What have we gained along with the "civilization"?

Tall buildings, Institutions, schools, hospitals, places such as artificial beach, “maizaans” etc these are visible signs of civilization over the past few decades. We can’t deny these obvious signs of civilization…

But what have we gained along with the civilization? What have we gained as humans? Are we better humans than we were before we got this civilization? Are we better Muslims? Are youth more aware of Islam now than youth of the past?

Back then, there weren’t big schools with modern facilities…Now there are many schools with modern facilities, computers, labs, etc…….But it is a known fact that kids do not respect teachers and there is no discipline in many of the kids.

Back then I don’t think there were Quran competitions, but there were plenty of “Edhuruges” filled with little kids who can read Quran fluently from the age of 6-7 and kids who completed reading the whole Quran by the age of 6-7.From certain “Edhuruges” how to perform 5 obligatory prayers too were taught..

Now in the report form there is a column which states “namaadh kuran ingey, namaadh kuran neyngey” Kids who get ticked in the first box do they really know how to perform the prayers and do they know the value of it? And there are tables too in some classes in which the child has to tick if the kid prayed or not…….!!!!!!!!! Understanding the value of prayers is more important than filling up a table which is seen by many.

Back then there were health centers, which can be defined as a first aid box, now there are huge hospitals, with several staffs and facilities, but the complaints of the patients go on and further still some of the youth are more in need of drug rehabilitation centers than hospitals.

Back then there was very little TV. People rented videos and TVS too to watch films..Now there are TVs in every house and in certain houses in every room too. Back then people gathered at places to watch “thiyabeyfulhunnatakkai”, “filmy dhuniye” etc…But now there is 24 hours TV..Are people happier and more contented by watching non stop TV and by watching TV serials which gives its own messages to the people who watches it.

Back then there weren’t mobile phones or even landlines weren’t in every house. People paid a coin to other houses and made phone calls when ever they had to make a call…It was considered a great luxury back then..But now almost everyone uses a cellphone…People are connected 24 hours with relatives, friends, co workers etc…..! Back then there were letters, walkie talkies…People weren’t so easily connected…….But one might say that relation ships were more valued back then…

Back then people treated their guests well, People invited friends, relatives, and strangers too for food…

Now there are huge parties to which people dress up and go, and look around to see who is the best dressed…………

Another point worth highlighting is have we learned to tolerate the differences that arose with the access to internet and education? Or, overall have these differences caused more harm than good? Despite certain differences of opinion in religion or politics we should learn to tolerate and respect others….For example, for some dressing in total hijaab etc is not easy to digest…and if people with differences in opinion starts pointing finger at the other, its likely that some people will get “really confused.”

The conveniences which come along with civilizations are an undeniable fact, like electricity, technology etc .Maldives too have tasted a portion of this civilization over the past decades…However what every human searches in one way or the other is contentment and peace of mind..and this can in no way be achieved from only materialistic things…It comes from abiding by certain principles and values…That is what matters most….For us these principles and values comes from Quran and hadith of prophet SAW. Under any circumstance we should try be sincere, and tolerant…..These principles and values we follow reminds us over and over again that life is nothing but a test……….

“First things first”

“First things first” is a phrase used in Stephen.R.Covey books..

In simple terms it means to identify what should come first in life..

At a deeper level it means to organize things that need to be attended or prioritizing your schedule..

Whether at office or at work or at home any one who is organized makes life easier for ones own self and everyone around as well……Being organized is easier said than done…But once you get organized you will never want to stay un-organized, that is once you learn the beauty of it..

Of course one cannot be defined as an organized person unless he is organized in all spheres of life..

Religon,work, family life, house hold chores etc etc……..

Many a times we delay things or postpone things to be done later…and its not rarely that things postponed are forgotten or never attended…and further we sometimes face consequences for postponing things…which could have been avoided had we attended it in the first place…

This happens, cos we fail to identify what should come first, what is important.

I would like to present a simple example. Very recently near my computer a kid was playing with water..He was big enough, I knew he will not spill water over the computer. When he finished playing he kept the little mug of water near the computer. I thought of emptying the mug , however I rushed off to attend something else thinking I will empty the mug of water later.

After some times, what I saw was saddening. Another kid of 1 year has spilled the water mug on to the laptop….and with in a few minutes it went blank………..and of course the computer could not be opened later.Had I emptied the mug of water in time, I might not have faced the consequences….

This is just a simple example…….But this rule applies in all spheres of life..

Likewise as Muslims daily 5 obligatory prayers should come before everything in life…

If we could apply the rule”first things first" in life, life becomes organized and easier…

For us and others………..

