Sunday, December 16, 2007
27. Think before you regret,too!!!
Photo by
Eugene
Once, a group of people were traveling on rocks at night. A voice came from the sky that whosoever picks up the rocks will regret and whosoever doesn't pick up the rocks will regret.
Now, the people were confused. How can this be? Whether you pick up the rocks or not, you will regret! Anyway, some people picked up the rocks and some didn't. In the morning when they reached their homes, they saw that the rocks turned into diamonds.
Now, those people who didn't pick up the rocks started regretting saying "If only we had picked up some rocks." Those people who did pick some rocks also started regretting saying “Why didn't we pick up more rocks?" Both sides ended up regretting.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Muslims, this same incident will take place with us on the Day of Judgment. Those people who spent their time in useless things will start regretting by looking at those who achieved a great position in Paradise by spending their time in the way of Allah. Now, those who did achieve a position in Paradise will start regretting by looking at those who did more than them and are higher in status. “Alas! If we had only done more to please Allah."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Prophet of Allah (salla Allaahu 'alaihi wa salam) said;
"Whoever guides or directs to good, then he gets the same amount of blessing (reward) as the one who does it" [Saheeh Muslim]
26. ~Beautiful Young Princess ~
The young man was picked up and brought before the king and was questioned about being "disrespectful" to the princess. The princess heard of this and went to the king's court. On seeing her, the young man asked the princess if he had been disrespectful to her.
The princess asked the king to ask the young man what he did during the night. The young man replied that he prayed. The princess agreed that he did so, but she said to ask him why did he put his palm over the candle flame three times during the night.
The young man said:
"I prayed, but from time to time my mind would stray and I would think here is this young beautiful princess. If I go to her, who can stop us, she and me probably won't tell anyone. In any case I can run away from here. But every time this satanic urge got too much, I would say to myself :
"For this sin you will burn in Hell; let us see if you can stand burning from this candle.”
“So I would put my palm over the flame, and the pain of burning would be so much I would take my hand away, and continue praying. Then after a long time I would go through the same process again it happened three times during the night."
by Stephane
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
25. THE DRESS
"Do you like my dress?" she asked of a passing stranger. "My mommy made it just for me." She said with a tear in her eye.
"Well, I think it's very pretty, so tell me little one, why are you crying?"
With a quiver in her voice the little girl answered."After Mommy made me this dress, she had to go away."
"Well, now," said the lady, "with a little girl like you waiting for her,I'm sure she'll be right back."
"No ma'am, you don't understand," said the child through her tears, "my Daddy said that she's up in heaven now with Grandfather."
Finally the woman realized what the child meant, and why she was crying. Kneeling down she gently cradled the child in her arms and together they cried for the mommy that was gone.
Tears
by Maribel
Then suddenly the little girl did something that the woman thought was a bit strange. She stopped crying, stepped back from the woman and began to sing. She sang so softly that it was almost a whisper. It was the sweetest sound the woman had ever heard, almost like the song of a very small bird.
After the child stopped singing she explained to the lady, "My mommy used to sing that song to me before she went away, and she made me promise to sing it whenever I started crying and it would make me stop."
"See," she exclaimed, "it did, and now my eyes are dry!"
As the woman turned to go, the little girl grabbed her sleeve, "Lady, can you stay just a minute? I want to show you something."
"Of course," she answered, "what do you want me to see?"
Pointing to a spot on her dress, she said, "Right here is where my Mommy kissed my dress, and here," pointing to another spot, "and here is another kiss, and here, and here. Mommy said that she put all those kisses on my dress so that I would have her kisses for every boo-boo that made me cry."
Then the lady realized that she wasn't just looking at a dress, no, she was looking at a Mother... Who knew that she was going away and would not be there to kiss away the hurts that she knew her daughter would get.
So she took all the love she had for her beautiful little girl and put them into this dress, that her child now so proudly wore.
She no longer saw a little girl in a simple dress. She saw a child wrapped...in her Mother's love.
24. The Most Important Body Part
Through the years, I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer.
Mother and Child
by Robby
(Coffee Monster)
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy.” She said, "No, many people are deaf, but you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer, so this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes. She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."
Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge. Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."
Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.
My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life.
For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."
She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."
I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry.
Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did.... But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.
True or not, the story makes you stop and think. Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder ready..
23. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST, CHILD?
