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BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM

OUR COOUR COOUR COOUR CO----OPERATION FOR OPERATION FOR OPERATION FOR OPERATION FOR

OUR WELFAREOUR WELFAREOUR WELFAREOUR WELFARE

A Monthly Electronic Bulletin (Non-current-political and social welfare oriented)

55th issue – 19 Jamadiul Awwal, 1436 ; 11 March, 2015; Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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Circulated all over the world free of cost to please ALMIGHTY ALLAH (SWT)

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AL-HAMDULILLAH!

NOW IN THE 5TH

YEAR OF PUBLICATION

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BY THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH, THE BULLETIN HAS

COMPLETED ITS FOUR SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF PUBLICATION

ON 11 SEPTEMBER, 2014 WITH BEST WISHES TO ALL ITS

READERS AND WELL WISHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Edited and published in English by: M. A. A. Ashraf.

Editor’s E-mail: avijat@gmail.com

Editor’s Surface-mail: Post Box 5123, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Editor’s website: heavenlysite.org

Editor’s blog: http://fiamanillah.wordpress.com

Assistant Editor: Abeda A. Faisal.

Asst. Editor’s E-mail address: abeda.faisal@yahoo.com

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���� Contents:

Page

� Holy Qur’an. … … … … … … … … … … … 4

� Holy Hadith. … … … … … … … … … … … 5

� Useful Messages from the Greats-in-Islam. … … … … ... ... …7

� Valuable Extracts from the Lectures of Great ‘Alems’ and Saints. … … … 9

� Profuse Profit and No Loss! … … … … … … … … … … … 13

� Mosnobi-e-Rumi … … … … … … … … … … 15

� Women’s World … … … … … … … … … 20

� World of Poetry. … … … … … … … … … 24

� Islam in America … … … … … … … … … … … 26

� From Darkness to Light! … … … … … … … … … … 31

� A Peep into the PAST! … … … … … … … … … 45

� Treasury of Diamonds and Pearls. … … … … … …. 54

� Glimpses from the Past Editorials … … … … … … … 63

� Umar Sharif works for human welfare. … … … … … … 67

� A short Note on Islam. … … … … … … … … … 70

� Editorial. … … … … … … … … … … … 71

==================================================================================

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♣ From Holy QUR’AN :

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Verily, this is My Way

Leading straight: follow it;

Follow not (other) paths:

They will scatter you about

From His (great) Path;

Thus doth He command you,

That ye may be righteous.

(6 :153) – English Translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali)

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♥ From Holy ‘Hadith’:

Sahih Bukhari Sharif

KNOWLEDGE

Volume 1, Book 3, Number 71 :

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Narrated by Muawiya (RA)

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If Allah wants to do good

to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion. I am

just a distributor, but the grant is from Allah. (And

remember) that this nation (true Muslims) will keep on

following Allah's teachings strictly and they will not be

harmed by any one going on a different path till Allah's

order (Day of Judgment) is established."

(English translation as per internet edition of Sahih Bukhari Sharif)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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Useful Messages from the Greats-in-Islam

The following messages are from Hazrat Abdullah Ibne

Mubarak (Rahmatullah Alaihi):

He was asked questions which he answered as follows:

1. Q: What are the best things for a human being?

A: Much knowledge and intelligence.

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2. Q: If he/she does not possess those?

A: Then he/she should have honesty and good

manners.

3. Q: If he/she does not have those?

A: Then he/she should obtain advice from honest

persons and work accordingly.

4. Q: If he/she does not have that opportunity?

A: Then he/she should keep silence.

5. Q: Even if that be not possible?

A: Then it is better for him/her to quickly go

away.

(English translation by M. A. A. Ashraf)

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{In this column, valuable extracts from the lectures/books of the great ‘Alems’ and Saints

are presented to the readers. Today, abridged English translation of an extract from the

lectures of the greatest ‘Alem’ and Saint of 20th century Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi

(Rahmatullahi Alaihi) is presented below.}

{This is a part of the series of articles being published part by part. New

readers wishing to read the previous installments may visit the editor’s

blog http://fiamanillah.wordpress.com}

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Commitment of giving reward

Glossary: Hadith-e-Qudsi = Those Hadith in which ALLAH (SWT) has

directly addressed His ‘bandas’ and HE speaks as the 1st

person.

A holy Hadith-e-Qudsi says --- “For my pious ‘bandas’, I have

created such (wonderful) rewards that no eye has ever seen such

things and no ear has ever heard of such things and nobody has

ever imagined of such things!”

Many are ignorant of the prospect of uplift and augmentation

that may be received by a ‘banda’ as reward during lifetime in

this world. Most of the Muslims think that rewards greater than

‘amals’ will be received only in ‘Akhirat’. Rewards cannot be had

in this world, or even if received in this world the amount of

rewards will be small. This concept is totally wrong.

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ALLAH (SWT) also gives rewards of religious ‘amals’ in this very

world to an unthought-of extent and that also is so great that

nobody could imagine of such rewards before!

Perhaps you will now ask me ‘what are those rewards?’ The

answer to that question is ‘Be religious. You will yourself be able

to get those rewards!’ I will not be able to describe those.

