By Raja Jaikrishan
30 April, 2010
Countercurrents.org
In this land of Valmiki
Who cursed the quarry of birds in love?
In this time of Salim Ali
Who gave his life for love of birds?
Infrequent are men
Who live or die for fellowmen
(From Shall we live to kill? by Varavara Rao)
All religions urge the devout to shun greed as it creates need in many. An observer noted recently that if Americans continue consuming the resources at the existing rate, the world resources would be over faster. This in some measure explains the US wars for resources in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In India the bulk of natural resources are in hills and forests. These resources are gods of Adivasis because they answer their all needs.
Enter greedy MNCs with heavy machines to cart away the tribal gods. Since greed is not their way of life they resist the invasion. The history is witness; people free from greed can‘t be dominated. The British tried and failed.
The history has repeated itself as a farce. By launching Operation Greenhunt—the people’s government is fighting its own people; Salwa Jhudam —setting Advasis against each other—the government is trying to satiate the MNC greed.
Advasis led by Maoist are taking the MNC violence head on, here and now, for their languages have no future tense.
“Over the last decade the Maoists have built new societies in tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Jharkand. The elementary health and education networks are in place”, says G.N. Saibaba, deputy secretary, Revolutionary Democratic Front.
“This experiment has brought irrigation and drinking water projects. Experienced doctors have trained Adivasis. There's one barefoot doctor for a cluster of villages. There are makeshift schools – which move to places where children work.
They have their own syllabus. The scientific models of study material, including audiovisual material, have been put in tribal languages.
The government’s two-pronged strategy to defeat the Maoist protracted war includes development and security. To help the government meet obligations under the Right to Education Act, a panel has suggested that education in elementary schools should be imparted in tribal languages in scheduled tribe areas.
The main factor for the high dropout rate of tribal students is the difference in language in which they are taught in schools and their mother tongue, said the panel, headed by former education secretary Anil Bordia.
The teaching and study material should be in tribal languages to ensure that such children are retained in schools. The Central Institute of Hindi and Indian Languages, Mysore, could prepare teaching and learning material in tribal languages for such students, the committee said in its report.
Tribal children face certain exclusionary practices in schools like derogatory reference to their communities, names and cultural practices, it further said.
The government for meeting obligations of international aid agency is waking up to the need of universal literacy so that people in this country are able to distinguish brands and help them to make an ‘informed choice’.
“Further, for the first time in the history of these regions, they have surplus grain – not only for the revolutionary army, but for the people too. Even now if the Indian military offensive blocks these areas for several years they will not have a problem due to this surplus grain, and in addition they have fishponds and other income-generating activities. These villages and their governments have started exporting to other markets as well, keeping the surplus for their own consumption, and using the surplus they have accumulated to build other development projects. This is the way in which their self-reliant economy is developing”, says Prof Saibaba.
The public distribution system of ration to people below poverty line in the Maoist-affected areas has done well, according to a government nationwide survey.
To steal the thunder from the Maoist resistance to MoUs with MNCs over mining in the area, the government has come out with the New Draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
Prof B.D Sharma, coordinator Bharat Jan Andolan, had given a similar proposal to the then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar that the mining companies could be allowed in the area as junior partners.
The draft act envisages setting up of ‘’mining area welfare funds’’, where profits of companies can be shared in perpetuity with local villagers and Adivasis whose lands are taken away. Currently, a one-time compensation is mostly given to those whose lands are taken away by the companies, a government official said.
The government is also mulling bringing provisions, which include granting free equity to those who give a major portion of land to companies, the sources said.
The government is also trying to build in provisions where companies may be asked to build ‘’model villages’’ within a 10 km radius of the industry being set up to enable maximum benefits of development reach the local villagers. For the setting up of power plants, the government will be asking the authorities to provide free electricity within 10 km radius, the sources said.
Notably, the government is also in the process of withdrawing cases against tribals for accessing minor forest produce.
The Maoists are not the first to oppose the plunder of MNCs. Socialist trade union leader George Fernandes managed to oust Coca-Cola out of the country, temporarily. The Swadeshi Janjagran Manch has been consistent in its opposition. Yoga guru Swami Ramdev has ‘oust MNC’slogan in the soon-to-be-launched party constitution.
