Chapter 3 MAN AND THE SECRETS OF NEARNESS

Chapter 3
The Search for Man andhis Real Substance
1. Question: Conceptually, why are the descendants of Adam called Insan?
Answer: Insan is an exaggeration noun. It is derived from the word
Onss, which means easily adjusting or adapting to everything. It even
applies to lodging, property, animals and other objects in the
environment. After a while, man becomes so attached to these things
that, if separated from them, he would suffer as much as if he were
inwardly attached to them, leading to all happiness turn into agony.
About his separation from the Presence of His Glorious Supreme Being,
however, he does not feel unhappy. He does not even sense it.
2. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the two-footed being for whom this entire universe has
been created, and he himself has been created so as to acquire Insight
into and become acquainted with Almighty God. So that he may wisely
establish the struggling path against the covert and overt opponents
of Almighty God and of His Almighty's obedient servants; starting from
himself up to whatever extremes he may encounter. He may make efforts
up until the end, for the peace of God's creatures, in order to attain
God's happiness and for the purpose of establishing justice in
thelight of Monotheism.
Sa'dee, God's mercy be upon him, has stated:
"The clouds, the wind, the moon, the sun, and the firmament are deployed
So that you may find a piece of bread and not eat it heedlessly,
They all are involved and obey commands for your sake
It would be unfair, if you do not obey."
3. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who possesses exploring perception. From his
contacts with living and non-living things, he wellunderstands and
sees that there will be affection created within him for those things.
As a result of these contacts, he does not learn that if he were to
persistently repeat the Names of Glorious God as well, then God's
affection would also be created in him within the easiest of ways.
Hence, he would be one of the devout servants.
4. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who often likes to have special attachments
to hisAlmighty God. Enslaved by his own thoughts, he wanted to reach
this fortune through a varietyof hardships. Whereas in our age, the
shorter and more effective way is the Remembrance of God everywhere,
observing the things, and hence finding His Glorious Artificer's
Perfection and Magnificence.
5. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who is created for the purpose of observing
thevarious secrets of things and for utilizing these objects. He is
created thus so that he may better and more truly know the Creator of
this entire open and hidden land and ocean, with all His Perfection
and Glory. Man should still make requests for more favors by
presenting humbleness and by pleading. He should make the necessary
efforts to ensure peace for God's creatures in order to please Him, so
that he may find higher and more valuable grantsand favors.
6. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who has rarely raised thequestion: for what
reason, due to what mastery, and for what purpose, are all things
given to him?
Verily! All things are granted and accessible tohim for the purpose of
acquainting himself with Glorious God, the Almighty Creator, the
Exalted Most Great, Almighty Artificer and thePerfectioner and
Completer of this entire Order, Glorified and Exalted be He.
7. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who, upon observing someone's accomplishment,
gives out thousands of compliments and rewards. However, on seeing
this Exhibition (the Universe) created by His Holiness, Glorified
andExalted be He, he makes no acknowledgement to His Greatness and
makes no effort to find the truthof Insight with Exalted Him. Man has
rarely paid any attention to seek thisvirtue.
8. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who exerts effort, if accessible, toward
getting acquainted and establishing a friendship with heads of
companies and high authorities of society. But he makes no effort to
get acquainted with or find out the Creator and Artificer of this
entire open and hidden order Who is Almighty Great God of theland and
the ocean in this world and in other worlds, and the rest of the
universe. He does notmake the effort of acquiring the least of Insight
into Him.
9. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who, the more he becomes enlightened, the
more he tries to fully establish relationships and get acquainted with
enlightened people, evengreat statesmen. Unfortunately, concerning the
establishment of a relationship with his Creator and Artificer, man,
save for a few exceptions, has not accomplished this act. He did not
even create such ambition and love in himself towards this goal.
10. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is such a being to whom Glorious God has given the ability
and the perception to successfully invoke and contemplate scientific
and spiritual secrets.
Where man strives to delve, Glorious and Exalted God makes him
discover the secrets and mysteries. But man never asks himself if all
these successes originated from his own brain alone. There are
billions likewise endowed with brains better and more efficient in
every aspect.
One can say that all man'sefforts are merely a pretext and that the
truthis the gift and grace of the most Gracious Almighty God. By
making this thanksgiving, of course, more success will be bestowed
upon the person and, given constancy, this will increase the person's
relationship with the Almighty.
11. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who gets angry with his inferiors, whoever
they may be, should they appear to disobey his commands. Furthermore,
he even beats and metes out other punishments asa tool for reform. But
he himself is not obedient infront of those permitted and prohibited
commands of His Almighty, which were created and established to the
benefit of the social life. He does not believe in punishment from the
Glorious Lord of the open and hidden.
12. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who admits that there should be punishment
meted out from high authorities to those who oppose them, but from the
Great God Who has created him, Who has brought him into existence out
of non-existence, Who provides him annually, wherever he may be, with
life, and prescribes sustenance and other favors, he, being
narrow-minded, still does not accept a law. He does notthink of any
punishment in cases of violation against Him Almighty, and he
continues to disobey.
13. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the weak being who, in spite of all his self-importance
and pride of wealth and capital, is vanquished by the smallest
microbe.
14. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being of whom everything is afraid but who fears
not his own self, even thoughall the harm to man, humanity and to
others comes from man.
15. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being whom every creature trusts. However, men
themselves rarely trust one another without ulterior motives.
16. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the model by which most of the characteristics and
secrets of the animate and inanimate things of the firmament and earth
are revealed. Therefore, some of the philosophershave called him
the"Small Universe."
"Then outwardly you are the small universe
Then inwardly you are the great universe." Rumi
Commentary
Now we are somewhat introduced to the value of humanity's eminent
position and we understand it. Basically, to some extent we have been
ungrateful and have behaved in such a manner. By observing everything,
wee have appreciated its maker, but by observing all thesegifts and
rewards, and the variety of creation in the world, we have not felt
any responsibility towards the Greatness of the Great God. At most, we
have tried to establish relationships with people of high authority,
rank, and position; however, we have not wished to establish any
relationshipwith the Creator and Artificer of this entire universe,
though our creation has existed and exists for seeking this truth in
this small, trial world.
It is a question of demonstrating to His Almighty's All-Seeing
Knowledge, whether we are to be so amazed by His handiworks that we
forget Him Almighty altogether. Or that, during our involvement, we
would behave in the Presence of the Exalted Evolver, revealing our own
pull and attraction while doing good deeds and refraining from evil
actions, or the opposite. In the end we conclude the following:
Are we trying to establisha relationship with and develop love and
affection for Almighty God, or with someone or something other than
Him, whatsoever and whosoever it may be?
Regarding the question of how to establish this relationship, here we
shall draw your attentionto some topics concerning the "Secret
ofUnion." Afterward, we shall draw your attentionto the human
narrow-mindedness and weakness of knowledge, which, in spite of the
Presence of Almighty God, still cause the denialof His Existence.
After that, we will focus your attention on the study of objects,
which are expressive of the Greatness of the Glorious and Exalted
Supremacy.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Maryam, Um Isa ( the Mother of nabi Isha(a.w)) - Biographies

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus), wasa pious Muslim woman
during the time of Prophet Zakariyya. She was Maryam daughter Imran
from the family lineage of Dawud (David), the offspring of the
Children of Israel. In the Quran there is a chapter named Maryam which
talks about Maryam, her birth, her story, the birth of her sonProphet
Isa (Jesus), and other things. Allah also mentioned the story of her
mother's pregnancy with her in Surah Al Imran.
Maryam's mother, Hannah, conceived and delivered Maryam when she was
an old woman, at an age when women usually can no longer have babies.
With the birth of a son in mind, Hannah vowed that she would dedicate
the child to the service of the Sacred House in Jerusalem, dedicate
the child for worship, freed from all worldly affairs. Instead
Almighty Allah blessed Hannah with a daughter. She named thegirl
"Maryam," which literally means"maidservant of Allah," and she asked
Allah to protect Maryam and her offspring from evil. Maryam could not
be devoted to temple service as her mother had intended, due to being
a female, under the Mosaic Law at the time. However, as the new born
was marked out for a special destiny to be the mother of the
miracle-child, Prophet Isa, Allah had accepted her for His service.
The Holy Quran says:
(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: "O myLord! I have vowed to
You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your
services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship),
so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the
All-Knowing."
