Prophet's Companions

Prophet's Companions
Abdullah bin Umme Maktoom
A visually handicapped companion of the holy Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh)
who was ever eager to learn more of the Quran and participate in the military campaigns.

Hazrath Abdullah bin Umme Maktoom is generally known to be a companion of the holy Prophet (Pbuh),who was referred in a surah in the Quran (Surah Abasa) He was a cousin of Hazrath Khadijah, wife of the Prophet. He was born to Qais bin Zaid and Atika bint Abdullah. Since Maktoom was blind from birth, his mother was known as Umme Maktoom. He was one among the earliest converts to Islam and underwent all kinds of persecution. He was even eager to memorise the Quran and would look for opportunities to share the company of Prophet Muhammad.

Once it so happened that the chieftains of Quraish were seated with the holy Prophet. They included Utba bin Rabeea, Shaiba bin Rabeea, Umarau bin Hisham, Ummayyah bin Khalaf and Talaleed bin Mughairah. The Prophet was conveying the message of Islam in the hope that even the support of one of them will greatly enhance the prospect of Islam in the hostile terrain of Makkah. It was just at that moment that Abdullah bin Umme Maktoom barged into the room and began to seek explanation for a verse of the Quran. The Prophet disapproved of the manner in which Maktoom intervened and ignored him and continued to address the Quraish chieftains. As the sitting came to a close and everyone began to depart, the following verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet.

The Prophet frowned and turned away. Because there came to him the blind man (interrupting). But what could tell thee. But that perchance, he might grow in purity? Or that he might receive admonition, and reminder might profit him? As to one who regards himself as self-sufficient, to him dost thou attend. Though it is no blame to thee if he grows not in purity. But as to him who came to thee striving earnestly and with fear in his heart. Of him was thou unmindful. By no means (should it be so)! For it is indeed a message of remembrance. It is in Books held greatly in honour, Exalted in dignity, kept pure and holy Written by the hands of scribes Honourable and pious and just”. (Surah Abasa-verse 1-16).

The Prophet was greatly moved with these verses and saw to it that Maktoom was accorded the due honour in all future encounters. Maktoom was the first among those who were ordered to migrate to Madinah, where he began to teach Quran to the people. On his migration, the Prophet appointed Hazrat Bilal and Hazrat Maktoom on the duty of calling Azan prior to namaz. They took turns in carrying out this noble task. Such was the Prophet’s confidence on Maktoom that he appointed him the supervisor of Madinah during his absence at least on ten occasions. But Maktoom would appear gloomy every time he was left in Madinah while others went out for jihad.

Once the Prophet received a revelation. As soon as the revelation was over, he called out to Zaid bin Sabith and asked him to record the revelation. “ Those among the faithful who sit back and those who go out for jihad cannot be equals.” Abdullah bin Maktoom was sitting by the side of the Prophet. When the Prophet dictated these verses to Zaid bin Sabith, Ibne Maktoom’s face became gloomy. He immediately enquired about the commandment for those who are handicapped. At this the Prophet again went into the revelation mood and asked Zaid to add a wording and this amendment was to make an exception for those who are handicapped. Ibne Maktoom’s face glowed up with happiness. But even then he would not spare any opportunity to miss any war. He would take upon himself the task of holding the standard of the Islamic forces and would not let it down. He was carrying out the same task during the War of Qadissiya during the tenure of Hazrat Umar.

He stood like a rock with the Islamic standard in his hands for three days. The war was fierce and the Islamic forces were led by Commander Saad bin Abi Waqas. Many a great Sahabis fell martyr. Maktoom did not budge an inch from his slot. He too fell a martyr clutching the Islamic standard on his left arm.

