Thursday, November 26, 2009

Eidul Adha...TaqabbalAllahu minna wa minkum

Eid al-Adha (عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īdu l-’Aḍḥā) "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is a holiday celebrated by muslim worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran….Like Eid al Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon (khutba).
Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of ذو الحجة of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan...

The slaughtering day…Idul qurban and practise of detachment. Here we go again. As we are entering Hari Raya Haji, it is time for the moslems to spare some money to buy cattle(s) to be sacrificed. You will soon see on the side of the roads some cows and goats ready to be slaughtered in the name of God. Soon, you will see depressing and sadistic doings towards the sheeps, goats and cows.
The story behind beheading goats for sacrifice starts from when Ibrahim was asked (or tested) by God to show how obedient he was. God asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, who was born after Ibrahim was very old. Both of them were in confusion, but then both said that if it is in ordered by God, then they should do it. So, Ibrahim prepared to behead Ismail, and when the knife (or guillotine, or whatever they were using at that era) almost reached Ismail’s neck, he was replaced by a goat (or cow). The moral of the story is, if you want to be blessed by God, you have to sacrifice.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

How to make parents very happy

Tell your parents, “Thank you.” Parents can feel unappreciated and taken advantage of when you fail to show gratitude for the things they do for you. Acknowledge their effort, make them a sweet card or simply give them a bear hug from time to time.

Communicate with them openly, honestly and often. Discuss your feelings, friends, boy or girlfriend, peer pressure, schoolwork or your plans for Saturday night. Keep them apprised of the events in your life so they won’t have to worry about what you’re thinking or doing.

Follow the rules of the house. Get in before curfew, finish your work before going out and always be completely honest. You’ll have far less disagreements if they know you’re responsible and trustworthy.

Listen respectfully when your parents talk to you. Take their advice to heart, complete requests quickly and even ask how their day went. Keep your eyes off the television and remove the stereo headphones from your ears to give them your undivided attention.

Try your hardest at everything you do, whether it’s school, work, sports or even household chores. Even if you don’t come home with perfect grades or don’t make the varsity squad, for example, they won’t be disappointed if they’re sure you put in your best effort.

Do your chores without a reminder. Nagging you to take out the trash or straighten your room can put your mom on edge. Consistently complete your tasks and offer to help with theirs when you can.

Hang out with your parents whenever possible. Although it’s great for them to have time alone together, they’ll be happy to know you enjoy seeing movies, having leisurely dinners or walking around the mall with them.