ISLAM

Islam and the turbulent world needs daughters like this

A true story during Caliph Umar’s time:

Caliph Umar one night went in disguise with his companion Ibn Abbas Radhi Allahu anhu to check the condition of the people on the outskirts of Madinah. They strolled from one quarter to another. At last they came to a tribe where very poor people lived. While passing by a small hut, the Caliph overheard voices from inside.

A mother was telling her daughter that the amount fetched by her that day on account of the sale of milk was very little. She told her that when she was young and used to sell milk, she always mixed water with milk, and that led to considerable profit. She advised her daughter to do the same.

The girl said, “You diluted milk, when you were not a Muslim. Now that we are Muslims, we cannot dilute milk.”

The mother said that Islam did not stand in the way of her diluting the milk. The daughter said, “Have you forgotten the Caliph’s order? He wants that the milk should not be diluted.”

The mother said, “But the Caliph has forgotten us. We’re so poor, what else should we do but dilute milk in order to survive?”

The daughter said, “Such living would not be lawful and as a Muslim I would not do anything which is against the orders of the Caliph and whereby other Muslims are deceived.”

The mother said, “But there is neither the Caliph nor any of his officers here to see what we do. Daughter you are still a child. Go to bed now and tomorrow I will myself mix the milk with water for you.”

The girl refused to fall in with the plan of her mother. She said, “The Caliph may or may not be here, but his order is order and it must be obeyed. My conscience is my Caliph. You may escape the notice of the Caliph and his officers, but how can we escape the notice of Allah and our own conscience?” Thereupon the mother remained quiet. The lamp was extinguished and the mother and the daughter went to sleep.

The next day, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu sent a man to purchase milk from the girl. The milk was undiluted. The girl had kept her resolve. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu turned to Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu and said, “The girl has kept her resolve in spite of the demands of her mother. She deserves a reward. What reward should I give her?”

“She should be paid some money,” said Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu. Umar said, “Such a girl would become a great mother. Her integrity is not to be weighed with a few coins; it is to be measured in the scale of national values. I shall offer her the highest award in my gift and which shall also be in the highest interest of the nation.”

The Caliph summoned the daughter and the mother to his court. The mother trembled as she stood before the mighty ruler. But the girl faced Umar RadhiAllahu anhu with a calm repose. She was beautiful, and there was an impressive dignity about her.

Then before the gathering, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu related how he had overheard the mother and the daughter and how in spite of her pleads to the mother, the daughter had kept her resolve. Someone suggested that the mother should be taken to task. The Caliph said that ordinarily he would have punished the mother, but he had forgiven her for the sake of her daughter. Turning to the girl Umar RadhiAllahu anhu said, “Islam needs daughters like you, and as a Caliph of Islam I wish to reward you by owning you as a daughter”.

The Caliph called his sons, and addressing them said, “Here is a gem of a girl who would make a great mother. I desire that one of you should take this girl as wife. I know of no better bride than this girl of sterling character. In matters of wedlock, it should be the character and not the stature in life that should count.”

Abdullah and Abdur Rahman RadhiAllahu anhuma the elder sons of Umar RadhiAllahu anhu were already married. Asim RadhiAllahu anhu the third son was unmarried, so he offered to marry the girl.

Thereupon with the consent of the milkmaid and her mother Asim RadhiAllahu anhu was married to the girl and the milkmaid became the daughter-in-law of the Caliph.

From this union was born a daughter Umm Asim, who became in due course the mother of Umar bin Abdul Aziz, who later became a Caliph. While other Caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty lived in luxury, Umar bin Abdul Aziz upheld standards of austerity and simplicity following in the footsteps of Umar the second Caliph of Islam.

It is said that if ever there was a noble Caliph after the ‘Rightly Guided Caliphs’, such a man was Umar bin Abdul Aziz. He inherited the noble qualities of the milkmaid who married the Caliph’s son, and those of Umar Farooq RadhiAllahu anhu who had the eye to discern the noble and honest qualities in a poor girl.

Allah is all-knowing all-wise - Quran

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye and yes, science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes. A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb are more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23 percent sodium and these foods are 23 percent sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body. Eggplant, avocadoes and pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm cells to overcome male sterility.

Grapefruits, oranges and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics. Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries. Then which of the favours of your Allah will ye deny? – (Quran 55:13)

Milk: The Prophet(SAW) said that milk wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow.

It strengthens the back, increases the brain, augments intelligence, renews vision and drives away forgetfulness.

Honey: Considered to be the best remedy for diarrhea when mixed in hot water. It is the food of foods, drink of drinks and drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phlegm, as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye salve and mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water and is also a sunnah.

Olive oil: Excellent treatment for skin and hair, delays old age, treats inflammation of the stomach.

Mushroom: The Prophet (SAW) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also serves as a form of birth control and arrests paralysis.

Grapes: The Prophet was very fond of grapes as it purifies the blood, provides vigour and health, strengthens the kidneys and clears the bowels.

Dates: The Prophet (SAW) said that a house without dates has no food, also to be eaten at the time of childbirth.

Figs: It is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles.

Barley: Good for fever in a soup form

Melon: Melon contains 1000 blessings and 1000 mercies. The prophet SAW said “None of your women who are pregnant and eat of water melon will fail to produce offspring that are good in countenance and good in character.

Pomegranate: The Prophet (SAW) said it cleanses you of Satan and evil aspirations for 40 days.

Water: The Prophet (SAW) said the best drink in this world and the next is Water and when you are thirsty drink it by sips and not gulps, gulping produces sickness of the liver.

Ed Miliband meets the Muslim Community

Thursday evening, January 17, saw the first time that the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband attended an ‘engagement’ meeting with the Muslim community. Over 500 hundred people representing over 300 organizations including women’s groups and youth groups from around the country converged at the Islamic Cultural Centre, Regents Park Mosque.

