January 31

Martyrdom Of Our 11th Imam A.S.- 8th Rabbiul Awwal

Condolences to all mu’mineen on the martyrdom anniversary of our 11th Imam a.s.

Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) Introduced the Saviour of Humanity

Imam Hassan al-Askari imam hassan al-askari(A.S) has said:

"There are two characteristics, which surpass all others:

Having faith in Allah, and Benefiting one’s brothers (in faith)." (1)

One of the major responsibilities of Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S), for which he endeavoured earnestly, was to introduce the Imam after him to the Shias and to inform them of the next Imam’s occultation.

At the time, the Abbasid dynasty, having had heard the words of the previous Imams (A.S.) and those of Prophets’ (A.S) about the saviour that would be born to Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S), were in close watch of Imam Hassan’s (A.S.) residency to make sure he would not have a son. Thereupon, Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S) had to hide his son from the guards sent by the government and in that manner save his son’s life.

After the martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S), Imam Mahdi (A.S) went into the periods of his short and long occultation, whereupon most Shiias were deprived from seeing their Imam. Upon this matter, at the time of Imam al-Askari (A.S) it was necessary to introduce Imam Mahdi (A.S) to certain Shiias, and clarify his processes of occultation. Many narrations have been recorded on this matter, but in this excerpt we will refer to only one.

Ahmad ibn Is’haq, one of the reliable companions of Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S), has narrated: "In one of my visits to the Imam, I had intended to ask about his successor. Yet before I had spoken, the Imam (A.S) said: ‘O Ahmad ibn Is’haq! From the creation of Adam, Allah (SWT) has never left the earth without His successor on people, and will never do so until the Day of Judgment…

‘I asked: ‘O son of the messenger of Allah! So who is the successor and Imam after you?’

Imam Askari (A.S) stood up immediately, and entered the house. He then returned carrying a three year old boy, whose face was filled with a halo of light. He said: ‘O Ahmad! If it were not for your eminence in the eyes of Almighty Allah and His chosen people, I would not have shown you my child. His name and nickname are the same as that of Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W.W); and it is he who will fill the earth with justice after it has been corrupted with oppression…By Allah (SWT)! He will live through a long occultation from which people will not survive perdition and deviation, except for those who stand firm on believing in his Imamate, and those who are honoured with the opportunity to pray for haste in his reappearance."

Ahmad ibn Ishaq narrates: "The minute I asked Imam Askari (A.S): ‘Will any sign or miracle appear to make me confident?’ The child began speaking: ‘I am the remainder of Allah (Baqiatullah) on earth; the one who will take revenge on the enemies of Allah; and after seeing me, do not search for any other signs!"…

(Selection taken from," An Analysis of the Life of Imam Hassan Askari (A.S)", by Muhammad Baqir Qurashi) Footnote: 1- Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 489

Category: Rabbiul Awwal | 1 Comment on Martyrdom Of Our 11th Imam A.S.- 8th Rabbiul Awwal
January 29

Coffee Bean

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last, she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ‘Tell me, what do you see?’

‘Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’ she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked,
‘What does it mean, mother?’

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.

However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

‘Which are you?’ she asked her daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Category: Interesting Stories | 1 Comment on Coffee Bean
January 29

The Secret Ingredient

Author of this article: Anonymous

We become desensitized a little bit at a time. Some years ago, I walked into my office after a Sunday morning service to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three chocolate brownies. Some thoughtful and anonymous person who knew my love for chocolate had placed them there, along with a piece of paper that had a short story written on it. I immediately sat down and began eating the first brownie as I read the following story.

Two teenagers asked their father if they could go to the theatre to watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about the movie on the internet, he denied their request.

"Ah dad, why not?" they complained. "It’s rated PG-13, and we’re both older than thirteen!"

Dad replied: "Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality as being normal and acceptable behaviour."

"But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That’s what our friends who’ve seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long, and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It’s based on a true story, and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the movie review websites say that!"

"My answer is ‘no,’ and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that film. End of discussion."

The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he’s going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies.

Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all."

About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and reading the brownies in the story. I kept reading.

The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies, which he offered to his kids. They each took one.

Then their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much."

