Encouragement Stories: Encouraging Lesson from a Frog Tale

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going
about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit.
All of the other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be
done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, the
rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the
two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their
fate, because they were as good as dead.
Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs began to jump
withall of their might.
Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless and that
the two frogs would not be in that situation if they had been more
careful, more obedient tothe froggy rules, and more responsible. The
other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting thatthey should save their
energy and give up, sincethey were already as good as dead.
The two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could and after
several hours of desperate effort were quite weary.
Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent
and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at
the bottom of the pit and died as the others lookedon in helpless
grief. The other frog continued to jump with every ounce ofenergy he
had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely
exhausted.
His companions began a new, yelling for him to accept his fate, stop
the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and -
wonder of wonders! Finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit.
Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculousfreedom and then
gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping when we told
you it was impossible?" Reading their lips, the astonished frog
explained to them that he was deaf and thatwhen he saw their gestures
and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had
perceived as encouragement inspiredhim to try harder and to succeed
against all odds.
This simple Frog story contains a powerful lesson. Your encouragingor
positive words can lift someone up and help him or her make it through
the day. Your destructive or negative words can cause deep wounds;
they may be the weapons that destroy someone's desire to continue
trying - or even their life. Your destructive, careless word can
diminish someone in the eyes of others, destroy their influence and
have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them.
Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur'an: "Have We not made for him two
eyes, And a tongue and two lips?" (Surat Al-Balad,90:8-9).
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw)has said:
"Affliction caused by the tongue is worse than (that caused by) the
strike of the blade of a sword."
Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path
because a word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an
hour of praise after success.
The power of words:
Words can be weapons. Words can wound, humiliate and inflict painfar
greater than physical violence. Words can be used to inflame passions,
to arouse anger, to declare war and to destroy. But just as potent as
they are as weapons, Words can also heal wounds and make peace. They
can be soothing to those in grief, they can offer hopeto those in
despair. Indeed, well-chosen words have a power and a beauty that can
project well beyond one lifetime.Think of the great works of
literature that still enrich our lives today, centuries after they
werewritten.
It is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go
such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of
the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual
who willtake the time to encourage another. It has been narrated that
the Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw) was asked: "O Messenger of Allah,
which of the Muslims is best?" and he relied, "He who the Muslims are
safe from his tongue and his hand."

Ramadan Articles - A strategy to combat thirst in Ramadan

The feeling of thirst in the monthofRamadanbecomes intense when it
falls in summerso how can we help our bodies maintain water,resist the
feeling of thirst, and reduce its intensity?
The feeling of thirst in the monthofRamadanbecomes intense in summer
because the period of fasting may extend to more than 14 hours a day.
The body continues to lose water throughout these hours. At the time
ofIftaar)the fast-breaking meal(, one is in urgent need of prompt and
adequate compensation for the liquids it lost. However, it is possible
to help our bodies maintain water, resist the feeling of thirst, and
reduce its intensity by following the principles of healthy
nutritionduring the month of fasting. Therefore, exerting some effort
to avoid thirst would be easier than bearing the suffering.
Our allies against thirst
Water: is the best of drinks and cannot be compensated for by any
other drink. Experts recommend drinking one liter and a half of water
daily, preferably containing mineral, salts in order to compensate the
salts that the body loses, especially while sweating. The following
tips should be taken into account when dealing with water:
*.Do not leave the bottle of water for a long time after opening it
and drinking it without use because thebacteriawhich are present in
the mouth and the environment around us can be active in it and are a
source of infection.
*.Wash the bottle and its lid with hot water and soap whenrefilling it
along with changing it from time to time.
*.You can add some healthy elements to the glass of water you drink,
such as slices of lemon, fresh mint leaves or grated ginger.
*.To get rid of the taste ofchlorinepour the water into a large bowl
and leave it for about one hour before drinking it.
Liquids of all types:particularlyhydratingbeverages and natural fruit
juices which contain minerals. It is advisable to avoid juices
containing unnatural substances and colors, which contain large
amounts of sugar. These substances damage health and cause allergies.
