<![CDATA[AussieMuslims.com - Home of Australian Muslims - Poems & Stories]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/ Put all your inspirational stories, poems, quotes, articles in here! en Fri, 24 May 2013 17:39:34 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/images/aria/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[AussieMuslims.com - Home of Australian Muslims - Poems & Stories]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/ <![CDATA[The History of Islam (Khalid ibnul Walid) Spoken word [awesome]]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54915-The-History-of-Islam-(Khalid-ibnul-Walid)-Spoken-word-awesome&goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 04:48:20 GMT d_LW29k2t64 ]]> fatima_43 http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54915-The-History-of-Islam-(Khalid-ibnul-Walid)-Spoken-word-awesome Umrah in Ramadan: A personal journey http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54833-Umrah-in-Ramadan-A-personal-journey&goto=newpost Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:11:48 GMT A memoir by Aamir Shamsi My wish was finally coming true. I had been on Umrah before when I was younger but for the past year, I had really wanted to go for the last ten days of Ramadan and it was now finally happening. I would spend three nights in Medinah and from there go to Makkah for 8... A memoir by Aamir Shamsi


My wish was finally coming true. I had been on Umrah before when I was younger but for the past year, I had really wanted to go for the last ten days of Ramadan and it was now finally happening. I would spend three nights in Medinah and from there go to Makkah for 8 nights. I was excited, but also worried if my trip and Ibadat would be as rewarding as I had hoped. The Holy Land awaited me.

Alhamdulillah, I have many experiences and many stories from the trip to recollect but I will try to share some of the most meaningful moments…

Jannat Al-Baqi

We first arrived in Madinah and made arrangement to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. As we were being driven from the airport, I couldn’t wait for my first glance of the Prophet’s Mosque. But before that, we drove past Jannat Al-Baqi: the graveyard of the Sahabah. It was truly incredible to know that some of the greatest men and women that have ever lived were resting a few hundred metres from me. I was wishing I could have been born at that time and lived with both the Prophet and the Sahabah; what an amazing life that would have been to be in the company of the greatest people to have ever stepped foot on this planet! However, Allah always does what is best for the believer so this must be the best time for me to be around.

The Prophet’s Mosque

…And then I saw the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, the Prophet’s mosque. Breathtaking is all I can think of to describe it. This was where Islam was first established in the community and I was standing on the very soil on which our beloved Prophet began to implement Islam in all aspects of society; I felt so blessed.

My first few days were unbelievable. This place was so detached from the rest of the world; you could literally tell how everyone felt like they were in a different world – there was no stress from business, family or anything else. The only thing on everyone’s mind was their Rabb and gaining the blessings of Ramadan.

Masjid Al-Quba

Ziyarat (visiting sites related to Prophet Muhammad) was a lot of fun. The most memorable Ziyarat locations for me were firstly Masjid Al-Quba: the first mosque in Islam. Just to pray Salah on the same soil gave me goosebumps. I was in awe as I looked at the walls; I could just imagine the believers building this mosque brick by brick with the Prophet helping them. Once again, I wished I was one of the Sahabah and could help in the construction of such a meaningful building. I pray that one day I can contribute significantly to the building of a mosque in this world.

Battlefield of Uhud

The second was the battlefield of Uhud, where Hamza (radhiAllahu ‘anhu) gave his life fighting for Islam and in which the Prophet’s orders to the archers were abandoned, ultimately leading to a disaster ending to the battle. I think the reason why these two places had the greatest impact on me was because I have grown up, like many of you have, watching ‘The Message’ where both events are depicted in this film, and so it was easier for me to imagine what happened. Just being there really touched my soul

Breaking The Fast

One of the highlights of going to Umrah during Ramadan was undoubtedly breaking the fast. Right after Asr, hundreds of volunteers roll out plastic mats and start putting dates, yoghurt, bread, nuts and water out for the people. After a long day, with the sun’s heat, to be looking at food for such a long time and not to be allowed to eat it…subhanAllah, such is a test from Allah! I tried to keep my concentration on making dua and reading as much Quran as I could but even then it was quite difficult. However, this feeling would disappear as Maghrib would approach; there was a buzz around the mosque as everyone would get ready to break their fast. Some were making one last dua’, some were finishing off a surah, and some were quietly chatting with their neighbours, but everyone felt that brotherhood amongst themselves and that’s what made it so special. As the Adhan would be called, we were all reminded that we were doing this for one purpose: for the sake of Allah.

