:: Quarrelling causes loss of strength ::

Assalam Alaikum,

Something I read about online~ Very very enlightening!

One of the important secrets God reveals to believers is not to quarrel. Or else their strength will depart and they will be weak in heart. The relevant verse is as follows:

Qur'anic morality is marked by humility. Those adhering to the moral values of the Qur'an settle quarrels, find solutions to problems, make things easy for people and do not display greed.

In the absence of Qur'anic morality, disputes and conflicts are unavoidable. It is perfectly natural that everybody holds different opinions. For instance, 20 people can propose 20 different solutions to a problem. Each solution may be right or consistent within itself. If each one insists on being right, it is obvious that there will be disorder and conflict. In such a case, rather than unity by consensus of 20 people, there will be quarrels and personal ambitions that will impede good deeds engaged in for the cause of God.

Consequently, the whole strength of these 20 people will dissipate, the union and brotherhood among them will be dissolved.

Believers should feel a profound love for one another,make sacrifices and establish a strong solidarity and cooperation among themselves. Especially at times of hardship, they should keep themselves occupied with the remembrance of God, and be much more patient and supportive towards one another. Quarrelling reduces strength, whereas co-operation increases the strength among the believers. In another verse, God has revealed the secret that if believers are not friends and protectors of one another, there will be confusion and great corruption in the land:

"Those who disbelieve are the friends and protectors of one another. If you do not act in this way (protect each other) there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption." (Surat al-Anfal: 73)

Each one of these is a secret God has revealed and charged Muslims with responsibilities. No Muslim should consider a quarrel with another Muslim trivial, by saying,"So what if we quarrelled?" Because, as God informs us, every dispute among Muslims, means the diminishing of the strength of believers for which Muslims will give an account to God. That is why our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Fear God. Make peace among you. Certainly, God makes peace among the Muslims."

Muslims should not look for one another's mistakes or failings, but rather cover faults of other Muslims with compassion. The strength believers derive from this unity,means devoting all energy to spread God's religion and the morals of the Qur'an. With unity they can concentrate on communicating the signs of the existence of God through scientific works and render praiseworthy services to humanity. One must remember, however, that everyone renders his services essentially to earn an eternal life in the hereafter and to be safeguarded from God's punishment.

Taken from Some Secrets of the Qur'an Page 69-71

"Obey God and His Messenger and do not quarrel amongst yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. God is with the steadfast."
(Surat al-Anfal: 46)

:: The Effect of Good Actions and Good Words ::

People are in a relentless search for peaceful environments where they can live in safety, have joy and cherish friendship. Despite this longing, however, they never put forth an effort to foster these values, but rather they become themselves the causes of conflicts and misery.

Often people expect others to provide peace and safety and be friendly. This applies to family relations, relations among employees of a company, to social peace as well as to international affairs.

Yet, maintenance of friendship, peace and safety demand altruism. Conflict and restlessness cannot be avoided when people insist on having the last word, when they consider only their own comfort and are unwilling to make any compromises or sacrifices.

However, believers who fear God act differently. They are unselfish, forgiving and forbearing. Even when they are wronged, they renounce their own rights, regard the peace and safety of the society and happiness of others over their own self-interest, and display courteous behaviour. This is a noble attribute that God commands believers to have:

A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. None will obtain it but those who are truly steadfast. None will obtain it but those who have great good fortune. (Surah Fussilat: 34-35)

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided. (Surat an-Nahl: 125)

As stated in the verse, in return for this good act of believers, God changes their enemies into "bosom friends". This is one of God's secrets. After all, all hearts are in God's hand. He changes the heart and thought of whomever He wills. In another verse, God draws our attention to the effect of good and gentle word. God commands the Prophet Moses and Aaron, peace be upon them, to go to Pharaoh and to speak to him gently. Despite Pharaoh's unfairness, insolence and mercilessness, God has commanded His messengers to speak to him with gentle words. God has explained the reason in the Qur'an:

Go to Pharaoh; he has overstepped the bounds. But speak to him with gentle words so that hopefully he will pay heed or show some fear.'(Surah Ta Ha: 43-44)

These verses inform believers about the type of attitude they should assume towards disbelievers, their enemies and insolent people. This surely encourages patience, will, modesty and wisdom. God has revealed as a secret that He will render the acts of believers effective and will change their enemies into friends when they obey His commands and act in compliance with good morals.

Taken from Some Secrets of The Qur'an (Page 60-62) by HARUN YAHYA

:: The Hadith Book of Knowledge (34 Kitab Al-`Ilm) ::

Assalamu Alaikum~

It's Friday! Yay! And I made a discovery... Maybe not so a discovery but more of enlightenment... =)

As usual, I was entering on data into the company's system and the continuous same action makes me sleepy, especially that it is in mid afternoon and my energy level was low... Hence, I decided to take a break by reading news... and I continued with my data entry... THEN...