(Translated and abridged by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj from Suwarum Min Hayathus Sahaba by Dr. Abdur Rahman Rafat Pash of Egypt).
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Public work without payment

The first Khalifah of the Is lamic state Hazrath Abu Bakr did not take salary in the early days of his caliphate from the Public Treasury, and maintained himself and his family through private trade. After some time, the income from his business dwindled down because the duties of his office occupied more of his time. One day Hazrath Umar saw him taking some of his family’s belongings to the market. When he questioned Abu Bakr about them he was told, “I am going to sell these things to raise some money to meet the expenses of my family.” Thereafter Umar convened a meeting of the Companions and after consulting with each other, they fixed for him a certain sum of money to meet his daily expenses. The daily honorarium fixed was 2-3 dirhams. Abu Bakr’s piety and his sense of accountability to Allah did not permit him to take even a meagre allowance for the duties he had performed as the Head of State. On his deathbed, he summoned Umar to his side and directed him to sell a particular land of his and deposit the proceeds from that sale into the Public Treasury in return for the honorarium he had received, while discharging his duties as the Head of State.
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Scholars of Renown
The life and times of Imaam Malik ibn Anas

A scholar of Hadith and Fiqh and the renowned Imam of the Madinah, Abu Abdullah, Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn Amer al-Asbahee was born in Madinah in the year 93 AH (714 CE). His ancestral home was in Yemen, but his grandfather settled in Madinah after embracing Islam. Malik became the Imam of Madinah, and one of the most renowned Imams of Islam. He received his education in what was the most important seat of Islamic learning, Madinah, and where lived the immediate descendants and the followers of the companions of the Prophet. Born into a well-to-do family, Malik did not have to work for a living. He was highly attracted to the study of Islam, and ended up devoting his entire life to the study of Fiqh. Malik held the Hadith of the Prophet (Pbuh) in such reverence that he never narrated or taught any hadith or gave a fatwa without being in a state of ritual purity. Ismael ibn abi Uwaiss said, “I asked my uncle Malik about something. He had me to sit, made ablution, then said, ‘Laa hawla wala quwata illa billah.” He did not give any fatwa without saying it first.” Also, Malik saw fatwa as a sensitive, precise, and important action that can have far reaching results, and used to be extremely careful about giving it to the extent that if he was not sure about a matter, he would not dare to talk. Al-Haytham said, “I once was with Malik when he was asked more than 40 questions and I heard him reply, ‘I do not know,’ to 32 of them.” Yet, he was the man about whom Ash-Shafi’ee said, ‘When scholars are mentioned, Malik is like the star among them.’ Malik is the author of al-Muwatta’ (“The Approved”), form of the narrations from the Prophet together with the sayings of his companions. Imam Malik died in the year (179 AH) 796 CE at Madinah and is buried in the famous al-Baqie cemetery in Madinah.

Hassan Ahmad
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The Scorpion

This is a parable about an old man who used to meditate each day by the river near his home. One morning, he saw a scorpion floating on the water. When the scorpion drifted near the old man he reached to rescue it, but was stung by the scorpion. A bit later, he tried again and was stung again, the bite led to a swelling in his hand. A man passing by saw what was happening and yelled at him, “Hey, stupid old man, what’s wrong with you? Only a fool would risk his life for the sake of an ugly, evil creature. Don’t you know you could kill yourself trying to save that ungrateful scorpion?” The old man calmly replied, “My friend, just because it is in the scorpion’s nature to sting, does not change my nature to save.” Even with enemies, unless they are out to destroy us and our Faith, we should deal kindly and equitably, as is advised by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). Do good to them, and lend a helping hand without expecting anything back.
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Whispers of Satan


Stay in your bed, don’t make a fuss. Your prayers can wait, give into your nufs. What? Go to the mosque, the path you will pave. Don’t bother, think of the gas you will save. Why go that extra mile to be kind? Don’t share that smile, they won’t mind. Be kind to your parents, why should you. You are big enough, don’t let them tell you what to do. Don’t look at those orphans, what could they need? You have your own problems and family to feed Don’t worry about jannah, your place is reserved. I promise you will get all you deserve. Preach about Islam and be nice? Listen to me and take my advice. Don’t fast during Ramadan, you will be dead. Don’t go for Hajj, the heat you will dread. You take me as your friend and don’t give me a fight. I will take you to hell to gain respite. On the judgement day we will meet. Allah’s plan, we cannot defeat. Satan thinks and thinks of more to say. Say auzoo billah and make him run away. Dear believer, don’t let satan put you to test. You can overcome him, just do your best.

