For children, - Quran Stories, Quran Stories for Children

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An old Muslim lived on a farm with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Noble Qur'an.
His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I try to read the Noble Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Noble Qur'an do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.
Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The Grandfather said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.
The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The Grandfather said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Noble Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read the Noble Qur'an, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah (SWT) in our lives."
The best way to learn is to share what you have learned and practice it in your life
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Personal, - Fasting Women

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We are being approached by a month of mercy, forgiveness and salvation from Hell. It is the month of fasting, prayingQiyaam)the optional night prayer( and recitation of the Quran. It is a month during which rewards are multiplied and sins are expiated. It is a month that approaches us with all the immense mercy and abundant rewards that it includes. Numerous opportunities to perform different types of virtuous deeds are abound in this month. It is a month that subdues the soul to its Lord and frees it from being enslaved to whims and desires. The gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are sealed, and the Devils are chained. A caller proclaims at the beginning of this month:“O you who seeks virtue, come forth! O you who seeks evil, stay back!”
Dear fasting sister!Give the great bounties Allaah has blessed you with their due gratitude. It is indeed a great blessing that Allaah has prolonged your life to enable you to live until you witness this blessed month, during which you can increase the record of your good deeds and set forth for the time of your death. I am sure that you have friends or relatives whose deaths have prevented them from witnessing this month. Let this then be an admonition that encourages you to perform more and more virtuous deeds before you catch up with them.
Dear fasting sister!Remember that the ultimate objective to be achieved through fasting is to attain the state of piety and righteousness - piety that awakens the heart, revives the conscience and guards the soul from the filth of sin. If fasting does not yield this result, then its objective has not been achieved. A person who truly achieves this objective is the one whose limbs refrain from sin and whose tongue refrains from lying, foul language, backbiting and falsehood. The Messenger of Allaah,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“When anyone of you is observing fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: `I am fasting.`”]Al-BukhaariandMuslim[ The Prophet,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said:“If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allaah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink.”]Al-Bukhaari[
So make your fasting a means of achieving this sought piety. Shun gatherings of useless talk and adopt the manners of fasting women who guard their tongues, vision and limbs from any prohibition that affects the reward of their fasting. Force yourself to say nothing but good and kind words and busy your tongue with the mention of Allaah. Make your fasting days distinct from all your other days.
Dear fasting sister!Beware of theRamadanbandits! Beware of those who eagerly wait for the advent of this month so that they can steal people’s minds and attract their attention. Falling into the trap of such people would ruin the distinct spiritual atmosphere of this month and turn people’s days and nights into periods of idle play, jest and time wasting. They seek to make people lose out on the best opportunity of attaining abundant rewards.
The devils are chained in this month, but these people are all too keen on taking on their roles and substituting for them during their absence!
As soon asRamadanis about to start, many satellite television channels begin competing with one another for the shows that they will present. They broadcast“Ramadan Shows”that in reality have nothing to do with the spirit ofRamadanor the acts of worship during this month. In fact, what they present goes directly against the spirit of the month and what is meant to be achieved during it.
They seek to turn the blessed month from a month of competition in matters of virtue and exerting all efforts in this, into a month of play, jest, time wasting, extravagance, and the fulfilling of desires, whether lawfully or unlawfully.
Dear fasting sister!Will you guard your month and preserve your time )which is in fact your life( from the plans of these evil bandits? Or, will you give in to their plot and let them control you and thus lead you to wasting your time and squander your worship and good manners?
Dear fasting sister!Beware of frequent visits to malls and marketplaces during this month, especially during the last ten days. Try not to leave your house except when you have to. Beware of extravagance and exaggeration in food and drinks. Do not make this month a season of laziness and long hours of sleep during its days. Do not turn the nights of this month into nights of staying up late socializing and gossiping.
Let your main concern be the attainment of reward, exerting the utmost effort in acts of worship and utilizing your time in reciting the Quran, being kind to kinfolk, and praying to and mentioning Allaah.
Dear fasting sister!Always remember the great reward awaiting those who win this race. Remember that it is a prize the size and importance of which makes any effort seem miniscule. Remember that the prize is Paradise and the expiation and forgiveness for all previous sins!
On the authority ofAbuHurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallamsaid:“Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain the rewards of Allaah, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”]Al-BukhaariandMuslim[
Are you up to the challenge? Will you enter the race while the arena is still open for those who want to compete? The competition is continuing - will you be one of the winners?
All you need to do is to purify your intention and make it sincere for Allaah alone. Supplicate to Allaah earnestly to make you among the winners, and remember that Allaah never forsakes those who are truthful and sincere with Him.