Accompanying Ed Miliband was the Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan MP.

A whole host of questions were asked from members of the Muslim community especially from women’s organizations and youth groups.

The meeting was an opportunity for the Muslim community to air its aspirations and concerns to Ed Miliband in a two-way conversation with ‘real’ and ‘tough’ community questions and with ‘real’ and ‘genuine’ answers from Ed Miliband – something that was, from the feedback of the meeting, greatly appreciated by the community. “I want to thank the Islamic Cultural Centre and all the organizations and volunteers who helped arrange this landmark event. This is the first time a Leader of a mainstream Political Party in the UK has engaged in such an open and transparent fashion. I am really pleased that Labour Leader Ed Miliband has begun the New Year with an important visit to the Islamic Cultural Centre & London Central Mosque”, Sadiq Khan said.

“Ed set out in his major speech at the Labour Party Conference last year that he intends to be a One Nation leader of One Nation. And this includes having more Muslims in all positions of the Labour Party and using the talents of all in our country.

It is welcomed that Ed is reaching out to British Muslims. He is not only keen to show how the Labour Party has changed and learnt the lessons of the past but also has the answers to some of the difficult challenges we face.

I am pleased that Ed has given his commitment to look at some of the serious issues raised by the audience and to ensure the dialogue continues”, he went on saying. For many years the Muslim community has tried to positively engage with politicians and Ed Miliband promised that he will engage with the Muslim community more regularly.

His attendance, words and promises were very appreciated by those that attended and any future meeting will certainly be a welcome event.

Anger - the root cause of all evils

Julaiha PARVEEN

Anger is a healthy normal emotion but it’s one that creates devastating results when it’s out of control. Anger is another form of Shaytan, the forbidden, a concealed weapon that demolishes the noblest of characters.

Because of anger, human beings can lose their wisdom, changing themselves into brutal beasts. Anger is the root cause of all evil - the Shaytan in our hearts comes out in the form of anger and weakens the iman.

The source and outcome of anger

Out-of-control anger is the result of extreme annoyance, aggression and displeasure and is a deadly malady. Our Prophet (PBUH) has told us anger is part of the flames of hellfire. It starts at home by breaking up families and grows to encompass war between nations.

An angry man loses his self-control and utters words that devastate. If the fire of anger is not controlled in time it progresses rapidly and because of this anger man suffers, both internally and externally.

Suppress or express?

The Quran tells us to suppress anger whereas doctors tell us to express it. However, the effects of expressed anger can be as negative as that of a real fire, which, when not smothered, results in great loss. Anger between parents and children

Anger begins at home, between children and their parents. Nowadays, due to the huge interest in worldly things, there arises a difference of opinion between parents and offspring.

Though this unhappy situation existed in the early days, it was suppressed by the faith in and fear of God, in recent times, due to lack of faith and fear, this situation has grown worse and parents and children abuse each other. The home should be rooted in love, but how often does the home change into a place of pain and woe?

Anger in the marriage relationship

The other relationship where the possibility of enmity can be severe is the relationship between a husband and a wife. Sometimes mere differences of opinion result in dislike between the two and negative actions against each other. The mutual tolerance and suppression of their anger is replaced by day-to-day disputes, clashes which result in an overflow of divorce cases in family courts.

The Islamic remedy

The Almighty has given us a great remedy for hell fire. Yes, it is the Holy Quran. It prescribes the medicine for this devastating malady. It gives the strength to overcome and suppress anger. The Holy Quran says, and if an evil suggestion comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge in Allah, He is hearing and knowing. (Quran, 7:200)

Six ways to deal with anger

To reduce your anger, perform wudu (ablution) which cools you rapidly and brings down your temper. When you are angry or when you come across an agitated person, at once say, “Auduthu Billahi Mina Shaytaan Nir Rajeem” (I seek refuge in Allah from the Shaitaan, the forbidden). Avert your attention from the cause of your anger and involve yourself in vigourous physical activities so that your mind and your body can relax.

Forgive the wrongs done to you. Why? Because for all the sins we do, Allah forgives us and suppresses His anger. This is stated in the Holy Quran and He pardons much. (Quran, 42:30)

If you find your anger escalating, stop and remind yourself that if you don’t control your anger now, unhealthy circumstances like divorce, loss and lifelong enmity are just around the corner.

Don’t move until your anger is suppressed.

Note: When you’re happy, don’t make promises; when you’re angry, don’t make decisions.

Meelad – un Nabi celebrations

National Meelad-un-Nabi celebrations was held on January 25 at the Central College of Kinniya, Trincomalee District.

Religious leaders and Presidents Religious Affairs Co-ordinators Rev. Alhaj Hassan Moulana, Ven. Galagama Dhamma Ransi thera, Rev. Babu Sharma Kurukkal, Ven.

Aaththam Kulame Somarathana thera and Rev. John Gunarathana including Eastern Province Chief Minister Najeeb A. Majeed, Deputy Minister Abdul Qadar, Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardane, Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Dissanayake, Eastern Province Minister Uduma Lebbei also participated at this occasion.

Blessings for Independence Day

Special Religious blessings for our Mother Land and to all Sri Lankans to celebrate our 65th National Independence day ceremony was held on February 4th at the Muhiyaddeen Jumma Masjid in Trincomalee.

Blessings were conducted by the Inter-Religious Alliance For National Unity Co-chairman and Islamic Religious Affairs co-ordinator to the President Rev. Alhaj As-seyed Hassan Moulana.

Minister of Justice Rauf Hakeem MP Alhaj A. H. M. Azwer Muslim religious leaders and other participants are also seen in the picture.