HADEES - ~ Let go of anger and replace it with forgiveness

A man said to the Messenger of Allah, (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam–
peace be upon him): "Advise me! "The Prophet said, "Do not become
angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the
Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious."
[Al-Bukhari; Vol. 8 No. 137]
Resolve to give up anger, even if only for today. Whatever anger you
are harboring against others, let it go. Whatever anger you have
against yourself for mistakes you have made, or for wrongs you have
done, let it go. It's nothelping you, it is only damaging your own
spirit.
Remember that we are human; we are all imperfect. From the very
beginning, starting with Adam and Hawaa (Adam and Eve) we humans made
mistakes.
Other people have made mistakes and harmed you in the past because
they are human; forgive them. You have made mistakes because you are
human; forgive yourself, and turn to Allah in tawbah (repentance).
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has taught us some strategies for dealing
with anger. For example, he said:
"I know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he
does say it. If he says: 'I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan' then
all his anger will go away." [Al-Bukhari; Vol. 4, No. 502]
And he said,
"Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire
is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he
should perform ablution." [Abu Daud; Book 41, No. 4766]
Abu Dharr narrated: The Apostle of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam,
said to us: "When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should
sit down. If the anger leaveshim, well and good; otherwise he should
lie down." [Abu Daud; Book 41, No. 4764]
In another hadith, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"If one of you becomes angry then he should be silent."
Narrated 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra: Abu Bakr wrote to his son who
was in Sijistan: Do not judge between two persons when you are angry,
for I heard the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam,saying: "A judge
should not judge between two persons while he is in an angry mood."
[Al-Bukhari; Vol. 9, No. 272]
So the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam , has given us
several strategies to deal with anger:
1. Seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan. This reminds us that fury and
rage are not good things;they are evil forces that we need to get rid
of before they take us over. Seeking refuge with Allahreminds us that
Allah is near, watching us; also it reminds us to turn the matter over
to Allah, so that we can let go of our anger.
2. Perform wudu' (ritual washing for purity). SubhanAllah, what a
beautiful thing. The wudu' is a source of blessings and barakah forus.
It also has a powerful symbolic value, washing away our anger and
making us peaceful and pure.
3. Sit down, or even lie down. Modern science has learned that the
bodyinfluences the emotions as well as the other way around. So
assuming a peaceful posture leads to peaceful emotions. Sitting down
or lying down are non-threatening positions. This helps to defuse any
conflict beforeit escalates.
4. Stay silent. This is very important. All too often spouses or
family members say things to each other in anger, and later they
deeply regret their words. By then it's too late: the words have been
uttered and the damage is done. When you are most angry is precisely
the time to remain silent. Seek refugewith Allah, make wudu, pray, go
for a walk, go to the masjid… allow yourself time to calm down and
reflect.
5. Do not judge between people (in other words make important
decisions). Obviously making important decisions out of anger is a
formula for disaster.
These are all wonderful points for dealing with anger in the moment.
However, in todays "Islamic Sunray" I am also speaking about past
anger.We all have old emotional wounds that we carry around like
scars. We have old resentments and hurts.
If you hold on to these hurts, they will destroy your marriage, or at
least make it an unhappy, chafing relationship. Holding on to
resentments and grudges will destroy your friendships, leaving you
isolated. These persistent negative emotions will eat into yourown
soul, leaving you bitter and unhappy.
Let them go. Modern medicine tells us that carrying around these old
resentments and anger is bad for the health.

From a state of darkness to one of light

I changed from worrying to praying; from complaining to problem
solving; from boredom to having good clean fun; from a state of
darkness to one of light; from selfish love to love of self and
others; from independence to interdependence; from winning or losing
to learning, and growing; from telling to asking; frombeing aggressive
to being assertive; from being reactive to being proactive!

