Story - :- Love Defeats Bigotry

Love Defeats Bigotry
I don't mean to portray myself as an enlightened soul. I've made my
share ofmistakes and I still strugglenot to be judgmental or reactive.
But I've also had experiences that have shown me the way forward. One
was with my former sister-in-law, Crystal. I am divorced now, but I
was married for ten years. Laura (my ex-wife) and her family were not
Muslim, and her family had their reservations about our marriage. Her
mother expressed a fear that I would kidnap our future children and
take them to Egypt (even though I've never lived in Egypt). "Like
Sally Field in 'Not Without my Daughter'", she said.
One day I was at a restaurant with Laura, her mother and her sister.
When the waiter came to our table, he said to me, "As-salamu alaykum."
I did not know him, but I was wearing a kufi and had a beard. I
replied, "Wa alaykum as-salam." Crystal began laughing, and after the
dinner was over, when we were going to the car, she began saying,
"Salami, salami, baloney."
At the time I was in a mental state where I was fed up with bigotry. I
had experienced a lot of it, and I had no more patience for it. I told
Crystal that her behavior was rude and bigoted. She got
extremelyangry, and after that I was a persona non-grata at my
in-laws' house. I was not invited to their home for any reason, and
there was no communication whatsoever between me and them for more
than a year. After that my mother-in-law reached out to me
tentatively, and offered a makeshift apology, which I accepted. But
Crystal remained angry.
Later, Laura and I moved toPanama. The place where we lived was so
beautiful and peaceful, and the natives were so accepting of us, that
I found my hearthealing. The in-laws still didn't quite accept me – in
fact Laura's father came to visit once and told me angrily that my
religion was ridiculous and backwards – but I found that it did not
bother me so much. When I returned to the USA for a visit I spoke to
Crystal. I said, "I apologize for my attitude in the past. I love you
and your family. You all mean alot to me." I said that sincerely,
holding in my mind all the good I had experienced from Crystal over
the years, and forgiving the bad.
From that moment on, my relationship with Crystal was transformed. She
cameto visit us in Panama and had a great time. After my divorce, when
I returned toCalifornia, Crystal actually began attending my martial
arts class. She became more open minded, began exploring religious
thinking outside of the narrow Christian fundamentalist box she had
always lived in. I'm notsaying that any of that is because of me. But
what I can attest to is that ever since I gathered the resolveto say
to her, "I love you and I value you," she has not showed a hint of
bigotry or anger toward me, and in fact has becomea pleasant person to
relate to.
I"m afraid I may be telling a string of random stories here. I don't
know if I'm communicating this thesis Ihave, this understanding, that
sincere love is transformational. When you can love someone without
desire, expectation, or judgment, it utterly changes your relationship
with that person, even with those who hate you. I believe this is the
essence of faith. It is the heart of da'wah. It is the Golden Rule.
I have given examples of one-on-one interaction, but I believe that
love and kindness can work their wonders just as well when it's one to
a thousand, or ten to a million, just as a single great ocean wave can
flood a whole city, except that love is a good flood that washes away
the fires of hatred.

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''Advise'':-:-

"The one who remembers Allah amongst a heedless people is like a man
who protects an army group on the verge of being defeated. Were it not
for this man, they would be utterly defeated. Likewise, were it not
for the one who remembers Allah amongst a heedless people, the people
would've been destroyed." -

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Qur'an Ayath - Explanation :-When you’re weary and alone, let faith carry you

There are times when we're alone, discouraged, and just plain weary.
Timeswhen it seems like there's no one left who matters.
That's when faith counts more than ever. That's when faith is tested.
Don't give up. Keep hope inyour heart. Remember thatin the darkest
cave, the deepest canyon, the most barren desert, Allah is still
there.
Let faith carry you at those times, and let Allah guide you, and you
will come through to a better place. It's a promise from Allah:
"And whoever is conscious of Allah, He will make for him a way out
(from every difficulty). And He will provide for him from (sources) he
never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will
suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed Allah
has sent a measure for all things." (Quran: 65/2-3)

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Story - Past Event:-WOMEN'S LIBERATION THROUGH ISLAM

Today people think that women are liberated in theWest and that the
women's liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the
women's liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by
God to a man in the seventh century by the name of Muhammad (peace be
upon him), who is known as the last Prophet of Islam. The Qur'an and
the Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources from
which every Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.
I. HUMAN RIGHTS
Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equally accountable to God
in glorifying and worshippingHim - setting no limits on her moral
progress. Also, Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity
with men. In the Qur'an, in the first verse of the chapter
entitled"Women," God says, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your
Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from
them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful
of your duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one
another, and towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah has been a
Watcher over you." (4:1) Since men and women both came from the same
essence, they are equal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature
evil (as some religious believe) or then men would be evil also.
Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a
contradiction ofequality.
II. CIVIL RIGHTS
In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based
on recognition of her individual personality. First,she is free to
choose her religion. The Qur'an states:"There is no compulsion in
religion. Right has been made distinct from error." (2:256) Women are
encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are
many traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) which indicate women would pose
questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning
religion, economics and social matters. A Muslim woman chooses her
husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman's testimony
is validin legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more
familiar, their evidence is conclusive.
III. SOCIAL RIGHTS
The Prophet (pbuh) said:"Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every
Muslim (male and female)." This includes knowledge of the Qur'an and
the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both havethe
capacity for learning and understanding. Since itis also their
obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behaviorin all
spheres of life, Muslimwomen must acquire the appropriate education to
perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and
interests. While maintenance of a home, providing support to her
husband, and bearing, raising and teaching of children are among the
first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the
skillsto work outside the home for the good of the community, she may
do so as long as her family obligations are met. Islam recognizes and
fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their
equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types
for women. This in no way diminishes either's effort nor its benefit.
God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work,
thoughit may not necessarily be the same activity. Concerning
motherhood, the Prophet (pbuh) said:"Heaven lies under the feetof
mothers." This implies that the success of a society can be traced to
themothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a
person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training
received from the mother. Therefore, a woman havingchildren must be
educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent./

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