Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ib
az
en)
Haitham was born in 965 C.E. in Basrah, Iraq, and was educated
in Basrah and Baghdad. Thereafter, he went to Egypt, where he
was asked to find ways of controlling the flood of the Nile. He also
Submitted by: A Muslim Writer traveled to Spain and, during this period, he had ample time for his
A highly skilled carpenter who had About ten years ago when I was scientific pursuits, which included optics, mathematics, physics,
grown old was ready to retire. He told his an undergraduate in college, I was medicine and development of scientific methods on each of which
employer-contractor of his plans to leave working as an intern at my University’s he has left several outstanding books.
the house building business and live a more Museum of Natural History. One day He made a thorough examination of the passage of light through
leisurely life with his family. He would miss while working at the cash register various media and discovered the laws of refraction. He also
carried out the first experiments on the dispersion of light into its
Thursday, December 6, 2007. Vol. 2 Issue 40
the paycheck, but he needed to retire. in the gift shop, I saw an elderly
couple come in with a little girl in a constituent colors. His book Kitab-al-Manadhir was translated
into Latin in the Middle Ages, as also his book dealing with the
The employer was sorry to see his good wheelchair.
colors of sunset.
worker go and asked if he could build just As I looked closer at this girl, I saw CONT’D ON PAGE 2
one more house as a personal favor. The that she was kind of perched on her
carpenter agreed to this proposal but made chair. I then realized she had no arms
sure that this will be his last project. Being or legs, just a head, neck and torso.
in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not
paying much attention to building this
house. His heart was not in his work. He
She was wearing a little white dress
with red polka dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me
I was looking down at the register. I
Religion as a Force of Liberation
resorted to poor workmanship and used It is a common misconception here in the west
inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way turned my head toward the girl and
that religion is a force of oppression. It seems
to end his career. gave her a wink. As I took the money
to be a common belief that religions are systems
from her grandparents, I looked back
at the girl, who was giving me the put in place to control people and assist the rulers
When the job was done, the carpenter called in oppressing the people. Marx called religion,
his employer and showed him the house. cutest, largest smile I have ever seen.
All of a sudden her handicap was “the opiate of the masses,” a drug to keep people
The employer handed over some papers and docile, so that they accept the status quo and so
gone and all I saw was this beautiful
the front door key to the carpenter and said that they could be ruled easier. Nothing, however,
girl, whose smile just melted me and
“This is your house, my gift to you.” By Cyril Anderson could be farther from the truth.
almost instantly gave me a completely
new sense of what life is all about. CONT’D ON PAGE 3
The carpenter was in a shock! What a
She took me from a poor, unhappy
shame! If he had only known that he was college student and brought me into
building his own house, he would have her world; a world of smiles, love and
made it better than any other house that he HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD - PART 1
warmth.
ever built! That was ten years ago. I’m a
successful business person now and By: Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff
Our situation can be compared to this whenever I get down and think about “Verily, the first house set for mankind is at Bakkah (Makkah),
carpenter. Almighty Allah (God) has the troubles of the world, I think about blessed, and a guidance to the worlds. In it are clear signs; the
sent us to this world to build our homes that little girl and the remarkable place where Ibrahim stood up (to pray); and whoever enters
in paradise by obeying His commands. lesson about life that she taught me. it is safe; and pilgrimage to the house is incumbent upon
Now, we have to decide how well we wish Prophet Muhammed (M.) said: mankind (purely) for Allah; (it is) for those who can afford
to build the homes where we will live “Even a smile can be charity.” to go there. And whoever disbelieves, then verily, Allah (the
forever. self-subsisting) is independent of the worlds”.