Those are not also accessible to the common words of

description. Because, I have told you earlier that no human

being can even not imagine of such (wonderful) things! So how

is it possible to describe such things?

(Will continue)

Original by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah Alaihi) – ‘Mawaeze

Ashrafia’.

Summarized and translated to English by M. A. A. Ashraf.

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(This is a series of articles based on the famous books authored by Hazrat Imam Gazzali

(Rahmatullah Alaihi), one of the greatest Islamic scholars of all ages whose scholastic

excellence and spiritual achievements are written in the history of Islam in golden

letters.

(New readers wishing to read the previous installments may visit the

editor’s blog http://fiamanillah.wordpress.com)

Thoughts on the Things that are visible

The following was the last para of this article published in the previous issue:

“If we attentively look at the nature, we will find many more Signs present

before our eyes. We should carefully look at those Signs and try to perceive

within ourselves the wonderful creative skills of ALLAH (SWT).”

The present installment

Thoughts on human body:

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Of the innumerable signs of the amazing creative skills of ALLAH

(SWT), the sign that is nearest to you is ‘yourself’! In the universe,

there is nothing more amazing than ‘you’, whereas you are

indifferent of your own identity! In the holy Qur’an, ALLAH (SWT)

says --- ‘O mankind! You think on yourselves. The glory and

supremacy of ALLAH (SWT) will be opened to your perception.’

The origin and development of human body:

Dear reader, at first you think on the initial stage of your body ---

wherefrom did you originate? ALLAH (SWT) created you from a

drop of water! This water was initially preserved as your birth-seed

at the back of your father and the chest of your mother. Then

sexual impulse was imposed on your parents. Uses were made of

the woman’s womb as the field and the man’s back-preserved

water as the seed. During physical union of man and wife, semen

from the back of man and that from the chest of woman enter into

the uterus (womb) which, ultimately, get transformed into the

embryo of a human child.

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(Will continue)

Original by Imam Gazzali (RA) --- ‘Kimiai Sa-adat’.

Summarized and Translated to English by M. A.A. Ashraf.

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Mosnobi-e-Rumi

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[An outstanding Islamic scholar and a great ‘Buzurg’ Maulana

Jalaluddin Rumi (Rahmatullah Alaihi) was born in 604 Hijri (830

years ago) in Balkh in Khorasan area of the then Roman Empire.

His scholastic brilliance and superb mysticism contained in his

celebrated work “Mosnobi-e-Rumi” received worldwide

acclamation that transcended down the centuries unabated

charming millions of readers around the world irrespective of

religious faiths up to the current century. In this column, attempts

will be made to present to the readers some spiritual lights from

‘Mosnobi-e-Rumi’ to illuminate their hearts and help them make

some tangible progress towards attainment of the most fortunate

privilege of human life --- the proximity of the Creator of the

universe! – Editor.]

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WWWOOORRRLLLDDD---LLLOOOVVVIIINNNGGG PPPEEERRRSSSOOONNNSSS WWWIIILLLLLL NNNEEEVVVEEERRR GGGEEETTT

AAACCCTTTUUUAAALLL HHHAAAPPPPPPIIINNNEEESSSSSS!!!

WWWhhheeennn aaa bbbiiirrrddd fffllliiieeesss hhhiiiggghhh iiinnn ttthhheee ssskkkyyy iiitttsss

ssshhhaaadddooowww,,, ttthhhaaattt fffaaallllllsss ooonnn eeeaaarrrttthhh,,, rrruuunnnsss ooonnn

ttthhheee gggrrrooouuunnnddd aaasss ttthhheee bbbiiirrrddd fffllliiieeesss ooonnn...

IIIfff aaannnyyy fffoooooollliiissshhh hhhuuunnnttteeerrr rrruuunnnsss aaafffttteeerrr ttthhheee

ssshhhaaadddooowww tttooo hhhuuunnnttt ttthhheee bbbiiirrrddd aaannnddd eeevvveeennn iiifff

hhheee ttthhhrrrooowwwsss aaarrrrrrooowww aaafffttteeerrr aaarrrrrrooowww aaattt ttthhheee

ssshhhaaadddooowww ttthhhrrrooouuuggghhhooouuuttt hhhiiisss eeennntttiiirrreee

llliiifffeeetttiiimmmeee hhheee wwwiiillllll nnneeevvveeerrr bbbeee aaabbbllleee tttooo hhhuuunnnttt

ttthhheee aaaccctttuuuaaalll bbbiiirrrddd!!!

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Explanation: The great mystic poet Maulana Jalaluddin

Rumi (RA) here has imagined the ‘actual bird’ as the

symbol of ‘real happiness’ of ‘Akhirat’ and the shadow of

the bird as the symbol of ‘unreal happiness’ on earth. He

likes to say that real endless happiness and pleasure are

available only in ‘Akhirat’ and not in this world. So

anyone who desires to enjoy real and permanent

happiness and pleasure must shun his/her desire for

worldly pleasure and devote himself/herself to ‘Ebadot’ of

ALLAH (SWT) sincerely. He/she should by all means

abandon their efforts for worldly happiness which is

unreal (like the shadow of a bird) and very temporary.

