Story - Past Event:- The Patience of Abu Qilabah

I came across this story/incident, and subhan'Allah the lessons tobe
learnt from it are numerous. Please read…
Imam al-Awza'i narrates from 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad that he said:
I went out to the shore as a patrolman and our patrolat the time was
in al-'Areesh in Egypt. When I arrived at the shore, I cameupon an
open area and there was tent on it. In the tent was a man who had no
hands and legs and he was hard of hearing and sight. None of his limbs
were of benefit to him but his tongue, and he was saying: 'O Allah,
grant me (the ability) to praise youa praise through which I can
sufficiently thank Youfor the favours You have bestowed upon me and by
which You have preferred me over many whom You have created a great
preference.'
Al-Awza'i said: 'Abdullah said: 'By Allah, I will certainly go to this
man and I shall certainly ask him about this speech. Perhaps it is an
understanding, or knowledge or inspiration which was inspired to him?'
So I approached the man and greeted him and said to him: 'I heard you
and you were saying: 'O Allah, grant me (the ability) to praise you a
praise throughwhich I can sufficiently thank You for the favours You
have bestowed upon me and by which You havepreferred me over many whom
You have created a great preference' so what favour from the favours
of Allah upon you are you praising Him for? And in what way did He
prefer you over others a great preference that you need to thank Him
for it?'
He said: 'Don't you see what my Lord has done? By Allah, if He sent
the sky to me as a fire which burned me, or ordered the mountains to
crush me, or the oceans to drown me, or the earth to swallow meup; it
would only cause meto be more grateful to my Lord for the favour of
this tongue He bestowed upon me.
However, O slave of Allah, as you have come to me, I have a need of
you! Perhaps you see me and the state I am in, I cannot harm nor
benefit myself. I had a young son who usedto come to me at the time of
prayer and help me do my ablution, and when I became hungry he'd feed
me, and if I became thirsty he'd provide me with a drink but I have
missed him for the last three days, so please look for him on my
behalf may Allah have mercy on you.'
I said: 'By Allah, no creaturecould fulfill the need of another which
is greater inreward with Allah than a need similar to yours.' So I set
out looking for the young boy, and I hadn't gone far before I came by
asand hill, and behold I found the boy who had been preyed upon by a
beast which ate his flesh! I did istirjaa' (saying 'inna lillahi wa
inna ilayhi raji'un') and said: How am Igoing to be able to face this
man with a gentle face?!'
As I was heading towards him, the dhikr (words of remembrance) of
Ayyub ('alayhisalam) came to my heart. So when I reached him I greeted
him and he responded and said: 'Are you not my companion?' I said
'Yes!' He said: 'What did you do about my need?' I said: 'Are you more
honourable in the site of Allah or was Ayyub the Prophet?' He said,
'Of course, Ayyub the Prophet.'I said: 'Do you know what His Lord did
with him? Did He not test him in his wealth, family and children?' He
said, 'Yes.' I said: 'How did He find him?' He said: 'He found him
patient, grateful and praising.' I said: 'He was not pleased with that
for him until his relatives and loved ones deserted him?' He said,
'yes.' I said: "How did His Lord find him?' He said: 'He found him
patient,grateful and praising; make this short may Allah have mercy on
you.' I said to him: 'The young boy you sent me in search of, I found
him in a sand hill having been preyed upon by a beast which had
eatenhis flesh. May Allah increasefor you tour reward and may He
inspire you with patience.'
The tested man said: 'Praise be to Allah Who did not create from my
progeny creations who would disobey Him and He would then punish them
by the fire. He then did istirjaa' and breathed a sigh and died.'

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Story - -What is Islam and who are Muslims?

Islam simply means to achieve peace - peace with God, peace with
oneself, and peace with the creations of God - through wholly giving
oneself God and accepting His guidance.
Islam is not a new faith. Muslims believe that it is the same truth
that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a
fifth of the world's population, Islam is not just a personal
religion, buta complete way of life.
Muslims come from all races, nationalities and cultures across the
globe. They have varied languages, foods, dress, and customs; even the
waythey practice Islam may differ. Yet they all consider themselves to
be Muslim.
Islam is a qualitative term -the quality of accepting God's supreme
authority above one's own. As such, being a Muslim does not mean
having to give up one's culture or traditions; rather it means
adopting the simple and logical principles of Islam to better one's
life and attain peace.
Less than 15% of Muslims live the Arab world; a fifth are found in
Sub-Saharan Africa; and the world's largest Muslim community is in
Indonesia. Substantial parts of Asia, and almost allthe Central Asian
republics, are Muslim. Significant Muslim minorities are found in
China, India, Russia, Europe, North America and South America.

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Qur'an Ayath - Explanation :- -

"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become
divided. And remember thefavor of Allah upon you - when you were
enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His
favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He
saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that
you may be guided."
Surat 'Āli `Imrān [3:103]

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE -:- * The very first Ayath came to our Nabi (s.a.w)! {in Al QURAN}.

"Read! In the name of yourLord Who created. Created man from clinging
cells. Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful. The One Who taught with
the Pen. Taught man what he did not know." (Qur'an 96: 1-5)

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Story - - BE POLITE

A man broke his wife's heart into pieces but her reply to him was "I
shall remember you not as the one who broke my heart but as the one
who taught me how to live with a broken heart."
Imagine if we all begin to think like this? We would have lesser
animosity, problems, and dramas
between a divorced couple and their family

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''Advise'':-:-Bellies and Souls

Most of us are concerned with our bellies and the souls of others;
when we should be concerned with our own souls, and the bellies of
others. The first thing the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said when he
arrived in Madinah was, "Spread peace, and feed the people."
Instead of judging others, care for them. Feed them, help them, and
spread peace. That is your representation as a Muslim,your da'wah, and
your salvation of the world. In the process, you save your own soul.

