Children who have the ability to recall and make sense of memories from daily life can use them to better develop a sense of identity, form relationships and make sound choices in adolescence and adulthood, according to Sue Shellenbarger, creator and writer of the The Wall Street Journal’s Work & Family column. “Our personal memories define who we are. They bond us together,” says Robyn Fivush, a psychology professor at Emory University in Atlanta.
Have we given some thought to the type of memories we are giving the next generation? Where once we could call up the enticing aroma of freshly baked pies from Ouma’s oven, we now have the nondescript smells of countless fast food joints. Are we happy with being remembered as the parents who bought tablets, laptops and TV games? Holidays are being remembered more and for which shopping malls were visited in foreign countries than for the culture, and natural and architectural wonders of those lands.
Playing a game of cricket with Dad in the back yard brings with it the memory of a memorable shot, the frustration of trying to bowl him out, the broken window as a result of a shot that connected. Can the sanitized digital version boast the same intensity of remembering or the skills that were learnt?
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him counted a child who remembered his deceased parents fondly and sent up a prayer for them as a valuable avenue of continued reward after death. Can we hope to be remembered as special people if we are not leaving behind fond, engraved memories?
When Bilal, the official caller to prayer of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, returned after some time to Madinah following the demise of the Prophet, and once more rendered the call to prayer people started to cry for it reminded them of the early days of Islam. What is remarkable is that those early days were ones of hardship and suffering, yet it was that very sweat and tears which made the memories so precious.
There needs to be a more proactive role in building memories for the next generation or the virtual lives of the movies and digital games might be the only memories our kids can dredge up of their past. History provides a valuable link for continuity of society but it is made in the sandcastles of the beach; not in the virtual world of Minecraft.
People’s lives are a maelstrom of fear, emotional anxiety and depression due to the current financial woes, crime and other assorted challenges in the form of ill health, marital discord and social disorder.
In this cauldron of upheavals, the least one can do is offer a kind word, an encouraging pat on the back. It might not solve the next person’s problems, but it will provide a morale boost, and some much-needed strength to face up to the challenges presented by life.
The words of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him ring down the corridors of time, offering just such advice: “Treat people with ease and do not be hard on them; give them glad tidings and do not make them run away.” This is the fibre of society, providing hope in seemingly unending despair.
Words alone cannot solve a medical problem for example. But they can give mental strength which in turn aids the healing process. Once again, the astute teachings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him strike a chord: “When you go to visit a sick person, express a hope that he will live long. That will not avert anything, but it will comfort him.” The power of positive thought in helping with healing has a respectable following in the medical community.
How many a suicidal person’s life has been saved by positive words, and how many a successful career has been launched by motivational speeches? We can never gauge the impact and ripple effect of a kind word.
The Quran expresses the power of kind words, which can at times be better than physical help in verse 263 of chapter 2: “Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury…” Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us lessons in how to transfer positive reality to others with words and gestures.
In a dark world, a kind word is a precious commodity.
Muhammad Badsha
http://www.mansoor.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MansoorLogoNew-300x120.png00adminhttp://www.mansoor.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MansoorLogoNew-300x120.pngadmin2016-12-24 20:20:462016-12-24 23:50:11A Kind Word
“…God will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves …” (Quran 13:11)
An Imam was preparing his Friday sermon. His 4-year-old son was pestering him with questions. The Imam realized that he would not get anything done at this rate.
He struck on a plan to occupy his son. Taking a picture of a map of the world from a magazine, he cut it into pieces and handed them to his son. He told him to paste the pieces together with tape and he’d get R10 if he did it right.
Imagine his surprise when his son brought the picture back after 5 minutes, complete and correct. ‘Son, how did you do it? How do you know all the countries and seas?’ he asked. ‘What do you mean, Dad?’ the son replies, ‘I put together the picture of the person.’ The Imam looked at the reverse of the map and sure enough, there was a completed person!
The boy put together the world by putting a person in order. Put the simplest units of the community in order and the world will become a better place. Change ourselves, work on building strong family units and the ripple effect will bring change for the better in our towns, countries and the world.
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him emphasised the importance of building a sound family unit. At a speech to an audience of over 120,000 people in the year 632, he stated that spouses are partners.
He actively demonstrated the various components necessary for building this strong family unit by praying with his family, sharing light-hearted moments and working with them.
Once the home becomes a base of mutual affection, it serves as a training ground for the members of the home to pass on that cordiality and strength to the society outside.
