Corruption

Cont’d from page 2

It is unfortunate that there are those who swear by the Quran and then kill unjustly without the due process of law, or over react to an alleged offence to settle the score and inflict punishments, which are excessive and disproportionate to the charge. Similarly, it is a reflection on those who profess to believe in the sacrosanct edicts of the Quran and yet violate them by misinterpreting them and hiding behind “theological” discourses, Hadith and Sunna that are based on speculation and hearsay.

[10:36] Most of them follow nothing but conjecture, and conjecture is no substitute for the truth. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.

To know how high the Quran holds the sanctity of human life can be gauged by the Grossness of Murder.

[5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the

people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

It is clearly wrong to presume from a rapid reading of the Quran that the Scripture prescribes punishments without mentioning leniency, pity, forgiveness, and mercy.

[2:179] Equivalence is a life saving law for you, O you who possess intelligence, that you may be righteous.

[42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.

GOD BE GLORIFIED !

Alim C / India

Anecdote

Donkey Who Fell In the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely.

The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbors!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Remember some simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred.

Free your mind from worries.

Live simply.

Give more.

Expect less.

[Ed. And of course more importantly: Submit yourself to the will of God. Happiness is Submission to God Alone.]

Anonymous

(submitted by sister Laleh)