A monthly newsletter from Masjid Bani Hashim Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#14 Jan 2015

P A G E !2

بسم اهلل والصالة والسالم على رسول اهللأعوذ باهلل من الشيطان الرجيم

تبارك الذي بيده امللك وهو على كل شيء قدير

Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. Surah Al Mulk, ayah 1

Realize it, accept it, and apply it! You do not own the world, you are not able to do all things. Now, what can you do?

You need to become the servant of Allah (SWT), Abd Allah just like the Prophet SAW. Once you become Abd Allah, the world will come to you, sooner or later, be’idhnilAllah.

As you walk through your days and nights, hold the breath and realize the BIG PICTURE, the BIG plan behind your frail and sometimes failed plan. What you hold in your hand at the moment does not matter, what matters is how much certainty you have in the unseen and Allah (SWT) is Unseen, Allah (SWT) is in ghaib. The test is of your faith, of your certainty, your yaqeen. Yaqeen will give you the strength to believe in all the promises of Allah (SWT) in the Qur’an because you know Him (SWT), you believe that the Qur’an is His (SWT) book and you believe that He (SWT) is the One who controls the Universe. He (SWT) is the Malekul Mulk, The King of the Kings, The King of the Universe, The King of the Dominion.

So SubhanAllah, move on…take small and measured steps in this world full of uncertainty with the certainty that Allah, ArRaqeeb, The All Watchful is watching you and He (SWT) has a plan for you and all that surrounds you.

الحمدهلل والصالة والسالم على رسول اهلل

A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #14 Jan 2015

This Issue

Introduction: Page 2

Is’tiwaa (Rise over) Proofs from the Quran: Pages 4 - 6

Cheer Up!: Pages 7 - 8

The Real Superstars: Pages 9 - 11

Winning Hearts: Pages 12 - 16

Due Measure in Rain: Pages 17 - 20

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development: Pages 21 - 25

18 ways to deal with stress: Page 26

12 Favorite Foods of the Prophet PBUH: Page 27

Masjid Bani Hashim: Pages 28 - 30

A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#14 Jan 2015

New

Isti'waa (Rise over) - Proofs from the Quran إذ قال اهلل يا عيسى إني متوفيك ورافعك

رك من الذين كفروا وجاعل الذين إلي ومطه

اتبعوك فوق الذين كفروا إلى يوم القيامة

ثم إلي مرجعكم فأحكم بينكم فيما كنتم فيه

تختلفون

1-And (remember) when Allah said: “O ‘Isa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that ‘Iesa (Jesus) is Allah’s son] of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute.” (3:55)

وهو القاهر فوق عباده وهو الحكيم

 الخبير

2 - And He is the Irresistible, above (fawq) His slaves, and He is the All-Wise, Well¬Acquainted with all things. (6:18) 

يخافون ربهم من فوقهم ويفعلون ما

يؤمرون

3 - They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded. (16:50)

من كان يريد العزة فلله العزة جميعا إليه

الح يرفعه يصعد الكلم الطيب والعمل الص

يئات لهم عذاب شديد والذين يمكرون الس

ومكر أولئك هو يبور

Whosoever desires honor, power and glory then to Allah belong all honor, power and glory. To Him

ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it, but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish. (35:10)

من اهلل ذي املعارج. تعرج املالئكة والروح

 إليه في يوم كان مقداره خمسني ألف سنة

4 - From Allâh, the Lord of the ways of ascent. The angels and the Rûh [Jibraeel (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years (70:3-4)

ماء أن يخسف بكم أأمنتم من في الس

 األرض فإذا هي تمور

5 - Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)? (67:16)

ماء أن يرسل عليكم أم أمنتم من في الس

 حاصبا فستعلمون كيف نذير

6 - Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (AllAllahâh), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning? (67:17)

قل نزله روح القدس من ربك بالحق ليثبت

 الذين آمنوا وهدى وبشرى للمسلمني

7 - Say (O Muhammad SAW Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Qur’an) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the Faith of) those who believe and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to Allah as Muslims). (16:102)

 سبح اسم ربك األعلى

8 -Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High (87:1) These ayah clearly indicate that Allah (SWT) is the Creator, and we are the creation. The two are separate and distinct, and not the same.Additionally, these ayah show that Allah (SWT) is the All-Knower of everything, and Disposer of all affairs. His (SWT) being over the Throne does not negate this. Notice how they say, for example, “They fear their Lord above them” and they do not say, “They fear their