I needed another break but there wasn't much news to read.. Therefore, I decided to read Hadith from http://www.searchtruth.com I was browsing and deciding what to read... Eventually, I decided to read on the 'The Book of Knowledge (Kitab Al-`Ilm)' of Sahih Muslim.

And this Hadith 6451 & 6452 are taken exactly from the site...

6451

Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is from the conditions of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away and ignorance would prevail (upon the world), the liquor would be drunk, and adultery would become rainpant.

6452

Qatida reported that Anas b. Malik said: May I not narrate to you a hadith which I heard from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) which no one would narrate to you after me who would have personally heard it from him (the Holy Prophet) (as I have the good fortune to do so)? -" It is from the signs of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away, ignorance would prevail upon (the world), adultery would become common, wine would be drunk, the number of men will fall short and the women would survive (and thus such a disparity would arise in the number of men and women) that there would be one man to look after fifty women.

Then it just hit on me! The news I just read!

English turn to booze on holiday

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8225029.stm

1. English holidaymakers are turning to drink on their breaks with the average adult consuming eight alcoholic drinks a day, a survey suggests
2. Government figures show 10 million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits, increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers.
   

'John schools' try to change attitudes about paid sex
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/27/tennessee.john.school/index.html

1. 
   
   
   All had tried to buy a prostitute's services and were caught by police. It was their first offense, and a county court referred them to a one-day program called the John School. It's a program run by volunteers and city officials in conjunction with Magdalene House, a nonprofit that works to get prostitutes off the streets.
   
2. 
   
   
   No comprehensive effort has been made to track the numbers, but experts estimate 1 million to 2 million prostitutes work in the United States. The FBI's 2007 Uniform Crime Report lists about 78,000 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice, but experts say those numbers are extremely conservative because many sex workers and johns aren't caught.
3. 
   
   
   Experts add that easy accessibility to prostitutes and pornography on the Internet are feeding the problem.

Are we now at the stage of the Last hour as Knowledge is taken away from us? There is no prophet since Muhammad (PBUH) and we are left on our own, with so many distraction around us... What seems right and acceptable now IS NOT permitted by Allah (SWT)! Take for example drinking beer... This is a social act in the western countries and even here in Asia... People who are not aware of Allah(SWT) thinks that it is normal and sinless to drink~ Well, what did the Qur'an says?

Shaitan desires to stir up enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, to prevent you from remembrance of Allah and from Salah. Will you not abstain?(Al-Maidah, 5:91)

There is no blame on those who believe and do good deeds for what they ate in the past, provided they abstain from those things which have been made unlawful, then remain steadfast in their belief and do righteous deeds, then abstain themselves from whatever they are forbidden and believe in Divine Law, then fear Allah and do good deeds. For Allah loves those who do good deeds.(Al-Maidah, 5:93)

Once again, I'm so thankful to Allah(SWT) for opening my heart and to give me the spark to light up my candle, so that I can use it to read and read and be enlighted and to follow the right path...

What happened this afternoon is spooky~ It's like Allah wants me to know that what Prophet Muhammad said in the Hadith are all true by showing me examples of what is happening around the world now...

I will try my best to follow the right way~ No no no... Trying best is not good enough... I will have to do it right!!!

Insha'Allah!

:: Ramadan 2009 ::

Assalamu Alaikum!! =)

It's Ramadan, time for Muslims around the world to fast! I am not a Muslim but as a beginner, and as someone who believes in The Almighty Allah, I would want to follow what he has for me as what he has decided is the best for me~

Hence, I read and found out that of all reasons why Ramadan is a very special month, the main reason which is deeply important to me is that it is the month which Allah(SWT) revealed the Qur'an as a guidance to mankind.

It was like how Islam is introduced to me. Without Allah's Grace in revealing the Qur'an, I guess I would not be properly guided like now because I've got a holy book to refer to now~

And during Ramadan, Fasting is compulsory.

Also, of all advantages of fasting, below are the 2 points which I've found and encourages me to fast.


Control desire
"If a person’s stomach is hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties from feeling hunger or desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, eye, hand and private parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the defeat of Shaytaan; it controls desires and protects one’s faculties."


Knowing how the poor feels
"When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he experiences how the poor feel, so he has compassion towards them and gives them something to ward off their hunger. Hearing about them is not the same as sharing their suffering, just as a rider does not understand the hardship of walking unless he gets down and walks."

(Above 2 points are taken from http://www.muslimconverts.com/ramadhaan/fasting-rules.htm#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting)


Though there are many other advantages in fasting (Eg: entering Al-Rayyaan), but as a beginner, I should just do because of the purpose of fasting and not to think of it as I do it for the purpose of a reward after I pass on to the next stage with Allah (SWT).

Thank you Allah for your guidance in making me knowledgeable and being endless inquisitive to slowly discover what you have for me!