Masnavi of Rumi: Rhyming Couplets of Profound Spiritual Meanings

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The Masnavi, or Masnavi-e-Ma'navi (مثنوی معنوی‎), is an extensive poem written in Persian by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, the celebrated Persian Sufi saint and poet. It is one of the best known and most influential works of both Sufism and Persian literature. The Masnavi is a series of six books of poetry that each amount to about 25,000 verses or 50,000 lines. It is a spiritual writing that teaches Sufis how to reach their goal of being in true love with God.

The title Masnavi-e-Ma'navi means "Rhyming Couplets of Profound Spiritual Meaning." The Masnavi is a poetic collection of rambling anecdotes and stories derived from the Quran, hadith sources, and everyday tales. Stories are told to illustrate a point and each moral is discussed in detail. It incorporates a variety of Islamic wisdom but primarily focuses on emphasizing inward personal Sufi interpretation. This work by Rumi is referred to as a “sober” Sufi text. It reasonably presents the various dimensions of Sufi spiritual life and advises disciples on their spiritual paths. More generally, it is aimed at anyone who has time to sit down and ponder the meaning of life and existence.

The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History

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The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History is a 1978 book by Michael H. Hart, reprinted in 1992 with revisions. It is a ranking of the 100 people who, according to Hart, most influenced human history.

The first person on Hart's list is the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (S.A.W). Hart asserted that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was "supremely successful" in both the religious and secular realms. He also believed that the role of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) in the development of Islam was far more influential than Jesus' collaboration in the development of Christianity. He attributes the development of Christianity to St. Paul, who played a pivotal role in its dissemination.

The 1992 revisions included the demotion of figures associated with Communism, such as Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong, and the introduction of Mikhail Gorbachev. Hart took sides in the Shakespearean authorship issue and substituted Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford for William Shakespeare. Hart also substituted Niels Bohr and Henri Becquerel with Ernest Rutherford, thus correcting an error in the first edition. Henry Ford was also promoted from the "Honorary Mentions" list, replacing Pablo Picasso. Finally, some of the rankings were re-ordered, although no one listed in the top ten changed position.

(Book intro taken from Wikipedia)

How to Rule on Souls of The People Rather Than Soil?

All over the world, the political conditions are worst; and the decline in economies is continuous. This abrupt decline is mainly due to bad governance and mismanagement of available resources. The positive way of governance can lead any nation to the prosperity. I want to give some suggestions to the Ruling elite of the world that you should use your head, heart, hands and tongue to help the creatures of God because the Almighty God holds Himself responsible to help those who sincerely try their best to help His creatures. You must create in your mind--kindness, compassion and love--for your subjects. You shouldn't behave towards general public as if you are voracious and ravenous beast and as if your success lies in devouring them. Be fair, impartial and just in your dealings with all, individually and collectively.

The Holy Quran: An Unopposed Miracle of All Times

The Holy Quran is the primary spiritual text of Islam. According to the Muslims, the Holy Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) through the angel Jibra'el and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) gathered the revelations in the Holy Quran and presented it to the general public. In other terms, the Holy Quran is a book of divinely motivated utterances and revelations.

It is a sacred guide containing 30 parts further separated into 114 chapters known as Surahs. The general tone of the Holy Quran is sombre and meditative. It is written in a conversation style dialogues between God and humanity. It is a vibrant outpouring of divine messages, of powerful bursts reflecting different moods. Covering the entire gamut of life, the Holy Quran gives man and woman the highest possible status of vicegerent of God on Earth.

These words of God were originally revealed in Arabic language but have been translated in several languages of the word. Following are the download links for the Original Arabic Text and English Translation (by Yusuf Ali & Muhammad Asad).

• The Holy Quran (Arabic Text)

• The Holy Quran (English Translation by Muhammad Asad)

• The Holy Quran (English Translation by Yusuf Ali)

Struggling to Surrender: Some Impressions of an American Convert to Islam

Dr. Jeffrey Lang is an American mathematician by profession. Originally born into a Catholic family, and turned to atheism during his early years. In his own view, his conversion to atheism was solely due to inadequate proofs of God stated in Catholic literature. His curiosity led him to question every social and practical norm of life prevailing in his society. And during the course he was guided to Islam. He has authored several books till now; ‘Struggling to Surrender’ is the account of his conversion to Islam.

