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| << September04, 2005 - Free Slave Fortnightly ~ Pilot Issue |
October23, 2005 - Free Slave Fortnightly ~ #002 >> |
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~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~ Free Slave Fortnightly E-zine ~((Serving the Only Master))~ 15th Sh'abaan 1426/20th Sept 2005 Issue #001 ~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~^v^~~ FSF is sent only to willing subs.cribers. For instructions on subs.cribing and unsubs.cribing, see end of mail. If you know anyone who would be interested in receiving Free Slave Fortnightly, please let them know about us! o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o Bismihi Ta'ala (In the Name of the Most High) =========== CONTENTS =========== 1. Editorial 2. One Deed at a Time... 3. Shh, Can You Hear Him? 4. Soul Snack o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o =============== 1. EDITORIAL =============== Salaams, Fellow Slaves! Congratulations on the birth of our Imam (atfs)! With this issue Free Slave Fortnightly officially begins its life as a series dedicated to growth and freedom in the way of Allah (SWT). This is the only issue you will recieve as a forward. To get future issues, please see subscription details below. Today, we celebrate with those around us and pray for a more fruitful year. But with this joy, comes a strange, sweet sadness for Shias. Every 15th of Sh'abaan reminds us that yet another year has passed without the coming of the Mahdi (atfs). That we have not seen him yet or heard his voice. That we have neither smelt his heavenly fragrance nor sat at his feet to learn the secrets of true wisdom. It is another year since our last ariza, when we wrote and told him how much we loved him and asked for the things we so wanted. We have received the answers to all our du'as, except the most important one. We often hear that our Imam (atfs) does not come because he doesn't have enough of the kind of supporters he needs. But what are we doing about changing that situation? Are we actively changing for the better? Do we have a game-plan set out for how we are going to improve our selves? A practical schedule and checklist? Do we have enough imaan and akhlaq that we will be able to pass these on to our children and that they will be able to pass it on to theirs until the day Imam (atfs) appears? Every human being plans ahead for the future of his children. Isn't it time we asked ourselves if we have laid strong enough foundations to ensure that our descendents will be amongst the first to answer the call of al-Muntazar? Be Free, Binte Ali Send your comments and mails to: freeslavefortnightly@gmail.com ((The address above will NOT subs.cribe you to the FSF E-zine. To subs.cribe, see end of mail.)) o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o =========================== 2. ONE DEED AT A TIME ... =========================== The deed we picked this month may sound like a simple one, but it is essential to get rid of even those habits we take lightly, because Imam Ali (a) has told us: "Do not look at how big or small your sin is, look at whom you are committing it against." And so this fortnight let's attack the ailment of complaining. Many at times, complaining comes to us as naturally as speaking. Something goes wrong and we immediately feel the need to portray ourselves as 'victims' and gain the sympathy of those around us. Imam Sadiq (a) has said: "Hiding the calamities that befall you is one of the best treasures." Here some things that may help you attain this treasure for yourself. Step 1: Remember the Aimmah (a) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is no one who can compare the problems and troubles that our Aimmah (a) faced. The sacrifices that each of our leaders gave for us, starting from the Holy Prophet (s) right down to our 12th Imam (atfs) are far beyond anything we suffer. When you feel like venting, think of what they went through and try to come up with one single instance where they complained or told anyone of their sufferings to gain pity. Doesn't being their Shia mean 'following' their way of life? Step 2: Understand the philosophy behind it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imam Sadiq (a) has said: "On the Day of Judgement, a group of people will pass above other people and enter Heaven without accounting. When they are asked what they did to deserve this status, they will reply 'We were amongst those who persevered in the world'." Every calamity or problem we face - regardless of how light or severe it is - is a means of making us better. It is either a test of our claims to belief or a way of lightening our burden of sins. When you look at it this way, then all problems actually become blessings in disguise that we should thank Allah (SWT) for! Step 3: Think about the consequences ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In another hadith, we are told: "The relationship between perseverance and faith is similar to that of the head and body. If you lose your head, your body dies too. In the same way, if perseverence is lost, so is faith." Complaining may satisfy your need for attention or quench your insecurities for a while, but in the long run it will attack you inwardly and outwardly too. A person who gets used to complaining can't see the beauty of Allah (SWT)'s plans and gifts. And no one likes to be around those who go on and on about their problems. It's a sure way to lose both Divine and Human support! Step 4: Be Aware ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As with all habits, it is necessary to catch yourself in the middle of the act to be able to stop yourself. To deal with this vice, listen to yourself when you speak and try to pause and think about what you're going to say next. That way, you'll be able to catch yourself before you actually begin saying something you don't want to anymore. Good luck! o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o ========================== 3. SHH, CAN YOU HEAR HIM? ========================== "And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair ..." (Sura al-Ahzaab.33, Verse 36) This is one verse that never fails to put me in my place. Gently, and firmly. Whenever I am tempted to say "but" to a rule or a law that my faulty understanding cannot stomach, this ayat reminds me that it doesn't matter two hoots if I can or cannot understand every thing the way I want to. Islam is not a religion of blind faith, but the general rule is that you can question the issues of Aqaid (Usul)to gain conviction in your faith. However, once you have accepted the All-Powerful Allah as your Lord and Master, then you submit wholeheartedly and do not question His specific rules. Problem is, we tend to mix up what to ask questions about and what not to question! o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o ================ 4. SOUL SNACK ================ In these times, when every sunrise shines on a new challenge to our faith and our beliefs, it is very hard to keep a firm hold on our Imaan. Enter Dua-e-Amaan. This small and simple du'a is recommended for safety of imaan and when you read its meaning, you can easily understand why. As you plead for protection from Allah (SWT)from situations such as: "at the time of the parting of the soul from the body and in the presence of death" or "at the time of the narrations of our sins", you can't help but feel the shiver of helplessness down your back. It is a du'a that creates a feeling of helplessness and weakness in the face of the Might of Allah (SWT) and simultaneously fans the flame of hope in His Mercy. At the end of the du'a, we say: "There is no God but Allah, Who is present at all times, There is no God but Allah, Who is worshipped in every place, There is no God but Allah, Who is known by His Kindness..." What strange creatures we are, that even knowing that the only Power and the only Safety is with Him, we still dare to disobey! Peace o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o(0)o ** To subs.cribe to Free Slave Fortnightly, send a blank mail to: 42657-subscribe@zinester.com ** To unsubs.cribe from this list, send a blank mail to: 42657-unsubscribe@zinester.com ** Please Note: Replying to this mail will not rem.ove you from the list. To be rem.oved promptly, please follow the instructions above. --------------------------------- (c) FSF E-zine 2005/1426 --------------------------------- |
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| << September04, 2005 - Free Slave Fortnightly ~ Pilot Issue |
October23, 2005 - Free Slave Fortnightly ~ #002 >> |
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