Beware of Domestic Accidents

Our children are precious but they could easily fall victims of domestic accident. Here is an interesting link from our friend blogger to share her experience in this topic:
http://afterhardship.blogspot.com/2013/08/iron-fortified-vitamin-overdose.html

This reminds me of my niece, when she was just 6. She always saw her mother brushing her teeth at night, and then after that, eating one small pill from a medicine box in the bathroom cabinet.
One day, early evening, she imitated her mom too, brushed her teeth and opened the bathroom cabinet to take not only one pill, but all the pills from that box. It was the contraception pills of her mom that she had just swallowed.

Later in the evening, my brother noticed that his daughter was just too sleepy, she could not wake up and it was not her habit to sleep around that time. He sensed something was wrong with her but couldn't tell. Time passed by, but as his wife later on during a conversation mentioned her surprise that she had ran out of contraception pills and she thought she still had some, he immediately made the link. He rushed to his sleepy daughter and asked her if she had taken mom's medicine, she replied yes !!..

Of course it was the panic at their home, they induced vomiting and she rejected many pills. They took her to hospital for further stomach wash, and more pills were rejected.
Luckily, she escaped serious injury, but this reminds us that despite being always very careful, accidents can still happen. We do not pay attention that our children are observing us and might mimic our gestures and take something that seems so inoffensive for them. Therefore, it is important we always share with them these kind of stories to educate them and remind them of the several dangers at home.

May Allah Protect our children always..

I also found this web page that cold be useful for further reading: http://www.rospa.com/homesafety/adviceandinformation/childsafety/accidents-to-children.aspx

Rulings on destruction of property

I had to search for this, as while coming back from holidays, we had a serious fiqh issue right before leaving the house.
My teenager daughter H, carrying a bag containing her clothes, school calculator and her mom's small laptop, left the bag right on the floor behind my car to rush to do some other stuff.
As I was reversing my car in the garage to get it out, my wife stopped me right when she noticed that the rear right tire was crushing the bag. I moved forward so that they retrieved the soft bag and no apparent damage was noticed at that time as the bag was also full of clothes.

But upon arrival here, we noticed the extent of the damage: the screen of the laptop is cracked from the inside, and the calculator has a dark patch right in its middle. This is an expensive TI graphic calculator, worth about  $120. The laptop is worth about $260.

The question is: who is responsible for the damage and who should pay for it? It is:
1- The driver who could not see that a bag was put right behind the wheel of the car
2- H who should have secured the bag elsewhere
3- H's sister N, who called her to rush to something else before H had time to secure the bag.
4- Shared responsibility between the driver and H?

The reply to this is not really easy to get, I might need to seek the help of our Imam for the ruling of this. However, for the time being, I managed to find the following on Islam QA, regarding the destruction of property. As per the reading of it, H looks to be the one responsible for the damage, even if it was not intentional, because she left the bag in a place that was not supposed to be put, and Allah Knows Best.

If any reader has a different information he/she could share, then it would be most welcomed here...
Update 24/08:consensus reached, it will be point 4 above, i.e. shared responsibility between me and H.

Here is the article from Islamqa.com/13634 link:

Rulings on destruction of property
Question 13634 : What is the ruling in a case where a person destroys the property of another? Does the ruling differ according to whether that is done deliberately or otherwise?

Praise be to Allaah.

Allaah has forbidden aggression against people’s property and taking it unlawfully. He has prescribed that whatever is destroyed unlawfully is to be replaced, even if it is destroyed by mistake. Whoever destroys the property of another person which was sacred (i.e., protected by sharee’ah), and destroys it without the owner’s permission, is obliged to replace it. 

