DO YOU GOSSIP?

Rasoolullah (S.A.W) said, “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hell-Fire further than the distance between the east and west” (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

In Islam, we are prohibited from gossiping about someone behind their back if it is something disliked to that person.  You may ask, what if we are speaking the truth?  If one is speaking the truth about someone behind their back, then this is backbiting and it is dispicable.  If one is speaking falsehood about someone behind their back, then this is slander, something even worse. 

Kab al-Ahbar said: “Backbiting nullifies a person’s good deeds.”

Not only is backbiting considered a sin in Islam, but it is considered a major sin by the consensus of scholars considering the implications mentioned about in the Quran and Sunnah.  The Quranic verses dealing with backbiting include:

1. “O you who believe! Let not some men among you deride others who may be better than they (are), nor let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Evil is a bad name after faith.” (Surat Hujurat, 49:11)
2. “O you who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor that. And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.” (Surat Hujurat, 49:12)
3. “Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger; detractor, going about with slander.” (Surat Qalam, 68:10-11)
4. “Woe to every sneering defamer.” (Surat Humaza, 104:1)

Sneering can be considered defamation by actions (instead of words).  Sneering can include actions as small as even rolling one’s eyes.  Furthermore, Surat Humaza (The Transducer) is dedicated to answering those that gossip about others.  Therefore, as Muslims, it is a duty incumbent upon us to safeguard our mouths from saying anything we would regret later on.

Muadh ibn Jabal (ra) asked Rasoolullah (SAW) to inform him of some good work that would admit him into

Paradise and distance him from the Hell-Fire. Rasoolullah (SAW) mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, then said: “Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?” 

Muadh said: “Certainly.” 

Rasoolullah (SAW) took hold of his own tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.” 

Muadh then asked: “O Rasoolullah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?” 

Rasoolullah (SAW) replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Muadh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hell-Fire save the harvests of their tongues?” (narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Rasoolullah (SAW) said, “One of the greatest of the major sins is to stretch out one’s tongue without right against the honor of a Muslim” (narrated by Abu Dawud).

Aisha (ra) relates that she said to Rasoolullah (SAW), “It should tell you enough about Safiyyah that she is short.”

To this Rasoolullah (SAW) replied, “You have said a word that if it was to be mixed with the water of the sea, it would contaminate it” (narrated by Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud).  

The hadith above shows the seriousness of backbiting.  The one sentence Aisha mentioned about Safiyyah was serious enough to contaminate something as large as the ocean. Therefore, we should consider how much we have contaminated our small ponds of good deeds versus the oceans of good deeds the Sahaba had obtained.

Two Companions once criticized a man who had been punished for committing adultery.  

Rasoolullah (SAW) was traveling and he passed by the carcass of a donkey.  

Rasoolullah (SAW) said, “Where are those two people? Get down and eat from the flesh of this donkey!”

They said, “O Rasoolullah, who would eat this?”

Rasoolullah (SAW) said: “What the two of you have recently done by defaming the honor of your brother is far worse than eating from this” (narrated by Abu Dawud).

The punishment for backbiting includes repaying those who we backbite.

Rasoolullah (SAW) asked the Sahaba, “Do you know who is bankrupt?”

They responded, “The person among us who is bankrupt is the one who possesses neither money nor provision.”

Rasoolullah (SAW) answered, “The one who is bankrupt from among my followers is he who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, charity, and fasting to his credit. However, he had insulted this person, struck that person, and seized the wealth of another, on account of which his good deeds will be taken from him. Then, if his good deeds are exhausted, the sins of those whom he wronged will be taken from them and foisted upon him and then he will be cast into the Fire” (narrated by Muslim).

How lightly we take it when talking poorly about our own Muslim brothers and sisters!  How many of us stay silent when someone else talks ill of our brothers and sisters in our presence?  How many of us thinking it nothing to even roll our eyes when a name is mentioned.  Saying something as simple as “may Allah guide him” with the wrong tone may be considered backbiting as it may be something that defames the honor of our Muslim brother or sister (however, it should be understood that this occurs only when a negative tone is used to make this statement).  We need to defend our brothers and sisters when they are not present to defend themselves.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever can guarantee to me what is between his two lips and what is between his two legs, I can guarantee for him paradise” (narrated by Bukhari).

Therefore, let’s all aim to not talk poorly about our fellow brothers and sisters and let’s be amongst those who will meet in paradise, insha’Allah.

Pasar Malam (night market) at Terengganu

          The sun gradually dropped below the horizon and the darkness crawled instead of evening’s soft light. The light fittings which lined up along both sides of the road leading us to Pasa Malam (night market) lightened in unison while our luxury bus was parking. On the left side of us, there was a little beautiful neat garden was decorated with the flowering trees and ornamental plants. Some was in charming colorful bloom and attracted us to take photos for awhile. On the right side, there were a lot of people all ages were flowing freely like water into this market in order to purchase the delicious food, utensil, clothes and accessory after finishing a hard long working day. The roaring sound of the crowded drifted along the wind and touched our ears while we were taking photos. More than that, the gray light smoke and rich smell in various kinds of food that was cooked by professional chef floated through air and motivated us to reach there as fast as we can.