Desert Travel

Travelling from Medinah to Makkah by car really put into perspective the hardships the Sahabah and Prophet had to endure while travelling to spread the word of Islam. The rocky mountains, the scorching heat, and the plain desert land with nothing in sight could have only been an extremely arduous journey. It was the anticipation of seeing the Kabah that was eating away at me; it was the excitement as well as the nervousness (which I will explain later).

Ka’bah

Upon seeing the Kabah, I could not help but start crying. I had seen it when I visited Makkah before but for a strange and unexplainable reason, the emotions were as raw as ever. I felt at home. It is difficult to describe the exact feelings that one has when facing the house of their God, only someone who has been there will be able to understand exactly what I mean. The first thing we did was to perform our Umrah which was a remarkable experience. I had never seen anything like it before; crowds were intently focused on their Ibadat as they went around the Kabah and ran between the two hills. That’s exactly what I was trying to do: just focus on every word I was saying, understand and really feel the depth of all that I was asking from God. My legs were aching and the soles of my feet hardening but I kept on going and was giving encouragement to my mum at the same time. During the Umrah, I began to feel very scared and remember the Day of Judgment as all I could see around me were people asking for forgiveness. Surely this must be like that Day, but the difference being that we won’t be able to change anything then unlike in our current state. This realization shook me and I began to repeatedly ask myself, “Am I doing enough to save myself from Hellfire and earn Allah’s Mercy?” I pray that I can one day positively answer this question…

Taraweeh Prayers

Another highlight of coming to Makkah/Medina during Ramadan is the Taraweeh prayers as well as the Qiyam prayers during the last ten nights. The Tawareeh prayers start right after Maghrib and last for about two hours, and the Qiyam prayers including the Witr start at 1:00am and again last for another two hours. These prayers are spiritually uplifting – to stand in congregation with your brothers facing the Qiblah while listening to some of the world’s best Qaris is mesmerising! Standing for so long is not easy especially if you weren’t able to stand on the carpet and instead have to stand on the marble, but subhanAllah it is all worth it when you think of where you are, what you’re doing, and how much reward you could be earning.

Ramadan 27th & 29th

The masjid is always packed with people but on the 27th night, my mother and I made the mistake of going back to the hotel between Maghrib and Isha because just within twenty minutes, all of the entrances to the Masjid were blocked off and the roads were full of people coming from all directions. We ended up having to pray our Taraweeh prayers in the middle of the roads, with ambulances driving in between the rows of people, and with no space and nowhere to move or go. Everybody was stuck but it was exciting and both terrifying as there was every likelihood that we could be crushed.

I have never seen so many people than on both the 27th and 29th night of Ramadan. As far as my vision could go, all I could see were people. At times, my mother and I felt suffocated with the number of people around us; just to walk a hundred metres, it would take half an hour. Therefore, there was no real point of moving but since my mother was ill at the time, we had to regularly go to the bathroom, resulting in being squashed from all directions as well as being worried of getting separated. Alhamdulillah though, we managed to stick together, even when my mum disappeared into a huge crowd as I was able to find her within a few minutes.

Adhans

One of the most special moments on my visit was standing in front of the Kabah during both the Fajr and Maghrib Adhan. I purposefully walked up to the front of the rows near the time of the Adhan so that I would be one of those who prayed in the walkways and had a full view of the Kabah. It was easily one of the best moments of my life hearing the Adhan while looking at the House of God – again it was just one of those indescribable moments that cannot be matched by anything in this world. My heart just felt so at peace and as I write this, I wish could be there right now.

