الخزان الحي

 An Ant Becomes a Living Reservoir Beneath the Sands

Imagine… in the heart of a barren desert, where there is no plant or water, hides an astonishing secret of creation.

A tiny ant, whose sole mission is to become a living reservoir of food and water for its colony.

This is the Honeypot Ant.

A creature that may seem simple, yet it carries within it a storage system surpassing humanity’s greatest inventions.

How does it work?

• It is specially chosen among the worker ants.

• Its abdomen swells like a balloon, filling with honey, nectar, and water.

• It hangs from the ceiling of the nest, motionless, not seeking food, simply waiting for the moment of need.

• When drought comes… the other ants take a golden drop from it, saving their lives.

Think about it! A tiny ant, the size of a fingertip, serving as a fridge, pharmacy, and water reservoir all at once.

Questions that puzzled scientists:

• How does its abdomen not burst despite such extreme swelling?

• How does its content stay preserved under the desert heat?

• What inspired this amazing instinct?

• How do its muscles endure hanging motionless for months?

The answer: Divine creativity beyond description.

A Sign from the Creator:

“This is the creation of Allah; so show Me what those besides Him have created.” [Luqman: 11]

Just a single ant… yet it tells a full story of mercy, planning, and unparalleled precision of God.

It’s as if it is a silent message to us: God overlooks nothing… not even an ant beneath the earth.

نملة تتحول إلى خزان حي تحت الرمال

تخيّل… في قلب الصحراء القاحلة، حيث لا زرع ولا ماء، يختبئ سرّ مدهش من أسرار الخلق

نملة صغيرة، كل مهمتها أن تصبح خزانًا حيًّا للطعام والماء لقبيلتها

إنها نملة العسل – Honeypot Ant

مخلوق قد يبدو بسيطًا، لكنه يحمل في داخله نظام تخزين يفوق أعظم اختراعات البشر

كيف تعمل؟

يتم اختيارها من بين النملات

ينتفخ بطنها كالبلون حتى يمتلئ بالعسل والرحيق والماء

تبقى معلّقة في سقف العش، لا تتحرك ولا تبحث عن طعام، بل تنتظر لحظة الحاجة

وحين يحلّ الجفاف… تأتي النملات الأخرى لتأخذ منها قطرة ذهبية تنقذ حياتها

تأمّل! نملة صغيرة بحجم عقلة الإصبع تقوم بدور ثلاجة وصيدلية وخزان ماء في آن واحد

أسئلة حيّرت العلماء

كيف لا ينفجر بطنها رغم هذا الانتفاخ الكبير؟

كيف يظل ما بداخلها محفوظًا في حرارة الصحراء؟

من ألهمها هذه الغريزة العجيبة؟

وكيف تستطيع عضلاتها الصمود وهي معلّقة لأشهر طويلة؟

والإجابة: إبداع إلهي يفوق الوصف

إشارة من الخالق

قال تعالى

هَذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ [لقمان: 11]

نملة واحدة فقط… لكنها تروي قصة كاملة عن الرحمة والتدبير والدقّة الإلهية التي لا مثيل لها

وكأنها رسالة صامتة لنا: أن الله لا يغفل عن شيء… حتى عن نملة في جوف الأرض

يصوّر في الأرحام كيف يشاء

 In 1997, the city of Gloucester in England witnessed the birth of two extraordinary twins who later amazed the world with their unique story. The twins, Lucy and Maria Elmer, were daughters of a white father named Vince and a mother of mixed heritage—half Jamaican, half white—named Donna.

The biggest surprise was in the babies’ appearances: Lucy was born with very fair skin, straight red hair, and bright blue eyes, while Maria had dark brown skin, curly black hair, and warm brown eyes.

Being fraternal twins (non-identical), each inherited a completely different set of genes. This rare coincidence made them a living example of what scientists call a “genetic lottery,” with hereditary traits astonishingly distributed between them.

As they grew up, the girls often faced astonishment and disbelief; people frequently refused to believe they were sisters, let alone twins. On multiple occasions, they had to show their birth certificates to prove the truth. When photos of them together went viral in 2015, they quickly became a global phenomenon, sparking both controversy and admiration.

