Akash Singh Sufi
Cleanliness is next to Godliness is a famous adage, most of the people know this but hardly have they followed the same. Let me tell you the whole story- to get my new spectacles I was looking for a trusted optical shop. After an hour of research I landed in the shop named Unique Optical at Jamia Nagar, Okhla- Shahin bagh. I met Mr. Shamshuzzama (Shamsi) the owner of the shop, we exchanged Salam and I asked him about the spectacles and he gave me a couple of tips in order to prolong the life of spectacles. After some time I realized he is not an ordinary person because he had an extra ordinary goal. You must be thinking why his goal is an extraordinary, I’ll come to it.
We started speaking on different topics and he started pouring his heart out. He told me about his Theatre career and how he gave up his career due to his family pressure. He was happy to know that someone is there who is interested in his life. I patiently listened to him and all of a sudden he told me how hard he works to maintain cleanliness in front of his shop, whereas his neighboring shops love to do business in a heap of dirt.
With a painful heart he asked me, why most of the Muslim areas are far away from cleanliness. I kept quiet for a moment and said you have a point but I believe there is a lack of awareness among the community although Quran says “Truly, God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.” (Quran 2:222)
We discussed the issue for hours, he told me how he started a small movement to clean the area, for which he recruited a person who used to collect penny from every shop to pay the cleaners.
Things were fine in the beginning but once a shopkeeper spat on the penny collection box and scolded that guy. This is the mentality of people, they have money for worthless people but they never support a good cause, he uttered.
We both concluded that this is a grave issue and we need to do something about it.
As everybody knows every movement requires finance or money to support the cause. We were thinking what would be the source of fund if we want to take this cleanliness drive to another level.
We came to the conclusion that money for funding this cause can be sourced from the bank interest of Muslim Bank account holders. Muslim brothers who are not interested in taking the bank interest can channelize the same to our cleanliness drive fund for Muslim areas. As in Islam interest on money is forbidden (it is considered as Haraam), so it would be a great step to spend the bank interest in the cause of cleanliness in Muslim areas. In this way, Muslim brothers can help their Muslim brothers to live life in a clean environment.
Mr. Shamshuzzama (Shamsi) and I require your help for such a noble cause. And, if you can help us in any way please contact us because good decision is better than Knowledge.
“O believers! When you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba purify yourself.” -Quran 5:6
The above given verse shows the importance of cleanliness, so one can understand that purity is half of faith. Fortify your faith and let’s take a pledge to create clean and tidy surroundings. May Lord help us succeed in our endeavors, Love you all and Lord Bless!
Want to read more such articles go to – http://akashsinghsufi.blogspot.in/
About me: I’M A LOVER OF MY LORD – OUR TRUE RELIGION IS LOVE, OUR TRUE LORD IS LOVE, OUR TRUE GURU IS LOVE!