The Journey Home

Two weeks quickly flew by and before I knew it, I was on my way to Jeddah to fly back to London. From what I have written and from what people have heard from me, the visit seems to have appeared to be rather perfect, but unfortunately, there were many things that went wrong such as feeling ill, stifled by the sheer number of people, and being let down by our tour organisers. However, this was fine because nothing ever works out to be perfect and especially since there are always lessons to learn. However, my biggest hardship was not the physical tribulation that I faced; it was rather a test of my faith…

During my visit. I was repeatedly attacked by Shaitan who made me question many core elements of our faith such as, ‘Why do we worship God?’, ‘Why do we pray Salat five times a day?’, and ‘Why do we praise God?’ Astaghfirullah (I seek refuge in Allah). These thoughts were continually circling my mind and it made me very depressed at times because I was in the most holy place on Earth but I still having these silly thoughts in my mind that were disabling me from being able to fully focus on my Ibadat at all times.

It was strange as these questions never troubled me before, and only later was I slightly comforted as someone told me when I came back that Allah tests people in different ways and this was just one of my tests. My heart only came to rest when I came back as I spoke to people and read up and found the answers which I always knew and understood deep down. Therefore, although this was the best trip I have ever made, it was also the most difficult and I was very worried that my Iman was decreasing in such a place.

Reflections

So what have I gained from this visit? Have I become closer to my Deen through this visit? The troubling thoughts were definitely taxing, but as there is always something good in what happens, I pray that by going over these questions, I have reaffirmed my faith, strengthened my Iman, and allowed me to answer questions that many Non-Muslims pose. By reflecting on the feelings and emotions I experienced while I was there, I felt like I have become closer to Allah. Usually after people come back from Umrah/Hajj, it is a time of deep reflection and improvement but truth be told, it had not been anywhere near enough as I would have liked, especially since I still had those thoughts circulating in mind, and as I was continuously preoccupied with work and charity. However, now that my responsibilities have reduced and I recollect my thoughts on paper, I realize that I must now look to my ultimate responsibility: to become a better Muslim.

Of course this journey does not end on the aeroplane, but is one that is continuous until I go back to my Lord and one that I hope to continue to learn from and improve myself inshAllah. Visiting the Holy Land during Ramadan was truly amazing and I pray to Allah to be granted this opportunity again for it is an experience I will never forget.

“So, it is a must for the souls to be nurtured by way of tests, and to be severely tested during the course of the battle between truth and falsehood with fear and hardship, and with hunger and decrease in wealth and life and fruits. This testing is a necessity so that the believer can give his share of what his belief requires; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with that he gives for its sake of sacrifice and burden; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with what he is willing to give for its sake!"

(‘Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an’; 1/145) ]]> Sister. http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54833-Umrah-in-Ramadan-A-personal-journey Each of you is Shepherd http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54812-Each-of-you-is-Shepherd&goto=newpost Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:57:53 GMT Have you ever observed a skilled shepherd drives his flock with some great protocols? How could he manage them to follow his directions? After all sheep do not have the brains. They don’t even determine that they should follow a leader. Yet, you are seeing a well-built communication between the... Have you ever observed a skilled shepherd drives his flock with some great protocols? How could he manage them to follow his directions? After all sheep do not have the brains. They don’t even determine that they should follow a leader. Yet, you are seeing a well-built communication between the shepherd and his flock. What as a leader you can learn from shepherd is some quality traits of leadership.
Whether you are a manager in a cooperation or supervisor in local supermarket or even a preacher in your local religious community, you all on daily basis can’t help facing challenges related to leadership. Must agree here not all the managers are good leaders. However, leadership is a quality you can build up with careful studies. It’s the quality we everyone needs from parenting to leading the people in a more large scales.
When prophet Mohammed (PBUH) stressed on leadership he said ‘Each of you is a shepherd, and each one is responsible for his flock…. This comparison of us to shepherd teaches us many lessons we can ponder and become great leader in our roll.
Is a shepherd is more a police like or a kind of instructor? Well, he acts both characters. A shepherd understands his flock needs his guidance and his directing is an utmost important task that will prevent them from being lost. He is assertive and at the same time he cares a lot for their needs. We have to self-question now, as leaders, how many of us really give appropriate guidance and support to our teams to achieve those collective goals? Do we respect the rights of our team mates? Infact, to become a better leader we have to care our team like a better shepherd, while giving them always a guidance and extra helps they need in their jobs, by understanding the natural weakness of them we must not overburden with labor. We have to make sure they enjoy their rest time in between the works. As no shepherd takes his flock out of border which he has already set, a good manager never assigns his workfellows the works that challenge their health and safety or set them out of the company procedures that will eventually destruct them. Like a shepherd a good leader has to maintain a great amount of patience when leading his team. It’s very usual that we have some bad workers or followers who relentlessly violate the work morals and procedures, but like a good shepherd, we are accountable to act wise with tolerance in such case.
In short we can describe a Shepherd to be assertive, Confident, Compassionate, frontrunner, supportive, accountable and organized etc., which are of the best characteristics of a greatest leader. How wise when he, prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said - ‘Each of you is a shepherd, and each one is responsible for his flock….