Then when she delivered her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: "O my
Lord! I have delivered a female child," - and Allah knew better what
she delivered, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have
named her Maryam, and Iseek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for
heroffspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast." (Surah
Al-Imran:35-36)
Since Maryam's father had died, she lived underthe care of Zakariyya,
who was the husband of Maryam's sister and the father of John "the
Baptist". He was a great man among Children of Israel at the time, to
whom they would refer their religious matters. She grew up as a
righteous, pure, and pious Muslim woman worshipping Allah and
endeavoring greatly in performing obedience toHim. Zakariyya saw
astonishing miracles occur from her that amazed him.
So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodlyacceptance. He made her
grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zachariyya. Every
time he entered Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room) to
(visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O
Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allah."
Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit."
(Surah Al-Imran:37)
It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during
the summer and summer fruit during the winter.
She became the best of the women in the world. It is mentioned in the
Quran that the angels said Allah chose Maryam and preferred her to the
other women of the world.
And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah
has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the
'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)."
O Maryam! "Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord (Allah, by
worshipping none but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself, and Irkâ'i
(bow down etc.) along with Ar-Râki'ûn (those who bow down etc.)."
(Surah Al-Imran:42-43)
And as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Many men
reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level
except Maryam, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh."
(Hadith - SahihBukhari 4.643, Narrated Abu Musa Al Ashari )
Maryam was unique in that she gave birth to a son by a special
miracle, without the intervention of the customary physicalmeans. This
of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than
her son was more than human. When Allah wanted to grant her His
servant and messenger, Isa (peace be upon him), Maryam withdrew from
her family and secluded herself from them. She retired to the eastern
side of the Sacred Mosque in Jerusalem where she prayed. It was in
this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As
she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not
to invade her privacy:
She withdrew in seclusion from her family to place facing east. (Surah
Maryam:16)
Then, Allah sent His Ruh, the angel Jibril (Gabriel), to her.
And he appeared before he in the form of a man in all respects. (Surah
Maryam:17)
When the angel (Jibril) appeared to her in the form of a man, while
she was in a place secluded by herself with a partition between her
and her people, she was afraid of him and thought he wanted to rape
her. Therefore, she said,
Verily I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do fear
Allah. (Surah Maryam:18)
She meant, "If you fear Allah," as a means of reminding him of Allah.
This is what is legislated in defense against (evil), so that it may
be repulsed with ease. Therefore, the first thing she did was try to
make him fear Allah, the Mightyand Sublime.
The angel said to her in response, and in order toremove the fear that
she felt within herself, "I am not what you think, but I am a the
messenger of your Lord." By this he meant, "Allah has sent meto you."
[At-Tabari 18:164]. It is said that when she mentioned the Name of the
Most Beneficent (Ar-Rahman), Jibril fell apart and returned to his
true form as an angel. He responded,
'I am only a messenger from your Lord, to provide to you the gift ofa
righteous son.' (Surah Maryam:19)
She said: "How can I havea son..."
Maryam was amazed at this. How she could have a son when she did not
have a husband nor did she commit wicked acts like fornication? For
this reason she said,
...when no man has touched me, nor am I Baghiyya (unchaste)? (Surah Maryam:20)
He said: "Thus said your Lord: 'That is easy from Me (Allah)..."
(Surah Maryam:21)
The angel responded to her "Verily, Allah has said that a boy will be
born from you even though you do not have a husband and you have not
committed any lewdness. Verily, he is theMost Able to do whateverHe
wills." Due to this, he (Jibril) conveyed Allah's Words,
And (We wish) to appointhim as a sign to mankind (Surah Maryam:21)
This means a proof and a sign for mankind of the power of their Maker
andCreator, Who diversified them in their creation. Hecreated their
father, Adam, without a male or female. Then he created Hawwa (Eve,
Adam's spouse) from a male (from the rib of Adam) without a female
(mother). Then, He created the rest of their progeny from male and
female, except Isa. He created Isa to be born from a female without a
male. Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation of the human
being, which proves the perfection of his power and the magnificence
of His authority. There is no god worthy of worship except Him and
there is no true Lord other than Him.
Concerning Allah's statement:
and a mercy from Us.. (Surah Maryam:21)
This means, "we will make this boy a mercy from Allah and a Prophet
from the Prophets. He will call to the worship ofAllah and
monotheistic belief in Him. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said in
another Ayah,
(Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you
thegood news of a Word from Him, his name will be Al-Masih (The
Christ), Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam, held in honor in this world
and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.
