Say not to them (parents) a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. -Quran 17:23
The above ayat from Quran clearly states that in Islam it is obligatory for us to show kindness, respect and obedience to our parents. The position of parents has been addressed in Islam numerous times, kindness & obedience is very strongly emphasized. Our prophet (saw) said: "Allah is pleased when the parents are pleased and Allah's displeasure lies in the displeasure of Parents".
The reason to why it is so is not a mystery, lets start by studying the role and importance of the mother. A major role in the upbringing of the children lies with her. Not caring about herself she does her best for them. She does it all without even giving a second thought about herself.
Right from being awake in the nights till sacrificing her outdoor activities, a mother does it all for her child.
If we don’t sleep for a single night we get so annoyed and act rude with everyone around us, throw tantrums and behave as if we dint sleep for a year. I can't help but wonder how every mother manages with her children, she doesn’t even get proper sleep and still she does her best to give her children-The Best.
The holy prophet (saw) said: "paradise is at the feet of a mother and the door to the paradise is a father"
The behavior in which children now a days act is totally devastating to me, how do they not realize that they used to once depend on them for each and everything, even for the smallest toy and feed of milk. But as we grow why do we forget all these things?, why do we forget that we dint even know how to talk or walk?, it was our parents who taught us to live, we exist in this world only because of them. We should change our attitude and give thanks to Allah with every breath we take and ask Him to shower his blessings on them and give us patience.
We should try and look on the brighter side and change our perception. Stop blaming our parents for what they haven't been able to provide for us, rather look at what they could.
There are some parents who can not even afford basic schooling for their children, proper clothes or even a house. And we complain because we weren't sent half way across the globe for our graduation or weren't bought the latest cell phone or the most expensive car.
There are also many children, who are not even provided with a day's meal, but still they are thankful to their parents and there are children who are provided with all the luxuries and their attitude towards parents is like:"Any parent would do this, this is no deal??!! What on earth have you done?? Nothing! " just plain UNTHANKFULL
When a child is born, he is just a piece of flesh; he knows nothing and can't do even a single bit on his own. It's only for the parents who teach the child EVERYTHING. But sadly, we are living in a time where a child speaking disrespectfully with their parents and about their parents is the norm.
Islam orders us to be respectful and considerate even with our enemies. To not uphold the obligations laid down by Allah to our parents is a major sin. Yes disrespecting or cursing ones parents is one of the major sins.
The Quran asks us to treat parents with honor and speak to them graciously even if they are non Muslims, old, in sickness or un healthy. A common phenomenon now existing is the negligence towards parents when they've grown old. Some children have them "decorated" in their drawing rooms. Neither do they take them out anywhere, nor spend time with them, they just leave them home and go out and enjoy with their wives and children, now what if the parents had done the same with the children, what if they had locked them home and stayed out for hours together?. You should be thankful you weren't dumped in a garbage can which is quite common!!
Always remember 'What goes around comes around' and fear Allah's wrath.If we don't treat our parents properly, then we won't be treated properly by OUR children.
I hope and pray that the most high, the all powerful, the almighty Allah always guide us and teach us that which will benefit us and we always respect our parents & treat them with the entire world's kindness that they truly deserve. It is definitely difficult, but it wasn't easy for them too raising us bratty kids!.
Don't hesitate to take time out for them and cherish them while they're still alive. Pray for their health and peace. Be patient with them, as they were with you. :)
Samreen Fathima Mirza, 17
mail to:sammirza14@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Education systems are partly responsible!!
Education is one of the most important & wise endeavors one could invest into. As helpful & needed as it is for one to survive in the world, is this education in some way coming in between our religious education?. That is my question. And I personally feel it is!.
The structures of education systems in the world are more or less the same, even though there might be differences to the variation of application, they all have one major problem which i like to call 'killing of curiosity'. And it is precisely that on which i state my argument.