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Story - Past Event:- Beauty All Around Us

Every Saturday I drive fromFresno, in the geographical center of
California, across the western side of the SanJoaquin Valley and up
into the mountains, to Casa de Fruta. It is such beautiful country,
SubhanAllah. The San Joaquin Valley is a part of California's great
Central Valley, a vast agricultural breadbasket that runs 450 miles
(720 km) from north to south.
Right now in March, the fields are on fire with orange poppies and
yellowmustard flowers. The almond trees have been blossoming for a
month, and the white petals fall to the ground like rain. On myway
home, I sometimes pull over and park under the almond trees. I have a
snack, listen to the radio, then get out and practice martial arts
moves beneaththe trees. When the irrigation pumps are running I use
the water to wash my face or perform wudu'.
The grapes are just coming up – the slender stems are like the idea of
a grape vine. Corn, cotton and lettuce are newly planted, and birds
with long white necks flock to the fields. The fields are full of huge
herds of white sheep and black cows, and our uniquelocal cows with a
large white stripe down the middle.
The green grass sweeps up into the mountains, where it becomes forest
and finally snow.
The years-long drought is over. The San Luis Reservoir is setting a
new high water mark. It is normally full of islands, butnow they have
all disappeared as the water isa solid sheet of deep blue from one
side to the other, with fingers of water stretching into
surroundingvalleys. I've never seen it so high. The Eastside Bypass,
which is a flood control channel and is normally dry as dust, is
running with water.
The San Joaquin River is running to the Pacific Ocean for the first
time in decades. In coming years the Chinook salmon may return to the
river, Insha'Allah. This is a type offish that swims upriver from the
sea. There has notbeen a Chinook run on the San Joaquin River since
the 1940′s.
The skies in this part of the Valley are huge, with vast expanses of
clouds sweeping the sky like ships. Late in the day, the sky is a
giant palette of blue, yellow, orange and red.
The world is amazing. Never think that beauty is gone from the world.
Openyour eyes and look at the majesty around you. All this was not
created in vain. It is a miracle, a blessing, and a sign pointing to
the Most Merciful God.
SubhanAllah, glory to Allah The Provider, The Creator, The One.
Sheep butt heads near a dried-up irrigation ditch in the Central Valley in 2009.

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Qur'an Ayath - Explanation :- A Cry for Help - Turn to Repentance

I am a young man, nineteen years of age, and have involved myselfin a
great deal of sin. Even to the extent that I do not pray most of my
Prayers in the mosque, and I have never completely fasted the month of
Ramadaan in my entire life. Besides these, I have committed other sins
as well. I have vowed to repent many times before, however, after
doing so I lapse back into these same sins. The youths of my area are
just as bad, as are the friends that I associate with. And Allaah
knows that I have transgressed against myself and that whenever I
repent, I return back to the same sins. I hope that you may direct me
to a path that will bring me closer to my Lord and distance me from
these evil actions of mine. Allaah - the Might and Majestic - says:
"Say O My Slaves who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not
despair of Allaah'smercy. Indeed Allaah forgives all sins, Truly He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."[Soorah az-Zumar 39:53].
There is a consensus from the Scholars that this nobleaayah (verse)
was revealedfor the taa'ibeen (those who repent). So whoever sincerely
repents from his sins, then Allaah will forgive him all his sins, as
occurs in the saving of Allaah - the Most Perfect - :
"O you who Believe! Turnto Allaah in sincere repentance. Perhaps
yourLord may remove from you your sins and admit you into Paradise
beneath which rivers flow." [Soorah at-Tahreem 66:8].
So in this aayah (verse), Allaah has made the removal of sins and
entry into Paradise dependant upon sincere repentance. And sincere
repentance is conditional upon: [i] abandoning the sin and keeping
away from it, [ii] having regret and remorse for committing the sin,
[iii] truly intending not to commit the sin again, [iv] remembering
the greatness of Allaah and hoping for His reward, whilst fearing His
punishment. Another condition for sincere repentance is that if due to
transgression, the wealth or property of someone has been stolen or
usurped,then it must be returned orforgiveness must be sought from the
one whose wealth, blood or honour has been taken. However, if the
honour of aperson has been violated and the situation is such that it
is not possible to seek that persons forgiveness, then plenty of du'aa
(supplication) should be made for his welfare and he should be spoken
good of in those places where he had previously been backbitten, since
good deeds wipe away badones. Allaah - the Most Perfect - said
"Turn you all in repentance to Allaah, O Believers, in order that you
may be successful." [Soorah an-Noor 24:31].
So in this aayah (verse) Allaah the Mighty and Majestic - linked
success with tawbah (repentance) and points to the fact that the
repentant person will reach success and happiness, and if such a
person were to follow up this repentance with eemaan (faith) and doing
righteous actions, then Allaah would efface his evilactions and change
them to good actions, as Allaah the Most Perfect - said
aftermentioning the sins of Shirk (directing worship that is due only
for Allaah to other than Allaah), taking a life without just cause and
fornication and adultery-:
"And whoever does this, will receive the punishment, The punishment
will be doubled for him on the Day of Judgement and hewill live
therein in disgrace. Except for thosewho repent, have eemaan (faith)
and do righteous actions. For them Allaah will change their evil deeds
into good ones, and Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Soorah
al-Furqaan 25:68-70]
And from the causes of tawbah (repentance) are humility and
submissiveness to Allaah - the Most Perfect - and asking Allaah for
guidance and ability, and that acceptance of one's repentance is
considered asa Favour from Allaah, as Allaah - the Most Perfect -
said:
''Call upon Me and I will respond to your supplication." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60]
And He - the Mighty and Majestic - said
"And when My servant asks you concerning Me, say to them that I am
indeed near, And I respond to the supplication of the one who
supplicates to Me." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:186].
Also, from the causes of tawbah is choosing good companionship and
friendship and following them in righteous conduct, whilst staying
clear of bad companionship.