Imaam al-Muwaffaq said: “We do not know of any dispute concerning this matter. It is the same regardless of whether that was done deliberately or by mistake, and whether (the person who destroyed it) was told by someone else to do it or not. The same applies if he causes it to be destroyed, such as if he opens a door and causes something which was locked up to be lost, or he tilts a vessel and allows what is inside it to flow out and be lost – he is obliged to replace it. The same applies if he loosens the reins of an animal or ties it up, and it gets lost or dies – he has to replace it. The same applies if he ties up an animal in a narrow street, resulting in a person stumbling over it and dying or being injured as a result – he is responsible for that because he transgressed the limits by tying it up in a narrow street. The same applies if he stops his car in the street resulting in another car or a person hitting it, causing harm – he is responsible because of the report narrated by al-Daaraqutni and others, which says that whoever makes an animal stop in the way of the Muslims or in one of their marketplaces, and it steps with its front or back leg on something  – he is responsible. The same applies if he leaves a pile of mud or some wood or rocks in the street, or he digs a hole and that results in a passer-by being killed or injured, or he throws a melon rind or similar thing into the street, or spills water and someone else slips on it and is killed or injured, the one who did that in all cases is responsible, because by doing that he was transgressing.  How lightly these matters are taken nowadays. How often holes are dug in the streets and the way is blocked, and they put obstacles in the roads, and how much harm and damage results from these actions, without anyone watching over such matters and putting them right, to the extent that a person may take over the entire road and use it for his own purposes, annoying and causing harm to passers-by, and not caring at all that he may be sinning by doing that. Another of the cases in which a person is held to be responsible is if he keeps a vicious dog and it attacks a passer-by or kills someone – he is held to be responsible because by keeping this dog he was transgressing.  If he digs a well in his courtyard for his own purposes he is held to be responsible for any harm that this may cause, because he is obliged to maintain it in a manner that does not harm passers-by. If he leaves it without taking proper care of it, then he is transgressing. If he has livestock he has to take proper care of them at night to prevent them from damaging people’s crops; if he leaves them and they do damage someone’s crops, he is held to be responsible for that, because the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them) decreed that people who have property must take care of it during the day, and whatever is damaged at night, they must be compensated for that.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah). So the owner of an animal is not held to be responsible any damage that was done during the day, unless he sent the animal near a place where it could do damage. Imaam al-Baghawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars said that whatever is destroyed at night, the owner (of the animal) is held to be responsible for that, because customarily the owners of gardens and orchards guard them during the day, and the owners of livestock guard them at night, so whoever goes against that practice has gone against what is customary. This applies if the owner of the animals is not with them; if he is with them then he is held to be responsible for whatever damage they did.” 

Allaah mentioned the story of Dawood and Sulaymaan concerning this matter, as He said (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (remember) Dawood (David) and Sulaymaan (Solomon), when they gave judgement in the case of the field in which the sheep of certain people had pastured at night; and We were witness to their judgement.

And We made Sulaymaan (Solomon) to understand (the case); and to each of them We gave Hukm (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and knowledge…”

[al-Anbiya’ 21:78] 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The text of the Qur’aan praised Sulaymaan for his understanding that compensation meant replacing it with something similar. Pasturing the sheep at night means taking them out to graze at night, which took place in a vineyard. Dawood ruled that the value of what had been destroyed should be paid in compensation. He thought that the sheep were equal in value to the destroyed crops, and he wanted to give them to the owner of the cultivated field. But Sulaymaan ruled that the owners of the sheep were obliged to pay compensation, and that they should repay in kind, by tending the field until it was restored to its former state. He also took into account the benefits that would be lost whilst the field was being restored, so he ruled that the owners of the garden were to be given the livestock and that they could take what the produced until it was equivalent to the produce of the garden. They could benefit from the produce of the sheep in place of the produce of the garden which they had lost. He found that what the sheep produced during this period would be equivalent to what the garden would have produced. This is the knowledge which Allaah gave exclusively to Sulaymaan and for which He praised him.” 

If the animal is under the control of a rider or of a person who is leading it or driving it, then he is responsible for any damage that it may cause with its front legs or mouth, but not for any damage that it may cause with its back legs, because of the hadeeth, “There is no compensation for the back legs.” According to the report of Abu Hurayrah, (the hadeeth is), “There is no compensation for the back legs of a dumb animal.” The animal is described as dumb because it does not speak. Compensation here refers to compensation for damage done by the animal. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “In the case of every dumb animal – such as cattle, and sheep – there is no compensation for damage done by the animal if it did it by itself (i.e., was not under the control of anyone), such as if it ran away from the person under whose control it was and it did some damage. No one is obliged to pay any compensation, so long as it was not vicious and its owner was not being negligent about restraining it at night or keeping it away from the markets and gathering-places of the Muslims. More than one of (of the scholars) mentioned that there is no compensation to be paid if the animal had escaped and was going by itself without anyone leading it or driving it, except in the case of savage animals.” 