Lucy and Maria’s story goes beyond scientific curiosity; it carries a deeper human message. It is a living testament to God’s incredible power to diversify His creation and His creativity in shaping humans in ways beyond our imagination. It reminds us that differences in appearance are not barriers to family bonds—love and sibling connection are stronger than anything the eyes see.

What happened with these sisters reflects the beauty of human diversity, challenges stereotypes about appearance and color, and affirms that the greatness of the Creator is manifested in this variety. It is He who shapes us in the womb as He wills.

في عام 1997، شهدت مدينة غلوستر في إنجلترا ميلاد توأمتين غير عاديتين أبهرتا العالم لاحقًا بقصتهما الفريدة. التوأم هما لوسي وماريا أيلمر، ابنتا أب أبيض يُدعى فينس، وأم ذات أصول مختلطة نصفها جامايكي ونصفها أبيض تُدعى دونا. غير أنّ المفاجأة الكبرى كانت في ملامح الطفلتين؛ إذ ولدت لوسي ببشرة فاتحة للغاية، وشعر أحمر أملس، وعينين زرقاوين لامعتين، بينما جاءت ماريا ببشرة سمراء داكنة، وشعر أسود مجعد، وعينين بنيتين دافئتين

ولأنهما توأم غير متطابق (ثنائي البويضة)، ورثت كل واحدة منهما تركيبة جينية مختلفة تمامًا عن أختها. هذه الصدفة النادرة جعلت منهما مثالًا حيًّا على ما يسميه العلماء “اليانصيب الجيني”، حيث توزّعت الصفات الوراثية بشكل مدهش بينهما

ومع مرور السنوات، واجهت الفتاتان مواقف متكررة من الدهشة والإنكار؛ فكثيرًا ما كان الناس يرفضون تصديق أنهما أختان، فضلًا عن كونهما توأمًا، ما اضطرهما أكثر من مرة لإظهار شهادة الميلاد لإثبات الحقيقة. وعندما انتشرت صورتهما معًا عام 2015 على وسائل الإعلام، تحوّلتا بسرعة إلى ظاهرة عالمية مثيرة للجدل والإعجاب في آنٍ واحد

قصة لوسي وماريا لا تتوقف عند حدود الغرابة العلمية، بل تحمل رسالة إنسانية أعمق. فهي تجسيد حي لقدرة الله العظيمة في تنويع خلقه وإبداعه في تصوير البشر بطرق لا يتوقعها العقل. إنها تذكرة بأن الاختلاف في المظهر ليس حاجزًا أمام الروابط العائلية، بل إنّ المحبة والأخوة أقوى من كل ما تراه العيون

إنّ ما حدث مع هاتين الشقيقتين يعكس جمال التنوع البشري، ويدحض الصور النمطية عن الشكل واللون، ويؤكد أنّ عظمة الخالق تتجلّى في هذا التنوّع، فهو الذي يصورنا في الأرحام كيف يشاء”

الولاية

 

What time is it?

 

A while ago, my wife woke me up so I could answer the phone. I asked her, “What time is it?”

She said, “It’s not even dawn yet!”

I said, “Who would call at a time like this?”

She said, “It’s a strange number, but it’s only rung more than 20 times!”

I said, “It must be some idle kid trying random numbers. Wait, I’ll slap him in the face.”

I answered the call and was about to shout, when I heard a familiar voice say, “Good morning, my love. I’m so sorry to have woken you up, but I need you for something important that can’t be postponed.”

I said, “Good morning. Who do I have? I don’t have the number.”

He said, “I’m so-and-so.”

I said, “My love, I’m sorry, I only have your old number. Is that okay?”

He said, “God willing… My mother fell ill yesterday, and the doctors said she needs surgery. Life has been tough for me these days. I needed a loan from you until I could collect the charity next month.”

I said, “May she be well. You really surprised me… but unfortunately, I don’t have any cash left right now.”

He said, “No problem. God will solve it. Sorry to have woken you up.”

After he hung up, my wife asked, “Who is that?”

I said, “So-and-so… wanted a loan, but I told him I didn’t have any. He only thinks of me when it’s important.”

She looked at me angrily and said, “What do you mean? People are for people, and that’s normal!”

I said, “It’s normal for you, but I don’t like people who only think of me when they need me.”

