Sunday, May 15, 2011
Surah Yaseen
Through Surah Yaseen I learned many things about Allah and some of His special qualities.
Allah says, إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ "Indeed it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register." [Qur'an, 36:12] Allah is just and fair in His treatment of all human beings. On the Day of Judgment, He will reckon and recompense us based on evidence. Every person will receive reward (Paradise) or punishment (Hellfire) based on his/her recorded words and actions. This shows that life should be lived for a purpose. We must be responsible because we are answerable to Allah for everything that we do.
Allah says, إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ "When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthen them with a third, and they said, indeed, we are messengers to you." [Qur'an, 36:14] Allah is the Ultimate Guide. Allah sent Prophets and Messengers throughout history to inspire us to live pious and righteous lives. Finally, Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as the last Prophet to complete and perfect His religion as a favour upon us. We are wretched that we continue to belie and betray the prophetic teachings when in fact they are for our benefit.
I find v. 33 the most fascinating. Allah says, وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الْأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ Initially the earth is barren and lifeless and from nothing Allah grows trees, flowers and fruits. This is such a tremendous miracle. Collect dirt in a corner of your room and see if you can do anything to cause a single leaf to grow from that pile. No amount of chemicals, electromagnetic waves or laser technology can spring a single leaf. Even if we plant a seed, some seeds germinate into plants while others remain dead. The entire natural world, the jungles and amazons, forests and woods are Allah's beautiful creation. Without oxygen and food which Allah produces from the natural world, we would die. So we are extensively needy of Allah. Not only this, but Allah says, وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ the sun and the moon are also in His control. Though these celestial entities are incomprehensively large, they are submissive to Allah. Allah determines their course of action and they comply. Just imagine the greatness of Allah. The sun which can fit in itself hundreds and thousands of planets like our earth, obeys Allah and does not deviate from the time and path Allah has ordained for it. We are so insignificant yet we are so arrogant. Is life even possible without the sun? We would all die if there was another ice age. How much we need to thank Allah for sustaining our life and guiding us to life a good life through the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhamma (s.a.w) and keeping a day for Judgment so the good and bad people get what they deserve.
In the last verse of Surah Yaseen, Allah says, فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ "So exalted is He in Whose Hand is the realm of all things, and to Him you will be returned." SubhanAllah, Allah really is the King of king. He created and Owns everything. To Him we belong an to Him we shall return.
Afra, Grade 5
The first thing that i notice when reading about Allah in Surah Yaseen is His mercy. The level of mercy that Allah has, cannot just be covered by saying He is the Most Merciful. Wherever we look, Allah's mercy is evident. He gave us clear guidance over and over again, and emphasized on it. He told us and reminded us over and over again about what we used to be. Howe we used to be nothing, and even after we were something, we were a drop of fluid, then a clot of blood, and a an ugly leechlike thing. And Allah created what we are now out of that.
Allah puts us in our place, and tells us the true reason we are here. how we were made to worship HIm. That we made an oath not to worship anybody besides Him before we were even born. That we are made by him, for Him, and to Him is our return. He is constantly reminding us what we used to be, because He knows that we have forgotten. He reminds us of all the favours He has given us. He tell us that no matter how we ie, and no matter where we our remains end up, He will resurrect us.
Allah tell su about what He is capable of doign, so we understand Him, and become guided. He tell us about how He just says BE and it becomes. How He is flawless. He even gave us Prophets (s.a.w) who are fellow human beings to relate to us and be our role model.
Allah is Just, He made injustice haram on Himself. He oes not worng anyone,. Even against those who He is angry with, He is just. He has established court system for the Day of Judgement, where evidences and witnesses will be presented for each human being and they will be reckoned fairly.
Allah gave us food to eat, whtaer to drink, and animals that help us with our work. They are many times as as strong as us, but they are friends with us, and submit to our will, although they can eaisly injure, or eve kill us. This isa miracle, and a mercy from Allah.
Allah takes care of the believers especially well. We receive all of His guidance. Everything we do results in our benefit. He protects us from evils, and from the traps of shaytan. He gives us Jannah which itself is more than we deserve. He takes our side, personally takes our salah, raises our ranks, an brings us closer to Him. He gives us more than we deserve in reward, the best of companions and makes us always win against our enemies in the end. And Allah loves us more than 70 mothers.