Be true, and be you

Listen to the quiet voice inside yourself. The persistent voice that
tells you that there's somethingmore to life, that calls you to do
something meaningful, to experience the world in a profound way. So
many of us dismissthat voice and suppress it. We are told that our
dreams are not realistic or practical. We are told that we should
settle for what is reliable, and will pay the bills, and garner us the
respect of our peers.
But if we do not listen to that quiet voice, then who will? There is
no external advocate who can read theyearnings of your heart and speak
up on your soul's behalf. You must be the champion of your own soul.
On the authority of Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ashari said that
the messenger of Allah said:
"Purity is half of faith. alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fills
the scales, and subhana-Allah [How far is Allah from every
imperfection] and alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fill that which
is between heaven and earth. Prayer is light; charity is a proof;
patience is illumination; and the Quran is an argument for or against
you. Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of hissoul, either
freeing it or bringing about its ruin."
(Related by Muslim).
You are the vendor of your soul: either freeing it or bringing about
its ruin. Youfree it by worshiping Allah in love, gratitude and fear;
keeping the praises of Allahon your tongue and in yourheart; praying
and fasting and living righteously (as opposed to self-righteously);
by showing love and concern for other human beings; and by being true
to yourself.
Allah created you with a unique nature. Do you think it's only your
fingerprints that are unique? Or your retinal scan, palm print, voice
printand DNA? Do you believe that your uniqueness is encapsulated by
measurable biometrical data? No, your uniqueness extends to your own
wonderful thought patterns, your special heart, and your soul. You are
you, not anyone else.
You are not an assembly-line robot, or a machine put here to consume,
produce and expire. You are different from everyone else in the world
because you are you. Respect that, and don't try to force yourself
into an uncomfortable or even impossible mold that someone else has
dictated for you. Be true, be you , and free your soul.
I'm not talking about sinfuldesires. I am speaking of the quiet and
inspired urgings of your heart. Maybe you dream of working in disaster
relief, helping all those poor soulswho suffered after the Indian
Ocean tsunami, or from the earthquake in Haiti. Maybe you have an
inner artist and you'd like to pursue that passionatelyand see where
it takes you.Maybe you love children and would like to teach; maybe
you are not satisfied with current school curricula and you have an
idea of starting your own school. Maybe you've always fantasized about
being a karate black belt, or helping poor villages in Africa become
self-sustaining, or campaigning for human rights.
Maybe you're single and you have feelings for a certain person, or
just an undercurrent of admirationand respect, but you fear rejection
if you come forward with a marriage proposal; or maybe the person
comes from a different cultural background and you worrythat your
family or your peers would not approve.
I could go on, but you get the point. The fact that each of us is
utterly unique is a blessing, because each of us brings a new
imagination to solving the world's problems, and eachof us beautifies
the world in a new way. Each of us has something important to teach.
Each of us has a different voice, not so that we can win "American
Idol", but so that we add tothe universal chorus that praises Allah.
Don't fear your dreams: cherish them, nurture them, and do your best
to live them. Let's face it, life is short; it passes so quickly, much
sooner than we expect, and when we get to the end of the road we will
regret only that wesuppressed our hearts, and shoved them down into
silence, and failed to live up to our potential as believers and as
unique individuals, with our own God-given gifts.
Sister Sara, author of the Sweet Serenity blog, pointed out, "Often
while in search for who we truly are, we are dictated by the world
around us, and thereby lose ourselves. Thewords of the Qur'an and
example of the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wasallam) should be our
guides and inspiration, reaffirming that we need to patiently
persevere, following the calling in our hearts and Insha'Allah, we
will be able to make our dreams a reality."
One person pointed out that following his dreams is impractical for
him due to his family obligations. That is a valid objection. We have
realities of family to deal with, and that oftenrequires compromise.
Our duties to our family are a part of our deen.

Allah knows every fallen leaf, and He knows you

"With Him are the keys ofthe unseen, the treasuresthat none knows but
He. He knows whatever thereis on the earth and in thesea. Not a leaf
falls but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in thedarkness (or
depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered),
but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read)." – Quran
6:59
SubhanAllah, Glory to God. Imagine, brothers and sisters. Allah knows
every fallen leaf in your yard, in the gutter, drifting on the wind,
or compacted layers deep in the depths of the darkest forest.
To us fallen leaves may be trash to be swept away, or food for worms,
or mulching material. Perhapsto a child they are a source of amusement
by scoopingthem into a pile and jumping in (I used to do that while
waiting for the kindergarten bus in autumn, when I was growing up in
Davis, California).
But Allah knows every leaf:its history, its individual veins and
ragged edges, even its microscopic cells.
Don't you think then that Allah knows your own pain, and fear, and suffering?
"And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughtshis
inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular
vein." (Quran 50:16). This does not mean that Allah is physically
closer than your jugular vein; rather it refersto His knowledge,
understanding, and power. And it could refer to the angels appointed
to you, who sit on your right and left, noting everything you say and
do.

Surely in Allah’s remembrance do the hearts find peace

When we remember God, we also realize that we are constantly in His
presence, and thus we are liberated from the self-destructive habits
that consume us.
So often in life we are wronged by others, and the temptation to
respond in a demeaning and un-Islamic manner is very strong.
Fortunately, we canavoid wrong responses in the case of mistreatment
by relying on Allah and knowing that He is the All-Knowing. When we
take part in wrong responses, we fall victim todisobediences that lead
thesoul away from righteousness, and into thepits of retaliation and
cruelty.
"Surely in Allah's remembrance do the hearts find peace." (13:28)
Those who seek God and remember Him will find contentment and joy in
their lives with the knowledge that they are under the protection of
Allah. When we utter praise to the Almighty and thank Him for his
countlessbounties, our hearts are filled with inner peace and
reflection. How happy and blessed are those who seekrefuge in their
Lord, the Most Beneficent and Most Merciful Allah.

What does it mean for us?

So what does that mean for me and you to see ourselves as perfect? I
am asking seriously and rhetorically. What does it mean when we can't
fall back on self-pity? What does it mean when we are no longer
allowed to view ourselves as flawed?
What does it mean when we have to accept that we can achieve any
"crazy dream" that may smolder in our hearts? What does itmean when we
look at ourselves in the mirror andsee perfect, beautiful faces, no
matter the shape of our features? What does it mean when we realize
thatwe have within ourselves the capacity to reach the same heights of
imaan (faith) as the sahabah, or the same level of intellectual rigor
as Imam Al-Bukhari or Sheikh ibn Taymiyyah, or the same purity and
unwavering trust as Sayyidna Maryam? (may Allah be pleased withher).
Do we begin to see that they were simply human beings who acknowledged
the perfection with which Allah created them? They strove their utmost
to live up to that perfection, placing no boundaries or limitations
upon themselves. They were not extraordinary people in their creation;
they were only extraordinary becausethey accepted Allah's words and
thrust themselves utterly into theriver of the Quran (or in Maryam's
case, immersed herself completely in tawakkul [trust in Allah], and
taqwa [consciousness of Allah], allowing themselves to expand to fill
the capacity of the flawless mold that Allah created them in, and
refusing to allow themselves to be defined or demeaned by anyone
else's opinion. Nor did theyallow themselves to be mentally or
spiritually diminished or damaged by the harsh circumstances of life.
We have the same option. You, me, all of us.
You are perfect, whether you admit it or not. Go with it. Live up to
it. It's nota burden but a liberty. It is the freedom to be who Allah
put you on this earth to be. It's the freedom to dream and achieve
withoutthe chains of self-doubt or self-deprecation. It's the freedom
to accept yourself,love yourself, and allow yourself to love others
fee-sabeel-illah, in Allah's cause, and to live a full life of meaning
and worth.