If it attacks a human being or another animal, and the only way of warding it off is by killing it, and it is killed, then there is no obligation to pay compensation, because it was killed in self-defence, and defending oneself is permissible. So he does not have to pay compensation for the consequences and because he killed it in order to ward off its evil; if he killed it in order to ward off its evil, then the attacker is the one who has killed himself. 

Shaykh Taqiy al-Deen said: “He has to defend himself from the one who is attacking him, and if he can only do that by killing him (the attacker), then he has the right to do that, according to the consensus of the Fuqahaa’”. 

Among the items for which there is no obligation to pay compensation if they are destroyed are: musical instruments; crosses; vessels for wine; books of misguidance, myths and promiscuous material, because Ahmad narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to take a dagger then they both went out to the market of Madeenah in which there were wineskins that had been brought from Syria. (Ibn ‘Umar) tore them open in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) spilled their contents, and he commanded his companions to do likewise.” This hadeeth indicates that it is required to destroy them and that no compensation for that is due. But their destruction must be done on the authority of the ruler and under his supervision, so as to protect people’s interests and avoid mischief.

From al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhi by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzan Aal Fawzaan, p. 133

Time Management - Part 6: Advices and Conclusions

Part 1 - Islamic Importance of Time
Part 2 - Sunnah & Time Management
Part 3 - Actual Time Management
Part 4 - Myth of Multitasking
Part 5 - Developing Good Habits

General Advices and Conclusions

• DO NOT procrastinate. The sooner you would start you job, the sooner you would finish it.
• Be and act responsible, no one else will do your work 
• DELETE time wasters (internet, TV, some friends, smart phone, FB etc..)
• Avoid interruptions, it will cost you to get back to where you were before getting interrupted.
• Focus on “one thing” at a time and make sure that this “one thing” belongs to the 80:20 area
• Always plan ahead (Stay in Quadrant II : what is important but not urgent).
• Divide big project into smaller tasks (how do you eat an Elephant? One bite a time!)
• Define your goals
• Plan to achieve your goals (schedule)
• Be aware of time stealers and avoid them
• Do as much as you can to clear incomplete tasks and move on because “work will never finish”.
• Remember: “what is written to reach you will never miss you and what is written to miss you will never reach you.”
• Remember: Allah Will Never make you bear more than what you can stand/handle
• Regularity is the essence of Time Management
• “Allah is pleased with the deed done with regularity no matter how small it is.” 
• Our days are counted, we are getting closer to our grave each day, stop wasting time.
• What has gone will not come back
• Do not waste your time looking into the past, but rather focus on today and tomorrow
• Be like a traveller on earth
• Make great use of Fejr time - It is a blessed time of the day, much could be accomplished then.
• “There are two bounties of Allah wherein most people are distracted: health and free time”.
• Allah states in a Hadith Qudsi “O! Son of Adam free yourself for my obedience and I will make you independent and remove your poverty, and if you will not do so, I will tire you with work and never remove your want and poverty”.

Time Management - Part 5: Developing Good Habits

Part 1 - Islamic Importance of Time
Part 2 - Sunnah & Time Management
Part 3 - Actual Time Management
Part 4 - Myth of Multitasking

This entry will describe how to develop good habits in order for you to become more efficient during your days.

Interruptions

One of the killers in Time Management is certainly called "Interruption".

As previously seen, a study found that once interrupted, it takes workers 25 minutes to return to the ask, if they return at all. 

Frequent interruptions when you are working on a task will only spoil your effectiveness. Your task would seem to drag on and on without being able to finalize it on time. How many times have we not seen time wasters interrupting us for some minor issues, but once they get their information back, we are left struggling to get back to the point we left earlier, or to the idea we previously had in mind.

