Blog Archives
Elizabeth Gilbert On The Ugly Truth About Following Your Passion
Source: huffingtonpost.com
When we hear stories about people who follow their passion and make their dreams come true, we often focus on the uplifting nature and beauty of the journey. Sometimes, it even appears as if the pieces simply fall into place once someone answers the call to follow their passion. The reality however, says Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, isn’t always as idyllic.
Jessica Arrendale Dies of Gunshot Wound While Shielding Infant Daughter in Attack
Source: people.com
Dying from a bullet to the head, Jessica Arrendale found the strength to save the life of her 6-month-old daughter.
Norwegian Doctor Mads Gilbert speaks to MEMO about treating the wounded in Gaza (Video)
Norwegian Doctor Mads Gilbert speaks to MEMO about treating the wounded in Gaza.
Erdogan accuses Israel of ‘tyranny,’ likens Israeli MP to Hitler
Source: http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Israel of “terrorizing the region” with its bombardment of Gaza and implied that an Israeli politician is similar to Adolph Hitler in a broadside likely to further strain fragile relations between the two countries.
Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on Tuesday, six hours after an Egyptian-proposed cease-fire failed to halt Palestinian rocket fire into Israeli territory.
At least 184 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed since operations by the Israeli military began a week ago.
“With utter disregard for international law, Israel continues to terrorize the region, and no country but us is telling it to stop,” Erdoğan told members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) at a speech in parliament on Tuesday.
He stated there is no explanation for Israel’s recent acts and accused Israel of violating international law and acting as a “terrorist state.” “It has sprayed bullets and caused deaths, as it does every Ramadan,” Erdoğan said.
“No tyranny is everlasting; sooner or later every tyrant has to pay the price… This tyranny will not remain unaccounted for,” he added.
Ankara had formerly been Israel’s closest strategic ally in the region, but Erdoğan has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in recent years.
DON’T TAKE ANY OF THESE PEOPLE AS YOUR ROLE MODELS
(WARNING: DON’T TAKE ANY OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE AS YOUR ROLE MODELS) Unfortunately it’s sad to say many people do.
By: Aisha Stacey
It has been estimated that up to 95% of all human behaviors are learnt through looking up to role models. However, even if it were only partially true it is a very good reason to choose positive role models, for ourselves and our children. Sadly, in today’s 24/7 media saturated environment we are more likely to choose role models from the field of sports and entertainment without trying to differentiate between a role model and a hero. A hero is someone you admire perhaps for his sporting prowess or for her superb acting ability but do they lead the kind of lives that we should want to emulate? Role models, on the other hand, are people who possess the qualities that we would like to have and people who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better human beings. For instance it is from role models that we learn how to handle life’s problems.
It is easy to be influenced by the people around us and whom we look up to. It is easy to take on their mannerisms and qualities without being aware of it. If these are good qualities then it is a good thing, but what if the people you consider as your role models have pushed you away from the remembrance of Allah? This could be a disaster. Fortunately Islamic history is peppered with amazing role models – men, women and children – from whom we learn how to be great mothers, fathers, teachers, friends, students, etc. Positive displays of good morals and manners, determination, will power, and high ethical standards help others emulate these positive attributes.
According to Islam, the best human beings are the prophets. After that, the best human beings are companions, disciples, and followers of the prophets. Of course the greatest example of exemplary behaviour in any given situation is Prophet Muhammad himself. We know from his authentic traditions – the Sunnah, that his character was the Quran, meaning that he lived and breathed all that the Quran teaches. When we are looking for role models we need look no further than the Prophet himself and those who surrounded him in the early days of Islam. In fact, when following the sahabah we are following Prophet Muhammad because they did not learn Islam from anyone other than him. Indeed their virtues are many; for they are the ones who supported Islam and spread the faith, fought along with the Prophet, and transmitted the Quran, Sunnah and the Islamic rulings. They sacrificed themselves and their wealth for the sake of Allah. We love them for they loved Allah and His Messenger.
Prophet Muhammad said, “The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”[2] The sahabah did not all have the exact same personalities, backgrounds, mindsets, outlooks, or tastes. They were all unique; however they were united upon Islam. As Muslims, we too are not all the same. We are able to take distinct lessons from each of the sahabah; we are able to learn from their experiences. Some were gentle, others were strict; some were learned men and women, while others were unlettered. Some of the sahabah were ascetic while others were the millionaires and leading entrepreneurs of their time. It is from the mercy of Allah that He has given us so many role models for behaviour, character, and conduct. Let us continue our exploration by looking at two of Prophet Muhammad’s closest friends.
