Parents a role model for their children I Laiq Ahmed Atif

“The mother’s lap is the first school for every child”. And in fact, it is the woman as mother who is the moulder of the moral values of her child. It is considered that the child’s first knowledge of moral values and behaviour patterns is learnt from his mother, and as a child is fully dependant on mother and sees the way she acts, thus the love, care, education and responsibilities she teaches her child and the values modes that are incorporated within the family form the personality and character of the child.

However, the role of a father in upbringing of a child is not less important than mother. And for the better future of a child the role of both parents is highly essential and important and both the parents should set positive and valuable examples for their children.

Every parent wants their children to be successful people, to be outstanding people in society, to have a good job and a better life. And it is also true that almost all children, regardless of their age, pick parents as their number one role model. So see, how important is it for the parents to lead by examples and become a real role model for their children.

Research has found that the best adjusted children, particularly in terms of social competence, have parents with an authoritative, moderate parenting style. These parents are able to balance clearly stated, high demands with emotional responsiveness and respect for their child's autonomy. And children with disturbed and troubled family life are more likely to involve in crimes and drugs and they do not have the capabilities to compete and contribute positively in society.

This reminds me of a joke which clearly shows that how parents set examples to their children and how children learn and form themselves while seeing their parents. It is not only a joke but also a very sad and painful reality which may make some people laugh yet move some others to tears. However, the aim is to show that parent’s attitude has a great influence on their children.

Once a child observed with much pain and unease the ill-treatment of his grandfather at the hands of his father and that left a great impact on him. The grandfather was gradually transferred from a well-provided and comfortable main bedroom to a smaller and less convenient accommodation until it was finally decided to remove the grandfather to the servant's quarters. During an exceptionally severe winter, the grandfather complained of his room being too chilly and his quilt being too thin to make him feel warm and comfortable. The father started looking for an extra blanket from a stock of old, useless rags and finally found him an old and mended blanket.

This left a great impact on child’s memory and he also started storing old things in a bag. One day his father saw him and asked the reason why he is storing these old cloths and mended blankets etc in a bag?

The child replied that a few days ago you gave similar old and mended blanket to your old and retired father when he was in need. So, I thought that I should also store some old items so can also provide you from these old cloths etc when you will be in need at your old and retired age.

This innocent expression of a child shows clearly that parents set examples for their children. So, for a great generation, parents must set positive and the best possible examples.

Love is a great instrument and weapon: Laiq Ahmed Atif

“Affection and kinship can change a bitter enemy into a warm and loyal friend” - Laiq Ahmed Atif

: Saturday, January 7, 2012

The English sayings that time and tide wait for no man and that time flies accurately and perfectly apply as we look back at 2011. It was almost yesterday that celebrations were held all around the world to welcome 2011. People were praying for peace, wishing each other the very best and a better new year.

Of course, we will not be incorrect if we describe 2011 as a remarkable year, full of news, good and bad, and leaving unforgettable marks on the history of mankind. A lot has been written on this and I would not like to repeat what has already been said, so I will attempt to sum up this year very briefly.

It has been a year of struggle for the sake of freedom, human rights and democracy. On one side, we have seen people in their hundreds of thousands protesting and thousands among them gave their lives for their rights, dignity and freedom.

On the other hand, some rulers were seen fighting to prolong their era of denial of human rights, of disrespect to the sentiments and voices of their own people and of iron fist rule.

There were also natural disasters. A powerful earthquake in Japan led many towns and villages to disappear from the surface of the earth. New Zealand and Turkey were also rocked by earthquakes.

Pakistan recorded heavy rains and the worst floods in history affecting more than eight million people. Thailand too experienced floods

The economic crisis led to protests in a number of countries, including Greece and Italy.

There were terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Iraq and elsewhere. The US military killed the world’s most wanted man, Osama Bin Laden.

In Norway, a lonely gunman wrought death and destruction.

Arab countries were the theatre of popular revolutions.

But there was good news too, like, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, surely, one of the most beautiful and joyful moments of the year.

The history of man is filled with ups and downs, happiness and sadness, enmity and friendship, hatred and love. There is no doubt that both good desires and bad temptations always remained with humans. However, true love and affection has always proved itself the best and most powerful instrument and weapon in the history of human beings. Affection and kinship can change a bitter enemy into a warm and loyal friend, a friendship and relationship that sees no boundaries and would be ready to take all the necessary measures to help and support others.

While writing this piece, the story of two prisoners in India came to mind. Their ideologies and actions were extremely different but the kind and loving attitude of the young man towards the other, who was older, changed the latter completely.

I would like to quote his words when he was won by the young man. He expressed himself with such beautiful and remarkable words that are really so precious. He said: “I understood that love between two human beings is more powerful than the hatred between two communities.”

I believe that to be so true. We witnessed the great spirit of love and solidarity between human beings on Boxing Day during L-Istrina.

Despite the prevailing worrying political and economic situations and the negativity dominating the world news, Malta has once again proved that, whatever the circumstances, whatever the crisis, “the love between two human beings is more powerful than the hatred between two communities”. In just one day, the Maltese donated €2.6 million to charity, demonstrating their unique values of generosity and solidarity. That works out to more than €6 per person and more than €20 per family, which is really remarkable and wonderful.

Malta’s generosity and solidarity is not only recognised at national level but also on the international plane. A worldwide study ranks Malta first among 153 countries when it comes to giving money to charity, with 83 per cent of the population saying they had donated cash the previous month.

This is no surprise. However, Malta should be proud of it. And I believe that as long as such goodwill and human values remain alive, Malta will always flourish and no one can stop its success and progress.

Long live Malta, long live humanity.

I hope and pray that 2012 will be a year of love and brotherhood so that the love between human beings prevails over any kind of enmity and aggression and we will be able to hear the voices of love for all in every corner of this planet. The world at large can thus become a haven of peace. For, indeed, love and true sympathy are the very antidotes of terrorism and serve as an effective weapon and an instrument for the establishment of peace.

I wish to all readers, the editor and the staff of The Times the best wishes for the New Year.

The author is president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.

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Unity of God and Islam

Some time ago, during a discussion with friend, we came to know of a woman from Australia, who’s sole mission was to unite all mankind at one point. I asked him that does she believe in a single entity, the central focus of the universe, – the Almighty God. If not, then how can she bring together and unite the entire humanity at one single point. Because unity requires a unit, an absolute single central point, extreme oneness, where mankind can be united, and that central unit is the Almighty God. As whole human body depends on its central unit – the heart, the entire mankind depends on the Unity and Oneness of God.

Can a state run when there is more than one leader? Can a human body function with more than one heart? Can a country have more than one capital city? Absolutely not, and any such system cannot be successful and will be a massive disaster. Similarly, there cannot be more than one central point that can unite people besides God Almighty. That is a philosophy and extreme reality that Islam presents when it speaks about the existence, absolute Unity and Oneness of God. The Holy Quran says:

If there had been in them (the heavens and the earth) other gods besides Allah, then surely both would have gone to ruin. Glorified then be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, above what they attribute. (21:23)

Read full article on: http://ahmadiyyamalta.org/2012/01/03/unity-of-god-and-islam-%E2%94%82laiq-ahmed-atif/