The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening. "That is why I’ve made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I’ve made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic; the best organic flour, the best free-range eggs, the best organic sugar, premium vanilla, and chocolate." The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad’s long speech.

"But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own backyard. But you need not worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think. "

"Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?"

"Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won’t even taste it."

"Come on, dad, just tell us what that ingredient is."

"Don’t worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients."

"Dad!"

"Well, okay, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic…dog poop."

I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and spit it out into the waste basket by my desk. I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.

Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.

"Dad! Why did you do that? You’ve tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can’t eat these brownies!"

"Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won’t hurt you. It’s been cooked right along with the other ingredients. You won’t even taste it. It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!"

"No, Dad, never!"

"And that is the same reason I won’t allow you to go watch that movie. You won’t tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies? We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?"

I discarded what remained of the second brownie, as well as the entire untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn’t… but I couldn’t convince myself.)

Category: Interesting Stories | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 29

Beautiful Poem on Lady Fatema (AS)

Author of this article: Masoumah Murphy

Brandishing their torches
They stood outside her home
"Come out; plead thy allegiance!"
We want power for our own.

The assailants pounded even harder
And against the door they thrust
Between the wall and entrance
Our flower, she was crushed.

The assault, it wasn’t over,
Of that lady, mild and meek
The enemies of her husband
Struck her hard across the cheek.

She cried out loud, "O Father!
They’ve snapped the stem of your bud!"
She miscarried her unborn infant
And fainted in her blood.

Her health rapidly diminished
Our lady grew quiet, pale.
She knew her time was coming
She ached and she was frail.

She later called upon her husband,
"Ali, stay by my side.
I have some things to tell you.
My words you must abide."

"One request that I have for you
Is that once again you wed.
My niece, who loves my children,
I have chosen in my stead."

"Heed these words of mine, O husband!
Please don’t let them attend
My funeral – those who’ve done this –
When my life comes to its end."

"O Ali! When you entomb me,
Don’t dig a lonely grave.
Dig several all around me
So they don’t know where I’m laid."

"And, husband dear, you wash me
And wrap me in my shroud.
With your two strong arms embrace me
And lay me in the ground."

"Once I’m there do not forsake me.
Sit by my lonely tomb.
As my soul, like any mortal’s,
Is fearful of its doom."

"God’s will, you cannot alter.
I entrust my children unto thee.
This, maybe, will console you;
Of this world, I will be free.

She asked for her new garments
And camphor her father had given;
The scent of Paradise that Gabriel brought
As a gift to him from heaven.

As her strength subsided,
And she knew her time was nigh,
She made her ablution
And towards the Qiblah lay, to die.

She addressed her companion, Asma
On her lips, a secret smile
"I am fatigued and want to rest.
Call me in a while."

After an hour, when Asma called her,
Silence was the reply.
She knew her desert flower
Had wilted and had died.

As the news spread through the city,
Wailing women gathered near.
And men, impatient to carry the body,
Of Ali’s Zahra dear.

Abu Dharr called to the people,
"Please, in vain don’t you wait!
Today her body won’t be buried,
As it is very late."

Then quietly, in the moonlight,
With the chosen by his side,
Silently, they bore the coffin
Of Ali’s holy bride.

And as Ali lowered her body
To its final place of rest
Two arms just like the Prophet’s
Gathered her to its breast.

Inconsolable, grieving,
Ali’s courageous heart then broke.
And he gathered his motherless children,
All tearful, beneath his cloak.

At the break of dawn, his house grew silent.

As promised, he didn’t disclose
Nor answer any questions

Of where he buried his Arabian rose.

Category: Poems | 2 Comments on Beautiful Poem on Lady Fatema (AS)
January 28

The Mayonnaise Jar

When  things in your life seem almost too much to handle, When 24  hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of  coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy  class and  had some items in front of him.  When the class began, wordlessly, he  picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and start to fill it with  golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and  poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded With an unanimous  ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the  table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the  professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things – Friends,  family,
children, health, and favourite passions. Things  that if everything else was lost and  only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else — The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar  first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf  balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy  on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that  are important to you.