Fresh fruits and vegetables: it is preferable to eat fresh
vegetablesand fruits at night and in theSuhoor)pre-dawn( meal. This is
because they contain considerable amounts of water and fiber that
remain for a long time in the intestines. This actually reduces the
feeling of hunger and thirst. Cucumber is one of the most popular
vegetables that combat thirst because it soothes the thirst and cools
the body. It also helps to alleviate neurological disorders, and it
contains nutritious cellulose fibers which facilitate the process of
digestion, expel toxins, and cleanse the intestines
Delaying theSuhoormeal:theSunnahrecommends that the Muslim to delay
hisSuhoormeal. Therefore, it is preferable to havethis meal after
midnight, so that the fasting person will be able to resist thirst,
especially in the firstdays of fasting. TheSuhoormeal should
preferably be a light meal.
Thieves stealing water from the body
Salt:salty foods increase the body's need for water; therefore, it is
advisable to avoid adding a lot of salt on the food and stay away from
foods with high salinity, such as salted fish andpickles. It is
preferable to replacethe salt with drops of lemon in salad as they
adjust the taste justas well.
Spices and seasonings:meals andfoods containing a large proportion of
spices and condiments require drinking large quantities of water
followingingestion. That is because these foods absorb water as they
are taken, from thepharynxmouth and stomach causing dryness in the
body, and thus the feeling of thirst. So, the fasting person should
avoid eating spicy foods which contain a lot of seasoning, especially
in theSuhoormeal.
Stimulants: It is recommended that the fasting person reduces the
amount ofstimulantslike teaand coffee because they contain caffeine,
which increases the activity of the kidneys and enhances its role in
the excretionof urine. Thus, stimulants increase the process of losing
water from the body. It should also be noted that tea and coffee
cannot be considered alternatives to water; because their hot nature
does not allow the fasting person to drink a large amount of them.
Soda drinks:they contain carbon which causes flatulence and a feeling
of fullness and prevents the body from using liquids. Therefore, it is
necessary to avoidsoda drinks during theIftaarmeal.
Direct sunlight:the fasting person should avoid direct exposure to
sunlight for long periods of time. The ways ofmitigatingthe heat of
the sun and thus avoiding thirst are as follows:
*.Taking frequent showers with warm water to cool the body and using
soap to get rid of body oils that may block the pores.
*.Blocking out the sun from entering the house in the afternoon as
much as possible by closing the blinds or curtains.
*.Wearing light-colored and loose clothes preferably made of cotton to
absorb sweat.
*.Resting to the extent which is commensurate with the effort done in
order to renew the body's dynamic energy.
6 myths to overcome thirst inRamadan
1- Drinking adequate amounts of liquids with a high concentrationof
sugar hydrates the body and repels thirst.
Fact: Liquids with a high concentration of sugar urge the body
toincrease the flow of urineand increase the feeling of
thirst.Therefore, it is recommended that the fasting person eats
sweets moderately inRamadanas well as only drinking small amounts of
drinks with high sugar concentration.
2- Drinking plenty of water at theSuhoormeal protects from thirst
during the fast.
Fact: the kidneys expel the extra water which is not needed by thebody
after a few hours, leading to disturbance of the fasting person during
sleep because he needs to go to the bathroom. This causes fatigue
during the day.
3- Drinking very cold or iced water at the start of theIftaarquenches thirst.
Fact: Drinking iced water at the beginning of theIftaarseverely
affects the stomach, reducing theefficiency of digestion and leading
to the constriction of thecapillariesthus causing some digestive
disorders. Therefore, the water temperature should beaverage or only
mildly cool, and the fasting person should drink itslowly, not all at
once.
4- Drinking water while eating food provides a greater opportunity for
good digestion.
Fact: Drinking water while eating disrupts the flow of saliva on the
food such that the food does not mix well with the saliva in the
mouth, and thus it is difficult to digest and the body scarcely
benefits from it. Therefore, doctors advise people not to drink water
while eating except for very little to help swallow thefood.
5- Drinking plenty of water after the completion of the food directly
helps in the process of digestion and extinguishes thirst.