She smiled and said, “Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘There are four people I cannot repay: a man who greets me first, a man who makes room for me in a gathering, and a man who goes about my business until I tire him out. As for the fourth, no one can repay him on my behalf except Allah, the Almighty. He is a man who has a need and spends the night thinking about whom to turn to, then finds me worthy of his need and fulfills it with me.'”

Then she said to me, “Call him and tell him I have found money with me so you can relieve yourself of the embarrassment and give him what he needs. Everything is in the hands of our Lord, and Allah’s treasures are inexhaustible.”

I said, “Yes, by Allah. I will, Mrs. Maryam.”

I called him and told him what she had said.

He replied in a broken voice: “By God, brother, as soon as you hung up, I felt the world was dark in my face and there was no hope. So I raised my hands and said: ‘My Lord, distress has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.’ And not a minute later, I heard you call again. At that moment, I knew that God had answered my prayer before I even finished.”

من شوية مراتي كانت مصحّياني بالعافية عشان أرد على التليفون. سألتها: “الساعة كام دلوقتي؟”
قالتلي: “لسه الفجر ما طلعش!”
فقلت: “ومين اللي ناقص دم اللي يرن في وقت زي ده؟”
قالتلي: “رقم غريب، بس رن أكتر من عشرين مرة!”
قلت لها: “أكيد واحد عيل فاضي بيجرب أرقام عشوائية، استني وهشتمه.”
فتحت المكالمة ولسه داخل أزعق، لقيت صوت أعرفه بيقول: “صباح الخير يا حبيب قلبي، آسف جدًا إني صحيتك، بس محتاجك في موضوع مهم ومينفعش يتأجل.”
قلت: “صباح الفل، مين معايا؟ الرقم مش عندي.”
قالي: “أنا فلان الفلاني.”
قلت: “يا حبيبي، معلش ماعنديش غير رقمك القديم، خير؟”
قالي: “خير إن شاء الله… والدتي تعبت امبارح والدكاترة قالوا لازم عملية، والدنيا ضيقة معايا اليومين دول. كنت محتاج منك مبلغ سلف لحد ما أقبض الجمعية الشهر الجاي.”
قلت: “ألف سلامة عليها، والله فاجئتني… بس للأسف ما معاياش كاش دلوقتي.”
قالي: “مفيش مشكلة، ربنا هيحلها من عنده. آسف إني صحيتك.”
بعد ما قفل، مراتي سألت: “مين ده؟”
قلت: “فلان الفلاني… كان عايز مبلغ سلف، بس قلتله معنديش. أصل هو ما بيفتكرنيش غير وقت المصلحة.”
بصّتلي بزعل وقالت: “وإيه يعني؟ الناس للناس، وده شيء طبيعي!”
قلت: “طبيعي بالنسبالك، لكن أنا مبحبش اللي ما يفتكرنيش إلا وقت احتياجه.”
ابتسمت وقالت: “ابن عباس رضي الله عنه قال: أربعة لا أقدر على مكافأتهم؛ رجل بدأني بالسلام، ورجل وسّع لي في المجلس، ورجل مشي في حاجتي حتى أتعبه، وأما الرابع فلا يكافئه عني إلا الله عز وجل، وهو رجل نزلت به حاجة فبات ليلته يفكر فيمن يقصد ثم رآني أهلًا لحاجته فأنزلها بي.”
وبعدها قالتلي: “رنّ عليه وقوله لقيت فلوس معايا عشان ترفع عن نفسك الحرج واديله اللي محتاجه. كله عند ربنا وربنا خزائنه لا تنفد.”
قولتلها: “ونعم بالله، حاضر يا ست مريم.”
واتصلت بيه وقلتله زي ما قالت.
فرد عليا بصوت مكسور: “والله يا أخي، أول ما قفلت حسيت إن الدنيا سودة في وشي ومفيش أمل، فرفعت إيدي وقلت: ربي إني مسني الضر وأنت أرحم الراحمين… ومفيش دقيقة لقيتك بتتصل تاني. ساعتها عرفت إن ربنا استجاب قبل حتى ما أخلص دعائي.”

ومن يتق

 “And whoever fears Allah—He will make a way out for him, and provide for him from sources he could never imagine. And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah accomplishes His command. Allah has set a measure for everything.”

ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لايحتسب ومن يتوكل علي الله فهو حسبه ان الله بالغ امره قدجعل الله لكل شيء قدره

Prayer of Negligence

 

The Salat al-Ghafla is a voluntary prayer performed between the Maghrib and Isha prayers. It was given this name because people are usually distracted from worship at this time, busy with food or rest. Various opinions have been reported regarding the number of rak’ahs (units), with the minimum being two and the maximum being twenty. It is a recommended Sunnah (Sunnah) mentioned in some hadiths and reports, and it is recommended to perform it regularly due to its virtue and reward.
Reason for the Name
The Salat al-Ghafla was given this name because its time comes at a time when people are distracted and preoccupied with their own affairs, such as dinner or sleep. This distracts them from worship, while worshippers who are engaged in the worship of the penitents strive to perform it.
Time
The time allocated for this prayer is between the Maghrib and Isha prayers.
Number of Raka’ahs
Several opinions have been reported regarding the number of rak’ahs of the Salat al-Ghafla:
The minimum is two rak’ahs.
The average is four or six rak’ahs.
The maximum is twenty rak’ahs.
Its Virtue and Reward
The Salat al-Ghafla is considered one of the recommended prayers according to Islamic law. It is also considered one of the neglected Sunnahs that are highly recommended to maintain.
It is said that six rak’ahs of this prayer are equivalent to twelve years of worship, according to some hadiths.
It is said that it leads to the abode of honor.
How to Pray
It consists of two rak’ahs, with specific surahs recited after Surat al-Hamd. It can be prayed at any time between Maghrib and Isha, even if one is sleeping.

صلاة الغفلة هي صلاة نافلة تُصلى بين صلاتي المغرب والعشاء، وسميت بهذا الاسم لأن الناس في هذا الوقت عادةً ما يكونون غافلين عن العبادة وانشغالهم بالطعام أو الراحة، وقد وردت في عدد ركعاتها أقوال مختلفة، أقلها ركعتان وأكثرها عشرون ركعة. وهي من السنن المستحبة التي وردت في بعض الأحاديث والآثار، ويستحبُّ المداومة عليها لما فيها من فضل وثواب.

سبب التسمية

سُميت صلاة الغفلة بهذا الاسم لأن وقتها يأتي في ساعة غفلة الناس وانشغالهم بأمورهم الخاصة كالعشاء أو النوم، فينشغلون بها عن الطاعة، بينما يسعى إليها المصلون القائمون بعبادة الأوابين.

وقتها

الوقت المخصص لهذه الصلاة هو ما بين صلاتي المغرب والعشاء.

عدد الركعات

وردت في عدد ركعات صلاة الغفلة عدة أقوال:

أقلها: ركعتان.

أوسطها: أربع ركعات أو ست ركعات.

أكثرها: عشرون ركعة.

فضلها وثوابها

تُعتبر صلاة الغفلة من الصلوات المندوب إليها شرعًا، وتعدُّ من السنن المهجورة التي يُستحبُّ الحفاظ عليها.

يُقال إن ست ركعات منها تُكتب لها عبادة اثني عشرة سنة، حسب بعض الأحاديث الواردة فيها.

قيل إنها تورث دار الكرامة.

كيفيتها

تُصلى ركعتين، وتُقرأ فيها سور معينة بعد سورة الحمد، ويمكن أن تُصلى في أي وقت بين المغرب والعشاء، حتى لو كان النائم قاعدًا.

Why “good enough” is eroding our spiritual excellence??

 