Lord beneath them,” or “around them,” or “inside them,” or “the One in no direction.”It is therefore clear from the repetition of this in the Qur’an that this is an important issue. In fact, it is the message that the Prophets (peace be upon them) all came with. This is proved by the following verse,And Fir’awn (Pharaoh) said:

وقال فرعون يا هامان ابن لي صرحا لعلي

ماوات فأطلع إلى أبلغ األسباب. أسباب الس

إله موسى وإني ألظنه كاذبا وكذلك زين

بيل وما لفرعون سوء عمله وصد عن الس

كيد فرعون إال في تباب

“O Hâmân! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways, “The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilâh (God) of Mûsa (Moses) but verily, I think him to be a liar.” (40:36-37)Thus it was made fair-seeming, in Fir’awn’s (Pharaoh) eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the (Right) Path, and the plot of Fir’aun (Pharaoh) led to nothing but loss and destruction (for him).

It is sad, that Fir’awn understood our aqeedah better than the Ash’aris and mutakallimoon.

بسم اهلل الرحمن الحيم والصالة والسالم علي أشرف املرسلني

Once Upon a Time

أولم يروا إلى الطير فوقهم صافاتن إنه ويقبضن ما يمسكهن إال الرحم

بكل شيء بصير

Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Gracious (Allah). Verily, He is the All-Seer of

everything. Surah Al Mulk, ayah 19.

Once upon a time, you held my hand…Once upon a time, you taught me how to walk…Once upon a time, I was a rebel…a rebel who wanted to change the worldAs the time passed…I realized, how can I change something that is an illusion?

As the time passed…I realized that this world is nothing but a “station”As the time passed…I realized that our parents were also an “illusion”, a means to reach Rabb al alameen…because they left…left us…but they did not leave us alone…they left us with Allah (SWT), Rabbana, AlHayye AlQayyoomAs the night replaces the day, I count the blessings and leave the worries to Al WakilIf I cannot change the world, then why worry…

If I am so disabled and desperate, then why worry…If I cannot carry the burden anymore, then why worry…SubhanaAllahI realize…as the day breaks…that it is not me who is carrying me through the pain or the rain… I realise…as I see the birds in the skies…Who is making them fly??? It is Allah (SWT), Who is carrying them and hence I ask Allah (SWT) to carry me as He (SWT) carries the birds towards ease and His (SWT) pleasure.

الحمد هلل والصالة والسالم على رسول اهلل

Continuing from the past issues,

we read about the First Mother of

the Believers, the Most beloved

wife of Prophet (SAWS) --

Khadijah (RA)

The Prophet (SAWS) said about

her,

“The best of the world’s women is

Mary (in her lifetime), and the best

of the world’s women is Khadijah

(in her lifetime).” [Bukhari]

Khadijah (RA) was  a successful

businesswoman, and after

marriage to the Prophet(SAWS)

she took up the role of a

supporting wife to perfection.

This is especially evident from

what happened on that blessed

night when the  revelation first

started to come down.

It was the habit of Prophet

(SAWS) to go to Mount Hira and

seclude himself from the rest of

the world to meditate and worship

Allah (SWT) the best way he

(SAWS) knew. He (SAWS) would

spend days up at the mountain

pondering and reflecting on the

world and about his (SAWS) own

life in Makkah. Khadijah (RA) used

to climb the mountain to give him

(SAWS) food and water. It is

important to note here that not a

single incident has been

reported where Khadija (RA)

showed her displeasure of having

her husband away from home for

so long. She (RA) was patient, not

only with Prophet (SAWS) being

away, but also would make that

arduous climb up the mountain,

which was on the outskirts of

Makkah, to give him (SAWS) food.

SubhanAllah how many of us , as

wives would do that?

When the first few ayah of the

Qur'an were revealed to Prophet

(SAWS), he was naturally very

terrified by the experience. Where

or who did the Prophet (SAWS)

turn to? His best friend? No -- he

(SAWS) rushed home- to his

wife! A noteworthy point here is

that the comfort that Prophet

(SAWS) was seeking at this

crucial point in his life was not

from anyone else but his (SAWS)

wife.