So…
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical check ups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.
‘Take care of the golf balls first –  The things that really  matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand  and inquired what the coffee represented. The  professor smiled.

‘I’m glad you asked’.

It just goes to show you that  no matter how full your life may seem,
there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend..’

Category: Interesting Stories | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 27

Your Tongue Is The Translator Of Your Intellect

YOU CAN WIN THE KINGDOM IF YOU USE THE WISDOM.

The Clever Fisherman

As King Parveez and Queen Shireen were sitting in their palace one day, a fisherman who was selling fresh fish was brought in front of them. King Parveez decided to buy a fish and gave the fisherman 4000 dirham for it.
The fisherman was overjoyed. He thanked King Parveez and left.

Queen Shireen turned to her husband in anger and scolded him for paying so much for a fish. King Parveez let her have her say but said that the fish was purchased and that there was nothing that could be done about it.
However, the Queen was adamant and insisted that the fisherman be brought back.

"We will ask the fisherman about the gender of the fish," she said. "If he answers that it is female, we will say that we wanted a male fish and if his response is that it is male, we will say that we wanted a female fish! Either way, we will be able to return the fish and have our money back."

So the poor fisherman was called back and was asked the question. Fortunately, he was clever enough not to be caught out. He replied, "The fish is neither male or female. It is neutral."

King Parveez was so impressed by the ingenuity of the man that he ordered a further 4000 dirham to be paid to him. The fisherman thanked the King again but as he was about to leave with the heavy bag of money, one of the coins fell onto the floor. The fisherman immediately bent down to look for the coin. Queen Shireen was already upset that the fisherman had been given 8000 dirham.

"Look how miserly this man is!" the Queen exclaimed. "One coin has fallen out of his bag full of money and he searches for it instead of leaving it for some other poor servant to find."

The man heard this remark and said, "O Queen, it is not out of miserliness that I search for the coin but rather because it had the picture of generous King Parveez on it. I would not tolerate anyone to cause dishonour to the King by treading on the coin."

The King was so happy with this response that he immediately called for another 4000 dirham to be given to the fisherman. When Queen Shireen saw all this, she thought it was better to hold her tongue and let the man go with the 12000 dirham before the King decided to increase the amount again. (Lessons from Life)

Speech is an Art. If one knows what, when and how to talk then such a person will be successful in life. The Holy Prophet(S) has said,

"The beauty of man is in the clarity of his tongue". (Kanzul-‘Ummaal)

Imam Ali bin Abi Talib(A) has said, "Your tongue is the translator of your intellect". (Bihar al-Anwaar)

In other words, a person’s intellect and wisdom is recognized through his speech.

Category: Interesting Stories | 1 Comment on Your Tongue Is The Translator Of Your Intellect
January 26

Our Flight Details

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful’

Flight   Details
Ticket Type:            One-way
Price:                      Absolutely free (booking confirmed)


Passenger Details:
Name:                    One of the Children of Adam
Origins:                  From clay
Address:                Planet Earth


Conditions Of Travel:
Departure:    From life on earth
Destination:  Eternal life
Stop-over:    Hotel (2 meters under the ground, for one person)
Duration of flight:   From couple of seconds to several millions of years


Departure time:
Time of death:   Exact time is unknown (but it can happen earlier than expected)
Arrival time:    On the Judgment Day (not specified in the timetable)

 

Information About Interrogation:
On the arrival to the hotel (grave):   Incorruptible Auditors – two
angels: Munkar & Nakir, will immediately start questioning.

Three questions will be asked:
1. Who is your GOD?
2. Who is your prophet?
3. What is your religion?

Questions will follow about your life on earth. For more information, refer to 27th Ayah of Surah ‘Ibrahim’ of the Holy Quran.

 

Luggage:
1. Despite the fact that the air transfers only one passenger at a time, there are some restrictions on the amount of baggage that you can take with you
2. You can take with you 5 meters of white cloth
3. Any items of material life of earth are strictly forbidden.
4. Realistic luggage should consist of good deeds, modest behaviour and of well spent time on calling people to Islam.

Important instructions:
All the passengers should remember that tickets are not exchangeable refundable.