For making my bed every morning
$4.00
Sweeping the floor
$2.00
Picking up the rubbish
$4.00
Getting water from the well
$3.00
Preparing breakfast
$2.00
The total is
$15.00
I want this money when I come home.
Your son TommyHis mother could hardly see anything, her eyes were full of tears and her heart was heavy. After school, Tommy came quickly home, he felt happy that his mother could give what he wanted. When he arrived, he opened the back door quietly and went in, he was very happy when he saw a white envelope on the table; he took it and went inside his room and started to read.My dear son,I accepted with much love and joy what you have asked for, but before I give you the money, I would like to tell you how much I love you.
I carried you in my womb for nine months
no charge
Washed and clothed you
no charge
Fed you
no charge
Cared and watched over you nights and days when you were sick
no charge
Took you to school
no charge
So when I add them all up the full cost of my love is
no charge
At that moment, the door opened and mother came in to give the money to Tommy, but Tommy was crying and trying to say something.His mother said, "My dear son, are you not satisfied with the money I am giving you? I am really sorry, you know I am very poor so that's all I could afford."Tommy came and knelt in front of his mother and told her that he was sorry, and he had been influenced by his friend. So starting from that time, Tommy and his mother once again lived happily together.
22. The Frogs
21. The Pear Tree
Seasonscape by alexiuss
If you give up when it is winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and fulfillment of your fall. Do not let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Do not judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.
20. THERE WAS A RICH MERCHANT WHO HAD 4 WIVES.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men!!
He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep my company? "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.
The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out: “ I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go!!" The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives...
The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
The 1st wife is in fact our soul. Often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure. It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go.
Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.
Think about it.................
(O mankind, Keep your duty to your Lord and fear a Day when the parent will not be able to avail the child in aught, nor the child to avail the parent.
Allah's promise is the very truth.
Let not the life of the world beguile you, nor let the deceiver beguile you, in regard to Allah)
(Meanings from Surat Luqmaan Ayah: 33)
19. THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
Daughters of India
by kenglye
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.
Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think
18. The Proud Red Rose
As the rose looked around, a pine tree nearby said, "What a beautiful flower. I wish I was that lovely." Another tree said, "Dear pine, do not be sad, we can not have everything."
The rose turned its head and remarked, "It seems that I am the most beautiful plant in this forest." A sunflower raised its yellow head and asked, "Why do you say that? In this forest there are many beautiful plants. You are just one of them." The red rose replied, "I see everyone looking at me and admiring me."
Then the rose looked at a cactus and said, "Look at that ugly plant full of thorns!" The pine tree said, "Red rose, what kind of talk is this? Who can say what beauty is? You have thorns too."
The proud red rose looked angrily at the pine and said, "I thought you had good taste! You do not know what beauty is at all. You can not compare my thorns to that of the cactus."
"What a proud flower", thought the trees.
The rose tried to move its roots away from the cactus, but it could not move. As the days passed, the red rose would look at the cactus and say insulting things, like: This plant is useless? How sorry I am to be his neighbor."
The cactus never got upset and he even tried to advise the rose, saying, "God did not create any form of life without a purpose."
Spring passed, and the weather became very warm. Life became difficult in the forest, as the plants and animals needed water and no rain fell. The red rose began to wilt. One day the rose saw sparrows stick their beaks into the cactus and then fly away, refreshed.
This was puzzling, and the red rose asked the pine tree what the birds were doing. The pine tree explained that the birds got water from the cactus. "Does it not hurt when they make holes?" asked the rose.
"Yes, but the cactus does not like to see any birds suffer," replied the pine.
The rose opened its eyes in wonder and said, "The cactus has water?"
"Yes you can also drink from it. The sparrow can bring water to you if you ask the cactus for help."
The red rose felt too ashamed of its past words and behavior to ask for water from the cactus, but then it finally did ask the cactus for help. The cactus kindly agreed and the birds filled their beaks with water and watered the rose's roots. Thus the rose learned a lesson and never judged anyone by their appearance again.
(by nisrin mannan)
17. Poison Your Mother-in-Law...
HUIZHOU Bride
by qianyu
In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all.
Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticised Li-Li constantly.
Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish.
All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.
Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.
Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you. Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do."
Chinese wiseman
by Vanxee
Mr.Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.
He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body.
Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."
Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.
Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr.Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.
Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.
Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.
One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."