(Holy Quran 3: 96-97) CONT’D ON PAGE 7
8 The Truth
IF YOU WANT TO Ibn Sina (Avicenna) A Muslim is Like Soft Rain
From PAGE 1
RECEIVE YOUR WEEKLY From PAGE 1
He dealt at length with the theory twilight only ceases or begins
DIGITAL COPY of various physical phenomena when the sun is 19° below the It is clear from the above verse that performance of Ibrahim and Ismael (saying): ‘Purify My house
(PDF FORMAT) like shadows, eclipses, the horizon and attempted to measure Hajj is obligatory upon all Muslims. Any Muslim for those who circumambulate and those who
rainbow, and speculated on the height of the atmosphere on who has attained Buloogh (puberty) and is abide in it for devotion, and those who bow
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE the physical nature of light. that basis. He has also discussed Mustatee’ (capable/having means) must perform down and those who prostrate (in prayer)”.
TO THE TRUTH’S He is the first to describe
accurately the various parts
the theories of attraction between
masses, and it seems that he
Hajj and it is obligatory only once during life- (2:125)
MAILING LIST @ of the eye and give a scientific was aware of the magnitude of
time. In fact, Hajj is one of the basic principles of
Islam; its performance is one of its essentials, and
If we study the two verses (2:125 and 3:97), we
will not fail to observe that in both, Allah (G.) has
HTTP://GROUPS.GOOGLE. explanation of the process of
vision. He also attempted to
acceleration due to gravity.
His contribution to mathematics its non-performance is a major sin. Furthermore, mentioned about the place where Prophet Ibrahim
COM/GROUP/THET- explain binocular vision, and and physics was extensive. In any one who denies its obligatory nature commits (P.) stood for prayer. This by itself shows the lofty
Kufr (disbelief/blasphemy). and elevated position of this great prophet in the
RUTH110 gave a correct explanation of
the apparent increase in size of
mathematics, he developed
analytical geometry by KA’BAH: THE FIRST HOUSE sight of Allah (G.). S V Mir Ahmad Ali writes: The
the sun and the moon when near establishing linkage between Aqa Mahdi Puya has stated a very interesting thing standing place of Ibrahim has been made the
the horizon. He is known for algebra and geometry. He regarding the Holy Ka’bah. He says: permanent religious centre of all monotheists,
the earliest use of the camera studied the mechanics of motion The great antiquity of this house is undisputed. because of his faith (belief in the unity of Allah)
obscura. He contradicted of a body and was the first to It had been throughout the ages, even before was perfect, an ideal for every believer.
Ptolemy’s and Euclid’s theory maintain that a body moves
IF YOU WANT ANY of vision that objects are seen by perpetually unless an external
Abraham, the object of the greatest veneration.
It is reported on the authority of the Ahlul-Bayt
Ibrahim (P.)-an upright monotheist:
“Say (O Muhammad)! Allah has spoken the
MATERIAL TO BE
>>>>
The Sight of Kaba’ Sayings of Imam Al-Hassan AlMujtaba (P.)
Source: Excerpt from a speech of Shaikh Zulfiqar
>>>>
they go to perform pilgrimage at the Muslim shrine of Kaa’ba. I expressed a • When the desirable and commendable services damage and harm the
desire to go but he told me that non-Muslims were not allowed. However, I obligatory services, abandon them.
was determined and so we both bought white clothes and set out. Fortunately • And know it that indeed whoever fears God (adopts piety). God paves
no one stopped us and we reached Makkah, from where we found directions
his way of salvation out of the inequities. And makes him firm in his
to the Kaa’ba. Upon seeing the Kaa’ba our eyes froze and time seemed to
matter. And provides him (the path of) guidance. And makes his proof
stand still. When we turned to look at each other after some time, we were
and arguments successful and enlightens his face and grants him
both crying. With our eyes we told each other that this was the Truth and we
what he desires. He is with those upon whom God has bestowed His
should accept Islam. No one ever told me about Islam, but there were so many
beneficences and boons from among the Prophets, the truthful, the
blessings descending on that House that they changed my life forever.”
martyrs and pious ones.
The blessings of Tawhid (Monotheism) descend in Makkah, and the • The greatest forgiveness and pardon of God comes when the sinner is
blessings of Prophethood descend in Madinah. One has seen nothing in not able to make a pretext for his wrong doing.
life if he has not seen these two holy sites. May God grant everybody the
opportunity to visit to His House. • God provides everything to one who worships God.
4
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5
The Truth The Truth