--- Translated to English by M. A. A. Ashraf.

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Women’s World

“I couldn’t be happier to shed my bikini in South Beach and the “glamorous”

Western lifestyle to live in peace with my Creator and enjoy living among fellow

humans as a worthy person. It is why I choose to wear Niqab, and why

I will die defending my inalienable right to wear it. Today, Niqab

is the new symbol of woman’s liberation.” -- Sara Bokker.

(SARA BOKKER, AN AMERICAN YOUNG WOMAN WHO REVERTED TO ISAM IN 2003 AT THE

AGE OF 29, IS A FORMER HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS/MODEL/FITNESS-INSTRUCTOR AND

ACTIVIST. CURRENTLY, SARA IS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AT “THE MARCH FOR

JUSTICE,” A CO-FOUNDER OF “THE GLOBAL SISTERS NETWORK,” AND PRODUCER OF THE

INFAMOUS “SHOCK & AWE GALLERY.”)

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Amazing sAmazing sAmazing sAmazing story of a new tory of a new tory of a new tory of a new

Muslim womanMuslim womanMuslim womanMuslim woman

---By Abeda A. Faisal

(Continued from the 1st

installment published in the 54th

issue)

Arabic language attracted me so much that I was fully inclined to

learn that. It seemed to me that Arabic language was the most

beautiful and graceful language on earth. But in my town there was

no school or institution to learn Arabic language.

Somehow I got to learn the language from a teacher but I could not

carry out learning. It was the month before Ramadan and he left the

city to be with his family. I became frustrated.

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Time passed by and I gradually started to proceed towards Islam. I

used to read articles about Islam and the Muslim community in

different websites and watch television programs upon Muslims. At

that time I participated in a forum of Muslim women from where I

learned many things. Some Slovak ladies were in the forum. A lady

came from ‘Kosis’ of Slovakia who said to me that there were

opportunities in their town to learn Arabic and ‘Qur’an’.

I told her that I was intensely interested to participate in those

lessons. We met with each other a week later. She was a great lady

and I felt peace and security in near of her. There I started to learn

Arabic and Qur’an. I came close to many Muslim girls over there. I

attended regular classes. Reciting of Qur’an attracted me so much

that I got to memorize some of the Surahs. Everyone in the class co –

operated with me although I was not a Muslim yet.

The Arabic course was finished after several months, but we used to

get together regularly. I closely observed their life style. I did not

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know what I exactly wanted at that time but craved to know about

ALMIGHTY ALLAH. I wished to learn more and more about Islam. My

Muslim sisters used to tell me that one day surely ALMIGHTY ALLAH

would guide me in the right way and when that would happen

nothing could deviate me from that way.

(Will continue)

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World of Poetry

[This feature contains poetries that reflect “LOVE for ALLAH

(SWT), the Creator of the Universe”.]

The Silent Voice!

By M. A. A. Ashraf

Over the hills and mountains,

Along the rivers and oceans,

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Above the meadows and deserts,

Across the sky and the stars,

There passes a silent voice

Radiant with celestial poise

Warning what you see is not all,

What you hear is not the whole!

So we better start preparing for it

With all seriousness and sincerity.

Be wise to respect the unseen

Be intelligent to honor the unheard.

Visualize the day of Judgment

When you will see the so-far unseen

And hear the so-far unheard!

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Islam in America

--- M. A. A. Ashraf

The advent of Islam in America began with the arrival of the

Spanish Muslims who accompanied the Spanish invaders.

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Thereafter large numbers of Muslims, mostly Africans, were

imported to America as slaves to work. Despite efforts to

eliminate the slaves' Islamic identity, the faith and practices

remained strong with many of them.

Early in the current century, large influx of immigrants from

various countries, most notably Palestine, Lebanon and

Pakistan rolled into this continent. These people who were

mostly illiterate and unskilled found work in the factories and

elsewhere as labors.

The beginning of '50s saw an influx of Muslim professionals,

many of them physicians, settled in this country after

completing their studies. Great numbers of Muslim students

from all parts of the world also began to arrive in this country.

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This was the period of formation of Muslim communities and

Mosques in various places in America. Visiting scholars and

missionary groups from the Middle East and the Indo-Pakistan

subcontinent also began to arrive at this time and the process

of the reversion of the white Americans to Islam was switched

on.

Two pertinent questions lately arose --- ‘Is Islam the fastest

growing religion in the world? Is it the fastest growing religion

in America? The demographics tell us that the answer is ‘yes’

to both questions!

Most major studies estimate a worldwide Muslim population

for the year 2000 at roughly 1.25 billion people; that is, about

one-fifth of the world’s population.

Authentic reports confirm that Islam is the fastest growing

religion in the world. As per CNN report, 6 million Americans

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converted to Islam in USA even after 9/11. In Europe, as per

United Nations statistics, between 1989 and 1998 Muslim

population grew by more than 100 percent (to about 14

million). If the current rate continues, Islam’s population by the

year 2025 will be 1.9 billion representing about 24 percent of

the total European population.

