There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite a long time. When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his Three Questions. Finally, his parents were able to find a Muslim scholar."Who are you? Can you answer my questions?," asked the young man"I am one of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)'s slaves and Insha'Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions," replied the Scholar."Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions," replied the young boy"I will try my best, with the help of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)" "I have 3 questions," began the boy1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.2. What is takdir (fate)?3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard!The young man, who was shocked and hurt by the slap became confused, "Why do are you angry at me?" he asked"I am not angry," answered the scholar, "The slap is my answer to your three questions.""I really don't understand," the young man said. He was really confused. The scholar began to explain, "How did you feel after I slapped you?," he asked"Of course, I felt the pain. it hurt," he replied"So do you believe that pain exists?" the scholar asked"Yes.""Now Show me the shape of the pain!" said the wise Scholar"I cannot," the young man replied"That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape... Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?," the ascholar replied"No""Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?," the scholar continued"No." "That is takdir (fate)........" The scholar continued, "My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?""It is created from flesh," replied the young man "How about your face, what is it created from?""Flesh, as well" replied the young man"How did you feel after I slapped you?""In pain." "Even though Shaitan (satan) and Jahunnum (Hell-fire) were created from fire, if Allah wants, insha'Allah (God willing), the Hell-fire will become a very painful place for Shaitan (Devil)" ended the wise Scholar. The wise Scholar had answered all three of the tough questions by one slap
==========================================
That was a clever answer, or should i say answers. If anyone asks you any of these or all of these questions, just slap them. I think there was another version of this story that had a man throw a clay pot at the guy who asked the questions and his answers were that he couldn't see the pain when he got hit with the clay pot, and the takdir one is the same except he got hit with a clay pot rather than get slapped without knowing the day before, and the shaitan one was that the pot was made from clay and that human was made of clay also but the clay pot still hurt the arrogant guy :)
http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/kids/story/three.html
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Three Tough Questions
Steps to Memorizing the Quran
I know a lot of us, including myself, want to memorize as much of the Quran as possible, but sometimes we get confused on certain things or ways to do it. Below are the steps to memorize the quran in the correct and organized way. Following these steps will Inshaallah make us better at memorizing and reciting as well as increase our Iman. =D
The steps below are just general titles, to learn them to a more specific degree, go to the site at the end of this blog.
1. Al-Ikhlas - Sincerity
2. Correct the pronunciation and recitation
3. Specify how many verses you want to memorise on a daily basis
4. Do not exceed the limit of your day
5. Memorise from only one copy of the Quran
6. Understanding is a mechanism of memorising
7. Do not go to another chapter until you finish the chapter you are on
8. Do not listen to yourself all the time
9. Continuity - Always recite to yourself, wherever you are
10. Identify the patterns of the verses
For more info on this subject, go to:
http://www.gawaher.com/index.php?showtopic=662761
btw. my paragraph of my thoughts is the paragraph at the beginning. :)
and just in case if you're wondering, memorise is a British variant of memorize.
AWESOME AIRPLANE SEATS
click on the picture to view it fully.
Not so with Swiss's (formerly known as Swissair) new first class suites, a zen blend of sumptuousness and simplicity. And suite is the right word — these big cubicles, designed by London’s Priestmangoode, are partitioned off from fellow passengers and you can lay back and watch movies on your own big, flat screen TV. And those seats? They fold flat into a full bed — although with surroundings this good looking it would be a shame to sleep through even a transatlantic flight.
Sony's New GPS Gadget Looks Like Eve, Geotags Like Crazy
click on picture to view it fully.
Many gadgets out there already use both of these technologies, but they're not often combined. The XactTrax, for example, details an object's location in an online map, and several cameras and SD cards, like the EyeFi, can tag photos with geolocation properties.
Of course, you can mash up a few of these programs and probably get close to the same level of location functionality.
Using its internal memory and software package, the GPS-CS3K allows you (and others online) to follow your own detailed tracks in Google Maps as you move along in your travels. It also can take the timestamp in any photo from an SD or MS card and match up its location to that online log. This means you can also geotag your videos and any media from phones.