One thing certainly noticed: time wasters generally tend to leave office on time (or ahead of time) , while we have to stay longer in the office trying to finalize the task that got delayed because of these same time wasters and their frequent interruptions.

So if you want to get much work accomplished in a day, avoid interruptions, and avoid time wasters.

Planning

“Every minute you spend planning saves you an average of approximately 10 minutes in execution.”

You must have a proper plan of what you want to accomplish during the day, the week or the month.

-“Hope is not a strategy.”

•Must develop a comprehensive plan,
•Include a list and schedule you must complete.
•One of the main reasons we don't achieve our goals is because we never implement a plan to help us get there.
•We think about it, dream about it, hope for it, but we never DO the right things at the right time in the right way to help us succeed.
•As the quote above clearly declares: HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY!•Be as specific as possible. 

Effective  Vs. Efficient

•Effectiveness: Doing the right things — those that will provide the best results highest priorities
•Efficiency: Doing things in the minimum amount of time
• A good time management plan must enable you to be effective AND efficient.

Daily plans: Keep appointments with yourself

•Daily list best way to focus attention on your most important  objectives
•Do not keep daily list in the head (mental notes): write it down
•Writing activities down makes them real
•At end of day, review accomplishment
•Carry forward items not completed
•Re-prioritize these along next day’s items

Deadlines

"Deadline" once referred to a line drawn on a military prison floor; if the prisoners crossed the line, they were shot.They have immense power to increase your effectiveness and can provide a basis for measuring your accomplishments.

First things first

• Prioritize your tasks: focus on what is important but not urgent
• Do not try to Multitask
• Rank your priorities using the A,B,C principle:
• A= items which must be done, important
• B= Items which should be done soon
• C= items that must be done eventually, not important

80/20 Pareto’s Law

Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto noticed in 1906, that 80% of Italy's land was owned by 20% of the population. 

He then carried out surveys on a variety of other countries and found to his surprise that a similar distribution applied.

• Similarly, 20% important activities lead to 80% success
• Focus on important activities and you would achieve the biggest gains

Pareto’s law in Business

• 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers
• 80% of your complaints come from 20% of your customers
• 80% of your profits come from 20% of the time you spend
• 80% of your sales come from 20% of your products
• 80% of your sales are made by 20% of your sales staff
• Microsoft noted that by fixing the top 20% most reported bugs, 80% of the errors and crashes would be eliminated

Urgent Vs. Important Principle

• "A failure to plan on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part." – Anonymous
• “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do” Basketball coach John Wooden
• Important activities have a strong value focus, because they relate to the completion of your goals
• Urgent activities have a strong time focus, because someone – not necessarily you- believes it must be done NOW.

Procrastination

• People may procrastinate for reasons:
• Fear of failure: often connected to not feeling qualified or prepared for the job.
• Fear of success: because once they complete the job, they fear people will hold them to a higher standard of performance from now on
• Fear of consequences: some jobs are just unpleasant or painful, and therefore difficult to face.
• Anger or rebellion arising from hard feelings in a relationship

Procrastination: what can you do?

• Learn to ask for clear instructions when given assignments
• Ask for whatever tools and training you need to get the job done.
• If you don't ask for help, people assume you don't need it.
• Do not hesitate to set clear boundaries.
• This is part of learning to say NO.
• Just because you do a job well doesn't mean you have to accept all tasks, projects and promotions offered to you.
• Learn to work within your own capabilities, and don't be afraid to draw the line - people will respect you for doing this.
• Put unpleasant tasks on your schedule and set a clear deadline.
• Plan the task carefully, and make sure you have the resources to do the job.
• You may need to clear the rest of your schedule around it, to make sure you have the emotional energy to get the job done. Then do it. You will be glad when it is over.
• Assertively address any relationship issues that are holding you back.
• Procrastination based on anger or rebellion is actually passive-aggressive anger; it is symptomatic of a bigger problem. It is also childish. Grow up, work out the relationship problem, and get the job done.
• Stress and burnout are among the most debilitating causes of procrastination. If left unchecked, they can lead to depression and productive paralysis.
• Rebalance your schedule, learn to say NO, reevaluate your priorities, and take some time off.
• People around you don't want you to burn out; they need you. talk to your supervisor or someone else who can help you. 

