Chivalry in Islam

The root of chivalry is that the servant strive constantly for the sake of others. Chivalry is that you do not see yourself as superior to others. The one who has chivalry is the one who has no enemies. Chivalry is that you be an enemy of your own soul for the sake of your Lord. Chivalry is that you act justly without demanding justice for yourself. Chivalry is(having)...beautiful character

- Imam Al-Qushayri

The code of Chivalry of a Muslim elaborated by Imam Sulami in his "Kitab Al-Futuwwa" :-

That he brings joy to the lives of friends and meets their needs
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "When one brings joy with his words into the life of a believer or satisfies his worldly needs, whether small or large, it becomes an obligation upon Allah to offer him a servant on the Day of Judgement.

That he responds to cruelty with kindness, and does not punish an error
When a Companion asked if he should refuse to help a friend who had refused to help him before, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said no.

That he does not find fault with his friends.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "if you start seeking faults in Muslims, you will cause dissent among them or you will at least start dissention." Dhu Al-Nun Al-Misri said, "Whoever looks at the faults of others is blind to his own faults. Whoever looks for his own faults cannot see the faults of others."

That he is relaxed and open hearted with his brothers.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "The believer is the one with whom one can be close. The one who is not close and to whom one cannot be close is of no use. The good among men are those from whom others profit."

That he is generous
The Messenger of Allah said, "Paradise is home of the generous."

That he keeps up old friendships
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "Allah approves the keeping of old friendships."

That he looks after his friends and his neighbours.
Ibn Zubayn said, "Someone who eats while his next-door nghbour is hungry is not a believer."

That he is lenient with his friends except in matters of religion.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "The first sign ofintelligence is to believe in Allah. Th next is to be lenient with people in affairs other than the abandoning of Truth."

That he permits his friends to use his possessions as if they were their own.
We know that the Prophet(s.a.w) used to use the property of Abu Bakr as if it were his own.

That he invites guests, offers food and is hospitable.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "How awful is a society that does not accept guests."

That he respects his friends and shows his respect for them.
A man entered the mosque and the Prophet (s.a.w) stood up for him out of respect. He protested and the Prophet replied that to be paid respect is te right of the believer.

That he is truthful
The Messengr of Allah (s.a.w) said, "Say that you believe in Allah, then always be truthful."

That he is satisfied with little for himself and wishes much for others.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said that Alah Most High said, "The ones who love each other for My sake deserve My love; the ones who give what comes to them in abundance deserve My love. The ones who frequent and viit each other for My sake deserve My love."

That he keeps his word and what is entrusted to him.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, If you have these four things, it does not matter even if you lose everything else in this world: protect what is entrusted to you, tell the truth, have a noble character and earn your income lawfully."

That he understands that what he truly keep is what he gives away.
Aisha (r.a) recounted that someone had presented the gift of a lamb to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). He distributed the meat. Aisha (r.a) said, "Only the neck is left for us." The Prophet (s.a.w) replied, "No. All of it is left for us except the neck."

That he shares in the joy of his brothers.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "If a person who is fasting joins his brothers and they ask him to break his fast, he should break it." This refers to a non-obligatory fast, not the fasts of Ramadhan.

That he thinks little of himself or his good deeds.
The Prophet (s.a.w) was once asked,"What thing most attracts the anger of Allah?" He replied, "When one considers himlf d hi actions highly, and worse still, expects a return for his good deeds."

That he treats people as he would wish to be treated.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "As you wish to come to you, go to them."

That he concerns himself with his own affairs.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "One of the signs of a good muslim is that he leaves everything that does not concern him.

That he seeks the company of the good and avoids the company of the bad.
Yahya Ibn Mu'ad Al-Razi said, "On the day when the trumpet is sounded, you will see how evil friends will run from each other and how good friends will turn toward each other. Allah Most High says, 'On that day, except for the true believers, friends will be enemies.'"

Humor

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he ears, however measured or far away

- Henry David Thoreau

We are all different. Different temperaments and variations in behaviors abound from person to person. Time and again philosophers have strived to classify our behaviors into archetypes to better understand our characters.

What are these temperaments? There's the Choleric, the Melancholic, the Sanguine and the Phlegmatic. Each experiences varying degrees of both positive as well as negative emotions.

Also known by the name of humors, the discovery of the temperaments theory was credited first and foremost to Hippocrates(460 - 370BC). Hippocrates believed that certain human behavioral tendencies could be attributed to bodily fluids he knew as humors.

