Muslim -Islam

Quran believes is one god. In it God has 99 other names besides Allah. All these names describe God’s powers.

A Muslim has to obey five principles. But its most important feature is equality. Human equality is a distinct characteristic of Islam. This characteristic of equality played a very important role in the popularity and spread of this religion. In Islam there is no caste system, no unsociability etc. the fife essential principles of Islam are as follows.

1) To declare faith in Allah and his messenger Mohammed. This declaration is called reciting `Kalma’. In it, it is said that there is no God except Allah and Mohammed is has messenger.

2) A true Muslim has to say `Namaz’ five times a day. The priest reads `Azan’ in a high pitch. At that time every Muslim says `Namaz’ keeping his face towards Mecca. This is an unprecedented example of brotherhood and unity.

3) He should give `Zakat’ to the poor thinking he is doing his duty to God.

4) He should observe `Roza’ in the sacred month of Ramzan. This is the month when angle Gabriel appeared before Mohammed for the first time. Mohammed laid great stress on fast.

5) He should, if possible go on `Haj’ at least once in his life-time.

Muslims go to Kaaba for `Hah’. Kaaba is a small building built of marble in a spacious Masjid situated at Mecca. It was built for offering prayers to God by Abraham. In this building is a scared black stone which is believed to have been thrown from heaven along with Adam and which was given to Abraham by Gabriel at the time of construction of the Kaaba. A Muslim performs his `Namaz’, wherever he may be, by turning his face towards sacred `Kaaba’.

Akhrit- Islam neither believes in `Karma theory’ nor in rebirth. According to it, we have never come before to this world and never will come here again. All souls will wake up on the day of `Akhrit’ and Allah will deliver judgment according to our deeds.

Islam believes that `Qayamat’ will come on the fixed day. At that time the sky will shiver and the mountains will be like rolls of cotton.

According to Quran, after death a man cannot be reborn until the day of Qayamat on that day one whose good deeds overweigh his bad deeds will be sent to Jannat (heaven)and one whose bad deeds overweigh his good deeds would be sent to `Dozakh’ (Hell).

According to Quran pride is bad. Allah dislikes one who is proud.

Islam gives a very clear description of hell and heaven. Heaven has all the comforts which a man can imagine while hell has all the difficulties and pains.

The month of Ramzan is considered very sacred.

Social order- according to Quran, all human beings are equal. This equality of mankind is a distinct feature of Islam. Quran preaches good moral conduct.

Drinking and gamboling are prohibited in Quran. So is eating pork. Politics and statecraft are based on religious views continued in the Quran. The earth belongs to Allah and he makes its master whomsoever He likes.

Staying 9 days in kasi means staying in mother stomach for 9 months. It is very very important in every human being that they have to stay 9 days and 9 nights in kasi.

There are many side seeings to view in kasi, so there will be no wastage of time for the people who stays 9 days there.

God is one

All of us need someone to care for us. As babies we needed our mothers. As we grow up our parents and teachers guide and protect us. We feel safe and secure when we are with them. Belief in God too can give us a warm feeling of security because he is constantly watching over us. Thinking about God can give us emotional, spiritual and intellectual strength. We do not have to go anywhere special to think about him because God is every where. He is within us as well as around us. While it is enjoyable to go on pilgrimages, you really do not have to go to anywhere in order to be with God. Attachment to God and love for him is called devotion. We can show our devotion to God in many ways.

Pointing towards God

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was a very wise man. Once he decided to undertake a long trek to a temple. Many miles before reaching there, he is asleep with his feet pointing towards the temple. Someone ran up to him, ``how dare you turn your feet towards the house of god’’. Guru Nanak sleepily said, ``I’ve been traveling for many days and can hardly stand. Kindly turn my feet in the direction where God is not present’’. The man had nothing to say. Consider another incident.

In south India stands the hill of Arunachala. It is one of the oldest geological spots on the subcontinent and is sacred to lord Shiva. It was here that Shri Ramana Maharhsi, one of modern India’s greatest sages, set up has ashram.

Pilgrims to Tiruvannamalai walk around the hill of Arunachala as an act of devotion. This walk is called the giri pradakshina. Anyone who completes this walk is believed to have walked around lord Shiva.

One day, a devotee wanted to accompany a few others even they were preparing to walk around the hill but he was tired. So he quickly went around Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi.

``why are you going around me?’’ asked Ramana Maharshi.

``I cannot walk around the hill, but walking around you is same,’’ replied the devotee.

``Go around yourself’’, said Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi smiling ``That will be atma- pradakshina’’.

THE DAY WE ARE MOST PROUD OF

We are proudly counting the days as for the holy country India we are expecting our 'proud to be of' day that is the day we got INDEPENDENCE. Yes......I'm really proud to be an Indian, as well you are and we are.....as I'd like to do some lecture about our HOLY day.

Well....everyone know that we got Independence on August 15,1947. Indians celebrate their Independence Day on the 15th of every August. It is public holiday all over India.....to add more.....August 15 is the  Day that none in India would ever hate or even try to reject it. Since I'm from Tamilnadu and I've had such wonderful and exciting stories happened on August 15 during my school days.......well actually I miss my school...I'll explain it to you all.

So when I was in sixth standard thats when I got shifted to N.G.R school actually it was the day I came to know about India, the country I'm living in. The day before August 15th we asked to come to school tomorrow exactly at 8:00 A.M, so we could come and decorate our school and our classes. Lots of interesting things happened on that day, when my class repesentative popped a balloon filled with cut papers on my social studies subject teachers she got a little bit scared and then we all laughed suddenly, as it was the August 15 we were allowed more independence. And I also remember the drawing I drew on the board, it really was funny, just imagine a man kicking a football whose hair style is like Superman's with S hair sliding on the front of his four head......it was real funny.....but my classmates and teachers appreciated me for what I've done....

Then it was time to start the prayer we all were assembled and the chief guest arrived......the flag was hoisted and we all saluted honourably as when "Jana Gana Mana" our national anthem was telecasted in the loud speaker. Then the chief guest gave a little lecture about our country and how it got freedom and he wanted us to be a trust worthy citizen then some SWEETS were distributed.

And then the teachers told us to go home and return that same evening for some cultural events. Huhmmmmm........It makes me cry when i think of the earlier days.......then that day we really enjoyed a lot

Thankyou

R.Rajkumar( now a college guy)