Spreading humanism, respect for other religions through children's magazines in India

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On the left is the photograph of the title of a recent issue of Urdu magazine for kids, 'Bachchon ki Dunia'.

The front page has photo of fireworks with the line, 'Diwali Mubarak' written below it. The issue had come out when the festival was being celebrated.

Inside, the editorial and other columns also informed children about the festival. There is also a long article about 'Sikhism', which tells children in lucid language about Sikhs, their gurus and the religion.

The article is quite engaging and informative. An earlier issue had focused on Jainism. I am mentioning this because despite the fact that over 90% readership of the magazine is in Muslim households, they are sensitive enough and for this the editorial staff must be congratulated.

Firstly, children must get information about the world. They should know the customs of other religious groups and people across the world. It is important to inculcate certain values among kids, especially, the respect for all religions and the message of communal amity and harmony.

'Parag' set the standards among Hindi children's magazines

In the decade of seventies and eighties, it was common among certain Hindi magazines to carry stories during Id, Christmas or other festivals.

Especially, Parag, under the editorship of Kanhaiyalal Nandan and Harikrishna Devsare, ensured that were at least a few stories or message for readers belonging to other communities during their festivals.

On Id and Ramzan, there were such stories, that struck a chord with the readers.

There were amazing stories that told reader about the message behind Ramzan and fasting. What you read in childhood has lasting impact on your mind. I read entire Hindu mythology in Chandamama and Nandan, which ignored other religions.


English magazines Tinkle, Champak fare badly on this count

Certain other magazines like Kukkut and Balbharti were often more accommodating. Today, there are many magazines in different languages.

In English, magazines like Tinkle, Magicpot and Champak are quite popular. Tinkle's publishers were never known to be sensitive to this aspect.

A small message or a short story adds variety to the magazine and also earns goodwill. Hope, the publishers of these magazines realise the need for being attentive towards all sections of the society.

It just shows your maturity and sensitivity.

Read earlier posts on the same issue:

1. Secularism in India: Lessons on communal harmony, religious tolerance from the ground
2. Communal Vs Secular comic strips, magazines in India

Prophet Musa (Stories of the Prophets)

Islamic Wisdom Quotes

Here is a Beautiful collection of Islamic Wisdom Quotes that you can download.

Who Is Satan?

We all know who he is, and what he does and did. The concept of shytan or Satan is there in every religion but the true concept is founded in Abrahamic religions only. Among Abrahamic religions, the true picture of Satan is only given by Islam, other religions corrupted their scriptures so whatever written in them cannot be believed with utmost surety.

So, the story of shytan as mentioned in Quran is that he was a jinn, who was taken to heavens by angels when he was a kid. According to some traditions, he was a very beautiful child and he was alone and was crying. When angels passed by him, they took him and with ALLAH's permission, he was raised among angels. He was very worshiping. He used to worship ALLAH swt more than angels and for this he was called azazil. When he got to know about a new creation, humans, he got jealous. When ALLAH swt ordered angels to prostrate before Adam pbuh, angels did but Satan denied saying that human was no better than him. He said that human is made of clay while he was made of fire. Above all, he felt jealous because ALLAH swt has taught humans that knowledge which was not taught to any other creation before. It was for this knowledge that angels prostrated Adam pbuh. because of his disobedience, ALLAH swt banished shytan from heavens by calling him Satan. He somehow managed to enter jannah where Adam and Eve were living. He made them eat the forbidden fruit.

Basicly, shytan wanted the same to happen with Adam and Eve which happened to him. But ALLAH swt know everything and HE knows why things happen. So He sent Adam and Eve to earth where they repented and made dua mentioned in Quran;

7-23 �They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If thou forgive us not and have not mercy on us, surely we are of the lost!�

So ALLAH swt pardoned them ans human race began. Now, shytan has aksed ALLAH swt for the respite till the day of judgement for misleading human beings and leading them away from ALLAH swt. ALLAH swt granted him this. Just look at the fate of shytan, when he could ask for ALLAH's forgiveness, he chose to go against HIM. When he knew that ALLAH swt is all in all, he did not chose to repent, but he chose war. Satan knows that his destination is hell, and he probably have some idea ( ALLAH knows the best) what hell is, still he chose the hell over heaven. He knew ALLAH's mercy, but he chose HIS wrath. What a cursed fool Satan is. And what fools humans are to follow him who is marked for hell.