 At the same time, we did not forget to keep the beautiful image of buildings and environment in time of twilight by our favorite camera while we were walking into the market. We fascinated and enjoyed and our nice teacher walked quite far ahead of us. Therefore, we all had to quicken up our steps to keep up with her because we were afraid to get lost. The first thing which touched our eyes when we arrived the market entrance was the dozens of shops and food stands arranged in a long row in a huge courtyard and it was nice pictures. Colorful and various Malaysian foods that were a bit different from our native food were sold here. Suddenly, our stomach and salivary glands began to work while we were walking passed those food stands. Even though our poor stomach was pleading us again and again, we could not respond because of the difference in language. We had to ask our lovely teacher for help to be the interpreter. We continued walking and noticed one food stand was offering tasty Malaysian fish crisp or called “Kre Pok”, small round shape and a bit long like our middle finger. We hastened towards that food stand with full desire to taste it. Oh, how could we explain its taste?  Its outside was crispy and soft inside, really yummy! Finally, we did not purchase any food there except that delicious fish crisp.

Having a good opinion of people

By Dr. Ali Al-Hammadi

        From leading principles to which the Muslim needs to pay attention before he raises any doubt and before he accepts and believes in any accusation is to give priority to having a good opinion over having a bad opinion of his Muslim brothers. He should look for excuses and justifications that will excuse them and clear them of blame, especially when the accusation is directed towards callers to Allah and the righteous.

        This is the practice of the righteous, people of understanding and wise men from among Muslims who fear their Lord and desire victory and predominance for Allah’s Deen.

        Had it been the other way around – had having a bad opinion of people been given a priority over having a good opinion, then no scholar would have been left without being maligned, no nobleman without faults found in him, and Muslims would be deprived from good examples. That is a methodology that is accepted neither by the Islamic Law nor by any logic.

        “The basic principle in this rule is the saying of Allah `azza wa jall: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” [Al-Hujurat 49:12] 

Allah `azza wa jall ordered avoiding much of the suspicion because some of it is sin, and He followed this order with the prohibition of spying, pointing out that spying in most cases does not occur except due to bad assumptions.

        The way of the Muslim – the general rule – is hiding others’ faults and having a good opinion of others. This is why Allah `azza wa jall ordered believers to have a good opinion of people when they hear slanders of their Muslim brothers.

        And in the story of ifk (the lie which hypocrites invented against A`isha, the Mother of the Believers, from which Allah declared her free and innocent in the Quran), when it was said what was said, Allah `azza wa jall clarified the true position which every Muslim must understand. He said subhanahu wa ta`ala:

“Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e. one another] and say, ‘This is an obvious falsehood’?” [An-Noor 24:12]” [Hisham Ismail As-Sini, Manhaj Ahl As-Sunnah wal Jama`ah fin Naqd wal Hukm `ala al Akhirin, Al Muntada, London, 1992, p. 21]

Dr. Mustafa as-Siba’i said, “Because having a good opinion and then regretting is better than having a bad opinion and then regretting.”

[as-Sibai, Hakadha `allamatni al Hayat, al Maktab al Islami, Beirut, 1984, vol. 1, p. 42]

From “Fi Qafas al-Ittiham”1420 Dar IbnHazmSource: www.islaam.com

NURSERY RHYME

Islamic Nursary Rhyme

Allaah is the One

Allaah is the One, is the One, is the One (x2)

If you ask me who is my Lord,

I’ll tell you without any thought

The one whose my Lord is Allaah

Allaah is the One, is the One, is the One (x2)

If you ask me who is my Creator,

I’ll tell you with million pleasures

My beloved Creator is Allaah

Allaah is the One, is the One, is the One (x2)

If you ask me who is my Guide,

I’ll tell you from my mind

Who guides me when I’m blind is Allaah

Allaah is the One, is the One, is the One (x2)

General Nursary Rhyme

My little child

Let close your eyes my little child

It is time to sleep, don’t be cries

Let close your eyes my little child

Dreaming the twinkle stars on the sky

I won’t go anywhere, please don't cries
Let cloes your eyes my little child

 

General Nursery Rhyme change into Islamic Nursery Rhyme

An apple a day keeps the Doctor away

An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Apple in the morning - Doctor's warning
Roast apple at night - starves the doctor outright
Eat an apple going to bed - knock the doctor on the head
Three each day, seven days a week - ruddy apple, ruddy cheek

Praying every day keeps Satan go away

Praying everyday keeps Satan go away
Praying in the morning – makes you awakening
And praying at noon – closes up Allaah merciful
Prays everyday before to bed - knock Satan on the big head
five a day, seven days a week – Angels with you, don’t let you weak

By >> I Love Quran =)

♥ Allah says ♥
•Try to walk on My way, I'll make all the ways easy for YOU.
•Try to spend your wealth on My way, I'll open oceans of treasure for YOU.
•Try to leave your ills for Me, I'll make your desired destiny for YOU.
•Try to bear pain on My way, I'll open the doors of My care for YOU.
.•Try to believe in Me, I'll make sincere friends for YOU.
•Try to be Mine, I'll make everyone yours.

