Similes of Hadrat Ali (a.s.)

Hadrat Ali had the peculiar skill to explain things by giving appropriate similes. In his various addresses and sermons, we come across many instances of his brilliance of expression that brings home the truth through these interesting examples.

The world: The world is like a serpent which is outwardly very soft skinned but poisonous within.

Falsehood: Like the feathers of a peacock, falsehood might look very attractive, but is as ugly as [as are the] feet of a peacock. Falsehood has no legs to stand upon.

The unbelievers: Unbelievers are like bats who can see in the dark, but who are blinded by daylight and [so] cannot see.

The people who did not respond to his call: When Hadrat Ali exhorted the people of Iraq to respond to his call for war against Muawiyah, they did not respond to his call. He said, "You are like a pregnant woman who undergoes the ordeal of childbirth, but gives birth to a dead child."

The tree and the fruit: When after the death of the holy Prophet, the Quraish based their claim to the caliphate on the ground that they belonged to the same tree as the holy Prophet. Hadrat Ali said, "It is strange that they look to the tree, but neglect its fruit."

The people of Basra: When the people of Basra, who had originally taken the oath of allegiance to him, [yet] later chose to fight against him, Hadrat Ali said that these people were near the water but far from the sky.

People of the age of ignorance: Referring to the people of the age of ignorance in the pre-Islamic era, Hadrat Ali said that they were like an egg which has broken in the nest.

The people of Kufa: Addressing the people of Kufa, Hadrat Ali said: "When I invite you to fight, your eyes begin to move in their sockets as if you [were] in the agony of death. You are like camels whose herdsmen have disappeared, and when these animals are collected on one side, they scatter on the other side."

Mughira b. Shu'aba: Mughira was regarded by the Quraish as a wise man. When Mughira favoured Muawiyah, Hadrat Ali said, "Mughira has profited from Islam only to the extent of seeking worldly gain. He is oblivious to the Hereafter."

The people who run after the world: About the people who run after the world, Hadrat Ali said, "Those people who chase after the world are like beasts who lunge at one another, with the strong oppressing the weak."

The people who are not deceived by the world: About the people who are not deceived by the world, Hadrat Ali said, "Those who have understood the deceptive character of the world, do not feel distressed on death. They are like the people who migrate from a famine-struck land to a land of plenty."

Hadrat Ali's complaint against the Umayyads: During the caliphate of Hadrat Uthman, Hadrat Ali had a complaint that the Umayyadds were holding from him what was due to him. He said, "The Umayyads are withholding what is due to me, just like the camelman who milks the she camel withholds milk from the young one of the camel.

Falsehood of Muawiyah: Referring to the falsehood of Muawiyah, Hadrat Ali said that falsehood had appeared in his case like the horns on the head of a young goat.

Shedding of sins through prayer: In a sermon, Hadrat Ali said that through prayer the sins of men were shed just [like] a tree sheds its leaves.

Cleanliness and prayers: In another sermon, Hadrat Ali said, "Prayer is like a hot spring of water which flows at your door and provides you with the wherewithal for cleanliness."

Crumbs after meals: In a sermon, Hadrat Ali said that the world had run its course, and nothing had been left of it except the crumbs after the meals.

The people who did not respond to his call: Hadrat Ali compared the people who did not respond to his call to a camel who ran away from the herd shrieking with pains in its belly.

Hearts of the people: Hadrat Ali prayed for the hearts of the people to melt at the mention of the God's words, just like salt [is] dissolved in water.

Ignorant persons: Hadrat Ali said that ignorant persons were like persons riding on beasts of burden who could not see. He deplored that such ignorant people dealt with the injunctions of Islam as wind scattered straw.

Ashas b. Qais: Hadrat Ali said that among his companions, Ashas b. Qais was what Abdullah b. Abi Sahi was in the time of the holy Prophet.

Patience and faith: Patience and faith bear the same relation in a human being. Like a head is attached to the body (and a body cannot be without a head) so there can be no faith without patience.

Disease and sins: Disease sheds sin just [like a] tree sheds its dead leaves.

Death of the virtuous: Hadrat Ali compared the death of the virtuous to the migration journey of the people from a famine-struck land to a land of plenty.

Days of life: The days of life pass like clouds in the sky.

Devotion to the world: Those who are devoted to the world are like barking dogs and ferocious animals who lunge at one another and where the strong devour the weak.

Seekers of the world: Those who seek the world are like a loose camel roaming about causing mischief.

Virtue of silence: Hadrat Ali advocated the virtue of silence by advancing the simile that water can be preserved in a waterskin only when its mouth is tied.

Thirsty camels on a water pond: When the people flocked to him and urged him to accept their allegiance, Hadrat Ali compared them to thirsty camels that flocked to a water pond when their harnesses were untied.

