lighthouse magazine (vol. 11) — · remember, this is a living miracle of allah that is with us....
TRANSCRIPT
P a g e | 1
P a g e | 1
www.aaiil.org
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 2
What do they tell us?
Most of us have heard stories from the Quran. There are stories about different prophets and their nations as well as other stories. Allah is a great story teller and these stories are very interesting. Since the Quran is a book of guidance for our whole lives, the stories must mean something very important. When we listen to stories from the Quran our job is to look for the lesson they contain. If Allah is telling us about the people who lived on earth before us, it is because Allah wants
s to copy the good things they did, or stay way from the mistakes they made. Allah also ells us how things usually work out. Proud nd cruel people get punished, like the haraoh in the time of Prophet Moses. Kind nd humble people get rewarded by Allah in his world as well as the next.
uataPat
What is your favorite Quran story? Share it with us. It is very interesting to see how the Quran tells a story because usually the whole story is not in one part of the Quran. It is mentioned many times in different places and every time, some details are given that adds to the story.
To understand the true meaning of a story it is important to read all parts of it.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 3
What are your plans? Of course lazing around is at the top of the list. After nine months of school, who wouldn’t want to relax and take a good break? Summer is also the time when you get to do more of the stuff you would like to do in the school year but don’t have time, like playing the piano, swimming and learning about Islam. You might be thinking Islam was not really on your list. But it belongs high on your list. Wait, I can see you frowning and scowling. (Did you know frowning and scowling both lead to premature wrinkles? I am sure you do not want wrinkles while you are still in school.) Fear not, learning about Islam does not have to be boring. It can be a lot of fun. Things are boring only when we allow them to be boring, when we do not use our imagination.
Probably after your parents let you laze around for a week or so, they will want you to have some sort of routine. Don’t forget to make the Quran a part of your routine. This is the time to pay more attention to this fascinating book. The Quran is the most interesting book you will ever get to read. Keep it on your bedside table, paste notes in it and write down the questions you have as you read. It would be fun if your family could have a weekly Quran discussion, and the kids got to choose the topics!
Whatever way you choose to get to know your Quran better, make sure to DO IT. Remember, this is a living miracle of Allah that is with us. The actual words of Allah! Wow! Double wow with icicles on top! Handle that book with care and love and READ IT.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 4
Summer dreams and summer flowers
Go hand in hand with summer showers
Long, warm days, bouncing and running,
Silly games, picnics, whistling and humming,
Time to think, wonder and pray
Time to make time for a lazy day
When you dream do you remember?
Dreams are made of faith that’s tender
Dreams are sweet and full of beauty
Life is a gift, as precious as can be
Dream to climb the highest tree
You are tough, go scrape your knee
Dream of what the world can be like
When you’ll have your own little tikes
Dream what ALLAH made the world for
Loving and caring, Truth to dare for
Summer dreams and summer flowers
Go hand in hand with summer showers
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 5
Our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: “Give gifts to one another, for gifts take away rancor (bad feelings)”. Sometimes we have an argument with a friend or family member and we feel angry towards them. It can be hard to get over the anger and we may be stuck with thinking bad things about them. What if they gave us a small present? When someone is mad at us, a good way to cool them down is to give them a gift. Giving a gift creates a lot of good feeling. But how does that happen? Think about it. Giving a gift when we are having problems with someone makes us feel better about things. It helps us to shift from a negative frame of mind to a more positive one. When we choose or make a gift for a friend, it makes us think about them and what they like. If we make a gift ourselves, it shows them how much we care about them. And of course everyone loves to get gifts (unless they are purple socks or bright orange sweaters with ducks on them). Just watch that frown turn into a smile when you give someone a surprise present. So the next time you goof up and saying sorry does not seem enough, remember the wisdom of our great Prophet: a gift can work wonders. Mothers melt like ice cream on a hot day when presented with a bouquet of flowers from the garden. (Mom’s are such softies that even dandelions will do!) Brothers and sisters can get hopping mad at each other but often a little kindness is all they need to forgive and forget. Remember the gift does not have to be expensive, or even cost anything at all. A gift is simply a gesture to show you care and the simplest hand-made thing will do.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 6
Aafia Ahmad of Minnesota, USA, is the winner of our Earth Day contest. Congratulations Aafia! Great Ideas!
In class, we had an assignment for Earth Day. I made a book out of old envelopes. I wrote many ways to recycle in it. If you want to make it, here are the instructions.
First, take the envelopes you get in the mail and use a letter opener to open all sides but 1 of each envelope.
Second, write something on every page, except the ones with those windows in them.
Third, make a title page, a cover and a copyright page.