Prophet (SAWS) said

"Zammilooni! Zammilooni!

"(Cover me! Cover me!)"

Dathirooni! Dathirooni! "(Embrace

me! Embrace me!). Khadija (RA)

was herself startled by this, but

she (RA) comforted and calmed

the Prophet (SAWS) down. She

(RA) said, "Do not worry, for, by

Him who has dominion over

Khadijah's soul. Allah (SWT)

would never humiliate you, for you

are good to your relatives, you are

true to your word, you help those

who are in need, you support the

weak, you feed the guests and

you answer the call of those who

are in distress.”

She (RA) took him (SAWS) to her

(RA) cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal –

a scholar well-versed in the

Judeo-Christian scripture – and

he confirmed to the Prophet

(SAWS) that his experience was

Divine and he was to be the Last

Prophet. "I swear by Him who

holds Waraqa's life, Allah has

chosen you to be the prophet of

this people. They will call you a

liar, they will persecute you, they

will banish you, and they will fight

against you. Oh, that I could live to

those days. I would fight for

these.”

The Prophet (SAWS) received a

lot of harsh and brutal opposition

from his own people. Khadijah

(RA) was always there to support

the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS),

sacrificing all of her (RA) wealth

to support the cause of Islam.

When the Prophet Muhammad

(SAWS) and his (SAWS) family

were banished to the hills outside

of Makkah, she (RA) went there

with him (SAWS), and the three

years of hardship and deprivation

eventually led to her (RA) death.

Soon after Khadija (RA)'s death,

the Prophet (SAWS)'s uncle Abu

Talib also died in the same year .

This happened in 619 A.D., the

year which came to be known as

the 'Year of Sorrow’.

Khadija (RA) was supportive and

gave  Prophet (SAWS) strength at

a time when he (SAWS) wasn't

sure of himself, she (RA) believed

in him (SAWS) when he (SAWS)

feared that he (SAWS) was losing

his mind or was being possessed.

She (RA) reassured him (SAWS)

and gave him (SAWS) confidence.

Is it any wonder that Prophet

(SAWS) was heartbroken when

his wife passed away? That he

(SAWS) remembered Khadija

(RA), years after her (RA) death,

that his (SAWS) face would

change when he (SAWS) saw

anything that reminded him

(SAWS) of Khadija (RA) and that

he (SAWS) would jump up out of

honor for the sister of Khadija

(RA).

Once, years after Khadijah (RA)

died, he came across a necklace

that she (RA) once wore. When he

(SAWS) saw it, he remembered

her (RA) and began to cry and

mourn. His (SAWS) love for her

(RA) never died, so much so, that

his later wife A’isha (RA) became

jealous of her (RA). Once she

asked the Prophet (SAWS) if

Khadijah (RA) had been the only

woman worthy of his (SAWS) love.

The Prophet (SAWS) replied:

"Never did Allah (SWT) give me a

better wife than Khadijah. She

hailed my mission at a time when

everybody shouted against it. She

lent me the support of her

conviction when there was hardly

a believer. She enlivened my heart

when I felt lonely and deserted.

Khadijah's love was given to me

by Allah (SWT). How could I forget

her?”

There could never be a more

beautiful,more spiritually uplifting,

more awe inspiring  love story

than that of Prophet (SAWS) and

Khadija (RA). It is a shining

example of what an ideal

marriage is supposed to be. 

Here are 11 pieces of advice to help you in winning others hearts. These pieces of advice are like arrows that aim at shooting hearts as its only target. One of its virtuous merits is that it captivates others hearts and help in overcoming imperfections. Actually, such merits have their own effective power in charming hearts.

O you, who loves Allah (SWT) and the believers, use these "arrows" with precision. And pray to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to help you.

1. Smile :It is the first arrow and the fastest of them all. It is like the salt for food. It is also regarded as a kind of worship and alms-giving as is mentioned in a Hadith. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "When you smile to your brother's face, it is charity.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhî (1879), Sahîh Ibn Hibbân (475 & 530) and

Musnad al-Bazzâr). Abdullah ibn al-Hârith said: "I have never seen anyone more in the habit of smiling than Allah's Messenger." [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (3574)]. 2. Be Always the One who Initiates

Greetings:This arrow is the one that lets you to be in the innermost depths of the others hearts. This arrow needs a skillful shooter. The needed skills are the hearty smile, the warm shaking of hands and the friendly welcoming to the other. Being successfully achieved, such kinds of skills are going to be rewarded, referring to the Hadith. It was narrated that Abu Umamah (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “The one who is closest of people to Allah, the Most high, is the one who initiates the greeting of Salam.” (Hadith No. 5197, Book of Etiquette, Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol. 5).

