Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Friendship beautifies your life


The greatest force that makes one to sin or good deeds; shedding all the energy for improvement of others or throw him to the hell – are based on two things;

      1)     Environment and 2) Friendship

These two alone judges a person’s life. Therefore one should be very careful in choosing a right environment and friendship

Majority of people don’t like to remain alone. Under a friend’s company, it’s such an easy thing to recollect old memories and spend good times. It’s quite difficult to find saddened face if there are group of friends.

For happier moments, spending time with a friend is an important tool

When grief / sorrows shared with a friend, heart lightens and all the difficulties eases away. This is similar to lightning resistant which bear the thunder lightning and saves the building

Those who’re surrounded by friends, perform their tasks easily & comfortably.

Similar to these numerous benefits, Islam also encourages making friendship with others. But draws a straight line for how a friend to be like.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ الْأَصْحَابِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَخَيْرُ الْجِيرَانِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِجَارِهِ

The companion who is the best to Allah (SWT) is the one who is best to his companion – Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Good friendship will take closer to our creator, so should be very careful while selecting friends and see if he possesses good qualities.

Another criteria is to see whether if he adjusts with our character and behaviour

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " الأرواح جنود مجندة فما تعارف منها ائتلف وما تناكر منها اختلف "

“Souls are like conscripted soldiers, those whom they recognize, they get along with, and those whom they do not recognize, they will not get along with” - Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Common saying about friendship, “A friend in need is a friend indeed” – means false friends will flake and true friends will reveal themselves as such in times of adversity.
Bad companionship will destroy our happiness in this world and in hereafter, whereas good friendship will lead us to success in both the worlds.


“Close friends, on that day (hereafter), will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous” (Quran 43:67) 

Arabic Translation Centre (ATC)

Thursday, June 18, 2015

eLearning Translation

eLearning Translation


Ramadan 2015


Welcome Ramadan!!



“O you who believe!  Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183)

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for humankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan) must observe the fasts that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number from other days. God intends for you ease, and He does not want for you difficulty. (So you) must complete the same number, and that you must magnify God for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.” (2:185)

Wishing you all, Ramadan Kareem!! May Allah shower His choicest blessings upon every one.  

Friday, June 12, 2015

Merits of Consultation


People in their daily lives, find difficult to decide whether to proceed or not in any of the matters undertaken; in such dilemma, two methods prescribed
1)      Consultation
2)      Seeking guidance of the creator

When Abraham (PBUH) was ordered by his Lord to slaughter Ishmael (PBUH) in his dreams, Quran interprets the consultation of Abraham (PBUH) with Ishmael (PBUH)
يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا

أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
                       
"O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (Quran 37:102).

The rest is history, as God saved Ishmael (PBUH) by sending a goat to slaughter. This is to test their belief & patience in which they won. 

God mentions about the importance of Consultation behind the success of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) actions

. وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرَ
Allah ordains Mohammad (SAW) to consult or seek advice from them (his companions) for all the matters


Quran mentions about the Safa Princess consultation with her ministers about Solomon (PBUH)

"يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي مَا كُنْتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْراً حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ"
She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me." (Quran 27:32)

The ministers replied to her the following –

"قَالُوا نَحْنُ أُولُو قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَالْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانْظُرِي مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ"
They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command." (Quran 27:33)

When the counsel didn’t make her happy, said the following –

"قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَا أَذِلَّةً وَكَذَلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ"
She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.” (Quran 27:34)

Consultation or seeking counsel is one form of uniqueness in Islam. The difference between Democracy and Islamic way of electing a government is this consultation.

Whereas in democracy, the first preference given to the Majority. Whereas in consultation or seeking expert advice, knowledge stands first

Characteristics of consultation:
1)      The first aspect of consultation or seeking advice is that it should be with subject matter experts. Consult about medical with a doctor and religion with a religious scholar.
The person with whom we consult should be qualified to give advice

2)      For the matters those are mandatory (in which there aren’t any second thought), then those need not have to be consulted. Like those of obeying parents, worshipping the creator etc.,

3)      The person with whom we consult, should be a reliable source. The discussed matters are a form of trust, so it shouldn’t be disclosed to others

4)      The person should give right guidance, keeping in mind the goodness of the other

5)      For seeking guidance or advise, age or knowledge shouldn’t restrict anyone

6)      Its upto that particular person, to take a decision based on the suggestions received. He shouldn’t be compelled to choose any particular opinion provided

In addition to consulting with others, one who seeks 

guidance from his Lord through prayers, will never end on 

the losing side;


Arabic Translation Centre (ATC)


Friday, June 5, 2015


Face criticism to succeed!!