Every field of education has become too wide, and complicated, there's much to learn and less time.There is given no room for curiosity to develop. The teachers are occupied with drilling the stated syllabus into the the kids that there is no focus on the harnessing of curiosity in the students. They are indirectly/directly told to stop thinking and questioning & just learn what is in the books. Which leads to discouragement among students because their natural learning style is murdered.
The student who joined school curious now turns into a being who is just absorbing everything at hand. This causes a permanent change in the child as to just absorb and not question. Now this curiosity deficit child applies this same technique everyday and to everything there is to learn. Islam is about being curious, Allah made us curious human beings, we are above all his creatures on earth because we have the brain and if we're not going to apply the main function of it (curiosity) then we are going to be left nowhere. We have been gifted with the ability to question, understand, absorb, think, this is what makes us different from animals!
Sadly as compared to schools, the Islamic education is not as easily available or set importance to by the parents. Worldly education is important, that is also a creation of Allah that we are learning, But we are sadly doing it at the cost of being ignorant about our religion (mostly forever).
What can we do? heres a list of some things:
- Take active part in building the curiosity in children, so even if they come across an ayat from the Quran they're drawn to learn more.
- Let them ask questions, if you don't know the answer FIND it. don't get discouraged and don't discourage them.
- Remember: you take one step towards Allah, He takes 10!
- Send your children to the nearest madressas.
- If theres no madressa get a few parents with kids to pool in and make one.
- If a madressa is not possible, find information yourself and teach it to your kid when he's young. There is no age for learning!
- Quit making excuses. The future of your child is in your hands.Take responsibility.
- Share information with other parents, it won't kill you to spread the word of Allah.
- Remember it's NEVER TOO LATE! Allah is all knowing and all forgiving!
Syeda Fatima,18
(syeda715@hotmail.com)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Quote of the day archive March. Topic: Salaat-prayers.
March 1st: The Holy Prophet (saw) said "For everything there is a face and the face of your religion is prayers. So see to it that none from amongst you damages and disfigures the face of his religion"
March 2nd: The Holy Prophet (saw) said: "Say each of your prayers as if it were your last prayer."
March 3rd: Allah says in the Quran : "Truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers:
those who humble themselves in their prayer, and who turn away from all that is frivolous, and who are intent on inner purity."
[Qur'an 23:1-4]
March 4th: Allah says in the Holy Quran: "And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me
and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance."
[Taha 13-14]
March 5th: Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (A.S) has said : "The two Rak'at that a married man prays of his Salat is better than seventy Rak'at that a bachelor performs"
March 6th: Imam Mahdi (a.s) said: “Nothing is better than namaz to make shaitan bite the dust, then perform namaz and make Shaitan bite the dust”.
March 7th: Allah says in the Holy Quran: "Be ever mindful of prayers, and of praying in the most excellent way; and stand before God in devout obedience."
[Qur'an 2:238]
March 8th: Imam al-Sadiq (a) narrates that it is written in The Torah: “O’ Son of Man, if you empty yourself, i.e. disengage yourself from all other pre-occupations to make yourself available for My worship, I will fill your heart with richness and I will not abandon you to what you seek and long for. And it will be upon me to close the door of poverty upon you and to fill your heart with awe for me.
March 9th: Allah says: "And before God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all things and beings that are in the heavens and the earth, as do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings."
[Qur'an 13:15]
March 10th: Imam Ali (p.b.u.h): Do not offer Prayer in the state of drowsiness. While offering Prayer, do not think about yourself because you are standing in front of Allah (SWT). Indeed, only that portion of the Prayer will be accepted that he has paid full attention towards Allah (SWT).
March 11th: Imam Mehdi (p.b.u.h) : "Keep prayers to Allah for hastening the reappearance, hence it is your victory."
March 12th: Allah says: "O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient." [surah al Baqarah; 2:153-154].