Winning Hearts

Umar al Nadi tells us that he went out once with Umar ibn al Khattab’s (RA) son. While walking, he found him saluting all whom he met, whether being old or young. Al Hasan el-Basri (RA) also said “Shaking hands strengthens brotherhood feelings”. Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 888. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik.A man asked the Prophet (saws): ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws)! When any one of us meets a Muslim brother or a friend, should he then bow his head (as a sign of courtesy to him)?’ He (saws) said: ‘No.’ The man said: ‘Should he embrace and kiss him?’ He (saws) said: ‘No.’ The man then asked: ‘Should he clasp his hands?’ He (saws) said: ‘Yes.’ (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4679). Narrated by AlBara' ibn Azib: The Prophet (saws) said: "Two Muslims will not meet and shake hands without having their sins forgiven them before they separate”.

3. The Presents:It has a strange charming affection that captivates all senses. Hence, exchanging presents and gifts in different occasions is a pleasant habit however gifts should be within one’s tolerable expenses.

Ibrahim al Zahri tells us about his father saying “My father got a sum of money as a reward, in due, he asked me to send donations to his family members and friends. As we were about to finish, he asked me “ Have we missed any one?” I answered “No!” He said “I think that we did.” He continued ”We have missed someone whose welcome to me was really warm. Would you please send him this sum of money?”

Look how he loved the man and wished to reward him for his warm welcome. 4. Be Silent….Speak in What

Benefits:

Loud voice and idle chattering are bad merits. You have to be sweet-worded, tender in expressing yourself. Concerning this merit, The Prophet (pbuh) said “The good word is a charity (sadaqah).” If the good word has its own impact in winning the hearts of your enemies how powerfully it would work then with your brothers’ hearts!!

He (pbuh) also said: “Nobility of manners & taciturnity are the best of manners that people are ever characterized by”.

5. Be a Good Listener: It is to listen patiently and never interrupt the speaker, as the Prophet (pbuh) never interrupted a speaker till he ended his speech. And he who fights for this merit gains others love and admiration, whilst on the contrary is the one who chatters and interrupts the other. Atta` tells us about how he behaves concerning this merit and says “When someone speaks to me , I listen to him as if it is the first time I have heard this subject, though I have heard it thousands of times before”.

6. Appearance and Dressing Well:You have to be careful with your appearance so as to be neat, well –dressed and sweet smelling as well. The Prophet (pbuh) says that Allah (SWT) loves beauty to be in everything. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA) said, “I like the young man

who is sweetly perfumed & cleanly dressed.” Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (RA) tells us about his (RA) father saying “I’ve never seen someone who is as caring about the cleanliness of his dress, hair, mustache & other undesirable body hair as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal used to do”

7. Being in others Favour and Helping them:

Good treatment of the other is the only way of captivating his heart. It classifies you as an obedient & beloved slave of Allah (SWT) as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says “The more you are in favour of others, the more you are beloved by Allah” & as Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: وأنفقوا في سبيل اهلل وال تلقوا بأيديكم إلى

التهلكة وأحسنوا إن اهلل يحب املحسنني

“And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not

Winning Hearts

your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good” (Al-Baqarah: 195) Be a dear friend to all, be like refreshing cool water.

8. Being Generous : Offering money is the key for most of the closed doors that hinder you from reaching others hearts, especially in these days. There is an incident about the merit of generosity.

In the conquest of Makkah, there was a man called “Safwan Ibn Umia”. That man ran away after making all possible means in keeping the people of Islam and after making conspiracies to kill the Prophet (pbuh). Later on, the Prophet (pbuh) forgave him and he came back asking the Prophet (pbuh) to give him the time of two months to think about Islam and the Prophet (pbuh) said “You can

take four months, not just two”. In spite of being an atheist, he accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) in the Hunain and Al Ta’if conquests. In Al Ta`if, while the Prophet (pbuh) was dividing the booties of the war, he noticed that man looking longingly to a vast land in which a large number of cattle were flocking. The Prophet (pbuh) asked him “Do you like it?” The man eagerly answered “Yes.” The Prophet (pbuh) said “It is for you then.” Safwan said “Only a prophet could behave as generously as you have to me. I believe that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His prophet.”

