The Positive Thread
 

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh all,

Having recently seen some threads about negativity on the forum, I thought I would start 'The Positive Thread' (!)

It's not quite as vague as the title might suggest. I would like posters to think of practical suggestions and ideas for other forum members to take away and put into action in their communities - I want this thread to be a vehicle for making positive change in society and get us off the computer and get out into the great wide world. It's not healthy to sit at the computer all day, writing endless posts to a closed circle of people who frequent the forum. Yes, the internet is a tool for us to seek knowledge and share ideas, but what we need is to put what we learn into practice. Just try switching off the internet for 48 hours and see how much you can get up to!

All sorts of suggestions welcome, talk about productivity, ideas for da'wa, hints for staying up after fajr, ways to practically incorporate the qur'an in one's life, ideas for being kind to fellow human beings, your neighbours, your family, your spouse, your colleagues, book recommendations, ideas for engaging the youth, and inspirational stories ... whatever you can think of, all with a view to giving practical suggestions for us to apply in our lives.

Being a positive thread, negative comments are not welcome. Rather than picking holes in something someone posted, why not try to think of something positive to post yourself?

May Allah (swt) accept this from all of us and grant us hearts that yearn for and draw close to Him. Amin.

ok.... I'll start then

There is a really great initiative going on where I live called the 'Big Sibs' Scheme. It is a collaboration between the university Islamic society and the local Muslim community to match up Muslim students to kids from the local area who they can act like an older sibling to, be-friending them, helping them with anything they need help with and generally being a role model for the younger kid. Often children (especially from poorer backgrounds) may not know anybody who has even been to university, so they can serve as a source of inspiration to them and encourage the kid to keep good company and stay out of trouble.

InshaAllah this is a scheme that we can all try to implement in our local cities, try getting local community representatives to contact the nearest university ISoc to organise something similar.

Thats an amazing idea. We have recently welcomed a new Imam, and he is working with us to help the youth better serve them, I will suggest the Big Muslim Brother & Big Muslim Sister, that's a great idea, Jazakallah khair sister.

=bintAmirah;701446]ok.... I'll start then

There is a really great initiative going on where I live called the 'Big Sibs' Scheme. It is a collaboration between the university Islamic society and the local Muslim community to match up Muslim students to kids from the local area who they can act like an older sibling to, be-friending them, helping them with anything they need help with and generally being a role model for the younger kid. Often children (especially from poorer backgrounds) may not know anybody who has even been to university, so they can serve as a source of inspiration to them and encourage the kid to keep good company and stay out of trouble.

InshaAllah this is a scheme that we can all try to implement in our local cities, try getting local community representatives to contact the nearest university ISoc to organise something similar.

i know two kids, both about 11 12, who are always praying at the masjid and cleaning it with their dad, mashaAllah. They respect and love their dad a lot, and get it in return. While in khurooj they always came to him every now and then to ask if he needed anything (he's not even old!) Whatever he would say for them to do, they'd do it asap. And they're so quick to help someone out and also, I've heard they always pray tahajjud, mashaAllah. May Allah give us all the tawfeeq to obtain what they have.

We have this small orphanage round the corner from where we live (about 30 kids, all non-muslims), we trying to organise with the person in charge to pick up the kids once a week, take them for an outing, bring them home to play, give them lunch and teach them how to do some simple, fun things... like paintings and a few easy crafts ect. hopefully, from there we can slowly start introducing them to islaam http://discussworldissues.com/forums...ilies/insh.gif

We go there (to the orphanage) alot and the kids are always eager to please and eager to learn. these poor kids have nothing in their lives and appreciate every little gesture of kindness which they shown.

I can virtually see noor oozing out of every word of this post.
There were two kids of similar age in our neighbourhood. It was sort of soothing to watch them just playing in the street in their above ankle salwars-their father is Jama-at regular.

Cambridge Uni Isoc?

Assalaamu'alaikum,

Another suggestion I would like to make is about the Lifebook by Siratt which is now also being advertised in conjunction with Productive Muslim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amUzNHgeoVo

I've had one for the last year and alhamdulillah it is so nice to see an organiser that not only has everything that any normal WHSmith organiser you get would have, but also has Islamic dates, ahadith, Islamically relevant targets and prayer reminders mashaAllah. I would really recommend this book.

The Productive Muslim website also has lots of very beneficial articles about increasing our productivity, not only in our work during the dunya but importantly in our 'ibadat as well:
http://www.productivemuslim.com/

I think it's really important for us as Muslims to be productive and get organised. I often find that people run by 'Muslim-Mean-Time', i.e. about half an hour late, and we should all really be striving to tackle this, beginning first and foremost with ourselves. We won't be able to sort out other problems in the community if people are constantly late and undisciplined. If the Prophet (saw) came but to perfect out manners, then why are so many of us not living up to the standards that we should be? Of course this is first a reminder to myself and then anybody else who wants to improve themselves inshaAllah.

May Allah make us all righteous, active servants of His deen amin.


Yes exactly.

Another little nugget I've come across: Putting Barakah into Food

Not only should we be making sure that what we eat is halal, and importantly that the earnings by which we bought it are halal, but we can also put additional baraka into the food when preparing it. I can't remember which talk it was but I recall hearing a story recently, if someone else has heard it please correct any mistakes...

Imam Shafi'i was one the greatest students of Imam Malik. Imam Malik invited him to his house for a meal, and also offered that he could spend the night. Imam Malik told his daughter about Imam Shafi'i and how he was his favourite pupil and an incredibly talented student. He asked her to prepare some food and to set aside a basin of water in the room he would be staying in for him to perform his wudhu.

The following day, the Imam and his student left for fajr prayers together, and Imam Malik's daughter went to clear up the room in which their guest had been staying. To her surprise she found the plate of food she had prepared completely empty and the basin of water was untouched. When her father returned, she complained to him, saying "He can't really be that much of a great student! He doesn't show any moderation in his eating and didn't even make wudhu for the fajr salat!". Imam Malik asked Imam Shafi'i about this, to which he replied: "SubhanaAllah, it is not normal that I should take my fill of food, however, when I began to eat the food your daughter had prepared I felt that there was so much barakah in the food that I couldn't stop myself from taking it in. This barakah left me so spiritually energised that I spent the whole night in prayer and came to fajr with my wudhu from the night before".

It turned out that Imam Malik's daughter had been reciting Qur'an the entire time that she had been cooking, and with the righteous intention of pleasing Allah by providing food for her father's guest, Allah placed great barakah in this food. It's just a small reminder of the effect that our spiritual state has on even the most mundane things in our lives.


So, here comes the practical bit. I've attached a nice poster for whoever wants to print it out and stick it up in their kitchen, for some nice etiquettes to adopt while cooking. I would also highly highly recommend Imam Ghazali's book on 'Matters relating to Eating' (book 11 of his ihya) for some recommendations regarding eating, sharing food, hosting guests and invitations.

Tayyab-Food.JPG