Winds in high herbs
~Dream
Winds in high herbs
~Harmony
Winds in high herbs
~Peace
by Rose des Vents (Szellorozsa)
Chinese symbols inspired from the art of Chinese artist Xiaoqian Li-Columeau
I heard whispering voices across the gentle wind ...
Giving me pieces of a long lost truth
Images in my head of an eternal time
Dream... Peace... Harmony...
16. ~ True Love ~
True love is an acceptance of all that is,has been, will be, and will not be.
15. Good To The Last Drop
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. 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. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they had gotten soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma, and then asked, "What's the point, Mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity- boiling water - but 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?
a.. Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
b.. 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 a hardened heart?
c.. 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 flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity?
"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; And consult with them in ways that are best and most gracious."
14. NIGHT WATCH
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.
The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.
All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.
Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled; "He was your father" she answered. “No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" "I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me. I stayed."
The next time someone needs you...be there. Stay. You’ll be glad you did.
Asad Mahmood
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
13. SCARS
In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward him.
His mother, in the house, was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late.
Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the Alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and on his arms,were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because Allah has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
Islam teaches us that Allah loves us. He wants to protect us and provide for us in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy(Satan) is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins, and if we have the scars of His love on our arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not let us go.
Allah has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. That is why it is so important that we make duaa for each other and hope for the best for each other.
12. Have you sharpen your axe?
The moral of the story:
Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to sharpen the axe. In today's world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?There's nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to care for others, taking time to read etc.We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don't take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start from today, think about the ways by which you could do your job more effectively and add a lot of value to it. Hope this story has given you some insight to life, may you be happy always!
"To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart".
11. RAIN
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her voice was as sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated. “No honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated:” Mom, let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. "This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly.
Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life.
A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.
And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...
So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A friend sent this to me to remind me of life. Hope you enjoy it.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN
Take the time to live!!! Keep in touch with your friends; you never know when you'll need each other.
10. [FRIENDS FOR ALLAH] OUR CHILDREN
It’s a symbolic story that many of us may know.
He was born in a Muslim family but they were weak in the Deen.
He was a lovely child, he was more precious then anything you've seen.
He grew up so quick; it was just a flash before his parents’ eyes.
They didn't get to teach him about Islam. You know how the time just flies.
Before they knew it, they were sending him off to school.
They were so happy; he shined like a precious little jewel.
He was taught that he was a Muslim, but that's about all he knew.
He wanted to know more but his dad had way too many things to do.
He had cute little cheeks; they turned rosy as he got tired.
He was a handsome little guy, he was always admired.
But with his parents so busy, he never got to learn about Allah.
The days passed by and his parents never taught him how to do Salah.
Some more years passed by, and by now his voice began to change.
He felt new emotions, and he liked them, even though they felt strange.
His dad finally took him one day to some Islamic Sunday school.
But he had already learned from his friends that religion just wasn't cool.
Time past by and the little man grew older.
With the passage of time his temper became bolder.
His mother was getting worried, he was found to be ditching school.
But she didn't say anything, or else his temper would flare up like fuel.
He would go to parties and come home all drunk.
And in some of his classes he was now beginning to flunk.
Her cute little rosy cheeked child had become a wild young man.
She cried every night because teaching him Islam was never in her plan.
He met a pretty girl named Rose; he thought he loved her for sure.
She noticed how he felt, so she asked him to go out with her.
He thought it was love at first sight; she kissed him on the first date.
But she just wanted to sleep with him, yet to that he had no debate.
He would go out all night with her, sometimes without even saying good-bye.
"Why didn't I show him the deen?" His father could only cry.
He kept on partying while his family kept on weeping.
And he met other girls, and with them too he was also sleeping.
He started to look sick, and he wasn't really feeling so good.
His mother just had to cry, he didn't look like the way he should.
He went to the doctor for what he thought was a cold.
"Young man, you've got AIDS," is what he was told.
When his mom found out she just couldn't take the pain.
For not teaching him his Deen, she knew she was to blame.
Mo got sicker and you could see him getting weaker day by day.
And he didn't know Allah, so to Him he never prayed.
What could she do now for her once precious little guy?
She knew he needed the Deen, but now she could only cry.
His time came one day so the Angel came for his spirit.
His dad told him to say la ilaha illalah, but Mo didn't hear it.
"What's that dad? I can't seem to hear you, everything's going dull."
But before Mo ever heard it, the Angel was off with his soul.
