Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Life
Al-Waqiyah (The Indisputable Event) - Chapter 56: Verses 82-87

"And do you render due thanks to God for your provision by belying His promise of Resurrection? If that is so, then why do you not hold back the soul of the dying when it reaches the throat? Yet all the while you are helplessly looking on. Rather it is We alone who are, most surely, nearer to the one dying than you. But you do not see. Then why is it—if you are not to be summoned to Judgment as you allege—that you do not bring the soul back, if indeed you are truthful?"

Man has life. From where did it come? Then he dies. Who took it, and where does life go? If man is not to be brought back in a new life, as the bliers of God and Judgment in the Hereafter contend, then why are human beings unable to retrieve these souls from death? We still have possession of their physical likeness. It can only be that life come into our bodies from a Giver who withdraws it whenever He deems fit—and we are helpless to stop Him, even if we are present when a soul escapes its human housing—rather, when its Maker summons it from a place so near we cannot even see it. Surely, the One who makes and takes life can replace it, put it into a new form, or restore it in its old form, remade anew.

Compiled From:
"The Gracious Quran" - Ahmad Zaki Hammad, p. 266

From Issue: 865 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Gratitude

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be please with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "There are four qualities, whoever is given them has truly being given the best in this world and the next. They are: a grateful heart, a remembering tongue, an enduring body, and a faithful wife."

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah is pleased with His slave if when he eats something, he thanks Allah for it, and when he drinks something, he thanks Allah for it." (Muslim)

Abu'd-Dunya narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Speaking of Allah's blessings is gratitude and ignoring it is ingratitude (kufr). The one who does not give thanks for a small blessing will not give thanks for a great blessing, and the one who does not give thanks to people will not give thanks to Allah. To be with a group is blessing, and to be alone is a punishment."

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: "If any of you would like to see the great blessing of Allah on him, then let him look at those who are less fortunate that him, not those who appear better off than him."

Compiled From:
"Patience and Gratitude" - Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, pp. 65, 66

From Issue: 748 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Games that bring the family closer

Father's reading the newspaper, mother's on the telephone, brother's on the computer, sister's reading a book, and little Ahmad is playing with his toys. What do these people have in common?

Nothing. How can they be brought together?

Young and old, we all love games. What better way to share each other's company, learn about Islam and have fun at the same time than to play a game? Below are three games to play with the whole family.

1. 'Steps to Paradise' Board Game. This board game, made in England, has questions for different age or knowledge levels. Answer the questions on Islam as you move around the board. And if you have collected enough Sawab (reward) then you might be able to enter Paradise.

2. Question and Answer Cards. Pre-made cards with questions and answers on Islam are readily available. Split the family into two teams and compete with each other to see who has the most right answers. The 'losing' team can do something together for the 'winning' team, for example, cook dinner. (This may mean that dad and some of the children may be cooking dinner for mum!) If pre-made cards are not available, then get into your teams and design the questions for the other team to answer.

3. Treasure Hunting. Mum or Dad designs a treasure hunt for the rest of the family. The number of clues, in the form of questions, depends on how many letters the secret place that contains the prize has. For example, if a cake awaits them in the REFRIGERATOR then 13 questions are needed. The first question needs to have an answer starting with R. For example, "What is the name of Surah 13?" The answer is "Ra'd". Each first letter of the answers form the final word. Draw a map and place each question on a card at each location. Once the code is cracked all can share the prize.

An important note to keep in mind is that when teams are called for, make sure it's randomly selected. Also, for each game, team members will be different each time. If team members remain the same all the time, rivalry will be set up and not all members will have the chance to work with the others.

Compiled From:
"Saying it out loud - the easy way to teach children the daily Duas (supplications)" - Jameela Ho of Yagoona

From Issue: 527 [Read original issue]