♥ Thank You Allah ♥
• Oh ALLAH, I have no money, but I have You. I am rich.
• Oh ALLAH, my heart breaks, but I imagine meeting You. My heart finds rest.
• Oh ALLAH, nobody listens, but You never turn your back on me. I am grateful.
• Oh ALLAH, I cry every night, but I make Wudu. I wash away my tears.
.• Oh ALLAH, I have no patience, but I read Your Quran. I am calm.
• Oh ALLAH, I get no respect, but You listen to my Prayers. I am proud.
• Oh ALLAH, I feel so weak, but I fast Ramadan. I am strong.
• Oh ALLAH, I feel so depressed, but I remember you. I am at peace.

• There is no word as beautiful as Allah.
• No example as beautiful as Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
• No lesson as beautiful as Islam
• No song as melodious as Azan.
...• No charity as meaningful as Zakat.
• No encyclopaedia as perfect as Al-Quran.
• No prayer as perfect as Namaz (Salah).
• No diet as perfect as fasting.
• No journey as perfect as Hajj...

DESCRIBING PORTRAIT

 

          There is an old Indian man who is waiting for the passengers to get on his car. We may call this car as “taxi”. It is rather convenience taxi with four doors and large seats. But there are a few defects, it is quite old-fashioned car and does not has air-conditioner. This old man stands near by a front part of his taxi. While he is waiting for the passengers, he read a local newspaper which is on his rough and hard hands that makes he looks quite intellectual. He is a hard working and diligent person because he always waits for the passengers during a humid hot day. More than that, he also stays amid the burning sun for a long time without head covering. So, this makes him has a dark black and rough skin. But it does not matter because he loves and he is happy with this career so much.  

 

          He has receding hair and it is gone gray. He also has a round face with whitish beard and moustache. If you notice, he carries the newspaper rather far away from his eyes sighted. It means he is long eyes-sighted and wears a big oval glasses to help him read every words in the newspaper clearly. He has white thick eyebrows, almond eyes and long big ears. Moreover, he has a beautiful sharp nose and thin lips. 

 
          He is of about medium height and average build. He is in his late sixties but he is still strong and agile. He wears a white shirt and pants. He also folds over his sleeves up to his elbow to ease his driving. From his well-dressed style, it helps him more pleasant and trust-worthy. Certainly, there are a lot of Indian passengers or even the foreigners would like to use his service.

TAMAN TAMADUN ISLAAM

          
          Amidst the sprinkle rainy day, my friends and I hurried up to get out of the hotel and ran quickly got on the luxury air-conditioned bus because we were afraid to be late. It was the second day I stayed in Terengganu. That day we were going to a famous tourist attraction which was named Taman Tamadun Islaam (TTI). It is the first Islamic edutainment theme park in the world. As soon as everybody was in the bus, the driver gradually moved the bus towards there. He drove slowly so that I could touch the atmosphere along both sides the rode while the lovely guide was explaining the interesting places of Terengganu. I observed everything here was not different from my town much except Malaysian houses and buildings that were quite more colourful than Thai houses. 

          Erelong, the bus arrived at the destination, TTI. At that time, I was very excited to see 21 replicas of famous mosques and Islamic monuments in the world. The guide led me to the entrance of Taman monument during the continued sprinkle rain. Inside here was very beautiful place that decorated with the flowering trees and ornamental plants. More than that, charming colourful 21 mosques attracted me to take the photos. Here also, there was an electric small train served the tourists who was lazy to walk because the area was very large. My friends and I walked around this area and searched which mosque and monument were the most beautiful one. 

          In my thought, Taj Mahal was the most exquisite and marvelous building which had the mausoleum inside. It was the monument of eternal love that constructed with Persian and Indian architectural style. All structure of Taj Mahal was made from white marble. There was a main white marble dome at the top which flanked by four small domes and stood on the large white marble terrace. While I was gazing this fantastic replica monument through the million of small raindrops, I thought how much it was beautiful in real. Definitely it was beautiful and gorgeous!. Moreover, I forgot that I was standing amid the spitting rain because of its exquisite. After I absorbed the gorgeous Taj Mahal for awhile, I picked up my favourite camera again so that I could freeze this charming image in my memory.