07-17-2003, 08:07 AM
Assalamualkum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatahu
Brothers and Sisters i just wanna relay a joke my father told me he got on his email, u might have heard it. I'll try recalling it to the best of my memory.
THE AIRPORT
During the hustle and bustle of the afternoon rush at the JFK airport, two men are talking to each other while a muslim is sitting near by reading a newspaper.
[b:cec0727099]Carl:So hey, where did u wanna plan ur vacation to?
Roger:I think it was to China.
Carl:China?! But that place has too many muslims![/b:cec0727099]
The muslim man sitting nearby flinches, and trys to conceal the fact that he hears the other men near by.
[b:cec0727099]Roger:I guess so.[/b:cec0727099]
He then turns his attention to the comic section and something comes to mind.
[b:cec0727099]Roger:What do u think about...Turkey? I heard Istanbul is wo-
Carl:What?! Are u kidding me? That place is full of muslims![/b:cec0727099]
The muslims nearby now gets really uncomfortable and coughs. He thinks about saying something polite but chokes it down.
[b:cec0727099]Roger:Ah! Now i've got it! Ill go to Indonesia!I heard the senery there is to die for!!
Carl, now obviously disturbed, looks at Roger and stares dumbly at him trying to figure out what is up with him.
Carl:Indonesia!That place is infested with Muslims!![/b:cec0727099]
[b:cec0727099]The muslim man now gets up and proclames loudly.
Muslim man: Why don't you go to hell!? There aren't any muslims there!![/b:cec0727099]
Morals of the story: For one thing, we can tell that the muslim man reacted in away that was totally uncalled for and is against Islam. Remeber, we are all brothers, a muslim is not above a non-muslim or vice versa, only in piety can each be measured. He should have politely asked the other man to stop talking in this disgraceful manner. Now, not only do the men have a bad impression of muslims, they are beginning to despise Islam worse then they had before (thanks to the bad actions of one muslim). Brothers and sisters, we must think of ourselfs as actors (we are constantly on a stage for the large portions of our lives) we must set a good standard and always remember that what we do, influences others, if the man had been kind to him and asked him to stop and tried to come to common ground w/ Carl, then i think that he would have understood and might even be interested in Islam.
I once heard a speaker at Ramadan 2001 say that Islam has been rudely pushed into centerstage, "for all to poke, probe, debate, and ponder what the meaning of it is". "And what do actors do, when it is their moment?", he paused and with a smile he replied, "They shine".
Remeber Allah SWT guides whomever he wills, so lets act as catalysts and speed up the process. (a little science joke there) :mrgreen:
Thanks for the time you took to read this. Peace.