AZARD JALEEL ]]> Mohamed Azard http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54812-Each-of-you-is-Shepherd <![CDATA[Story -- the king & the poor man]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54807-Story-the-king-amp-the-poor-man&goto=newpost Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:17:00 GMT :salam:


There was a king who decided to take a tour of his country. As he passed by different places, everyone rushed to see him. However, while passing by a certain place, he noticed a poor old man who did not pay any attention to the king's arrival and remained engaged in his own activities.

The king went up to this poor man and asked why he did not join the people to see him.

The poor man replied, :
“Before you, there was another king who once passed by this place. Everyone gathered to see him as well. But, few days later he died and was buried in a place nearby. A poor man also died during that time and was buried near the king's grave. After some time, a strong flood passed through that area causing those graves to overturn. As a result, the bones of the poor man became mixed up with those of the king's. We could not differentiate between them any longer.
After seeing this, it does not matter to me anymore as to who is a king and who is a beggar. In the end, ‘our home is the same’ ” ]]> http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54807-Story-the-king-amp-the-poor-man Islam at the workplace: employers and employees http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?54268-Islam-at-the-workplace-employers-and-employees&goto=newpost Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:47:37 GMT *Islam at the workplace: employers and employees *Attachment 8659 (http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8659) December 1, 2012 The highly globalised world we live in brings with it new workplace dynamics, procedures, and rules, but the ethical foundations of... Islam at the workplace: employers and employees

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December 1, 2012

The highly globalised world we live in brings with it new workplace dynamics, procedures, and rules, but the ethical foundations of employer-employee relations remain the same. On its surface, an employer-employee relationship is quite simple whereby work is performed in return for a wage or salary; however, in essence, such a relationship is fiduciary in nature which affords both parties rights and responsibilities towards each other. We live in a society in which the commonly accepted ethical standards in workplace relationships are oft-flouted – where employees betray the trust of their employers, and employers fail to give employees their due right. Unfortunately, such unIslamic behaviour is rampant amongst Muslims as well, as many of us have heard of or witnessed many a time first hand. Islam is not just a theoretical religion of laws and regulations; it is a practical way of life providing guidelines on how we interact with other people. By implementing the commands of Allah (swt), and the practices of the Prophet (saw) and his companions, we can set the benchmark in workplace relations which will be beneficial for businesses and improve the image of Islam in the eyes of non-Muslims.

Giving employees their due right

The most common violation of an employee’s right is the delay of their payment, or not paying them at all. Such oppressive practices are particularly rampant in the trade industry where agreements are often made informally, but also happen elsewhere. The equation is quite simple: you get work done or a service provided and you pay for it. Sadly, this is not always the case. Many workers, young and old, are usually left in an undesirable position where they are promised payment by their employers within a certain time-frame but keep delaying it citing laughable excuses. Other times, dodgy employers refuse to pay altogether. This is oppression and theft at its best. One does not need to rob their local milk-bar to be considered a thief. The oppressed workers are often left without proper recourse as access to legal aid is either too expensive, or the whole process of applying to the courts or tribunals, which can be lengthy, is simply not worth the hassle. Regarding delaying payment, the Prophet (saw) said:

“Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” (Ibn Maajah 2443)

The esteemed scholars of Islam have explained the above hadith to mean that the employer must hasten to pay the employee and not delay payment. The reference to the worker’s sweat drying is used in a metaphorical sense to be quick to make payment, as not everybody necessarily sweats when they work.