Allah's greatest mercy is the Qur'an. He gave us a clear message from Himself, and reminded us of what is right. He protects us from all the bad influences through the Qur'an. He will make it become a live on the Day of Judgment, and it will intercede for us. It is through the Qur'an as well that Allah sends His peace upon people. Wherever the Qur'an is recited, that place is covered with angels who bring calmness and tranquility to that place from Allah. Allah tell us to take advantage of our time now, and amend ourselves so we are fit for His pleasure and meeting.
The very body Allah gave us is a mercy. If Allah wanted to, He could have frozen us on the spot like the people of Pompeii, but He allowed us to move, and function. Just imagine what will we will we do without the faculties which Allah gave us. Even if one limb or organ was missing or extra, life would be arduous.
All of this is given to us even though we disobey Allah and are ungrateful to Him. Even though we are His creation and everything we have is a blessing from Him and a trust, we worship others besides Him. Everything in the universe praises Allah. The earth itself is an sign of Allah's existence. Sometimes we drop some seed, and it grows. Other time we carefully plant and nothing happens. It is all the power of Allah. We would never eat the earth, but what comes from it delicious. Every single cell of a plant is so incredibly complex, that it is like a factory. And again, it grows from dirt. How could this happen without Allah? These entire beautiful, complex, living things, that we cannot survive without could not have been made by accident. The same goes for animals, in fact for everything in the universe.
Usamah, Grade 5
Allah says, إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ "Indeed it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register." [Qur'an, 36:12] Allah is just and fair in His treatment of all human beings. On the Day of Judgment, He will reckon and recompense us based on evidence. Every person will receive reward (Paradise) or punishment (Hellfire) based on his/her recorded words and actions. This shows that life should be lived for a purpose. We must be responsible because we are answerable to Allah for everything that we do.
Allah says, إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ "When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthen them with a third, and they said, indeed, we are messengers to you." [Qur'an, 36:14] Allah is the Ultimate Guide. Allah sent Prophets and Messengers throughout history to inspire us to live pious and righteous lives. Finally, Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as the last Prophet to complete and perfect His religion as a favour upon us. We are wretched that we continue to belie and betray the prophetic teachings when in fact they are for our benefit.
I find v. 33 the most fascinating. Allah says, وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الْأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ Initially the earth is barren and lifeless and from nothing Allah grows trees, flowers and fruits. This is such a tremendous miracle. Collect dirt in a corner of your room and see if you can do anything to cause a single leaf to grow from that pile. No amount of chemicals, electromagnetic waves or laser technology can spring a single leaf. Even if we plant a seed, some seeds germinate into plants while others remain dead. The entire natural world, the jungles and amazons, forests and woods are Allah's beautiful creation. Without oxygen and food which Allah produces from the natural world, we would die. So we are extensively needy of Allah. Not only this, but Allah says, وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ the sun and the moon are also in His control. Though these celestial entities are incomprehensively large, they are submissive to Allah. Allah determines their course of action and they comply. Just imagine the greatness of Allah. The sun which can fit in itself hundreds and thousands of planets like our earth, obeys Allah and does not deviate from the time and path Allah has ordained for it. We are so insignificant yet we are so arrogant. Is life even possible without the sun? We would all die if there was another ice age. How much we need to thank Allah for sustaining our life and guiding us to life a good life through the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhamma (s.a.w) and keeping a day for Judgment so the good and bad people get what they deserve.
In the last verse of Surah Yaseen, Allah says, فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ "So exalted is He in Whose Hand is the realm of all things, and to Him you will be returned." SubhanAllah, Allah really is the King of king. He created and Owns everything. To Him we belong an to Him we shall return.
Afra, Grade 5
Allah created the earth and filled it with with gardens of delicious fruits and springs. He created everything in pairs so we would have a variety in everything.
Allah is the source of all knowledge. He inspired Nuh (a.s) to construct the first naval fleet (ark). And He made the tree from which humans first kindled a fire. Allah is also the source of wealth, He distributes provision and knowledge to His creation according to His wisdom and a test.
Allah sent the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
Allah is the Owner of the Day of Judgment.
Allah forgives, honours and rewards the believers who obey Him with Paradise. The people who disobey Him will be chained with fetters and collars in Hellfire.
