Thoughts 2018

[notme]

All the old people in my neighborhood are having their beautiful big trees cut down. I was told by another neighbor that this one was planted by his wife when they first moved to the neighborhood. I don't understand why they want to cut down perfectly healthy trees that give them shade and make their properties beautiful, especially the ones planted by now-deceased loved ones. 

 

I noticed a little grove starting in an untended window planter on the side of my barn. I think I'll pot them individually and plant the ones that grow in my yard to replace the ones in the neighborhood that have recently been removed. Then maybe in 50 years my family will have them cut down. 

[Heavenly_Silk]

Congratulations to the ShiaChat Member of the Week! @ireallywannaknow

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235035410-shiachat-member-of-the-week-chosen-every-friday/?page=5&tab=comments#comment-3136130

[Hamodiii]

Politicts and Religion is one, and with it, surely Imam Mahdi will win, cause everyone who has Allah beside him will win, now or back then. Being loved by Allah is the best reward, his closeness is way better than any Jannah.

Al-hamdiuillah shukr.

Remember to be grateful always that you are in the right religion.

[ali_fatheroforphans]

A good way to humble yourself is to write down every sin you have comitted (if you can remember) on a piece of paper and every vice within your soul. Be hard on yourself. Judge yourself before the angel of death approaches you. If you find that your words exceeds at least a page, then seek forgiveness from Allah. 

Edited April 21, 2018 by ali_fatheroforphans

[Hamodiii]

10 minutes ago, ali_fatheroforphans said:

A good way to humble yourself is to write down every sin you have comitted (if you can remember) on a piece of paper and every vice within your soul. Be hard on yourself. Judge yourself before the angel of death approaches you. If you find that your words exceeds at least a page, then seek forgiveness from Allah. 

Constant astagfurillah is good.

[hasanhh]

37 minutes ago, ali_fatheroforphans said:

A good way to humble yourself is to write down every sin you have committed--What? You want an encyclopedia?

 (if you can remember) Allah -s.w.t. does, perfectly. Me? l can't remember what l had for breakfast yesterday.

 on a piece of paper -- @notme and other tree-huggers ain't gonna like this here waste of resources

and every vice within your soul. 

  Be hard on yourself. 

Judge yourself before the angel of death approaches you.    "Uh, not possible." "Besides, if we exercise any judgment beforehand we are more incline to behave ourselves."

 If you find that your words exceeds at least a page, then seek forgiveness from Allah. ? Adam did one thing. So do any of us need more than one  thing to repent?

In addition, all l have to do to feel humble is to look at my bank statement.

[ali_fatheroforphans]

1 hour ago, hasanhh said:

In addition, all l have to do to feel humble is to look at my bank statement.

The bank statement technique is not safe as you're at the risk of getting a heart attack.

[Haji 2003]

On 19/04/2018 at 6:51 PM, notme said:

All the old people in my neighborhood are having their beautiful big trees cut down.

My mum has a thing against trees, in autumn the leaves are a real pain for her to sweep up. We tell her she can just leave them be, but no.

[hasanhh]

13 minutes ago, ali_fatheroforphans said:

The bank statement technique is not safe as you're at the risk of getting a heart attack.

Yeah, ...... l know "sniff, sniff, . . . "

[notme]

46 minutes ago, Haji 2003 said:

My mum has a thing against trees, in autumn the leaves are a real pain for her to sweep up. We tell her she can just leave them be, but no.

That might be the case for one person - she commented once that I was going to have to rake the leaves on my lawn. She does her own lawn work, as much as she is able, and she refuses when I've offered to help. But the other person hires a lawn service, which comes weekly and keeps his property looking like a small golf course. 

I lamented to my husband about it, and he immediately started researching fruit trees that grow well in our area. I'm guessing he agrees with planting trees, and has an opinion on what kind. 

[Hamodiii]

Death is always right behind you.

[Haji 2003]

1 hour ago, notme said:

I lamented to my husband about it, and he immediately started researching fruit trees that grow well in our area.

I do know that the insurance companies around here have their eyes on certain trees and proximity to property given the possible damage to foundations.

[hasanhh]

1 hour ago, Hamodiii said:

Death is always right behind you.