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How To Distinguish Between Deserving And Professional Beggars

یہ تمیز کیسے کی جا سکتی ہے کہ مانگنے والا حقدار بھی ہے یا نہیں؟

دنیا میں پائی جانے والی غربت اور مسائل کی بڑی وجہ معاشرے میں پائی جانے والی بےحسی اور بے مقصد توجیہات ہیں۔ 

معاشرے میں موجود دردِ دل رکھنے والے افراد کی ایک بڑی تعداد بھی یہ سوچ کر اپنی دولت خرچ نہیں کرتی کہ مانگنے والا شخص

مستحق بھی ہے یا نہیں اور وہ مستحق افراد کی لاحاصل تلاش میں سرگرم رہتے ہیں۔


اِس ضمن میں حضرت محمدﷺ نے اپنی اُمت کی واضح الفاظ میں رہنمائی فرمائی ہے۔ حدیث کا مفہوم ہے کہ دستِ سوال

دراز کرنے والے کو خالی ہاتھ نہ لوٹاؤ۔ خواہ خاک کی ایک چٹکی ہی ہو، دے دو۔

اِس حدیث کے بعد تو واضح ہو گیا کہ جس نے سوال کر دیا اُس کو خالی ہاتھ نہ لوٹایا جائے۔ رب تعالٰی کو وہ بندہ بھی عزیز ہے جو اُسے

مانتا ہی نہیں۔ رب تعالٰی سب کے لیے رزّاق اور رحمٰن ہے۔۔۔ دوسروں کو چھوڑ دیجیے کہ وہ منکر ہیں یا مشرک۔ خود اپنے اُوپر

نظر ڈالیے کہ صبح سے لے کر اب تک مجھ سے کوئی اچھا کام نہیں ہوا۔ میرے گناہوں کا کوئی شمار نہیں۔ میں اوّل درجہ کا 

نافرمان ہوں۔ سرکشی بھی کر جاتا ہوں۔ کون سا عیب ہے جو میرے اندر نہیں لیکن ان سب باتوں کے باوجود میرے رب

نے مجھے کبھی بھی نہیں کہا کہ تمھارے بِن مانگے میں تمھیں رزق دیتا ہوں۔ تم پر رحمتیں نازل کرتا ہوں۔ کبھی یہ نہیں کہا کہ 

تم تو میرے نافرمان ہو، میں تمھیں کیوں رزق دوں۔ 

وہ رب جو سارے خزانوں کا مالک ہے، مجہے دیتے وقت کبھی میرا حق دار ہونا نہیں دیکھتا، نہ ہی اس پر نظر رکھتا ہے کہ اُس کے

عطا کردہ رزق کو میں صحیح جگہ خرچ بھی کرتا ہوں یا نہیں۔۔۔ جبکہ وہ سائل تو اپنے رب کے مال میں سے لے کر جا رہا ہے جو 

میرے پاس پڑا ہے۔

اِس تمام گفتگو کا ہرگز یہ مقصد نہیں کہ اِنسان یتیموں، مسکینوں اور ناداروں کو تلاش کر کے اُن تک اُن کا حق نہ پہنچائے بلکہ اِس

بات کی جانب توجہ دینے کی ضرورت ہے کہ دروازے پر آئے ہوئے سائل کو خالی ہاتھ نہ لوٹایا جائے اور اپنی استطاعت کے 

مطابق اُس کی مدد کر کے رب کو راضی کیا جائے۔

(سرفراز شاہ صاحب کی کتاب ’’کہے فقیر‘‘ سے ماخوذ) 

Khalil Gibran - Golden Words of a Lebanese Philosopher

Khalil Gibran (Khalil Jibran) (January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) a Lebanese-American philosopher and writer. While in his early age, he immigrated with his family to the United States. In Lebanon, he is still famous as a fictional idol. He is generally known in the English-speaking countries for his book "The Prophet (1923)", an example of motivational stories along with a sequence of philosophical articles published in lyrical English writing. 

Some quotes from his literary work are given below:

A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?

 Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers. 

 Faith is knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.

Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.

Praise of Allah Almighty in The Words of Hazrat Ali (K.A.W)

ALLAH is an Arabic word that simply means "the God". Allah Almighty is the only creator and master of the universe. Allah Almighty introduces Himself in The Holy Quran: 

"Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him." 

~ Al-Ikhlas ~ The Holy Quran (112)

Hazrat Ali (K.A.W) has said some extremely gracious words in praise of Him. He says:

"Praise is due to Allah whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculators and whose claim (to obedience) cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so, whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the divings of understanding cannot reach; He for whose description no limit has been laid down, no eulogy exists, no time is ordained and no duration is fixed. He brought forth creation through His Omnipotence, dispersed winds through His Compassion, and made firm the shaking earth with rocks."

~Hazrat Ali (A.S) ~ Nahjul Balagha_Sermon:1