Huma, Grade 5The first thing that i notice when reading about Allah in Surah Yaseen is His mercy. The level of mercy that Allah has, cannot just be covered by saying He is the Most Merciful. Wherever we look, Allah's mercy is evident. He gave us clear guidance over and over again, and emphasized on it. He told us and reminded us over and over again about what we used to be. Howe we used to be nothing, and even after we were something, we were a drop of fluid, then a clot of blood, and a an ugly leechlike thing. And Allah created what we are now out of that.
Allah puts us in our place, and tells us the true reason we are here. how we were made to worship HIm. That we made an oath not to worship anybody besides Him before we were even born. That we are made by him, for Him, and to Him is our return. He is constantly reminding us what we used to be, because He knows that we have forgotten. He reminds us of all the favours He has given us. He tell us that no matter how we ie, and no matter where we our remains end up, He will resurrect us.
Allah tell su about what He is capable of doign, so we understand Him, and become guided. He tell us about how He just says BE and it becomes. How He is flawless. He even gave us Prophets (s.a.w) who are fellow human beings to relate to us and be our role model.
Allah is Just, He made injustice haram on Himself. He oes not worng anyone,. Even against those who He is angry with, He is just. He has established court system for the Day of Judgement, where evidences and witnesses will be presented for each human being and they will be reckoned fairly.
Allah gave us food to eat, whtaer to drink, and animals that help us with our work. They are many times as as strong as us, but they are friends with us, and submit to our will, although they can eaisly injure, or eve kill us. This isa miracle, and a mercy from Allah.
Allah takes care of the believers especially well. We receive all of His guidance. Everything we do results in our benefit. He protects us from evils, and from the traps of shaytan. He gives us Jannah which itself is more than we deserve. He takes our side, personally takes our salah, raises our ranks, an brings us closer to Him. He gives us more than we deserve in reward, the best of companions and makes us always win against our enemies in the end. And Allah loves us more than 70 mothers.
Allah's greatest mercy is the Qur'an. He gave us a clear message from Himself, and reminded us of what is right. He protects us from all the bad influences through the Qur'an. He will make it become a live on the Day of Judgment, and it will intercede for us. It is through the Qur'an as well that Allah sends His peace upon people. Wherever the Qur'an is recited, that place is covered with angels who bring calmness and tranquility to that place from Allah. Allah tell us to take advantage of our time now, and amend ourselves so we are fit for His pleasure and meeting.
The very body Allah gave us is a mercy. If Allah wanted to, He could have frozen us on the spot like the people of Pompeii, but He allowed us to move, and function. Just imagine what will we will we do without the faculties which Allah gave us. Even if one limb or organ was missing or extra, life would be arduous.
All of this is given to us even though we disobey Allah and are ungrateful to Him. Even though we are His creation and everything we have is a blessing from Him and a trust, we worship others besides Him. Everything in the universe praises Allah. The earth itself is an sign of Allah's existence. Sometimes we drop some seed, and it grows. Other time we carefully plant and nothing happens. It is all the power of Allah. We would never eat the earth, but what comes from it delicious. Every single cell of a plant is so incredibly complex, that it is like a factory. And again, it grows from dirt. How could this happen without Allah? These entire beautiful, complex, living things, that we cannot survive without could not have been made by accident. The same goes for animals, in fact for everything in the universe.
Usamah, Grade 5
In case of an earthquake...
Natural disasters and calamities are common place around the world. We hear of earthquakes, tusnamis, floods and landslides almost every week but we take no lesson. As a Muslim, it is our duty to live a conscious life. The following is a reflection of a grade 5 student:
My whole body tremors with fear and sorrow. i have just experienced one of hte worse earthquakes in the country that has devastated everyone around me. Everyone I love, everyone I care about; they are just gone. Buried under the rubble or washed away into the lake nearby. I am the only one alive, who was able to survive from family. I know there must be some people, complete strangers, who are buried somewhre, probably more afraid than I. I have to somehow help them but my body is breaking and I just want to cry forever. But I must do something to help because I am alive. I have to stay strong . I have to go around and look for people who need more than than me. I will search everywhere to see if I can save someone's life and it is my responsibility to find food and a shelter. When a rescue team comes with goods, it will be my responsibility to give them to the other survivors equally and then eat in the end. Even though i have been emotionally hurt and not physically, as a Muslim, i have ot be thankful to Allah that He has protected and saved me and I must be patient as this could be a test from Allah an He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. In the shelter, it is also my responsibility that I talk to the survivors about Allah and the religion because there is no one else left in the city to talk about it and I am alone. I have to be kind to them and not show my own grief and sorrow. I should say Alhamdulillahi ala kuli haal. I know that life will go on but i have to reflect, what brought this punishment in this first place? What deed was Allah so angry with that he sent a powerful earthquake to warn our nation? Then I have to ponder and ask for Allah's forgiveness, His mercy and His kindness. I have to ask Allah to protect me from the evil deeds that anger Him, and seek His bounties. I have to ask Allah for His guidance so that I can apply it and please Him. An i have to ask Allah to save my family from Hellfire and that we can meet again, in Jannah inshaAllah.