S Abdul Baqi

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Islamic Voice Quiz May 2002

1. Name the space shuttle, which carried the astronauts that repaired the space telescope “Hubble”?
2. Which is India’s first National Park?
3. Name the Prophet’s (Pbuh) companion in the cave of Thoor during the Hijrath from Makkah to Madinah.
4. Which famous river flows through London?
5. What does Diabetes Mellitus mean?
6. Name the only woman mentioned by name in the Holy Quran.
7. Who is the author of the famous Harry Potter books?
8. What is the Arabic word for belief in the absolute oneness of Allah?
9. Who invented the radio?
10. How many sahabis were given Basharat? (Good news of a place in Jannat). Name at least five.
11.What is Salathul Istisqa?

Write the correct answers on a separate sheet of paper and send it along with the coupon given in this page. Write your name, full address, age and school where you study. Entries without address will not be considered. The first three all-correct entries will be given Rs 300, Rs 200 and Rs 100 each. Last date for the entries to reach us is June 10, 2002.
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The King's Dinner

Cooking Food for King and His SoldiersOne day, a king rode out along with his ministers to inspect his kingdom and enquire about the welfare of his subjects. They travelled for a long time, stopping at times in different villages to discuss the problems faced by his subjects. It was late in the evening that the king realised that he and his men had travelled far away from the palace. It was going to be dark soon. He decided to camp in a nearby village. The king directed his soldiers to pitch his tent on the outskirts of the village. He sent some of his soldiers to a nearby village to find food for all of them. Accordingly, the soldiers quickly went to the village to find food for their dinner. They knocked on the door of a farmer in the village. The door opened and they were greeted by a woman. “Yes. Can I help you?” said the farmer’s wife to the soldiers as they stood at her door. One of the soldiers stepped forward and said, “The king has pitched camp on the outskirts of the village. We need food for him as well as those who accompany the king. We need your help in this matter.”

“Please wait here,” she said and disappeared into her house. After a long time, she came out and in her hands was a large vessel, which was filled with rice and another filled with curry. It was clear to the soldiers that the woman had immediately cooked up a meal for the king and those who accompanied him as fast as she could. “Take this food for the king and his soldiers,” said the farmer’s wife. The soldiers hurried back to the camp. By this time, the king had become both impatient and hungry. At a distance, he noticed the soldiers hurrying back to the camp carrying two large vessels with them. “Ah! There you are,” he said as they came near him. “You had been away from the camp for over two hours now. What took you so long?” The soldiers explained to the king that the farmer’s wife had made them wait outside her door as she cooked the food for them.

The king heard them out and asked, “Well, I hope you have paid for the food.” “Paid for it? No, we did not do that, your Majesty. We are the king’s soldiers and you are the ruler of this land. The king has more rights over this land and the farmer owns the land on the king’s pleasure,” replied one of the soldiers. “You are wrong on this point,” the king said to the soldiers.

“A king is the caretaker of the land that belongs to his subjects. Please take some money and pay it immediately to the kind woman for the food that she had graciously cooked for us. If the king does not pay for what he uses, then his subjects will not do it either and I will not set a wrong example for my subjects to follow. Whatever a ruler does, it will definitely be followed by his subjects sooner or later.” The soldiers felt ashamed at the words of the king. They hurried back to the farmer’s house, and paid his wife handsomely for the food that she had cooked for all of them.

Moral: Whatever a ruler does, it will definitely be followed by his subjects sooner or later. So the ruler has to set the best example himself.
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The Art of Self Defence
The ten commandments of Taekwondo

Self-defence is to protect oneself from any harm done- this is a basic human instinct which has helped the human race survive through the ages. Islam recognizes the right to self-defence and protection of human life is a must in Islam. In the Quran, Allah says “ Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. (Surah-Baqarah-verse:190). Taekwondo is a martial art which is known worldwide and is very effective in learning self-defence. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art developed over thousands of years ago as a system of self-defence. Since the establishment of the ancient Korean State in either 2332 BC or 1122 BC, Korean people have had to fight to protect their independence from Chinese, Mongol, and Japanese invasions. As a result of these centuries of fighting, they developed a systematic art of self-defence that was used for national defence as well as for personal defence. The literal meaning of Taekwondo is “ The way of the hand and the fist. The ten commandments of Taekwondo
1. Loyalty to your country and school
2. Respect your parents
3. Faithfulness to your spouse
4. Respect your brothers and sisters
5. Loyalty to your friends
6. Respect your elders
7. Respect your teacher
8. Never take life unjustly
9. Indomitable spirit
10. Finish what you begin.