His father fell to his knees and cried like he never did before.
He knew he should have taught him the deen, so he felt guilty to the core.
This is the story of little Mo. Lets not let it be the story of our kid's situation.
So please, my dear brothers and sisters, take this deen to the next generation!
By: Masood
9. DID YOU GET A BILL FROM ALLAH?
Subhanallah! We rarely thank Allah for these things which are indeed great favours. We ask Allah to grant us the quality of being able to thank Him much and remember Him always.
8. GOD EXISTS
The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber: know what? Barbers do not exist.” How come they don't exist?" asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber." "No!" the client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street. "Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me". "Exactly!" affirmed the client. "That's the point. God does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
O Allah, set aright our religious life which is a safeguard in all our affairs, set aright our wordly life which is a source of our maitenance, set aright our life of the hereafter unto which we are bound to return; and make our life a source of earning more and more good and make our death a refuge against all troubles.
7. LEAVING EMPTY HANDED
But when he died, the keys to his treasures were with his sons who ignored his funeral. Consequently, the people searched for an appropriate cover for him. They eventually bought one from the caretaker of the mosque. All the while his sons and soldiers bickered among themselves until his corpse rotted.
When the disputing was over, the people had to lasso his corpse and pull it from a distance because of its horrid smell. As they pulled his corpse, it fell apart on the stairway of his castle.
Here was a king who owned a great portion of the worldly life, a legacy of two million dinars, eight hundred and fifty six thousand dirhams, and a sensational amount of 14,000 pieces of jewels, gems, pearls, diamonds, and gold. This is not to mention leaving behind incredible amounts of silverware, furniture, weapons and carpets.
But when he died no one attended to him, with nothing to cover him with except what they could scavenge from the caretaker of the mosque. This is the reality of this life. We come to this world empty handed and we will leave this world empty handed. Indeed, the wisest person is he who prepares himself for the afterlife by obeying Allah in the best of manners.
6. MY PRAYERS!!
Thinking of this, he got up and realized that there were only 15 minutes left before Salat-ul Isha. He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul Maghrib. While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed. His grandmother prayed with such tranquility and peace. He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while. He had been at school all day and was tired, so tiredâ?! He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting. He was sweating
profusely. He looked around. It was very crowded. Every direction he looked in was filled with people. Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting. Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was. His heart was about to burst. It was the Day of Judgement. When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the Day of Judgement, but that seemed so long ago. Could this be something his mind made up? No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this. The interrogation was still going on. He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name had been called. No one could answer him. All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and made a passageway for him. Two people grabbed his arms and led him forward. He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd. The angels brought him to the
center and left him there. His head was bent down and his whole life waspassing in front of his eyes like a movie. He opened his eyes but saw only another world. The people were all helping others. He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his wealth in the way of Islam. His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set while the other was being cleared. He pleaded his case, "I too was always on this path. I helped others. I spread the word of Allah. I performed my Salah. I fasted in the month of Ramadan. Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did. Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not." He began to cry and think about how much he loved Allah. He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allah deserved and his only protector was Allah. He was sweating like never before and was shaking all over. His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision. At last, the decision was made. The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd. His legs felt like they were going to collapse. He closed his eyes as they began to read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam. His name was read first. He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn't be, "How could I go to Jahannam? I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to others".
His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat. The two angels took him by the arms. As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam. He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him. He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, the Qur'an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him. The Jahannam angels continued to drag him. They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his last pleas. Had not Rasulullah [saw] said, "How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins"? He began yelling, "My
prayers? My prayers? My prayers." The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam.
The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him. One of the angels pushed him in.
He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames. He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard. He wiped some dust off himself and asked him, "Who are you?" The old man replied, "I am your prayers". "Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire! You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in". The old man smiled and shook his head, "You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?" At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a sweat. He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the adhan for Salat-ul Isha. He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.
5. HASN'T THE TIME COME .... ???
WHEN SHE SAW ME SHE WEPT AND SAID: MY FATHER, BY ALLAH …I SAID: O MY DAUGHTER! WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING IN THIS MOUNTAIN? SHE SAID: .... WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS DWELLING UNTIL THE HOUR RISES. WE AWAIT WHATEVER YOU SEND FORTH TO US.
A TRUE STORY
I WAS A POLICEMAN AND I WAS GIVEN TO DRINKING (ALCOHOL) .
I BOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL SLAVE WHO GAVE ME A DAUGHTER.
I DOTED OVER MY DAUGHTER AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO CRAWL ON ALL FOURS I GREW EVEN MORE FOND OF HER. WHENEVER I PUT A STRONG DRINK IN FRONT OF ME SHE WOULD COME TO ME AND PULL ME AWAY FROM IT, OR SHE WOULD SPILL IT FROM ME.
WHEN SHE COMPLETED 2 YEARS SHE DIED. I BECAME CONSUMED WITH GRIEF OVER HER LOSS.
WHEN THE NIGHT OF MID-SHA'BAN CAME -- IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JUM'A (FRIDAY) -- I STAYED HOME AND DRANK. I DID NOT PRAY THE `ISHA PRAYER.
THEN I HAD A DREAM THAT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HAD BEGUN, THE TRUMPET WAS BLOWN, THE GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD, MANKIND WAS GATHERED UP, AND I WAS AMONG THEM.
I HEARD SOMETHING BEHIND ME ....... I TURNED AROUND AND SAW A DRAGON OF INDESCRIBABLE SIZE, BLUE-BLACK, RUSHING FOR ME WITH WIDE OPEN JAWS.
I FLED IN TERROR !
I PASSED BY A SHAYKH DRESSED IN SPOTLESS CLOTHES, EXUDING A FRAGRANT SMELL.
I GREETED HIM AND HE GREETED ME BACK.
I SAID TO HIM: O SHAYKH! PROTECT ME FROM THIS DRAGON, AND MAY ALLAH PROTECT YOU!
THE SHAYKH WEPT AND SAID: I AM WEAK AND IT IS STRONGER THAN ME, I CANNOT OVERCOME IT. GO QUICKLY, PERHAPS ALLAH WILL GRANT YOU SOMETHING THAT WILL SAVE YOU FROM IT.
I TURNED AND RESUMED MY FLIGHT.
I CLIMBED UP ON ONE OF THE PROMONTORIES OF THE DAY OF RESURRECTION OVERLOOKING THE LAYERS OF HELLFIRE. I LOOKED AT THE HORROR THEY CONTAINED AND ALMOST FELL IN FOR FEAR OF THE DRAGON.
BUT A CRIER CRIED OUT TO ME: GO BACK! YOU ARE NOT AMONG ITS MATES.
HIS WORDS STILLED MY FEARS AND I WENT BACK. BUT THE DRAGON AGAIN PURSUED ME.
I WENT BACK TO THE SHAYKH AND SAID: O SHAYKH! I BEGGED YOU TO PROTECT ME FROM THIS DRAGON BUT YOU DIDN'T PROTECT ME.
AGAIN HE WEPT AND SAID: I AM WEAK, BUT PROCEED TO THIS MOUNTAIN. IN IT ARE KEPT THE STORES (WADA'I) OF MUSLIMS. IF THERE IS IN SOMETHING IN STORE (WADI'A) FOR YOU, THEN IT WILL HELP YOU.
I LOOKED AND SAW A ROUND-SHAPED MOUNTAIN OF SILVER TOPPED WITH DOMES OF HOLLOWED PEARL AND HANGING DRAPES, AND EVERY DOME HAD TWO LARGE GATES OF RED GOLD ENCRUSTED WITH EMERALDS AND PEARLS AND OVERHUNG WITH DRAPES OF SILK.
WHEN I SAW THE MOUNTAIN I FLED TO IT WITH THE DRAGON IN HOT PURSUIT.
AS I APPROACHED THE MOUNTAIN ONE OF THE ANGELS CRIED: RAISE UP THE VEILS, OPEN THE GATES, AND LOOK OUT! PERHAPS THIS WRETCHED ONE HAS SOMETHING IN STORE WITH YOU THAT WILL SAVE HIM FROM HIS ENEMY.
AT THIS, THE VEILS WERE LIFTED, THE GATES WERE OPENED, AND OUT OF THE PALACES CAME CHILDREN WITH FACES LIKE FULL MOONS.THE SNAKE WAS CATCHING UP TO ME AND I WAS NEAR DESPAIR.
ONE OF THE CHILDREN CRIED: WOE TO YOU! COME AND SEE, ALL OF YOU! HIS ENEMY IS VERY NEAR HIM.
WHEREUPON THE CHILDREN CAME ONE WAVE AFTER ANOTHER ..