Mostly, in front.

[Ashvazdanghe]

On ۱۳۹۷/۱/۳۰ at 10:21 PM, notme said:

I don't understand why they want to cut down perfectly healthy trees that give them shade and make their properties beautiful, especially the ones planted by now-deceased loved ones. 

It’s an Iranian quote that who cuts trees ,shortens his/her life.

[hasanhh]

13 minutes ago, Ashvazdanghe said:

It’s an Iranian quote that who cuts trees ,shortens his/her life.

   Which means what ?

[Ashvazdanghe]

3 hours ago, hasanhh said:

Which means what

It means who damages nature causes that his/her life span reduced.

[ali_fatheroforphans]

I really recommend this online free course for those who wanna master their Quranic Tajweed. This course covers the very basic, so it's for everyone.

 

Edited April 22, 2018 by ali_fatheroforphans

[wolverine]

Thank you to Team members who were popular contributors last week!  

@notme @Qa'im @Heavenly_Silk @Abu Hadi @Gaius I. Caesar @Pearl178 @ShiaChat Mod @Hassan- @Hameedeh

[Gaius I. Caesar]

7 hours ago, wolverine said:

Thank you to Team members who were popular contributors last week!  

@notme @Qa'im @Heavenly_Silk @Abu Hadi @Gaius I. Caesar @Pearl178 @ShiaChat Mod @Hassan- @Hameedeh

No problem.

[hasanhh]

^^^^^^^ THouGHT :   OMG, what an ego.

Reminiscent of roman emperors.

[ShiaChat Mod]

Congratulations to Popular Contributors last week. We salute you!

@Ashvazdanghe @ali_fatheroforphans @IbnSina @forte @Aflower @laithAlIRAQI @yusur317 @skyweb1987 @Salsabeel

[hasanhh]

This morning of 24April, l scanned down Googel's News page anf the first story under Entertainment is:

Daily Beast's "Kate and William Had Their Third Child. Why, and What, Were We Watching? "

THOUGHT: Yep, this is entertainment ... for someone.

[Gaius I. Caesar]

7 hours ago, hasanhh said:

^^^^^^^ THouGHT :   OMG, what an ego.

Reminiscent of roman emperors.

Such a remark, reminiscent of haughty senators and plebeians of yore.

In  all seriousness though, I wasn't trying to be egotistical.  I was just trying to be humble.

[Son of Placid]

Is miswak still a popular item in the ME?

[Hameedeh]

26 minutes ago, Son of Placid said:

Is miswak still a popular item in the ME?

Toothbrushes are available in all countries now, but miswak is a popular souvenir that most people have never seen before.  

[Son of Placid]

3 minutes ago, Hameedeh said:

Toothbrushes are available in all countries now, but miswak is a popular souvenir that most people have never seen before.  

Nor heard of. 

Tried it for the first time today. The aroma reminds me of some of the Muslims that used to come to my office. Now I know why.

Studies show they are as effective as tooth brushes.

[hasanhh]

7 hours ago, Son of Placid said:

Nor heard of. 

Tried it for the first time today. The aroma reminds me of some of the Muslims that used to come to my office. Now I know why.

Studies show they are as effective as tooth brushes.

Any stick will do. They have various tastes.

[Hamodiii]

Why are people not grateful for what they have? Me included.

May Allah change every ungrateful person.

[Hamodiii]

Women should look at themselves in the mirror thinking I am looking nice instead of looking at themselves, and thinking I am ugly. Secondly instead of thinking this is my body I can do whatever I want with it? Think like this, this is my body and I am beauitful and no one can touch it only the one who deserves it, in this case your husband, you have a power, don't ruin it. May Allah be with you.

Men should look at themselves in the mirror and instead of having low esteem, they should feel confident cause surely Allah loves the strong, and in the mirror remind yourself you are not an animal who rushes to animal desires, cause surely they are vain desires, and surely women are not objects that belongs to you, surely we all belong to Allah, the one true God.

Thank you, ShiaChat.

[hasanhh]

This is not conducive to good academic behaviors, but . . .

The arabie word insan for man was really easy to remember . . .

as it reminds me of the Englsih word insanity.

