Buraidah (RA) reported: The Prophet (S) said,

"Convey glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque in the dark-

ness. For they will be given full light on the Day of Resurrection.''

[Al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

913 SW F Ave Lawton, OK, 73501

(580) 284-1021 islamiccenterlawton.wordpress.com

Islamic Center of Lawton

Iqama Times

Maghrib 10m after athan

Isha 10m after athan

Jumuah 1:30 Khutbah

December Rabi I Day Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha

1 23 Sat 06:10 07:22 12:24 03:05 05:24 06:38

2 24 Sun 06:10 07:23 12:24 03:05 05:24 06:38

3 25 Mon 06:11 07:24 12:24 03:05 05:24 06:38

4 26 Tue 06:12 07:25 12:25 03:05 05:24 06:38

5 27 Wed 06:13 07:26 12:25 03:05 05:24 06:38

6 28 Thu 06:13 07:26 12:26 03:05 05:24 06:38

7 29 Fri 06:14 07:27 12:26 03:05 05:24 06:38

8 Rabi II Sat 06:15 07:28 12:26 03:05 05:24 06:38

9 2 Sun 06:15 07:28 12:26 03:05 05:24 06:38

10 3 Mon 06:16 07:30 12:27 03:06 05:24 06:39

11 4 Tue 06:17 07:30 12:28 03:06 05:24 06:39

12 5 Wed 06:17 07:31 12:28 03:06 05:24 06:39

13 6 Thu 06:18 07:32 12:29 03:07 05:25 06:39

14 7 Fri 06:19 07:32 12:29 03:07 05:25 06:40

15 8 Sat 06:19 07:33 12:30 03:07 05:25 06:40

16 9 Sun 06:20 07:34 12:30 03:08 05:26 06:40

17 10 Mon 06:21 07:34 12:31 03:08 05:26 06:41

18 11 Tue 06:21 07:35 12:31 03:08 05:26 06:41

19 12 Wed 06:22 07:35 12:32 03:09 05:27 06:42

20 13 Thu 06:22 07:36 12:32 03:09 05:27 06:42

21 14 Fri 06:23 07:37 12:33 03:10 05:28 06:43

22 15 Sat 06:23 07:37 12:33 03:10 05:28 06:43

23 16 Sun 06:24 07:37 12:34 03:11 05:29 06:44

24 17 Mon 06:24 07:37 12:34 03:11 05:29 06:44

25 18 Tue 06:24 07:38 12:35 03:12 05:30 06:45

26 19 Wed 06:25 07:39 12:35 03:13 05:31 06:45

27 20 Thu 06:25 07:39 12:36 03:13 05:31 06:46

28 21 Fri 06:26 07:39 12:36 03:14 05:32 06:47

29 22 Sat 06:26 07:40 12:37 03:15 05:33 06:47

30 23 Sun 06:26 07:40 12:37 03:15 05:33 06:48

31 24 Mon 06:26 07:40 12:38 03:16 05:34 06:49

Remember this:

In Surat AlNaml (27:19), Al-lah gives us a beautiful re-minder when Prophet Solo-man meets the ant. In Surat AlAhqaf (46:15), there is a similar dua’a made!

يه نسان بوال ينا ال ووصه كرها م

إحسانا حلته أ

ووضعته كرها وحله وفصال ثلثون شهرا حتربعني

ه وبلغ أ شد

إذا بلغ أ

ن وزعن أ

أ سنة قال رب

نعمت شكر نعمتك الت أ

أ

عمل ن أ

ي وأ وال ولع لع

صلح ل ف صالا ترضاه وأ

يت إن تبت إلك إون ذر من المسلمني

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother car-ried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hard-ship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] for-ty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and up-on my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make right-eous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims." Enjoy this gem from the Quran!

Community Newsletter

ISLAMIC CENTER OF LAWTON 913 SW F Ave

Lawton, OK, 73501 (580) 284-1021

islamiccenterlawton.wordpress.com December 2018

The Ant and Sulaiman

The Prophet Sulaiman was the son of Daud (David) who him-self was a prophet. Both father and son were granted great wisdom by Allah and ruled with justice and compassion.

