Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Al-Rum (The Romans)
Chapter 30: Verse 30 (Partial)

True Nature
"adhere to the true nature on which Allah has created human beings."

All human beings have been created with that true innate nature which prompts them to believe that the One True God alone is the Creator, the Lord and the only object of worship and obedience, requiring them to adhere to that attitude. Should they decide to consider themselves invested with sovereign authority, they would be deviating from their true nature. Likewise, should they decide to submit to the authority of any other than the One True God, they would again be deviating from the true nature with which they were born.

This truth has been elucidated in several traditions narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him). According to a tradition, narrated by Ahmed ibn Hanbal and Nasai, the Muslims killed a large number of their enemies in a battle, including children. On learning this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was infuriated and said: "What happened to the people today that they exceeded all limits in killing so much that they even killed children?" Thereupon someone pointed out that those killed were, after all, the children of polytheists. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "The best among you are the children of polytheists. Every living being is born with a true nature until he starts speaking and then his parents turn him into a Jew or a Christian."

Source:
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, Vol. 8, pp. 99, 100

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Fasting Forever!

"Whoever fasts Ramadan, and six of Shawwal, it will be as if he/she has fasted for a whole year."
[Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Majah]

"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to fast Mondays and Thursdays".
[an-Nasai, Sahih]

"Whoever fasts three days each month, it is like fasting all the time."
[at-Tirmidhi]

Blindspot!

The drug of the 21st century

The pornography industry is a mega-billion-dollar industry and growing. The people who run it don't care about you. They just want your money. They know it's addictive and have found ways to entice and trap you.

Have you ever watched one of those nature films where a crocodile is hiding in a pond? The thirsty gazelle trots around the pond, afraid to get too close, while the vicious, one-ton croc waits silently below the surface. Eventually, the gazelle overcomes its fear, meanders to the pond, and begins drinking. Suddenly, the gaping jaws of the crocodile reach up and grab its prey, pulling it beneath t he surface and eating it alive.

So it is with porn. If you get too close it will reach up, sink its teeth into you, and pull you down beneath its murky waters so fast you won't even know what happened. It's especially tempting for guys, even though girls are getting into it more and more.

Pornography is a behavioural addiction as strong as cocaine. Avoid it. Be smart and self-aware. Throw it away or turn it off. Put your computer in the family room where everyone can see it, not in your bedroom. If you are hooked, get help, just as you would with a drug addiction. Studies show that it is difficult to overcome on your own. Don't let anyone tell you it's normal or harmless or that boys will be boys. We all know better.

Pornography is usually viewed in secret. But that which is done in the dark will eventually be brought to light in the form of broken relationships, low self-esteem, and unfulfilled dreams.

Source:
"The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make" - Sean Covey, pp. 256-260