(Islamic bulletin for Muslim teenagers) Oleh: Raisa Shafiyyullah (Editor Remaja)

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In the name of God, Most Gracious and Most Merciful

 

Choosing Good Friends

We are social creatures by their nature and in need of friends and companions. Much of our lives are spent in interaction with others. Befriending the right people is an essential mean for staying on the Straight Path. In choosing our friends we should be looking for friends who believe in God and His scriptures. Living in a society where Submitters (Muslims) are a minority is a challenge by itself that is rewarded by God fully. In such a society, finding the righteous friend may not be easy at the beginning but insisting on them and looking for them is a sign to God that you are sincere in your search and He will direct you in the right path.

God permitted us in the Quran to befriend other people from other religions as long as they do not mock God or our religion. If you have school friends or neighbors who are not Submitters (Muslims) whom you like, who behave righteously as far as their religion command them and who do respect your beliefs and religion, you can have them as friends. If you choose to befriend non-Submitters, remember that you cannot compromise any aspect of your religion just to please your friends. Always remember that we are here in this life to please God first. Also remember that some of those who are born in a Submitters  (Muslim) family and call themselves Submitters (Muslims) while in reality have not got a grip on their religion, may be as bad friends as non-submitters who mock your religion, so that’s not guarantee to choosing a good friends. A good friend is always reminds his friends to walk on the right path. A bad friend do not care weather his friends on the right path or on the wrong path.

By Fatimah Gorin,rewrite by Raisa S.

Ramadan, full of tests.

You know, there are many tough tests for us in Ramadan. Example, all of us feel overwhelmed with all the messages we hear every day that work to discourage us from believing we can stand in our commitment. Advertisers use sex to sell us stuff. Writers for television and movies seem to promote teen sexual activity and dismiss abstinence as useless idealism.

Music videos and magazines scream, "Everybody's doing it!” and also for us, teenagers the strong influences are mostly came from school. Many of our friends and even adults do not encourage us to remain pure. We must not be bullied into immorality by these influences. We know many strong influences come to us everyday, especially in Ramadan which are we had to fast while everybody’s eating, stay guard on our sight, can’t lie even a single thing and behave correctly. But Allah SWT said on Quran,”After difficulty, there will be an easiness. Truthfully after difficulty, there will be an easiness.” Allah swt even said twice on Quran, repeated His promise. That’s impossible, in this life, we always have problems and difficulty,we’re not living on the hell ,nor heaven. So don’t blame anybody, your parent and your religion, while you’re in trouble. Just remember Him,” If you fear Him, He will find way out for you”

By Raisa Shafiyyullah