The caliphate of  Umar: When  Abu Bakr died, Umar became the Caliph. Hadrat Ali held that the second Caliph was like a person riding a camel, whose reins, if tightened would injure the camel, and if loosened would endanger the rider.

Umayyad use of the Bait-ul-Mai: Referring to the appropriation of the funds of the Bait-ul-Mai by the Umayyads for personal ends during the caliphate of Uthman, Hadrat Ali held that they ate away the public funds, just as the camel eats away the grass.

Withholding the milk of the she camel from its young: Hadrat Ali had the complaint that during the caliphate of the Hadrat Uthman, the Umayyads withheld from him what was his right, just like the camelman who, while milking the she camel, withholds its milk from its young one.

Handle of the grinding stone: When Abu Bakr became the Caliph, Hadrat Ali held that Abu Bakr had assumed the mantle of the caliphate forcibly while he knew that he (Hadrat Ali) was as essential for the caliphate as a handle was necessary for turning the grinding stone.

The simile of a sinner: A sinner is like a person riding on an animal [of] which he had no control, and which is running fast to hurl him into a precipice.

Drops of rain: The injunctions of God descend like drops of rain.

Summer clouds: When the people of Kufa did not respond to the call of Hadrat Ali to meet the challenge off Muawiyah, Hadrat Ali said that he longed for warriors who in their action and speed would be like summer clouds.

The goat and the lion: Addressing the people of Kufa, Hadrat Ali said, "I want you to tread the path of the truth, but you run from it like a goat runs away when hearing the roar of the lion."

Taking the thorn out of the foot with a thorn: On another occasion Hadrat Ali said that the people of Kufa were like a person who picked out [a] thorn from his foot with a thorn.

Solution of salt in water: With reference to the people of Kufa, Hadrat Ali prayed "O God, melt their hearts like salt dissolves in water."

Bull with crooked horns: When Talha defected after taking the oath of the allegiance to him, Hadrat Ali compared him to a bull with crooked horns.

Shaking plants: Referring to the piety of the Companions of the holy Prophet, Hadrat Ali said that they shuddered at the mention of the Hereafter [like] plants shake when a strong wind blows.

Pregnant woman separating from the child: Addressing the people of Kufa, Hadrat Ali said that they were not dependable and that they were likely to leave him like a pregnant woman is separated from [her] child at childbirth.

Households of the holy Prophet: Hadrat Ali described the household of the holy Prophet to be like stars, in that if one star sets another star rises.

Foaming waves of the sea: While addressing Hadrat Uthman, Hadrat Ali said that treason was likely to rage like the foaming waves of the sea. 

GOOD TO KNOW FACTS -JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1.    Your zipper. See the initials YKK? It stands for Yoshida Kogyo
      Kabushibibaisha, the world's largest zipper manufacturer. 
   
   2. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top. 
   
   3. A duck's quack doesn't echo. No one knows why. 
   
   4. 40 percent of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals. 
   
   5. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled. 
   
   6. On the average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily. 
   
   7. Chocolate kills dogs! True, chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous
   system. A few ounces is enough to kill a small sized dog. 
   
   8. Most lipstick contains fish scales. 
   
   9. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as a medicine. 
   
   10. Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time. 
   
   11. Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood. 
   
   12. There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casin0s. 
   
   13. Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips. 
   
   14. Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow a film down so you could see his moves. That's the opposite of the norm. 
   
   15. The original name for the butterfly was "flutterby"! 
   
   16. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink in
   quicksand. 
   
   17. Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the
   mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there. 
   
   18. Dentists recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from
   a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. 
   
   19. The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum. 
   
   20. The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer. 
   
   21. Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than the entire Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined. 
   
   22. Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot. 
   
   23. Adolf Hitler's mother seriously considered having an abortion but was
   talked out of it by her doctor. 
   
   24. The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order. 
   
   25. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that can be typed with only the left hand. 
   
   26. To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, prick your fingers into its
   eyeballs. It will let you go instantly. 
   
   27. A mathematical wonder: 111,111,111 multiplied by 111,111,111 gives the result 12, 345, 678, 987, 654, 321. 
   
   28. The most common name in the world is Mohammed. 
   
   
   29. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. 
   
   30. The "pound" ( ) key on your keyboard is called an octothorp. 
   
   31. The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat. 
   
   32. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. 
   
   33. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. 
   
   34. "Dreamt" is the only word in the English language that ends in "mt". 
   
   35. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. 
   