Muhammad Badsha
http://www.mansoor.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MansoorLogoNew-300x120.png00adminhttp://www.mansoor.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MansoorLogoNew-300x120.pngadmin2016-12-24 20:19:392016-12-24 23:54:32Prescription for Change
Magical Moments
/in Articles /by adminChildren who have the ability to recall and make sense of memories from daily life can use them to better develop a sense of identity, form relationships and make sound choices in adolescence and adulthood, according to Sue Shellenbarger, creator and writer of the The Wall Street Journal’s Work & Family column. “Our personal memories define who we are. They bond us together,” says Robyn Fivush, a psychology professor at Emory University in Atlanta.
Have we given some thought to the type of memories we are giving the next generation? Where once we could call up the enticing aroma of freshly baked pies from Ouma’s oven, we now have the nondescript smells of countless fast food joints. Are we happy with being remembered as the parents who bought tablets, laptops and TV games? Holidays are being remembered more and for which shopping malls were visited in foreign countries than for the culture, and natural and architectural wonders of those lands.
Playing a game of cricket with Dad in the back yard brings with it the memory of a memorable shot, the frustration of trying to bowl him out, the broken window as a result of a shot that connected. Can the sanitized digital version boast the same intensity of remembering or the skills that were learnt?
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him counted a child who remembered his deceased parents fondly and sent up a prayer for them as a valuable avenue of continued reward after death. Can we hope to be remembered as special people if we are not leaving behind fond, engraved memories?
When Bilal, the official caller to prayer of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, returned after some time to Madinah following the demise of the Prophet, and once more rendered the call to prayer people started to cry for it reminded them of the early days of Islam. What is remarkable is that those early days were ones of hardship and suffering, yet it was that very sweat and tears which made the memories so precious.
There needs to be a more proactive role in building memories for the next generation or the virtual lives of the movies and digital games might be the only memories our kids can dredge up of their past. History provides a valuable link for continuity of society but it is made in the sandcastles of the beach; not in the virtual world of Minecraft.
Muhammad Badsha
A Kind Word
/in Articles /by adminPeople’s lives are a maelstrom of fear, emotional anxiety and depression due to the current financial woes, crime and other assorted challenges in the form of ill health, marital discord and social disorder.
In this cauldron of upheavals, the least one can do is offer a kind word, an encouraging pat on the back. It might not solve the next person’s problems, but it will provide a morale boost, and some much-needed strength to face up to the challenges presented by life.
The words of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him ring down the corridors of time, offering just such advice: “Treat people with ease and do not be hard on them; give them glad tidings and do not make them run away.” This is the fibre of society, providing hope in seemingly unending despair.
Words alone cannot solve a medical problem for example. But they can give mental strength which in turn aids the healing process. Once again, the astute teachings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him strike a chord: “When you go to visit a sick person, express a hope that he will live long. That will not avert anything, but it will comfort him.” The power of positive thought in helping with healing has a respectable following in the medical community.
How many a suicidal person’s life has been saved by positive words, and how many a successful career has been launched by motivational speeches? We can never gauge the impact and ripple effect of a kind word.
The Quran expresses the power of kind words, which can at times be better than physical help in verse 263 of chapter 2: “Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury…” Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us lessons in how to transfer positive reality to others with words and gestures.
In a dark world, a kind word is a precious commodity.
Muhammad Badsha
Prescription for Change
/in Articles /by adminAn Imam was preparing his Friday sermon. His 4-year-old son was pestering him with questions. The Imam realized that he would not get anything done at this rate.
He struck on a plan to occupy his son. Taking a picture of a map of the world from a magazine, he cut it into pieces and handed them to his son. He told him to paste the pieces together with tape and he’d get R10 if he did it right.
Imagine his surprise when his son brought the picture back after 5 minutes, complete and correct. ‘Son, how did you do it? How do you know all the countries and seas?’ he asked. ‘What do you mean, Dad?’ the son replies, ‘I put together the picture of the person.’ The Imam looked at the reverse of the map and sure enough, there was a completed person!
The boy put together the world by putting a person in order. Put the simplest units of the community in order and the world will become a better place. Change ourselves, work on building strong family units and the ripple effect will bring change for the better in our towns, countries and the world.
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him emphasised the importance of building a sound family unit. At a speech to an audience of over 120,000 people in the year 632, he stated that spouses are partners.
He actively demonstrated the various components necessary for building this strong family unit by praying with his family, sharing light-hearted moments and working with them.
Once the home becomes a base of mutual affection, it serves as a training ground for the members of the home to pass on that cordiality and strength to the society outside.
Muhammad Badsha