Sabith Khan
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Soft Corner-People profile
Dream, Think and Act,
says Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul KalamBorn on 15th October 1931 at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam studied at Schwartz High School in Ramanathapuram. After graduating in science from St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchi, he did his DMIT in Aeronautical Engineering at the MIT, (Madras Institute of Technology) in chrompet, Madras, during 1954-57 . After completing his third year at MIT, Kalam joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore as a trainee. In 1958, he came out of HAL as a graduate of aeronautical engineering. During 1963-82, he served at the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) in various capacities. After a stint with the aerodynamics, he joined the satellite launch vehicle team at Thumba, near Trivandruam and soon became Project Director for SLV-3. As Project Director, he was responsible for carrying out the design, development, qualification and flight testing of 44 major sub systems. The project managed to put Rohini, a scientific satellite, into orbit in July 1980. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1981. In 1982, as Director of DRDO, Kalam was entrusted with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme(IGMDP), India’s most successful military research task to date. The programme constituted of five major projects for meeting the requirements of the defence services. Kalam’s advice to youngsters of the nation is to “dream, dream and dream and convert these into thoughts and later into actions. “ On 25th November 1999, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was appointed Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and accorded the rank of a Cabinet Minister. His role was to advise on overall scientific development in the country on issues relating to scientific and technical policy in different sectors. Kalam has spent the past few years developing the concept of “India Millennium Missions 2020”- a blueprint for transforming India into a developed nation. He is a man who has served our country in the truest sense of the word.

Sabith Khan
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Facts on Fuels
How can we help to save our fuels?

Solar Power the Best Alternate without Pollution Engery Source

*All of us have seen black smoke pouring out of a chimney. This is made up mostly of tiny bits of unused carbon. In a big city, such as ours, many homes, factories, and automobiles burn fuel. The air is full of smoke. It is a nuisance, for many people breathe it into their lungs, and fall ill.

*Scientists believe that our supply of coal will last us for the next hundred years or so. Our supplies of oil and gas may not last so long, if we keep on using them at the rate we are doing now. That is the reason why we must learn to save up on our fuels.

*We can also help to conserve our fuels. The first thing is to keep the fire from smoking. There are only two reasons why a fire smokes. In the first case, the fuel does not get enough oxygen to make it burn. The other is that some of the fuel is not hot enough to catch fire. We have all seen smoke coming out from the exhaust pipe behind an automobile. If the smoke is black and in large quantities, it means that, there is not enough air to help the petrol inside the vehicle burn.

*If we burn coal in a furnace or a stove as it is done in cold areas, it should be done in an open place, where there is good circulation of air to get more oxygen to keep the fire burning. Another way to keep the coals burning is to empty the stove or the furnace of excess ash that has gathered over there.

*A great deal of heat is wasted in cooking food. When a small pan in set over a large burner on a gas stove, heat is wasted around the sides of the pan. More heat is wasted if we cook our food in uncovered pans. The biggest loss of heat comes from using a hotter fire than is really needed to cook our food.

*Today, we have better stoves, furnaces, and boilers that give more heat and use less fuel. Automobile engines have been greatly improved. They now make better use of the energy stored in the fuels that we need.

*The other ways to preserve our natural fuels is to use other sources of energy. Electrical energy can be used to cook food. For many years now, scientists have been working hard to find out the ways to use the huge amount of heat from the sun. So far, their success in this field has been limited.
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Why do we spend our life blaming others ?