September 15th, 2025   |   Read Online  22nd RabiʻI 1447H Assalamu’alaikum, My friends who founded LaunchGood.com used to have an interesting acronym: GELMO (Good Enough Let’s Move On). During their early startup phase, it was a useful acronym. They had many decisions to make and couldn’t get stuck perfecting every one, so they would just “GELMO-it!”. After a while, the team realized GELMO wouldn’t work anymore if they wanted to build a world-class company. So, in their new culture deck, they decided to change their standard from GELMO to Ihsaan (spiritual excellence and beauty). I have caught myself using GELMO in my personal and professional life and it made me wonder how often do we settle for “good enough” in our work, worship, and relationships? How often do we let ihmal (carelessness) creep into areas where Allah ﷻ expects ihsan from us? The Culture of “Good Enough” We live in an age of disposability. Our phones are designed to be replaced every two years. Our clothes last a season. Society wants us to view even relationships as swipeable and replaceable. This throwaway culture has seeped into our work ethic and, more dangerously, our spiritual practices. We rush through our salah thinking, “Allah knows I’m busy.” We recite the Quran without proper tajweed or understanding and say “at least I’m trying.” We complete projects at 80% thinking, “No one cares about the last 20%.” But what’s the real cost of this ihmal? It’s not just about the quality of our work, it’s about who we become. Each time we settle for “good enough,” we’re training ourselves to accept mediocrity and be mediocre in life.  When Carelessness Becomes Character Consider the person who rushes through wudu because they’re “just doing a quick prayer.” Or the professional who submits a report with lots of typos because “everyone will understand what I meant.” These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re character-forming moments. If I asked you, “Who’s the most reliable person you know?” you’d probably name individuals known for their attention to detail, who double-check their work, come prepared, and follow through on small commitments. And if I asked you, “Who’s the least reliable person you know?” You’d name individuals who consistently cut corners, submit work with obvious errors, and say “it’s fine” when it isn’t. The scary part? These latter folks often don’t realize their reputation. They think their carelessness goes unnoticed, but everyone around them has learned not to trust them. So how do we break this cycle? How do we move from a culture of “good enough” to a life of ihsan?  Start with Itqaan The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to do things with Itqaan (excellence/precision). He ﷺ said: “Indeed Allah loves, when one of you does a job, that he does it with itqaan.” Notice he didn’t say “when one of you does an important job.” He said, “When one of you does a job”, any job. Every action is an opportunity for itqaan or ihmal, whether it’s sweeping the floor, responding to an email, preparing dinner, or leading a meeting. You might be wondering, what’s the difference between Itqaan and Ihsaan? Itqaan is a step towards Ihsaan; it’s about doing things meticulously and with precision. Whereas Ihsaan is a much broader concept that’s about doing things in the best possible way with sincerity, for Allah’s sake. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ embodied itqaan and Ihsaan in everything he did. He was thorough and mindful when making wudu. His words were measured and purposeful. He gave someone his full attention and his heart when he met them. Practical Tips Here are 3 practical ways to break free from GELMO and cultivate ihsan in our daily tasks: 1. The Pre-Task Niyyah (Intention)  Before starting any task, pause and make a conscious intention to do it with ihsan for the sake of Allah ﷻ. This includes writing an email, cleaning the kitchen, preparing a report, or starting your salah.  2. The “Would I Show This to Allah ﷻ or Prophet ﷺ?” Filter وَقُلِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ  “Tell ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Do as you will. Your deeds will be observed by Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, then He will inform you of what you used to do.” (Quran 9:105)  Imagine being shown, on Judgment Day, every rushed salah, every half-hearted promise, every broken relationship. Would we be proud of that record, or wish we had approached each moment with more care? Before submitting work or completing a task, ask yourself: “Would I be comfortable showing this to Allah or Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?” This question raises our standards and helps us catch mistakes. 3. Connect Your Work to Your Character Everything you create becomes part of your story and personal brand. If done with the right intention, it can be part of your ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah). I have seen well-written reports that inspire colleagues for years to come. Sometimes you prepare a presentation with Ihsan, and it’s not forgotten, but leads to better decisions.  4. Take it one step at a time The journey from Ihmal to Ihsan won’t happen overnight. Pick one daily task – perhaps how you respond to messages or how you prepare for Salah – and commit to doing it with ihsan for at least 1 week. Let that Ihsan overflow to other areas naturally. Every time you take an extra moment to do something properly, you’re not just improving your work; you’re worshipping Allah better. You’re building the spiritual muscle of excellence that will serve you in this life and the next, insha’Allah. I hope this helps.  What’s one area in your life where you’ve settled for “good enough”? How can you transform it into Ihsan? I’d love to hear from you. Reply and share how you plan to transform ihmal into ihsan in your daily life. Sincerely, Mohammed Faris Founder, The Productive Muslim Company mohammed@productivemuslim.com ProductiveMuslim.com        Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2025 The Productive Muslim Company 3824 Cedar Springs Rd #801-8634 Dallas, Texas 75219, United States Powered by beehiiv Terms of Service