The importance Of Akhlaq (A diary entry)

Dear Diary, 06/16/08

Few days back, I discovered something that has changed my life for ever. I found the importance of Akhlaq at a whole different level! When i was reading the book 'Then I was guided' by Sayyid Mohamed Tejani Samaoui , I couldn't help but notice the first impact that the shia's had on him. The major reason to why he was attracted to them was because of their Akhlaq. When i kept reading the chapter 'My first visit to Iraq' I felt as though I discovered the secret to attracting others towards the religion. Surely there is intense depth to the laws of Islam and Allah has not made anything for us to do, or follow without having a deep logical meaning to it. I would like to Quote from the book the most clear cut thoughts of Mr. Tijani himself.
"I liked their manners and said to myself, "These people whom we accused of being deviants seem to observe the religion more than us." "

This is such a brilliant way for us to have people want to know us without us trying to push them or appear irritating!. If we were to keep our Akhlaq polished and follow them with utmost responsibility the everyone would be attracted to Muslims all over the world!. This would be something NO ONE would be able to ignore, especially in todays time where being selfish and mean is like a trend!.

"During the days of our travel together I sensed in my friend his noble manners, his self-esteem and his generosity. I also sensed in him modesty and piousness that I had never experienced with anybody else before. I felt that I was not a stranger, but as if I was at home."
Shouldn't we also exude this piousness and modesty?. Isn't it our responsibility too?. The prophet is a great example for attracting people through good character and manners, it was this consistently beautiful character he'd been maintaining for the initial 40 yrs which gained the trust of the people on him. And he was given many names as the truthful one, the trustworthy one etc. And surely it was worth it. Who would not trust a man so just and so pious and selfless?
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: "I have been sent to complete the nobility of your character"

I think it's time we start taking from him what is so important right now. There are good people in the world too, but we as Muslims have to be better than them, we have to be outstanding and not mediocre in any field, And if we have akhlaq that are so noticeably inviting then how can we not attract people to the right path?
"The most complete in faith among the believers is he who has the best manners." [Holy Prophet (s)]

We have such examples of people with pure faith and excellent akhlaq that not having them in us is a shame! The aimma and the prophets have tried so hard and taught us so many lessons with regard to akhlaq and treating the people around us that we should be exuding all this learned treasures everyday and not only to Muslims or our close family, but to EVERYONE. It is only when we truly represent ourselves as the way a muslim is prescribed to be that people will start respecting us and not judging us based on few people gone astray. Imam Ali (a) says: "Habituate yourself to magnanimity, and choose for yourself the most excellent of all etiquettes, for virtuous behavior is a habit. Avoid the most low of all etiquettes, and struggle with yourself to avoid it, for evil is stubborn."

There is a dua called; Dua e makarimul Akhlaq, in sahife sajjadiyah. It's the 20th Dua which is to be read especially to better ones akhlaq. What more do we need?. All our problems I've realized in the present world are because we aren't following Islam the way it's supposed to be. We are molding things to our convenience, having unnecessary problems because we refuse to follow the teachings of the Quran and the messengers of Allah and the infalliables. We are creating the problems and then asking Allah to help us, we refuse to learn more and to stand by the truth. How are we to practice Amr Bil Ma'ruf when we ourselves don't know what right is?!.

This is the time for a wake up bigtime!. Starting form the basics and working upwards. If we as Muslims are going to pray 5 times a day, and complete our wajibaat but not have good akhlaq we are repelling the world not just from us but the whole of the Muslim mankind!.

Syeda Fatima,18
(syeda715@hotmail.com)

Is crying enough for Islam?

'jab tak tere seene pe na sojaye Sakina
zindaan mein usey neend kaha aati hai baba,
jab yaad Sakina ko teri aati hai baba
sar zindaan ke diwaron se takrati hai baba...'

Above are a few lines from a nauha that describes the love of Bibi Sakina for Imam Hussein and every year we listen to these nauha's and marsiya's; we cry for our Imams and our Bibi's, we feel shattered every time we listen to a majlis. We cry, we weep and we moan for the 2 months and 8 days for the Ahlebayt, I was wondering if crying is really enough for all those sacrifices and the pain they had gone through in Karbala? I really don’t think so and I'm sure it’s the same with everyone else.

All of us are aware of the fact that we are not doing much for Islam and but why aren’t we???
Let us begin by asking a few questions to ourselves and solve this mystery.

Are we praying regularly five times a day on time?
Are we doing proper Hijaab?
Have we quit music?
Are we paying zakat and qums?
Do we know our Usool e deen and furooe deen and are we following them in the true sense?
Are we even tying to gain knowledge about Islam and spread it?
Have we really stopped practicing gheebat?
There are so many questions which all of us can ask ourselves but sadly the answers of them is a big question mark.