   36. In Chinese, the KFC slogan "finger lickin' good" comes out as "eat your fingers off". 
   
   37. A cockroach can live for 10 days without a head. 
   
   39. We shed 40 pounds of skin a lifetime. 
   
   
   40. Yo-Yos were once used as weapons in the Philippines. 
   
   41. Coca-Cola can be used as car oil. 
   
   42. Mexico City sinks abut 10 inches a year. 
   
   43. Brains are more active sleeping than watching TV. 
   
   44. Blue is the favorite color of 80 percent of Americans. 
   
   45. When a person shakes their head from side to side, he is saying "yes" in Sri Lanka. 
   
   46. There are more chickens than people in the world. 
   
   47. It's against the law in Iceland to have a dog. 
   
   48. The thumbnail grows the slowest, and the middle nail grows the fastest. 
   
   49. The only word in the English Language with all vowels in reverse order
   is "s ub c ont in ent al". 
   
   50. There are more telephones than people in Washington, D.C.

 

KEEP YOURSELF LIGHT IN THIS WORLD

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Your aim (reward or punishment) is before you. Behind your back is the hour (of resurrection) which is driving you on. Keep (yourself) light and overtake (the forward ones). Your last ones are being awaited by the first ones (who have preceded).

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: If this utterance of `Ali (p.b.u.h.) is weighed with any other utterance except the word of Allah or of the Holy Prophet, it would prove heavier and superior in every respect. For example, `Ali's saying "Keep light and overtake" is the shortest expression ever heard with the greatest sense conveyed by it. How wide is its meaning and how clear its spring of wisdom! We have pointed out the greatness and meaningfulness of this phrase in our book al-Khasa'is.

ALLAH'S GREATNESS

Praise is due to Allah from Whose mercy no one loses hope, from Whose bounty no one is deprived, from Whose forgiveness no one is disappointed and for Whose worship no one is too high. His mercy never ceases and His bounty is never missed.

This world is a place for which destruction is ordained and for its inhabitants departure from here is destined. It is sweet and green. It hastens towards its seeker and attaches to the heart of the viewer. So depart from here with the best of provision available with you and do not ask herein more than what is enough and do not demand from it more than subsistence.

LOVE OF THE WORLD AND DISLIKE OF DEATH

The Messenger of Allah said: "It is near that the nations will call one another against you just as the eaters call one another to their dishes." Somebody asked: "Is this because we will be few in numbers that day?" He said: "Nay, but that day you shall be numerous, but you will be like the foam of the sea, and Allah will take the fear of you away from your enemies and will place weakness into your hearts." 

Somebody asked: "What is this weakness?" He said: "The love of the world and the dislike of death." (Abu Dawud)

IKHLAS- MEANS PURGING ACTIONS OF ALL IMPURITIES

Apr 25, '10 5:27 AM for everyone

The Definition of Ikhlas:

You should know that various definitions have been suggested for ikhlas, to some of which that are prevalent among the people of the mystic path we shall briefly refer here. The honourable `arif' and the wise wayfarer, Khwajah `Abd Allah al-'Ansari, quddisa sirruh, says:

Ikhlas means purging action of all impurities.

And the impurity mentioned here is a general one, including both that which arises from the desire to please oneself and other creatures. It is narrated from the great Shaykh Baha'i that the people of the heart have offered various definitions for it:

It has been said: "(Ikhlas means) keeping action free from other-than-God having a role in it."

This definition is close to the former one.

khlas is Subsequent to Action:

You should know that that which is said in the noble tradition, that

To persevere in an action until it becomes sincere is more difficult than the action itself,

is meant to encourage man to exercise care and diligence in that which he does, both at the time of its performance. and after it. For it sometimes happens that man carries out an action faultlessly and without any shortcoming and performs it without riya' or `ujb; but after the action he becomes afflicted with riya' through mentioning it, as pointed out in the following noble hadith of al-Kari:

Al-'Imam al-Baqir (A) said: "Perseverance in an action is more difficult than the act itself." He was asked, "what is meant by perseverance in action?" He replied, "A man does some kindness to a relative or expends something for the sake of God, Who is One and has no partner. Thereupon the reward of a good deed performed secretly is written for him. Later, he mentions it to someone and that which was written earlier is wiped out and instead the reward of a good deed performed openly is written for him. Later, when he makes a mention of it again, the vice of riya' is written for him (instead of the reward written earlier)."

EATING WITH FIVE FINGERS

Excellence of Eating with 5 Fingers & licking them

 
Islam is complete in all aspects and nothing can be added to its 
contents and nothing can be eliminated there from. Islam has put 
forward complete, comprehensive and eternal Shariah for us. 

Messenger of Allah, Rasullah (s.a.) instructed His followers that 
after taking meal they should lick up their fingers before they wash 
or wipe them with a towel. Since Messenger of Allah (s.a.) approved 
of this act, it is commendable. 

To use less than 5 fingers for eating speaks of the manner of the 
arrogant, whereas to use both hands to this end is indicative of an 
overpowering greed. So, the best way of eating is that shown by 
Messenger of Allah (s.a.). Here, too, is the affirmation of licking 
the fingers after taking meal, and not during it. 