Let us delve into these four temperaments in further detail.

The Sanguine:

The Sanguine represents the extrovert; the talker; and the optimist. Sanguines hold the temperament of "blood", the season of spring and the element of air.

A person prone to Sanguine personalitiy tends to experience an exceedingly high amount of positive emotions and less negative feelings. This group of people are generally optimistic, cheerful and even-tempered. A really fun-loving and popular bunch.

The Choleric:

The Choleric represents the extrovert; the doer; and the optimist. Cholerics hold the temperaments of 'yellow bile', the season of summer and the element of fire.

Choleric personality archetypes tend to be a driven and ambitious lot. They are a bunch prone to exceedingly high amounts of both positive and negative emotions. Though natural leaders, the Choleric is a very short-tempered person easy to anger.

The Melancholic:

Being an introvert; a thinker; and a pessimist, the Melancholic is characterized by 'black bile', the season of autumn and the element of earth.

The Melancholic dwells much on negative emotions, oft drowning out what little positive emotions they experience. They are a very depressing bunch often lost in their own contemplations. Creativity and poetry comes naturally to Melancholics though their perfectionistic nature more often than not leaves them dissatisfied with their creations.

The Phlegmatic:

Representatives of the introvert; the watcher; and the pessimist, the Phlegmatic soul's personality is tied closely to 'phlegm', the season of winter as well as the element of water.

Being calm and detached is part of the charm of the Phlegmatic. He experiences little negative as well as positive emotional input. Generally self-content and shy, the Phlegmatic may appear lazy and resistant to change, preferring a more stable, consistent and relaxed state.

Four temperaments, which are you most like?

A person may be most like one of the four humors or even turn out to be a mix of the different temperaments. But understanding your tendencies will give you a clearer picture of yourself.

What's your humor?

Find your temperament.

Longest Day Of Your Life?

Is your day dragging on? Does today feel like it's the longest day of your life? Well, that's probably because today is the longest day. Blame the Moon – its gravitational effect on our planet creates tidal "bulges", which slowly transfer momentum from the Earth's rotation to the Moon's orbit. As a result, the Earth's rotation is slowing at a rate of around 0.02 seconds per century – and each day is fractionally longer than the day before. Therefore, the longest day on Earth is always today! - Quoted from www.guinnessworldrecords.com

Makes you wonder. How long will it be before the earth's rotation is so slow it can no longer drag the moon along it's orbit but instead, gets pulled backwards on reverse spin. Think about it...

And so, the sun shall trace its path back upon the sky, rising from whence it had set.

An Angel Among Us

When asked of what a knight is, what would your answer be? How would you describe a worthy knight?

The knight, is not simply a man who fights. He is not merely a combat brute. Neither is he simply a warrior of the church or an officer of one organisation or another. No. These are not the essence of the knight that makes him a great man. A true knight, is a virtuous hero who embodies perfection. His combat prowess, compassion and noble stature elevates him from being simply a soldier, to being a holy warrior.That is what sets him apart from a normal warrior.

Courage . Mercy . Honor . Hope . Justice

Nobility . Generosity . Courtesy . Loyalty . Strength

Humility . Kindness . Wisdom . Love . Faith

These are all but some of the virtues that the knight may choose to uphold. He, is an avatar amongst men. Meant to be looked upon with great honor and respect.

An honor-bound warrior and a holder of ideals. He lives for his ideals, be these for the good of self, country or mankind.

The knight is a man willing to endanger self and die for the sake of his ideals. He will fight till the end to uphold his virtues. Defend the week. Uphold justice. Aid those in need. Submissive to his lord. He is an angel amongst men.

Is there such a man amongst us now?

Smile... : D

From Abraham Lincoln to Hitler and Stalin, many a great leaders had it. From Albert Einstein to Socrates, many great minds flaunted it. The Greeks sported it and the Romans hated it. The English Gentleman thought highly of it, while men now belittle it.

The Moustache

What is the purpose of this tuft of hair under the nose? And why is it that most men are bound to have it while women are less likely to find themselves endowed with it? Is it just genes? But what's more important, is why do men sport it?

Let us look at the famous figures in history whom had moustaches as part of their get-ups.


Adolf Hitler.
Born: 20 April 1889
Died: 30 April 1945
Birthplace: Branou, Upper Austria

Well known and hated for being the Dictatorial ruler of Germany, he had been the cause of the death of millions during World War II. He was a Nazi Leader and a decorated veteran of World War I, armed with great charisma and intelligence that could move an entire country and change the very course of history.