Happy Alive Day

If today were your birthday, would you be happy and excited?
Well, guess what? Today is your "Alive Day"!
You are alive today. You have the opportunity to earn huge rewards by
praying, being kind to people, giving charity, loving your family,
helping your neighbors, and just looking around and appreciating the
beauty of Allah's creation.
Oh, that's not good enough? Okay, get yourselfa cupcake and stick a
candle in it; then blow out the candle, and enjoy this song: "Happy
Alive Day to you, Happy Alive Day dear reader…"
After you've had that cupcake, visit one of your friends, maybe
someone you love but haven't seen in a while. Catch up on each others'
lives, go out toeat or to the park, or stay home and play a game of
cards. Make sure you spendat least a few minutes talking about Allah,
because that's what brings life and blessings to any visit.
Every day is an opportunity. Happiness is where you find it. Sometimes
all it takes is a candle in a cupcake, and a call to a friend.
Happy Alive Day.

In a season of consumerist madness, let’s be grateful, and give

At this time of year the stores are pushing their sales at us.
Advertising is everywhere. There if a frenzy to buy, buy, buy. Let's
realize that this is not a spiritual way of life. It's not an
appropriate lifestylefor someone who is dedicated to God. The
consumerist madness is a deception. There's no joy orpeace attached to
it. It's a shallow illusion.
Look at what society has done to itself in the name of consumerism. A
day of thanks (Thanksgiving) has become the prelude to "Black Friday",
the biggest shopping day of the year. Itused to be that Black Friday
did not begin until Friday morning, out of respect for Thanksgiving.
Then the starting gun was moved to midnight, and now it has crept into
Thursday evening. Nothing is sacred.
The Prophet 'Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary), peace be upon
him, has been turned into a marketing strategy. His purported birthday
has become a month of shopping insanity, presidedover by a mythical
sub-deity named Santa. People go into debt, they fight over sale
goods… no mention is made of faith.
We Muslims fall prey to thesame consumerist lifestyle. Sometimes the
holy monthof Ramadan becomes a month of shopping, sleeping and binge
eating, astaghfirullah.
Let us – Christians, Muslims,Jews and all people of God – not follow
this path. Let'shew to a way of sacrifice, zakat (purification),
sadaqah (charity), zuhd (giving up material luxury).We don't have to
be monks, but we must focus on the things that matter: faith and
family.
There are movements that advocate a simple living, back-to-nature,
low-impactlifestyle. In Islam this is called zuhd , which could be
translated as detachment or asceticism. Zuhd is a choice that a person
makes to give up the hunger for material possessions and transgressive
carnal experiences, and live a simple lifestyle dedicated to God.
That's what we need.
The faith in our hearts is more important than the brand name of the
clothes we wear. Where our feet carry us – to someplace good or bad –
is more important than the cost of our shoes. The sincerity in our
hearts is more important than any gift. May Allah help us to see what
is important in life.
The Enjoyment of Delusion
There's a powerful verse from the Bible, Proverbs 30:8-9:
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
grant me only my share of bread to eat,
for fear that surrounded byplenty, I should fall away
and say, "Yahweh – who is Yahweh?"
or else in destitution, take to stealing
and profane the name of my God.
(Yahweh is an ancient Hebrew name for God).
If you visit the shopping malls at Christmastime, andread the news
stories of people lining up from the night before and huddling in
sleeping bags in order tobuy the latest gadgets, then trampling each
other in the rush; if you turn on the TV to the usual Christmas
comedies and "Frosty the Snowman" cartoons, you see that God has been
forgotten, and has even become taboo. It's not politically correct
tospeak of God. Just watch what we broadcast, be hypnotized by our
Christmas elevator music, buy and forget…
Allah says about this:
"Know that the life of thisworld is but amusement and diversion and
adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of
wealth and children – like the example of a rainwhose [resulting]
plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned
yellow; then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter is severe
punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the
worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion." – Quran, Surat
Al-Hadeed, 57:20
This theme is struck repeatedly in the Quran. The amusement and
adornment of the dunya is an illusion that dries up and crumbles like
a corn stalk, and becomes dust. It is empty, the enjoyment of delusion
. Wow. That phrase, "enjoyment of delusion", makes me think of a
madman alone in a room, tied in a straight jacket, engaged in a
pleasant delusion playing only in his mind.
I know people who have a bedroom devoted to all thejunk that they have
boughtbut do not use. They never enter that room and the door is kept
locked. Isn't that a kind of mental illness?
Gratitude
How do we resist the onslaught of the season? How do we remember Allah?
The greatest tool in our toolbox is gratitude. By looking at what
we've been blessed with, our hearts become content. Socrates commented
that contentment is natural wealth, while luxury is artificial
poverty. Contentment does not mean complacency or passivity; it refers
to a stateof awareness of our blessings, and gratitude forthe smallest
to the greatestprovisions – the tiniest cellsin our bodies, to the
grand earth itself.