 

Allah created human beings as a mixture of doing good and bad deeds. There isn’t anyone set foot on the earth that doesn’t sin & always does good and who always sins & doesn’t do good. Without understanding this reality, shouldn’t consider ourselves as superior over others and there is no one free from weakness & criticism


The biggest plot of Shaytan as well as human being drawbacks is that, man takes pride of himself for the reward earned through his prayer, good deeds and social activities. Shaytan made him to forget the sins he committed in the past & present; Human beings has this kind of weakness as well.


So to write off the weakness and attain perfectness, we should possess two main qualities–

   1)      Self Awareness and
   2)      Taking advice from others


If anyone of the two misses, then weakness wont part away from oneself at any time
Self Awareness is that we evaluate our self, understand the weakness and parting away from it

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: « ما أنعم الله على عبد من نعمة فعلم أنها من عند الله إلا كتب الله له شكرها قبل أن يحمده ، وما علم الله من عبد ندامة على ذنب إلا غفر له ذلك قبل أن يستغفره ، إن الرجل ليشتري الثوب بالدينار فيلبسه فيحمد الله فما يبلغ ركبتيه حتى يغفر له »

Prophet (PBUH) said: For the favor bestowed by Allah (SWT) to His creation, and if he believes that this is from His Lord, then Allah rewards for his thankfulness before he praises Him
If a man feels sorry for his action that he committed, then His Lord forgives before he seeks repentance
A person buys a garment for one dollar & wears by praising his Lord for it, then Allah forgives that person’s sins before the garment reaches his ankle

Taking the advice from others –
Accepting our drawbacks identified by others and work on to eliminate it
It’s the act of righteous people to know their own weakness

Once during the rule of Umar bin Khattab (RA), due to some men’s passion to offer huge Mahr for their wives in marriage, it affected other males as they couldn’t afford such huge
"`Umar bin Al-Khattab stood up on the Minbar and said, `O people! Don’t exaggerate concerning the dowry given to women more than 40 Uqiyahs, if so then it shall belong to Baitul Mal. He then went down the Minbar, but a woman from Quraysh said to him, `O Leader of the Faithful! You prohibited people from paying more as dowry for women' He said, `Yes.' She said, `Have you not heard what Allah sent down in the Qur'an' He said, `Which part of it' She said, `Have you not heard Allah's statement,
 
وآتيتم إحداهن قنطاراً

(And you have given one of them a Qintar)' He said, `O Allah! Forgive me...' He then went back and stood up on the Minbar saying, this woman was correct and I erred, so I take back my previous order

Once during the rule of Ali (RA), a man enquired about a ruling and Ali (RA) gave his opinion. That person replied the Ali’s explanation isn’t right and said his opinion. Then Ali (RA) said that you’re right and I had erred.

There is always an intellect above every intellectual person

The lesson from above instances is that there is no one in face of the earth free from criticism and mistakes. So those who accept constructive criticism with open mind, pure-hearted and tolerant nature will remain in the hearts of people forever and will be successful. Those groups & individuals who doesn’t heed to such criticism, not even their traces will remain

Some suggestions for those who could identify the errors of others:
  1)      Don’t degrade or disgrace others while pinpointing their mistakes     
  2)      Shouldn’t indulge in the business of backbiting always, if so then credibility will be lost
  3)      Should discover the positives as well
  4)      Should say exactly what he finds to the concerned person and shouldn’t manipulate
  5)      Also instead of finding faults with others, should examine us and correct ourselves

  The one who is close to his Lord, wouldn’t search for others mistakes. Instead think about his own weakness and rectify it

Thank You



Arabic Translation Centre (ATC)

Courtesy: http://usmanihalonline.blogspot.in/