Time Management - Part 4: Myth of Multitasking

Part 1 - Islamic Importance of Time
Part 2 - Sunnah & Time Management
Part 3 - Actual Time Management

Multitasking: such a great word, if up to now you have been thinking of yourself to be a good multitasker, then read the following to discover more about what is now classified as a myth.

Partially inspired by the rise in powerful new technologies, people have bought into the myth of multitasking to describe someone with the ability to switch rapidly between real and virtual work environments to create the illusion that they can manage several tasks almost simultaneously and generate an excellent work product in all areas. 

Doing Too Much at Once - the Myth of Multitasking

A study by Basex, a New York research firm, found that office distractions ate up 2.1 hours a day for the average worker. Another study found that employees devoted an average of 11 minutes to a project before being distracted. Researchers Gloria Mark and Victor Gonsalez of the University of California, Irvine, found that once interrupted, it takes workers 25 minutes to return to the ask, if they return at all. 

People switch activities, such as making a call, speaking with in their cubicle or working on a document, every three minutes on average

In the past, many people believed that multitasking was a good way to increase productivity: if you are working on several different tasks at once, you are going to accomplish more, right?
Recent research, however, has demonstrated that that switching from one task to the next takes a serious toll on productivity. Multitaskers have more trouble tuning out distractions than people who focus on one task at a time.

People who multitask are less efficient than those who focus on one project at a time, says a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology...Managing two mental tasks at once reduces the brainpower available for either task, according to a study published in the journal Neuralmage

Remember…

•Everyone has the identical 24 hours to use every day to accomplish a variety of tasks.
•This also means that no one has the ability to stretch the space-time continuum in order to do more than one the same time.
•People who juggle texting and e-mails and searching the internet for information while conducting a phone conversation via headset, are not getting more done or turning out a superior project.
•They are almost certainly overlooking important issues or ideas, making careless errors and frying their brains with the stress of trying to push so much input through their mind at the same time.

•At the end of the day, they will be drained from the pace, and frustrated because they probably didn't complete a single one of their most important tasks.
•The next time you find yourself multitasking when you are trying to be productive, take a quick assessment of the various things you are trying to accomplish.
•Eliminate distractions and try to focus on one task at a time.

Time Management - Part 3: Actual Time Management

How time passes over 84 years life span

Part 1

Part 2

Having a regular activity daily results in a surprising amount of time if you accumulate it over a life span.

Take a look at the entries below, and how it can affect your life:

Routine accumulation over a life span

And you think that Salat takes a lot of time !

Just take another look at this last line in the table above; if one was to pray every day, the cumulative time for the 5 daily prayers. These daily 20 minutes will ONLY represent a total of 14 months over 84 years of life span!!! Subhane Allah, I was really shocked when I made the calculation, this is not even taking into account that the obligatory salat is only mandatory from age 10. 

If we decrease this to a life span of 64 years, then the 5 daily salat will only represent a cumulative time of 9 months, or just about the same time as a human gestation.

The actual time of ibadah is thus very minimal compared to the time spent sleeping, eating etc..

Yet, it is the Ibadah that would grant you a blessing in time, as per the following hadith

Ibadah and effects on Time Management

Priority for Humans: Worship Allah

From the above hadith, it is clear that if we make our priority the worshiping of Allah, then all the rest becomes easy in our daily life. It is also making clear that if we turn away from Ibadah, then Allah Will fill our hands with so many things to do in a day and we will not find spare time at all.

So why do we run out of time?

Why we run out of time

We definitely waste our time, and this is why we just run out of it. Time is just a limited resource, we must take full advantage of it. Every second that passes will never come back to us.

What is the real problem with Time Management?

Real Problem in Time Management

Time Management - Part 2: Sunnah & Time Management

In the previous post, we saw that Time is very important to all of us, and that Allah Made mentions of it in His Holy Quran. (page last edited on 29/03)

Some Hadiths on Time Management

Amazingly, our beloved Prophet (S) taught us about Time Management, in the following hadiths:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

Take advantage of five things before five others happen:
your youth before you grow old;
your health before you fall sick;
your money before you become poor;
your leisure before you become busy;
and your life before you die.

