Cherish All Your Happy Moments

2005-01-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

Granada
Lokasi Geografinya:- Bandar Granada terletak di Selatan Bandar Madrid Ibu Negara Sepanyol sekarang. - Granada memiliki keindahan dan kencantikan yang amat mengkagumkan, sebab itu nama Granada di ambil dari nama keindahan ini, di mana Granada bererti: Kecantikan dan keindahan. - Granada terbentang di sekitar Laut Mediterranean dari Selatan dan begitu sekitar sungai Syanil. Ketinggian Granada dari aras laut ialah 669 meter dan inilaha rahsia keindahan dan kecantikan Granada yang cukup menarik. - Granada di asaskan setelah mana Islam memasuki Granada di salah sebuah kawasan yang terletak di bandar Romania yang kecil dikenali dengan nama (Aliri). Ini berlaku apabila Islam berjaya membuka Andalusia, kemudian menjadi sebuah bandar selepas dari itu bagi keturunan al-Ahmar. - Granada merupakan salah sebuah pusat ilmu pengetahuan Islam yang agung dan tergolong dalam salah sebuah lingkungan ketamadunan Islam di Andalusia seiring dengan bandar yang lain seumpama Cordova, Balansiah, Bahrit, Ichiliah, Tolaitalah dan seumpamanya. - Granada juga masyhur sebagai kiblat yang menjadi penumpuan para pelajar yang datang dari segenap kawasan yang berada di sekitar Granada samada Islam atau bukan Islam. Antara pusat pengajian yang masyhur ialah al-Yusofiah dan an-Nashriyyah dan lain-lain. - Pencetus kebangkitan ilmu Andalusia bersama ilmu falak ialah Abu Al-Qosim Al-Majrithi pada tahun 398 Hijrah bersamaan 1008 Masihi, di mana beliau telah mengasaskan salah sebuah pusat pengajian Ilmu Matematik yang masyhur.
Kesan Sejarah yang terdapat di Granada:- Setelah kekuasaan keturunan al-Ahmar kekal di Granada dan sebahagiannya di Timur Laut dekat dengan kedudukan al-Hamra' pada tempat yang begitu strategi, mereka membina salah sebuah Istana yang bernama Istana Al-Hamra'. - Al-Hamra' merupakan salah sebuah kota yang sederhana sehingga apabila ia dikuasai oleh Badis bin Habus Raja Granada, lalu dia mengambil kota Al-Hamra' sebagai pusat pemerintahan bagi kerajaannya. Lantaran kesederhanaannya itu, lalu beliau membina sebuah benteng yang besar di sekitar bukit yang tinggi. Setelah berlalu masa yang lama Granada menjadi sebuah kota yang tidak dapat dikalahkan lagi. Oleh kerana terlalu lama batu benteng itu menjadi merah dan di atas keutuhan inilah Istana Al-Hamra' diberi nama Al-Hamra' yang bermaksud Istana Merah. - Di antara peninggalan sejarah yang terdapat Granada ialah Masjid Granada. Di mana masjid ini dikira salah sebuah masjid yang paling unik ciptaannya dan paling menarik apabila di pandang, malah ia masyhur dengan seni ukiran batu marmar
Tokoh ulama Granada: - Granada memiliki beberapa orang kalangan ulama yang masyhur dan menguasai berbagai bidang ilmu pengetahuan, antara mereka ialah: Al-Imam As-Syatibi, Lisanuddin Al-Khatib, As-Sarqasti, Ibnu Zamrak, Muhammad Ibnu Ar-Riqah, Abu Yahya Ibnu Riduan, Abu Abdullah Al-Fahham, Ibnu As-Sarah, Yahya Ibnu Al-Huzail At-Tajiibi, As-Shaqurmi dan Ibnu Zuhri. Adapun dari kalangan perempuan pula yang masyhur ialah: Hafsah binti Al-Haj, Hamdunah binti Ziad dan saudaranya Zainab.

2005-01-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

Abu Hurairah (May Allah Be Pleased with Him)
Birth and Early Life:
- His name is `Abdul-Rahman bin Sakhr Al-Dausi.
- He was born in Yemen in a poor family. He had no relatives except his mother.
- He grew up as an orphan, who worked for Busrah bint Ghazwan.
- His name before Islam was "'Abd Shams".
His Conversion to Islam:
- He embraced Islam at the hands of Al-Tufail bin 'Amr Al-Dausi and remained with his people (Daus). He immigrated to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina only six years following the Prophet's Hijrah.
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) named him "``Abdul-Rahman" and often nicknamed him "Abu Hirr".
- He was nicknamed"Abu Hurairah" because he had a kitten in his childhood, which he used to play with. His mates used to call him "Abu Hurairah."
His Service of the Prophet:
- Following his conversion to Islam, Abu Hurairah dedicated himself to the service of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
- He invited his mother to embrace Islam and she accepted his invitation, after the Prophet had supplicated Allah for her. Abu Hurairah was a good and obedient son.
- Abu Hurairah resided in Al-Suffah (a place in the Prophet's Mosque dedicated to accommodate the poor Companions.) He kept the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and seldom did he leave him. He memorized many of the Prophet's Hadiths, especially after the Prophet supplicated Allah for him not to forget knowledge.
- Abu Hurairah memorized more than 1,600 Hadiths. He used to say: "I memorize Hadiths while my bothers of Muhajirin are busy with their trade and my brothers of Ansar are busy with their cultivation."
His Interest in Knowledge:
- Abu Hurairah was interested in learning and spreading knowledge. He once went to the marketplace of Medina and said to the people: "What is the matter with you? Why do you stay here while the Prophet’s heritage is being distributed in the mosque?" The people went to the mosque and found nothing but men praying, reciting Qur’an, or listening religious lessons. Abu Hurairah said to them: "This is the heritage of the Prophet."
- When the financial conditions of the Muslims changed to affluence, Abu Hurairah owned a house and furniture and had a wife and children. However, this did not affect his interest in knowledge, his modesty, and his devotion in worship.
His Piety:
- During the caliphate of Mu`awiah bin Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), Abu Hurairah was appointed ruler of Medina. Such position did not affect his piety and righteousness, as he used to fast during the day and offer optional prayers during the night.
- He often said: "I grew up as an orphan, immigrated while being poor and worked for Busrah bint Ghazwan in return for my provision. I was required to serve my employers in their residence and urge their camels forward when they traveled. Then I married Busrah bint Ghazwan, thanks to Allah, Who has made religion a criterion for evaluating men and made Abu Hurairah Imam."