The major sections of Muslim populations are concentrated in

Asia and Africa. More than 27 percent live in Africa. Indonesia

has about 15 percent of the world’s Muslim population. In

South Asia about one-third of the world’s Muslim population

lives in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.

Islam is the third-largest religion in the United States (after

Christianity and Judaism). It is followed by 0.6% of the

population. American Muslims come from various

backgrounds, and are one of the most racially diverse

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religious groups in the United States. About 72% of American

Muslims are immigrants or second generation.

(Source of information: Internet)

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FFFrrrooommm DDDaaarrrkkknnneeessssss tttooo LLLiiiggghhhttt

[Many modern men and women of different faiths and cultures all

over the world are gradually coming to realize that ISLAM is the only

religion that can satisfy all their queries on the Creator of the

universe and offers a complete code and conduct of life for a

peaceful, happy and successful living. Consequently a large number

of non-Muslims are reverting to ISLAM every year in different

countries, particularly the western countries and more particularly

the United States of America. Stories of non-Muslims embracing

ISLAM are often amazing, interesting, lesson-giving, ‘Iman’-

strengthening and full of evidences that bear testimony to the glory

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of ALLAH (SWT) in Whose supreme hand lies the sole power to bless

any human being with ‘Hedayet’ (Faith in ISLAM).

As per holy Hadith --- if any Muslim community neglects doing

‘Ebadot’, ALLAH (SWT) may withdraw the ‘Blessing of Hedayat’ from

that Muslim community and bestow it on a non-Muslim community!

That means, Muslims should not think that they have absolute right

on ‘Hedayet’ and whether or not they respect it and make good use

of it, it has to stay with them permanently! In the modern world,

there are some Muslims (by birth) who do not take proper care of

‘Hedayet’ --- they do not feel like doing ‘Ebadot’ properly! The above

Hadith is a warning to them! For their own welfare, they should

become serious in doing ‘Ebadot’!

This column contains interesting and enlightening articles, stories and

news on reversions of non-Muslims to ISLAM in different parts of the

world across different cultures. – Editor.]

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JOURNEY TOWARDS THE RIGHT!

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Towards ISLAM

Malaika Kayani (ex Buddhist), Khadijah

Elliot (ex Christian) and Zara Gluch (ex

Christian)

Embraced ISLAM

Their stories with observations

Malaika Kayani, 49, runs a Nottingham-based group

called ‘Sisters in the Community’ which aims to help

vulnerable or isolated female Muslim converts who are

struggling to fit into their communities.

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“When you’re about to convert everyone can be really

excited and you’re about to be embraced by this massive

family,” she explains. “But obviously the excitement dries

down and a lot of converts end up feeling really isolated.”

“As a convert you’re in between two communities. The

Western one you have been part of your whole life, and

then the Muslim community you’re trying to integrate in

as well.”

Kayani knows this feeling of isolation well – she converted

to Islam aged 42 after befriending Muslims for the first

time in her life. “I imagined Islam to be oppressive and

what little knowledge I had wasn’t very positive,” she tells.

“Particularly the men, but I found they were very

respectful and nothing like I’d imagined them to.”

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This is when she started exploring Islam: “I listened to

the Koran and I felt like it had touched my soul. It was

unexpected – I was a staunch feminist and a Buddhist.

But I wanted to learn more, and Muslim people advised it

was better to convert and learn it rather than learn from

the outside. I thought, just go for it.”

So after living as a woman called Debbie for 42 years,

Kayani changed her name and converted. It meant giving

up alcohol, switching to halal meat, and eventually

wearing a headscarf. Around the same time, she began a

relationship with a Muslim man who is still her partner

today, and the two have had a Nikah – an Islamic

marriage - to legitimize their relationship in the

community.

The religion is everything she wanted, but with her

conversion came a new range of difficulties. She felt

isolated from her previous life: “To say my family wasn’t

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happy was an understatement. Their first question was,

are you going to have to cover up? My friends said if you

get married to a Muslim man, he’ll make you his slave.”

Her 29-year-old daughter also decided to convert to Islam

at the same time, and that brought with it more

criticisms: “Most people think I have brainwashed her or

scared her into becoming a Muslim. But she’d tell you it’s

all her decision.”

Her family is more supportive now, but she faces

prejudice from people living locally in her predominantly

white town. She doesn’t wear her headscarf in her local

area because of the looks and insults she receives – “It’s

not that I’m scared because it’s dangerous; it’s just

uncomfortable. Sometimes you don’t have the strength to

be brow-beaten every day.”

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She tells when she wears her headscarf on the bus,

people avoid her – one elderly woman made her toddler

grandchild sit on a dirty step instead of a spare seat next

to Kayani – and the abuse is getting worse: “After the

Paris attacks, it’s even [worse]. I feel like it’s high-risk

going out with your headscarf on.”

'Muslims isolated me from their community'

But at the same time, Kayani had issues trying to

befriend existing Muslims: “I didn’t really fit in. I was still

learning. I didn’t wear the headscarf and I was a bit

different. They weren’t all all-encompassing or all-

embracing regardless.

“People try to encourage you to do better. So if you’re not

behaving a certain way or you don’t know how to pray, or

the way you’re dressed – people will suggest ways you can

practice better. If someone says ‘you can’t do this’ I don’t

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respond well to that. For a convert that can be a lot of

pressure.”