.. AND AMONG THEM WAS THE DEAR DAUGHTER OF MINE THAT HAD DIED TWO YEARS BEFORE.
WHEN SHE SAW ME SHE WEPT AND SAID: MY FATHER, BY ALLAH!
THEN SHE LEAPT IN A CARRIAGE OF LIGHT AND CAME NEAR ME WITH THE SPEED OF AN ARROW. SHE PUT HER LEFT HAND IN MY RIGHT HAND AND I HELD ON TO HER. THEN SHE STRETCHED HER RIGHT HAND TOWARDS THE DRAGON AND IT TURNED AROUND AND FLED. MY DAUGHTER BADE ME SIT,
THEN SHE SAT IN MY LAP AND BEGAN TO STROKE MY BEARD AND SAID: O MY FATHER!
"HAS NOT THE TIME COME FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE, THAT THEIR HEARTS BECOME HUMBLE AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH?" (57:16)
I BEGAN TO WEEP AND SAID: O MY DAUGHTER, YOU CHILDREN KNOW THE QUR'AN?
SHE REPLIED: MY FATHER! WE KNOW IT BETTER THAN YOU.
I SAID TO HER: TELL ME ABOUT THE DRAGON WHICH WANTED TO DESTROY ME.
SHE SAID: THOSE WERE YOUR EVIL DEEDS WHICH YOU BUILT UP AND STRENGTHENED, AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE YOU TO HELLFIRE.
I ASKED: WHAT ABOUT THE SHAYKH I PASSED BY?
SHE REPLIED: O MY FATHER, THOSE WERE YOUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, YOU MADE THEM WEAK UNTIL THEY WERE NO MATCH FOR YOUR EVIL DEEDS.
I SAID: O MY DAUGHTER! WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING IN THIS MOUNTAIN?
SHE SAID: WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF MUSLIMS,
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS DWELLING UNTIL THE HOUR RISES. WE AWAIT WHATEVER YOU SEND FORTH TO US, AND WE INTERCEDE FOR YOU.
MALIK IBN DINAR SAID:
THEN I AWOKE IN A START AND SAW THAT MORNING HAD COME.
I FLUNG THE POTION FROM ME AND SHATTERED THE DRINKING-CUPS, AND .. I REPENTED TO ALLAH
IMAM IBN QUDAMA (THE TEACHER OF IBN TAYMIYYA)
IN HIS BOOK "THOSE WHO REPENTED" (KITAB AL-TAWWABIN)PAGES 223-225,
NARRATES THAT MALIK IBN DINAR TOLD THE ABOVE STORY WHEN ASKED OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS REPENTENCE. MAY WE REPENT... BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
4. WHAT WILL I SAY TO HIM?!
I don't know how to explain an experience I lived through a while ago, that changed my whole life routine. The truth is that I would never have decided to reveal it if it weren't for the fact that I felt a responsibility towards Allah (The Glorious), as a warning for the young men who disobey Allah, and as a warning for the young women who follow a fake dream or fantasy called "love".
We were 3 friends; nothing grouped us together but disobedience and misguidance. No, actually we were 4, the Satan was the 4th. We used to go hunting down beautiful girls, and lure them with our sweet talk to far away farms. There they would be surprised that we have turned into foxes with no sympathy, no feelings whatsoever no matter what they said or did to make us reconsider. We were cold hearted, and had no feelings or any sense of shame. That is how we spent our days and nights; in the farms, camps, cars, and on the shore. Until the day that I will never forget came.
We went as usual to the farm; everything was ready. Each one of us had his prey, the damned drink (i.e., alcohol), but we forgot one thing, and it was the food. So after a while, one of my friends went to buy food for supper with his car. It was almost 6 p.m. When he left. Hours passed without him returning, so at 10 p.m. I became worried that something happened to him. So I went with my car looking for him. And on the way, I saw some flames of fires spreading on the sides of the road. When I reached, I was shocked to see that it was my friend’s car; with the fire eating it up while it was flipped on one of its sides. I ran like crazy, trying to free my friend from his burning car. I was alarmed to see that half his body was black like charcoal, but he was still alive. So I carried him and placed him on the floor, and after a minute he opened his eyes and said: "The fire! The fire!" So I decided to take him to my car and rush with him to the hospital.