And he will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he
will be one of the righteous. (Surah Al-Imran:45-46)
Finally Jibril completes his dialogue with Maryam, informing her that
this matter was preordained by Allah's power and will.
and it is a matter (alreadydecreed (by Allah). (SurahMaryam:21)
This means that Allah determined to do this, so there is no avoiding
it. [At Tabari 18:165]
So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place.
(Surah Maryam:22)
Later, Maryam, being human, suffered the effects of childbirth as any
expectant mother would during these times.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she
cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would thatI had died before this! Would
that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" But (a voice)
cried to her from beneath the (palm-free):"Grieve not! for thy Lord
hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; "And shaketowards thyself the
trunkof the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
"So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man
say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I
enter into no talk with any human being.' " (Surah Maryam:23-26)
When Mary showed the baby to her people, they said that this was truly
anamazing thing that had happened. The newly born baby (Jesus) replied
to the people:
He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation
and made me a prophet; "AndHe hath made me Blessedwheresoever I be and
hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; "(He) hath
made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable; "So Peace
is on me the day I was bornthe day that I die and theDay that I shall
be raised up to life (again)"! (SurahMaryam:30-33)
And that is what is reported of the story of Maryam. Even though
Maryam is the mother of Isa (Jesus) and occupies ahighest position
among women, neither Maryam nor Isa have any divine attributes in
them. The Holy Quran makes this clear in the following verse:
They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Maryam." But
said Christ: "O children of Israel! worship Allah my Lord and your
Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah willforbid him the
garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers
be no one to help.
They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for
there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word
(of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers
among them.
Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is
Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. Christ the son of Maryam was no more than
an Apostle; many were the Apostles that passed away before him. His
mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food.
See how Allah doth makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways
they are deluded away from the truth!
Say: Will ye worship besides Allah something which hath no power
either to harm or benefit you? But Allah He it is that heareth and
knoweth all things." Say:"O people of the Book! exceed not in your
religion the bounds (of what is proper) trespassing beyond the truth
nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by
who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even way. (Surah
Al-Ma'idah:72-77)
Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He
begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
(Surah Al-Ikhlas)

Story - , Moons Peak [FINISHED]- The Wolfpac (chapter 17)

I WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF several voices, and theconstant thud of
footsteps pounding into the earth; which made every step sound like
bones crunched in their wake.
I took this as a sign of thebecoming of fall.
Not only that, but I realized my face was curled up into solid muscle,
and I happened to be in the air cradled insomebody's arms and I
automatically thought of Satchel.
"Satchel?" I murmured, nestling further into his comfortable heat.
I heard a grunt, and it made his chest rumble in protest. A male voice
near me sighed.
"If I hear her say that name one more time…"
"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not going to leave her to rot in
the middle of these woods."
The voice carrying me had said. I frowned. That didn't sound like
Satchel at all. I heard the other male chuckle.
"What fun would that be? I wasn't planning on letting her live." I shivered.
I decided I didn't like the other guy. I heard a growl coming from the
solid muscle that held mein his arms. It was more like a possessive
kind of growl.
"Shut it Cairo. You may bemy little brother, but I will hurt you worse
than I did Burrick over there."
"Jeez, just a thought."
"Besides, maybe it will teach Black wolf about rejecting this pack…and me."
He hissed at that last statement, as if the mere thought still held
the scolding rejection just by memory alone. The other voice 'Cairo'
sighed.
"And marking the girl would do what…besides cause havoc amongst
ourpack. She's a liability. Get rid of her."
"We need her."
"We? Speak for yourself. What are you trying to accomplish by keeping
her, replace Nia…?"
The former voice 'Cairo' didn't get to finish his sentence. The
argument was cut off with an enormous howl, and roused me to full
consciousness - since I'd just been carelessly dropped from midair.
The thump winded the breath out of me, and I felt the cold tingle
sensation crawl up my spine as I landed on cold dirt. Tail bone first,
and my head hitting the ground seconds later.
I shuffled on the ground trying get over the pain and opened my eyes
to see two large males' inches from where I lay.