Here’s a true story about the power of persistence:

Once, many years ago, I arrived in San Francisco on a warm July day
with no friends, no contacts and only a little money in my pocket. I
needed work. What I did have was confidence. I had been through some
very hard times, and had learned to fight for what I wanted, and not
to accept "no" for an answer.
I met a fellow who was a courier and he suggested that I try it. He
gave me thenames of some courier companies. I visited severaland
filled out applications, but there was one company in particular that
I liked. It seemed well outfitted and professionally run. I spoke to
the human resources manager and he told me that they did not need
anyone but that I should check back in several months. "Summertime is
slow here," he said. "Try us in fall."
I came back early the next morning. I couldn't wait until autumn, and
I wasn't interested in sitting aroundand hoping for someone tolook at
my application and call me. I knew they had stacks of applications in
filing drawers. I had decided where I wanted to work, and all that
remained was for them to accept my reality.
The HR manager said, "Weren't you here yesterday and I told you we
don't need anyone?" I said yes, but I thought maybe someone might
callin sick and they could use me just for the day. The HR manager
gave me an appraising look and said, "No, nothing like that. Whydon't
you come back in a month?"
I came back the next day. This time the HR man smiled and said, "I'll
tell you what, come back in one week."
I came back the next day. Itwas a Thursday. The HR man rolled his eyes
in exasperation and said, "Listen. Come back on Monday and I'll see
what I can do."
I came back the next day, Friday. He gave me a job starting that day.
I worked for that company for five years and got promoted twice.
That's a true story.
I know it's harder nowadays with the economy in shambles. I'm not
guaranteeing that you can get a job by following these tips. But it
will certainly help your chances,Insha'Allah. And if you take that
same persistence and apply it to every endeavor in your life, I
believe you will find that even mountains will crumble before you.
And Allah knows best.
I'm really not a fan of Madison Avenue's ubiquitous ad messages, but
there was a Nike ad that I saw once that really resonated for me. In
fact I tore it out of the magazine and pasted it up on the wall, right
beside my bed. It said:
All your life you are told the things you cannot do.All your life they
will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough;
they will say you're the wrongheight or the wrong weight or the wrong
typeto play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a
thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your
life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.
AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES.
May Allah help all of you and provide for you and your families.
(O Allah), Guide us to the straight path; The path ofthose whom you
have favored; Not those with whom you are angry; Northose who go
astray.

Expecting Great Things, and Doing My Part

"Holding on to the rope of the LORD, believing in the power of
prayers, faith andgood deeds. Expecting great things from GOD. I am
ready and willing to put in the work and do my part to make it happen…
faith without works equals nothing but false hope… wanting without
striving and struggling is like dreaming. I gotta get busy putting in
more work!"

What’s Your Legacy?

"Who are you? What makes you special? What isthe legacy that you've
builtand shared with others (self, family, community and the world)?
If we died today, what would our obituaries say? What have we done for
GOD and GOD'speople lately? What is our mission and vision, and arewe
living it? If we died today, what would our obituaries say?" – Hanan
K. Bilal
This is what it's all about. I heard someone say recently that only
two things can happen with thewealth you accumulate in this life:
either it leaves you, or you leave it. Wealthis not a legacy. Having
fun is not a legacy. Helping a company to sell useless products is not
a legacy.
Making a difference in the lives of human beings, relieving the
suffering of even one person, raising righteous and happy children,
leaving behind knowledge that benefits people, making the world
abetter place, those are legacies.
I have not met the sister who is quoted at the top, but I have read
some of her writings. Whenever I hear her name I think of being
responsible, taking care of my family, loving my children and bringing
them up right, making a difference in the community, following my
dreams… that is a legacy. She has already created a vital legacy.
I have another friend whose name is Ismail. He isso humble
ma-sha-Allah, and as a friend he is the most discreet and
closed-mouthed person I know, by which I mean he never speaks badly
about anyoneelse, and never reveals anyone's secrets or violatestheir
trust. When I think of him, I am inspired to emulate him. That is his
legacy, and it's an important and valuable one.
More than twenty years ago I knew a brother named Qawiy. His life was
hard, but every time I met him he'd give me a big smile and an
enthusiastic handshake. He wore a kufi and carried a folded musalla
(prayer rug) on his shoulder, so he could pray whenever salat time
arrived, no matter where he was. Kind of quirky, but also inspiring.
All these years later, just the thought of Qawiy brings a smile to my
face, and reminds me of the importance of doing salat on time. That's
a legacy! SubhanAllah.
I could name many more people who have affected me in positive and
critical ways. I will always remember them, even afterthey are gone,
Insha'Allah. They have created lasting legacies.
Of course we don't even have to speak of the Prophets (peace be upon
them), and the Messenger of Allah (sws), and the Sahabah (may Allah be
pleased with them). Their legacies shine like the moon and stars and
will illuminate human history for all time.
What's your legacy? What do people say about you, and what will they
say when you're gone?

Keep Your Head Up and Smile

Keep your head up, smile, and look to the future. You have much yet to
do in thislife. Ask Allah for guidance, then do what your heart tells
you, speak the words that you've always held back, and be yourself.
Don't let the past freeze you in place, and don't punish yourself for
things you cannot change. Everything you've experienced: the happy
times, loneliness, laughter and tears, all have meaning, and have all
gone into making you whoyou are. If you have any wisdom or insight, it
is probably a result of hardship you've experienced in the past.
"The most beautiful peoplewe have known are those who have known
defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found
their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a
sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with
compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do
not just happen." — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Everything that you do today has meaning. The caress you give a child,
the help you give a stranger, the quiet charity, all matterand make a
difference, even when you don't see it.It's all worth it. Your love
maters, your work matters,your life matters.
Keep your head up, and forge forward fee-sabeel-illah. Accept yourself
and be at peace. Look ahead and smile. Stand up straight, and don't
bow your head except in prayer.Keep praying, learning, thinking,
following your dreams, and loving the people in your life. You are my
brothers, my sisters, myheroes.

