and
sanctify them with it." [Soorah at-Tawbah (9): 103]If thoughts of Hasad
cross one's mind, he should seek refuge in Allah from the accursed
Shaytan and busy himself with something that will dispel these
insinuating whispers and thoughts.But if the Shaytan manages to instill
Hasad in the hearts, then beware lest you say or do anything which will
show Hasad. A person will not be brought to account for whatever
crosses his mind, but he will be brought to account for what he says
and does.Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: "Nobody is free from Hasad,
but the noble person hides it whilst the base person shows it." [Amraad
al-Quloob]If you feel that you are jealous of a specific person, then
buy him a gift, shake hands with him and give him salaams for Hasad is
the result of hatred and the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)
said: "Shake hands, for this will dispel rancour, and exchange gifts
and love one another, for this will dispel hatred." [Narrated by Maalik
in al-Muwatta (1413)]Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) narrated that the
Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "By Allah, in Whose Hand is
my soul, you will never enter Paradise until you believe. And you will
not believe unless you love one another. May I tell you something that
if you do, you may love one another? Spread Salaam amongst yourselves."
Ibn Abdul-Barr said: "This proves that Salaam can lift hatred and
produce love." [Saheeh Muslim]

"A Man from the People of Paradise will enter now..."

Anas Ibn Malik (radhi allahu anhu) reported that he and other
companions were sitting with the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam), who said: "A man from the people of Paradise will enter
now.." And a man from al-Ansar entered, with his beard dripping with
water from Wudhu (ablution), and holding his sandals in his left
hand.The following day, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said
the same thing and the same man entered.On the third day, the Prophet
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) again repeated his statement and the same
man entered with water dripping and holding his sandals.When the
Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) left, Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-As
(radhi allahu anhu) followed the man and said: 'I quarreled with my
father and I swore I would not go to him for three days and night.
Would you shelter me for these days?' the man replied: 'Yes.'Anas
said: 'Abdullah said that he stayed with this man for three nights and
he did not see him praying at night, but every time he moved and
changed position in bed he would remember Allah saying, 'Allahu Akbar'
Until Salat-ul-Fajr. "Abdullah said: 'I didn't hear anything from him
but good. When the three nights had passed… I said: 'O slave of Allah!
I really didn't abandon my father nor was I angry with him. But, I
heard the Messenger of Allah speaking of you on three separate
occasions, the Prophet had said that a man from the people of Paradise
would enter, and you were the one to enter on all the three times. So,
I wanted to stay with you to see what you do so that I could follow
you. But I have not seen you doing much. So what is that you do for
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) to say what he had
said?'The man replied: 'It is nothing more than what you saw.' When it
was time to leave, he called me back and said: 'Yes, it is nothing more
than what you saw, except that I have no place in myself for
ill-intentions or Hasad towards any Muslim and what Allah has given
them.' Abdullah said: 'This is what has made you deserving of the
praise and this is what we cannot do." [Musnad Ahmad]

From As-Sunnah Bi-Monthly Newsletter (issue 19) Compiled by Shawana A.

How a 13th Century Islamic Poet Conquered America

"exploring the relationship between the poet and his most popular translator, Coleman Barks."

The best-selling poet in America today could never have known that someday there would be such a thing as America. Born over eight centuries ago in what is now Afghanistan, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Sufi mystic, has traversed some rather astonishing cultural and temporal boundaries to become one of the most improbable leaders in American letters. A study of Rumi's success, however, would not be complete without exploring the relationship between the poet and his most popular translator, Coleman Barks.

On the spiritual and textual plane in which Rumi and Barks encounter one another, we find not a clash, but a fusion of civilizations, out of which has emerged a 13th-century Sufi devotee who is devastatingly fluent in postmodern American English. As throngs of Americans now worship Rumi for the way he worshipped Allah-at a time in which "Allah" has become a scary word in the "Western world"-the political significance of Barks' accomplishment cannot be overstated. Barks, a white man from Tennessee, doesn't speak or read a lick of Persian, and this fact both complicates and facilitates his ability to make a historically accurate Rumi accessible to mainstream America. A poet himself, Barks "re-Englishes" existing translations, releasing, in his own words, "the fire and ecstasy of Rumi's ghazals" from the stale confines of their scholarly translations. But because Barks himself has become a palpable presence in these ghazals, some critics have lambasted him for the liberal manner in which he has popularized Rumi.