Finally, find the middle page and take a rubber band and put it through all the pages on one side and put it in the middle.
I hope you enjoy making it. Since everyone has lots of weird ads and stuff like that, this could really help the environment. And you don’t have to get involved in helping the Earth just on Earth Day. Try doing something every day, like recycling what can be recycled and other stuff like that. If we don’t take care of our planet, we might have nowhere to live (unless by then we’ve landed on Mars or something).
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 7
By Ayesha Khurram. Sialkot, Pakistan.
No matter where I go,
No matter what I do,
O Allah, I need you.
No matter what I ponder,
No Matter where I stay,
O Allah, to only You I pray.
Grant me an inner peace,
Insight to find solace,
Strength to ward off ills,
And bless me with Your Grace.
Help me to reach my goal,
The sanctuary for my soul,
That lies with the Quls¹,
O Allah, Most Merciful.
Ameen.
1. The four Quls refers to Chs.109, 112, 113, 114 of the Holy Qur’an.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 8
Kasim had just returned from school and was gobbling down a peanut butter and pickle sandwich, when the doorbell rang. Today he had forgotten his lunch at home and the school lunch was a ham and cheese sandwich. All he had eaten was some salad and a banana so now he was starving. He ran to check who it was with a glob of peanut butter sticking to his chin. It was Mr. Peterson, their elderly neighbor and he didn’t look too happy. Kasim opened the door and Mr. Peterson growled at him.
“Did you guys ever look out the window?” he asked.
“Um, yes, I mean no” said Kasim, getting confused.
“Well take a look because all your stuff is blowing across my yard.”
Kasim ran upstairs to get his Dad. Soon they were both picking up their recycling stuff from Mr. Peterson’s yard. It was a really windy day and it seemed that the lid of the recycling can blew open and then blew all the papers away. Kasim’s Dad made sure they got every single paper and fastened the recycling bin securely. Kasim watched his Dad apologize to Mr. Peterson, who still had a scowl on his wrinkly face. Then Kasim realized that he had never seen Mr. Peterson without a scowl or frown.
“Dad” said Kasim, when they were back inside, “Why does Mr. Peterson get so angry at everything. It was just a mistake. We didn’t throw our things in his yard on purpose.”
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 9
“Well it must have been annoying for him Kasim,” said his father. “You know how fussy he is about his yard. He doesn’t have a single weed growing in it and he is always mowing the grass. I guess he is really sensitive about his home and so he got mad,” replied his Dad.
“But Dad, he is always mad about something,” reasoned Kasim. “Remember when my ball landed in his rosebush. He was mad about that and I had to apologize. Then he blamed us for feeding the rabbits that ate his lettuce and remember how mad he was when Najma picked his tulips by mistake.
She’s only a baby.”
“Wow, you sure have a good memory, Kasim,” said his dad. “You’re right. Mr. Peterson does seem to get mad quite often. And something keeps happening to his yard. We don’t mean to bug him but these things happen. I guess we just need to be more careful. You do know that Islam teaches us to be good to our neighbors. We are forbidden from doing anything that would annoy or harm them. Prophet Muhammad looked out for his neighbors all his life, even if they were not Muslims and even if they were mean to him.”
“Oh, I remember that story about the lady who threw trash on him, and then when she wasn’t there one day Prophet Muhammad came to check on her and found she was sick. He took care of her and she became a Muslim. But was she his neighbor?” asked Kasim
“A neighbor is someone close to you or your house. It does not have to be the person living right next door to you. I think we should all try to be nicer to Mr. Peterson,” replied his father.
“Mom tried to send him some of her special curry last week but he didn’t want it. He said curry gave him diarrhea,” said Kasim.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 10
Dad chuckled. “He is quite a character! But Kasim, he’s an old man and it must be hard for him to live all alone. Don’t be put off by his scowls. He’s really good at heart”.
“You say that about everyone Dad” said Kasim with a laugh as he ran to the backyard to shoot some hoops.
ThbgNwrct piN Ks a
he following day was Saturday and they ad lovely weather. It was warm enough to egin planting outside. Kasim loved ardening with his mother and baby sister ajma. Najma had just started to walk and it as fun to chase her about the yard as she an around with bouncing curls and pink hubby cheeks. They had planted some omatoes and peppers and were about to lant marigolds when his mother went nside and told him to keep an eye on ajma. asim saw her playing in the andbox, nd kept up with his digging.
When he turned around to grab some plants Najma was gone.
