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--- Issue: "338" Section: ID: "4" SName: "General" url: "general" SOrder: "1" Content: "\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
Living \r\n the Quran

Al-Fatir \r\n (The Originator of Creation)
\r\n Chapter 35: Verse 29

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Business with no loss

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\"Those \r\n who recite the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer, and spend something \r\n (in charity) both secretly and openly out of what We have provided for \r\n them, may hope for a business that never fails.\"

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This kind of conduct and practice of the believers has been likened to \r\n a trade bargain because in trade a man invests his money and labour and \r\n capabilities in the hope that he will not only get his capital back and \r\n his wages for the time and energy spent but in addition some profit as \r\n well. Likewise, a believer also invests his wealth and his time and his \r\n labour and capabilities in carrying out Allah's Commands and in His service \r\n and worship and in the struggle to promote the cause of His Religion in \r\n the hope that he will not only get his full rewards for it but Allah will \r\n bless him with much more from His bounty as well. But there is a great \r\n difference between the two kinds of bargains. In the worldly trade bargains \r\n there is the risk of loss also along with the hope of profits. Contrary \r\n to this, in the bargain that a sincere servant makes with his God there \r\n is: no risk of any loss whatsoever.

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Source:
\r\n \"The Meaning of the Quran\" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi
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\r\n Understanding the Prophet's Life
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Good \r\n and bad times

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The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace \r\n be upon him) said:

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\"Acquaint \r\n yourself with Allah in good times and He will \r\n know you in bad times.\"

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If a person fears Allah and observes His commands \r\n in times of ease, he has acquainted himself \r\n with Allah. In addition, a special link or relation \r\n will develop between him and Allah. Allah will \r\n then know him during bad times, meaning that \r\n He will help him because of his obedience to \r\n Him during good times.

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Allah does not test us in order to destroy \r\n us, but rather to assess our patience and degree \r\n of faith. This is because Allah has a right \r\n to be worshipped in bad times just as He has \r\n the right to be worshipped during times of ease \r\n and well-being.

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Source:
\r\n \"Don't Be Sad\" - Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni, p. 384

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Blindspot!
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Foundations of a successful \r\n marriage

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Love is the bedrock of marriage, and one of its twin foundations. \r\n When two people choose each other for lifelong partners, in \r\n a lawful union sanctioned by Divine Writ, God Almighty makes \r\n it obligatory upon Himself to protect them. Their love is \r\n an expression of the Divine Love, for God Himself is \"Al-Wadud\" \r\n the Loving One. A marriage, based on true love and in fulfillment \r\n of God's writ is therefore a taste of Divine Love.

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Aside from Love alone, the following form core features of \r\n a successful marriage:

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M - Mercy. \r\n Mercy is one of the twin pillars of Marriage. God Almighty \r\n tells us \" And among His signs is that He created for \r\n you, among yourselves, spouses that you may dwell in tranquility; \r\n and He has placed between you Love and Mercy\" (Sura Rum) \r\n

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A - Attentiveness. \r\n Many a marriage falters because the initial attentiveness \r\n to each other fades away in the wake of other pursuits, hobbies, \r\n interests etc. If spouses were to take enough time to be attentive \r\n to each other, to recognize the needs of each other and to \r\n respond accordingly, marriage would be strengthened.

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R - Respect. \r\n Respect is born not only out of admiration for the other, \r\n but out of a deep understanding that your spouse fills the \r\n vacuum in your life. Respect must include a respect for the \r\n sensitivities of each other, his/her likes and dislikes, your \r\n roles and responsibilities among other things.

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R - Rights and Responsibilities. \r\n Any successful marriage seeks to create a balance between \r\n rights and responsibilities. A spouse who only cares about \r\n his/her rights only and reneges on his/her responsibilities \r\n is not only unfair, but undermines the foundations of the \r\n marriage.

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I - Integrity. \r\n A key ingredient in marriage, and even before marriage at \r\n the stage of engagement. Integrity engenders trust. Lack of \r\n it breeds mistrust which erodes a happy marriage.

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A - Acknowledgement. \r\n Spouses must acknowledge the positive things in the other \r\n and seek to remember these at times of difficulty and tension. \r\n At the same time, spouses must acknowledge their own weaknesses \r\n and seek to rectify them, rather than to be defensive and \r\n to be in denial. After all, spouses are \"garments\" \r\n to each other - embellishing and protecting each other.

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G - Goodness. \r\n Represented by the Arabic term \"Ma'aruf\", this quality \r\n is mentioned several times in one page of the Qur'an, both \r\n in the context of living together or in contemplation of separation. \r\n Goodness or kindness must be expressed in every way - in the \r\n choice of words, the tone of voice, the sacrifices, forgiveness \r\n and overlooking of each other's faults.

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E - Expressions of Love. \r\n Spouses must not be shy in expressing their love for each \r\n other, in both words and deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon \r\n him) taught us to show our love by placing a spoonful of food \r\n in the mouths of our beloved; and even when Khadija (may Allah \r\n be pleased with her) passed away, he spoke of her in terms \r\n of endearment.

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Author:
\r\n Mohamed Khadim, Toronto, Canada

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