Algerian Sahara

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise"

“It is said that evil in the world is like the shaded spaces in a painting; if you come close to it you’ll see these as defects, but if you draw back to a distance you will discover the shaded areas are necessary in fulfilling an aesthetic function within the artwork.”

 There is an ancient wisdom that states “Out of the snakes poison comes the antidote”
How  can one appreciate comfort without having experienced hardship to use as a comparator? Would it be possible to appreciate good health if illness did not occur?
If there weren’t any starving people how could we show our generosity?

“Tragedy is more important than love. Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone that brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans’ suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort others.”
–C. S.Lewis
“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.”

(AI-Baqarah, 2:216)

Isn't it True ?

Qu'ran condemns Sects

“As for those who divide their religion and break up into shias (sects), you have no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did.” (Quran, 6:159)

“…and be not amongst those who join gods with Allah, those who split up their Religion, and become shias (sects) - each party rejoicing in that which is with itself.” (Quran, 30:31-32)

“Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into shias (sects) … for he was indeed a maker of mischief.” (Quran, 28:4)

We learn from the Quran (the verses cited above) that dividing religion into sects is akin to joining partners with Allah, an unforgivable sin. The reason that creating a religious sect is considered associating partners with Allah is because it is playing the role of Allah since Allah alone has the right to create a Deen (faith). These people who create sects are trying to take over this role of Allah and put themselves on par with Him.
It does not matter what a person calls his or her sect–it is not authorized by Allah. Allah condemns all sects, and those who break away from the main group. This is exactly what the Shia have done. They have broken into many small sects; in fact, there are dozens upon dozens of various branches of Shi’ism, all of which follow a different line of Imams.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “This Day I have perfected your Deen for you and chosen Al-Islam to be your Deen.” (Quran, Surah Maidah) Nothing can be added or subtracted to Islam after this proclamation, and yet this is exactly what these various sects have done. Allah says in the Quran:

“And hold fast, all of you together, by the Rope of Allah and be not divided amongst yourselves.” (Quran)

Story of Barsisa, the worshipper

At the time of Bani Israel, there was a man in a small village, called Barsisa. He was, what you call, a monk. But he was a true Christian. He believed in Tawheed and believed Isa (peace be upon him) was a messenger of Allah. One day three brothers decided to go for Jihad. But they had a sister and they did not want to leave her alone. So they went looking for someone to take care of her. The town people suggested to leave her with Barsisa, because of his piety. So they went to him and when they asked him, he said, “I seek refuge from the cursed Shaytan” and said No! This was because he was scared of falling into sin ( due to the potential fitnah it may cause). Then Shaytan came to Barsisa in the form of Waswasah (Whisperings). Shaytan is very smart and knew Barsisa had a soft heart. So he told Barsisa, “What if they can’t find someone good and leave her with someone bad, wouldn’t that be your fault?” Now Barsisa did not realise this was Shaytan whispering in his heart, and because of his compassion for others, he decided to accept their request and help the woman.

He let her stay in a house opposite the church. He did this so that it would be easy for him to leave her her food outside the church and she could come get it herself. But after sometime, shaytan returned. This time he told Barsisa, “Why don’t you leave the food closer for her, so that people don’t see her moving back and forth alone!” Barsisa agreed and started leaving the food outside the house. But shaytan wasn’t happy with this either, so sometime later, he returned and ask Barsisa, “Why don’t you go in and leave it on the table, so that no one sees her coming out and going in alone all the time!” Again, Barsisa agreed and he started leaving the food on the table.

Then as time went by, Shaytan returned and said to him, “Why don’t you talk to her, she is all alone and has no one to talk to!” Barsisa agreed and started talking to her from behind a door (so as to screen himself). But this would lead them to almost shouting to each other to here themselves. Shaytan asked Barsisa to just go in and talk to her, and finally, he (Shaytan) had got the alone in a room. Shaytan had completed the difficult part. It wasn’t after Barsisa and the woman committed fornication. And to make things worse, she also became pregnant. As soon as the baby was born, Shaytan returned, and said to Barsisa, “What have you done? Look at the result of your evil (ie the child), get ride of the evidence otherwise the brothers will kill you!” Barsisa killed the baby and buried it in the same room the woman was in. Shaytan then told Barsisa, “Do you think you can kill the child of a woman and expect her not to tell anyone?!” and So Barsisa killed her and buried her along side the baby! He then made a fake grace outside and when her brothers returned, he informed them that she died of illness. After seeing the grave and make dua for her, they returned home and accepted Allah’s decree.

Later that night, Shaytan came to them in their dream and informed them about what Barsisa had done and where the child and their sister could be found. The brother got up upset and confused, and informed his brothers of the dream, and they both said they had the same dream. So they believed that it must be true, and when and dug up the fake grave and found it empty. They then dug the placed shaytan showed them in the dream and found the child and woman!

Furious, the brothers took Barsisa to the Leader to get his punishment. Barsisa knew that he would be given the death penalty. Shaytan came to Barsisa again, for the final time this time. This time he revealed himself and told him he was the one whispering the thoughts to him. And he said that he could save Barsisa, and as long as Barsisa makes sujood to him! Barsisa, out of desperation made Sujood to him , this confirmed his Kufr (disbelief) and Shaytan said to him “I am free of you, I fear Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!” and left Barsisa was stonned to death and on the day of judgement he will be resurrected making Sujood to Shaytan!

Montagnes du Djurdjura _ Djurdjura Moutains .. Algeria

 

Martyrs Memorial _ Maqam Shahid

The Martyrs Memorial (Maquam E' chahid) is an iconic concrete monument commemorating the Algerian war for independence. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the 'Eternal Flame' beneath. At the edge of each palm leaf stands a statue of a soldier, each representing a stage of Algeria's struggle.