Fact: Drinking plenty of water after eating directly in fact hampers
the digestion process and prevents the digestive system from
completing its function properly. That is, drinking an abundance of
water prevents the secretion of gastric juices. The correct way is
that theperson should drink just a little water after theIftaarto
quench his thirst. The best time to drink plenty of water is about two
hours afterIftaar, and it is preferable that the fasting person drinks
small amounts of water at intervals during the night throughout the
period between theIftaarandSuhoormeals and not wait to feel
thirstybefore drinking water.
6- Frequent drinking of water leads to obesity
Fact: Recent studies have shown that water plays an important role in
losing weight because water helps increase the secretion of the
hormone Noradrenaline which increases the activity of the nervous
systemand increases the burning of fat, and thus helps to get rid of
excess weight.

Ramadan Articles - Balancing cooking & worship in Ramadan

The blessed month of Ramadan isfast approaching and many of us are
busy making preparations to make this a special time for our families.
Ramadan is a time for voluntary acts of worship, sharing with those
who are less fortunate, and reflecting on the message that Allaah has
given to us.
Overall, the goal of this month is to develop ourselves spiritually
and to become closer to Allaah. These effects are then to be carried
with us throughout the remainder of the year. This is the beauty of
Ramadan; a gift and blessing from Allaah.
One issue that is commonly discussed is concern about the amount of
time that sisters are required to spend during this month in cooking
and related preparations. Much of the emphasis is often placed upon
food and breaking of the fast. Undoubtedly, this was not meantto be
the focus of such a spiritualtime, but it has evolved into a
sophisticated system in some cultures. The following questionsthen
arise: "If a woman is spending so much time on this aspect of the
blessed month, how much time does this leave for more important acts
of worship such as prayer and reading Quran?", "How can a woman
balance her desire to please her family and guests and her wish to
perform more acts ofworship?"
We posed these questions and related ones to sisters. We have
presented some of their responses below which you should find
enlightening. It is important to emphasize that sharing food with
others is highly rewarded in
Islam, particularly if the recipients are the poor and needy.
This is something that is stronglyencouraged notonly during Ramadan,
but throughout the year. What may be helpful to consider is that there
are many types of foods and various methods of preparation that do not
require a great deal of time and effort, but that can be enjoyed just
as much as more elaborate dishes. This element itself can be very
beneficial for the balancing act.
A woman should always be aware of how her scale is being affected by
the various acts that she engages in. If worship side is weak, it may
be time to rearrange priorities. Our focus should be on Allaah and the
beautiful
Scripture that He, Almighty, sent during this glorious month. May
Allaah help each of us to experience a rewarding and joyful Ramadan.
Comments from Sisters
*.'Aa'ishah, a mother of three teenagers. Her husband has extensive
social relationships and usually has to invite many people to eat at
their house during Ramadan. ]Los Angels, California[
"My children and husband are always helpful and understanding. I am
too. Even though cooking is tiring to me, I am always willing to do it
)I cooka large variety of foods and I never get any outside help(, and
many times I have cooked for a very large number of guests; but I
understand my
husband's position in the community and I support him in doing what he
has to do. What ismore important for me is that I look for Allaah's
reward by providing Iftaar for fasting people and having Muslims as
guests in my house. This is my biggest motivation in doing this. There
are more rewards in it than many can imagine.
The only thing I ask from my husband is that we plan these"events"
ahead of time. In Ramadan, I also always help my sons invite some of
their friends over to have Iftaar with us. Whenwe have no guests, I
cook
anything I want, and whether it is just one type of food or no food at
all )that is we go out to eat at a restaurant(. They are all happy and
supportive of the decision. As for having enough time and energy to
read Quran and perform more prayers, I think it all comes down to
management of time and settingof priorities. And yes, I do as much of
them as I want in
Ramadan."