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''Advise'':-:-

"Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu'ah, will have a light
that will shine from him from one Friday to the next." (Narrated by
al-Haakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249)
And this light means...either the light of guidance or eman in the
heart, or light in the grave, or light on the Day of Qiyamah! ♥
Why miss out then? It just takes 15 to 20 minutes insha Allah. :)

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HADEES:->-

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever maintains his chastity, does so with the grace of Allah. Whoever finds self-sufficienc y does so with what Allah has enriched him. Whoever is patient draws his fortitude from Allah. And no one has been given a gift better or more bountiful than patience.”
[Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1469) and Sahîh Muslim (1053)]/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

ISLAMIC ARTICLE ~ Live the Moment – It’s All You Have

Try to appreciate the present moment and truly live it, rather than
using it up by feeling guilty about the past, or fretting about the
future. Regret for the past is awaste of spirit, and worrying about
the future is pointless.
Hanan Bilal, a community activist and motivator from Florida, asks,
"When will we stop living in the past and longing for our future? All
we really have is this moment. The question is what are we going to do
right now? Our time is now!"
The Past
That's not to say that contemplation of past and future is verboten.
The Quran tells stories of the past in order to educate us. The
Messenger of Allah (sws) told us many stories of past Prophets and the
Bani Israa'il, for the same reason. We study world history, we study
theseerah of our Prophet and the lives of the Sahabah, because it
inspires and informs.
I taught a martial arts class several hours ago and I'm still
reviewing it in my mind, examining what I could do better next time.
That's part of the learning process for me.
I have a sweet young daughter named Salma and I often think about my
time with her, something funny that she said, orthe small gifts that
she likes to make for me. Yesterday she mademe a card that says "I
love Baba." A few days ago we had a poetry reading at our local Muslim
community center, and in between readings our host told jokes. For
some reason Salma positioned herself in the front row, and every time
our host tolda joke I heard Salma laughing loudly, even though I'm
sure she did not understand the jokes ("dovegetarians eat animal
crackers?"). Crazy kid, ha ha. So yeah, I think about past moments.But
I'm not stuck in the past. I think about those moments because they
educate me or makeme smile, so they become a part of my present and
future.
On the other hand, I occasionally think about my former marriage, and
those are usually not good thoughts, because I tend to dwell on the
mistakes I made, and I feel sadness or guilt. I've already
contemplated deeply on that period in my life, and I've learned my
lessons. I don't need to keep returning there in my mind, punishing
myself. If I did, then I would indeed be stuck in the past,unable to
move forward. That is the kind of pointless regret that weighs people
down and burdens their spirits.
The Future
We plan for the future by having goals, getting an education, working
hard, saving money, always learning and improving ourselves. We plan
for our aakhirah by dedicating ourselves to Allah, worshiping, giving
our money to the poor and orphans, and humbling ourselves. We buildour
futures step by step. But it's not productive to sit around biting our
nails and thinking, "What if I fail my exam, oh, when will I get
married, what's going to happen if I lose my job, how will Ipay my
bills…" You make yourselfsick and it doesn't help.
Don't worry, plan . There's a huge difference! Then acknowledge that
you don't control the future. That's Allah's province. Trust in Him,
let him be your guide, find your security in Him.
The security of the dunya is false security. Suffering is the lot of
all Adam's children, in one way or another, and death comes when we're
ready or not. The security of Allah is real and transcends thisworld.
The Moment
This moment is all we have, my friend. The past is gone, and the
future never comes, because when we get there, we're still in the
present.
If you take this moment to breathe deeply and say, "SubhanAllah wa
bihamdihi" – glory to Allah and all praise to Him– and then thank
Allah for the blessings in your life, or sit down and play a game with
your child, go for a walk in the sunshine, maybe take a few nature
photos, call an old friend, write your spouse a love note, read a
verse from the Quran and contemplate it – then you have lived! You
have turned that moment into a precious gem, something to smile about
and feel good about.
Let's live the moment, be conscious of it, feel it, and give Allah the
credit, and in doing so let's turn the moment into a circle of
sunshine and barakah.
P.S. Isn't that the most amazing photo above? I absolutely love it. I
want to roll around in that grass,bathe in that river, call the
adhaanto the sky, and build a small house among those trees.
SubhanAllah

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Health ~ Fruit and vegetables

