Volume 3 Issue 6

June 2013

Visionary Youth Great Nation

Shaytaan: Our Sworn Enemy Letter from Anger Realman

The Young Men Kahf

and the
(Cave)

Rupees 50

Minarets of the Main Mosque of St.Petersburg, Russia, and Trees in Frost

MyVision Team
Shafiq ur Rahman, Executive Editor Asif Khurshid, Editor Raja Zia ul Haq, Senior Editor Abdul Jabbar Bilal, Advisor Mansoor Salim, Advisor Zofran Elahi, Advisor Contact Suite #33, 2nd Floor, Rose-1 Plaza, I-8Markaz, Islamabad-44000, Pakistan. Website: http://www.myvision.pk Email: editor@myvision.pk

Contribute Your Articles

MyVision is a magazine for young Muslims. If you are young, or if you would like to write for kids and teenagers, we welcome articles on topics that are generally related to authentic guidance from the Quran and Sunnah, Islamic heros and personalities, and how youth should live their lives righteously. If you or someone at your school is interested in contributing articles, we request that the content be relevant, thought-provoking, well-presented, and non-promotional. Contributing Length Featured articles should be around 600-words. The maximum length for all other submissions is 300-words. Submitting Articles Authors should carefully review their text before submitting the final version. Please provide references in the form of book names, web links, Quran or Hadith reference when quoting different sources. Please supply full contact details of the author; like name, school, address, phone, e-mail, etc. Articles should reach us by the 15th of every month for inclusion in subsequent months issue. Please e-mail your articles to: editor@myvision.pk. Copyright 2013 MyVision Magazine. All rights reserved.

From the Editor

Dear Readers, As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, Its summer time once again, time to say goodbye to school. Summer holidays are the days of recreation and rest, since these days come after hard work. During summer vacations we try to enjoy different activities. No doubt you should enjoy your vacations, but we shouldnt forget that we are Muslims and summer vacations is a good time to learn about our Deen. Islam does not prohibit enjoying, but it is prohibited to waste time. Islam is the religion that guides us not only about the importance of time, but also how to spend it. Our Prophet (PBUH) said, There are two blessings in which most people are in great loss: 1) Good health and 2) Free time. Therefore we must spend our time in such activities that help in increasing our imaan. Think about our free time during summer. How many hours are spent in fun activities, and how many hours spent in pleasing our Creator?

So dear readers! Dont waste your time; every second that passes by will never come back. During these vacations, spend time to learn about Islam, join Quran classes and other religious activities. Recite and ponder on the meanings of the Quran. To get the finest benefit, remind yourself that Allaah is speaking to you. People are described in different categories in the Quran; think of which one you find yourself in. Make an effort to gain knowledge, of at-least the basic things in daily life, e.g., how to properly make wudu and offer salah. Try to share your knowledge with other friends, and the best way is to create study groups and discuss what you read in the Quran.

May Allaah give us the ability to spend our free time learning about Islam. Ameen. Very truly yours Asif Khurshid

MyVision June 2013

Words of My Creator

n the previous issues we had learned about the consequences for Shaytaan when he became arrogant and disobeyed Allaah, and refused to prostrate for Adam (AS). As a result of this disobedience, he was excluded from the Mercy of Allaah for eternity, and because of his arrogance all of his worship to Allaah came to nothing. Shaytaan could not absorb this loss of his favor with Allaah, and became more defiant and rebellious. The Adam he had sought to degrade was now enjoying the Blessings of Allaah, while he himself had become one of the rejected ones. Planning and scheming his evil ways, he made his wish to Allaah:

he was allowed to deceive men and djinns, and those who would follow up, he would lead them away from the Path of Allaah. And the only way he was allowed to do so was to whisper his evil thoughts and plans into their hearts. He would whisper an evil thought, and makes that evil deed appear as appealing, and then he would keep on encouraging them until they commit evil deeds, and end up disobeying Allaah.

The Story of

ith these newfound powers, he first of all set out to deceive Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS). When Allaah entered Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS) into Paradise, He told them:

Adam
(AS)

[Satan] said, Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected. [7:14] he Shaytaan requested reprieve until The Day of Judgement, and what did he plan to do with the time he had gained? Similar to his own fate, he planned to keep on deceiving both men and djinn, until The Day of Judgement. And then he would take the ones who followed him into the Hellfire with him. He vowed that he would attack them from front, back, right and left, using every tactic, and he would trick them into disobeying Allaah. And he would leave no stone unturned to bring them all into his evil fold. Allaah says:

And O Adam (AS), dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat from wherever you will but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers. [7:19] Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS) had all unimaginable comforts in Paradise. They were free to take anything from anywhere. There was no gloom or sorrow for them. But there was one tree, only one, that they were forbidden by Allaah to go near to. They were told that it was not good for them, and if they were to go near that tree, they would be transgressing against the Will of Allaahs. They were also warned them that their enemy Shaytaan would do his utmost to have them evicted from Paradise.