Sulaiman was one of the very few prophets who was rich. He prayed to Allah for a kingdom that no one would have after him, and Allah granted him a glorious kingdom to rule. He also made the ani-mals, birds, clouds, wind and even the jinn subject to Sulaiman’s com-mand. Sulaiman was a great leader and was just to both human and animal. He was also granted the talent and ability of understanding the language of the birds and animals.

During this time, there lived an ant. From various accounts, the ant possessed beautiful qualities, and was helpful and useful to her community, continuously putting the needs of her community above her own.

One day, Sulaiman gathered his troops of jinn, humans and birds. They marched in strict discipline towards the direction of the valley of ants. If they were to trample on the ant’s nest, it spelt doom for the entire ant community residing there.

The ant heard the approach of the army. She was aware that ants, being one of the smallest insects and often most overlooked by people, were barely noticeable. What more amidst such a large army and their beasts of burden! She knew that Sulaiman and his troops were likely to crush them. She urgently warned her community of the great danger and ordered them to take refuge in their dwellings.

Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, “O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Sulaiman and his soldiers while they perceive not.” (Qur’an 27:18)

It is said that during this time, Sulaiman was riding on the clouds. However, Allah made the tiny ant’s plea audible to him even with the distance between them and the noisy march of the army. Sulaiman comprehended her language, could not hold back his smile of amusement and began to laugh.

He said, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.” (Qur’an 27:19)

Even though Sulaiman possessed all the worldly materialism, when he heard the ant talking about him, he was immediately remind-ed of Allah and his countless blessings. He acknowledged that it was a gift from Allah and showed gratitude immediately. He commanded the army to change its course, and the destruction of the ant colony was avoided. All this because of the plea of a single ant!

Let us reflect on the power that this single ant wielded. She was not physically outstanding, and according to some accounts, was even crippled. Yet, this small and insignificant creature was named and mentioned in the last revelation of Allah to mankind. Allah loved this ant so much because of her bravery, sincerity, selflessness, belief and devotion: putting the benefit of her community above her own. She was willing to sacrifice her life to save the rest.

The ant took responsibility over her community, without any second thought, blaming or complaining. She behaved in a responsible fashion and took action immediately when it was required, without anyone prompting or ordering her to do so. Allah shows us how insig-nificant an ant is, but how much one single creature can achieve.

In the history of mankind, one person can be called a great person because of his accomplishment and contribution to mankind and society. Now it is time to reflect: are we responsible and what are we doing to change the status quo of aggression, oppression, injustice and transgression of mankind. We see it on the news daily, and each one of us is responsible to help according to his ability.

Compare the ant’s caring behavior to the stinginess, selfish-ness and greed that mankind harbor for each other. We have lost to the feeling of caring and goodness for each other. Whereas, a mere ant, without our sophistication and education, did the noble thing and called and prayed to Allah to save her own community from destruc-tion.

This apparently insignificant incident contains a great mes-sage. Allah loves those who have piety, more so if they try to support others and sacrifice what they have for the benefit of others. Through this story, we learn the importance of acknowledging the guidance and bounty of Allah over us and to thank Him for it.

One female ant was bestowed with such honor and recogni-tion. How many of us think what we are famous with or assess our con-tribution to society and mankind? Part of striving to believe in Allah is by developing the qualities beloved to Him to benefit others and to elevate the name of Allah, which simultaneously elevates our own names and develops a legacy for us in this life and the hereafter and the kingdom of Allah.

Let’s rise up and prove that Allah SWT had indeed made us the best of creation – we should be higher, kinder, more responsible and more compassionate to each other, more than this single ant to her own kingdom. May Allah open for us, purify our hearts from stingi-ness, greed and selfishness, and decorate us with qualities beloved to Allah and enable to depart from this life with the legacy in this earth and the Kingdom of Allah. Ameen.