Notice how the Prophet (pbuh) found the missing key and succeeded in moving his heart. Some people behave stingily as if they see poverty waiting to attack them once they think about being generous in offering money.

Winning Hearts

9. To have a Good Opinion of Others and to Give them an Excuse :

Keeping an eye on others behavior is a bad trait that blocks your way to their hearts. On the contrary is to have a good opinion of them. So, try hard to give your brothers the excuse as much as you can. Concerning this merit, Ibn Al Mubarak says “The believer is he who gives his brothers the excuse, and the hypocrite is he who seeks their slips.”

10.Express your Feelings… Instantly:

If you loved someone, or felt good feelings about him, don’t wait, just tell him at once. Regarding this, the Prophet (pbuh) said “ If you felt the brotherly love of Islam towards any ,you should immediately go and tell him about your feelings.” He added “It is the way relations are to be strongly indicated”. Such love is to be blessed by Allah (SWT)

if it is for Allah’s (SWT) sake, not for any other personal affairs such as seeking high position, money, fame etc…. Unless this love is for Allah’s (SWT) sake, it is a fruitless kind of brotherhood then. When they meet each other on the Day of Judgement, they are not brothers any more but enemies, as Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

ء يومئذ بعضهم لبعض عدو إال املتقني األخال“ Friends on that Day will be foes, one to another; except the Righteous.” (Az-Zukhruf: 67)

The Prophet (pbuh) says “A man is in the company of whom he loved.” By this he (pbuh) means that on the Day of Judgment, a person will be with whom he loved. So, we have to choose then between two kinds of societies, one is in enmity and the other is a kind brotherly one. Means of brotherhood was always being indicated by the Prophet (pbuh) as he says “You are not allowed to

Winning Hearts

enter heaven till you believe in Allah and you will not be true believers unless you love each other. Shall I tell you something to do that indicates love between you? It is to spread salutation of Peace among you.”

The pity is that people are always either cruelly and harshly treating each other or extremely tender that they adore each other. Actually, it is a matter of striking a balance between heart and mind.

11.Sociability : It is the art of being social. Here, a kind of misconception could exist between sociability and hypocrisy. Could you differentiate between the two meanings?

The Prophet (pbuh)’s wife, Aisha (RA) said “A man came to visit us, but to my surprise, once the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw him, he said “O…that ill- mannered man”, but the Prophet (pbuh) changed completely once he sat with him. He welcomed the man warmly, smiling in his face. When the man left, I asked the Prophet (pbuh) about what had surprised me; how he considered this man as being bad, and how he talked to him in such

warmth? The Prophet (pbuh) answered “Have you ever seen me behaving as a hypocrite?” He added “In the Day of Judgement, the worst degrees are for those whom people deserted for being mistreated by them.”

Al Qurtubi differentiates between hypocrisy and sociability, regarding sociability as a desirable legal behavior, saying that sociability means sacrificing the worldly affairs for the sake of improving either life on earth or religion, or so as to improve both, while hypocrisy aims at sacrificing religion for the sake of the worldly affairs.

Hence, being sociable for ill-mannered people is aiming to achieve two purposes. Firstly, to avoid being mistreated by them. Secondly, being good to them could be guidance for them to step the right way. Compliments should be within worldly affairs only, never in religious affairs, otherwise, it will be a matter of hypocrisy.

To be sociable, means to be tender, smiling, praising to the other, intending in the meantime a legal benefit.

ماء ماء بقدر فأنشرنا به والذي نزل من السبلدة ميتا كذلك تخرجون

And He is the One who sends down water (rain) in due measure from the sky, to revive dead lands therewith, and even so you will be brought forth (from the graves). (Qur'an, 43:11) RAIN is one of the gifts of Allah (SWT) to man. In the verse above, Allah (SWT) says that the rain has its own mathematics and that it is sent according to "due measure." Water on earth is subject to an impeccable process and passes in due order from the state of liquid to the state of gas and solid. It has a marvellous balancing power, as it balances energy while satisfying the vital needs of the living being. You would not have gotten an answer if you were, a century back, to ask a scientist whose field of interest was rainfall in particular, "Is there a

measure in the rainfall; can it be quantified?" Being ignorant of the meteorological phenomena going on in every part of the world, the scientist would not have been in a position to say anything on the issue.

