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Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5 Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5
On Good Manners
Cleanliness - Were it not for fear of troubling my disciples, verily
I would order them to clean their teeth before every prayer. The
Almighty is Pure and loves purity and cleanliness.
Compassion - There is the reward of Paradise for a Muslim who
suffers with patience when the soul of his affectionate friend is
taken away.
Contentment - When you see a person who has been given more
than you in money and beauty, then look at those who have been
given less. Look at those inferior to yourselves, it is best for you,
so that you may not hold The Almighty’s benefits in contempt.
Courtesy - No father has given his child anything better than good
manners. Respect people according to their eminence.
Envy - If envy were justifiable, two people would be the proper
objects for it; one, a man whom The Almighty has given riches,
and command him to bestow in charity; the other, one to whom
The Almighty has granted the knowledge of religion, and who acts
thereon himself and imparts instruction to others. Keep yourselves
far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions as
fire eats up and burns wood.
Gentleness - Verily, The Almighty is mild, and is fond of mildness,
and gives to the mild what He does not to the harsh. The Almighty
is gentle and loves gentleness.
Hospitality - It is not right for a guest to stay as long as to cause
inconvenience to the host.
Humility - The servants of The Almighty are they who walk on
Earth in humbleness. Humility and courtesy are acts of piety.
Whoever is humble to men for the Almighty’s sake, may The
Almighty exalt his eminence.
Kindness - He from whom the greatest good comes to The Al-
mighty’s creatures is the most favored of The Almighty. Whoever
is kind to The Almighty’s creatures, God is kind to him; therefore
be kind to the man on Earth, whether good or bad, since being
kind to the bad is to withhold them from evil. Kindness is a mark
of faith; and whosoever has no kindness has no faith.
Modesty - True modesty is the source of all virtues.
Peace - Shall I not inform you of better acts than fasting, giving
alms and performing prayers? Make peace between one another,
enmity and malice tear up rewards by the roots.
Pride - Poverty is my pride. The haughty will not enter Paradise,
nor a violent speaker.
Purity - “There is a polish for everything, that takes away rust; and
the polish for the heart is the remembrance of The Almighty,” said
the Holy Prophet. Someone asked the Holy Prophet: “Teach me
a work such that when I perform it both The Almighty and the
man will love me.” The Prophet replied: “Desire not the world
and The Almighty will love you, and desire not what other men
have and they will love you.”
Reason - The Almighty has not created anything better than Rea-
son, or anything more perfect or more beautiful than Reason;
the benefits which The Almighty bestows are on its account; and
understanding is by it, and The Almighty’s wrath is caused by it,
and by it are the rewards and punishments.
By Dr. Shawki Futaki
In 1975, Dr. Shawki Futaki, a 67 years old Japanese Director of
one of the major hospitals in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, em-
braced Islam. Before embracing Islam, Dr. Futaki was a follower
of Shintoism, the religion of the majority in Japan. Presently, Dr.
Futaki now presides over the Islamic Center in Tokyo.
This 67 year old practicing physician and journalist is full of
enthusiasm and vigor. He used to be the editor of a widely
circulated magazine called ‘Sekai Jeep’. In 1971, after a long-
drawn medical practice trial Dr. Futaki was found guilty. His
medical license was suspended and imprisoned for three years.
In prison, he spent time reading books on philosophy, politics
and religion.
Describing his feelings while he was in jail, “Whenever I sat
alone all by myself I felt that the idea of the unity of creation
would come to my mind. I used to think of the Universe and
its Creator. Then gradually I started to believe in the Oneness
of God. As my term ended, I discussed in depth with one of my
close Japanese Muslim friend named Abu Bakr Morimoto, the
ex-president of the Japan Islamic Association. Abu Bakr Morim-
oto used to come to me every time he launched a contribution
campaign to support the Islamic movement in Japan, and I
would always participate with conviction in such campaigns.
Once Abu Bakr said: Your deeds are exactly those of a good
Muslim, why don’t you embrace Islam? I just smiled at him.”
One day Mr. Morimoto said: “...the problem of the weakened
people would be automatically solved if only the religion of
Islam should spread on the Earth. For Islam is the religion of
love and brotherhood.” On hearing this, Dr. Futaki stood up
and said that he has decided to embrace Islam with another
friend. They immediately went to the Islamic Center in Tokyo
and declared the Shahadah (reciting of the kalimah - There
is no God but one God and Mohammed is the Messenger of
God.)
After Dr. Futaki’s release from prison, he was rehabilitated in
the medical profession. His clinic is open seven days a week
and he does not charge except within the insurance coverage.
He established the Nippon Islam Kyodan.
Dr. Futaki is happy that in Islam there is no priesthood as such.
And he rightly understands that it is incumbent upon every
Muslim to propagate and preach Islam as far as their abilities
permit. The membership of his Islamic Society now runs into
tens of thousands.
Many observers think that his conversion to Islam marks an
important turning point in the history of Islam in Japan. Re-
cently, he led a big delegation from Japan to perform the Hajj
(pilgrimage) last year. May The Almighty bless him with more
vigor and enthusiasm to dedicate himself in The Almighty’s
Path.
The Twelve Months in an Islamic Calendar Year
The Hijri Calendar
The Muslim Era began with the Great Event of the Hijrah fromMecca
to Medina or the Emigration of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and
his companions from Mecca to Medina.
The adoption of this event as the beginning of the Muslim Era took
place in the Caliphate of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (RAA), the second
Caliph after Muhammad (S.A.W.). We are now in the year 1412
after Hijrah (1412 A.H.).
The Muslim calendar is Lunar, and its months are determined by
the various positions of the moon. In every year there are twelve
months, and each month is either 29 or 30 days depending on the
position of the moon.
These months are:
Moharram
Rajab
Safar
Sha’ban
Rabi’ al-Awwal
Ramadan
Rabi’ al-Thani
Shawwal
Jumada al-Oola
Zul-Qi’dah
Jumada al-Thaniyah
Zul-Hijjah
Major M uslim Achievements in Science
Muslims translated most of the scientific works of antiq-
uity into Arabic.
Muslimmathematicians devised and developed Algebra.
Al-Khwarazmi used Arabic numerals which came to the
West through his work in the 9th century.
Al-Razi described and treated smallpox in the 10th
century.
Al-Razi also used alcohol as an antiseptic.
Ibn Sina diagnosed and treated meningitis in the 11th
century.
Ibn al-Haytham discovered the Camera Obscura in the
11th century.
Al-Biruni described the Ganges valley as a sedimentary
basin in the 11th century.
Muslims built the first observatory as a scientific institu-
tion in the 13th century.
Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi explained the cause of the rain-
bow in the 13th century.
Ibn al-Nafis described the minor circulation of the blood
in the 14th century.
Al-Kashani invented a computing machine in the 15th
century.
Teachings of the Prophet (SAW) W hy I Embraced Islam T he Islamic Calendar Scientific A cheivements