Fath Ali Khan Tipu Sultan

On May 4 in 1799 AD, the British imposed Battle of Seringapatam ended with the martyrdom in battle of the Muslim ruler of Mysore in southern India, Fath Ali Khan Tipu Sultan. The British colonialists had started this 4th Mysore in violation of an earlier treaty for peace, since they feared Tipu Sultan's growing ties with Napoleon Bonaparte of France, as well as his correspondence with the Ottoman Empire and Karim Khan Zand the ruler of Iran.
Karim Khan Zand the ruler of Iran dispatched a force of 6,000 Iranians to assist Tipu, but because of the sea journey these contingent arrived after the fall of Seringapatnam. Tipu was enlightened ruler and patronized Arabic and Persian literature. He also experimented the manufacture of artillery rockets, which greatly alarmed the British. Among the reliable history books of the Muslim Dynasty of Mysore founded by Tipu's father, Hyder Ali Khan, is “Tarikh-e Saltanat-e Khudadad”, written by a migrant Iranian scholar to his court, Hussain Ali Khan Kirmani.

Salawaat ( Sending Blessings on the Holy Prophet & his family)

اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	O Allah: (please do) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
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إنّ اللّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ يُصَلّونَ عَلَى النّبِيّ	inna allaha wa mala’ikatahu yusalluna `alaalnnabiyyi	Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet,
يَا أَيّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوَا صَلّوَا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّمُوَا تَسْلِيماً،	ya ayyuha alladhena amanu sallu `alayhi wa sallmu tasleman	O you who believe: Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation  quran 33:56
لَبّيْكَ يَارَبّ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَسُبْحَانَكَ.	labbayka ya rabbi wa sa`dayka wa subhanaka	Here I am at Your service, my Lord! Doing that which pleases You, and glory be to You.
اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	O Allah: (please do) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	wa barik `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	And send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
كَمَا صَلّيْتَ وَبَارَكْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ	kama sallayta wa barakta `ala ibrahema wa ali ibrahema	In the same way as You have blessed and conferred benedictions upon (Prophet) Abraham and the Household of Abraham,
إنّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.	innaka hamedun majedun	You are verily worthy of all praise and full of all glory.

Muslim Relation with Non-Muslim Parents: Mother's Rights in Islam

It was for some time that Zakariyya, son of Ibrahim, felt attracted towards Islam although his father, mother and all the family members were Christians and he too was the believer of Christianity. Both his conscience and heart were inviting him towards Islam. At last, against the liking of his father, mother and family-members, he accepted Islam and surrendered himself to the commandments of Islam.
The Hajj pilgrimage season commenced. Young Zakariyya left Kufa, Iraq with the objective of performing Hajj pilgrimage and had the honour of meeting Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) in Madina. Zakariyya narrated to Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) the incident of his acceptance of Islam. Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) enquired:
"What virtue of Islam attracted your attention?" Zakariyya replied: "I can only say that it was Allah's words in Noble Qur'an which impressed me and holds true in my case. Allah says to his Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny in Noble Qur'an: "O Prophet! Earlier you didn't know what the Book is and didn't know what the faith is, but We revealed to you this Qur'an and made it a light by which We guide whomsoever We wish."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "I confirm Allah has guided you."
Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said thrice:
"O Allah! You Yourself be a guide to him."
Afterwards Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"My son, now whatever questions you have, asks me".
The Youngman said: "My father, mother and family-members, are all Christians. My mother is blind. I am associated to them and I am compelled to eat with them. What am I supposed to do in such circumstances?"
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as): "Do they eat pork?"
Zakariyya: "No, O son of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny! They don't even touch pork."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as): "Then, there is nothing wrong in your association with them."
Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Be careful about your mother's health. Be kind to her till she is alive. When she dies, don't give her body to anyone else. You personally take charge of her corpse." Here, don't tell anyone that you have met me. I will also come to Makkah. Insha Allah (Allah willing), we will meet in Mina.
In Mina, the Young Zakariyya went in search of Imam Jafar Sadiq (as). There was a huge crowd around Imam Jafar Sadiq (as).
The people, like the children surrounding their teacher and asking questions one after the other without giving any time, were asking questions one after the other from Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) and were listening to his replies.
The Hajj pilgrimage season came to an end and the Young Zakariyya returned to Kufa, Iraq. He had kept in mind Imam Jafar Sadiq's (as) advice. With firm determination, he started serving his mother and never failed to be kind and loving to his blind mother. Zakariyya served food to her with his own hands. He even used to check her clothes and head to see that no lice might be present. This change in the behavior of the son, mainly after his return from Makkah, was surprising for his mother. One day she asked her son:
"Dear Son! Earlier, when you followed our religion Christianity, you were not so kind to me. Now what has happened to you that though I and you are not the same in respect of religion, you are more kind to me than before?"
Zakariyya: "Dear mother! A person from the descendants of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny has told me to do so."
Mother: "Is he himself a Prophet?"
Zakariyya: "No, he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny."
Mother: "My son! I think he himself is a Prophet as this type of advices and preaching's not given by anyone except the Prophets."
Zakariyya: "No mother! Be sure that he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. Basically, no Prophet is supposed to come to earth after our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny."
Mother: "My son! Your religion Islam is very good. It is better than all the other religions. Teach me your religion Islam to me."
The Young Zakariyya told his mother the 'Shahaadatayn' (meaning: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is his Messenger").
Thus, the mother became a Muslim. Then the Young Zakariyya taught his blind mother the process of reciting salat (prayer). The mother grasped it and recited the Zuhr (noon) and the Asr (afternoon) salats. It became night. She succeeded in reciting both the Maghrib (evening) and the Isha (night) salats. Suddenly, late in the night, the mother's condition (of health) changed; she fell sick and got bed-laid. She called her son and said:
"My son, once more teach all the things you had taught me."
Once again, the son taught his mother the Shahaadatayn and all the principles of Islam, that is, belief in Allah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), angels, the Divine Books and the Ma'ad (Day of Resurrection). The mother repeated all these as a symbol of her belief and acceptance and offered her life to the Creator.
In the morning, the Muslims gathered for giving her Ghusl-e-Mayyat (obligatory bath to the dead) and her burial. The person, who recited Salatul Maiyyat (prayer for the dead) and buried her, was none but her young son, Zakariyya.

