Why knowledge is better than wealth

Why knowledge is better than wealth
Taken from lutonmuslims.co.uk

Once ten wise men came to Hadhrat Ali (RA) and posed this question: 'Why is knowledge better than wealth?' Each of these men demanded a seperate answer in turn.

Hadhrat Ali (RA) gave the following anwers:-

1. Knowledge is better than wealth because you guard wealth, whereas knowledge guards you.

2. Knowledge is better than wealth because the wealthy have enemies and the learned have many friends.

3. Knowledge is better than wealth because the former is a legacy of the Prophets, and the latter is a heritage of the Pharaohs.

4. Knowledge is better because it increases with distribution whereas wealth decreases.

5. Knowledge is better because a wealthy person generally becomes a miser.

6. Knowledge is better because unlike wealth, it cannot be stolen.

7. Knowledge is better because the wealthy person has to give an account of his wealth on the Day of Judgement.

8. Knowedge is better because it does not deteriorate on account of time, while wealth does.

9. Knowledge is better because the mind is illuminated by it, wheres welath tarnishes it.

10. Knowledge is better than wealth because the Pharaohs and the non-believers claimed divinity (God) on account of wealth.

'Whoever treads a way against the Sunnah of the Prophet(SAW) he will never reach his destination.' (Shaykh Saadi)

Benefiting the community

Benefiting the community
Taken from lutonmuslims.co.uk

"A Muslim is not the one who fights Satan with his sword only and gets catapulted into Jannah (paradise), but rather the one who interacts actively with his environment in order to make a difference. Allah(SWT) says in Qur'an:

"That man can have nothing but what he strives for; that [the fruit of] striving will soon come in sight; then will he be rewarded with a reward complete." (53:39-41).

Our actions are witnessed not only by Allah and His Messenger (SAW) but also by others as well. Hence, the Muslim is not living in a vacuum; he is continuously acting and interacting with his surroundings.

What makes him or her a better Muslim? According to the following Hadith: "People are dependents of Allah; the closest to Him (Allah) are the ones who are most useful to His dependents (i.e. other creature)," (Sahih Muslim).

Thus, the criterion for being a better Muslim is not simply Salah (prayers), fasting, Dhikr, and tasbih (glorifying Allah); it's one's utility to others! In this context the following principle should alarm us: "He who does not concern himself with the affairs of other Muslims is not one of them." The task of a jama'ah (group) of Muslims is not to serve itself; it is to serve others! The group is not the objective, for in reality it is only an organizational means to accomplish the objective.

The interest of such an organization must be subservient to the interest of the Ummah (Nation) and of the outside world. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) directs us: "Have mercy on those in the land, so that the One in Heaven will have Mercy on you," (Reported by at-Tirmidhi). To establish an organization for the sake of the organization is like building a house for the sake of the house. The environment and the population of which the Da'iyah (Caller to Allah) is a part, are the only mediums through which he can perform. They are the only fields of operation in which Allah is testing him during his life."

(Excerpt from "Training Guide for Islamic Workers", pg. 15-16, by Dr. Hisham Altalib)

Turning Muslim in Australia!

Turning Muslim in Australia!

This is a video shown a couple of years ago in Australia called - The Australian Experience: Embraced - Turning Muslims In Australia.


Source: lugzlebo of Youtube

Some links to interesting reading:

(1) The lure of Allah - article by James Murray of The Australian - muslimvillage.com

(2) Allah in suburbia - article from Sydney Morning Herald - smh.com.au

(3) Muslim Australians - report by by Professor Abdullah Saeed about Islam and Muslims in Australia with Statistics - PDF document

(4) Why We Became MuslimsExclusive By Anita Quigley, Original article taken from The Daily Telegraph - muslimvillage.com