From a business perspective, delaying workers their payment may be a cause for demotivation and may hurt the business in the long-run. Accordingly, demotivated workers will result in reduced productivity and efficiency in the workplace, which means less profit for the business. On the contrary, paying workers on time with occasional bonuses serves as an incentive for workers to work even harder.

Employers must always remember their workers may have a family to care for, amongst other responsibilities, and treat them accordingly. If there is no payment schedule specified in the contract; workers should be paid according to industry practices and standards.

Most importantly, a Muslim employer must not prevent their workers from observing their daily prayers and attending Friday prayers. The workers can easily pray on their lunch breaks in an appropriate area and compensate for the time lost if necessary. Such arrangements should be made with the employer (Muslim or otherwise) beforehand to avoid any potential problems.

Employees’ responsibilities

Employees have a duty to abide by their contractual relationships and fulfil the tasks required from them by their employer, as Allah commands us in the Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts...” (Al-Mā'idah: 1)

Just as employers must pay their workers in a timely manner; employees must also fulfil their work properly and deserve their wage/salary. This means workers must not take short-cuts (provided that it affects their work), but do the required work correctly, as per the expectations of the employer. A good way to maintain a check and balance of your behaviour is to consider the business as your own. Employees must always be honest with their employers, and maintain the trust afforded to them. A’ishah (r.a) reported the Prophet (saw) as saying:

“Verily, Allah loves that when anyone of you does something he does it perfectly.” (Bayhaqi)

As Muslims, many of us have non-Muslim employers who observe our character and often make value judgements. They see us as the representatives of the Prophet (saw) and relate our behaviour to our glorious religion. For this reason, we must use our fiduciary relationships as a gateway to overturn the negative perceptions of Islam in the eyes of non-Muslims. We must demonstrate our honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness and excellent work ethics.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) was given the honorary title of "Al-Sadiq Al-Amin", the truthful, trustworthy one, by those who openly rejected his Prophethood. As it were, the disbelievers requested him to adjudicate in their affairs.

There is a well-known story of the gardener who worked for a house-owner, maintaining the garden and doing other chores for many years. One day, the owner asked the gardener to pick some pomegranates from the trees. The gardener then began running from tree to tree – back and forth to the bewilderment of the owner who then asked the gardener what he is doing. The gardener replied by saying he does not know which ones are the best to pick. Amazed, the owner asked why he didn't know how they taste, to which the gardener replied: ‘I have never tasted any because you never told me to’. Since he was a gardener, it would have been quite normal to taste a few fruits while working and the owner would never have objected, but the fear of Allah, and the fear of taking what is not his, caused the gardener to abstain. This story, and many others, illustrates the level of piety Muslims demonstrated in the workplace.

Regarding trampling upon one’s rights, the Prophet (saw) said:

"He upon whom his brother has a right, be it of the nature of money or honour, let him compensate for it before he is made to compensate for it on a day when there will be neither dinar nor dirham to deal with...” (Bukhari)

As such, it is desirable to avoid infringing upon others’ rights. If we have violated a person’s rights, the best we can do is to seek their pardon and rectify our mistakes as soon as possible. It is quite opportune to cite the popular story of Imām al-A'zam Abū Ḥanīfah (r.a) and the farmer.

These are just some of the issues in the area of workplace relations afflicting our Muslim communities today, and it’s very disappointing to see it become a common occurrence. We are not a people who are free to do as we wish, we have clear guidelines and Islamic principles which we must implement in order to prosper, and be worthy ambassadors to Islam. This is written with the hope to serve as a reminder to myself and others; if it causes one person to rectify their unIslamic practices, then it has served its purpose insha’Allah.
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