By Abdul Jabbar Bilal

[Allaah] said, Indeed, you are of those reprieved. [7:15] Upon being granted this remission,

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Words of My Creator

And he swore [by Allaah ] to them, Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors. [7:21] At last, the Shaytaan was successful in deceiving them and they fell into his trap. They ate from the forbidden tree.

So We said, O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer. [20:117]

Reflect: The Prophet (PBUH) said, When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Day of Judgment). He was asked, How will that be lost? The Prophet (PBUH) said, When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons (those who have no understanding of Allaahs Deen), then wait for the Hour. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

ut the scrupulously deceitful Shaytaan planned, and after a while started visiting Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS). Then he started created doubts within their hearts about the forbidden tree. After a while he started swearing to them:

s soon as they ate, the cloths they were wearing left them, and they stood naked. They were so ashamed, they tried to hide themselves using leaves from the trees around them. In essence, the reason to stop them from going near that tree was to prevent them from being disrobed, because Allaah has created cloths for us to beautify us, and to cover us with them. But the Shaytaan knew this, and he wanted them to loose their cloths and shame them in front of Allaah. Allaah addressed our father Adam (AS) and mother Hawwa (AS), and said:

Shaytaan, Our Sworn Enemy

Part-III:

But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal. [7:20] He was now starting to swear on his truthfulness, and his good intentions towards them: So he made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called to them, Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan

is to you a clear enemy?. [7:22] What was the conduct and attitude of Adam (AS) after his mistake, and what were the consequences of his action? This we will read, in-sha-Allaah, in the next issue. y

Words of My Creator

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Lessons Learned
1. The Shaytaan is ever-ready to lead us astray, and he will not let any opportunity go to waste in doing so. 2. Whispers, creating doubts about what Allaah orders and requires from us, this is a weapon of Shaytaan, which he uses on everyone. 3. Oppressors, even if they have reprieve punishment, eventually will have a bad ending. Allaah give Shaytaan reprieve, but He informed him that his final abode is Hellfire. 4. Every disobedience of Allaah is oppression. 5. Allaah is to be obeyed in all matters, even if we do not understand the benefits. This is because we have limited knowledge, and Allaahs Knowledge has no bounds. 6. The first one to make a false promise was Shaytaan, and to lie is one of his characteristics. 7. Man is weak, and he is easily misled by false promises. That is why making false promises is a serious sin. 8. Shaytaan always deceives and leads astray from the Path of Allaah. 9. Shaytaan wants to disrobe man and take his cloths away. He wants to promote lewdness and obscenity, and he is the flagbearer of immorality. 10. Adam (AS) and his children consider cloths as part of their beauty and a covering for them. They are part of their decency. 11. Envy is a disease that nurture and spawns even more diseases, like arrogance, hatred, and animosity. 12. The real meaning of arrogance is to reject the commands of Allaah and to belittle others in ones eyes. 13. Envy is an evil characteristic that causes one to rebel against Allaah, thus losing all His favors. 14. One must repent on ones mistakes, rather than becoming heedless. 15. A criminal may get some temporal respite from his crime, but in the end he is always a loser. 16. The one who disobeys Allaah only harms himself. 17. Islam is the blessed religion that informs us of our enemies, and advises us on every test that is there in our lives.

The Times
for the

Five Daily Prayers

The times of the prayers were mentioned by the Prophet (PBUH) in the hadith:
The time for Zuhr is from when the sun has passed its zenith and a mans shadow is equal in length to his height, until the time for Asr comes. The time for Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow. The time for Maghrib lasts until the twilight has faded. The time for Isha lasts until midnight. The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise. When the sun starts to rise then stop praying, for it rises between the two horns of the Shaytaan. [Sahih Muslim].

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Ponder This: If you dont have imaan in your heart, you have the worst heart condition in the world.

