Advice to a Pencil?
What "advice" would a pencil maker give a pencil before sending him out into the world?
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The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box and said to the pencil; "There are 5 things you need to know, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget these five things, and you will, inshallah (God Willing) become the best pencil you can be": |
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(1) One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be guided by someone's hand. Say: "If ye do love Allah follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." Say: "Obey Allah and His messenger" but if they turn back – Allah loves not those who reject Faith." (Holy Quran 3 :31&32) O you who are believers; obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. (Holy Quran 4:59)
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| (2) Two: You will experience some painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.
"For sure Allah will test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." (Holy Quran 2:155) "And Allah will test you until He has tested those among you who strive hard and persevere most in patience; and Allah will test your reported (mettle)." (47:31)
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| (3) Three: You will be able to correct mistakes if you remember to use your eraser first. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught us to follow up our sins with good deeds.
"Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy; for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom." (Holy Quran 4:17) "But without doubt I am (also) He that forgives again and again to those who repent believe and do right who in fine are ready to receive true guidance." (Holy Quran 20:82)
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| (4) Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.
"It is not righteousness (al birr) that you turn your faces towards east and west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the poor (al masakin) and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs daily ritualistic prayer and gives the charity (for purification) and who fulfill their agreements when they make them, and who are persevering and steadfastly patient in extreme poverty and ailments and at the time of fighting in battles. Such are the people of truth and piety (al-muttaqun)." (Holy Quran 2:177) Those who believe (in Allah as One) and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah; Assuredly, in remembering Allah do hearts find rest. (Holy Quran 13:28) Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and work righteousness, Tuba (it means all kinds of happiness and also the name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return. (Holy Quran 13:29) "Allah's Messenger (Muhammad, peace be upon him) The Way of Islam (Ad-Deen) is giving sincerity. We asked; "To whom?" He replied; "To Allah; His Book; His prophet; the leaders in authority over you and the general Muslim populations." Sahih Muslim Hadith 98 Narrated by Tamim ad-Dari Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "There are three things on account of which no rancor enters a Muslim heart: 1. the sincerity of purpose for Allah's sake; 2. seeking goodness for the Muslims and 3. Adhering to their main body (jama'ah) for their prayers encompass them all round." Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 228 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud
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| (5) Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
How many of the Prophets fought (in Allah's way) and with them (fought) large bands of godly men? But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah's way nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast. (Holy Quran 3:146) The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. "When your Lord pulled forth the descendants (children) from Adam's loins and made them to testify concerning themselves (saying to them): "Am I not your LORD?" They said; "Yes! We do bear witness!" Lest you should say on the Day of Judgment; "We were never made to know this." (Holy Quran 7:172)
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Let us really consider the story of the pencil. What if we put ourselves in the place of this pencil, keeping to the five things mentioned herein, remembering Allah is our One and only Lord to worship? We might become more useful and even write our own story of success. |
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"Those to listen to the Word and follow the best in it; those are the ones whom Allah has guided and those are the ones with understanding." (Holy Quran 39:18) "Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do the deeds of righteousness, from them shall (Allah) shall blot out all evil in them and shall reward them according to their best of deeds." (Holy Quran 29:7) "It is not righteousness (al birr) that you turn your faces towards east and west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the poor (al masakin) and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs daily ritualistic prayer and gives the charity (for purification) and who fulfill their agreements when they make them, and who are persevering and steadfastly patient in extreme poverty and ailments and at the time of fighting in battles. Such are the people of truth and piety (al-muttaqun)." (Holy Quran 2:177) Like to come closer to Allah? Increase your iman (faith)? Read the article on "wasila": Research more about Islam from Muslim websites: www.SearchForIslam.com Videos & more at: www.YouTubeIslam.com |