| Living \r\n the Quran |
Taha
Allah had taken a promise from Adam that he would not go near the forbidden \r\n tree, but Adam forgot the promise within a few days. He became a prey \r\n to weakness and broke his promise. \r\nThe above verse shows that deficiency in \r\n memory and weakness of determination are two obstructions which come in \r\n the way of performance of duty. Fulfilment of promises \r\n depends on these two factors. With these two things, fulfilling one's \r\n promise would be easy. And this is a strange thing that man, being overwhelmed \r\n by the hardships of the times, various difficulties and different pressing \r\n problems forgets the open and clear realities. To him the clear figures \r\n appear blurred, and the realities which are as striking as the light of \r\n the sun disappear from his sight. \r\nThere the necessity of a reminder becomes very pressing, to overcome \r\n the negligence and forgetfulness and to keep this important thing before \r\n men's eyes. Alive and wakeful memory and remembrance is essential for \r\n fulfilling promises. A man who forgets his \r\n promises and covenants, how can he fulfil them? \r\nIf a man has a strong memory in respect of fulfilling his promise, it \r\n is also necessary that he should have a \r\n determination to do so - a determination which should \r\n not have any laxity or slackness in this matter - a determination which \r\n should be able to overcome all the rebellious desires, and which should \r\n lighten the coming burden of difficulties. It should be a determination \r\n which should be able to cross all the difficult valleys and blocks and \r\n should be able to set an example of selfless sacrifice for others. \r\nSource: |
| \r\n Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| \r\n \r\n Loving For Our Brothers What \r\n We Love For Ourselves \r\nAbu Hamzah Anas ibn Malik (RA) relates that the Prophet (peace be upon \r\n him) said: \"None of you believes \r\n until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.\" \r\n [Bukhari and Muslim] \r\nThe above hadith proves the incompleteness of the iman of one who does \r\n not love for his brother what he loves for himself. \r\nThis hadith should be interpreted in \r\n terms of the universality of brotherhood even to the extent of encompassing \r\n both disbelievers and Muslims. One loves for one's disbelieving \r\n brother what one loves for oneself: his entrance into Islam, just as \r\n one loves for one's Muslim brother his continuance in Islam. For this \r\n reason it is recommended to supplicate for a disbeliever's guidance. \r\n \r\nWhat is meant by 'love' is 'willing good and benefit'. Moreover what \r\n is meant is love in terms of the deen and not human love, for if one \r\n acts on one's human nature, one may dislike another's attainment of \r\n good and another's being distinguished over oneself. Man \r\n must oppose his human nature and supplicate for his brother and wish \r\n for him what he wishes for himself. \r\nIf a person does not love for his brother what he loves for himself, \r\n then he is envious. Envy, as al-Ghazali said, is in three divisions: \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n Source: |
| Teens' \r\n Deen |
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Are Your Pillars Standing \r\n Strong? \r\n Do you have trouble understanding the pillars of Islam? \r\n Do you sometime find it difficult to explain the concept of 'pillars \r\n in Islam' to your friends? \r\n Compare Islam to a building or \r\n a house! A house provides us with a place in which \r\n to live. There we can sleep and rest and draw strength for the \r\n work we have to do in life. There \r\n are many parts in a building. Buildings stand \r\n on foundations that keep them upright and secure. They also have \r\n roofs, doors, windows, walls and floors. Moreover, they have pillars \r\n that support them. No building will \r\n stand if it does not have pillars. \r\n Islam, too, consists of many different \r\n parts. There is the faith of Islam, upon which \r\n the whole way of Islam is founded. There are the codes of conduct \r\n and manners, which tell us what to do and how to act in all spheres \r\n of our lives. These are the roof, door, windows, walls and floors \r\n of Islam. Inside this \"house of Islam\", we can draw the \r\n strength for the things we have to do in life. Islam is our shelter. \r\n So we see Islam is very much like a house! \r\n Islam, of course, also has its \r\n pillars. These pillars support Islam, just as \r\n the pillars of a building support it. There \r\n are five pillars that support the religion of Islam. These \r\n pillars are known as Arkan. They are: \r\n 1) Shahadah (Declaration of \r\n Faith); 2) Salat (Prayers five times \r\n a day); 3) Zakat (Money given \r\n to provide for the poor); 4) Sawm (Fasting \r\n in the month of Ramadan); 5) Hajj \r\n (Making pilgrimage to Makkah). \r\n They are not the whole of Islam, \r\n but Islam could not exist without them. If one \r\n of these pillars becomes weak, then the whole building may fall \r\n to the ground. But if every pillar is strong and firm, then Islam \r\n can serve as a strong influence in our lives. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Source: \r\n \r\n |
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