Unfortunately for multi-task avoiders, it looks as if the gadget isn't wireless and you'll have to consistently plug it in. For those (like me) who take many pictures when traveling but take their time between computer visits (I haven't traveled with a laptop in a rural or jungly adventure yet), it could present a problem. At the least, it could be a lot of work back home making sure each time photo corresponds to the correct location in a detailed path.
This suspiciously Eve-looking (from Wall-E fame) device will be available in Japan this spring for the Yen equivalent of $190. We can expect to see it in the States in a few months.
DVD vs. Blu-ray
Mai Hoang, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting says that, "In the USA, BD has moved from early adopter phase through to early majority, with the format gaining real traction in the marketplace." She adds that last year in the US alone, BD video retail sales increased 320 percent to 24 million units and the momentum would continue in 2009, with over 80 million disc sales forecast.
If you look at the included graph, Futuresource is also predicting that Blu-ray and DVD will be even by 2012--each with 50% of the market (in the U.S. anyway). I can't vouch for the accuracy of the research, but it doesn't seem too out of whack with what other market analysts have been saying. And on a more anecdotal level, we're seeing a lot of interest in Blu-ray players here at CNET--even in this down economy.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
CALL TO PRAYERS ON A COLD WINTRY MORNING
It was a wintry morning with much snow falling coupled with the blowing of a strong cold wind. It was not easy to come out in the open air. Yet one could see people rushing to their work and students with books in their hands hastening to their schools.
In one of the mosques in Hamadan - Iran, religious students were assembling in order to attend a morning class. It was an important school of Islamic theology and the tutor was also a very great learned one. His discourses were indeed very thought-provoking and so were his students quite intelligent.
The tutor was none else but the world famous and a great Persian thinker and philosopher 'lbn Sina', popularly known in Europe as Avicenna. His lectures and writings on various science subjects had become the standard text books for hundreds of years in the universities of Europe. Students admired his deep philosophical thinking. They felt honoured to sit in his class and hear his inspiring lectures.
That cold morning, students had already assembled in the mosque and were still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their learned tutor. They were wondering if the intense cold weather that day had delayed his coming.
A few minutes had passed when suddenly the students witnessed the graceful arrival of 'lbn Sina', their great learned tutor. They felt very happy and stood up as a mark of reverence and respect for him. He sat down at his usual place and exchanged greetings with his students. He commenced his discourse in his usual lucid manner that held his students spellbound. He also gave satisfactory answers to their questions.
Among the students was one very young and enthusiastic by name 'Bahman Yar'. He was much more close and attached to 'lbn Sina' the learned tutor. He was also the foremost among the clever and advanced students of the class. Every time he listened to the lectures of his tutor, he became more and more fascinated with his deep philosophy and knowledge on every subject. He would say to his class-mates: "I wonder why our tutor 'lbn Sina' does not claim to be a prophet despite his supreme intelligence and magic personality"
It is said that one day by chance 'lbn Sina' was standing at a baker and loaf-seller shop. His attention was drawn to a very smart young boy who was displaying signs of much intelligence. The boy was saying to the baker: "My mother is requesting for a little fire." The baker responded: "Have you brought any pot to carry the fire?" "No! But I know how to carry it", replied the boy instantly. So saying he applied some ash over his palm and stretched his hand to the baker who placed a piece of burning firewood over his palm. Without any hesitation, the boy took it and went home.
'lbn Sina' was rather amazed to see the intelligence and courage of this boy. He thought of having him for special training and education under his personal care. The proposal was communicated to the parents who agreed and entrusted the boy to his full care. Thus 'Bahman Yar' since then was staying at no other place except at the house of his tutor and care-taker, 'lbn Sina'. They were all the time to be seen together. The boy being highly intelligent derived the best of the knowledge that his tutor could impart.
Years passed and 'Bahman Yar' grew up not only in age but also in knowledge and understanding under the patronage of his tutor. The learned tutor was also very proud of this most capable student.
It was one of the coldest nights of the wintry season. Midnight had passed and the snow-falling was very heavy. Both 'lbn Sina' and 'Bahman Yar' were sleeping in one room under warm thick blankets. The light in the room was already extinguished but the student was still asking intricate questions on some deep subjects. The tutor was replying in his usual impressive manner. Fascinated by the supreme knowledge and deep philosophy of his tutor, he again made the suggestion which he had made before:
"Oh my learned tutor!" he pleaded, "with all this high status of knowledge that you enjoy and being master of all the sciences, why not declare yourself a prophet? Sir! Don't you think that you even excel some of the previous prophets in knowledge and your status today is unparalleled in the world! Should you decide to claim prophethood, no one would dare challenge you. Let me assure you that I shall be the first to offer my allegiance and would serve you with full faith."
