Friday Nasiha

Al-Furqan (The Criterion)
Chapter 25: Verse 44

Do you think most of them hear or understand? For they are merely like cattle; nay, even worse than them.

Commentary:

Cattle do not know whether they are being driven towards a pasture or a slaughter house. The same is true of most people: they continue moving ahead under the influence of the satan within them - the satan of desire - and under the influence of their leaders who are wont to misguide them so that they do not know whether they are being driven towards their success or destruction. Woe to such people, for unlike the cattle, they have been endowed with reason and the ability to think and judge for themselves. Hence, their state is worse than that of cattle.

Let it be clear that this verse is not meant for the Prophet, peace be upon him, or the believers for if it were it would mean that the Prophet and the believers were being asked to desist in their effort to convey their Message to the unbelievers. Rather, the verse is meant for the unbelievers. It asks the unbelievers to waken from their state of negligence and heedlessness and to change their ways which are like those of dumb driven cattle. This they should do for they have been endowed with the ability to think and to reason.

[Compiled from "Towards Understanding the Quran" by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, Vol 7. p. 28]

The Prophet and the Orphans

A man once came to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and complained that he feels hardness in his heart. The Messenger of Allah said, "Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart, and enable you to get what you need."
[At-Tabarani & As-Silsilah as-Sahihah]

"I and the caretaker of the orphan will enter Paradise together like this, raising (by way of illustration) his forefinger and middle finger jointly, leaving no space in between."
[Saheeh al-Bukhaari]

Your compassion and generosity can make a difference in the lives of thousands of Orphans around the world! Help bring a smile to your Muslim orphan brothers and sisters. Contact one of the Muslim relief organizations that are doing hard work to help ease the suffering of our Muslim orphan brothers and sisters. Here are a few:

• International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy
• Canadian Relief Foundation
• Life for Relief and Development
• Helping Hand
• Islamic Relief

Chocolates, flowers, hearts, cards, and romance: these are the ingredients that make up the annual celebration of Valentine's Day every February 14. On the surface, these are lovely things. But in reality, the occasion promotes the culture of free sex and male-female relations from a specific point of view.

• Affection in Islamic Culture
• History of Valentine's Day
• 12 Valentine's Day Resolutions
• What happens in a public school on this day

Hijri

Name of the Islamic lunar calendar. It took its name from the early Muslims who migrated from Makkah to Madinah, and commences from the date of Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) migration, which he made with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), in 622 C.E. The months of the Islamic calendar are:

1. Muharram 2. Safar 3. Rabi al-Awal 4. Rabi al-Thani 5. Jumada al-Awal 6. Jumada al-Thani 7. Rajab 8. Sha'ban 9. Ramadan 10. Shawal 11. Dhul Qi'da 12. Dhul Hijjah

[Taken from SoundVision.com's "Glossary of Islamic Terms"]