Unlike their Avatar of the sixties and seventies, the Maoists are resisting the abettors of MNC loot. In this protracted war Advasis are with them. The New Draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act shows that the government wants to arrest the alienation caused by security forces in these areas. Sooner such measures are implemented, the Maoist guns will fall silent.
Source:http://www.countercurrents.org/jaikrishan300410.htm
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Dark Underbelly Of India Inc
By Devinder Sharma
29 April, 2010
Ground Reality
At a time when India faces the biggest threat to its sovereignty from within, and I mean the rise of Maoism that we witness across the country, more than a hundred representatives of various people’s movements and social campaigns came together in a meeting held at Swaraj Vidyapeeth campus, Allahabad, on March 27-28. They discussed India’s present crisis in depth. It was unanimously decided that all people’s movements and social campaigns should come together to launch a nationwide people’s movement to face the present challenges.
I missed being at the two-day conclave. But reading the minutes of the meeting, I feel sad the powers that be refuse to see the real cause for the uprising. In fact, I have always said that the Indian political leadership (and to quite an extent that of the national media as well) is actually serving the commercial interest of big business. Somehow an impression is being given, and the urban middle class laps it up, that the people who have picked up guns are the new breed of terrorists, and that the bullet is the only answer.
It was at this conference that the well-known RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal made some observations, recalling a few incidents from the days when he was working in the Income Tax department. It gives us an insight into the ways of corporate swindle, that actually is at the base of the present crisis that we face.
"We raided more than 80 MNCs and caught all the foreign managers. They used to show lower salaries and evade taxes in India. Companies like Sony, Mitsubishi, etc., evaded crores of rupees in taxes. When we recorded their statement they said they did not know our laws. When we raided the Nippon airways executive, we recovered minutes of their meeting from his bag which has mentioned that when any Japanese official comes to India, he should not show his salary more than Rs. 10 lakh. When we raided the Denso India executive, he threatened us we are here to help your poor country, we control your Parliament and we can get any law passed. I didn’t believe it at that time. We will get all you transferred.
"Three days after the Japanese ambassador met the finance minister and told that we will withdraw all aid if these people are not transferred, and we were transferred. When UPA ministry was falling, then all MPs were saleable and I felt that there is no price of our vote. I felt that the US can buy them and Japan also.
When the Nuclear Liability Bill was introduced, it said that the total liability of any operator company will be 500 crore rupees only. When we see all things together, we are confronted with a horror story that our country is not independent. As long as we do not control our country, our Parliament will keep making 100 such laws in a day. So this is not democracy. We should strive for direct democracy. A law should not be passed unless it is approved by two-thirds of the gram sabhas. As long as gram sabhas or mohalla sabhas, i.e., primary-level local communities do not get the control, things will not change."
Yesterday, when I read another interview of Arvind Kejriwal in the Deccan Herald (April 25, 2010), it reminded me of the Allahabad declaration. In this interview, entitled: "Gram Sabha should be empowered," Arvind talks about the need to empower the gram sabhas, in the absence of which people are losing faith in the system of governance and might take up arms "or even join Maoists as it had happened in Lohandigoda in Chhatisgarh."
To know more, I read on. This is what Arvind says in response to a question:
"If you don't empower people at the grass-root level, they will turn to naxalism. Like it happened in the villages of Lohandigoda in Chhatisgarh, where the Tata group had sought permission from the government to set up a Sponge iron plant. From the State Government level to the mukhiya, the proposal was cleared. But the local people were up in arms and were in no mood to give up their land or allow cutting of trees. So they submitted a 15-point charter of demands which included plantation of five saplings for each tree cut. But their demand was rejected out-right. Eventually, the entire 13 villages reportedly turned to naxalism."
What Arvind narrates is a true reflection of the flawed development model that is being thrust upon the people. I haven't seen any national TV channel even daring to make a mention of such destructive development that is pushed in the name of economic growth. It is therefore very important that the nation wakes up to the realities, and does not unleash a war against it own people who are victims of the 'process of development' that has been aggressively unleashed since June 1991.