Present-day Muslims hardly care for this directive of Messenger of 
Allah (s.a.) because they think that this act will bring disgrace 
and dishonour upon them. To make matters worse, they throw away a 
large quantity of unconsumed food in street dumps, garbage bags and 
drains. They even deem it necessary to leave over some food in 
plates and dishes, still less of licking them. What a pity, the 
Muslim community has gone far away from the teachings and excellent 
example of their Rasul (s.a.)! 

Today, medical science says that, If a person eats with his fingers, 
and dips his fingers in the food while eating, some germs are made 
that allow to digest the food more easily, and the stomach doesn't 
get any problems. So you need to lick your fingers to lick the 
germs, which are good for your health. Licking fingers produces more 
saliva which helps to digest food faster. 

This was told 1400 years by our Prophet(sa); today science has 
proved its beneficial values

REPENTANCE (TAWBAH) AND THE REALITY OF TAWBAH

O you who believe! Turn (in repentance) to Allah with sincere 

repentance; Perhaps your Lord will remove 

your evil from you…

(Qur'an, 66: 8)

The Prophet of Allah (s) said: There are four signs of one who is

repentant: 

1) He is sincere to God in his actions 

2) He shuns falsehood 

3) He is firmly attached to truth and 4) He is eager to do good.

[Al-Harani, Tuhaf al-`Uqool, p. 20]

Repentance (tawbah)

 Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) said: “When a servant turns to God

with sincere repentance (tawbatun nasuh), God loves him and

covers him (i.e. his sins) in the world and the Hereafter.” 

I said, “And how does He cover him?” The Imam (a) replied,

“He makes the two angels (assigned to write his deeds) forget that which they have written of his sins. Then He inspires his limbs (saying), ‘Conceal his sins,’ and He inspires places of the earth (saying), ‘Conceal the sins that he used to commit over you.’ Then he meets God in such a manner that there is nothing to bear witness against him regarding any sin.”

[Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, kitab al-'iman wa al-kufr, bab al-tawbah, hadith #1]

The Reality of Tawbah

 Tawbah means return to the soul's initial spirituality after the light of its human nature (fitrah) and its spirit has been covered by the darkness of sins and disobedience. The human soul in its initial state has neither any spiritual virtue  nor any vices. It is capable of reaching any station, but in its original state it is pure, sinless and has an intrinsic luminosity. The perpetration of sins causes obscurity within the heart, and the light of intrinsic nature is extinguished and converted into darkness. However, before total darkness envelops the heart, if a person awakens from the slumber of negligence and makes repentance, the soul gradually returns from the dark ness to the light of its original nature and essential spirituality. This is mentioned in the famous hadith from Imam Baqir

(a):“One who repents from sin is like the one who has not sinned.”

[Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, kitab al-'iman wa al-kufr, bab al-tawbah, hadith #10]

The Essentials and Conditions required for Tawbah

Tawbah is not accepted from one who merely declares, “I repent.” There are a number of conditions which must be fulfilled before the acceptance of tawbah.

These are mentioned below in the following hadith:

It is narrated that someone said: Astaghfirullah (I seek God's forgiveness) before Imam ‘Ali (a). He said to him. "May your mother mourn for you! Do you know what istighfar is? Verily istighfar is a degree of the 'illiyyun (people of high station) and it is a word that means six things. First is remorse over the past. Second, the resolution not to return to it ever. Third, to return to creatures their (formerly usurped) rights so that you meet God

Almighty in a state of purity in which no one has any claim against you.

Fourth, that you fulfil every duty that you neglected in order to satisfy your obligation in respect to it. Fifth, which you attend to the flesh of your body Mthat has grown on unlawful nourishment so that it melts away as a result of grief and mourning and your skin adheres to your bones, after which new flesh grows in its place. Sixth, that you make your body taste the pain of obedience in the same way as it earlier tasted the pleasure of sins. When you  have done these things then say Astaghfirullah! [Nahj al-Balagha, saying # 417]

This noble tradition mentions two prerequisites for tawbah (remorse and resolution), two important conditions for its acceptance (returning the rights of creatures and of the Creator), and finally two points for the perfection of repentance.

WHAT IS RSS FEED ???- JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE

SO I guess many of us may don't know about RSS Feed,
then if u don't then readdd....

RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a "feed," "web feed," or "channel," contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually.

RSS content can be read using software called a "feed reader" or an "aggregator." The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed's link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds.

The initials "RSS" are used to refer to the following formats:

* Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)
* RDF Site Summary (RSS 1.0 and RSS 0.90)
* Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91)

RSS formats are specified using XML, a generic specification for the creation of data

HopE you got it....

DUA-E-TAWASSUL

DUA-E-TAWASSUL ITS A POWER POINT PRESENTATION

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