MyVision June 2013

Words of My Creator The Times for the

T
Im here to destroy you, bit by bit. Ill play with your thoughts and stir up emotions, When the time to relive them has long since passed; Making you brew like a hot kettle, Waiting to explode at anyone who comes near you, Ill make sure you remember the petty little things, That would mean pittance in the wide scheme of affairs. Ill make you forget all the precious things,

his is a letter written by one of mans strongest emotions called Anger. An emotion which all of us have suffered from, an emotion with which we have a lovehate relationship. This article intends to throw a light on what Anger itself might tell you, if it were to speak to your conscience. Read on

By Nasmira Firdous

Stuff, which others might hold on to, for eternity, if they could! Ill make you lose your happiness, By blinding you to the things that you cherish. Ill make you fall in despair, Transforming your heart into a raging monster, Making you perish. Ill rob you off your important relationships, Because, I know far too well,

You are weak when it comes to keeping your emotions in check, Perhaps mute silence couldve helped you. TskTsk. My game, youve mastered with amazing precision, Ill make sure you make all the wrong moves, And Ill make sure youll blame everyone else when you lose. Ill swallow all your emotions, And Ill make you cling on to me, like a parasite, Or perhaps I shall be the oxygen mask for your ravaging soul?

Ill destroy you bit by bit. Because the moment you showed your loyalty to me, I knew you were an easy bait, Remorse and self-control: neither you show. Lo and Behold! Ive become a part of you. It doesnt matter how much you loathe me now. Snap at whomsoever you wish. Try bidding me goodbye? I dare you! I am, what they call anger and Im here to rent your soul and mind, Willingly or unwillingly.

y dear brothers and sisters, I wanted you to get an idea of what anger really does to us; destroying our relationships with people we love and making us forget happy moments. Instead, anger forces us to dwell into things which have long since passed, benefiting neither our present nor our future. Blaming everyone else when we do something wrong while we are angry seems easy, but it is nothing but self-destructive.

o, the next time you get angry, I request you to reread this open letter written by none other than Anger itself; and realize the manner in which anger manipulates our weaknesses and annihilates everything we took years to build. [www.theidealmuslimah.com]

Letter from Anger

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B atman , S uperman , S piderman

or

By Zaki Imtiaz

mar ibn al-Khattaab(RA) was an integrated man of dignity, discipline and truth.

His life

is full of lessons of personal and public leadership. the external appearances of people

He never relied on Dr.

n the darkness of external

appearances, hearts of men have landed in ashes, where a man

we find shortcuts to personal and public leadership.

is judged by the cars he keeps, the the language he speaks.

jeans he wear, the place he live and

and encouraged character ethic over personality ethic (as explained by

modern, rather a virtual age, reality has limited itself to the likes of

Living in the

The real deal is what is inside and not what is outside.

Stephen Covey in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). At one occasion, he said, Dont be astonished by a persons style (way of speaking, writing, expressing oneself). Real man in true
sense is the one who keeps his promise and protect the dignity of others.

Batman, Superman and Spiderman, but

the real men have been lost somewhere in the middle.

nce

Umar(RA) inquired of

a man who came to stand

Umar(RA) asked everyone, Is

as a witness for someone.

At another
said,

Umar(RA) Do

place

A man among the I guarantee him of being worthy as a witness. Umar(RA) asked this man, Are you his neighbor? He replied, No. Umar(RA) asked, Did you ever spent
people said, you know his reality? He replied, No. Umar(RA) said, You probably have just seen him praying in the mosque, isnt it? a single say with this man so that

this man worthy of standing as a witness?

at a mans prayer and his fast, rather observe his intelligence truthfulness nd he said, and

not look

He said, Yes. Umar(RA) said, Go away, as you dont know him then. These are the principles that Umar(RA) used to determine someones character with. They are much needed by us Muslims in todays world as we have a great responsibility on our shoulders. We
must strive to attain these qualities and learn lessons from history.

type of men among you. One is an open believer, and the other one is an open disbeliever. But I fear that hypocrite who hides himself in belief and does illegitimate acts.

I have no

fear regarding two

In Umars (RA) eyes, a real man was

the one who posses strong character traits like truthfulness, promisekeeping, intelligence and honesty.

trust anyone, people who are supposed to be upholders of truth utter great lies in front of everyone. a world where personality is more important than character. fill up the inner hollowness while

We live in a world where we cant

O
for

you who have believed, be persistently standing

We live in It doesnt

firm in justice, witnesses Allaah , even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allaah is more worthy of both. [4-135]

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Realman

f you want to quench your thirst and beat the scorching summer heat then the wonderfully delicious watermelon is best for you. Watermelon is a great source of much needed water and electrolytes to beat the tropical summer temperatures. Watermelon is also a certified heart food by the AMH (American Heart Association).