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a successful merchant with a reputation for honesty and kindness. He was the first adult man to convert to Islam, and accepted Prophet Muhammad’s message instantly. Prophet Muhammad said that if he were to weigh the Imaan of Abu bakr it would outweigh that of the entire Ummah. Abu Bakr excelled in every form of worship and was known as “As-Sabbaaq” – meaning the one who wins in every competition. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab once donated half of his wealth to fund the Battle of Tabuk, hoping to outdo Abu Bakr, only to find out that Abu Bakr had already donated his entire fortune. Abu Bakr was tender-hearted and compassionate. He sympathized with the poor and pitied the miserable and when reciting Quran, he would weep.
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab went from being one of the strongest opponents of Islam to one of its staunchest believers. Umar was a pioneering figure in the Islamic world. He was a leader, a statesman, a pious and God-conscious Muslim who showed respect for all individuals including non-Muslims and he ordered the Muslims to treat non-Muslims with respect. He showed us how to apply the Quranic injunction ‘there is no compulsion in religion’. Umar was known for his power, and strength and he used this, his bold intellect, and his far-sighted wisdom for the sake of Islam and for the empowerment of Muslims. Prophet Muhammad called Umar “Al- Farooq” – the Criterion between good and evil.
Because human beings learn so much through imitating the behaviour of others it is important that they choose or are given access to good role models. In a world that more often than not derides Islamic morals and manners it is essential that Muslims have people to look up to, admire and emulate. There are no better people than members of the sahabah, those men, women and children that were close to Prophet Muhammad and were taught Islam as it was revealed. Above we looked briefly at two male sahabi and now we will look at two of Prophet Muhammad’s most influential wives.
Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid
Khadijah was the first, and for 25 years, the only wife of Prophet Muhammad. She was 40 years old and twice widowed when she married Muhammed, then aged 25, who had not at that stage been granted prophethood. Khadijah was an accomplished businesswoman, wealthy in her own right with a reputation of dealing with the disabled, orphans, widows and the poor with kindness and compassion; she was known as “At-Tahira”, the pure one. Khadijah loved and supported Prophet Muhammad through the first difficult years of Islam. She did so in the spirit of partnership and companionship that is inherent in a truly Islamic marriage.
Khadijah was the first person to accept the message of Islam and she stood by her husband as family and friends turned against him, and plotted to kill him. Khadijah supported the rise of Islam with her wealth and health. She provided food, water and medicines for the banished and boycotted community. Even though she was not accustomed to deprivation, Khadijah never complained about the poor conditions she was forced to endure. After Khadijah passed away (three years before the migration of Muslims from Makkah to Madina), Prophet Muhammad remarked that she had been a loving mother, a loyal and sympathetic wife who shared all his deepest secrets and dreams.
Aisha the daughter of Abu Bakr
Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s closest companions. During her marriage to the Prophet Muhammad, the couple developed a close relationship and it was in Aisha’s arms that the Prophet Muhammad died in 632 CE. Regarded by many as his favourite wife, she was an active figure in numerous events and an important witness to many more.
Aisha was generous and patient. She bore without complain the poverty and hunger that was common in the early days of Islam. For days on end no fire would be lit in the sparsely furnished house of the Prophet for cooking or baking bread and they would live merely on dates and water. The poverty did not distress or humiliate Aisha and the self-sufficiency when it did arrive did not corrupt her gentle ways.
Aisha was also well known for her wisdom and curiosity. She would always ask questions and clarify even the smallest points; this made her a priceless resource. More than 2,000 hadith narrations can be traced back to her. Due to her vast knowledge, she was often consulted before rulings were made or decisions taken. She lived long after the death of the Prophet and was she was able to teach the Muslims their religion for many years before her death.
As we discussed in lesson 1, people, particularly children learn by copying the behaviour of the important or famous people in their lives. Try to remember the last time you listened to children playing; many of them desire to be the latest sports star or music sensation. Sadly in some cases by the time they reach adulthood these children can tell you everything about media stars but not a single fact about the companions of Prophet Muhammad. They can quote sporting statistics perfectly but stumble through the recitation of Al-Fatihah. On the Day of Resurrection, these entertainment idols will ignore and disown all those who took them as role models. Interestingly, at the conclusion of a Reebok ad the basketball idol walks to the camera and says, “Just because I dunk a ball doesn’t mean I have to raise your kids.” Even the stars themselves realise that they do not always display behaviour that others should aspire to or emulate.