The dark underbelly of Tata's and for that matter scores of Indian and foreign business concerns is at the root of the naxal uprising. We cannot muffle the voices of the people by setting up a school here or a health center there under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a concept that the UN promotes. The corporate social responsibility must begin where it actually sows the seeds of revolt. The need therefore is to empower Gram Sabhas, and to ensure that the decision of the village through the democratic process is final and binding. Even the Prime Minister should not have the right to over-rule the decisions of the Gram Sabhas.
Source:http://www.countercurrents.org/dsharma290410.htm
29 April, 2010
Ground Reality
At a time when India faces the biggest threat to its sovereignty from within, and I mean the rise of Maoism that we witness across the country, more than a hundred representatives of various people’s movements and social campaigns came together in a meeting held at Swaraj Vidyapeeth campus, Allahabad, on March 27-28. They discussed India’s present crisis in depth. It was unanimously decided that all people’s movements and social campaigns should come together to launch a nationwide people’s movement to face the present challenges.
I missed being at the two-day conclave. But reading the minutes of the meeting, I feel sad the powers that be refuse to see the real cause for the uprising. In fact, I have always said that the Indian political leadership (and to quite an extent that of the national media as well) is actually serving the commercial interest of big business. Somehow an impression is being given, and the urban middle class laps it up, that the people who have picked up guns are the new breed of terrorists, and that the bullet is the only answer.
It was at this conference that the well-known RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal made some observations, recalling a few incidents from the days when he was working in the Income Tax department. It gives us an insight into the ways of corporate swindle, that actually is at the base of the present crisis that we face.
"We raided more than 80 MNCs and caught all the foreign managers. They used to show lower salaries and evade taxes in India. Companies like Sony, Mitsubishi, etc., evaded crores of rupees in taxes. When we recorded their statement they said they did not know our laws. When we raided the Nippon airways executive, we recovered minutes of their meeting from his bag which has mentioned that when any Japanese official comes to India, he should not show his salary more than Rs. 10 lakh. When we raided the Denso India executive, he threatened us we are here to help your poor country, we control your Parliament and we can get any law passed. I didn’t believe it at that time. We will get all you transferred.
"Three days after the Japanese ambassador met the finance minister and told that we will withdraw all aid if these people are not transferred, and we were transferred. When UPA ministry was falling, then all MPs were saleable and I felt that there is no price of our vote. I felt that the US can buy them and Japan also.
When the Nuclear Liability Bill was introduced, it said that the total liability of any operator company will be 500 crore rupees only. When we see all things together, we are confronted with a horror story that our country is not independent. As long as we do not control our country, our Parliament will keep making 100 such laws in a day. So this is not democracy. We should strive for direct democracy. A law should not be passed unless it is approved by two-thirds of the gram sabhas. As long as gram sabhas or mohalla sabhas, i.e., primary-level local communities do not get the control, things will not change."
Yesterday, when I read another interview of Arvind Kejriwal in the Deccan Herald (April 25, 2010), it reminded me of the Allahabad declaration. In this interview, entitled: "Gram Sabha should be empowered," Arvind talks about the need to empower the gram sabhas, in the absence of which people are losing faith in the system of governance and might take up arms "or even join Maoists as it had happened in Lohandigoda in Chhatisgarh."
To know more, I read on. This is what Arvind says in response to a question:
"If you don't empower people at the grass-root level, they will turn to naxalism. Like it happened in the villages of Lohandigoda in Chhatisgarh, where the Tata group had sought permission from the government to set up a Sponge iron plant. From the State Government level to the mukhiya, the proposal was cleared. But the local people were up in arms and were in no mood to give up their land or allow cutting of trees. So they submitted a 15-point charter of demands which included plantation of five saplings for each tree cut. But their demand was rejected out-right. Eventually, the entire 13 villages reportedly turned to naxalism."
What Arvind narrates is a true reflection of the flawed development model that is being thrust upon the people. I haven't seen any national TV channel even daring to make a mention of such destructive development that is pushed in the name of economic growth. It is therefore very important that the nation wakes up to the realities, and does not unleash a war against it own people who are victims of the 'process of development' that has been aggressively unleashed since June 1991.