Reported by Al Hakim . 4/341

So almost every single point above is related to time, and that we MUST take advantage of it.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم:
اغتنم خمسا قبل خمس:
شبابك قبل هرمك
وصحتك قبل سقمك
وغناك قبل فقرك
وفراغك قبل شغلك
وحياتك قبل موتك
رواه الحاكم . 4 / 341

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“There are two blessings which many people do not make the most of and thus lose out: good health and free time.” 

Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 6412.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ) رواه البخاري6412

والمغبون هو الخاسر في بيعه أو شرائه. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"A man’s feet will not move on
the day of resurrection until he will be questioned on his life, how he spent it; 
and on his knowledge what he did with it; 
and on his wealth, where he acquired it, and in how he spent it; 
and on his body how he used it.”
Reported by Tirmidhî 5197

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ عُمُرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَ فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَ أَبْلَاهُ . رواه الترمذي ( 2417 )

Other Hadiths:

“O Allah, Make Barakah to my Ummah in its early hours” . Hadith

Make thus advantage of the early hours of the day starting from Fejr, for there are certainly blessing in time during these times.

Time Management - Part 1: Islamic Importance to Time

Across my career, I have had the chance to attend several training on Time Management. I will try to compile within the next few weeks, with the help and will of Allah, some summary on the importance of Time for our Religious, personal and professional life. Insha Allah, few tips will be given to you to help you get better organized and make the most of your time.
This entry will be taken from my presentation, which is why you would see many bullet points and "presentation format" in most of it.

What is Time Management

Generally, time management refers to actions you take and tools you use that increase your efficiency or productivity.

Why is it important

• We only have one life and make the most of it for gathering good deeds
• No matter how organized we are, there are only 24 hours in a day.
• Time does not change and is not expandable. 
• All we can actually manage is ourselves and what we do with the time available to us.
• If you fail in one exam, there is always a another chance for you next year.
• If you die, there will be no second chance. 
• This life is only opportunity you have to gather good deeds
• Time is irreversible, every second that passes will never come back to you!

Mention of Time in Quran

•Time has been used by Allah in a complete Surah that bears the title.

"(وَٱلْعَصْرِ(1"

•"By Time!"— or [it ‘asr can mean the period] from the declining of the sun to sunset, or [it may denote] the  afternoon prayer. Quran Al Asr [103:1]

No doubt that the mention of time in Quran highlights its crucial importance to all of us.

Importance of Time in Islam

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ فَٱذْكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ قِيَاماً وَقُعُوداً وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰباً مَّوْقُوتاً (103)

“…Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times”. Al Nissa [4:103]

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَأْتُواْ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ  (189)

“They ask you concerning the new moons, say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time for people (for them to know the times for sowing the land, for business, for their women’s waiting periods, their fast and their breaking it) and for Pilgrimage….” Al Baqarah – [2:189]

From the above, it is obvious that every Muslim and Muslimah should be aware of the time, and this, on a daily basis.

AT&T Don't Text While Driving Documentary

I just wanted to share this video on the disasters and dangers of texting while driving. May Allah Keep us all safe, and push away from us any irresponsible driver who would text while driving.

Reminder of the day: Salat Istikharah

When faced with tough issues, when faced with difficult decisions, when faced with unexpected events and choices to make, then thanks to Allah, we have been granted a way to seek a reply from Allah for these choices, under the form of a special salat, salat al Isitkharah ( صلاة الاستخارة).

Istikharah/Istikhaarah means seeking guidance (to the right decision), as to what Allaah knows is the best and most appropriate choice, by means of prayer or the du’aa’ narrated concerning Istikhaarah. 

The hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all matters, just as he used to teach them soorahs from the Qur’aan. He said: ‘If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob. Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi. Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi 

(O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah  if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it).” 

Arabic version:

 اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ , وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ , وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ , وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ , وَأَنْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ , اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ , فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ , اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ , فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ . وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ ) رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي مَوَاضِعَ مِنْ صَحِيحِهِ (1166) وَفِي بَعْضِهَا ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ .

The answer to Salat Istikharah is not necessary a dream that the individual would have

Contrary to what many could believe, it it not necessary to dream something following the Salat Istikharah. The Ulamas are saying that the answer would be felt in the heart of the person, i.e. if you do a Salat Istikharah on a matter, you should then listen to your heart: do you find your heart at peace of doing it or not? this is the answer of your Istikharah.

Also, nothing prevents you after having made the Salat Istikharah to seek the advice of trustworthy people, then you make your final decision.

Finally, it is also important to note how are the events unfolding regarding the matter; if you see that the situation is getting harder and harder  then it might be a sign that you should not pursue the matter any further. If in the contrary you note that the matters are getting easier etc, then it is a good sign that you are heading towards the right decision.

My life is full of problems حياتي كلها مشاكل

I have read this kind of poem below over the net/ chain mails several years ago. The original text is in Arabic, on the form of a poetry. I do not know who was the original author of this unfortunately. This poem has the same concept of one of my previous entries, we had similar thoughts but different approach.

I just wanted to share it as it contains some valuable lessons we could learn. I have added also the Arabic and French versions of this for expanding the audience.

I particularly like to retain the fact that the neighbor's grass is NOT greener.

Of course, let no one contemplate suicide as a solution to his/her misery, certainly such desperate act would lead its owner to dwell in hell fire for ever. Suicide is completely forbidden in Islam. When facing difficulties, just seek the help of Allah, as simply as that. He is more than sufficient for you, won't you agree?

***

My life is full of problems, there are no solutions

Suicide is the only solution

I'll jump, and indeed, I jumped

This is the ninth floor, there is the happy couple husband and wife, known in the building ..

They argue, in fact they were never happy..

This is the eighth floor,

Is it not this young happy man and cheerful, known in the building?!

He cries.. he cries so much!

This is the seventh floor,

Is it not this the most active woman in the building?

What does she do?

What is this pale face?

And what are all these drugs?

She takes her medication,

She seems very sick...

This is the sixth floor,

Is it not our neighbor, a graduate Engineer for five years?

He still buys seven daily papers looking for a job!

This is the fifth floor,

This is our old neighbor ... He waits for someone to visit him and ask after him

He expects one of his married sons or daughters

But nobody has ever knocked on his door!

He seems so sad...

This is the fourth floor,

Is it not our beautiful neighbor, so elegant and smiling!?

She looks at a photo of her late husband, who died three years ago and she cries...

Before jumping out of the building, I thought I was the saddest person and the most miserable one in the world!

Now, I realize that everyone has their problems and sorrows that are unique to them

And after seeing all this I realized that my pain and misery were nothing in fact,

The people I saw during the jump are the ones looking at me now,

If everyone of us having a misfortune just thought that his/her neighbor had a much worse misfortune than his/her own,

It would make him/her a much happier person

So thank your Lord...

Did you get the message???

Do not be discouraged for a short disappearing life. For Allah, everything life holds is not even equal to the weight of the wing of a mosquito If the value of the world was equal to that of the wing of a mosquito by Allah, He would not have allowed any Kaafir even a drink of water from it." Narrated be Tirmidhi

And know that Allah is certainly with the patient people.

Bottom line:

.. if you find no way out, if the doors are closed, if you are unable to think, if the earth seems narrow despite its wideness, if if if ... then just stand up and call Allaaaah!

It is He Who Hears, it is He Who Answers, He is the Almighty.

French Version:

Ma vie est pleine de problèmes, il n’y a pas de solutions

Le suicide est la seule solution

Je vais bondir, et en effet, j’ai bondi

C'est le neuvième étage, c’est ce couple heureux du mari et de sa femme, connus dans le bâtiment..

Ils se disputent, ils n’étaient en fait jamais heureux

C’est le huitième étage

N'est-ce pas ce jeune homme gai et joyeux, connu dans le bâtiment ?!

Il pleure..il pleure très fort!

C’est le septième étage

N'est-ce pas là la femme la plus active du bâtiment

Que fait-elle?

Quel est ce visage pâle?