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

'Any disaster that strikes you is through what your own hands have earned' (Surat Ash-Shura: 30)

There is an important characteristic of the lower self of a man. When
something good befalls onone; when he receives goodness and kindness
from the people around him; when things go the way he wants them to
go, in a way that would cheer him up and make him happy; he feels
rather complacent. He believes that the beautiful things going on
around him and the benevolence he receives are taking their sources
from him. He thinks the reason why things go well for him andwhy
course of events go the way he hoped them togo, is because he strives
a lot and because he is a good person who makes agreat effort in many
subjects and because he acts reasonable and precautious. In other
words, he is of the idea that he had earned all the good things
befalling on him to the smallest detail.
However when the sameperson faces things that he doesn't want to face;
when goodness and benevolence is not anymore offered to him by people
around him; when things do not givethe results he wants them to give;
when the blessings in his life lessen and some difficulties and
troubles arise; he would not thinkthat "all those, again to the
smallest detail, befallon him because he earned them all himself". On
the contrary, he believes that he did not deserve any of those things
happening to him, he feels hard done-by and wronged. He even thinks
that all these things befall on him because he has been too good
towards everyone and thus he livesin the psychology of a person "being
wronged".
Most of the time, a person living through these things would not stop
to think: "Could there be something wrong with me? Could itbe that I
have some wrong beliefs and a wrong point of view? Dothe things that
befall on me have something to do with such wrong beliefs I have or
with mymorality? Would the goodness and beauties in my life be any
different if I acted somehow different? Could it be that I have been
experiencing all these because I earned them due to the flaws I have
in my morality?"
Had he been thinking like this even for a very short time; and instead
of looking for the problem inother details, had he sincerely censured
himself;he would have realized the truth which in fact is very
evident.
Allah revealed in the Qur'an that: "Any disaster that strikes you is
through what your own hands have earned" (Surat Ash-Shura: 30)
This verse gives a person the true point of view with which he could
evaluate the things he is experiencing in a correct and sound manner.
In another verse Allah informs us that; "Those who do good will have
the best and more" (Surah Yunus: 26). When aperson keeps his heart
pure and sincere; when helooks at every event in his life by searching
the approval of Allah; as long as he thinks by the morality of the
Qur'an andapproach people only through this point of view stemming
from the Qur'an; Allah would definitely "increase the beauties in such
a person'slife".
If he is harboring any evil in himself, if he does not think purely by
the Qur'an and if he is adding a little bit of the moral values of
ignorance in his approach, if he evaluates the incidents taking place
not by the Qur'an but by the rules and value judgmentsof the
ignorance, it is natural for the things that befall on him and the
things he experiences to be just like that. Whateverhe manifests
spiritually would somehow reflect onhis life.
It is very important not to forget this truth, which has been very
explicitly revealed in the Qur'an. Man is very prone to think
continuously well of himself; he adopts a wrong point of view by
thinking that he earned allthe good things that befallon them but that
he neverdeserved (Allah is beyond such claims) the troubles he
experiences. To think on these verses of the Qur'an is in fact
sufficient for him to see that these suggestions of his lower self are
not true.
Allah is All-Compassionate and Most Merciful. His Mercy extends to all
things. Allah is the One Who loves His servants infinitely, Who
continuously bestows goodness and beauty on them through concealed and
overt means. Every moment of a person's life is full of thousands of
details in which he can seethe love of Allah. And Allah is the Owner
of the Infinite Justice. Allah shows His Mercy even on aperson who has
committed the worst evils on earth and shows him the ways to
salvation.