In the eyes of his detractors, Barks has taken offensive liberties with his quote-unquote translations, disrobing Rumi from some of his more doctrinal attire, and transforming him into such an abstract sprite that any Western reader can easily exploit his icon to sanctify whatever carnal impulse they happen to be experiencing at the moment. Barks opens the door, critics object, to a la la land of no-rules Islam, a playground of exotic wisdom that conflates Sufism with Buddhism, with Taoism, with organic broccoli, with LSD. In Rumi: Past and Present, East and West, Franklin D. Lewis writes that Barks tends to "present Rumi as a guru rather calmly dispensing words of wisdom, capable of resolving, panacea-like, all our ontological ailments." Other scholars note that ambiguous traces of sectarian intolerance and even misogyny can be unearthed by studying Rumi in a historical context, and, in their estimation, Barks glosses over historical context, preferring instead to engage Rumi in the less problematic realm of eternity.

This is, in my opinion, quite harsh treatment of Mr. Barks, who has made tremendous progress in highlighting the shared values of cultures that have forgotten their shared history and humanity. In his defense, Barks has amassed a dedicated following in the Middle East, and despite accusations of cultural insensitivity, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Tehran for his success in making Rumi a hit in places across the United States where many feared that Barack Obama might be a secret Arab-Muslim. What strikes me most about the criticisms against Barks is that they generally accuse him of giving Rumi too friendly of a face-making him too universal, too endearing, too accessible to Americans. It is here that my praise for Barks flows in exactly the opposite direction of the criticism he has attracted. Although Barks may have had to escort Rumi through Ellis Island to import him to the United States, he has shown that one can Americanize an "other" without bastardizing him. The task of a translator working across vast expanses of time and space is not easy, and what Barks has done is beautifully-indeed, wondrously-rendered Rumi into an English that pierces through the souls of millions of Westerners, yet still remains reverently (if only relatively) faithful to the original Persian.

Poetically, this is significant. But politically, it is momentous. Although something may have been lost in his "translations," something more priceless has been found: in this American Rumi we have acquired a dazzlingly cogent ambassador of a slandered religion, and a most unlikely cultural bridge that could not have come at a better time.

Step outside the library for a moment, and consider the circumstances on the ground. The United States is fighting a war in Afghanistan, the birthplace of Rumi. We're fighting a war, of sorts, in Iraq, the birthplace of Sufism. We have been for some time now teetering on the brink of disaster with Iran, formerly known as Persia, and amid all of this, who rises to become America's most beloved poet? Walt Whitman? Robert Frost? No, a Persian Sufi whirling dervish from Afghanistan who preached of unconditional compassion and sang of the glories of abandoning oneself entirely in the annihilating light of Allah. There is powerful communal capital packed inside this peculiar factoid that could reverberate well beyond the poetry of Rumi. We should not let the organic cultural matter responsible for this transcontinental connection go to waste.

"Muslims are mistranslated everywhere"

To further dramatize the political import of an accessible Rumi, I'd like to juxtapose Barks' vaguely positive misrepresentation alongside another Persian-to-English translation controversy. In 2005, President Ahmadinejad made the following remark: "بايد از صفحه روزگار محو شود" Whatever this truly "means" in English, the phrase was translated into "Israel must be wiped off the map," and the threat was swiftly relayed across frenzied media wires around the world. Because "wiped off the map" is tough-guy Hollywood slang without even a distant relative in Persian, other translators tried to intervene, offering up some variation of University of Michigan professor Juan Cole's interpretation, "The Imam said that this regime occupying Jerusalem must (vanish from) the page of time." This alternate version reveals that Ahmadinejad, who has no authority whatsoever over Iran's military forces, may not have been directly threatening the people of Israel, but alluding to a passive wish for the collapse of the Israeli government. This distinction is critical. "Wiped off the map," however, has a deliciously genocidal ring to it, and it was quickly seized upon by warmongers in order to bolster their case for dropping B61 nuclear bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Islamophobia has now become a socially acceptable subcategory of anti-Semitism."

This is what we're up against. This is the climate of propaganda and militarism to which responsible cultural and literary criticism must be sensitive. In light of the relentless media assault designed to utterly disfigure the image of Islam in the eyes of the entire Western world, Barks' ostensible efforts to put a brighter smile on Rumi's face is one transgression I can learn to live with. Scholars may bicker-syllable by syllable-over the precise ownership of Rumi's odes, but this battle is bigger than stanzas. Muslims are mistranslated everywhere, egregiously so-not just their poetry, but their faces, their character, their humanity. Before deconstructing Barks to bits, consider the political ramifications of the poetic license assumed in the "wiped off the map" scandal: an entire country was reduced to a second-class leader who was reduced to a caricature who became a manifest casus belli. This is the same process of mistranslating a Middle Eastern country, recall, that led us into Iraq, and this reductive demonology is both representative and routine.

Islamophobia has now become a socially acceptable subcategory of anti-Semitism. Fundamentalist and terrorist have become not fringe, but mainstream definitions of what "Muslim" "means" in a frightened Western consciousness. Every day in the "news," the 1.8 billion varieties of Islamic experience across the world are compressed into quick images of sinister creatures toting weapons, silhouetted by smoke and flame, ululating in alien tongues. Oh, Rumi, if you have indeed inspired an irrational love of Allah through the "translations" of Coleman Barks, is this not better than an irrational hatred of Islam inspired by the "translations" of a hallucinating media machine?

"let's focus on joining Rumi in his realm of peace and unity"

I do wonder what Rumi would say about all this fuss over what his words meant so many years after his death. Perhaps he would find it ironic, given that he was concerned almost exclusively with the ineffable. It's hard to say what Rumi would say, not only because he's dead, but also because Rumi lost himself in translation a long time ago as he tried and, by his own ecstatic admission, failed to find words to convey the depth of his passion for God. In that sense, even he is an inadequate translator of himself, so perhaps he might cut Coleman Barks some slack. It is, after all, finding union in the silence between words that matters most to the mystic poet, finding connection and completion beyond the divisions of symbols.

Rumi points us to this wordless world, where we stand, if only fleetingly, on common ground with one another, where we are not separate, and no word exists-in any language-to say that you are different from me. In 2009, in this new year, as America struggles to find its heart and once again extend it to others, as we tear ourselves apart with metal and language, let's focus on joining Rumi in his realm of peace and unity, and not worry so much over what letters ultimately lead us there.



Ryan Croken is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago. His work appears in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and on Truthout, Word Riot, and nthposition.

Friday, February 06, 2009

FIFTEEN KINDS OF PLAGUE FOR A PERSON NOT PERFORMING NAMAZ

A hadith-i sharif [1], quoted in the book Qurratul’uyun, declares, “If a person does not perform namaz (salat) though he has no good excuse, Allahu ta’ala will give him fifteen kinds of plague. Six of them will come in the world, three will come at the time of death, three will come in the grave, and three will come when rising from the grave.

The six plagues in the world are:
1 - Person who does not perform namaz will not have barakat (plentifulness) in his lifetime.
2 -He will not have the beauty, the lovableness peculiar to those who are loved by Allahu ta’ala.
3 - He will not be given thawab (rewards) for any good he does. [This hadith-i sharif shows that the sunnats [2] of those who do not perform the fard (obligatory) prayers in time are not acceptable. That is, they will not be given thawab for their sunnats].
4 - His prayers (duas) will not be accepted.
5 - No one will like him.
6 - Blessings that (other) Muslims invoked on him will do him no good.

Kinds of torment he will suffer when dying are:
1 - He will expire in an abhorrent, unsightly, repugnant manner.
2 - He will die hungry.
3 - Much water as he may have, he will die with painful thirst.

Kinds of torment he will suffer in the grave are:
1 - The grave will squeeze him. His bones will intertwine.
2 - His grave will be filled with fire, which will scorch him day and night.
3 - Allahu ta’ala will send a huge serpent to his grave. It is not like terrestrial serpents. It will sting him at every prayer time each day. It will never leave him alone any moment.

Kinds of torment he will suffer after rising are:
1 - Angels of torment that will drag him to Hell will never leave him alone.
2 - Allahu ta’ala will meet him with wrath.
3 - His account will be settled in a very vehement manner, and he will be flung into Hell.”
GLOSSARY
[1] hadith (sharif): i) a saying of the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam).; al-Hadith ash-sharif: all the hadiths as a whole; ii) ‘ilm al-hadith; iii) Books of the hadith ash-sharif. iv) Al-hadith al-qudsi, as-sahih, al-hasan: kinds of hadiths (for which, see Endless Bliss, II).
[2] Sunnat: 1- (when used alone) The Shari’at; 2- (when used together with the name Book) The hadith of the Prophet. 3- (when used together with the word Fard) Any action, word or thought liked and commanded by the Prophet.

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and the verse, "Take care of your ownselves"

Question:

How can we refute, with strong and definitive evidence, those who quote the verse (interpretation of the meaning): "O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves" when they are enjoined to do that which is good and told not to do that which is evil?.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

This verse from Soorat al-Maa'idah is one that is misunderstood by some people. They think that it means that it is not obligatory to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and they sometimes quote it to those who are enjoining them to do something good or telling them not to do something evil.

In his commentary on the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

"O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error"

[al-Maa'idah 5:105]

The scholar Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti said:

The ignorant person may imagine, from the apparent meaning of this verse, that it is not obligatory to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, but the same aayah also indicates that if a person does his best (to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil), and there is no response, then this is what this verse refers to. That is where Allaah says "If you follow the (right) guidance", because whoever does not enjoin what is good is not following right guidance. Those who said this include Hudhayfah and Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyib, as quoted by al-Aloosi in his Tafseer; Ibn Jareer, as quoted by al-Qurtubi from Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyib; and Abu `Ubayd al-Qaasim ibn Salaam. Ibn Jareer also quoted something similar from a group of the Sahaabah including Ibn `Umar and Ibn Mas'ood.

Some of the scholars said that "If you follow the (right) guidance" means if you tell them but they do not listen; and some of them said that enjoining what is good is included in the meaning of guidance in this verse. This is very clear to any fair-minded person.

Further evidence that the one who does not enjoin what is good is not following true guidance is the fact that Allaah swears that such a person is lost, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"By Al`Asr (the time).

Verily, man is in loss,

Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (AlMa`roof) which Allaah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (AlMunkar) which Allaah has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allaah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad)"

[al-`Asr 103:1-3]

The truth of the matter is that it is obligatory to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and once he has done his duty, the one who enjoins good cannot be harmed by the misguidance of those who have gone astray. This is indicated by several verses such as (interpretation of the meaning):

"And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong"

[al-Anfaal 8:25]

and the ahaadeeth which indicate that if people do not enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, then Allaah will include them in His punishment. For example:

It was narrated that Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "O people, you recite this verse (interpretation of the meaning):

"O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error"

[al-Maa'idah 5:105]

But I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, `If the people see an evildoer and do not take him by the hand [to put a stop to his evil], soon Allaah will punish all of them." Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4338; al-Tirmidhi, 2168; and al-Nasaa'i _ with a saheeh isnaad. Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, no. 2448.

From Adwa' al-Bayaan, 2/169.

And Allaah knows best.

Abdullah Ibn Sailam

Al-Husayn ibn Sailam was a Jewish rabbi in Yathrib who was widely respected and honoured by the people of the city even by those who were not Jewish. He was known for his piety and goodness, his upright conduct and his truthfulness.

Al-Husayn lived a peaceful and gentle life but he was serious, purposeful and organized in the way he spent his time. For a fixed period each day, he would worship, teach and preach in the temple. Then he would spend some time in his orchard, looking after date palms, pruning and pollinating. Thereafter, to increase his understanding and knowledge of his religion, he would devote himself to the study of the Torah.

In this study, it is said. he was particularly struck by some verses of the Torah which dealt with the coming of a Prophet who would complete the message of previous Prophets. Al-Husayn therefore took an immediate and keen interest when he heard reports of the appearance of a Prophet in Makkah. He said:

"When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of God, peace be on him, I began to make enquiries about his name, his genealogy, his characteristics, his time and place and I began to compare this information with what is contained m our books. From these enquiries, I became convinced about the authenticity of his prophethood and I affirmed the truth of his mission. However, I concealed my conclusions from the Jews. I held my tongue...

Then came the day when the Prophet, peace be on him, left Makkah and headed for Yathrib. When he reached Yathrib and stopped at Quba, a man came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the arrival of the Prophet. At that moment, I was at the top of a palm tree doing some work. My aunt, Khalidah bint al-Harith, was sitting under the tree. On hearing the news, I shouted:

'Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! (God is Great! God is Great!' When my aunt heard my takbir, she remonstrated with me: 'May God frustrate you...By God, if you had heard that Moses was coming you would not have been more enthusiastic.'

'Auntie, he is really, by God, the 'brother' of Moses and follows his religion. He was sent with the same mission as Moses.' She was silent for a while and then said: 'Is he the Prophet about whom you spoke to us who would be sent to confirm the truth preached by previous (Prophets) and complete the message of his Lord?' 'Yes,' I replied.

Without any delay or hesitation, I went out to meet the Prophet. I saw crowds of people at his door. I moved about in the crowds until I reached close to him. The first words I heard him say were:

'O people! Spread peace...Share food...Pray during the night while people (normally) sleep... and you will enter Paradise in peace...'

I looked at him closely. I scrutinized him and was convinced that his face was not that of an imposter. I went closer to him and made the declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet turned to me and asked: 'What is your name?' 'Al-Husayn ibn Sailam,' I replied.

'Instead, it is (now) Abdullah ibn Sallam,' he said (giving me a new name). 'Yes,' I agreed. 'Abdullah ibn Sailam (it shall be). By Him who has sent you with the Truth, I do not wish to have another name after this day.'

I returned home and introduced Islam to my wife, my children and the rest of my household. They all accepted Islam including my aunt KhaIidah who was then an old lady. However, I advised them then to conceal our acceptance of Islam from the Jews until I gave them permission. They agreed.

Subsequently, I went back to the Prophet, peace be on him, and said: 'O Messenger of God! The Jews are a people (inclined to) slander and falsehood. I want you to invite their most prominent men to meet you. (During the meeting however), you should keep me concealed from them in one of your rooms. Ask them then about my status among them before they find out of my acceptance of Islam. Then invite them to Islam. If they were to know that I have become a Muslim, they would denounce me and accuse me of everything base and slander me.'

The Prophet kept me in one of his rooms and invited the prominent Jewish personalities to visit him. He introduced Islam to them and urged them to have faith in God...They began to dispute and argue with him about the Truth. When he realized that they were not inclined to accept Islam, he put the question to them:

'What is the status of Al-Husayn ibn Sailam among you?'

'He is our sayyid (leader) and the son of our sayyid. He is our rabbi and our alim (scholar), the son of our rabbi and alim.'

'If you come to know that he has accepted Islam, would you accept Islam also?' asked the Prophet.

'God forbid! He would not accept Islam. May God protect him from accepting Islam,' they said (horrified).

At this point I came out in full view of them and announced: 'O assembly of Jews! Be conscious of God and accept what Muhammad has brought. By God, you certainly know that he is the Messenger of God and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of God. I have faith in him and believe that he is true. I know him.'

'You are a liar,' they shouted. 'By God, you are evil and ignorant, the son of an evil and ignorant person.' And they continued to heap every conceivable abuse on me..."

Abdullah ibn Sailam approached Islam with a soul thirsty for knowledge. He was passionately devoted to the Quran and spent much time reciting and studying its beautiful and sublime verses. He was deeply attached to the noble Prophet and was constantly in his company.

Much of his time he spent in the masjid, engaged in worship, in learning and in teaching. He was known for his sweet, moving and effective way of teaching study circles of Sahabah who assembled regularly in the Prophet's mosque.

Abdullah ibn Sallam was known among the Sahabah as a man from ahl-al-Jannah "- the people of Paradise. This was because of his determination on the advice of the Prophet to hold steadfastly to the "most trustworthy handhold" that is belief in and total submission to God.

Reciting Soorat al-Ikhlaas 10,000 times for a sick person

Question:

I have a question related to a sick person who has found out that they have cancer. the family wishes to do a khatum(adults will gather and in silence they read the surah Iklas over and over hoping to read it 10,000 times, the niyat is for the sick individual to recover). Is this permissible, or should they just pray to Allah SWT for help individually?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Undoubtedly in the Qur'aan there is healing for mankind; and it was narrated that in certain verses and soorahs there is healing and protection for man, and that they can ward off bad things, by Allaah's leave, such as al-Faatihah, al-Mi'wadhatayn, Aayat al-Kursiy and Soorat al-Ikhlaas. Whoever recites some aayahs or soorahs, and repeats them three or seven times, as needed, without persisting in a specific number that was not referred to in sharee'ah, then there is no reason why he should not do that, so long as he believes that healing is in the Hand of Allaah Who has created in the Qur'aan healing for mankind.

To that may be added ruqyah using du'aa's narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), such as the words, "Adhhib al-ba's Rabb an-naas, wa'shfi anta al-Shaafi, laa shifaa'a illa shifaa'uka shifaa' laa yughaadir saqaman (Take away the pain, O Lord of mankind, and grant healing, for You are the Healer, and there is no healing but Your healing that leaves no trace of sickness)." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5243; Muslim, 4061)

And one may do as the great Sahaabi advised, when someone who was suffering pain complained to him. He said: "Put your hand on the part of your body that is hurting and say, "Bismillaah" three times, then say seven times, `A'oodhu Billaahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhaadhir (I seek refuge with Allaah and His Power from the evil of what I am suffering from and what I am worried about)." If one does that, and recites other du'aa's that have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in saheeh reports, that will be very good.