*.Um Muhammad, married and the mother of two children.]Jersey City, New Jersey[
"I rarely cook Iftaar in Ramadan. We take the opportunity of the month
to be in the masaajid)mosques( as much as we can. There are more than
fifteen mosques around us whichprovide daily or weekend Iftaar, so we
go to them to meet the Muslims and eat with them. Sometimes the food
is free but most of the time we pay for it, and in others it is a
potluck dinner. I may have to cook once or twice for guests at our
home. This way we get to spend more time in the masjid )mosque( and
around the Muslims, and I get all the time to do more worship."
*.Zahirah, lives with three young daughters, her husband and his old
parents. ]New York, New York[
"When it comes to cooking, I have to work very hard every Ramadan
because I have to prepare different types of meals for my in-laws and
at specific times - dayand night. I get very tired and I do not, may
Allaah
forgive me, look forward to it. However, I enjoy cooking for the masjid
because some of those who eat there do not have the opportunity to eat
"Ramadan food" and for the few occasions when we invite some single
Muslims to have Iftaar with us. I usually have very little time to do
anything other than cooking in Ramadan."
*.Khadijah, a mother of two children, one of whom is third-grade
homeschooler. ]Atlanta, Georgia[
"I love to cook in Ramadan even though I am not a good cook, but I try
my best especially when we go to the masjid or when we are inviting
others over. Many likemy sweet dishes so I tend to do more of that and
I
sometimes send them as gifts to our neighbors and friends. I do make
time for Quran and prayer and helping with the Ramadan programs in our
masjid. It is a tough schedule and I get tired especially towards the
end of themonth, but I like it very much and my husband and the
Muslimsaround me appreciate what I do. I have no complaints."
*.Layla, married and the mother of three young children.
]Minneapolis, MN[
"I feel that my husband expects us to have a full, heavy meal every
night during Ramadan )i.e., salad, meat, starch, vegetable and
desert(, whereas during the rest of the year we may have a meal like
that two or three timesa week )the rest of the week it's O.K. to have
lighter meals like soup and salad, sandwiches, or omelets(. I don't
find it difficult to cook during Ramadan from a temptation standpoint
but I find that planning for these big mealsis a burden. I think that
these large meals are customary duringRamadan because we tend to
entertain more during this month. But, I don't think these large meals
should be expected when not entertaining and it is actually an
unhealthy way to eat)to gorge ourselves after sunset before we go to
sleep(. Also, the clean up from these meals is more extensive and will
take away time from prayer, reading Quran, and being with family
members. Feeling tired from fasting and taking care of small children
can add to the challengeduring this month."
We would like to thank all of the sisters for their comments and insight.

Ramadan Articles - Merits of Ramadan

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrahthat the Messenger of
Allaahsaid:"When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Heaven are
opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are
chained."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Another version reads:"When thefirst night of the month of Ramadan
comes, the devils and rebellious Jinn are chained up and the gates of
Hell are closed, and not one gate of it is opened. The gates of
Paradise are opened and not one gate of it is closed. Acaller cries
out, 'O seeker of good,proceed; O seeker of evil, desist.' Allaah
saves some people from Hell - and that happens every
night."]At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah[]Al-Albaani: Saheeh[
"O seeker of good, proceed!"is a call to the people who want to do
good deeds to proceed, because this is their opportunity for doing
good deeds as they willbe rewarded generously for everylittle effort.
"O seeker of evil, desist!"is a call to the people who want to get
involved in evil deeds to stop andrepent, because this is the time for
repenting to Allaah The Almighty.
In a third version, the Prophetgave glad tidings to his Companions,
saying:"There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month. Allaah has
made it obligatory for you to fast in it. In this month, the gates of
Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the rebellious
devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a
thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived
indeed."]An-Nasaa'i andAhmad[
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Abu Sa'eedsaidthat the Messenger
of Allaahsaid:"Allaah has people whom Hesaves )from Hell( every day
and night )in Ramadan( and every oneof them has a supplication that
will, indeed, be fulfilled."]Ahmad and At-Tabaraani: authentic chainof
narrators[
It was narrated on the authority of Jaabirthat the Messenger of
Allaahsaid:"Allaah has people whom He saves )from Hell( at each time
of Iftaar)breaking tha fast(, and that is every night )of
Ramadan(."]Ibn Maajah[ ]Al-Albaani: Hasan Saheeh]
Benefits and rulings:
*.First:The virtues of the month of Ramadan, where great things take
place, such as opening the gates of Paradise, closing the gates of
Hell and chaining the devils. All this takes place in the first night
of Ramadan and continues to the end of the month.
