Signs of Allah in Birds

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Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing
holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for
people who have faith." (Surat an-Nahl: 79)
A bird uses great energy when it takes flight because it has to lift
all its body with its tiny wings. Yet, once it is up in the air, Allah
has made it easy for it to remain aloft without expending too much
effort. Birds can fly for a long time by allowing themselves to rely
on the wind. This way, they hardly tire since they consume very little
energy. When the effect produced by the wind diminishes, they begin to
flap their wings again. By means of this feature Allah has given
birds, they can cover very long distances and migrate to
remotedestinations.
It is interesting that birds' legs, so slender and little in
comparison to their bodies, can carry their entire bodies. It is
amazing that so many muscles, veins and nerves can exist in such a
slender leg! If birds' legs were thicker and relatively morebulky, it
would be more difficult for them to fly.
Almost all birds sleep on one leg.This does not upset their balance
since their body weight is concentrated on this one leg. Allah has
created birds with the features that enable them to maintain such a
delicate balance.
The eyes of water fowl have been created for clear underwater vision.
While we can't keep our eyes open underwater for even 45 seconds,
water birds can easily catch insects and molluscs in water as they
plunge their heads into it. Since this is the only way for them to
feed themselves, they must have clear vision underwater. For
thisreason, Allah has created a special structure in their eyes, which
permits seeing underwater.

The man who plucked out his eye

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Ka'ab relates, once at the time ofProphet Musa (AS), there was a
drought. The Bani Israeel asked him to pray for rain. Prophet Musa
told them to come with him to the mountain. When theyclimbed the
mountain he said to his people, "Whoever has commited a sin? then do
not follow me." They all turned back down the mountain except for one
man. He was blind from oneeye and known to the people as Barkh.
Prophet Musa asked him,"Did you not hear what I said?""Yes" he
replied. Prophet Musa asked again, "Have you never commited a sin?"
Barkh paused and then replied, "I cannot remember commiting a sin
except for one, but I do not know whether it is regarded as a sin. I
will mention in to you and if it is a sin I shall return." Prophet
Musa enquired, "What isit?" Barkh replied, "Once I happened to pass
the door of a house which was open. I glanced in and saw somebody, but
I was not able to tell whether it was a man or a woman. I said to my
eye, 'Out ofmy whole body you hurried to commit a sin, you cannot
remainwith me anymore', so I plucked out my eye. If this is a sin, I
will return." Prophet Musa assured him that he had not sinned and then
told him to pray for rain. They prayed to Allah, "Oh Almighty,
whatever you have does not finish. There is no end to your treasures;
you cannot be accused of being miserly. Oh Allah show us your mercy
and send forth rain." The narrator states that they both walked home
in the mud.
From 'Stories of the Pious', by Maulana Ahmed Ali, originally recorded in Rowdh.