Due to their nutritional and health benefits, it's recommended that
fruit and vegetables form the basis of your diet, with a minimum
intakeof five portions each day - abouta third of your daily food
consumption. Currently the UK averages two to three portions aday, so
we're falling well short ofthe benefits they can provide.
Fruit and vegetables should be incorporated into every meal, as well
as being the first choice for a snack. Population studies have shown
that people who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables may have a lower
risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease and some cancers .
Health benefits can be gained from fresh, canned (in natural juice),
frozen, cooked, juiced or dried versions. Potatoes don't count though,
as they're a starchy food .
Top
How much is a portion?
*. One piece of medium-sized fruit, such as an apple, peach, banana or orange.
*. One slice of fruit, such as melon, mango or pineapple.
*. One handful of grapes or two handfuls of cherries or berry fruits.
*. One heaped tablespoon of dried fruit.
*. One small glass (150ml) of unsweetened 100 per cent fruit or
vegetable juice. Juice counts as a maximum of one portion regardless
of how much you drink.
*. A smoothie containing all of theedible pulped fruit and/or
vegetable may count as more than one portion but this depends on how
it's made. Smoothies count as up to a maximum of two portions per day.
*. A small tin (roughly 200g) of fruit
*. 3 tablespoons of fruit salad or stewed fruit.
*. One portion of canned fruit is roughly the same quantity of fruit
that you would eat for a fresh portion, such as two pearor peach
halves, six apricot halves or eight segments of tinned grapefruit.
*. A side salad.
*. A serving (roughly 80g) of vegetables, such as frozen or mushy
peas, boiled carrots or stir-fried broccoli.
*. Beans and pulses count as one of your five a day portions butonly
count as one portion a day, no matter how many you eat.
*. Cooked dishes that contain significant amounts of vegetables may also count.
So how do you ensure an intake of five portions a day? Here's a typical plan:
*. Glass of fresh orange juice or smoothie for breakfast = one portion.
*. Small pack of dried apricots for mid-morning snack = one portion.
*. Side salad with lunch = one portion.
*. Sugar snap peas and broccoli, served with main meal = one portion.
*. Strawberries as dessert = one portion.
Do remember that some fruits contain many of their nutrients just
under the skin, so eating them with the skin on can provide greater
nutritional benefits and the maximum amount of fibre compared with
just drinking the juice of the same fruit.
Top
Why are they important?
Fruit and vegetables of differing colours contain diverse mixturesof
phytonutrients (protective plant compounds). These can act as powerful
antioxidants, protecting the body from harmful free radicals and
helpingto protect against certain chronicdiseases such as cancer. Some
fruit and vegetables are labelled as 'superfoods' because they contain
high concentrations of some phytonutrients, particularlyantioxidants,
which appear to bebeneficial to health.
*. Blueberries - contain flavonoids that can improve circulation and
help defend against infection
*. Broccoli - rich in the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene, as
well as folate, all of which can protect againstcardiovascular disease
and cancer
*. Tomatoes - rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can
protect against harmful free radicals
But variety is the key. In additionto these phytonutrients, each
variety of fruit and vegetables contains its own combination of
vitamins , minerals and fibre . Choosing a variety throughout the day
will provide a diverse package of essential nutrients.
Top
Boiled or steamed?
Although fruit and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals,
many of these essentialnutrients can be easily destroyedby heat when
cooking and during food preparation. Water-soluble vitamins are
especially vulnerable when boiled. One solution is to eat raw
vegetables as much as possible, such as rawcarrot, celery or peppers.
When cooking vegetables, try steaming, microwaving or poaching rather
than boiling. These methods do not involve immersing them in water, so
the maximum amount of nutrients can be retained, as well as their
fresh taste. If you prefer to boil vegetables, do so for the minimum
amount of time and in as little liquid as possible in orderto retain
their valuable nutrients. You could also utilise the water used in
another part of your dish, such as gravies or stocks, to recapture
some of the leachednutrients.
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NEWS ~ China jails smuggler Lai Changxing for life

Lai Changxing has been jailed forlife for running a multi-billion
dollar smuggling ring, Chinese media say.
~
Xinhua news agency said Lai, extradited from Canada, was convicted and
sentenced by a Fujian court.
The 53-year-old was accused of bribing officials and smuggling goods
including cars, cigarettes and oil in one of China's biggest political
scandals.
He fled to Canada in 1999 and avoided extradition for 12 years by
arguing he faced torture and execution in China.
Beijing promised Canada he would not be executed and he was deported in 2011.
Canada usually forbids the extradition of suspects to countries where
they might face the death penalty, and the case severely tested
diplomatic relations between the two.
Smuggling operation
Analysis
Martin Patience
BBC News, Beijing
Lai Changxing operated his smuggling ring from the port city of
Xiamen. He led a luxurious lifestyle, reportedly being driven around
in a bullet-proof MercedesBenz.
The enterprise is said to have made billions of dollars in avoiding
custom revenues. But scores of officials were on his payroll -
exposing the extent of corruption in China.
According to reports, he had a luxurious mansion where he
pliedofficials with alcohol and prostitutes. The crime boss is also
believed to have high-level contacts among China's military and
political elite.
Lai fled to Canada after his huge smuggling ring was smashed by the
authorities in the 1990s. He fought a decade-long legal battle to
remain in Canada.
The case strained relations between the two countries. But Beijing got
its man after it promised Canada that Lai would not be executed if
found guilty.
The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of
Xiamen - the city at the heart of Lai's operations - after a trial
which began in early April.
The court said Lai's income that was obtained illegally would be
confiscated, Xinhua reports.
Lai was accused of running a huge smuggling operation from 1991 to 1999.
He established a complex networkto cheat import tariffs of 13.99bnyuan
($2.21bn) on goods worth 27.39bn yuan, the court said.
The goods included cigarettes, cars, heating and cooking oil, textiles
and chemicals.
It also said Lai and his associates bribed 64 government officials
with amounts totalling 39.13m yuan.
Some 300 people were punished for their involvement in the operation.
"The sums involved are unusuallylarge, and the details are
extraordinarily serious," the courtsaid, according to the Xinhua
report.
It is not clear whether Lai is planning to appeal.