One of them towered over the other, slamming his opponents back up on
a thick tree trunk, with a thick arm shoved into his neck.
They both were bare chest I noticed, and the amount of testosterone
flaming through the air was so thick I was almost choking on it.
The taller one seemed to be at least six five, and the more dominant
out of the two, with his back toward me.
He had a distinct tooth bone and feather hanging from his left ear.
I guessed that one to be the one whom supposedly had been carrying me
and desertedme to the likes of gravel. He growled.
"Say her name again and I swear to god you'll be nothing but butchers
meat after I'm done with you, do you hear me?!"
He shoved his arm forward, cutting off the guys air supply.
The other guy with a military short haircut I assumed to be Cairo
nodded and put his hands up in a calming gesture.
"Shit Trench, I just..." He choked out a word that was inaudible.
"You just nothing . Keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for
you, little brother." He spat those last words as ifthey were poison.
I could see Cairo gulping from here, just from the way his Adam's
apple bobbed with every swallow. They both shared a glare, and then
Trench released him afterCairo lowered his eyes to the ground in
submission.
I was left with the tooth/feather earring guy that I assumed to be
Trench, as Cairo stalked off in the opposite direction, and I jumped
as he slammed his fist down on the trunk, causing bark to flee from
its wrath. I stared and followed the bark to the ground.
that bark could have been me I gulped as I felt Trench's eyes on me.
He was just as intimidating in human form, than he was as a wolf. His
dark golden brown skin color clashed with his gunmetal gray eyes, and
his pitched black thin razor cut hair hung loose around his shoulders.
He frowned.
"What are you looking at?" He snarled. He had an accent I guessed to
be Native American. I shook my head.
"Nothing." I tried to avoid his eyes by focusing my attention on my
surroundings.
That's when I realized wewere still in the middle ofthe woods. No
where near my late fathers estate. Atleast, nowhere I'd ever been.
Even the pine smelled different. If that was even possible. I frowned.
"Where's Satchel?"
I could feel a panic attackcoming on, knowing I was far beyond
sanctuaryand I was trapped amongst a pack of dogs. Well, a pack of
humans that turned into dogs when it felt convenient for them I
supposed.
"That question is irrelevant." He muttered.
I could feel Trench's eyes on me again, and I shuddered.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I said, covering myself as if I
were naked. He continued to glare at me.
"You have her scent all over you." His voice was barely audible, but I heard it.
"I have what…all over me?" Scent? Who's scent was he talking about? I
shook my head in confusion.
"Nia, you have Nia's scenton you, it's…"
"Nia?" He frowned as if it was obvious I should know the girl. I
sniffed my clothing and sure enough. I could smell the strange scent
coming from me, and I automatically knew who it was. Oh
God! The gray wolf that died while she was caught up in barb was his
mate? She had a name…
"Nia…she was your…mate?" He didn't answer me. He just glared and I
heard a female voice answer.
"She was his wife ." The female smiled. She was beautiful.
Long brown hair down to her waist, dark almond shaped eyes, andsilky
brown skin. She seemed like the nicer oneof the pack.
"I'm Sheeba, this is Trench." She pointed at the gun-metal gray eyed guy. "
"Where have you taken me?"
"Don't worry about that, you're our pup now." I turned to the sly
culprit whom had voiced his two cents. He had long hair tied in a
plait that hung like a rat's tail on his nape of his neck.
Dark eyes that were almost slit and a smirk that looked sleazier than
it did his looks any good. That's when I noticed four more guys
standing aloof, stalking off as if they were securing the perimeter.
And I happened to be in the middle of it, along with Trench. Rats Tail
continued his unnecessary commentary.
"And no thanks to you, it's taken us longer to getto our destination."
He glowered at me, and I found myself shuffling backwards.
Trench loomed over me, taking my attention away from the rest of
them. He knelt at eye level.
"He's right, now we have to camp out here, not something I was looking
forward to." I frowned.
"Why don't you save all your troubles and leave me here then?" I
retorted. He tilted his head in amusement, which made his eyes glow
brilliantly. It was getting dark. How long was I out for?
"Black Wolf killed what was ours, now we have the honor to do the sameto him."
"You're wrong. Satchel tried to help that animal. I watched him
struggle toget her free; I tried to help him free her. It was
impossible to untangle the barb."
