Jumáh Journal--Raising children in USA

Well not just USA but anywhere these days really but specifically in the West.
it is becoming a huge challenge because there are so many teachers and guides for a child these days that parents take a back seat almost in any family (may be a bit exaggeration). There is
Mr. Computer
and all his friends, colleagues subordinates or whatever you call them grouped in one word:
  " Media" so that this has become more meaningful than it was in older times; like now it has print media, electronic media like TV, radio and movies are all now included in media and
the electronic gadgets available these days range from the old radios to Ipods. Itunes, I phone  I pads iTablets and many i-somethings I do not know yet and may be forthcoming in future.
To cut the story short there are those more influential machines that provide the guidance to the young ones today and they rely more heavily on them than on any older persons like fathers or mothers or uncles etc. -one of those who are considered by the young ones completely ignorant and incapable of understanding the information even if given to them from these "Guides"
Just look at the way the father of the most honored and decorated young star of the music world ever in the history treated this youngster. What makes me wonder is that he himself was not necessarily a novice in music and why did he have so much difficulty in realizing the young talent in his own house and beat him up for not doing his way of music. Poor Michael (I am writing one day after Michael Jackson's death), but maybe his father gives credit to himself that he is responsible for the stardom of Michael.
I am going away from the point.
These media can make you believe in the most impossible things, and they are so ubiquitous. Parents sorely suffer from the lack or paucity of time, time to spend with the kids these days that they might as well be absent.
As I wrote in my previous note about pre birth and post birth notes (2/24/07, 3/11/07 and 3/16/07) of rearing babies, they must consider that time to be extremely precious when the baby is totally dependent on parents. As soon as TV and computer takes over parents have lost it unless they strive to maintain their control of time for this and time for that with the child. it is therefore of utmost importance to have the following :
Maintain a continuing communication channel with the child
maintain a specific time table for the child to sit with or rather the parents to sit with child just for report of the day for friends and foes of the child the games they play and discussion of such interests (just 20 to 30 minutes may be sufficient but it all depends upon how much time the child can afford
(NOT how much time the parents can afford--they must always afford that time, no ifs and buts, period)
This communication must continue even in episodic form when the child has gone away from home, graduated etc. (may be to the end of your life).
This can work ONLY if the child has in the long run realized that parents do have knowledge and it is worth sharing with them. In other words parents have to be smarter (they usually are) than children and make the children believe there is more to it in the knowledge than the media.
Once the child has gone away from home (dorms) at the university level he/she has their own sphere in which to move, parental and home effects are gone by that time.
So consider that time available to you as parents when the child is living at home with you to shape the future of your child and nurture as you wish. then make use of that very short time to the best of your ability, for you cannot blame the gadgetry or media.
To be continued

Jumáh Journal-Qurán and its teaching

Frequently quoted hadeeth-e-nabawi:
"Khairukum man taállam-al-Qurána wa Államahu"
The best among you are those who learn Qurán and then teach (others).
In the Muslim world specifically the non-Arabic speaking one the method is to make a child recognize the letters and words and their "a'raab" or harakaat, so that he/she can recite Qurán (visual learning) and also some parts are memorized.
if you learn Arabic then you may also reach its meanings even though help from original sources is still required to understand the meanings.
Most cities in the West now have some Qurán teaching going on in masjid or private home or Islamic center depending on the Muslim population in that area. For basic recitation these are fundamentals essential for learning. Each family has its own plan for this teaching. I was taught by my mother and I remember that once I had learnt the basics I would sit and recite by my own effort with my mother listening and correcting until I finished.
Islamic centers and masajid in US have some programs going for this purpose and some Islamic centers have Hifz programs that is they have teacher guides for those children who wish to memorize the Qurán. Admittedly the number of such children or parents who want their children to memorize are not large but certainly there are respectable functional programs running in US where the children are doing that.
The numbers for memorization students may not be enough to generate funds from fees to establish a class and its teacher but additional Quránic sciences can be added for expanding the field of study along with memorization. There is need for Qurán scholars here more than for just Hafizes who are required for leading Taraweeh prayers which is a very popular thing with the Muslims mashallah, although the prophet SAWS tried to make it optional only. I must admit myself that I do enjoy this Taraweeh prayers more than I enjoy other regular Farzd prayers.
It is not generally recognised in the non-arabic speaking Muslim world that proper pronunciation (Tajweed) is very important for recitation of Qurán-el-Majeed. The fact is it is critically important not just for appreciating its beauty and rhythm etc. but also for is meanings and the fact that this is the word of the Creator. We try to learn languages like English and speak in the way the local people do or like the English do or learn to speak french in the way the french speak but we seem less inclined to learn Quránic language in the proper way it should be pronounced. Some Arabic speaking Muslims cannot do that in the proper way either unless thay are initiated in the art of of Tajweed (which includes Qirát, BTW.)
Should we have a Hafiz teach us the proper Tajweed (because each hafiz is first given instruction in that art before starting Hifz. The answer is Yes we should have such availability in each masjid, Islamic center of the city.