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE ~ Story of the Ants

Muslim Ummah and Islamic Society: The Lost Message (Story of the Ants)
From time immemorial, Ants have had many enemies.
There were some who thought it would be wise to hold council together
to see if they could come to some arrangement whereby they could live
without being attacked by other animals.
At the council meeting, there wereRed Ants, Rice Ants, Black Ants,
Wagtail Ants, Gray Ants, Shining Ants and many other varieties.
The discussion continued for a long time, but they could not agree.
Some desired that they should all live in a small hole in the ground.
Others wanted to build on the ground, where nobody could enter but
Ants.
Still some wanted to dwell in Trees so as to get rid of
Anteaters,forgetting entirely that there theywould be the prey of
Birds.
Each party resolved to go to workin its own way, with its own responsibilitie s.
Each group had an appointed task, and each member of the group worked
regularly and well.
But unity of all the Ants could not be seen anywhere in the world.
The ants chose a King from among them. They divided the labor so that
all went as smoothly as it possibly could.
But each group did it in its own way and not one of them thoughtof
protecting themselves against the onslaught of birds or Anteaters.
The Red Ants built their house on the ground and lived under it,
butAnteaters flattened their home in a minute after days of precious
labor.
The Rice Ants lived under the ground and with them it went no better.
For whenever they came out, Anteaters were waiting.
The Wagtail Ants fled to the Trees,but on many occasions Centipedes
sat waiting for them, or the birds gobbled them up.
The gray Ants had intended to save themselves from extermination by
taking to flight, but lizards, hunting Spiders and birds flew a great
deal faster thanthey did.
When the Ant King heard that the different groups of animals could
come to no agreement, he sent them the secret of Unity and the message
of working together.
Until this day, they have not understood the message of unity and
working together between each group and each species.
"O Naml! Enter your houses, (that)Suleiman and his hosts may not crush
you while they do not know" (27:18)

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STORY ~ The Prophet's (Mohamed Nabi's) Birth

The Year of his Noble Birth:
According to the most correct opinion of the scholars, the Prophet
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (SAWS) was born in the cityof Makkah in
the year of the Elephant (in the year 570 or 571CE), in the month of
Rabee'ul-Awwal.
The Day of his Birth:
There is an agreement amongst the Scholars that the Prophet (SAWS) was
born on a Monday, since he (SAWS) was asked about fasting on a Monday,
and he said:"On that day I was born and on that day Revelation
descended upon me." (Related by Muslim andAhmad)
However, as regards the exact date of his birth, then the scholarshave
differed about this. Dispite the common belief amongs people that he
(SAWS) was born on the 12th of Rabee'ul-Awwal, yet the only
substantiated fact regarding this date is that it is his (SAWS) death
date .
Imaam an-Nawawee (d.676H) - rahimahullaah- said: "There is on
agreement that he was born on Monday in the month of Rabee'ul-Awwal.
There is a difference of opinion whether this day was the2nd, 8th,
10th or 12th day of the month - and these are the four most well-known
opinions concerning this." 3
Events at the Time of his Birth:
Certain miraculous events are reported to have occurred at the time
that the Prophet (SAWS) was born. However, most of them are not
authentically related, rather they are da'eef (weak) or mawdoo'
(fabricated) and therefore cannot be relied upon as decisive proof;
such as the narration which relates that someof the galleries of
Kisraa's (the Persian King's) palace broke-up and collapsed, that the
sacred-fireof the Magians died-out and that some of the churches on
Lake Saawah (in Syria) collapsed and sank down. (Related by
adh-Dhahabee who said: munkar ghareeb (rejected))
However, it is authentically related that the Prophet (SAWS) said. "I
am a result of the supplication of my father Ibraaheem and the
glad-tidings brought by 'Eesaa 'alayhimus salaam. And my mother - when
she bore me - saw that a light shone out from her, which lit up the
palaces in Syria ... " (Related by al-Haakim and Ibn Katheer said:
"Its isnaad is good and strong.)
Celebrating the Day of his Birth:
Imaam al-Fakihaani (d.734H) - rahimahullaah -said: "Celebrating his
birthday has no basis in the Book (Qur'an) nor the Sunnah, nor is this
action recorded from any one of the scholars of this Ummah; those who
are taken as examples to be followed and whocling to the narrations.
Rather it isa bid'ah (innovotion), which was introduced by the
Battaaloon (a deviated sect from the Faatimids).
As regards to the origins of this newly-invented celebration, then
some of the research scholars have stated that the first person to
innovate this practice was 'Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mulaa in the city of
Mawsil in Iraaq, during the fourth century, as is mentioned by the
Imaam Abu Shaamah (d.665H).
He was followed in this by the likes of Abul-Khattaab 'Umar ibn
Dihyaa: "who was employed in the west, then travelled to Syria, then
he travelled to the city of Irbil in 'Iraaq, during the fourth
century, where he found its king Mudhaffarud-Deen ibn Zaynud-Deen
showing a keen interest in the Milaad (birthday) of the Prophet
(SAWS). So he composed a book for him called at-Tanweer fi
Mawlidis-Siraajil-Muneer; so he recited this to the king who then
rewarded him with one thousanddeenaars."
Imaam Maalik (d.179H) - rahimahullaah - said: 'Whosoever introduces
into Islaam an innovation, and holds it to be something good, has
indeed alleged that Muhammad (SAWS) has betrayed his message. Read the
saying of Allaah - the Most Blessed, the Most High: "This day Ihave
perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and I
have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." [Soorah al-Maa'idah
5:3]. So that which was not part of the religion at that time, cannot
be part of the religion today. And the last part ofthis Ummah cannot
be rectified, except by that which rectified its first part."
Thus, had the practice of celebrating the birthday of the Prophet
(SAWS) been something praiseworthy then: "the Salaf (thePious
Predecessors) - may Allaah be pleased with them all - would have
instituted it. For they were the ones having a greater love and honour
for Allaah's Messenger (SAWS) and a greater zeal for doing good.
Indeed, the most perfect expression of love and honour for him is by
following him, obeying him, carrying out his commands, upholding and
reviving his Sunnah (guidance and example) - both inwardly
andoutwardly - and in spreading his message and striving in this,
withthe heart, the hand and the tongue. Such was the path of the
Companions and those who followed them in goodness (i.e. beliefs and
actions)."