Errol Flynn
Born: 20 October 1909
Died: 14 October 1959
Birthplace: Hobart, Tasmania

He was one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 1930's. Suave, charming and an all around bad-boy. His life was a controversial one filled with booze, women and crime.


Albert Einstein
Born: 14 March 1879
Died: 18 April 1955
Birthplace: Ulm, Germany

He was the man who came up with the General theory of Relativity. A groundbreaking notion that set the pathway for the rest of the world to follow. His works had profound impact upon many fields of sciences, including Quantum Physics.


Mark Twain
Born: 30 November 1835
Died: 21 April 1910
Birthplace: Florida, Missouri

An incredible Writer of his time, Mark Twain was best known for being the author of "Tom Sawyer" as well as "Huckleberry Finn". His writings have been used in many literature studies by Americans, even to this day.


Charlie Chaplin
Born: 16 April 1889
Died: 25 December 1977
Birthplace: London, England

Sir Charles Chaplin was a superstar of his time. He invaded the silent movies with comical acts, dressed as a character known simply as "The Little Tramp".

The list just goes on. Many a famous people sport moustaches for one reason or another.

Such bushy out-growhts had once been symbols of rank within the military, as well as fashionable additions that made up a person's character.

In the history of the military, only high ranking officials were allowed to sport moustaches. The higher your rank, the thicker the bush.

Englishmen keep them long and trim, seeing the image as one of classy sophistication back then.

Yet in the trends of fashion that has now taken over our society, a bushy moustache is an unsightly feature. Messy and ugly. But you be the judge. Would any man you know look better with a bushy smile? You be the judge.

Roses are Red

The rose. A symbol of attraction. A plant that has existed for over 3.5 million years. Its silent imprint upon man has lasted through the years, planting itself into the hearts of romantics everywhere.

The red rose. A symbol of passionate love. From Greek myths of how Aphrodite spills drops of blood onto a white rose while trying to help her wounded lover to the Persian stories of how a nightingale's wound turns a white rose red. Its origin has always been one filled with tragedy and love.

Love, respect, courage. The red rose is strong and exciting.

Then there's also the pink rose.A symbol of grace and gentility. Its varying degrees of color tones can speak feelings of "thank you" or conveying admiration and sympathy.

Roman mythology claims the pink rose first came into being when Apollo turned Rhodanthe into a rose after her unsuccessful attempt at unseating Diana, his sister, as the goddess of the hunt and the protectress of women.

Gratitude, appreciation, admiration and sympathy. The soft sweetness of the pink rose holds more than a tinge of feminine touch to it.

White. The color of purity and innocence. The rose of reverence and humility. It's the simple plain color of silence that is often placed upon the graves of young children in Wales. It is also, in medieval Christian Europe, a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Reverance, purity, secrecy and innocence. The plain, clear and untainted color of these roses. Truly they are the symbol of true love.

Yellow roses signify trechery, deceit and adultery, as is painted out by Islamic folklore. Though it is seen by modern day flower lovers to be a symbol of joy and freedom. It's brightness is similar to that of the rising sun. Uplifting.

Be they one color or another, this inspiration to writers and gift of romance is indeed a sight to behold.



What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet - William Shakespear

A survival story

In attempting a round-the-world, single-handed yacht race, you experienced a storm and are stranded on a mid-ocean island where there seems to be no sign of life. No birds, no trees, not even crabs or fish. Just you and you alone.

You look around and see nothing but sand, sea and the bright blue sky rolling by. A silent peace hangs in the air around you. Not a single sign of life, or civilization. How odd. You listen, nothing comes to your ears but the sounds of the waves lapping upon the sand. Their humble swishes hypnotize you, and without a second thought, you lie down upon the sand and close your eyes. You feel yourself slipping slowly into a deep slumber. Blackness slips in, and the sounds of the waves slowly fade away.

Out of the blackness of your deep comatose, you hear a voice calling out to you. Soft, sweet, tinkling like tiny little bells. It beckons you to come back. “Wake up. Wake up.” It says.

Time stretches to a grinding halt. The voice continues to call you. Gently it tries to coax you. You ignore it. You like it here, in the blackness. It’s calm. Peaceful. She continues calling out to you. The hours drag on, but you don’t care. Time matters naught to you now. As long as you’re here: where you belong.