March 13th: Prophet Muhammad :"The five stated prayers erase the sins which have been committed during the intervals between them if they have not been mortal sins."
March 14th:The holy Quran: "Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" [al Ankabut 45]
March 15th: Imam Raza (a.s) said: "Worship does not lie in copious prayer and fasting, but in the amount of contemplation in the works of Allah."
March 16th: The holy Quran: The Apostle of Allah was asked: Which of the actions is best? He replied: Observing prayer early in its period. [abu Dawud 2: 426]
March 17th: Quran: Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds"
[al Ankabut 45]
March 18th: The Quran: "O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient." [surah al Baqarah; 2:153-154]
March 19th: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who uses the toothpick before salaat it is seventy times more excellent if he didn't"
March 20th:In a Hadith Qudsi (Prophet quoting Allah), the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Out of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me Salah is the dearest to Me."
March 21st: Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) : "He who does not ask for favors Allah (SWT) is annoyed with him"
March 22nd: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When a person performs the Salaat at the early designated time, the prayer ascends the sky, lighting it up on the way upward, to the topmost layer of the Heaven. On arrival there, it asks pardon for the person. Thus it will pray till Doomsday saying, "May it please Allah to care for you, as you have cared for me. And when a person performs prayers outside the designated time, the Salaat is ascended the sky showered in darkness. On reaching the sky it is rolled up like bundled clothes, and is used to smite the face of the person who performed it. While the Prayer itself says, "May it please Allah to deny you, as you have denied me."
March 23rd : Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) :Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) : “Islam is founded on five pillars: Bearing witness that there is no worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammed
is his servant and messenger, the establishment of Salaah, Paying Zakat, Performing Haj and Fasting in the Month of Ramadan”.
March 24th: The holy prophet (PBUH) :“A person who has missed one Salaat is like the one who has lost all his family and wealth”.
March 25th: “A person neglecting his Salaat (even though he makes it up later) shall remain in Hell for a period of one Huqb.”
March 28th: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) : "The thing that Allah (SWT) loves most is when his people pray Salah on time."
March 29th: Prophet Muhmammed (SAW) :"The sins of those who pray Salah, drop off as the leaves of this branch fell off."
March 30th: Imam Ja'far As Sadiq (SAW): "The superiority of Salah (Salat, Namaz) performed in the earliest moments over the one offered in the last moments of its specified time is the same as the superiority of the Hereafter over this world."
March 31st: Imam Ali bin Moosa Al Ridha (pbuh) said: "When you are praying, avoid being drowsy, slumberous, playing and hastening. Pray with solemnity, gravity and soberness. It is up to you to remain attentive, humble and submissive in Almighty Allah's presence. Stand in front of your Lord as a slave appears before his master. Keep your feet in order and your stature firm. Do not look here and there. Be as if you could see Him; for, if you do not see Him, He sees you."
March 2nd: The Holy Prophet (saw) said: "Say each of your prayers as if it were your last prayer."
March 3rd: Allah says in the Quran : "Truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers:
those who humble themselves in their prayer, and who turn away from all that is frivolous, and who are intent on inner purity."
[Qur'an 23:1-4]
March 4th: Allah says in the Holy Quran: "And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me
and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance."
[Taha 13-14]
March 5th: Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (A.S) has said : "The two Rak'at that a married man prays of his Salat is better than seventy Rak'at that a bachelor performs"
March 6th: Imam Mahdi (a.s) said: “Nothing is better than namaz to make shaitan bite the dust, then perform namaz and make Shaitan bite the dust”.
March 7th: Allah says in the Holy Quran: "Be ever mindful of prayers, and of praying in the most excellent way; and stand before God in devout obedience."
[Qur'an 2:238]
March 8th: Imam al-Sadiq (a) narrates that it is written in The Torah: “O’ Son of Man, if you empty yourself, i.e. disengage yourself from all other pre-occupations to make yourself available for My worship, I will fill your heart with richness and I will not abandon you to what you seek and long for. And it will be upon me to close the door of poverty upon you and to fill your heart with awe for me.