Khadijah Elliott, an English teacher, converted to Islam

10 years ago when she married one of her former

students who was a Muslim. Due to visa issues, the pair

married in Kabul, but weeks after the wedding her

husband disappeared, and Elliott was told by his family

that he had been killed.

Devastated and confused, she returned to England and

continued life as a Muslim woman. Like Kayani, she had

issues from the local Muslim community: “If you come

from an English background, a lot of Muslims find that

difficult to understand. Because you have to change that

and put aside a put of your own culture, you’ve got to

either find a new one or hover between the two. It can be

very difficult. “Some families who are born Muslim want

to stick to their own culture rigidly.”

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Elliott says that her husband never pressured her to

convert, but says: “He’d been in this country for a few

years so he’d adapted to the Western lifestyle. He

encouraged me to find out things for myself.”

'Misguided men put pressures on women'

But this isn’t always the case. Kayani tells she’s aware of

some women being pressured to ‘be more Muslim’ by

their partners. “There are men that are misguided and

think they have got to put the pressure on. I’m wondering

if a lot of that is how they have been raised.

“There are also some people who say you can’t be Muslim

and be a feminist. But I disagree. Some women think it’s

their duty to be at home. But a lot of the women I know

are happy to work or volunteer, like I do.”

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Some Muslims have also commented on the fact that she

had her daughter out of wedlock back when she was 17

years old: “They look at you with disgust. I don’t like any

kind of attitude like that. We’re in the 21st century. Most

women convert with baggage and previous relationships

and children so the Muslim community needs to wake up

to the fact that these women are coming into their faith,

embracing it, and probably practicing it better.”

This idea that religious converts are often more zealous

than those born into the religion isn’t exclusive to Islam,

but it’s one that Kayani thinks is really prevalent. Though

it took her three years to wear a headscarf, she now

regularly wears one and is learning Arabic in her spare

time – something that many Muslim people have

commented on in surprise.

“With the utmost love and respect to people who are born

into the faith they’re born into it without choice,” she

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says. “But when you choose to get on board you’re more

passionate. Even a lot of Muslims born into it will say

converts quite often strive to learn much more and make

more effort.”

'I'm more religious than my husband'

Zara Gluch, a 29-year-old Muslim convert, tells that this

is definitely the case for her. She’s originally from Poland

and was brought up in a Christian household as Edyta

Gluch, but converted to Islam when she was 22 years old,

after her Muslim boyfriend began talking to her about his

faith.

“When I was in Poland my friend once had a Muslim

boyfriend and I remember saying to my mum, I would

never go out with a Muslim man – I would never change

my religion. But when I met my boyfriend, I read about it,

and it was a totally different picture.”

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Now she’s married to that same boyfriend, runs a DIY

shop with him and the couple have two young children.

She tells me: “He says I have more [Islamic] knowledge

than him because I keep reading about it and studying it.

I want to know everything.

“People who are born into Islam just go and do whatever

they saw their parents do and it’s not always religious –

most of the time it’s culture. I’m more religious than my

husband.”

She has given up the short skirts, short-sleeved tops and

high heels of her past in favor of loose clothing and a

headscarf – even though her husband tried to persuade

her not to wear the headscarf. But Gluch says it’s what

she wants: “It’s about covering yourself. Since I have

started covering myself, I feel people respect me more,

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they look at me differently. People used to catcall me

before and say things. Now they don’t.

I feel like Islam is the true religion for me.

(Source: Internet)

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A PEEP INTO THE PAST!

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[In this column the valuable articles published in the past

issues of this bulletin containing valuable lessons will be

reprinted one by one for the purpose of bringing those

noteworthy things live into the memories of the respected

readers for facilitating their doing ‘Amals’ that will pave the

way of their success both in here and hereafter.]

This historical story was published in the 11th issue of the bulletin:

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☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

A King with Lustful Eyes!

--- M. A. A. Ashraf

Ancient Egypt -- a country that haunted the pages of

history repeatedly with many amazing stories! The

country of pyramids and sphynx that symbolize mystery,

even today! The country ruled by ‘Firauns’ – a common

title of the ancient kings of Egypt. Whoever ascended to

the throne became a ‘Firaun’ – a royal title imprinted on

the pages of history as a symbol of black monarchism!

It was the time of an oppressor ‘Firaun’ who was

notorious not only for his oppressive rule but also for his

polluted moral character! No pretty woman in his

kingdom was safe from his immoral aggression. He kept

border guards all around the borders of his kingdom with

strict orders that all tourists entering his kingdom must

be checked for assets and pretty women! Assets should

be taxed and pretty women must be sent to the royal

palace!

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On the morning of a summer day, a tourist entered the

kingdom of ‘Firaun’. His plan was to cross over this

kingdom and enter the next one. He was accompanied by

a big wooden box. As soon as he entered, he was

surrounded by the border guards who asked him to open

the box for customs checking. The tourist said to the

guards, “Whatever amount of tax you levy, I will pay that,

but I will not open the box that contains some personal

assets.” The guards replied that opening the box was

necessary to see the assets for making correct

assessment of tax. The tourist said that correct

assessment was not necessary as he was prepared to pay

any big amount of tax they would demand! This aroused

suspicion in the minds of the guards who then applied

force and opened the box.

