Holy Quran and the month of Ramadhan

A fat man wanted to be slim, his friend advised him to buy an electronic treadmill, so he bought it. Everyday he touches it with care, looks with wonder, cleans it, but never exercise.

After a month, his friend asked him about the weight reduction, "How much weight did you loose in one month?"

He replied, "I didn't loose any weight at all."

His friend wondered, "How could it happen?"

He replied, "I didn't exercise at all."

His friend rebuked him and told him to exercise for atleast one hour everyday.

The fat man started exercising, but he doesn't know how to increase the speed, inclination level. Everyday he exercises for one hour but at the speed 1.5 (the initial speed level in his machine) and inclination at 0!

After a month, his friend asked him about the weight reduction, "How much weight did you loose in one month?"

He replied, "I lost only 500 gram."

His friend wondered, "How could it happen?"

He replied, "I didn't know how to increase the speed and inclination."

His friend showed him how to do that from the manual and told him to exercise for one hour everyday.

After a month, his friend asked him about the weight reduction, "How much weight did you loose in one month time?"

He replied, "I lost 4 kg!"

This is how some Muslims deal with the noble book of Allah (SWT), Holy Quran. They cover it with so many layers of silk, keep it in a high place, clean its cover, kiss it, start shaking while touching, but they never read it. Would they be benefited from it?

And some Muslims read the Holy Quran only during the month of Ramadhan. They read in a 100 mile per hour speed, swinging the head and body, can't understand what he or she is reading, because they don't know Arabic language. Would they be spiritually benefited from it?

And some Muslims read the Holy Quran everyday, even if it's only one page. They read with proper Tajweed, read the authentic Tafsir (explanation), tears fall down from their eyes, the hard heart start melting, it becomes filled with gratitude, fear for the Hereafter, hope and tranquility. They are the one who truly benefited from the Holy Quran.

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Holy Quran like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around wherever we went?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go and get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Holy Quran?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Holy Quran being disconnected.

Because Allah (SWT) already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think, what are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Holy Quran Challenge and the month of Ramadhan (Motivational Ramadhan Stories)

In keeping with the people's excitement about sports tournaments or 'challenges', I would like to tell you about a challenge far greater than any World Cup, a challenge whose prize is worth more than any piece of silverware. Allow me to introduce you to ... the challenge of Holy Quran.

The challenge is to complete reading the Holy Quran in a language you understand by the month of Ramadhan. Now how can that possibly be more challenging than toiling against Germany in the footie or Roger Federer at SW19! All this challenge entails is opening a book and reading it!

But before you write me off, just ask yourself this - Have YOU ever done this? And if you haven't, then try to analyse why? Perhaps your life is too busy to fit in any reading time or perhaps it wasn't something which you felt to be so important. Maybe you thought it was the 'convert' thing to do and being a born Muslim, you don't have to read the Holy Quran in your own language?

Whatever the reason may be, let me share with you a true story which happened to me whist at University. I usually try not to talk about my past mistakes so openly, unless of course there is a profound lesson to be learnt ...

It was at University when I underwent the process of being exposed to Islam in its true beauty and hence I consider myself as a 'born-again Muslim'. To all the brothers and sisters who work tirelessly in 'Islam Awareness Week' and other such acts of dawah, they certainly do work, and whilst guidance is from Allah (SWT), I hate to think where I would be today had it not been for the positive effect of these efforts, Alhamdulillah.

When I cast my mind back to the time at which I began taking religion seriously, a few things happened which were catalysts for me to develop a zeal for learning more about this beautiful religion. Let me tell you about one such moment.

Whilst in the third year of my studies, I was asked to get involved in the annual 'Islam Awareness Week'. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this concept, Islam Awareness Week, or IAW, is an event held at most British and American universities aimed at portraying the true message of Islam through dawah stalls, lectures and exhibitions.

I was allocated to one of the dawah stalls. I remember being very excited and I couldn't wait to unleash all my dawah trump cards, such as the scientific miracles of the Holy Quran, the miraculous nature of the Arabic in the Holy Quran and of course the fact that it has never changed. After all those late nights of watching the countless lectures of Muslim Scholars, I was ready to get stuck in!