Kasim stumbled up. His legs were numb after crouching for so long. He looked around and a flash of yellow caught his eye – in Mr. Peterson’s yard. Kasim rushed over relieved that Najma was safe, but dreaded facing Mr. Peterson again. He must still be mad over the trash incident. His eyes almost popped out at what he saw. Najma was standing right by Mr. Peterson who was kneeling down. He must have been doing some planting too. She had gathered some grass in her hand and she was putting it on his bald head and giggling. The weird part was that Mr. Peterson was behaving very strangely. Instead of having a fit, he was actually smiling so widely that Kasim could see his golden fillings. Kasim was surprised to see how different he looked. It was hard to believe he was the same grumpy growly man.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 11
Kasim ran back home to tell his parents the amazing news. When they all came outside to make sure Mr. Peterson had not lost his mind, they saw him holding hands with Najma and dancing around in circles. He caught sight of them watching and stopped in embarrassment.
“Uh, I was just watching your little girl. She came over to my yard and I didn’t want her spoiling my flowers so I brought her right back,” said Mr. Peterson, trying to sound gruff but failing badly.
“Goo gee, goo dada, goo,” said Najma delightedly announcing her new friend.
“Would you like some watermelon?” asked Kasim’s mother.
Soon they were all enjoying the juicy watermelon and chatting. It turned out Mr. Peterson was a master gardener. He happily shared tips with Kasim and his mother about how to grow the best lettuce and keep greenflies away from tomatoes. All the while Najma hovered ng up little things from the garden and
bringing them to him. It was clear she adored Mr. Peterson. When Najma’s mom told him that Najma was usually shy with people and only rarely made friends, Mr. Peterson glowed with happiness.
around him like a tiny bee. She kept picki
“I have a granddaughter just about her age. My daughter used to live near here but then they had to move to Alaska,” Mr. Peterson told them.
Kasim remembered what his father had told him about being kind to neighbors. He promised himself to take little Najma over every now and then to cheer Mr. Peterson up. It would be a good deed for him to do. He never thought it would be that easy to win over a cross old man. It would help Najma get over her stranger anxiety. Plus he had a feeling that the next time his basketball landed in the rosebushes next door, it wouldn’t be such a problem at all.
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 12
And it never was.
Dear Ayesha apa, thunderstorms and tornados really scare me. Why doesn't Allah just make it rain without having all the thunder and lightning with it?
Dear Scared Silly,
What an interesting question! I’m no scientist, but I think lightning happens when the clouds build up electric charge and it has to be released. I’m not sure really anybody knows why the electricity builds up in the clouds. But can you imagine a sky all full of electricity?! It would glow all the time! The birds would fall down because of the heat! We would never have a nighttime! It would be chaos! Chaaaa‐oss, I tell you! Allah has made the world full of scientific laws and rules that allow things to function properly.
Why couldn’t Allah have made all the rules without bad things? Well, the decisions we make in bad times are what allows us to grow stronger and increase our faith in Allah. Allah has told us not to be scared of anything but Him. That doesn’t mean that He is so frightening that we should be scared of Him—what it actually means is that He has control over EVERYTHING in the Universe. Nothing happens unless He wants it to. So He can protect us from all the scary things like tornados, lightening, thunder, hurricanes, snakes, and shadows! All we have to do is pray to Him and ask Him for His protection. The only thing we need to be scared of is making choices Allah wouldn’t be happy with. Otherwise, Allah has promised us: “Surely with difficulty is ease.” That means that when things seem really difficult and scary, if we just trust in Allah and ask for His help, we don’t have to be scared, because He will keep us safe. And if we know we are in Allah’s protection, things that looked scary before, can actually look kind of pretty!
www.aaiil.org
P a g e | 13
www.aaiil.org
Dear Ayesha apa, there is a Muslim school near us and my parents want me to go there. I don’t really want to go because then I will miss the people at my own school. I already know everyone here. I think the Muslim school will be boring and too hard for me. What do you think I should do?
Dear Weary Worrier,
It can be really hard to go to a new school. Take it from someone who has been to 13 different schools! Sometimes (believe it or not) parents do things because they want to help us and make sure we are happy and good people. In this case, they
probably want you to go to a Muslim school so you will learn about Islam along with other things. And you will be surrounded by Muslims so it will be easier for you to make the right choices and your new friends can help you make the right decisions when you aren’t sure what to do. I know you will miss your old friends. It is hard to make friends sometimes—to find things in common with people. But guess what? Everyone at the new school will be Muslim! That’s already one thing you will have in common
with them. And they will be new too so they will be looking to make friends just like you! More than anything else though, remember that Allah is your closest friend who never leaves your side. Even if it takes you a little while to adjust to the new school, or to make friends, or you find it boring, just remember Allah is with you and He will make it easier for you with some time and prayers! So just hang in there, things will work out.