2005-01-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

Samarqand

Location:
Samarqand is one of the most ancient cities of the world.
It lies in southern Uzbekistan southwest of Tashkent.
It remained the capital city of Transoxiana for five centuries from the Samanids until the Timurids. It was, along with Bukhara, one of the major cities in Transoxiana.
It is known for its splendid location and continental climate, characteristic of Central Asia.
Population, 371,000 (1991 estimate).

Importance:
It is one of the most important cities in Uzbekistan in the fields of agriculture, trade and industry.
Throughout its history, Samarqand was ruined three times: in 329 B.C. by Alexander the Great, in 617 A.H./1220 A.D. by Genghis Khan and in the mid 5th century A.H. the 15th century A.D. by the Uzbek tribes, who were not yet converted to Islam.

The Islamic Conquest:
The Islamic conquest of the region of Transoxiana was launched in 46 A.H. Qutaibah bin Muslim was appointed ruler of Khurasan. The ruler of Samarqand was called Tarkhun.
In 91 A.H./709 A.D. Tarkhun accepted to pay Jizyah to Muslims and to hand over the Muslim hostages. This outraged his people, who overthrew him and appointed Ikhshid Ghurk in his place. However, in 93 A.H./712 A.D., Qutaibah forced Ikhshid to surrender after the siege of Samarqand that lasted for a long time.
Samarqand and Bukhara remained the base from which Islamic conquests were launched and Islam was disseminated to other cities.
Afterwards, Samarqand witnessed periods of weakness, when Islam advanced to China, India and Russia. The Russian territories remained under the control of Muslims for three centuries. The Duke of Moscow used to pay annual Jizyah to the emir of Bukhara. However, the Russian Caesars soon restored the lands conquered by Muslims. The Aq Masjid Fortress was the first in Transoxiana to fall to Russians in 1852 A.D.
While the Ottoman state threatened Europe and advanced to Africa and Asia in the mid 16th century, Russia attacked Samarqand and other Muslim countries in the region. After the rise of the communist system in 1342 A.H./1991 A.D., Samarqand became part of the independent Republic of Uzbekistan.

Features:
The industries of paper, textile and carpet are among the most important characteristics of Samarqand.
The many schools built in Samarqand reflect how its people were interested in knowledge.
In Samarqand lies the grave of Imam Al-Bukhari, the compiler of Sahih Al-Bukhari, the most authentic book of Hadiths.

Celebrities:
Among the scholars who lived in Samarqand were: Muhammad bin `Adi Al-Samarqandi, Abu Mansur Al-Maturidi, Abu Al-Hasan Al-Maidani, Ahmad bin `Umar Abu Bakr Al-Samarqandi, Muhammad bin Mas`ud Al-Samarqandi, `Ala' Al-Din Al-Samarqandi, Najib Al-Din Al-Samarqandi, Shams Al-Din Al-Samarqandi, Abu Al-Qasim Al-Laithi Al-Samarqandi and Qadi Zadah Al-Rumi.

2004-07-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Friendship . . .

. . . is you.

. . . is love.

. . . is shared.

. . . is forgiving.

. . . is understanding.

. . . is shared secrets.

. . . heals many hurts.

. . . is not judgmental.

. . . is shared laughter.

. . . is slow and steady.

. . . can be angry at times.

. . . is dependable and true.

. . . is more precious than silver or gold.

. . . is meant to be savored like fine wine.

. . . is not perfect, much like we are not perfect.

. . . does not hold grudges or demand perfection.

. . . makes all the wrong things in life, right somehow.

. . . is meant to be gulped like lemonade on a hot summer day.

. . . is always there, through times of trial, happy times and hard times.

. . . just happens, but once discovered, needs to be tended like a beautiful garden.

. . . is a road to be traveled slowly, remembering the sights and sounds.

. . . is strength when you are too weak to notice its there.

. . . is a cherished moment of mutual understanding.

. . . reaches into your heart and grabs a firm hold.

. . . is a refreshing rain on a hot day.

. . . is sunshine through the clouds.

. . . cannot be forced or induced.

. . . is relaxed and comfortable.

. . . is a shoulder to lean on.

. . . is an ear to whine to.

. . . gets better with age.

. . . is shared tears.

. . . is shared pain.

. . . is shared joy.

. . . is shared.

. . . is love.

. . . is you.