Alhamdulillah, people came to the stalls and many of them left with something to think about. Perhaps I even had a hint of satisfaction in my heart after defeating them in the 'battle of words'. But there was one individual, who came to the stalls, that left me speechless and finally brought me down to planet earth.

This individual was a well dressed and softly spoken student. He told me that his father was a member of the clergy, although he didn't count himself as being particularly religious. He came and asked me about the Holy Quran and why Muslims believed it to be the word of Allah (SWT). Out I came with my pre-rehearsed 'spiel', with a bit of Ahmed Deedat-style Bible-bashing to add some masaala to my arguments. Just before I had the opportunity to experience the feeling of contempt, he dropped a huge bombshell on me:

Paul: So you must be fluent in Arabic, then?

Me: Well, I can read Arabic fluently, but I can't speak it.

Paul: Errr ... so when you read the Holy Quran, do you understand what you are reading?

Me: Pause - I don't actually, but we do have an interpretation of the meaning of the Holy Quran (picks up an English translation of the Holy Quran, and hands it to Paul).

Paul: So have you read the Holy Quran in English?

Me: Long pause - Honestly ... I have read bits, but not cover to cover ...

Paul: Don't you think you should do that before telling me how amazing it is? And how can you tell me to read a book that you haven't read yourself?

And there it was. He walked away, with me having some serious questions of my own to answer. First of all, was I doing the dawah stall purely for the sake of Allah (SWT), or was it because I wanted to get one over my opponent? I was shown the importance of keeping one's intention pure throughout an act of worship.

Secondly, here I was giving out free English translations of the Holy Quran, and raving on about a book which I had never read with understanding, cover to cover. How could I possibly call myself a true Muslim if I hadn't even read the 'manual' which Muslims claim is so amazing? Why should I expect a non-Muslim to read the Holy Qur'an when I hadn't done so myself?

I suspect that there are many people who are in a similar situation to this, but perhaps that bombshell hasn't hit them yet. On consideration, it is amazing how many Muslims can talk about embryology and the Holy Quran, the water-cycle and the Holy Quran, the challenge the Holy Quran places upon mankind, yet these same Muslims have never actually read the verses addressing these issues in a language they understand.

Without doubt, the golden standard is to embark upon the path of learning Arabic, and something which all of us (including myself) must do. Imagine praying your Salah (Namaz) in the Mosque (Masjid), understanding every word which the Imam recites, such that it brings tears to your eyes ... priceless.

In the interim period, however, we MUST read the Holy Quran in our native languages if we haven't done so already. We need to know our book, not only for the sake of dawah, but for the sake of our Hereafter.

I hope this has encouraged everyone reading this short piece to blow the dust off their Holy Quran, and start reading it cover to cover. If you are serious about doing this, then I ask you to make a commitment to complete the Holy Quran in your native language before Ramadhan sets in. This certainly would be the perfect prelude to what, Insha Allah, will be a month full of worship for you. Express your commitment by signing up to the challenge. You will find other brothers and sisters to give you the motivation you need, along with reminders from some students of knowledge about the benefits of reading the Holy Quran in a language you understand.

So ... if you have never done this, then take up the challenge now!

By Ali Sameer Mallick

Motivational Ramadhan Stories: Silent and practical Bayaan (Sermon)

A member of a certain Mosque (Masjid), who previously had started attending the mosque to perform his Salah (Namaz), suddenly stopped attending. After a few weeks, the Imam decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The Imam found the man alone at home, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his Imam's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace ... and waited.

The Imam made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some time, the Imam took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, and then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Imam glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the Imam reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, Shukran for your visit and especially for the fire sermon. I will be attending mosque again tomorrow starting with the Fajr Salah, Insha Allah.

(Oh Muhammad![pbuh]) say, this is my path, and I invite you towards Allah with full wisdom, I and my followers too: and Allah is all Pure, and I am not one of those who associate others with Allah. (Holy Quran, 12:108)

Our best Dawah (invitation to Islam) is our example. Our actions speak louder than words. We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best Bayaan (sermons) are the ones given silently and practically. Motivational Ramadhan Story