Most Important Body Part

My mother used to ask me: "What is the most important part of the body?"
Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mother."
Mother said, "No Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
Several years passed before mother asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mother, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."
Mother looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."
Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge. Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."
Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw my father cry. My Mother looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to grandpa.
Mother asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear son?"
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. Mother saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."
Mother looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. Mother said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."
I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"
Mother replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear son. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did... But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.
True or not, the story makes you stop and think. Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder ready.

The famous Iranian Sunni Muslim scholar and exegete of the holy Qur'an, Ibn Shahrestani

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz

On July 20, 548 AH, the famous Iranian Sunni Muslim scholar and exegete of the holy Qur'an, Mohammad Ibn Abdul-Karim Shahrestani, passed away at the age of 81 years in his hometown Shahrestan in Khorasan, northeastern Iran. In the city of Nishapur he studied under different masters who were all disciples of the Ash`ari theologian al-Juwayni.
At the age of thirty, he went to Baghdad to pursue theological studies and taught for three years at the famous Nizamiyya Academy, before returning to Khorasan, where he worked as Deputy Chancellor for Sultan Sanjar, the Seljuq ruler. He wrote several important works, such as “al-Milal wa'n-Nihal” (The Book of Sects and Creeds), which presents the doctrinal points of view of religions and philosophies that existed up to his time. This book is one of the earliest systematic studies of religion and is noted for its scientific approach.
Another of his famous works is the exegesis "Mafatih al-Asraar wa-Masabih al-Abraar" (The Keys of the Mysteries and the Lamps of the Righteous), which introduces the Qur’an and gives a complete commentary on the first two Surahs. In this book, pointing to the confused events of the days of the 3rd Caliph, Osman Ibn Affan, concerning the compilation of the Qur’an, Shahrestani says: We should study why (Imam) Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (AS) was not approached for compilation of the Qur'an? Was he not a greater authority than Zayd Ibn Thabit in transcribing the Qur'an (as well as its memorization and familiarity with its contents)? Did he not possess a better knowledge of Arabic and its grammar than Sa'eed Ibn Aas? Was not (Imam) Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (AS) considered closer to the Prophet of Allah (SAWA) than any of the sahabah? Why did they (Abu Bakr and Omar) reject the first ever copy of the Qur'an compiled by (Imam) Ali (AS), immediately after the passing away of the Prophet?

Poison your Mother in Law

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all.
Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.
Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish.
All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.
Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.
Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you. Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do."
Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.
He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."
Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.
Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.
Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.
One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."

Your mother, your mother, your mother!

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny had now said it three times. Slowly, the man realized why he had done so. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny means that my mother is extremely important, so much so that my duty to her must be stressed over and over again. Even so, the man's thoughts ran on, "what about all the others I love and wish to care for?" Still uncertain and wanting to know more, he once again turned to the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny and said, "and after my mother, who comes after her? Is there anyone besides her?" The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny then replied "after your mother, your father." And then? asked the man. "Then people who are nearest to you," said the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny.
In universal religion Islam, mother has three times more rights over her off springs than their father because of her significant and crucial role in their birth, brought-up and home education.
In another hadith the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny has said: "Paradise lies at the feet of mothers." In other words Paradise awaits those who cherish and respect their mothers.
The Muslim mother has consequently a great feeling of security about the type of care and consideration she can expect from her children when she reaches old age. As the verse of Noble Qur'an quoted above indicates, thankfulness to parents is linked with thankfulness to Allah, and a failure in either of these respects is indeed a major failure in one's religious duties.
The principles of Islam made explicit in Noble Qur'an and hadith are belief and good conduct, and good conduct begins at home with one's closest relatives. A Westerner who has had close contact with a Muslim society cannot fail to be struck by the love and respect given to parents and the honour shown to old people in general, both men and women, as a direct application of these principles of Islam.