By Rohaan Rana

It is known as fruit of the poor. Everyone loves a big piece of thirst-quenching watermelon on a hot day. It is so refreshing and a quarter watermelon can be easily eaten in one sitting.

Watermelon!

atermelon originated from South African countries, from where it spread all over the world, especially to tropical and subtropical regions. Varieties of watermelons fruits are cultivated all over the world, featuring variation in their size, shape and color of the skin (Red, Orange and Yellow).

Some important facts

Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin-A, which is a powerful anti-oxidant and essential for vision and immunity. It is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. It also protects from lung and oral cavity cancer. Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar. It cuts the risk of sun-related skin damage by 40 %. It has polysaccharide carbohydrates which help to revive bodys output of serotonin. Thus it helps improve sleep, and one can extend deep stages of sleep by 27% by eating a few slices of watermelon after dinner. Because of having Vitamin-B6 and Magnesium, a daily use of watermelon can boost energy levels by up to 23%. Watermelon is packed with the Amino-acid which the body converts to Arginine. It speeds the delivery of White blood cells to injury sites and spurs the growth of new skin tissue. Therefore use of watermelon can help in quicker healing of wound and other skin problems. This sweet and juicy fruit is loaded with a compound of Arginine that boosts Nitric-oxide which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. Watermelon has a large amount of Potassium that helps in muscle and nerve function. y

Watermelon

MyVision June 2013

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Cover Feature

The Young Men

and the

nce upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a town. The people who lived in this town had forgotten that they had to worship Allaah. They made statues out of wood and stone and worshiped them, asking them for anything that they needed. Among these people, there were some young men who had imaan (belief in Allaah) in their hearts. One day, all the people of the town gathered outside the city to worship the idols that they had made. When these young men saw this, they immediately felt in their hearts that this was not right. Only Allaah had the right to be worshiped as He was Al-Khaliq the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. One by one, these young men left the company of the kuffar (the people who disbelieved) and sat under a tree. None of them knew the other, but it was Allaah who guided them to each other. After some time the people found out about them and told their king.

The king questioned them about their faith. The young men told him that they believed in Allaah and invited the king and the people of the town to believe in Allaah. But, the king did not believe in Allaah and got angry with the young men and told his guards to punish the young men. While in punishment, the king told the young men to give up the religion of Allaah and come back to worshiping the idols, else they awaited a more terrible punishment. However while they were in punishment, Allaah helped the young men to escape. hey found a cave and went inside it to hide. They felt worried but Allaah blessed them with sakina (peace) and strengthened their imaan and they made a dua, Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [18:10]

Kahf
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(Cave)

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Cover Feature

Then Allaah caused them to sleep and told the sun to rise and set in such a manner that it did not disturb the sleeping men. From then onwards, the Sun obediently rose in the sky leaning towards the right side of the cave, and set in the evening towards the left, following Allaahs command. And thus Allaah turned their bodies on the right and on the left, while their dog stretched out on its forelegs. And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror. [18:18] Like this they slept for years and years and years.

a day. They said, Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you. [18:19-20]

him about the situation. The young man told them all about themselves. And then he took the king and the citys people to the cave to meet with the other companions. And thus Allaah made the people of the city know about them so that they may see that indeed the Promise of Allaah is true and the Hour of Judgment will come soon. And Allaah then caused them to sleep and made them die. In-sh-Allaah the young men are in Jannah now!

o one of them disguised himself and took a different road to the city, but as he neared it, he was not able recognize it as everything had changed completely in the centuries that had passed. He thought maybe he was dreaming or confused. He quickly went to man who was selling food. When the man saw the coin the young man offered, he could not recognize it and thought maybe the young man had found some treasure. They asked him from where did he get the coin and the young man said, Iam from this land, I was living here yesterday. They of course did not believe him and took him to their king, who questioned

ne day, Allaah woke them up, And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, How long have you remained [here]? They said, We have remained a day or part of

hat a wonderful story. What do we learned from it? We learn that no matter what happens or where we are, we must always worship Allaah and leave the place where we live in if the people are not letting us worship Allaah. And then Allaahs help will come and He will reward us, In-shAllaah. y [islamiclifestyle4u.wordpress.com]

