Holding Hands Together Lets Change for Good.....

[guest]

Bismillahirrahmanirraheem......


Rabbi yassir wala tuassir wa tammim bil khaeer.....

More often we talk about religious philosophy and things that might have great spiritual value but seldom have we talked about practical things.

Lets help each other in reminding small things; things which we often neglect; considering them to be of no importance. But when analyzed on infra level all those apathetic behaviours are causing a great deal of damage. Apathy has long become our national trait. Even people who claim to be religious do miserable things.

Impeccable definitions of IGNORANCE & APATHY are “I don’t know” & “I don’t care”. Ask yourself where you fall?? Unfortunately majority falls in latter. Every second person talks as if he has intellect of Nietzsche and rationale of Plato but practically talking all fall in same category; talking huge and acting less than little.

Dear fellows lets help each other in reminding small things; which apparently seem inane to many but cause great deal of miseries to others.

Let's set the rules first for our own good. I have got following points in mind. (Additions are heartily welcomed and will be highly appreciated).

1. Before posting any advice make sure that you practice it yourself. If it’s something you just have realized and currently working on; please carry it on for at least a week.

2. Avoid racial and ethnic comments. Generalize the problem for all.

If you notice any social ill write about it; try to give the best solutions.

Hope it will sprout into a healthy and effective thread. I will send my first contribution very soon. All suggestions/queries are wholeheartedly welcomed.

Holding hand together let’s try to change; for a better present, good future and ultimately a successful end.

This reminds me of the following Quranic verse ...

The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. (9:71)

May Allah help us all.....

[Ummati]

Masha Allah, great initiative =)

Insha Allah- I wanted to remind us all of:

The Rules of the Line

Ever been standing in a long line recently only to have someone 'cut' in front of you? Or perhaps you found yourself talking to a long-time friend ahead of you in the line and then joined them there, even though your own place was quite far behind?

I know sometimes we get impatient, especially when what's at the end of the line is something we are anxiously anticipating or even if its something tedious- something we just cant wait to be over and done with!

But everyone is waiting right along with us. And if they're waiting their turn, so can we insha Allah . We may feel we have a thousand things to do, and the current wait is just not worth our while- and really, for XYZ reason it is only right that we be allowed to get ahead in line- but the same excuse could apply to anyone standing in line!

So, lets remember:

1. Be patient, keep a good attitude while waiting.

2. No 'cutting'! The only exception is if you are with a group of friends and you are either meeting them at a venue or they went to stand in line while you went to the bathroom.

3. If you are standing solo in line, it is perfectly acceptable to ask the person behind you if they do not mind holding your spot if you need to go to the bathroom or any other item that will take just a moment. It is not acceptable to ask if you are running off to do something that will take awhile. Like suppose, waiting for the doors to open to an event which is not going to begin in hours- and you ask someone to keep your spot while you wander around or sit for a half an hour or so- that isnt very fair. They have to wait in line and so do we =).

4. If the above happens to you and someone asks you to hold their place, waiting in line etiquette means you actually do that.

5. When standing in line, do not crowd the person in front of you. They are as far forward as they can go. People of the opposite gender especially, please give a fair amount of space!

6. Keeping in line with point no. 5, pay attention when you are standing in line and move forward when the line moves forward.

7. If you are at the front of the line, keep your eye out for the next agent/whoever you are waiting for that is available. Do not stall the line down when you are all so close to the end!

8. If you are going to use the grocery check out lane that is fifteen items or less, please ensure that you do have fifteen items or less =P


Insha Allah, lets remember to apply these rules wherever we are. Its weird, but I have noticed- when abroad, we follow protocols, but when in our own country- we grow lax and tend to do what we please.