 The Qur'an told us 1,400 years ago that the rainfall had a certain measure. Research conducted in the last century revealed the process of rainfall, shedding light over the cyclical characteristics of water. One of the facts discovered was that the earth's annual rainfall was always of the same amount. The amount per second

Due Measure in Rain

varied between 16-17 million tons. Thus, the amount of rain falling was above 500 trillion tons a year while an equal amount evaporated. These yearly values remain constant. This constancy was of great significance in establishing the ecological balance of the world. The scientist of a few centuries back could not have estimated the amount of the rainfall in the region where he lived since the precipitation yearly changed according to region. He might have concluded, therefore, that rain is not quantifiable. Calculations related to water cycleThe rainfall and cycle of water involve complicated calculations. To give you an example, researchers were curious to know the reason for the maximum temperature of the upper portion of the tropical ozone layer which was

maximum 28 degrees Celsius, despite the sun's continual warming of the water. Their research produced the following finding: the factor that prevented the overheating of the ozone layer in warmer regions was not merely water vapour, but at the same time the shadow cast by clouds. In the shade, the temperature dropped. The shield prevented the earth from overheating. Water vapour also exerts a greenhouse effect. Along with carbon dioxide, methane and other gases, it creates an invisible insulation layer in the atmosphere. This layer prevents the totality of every radiation coming down on earth under normal conditions from getting lost in the space where cold is reigning. Water vapour forms 60 percent of the "natural greenhouse effect," making the basic climate of the earth relatively warm.

Due Measure in Rain

 All these things are finely calculated; we can gain an insight into this if we examine the greenhouse clouds revolving around the planet Venus. The dense clouds muffle it, so that only half of the sun's rays reach it. The quantity of 97 percent carbon dioxide there creates a super greenhouse effect and the temperature rises up to 500 degrees Celsius. This temperature far exceeds the temperature range in which man can live. The water cycle on earth, passing through the states of liquid, cloud and water vapour, is calculated with precision. In contradiction with the general properties of water, the clouds do not freeze, even at a temperature of - 30 degrees Celsius.

 As it is stated in the Qur'an, there are masses of clouds as large as mountains, but they do not freeze into mountains of ice to fall upon the earth. Had it not been for this precise calculation in the formation of clouds and the rainfall and for the ideal arrangement of the chemical composition of water by its Creator, the system would certainly not function. When we throw an object of a few kilograms from a balcony, we can follow its descent. If we empty a large pan full of water from the balcony, we can observe the splash on the ground. The fall of tons of water from above, thanks to Allah’s (SWT) programming, is so arranged that water coming down

in drops from above is a blessing rather than a natural disaster. This is the wonderful artistry in the physical rules imposed by Allah’s (SWT). Such a balancing of acceleration is definable in physical formulas. This definability, this calculation is due to Allah’s (SWT) creation of rain in "due measure." Rain is life In the same verse, Allah’s (SWT) speaks of the rain's regenerative power. It is a well-known fact that dry land is revitalised by rain and the vegetation becomes lush once again. The basic element of the animate being is DNA in which the hydrogen bonds keep changing, perpetuating life. This hydrogen is exchanged with the hydrogen that emerges during the ionisation of water. A dehydrated living being is like a frozen skeleton even though it may preserve its DNA and genetic code; it cannot reproduce or move. Only when the water comes up and lends the hydrogen from its disintegrated ions can the code be activated. Such characteristics can be observed in living microorganisms like microbes.

The more developed living beings cannot recover their vitality when

fresh water is supplied, as their tissue surfaces have already deteriorated. Rain is thus the source of regeneration of plants and bacteria. The last sentence of the verse that reads: "Similarly you will be raised (brought forth from the graves)" evokes the following association in our mind: Allah’s (SWT) sends down rain in predetermined amounts, by which plants and bacteria that are near death are resuscitated. The rising of man from the dead is no problem for Allah’s (SWT), Who knows the measure of all things. Allah’s (SWT) who devised the system of regeneration of plants and bacteria through a well-calculated amount of rain, will raise man from the dead according to the measures and knowledge in His (SWT) wisdom. The sprouting of vegetation from the dead soil is something our eyes behold. What we see is the evidence of the facility with which our Creator will re-create His creation whose measure, calculation and formula are known only to Him (SWT).