March 9th: Allah says: "And before God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all things and beings that are in the heavens and the earth, as do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings."
[Qur'an 13:15]
March 10th: Imam Ali (p.b.u.h): Do not offer Prayer in the state of drowsiness. While offering Prayer, do not think about yourself because you are standing in front of Allah (SWT). Indeed, only that portion of the Prayer will be accepted that he has paid full attention towards Allah (SWT).
March 11th: Imam Mehdi (p.b.u.h) : "Keep prayers to Allah for hastening the reappearance, hence it is your victory."
March 12th: Allah says: "O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient." [surah al Baqarah; 2:153-154].
March 13th: Prophet Muhammad :"The five stated prayers erase the sins which have been committed during the intervals between them if they have not been mortal sins."
March 14th:The holy Quran: "Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" [al Ankabut 45]
March 15th: Imam Raza (a.s) said: "Worship does not lie in copious prayer and fasting, but in the amount of contemplation in the works of Allah."
March 16th: The holy Quran: The Apostle of Allah was asked: Which of the actions is best? He replied: Observing prayer early in its period. [abu Dawud 2: 426]
March 17th: Quran: Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds"
[al Ankabut 45]
March 18th: The Quran: "O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient." [surah al Baqarah; 2:153-154]
March 19th: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who uses the toothpick before salaat it is seventy times more excellent if he didn't"
March 20th:In a Hadith Qudsi (Prophet quoting Allah), the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Out of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me Salah is the dearest to Me."
March 21st: Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) : "He who does not ask for favors Allah (SWT) is annoyed with him"
March 22nd: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When a person performs the Salaat at the early designated time, the prayer ascends the sky, lighting it up on the way upward, to the topmost layer of the Heaven. On arrival there, it asks pardon for the person. Thus it will pray till Doomsday saying, "May it please Allah to care for you, as you have cared for me. And when a person performs prayers outside the designated time, the Salaat is ascended the sky showered in darkness. On reaching the sky it is rolled up like bundled clothes, and is used to smite the face of the person who performed it. While the Prayer itself says, "May it please Allah to deny you, as you have denied me."
March 23rd : Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) :Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) : “Islam is founded on five pillars: Bearing witness that there is no worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammed
is his servant and messenger, the establishment of Salaah, Paying Zakat, Performing Haj and Fasting in the Month of Ramadan”.March 24th: The holy prophet (PBUH) :“A person who has missed one Salaat is like the one who has lost all his family and wealth”.
March 25th: “A person neglecting his Salaat (even though he makes it up later) shall remain in Hell for a period of one Huqb.”
A ‘Huqb' is equal to eight years of Three Hundred and Sixty days each, and one day in the hereafter shall equal to One Thousand years of this world.
March 26th: Quran: "Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…" (al-Maarij 19-23).
March 27th: Qur'an: "I have not created the jinn and humankind for any other purpose except that they should worship Me." (51:56)March 28th: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) : "The thing that Allah (SWT) loves most is when his people pray Salah on time."
March 29th: Prophet Muhmammed (SAW) :"The sins of those who pray Salah, drop off as the leaves of this branch fell off."
March 30th: Imam Ja'far As Sadiq (SAW): "The superiority of Salah (Salat, Namaz) performed in the earliest moments over the one offered in the last moments of its specified time is the same as the superiority of the Hereafter over this world."
March 31st: Imam Ali bin Moosa Al Ridha (pbuh) said: "When you are praying, avoid being drowsy, slumberous, playing and hastening. Pray with solemnity, gravity and soberness. It is up to you to remain attentive, humble and submissive in Almighty Allah's presence. Stand in front of your Lord as a slave appears before his master. Keep your feet in order and your stature firm. Do not look here and there. Be as if you could see Him; for, if you do not see Him, He sees you."
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