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STORY ~ Sister Naasira bint Ellison, a convert to Islam Hudaa, Jamaica, New York

Since the height of the feminist movement in the late 70's there has
been a magnifying glass placed over the status of Muslim women.
Unfortunately, the magnifying glass that has been used is an unusual
one. Unusual in the sense that it is very selective about which items
it will magnify; other items it will distortto such a degree that they
will no longer look familiar. I remember once reading in an "in depth"
article about the lives of Muslim women. This article "explained" that
at any time a man can divorce his wife by simply stating"I divorce
you, I divorce you, I divorce you". This article can lead anyone
ignorant of the Islamic ruling regarding divorce to believe that in
less than five seconds the woman is left with no husband and is left
to care for herself (and possibly children) by any means necessary.
The question that immediately popped up in my mind was, "Did the
author innocently write that out of sincere ignorance or was itanother
of the many attempts to degrade the religion of Islam and its
followers (muslims)?" It may be my own paranoia, but I tend to believe
it was the latter of the two.
The truth of the matter is that Islam has the most humane and most
just system of divorce that exists. Firstly, many options are taken
and tried before coming to the decision of the divorce. If the man and
woman decide that theycan no longer live together successfully as a
husband and wife, the husband (in most cases, not always) pronounces
the divorce by saying "I divorce you". At this point the waiting
period begins. The waiting periodlasts for three menstrual cycles to
assure the woman is not pregnant. This period allows the couple time
to think about what they are doing and if this is what they really
want to do. There are no lawyers involved to antagonise an already
delicate situation.
In the case that it is realised, that the woman is pregnant, the
waiting period lasts the entire time she is pregnant. During the
waiting period (whether the woman is pregnant or not) the man is
obligated to provide food, clothing and shelter to the woman as he did
before the divorce pronouncement. If the couple carries the divorce
through to the birth of the child and the woman suckles the baby, the
man is obligated to feed and clothe both his ex-wife for the time the
woman suckles (the maximum being two years). Afterthis weaning, the
child will be provided for by the father until he/she is no longer in
need of support.
It is quite ironic that in such an"advanced society" as America, there
are divorce cases in which women are being forced to pay alimony to
their ex-husbands. Canthis and many other things we know about the
American system of divorce compare to the Islamic system of divorce?
I have also read stories wherein itis stated that women are forced to
marry men without their consent. This in no way resembles the marriage
system inIslam. In Islaam the woman marries the man of her choice. She
may even marry someone that her mother and/or father objects to. The
point is that it is the woman who makes the final decision as to whom
she will marry. Once the man and the woman decide that they are
interested in one another for marriage, a dowry is decided upon. A
dowry is not a brides price but, it is a gift from the groom to the
bride. They agree upon a gift that is affordable by the groom. In the
time of the Prophet (sas), often things such as livestock and money
were given. This is a wise decision in the event that a woman becomes
divorced or widowed, she has some financial security to fall back on
even if it is for a limited amount of time. Once the man and woman are
married, the man is required to clothe, feed, shelter and educate her
(or allow her to be educated) in the same manner as he does himself.
The last distorted image that I willcover is that of the Muslim
women's dress. The western influenced media portrays our dress to be
outdated and oppressive. Needless to say however, I differ with these
adjectives. Our dress code does not hinder us from doing anything
productive in our lives. Muslim women maintain a varietyof jobs, non
of which are devalued nor hampered due to their dress code. And as for
the timing of muslims women's dressduring these contemporary times,it
seems most appropriate due to decreasing morals in the world today.
For those who say that Islamic dress is outdated, they speak from
great ignorance. The decreasing morality and trials of this time makes
Hijaab even morein need.

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ADVISE ~ Wisdom: The Poem of Zuhayr