The Woman as Mother

The Woman as Mother
The first contact with a woman is with one's mother, who suffers in
the pregnancy,delivery,nursing and rearing of her child. History does
not recall a religion or a system which honours the woman as a mother
and which raises her, as Islam does. Islam repeatedly commends the
woman, and this comes directly after the command to worship and
believe in the Oneness of Allah. Allah has made honouring one's mother
a virtue, and He puts forth the mother's right over that of the father
for what she endures in pregnancy, delivery,nursing and raising her
children.
This has been honoured and restated in the Qur'an, in multiple
chapters, to imprint thisnotion in the child's mind and heart as per
the following verses:
"And we have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents.
His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and
hardship, and his weaning is in two years-give thanks to Me and your
parents,-unto Me is the final destination. [The Holy Qur'an, Chapter
31, Verse 14]
"And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents.
His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with
hardship, and thebearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30)
months. [The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 46, Verse 15]
The status of women as mother has been restated in many Ahadis (
Sayings of Muhammad (PBUH)).
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) asking, "Who is most
deserving of my care?" He said, "Your mother." The manasked, "Then
who?" He said,"Your mother." The man asked,"Then who?" He said, Your
mother." The man asked (the fourth time), "Then who?" He said, "Your
father. [ Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu
Huraira The Pearl and the Coral (Al-Lu'lu' wal-Marjan) (1652)]
Al-Bazzar recounts that a man was circumambulating the Ka'bah carrying
his mother. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked him, "Have you repaid
her?" The man said, "No, not even for one of her moans (i.e. one of
the moans of labour, delivery and so on) [Transmittedby Al-Bazzar
(1872)]
As to be good to her, it means treating her well, respecting
her,humbling oneself in front of her,obeying her without
disobeyingAllah, seeking her satisfaction and pleasure in all matters,
even in a holy war. If it is optional, he must have her permission,
for being good to her in a type of jihad. [ Jihad is the struggle
(physical, mental, psychological, spiritual, etc.) to preserve the
purity and practice of Islam. ]
A man came to the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and said,
"O Messenger of Allah, I want to fight and I want your advice." He
asked him,"Have you a mother?" The man said, "Yes." He said, "Do not
leave her because Paradise is under her feet. [ Transmitted by
Al-Nisaai, 6/11; Ibn Majah, 1/278and Al-Hakim. It is amended and
approved by Al-Dhahaby, 4/151,on the authority of Muaaweya Ibn
Jammah.]
Some religious laws before Islam neglected the mother's relations,
making them insignificant. With the advent of Islam, it recommended
caring for uncles and aunts, both on the father's side and the
mother's. A man approached theProphet Muhammad(PBUH) and said, "I
committed an offence, could I atone for it?" He asked,"Have you got a
mother?" The man said, "No." He asked, "Have you got a maternal aunt?"
The man said, "Yes." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Be good to her. [
Transmitted by Termithy in"Righteousness and Relations" (1905); Ibn
Hibban Charity (EI-Ehsan) (435); and Al-Hakim who amended it on the
terms ofthe two Sheikhs, agreed upon by Al-Dhahaby, 4/155, all on the
authority of Umar.]
It is amazing that Islam commanded us to be good to a mother even
though she is an unbeliever!
Asma'a bint Abu Bakr asked the Prophet (PBUH) about her relationship
to her unbelieving mother who had come to her. He said, "Yes, be on
good terms with your mother". [Transmittedon the authority of Asmaa
(agreed upon), The Pearl and theCoral (Al-Lu'lu' wal-Marjan) (587).]
An indication that Islam cares for motherhood, for the rights of
mothers and their feelings is that a divorced mother has greater
rights and is worthier oflooking after her children than the father.
`Abdallah ibn `Amr ibn Al-as transmitted that a woman asked, "O
Messenger of Allah, this son of mine had my womb as a container, my
breasts for drinking, my lap to contain him. His father has taken him
from me." The Prophet (PBUH) said,"You have more right if you do not
marry". [Transmitted by Ahmad in Al Musnad (6707). Sheikh Shaker said
its authenticity is correct. Transmitted also by Abu Dawud.] ....
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The Purpose of Creation of Men and Women

The Muslim accepts that the main purpose behind the creation of jinn
and mankind was that they should worship Allah, struggle against the
forcesof Satan and live their life according to Allah' s Commandments
in order to achieve eternal bliss in Paradise.
"And I (Allah) created not the jinn and men except they should worship
Me (Alone)." (V. 51:56)
Also Allah said:
"Nay! But worship Allah, and be among the grateful." (V. 39:66)
At another place He said:
"Say (O Muhammad !): 'Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah by
obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only."
(V. 39: 11)
Equality of Men and Women as regards Religious Obligations and Retribution
In this spiritual regard, Islam makes no distinction between men and
women. Both have a soul, both were created for the same purpose in
life, both have a duty to fulfill their religious obligations, both
will be judged by the All Mighty, and both will be rewarded or
punished according to their individual actions. Whenever the Qur�aan
mentions those fortunate beings who will enter the Gardens of Bliss
because of theirpiety and good deeds, it mentions men and women
together.
"And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, andis a (true)
believer (Muslim)], such will enter Paradise and not the least
injustice, even to the size of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date
stone), will be done to them." (V. 4:124)
"Whoever works righteousness whether male female while he (or she) is
a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a
good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful
provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to
the best of what they used to do (i.e., Paradise in the Hereafter)."
(V.16: 97)
"The believers, men and women,are Auliya ' (helpers, supporters,
friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people)
Al-Ma'r�f (i.e., Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to
do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e., polytheism and
disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they offer
their prayers perfectly (Iqįmat-as-Salat), and give the Zakat, andobey
Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely,
Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (V.9: 71)
"Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and
women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic
Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the
men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men
and the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which
Allah has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has
forbidden), the men and the women who are humble(before their Lord
Allah), the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e., Zakat and alms),
themen and the women who observe Saum (fast) (the obligatory fasting
during the month of Ramadan, and the optional Nawafil fasting), the
men and the women who guardtheir chastity (from illegal sexualacts)
and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts
and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc.); Allah has prepared
for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Paradise)." (V. 33:35)
There can thus be no doubt that in the Hereafter, men and women will
both be judged, each individual bearing the burden of its own acts,
each soul will be punished for its transgressions and each will be
rewarded for its obedience to Allah.
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