Once upon a time there lived a man named Ahmed who was very ambitious like all of us. He wanted to change the world....that was his motto in life as he felt there was too much pain and suffering in life and hence must change all that is bad.....he set out to do this and by the age of 25 he was convinced that changing the world is too big a task for him. So he felt “ ok let me change my country first, then let’s think of the world” There was too much corruption, crime and dirt in his country. So he set out to do this onerous task and worked very hard for 10 years and by the time he was 35, realised that the country was too big for him to handle, too complicated, so he thought “ why don’t I start from my state?” “Let me make my state the model state then I can think of changing my country and then the world” and he started to work on it,was a little successful and 10 years later when he was 45 yrs old and a little tired of this business he felt, “ ok its real tough to change my state, let me concentrate on my city first,” so he started work on it along with his regular vocation, he worked real hard and after another 10 years, felt exhausted at 55 and felt he had got his priorities all mixed up and told himself “ my city is too big and complex to change, why don’t I take care of my family and relatives? Their lives are not too good! He tried changing his relatives and felt that he really could not change them. They had become too defensive and had their own thoughts about everything and wouldn’t listen to him even if he was right. A little late at 70 years, Ahmed realised that his entire life of trying to change others and the world was futile and all his work had gone down the drain because he must have started with one person, that is HIMSELF !....if he could really make himself perfect and the man he wanted to be; he could influence every one and hence create the world he wanted, instead of changing others he must change himself. That is the way to go. But should we waste our life complaining about others’ behaviour and the circumstances around ? Should not we make the best of whatever we have and build our own ideal world around us? Then this world would be a beautiful place to live in...wouldn’t it? Think about it!.
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Globe Trotting
The Aghdamis Oasis

The Aghdamis Oasis

The Aghdamis Oasis is in the heart of the Great Desert of Libya, near the borders with Tunisia and Algeria, in North Africa. All of its inhabitants are Muslims, and they have played an important part in the spread of Islam in Africa, because it is at the crossroads of trade routes, where caravans from all corners converge. The Oasis has more than 20 mosques, all of which are filled to capacity during prayer times, when all business and other worldly activities come to a standstill. Aghdamis was subjected to various foreign conquests in the past, such as the Romans and Byzantines, whose relics still remain to this very day. In 666 AD, one of the the companions of the Prophet (Pbuh), Uqbah bin Nafe conquered the Oasis, but then in the 16th century, the Turks conquered it, and in 1924 it was the turn of the Italians to colonise it. They set up airports and military camps, all of which were destroyed by the French in 1943, during World War II.

However, Aghdamis Oasis, being in the heart of the Libyan Desert and at the crossroads of the trade routes, has been playing an important part as a centre for trade exchanges between the countries of North Africa, particularly between Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. Today, the Oasis of Aghdamis is a flourishing meeting point, with communications to all corners of the world, and not Just North Africa.
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A Beautiful Friday Morning

It was a beautiful Friday morning. Khalid’s Mom told her dear son: “Khalid dear! You’re late for salatul Jum’ah (Friday Prayer). Wear clean clothes and put perfume on, because you’re going to the masjid to pray to Allah, and so you must wear your best clothes”. “But, Mom...” said Khalid, “It’s a bit early to go to Friday Prayer! The khutbah (sermon) hasn’t started yet!” Khalid’s Mom replied: “My son, Friday prayer has great virtue and reward from Allah, and the earlier you go to the masjid, the more reward you’ll get!”Khalid understood why his Mom told him to go early, and so he decided to go. While on his way, Khalid saw an old man walking slowly. The old man’s vision was weak, so he didn’t see a piece of glass that was in front of him and was about to step on it. Khalid thought quickly and wanted to help the man so he yelled out: “SIR STOP DON’T MOVE “ The old man stopped and looked towards the direction of Khalid’s voice. The old man then said: “Who are you, young man? “My name is Khalid, and I wanted to warn you before you step on the piece of glass and possibly harm yourself!” Khalid then bent down, picked up the piece of broken glass, and put it in the trash. The old man smiled and said: “Thank you son.” The old man then said: “You must have been heading for the masjid, because you smell very nice. You know son, on this blessed day, you’ve gained a reward from Allah and you’ve done an act of charity.” Khalid was suprised! “How did I do charity when I didn’t give any money??” The old man said “Our beloved Prophet - peace be upon him - taught us that removing harm from the street is an act of charity”.

Translated from Arabic original version from
www.ferastoon.com
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