I haven't delved into classical poetry for a while now, so here's one
I liked from a while back (with some basic explanations and thoughts
of my own).
It's a small excerpt from the famous mu'allaqah poem of Zuhayr ibn Abi
Sulmah . He was apoet from the Jahili period (the era before Islam)
who had his own well-celebrated mu'allaqah. Interestingly, it is said
that he would only recite and announce his poems after one complete
year had passed in which he spent perfecting it – hence he was
nicknamed 'Sahib al-Hawliyat'
He says in his poem:
سَئِمتُ تكاليف الحياة ومَن يَعِش *** ثمانين حَولاً – لا أُبا لك – يَسْأم
I have come to hate the burdens of life, and whoever lives
For eighty years will surely come to hate and tire of them
وأعْلَمُ عِلمَ اليوم والأمسِ قبله*** ولكنني عَن عِلمِ ما في غَدٍ عَمِ
I know the reality of today and that of yesterday before it
But of the realities of tomorrow, Iam blind and ignorant
ومَن يَكُ ذَا فضْلٍ فَيَبْخَلْ بفَضْلِه *** على قَوْمِه يُسْتغنَ عَنه ويُذْمَمِ
Whoever possesses goodness butproves miserly to his people
Then they shall prove sufficient of him, and he shall be humiliated
The theme of 'Nasihah wal-Hikam' (Counsel and Wisdom) starts to take
shape here with Zuhayr telling people that fadhl (virtue, possessions,
wealth etc) is something that a person is gifted with and thus it's
not proper to be miserly with it, withhold it from society, or prevent
helping others by it etc. It's interesting he says على قومه ('to his
own people'), because the first benefactors of our gifts should be
those closest to us i.e. family, community etc. By spreading one's
talents, possessions and goodness (whether materialistic and tangible
like wealth or conceptual like uprightness), a community becomes
stronger, progresses forward and allows people to live well.
ومَنْ هابَ أَسْبابَ المَنايا يَنَلنَه*** وإنْ يَرْقَ أسبابَ السماء بِسُلَّمِ
Whoever fears the causes the death, shall only be met by them
Even if he ascends to the heavensupon a built stairway
Death is written for us all, even though the causes and ways maybe
different for us. Courage and the act of delving into the heat
ofbattles, taking up challenges and defending one's tribe have always
been seen to high calibre traits. So the more fearless a person is,
the higher of a status they occupy among their people. This is Zuhayr
effectively saying not to fear the causes of death because those who
fear a certain cause of death will no doubt be met by it. And there's
no running away from death even if you took a staircase to the
heavens. This is a true concept and belief reflected in the Qur'anic
verse:
"Wherever you may be, death shall overtake you, even if you should be
within towers of lofty construction…" [al-Nisa: 78]
ومَن يَجعَلِ المَعْروفَ فِي غَيرِ أهله *** يَكُنْ حَمْدُه ذَمَاً عَليه ويَندَمِ
And whoever pays good duty to those who do not deserve it,
Then his act of praise becomes blameworthy and he shall come to regret
Paying good duty to people and giving them credit is a standard which
we all must live by. However there are times when our act needs to be
reviewed depending on who exactly we are dealing with. Hence it's not
a proper measure of our intellect if we give pay high credit to
someone who does not deserve it in the least, rather we should just
let them be without harming them. It is only those who deserve it that
should attain our key attention, service and goodness; otherwise we'll
come to regret the fact that we perhapswasted our efforts on one
personwhen there was someone else more deserving of all that effort.
ومَن لم يَذُدْ عَن حَوضِه بِسِلاحِه*** يُهَدَّمْ ومن لا يَظلم الناس يُظلم
And whoever does not defend his water well with his weapon
Will be overpowered; and whoever does not oppress shall be oppressed
This poem was written in the Days of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) and so you
can really see the nature and outlook of the people at that time.
There were no governing laws and no accountability except those simple
standards set out by tribal chiefs. Effectively, it was 'each man to
his own' or 'each tribe to their own' and in the poetic lines above
you can understand what Zuhayr is alluding to. He is saying that
whoever does not protect his own possessions will lose them to others;
and the scene he sets is that of a water well. Historically in the
desert and openfields, the tribes would usually settle around sources
of water and build a well which sustained them. Without this well, the
tribe will die off due to lack of water. Now what would happen if
another tribe tried to take possession of that well? Yes, you got it:
Warfare (now now, don't be surprised, leading countries doit in our
times too; but it's oil rather than water!).
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HADEES ~

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: "All of my ummahare apt
to be forgiven, except for those who commit sins openly." [Bukhari]
When a person commits a crime in public, justice demands that
thecriminal be punished. The purpose of punishment is that it acts as
a deterrent. If a criminal is not punished, it provides an incentive
to all would be criminalsto go ahead.
Similarly, so long as a sin is known only to the sinner and Allah,
Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) may forgive it. But when sin is committed
publicly, the punishment becomes incumbent on the sinner. Sinning
publicly shows a person's insensitivity towards the enormity of what
they are doing. Seeing sins takingplace in public, also desensitizes
other people to the sin, taking them one step closer to doing it
themsleves. This is why, even if we are to find out about immoral
activities happening, we should not broadcast them, for to do so would
further spread evil in society.
~
NABI $ AVARGAL KOORINARGAL
sooriyan udhayamagum natkalil jumah naal(thaan) migavum sirandha
naalagum Andha naalil than ulaga mudivugalum yaerpadum
THIRMIDHI 450
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Health ~ NOW HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE..

NOW HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE..
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without
help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to
feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing
consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and
very vigorously.
A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be
deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the
chest.
A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without
let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating
normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze
the heart and keep the blood circulating.
The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal
rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

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Health ~ Exercise on the move ~ Give your body its daily workout even while you holiday