The word shytan, according to some historians, has derived from shatana which means a far away thing. According to other historians, this word has been derived from word shata which means burned. Most historians say that the first meaning is more accurate because when iblees disobeyed ALLAH, he went far far away from all the mercy and kindness and goodness. The second meaning can also be taken because shytan is a jinn created from fire.

Shytan has prepared his army against human race and with passing centuries this army has become huge. His agents include both men and jinn. So the common misconception that shayatin are only jinns is wrong. It is also mentioned in glorious Quran as follows;

6:112 And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies ? Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception)

Also, there are many sayings of Prophet Muhammad pbuh where He pbuh told us about shayatin. According to a hadith recorded in musnad ahmed, prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

�O Abu Dharr! Seek refuge with Allah from the devils of mankind and the Jinns.) Abu Dharr said, "I asked him , `Are there human devils' He said, (Yes.)�

thus, Satan has both human and jinn companions. About humans, some cults have existed for long who worship satan. Even today, there are some secret satanic temples where children, new born babies, males and females are molested and sacrificed to please shytan. The modren day known cult of Satan is known by the name �zion�. According to some authentic research, Zionists worship Satan. Most of the Zionist belong to Judaism. And their strong hold is in Israel,  the illegal state, America and Britain. ALLAHU ALAM.

Satan has always attracted human attention with riches and short term worldly pleasures. And humans have always felt attraction for satanic fool. We should seek ALLAH's refuge from the evil of Satan. Because for every trick of Satan, we know simple and easy solutions which Satan does not like. May ALLAH swt keep us safe from satanic traps. Amin 

Iblees The Most Dangerous Enemy

Iblees (Satan) is the most dangerous enemy of humanity. He traps men in the worldly things in such a way that freeing from it feels virtually impossible. According to scholars, iblees's evil are of six types with which he traps and tricks humans. When one falls into one of them, he eventually falls for the second one and then third and so on. This way, a chain reaction is started which ends with extreme effort. The evils of Satan are listed below:

The first and foremost evil which satan spreads in the evil of kufr and shirk. This is that sin which will not be pardoned as said by ALLAH swt. So this is that sin which earns Satan most points in this world. Since, Adam a.s and his race was created to worship ALLAH swt alone ( as mentioned in glorious Quran being the purpose of creation), so iblees wants sons of Adam to avert from this purpose. He does this because he is at war with us since the day we were created. And to continue and win this war in this world, he can do anything.

The second evil is related to the first evil. It is the evil of innovation (biddah). There are many sahih traditions of prophet Muhammad pbuh which say that biddah is one of the greatest evils. Innovation in deen is evil because one who does this signals the world his dissatisfaction from the existing divine law. Thus, a man who indulges in the act of biddah eventually does shirk because he relies more on his own whims than the divine law.

Than comes the major sins. Now, if iblees cannot somehow trap someone in first two evils, then he chooses the third type, the major sins. The major sins include a wide variety of sins like, un-just killing, lying, ghibah, conspiring, disrespecting parents, misuse of knowledge etc. all these sins if persisted, eventually lead to shirk. Shytan spreads all these enticing sins with the helps of his agents, sons and daughters. While most of people are not aware of this fact, but Satan has a huge army which he uses against us constantly. When we think we are at peace, Satan is not a believer in waste of time. He started his war with the birth of first human and he will continue doing so till the end of time comes.