This journey is compulsory for representatives of all races, nationalities, religions and of all ages.

Delays are not stipulated.

Captain: Angel of Death will not compromise on changing the date and time of departure.

For more information:
Read instructions, which you can find in The Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, could also consult Aalims (scholars). Please do it as soon as possible.

During your journey you will not be provided with oxygen mask, as your breathing system will be terminated just before the departure time.

Additional instructions:
1. You don’t need to take care of your boarding pass, passport and other travel documents.

To prepare for a comfortable flight:
2. Pray 5 times a day
3. Read the Holy Quran
4. Follow the sunnah to the best of your ability and be ready for your flight, as you may have to depart any minute (even now)

Final warning:
Final destination depends on you! Please do not waste your time on planet earth. Remember, you have one-way ticket:, Either to Hell or to Paradise
Jahannam OR Jannat. Hence read & practice the instructions from the  Qur’an and Sunnah  carefully And follow to reach JANNAT.

Inshallah , With HIS Grace, We all meet there in the Gardens of Jannah.

The Prophet (PBUH) said ‘Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse’

Category: Interesting Stories | 1 Comment on Our Flight Details
January 23

Cross Functional Collaboration

An Excellent example of Cross functional Collaboration.

There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning corn in his farm. Each year, he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honours and Prizes.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours.

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" The reporter asked.

"Why brother" the farmer replied, "Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I have to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours to grow good corns."

The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbour’s corn also improves. So it is in the other dimensions and areas of life!

Those who choose to be in harmony must help their neighbours and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well. The value of a life is not measured by how long one lived it is measured by how many lives it touches.

Lessons to Learn from this Story:

Success does not happen in isolation, it is most often a participatory and collective process. So share the good practices, ideas and new knowledge with your team members and colleagues.

Category: Interesting Stories | 1 Comment on Cross Functional Collaboration
January 21

Salaat & Aamaal for the 1st of Rabbiul Awwal

 

General Rites of the Months

The general rites to be advisably done in each month are as follows:

First: It is recommended to say the famous supplicatory prayers at the sight of the new moon. The most preferable of these is the supplication No. 43 of Sahifae Sajjadiyyah, which has been mentioned within the rites at the beginning of Holy Ramadhan.

Second: It is recommended to recite Surah al Fateha seven times in order to escape eye ache.

Third: It is recommended to have some cheese, for it has been narrated that one who usually eats some cheese at the beginning of each month will have almost all his requests answered.

Fourth: At the first night of each month, it is recommended to offer a two unit prayer with Surah al Fateha and Surah An’aam (No. 6). One may then pray Almighty Allah to save him from any terror or pain and to make him live throughout that month peacefully and safely.

Fifth:

Salaat Ruyati Hilal – Salaat upon seeing new moon

It is desirable to pray a 2 rakat Salaat after seeing the moon of the first night of every lunar month, within 3 days & earlier the better. Also give sadaqa /charity & Inshallah you will be safe throughout the month.

This salaat is to be prayed exactly like the morning prayer, except make foll adjustments.

  1. Make Niyat of Ruyatil Hilal

  2. In first Rakat recite after Sura Fateha recite Sooratul Ikhlass 30 times

  3. In the second rakat after Sura Fateha  recite Sooratul Qadr 30 times

  4. After Salaam Recite the following :-

    Transliteration

There is not a "moving creature" in the earth but the sustenance thereof depends on Allah. He knows its habitation and its repository. All is in a manifest Book.

If Allah touch you with affliction, there is none that can relieve there from save He; and if He desires good for you, there is none who can repel His bounty. He makes it available to whom He wills of his bondmen. He is the Oft-forgiving, the Merciful.

Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease. That which Allah wills (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah.

Allah is sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in whom we trust!
I confide my cause unto Allah. Verily, Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen,
There is no god save Thou. Be Thou glorified! Verily, I have been a wrongdoer, My Lord! I am needy of whatever good Thou sends down for me. My Lord! Leave me not alone (childless), though Thou art the best of inheritors.

 

salaatul_hilal

Category: Prayers, Rabbiul Awwal | 3 Comments on Salaat & Aamaal for the 1st of Rabbiul Awwal