It was Rat's Tails turn to get a scolding from Trench when he tried to
voice his opinion.
I was right, he was the authority of the pack, and they bowed down
tohim instantly. I felt secureabout that somehow. Trench seemed like
the more level headed out of the lot. And that was saying something.
"You don't get it do you? Those fences, they 're solely built to trap
animals. And do you know who built those traps?" He was so close I
could smell the venom coming from his breath.
" Black Wolf !" He hissed. "He set those traps because he was so god
damn ignorant, and stubborn. Thought he'd never change. He denied his
transition, he denied his pack and he denies our existence."
"I don't understand."
"No you wouldn't would you. You're just a pup. Tell me, how long you
got to go 'til you're howling up into the moonlight?" This time Cairo
spoke. I frowned.
"Excuse me? Are you insinuating that I am a seed from an animal?"
Cairo raised one eyebrowat me then a confused look at Trench.
Trench sniffed me. He actually put his nose to my neck and sniffed.
"Oh my god, what are you doing?" I felt naked all of a sudden, and
wrapped my arms around myself.
"You're time's soon, I can smell it. Two weeks max."I frowned, hating
the factthat they'd just guessed when my birthday was, despite the
fact that I hadn't told them about it.
It reminded me of what Satchel had told me. He'd said that I shouldn't
have seen him in his transitioning from wolf-to-boy and that I had to
wait until my birthday. For what?
I still didn't know what that meant to be honest, but it was starting
to make me dread my birthday.
"What do we do with her'til then?" Cairo asked.
"We wait till Black Wolf comes for her."
"And if he doesn't?" Trench smiled at me. I would have shuddered if it
weren't for the fact that he was easy on the eye.
Especially the way the moon lit his gray eyes.
"She suffers the same way Nia did. This time, he'll be there to watch."
I refrained from screaming, since I didn't want to look like little
weak child, left in the world of unknown. Yet, I couldn't help but
feeling just like that.
"Sounds like we should do it now, and get it overwith." My reflex shot
out and I slapped him right across the face. Not something I should
have attempted while inches from a werewolf.
An angry wolf at that. I stepped back when he growled, and he started shifting.
"Cairo! Calm down." He wouldn't listen, and it only made him angrier.
Fur sprouted from his forearms, and shoulders, until his whole upper
torso had distorted. It happened in less than ten seconds. He pounced
on me taking me to the ground, and swiped at my neck, scoring down my
right shoulder. I screamed, as flesh tore away.
Seconds later, the beast was knocked off my bodyas Trench had
completelytransformed and tore at Cairo's ear.
The howls in the air sounded obnoxious in the quiet woods, and I
started panting from the blow.
I could feel blood trickling from my neck down to my ear. I was
vaguely aware of the girl named Sheeba kneeling beside me, helping
stop the blood flow as she pressed hard with a rugged cloth.
I turned to the fight going on beside me, and the brown wolf was
huffing, and then rolled on to his back in complete submission as grey
wolf nipped at his throat. The fight was over, but I was still
bleeding…and shivering.
"Please come for me…" I whispered to no one in particular and blinked
tears away, closing my eyes.
Darkness danced at the back of my eyes, and I was fighting consciousness.
I lay on the ground dreaming of ways I would escape my predicament I
was currently in.
But every attempt of possible escaping led me to the realization of
never getting the chance to out run a pack of wolves, especially ones
that were three times my weight, and the fact that I was currently
injured.
Giving up, I let my thoughts glide to the moon, half-aware of a wisp
of something warm being placed on my lap.
The howls faded into the darkness as sleep encumbered me. I refused to
think of anyone but Satchel whileI let darkness enfold, I blacked out.

Fataawa - , Ruling on accepting New Years’ gifts

Question:
Is it permissible to accept the New Years' gifts such as calendars and
diaries etc. from companies that deal with the company where we work?
These companies give these gifts to all the personnel of the
department where I work.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, theLord of the Worlds. I testify that
there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is
His Slave and Messenger.
It is permissible for these employees to accept the gifts that are
given to them by the services companies through the company where they
work as thepurpose of these presents is advertising. However, if these
presents are a bribe that is given so that the company giving them may
thereby get something that they do not deserve, it would be
impermissible to accept it.
Allaah Knows best.