Cover Feature

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Islamic Mannerism

Gatherings
henever people get together, for a special occasion or for meeting each other, they should mention the name of Allaah, for the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said that, No people stand up from a gathering in which they did not remember Allaah, except that they stand up like from a donkey carcass (i.e. like it, in terms of its filth and stench). And it, (the gathering) is regret for them on the day of Resurrection. [Abu Dawood] Scholars explain that the regret will be because of their carelessness, and for any backbiting or evil speech they may have spoken during the gathering. Of course, it is only when you meet your fellow Muslims that you will both exchange salaams, and mention the name of Allaah. This hadith does not imply that people should not get-together. In fact, the Prophet (PBUH) has told us the advantages of gatherings which are for a good cause and in which Allaahs name is mentioned. In a long hadith the Prophet (PBUH) said, Allaahs angels patrol the pathways, searching for gatherings in which the name of Allaah is

By Shazia Rahim

mentioned, and when they find one, they surround the people with their wings. At that point, Allaah asks the angels, and He knows better than them, What are my slaves saying?. They answer, They are glorifying You, saying You are the Greatest, praising You and exalting You. Allaah asks them, Have they seen me? They say, By Allaah, no, they have not seen You. So, Allaah asks them, What if they were to see me?. They reply, If they were to see You, they would worship You more vigorously, and they would exalt and praise You more assiduously, and they would glorify you more often. Allaah then asks, What do they ask of me? One of the angels replies, They ask You for Paradise. So Allaah says, Have they seen it? The angels answer, By Allaah, no, they have not seen it. Allaah asks, What if they were to see it?. The angels answer, If they were to see it, they would crave it more intensely, and ask You for it more ardently. They would wish to enter it even more. ere Allaah asks, And what do they seek refuge from? One of the angels replies, They seek refuge from hellfire. So Allaah says, Have they seen it? The angels answer, By Allaah,

no, they have not seen it. Allaah asks, What if they were to see it?. The angels answer, If they were to see it, they would flee from it more resolutely, and they would fear it more strongly. Allaah then says, Therefore, I make you witness that I have forgiven them. One of the angels inquires, Accompanying them is someone who is not from them, but has only come for another purpose. Allaah says, These are the companions that whoever sits with them, will not be wretched. [Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim] his brings us to an important point; keeping good company. For two people to be close friends, they necessarily share similar habits and beliefs, and they inevitably lead a similar lifestyle. Therefore, it is important for us to give serious thought when forming a close friendship with someone. If you are satisfied with that persons religion and manners, then befriend him/her. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that, A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you be careful about the hadith person with whom he establishes friendship. [Abu Dawood]

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Islamic Mannerism

In another hadith, the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said, The example of a righteous and evil companion are that of a carrier of al-Musk (perfume) and a blower of bellows. As for the carrier of perfume, he will either give to you as a gift or you will buy from him, or you will find a good smell emanating from him. As for the blower of bellows, either he will burn your garment, or you will find a vile smell [emanating from him]. [Abu Dawood] The Prophet (PBUH) has told us to extend the Islamic greeting of saying As-Salamu Alaikum when we join a gathering, as well as when we leave it. t is part of the etiquette of joining a gathering to sit wherever you find the space to, and to not ask anyone to leave their seat for you. The wisdom behead this ruling is for a Muslim not to belittle his Muslim brother. And, when you sit in a place, and leave for an errand, then you have the most right to your place of sitting when you return to it. And, if you find someone sitting in your place, upon your return, you have the right to ask them to move. However, if there is no space available, it is better that the people in the gathering make an effort to make space, as Allaah has commanded us to do: O you who have believed, when you are told, Space yourselves in assemblies, then make space; Allaah will make space for you. And when you are told, Arise, then arise; Allaah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allaah is Acquainted with what you do. [58:11] Another thing we are taught is not to sit in between two people who are sitting next to each other, as this will cause anguish among the two at being forcefully separated.

talk privately, if necessary. We are forbidden to listen to other peoples conversations, unless of course, they give their consent. The one who does so, will be punished by having molten lead poured into his ear on the Day of Resurrection as mentioned as part of a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari. slam also dictates that people should not sit in a particular posture in a gathering; sitting with your left hand behind your back, while you are leaning on the thumb of your right hand. And, sitting partially under the sun and partially under the shade is also prohibited, as Prophet (PBUH) has said, It is the sitting of the Shaytaan. [Related by Imam Ahmad] We should not laugh excessively, as the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) has said, Do not laugh too much, for much laughter kills the heart. [Ibn Majah] t is part of the etiquettes of a gathering to not belch, and always conclude the gathering by mentioning the name of Allaah. The Prophet (PBUH) has told us to say the following as mentioned in several authentic narrations:

imilarly, if there are three people in a gathering, or there are three people sitting closely in a gathering, the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) has prohibited two of them to talk secretly, excluding the third one. The wisdom behind this is to prevent Shaytaan from instilling doubts in the mind of the third person that the two are backbiting him or plotting against him. But, if you are in a gathering of four or more people, then this ruling does not apply, so two people can