Many people find it difficult to stick to their fitness regime because
of frequent travel. Whether travel is for pleasure or for business,
it's time to incorporate a few minutes of fitness into your daily
routine to ensure your body is ready for the day's events.
Essential seven
Begin with some light stretches and warm up exercises like bending and
touching your toes, marching on the spot or side steps. You can even
skip; you don't really need a skipping rope. A good exercise programme
mustinclude exercises to cater to the seven basic Primal Pattern
movements of the body as devised by Paul Chek, founder C.H.E.K
Institute, USA. These are seven primary movements that are the basis
from which all othermovements are performed in ourdaily activity. A
Neanderthal man in the wild who could not perform these seven movement
patterns would have had a limited chance of survival.
Some creative exercises for more advanced and regular exercisers
within the comfort of your hotel room are Terra band exercises to
remind your body of your strength training sessions. Terra bands are
the ultra-portable way to fit a gym in a suitcase. Floor exercises for
TA activation, calisthenics that use body weight,abs and core
exercises, flexibility and so much more can be done when you are on
the move! Squat-thrusts, jumping jacks, chair dips, mountain climbers,
walking lunges, superman, one leg squats, and the list is endless...
Explore and experience
There are two types of travellers: those who love to travel, and those
who are forced to travel. Now if you are the former, it is easy to
incorporate a fitness programme into your travel schedule. All it
takes is a little bit of creativity. Just like you explorenew places
and try new food, you can evolve new fitness strategies based on the
place youare visiting. From mountain bikes to canoe rides, the world
is yours to explore. To those for whom travel is an unpleasant
compulsion, just remember wherever you travel, you still need to eat,
sleep and certainly exercise. You might as well be prepared with
fitness routines within your room so that you never miss out on
exercising. Finally, wherever you may go, exercise! You simply cannot
afford not to!
Walk: Ensure that you walk everyday! A jog or a sprint will keep your
heart healthy.
Push: Perform regular push-ups or modified ones with the knees on the
floor. Wall push-ups are another option.
Pull: These normally require somebasic equipment. To make up for it,
you could hang from a monkeybar in the children's play area or a low
branch of the tree.
Bend: Try dead lifts with filled water bottles or your suitcase fora
heavier weight.
Twist: A standing or lying twist or more dynamic jumping twists will
energise you.
Lunge: Perform with the support of the bed if you are a beginner.
Squat: Either do free squats or trysitting on a low chair if you have
never done this before.

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Good Morning tips

welcome to new morning with a smile on ur face,love in ur heart,good
thoughts in ur mind u will have a wonderfull day,gudmorning
~
Never forget what sumeone say to you whaen they are angry.because that
is when truthcomes out Good Morning
~
Superb thought.never try to maintain relations in your life. just try
to maintain life in your relations.good Morning
~
A good plan for 2day is better than a great plan for tomorrow. look
backward with satisfaction and look forward with confidence.Good
Morning

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE ~ Allah guides those who struggle

"And those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide themto Our
paths." – Al-Ankaboot, 29:69. Struggle may seem like something to be
avoided, but the alternative is to walk in dim light, seeing nothing
clearly. If our livesconsist of sitting on the sofa watching TV, doing
jobs without passion, shrugging our shoulders at the suffering of
others, and accepting the unreality that is pushed at us by
advertising and the media, then we are living in shadow, even when the
sun shines.
Yes, we all have bills to pay, and sometimes we work jobs that we are
not passionate about, in orderto support our families. I have a
website about money transfer services, and another about paying bills
online. They are boring, but I spend time on them because they earn
money. In my free time I struggle to do work that is important to me –
this website being a notable example. Even a short article might take
metwo or three days to write, because of the limited time I haveto
work on it. Longer articles can take weeks. And yet people sometimes
tell me that my writinghas changed their lives.
We can all find a little time every day to pursue what we love, and to
make a difference in people's lives, even in a small way. Beyondthat,
we must strive to represent truth in everything we do: in ourfamily
lives, our work, our entertainment – everything.
Imam Jamil Al-Amin wrote in 2006:
"In the heart there is an emptiness and a need which nothing can
satisfy except for theremembrance of Allah (swt). The only proof of
faith is in struggle, struggling in word and deed, in body and soul.
The lack of faith will crush you far more than defeat ever could. 'And
what willexplain to you the path that is steep?' (90:12). Conscious
struggle is the path that is steep. Struggle where bitter hardship and
misfortune and difficulty becomes sweet tasting to the soul."
There is no road to success except through the struggle for truth and
righteousness. This is actually good news, because if you're a seeker,
if you've got a nose for truth, if you care about justice, then you're
already struggling, walking a hard road. It's inevitable. Those who
pursue truth and speak it out loud are seen as strangers and
subversives. You might wonder sometimes if it's worth it, or if you're
moving in the right direction.
Don't worry. The fact that you're struggling means that Allah is
guiding you, and you're on the right road.

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE ~ love and kindness are secret weapons

love and kindness are not cute ideas or naive catchphrases. They are
elemental forces with the power to alter human hearts, and to change
the world. They are transformative emotions and behaviors that were
bestowed upon us by Allah, who is Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful) and
Al-Wadood (The Most Loving).They are stronger than hurricanes, and
they transcend the birth and death of individuals,and the rise and
fall of nations.
Don't we still have love for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), and for
the Sahabah, all of whom livedmany generations and nations ago? In
fact we look upon them as our heroes and leaders and welove them as if
they were dear friends. This is proof of the enduring nature of love,
which survives when all else changes around us.
Faith, love and kindness are the secret weapons that Allah has given
us to conquer corruption, cynicism, hatred, racism, and evil, in
ourselves and in the world.
These ideas are not naive, as some might say. Was the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) naive? He suffered in his mission, but he persevered. His
mission was rooted in faith and love of Allah, and expressed through
kindness to all people. There are so many stories about him showing
tremendous kindness to rude andeven murderous people, and changing
their hearts in the process. He succeeded in the face of impossible
odds. His success is a testament to the power of thesenoble emotions
and behaviors.
That's why I illustrated this piece with a photo of sun rays shining
on a dark and snowy world. Because these powerful emotionsand
behaviors are not the stuff ofsunny afternoons, cotton candy and
daisies. They are like a guiding star that is only seen in the
darkness. They come into their own and show their true power by
confronting and overcoming hatred, bitterness, painful loss, war,
poverty and despair.
I describe them as behaviors because faith that exists only in the
heart is not true faith. Faith is proven by action. Faith is defined
by the way you live your life. Thesame is true for love and kindness.
Love is a verb, not a noun. It's not an abstract feeling in your
heart, but a matter of behavior, the way you treat people, the way you
help, forgive,and show mercy to people.

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