Since 'Bahman Yar' was still young and immature, his above proposal to his tutor was rather emotional than logical. 'lbn Sina' smiled but did not give any reply.
That night the cold weather had become extreme and there was heavy snow-falling. Both were already fast asleep. It was past midnight and suddenly 'lbn Sina' woke up and raised his head out of the warm blanket. Incidentally he was very thirsty and the water-mug in the room was empty. So he decided to wake up his student to go out and bring him some water.
"Oh 'Bahman Yar'! My son 'Bahman Yar'! Please wake up and bring me some drinking water from outside", he said repeatedly.
"Why is there no water in the water-mug near your goodself, Sir?" asked 'Bahman Yar.'
"No!" replied 'lbn Sina.'
'Bahman Yar' raised his head and saw heavy snowfall outside. The thrilling sound of the strong cold wind also made him nervous to go out. Again 'lbn Sina' grumbled:
"Oh 'Bahman Yar'! Why the delay? Bring me some water, I am too thristy."
'Bahman Yar' dared not come out of the warm blankets to face the cold weather outside the room. He was, therefore, putting forward lame excuses to his tutor.
"Oh my respected tutor! It is harmful for you to drink water now that you have just come out of the warmth of thick blankets. It is better you go to sleep again till the early morning which is not far off", said 'Bahman Yar'.
"My son! Bring me water, I am too thirsty. I myself am a medical expert and know better what is harmful than you do. I am unable to sleep, please bring me some water from outside", again appealed 'Ibn Sina'
In response 'Bahman Yar' again put forward excuses and argued that he would catch cold and fall sick if he were to go out in that extreme cold weather. So saying he went back to sleep.
There was dead silence everywhere and no sound of anything was to be heard. Outside it was still pitch dark except the first light of Subhe Sadiq (true dawn) in the eastern horizon had commenced to appear. Suddenly the silence broke with a melodious voice of a muezzin - caller to prayer from the top of a minaret at the nearby mosque. After reciting some verses of the, Holy Qur'an, the muezzin in a loud voice said, "Allaho Akber" - Allah is the Greatest. "Ash-hado an la ilaha illallah" - I bear witness that there is no god except Allah.
Both the tutor and his student quietly listened to the melodious voice of the muezzin. The call to prayers then proceeded to the words "Ash-hado anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah" - I bear witness that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah. On hearing this, 'Ibn Sina' thought of taking the opportunity of responding to the repeated proposal made to him by 'Bahman Yar'. He said:
"Listen to me, oh my son 'Bahman Yar'. Now I wish to reply to your repeated suggestion". The student sat up to hear attentively of what his learned tutor abruptly wanted to say. 'Ibn Sina' then proceeded:
"You have been suggesting to me several times to claim prophethood, that people would put full faith in me and that you would be the first one to do so. Now look, you have been my close student for several years and benefited from me a great deal, yet you did not think it prudent to obey me by coming out of your warm bed for a moment and bring me water that I badly needed to quench my thirst. Instead you chose to put forward lame excuses."
"But think of this man who is now calling to prayers at the top of the minaret after coming out in the coldest weather and making ablution with cold water in the early hour of this morning. It is for no other purpose but in obedience to and respect for the command of Allah as conveyed by His apostle Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s) some four hundred years ago.
"What a great difference there is between me and that Prophet sent by Allah!"
=================================================
People who think high of themselves and think they are the best or superior should really read this story. This story teaches something to every kind of person, like you are never going to be perfect or as loyal as the Prophet (saws) and there is always room for improvement in everyone. Knowing you cant be perfect doesn't mean you can just give up, because that just wouldn't be right, instead try to follow in the Prophet(saws)'s footsteps as much as you can and Inshaallah you and us all will at least accomplish some of his(saws) attributes.
http://www.al-islam.org/gallery/kids/Books/istories/index.htm
Samsung Phones and Cute Animals
Check this out, its pretty funny
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10168950-1.html?tag=mncol;posts