The dark underbelly of Tata's and for that matter scores of Indian and foreign business concerns is at the root of the naxal uprising. We cannot muffle the voices of the people by setting up a school here or a health center there under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a concept that the UN promotes. The corporate social responsibility must begin where it actually sows the seeds of revolt. The need therefore is to empower Gram Sabhas, and to ensure that the decision of the village through the democratic process is final and binding. Even the Prime Minister should not have the right to over-rule the decisions of the Gram Sabhas.
Source:http://www.countercurrents.org/dsharma290410.htm
Indian Muslims save your citizenship, appeals minorities NGO
Press Release
The Milli Gazette
Mumbai: Census 2011 has already begun from 1st April 2010 nationwide. This census is different from ones in the past and very exclusive in style.
While addressed a press conference, today, at Marathi Patrakar Sang (Mumbai Press Club), the leaders of the Federation of Minorities NGOs (FMN) – Maul. Mahmood Daryabadi, Dr. Azimuddin, Maul. Burhanuddin Qasmi, Mr. Salim Alware, Dr. SK Abdullah and Mr. Iqbal Memom, have urged all NGO activists, especially those from Muslims NGOs to fully volunteer their skill and time to the on going census 2011 in India.
The leaders have requested all members of the community to note the followings and take part in the census process. They said, an enrolment in the census enables an individual to be 'the citizens' of the country. The census 2011 will help decide numbers of BPL people in 2013. Moreover, this census is collecting Photos of above 15 age-group along with Biometric Identity and the databank collected by the census will be used by the Unified Identity Authority of India (UIDAI). If any once fails to get into the data-Bank he will be out of UIDAI which is an indirect proof of 'Citizenship' for every individual. Furthermore, all the future 'Planning' and Budget allocations against particular, community or caste will be based on this databank.
The FMN is launching a statewide awareness campaign in Maharashtra from today itself through its 100 plus member NGOs to educate common people to ensure their complete and correct entries during the census, the leaders said in the press conference. Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi said that the census authority of India should train its enumerators through effective workshops to minimize common mistakes like wrong spellings of Muslim names and filling in wrong religion, language or caste etc.
The Federation of Muslims NGOs believes that for effective planning precise information about religious, social and economic conditions is essential. Our nation can effectively plan political, educational, social and economic development on the basis of correct information. Therefore, social activists must ensure detail entries of the data correctly.
Every educated Indian must cooperate in this massive task so that we may know ourselves correctly. Precise data is more important for minorities and marginalized sections. Caste based census was done last time in 1931. That is why there is a growing need for it now to reassure all statistics. If we update caste figures greater justice can be provided for marginalised people.
Every citizen should be alert about information which is being recorded. He/she must check and verify the forms which are being filled by enumerators. No room should be given to dishonest manipulators who are doing a disservice to nation and truth by incorrect data entry. The Maharashtra Federation of Minorities NGOs requests all not for profit activists, through this press conference to offer their services during 1st May to 15th June for 2011 census in Maharashtra.
As received dated 15 March from
M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
Director
Markazul Ma'arif Education & Research Centre
Patliputra Nagar (Masjid)
Oshiwara, New Link Road
Jogeshwari (W), Mumbai 400102 (India)
Web site: www.markazulmaarif.org
Email. manager@markazulmaarif.org
Tel: 022 65567157 Fax: 022 26798538
[end]
Source:http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2010/20100417_001_Indian_Muslims_save_your_citizenship_appeals_minorities_NGO.htm
The Milli Gazette
Mumbai: Census 2011 has already begun from 1st April 2010 nationwide. This census is different from ones in the past and very exclusive in style.
While addressed a press conference, today, at Marathi Patrakar Sang (Mumbai Press Club), the leaders of the Federation of Minorities NGOs (FMN) – Maul. Mahmood Daryabadi, Dr. Azimuddin, Maul. Burhanuddin Qasmi, Mr. Salim Alware, Dr. SK Abdullah and Mr. Iqbal Memom, have urged all NGO activists, especially those from Muslims NGOs to fully volunteer their skill and time to the on going census 2011 in India.
The leaders have requested all members of the community to note the followings and take part in the census process. They said, an enrolment in the census enables an individual to be 'the citizens' of the country. The census 2011 will help decide numbers of BPL people in 2013. Moreover, this census is collecting Photos of above 15 age-group along with Biometric Identity and the databank collected by the census will be used by the Unified Identity Authority of India (UIDAI). If any once fails to get into the data-Bank he will be out of UIDAI which is an indirect proof of 'Citizenship' for every individual. Furthermore, all the future 'Planning' and Budget allocations against particular, community or caste will be based on this databank.
The FMN is launching a statewide awareness campaign in Maharashtra from today itself through its 100 plus member NGOs to educate common people to ensure their complete and correct entries during the census, the leaders said in the press conference. Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi said that the census authority of India should train its enumerators through effective workshops to minimize common mistakes like wrong spellings of Muslim names and filling in wrong religion, language or caste etc.
The Federation of Muslims NGOs believes that for effective planning precise information about religious, social and economic conditions is essential. Our nation can effectively plan political, educational, social and economic development on the basis of correct information. Therefore, social activists must ensure detail entries of the data correctly.
Every educated Indian must cooperate in this massive task so that we may know ourselves correctly. Precise data is more important for minorities and marginalized sections. Caste based census was done last time in 1931. That is why there is a growing need for it now to reassure all statistics. If we update caste figures greater justice can be provided for marginalised people.
Every citizen should be alert about information which is being recorded. He/she must check and verify the forms which are being filled by enumerators. No room should be given to dishonest manipulators who are doing a disservice to nation and truth by incorrect data entry. The Maharashtra Federation of Minorities NGOs requests all not for profit activists, through this press conference to offer their services during 1st May to 15th June for 2011 census in Maharashtra.
As received dated 15 March from
M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
Director
Markazul Ma'arif Education & Research Centre
Patliputra Nagar (Masjid)
Oshiwara, New Link Road
Jogeshwari (W), Mumbai 400102 (India)
Web site: www.markazulmaarif.org
Email. manager@markazulmaarif.org
Tel: 022 65567157 Fax: 022 26798538
[end]
Source:http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2010/20100417_001_Indian_Muslims_save_your_citizenship_appeals_minorities_NGO.htm
Monday, March 29, 2010
Virtuous Calamity
“A calamity that makes you turn to Allah, is better than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”
(Ibn Taymiyyah)
(Ibn Taymiyyah)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Crackpot Friends
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But its the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
Source:http://www.al-inaam.com/alinaam/1430_R.akhir_10.htm
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But its the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
Source:http://www.al-inaam.com/alinaam/1430_R.akhir_10.htm
Cheating
Two young engineers applied for one available position at a computer company. They both had the same qualifications. In order to determine which individual to hire, the applicants were asked to take a test by the department manager.
Upon completion of the test, both men had each missed only one of the questions. The manager went to the first applicant and said, ''Thank you for your interest, but we've decided to give the job to the other applicant.''
"And why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct," asked the rejected applicant.
"We have based our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you missed," said the department manager.
"And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?" the rejected applicant inquired.
''Simple,'' said the department manager, ''For question number 5, your fellow applicant wrote, 'I don't know.' You wrote, 'Neither do I.'
When we cheat during examinations or on other occasions, we sometimes get caught out and sometimes, we don’t. However we should remember that the All-observing Allāh is always watching and we will have to account for each and every action. Rather get the answer wrong now and suffer the consequences here, than having to suffer the disgrace of the day of Qiyamah and the punishment of the hereafter. C
(Moulānā Ebrahim Muhammad
Source:http://www.al-inaam.com/alinaam/1430_R.akhir_09.htm
Upon completion of the test, both men had each missed only one of the questions. The manager went to the first applicant and said, ''Thank you for your interest, but we've decided to give the job to the other applicant.''
"And why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct," asked the rejected applicant.
"We have based our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you missed," said the department manager.
"And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?" the rejected applicant inquired.
''Simple,'' said the department manager, ''For question number 5, your fellow applicant wrote, 'I don't know.' You wrote, 'Neither do I.'
When we cheat during examinations or on other occasions, we sometimes get caught out and sometimes, we don’t. However we should remember that the All-observing Allāh is always watching and we will have to account for each and every action. Rather get the answer wrong now and suffer the consequences here, than having to suffer the disgrace of the day of Qiyamah and the punishment of the hereafter. C
(Moulānā Ebrahim Muhammad
Source:http://www.al-inaam.com/alinaam/1430_R.akhir_09.htm
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Steadfastness
“We will test you with a certain amount of fear, hunger and loss of wealth, life and fruits.