Minor sins come after major sins. If a person fears committing major sins, shytan's active senses direct him to lead humans into minor sins. Minor sins are those which are some time so routine that we do not even feel them. For example, speaking loud, wasting time, not caring for help, etc. these activities get into minor sins when they become a hazard to human life's purpose. So shytan's army is activated to lead those humans astry into minor sins when they do not commit major sins. If a person does not feel committing minor sins he eventually falls into major sins which could lead him to shirk.

There are man of ALLAH swt who know the evil of shytan and they do all possible effort to avoid even the minor sins. When iblees encounters such people, he makes them indulge into those act which have no sin or swab associated with them. Thus, iblees tries his level best to cease man from earning swab if he is cannot commit a sin.

The last type of keeping man from earning reward is to make him earn lesser reward. Look at this cunning mean enemy, he even tries to keep man from earning more reward by indulging him in act which earn less reward.

Iblees, is that enemy who is constantly at war with us. He does not waste his time. He does not sit idle rather he makes us sit idle, indulge in idle talk, do stupid things and act badly. He is doing so because he does not like us. He was once the most worshipping creation and his status was raised from jin to angels. And then, die to his arrogance and looking down upon us, AALLAH swt threw him away from heavens. But do not panic, with every trick that Satan plays, we are told a trick to trick him. If we only worship ALLAH with sincere heart and strive to please HIM and only HIM, then shytan would never be able to trick us, no matter if he uses all his army to lead just one person away.

12 Rabi Ul Awal (Eid Milad Un Nabi)

12th Rabi Ul Awal is considered to be the day of birth of Prophet of Islam, Muhammad pbuh. According to some historians, this is also the day of departure of beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh. Due to the consideration that it is the birth day of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, many people think this day as honored and blessed day. Of late, twelfth rabiul awwal has been celebrated as third Eid by masses all over the world.

The reality is that twelfth rabiul awwal was never part of islam, in fact it was started in shia Fatimid dynasty by a ruler, King al-Muzaffar Ab� Sa'�d Kawkab�ri, the King of Irbil, at the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century AH. According to another historian Abu Shamah, the first person to celebrate this event was Shaykh 'Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mal�, one of the well known of righteous people and then followed by the king of Irbil, Allahu Alam.

Hafiz Ibn-e Kathir, in his book al-Bid�yah wa'l-Nih�yah (13/137) writes about king Al-Muzaffar, �He used to observe the Mawlid in Rab�' al-Awwal and hold a huge celebration on that occasion. Some of those who were present at the feast of al-Muzaffar on some occasions of the Mawlid said that he used to offer in the feast five thousand grilled heads of sheep, ten thousand chickens and one hundred thousand large dishes, and thirty trays of sweets. He would let the S�f�s sing from Dhuhr until Fajr, and he himself would dance with them.�

According to Ibne Kathir, in his book Wafiy�t al-A'y�n (3/274), he wrote about the people who celebrated Eid milad as, �When it is the first of Safar they decorate those domes with various kinds of fancy adornments, and in every dome there sits a group of singers and a group of puppeteers and players of musical instruments, and they do not leave any one of those domes without setting up a group (of performers) there. The people give up work during this period, and they do no work except going around and watching the entertainment. When there are two days to go until the Mawlid, they bring out a large number of camels, cows and sheep, more than can be described, and they accompany them with all the drums, songs and musical instruments that they have, until they bring them to the square� On the night of the Mawlid there are performances of nash�ds after Maghrib in the citadel.�

This was the manner of those innovators who innovated an event to satisfy their meaning of islam in a totally opposite and un islamic way. Islam does not like lavishness, instead, every muslim is instructed to be simple in living so that no one feels ashamed or complexed by seeing the lavish display of wealth. Secondly, the love for beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh does not need display of wealth or stupid dancing or wasting of useful time. All it needs is to be obedient to ALLAH swt and His prophet Muhammad pbuh, that's it.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh was a great and excellent example for all of us to follow. What he did and what he appreciated and told us is the best and rest of it, which he never spoke of or approved is not islam. This is as plain and simple as that.

