Reflections: The Idiot

You find in many fields many specialists, but you don’t find practical people. People who can solve problems. You have many engineers, experts in various fields, and professors. Yet your economy has been going down. Yet the unemployment rate is on the rise while you live in one of the most resourceful countries on this planet. Why is it that those who are talented in field are not used in that field? On the contrary, those who occupy crucial positions are ordinary and sub-ordinary individuals. Is money to be blamed for this? Our prophet (PBUH) has been reported to have said: if you have a mountain of gold, you would wish for a second. And if you have the second mountain, you would wish for the third. The desires of human being are limitless while the resources of this world are limited. Pursuing this world greedily never ends. The greedy one is not satiated until he dies and is turned to dust. Will this kind of individual ever feel happy? A true feeling of happiness when one feels upon helping a fellow human being. Never forget your share from this world, but always be content with what you have.

This is a combination of summary, notes, and some reflections from the book: The Idiot by Dostoevsky.

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Reflections: Fasting

We muslims fast in the month of Ramadhan. Let’s start by asking why. Why do we fast? What is the purpose of fasting? What are we supposed to get out of fasting? What do we we gain from it? what did we gain from fasting previous years? Unfortunately, for many of us, fasting Ramadhan has become a custom. We don’t do what breaks the fast like eating and drinking. By doing this, we get content that we fasted during this blessed month. If we ask some muslims about the reason of their fasting, the reply is to share the feeling that the poor people have. This is a very good point. When we are thirsty or hungry, we are supposed to remember the poor and the needy and their difficult life. What is the result of this? First, be grateful for what Allah has given us. No matter how little it is. Second, try to help the needy as much as we can no matter how little it is. Do not belittle an act of goodness. It can be huge in the eyes of Allah. It is not about the quantity, but the quality of our actions. We should not forget that the poor do not have food to eat to almost the entire year. While we experience thirst and hunger for a fraction of the day for only a month. They might get food or they might not. We, on the other hand, have a fridge filled with food and have someone preparing food for us. So we know there will be food when we are breaking our fast. Then how can we have the same feeling as them? There is a big gap.

Our beloved prophet PBUH has said in a narration to this meaning that some people fast in this month and all they from they fasting is thirst and hunger. May Allah not make us one them.

Allah says in quran that fasting is prescribed to us so we gain taqwa (تقوی). what is taqwa? Dues to the richness of the arabic language, this word has many meanings in the English language. One of these is to have God-consciousness. what this means is that in all situations we are conscious of Allah. That He is aware of our situation and aware of what we do. So let us ask ourselves how much taqwa we gained in the past years. If we did not gain any taqwa, then what did gain from fasting? When we gain more taqwa, we get closer to Allah. This will automatically make a better human being. This in turn, will make us care for other human beings. So we work hard during this blessed month to get closer to Allah, so we become better believers and hence better human beings. This will help us build a better community.

The Prophet’s Methods of Dealing with People’s Mistakes- p2

16 – Avoiding helping the Shaytaan against the one who is making a mistake.

17 – Asking the person to stop doing the wrong action. It is very important to make the person stop the wrong deed so that it does not get any worse and so that there is no delay in the denunciation of evil.

18 – Explaining to the person who is making a mistake how to put things right.

– Drawing an individual’s attention to his mistake so that he could put it right himself.

– Asking the person to do something again, correctly, if this is possible.

Among the qualities of the educator is that he should be aware of the actions of those who are with him.

1. It is a part of educational wisdom to ask a person who has made a mistake to re-do his action.

2. If the person who has made a mistake does not realize it, it must be pointed out and explained to him.

3. Giving information to a person who is interested and has asked about it himself is more effective and is more likely to be remembered.

19 – Denouncing only the mistake whilst accepting the rest.

20 – Restoring rights and preserving positions.

It is very important to maintain a person’s position after he has repented from his mistake and set matters straight, so that he will remain on the right path and live a normal life among people.

21 – Addressing both parties in cases where the blame is shared.

22 – Asking the person to forgive the one who wronged him.

 

Quranic Verse: Chp. 7 V. 1-3

c7v1-3

Following a certain course is sometimes recommended in the Glorious Qur’an and sometimes it is prohibited.

Among the places where following a certain course is recommended is the following:

1. Following the course of revelation i.e. the Glorious Qur’an. Allah [may He be Glorified] said: “Alif-Lâm-Mîm-Sâd. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]. (This is the) Book (the Qur’ân) sent down unto you (O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)), so let not your breast be narrow therefrom, that you warn thereby; and a reminder unto the believers. [Say (O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:] Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’ân and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allâh), besides Him (Allâh). Little do you remember!” (7:1-3)

These verses illustrate the following points:

  • The greatness of the Glorious Qur’an, which is sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise.
  • The Glorious Qur’an includes all that mankind need for their spiritual and material life. Allah [may He be Glorified] said: “And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’ân) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allâh as Muslims).” (16:89)
  • It was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to warn mankind as a whole. Allah [may He be Glorified] said: “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind.” (34:28)
  • The commandment to follow what Allah has revealed to His Messenger (peace be upon him).
  • The prohibition of following other than what was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) such as the saints whom people invoked either besides Allah or in His stead. Allah [may He be Glorified] said: “Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only.” (39:3) He also said: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him.” (98:5)

 

Source: Qurancomplex