[Husayni]

Will there be another "Ramadan lectures" thread, where we post upcoming series and lectures this Ramadan? Like last year's.

[ShiaChat Mod]

Congratulations to the ShiaChat Member of the Week! @Enlightening Inspirations

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235035410-shiachat-member-of-the-week-chosen-every-friday/?page=5&tab=comments#comment-3137520

 

[Soldiers and Saffron]

On 4/13/2018 at 12:24 PM, ali_fatheroforphans said:

Ramadan is just amazing. Suddenly every act of worship becomes so much more meaningful. We find it so joyful to practice taqwa. The thought of sinning doesn't even cross our mind, as we literally surrender our souls to Allah. Waking up for Suhoor, talking to family, praying after the azan etc. Is just so spiritually uplifting. Seeing family members pray and do something for the sake of Allah, regardless of what level they're at in terms of piety, is just satisfying. Ramadan unites families and it teaches them to not view faith as just an individual thing. Nowadays it makes me sad how disunited my family is in terms of religion, no discussions, no duas, no lectures etc. It just seems that the spirit of unity that Islam promoted is just not there anymore. I really miss Ramadan.

Honestly, Ramadan is just a blessing, no exaggeration. There is so much in this blessed month if we just contemplate even for fraction of a second. We all need to already start preparing for Ramadan, mentally, physically and spiritually. Don't let this blessed month pass without achieving nearness to Allah. 

The month of Ramadan is what turns our hearts of stone into flesh again, what normalizes our hearts and bring us back to reality. It revolutionizes ourselves. 

The month of Muharram is what sets our hearts on fire, what makes us cry out against oppression. It revolutionizes societies. 

[Hamodiii]

59 minutes ago, IbnSina said:

 

The month of Ramadan is what turns our hearts of stone into flesh again, what normalizes our hearts and bring us back to reality. It revolutionizes ourselves. 

The month of Muharram is what sets our hearts on fire, what makes us cry out against oppression. It revolutionizes societies. 

People seem to forget the month of shabaan and the month of Rajaab, they are important stage to ramadan.

People only put effort to remember imam Hussein in muharam, but what did I hear? Every day is a ashura, people will soon realize that life would not be about complaining with time. Months are there but people fail to realize the meaning of the months. We cry when we fail a test, and we have parents whom care more about status, but what if we for once look at Imam Hussein, what was his agenda? What was he fighting for? Cause If he was fighting for fame.... Then dude, then you should not consider to be muslim. 

Edited April 27, 2018 by Hamodiii

[Soldiers and Saffron]

I was recently on a work trip in Egypt and while there I praying in a empty masjid and as I was praying one of the sunnis entered the mosque and joined my prayer. I was a bit confused about what to do as this was the first time this happened to me. So I just continued my prayer but he got a bit surprised by the end of it I think because it was only a 2 rakah travelers prayer and not a 4 rakah prayer. Does anyone know the sunni teachings about entering a already started prayer? Would be good to know.

The egyptians I worked with would ask if I am shia and when I said yes some interesting discussions would follow. I was amazed at how little they actually knew about shiism. I would explain to them why we pray on the turba, our view on shirk and tawassul and how we see islamic leadership, they would tell me that they are happy they met me because I gave them another perspective.

It really strikes me how little they actually know of shiism and when you would explain it to them they would generally be open minded and consider what you are saying.

Same thing happened when I got into the cab on my way home from the airport, the driver was a somali man. I started to talk to him about the history of somalia and how the world wars affected it and by extend was a great driver in todays chaos. Then he asked me what my name was and when I told him my name he said it is a nice name, I looked at his badge and his name was Hussein, I said to him your name is better. Do you know who was the first person with that name? I said you name was told by the arch angel Gabriel to Rasulullah(S), given by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى.

We continued to discuss Hussein(as). We both agreed that yazeed(la) was horrible and unjust but when I asked him about muawiya(la) he said he loved him. I asked him why? He said because shias hate him, he didnt know I was shia at this point. I said: so you love him just because someone ells hates him? I asked him what he knows about muawiya, I asked do you know who the mother of muawiya was? He did not know, so I informed him, I asked him do you know who the father of muawiya was? He did not know, so I informed him. I said to him, I am shia and I will tell you why we hate him. 