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Personal, - Attending the 'Eed Prayers

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Islam has honored women and made her equal with men with regards to obligatory acts of worship. One example that manifests this equality, is that women are encouraged )as are men( to attend public gatherings on‘Eed Al-Fitrand‘Eed Al-Adh-ha, so that they may take part in these blessed occasions.
This is demonstrated in a number of narrations reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon them, in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded that:"All the women should come out on these occasions, including adolescent and prepubescent girls, those who usually remained in seclusion, and virgins".
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even commanded that:"Menstruating women should come out, to take part in the joyous occasion, but they were to keep away from the prayer-place itself".
His, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, concern that all women should attend the prayer on the two ‘Eedswas so great that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered:"The one who had more than one Jilbaab )outer garment( to give one to her sister who had none."In this way he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, encouraged both the attendance of all women at ‘Eedprayers and mutual support and help to do good and righteous deeds.
TheseSaheehnarrations give a clear indication of the concern of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for the intellectual and spiritual benefit of women. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered all the women to go out to the‘Eedprayer, including those who were menstruating, even though menstruating women are excused from praying and are not allowed to enter the prayer-place itself. But his call, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was addressed to all women, because of his concern that they should take part in these two blessed events and attend the righteous gathering of the Muslims, joining in theTakbeeratand supplications, and being a part of the public life of Islam which is discussed in theKhutbahthat is delivered after the ‘Eedprayer.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was concerned with the teaching and guidance of women, and wanted them to play a part in building the Muslim society, so he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, devoted part of hisKhutbahto women. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would come to the place where the women were gathered, and exhort and remind them to spend in charity. ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
According to this narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, exhorted and reminded the women, and accepted thecharity that they themselves willingly gave. Another narration, adds that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also reminded the women of theirBay`ah)oath of allegiance( and reconfirmed their adherence to it ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
There is no doubt that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressed the women in the‘Eedprayer-place, reminding them about their religion, and that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took charity from them, reconfirmed their adherence to their oath of allegiance, enjoined them to remember the teachings of Islam, and motivated them to do good works. All of this was achieved by calling them to attend the congregational prayer on both ‘Eeds. This is indicative of the importance of the'Eedprayer in the life of the Muslim woman and the Islamic society.

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Personal, - Understanding Miscarriage

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Imagine this: A woman discovers she is expecting a child. She tells the happy news to her spouse, friends and family, daydreaming about the child she will soon hold in her arms. Then suddenly, she discovers symptoms that tell her all is not well with the pregnancy. She may have pain, cramps and bleeding. She is rushed to the doctor, where she is told that the pregnancy will not continue normally, she will lose her unborn child. She may have to undergo surgery or take medicines to get her body back to its pre-pregnancy state.
This condition, commonly called a 'miscarriage' may have happened to you, or someone you know. Doctors estimate that 1 out of every 4 pregnancies run the risk of miscarriage. Understandably, it is a time of grief and loss for the expectant woman and her family. She may even ask herself: Why me? What did I do wrong? What have I done to deserve this?
In some cultures, there are many superstitious beliefs that blame miscarriage on a number of external factors like watching a scary movie or having a bad dream, being startled suddenly, walking in a particular area at a certain time, eating some specific kinds of food or someone casting a spell or an 'evil eye'. It is natural for an expectant woman to unconsciously blame herself for a miscarriage and old wives' tales like these may make her feel even worse.
Causes
Medically speaking, there are a number of reasons why a woman may suffer a miscarriage. Some of the physical factors that can cause miscarriage are:
• Genetic Defects
Sometimes, a couple may suffer from genetic defects which are transferred to the unborn fetus. Genetic defects do not show up in ordinary ultrasonographs and a couple must undergo a special blood test called 'karyotyping' to see if their children are at risk.
• Endometriosis
This is a common condition of the uterus which affects 1 out of every 5 women. About 43 percent of women diagnosed with endometriosis may have miscarriages due to hormonal imbalances.
• Luteal-Phase Defects
This is a common cause of spontaneous abortions, and usually happens very early in the pregnancy due to lack of production of progesterone.
• Uterine Defects
There are certain malformations of the uterus that can contribute to miscarriage, such as unicornuate uterus, septate uterus, and bicornuate uterus. These conditions can be diagnosed by a doctor and treated surgically once they are diagnosed, to avoid recurrent miscarriages.
• Adhesions
Adhesions are abnormal growths in the ovaries and uterus which may cause miscarriages. However, they can be treated surgically.
• Fibroids
Fibroids are muscular growths inside the uterus that can cause spontaneous abortions. A medical procedure called 'myomectomy' can remove the fibroids from the uterus and prevent miscarriages.
• Incompetent Cervix
This is a defect of the cervix which prevents the pregnancy from going to its full term and causes late miscarriages.
Apart from these physical causes of miscarriages, there are many other reasons like infections, exposure to hazardous chemicals at the workplace or household pesticides and lifestyle factors like stress that may cause miscarriages. A recent study says women who consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine are at greater risk of miscarriage, as are older mothers )from the age of 35 upward(.
Pre-conception care and prevention
Women cannot do much about some risk factors, such as previous miscarriages and advanced maternal age. However, there are steps that women of all ages can take to lessen other potential risks. Sometimes, a woman may undergo a miscarriage even before the first pre-natal medical checkup, so pre-conception care goes a long way in promoting a healthy pregnancy and preventing miscarriage.
Doctors advise women to take prenatal vitamins and minerals like folic acid and Zinc and avoid second-hand smoke. Women are advised to maintain an ideal body weight since obesity is believed to increase the risk of miscarriage. Eating undercooked meat or fish and fish with high levels of mercury and certain soft cheeses which may contain bacteria should be avoided in early pregnancy.
Cleaning the litter of household pets or exposure to patients suffering from communicable viral diseases like chicken pox and rubella can increase the risk of exposure to potentially deadly parasitic infections leading to miscarriage. Sometimes multiple or frequent pregnancies and assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization may cause recurrent miscarriages.

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