*.Second:The first Hadeeth indicates that Paradise and Hellare already
created and that their gates are actually opened and closed.
*.Third:Seasons with a special virtue and the righteous deeds that are
observed therein bringabout the Pleasure of Allaah and this results in
opening the gates of Paradise and closing the gates of Hell.
*.Fourth:It is permissible under Sharee'ah )Islamic legislation( to
give glad tidings about the advent of Ramadan and congratulate people
on living to witness it. The Prophetused to remind his Companions of
such merits to make them rejoice and drive them to do righteous deeds.
Thus, glad tidings should be given with regard to every good thing.
*.Fifth:Rebellious devils are chained in Ramadan and thus their effect
on people is weakened due to the good deeds that people do.
*.Sixth:Allaah The Almighty confers His favor and kindness upon His
slaves by preserving their fasting and warding the harm of rebellious
devils off them, so as not to spoil their acts of worship in the
blessed month of Ramadan.
*.Seventh:Proving the existence of devils and that they have bodies
that can be chained andthat rebellious devils from among them are
chained during the month of Ramadan.
*.Eighth:These great advantages, which are unique to Ramadan, are
enjoyed by the believers who glorify this month and fulfill the rights
of Allaah The Almighty during it. However, the disbelievers who do not
fast during this month and do not believe in its sanctity, the gates
of Paradise will not be opened for them, the gates of Hell will not be
closed for their sake, their devils will not be chained and they will
not deserve to be saved from Hell. Consequently, anyone of them who
dies during the month of Ramadan or during any other month willdeserve
the punishment of Allaah and will certainly taste it.
*.Ninth:It is feared that Muslims who imitate the disbelievers in
violating the sanctity of Ramadan, breaking the fast during the
daytime, committing acts that invalidatetheir fasting or decrease its
reward )such as backbiting, carrying tales or spreading slander and
attending gatherings where such acts take place(, will be excluded
from this great favor from Allaah; the gates of Paradise will be
closed for them, the gates of Hell will be opened forthem and their
devils will be released.
*.Tenth:The opening of the gates of Paradise and the closing of the
gates of Hell do not contradict the verse )whichmeans(:}Gardens of
perpetual residence, whose doors will be opened to them.{]Quran 38:50[
The opening of the gates of Paradise during the month of Ramadan does
not mean that they will be always opened. Also, the noble verse tells
about the opening of such gates on the Dayof Judgment. Likewise, the
closing of the gates of Hell duringthe month of Ramadan does not
contradict the verse that says with regard to Hell )what
means(:}Until, when they reach it, its gates are opened.{]Quran 39:71[
This is because the gates of Hell may be closed before the time the
doomed people reach it.
*.Eleventh:The virtue of the Night of Al-Qadr and how it is better
than one thousand months. The Muslim who misses that night is deprived
ofa great blessing.
*.Twelfth:Allaah The Almighty saves people from Hell every night in
the month of Ramadan. Those who are worthier of redemption are those
who fast perfectly, pray Qiyaam )supererogatory night prayers( well,
perform a lot of righteous deeds, out of loving Allaah and hoping for
His reward and fearing His punishment.
*.Thirteenth:Those people who will be saved from Hell will be granted
the privilege of having their supplications fulfilled. Thus, Allaah
combines two great rewards for them: redemption from Hell and
answering their supplication.
*.Fourteenth:The fasting Muslim should not commit anything that
invalidates his fasting or decreases his reward. Also, he should keep
his hearing, sight and tongue away from everything that has been
forbidden by Allaah, to be saved from Hell.
*.Fifteenth:The fasting Muslim should frequently supplicate Allaah The
Almighty, because the supplication made by a fasting person is
fulfilled, by the will of Allaah The Almighty.