May Allaah give us the tawfeeq to put these principles into practice, the next time we are in a gathering. Ameen. y

Islamic Mannerism

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and fear only

As-Salamu Alaikum! So as I was coming back to GIKI from Rawalpindi, I learned/reflected upon two things. Would just like to share them. Yeah, yeah, I know this isnt poetry.

prepare now

By Omer Chaudhry

HIM
we have indeed wasted a lot of time sleeping, while we could have done something productive in that time something that would make the rest of the life (Hereafter) better. But by that time, most of us dont have the same strength. We are old. All that excitement, all those hormones, all that vigor, dynamism, its just not there! So we feel tired even by thinking about what we could do back then. How would it feel? It would hurt. Youd want to cry, and you would. Youd turn to Allaah then, as most of the people do. But this was no ordinary journey. You were in a race. You slept while others worked hard. They did what was in their capacity, and by now they are far, far ahead of you. The Best Deeds are Those that are Done in Ones Youth: One of the five questions that would be asked on the day of judgement, and without answering which a person would not be able to move, would be, How did you spend your youth? Better start working now than regret later, no? May Allaah give

us the tawfeeq to wake up from the delusion of this world, and make us realize the reality. So we work for our resting place.

First: I fell asleep in the van. The guy drove exceptionally good (fast?) today and when I woke up after about half an hour, we were really close (maybe because of the new motorway route). I woke up and realized that I had almost reached the end of my journey. I could see it by the signs around me. From that airbase or whatever that is, from the wind that had changed, from the atmosphere that was cleaner. I had to send some texts so I was like, man if I hadnt slept I wouldve sent them earlier. Now Im almost there and since I just woke up I dont feel like going through all that trouble right now. Lets just wait till I reach back to my room. Then it suddenly hit me, isnt our life similar? Were all on a journey arent we? Most of the time we are asleep, forgetting our real purpose. We wake up when most of it has already passed. Then it dawns upon us that

And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion. [57:20]. So we do what Allaah says in the very next verse, Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allaah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allaah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allaah is the possessor of great bounty. [57:21] Second: The conductor, when he was about to drop me, said that at this time there is no rickshaw how would you go to the gate from the turn (from where he would go left and I would have to go right). I said Ill walk. He replied but it is three kilometers! I said nah, its less than one. Then hes like, okay. I was only saying because yesterday a guy gave 100 Rupees and we dropped him at the gate. I replied the guy must not like to walk. Then he stayed quiet, after a while

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Prepare Now and Fear Only Him

he said, its 9:00 PM and these are dangerous times. I said have faith in Allaah. Hes like, of course I have faith in Allaah, but are 100 rupees dearer than your life? I knew what he was doing so I just kept saying that Ill walk in-sha-Allaah. Hes like, suit yourself. I read Ayat ul Kursi and the three Quls for protection and started walking. That road is a bit creepy, I admit. Some parts were lit up while others were in utter darkness. As I walked down the road I remembered the verse, If Allaah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allaah (alone) let believers put their trust. [3:160]. And what was said by the Prophets, And upon Allaah let those who would rely [indeed] rely.[14:12] I accept I was freaked out for a while (mainly because I fear dogs a bit). Even seemed to hear voices from the fields towards my right. But I looked up at the stars (yeah, crazy about stargazing). And I said Allaah if I can hear something you can hear it too, so I seek refuge in You from the evil out there and I ask You to give me the good out there. And I remembered when the Prophet (PBUH) was asked that who would save you now and he replied Allaah, and the man dropped the sword in fear. There were different thoughts going on in my head. I reached safely, Alhamdulillah, and there are two things I wanna mention here. First, why are we so afraid of the dark (or the unknown)? I was reading Ammar Al-Shukrys article the other day and I loved the part where he