But give good news to the steadfast.” (2:155)
“The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without any reckoning.” (39:10)
• Suhayb ibn Sinan radhiyallahu anhu said: Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘What an extraordinary thing the affair of the believer is! All of it is good for him. And that only applies to the believer. If good fortune is his lot, he is grateful and it is good for him. If something harmful happens to him, he is steadfast and that is good for him too.’ (Muslim)
• Usama ibn Zayd radhiyallahu anhu said: A daughter of Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam sent a message to him saying, ‘One of my sons is dying, so come.’ He sent his greetings to her and said, ‘What Allah takes is His and what He gives is His. Everything has a fixed term with Him, so she should show fortitude and expect a reward.’ She sent to him imploring him to come to her. He got up with Sa’d ibn ‘Ubada, Mu’adh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Zayd ibn Thabit and some other men. The child was brought to Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam and he was shuddering. The eyes of Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam were flowing with tears and Sa’d radhiyallahu anhu said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what is this?’ He said, ‘This is an aspect of mercy which Allah has put in the hearts of His slaves.’ One variant has, ‘In the hearts of whomever He will of His slaves. Allah is merciful to those of His slaves who are merciful.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Suhayb radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘Among those before you there was a king who had a sorcerer. When he was old, he said to the king, ‘I am old, so send me a lad to whom I can teach sorcery.’ He sent him a lad for him to teach. When the boy was on the way, he came upon a monk. He sat down to listen to his words and liked what he heard. Whenever he went to the sorcerer, he would pass by the monk and sit with him. When he came to the sorcerer, the sorcerer would beat him. He complained about that to the monk who said, ‘When you are afraid of the sorcerer, say, ‘My family kept me.’ And when you are afraid of your family, say, ‘The sorcerer kept me.’ While all this was going on, he came upon a great beast which was barring the people’s way on the pathway and said, ‘Today I will find out who is better, the sorcerer or the monk.’ He took a stone and said, ‘O Allah, if what the monk does is preferable to You to what the sorcerer does, then turn this beast aside so that the people can pass.’ He threw it and killed the animal and the people went on. He went to the monk and told him and the monk said to him, ‘O my boy, today you are better than I am. I see the point that your affair has reached. You will be tested and when you are tested, do not point me out.’ The boy used to heal the blind and the lepers, and treat people for all their ailments. A companion of the king who was blind heard this and brought him many gifts. He said, ‘All that I have gathered for you here is yours if you heal me.’ He said, ‘I do not heal anyone. It is Allah Almighty who heals. If you believe in Allah Almighty, I will pray to Allah to heal you.’ So he believed in Allah Almighty and Allah Almighty healed him. He went to the king and sat with him as he used to do. The king said to him, ‘Who has returned your sight to you?’ He said, ‘It was my Lord.’ He said, ‘You have a Lord other than me?!’ He said, ‘My Lord and your Lord, Allah.’ So he seized him and did not stop torturing him until he pointed out the boy. The boy was brought and the king said to him, ‘O boy, your sorcery has reached the point where you heal the blind and the lepers, and you do such-and-such and such-and-such.’ He said, ‘I do not heal anyone. It is Allah Almighty who heals.’ He seized him and did not stop torturing him until he pointed out the monk. The monk was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion.’ He refused. He called for a saw and placed the saw on the centre of his head and split it until the two halves fell apart. Then the companion of the king was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion!’ He refused, and the saw was placed on the centre of his head and split it until the two halves fell apart. Then the boy was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion,’ and he refused. He handed him over to a group of his companions and said, ‘Take him to such-and-such a mountain, and take him up the mountain. When you reach its summit, if he has not renounced his religion, throw him off.’ They took him and brought him up the mountain and he said, ‘O Allah, save me from them in whatever way You will.’ The mountain shook and they fell. He walked to the king and the king said to him, ‘What has happened to your companions?’ He said, ‘Allah Almighty saved me from them.’ He handed him over to a group of his companions and said, ‘Take him and put him in a ship and take him to the middle of the sea. If he does not renounce, then throw him into it.’ They took him and he said, ‘O Allah, save me from them in whatever way You will.’ The ship capsized and they were drowned. He walked back to the king and the king said to him, ‘What has happened to your companions?’ He said, ‘Allah Almighty saved me from them.’ He said to the king, ‘You will not kill me until you do what I command you.’ He said, ‘What is that?’ He said, ‘You should gather the people together on one plain and crucify me on a palm trunk. Then take an arrow from your quiver and put the arrow in the centre of your bow and say, ‘In the name of Allah, the Lord of the boy,’ and then shoot it. If you do that, you will kill me.’ So he gathered the people together on one plain and crucified him on a trunk and then took his arrow from his quiver and placed the arrow in the middle of the bow and then said, ‘In the name of Allah, the Lord of the boy,’ and then shot it and the arrow struck his temple. He put his hand on his temple and then died. The people said, ‘We believe in the Lord of the boy.’ The king was brought and told, ‘Do you not see that, by Allah, your fear has brought about the very thing you were afraid of! The people have believed.’ So he commanded that a trench be dug with openings onto it and had fires lit in it. He said, ‘Throw into it, anyone who does not renounce his religion or tell him to jump.’ They did that until a woman came with one of her children. She hesitated to jump into it and the child said to her, ‘Mother, be steadfast! You have the truth.’ (Muslim)
• Anas radhiyallahu anhu said: I heard Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam say, ‘Allah the Mighty and Exalted says, ‘When I test My slave regarding the two things he loves and he shows fortitude, I repay him for them with Jannah.’ He meant his two eyes. (Bukhari)
• ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radhiyallahu anhu said, ‘It is as if I could still see Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam talking about one of the Prophets alayhis salaam whose people beat him, making his blood flow. While he was wiping the blood from his face, he said, ‘O Allah, forgive my people. They do not know.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping out his mistakes by it.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Anas radhiyallahu anhu said: Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘None of you should wish for death because of some harm which has befallen him. If he has got to do something, he should say, ‘O Allah, make me live if life is best for me and make me die if death is best for me.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Source:http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0507.htm
But give good news to the steadfast.” (2:155)
“The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without any reckoning.” (39:10)
• Suhayb ibn Sinan radhiyallahu anhu said: Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘What an extraordinary thing the affair of the believer is! All of it is good for him. And that only applies to the believer. If good fortune is his lot, he is grateful and it is good for him. If something harmful happens to him, he is steadfast and that is good for him too.’ (Muslim)
• Usama ibn Zayd radhiyallahu anhu said: A daughter of Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam sent a message to him saying, ‘One of my sons is dying, so come.’ He sent his greetings to her and said, ‘What Allah takes is His and what He gives is His. Everything has a fixed term with Him, so she should show fortitude and expect a reward.’ She sent to him imploring him to come to her. He got up with Sa’d ibn ‘Ubada, Mu’adh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Zayd ibn Thabit and some other men. The child was brought to Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam and he was shuddering. The eyes of Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam were flowing with tears and Sa’d radhiyallahu anhu said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what is this?’ He said, ‘This is an aspect of mercy which Allah has put in the hearts of His slaves.’ One variant has, ‘In the hearts of whomever He will of His slaves. Allah is merciful to those of His slaves who are merciful.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Suhayb radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘Among those before you there was a king who had a sorcerer. When he was old, he said to the king, ‘I am old, so send me a lad to whom I can teach sorcery.’ He sent him a lad for him to teach. When the boy was on the way, he came upon a monk. He sat down to listen to his words and liked what he heard. Whenever he went to the sorcerer, he would pass by the monk and sit with him. When he came to the sorcerer, the sorcerer would beat him. He complained about that to the monk who said, ‘When you are afraid of the sorcerer, say, ‘My family kept me.’ And when you are afraid of your family, say, ‘The sorcerer kept me.’ While all this was going on, he came upon a great beast which was barring the people’s way on the pathway and said, ‘Today I will find out who is better, the sorcerer or the monk.’ He took a stone and said, ‘O Allah, if what the monk does is preferable to You to what the sorcerer does, then turn this beast aside so that the people can pass.’ He threw it and killed the animal and the people went on. He went to the monk and told him and the monk said to him, ‘O my boy, today you are better than I am. I see the point that your affair has reached. You will be tested and when you are tested, do not point me out.’ The boy used to heal the blind and the lepers, and treat people for all their ailments. A companion of the king who was blind heard this and brought him many gifts. He said, ‘All that I have gathered for you here is yours if you heal me.’ He said, ‘I do not heal anyone. It is Allah Almighty who heals. If you believe in Allah Almighty, I will pray to Allah to heal you.’ So he believed in Allah Almighty and Allah Almighty healed him. He went to the king and sat with him as he used to do. The king said to him, ‘Who has returned your sight to you?’ He said, ‘It was my Lord.’ He said, ‘You have a Lord other than me?!’ He said, ‘My Lord and your Lord, Allah.’ So he seized him and did not stop torturing him until he pointed out the boy. The boy was brought and the king said to him, ‘O boy, your sorcery has reached the point where you heal the blind and the lepers, and you do such-and-such and such-and-such.’ He said, ‘I do not heal anyone. It is Allah Almighty who heals.’ He seized him and did not stop torturing him until he pointed out the monk. The monk was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion.’ He refused. He called for a saw and placed the saw on the centre of his head and split it until the two halves fell apart. Then the companion of the king was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion!’ He refused, and the saw was placed on the centre of his head and split it until the two halves fell apart. Then the boy was brought and told, ‘Renounce your religion,’ and he refused. He handed him over to a group of his companions and said, ‘Take him to such-and-such a mountain, and take him up the mountain. When you reach its summit, if he has not renounced his religion, throw him off.’ They took him and brought him up the mountain and he said, ‘O Allah, save me from them in whatever way You will.’ The mountain shook and they fell. He walked to the king and the king said to him, ‘What has happened to your companions?’ He said, ‘Allah Almighty saved me from them.’ He handed him over to a group of his companions and said, ‘Take him and put him in a ship and take him to the middle of the sea. If he does not renounce, then throw him into it.’ They took him and he said, ‘O Allah, save me from them in whatever way You will.’ The ship capsized and they were drowned. He walked back to the king and the king said to him, ‘What has happened to your companions?’ He said, ‘Allah Almighty saved me from them.’ He said to the king, ‘You will not kill me until you do what I command you.’ He said, ‘What is that?’ He said, ‘You should gather the people together on one plain and crucify me on a palm trunk. Then take an arrow from your quiver and put the arrow in the centre of your bow and say, ‘In the name of Allah, the Lord of the boy,’ and then shoot it. If you do that, you will kill me.’ So he gathered the people together on one plain and crucified him on a trunk and then took his arrow from his quiver and placed the arrow in the middle of the bow and then said, ‘In the name of Allah, the Lord of the boy,’ and then shot it and the arrow struck his temple. He put his hand on his temple and then died. The people said, ‘We believe in the Lord of the boy.’ The king was brought and told, ‘Do you not see that, by Allah, your fear has brought about the very thing you were afraid of! The people have believed.’ So he commanded that a trench be dug with openings onto it and had fires lit in it. He said, ‘Throw into it, anyone who does not renounce his religion or tell him to jump.’ They did that until a woman came with one of her children. She hesitated to jump into it and the child said to her, ‘Mother, be steadfast! You have the truth.’ (Muslim)
• Anas radhiyallahu anhu said: I heard Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam say, ‘Allah the Mighty and Exalted says, ‘When I test My slave regarding the two things he loves and he shows fortitude, I repay him for them with Jannah.’ He meant his two eyes. (Bukhari)
• ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radhiyallahu anhu said, ‘It is as if I could still see Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam talking about one of the Prophets alayhis salaam whose people beat him, making his blood flow. While he was wiping the blood from his face, he said, ‘O Allah, forgive my people. They do not know.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping out his mistakes by it.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Anas radhiyallahu anhu said: Rasulullah sallallahu alyhi wasallam said, ‘None of you should wish for death because of some harm which has befallen him. If he has got to do something, he should say, ‘O Allah, make me live if life is best for me and make me die if death is best for me.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Source:http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0507.htm
Sunday, February 21, 2010
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