Huma, Grade 5
My whole body tremors with fear and sorrow. i have just experienced one of hte worse earthquakes in the country that has devastated everyone around me. Everyone I love, everyone I care about; they are just gone. Buried under the rubble or washed away into the lake nearby. I am the only one alive, who was able to survive from family. I know there must be some people, complete strangers, who are buried somewhre, probably more afraid than I. I have to somehow help them but my body is breaking and I just want to cry forever. But I must do something to help because I am alive. I have to stay strong . I have to go around and look for people who need more than than me. I will search everywhere to see if I can save someone's life and it is my responsibility to find food and a shelter. When a rescue team comes with goods, it will be my responsibility to give them to the other survivors equally and then eat in the end. Even though i have been emotionally hurt and not physically, as a Muslim, i have ot be thankful to Allah that He has protected and saved me and I must be patient as this could be a test from Allah an He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. In the shelter, it is also my responsibility that I talk to the survivors about Allah and the religion because there is no one else left in the city to talk about it and I am alone. I have to be kind to them and not show my own grief and sorrow. I should say Alhamdulillahi ala kuli haal. I know that life will go on but i have to reflect, what brought this punishment in this first place? What deed was Allah so angry with that he sent a powerful earthquake to warn our nation? Then I have to ponder and ask for Allah's forgiveness, His mercy and His kindness. I have to ask Allah to protect me from the evil deeds that anger Him, and seek His bounties. I have to ask Allah for His guidance so that I can apply it and please Him. An i have to ask Allah to save my family from Hellfire and that we can meet again, in Jannah inshaAllah.
Huma, Grade 5
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sewing Class
In the light of Aisha's (r.a) narration about Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) mending his own clothes at home, AWIS staff conducted stitching and sewing classes for students so the students can learn this Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and take responsibility of their clothes and maintain optimum levels of decency and cleanliness inshaAllah. The students also learned how to make purses and bags and do basic embroidery.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Reading Log Reflection
Love Your Parents
-Aamna A
Grade 3
I learned that loving your parents, praying for them and never doing such acts that may displease them are basic moral teachings of the Qur'an. We should all apply/practise these acts in our life so that Allah may be pleased with us and grant His blessings in this world and the world to come. The Qur'an enjoins us to be thankful to our parents and obey them at ALL times. I also learned that after a persons duty of a person is towards his parents. The Qur'an urges us to pray for our parents. "Lord bestow your mercy on them, as they raised me up when I was little."
The Story of the Two Gardens
-Farheen
Grade 3
This story was really good. It teaches us that you should not have too much pride because Allah is the one who has gifted you with things you are proud of. If it weren't for Allah, then you wouldn't have anything.
But a lot of people (including me) have a lot of pride now days, an you can always find a person who will be bragging about their possessions instead of thanking Allah. I was also that way, until I started going to Al-Huda, but another thing that helped me resolve my ways, was a video I saw at school on Wednesday. it was about Malawi, Africa and how poor the country is. Kids don't have proper places to live and even going to school was a struggle because they don't have any pencils or papers available.
It made me really sad an frustrated to see those poor children struggling for things we all take for granted. Why is it fair that some people get to live the good life when for some people, surviving through a whole day is an accomplishment? but i also understood that those people thank Allah for everything they get and have no pride, where as people in richer countries take everything for granted and have pride big enough to fill the whole world.
Islamic Society
-Manal
Grade 3
An Islamic society is built on Islamic ideals and these ideals are based on the Qur'an. So to be living in a true Islamic society you would need to follow the principles of the Qur'an. And did you know the Qur'an is the greatest source of teachings for human beings? It offers us so many things such as guidance, righteousness. It's like a whole big test study book for the day of judgement. Anyways, back to Islamic ideals, since they are based on Qur'an and we follow them, we essentially have to have complete faith in everything the Qur'an says like faith in Allah, His messengers, His revelations, His angels, in life hereafter and in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammed (SAW), And this is just the begining of Islamic ideals!