Subhan Allah! Such is the perfect measure…

نحن نقص عليك نبأهم بالحق إنهم فتية آمنوا

بربهم وزدناهم هدى

وربطنا على قلوبهم إذ قاموا فقالوا ربنا رب

ماوات واألرض لن ندعو من دونه إلها لقد الس

قلنا إذا شططا

         "We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in

their Lord, and         We advanced them in guidance: We

gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up

        and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never

shall we call upon        any god other than Him: if we did,

we should indeed have uttered an enormity!” (Al-Kahf 18:13-14)

Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

If we are to change anything - our youth group, our community, our society - we have to start with ourselves. What then should be our day to day behaviour, our characteristics and our conduct? Accepting our responsibility and developing as individuals is the first step, but we have to take it as seriously as we do everything else.

Below are a few ideas about Islamic behaviour and attitudes that we should strive to inculcate. These, In Sha Allah, will aid us in our all round development.

PunctualityPunctuality in Islamic life and work is as important as the fulfilment of religious and moral duties. This cannot be over emphasised to Muslims over the world, who are notorious in their neglect of this prime Islamic virtue. If you are in the habit of arriving late, advance your watch enough to counter your habit. Whatever the activity, Muslims must be bound to its precise time. Life is purposeful and man is responsible for every moment of time. So, whether the time calls for food or Salaah, you should be there not only on time, but before time.

GenerosityReadiness to give aid is an Islamic virtue par excellence. The Muslim is always ready to come to the assistance of other Muslims in need. He does not wait to be asked to extend assistance. He is always

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

on the lookout for the situation where he can actualise his benevolence. As far as doing good (al mar'uf) is concerned, or stopping or prohibiting an evil (al munkar), the Muslim must even be aggressive at times. This readiness to jump into any situation in order to be of service to fellow humans is the highest, the noblest expression of eman.

Doing GoodA person's eeman is rightly measured by his active ihsan, his doing of good on all occasions. If he enters a meeting room and finds a table dirty, he wipes it clean. If the chairs are not properly arranged, he arranges them in an orderly fashion. If the blackboard is full of writing, he wipes it and makes it ready for use. In the bathroom, the gym, the dining room, the athletic field, the Masjid, walkways, everywhere, the Muslim is the first one to set right that which is not right. If a service calls for volunteers, he is the first to offer his service. The Muslim thus makes himself worthy.

Amiability

Amiability is a pre-requisite of falaah or success. The Muslim struggles as hard as he can to make himself amiable, loveable, friendly, and trustworthy. The smile ever present on his face is the index of a tenderness of a heart towards other Muslims. When they talk, he listens; when they cry, he cries with them, when they are in a good mood, he joins in their joyfulness. He is generous, good, and permanently concerned with their welfare.

OptimismOptimism is the highest principle of Islamic ethics. Islam implies the conviction that Allah (SWT), is Beneficent and Merciful, Just and willing our welfare.

كتب على نفسه الرحمة

كتب ربكم على نفسه الرحمة

He (SWT) committed Himself to have mercy on us (6:12,54) This world is an arena for action, for testing our piety and morality. But it is a world in which the good will always prevail. The potential contribution of Muslim youth is in direct relation to their Islamic character. The realization of the full

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

possibilities of Muslim youth demands an investment in training motivation and preparation of the youth through meaningful activities.

Developing Myself and Others

اها قد أفلح من زك'Successful indeed is the one who

purifies his whole self'. [Ash-Shams 91:9]

'Every one of you is a guardian and every one is responsible for what he is guarding'. (Bukhari)

Self-development is imperative to the process of becoming a better Muslim. One cannot excel and improve without development. Nor can one gain greater nearness to Allah (SWT) without constantly assessing and improving oneself. Developing the self is a responsibility we all shoulder and alongside it comes the need and obligation of helping others.

Developing the self cannot be separated from the responsibility of developing others. One would be wrong in assuming that one must

develop oneself before proceeding to develop others or that development of others is not within your jurisdiction. The two are interdependent, both must proceed together.