To their surprise, the guards saw an exquisitely beautiful

young woman inside the box! In fact, the tourist knew

about the immoral activity of ‘Firaun’ and that was why

he had hid his beautiful wife inside a box to keep her safe

from the eyes of the king’s guards. But unfortunately the

plan did not work. The guards arrested the tourist and

the woman; and sent them to the royal court. The king,

having been charmed with the beauty of the woman,

ordered to take her to his personal room in the royal

palace and take the tourist to the prison.

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After some time, the king, dressed in dazzling royal robes,

visited his personal special room where the young woman

was kept. He gazed at the pretty woman with lustful eyes

and said, “Graceful lady, if you agree to my proposal, I

will make you my chief queen and release your husband

to go back to his country”. The woman replied that she

could not agree to his proposal and requested the king to

release both of them and allow them to go to their

destination. The king became annoyed and started

stepping forward to catch her.

She cried out, “Your royal highness, please stop. I am

your captive, so I cannot escape your palace. So you need

not make haste. Please allow me some time and let me

perform ablution and 2 rakat ‘Salat’. The king agreed.

She then performed ablution and performed 2 rakat

‘Salat’, and prayed to ALMIGHTY to save her from the

clutches of this oppressor king. She again appealed to

the king to be good enough to release her and her

husband and let them go.

The king now became furious and stepped forward to

catch her. But before he could come near her, suddenly

his legs got buried in the ground and he failed to move

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further! He thought the lady knew magic and victimized

him. So he softly requested the lady to release him, he

promised not to repeat his bad activity. The lady became

soft to him and prayed to ALMIGHTY to release him. He

was released, but immediately thereafter ‘satan’ prevailed

upon him, and he again attempted to step forward to

catch her! As soon as he attempted, his legs became

paralyzed and he fell down failing to move further. Now

the king realized that the lady was not an ordinary

woman, and her prayer was acting against him.

The king became now very soft and requested her

weeping to pardon him promising not to repeat his bad

act. The repeated requests of the king softened the heart

of the lady who again prayed for his release. But as soon

as he got release, the ‘satan’ again sat on his shoulder

and he again jumped forward to catch her.

Instantaneously he became blind and fell down to the

ground.

The king was now seized with real realization about the

lady and he got frightened! He started weeping and

waling saying ‘Honorable lady, I feel ashamed to show my

face to you. I have broken my promise twice and have

lost all grounds to request you any further. Now you are

51

my mother and I am your son! I fervently appeal to you

to pray for me so that I may regain of my eyesight. If you

do not, I will remain blind for ever. Could you not be

kind enough to pardon your son for this last time!

The lady said, ‘I have prayed for you twice and you have

broken your promise. My prayer will not be granted any

more. In fact, you have lost your eyesight because of the

prayer of my husband who is a very great spiritual leader

and very dear to ALMIGHTY ALLAH. So only his prayer

can help you regaining your eyesight. On hearing this,

the king sent for the tourist prisoner to be brought there.

The tourist was none but the great Prophet Hazrat

Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Following his marriage

with Princess Sarah, he stayed at that kingdom for some

time and preached religion there, till he was ordered by

ALMIGHTY ALLH to go to Babel to preach the religion

given by ALLAH (ISLAM) to king Namrud, the king of

Babel. Accordingly, he was going via Egypt to Babel with

his wife Princess Sarah, who had insisted to accompany

him although the Prophet (peace be upon him) initially

did not like the idea of taking her in this long arduous

journey.

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The Prophet (peace be upon him) knew about the

character of Firaun, but there was no alternative way to

go to Babel except via Egypt. So he was proceeding this

way with his wife contained in a big wooden box to save

her from the lustful eyes of Firaun.

However, as soon as the Prophet (peace be upon him) was

imprisoned and his wife was taken away from him,

ALMIGHTY ALLAH removed terrestrial barriers from his

eyes and ears so that he could directly see his wife in her

prison and directly hear her dialogues with the king! He

had watched the activity of the king with his wife till

finally the king became blind. From the symptoms he

observed he was convinced that this last time the king

had become genuinely repentant for his misdeeds. So

when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was brought near

the king and the king appealed to him for favor, he

pardoned the king and prayed for his regain of sight.

The king regained his sight and profusely thanked the

Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wife. He presented

them a lot of wealth and an innocent teen-aged virgin girl!

About the girl, the king said to the Prophet (peace be

upon him), ‘O virtuous great man, the girl whom I am

presenting you is cent percent pure and holy. I got this

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charming girl when she was younger than now. In spite

of my desire, I could not pollute her. As I attempted, the

same set of happenings occurred as happened in the case

of your pious wife! So I had to refrain myself from doing

any harm to her. Since then she has been staying in my

palace in safe custody, and I have been cherishing the

desire to present her to a genuinely virtuous man. Now

you are the most virtuous man I have ever seen, so I am

availing myself of the honor to present you this girl, who

is also fortunate to get a guardian like you.’