Then it stops. Perhaps it’s decided to leave you. You smile. Finally. The peace ad tranquility you’ve longed for. The deathly silence. You welcome its warmth.

Suddenly, there’s a loud rumble. The black emptiness around you shakes violently. The peace is shattered as wave after wave of tremors shake your entire being. Thud! Thud! Thud!

Behind the loud thundering shocks, you could hear the voice. It’s crying. She’s crying. Your eyes snap open, convulsing from the shock of the transition. You look around you panic-stricken. Strangers dressed in white coats stand around you, looking down at you, and behind one of them, you see her. The beautiful angel that had been calling out to you. Your savior.

Dreamcatchers

A willow hoop woven into a circle with a web center and feathers. It is a native american dreamcatcher. And it is more than just a necklace or bangle. It holds more than just material beauty. It has significance. One that is (as is always the case with such things) overlooked by those who sell, wear or buy it.

Dreamcatchers are an authentic american indian tradition which began from the Ojibway tribe. It is a tradition held close to the hearts of Indians. It is not just a trend.

These things are said to be able to filter and protect their wearers from nightmares and bad dreams at night. The dreamcatchers were originally hung over cradles to protect children from nightmares. Bad dreams were captured within the strands of the web, letting only good dreams flow down to the sleeping child below.

Many legends revolve around this little Indian trinket. Many differetn versions with multiple storylines and legends. But if there's one thing they all have in common, it's that it is capable of filtering dreams. Dreams and nightmares are believed to be spirits that float freely in the night sky. And when one dreams, one is said to be receiving guidance and wisdom.

How much of this is true? Few people can fully even remember their dreams. So how could dreams affect a person in any way? Who knows the realm of the unseen? But dreams are visions. Though their origins may be hidden or blurred, they all open up to new sensations and personal experiences.

Dreaming is experiencing a different life. And at times, it unveils a lesson upon which to be learnt. It is the growing of the subconscious, Living a life in death. Living within another realm.

The dreamcatcher, like a compass, points towards supposedly good or helpful dreams. This would mean having less dark painful recollections trapped within the bowels of the subconscious.

Though we may not realise it, nightmares can find their place in the thoughts and memories of the person. And at times, these fears can stay around and you may find yourself lonely even among friends. Dark dreams and dark visions have an adverse effect upon you that you may not even notice.

We've all had such experiences before. where we find ourselves in a horrible dream that we dread and can do naught about. And every so often we search for ways to overcome such happenings. Perhaps the dreamcatcher is such a method of doing so? Perhaps. Who knows...

Count Dracula

This, is done on behalf of a certain friend of mine who requested to know abit more about the "Prince of Darkness: Count Dracula."

First of all, let me ask you what you know about the Count? List down everything you can recall about him,then read on.

The Count: What he is.

Count Dracula is a fictional character made up by Bram Stoker. No. He is not real. His name was inspired by a historical figure from Romanian histories. Vlad Tepes(Vlad the impaler), also known as Vlad Dracula(Vlad the Dragon). Take heed though, Vlad was in no way a vampire. Nor did he believe in their existence.

In actual fact, Vlad was a cruel and strict ruler who deemed any criminal acts within his country punishable by death through impaling. Be those atrocities lying or stealing or murder, you're punished by death on the stake.

Count Dracula is not the first vampire in history. In fact, there are earlier literature of vampires that existed before Bram Stoker's Dracula. Indeed these stories extend to beyond centuries long past.

Dracula, like most other vampires in the olden days, is capable of walking in sunlight. Though it seeps most of his supernatural abilities away, it doesn't kill him. This is only something that began to become a popular aspect of vampire stories after the film Nosferatu came into the scene.

He is more than a vampire. Cunning, gifted with culture and intelligence and a bloodthirstiness directed by a clod-hearted intuition. Posessing both supernatural physical as well as mental sharpness, it is no great wonder that he's caught the fancy of many movie makers as well as storytellers alike.

Indeed, he is a story turned into a legend. He, is the ultimate villain. A snake gifted with a glib lying tongue. A suave demonic monster who feeds upon the souls of man.

But is he really a monster? How could one so human in appearance, so polite in nature be totally evil? Or is he really evil?

These are but some of the many intricacies that make up the Lord of Vampires. There's much more if you wish to find out about this elusive mystical being. Yet, what's more interesting than him, is Vlad Tepes, the man whose name had become the inspiration for this ghastly beast. There could be no more contradictory person. Nor one so complicated. What I've learnt from these two men, is this.