says we fear the darkness because were not familiar with it, because of the unknown. We fear the unknown. Then why is it that man is so heedless about his Hereafter? Has he seen what Hell is like and is not afraid? Or has he seen that he would be saved? We are afraid of little things in this world but we are not afraid of the One Who created all of it? The One Who knows the number of turns a leaf takes before falling to the ground. The One Who knows of a Black ant, on a Black stone, in a Black night? We dare not fear Him, yet we are afraid of this world? Then I thought that is exactly the reason for us being afraid. We have failed to realize the might of Allaah. We have failed to realize the power of Allaah. We have failed to obey Him like He ought to be obeyed. We have failed to fear Him like He ought to be feared. And as a result we are afraid of a million other things. Second thing is, why is it that we keep saying we have faith in Allaah but cannot prove it? Again it comes to the same thing that were too afraid of things. How did Khalid bin Waleed (RA) drink poison and yet survive? Why did the Prophet (PBUH) not panic when he had no one but Allaah to protect him? Im not trying to say you should drink poison now. But see the point! It really amazes me, why do we lack that kind of belief in Allaah? Is He not able to do everything? Is He not able to protect us? Of course He is. Someone (or may be a lot of people) might disagree with me and say, Tie your camel and then trust in Allaah. But like, seriously, its not that I was walking in a battlefield without a sword. But taking extra precautions because I live a life of fear of a million

things but Allaah, that I cannot accept! This was a reminder to me, first and foremost. May Allaah increase us all in emaan, help us really race for reward and keep our intentions purely for His sake, and grant us a place in Jannat ul Firdous. All good is from Allaah and only the mistakes are mine. y

Prepare Now and Fear Only Him

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Black Stone
mar (RA) came to the Black Stone (performing tawaf), kissed it, and said, I know that you are a stone, you do not cause benefit or harm; and if it were not that I had seen Allaahs Messenger (PBUH) kiss you, I would never have kissed you. [Sahih al-Bukhari] Important Lessons The illustrious companion and caliph Umar (RA) reminded us in this narration of the pure belief that benefit and harm are not caused by created objects and thus should not be sought from them. Only Allaah has control over these things.

By Arham Khan

Prophet (PBUH) taught and practiced. We also learn that once an action is confirmed in the Sunnah, the believer submits and complies, and practices it because it is confirmed that Allaahs Messenger (PBUH) did it, even if we dont know the wisdom behind it.

e are reminded that acts of worship are to be taken from Allaahs Messenger (PBUH), and a person is not supposed to make up his own way of worship, he must follow the manner of worship that the

his narration is also an example of how a responsible person tries to clarify and do away with any misunderstandings that people may have about matters of faith. The people had recently left their unbelief and polytheism, so Umar (RA) wanted to make it clear that kissing the Black Stone is by no means done as an act of devotion to it, as people used to do with their stone idols. [Adapted from Fath al-Bari, and other hadith commentaries]

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Black Stone

Language of the Revelation

By Abdul Jabbar Bilal

Exercise
Convert sentences as in example: From:

In previous lessons we have learned about:

To:

In this lesson we are going to learn about:

Which stands to attribute something to speaker, who is called the:

examples

Language of the Revelation

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Childrens Diseases in Summers

infections and illnesses in the summ er months is food poisoning and Diarrhea. It is caused by eating and drinking unhygienic food items, especially those purchased from hawkers. Food poisoning can be prevented by frequently washing your hands and eating only hygienic home-prepared foods.

By Dr. Asif Javed

hildren are a precious asset of any nation and healthy children make a healthy nation. The need for healthy children is more so in the nation of Islam, the Muslim Ummah. Only the best of heart and soul can take up the leadership role which Islam expects from its children. There are many diseases that can fade these blossoming and promising faces, especially in late spring and summer. Mosquito-borne infections are commonly caused by viruses and can lead to encephalitis malaria and dengue fever. Tick-borne illnesses include Lyme disease and some types of fevers. Mosquito and tick-borne infections can be avoided by using repellents and mosquito nets. Another important cause of

especially in late spring. Preventive measures include using face-masks, avoiding dust exposure and travel to wheat cutting areas. ome viruses can cause cough and runny nose in summer which can be aggravated by eating ice-cold foods such as ice creams. Use of sour and cold foods and drinks should be restricted whenever there is cough and flu. Typhoid fever can also occur in spring and summer, and can be prevented by using hygienic and properly cooked food only. With these simple precautions we can remain healthy. And for sure, prevention is better than cure. May Allaah grant us a life full of health and imaan.

eat stroke is a disease of summer caused by exposure to excessive heat and sunlight causing dehydration. It can be prevented by avoiding direct sunlight, minimizing noontime activities, and drinking a good amount of water and other liquids, such as milk and fresh juices. Those children who are sensitive to allergens may experience respiratory difficulty in wheat cutting season,

Ten Oppressors

By Imam as-Samarqandi
4. The person who passes a graveyard without greeting the deceased or praying for them. 5. The person who enters a city on Friday and leaves without performing the Friday prayer. 6. The man or woman in whose vicinity a learned person comes and none acquires any religious knowledge from him. 7. Those two people who love each other for the pleasure of Allaah but are unaware of each others names. 8. The person who is invited by another, but does not accept his invitation (when acceptance does not contradict the Shariah). 9. The youngster that has no commitments yet does not acquire any religious knowledge or manners. 10. The person who has eaten to his fill while his neighbor goes hungry.