Deep down inside we know we are wrong, we know we HAVE to and NEED to change, like I always say, we know everything. But why don’t we follow it, why don’t we change it? Why cant we correct ourselves ?
Is it because we forget that Allah is watching everything and first we need to think about what Allah thinks and not what the society or the khandaan thinks?.Or is it because we are too busy in our day to day activities that we find no time for religion?. Are we changing the rules according to our convenience, trying to justify everything with unacceptable excuses!?

There are so many questions that need to be answered, so many things that have to be changed, the false trends have to be corrected. But when? And how ? and who ?. To take the first step seems difficult and is, but we need to reset our priorities in a just and logical manner.
We need to set our minds straight, let go of all the wrong beliefs we've held on to, change our mentalities, we need to strive hard and search for the truth and follow it with respect and responsibility..

The more we think the more complicated it will become as we get thoughts like "oh god this is not possible, since childhood I am following this, I cant change myself, I don’t have time or my parents wont allow, they'll think I am going mad, I know my intentions (niyyat) are right and that is what matters." There will be so many negative thoughts, will discourage us and yes indeed it is the work of Satan, we should find ways to overcome such situations. Just one thought, whatever I'm doing is to please Allah and for the sake of Allah and for my real life which is after my death, will change the complete way of thinking.

All of us do know that crying for the ahlebayt does not go in vain, it definitely does not.
Crying for our imams is a great sawab but is that it? Can we just cry for them and not do anything else? Islam is NOT just about the majaalis, We as muslims have more responsibility than that. I'm sure we can do a lot of things which will change everyone for the good; we can at least make an effort, can't we?

So let us begin from today in fact from now and change our ways. Try as much as possible to gain knowledge and spread it. Arrange religious gatherings and have discussions which will develop interest in others to know more about islam, pray regularly on time, always remember imam Hussein sacrificed everything for the sake of Islam and Namaaz, and not for us to only remember him and Allah in the month of ramadhaan and muharram. Fullfill all our wajibaat, and religiously follow our furu-e-deen. Strengthen our faith and always remember our aim in life is to please Allah.

Samreen Fathima Mirza, 17
Mail to: sammirza14@gmail.com

every land is Karbala and everyday is Ashura

Kullu ardin karbala, kullu yawmin Ashura, these words which are quoted as being said by our 4th Imam are though not authentically proven, sum up the role of Jihad in out lives and the need to understand the depth of Jihad which is in our Furu-e-deen.

If we were to learn the lessons from Karbala and the day of Ashura, we would have no choice but to rise up and stand tall for Jihad. The land of karbala was the land of Jihad, of sacrifice, of intense pain but no complaints, of love for Allah and Islam, for the prophets and their message, for family, for fellow believers. Karbala is the epitome of everything that is against the will of worldly hearts, It is the land of Allah and making Him happy and satisfying only Him. The day of Ashura is the day of testing, the day of sacrifice, the day of selflessness, the day of pain, the day of thirst, the day of moaning for the ones lost, the day of showing courage,the day of being proud of what is more important ie. the love of Ahlul bayt & the importance of Islam. Aren't we facing a situation which calls for us to live like today is Ashura and our very own city is karbala?

Everyday Muslims all over the world are on a Jihad whose intensity is increasing by the hour. If you follow Islam then you are sure to have to confront people of various issues and their perspective on Muslims as a whole.This Jihad that we are on constantly in our own countries, our own neighborhood, our own houses is not to be ignored and avoided. Every day it gets harder to prove ourselves as good people, individuals of faith, exuding the love for Allah , and this we are waking up to everyday, and everyday we are on Jihad to better ourselves. If we constantly remind ourselves of our true situation, we will strive harder to be better momins. We didn't get a chance to be present on that day 1400 years ago like how we wish, but that can't be used as an excuse to refrain from jihad.We are living Ashura everyday in the present no matter which part of the world we are in we are still in Karbala fighting for our religion.

Wearing Hijab, keeping the beard, being modest, having the best Akhlaq, keeping your head high as a momin and a representative of Islam is all Jihad. Following Islam and it's teachings, raising children in a corrupt atmosphere is Jihad. And if it is these everyday hustles that require us to unite and polish ourselves and closer to Allah and islam, then whya re we stopping ourselves? Why are we not embracing this opportunity to show our masoomeen our love for them, show Allah our faith in Him?

