Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

 15th January 2010 / 29th Muharram 1431
FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT

This Weeks Current Events

UNESCO to support Iranian design for decoration of Al-Askari Shrine
Iran, Oman urge dialogue to end Yemen and Shia conflict
Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year
Iran condemns publishing of defamatory caricature
New Saudi air raids claim more civilians in Yemen
Ahlu Sunnah vows to take Al-Shabab stronghold
Tibet to be home of highest airport on earth
'Iran will take revenge on US over its crimes'
Brown refuses giving testimony on Iraq war
Haiti braces for huge earthquake death toll
'Saudi claims against Iran part of US plot'
Green tea fights lung cancer: Study

 
Ten Tips for Becoming More "Practicing" Believers
Zara Syed             www.islamicinsights.com

Every time we read an inspiring article or hear a motivating speech, we resolve to abandon some of our un-Islamic habits, persevere steadfastly in our wajibaat, and generally become more "practicing". But due to the lack of any practical ideas or steps, these resolutions usually do not last for more than an hour after the initial epiphany. Following is a list of ten very common issues that most of us seem to falter when it comes to our Islamic obligations. By improving in each of these areas, we can exponentially increase our nearness to our Creator and minimize/eliminate the punishment of Allah that would most certainly await us otherwise.
Telling the Truth
Avoiding unwanted telephone calls ("Tell them I'm not home!") and trying to obtain undeserved discounts from inexperienced young staff at the local butcher ("Yeah, yeah, your boss knows me, he always gives me a 25 percent discount!") is, well, dishonest and un-Islamic. Small lies, big lies, and even white lies should be avoided at all times. As good believers, we should always be telling the truth!
Praying on Time
One of the major inconveniences of our favorite TV shows it that they are always broadcast at Maghrib time. Despite having seen every episode half a dozen times over the span of our childhood, we can't help but gamble every time over whom we love more: Allah or Homer Simpson? And for those of us who are smart enough to know that our Creator's importance is greater than Matt Groening's creation, the Morning Prayer is a whole other battle. I'm not too sure why most of us "don't have the energy" for Fajr, because even at 4 in the morning, the minute someone plugs in the PS3 or suggests a movie marathon, it's as though we've consumed a dozen energy drinks and three shots of espresso. Narrations reveal that Fajr is the most beneficial of the daily prayers; however, Satan whispers otherwise.
 
Minding Our Language
I understand that the recommended daily Ziyarat Ashura recitation summons an amazing adrenaline rush upon cursing the tyrants; however, extending this "curse allowance" to regular use of profanities in everyday life is certainly uncalled for! These days most Muhammads and Hussains and Zainabs and Fatimas seem to be partaking in the who-can-swear-the-most competitions with the non-Muslims. If anyone feels as though this statement is grossly unfair, please find proof by visiting the local Islamic school during lunch time.
Refraining from Backbiting
To those individuals who feel compelled to commit Gheebat, justifying it as "a collective attempt to rectify faltering individuals" by informing each and every person of someone else's shortcomings and not-so-ethical behavior, we quote the Holy Qur'an: "And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother?" (49:12) Either everyone these days is practicing cannibalism on their own free will, or we have run out of new and interesting meats to try. I'm not too sure about your brother's, but mine's flesh certainly does not seem too appetizing.

To be continued next week...

Hadith Of the Week
One who says unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target of their scandal.

Nahjul Balagha—Imam Ali (a.s)


 
You are what you Read!

   
You are the same today as you're going to be in five years except for two things, the people you meet and the books you read". 

Hang around thinkers; you'll be a better thinker. Hang around givers; you'll be a better giver. Hang around workers; you'll be a better worker. Hang around a bunch of thumb sucking, complaining, griping boneheads; and you will be a better thumb sucking, complaining, griping bonehead.

Now. With that said... how many of you are under sixteen yet? Great. How do you like an idea that you might be driving a Cadillac car when you're sixteen? I got it for you.

When my son Jaffer was your age, he was quite as excited as you. I said, "Jaffer, do you want to have a car when you're sixteen?"

"Yes."

"Do you want me to help you buy that car?"
 
"Yes sir, dad."

"Alright, son, we're going to do it, but the free ride's over. No more allowance. I'm going to give you a way to make a lot of money. Here is the deal. I am going to pick out books for you to read. There will be motivational books, history books, religion books, inspirational books; and every time I give you a book, you give me a book report. Every time I get a book report, I'll put money in your car fund. Another book report; more money in the car  fund. In two years if you read in style, you'll drive in style. But if you read like a bum, you're going to drive like a bum."

Overnight he developed a fantastic hunger for reading. The first book I had him read was Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Now the first day he came down and said, "Dad, dad, there's a whole chapter in here on smiling and shaking hands." And he shook my hand, shook my hand - first sign of life in fourteen years. Woohoo! And he smiled at me.

Then I had him read a book named 'Peshawar Nights' on Shia beliefs and then 'Quran, Bible and Science' of Dr. Maurice Bucaille. One Friday, when we were going to Masjid, I asked, "Jaffer, how are you getting along with Dr. Bucaille's book?"

He said with overflowing enthusiasm, "Dad, dad", and he softly hit my back. Imagine that, he hit my back for the first time. Then he said, "Everybody specially high school Muslim students ought to have to read that book."

"Alhamdulillah", I said to myself, "That was a sign he was beginning to think about somebody other than himself".

Well, he read 22 books before going to college. Did he buy a car? No. He kept the money to buy more books and instead used my car and my gas. But It was worth it. Then he went off to college, and I got one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Jaffer goes off to college but he writes me a "Dear Dad" postcard every week for four years. You know what I used to do when I would get some of the cards? I would put my head on my desk and cry with happiness. Do you know why? He was thinking thoughts that I never dreamed a young person of his age could think. Thanks to his fantastic craving for reading. Now he didn't only have the full meaning of the books he read, but he had wise thoughts of his own in his mind. I would like to read you a couple of his cards from college to me.

"Dear Dad, yesterday someone insulted me in front of the whole class. I was furious at first, but then I forgave him. You know why, dad? I remembered Imam Ali's saying in Nahjul Balagha which I had read just the night before:  Imam Ali said: 'So whoever of you who knows about others' faults, be restrained by what he knows about his own faults'. Love, Jaffer".

Another of his card said: "Dear Dad, I have Just finished reading 'Al-Aamali of Sheikh Mufid'. This book changed my weekends. Before getting hold of this book, I used to spend it on idle talks, parties and sittings with gossipers in the college. No longer now. In 'Al-Aamali', I read that there was an idle jester in Madina who used to cause people laugh by his pranks and jokes. One day that jester came and pulled Imam Sajjad (as)'s cloak to make people laugh. You know Dad, Imam was totally composed and he did not even become angry, except that he said to him: 'For Allah, there is a fixed Day in which the idle vain doers will be in loss". Dad, I don't want to be like this idle jester on weekends. So I joined Islamic Crescent Group from the neighborhood Masjid that visits hospitals every Sunday to distribute fruits, flowers and words of kindness to the sick. Isn't that better idea Dad? Salams, Jaffer."

After reading this card, I could not control my tears. Does not good reading create miracles? Wish you Happy Reading!

Tabligh Board- KSI Jamaat, DSM
P. O. Box 233, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Tel.:+255 22 2115119 / Fax.: +255 22 2127555
Website: www.dartabligh.org, Email: tabligh@raha.com