The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wife gladly

accepted the girl, took her with them and set out for their

onward journey to Babel.

◌� ◌� ◌�

(Reference: ‘Kasasul Ambia’)

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Treasury of Diamonds and

Pearls

Please keep the following always alive in your mind:

55

(1)

“Until and unless you firmly believe and install in your mind that

ALLAH (SWT) is watching you always, nothing of your ‘Ebadot’

will come to discipline and order.”

--- Imam Gazzali (Rahmatullah Alaihi).

(2)

Go on working sincerely, don’t worry for the end result,

at some moment ALLAH’s Mercy will start

56

accompanying you, and you will be blessed with

success!

--- Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah Alaihi).

(3)

The most precious Opportunity for You to Get what

You Want!

There is a time of night when we sleep, no sound of traffic,

silence prevails everywhere! At that pin-drop-silent hours of

night -- when the world around us sleeps -- there is One who

remains awake and waits for us to call on HIM!

As per Hadith-e-qudsi: "Our Supreme Lord descends during the

last third of each night to the lower heaven, and says: 'Is there

anyone who calls on Me that I may respond to him/her? Is there

57

anyone who asks Me that I may give unto him/her? Is there

anyone who requests My Forgiveness that I may forgive

him/her?'"

--- (Bukhari and Muslim sharif)

Editor’s comment:

Every night of our life offers us this most fortunate opportunity!

Can we not avail ourselves of this most precious opportunity to

get what we want and what we desire for?

(4)

1. One who has known ALLAH (SWT) he/she has nothing to want

from anybody else.

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2. Try your best but depend on ‘Rahmat’ (Mercy) of ALLAH (SWT)

for success.

3. Don’t be frustrated during distress; for, that can be eliminated by

the slightest order of ALMIGHTY!

--- Hazrat Baezid Bostami (RA).

4. While seeing something, take lessons from what you see.

--- Hazrat Hatemey Asham (RA)

(5)

It is a matter of regret that now-a-days these things (‘zikir-

azkar’, ‘hal’, etc.) have been taken, by mistake, as the

actual goal! Whereas these things are only ancillary

59

methods that help reaching the actual goal. The actual

goal is self-rectification.

In a nutshell, the successive steps of our religious duties are as

follows:

1st

step: ‘Aqaed’ should be corrected as per Islamic ideals.

(‘Aqaed’ means religious beliefs and convictions)

2nd

step: ‘Amal’ of all limbs should be rectified as per specification

of Islamic code and conduct.

(The word ‘Amal’ generally means ‘work’. Here it means ‘religious

work’/‘virtuous work’. As ISLAM is a complete code and conduct of

life, every work and activity of personal life, family life, social life,

economic life, political life, national life and international life should

be done and conducted by Muslims in accordance with the respective

prescriptions given in the holy Qur’an and Hadith. So “religious

duties” include not only ‘Salat’, Ramzan-Fasting, ‘Hajj’ and ‘Zakat’ but

also financial transactions, business & economic activities, sociality

60

like talking, behaving, doing duties with own family

members/relatives/others, mixing and making relationship with other

people, negotiations and agreements of all kinds, etc.)

3rd

step: “Rectification of soul” should be performed.

(“Rectification of soul” means removing from the soul the bad elements

like pride, vanity, greed, lust, hatred, misery, hostility, anger, jealousy,

covetousness, falsehood, wrong-doing, craze for fashion, down-looking at

the poor, worshiping the rich, undue revenge, bad manners, ill temper, ill-

wishing to others, etc. and adding to soul the virtuous elements like

goodness, kindness, gentleness, broadness, sublimity, sympathy, good

manners, co-operation for good works, generosity, honesty, truthfulness,

respect for the seniors, affections for the juniors, well wishes for others,

morality, righteousness, justice, conscientiousness, etc.)

Hazrat Imam Gazzali (RA), in his illustrious book ‘Ehyaul Ulumuddeen’,

has given detailed description of the diseases (bad elements) of the soul

and how these can be treated (eliminated) for rectification of soul.

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[Editor’s note: The column of this bulletin entitled “Profuse Profit and

No Loss” contains rectifying-counsels of Hazrat Imam Gazzali (RA) that

are much helpful for self-rectification. Readers may please take benefit

of those counsels.]

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◌� ◌� ◌� ◌� ◌�

◌� ◌� ◌�

◌� ◌� ◌�

◌�

* * * * *

GLIMPSES FROM THE PAST

EDITORIALS!

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[In this column, significant Editorials that were published in the past issues of this

bulletin containing valuable counsels will be reprinted one by one for the purpose

of bringing those noteworthy things live into the memories of the respected

readers for facilitating their doing ‘Amals’ that will pave the way of their success

both in here and hereafter.]

THE FOLLOWING WAS THE EDITORIAL OF THE 11TH

ISSUE OF THIS BULLETIN:

♦▬║Editorial

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM.

Eminent psychologists all over the world have the consensus of opinion that “Pre-requisite for achievement

of success in life is to be able to clearly define and depict

64

what he/she actually means by his/her success.” So

unless this definition is clearly depicted in his/her mind,

the probability of achieving success does not arise.