Sufyan ath-Thauri said that ten people are regarded as oppressors: 1. The person who prays for himself, but forgets his parents and other believers. 2. The person who does not recite at least a hundred verses of the Holy Quran daily. 3. The person who leaves the Masjid (mosque) without performing at least two units of salah.

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Childrens Diseases Ten Oppressors

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

A Dua when You Look in the Mirror For all of our good looking readers mashaAllaah, and that means everyone! Every time you look in the mirror recite this dua:

O Allaah, as You have made my face good, also make good my moral character. [Ibn Hibban, at-Tabarani]

Seven Practical Steps to Help You Face Any Difficult Situation

By Emaan Afzal 1. Salah: Make sure you stick to praying on time, five times a day. Never miss a salah and do your best to pray each salah with sincerity as if its your last salah in this world. 2. Read Quran: This Quran is so beautiful that no matter what difficulties you face youll find solace in it. 3. Make Dua: Especially the dua for removing anxiety. 4. Give Sadaqah: Give lots of charity, as much as you can, because it helps push away hardship. And if you cant give money, even kind words or physical sadaqah can do (i.e., helping people physically or emotionally). 5. Set Goals and Have Vision: Dont let Shaytaan play with you and keep replaying the video of your hardship in your mind over and over again. Move on! Set new goals, new projects, and remember, youre with Allaah, nothing should stop you. 6. Wake-up Early: Wake up before Fajr and work on your ideas and projects, or simply read Quran. Getting busy before daybreak is a definite way to move away from your hardship and overcome challenges. Get most of your ideas/work done in these early hours, these are blessed hours. 7. Hardship is Not Lost: Remember, Allaah will never forget the injustice and hardships you faced, so dont worry about seeking revenge.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Seven Practical Steps

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six

When it will all end, And your body will lie without a friend. Your world gone to pieces, Your parents, siblings, nephews and nieces Can do nothing and their helplessness only increases, Tears flow from their eyes but even that rush finally ceases. And your soul is ready to ascend. Its taken wrapped up in a clean shroud smelling of musk, With warm welcome, the doors of each sky opening up, Until your name is written in the `illiyeen line-up, And the soul is ordered back to earth where it belongs, You hear your friends leaving you alone.

But what if your soul is not welcomed at all? Wrapped in a sackcloth with a smell so foul, It finds the gates of the skies closed and now cant even howl, The name is written in the sijjeen out and out, And the souls hurled on the earth until it joins the body freaked out. Now its your choice, dearie! In which category would you like to be? In which a person lived his life benign, Submitted to God, prayed on time, Helped people, repented from crime, Endured hardships, only to get rewarded from the Divine? Or the one in which the person partied hard and danced all night, Forgot his Creator, kept his hands closed tight, Never bowed in front of Him, who never did anything right, His clothes and cars were a dazzling sight. Whichever life you choose my brothers and sisters, In the end youll face three questions, Irrespective of your family, status and education, You wont get through them on your speculations, Your worldly achievements wont count, When your success or failure is taken to a count. Who is your Lord is the first one. Did you His obedience shun? Would you be able to answer Allaah, my Rabb? Cuz there your answers cant be made up. Who is your Prophet comes next. Did you follow the Sunnah? Did you even know the text? How many times did you lose your sleep? Did your feet swell? In your tahajjud did you weep? Last but not least, what is your Deen. Do you even know what it means? Did you live as a Muslim or just took it as a dream? Did you spread it to the world, this beautiful Deen? While you lie in your grave forsaken and alone, Based on your deeds a window will be shown, Youll catch a glimpse of gardens underneath which rivers flow, With palaces whose towers with gems glow. Or based on the bad seeds you have sown, Great tongues of fire will make you moan, And gusts of hot air will be blown, The sights you see will chill you to the bone.

Poetry Corner

feet

By Hajrah Khawar

below

Dont take this just as a rhyme, But prepare for that time, When youll lie six feet below begrimed, And what will happen beyond