Belief in Messengers of Allah
Anyone who has faith in Allah must also believe in all the messengers sent by Him. Allah had sent down these messengers because Allah said to them to guide all of mankind to the right path. And there is also a verse in the Qur'an explaining how some people believe in some messengers and disbelieve in the others, it says : "those who deny Allah and His messengers, and those who draw a line between Allah and His messengers saying: we believe in some but deny others, thus seeking a middle way- These indeed are the unbelievers. And we have prepared for the unbelievers a humiliating torment" (4:150-151). Allah's messengers are like normal human beings, they eat, drink, sleep, and marry. But Allah gave them some qualities they are perfect at and we should try to attempt and develop some qualities of the Prophets such as: speaking the truth, having goo hygiene, and obeying what Allah has commmanded us to do. I forgot to mention that there is a verse in the Qur'an explaining more in depth why Allah sent down the messengers, it says : "We sent to you a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you and to purify you of sins and to instruct you in the book and in wisdom and to teach you what you did not know" (2:151). So here are just some of the things, I hoped you enjoyed learning about the Messengers of Allah!
-Aamna A
Grade 3
I learned that loving your parents, praying for them and never doing such acts that may displease them are basic moral teachings of the Qur'an. We should all apply/practise these acts in our life so that Allah may be pleased with us and grant His blessings in this world and the world to come. The Qur'an enjoins us to be thankful to our parents and obey them at ALL times. I also learned that after a persons duty of a person is towards his parents. The Qur'an urges us to pray for our parents. "Lord bestow your mercy on them, as they raised me up when I was little."
The Story of the Two Gardens
-Farheen
Grade 3
This story was really good. It teaches us that you should not have too much pride because Allah is the one who has gifted you with things you are proud of. If it weren't for Allah, then you wouldn't have anything.
But a lot of people (including me) have a lot of pride now days, an you can always find a person who will be bragging about their possessions instead of thanking Allah. I was also that way, until I started going to Al-Huda, but another thing that helped me resolve my ways, was a video I saw at school on Wednesday. it was about Malawi, Africa and how poor the country is. Kids don't have proper places to live and even going to school was a struggle because they don't have any pencils or papers available.
It made me really sad an frustrated to see those poor children struggling for things we all take for granted. Why is it fair that some people get to live the good life when for some people, surviving through a whole day is an accomplishment? but i also understood that those people thank Allah for everything they get and have no pride, where as people in richer countries take everything for granted and have pride big enough to fill the whole world.
Islamic Society
-Manal
Grade 3
An Islamic society is built on Islamic ideals and these ideals are based on the Qur'an. So to be living in a true Islamic society you would need to follow the principles of the Qur'an. And did you know the Qur'an is the greatest source of teachings for human beings? It offers us so many things such as guidance, righteousness. It's like a whole big test study book for the day of judgement. Anyways, back to Islamic ideals, since they are based on Qur'an and we follow them, we essentially have to have complete faith in everything the Qur'an says like faith in Allah, His messengers, His revelations, His angels, in life hereafter and in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammed (SAW), And this is just the begining of Islamic ideals!
Belief in Messengers of Allah
Anyone who has faith in Allah must also believe in all the messengers sent by Him. Allah had sent down these messengers because Allah said to them to guide all of mankind to the right path. And there is also a verse in the Qur'an explaining how some people believe in some messengers and disbelieve in the others, it says : "those who deny Allah and His messengers, and those who draw a line between Allah and His messengers saying: we believe in some but deny others, thus seeking a middle way- These indeed are the unbelievers. And we have prepared for the unbelievers a humiliating torment" (4:150-151). Allah's messengers are like normal human beings, they eat, drink, sleep, and marry. But Allah gave them some qualities they are perfect at and we should try to attempt and develop some qualities of the Prophets such as: speaking the truth, having goo hygiene, and obeying what Allah has commmanded us to do. I forgot to mention that there is a verse in the Qur'an explaining more in depth why Allah sent down the messengers, it says : "We sent to you a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you and to purify you of sins and to instruct you in the book and in wisdom and to teach you what you did not know" (2:151). So here are just some of the things, I hoped you enjoyed learning about the Messengers of Allah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)