Judge not a book by it's cover. Judge not vampire by his name. Judge not a ruler by his actions. Know why they do what they do. Know why the want what they want. Only then will you understand. Only then will you know them.

This very same understanding, can be applied to people too. Sometimes, people can do things that appear evil or ugly to us. But they may have their reasons for doing such. Do not judge them until you know them.

Read more about Vlad Tepes here

Vodun (spirit)

An African religion. A belief in the spirits and the existence of dieties. The belief in the power of the otherworldly to manipulate our very existence. A tradition having existed over 6000 years ago."Vodun".

The belief in spirits called "Loa". Spirits of people whom have left the physical world. Exceptional souls who have been given dominion over certain aspects of our lives. Spirits such as:
   - Agwe: spirit of the sea    - Ayza: the protector    - Ezili: the female spirit of love    - Sango: spirit of storms

The art of voodoo, is as real as ghosts and the devil. As real as angels and djinns. It is as real as the dark arts of the bomoh and the spiritual prowess of the taoist priest. And just like those very examples, it is something that can be practiced for good or ill. It is a belief.

Similiar to most other unseen arts that are practiced the world over, voodoo has been interpreted by the mass media and made to look evil and ugly. It has been linked to the worship of dark beings. Satan and other mystical faerie whose love for the gross and unholy corrupts the practitioner. But how much of this is true?

A voodoo practitioner channels his will through voodoo dolls, invoking the spirits to do his bidding unto others. Wishes are granted. Wants are given. Needs are satisfied. And all of these done by spirits?

Stories of people harmed by voodoo and dark rituals plague the Hollywood scenes. And yet, there are more traditional views that border upon white magic surrounding voodoo. Its potent healing powers aid Africans in their time of need. When ailments haunt them and spiritual well-being is threatened. When their diety comes down, possessing the bodies of priests in order to help those who seek it. How much of this is real?

Are these things naught more than placebo effects? Tricking and toying the mind to achieve results. Conning the blind and rooting down believers in its mystic arts. Could any of this hold even a ring of truth?

Yet, truth only exists in our eyes. And the truth of voodoo lies in those who believe. Perhaps, it is belief that drives and gives it power. A harnessing of the power of the mind, channeled through a doll, calling the powers of beyond to take heed. Or perhaps, there really is a hidden power that comes to the aid of a voodoo practitioner. Just like there is a djinn that is said to accompany the bomoh in his escapades.

What is the truth of the voodoo doll? You be the judge.

ACHOO

We've all sneezed every once in a while. Some of us sneeze due to dust in our noses, and other seemingly normal reasons. Others due to allergies. But have you ever heard of a Photic sneezer?

A photic sneezer is someone who is suffering from Autosomal dominant Compelling Helio-Ophtalmic Outburst. This is a medical condition where the person sneezes involuntarily upon exposure to bright light. The number of sneezes following the exposure ranges from an average of 2 to three to about 40 sneezes. ACHOO!!!

You would think that this is a very rare case, but you would be surprised by the results. In a study done in a medical school, 23% of its students were suffering from it. The syndrome occurs in men and women alike, having a likely chance of being passed down from parent to child. Yes. It's a hereditary condition.

So the next time you come out from the dark into sunshine and you find yourself sneezing your butts off, perhaps you have ACHOO!!!

Sneeze away my friends....Sneeze away.

Fairies...bright and shiny...

Fairies. What are they? They exist within the folklore of many a country. Appearing as beautiful maidens with wings so lovely.

The root of the word fairy comes from the Old French word Faerie, which is in turn derived from the Latin word fata, meaning "fate". Yes. Fairies are magical beings believed to be able to control fate.

Faeries have been stereotyped as diminutive beings of kindly disposition. But once upon a time, fairies were portrayed as being neither small nor kind.

Folklore concerning fairies nowadays have degraded to simple childish stories of tiny people dancing in rings, living in hills and flowers and other such nonsense.

Yet fairies of past contexts appeared as a varied lot of individuals, ranging from little green men to fiery maidens with wings of flames. In fact, there have even been refferences to demons and devils as faeries.

Thinking back on what we know, the word fairy could encompass close to anything that holds a certain degree of power over us. "Fata". That is what they are. And of course, the ultimate fairy of all.

The devil himself.
So remember this. Never judge a book by its cover. You never know when the fairy that you're talking about might be the Dark One himself. Beware of fairies...