Et que sont tous ces médicaments

Elle prend ses médicaments..

Elle semble très malade

C'est le sixième étage,

N'est-ce pas là notre voisin, diplômé ingénieur depuis cinq ans

Il achète toujours sept quotidiens pour chercher du travail!

C’est le cinquième étage

C'est notre voisin vieux... Il attend que quelqu’un lui rende visite et demande après lui

Il attend ses fils et ses filles mariés

Mais personne n’a jamais frappé à sa porte!

Il semble triste

C’est le quatrième étage

N'est-ce pas notre belle voisine élégante et souriante!

Elle regarde une photo de son défunt mari, mort depuis trois ans et elle pleure

Avant de sauter de l'immeuble, je pensais être la personne la plus triste et la plus misérable au monde

Maintenant, je me suis rendu compte que chacun a ses problèmes et ses peines qui lui sont propre

Et après avoir vu tout cela j’ai compris que ma douleur et ma misère n'était rien du tout, en fin de compte

Les gens que j’ai vus pendant le saut me regardent maintenant

Si chacun d'entre nous ayant un malheur pensait juste que son prochain avait un malheur beaucoup plus grave que le sien,

Il deviendrait une personne beaucoup plus heureuse

Alors remercie ton Seigneur

Avez-vous compris le message???

Ne sois pas découragé pour une vie éphémère. Pour Dieu, tout ce qu’elle peut contenir n'est même pas égal au poids de l'aile d’un moustique Si la valeur du monde était égale à celle de l'aile d'un moustique par Allah, Il n'aurait pas permis à un Kafir même pas une gorgée d'eau à partir de celui-ci. "Rapporté par Tirmidhi

Et sache que Dieu est avec les gens patients

Conclusion:

..si tu ne trouves pas d'issue, si les portes se ferment, si tu es incapable de penser, si la terre te paraît étroite, si si ...alors releve toi et appelle Allaaah !

C'est Lui qui Entend, c'est Lui qui Répond, c'est Lui le Tout-puissant.

Arabic Version:

حياتي كلها مشاكل

ليس لها حلول

الإنتحار هو الحل الوحيد

سأقفز

وبالفعل قفزت

انه الطابق التاسع .. انه الزوج والزوجة السعيدان المعروفان في المبنى

انهما يتشاجران

لم يكونا سعيدين أبداً

  

انه الطابق الثامن

أليس هذا الشاب الضحوك المعروف في المبنى ..؟!

انه يبكي .. يبكي بشدة !

انه الطابق السابع

أليست هذه المرأة الأكثر نشاطاً في المبنى

ماذا تفعل؟

ما هذا الوجه الشاحب

وما كل هذه الأدوية

أنها تأخذ أدويتها

تبدو مريضة جداً

انه الطابق السادس..

أليس هذا جارنا المهندس لقد تخرج منذ خمس سنوات

مازال يشترى سبع صحف يوميا ليبحث عن عمل !!

  

انه الطابق الخامس

انه جارنا العجوز ... ينتظر أحداً يزوره ويسأل عن أحواله

انه ينتظر بناته أولاده المتزوجين

ولكن بابه لم يدق يوماً !!

يبدو حزينا

انه الطابق الرابع

أليست هذه جارتنا الأنيقة الجميلة المتبسمة ..!

انها تنظر إلى صورة زوجها الراحل منذ ثلاث سنين وتبكي

  

قبل أن أقفز من المبنى اعتقدت بأنني الشخص الأكثر حزناً وبؤساً

الأن أدركت أن لكل شخص مشاكله وأحزانه الخاصة

وبعدما شاهدت كل هذا وجدت أن حزني وبؤسي في الحقيقة لم يكن سيئاً على الإطلاق

الناس الذين رأيتهم وانا أقفز ينظرون إلي الآن !

لو ان كل واحد منا فكر ان لغيره مصيبة أعظم من مصيبته

لكان سعيدا

فاحمد ربك

هل وصلتكم الرسالة ؟؟؟

لا تبتئس لدنيا فانية .. كل ما فيها لا يساوي عند الله جناح بعوضة

واعلم ان الله مع الصابرين