'No man is an island,' said John Donne. The self is not alone in this world, you are at the centre of complex social relationships.

الحات وتواصوا إال الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصبر بالحق وتواصوا بالص

Surah AlAsr instructs the enjoining of patience and truth upon the self and others. The self cannot be detached from the social structure of family relationships and therefore, preclude oneself from the development of others. The two are inherently intertwined and each supports the other.

Furthermore, some tasks cannot wait for others. One cannot state that one needs to develop oneself before developing others. This is categorically wrong. There is no point in time when one can proclaim oneself 'developed' and now in a position to develop others.

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

This is not only deceiving oneself, but is an arrogant exclamation. Development of the self is a continual and interactive process.

Just as developing the self requires you to assume responsibility for the self, so does the development of others require you to accept responsibility for others. Each and every one of us has a claim on another: husband on wife, wife on husband, child on parent and parent on child. These relationships form the crux of developing the self and others.

Developing a Self-Development Program 

The primary objective of a self-development program is to help develop a daily routine of prayers, study and reflection. Try and set aside some time each day so that you can devote yourself completely to these tasks, and do not allow anything to interfere with them. Spending even a small amount of time each day will bring you a feeling of closeness with Allah

(SWT) and familiarity with His (SWT) Deen.

Begin the day with some dhikr (remembrance of Allah SWT) after Salatul Fajr, and make the intention that your whole day will be spent in serving Him (SWT). Follow up the dhikr with some dua (supplications), seeking provisions for the day.

يا أيها الذين آمنوا اذكروا اهلل ذكرا كثيراوسبحوه بكرة وأصيال

“O you who believe, remember Allah and do so often; Glorify Him

in the morning and the evening" (33:41-42).

وإذا سألك عبادي عني فإني قريب أجيب دعوة الداع إذا دعان فليستجيبوا لي

وليؤمنوا بي لعلهم يرشدون"And when my servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) I am

indeed close to them: I listen to the prayer of every supplicant that calls

on Me" (2:186).

After the dhikr and duaa, spend some time reciting the Quran and studying the passages you recite.

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

إن قرآن الفجر كان مشهودا"Indeed the reading at Fajr is

witnessed" (17:78).If it is not possible to do any study just after your Fajr prayer then you may do it later, but you should make an effort to ensure that no day passes by without at least some reading of the Quran.

After the Asr prayer, it is recommended to make another round of dhikr, seeking protection for the coming night. And then to complete the day, just before retiring, reflect on what you have accomplished: where you have succeeded and where you have failed. As for your successes thank Allah (SWT) that He (SWT) has enabled you to do whatever you may have accomplished. But for your failures, you must ask for His (SWT) forgiveness, with humility and sincerity. Close the day with prayers for help and guidance, to overcome your weaknesses and to develop your strengths.

Personal EvaluationAs Muslims, first and foremost we must realise that all of us are going

to be accountable for our deeds on the Day of Judgement. It is thus wise that we continuously assess ourselves in this world and make amends before that final judgement by Allah (SWT), when we will not be given another opportunity to make up for our misdeeds. The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing about its ruin.' (Muslim).

'Umar ibn al Khattab, in one of his famous sayings said 'Judge yourselves before you are judged, evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest investigation [the Day of Judgement].'

We therefore suggest to all our brothers and sisters, whether beginners, illustrious workers, or responsible leaders, that they should they should have some time set aside for self-evaluation and scrutiny.

Youth: Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development

Masjid Bani HashimAt Jumeirah Islands, Dubai

Masjid Bani Hashim by the Grace of Allah عز وجل, opened its doors 2nd Ramadan 1434; July 10th, 2013 & is a Non-Profit

Organisation. It envisions to offer intensive courses, lectures, workshops, Tafseer elQuran with Taddabur, Tajweed, Seerah of

the Prophet pbuh & major Islamic Studies.

Our MissionMasjid Bani Hashim’s mission is to provide authentic

understanding of Islam based on Qur'an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs). Masjid Bani

Hashim welcomes all and provides a golden opportunity to access Islamic Courses to all seekers of Ilm. Without rushing back home, you can make a stop at Masjid Bani Hashim to nurture your soul,

pray & recite Quran.