Issue No: 82
10th June 2011
7th Rajab 1432 A.H
Salamun alaykum,
It’s the barbecue season:
The Country Parks, Camping sites and Park Common Areas all around the Nation are swarmed with people enjoying the sweltering heat in summer. An item of fun which is not missed out is the lighting of barbecues or bonfires to prepare food for eating in the open.
In those days when the disposable barbecue sets were not yet in use, lighting a barbecue was not as easy as it has now become. Thin, light, dry twigs would be gathered and then placed next to the pieces of coal or logs of wood for setting the fire. Then a flint or match stick would be used to light up the thin twigs whilst blowing over them so that as the flames become larger they would set on fire the larger pieces of coal or logs of wood. Finally the flames would dance high with the coal or logs all now glowing hot. This is when the barbecue is ready...
A critical role:
The burning of the thin twigs leads to the blazing of the barbecue. The burning of the larger coal pieces is dependant on the smaller twigs.
The sins become a habit:
We are aware of the major sins such as adultery, murder, gambling, alcohol consumption and others that invite great Divine wrath. Daily we strive our utmost to distance ourselves from commiting the major sins.
However there are some sins which don’t need much effort and are wrongly estimated to be insignificant. Without realizing they multiply in course of actions and end up becoming a habit. Some examples are such as speaking a lie, glancing at na mahram, use of swear words, disobedience to parents and other discourteous manners.
Wisdom from the 7th Imam:
Today as we observe Imam Musa Al Kadhim Day dedicated to our beloved seventh Imam let us take note of his hadith:
“..the small & little sins are among the deceits & tricks of Shaytan. He makes them insignificant for you and belittles them in your eyes. So these sins get multiplied and become plenty in number thus surrounding you..”
Beware of the twigs:
It is these ‘light’ sins which we consider insignificant that become part of our habit. They can be considered like the twigs. The ‘twig sins’ are lethal.
For they can set off the huge flames of the major sins leading one to finally end up in the barbecue of hell.
Identify your twig sin:
As we continue enjoying the blessed bounties of the auspicious month of Rajab shall we not identify these’ twig sins for us, be cautious of them and rip them off us?’
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat