\r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n| \r\n Living the Quran \r\n |
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTranslation:\r\n\r\n\r\nSurah al-Muminun (The Believers)
\r\n
\r\n Chapter 23: Verse 71"Were \r\n the truth to follow their desires, the order of the heavens and the earth \r\n and those who dwell in them would have fallen into ruin...."
\r\nTruth is Absolute
\r\nIt is customary for foolish people to become \r\n angry with those who tell them the truth. Such people wish \r\n to hear whatever best suits their interests rather than what \r\n is true and what accords with the facts. Such men tend to forget that \r\n the truth remains the truth regardless of whether \r\n people like it or not. Even if all people combine to negate \r\n a fact or change a truth into a falsehood, the will fail to do so.
\r\nBlame the wishful \r\n thinking
\r\nFoolish people fail to appreciate that if there \r\n is any discordance between their wishful thinking and reality, then it \r\n is their wishful thinking that is to blame rather than reality. \r\n In denying reality, such people cause no harm to it per se, instead \r\n they only harm themselves.
\r\nConform to Reality
\r\nThis immense system of the universe is based \r\n on well-established realities and inalterable laws. Living in the framework \r\n of such a universe, it is imperative that man \r\n strive to bring his thoughts, wishes and conduct in conformity with reality. \r\n He should constantly apply himself, with the help of rational argument, \r\n experience and observation, to what reality indeed is.
\r\nDon't be a fool!
\r\nIt is only the puerile who, at both mental \r\n and practical levels, adamantly cling to their preconceptions, wishes \r\n and biases and who attempt to show those realities \r\n as conforming to their preconceived ideas. Once they embark \r\n on this course, they turn blind eye to every piece of argument, howsoever \r\n weighty and reasonable it might be.
\r\n[compiled from \"Towards Understanding the Quran\", Vol 6, \r\n by Shaykh Abul A'la Mawdudi
\r\n
\r\n (The Islamic Foundation, Leicester UK, 1998), pg 114]
| \r\n Prophetic \r\n Guidance \r\n |
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n:!: The Small Deeds :!:
\r\n
\r\n Comprehensive Nature of Salah and \r\n SadaqahCharitable deeds done \r\n for the welfare of the community are the best forms of 'Ibadah \r\n (worship) and are considered branches of Iman (faith), \r\n as long as those who do them do not seek praise and cheap \r\n popularity but only the pleasure of God.
\r\nThe Prophet Muhammad (sall \r\n Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
\r\n\"Sadaqah (charity) is due on each joint of a person, \r\n every day the sun rises. The administration of justice between \r\n two people is a sadaqah; assisting a man to mount \r\n his ride, or helping his luggage onto it is a sadaqah; \r\n and a good word is a sadaqah; and every step towards \r\n Salah (prayer) is sadaqah; and even removing \r\n a harmful thing from a path is a sadaqah.\" \r\n
\r\n
\r\n [Agreed Upon]On another occasion, he added: \r\n \"Salah (prayer) is due on each joint of a person \r\n every day.\" A person in the audience said: \"That \r\n is the most difficult thing you have required us.\" \r\n The Prophet then said:
\r\n\"Your \r\n commanding the common good and forbidding the evil and undesirable \r\n is a salah; your help for the weak is a salah; \r\n your removing of dirt from a pathway is a salah; \r\n and every step you take towards the Salah is a salah!\" \r\n
\r\n
\r\n [Ibn Khuzaymah]There are many sayings of the \r\n Messenger that rank cheerfulness towards other Muslims, \r\n helping the blind, the deaf and the weak, advising those \r\n who are lost and confused, relieving the distress of the \r\n needy, etc as forms of 'Ibadah and Sadaqah. \r\n In this way, a Muslim lives his or her life as a vital source \r\n of virtuous deeds.