NEWS - ~ “Napalm photo” girl honours her saviours

Associated Press photographer Nick Ut poses with Kim Phuc in Toronto
on Friday. The girl who came to symbolize the horrors of the Vietnam
War honoured those who saved her on the 40th anniversary of The
Associated Press photo that made her famous.
AP In this June 8, 1972 filephoto, crying children, including
9-year-old Kim Phuc, center, run down Route 1 near Trang Bang, Vietnam
after an aerial napalm attack on suspected Viet Cong hiding places as
South Vietnameseforces from the 25th Division walk behind them.
It was a chilling photograph that came to symbolize the horrors of the
Vietnam War and, ultimately, helped end it.
It also saved the life of KimPhuc, who was just 9-years-old when, on
June 8, 1972, her village was attacked by south Vietnamese planes.
Ms. Phuc, who lives near Toronto with her family, honoured those who
savedher at a dinner on Friday tocelebrate the 40th anniversary of the
iconic photograph. They include AP photographer Huynh Cong "Nick" Ut,
who snapped the shot, as well as other journalists, doctors and nurses
who helped her get help and who treated her injuries.
Mr. Ut, who was 21 at the time, heard Ms. Phuc's screams as she ran
down the road to escape her burning village, and snapped the photo
that became famous around theworld.
The Vietnamese photographer then drove the badly burned child to
asmall hospital, where he was told she was too far gone to help. He
flashed his American press badge, demanded that doctors treat the girl
and left assured that she would notbe forgotten.
"I'm so grateful he was there," Ms. Phuc said. "He helped me and
rushed me to the nearest hospital. He saved my life. He's my hero.
This opportunity tonight I want to honour all of my personal heroes."
Mr. Ut said he cried when he saw her running. He said if he didn't
help and she died he would have killed himself. He knew right way this
picture was different and said veteran photo editor, Horst Faas,
deemed it the most the iconic photo of the Vietnam war.
"It changed the war. I met so many American soldiers who said 'Nicky
because of your picture I'll get to go home early,'" he said.
In the Pulitzer Prize-winning image, children run screaming from a
burning Vietnamese village. The little girl in the centre of the
frame, Ms. Phuc, is naked and crying, her clothes and layers of skin
melted away by napalm.
A few of days after the image shocked the world, a number of British
journalists including Christopher Wain, a correspondent for the
British Independent Television Network who had given Ms. Phuc water
from his canteen and drizzled it down her burning back at the scene,
fought to have her transferred to the American-run hospital. It was
the only facility in Saigon equipped to deal with her severe injuries.
"When we found in her in the British hospital it was in very
un-sterile conditions," Mr. Wain said Friday. "I asked one of the
nurses how she was and the nurse looked at her and said, 'Oh, she'll
die maybe tomorrow or maybe next day.' It was obvious it was very
urgent."
Martha Arsenault, a nurse who cared for her at the American hospital,
said when Ms. Phuc got to the American hospital nobody thought she'd
make it.
"Everybody, the doctors, they all thought she wouldn't because she was
just so burnt," she said.
Ms. Arsenault said the photo reminds her of how just awful war is.
Mr. Wain said he still feels slightly concerned for Ms. Phuc because
she has had to relive the traumatic experience all her life. He said
the picture is one of the most iconic war photosof all time.

NEWS - ~ US arrests 190 in child pornography crackdown

Police have arrested 190 people in a major US crackdown on child
pornography, officials say.
The month-long"Operation Orion" also resulted in 18 children being
rescued, federal agents said.
Arrests were made mostly in the US but also took place in countries
includingSpain, Argentina, the UK and the Philippines.
The official in charge said many of the cases began with a child
chatting with someone they had encountered online.
"Let this operation be a warning to anyone who would think they can
use the internet to exploit children - we are out there looking for
you, we will find you, and you will be prosecuted," Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton said in a statement.
The statement said that Operation Orion focused onthe production,
possession and distribution of child pornography in videos and
photographs.
Those arrested included a 35-year-old babysitter in Louisiana
suspected of using a seven-year-old child to make pornography.
A 28-year-old man in Michigan was found to have more than 1,200 images
and 109 videos of suspected child pornography on computersand media
storage devices,officials said.
Eight men were also arrested in Los Angeles, including one who met his
alleged 12-year-old victim on the internet.
He was charged with enticing a minor to commitlewd acts after agents
pretended to be the girl online and arranged to meet him at a shopping
centre.
The ICE statement said thatthey had also "identified and rescued" 18
victims of child pornography.
No details were given of the arrests conducted abroad. The US Justice
Department also listed Sweden, Serbia and the Netherlands as involved
in the operation.
US Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a statement: "This
operation uncovered a dangerous and depraved group of criminals who
were devoted to trading sexually explicit images of children under the
age of five."

"Smiling" is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body tofunction better. Smile to improve your health, your stress level, and your attractiveness. Smiling is just one fun way to liv...e longer read about the others and try as ma

"Smiling" is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your
body tofunction better. Smile to improve your health, your stress
level, and your attractiveness. Smiling is just one fun way to liv...e
longer read about the others and try as many as you can.
1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive
2. Smiling Changes Our Mood
3. Smiling Is Contagious
4. Smiling Relieves Stress
5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin
8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger/

Have handful of fenugreek (Methi) seeds everyday, it will lower your cholesterol and improve your glucose metabolism —

HEALTH - ~ : Banana-oatmeal hot cakes with spiced maple syrup

Dietitian's tip: Mashed bananas and cooked oats help keep these
pancakes moist and flavorful. If you don't like syrup, warm some
sliced bananas in a frying pan with a small amount of butter or oil
and spoon them on top.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Serves 6
Ingredients
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup water
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup whole-wheat (whole-meal) flour
1/2 cup all-purpose (plain)flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup 1 percent low-fat milk
1/4 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1 banana, peeled and mashed
1 egg, lightly beaten
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, cinnamon stick and
cloves. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat
and let steep for 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stickand cloves with
a slotted spoon. Set the syrup aside and keep warm.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the oats and water. Microwave
on high until the oats are creamy and tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in
the brown sugar and canola oil. Set aside to cool slightly.
In a bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and
ground cinnamon. Whisk to blend.
Add the milk, yogurt and banana to the oats and stir until well
blended. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture to the oat mixture and
stir just until moistened.
Place a nonstick frying pan or griddle over medium heat. When a drop
of watersizzles as it hits the pan, spoon 1/4 cup pancake batter into
the pan. Cook until the top surface of the pancake is covered with
bubbles and the edges are lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn and
cook until the bottom is well browned and the pancake is cooked
through, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Repeat with the remaining pancake
batter.
Place the pancakes on warmed individual plates. Drizzle with the warm
syrup and serve immediately.
Nutritional analysis per serving
Serving size: 3 pancakes
Calories 271 Sodium 243 mg
Total fat 7 g Total carbohydrate 49 g
Saturated fat 1 g Dietary fiber 3 g
Monounsaturated fat 4 g Protein 6 g
Cholesterol 32 mg/

Signs of Allah in Eating a Fish

Allah tells us in the Quran: Then let man look at his food (80:24).
Let's say that your mother cooked a fish for you to eat and you are
living in Canada and this fish came from Bangladesh. Now Allah tells
us to look at ourfood to see where it came from, how it came from, how
it was created, etc. Allah created this fish in a river of Bangladesh.
Then Allah gave it food and looked after it so that it grows up. At
one time, Allah caused a fisherman to catch the fish and sell it to a
foreign export company. Then Allah caused the company to send the fish
all the way to Canada. In Canada, someone went and bought that fish
from a store. Then the fish was cooked and served in frontof you. All
these things Allah did just so that you can eat!