What should come first in life

There once lived an old man named Ibrahim..He was a very generous man and one who helped others a lot….He gets his happiness and contentment from helping others…especially those who are closest to him, his family and friends, neighbours……..He sincerely loves his grand daughters and kids……..He served his kids when he was young……..and when he was older, he served his grand kids, family and neighbours……..He would go to any length to serve them…That was always his first priority……ie even do their laundry, do shopping for them , take them to school etc, in his old age……Many a times when he is on his bike to the market to buy fish for his grand kids…from a mosque farway the call for prayer is being recited………But Ibrahim is too enthusiastic about serving his kids he missed the prayer call, many a times……His thoughts were else where……..

One would call Ibrahim a model grandfather……………., a model neighbor, etc

one day when he woke up, he could not move his right hand……………..Tears started rolling down his eyes……at that time he heard the call for prayer…….That was the moment of truth for him………He knew what he missed all his life………At that moment he realised he did not know to prioritize what comes first in life……..But was it too late……?

We never know……….May be the thoughts that crossed his mind and the tears that rolled down his eyes were a sign of faith in him……..Allah knows best….

Ibrahim thought can his grand sons come and give him the power to move his right hands?Can all the people he served and his neighbours come and help in anyway? Can their sympathy heal his pain?Can they hear the pain in his heart? Tears rolled down Ibrahims eyes………..May be it was not too late…Allah is the most merciful….

Moral of this story………. one should be able to identify what comes first in life..ie to worship Allah……….your creator, who gave you countless blessings, who is the most merciful……………Every good deed done with sincerity will be rewarded insha Allah..but all deeds such as helping others should come after worshipping Allah SWA

Everyone will face difficult times in life..Everyone will get sick and suffer from diseases at some time in their life….And death is the ultimate truth for everyone……..But for people who are righteous, and worship Allah……who knows what should come first in life….they have faith…which makes everything easier.

Toddlers 'will learn nothing from TV'

The notion that young children can learn productively by watching television is widely dismissed by scientists who study the developing brain. The time between the ages of 6 months and 3 years is accepted as a critical phase for learning skills such as language, and research suggests that this is best accomplished by interaction with adults.

A study by Patricia Kuhl, of the University of Washington, in Seattle, for example, has found that children aged 10 months learn sound patterns easily by playing with an adult, but learn nothing at all by watching the same adult performing the same games and exercises on a television screen.

Similar research has shown that in young children, watching television, videos or DVDs is no substitute for real encounters with adults and other children. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, said that the best evidence suggested television for toddlers was a waste of time. "There is a body of research showing that, in a variety of contexts, young children learn optimally with another human, rather than with a video of a human," said Dr Blakemore, the co-author, with Professor Uta Frith, of The Learning Brain.

Dr Blakemore added: "If an infant is watching TV for an hour a day, then fine. So long as they are also playing with adults and children for most of the day, it is not going to do them any harm, though it will do no good either.

(Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent, The Times, 12.05.06)

Setting our intention pure……

Intention, purity of ones intention is something which Islam highly recommends…

From Quran and hadith of Prophet SAW it is clear that purity of intention is a must in every little or bigger good deed or worship…We should never do anything as to show off to others…Others might not know what is in our hearts.They can only hear what we say or see what w do, but Allah has knowledge of what we hide and what we reveal…Hence we should never do things so as to be seen of others…It’s a sign of, un gratitude and hypocrisy..

When we set our intentions pure, when we do everything we do for the sake of Allah, even helping an elderly cross the road becomes an act of worship…when ones intention is pure, working, eating, everything is done with sincerity….He becomes a thankful servant of Allah….

This world is not eternal..Whats eternal is yet to come..As Muslims we should always keep this in mind..

However it is in this temporary world we can build our fate to come in the hereafter which is eternal.

We have the freedom to choose the right path…We have the freedom to avoid the wrong path…This freedom has been granted by Allah SWA.

The pleasures of this world is only temporary..As a saying goes, “Seek that which is eternal to that which is temporary.”

Ones religious obligations or duty can be exercised in all spheres of life…Speaking ill of others, lying all these are acts of insincerity….which as Muslims we should avoid..These are things which are never to be taken lightly…Talking bad about others or backbiting is strictly prohibited in Islam. It is very clear how bigger a sin it is, yet day by day, we see Muslims who do this..Muslims who forget this…..As Muslims we should try hard to give up this bad habit which we exercise knowingly or un knowingly.

Who ever who wishes to be a better Muslim should instill sincerity in all of his actions…and let go of negative feelings towards others…….His every action is with pure intention and done for the sake of Allah……Such people are the people who strive hard…..to perform acts of worship to Allah SWA, and to help fellow brothers and sisters and never to look down on any one, and be among those who look at others only with sincerity…….May Allah SWA make us among the sincere…and among those who are pure of heart…