If trust in Allaah is combined with thinking of the meanings of the verses and du'aa's that are being recited, and both the one who is doing ruqya and the one for whom it is done are righteous people, that will be very beneficial, if Allaah wills.

Based on the above, gathering in the manner mentioned in the question and reciting "Qul huwa Allaahu ahad" a certain number of times (10,000 times) is not something which is prescribed in Islam, so you should be content with doing that which is narrated in the Sunnah. We ask Allaah to heal your sick loved one quickly, and to grant him good health. Ameen.

LIFE'S TUG OF WAR

Life can seem ungrateful
and not always kind...

Life can pull at your heartstrings
and play with your mind...

Life can be blissful
and happy and free...

Life can put beauty
in the things that you see ...

Life can place challenges
right at your feet...

Life can make good
of the hardships we meet...

Life can overwhelm you
and make your head spin...

Life can reward those
determined to win...

Life can be hurtful
and not always fair...

Life can surround you
with people who care ...

Life clearly does offer
its ups and its downs...

Life's days can bring you
both smiles and frowns...

Life teaches us to take
the good with the bad...

Life is a mixture
of happy and sad...

SO...
Take the life that you have
and give it your best...

Think positive be happy
let God do the rest...

Take the challenges that life
has laid at your feet...

Take pride and be thankful
for each one you meet...

To yourself give forgiveness
if you stumble and fall...

Take each day that is dealt you
and give it your all...

Take the love that you're given
and return it with care...

Have faith that when needed
it will always be there...

Take time to find the beauty
in the things that you see...

Take life's simple pleasures
let them set your heart free...

The idea here is simply
to even the score...

As you are met and faced with
Life's Tug of War.
~ author unknown ~

A touching story

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying
groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years was
still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look
for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking
down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. He knew I loved
yellow roses.

With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave,
but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on. Shopping for
one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered
how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft
green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of T-bones, dropped
them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back... She turned to go
and once again reached for the pack of steaks. She saw me watching her and
she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I
don't know."

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. "My
husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in
her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks.
And cherish every moment you have together."

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the
package in her basket and wheeled away. I turned and pushed my cart across
the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to
decide which size milk I should buy.

Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I
could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in my cart
and looked down the aisle toward the front.

I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards
me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I
had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she
kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes.
"These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow
roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they will know these are
paid for." She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled
again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still
unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping
and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so
clear. I wasn't alone. Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered,
with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.

Little Love [touching story]

The story begins like this... *

'How long will you be poring over that newspaper? Will you come here right
away and make your darling daughter eat her food?'

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu
looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a
bowl filled to its brim with Curd Rice.

Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned
eight. She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother and my wife are
orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of Curd Rice!

I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling, why don't you
take a few mouthful of this Curd Rice? Just for Dad's sake, dear. And, if
you don't, your Mom will shout at me.'

I could sense my wife's scowl behind my back. Sindu softened a bit, and
wiped her tears with the back of her hands. 'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just
a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should...' Sindu
hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire Curd Rice, will you give me whatever I
ask for?'

'Oh sure, darling'.

'Promise?'

'Promise'. I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine,
and clinched the deal.

'Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted. My wife
slapped her hand on sindu's, muttering 'Promise', without any emotion.

Now I became a bit anxious. 'Sindumma, you shouldn't insist on getting a
computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money
right now. OK?'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'. Slowly and painfully, she
finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my
mother for forcing my child eat something that she detested.

After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with
expectation. All our attention was on her. 'Dad, I want to have my head
shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand!

'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'a girl child having her head shaved off?
Impossible!' .

'Never in our family!' my mother rasped. 'She has been watching too much of
television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!'

'Sindumma, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you
with a clean-shaven head.'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Sindu said with finality.

'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?' I tried to
plead with her.

'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'. Sindu was
in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for. Now, you are
going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King
Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honour our promises no matter
what?'

It was time for me to call the shots. 'Our promise must be kept.'

'Are you out your mind?' chorused my mother and wife.

'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honour her own.
Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.'

With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big
& beautiful.

On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my
hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I
waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted,
'Sinduja, please wait for me!'

What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. 'May be, that is the
in-stuff', I thought.

'Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a
lady got out of the car, and continued, 'That boy who is walking along with
your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from ... leukaemia.'

She paused to muffle her sobs. 'Harish could not attend the school for the
whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the
chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional
but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week, and
promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never
imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son! Sir,
you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.'

I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, will you grant me a
boon? Should there be another birth for me, will you be my mother, and teach me what Love is?'