Everybody wants success in life, but most of the people

do not know the definitions of their successes clearly.

That acts as the main handicap that keeps people away

from success.

We are Muslims by faith. We should know clearly what

actually should happen in our life to make us successful.

Should we prefer ‘dunya’ to ‘Akherat’ or ‘Akherat’ to

‘dunya’? If we can clearly and confidently compose our

answer to this question, we will be better of. Then that

answer will determine the course of our actions leading to

achievement of our successes.

If we think that we are Muslims only when we are inside

the Mosques or only when we perform our prayers, while

in other places and at other times we need not follow the

codes of Islam; and we are then free to follow any codes

that suit our purposes. Well, that will be an admixture of

codes, full of confusions that will lead us to nowhere.

Because unless one knows clearly his/her destination,

65

he/she cannot expect to reach there – such a person will

be whirling around complex currents of confusions and

uncertainties.

Let us therefore first try to clarify our definitions of our

success that should lead us to a particular destination –

Paradise or elsewhere! It is a universal truth that the

span of human life is limited – life is short but art is long!

So we do not have time to do too many things in this

short time. That is why we should plan our activities so

that they may be performed within a limited time. We

have no opportunity to waste time by indulging in

unnecessary activities.

What are unnecessary activities? A general definition is -

- “activities that do no good either to the doer or to others

are unnecessary”. This is a good definition. If we keep

this definition imprinted on our minds, we will be able to

save much time for investment in good deeds that will

lead us to success.

May ALMIGHTY give us ‘taufiq’ (ability) to harbor in our

minds a clear concept of our success in life and make

best use of our lifetime. Ameen!

66

ALLAH HAFEZ.

67

Umar Sharif works for human welfare

(An imaginary story of adventure)

{This is the 36th installment of the story that is being published part

by part. New readers wishing to read the previous installments may

visit the editor’s blog http://fiamanillah.wordpress.com }

--- By M. A. A. Ashraf

68

Umar Sharif slowed down his car to see the reaction of the two

micros, and saw --- they did not slow down. They rather increased

their speed and within minutes reached near Sharif’s car.

Umar Sharif signaled them to overtake. Within twinkling of an

eye, the two micros overtook Sharif’s car and rushed ahead at a

stormy speed!

‘Now I understand’ said Sharif --- ‘the two micros are in fact

following the one that overtook us previously.’ Martha looking at

the speeding micros said ‘Seems quite mysterious!’ ‘So we have

to follow all the three to unveil the mystery!’ said Umar Sharif

smilingly glancing at Martha.

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Umar Sharif increased the speed of his car and started following

the micros maintaining a safe distance so that they cannot

understand that they are being followed by someone.

(Will continue)

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♫ A Short Note on ISLAM

ISLAM TEACHES MANKIND HOW

TO LIVE WORTHILY AND

SUCCESSFULLY.

71

♦▬║Editorial

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM.

72

[ALHAMDU LILLAH! BY THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY, THE BULLETIN

HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED FOUR YEARS OF ITS PUBLICATION

SERVING A WIDE SPECTRUM OF RESPECTED READERS ACROSS

ASIA, EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA (USA), CANADA, AFRICA AND

AUSTRALIA.

THE BULLETIN RENEWS TO ITS RESPECTED READERS ITS PLEDGE

TO CONVEY TO THEM THE ILLUMINATING MESSAGES OF ISLAM IN

THE YEARS TO COME!]

The spirit of co-existence!

Aboard the vehicle of time, we are journeying along

the road of life. Someday, without notice, our visa for

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staying in this world will expire and we will be migrating

to the other world! None of us have any permanent

residence permit for permanently living on earth.

During our temporary residence on earth, we need to

inculcate the spirit of co-operation and co-existence to

make our stay happy and meaningful on earth.

Conflicting and quarrelling with each other for some

material gain is not worth indulging to. There is no

better philosophy of living than ‘Live and let live’.

The issues on which the conflicts, may it be personal

or social or national or international, usually arise are

74

mostly not worthy enough to justify investment in them

our valuable time of temporary stay on earth.

If we are a little more generous, a little more sacrificing

and a little more admitting and accommodating the

right of others, many of the problems that form the

cores of our conflicts on earth can be solved!

We should not forget that ALMIGHTY created us

conferring on us the status of ‘the best of creation’

(Ashraful Mokhluqat). So it is expected that our

behaviors and mode of living should be more civilized

than other animals!

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May ALMIGHTY, by HIS endless Mercy, enable us

to behave and live in a truly civilized way to ensure

our peace and happiness in our life here and

hereafter!

Ameen! Summa Ameen! Wa Salamun alal Mursalin.

Wal HAMDULILLAHI RABBIL ALAMEEN. Bi RAHMATIKA Ya

ARHAMAR RAHEMEEN!

ALLAH HAFEZ.

============================================================================================================

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PUBLISHED BY M. A. A. ASHRAF FROM DHAKA, BANGLADESH AND CIRCULATED TO

MUSLIMS ALL OVER THE WORLD FREE OF COST TO PLEASE ALLAH (SWT).

============================================================================================================

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