MEDINA The City Of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)

The second holiest site in Islam is Medina (or Medinah), the "City of
the Prophet (S.A.W)," is in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia.
It was to Medina city that Muhammad (S.A.W) fled when he was initially
driven out of Mecca, and the place where he attracted his first
followers.Medina currently has a population of about 600,000 people
and is the home of "The Prophet's Mosque." The long form of the Arabic
name for Medina(Madinat Rasul Allah) means "City of the Prophet of
Allaah", while the short form (al-Madina) just means "the City".
Muslims always add salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam ("peace be upon him")
after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad, so the full form of the name is
commonly given as "Madinat Rasul Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam."
Medina is the second holy city of Islam, after Mecca. It's importance
as a religious site derives from the presence there of the Masjid al
Nabawi, the Mosque of the Prophet (S.A.W), which was built on the site
of Muhammad's home and is where he is buried. The first mosque of
Islam is also located in Medinah and is known as Masjid al-Quba, the
Quba Mosque. In 622, Medina became the seat of Muhammad's (S.A.W)
growing movement after the Hijra. In 622 Muhammad (S.A.W) was invited
to come and live in Yathrib (the old name of Medina) and act as a sort
ofgovernor. Medina in those times was a divided city. Different clans
and religions were eternally quarreling and bickering and Muhammad
brought unity to the city. All parties agreed to a pact drawn up by
Muhammad (S.A.W) and his followers. He invited all people in the city
to followthe new religion of Islam. However, he had trouble convincing
the Jewish population (which was actually quite large) that Islam was
the true version of Judaism. In the ten yearsfollowing the Hijra,
Medina formed the base from which Muhammad (S.A.W) attacked and was
attacked and it was from here that he marched on Makkah, becoming its
ruler without battle. Even when Islamic rule was established Medina
remained for some years the most important city of Islam and the de
facto capital of the Caliphate. Under the first four Caliphs, known as
the Righteous Caliphs, the Islamic empire expanded rapidly and came to
include centres of learning such as Jerusalem and Damascus. After the
death of Ali, the fourth caliph, Mu'awiyya transferred the capital to
Damascus and the importance of Medina dwindled and became of a
religious more than a political nature. In 1924 the city, which had
been in Ottoman hands for centuries, fell to Ibn Saud, whose empire
later became Saudi Arabia.

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HOLD BACK YOUR TONGUE…

Oh slaves of Allah, take heed of what your tongue says, for that may
determine your fate between Jahannam and Jannah. One of the grave
problems which is taken very lightly by the Ummahat this present time,
are the words that we utter. Never do we think twice before we talk.
We indulge ourselves into dirty, flithy and forbidden acts. Among
these forbidden things which people take often lightly are gheebah
(backbiting), buhtaan (slander) and nameemah (malicious gossip).
Worst of all, we backbite about our very own brothers and sisters in
Islam. And I swear by Allahthis is such a dirty and deadly sin that we
are falling into without even realizing it.
For Allaah subhana wa t'ala says (interpretation of the meaning):
"neither backbite one another. Would one of youlike to eat the flesh
of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear
Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance,
Most Merciful"[al-Hujuraat 49:12]
Gheebah or backbiting means speaking about a Muslim in his absence and
saying things that he would not like to have spread around or
mentioned. Buhtaan or slander means saying things about a Muslim
thatare not true, or in other words telling lies about him. Nameemah
or malicious gossip means telling one person what another said in
order to cause trouble between them.
I do not understand how we even dare to talk about the sins of other
people, and indulge ourselves in the discussionof the lives of people,
when our life itself is so crooked. People hardly pray, or even if
they do, then they pray Fajr at the time of Dhuhr, Dhuhr at the time
of 'Asr, and so forth, and one of their excuse for missing or delaying
their Salah is, "I cannot find the time to pray", but yet we find a
lotof time for chit chatting about people.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that theMessenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "Do you know what gheebah (backbiting) is?" They said,
"Allaah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Saying something about
your brother that he dislikes." It was said, "What if what I say about
my brother is true?" He said, "If what you say is true then you have
backbitten about him, andif it is not true, then you have slandered
him." Narrated by Muslim, 2589
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by two graves and
said, "They are being punished, but they are not being punished
foranything that was difficultto avoid. One of them used to walk about
spreading malicious gossip(nameemah), and the other used not to take
precautions to avoid getting urine on himself when he urinated." Then
he called for a green branch, which he split in two and planted a
piece on each grave, and said, "May their torment be reduced so long
as these do not dry out." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 213; Muslim, 292/