It's high time we accept at a whole another level that Jihad is one of the pillars of faith and it's become a way of life for us Muslims to survive. And it is wajib on us to do it. Making excuses like "we are not Imams they were gifted from Allah" and "Now it's too late only the zuhoor can save the humanity" are just not acceptable. If we had to just sit and wait for Allah or the aimma to do everything then why is Jihad obligatory on US?. Think people! think!. What better things do we have to do? what Momin should have anything better to do than submitting to Allah? Shame on us if we think our lives and our petty worldly desires are more important than the blood lost by our masoomeen for us and for Him.

Allah says in the Quran: " Those who believe do battle for the cause of God and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of taghut. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil's strategy is always weak. "(4:76). We have absolutely nothing to fear when we are on the right path and Allah is on our side. Mere worldly death is nothing; a shaheed never dies!

With the love of Ahlul bayt in the heart and with our faith strong, and Allahs blessings on us we shall never stop ourselves from learning more about Islam, being on constant Jihad and being proud Muslims every single day till we die.

Syeda Fatima, 18
(syeda715@hotmail.com)

Thought for the day archive June. Topic: Hijaab.

June 1st: Imam Ali (a.s):"The eye is the spy of the hearts and the messenger of the intellect; therefore lower your gaze from whatever is not appropriate to your faith." June 2nd:Prophet Muhammad (saww): “Those who do not observe proper Hijab, are blatantly defying the commandment of Allah SWT”.
June 3rd:Bibi Fatima (as) : "The best woman is she who no man sees and she does not see any men".
June 4th: “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)
June 5th: "And order the Muslim women to lower down their sights a little and guard their chastity and show not their adornment but as much which is itself apparent and remain putting their head coverings over their bosoms." Surah Nur, ayat 31
June 6th: “And tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do." Surah Nur, Ayat 30

June 7th: Bibi Fatima (as): "the best thing for a woman is that she does'nt see any man & no man sees her "
June 8th:“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” (Quran 7:26)

June 9th: Allah says in the Quran chapter 31 verse 19: "And walk moderately and lower your voice to some extent. Undoubtedly in all voices, the most hideous voice is of an ass".

June 10th: The Holy Quran : "'O children of Adam! Undoubtedly, We have sent down towards you a dress that may cover your shameful parts and one that be an adornment to you; and the dress of righteousness, that is the best. This is one of Allah's signs, that I they may be admonished." 7:26

June 11th: Imam Rada (AS) : "The reason why looking at the hair of a woman has been forbidden is that if the hair was kept open in the rpesence of namahram men, this would lead to sexual excitement and to cause him to become attracted to her and this (becoming attracted) could lead to corruption (between the man and woman) and this would lead to the man falling into that which is forbidden (haraam)".
June 12th: The Holy prophet (PBUH) said: "....Whichever woman amongst you is has firm believe in Allah and the last day will not permit her beauties to be seen by other than her husband, and she will not allow the hair of her head and her arms to be shown. Any woman who allows these to be seen to other than her husband has undoubtedly curropted her religion (faith) and has made Her lord upset with her".

June 13th: Allah makes clear the na mahrams in the Holy Quran: "Prohibited to you (For marriage) are:- Your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, Mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (Who gave you suck), foster-sisters; your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;- (Those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins; and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful" 4:23
June 14th: Allahs words with regard to the shaving of the beard : " & most certainly I (Shaytan) will lead them astray & excite in them vain desires, & bid them that they shall slit the ears of the cattle, & most surely I will bid them so that they shall alter Allah’s creation, & whoever takes the Satan for a guardian rather than Allah he indeed shall suffer a manifest loss"

June 15th: Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying: "...If the woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this --- and he pointed to his face and hands."
June 16th:
June 17th:
June 18th:
June 19th:
June 20th:
June 21th:
June 22nd:
June 23rd:
June 24th: Imam Al-Sadiq (AS): “If the hair (on the mans face) were not to grow within a specific given period, would the male not remain in a state like that of the young immature boy & a female?, & as a result of this, the male would not comm& any respect nor esteem”.
June 25th: The Holy Qur'an : The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower. [24:60]
June 26th: Allah says in the Holy Quran: O you who believe, do not enter homes other than yours without permission from their inhabitants, and without greeting them. This is better for you, that you may take heed. [24:27]
June 27th: Allah says in the Quran : "And when you ask (his wives) for something you want, ask them from behind a curtain (hijab). That makes for greater purity for your hearts and theirs." (33:53)
June 28th:Holy Prophet (saww): “The shaving of the beard is indeed considered an unjust action, may the curse of Allah befall those who are unjust”.
June 29th:Holy Prophet (saww): “Trim your moustaches & let your beards grow & do not emulate the Jews”
June 30th:Imam Al-Sadiq (AS): “From amongst the laws of the Lord of the Universe was that He granted the male gender from amongst the humans a beard so that there may be a difference (in appearance) between them”.