Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5 Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5 On Good Manners Cleanliness - Were it not for fear of troubling my disciples, verily I would order them to clean their teeth before every prayer. The Almighty is Pure and loves purity and cleanliness. Compassion - There is the reward of Paradise for a Muslim who suffers with patience when the soul of his affectionate friend is taken away. Contentment - When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, then look at those who have been given less. Look at those inferior to yourselves, it is best for you, so that you may not hold The Almighty’s benefits in contempt. Courtesy - No father has given his child anything better than good manners. Respect people according to their eminence. Envy - If envy were justifiable, two people would be the proper objects for it; one, a man whom The Almighty has given riches, and command him to bestow in charity; the other, one to whom The Almighty has granted the knowledge of religion, and who acts thereon himself and imparts instruction to others. Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions as fire eats up and burns wood. Gentleness - Verily, The Almighty is mild, and is fond of mildness, and gives to the mild what He does not to the harsh. The Almighty is gentle and loves gentleness. Hospitality - It is not right for a guest to stay as long as to cause inconvenience to the host. Humility - The servants of The Almighty are they who walk on Earth in humbleness. Humility and courtesy are acts of piety. Whoever is humble to men for the Almighty’s sake, may The Almighty exalt his eminence. Kindness - He from whom the greatest good comes to The Almighty’s creatures is the most favored of The Almighty. Whoever is kind to The Almighty’s creatures, God is kind to him; therefore be kind to the man on Earth, whether good or bad, since being kind to the bad is to withhold them from evil. Kindness is a mark of faith; and whosoever has no kindness has no faith. Modesty - True modesty is the source of all virtues. Peace - Shall I not inform you of better acts than fasting, giving alms and performing prayers? Make peace between one another, enmity and malice tear up rewards by the roots. Pride - Poverty is my pride. The haughty will not enter Paradise, nor a violent speaker. Purity - “There is a polish for everything, that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of The Almighty,” said the Holy Prophet. Someone asked the Holy Prophet: “Teach me a work such that when I perform it both The Almighty and the man will love me.” The Prophet replied: “Desire not the world and The Almighty will love you, and desire not what other men have and they will love you.” Reason - The Almighty has not created anything better than Reason, or anything more perfect or more beautiful than Reason; the benefits which The Almighty bestows are on its account; and understanding is by it, and The Almighty’s wrath is caused by it, and by it are the rewards and punishments. By Dr. Shawki Futaki In 1975, Dr. Shawki Futaki, a 67 years old Japanese Director of one of the major hospitals in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, embraced Islam. Before embracing Islam, Dr. Futaki was a follower of Shintoism, the religion of the majority in Japan. Presently, Dr. Futaki now presides over the Islamic Center in Tokyo. This 67 year old practicing physician and journalist is full of enthusiasm and vigor. He used to be the editor of a widely circulated magazine called ‘Sekai Jeep’. In 1971, after a longdrawn medical practice trial Dr. Futaki was found guilty. His medical license was suspended and imprisoned for three years. In prison, he spent time reading books on philosophy, politics and religion. Describing his feelings while he was in jail, “Whenever I sat alone all by myself I felt that the idea of the unity of creation would come to my mind. I used to think of the Universe and its Creator. Then gradually I started to believe in the Oneness of God. As my term ended, I discussed in depth with one of my close Japanese Muslim friend named Abu Bakr Morimoto, the ex-president of the Japan Islamic Association. Abu Bakr Morimoto used to come to me every time he launched a contribution campaign to support the Islamic movement in Japan, and I would always participate with conviction in such campaigns. Once Abu Bakr said: Your deeds are exactly those of a good Muslim, why don’t you embrace Islam? I just smiled at him.” One day Mr. Morimoto said: “...the problem of the weakened people would be automatically solved if only the religion of Islam should spread on the Earth. For Islam is the religion of love and brotherhood.” On hearing this, Dr. Futaki stood up and said that he has decided to embrace Islam with another friend. They immediately went to the Islamic Center in Tokyo and declared the Shahadah (reciting of the kalimah - There is no God but one God and Mohammed is the Messenger of God.) After Dr. Futaki’s release from prison, he was rehabilitated in the medical profession. His clinic is open seven days a week and he does not charge except within the insurance coverage. He established the Nippon Islam Kyodan. Dr. Futaki is happy that in Islam there is no priesthood as such. And he rightly understands that it is incumbent upon every Muslim to propagate and preach Islam as far as their abilities permit. The membership of his Islamic Society now runs into tens of thousands. Many observers think that his conversion to Islam marks an important turning point in the history of Islam in Japan. Recently, he led a big delegation from Japan to perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) last year. May The Almighty bless him with more vigor and enthusiasm to dedicate himself in The Almighty’s Path. The Twelve Months in an Islamic Calendar Year The Hijri Calendar The Muslim Era began with the Great Event of the Hijrah fromMecca to Medina or the Emigration of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his companions from Mecca to Medina. The adoption of this event as the beginning of the Muslim Era took place in the Caliphate of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (RAA), the second Caliph after Muhammad (S.A.W.). We are now in the year 1412 after Hijrah (1412 A.H.). The Muslim calendar is Lunar, and its months are determined by the various positions of the moon. In every year there are twelve months, and each month is either 29 or 30 days depending on the position of the moon. These months are: Moharram Rajab Safar Sha’ban Rabi’ al-Awwal Ramadan Rabi’ al-Thani Shawwal Jumada al-Oola Zul-Qi’dah Jumada al-Thaniyah Zul-Hijjah Major MuslimAchievements in Science Muslims translated most of the scientific works of antiquity into Arabic. Muslimmathematicians devised and developed Algebra. Al-Khwarazmi used Arabic numerals which came to the West through his work in the 9th century. Al-Razi described and treated smallpox in the 10th century. Al-Razi also used alcohol as an antiseptic. Ibn Sina diagnosed and treated meningitis in the 11th century. Ibn al-Haytham discovered the Camera Obscura in the 11th century. Al-Biruni described the Ganges valley as a sedimentary basin in the 11th century. Muslims built the first observatory as a scientific institution in the 13th century. Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi explained the cause of the rainbow in the 13th century. Ibn al-Nafis described the minor circulation of the blood in the 14th century. Al-Kashani invented a computing machine in the 15th century. Teachings of the Prophet (SAW) Why I Embraced Islam The Islamic Calendar Scientific Acheivements
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