Role models not only demonstrate the best behaviour, they also demonstrate how to learn from mistakes and failures. The sahabah in particular often found themselves in difficult situations and on steep learning curves. In many cases it was Prophet Muhammad himself who corrected their behaviour, and he did it in a way that did not humiliate or upset the offender. Good roles, such as the sahabah teach by their behaviour; they teach those who look up to them to live in a way that is pleasing to Allah. From them we learn that human beings are not perfect but they can seek to please Allah in everything they do and in every reaction to outside influences.
Brave jogger dubbed a hero after fighting off sex beast who was attempting to rape girl in Glasgow park
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brave-jogger-dubbed-hero-after-3822487
A MAN has been hailed a hero after he came to the rescue of a woman who was about to be raped.
Abdull Oun, 27, heard the victim’s cries for help as he jogged round Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s west end.
The brave nightclub doorman sprinted to the scene and knocked out the beast with a flying kick.
The Daily Record tracked down Abdull after the victim, who does not wish to be identified, got in touch with us.
She said: “He is a hero, a gentleman and my saviour.
“It’s like he woke me up from a very bad dream. I just wanted to send out a big thank you for his heroism and hope there are more people like him in this world.”
The woman was heading home after a night out with friends at Kushion nightclub, in Bath Street, just before 2am on June 15.
She decided to walk to her west end home but as she went through the park the predator pounced.
She said: “I tried to fight my way out but he was too strong. I screamed but he put his hands on my mouth.
“I bit him and managed to scream again, yelling: ‘Help!’ Suddenly a chap wearing red shorts appeared from nowhere with a little black puppy.
“He fly-kicked the beast off me, which completely knocked him out.”
The woman said Abdull wanted to call the police but she told him she did not want to for fear of worrying her family.
She added: “He wanted to contact the police but I begged him not to.
“He saw my dress was ripped and gave me his jacket.” At this point the attacker came to and ran off. Abdull flagged down a cab and told the girl to get home safely.
She later discovered his driving licence inside his running jacket and got in touch with him to return it.
The Record tracked down modest Abdull and he verified the woman’s account of the attack. But he was quick to play down his own role.
Abdull said: “I don’t feel like I am a hero. It’s a man’s job to protect the innocent.
“If I see a person in danger then I will intervene. I would not want to ignore it and then read the next day that a woman had been raped or murdered.”
Khalid ibn Waleed – The Sword of Allah: Mark of a Hero – Yasir Qadhi (Video)
Mark of a Hero: The Story of Khalid ibn Waleed – The unsheathed Sword of Allah. He was the epitome of bravery and his life was soaked with heroic qualities that the entire world marvels at hundreds of years later. This talk by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi unravels the characteristics & persona of one of the greatest hero of the past and practical steps towards inculcating similar qualities in our own lives.
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The hero is he who is too afraid to run, in doing so, he faces his problems head on until he conquers them.
The hero is he who is too afraid to run, in doing so, he faces his problems head on until he conquers them.
El héroe es el que tiene miedo de correr, al hacerlo, se enfrenta a sus problemas de frente hasta que los vence.
De held is hij, die is te bang om te draaien, in te doen, hij geconfronteerd met zijn problemen het hoofd op, totdat hij ze overwint.
Le héros est celui qui a trop peur de courir, ce faisant, il fait face à ses problèmes de front jusqu’à ce qu’il les conquiert.
Der Held ist der, der zu viel Angst, zu laufen, dabei steht er seine Probleme den Kopf auf, bis er sie erobern.
Yīngxióng shì shuí, tā tài pà pǎo, zài zhèyàng zuò shí, tā jiāng miàn duì de wèntí yíngmiàn ér lái, zhídào tā zhēngfú tāmen.
Hjälten är den som är för rädd för att köra, i att göra så, står han hans problem huvudet tills han erövrar dem.
Geroy tot, kto slishkom napugany, chtoby bezhat’, pri etom, on stalkivayetsya yego problemy na golovu , poka on ne pobezhdayet ikh.
Kahraman çalıştırmak için çok korkuyor o, bunu yaparken, o, onları fetheder kadar onun sorunları üzerine kafa karşı karşıyadır.
L’eroe è colui che è troppo paura di correre, così facendo, egli affronta i suoi problemi a testa finché non li conquista.
Pahlawan adalah orang yang terlalu takut untuk berjalan, dalam melakukannya, dia menghadapi masalahnya kepala sampai ia mengalahkan mereka.
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 