\r\nThe Prophet said: \"Blessed \r\n is he whom Allah has made a key for righteousness and a \r\n lock against evil!\" [Ibn Majah]
\r\n[compiled from \r\n \"Islamic Awakening: Between Rejection and Extremism\"
\r\n
\r\n by Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, (Zain International, London, \r\n 1991), pp 161-2]
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| \r\n Family & \r\n Community \r\n |
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\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSaving \r\n Your Family
\r\nFor a believer one of \r\n the most hurtful feelings is when he or she watches \r\n their own family going astray from the path of Islam. \r\n Most of the time, we do not know how to react. Here \r\n are some points to keep in mind when we are in such \r\n situations:
\r\n1. Do Not Give Up on Your \r\n Family
\r\nThis should never be an option. \r\n The Prophets ('alayhim \r\n salaatu was-salaam) never gave up on their families \r\n because of the latter's disobedience to Allah. \r\n They did not consider the task of inviting one's \r\n family to Allah as an 'extra duty' performed by \r\n them, but as part of their own salvation. They kept \r\n reminding their families of dedication and obedience \r\n to One God, Allah till their natural death came \r\n or the punishment of Allah overtoke them. And we \r\n ask Allah's protection from that.
\r\n2. Show them Your \r\n Love and Care
\r\nYour family needs to \r\n realize that you care for them deeply and it hurts \r\n you seeing them going astray. They \r\n need to see that your concern for them stems from \r\n your genuine love and not a sense of superiority \r\n or self-righteousness. They don't need \r\n emotional black-mail or repeated nagging, but sincere \r\n advice in everyday matters and guidance in any doubts \r\n and questions they may have. Give \r\n gifts, help them in their day-to-day tasks, and \r\n be there in their times of distress and need, whether \r\n they be practising or not.
\r\n3. Take it One \r\n Step at a Time
\r\nDo \r\n not expect your family to completely change overnight, \r\n just because you did! Some, in fact most, \r\n people take time to change. Think about the fact \r\n that the majority of the Makkan people during the \r\n time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) \r\n became Muslim after having been with him, the Prophet \r\n of God, for 13 years!
\r\n
\r\n Do not jump into telling them what they have to do or \r\n what not. Tell them why it is good or \r\n bad, your own reasoning process, and prepare their \r\n mind before mentioning what Allah wants them to \r\n do. For example, instead of lecturing or ordering \r\n them to wear Hijab, explain why it is such \r\n an important part of Islam and Muslim identity, \r\n its benefits and rewards. Whenever you say such-and-such \r\n is Halal or Haram, prepare to answer \r\n why!
\r\n And be careful about what \r\n you lay emphasis on. There is a wisdom \r\n in priorities. For example, it does little good \r\n to speak about watching too much TV when the person \r\n does not even pray. For every Haram, you \r\n must provide a better Halal alternative or \r\n it will be replaced with more Haram or idleness.4. Have regular \r\n Family Gatherings
\r\nHow about one weeknight \r\n after dinner? Or spending a weekend morning together? \r\n You can use these opportunities to talk about your \r\n family issues, discuss Islamic teachings, and where \r\n you as a family should be headed, etc. This gathering will bring your family members close to each \r\n other, allow them to express their thoughts and \r\n feelings openly and realize that they \r\n are one mutually-supporting entity.
\r\n5. Do Not Coerce \r\n but Pray for them
\r\nWe \r\n should know that guidance comes from Allah alone, \r\n no matter how hard we try. Our duty is \r\n to present Allah's message in a loving and wise \r\n manner so they can help themselves make up their \r\n mind. But throughout all this, we turn to Allah \r\n alone for guidance, for ourselves and our loved \r\n ones, and put our trust in Him alone, lest we lost \r\n heart in our own efforts.
\r\n6. Be True to Yourself
\r\n
\r\n They know you too well and love you, so be yourself! \r\n Your greatest duty is to \r\n be a shining example of a sincere, trying, albeit \r\n naturally imperfect, Muslim not to give \r\n the impression of a 'super-Momin' who is never wrong. \r\n That natural and simple way of living and thinking \r\n will insha-Allah be an irresistable attraction \r\n that will draw you and your family closer to Allah.
\r\n\r\n[by Abul A'la Morshed & Taha \r\n Ghaznavi, YMFN Staff Writer]\r\n
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