But he sobbed: "There's no use, I won't reach." Tears overcame me as I was watching my friend to die in front of me... Then he stunned me by yelling: "What will I say to Him! What will I say to Him!" Dumbfounded, I looked at him and asked: "Who?" He replied with a distant voice: "Allah".
I felt fear creep all over my body and I began to shake. Then suddenly he let out an echoing scream, and he took in his last breath.
The days passed, but the image of my friend being eaten up by the fire, and him yelling,
"What will I say to Him! What will I say to Him!” never left my mind. I found myself asking "And what will I say to him!" [And all those who disobey Allah, should ask themselves: "What will I say to Him?"] My eyes overflowed with tears and I felt an odd compassionate feeling I never felt before. At that same moment, I heard the Mo'azhen (the person who calls the Azhan -Call to Prayer-) call for Salat Al-Fajer (Morning Prayer)"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Hayya 'Ala Al-Salah" (Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Come to Salah). I felt that it was a call directed to me personally, telling me to close the curtains on the dark years of my life, and calling me to the straight path of guidance and obedience. I washed up, made Wudu', and cleansed my self from the sin I drowned in since years, and I prayed. Since that day, I haven't missed 1 fardh. I became a new person. Subhana Allah, the One who changes people from one state to another. . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of the scholars of the past said,
"True knowledge is to know one's ignorance."
Only when a person realizes what he does NOT know,
will he appreciate how little he DOES know.
(From "An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'aan”
pg. 19, by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH ONLY
Satan (the Devil) came to him in the form of an old man and asked: "What are you aiming to do?" The pious man explained what was happening and his intention to cut the tree. Satan said: "What have you to do with it? If God wished the tree to be cut, he would have sent his Prophet to do it."
The pious man did not listen. The two went on arguing and quarrelling till they came to blows. He managed to knock the Satan down on the floor and sat on him, aiming at cutting his throat. The Satan begged him for pardon and release saying, "Let me suggest you one thing which would help you in this world as well as in the next world. I shall pay you two dinars everyday. You can pay partly to the poor and partly spend for your own self. Leave this tree uncut till God commanded whether it was right or wrong to cut it."
The pious man was misled by the Satan. He thought the suggestion was right and returned home. On the second day, he saw two dinars under his pillow. He was delighted with the money and spent some after the poor. But on the following day, he did not see the money again as expected, so he again took over his axe and came at that tree. Again Satan told him in the form of an old man and asked him, "What do you want to do?" He said, "I want to cut that tree." Satan told him that he had no power to do it so it was better he went back home. He did not agree and again they fought. This time the Satan succeeded in overpowering the pious man and knocked him down on the floor.
The pious man was surprised at this and asked Satan why it so happened that he could not overpower him this time. The Satan replied: "Whoever does a good deed purely for the pleasure of God, no one can face him but if he does it with an aim of worldly gain, then he loses strength and stands to fail."
Why did the pious man win on the first day and lose on the second in his fight against the Satan? Because his first intention to cut the tree, was to please God and nothing else. But the second day, his good intention had changed and it had become for the sake of money. So the God given spiritual strength which he had on the first day had then disappeared and so he lost.
Moral: Before any action we take, we must be clear in our minds that the action is in accordance with the commands of Allah. That, it is for his sake and pleasure alone. To keep away from insincere and impure intentions is indeed difficult but not impossible. This can be done by constant thinking and true understanding of the aim of our life. We have to understand what Allah really wants from us.
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Almighty Allah can stand up to anything
2. TOUCHING STORY
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid; I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."said the boy to the tree, "Sorry, I don't have money,... but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money."The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" asked the boy, "Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?"the boy asked, "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, my boy, but I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you... “ The tree said. "I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on" said the tree, "I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears. "I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......
The moral of the story................
This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad... When we grow up, we leave them... only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could, to make us happy. We may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that's how all of us are treating our parent
1. THE PRICE OF IMAAN
The driver with a smile replied “Aren’t you the new Imaam in this area? I have been thinking lately about going to worship at your mosque. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change." When the Imaam stepped off the bus, his knees became weak and soft. He had to grab the nearest light pole and held for support, and looked up to the heavens and cried "Oh Allah, I almost sold Islam for twenty pence!"
Remember, we may never see the impact our actions have on people. Sometimes we are the only knowledge of Quran someone will read, or the only Islam a non-Muslim will see. What we need to provide, Insha Allah is an example for others to see. Be careful and be honest everyday, because you never know who is watching your actions and judging you as a Muslim.