In a hadith, Porphet Muhammad pbuh said, "I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khal�fahs after me; adhere to it and cling to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly-invented thing is an innovation (bid'ah) and every innovation is a going-astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; at-Tirmidh� no. 2676).

this saying indicates in clear words that we are not suppose to do what is not part of islam. And what it is not part of islam, no matter how good it looks, it is biddah which is a sin.

All�h swt says in Quran, (interpretation of the meaning):

"This day, I have perfected your religion for you." [al-M�'idah 5:3]

when deen is perfected by ALLAH swt Himself, how can some one innovate and introduce something in it like that. This is the point every muslim should think about before doing something out of way of islam.

There are many false and alien things associated with mwalid ( birthday of Muhammad pbuh) . Mostly, it is believed that Muhammad pbuh is not dead like other human beings. He is present and in every mwalid celebration, He visits the celebrations and blesses the people who are participating. This is weird as islam does not support such a thing as being present. Similarly, people actually pray to see Muhammad pbuh in dream on the night of mwalid. Again, some people tell stories that after their mwalid celebrations, Prophet Muhamamd pbuhh visited their homes. Some people see Him while some people smell His fragrance and so on. All these stories are not only absurd but a huge lie in the name of Muhamamd pbuh and a great sin.

Therefore, 12 Rabi ul awal is no part of islam as proved by famous historians. It is an innovation and following it is a great sin. 

Policewoman, pregnant teacher hanged in southern Afghanistan

Even more of a hell hole for women and in general :(

An Afghan policewoman and a pregnant teacher were hanged and their bodies dumped within a few kilometres of a foreign military base recently handed over to Afghan control, officials said on Thursday.

The two women, policewoman and mother of two Feroza and teacher Malalai - like many in Afghanistan the pair use only one name - were kidnapped on Monday in the conservative southern province of Uruzgan, said Abdullah Hemat, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

"A post mortem examination shows that both were hanged," he said.

Successive, often deadly, assaults on women working in state institutions are fuelling concern that hard-won women's rights promoted by the United States and its allies are eroding ahead of the end of the NATO-led combat mission next year.

Several female police officers have been killed in southern provinces in recent months.

The Taliban are known to target female officials working for the U.S.-backed government, although some attacks have been linked to family feuds and male relatives outraged that the women are going out to work.

The bodies were found in an area of provincial capital Tirin Kot on Wednesday, said provincial police chief Matiullah Khan. He believes both killings were linked to family feuds.

Australian and U.S. forces had managed security in the province since 2005. That ended on Dec. 11 when they formally handed over control of the province to Afghan security forces.

The place where the women's bodies were found is only a few kilometres from the Tirin Kot base where the hand-over ceremony occurred.

Australian forces left the province on Sunday.

 Source

Islamic Wallpapers 2014

New Year Is just around the corner and we are in last week of current year. Here are Islamic Wallpapers 2014 for Desktop.

Good and Bad Deeds of Children

Children are one of the most beautiful blessings of ALLAH swt. Their innocence is the best thing in the world. Nothing compared to them looks half so good. This goodness increases many folds if they are brought up in the best way as prescribed in Islam. They have rights and parents and guardians are obligated to listen to them and help them when they need. They are to be fed and clothed and brought up in best possible way.

Childhood is the most delicate age of human life. Whatever happens to one in this age, it leaves its imprints forever. It it the age when personality is built. If brought up in a constructive environment, children would be good human beings and if they are brought up irresponsibly, then the flaws in their personalities will become permanent. Most of the successful people in the history of this world were successful because they un-intentionally shaped their minds in their childhood while same is true for most of the criminals. Those children who are not treated good in their childhood do not become good parents in most cases because of their personality flaws and vice versa.

For these reasons, Islam has made it s responsibility to bring up children in the best manner. Children should be treated with respect and love because they are just like mirror. What you do with them today, they will return you the same and probably more. If they learn love and respect, they will give it back.

Islam starts in the life of a human being in very early age. Children are not exempted when it comes to adhere the deen but the manner of their obedience is different. When a child is born, from that day on, parents become responsible for them. It is their responsibility to make their children familiar with islam at this young age so that it become part of their personality.