I said to him, do you know that muawiya fought against the caliph of his time, is that a small crime? That he not only caused the first fitna (battle of jamal) in islams history but also the second one (battle of siffin) leading to more fitna(battle of nahrawan)? How many muslims died because of him and how did these fitnas affect islamic empire and what it could have been? He was truly ignorant about muawiya.

By the end of it he said that he agrees muawiya did a lot of wrongdoings, so I asked him how can you love someone who did a lot of wrongdoings? He said because he was a sahaba, I said, just because someone is a sahaba that does not make them a saint. Muawiya(la) ordered the mimbars to curse Imam Ali(as), did you know this? I told him. How can you love a man who you say did a lot of wrongdoings and also cursed the other man you say you love?

I said to him, you cannot think highly of muawiya(la) because he knew his son much better than we did, yet he passed leadership to him. Is this sound judgement? Was his aim to better islam?

He said, you know you are shia and I agree with much of what you say and I have no problem with you, its those ithna asharia shias, they hate sunnis because Umar killed their majoos king, they are majoos. They hate the caliphs and the sunnis. I said to him I am ithna asharia and I do not hate you nor I am I a majoos. I said to him, it is true that we do not like the caliphs and that we do not agree with the way calipha was chosen. I said to him, islamic leadership is chosen by Allahسُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى just like He has chosen his Prophets(pbut) and if you like the caliphs then that is your opinion and if i do not like the caliphs, that is my opinion. But there is no reason for us to hate each other, in fact you are not my brothers, you are a part of me and we are one.

I refereed back to the world wars and how the house of saud and wahabism came to rise, I said to him, do you see how africa got into chaos and disunion? So did Islam after the rise of the saud by the help of the brits, their takfiri ideology that spreads hatred among muslims came into power with them. Saudi Arabia was not always called saudi arabia, it was called arabia before. Now they are turning Mecca into some kind of las vegas and think it is a money making machine for them, they want to open beach resorts with alcohol, you will see their hypocrisy made clear. He agreed that MBS was a horrible leader and muslim. I said to him that the enemy knew what would happen if they left the middle east alone, they saw that it was a place of rich resources and a common religion to unite the people, they would not leave it alone so they made sure a extremist takfiri ideology like wahabism came into power. And today you go to the mosque that the saudis built and listen you the sheikh that the saudis payed to speak and you hear these lies about shias that spread hatred and disunion among muslims. I said, do you know wahabism says that all other schools in sunnism are wrong? They are not only saying this about shias but about other sunnis as well.

I said when the muslims conquered Mecca, the parents of muawiya(la) became muslims, but they did not become muslims out of faith, they did so out of socio-political reasons to maintain their power and wealth in their society, they knew that if they did not say that they are now muslims they would either be thrown out or killed, loosing all their wealth and power. And it is exactly the same case with the house of saud, they could not care less about islam, but if they were to say that they are not muslims, the people would throw them out. Their religion is not islam, their religion is money.

By the end of the cab ride he also said he was very happy to have met me and talked to me because he had only seen one side of it. I said you know if you believe what I say or not believe what I say, I will not gain or lose anything, all I am saying is history, you should look at the history of islam again and study it.

 

I think most of our sunnis brother and sisters are more open minded than we think and if you discuss with them in a polite and civilized manner you would see that they are open to information. It is just a sad when I see shias openly and loudly send laana on the caliphs and Aisha because these sunnis have been told from day 1 to love these people so when some shias start a conversation by cursing their loved ones, they will automatically go into self defense mode and anything you would say after that will not be heard. It is like trying to convince someone that their mother is not such a nice person by starting to curse her right of the bat.

When shias sends laana openly and loudly these takfiri wahabi sheikhs speaking in the mosques gets their ammunition to instill hatred in the milions of sunnis. And the milions of sunnis are not scholars and hard believers of wahabism, they are every day muslims, raised to be muslims and told from day one: love the sahaba, sunnah, biddah, biddah, etc.They do not study the history of islam, the biographies and most certainly not the shia school of thought. So please reserve them the right to be informed or at least share the information you have even if it wont be considered before starting to openly and loudly curse the people they currently revere.