Loving Good For Your Brothers

A sign that you have begun to love good for others is that you will
want the greatest good in your relationship with your brothers who are
near to you. If you see that Allah (SW) singles out one of your
brothers with a particular blessing, either worldly or religious,it is
incumbent that you search deep into your heart and find feelings of
sincere happiness for him. It is stated in a hadith,"None of you truly
believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for
himself." A sign of this love is that you do not become quickly
angered if your brother makes a mistake while trying to do something
good. Rather than opposing or criticizing him, you should assist himin
the rectification of his mistake in a gentle way. Itis not easy to
have this attribute become firmly planted in the heart, because envy
(hasad) is subtle, even among your companions. However, by being
sincere and turning to Allah Most High continuously, this affair
becomes easy. So, if you see that Allah (SWT) has blessed one of your
brothers with uprightness,enlightenment, or righteousness, and it
weighs heavy on your heart, the cure for this is to pray that Allah
increase him in what He has given him. Say:
O Allah, increase him! O Allah, give him openings!
O Allah, give him Divine success!
O Allah, guide others by means of him!
The existence of the darkness of envy in the soul is a sign of not
loving good for others. If Allah bestows a blessing up someone, you
might say to yourself, "Masha-Allah, Allah has blessed him withthat."
However, if he happens to make the slightest mistake, you become
angered and say things like, "He doesn't know what he is doing!
Hedoesn't understand! He's not benefiting people!" Pay attention to
what youare saying here. Which is greater, the good he was doing, or
the mistake that he made?
Another sign that the heart does not desire good for others is
hastening to mention people's errors. This does not mean that you
remainsilent about the mistakes. Rather, it is upon you to advise your
brother and strive to rectify the fault, without diminishing their
honor. Your duty when rectifying is to correct the mistake, not to
diminish the stature of the one whomade the blunder. There isa big
difference between the two. From the subtle, evil aspects of the soul
regarding this, is the claimthat your self is perfect and the other is
deficient. Take for instance, when one says, "I am more knowledgeable
than him. How could he be the one who does that? How couldhe have more
students? Why are people praising him?" This is claiming thatthe self
is perfect. Or whenone says, "I have been studying longer than him. I
have more sincerity than him,"
Do you know who said"I?" Pay attention! The one who said, "I," was
Iblis. "I am better than him. You created me of fire, while You
created himof mud." (7:12) He (Iblis), laughs at you and makes you his
student when you say, "I" like he did. You arestudents of the
inheritors of the Prophet (Sallahu alayhi wassllam), not of Iblis.
As for the other aspect of seeking deficiencies in your brother, when
you say things like, "He does not know. He doesn't understand. He made
a mistake in that. He didn't organize this, etc." What isyour
intention in saying these things? If your intention is to try to
rectify his mistake, may Allah bless you because loving good for
people necessitates this. However,if your intention when he makes a
mistake is that you don't want him to do something good, sacrifice, or
work hard… look into your hearts. Do you want to stop a good action
frombeing done? Pay attentionto what is going on.
Don't say anything that your brother would dislikeif he were to become
aware of what you said. You may only speak to theextent that is needed
to rectify a wrong and give advice. You must address him first, if you
are unable to, a third person that you know could benefit the
situation by influencing him, or speaking to him. But to let your
tongue loose and talk negatively about him saying things like, "So and
so did this. Soand so doesn't know. So and so made a mistake. Soand so
just wants this for himself. So and so just wants to be known."
Whatdoes saying these things really mean? This is backbiting (ghibah),
and completely impermissible.
You can speak to the extent that is necessary to rectify the mistake,
but it is not permissible to criticize or dishonor your brother. If
you are able to gently allude to your brother's imperfection ('Aib) to
rectify the situation, it is better than speaking to him directly.
Ifyou are able to simply move your lips to inform the person, it is
better than raising your voice so that others can hear. If you can
speak directly to him, it is not permissible to speak to another about
it.

Islamic Article :-Better, Worthier & Superior

I was just reading Surah ale Imran when I came across these beautiful
and amazing verses…Even though I have read this surah many times
before but it felt as if I was reading these words for the first
time…The description of the things we love and then the way Allah
[subhanahu ta'ala] tells us about what's better…! An awesome dua and
some hints on how to acheive that high position!
So touching and so utterly mesmerizing! Jotting themdown…Please do
read, recite, understand, and contemplate! :)
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women
and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and
cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but
Allah haswith Him the best return.
Say, "Shall I inform you of[something] better than that? For those who
fear Allah will be gardens in the presence of their Lordbeneath which
rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and
approval from Allah. And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants - Those who
say, "Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and
protect us from the punishment of the Fire," The patient, thetrue, the
obedient, those who spend [in the way ofAllah], and those who seek
forgiveness before dawn. "
(Surah Ale Imran, 3: 14-17)
And there is another beautiful verse in Surah as Sajdah which seems
related to these verses:
"And no soul knows whathas been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as
reward for what they used to do." (Surah as Sajdah, 32:17)
Rasoolullah [sallallahu alyhi wasallam] said, regarding this verse:
"Allah says: 'Í have prepared for my righteous servants what no eye
has seen, no ear has heard, and it has never crossed the mind of man.'
" [Muslim, Trimidhi]
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, Amazing right?
Let us strive and work hardto gain that which 'Allah calls better'!
That which is supposed to be the BEST for us!
May Allah accept our effortsand reward us abundantly in this world and
the Hereafter! Ameen!

Assalamu Alaikum - - 9.jun.sat/

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud:
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salam) said, "Do not wish to be like
anyone except in two cases. (The first is) A person, whom Allah has
given wealth and he spends it righteously; (the second is) the one
whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur'an) and he acts according to
it and teaches it to others."
Sahih Bukhari, Book 3 (Knowledge), Number 73/