Hindi Blog Clarification

The title is Master Jhakki
Jhakki means somebody who is under the effects of drugs not completely inebriated.
In Hindi I am recalling my childhood times and my recollections of one of the teachers. he was a dear old man and I would not swear he really did indulge in any drugs, may be his demeanor was of such kind. He retired after teaching my class and when I saw him one day he carried a jug of water with him which makes me think he must have suffered from Diabetes. I think he liked me but when it came to punishment for making a mistake or being wrong in answer he did not spare me. His most favorite method (not liked by me) was that of holding the ear lobule in his fingers and squeezing it, sometimes with a small pebble in between. That was not pleasant I tell you.
I was little and could hide underneath a desk where he could not reach. I would put the slate in front of him he is standing right in front of me and from his facial expression I would make a good guess that my answer is incorrect so i will quietly slip under the desk. By the time he lifts his face he finds me absent and sometimes he would know where I am but would not pursue further and leave me alone thus I would escape that ear pain. Once he went back to his chair all is forgotten.
it amazes me how he pardoned me over and over so may times. He was just a sweet old man I guess

Jumáh Journal--Story of Two Wolves

Sometimes in the daily "mail" in your computer brings words of wisdom which may be profoundly moving. The story I am going to write below is one of those. First let me write it then will add some comments about it.
One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son the battle is between two wolves inside us all."
"One is Evil---It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is Good: It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
Grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked the grandfather
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "the one you feed"
Indeed this is a simple and profound story. What I thought immediately was another book which is not a story book but its wisdom there is no doubt about and we read it daily yet do not get moved. Something to think about
Here are those words from Sura Shams (91st)
7. By the soul, and the proportion and order given to it:
8.And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;-
9.Truly he succeeds that purifies it
10 And he fails that corrupts it.
The original words of Arabic really have more profound meaning and effect than the attempt (By Allama Yusuf Ali) at the English rendering. I am not at all comparing the Old Cherokee's words of wisdom with the eternal words of the Almighty Creator for they are not comparable but merely pointing out what we lack in due understanding of the Qurán-el-Hakeem.

Punjabi words

Iss zaban main kuchh apni hi khoobian hain jo aur zabanon main kam hi milti hain
Masalan aaj meray zihin main yeh gana (folk song) aya

"Tairay bajray di raakkhi aRya main na behndi way" (I dont want to sit to watch (guard) your (field of) Bajra my darling.)
Note, the translation of the word "aRya" I have rendered ''darling'' because that is the intention here from the beloved (female) to the lover (male) who presumably is the "owner" of the field.
"aRya" is a brief of "bhaiRiya" which actually means "the bad one". This unusual expression is used only in Panjabi (may be some in other languages too but I am not aware of) where a"bad" is expressing not only good but also it contains the feelings of love and respect. Many women speak that word during their daily discussions amongst themselves mostly between close female friends. But when a girl speaks that word with a boy it infuses romanticism in its meanings also, as is apparant in the song verse I have quoted above. This is quite apart from the simple language of romance in some panjabi folk songs where a minimally impressive theme is used as a ground for expressing romantic feelings in some subtle and some not so subtle phrazes.
Men usually do not speak such words during their friendly discussions but of course they have a lot more frankly unparliamentry words (and yes Panjabi language is fertile for these) at their disposal to express their closeness of friendship.

Abortion Kills

Yes, the doctor too
This is so sad and then the shooter may call himself pro-life
Irony of everything I see.
If they are so much against the physician there are so many ways to complain against him to put him out of practice if you want, why kill? Ethically he may not be on the right in my opinion but he was human in addition to being a doctor and did not deserve this.
This is sheer insanity.
Addition I am writing today April 23rd, 2016
 Just seen on computor an Indian Movie called "GAURI"
 A very cleverly adapted concept played well by the actors
 Synopsis: A couple decides to abort the child because they were "unprepared and could not afford at that time" and later went on to have a girl who grew up to 10-11 years of age when they visited for a vacation older house where they had the abortion carried out.
 The "soul" of the "aborted child appears to them in the form of same age and appearance as their daughter and  produces "horror and fear " for them
 Tells them they should not have "killed her".