As we know, childhood is the age where no sin in incurred but the reward of all the good deeds in given to the child. Plus, parents are also rewarded for that good deed done by child because it was they who taught him to be good. This is indicated by the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim, narrated by Ibn Abbaas, that a woman lifted a child to the Prophet, salallahu �alayhi wa salam, during his farewell Hajj and said: �O Messenger of Allah, is there Hajj for him?� He, salallahu �alayhi wa salam, replied: �Yes, and there is reward for you.�

similarly, whoever teaches the child a good act besides parents Is also rewarded. A saying of beloved Prophet Muhammad pbuh indicates it in the following words, �For the one who guides to good, a reward similar to that of the one who performs it.� Narrated in Saheeh Muslim.

Coming to the bad deeds; children learn from their surroundings. If they learn something bad, like abusing or other un-islamic things, then they are free of the punishment because in their age of innocence, they cannot learn the difference between right and wrong. For them, everything is fun and game. So when they do something bad, it befalls on the elders to stop them, especially parents. Because if they are ignored, they might repeat the same thing and learn even more bad things.

Children should not be left with what they do, rather they should be appreciated when they act nicely and they should be stopped in polite way when they at bad.

Muzaffarnagar riots: Three months on, women worse off

Comment: the country is just a hell-hole for women :(

Hindu women protesting the arrest of their men and the 'false' cases lodged against them; horrified Muslim gang-rape survivors in relief camps; harassment on way to school forcing Hindu girls to stay at home; mass 'panic' marriages of Muslims girls from victim families.

Women have borne the brunt of the September riots in western UP, which were perpetuated in the name of saving their honour. The communal violence, in which 65 people were killed and over 60,000 displaced, only reinforced the region's deep-rooted patriarchy.

Over a dozen women panchayats have taken place in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Shamli in the past one month. "Such panchayats are adding to the tension and we cannot stop them because any mishandling of women will only deepen the crisis," says a police officer.

While local leaders justify these 'armed' panchayats, saying the women are only protesting against the injustice being meted out to their men, some dailies have published photographs glorifying the women who brandished countrymade pistols and swords as 'chandis' (goddesses) out to protect their honour.

"Women with weapons standing along with their children not only shows the sense of insecurity among them but also how divisive forces have successfully penetrated into the society," said Manju Bharti, a Muzaffarnagar-based activist. "Communalisation of women means the rift will last for generations."

In sharp contrast to these armed women are the scores of those who were sexually assaulted during the riots and who are now living in relief camps. Activists who visited these camps say rape survivors are devastated and do not want to go back to their native villages, where they were violated and their family members were killed.

Over 600 weddings have taken place in the relief camps so far. People claim, somewhat dubiously, that most of the marriages were fixed before the riots and are being solemnized now. Post-riots, new restrictions have also being imposed on the movements of girls. Attendance of girls in schools has registered a huge drop.

For the past two years, instances of sexual assault and harassment were used selectively to whip up communal passions, eventually leading to the horrific violence.

"Men are constructing 'fear' in the name of 'honour' and then using it to impose their decision on women," says activist Roma Malik, who visited the affected areas recently. "Violence against women is common in both the communities, but this time it has been given a communal colour, making it a double whammy."

Muslim rape survivors are keeping quiet, fearing stigma. Many Hindu women, their men behind bars, fear they may be targeted now. And the fear of something untoward happening is making Hindu girls drop out of schools and forcing Muslim families to marry off their daughters.

"The communal forces which instigated the riots have hijacked the khap panchayats infamous for issuing Talibani diktats against the women," says Madhu Garg, state secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association, who has prepared a report on the riots after visiting the affected areas.

All this does not bode well for the status of women. The sex ratio in Muzaffarnagar is an abysmal 889 females per 1,000 males and the child sex ratio is a pathetic 863. Female literacy is 58.69% against the average of 69.12%. Most girls drop out of school after Class 10. Crimes against women are common in the region.

source