What we can do is, also, while waiting- make use of our time. Technology has progressed so much, we've got iQuran, Hadith and Dua apps on our phone- why not utilize them while waiting? Otherwise, too, dua can be made at any time, in any place, in any language- bank on this time (which is otherwise spent having random thoughts, getting angry at some poor agent who's working the line too slowly, or worrying about how many things we have to do that day)- We can also do silent zikr of the heart, keep our tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah SWT, recite durood etc. Perhaps engage the person in front of us in some lively, iman-uplifting conversation?

The possibilities are endless.

Hadhrat Mu’az [RA] narrated RasulAllah (sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“The Inhabitants of Paradise will not be sorrowful (/grief stricken) about anything they did in the life of the world except for the time they spent without being in the remembrance of Allah” (Tabaraani)

[Ummati]

Cell-Phones: The Ignored Etiquettes



By Laila Ansari

I got my first cell-phone in college mainly out of peer pressure and the heartfelt desire to be in the ‘in’ crowd. All popular kids had cell-phones with flashy charms and high-strung ringtones. It was fascinating to see them lost in the growing frenzy of text messaging or dejected in the wait of an expected call. But, with time, the situation has gotten alarmingly out of control: conversations are being constantly interrupted by ringtones, lectures are being ignored amidst jokes being sent across the classrooms, drivers are losing control of their vehicles and indecent content and images are corrupting minds.

However, the responsibility for the use of a cell-phone – whether good or bad – is on the person owning it. We wake up in the morning to the sound of our cell-phone’s inbuilt alarm, our loved ones can easily access us when we are away from them, we make important business correspondence, we check our emails, we conduct banking transactions, we pay bills – in short, we just cannot imagine our lives without our cell-phones.

Fortunately for us, Muslims, the Quran and Sunnah have laid down the basics of social conduct and self-control that can help derive etiquettes to allow Muslims to embrace advanced technology, without harming either their Dunya or Akhirah. Some of them are as follows.

Know when to switch off

How many times has it happened that you were absorbed in your prayers and were harshly pulled away from Allah (swt) by the cacophonic warble of your cell-phone? Your mind lost all its peace, and you were torn between concentrating on your prayers and considering, who could it be on the phone. Allah (swt) urges Muslims to pray with complete concentration. Allah (swt) says: “… And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salah (prayers)].” (Al-Baqarah 2:238) Men should switch off their cell-phones, especially when they go to the Masjid to offer their prayers, as ringtones distract not only them but others as well. In case they have forgotten to do so, and their cell phone rings in the middle of the congregation, they must switch it off immediately rather than waiting for the caller to abort the call himself.

Know when to attend calls

Attending calls or texting while conversing with a family member or having lunch with your close friend can be extremely rude and annoying.Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “If you are three, two should not converse secretly to the exclusion of your companion, for that hurts his feelings.” (Muslim)

Moreover, people should not attend calls while driving, as such an action puts in danger not only their lives but also those of pedestrians and other commuters. Being Muslims, we are obligated to refrain from any action which can harm other Muslims, as Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe.” (Bukhari)

Mind your voice

Loud talkers are often poor listeners and come out to be rude and imposing. It can be jarring to converse with such people, and they are often labeled as attention seekers. People should keep their tone such that they are audible only to the person they are talking to.Allah says: “And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.” (Luqman 31:19)

Know where to attend calls

People who talk loudly on their cell-phones in elevators, public transport or other public places should refrain from doing so, as they can incite people near them to eavesdrop on their private conversations. Allah (swt) says: “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another.” (Al-Hujurat 49:12) Here, spying refers to eavesdropping.

Use your gadgets wisely

Cell-phones are laced with gadgetry, such as high resolution cameras and video recorders. We see people casually taking pictures of their friends and colleagues via cell-phones, without prior consent, and sending them across via MMS. Some scholars maintain that taking pictures is impermissible in Islam, and such actions may offend people, who are strict in their religious values.

Lastly, one must be considerate and courteous whenever he/she uses his/her cell phone. The point is to refrain from creating nuisances for others in any way. As Muslims, we are expected to carry ourselves responsibly and wisely in every capacity.