Children’s Column

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[168] People! Eat of the earth what is lawful and good, and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. Surely, he is your true enemy.

[169] He will order you (to do only) bad and shameful things, and that you say about Allah things that you have no knowledge of.

[170] When they (the unbelievers) are told, ‘Follow that which Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘No way. We shall remain on that upon which we found our forefathers.’ (But, will they continue) even if their forefathers did not use reason nor were they rightly guided?

[171] The example of the unbelievers is like someone who shouts to (an animal) who hears nothing, except a call and a cry ‑ deaf, dumb and blind (they are), and so they will not use their reason.

Understanding the above Verses

Many religions other than Islam teach that the best life is of those who give up the world, go and live in forests or mountains, and continually offer prayers. Islam does not accept this. It says that Allah has created the world for His creations. A Muslim must live in this world, enjoy the good things he earns in halal way, share them with the poor and needy, say thanks to none but Allah, and obey Him in all matters. But, he must not run after the worldly things, doing nothing in his life but earning more and more, enjoying more and more, until he falls dead.

But saying and doing what religions other than Islam say, or saying and doing what people say against Islam, is to follow the footsteps of Shaytan; because those who do not believe in Islam would always want you to commit shameful things. For example, your friends, schoolmates, neighbors will tell you to do un-Islamic things.

In fact, those who believe in religions other than Islam will tell you that they also have a holy book, and that their God has allowed drinking of wine. But in no holy book Allah allowed drinking of wine.

When you tell them, why don’t you read the Qur’an and follow it? They will not say, “The suggestion that we read the Qur’an is a good one. Let me read and check what it has to say.”

But instead, they will say in reply, “Our religion is also true. Our fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, all of them believed in it.” They do not ever say, “Who knows whether our forefathers were not properly guided, but simply and blindly, followed each other.” They do not say either, “OK. My father was a farmer, so I’ll also be a farmer.” He will say, “What my father was is not important to me. I am going to get educated and decide what to do.”

Those who say that they will follow the religion of their parents, and that there is no need at all to read a Book sent down by their Lord, although they are ready to read any other book, and actually read hundreds of books, are then like cattle.

What happens to a cow when you shout at it and say, “There is fodder for you in your shelter, so go back?” It only hears a voice, but does not know the meaning. So, it will not turn back to its shelter.

Similarly, when they hear that the Qur’an says, “God is one,” they do not say, “That sounds reasonable. Give me that part of the Qur’an which says this.” But they only say, “Well. That might be there in the Qur’an. But the religion of my forefathers said that there are many gods. There is one god to send down rain; another god to give wealth; another to give health, and so on, and so I shall keep following this religion. It is the best of religion.” If they said that, then they are deaf to truth, blind to truth, and dumb for truth. They can say so many things, but are dumb to say, “Yes. One God makes sense.”

They might be clever in worldly things, but since they do not use their senses rightly, their minds do not work properly, when you talk of Islam.

As Muslims, we too should not follow our parents blindly. We should ask, “Is what you are saying in the Qur’an, Papa?” Or, “Mother! Did our Prophet say that?” Then, as you grow older, you must check whether what they said is truly in the Qur’an and Hadith. May be, as the Qur’an says here, they were not rightly guided, or they did not think enough and understand correctly. After all, they are human beings. They too can make mistakes.

(But, be careful not to show any disrespect to your parents, even if they are wrong).

When time comes, and you are not sure, then ask top class scholars, or write to them. But, do not ask anyone who is an Imam of a mosque, or only appears like a scholar, or says he is, or people say he is. He may not be so. Or, you may refer to books written by top class scholars.

Exercise:

1. Name two religions that teach that the best way of religious life is to live away from the world, into the forests, monasteries, etc.
2. Is all that a Muslim earns his alone, or is there in it other’s too?
3. If there are other people’s rights in your earnings (say, your pocket money), then name those other people.
4. What are the footsteps of Shaytan?
5. Ask an unbeliever about God: how many are there? And note the answer.
6. Give him a small passage of the Qur’an which says that God is one.
7. Discuss with him and see whether he behaves like the Qur’an has said in the above verses.
8. Note down what he has to say when you tell him, “You read so much, would you like to read one or two pages from the Qur’an if I brought you?
9. If he say he is too busy, or “I’ll do it later by myself,” then how will you describe him? Use the verses above to describe him.
10. From whom will you take your religion: (a) now, when you are young, (b) later when you are older?

(To be continued)

n elderly lady was well-known for her Iman and for her confidence in talking about it. She would stand in front of her house and say “Alhamdulilah! Allah be praised” no matter who passed by. Next door to her lived an atheist who would get so angry at her proclamations he would shout, “There ain’t no Lord!”

Hard times came upon the elderly lady, and she prayed for Allah to send her some assistance. She would pray out loud in her night prayer: “Oh Allah! I need food!! I am having a hard time, please Lord, PLEASE LORD, SEND ME SOME GROCERIES!!”

The atheist happened to hear her as she was praying, and decided to play a prank on her. The next morning the lady went out on her porch and noted a large bag of groceries and shouted, “Alhamdulillah, Allah be praised!” The neighbor jumped from behind a bush and said, “Aha! I told you there was no Lord. I bought those groceries, God didn’t.”

1.What occurs four times in every week, twice in every month, but only once in a year?

2. When did Chicago begin with a ‘C’ and end with an ‘E’?

3. Mary has a big one, Jemima, two but small. William has but one behind. Poor John has none at all! What are we talking about?

4. I can touch you but you can’t touch me. Although I have no wheels, wings on sails, I can take you on a long journey. And sometimes you can see me best with your eyes closed! What am I?

5. What sits in the corner and travels all over the world?

Answers [Please Put on Different Page]

1. The letter ‘E’

2. CHICAGO has always begun with a ‘C’ and END has always begun with an ‘E’!

3. The letter ‘M’.

4. A Story.

5. A postage stamp.

• If you lift a Kangaroo’s tail off the ground it can’t hop – they use their tails for balance.
• If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will become pale!
• Cows can sleep standing up, but they can only dream lying down.  .
• The scientific name of the red fox is Vulpes vulpes.
• Alligators can live up to 100 years.
• A single elephant teeth can weigh as much as 9 pounds.  .
• During World War II, Americans tried to train bats to drop bombs.
• Canis lupus lupus is the scientific name for a Gray Wolf.
• To escape the grip of a crocodile’s jaw, push your thumb into its eyeballs-it will let you go instantly.
• It is much easier for dogs to learn spoken commands if they are given in conjunction with hand signals or gestures.
• Even a small amount of alcohol placed on a scorpion will make it go crazy and sting itself to death!

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

“While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It’s on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you’d be mad at having to do it again.

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
“Where is your little brother right now?”
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear – he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, “I love Mommy,” surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly-picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’

‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’

‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’

‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’

‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’

‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller..

‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’

‘I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked.

‘Not zackley but almost.’

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy.

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said:

‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr.Miller had died.

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…..they came to pay their debt.’

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.’

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

[Source: http://www.thestorytelling-resource-centre.com/inspiring-stories.html]