A certain student from Rajasthan failed in his high school examinations. He appeared again the following year but failed again. After having failed for the third time, the next year, he was so ashamed of his performance that he left his home too embarrassed to show his face to his family.

He just kept walking about aimlessly. After a long time, he stopped at a well to quench his thirst. Women and children had gathered around it, filling their pots by turns. There he caught sight of something, something small, but of great significance. He was deeply moved, and his thirst was gone. All of a sudden, he felt as though he had found something far greater than the water he had come for. What happened was quite simple. The villagers, who visited the well for water, usually brought two earthen pots. They would place one pot on a stone near the well while lowering the other on a rope inside the well to draw water. To his astonishment, the part of the stone on which the pot was placed had rubbed away and there was a hollow there. The pot was made of clay, he thought, but when it was placed on the same spot over and over again, it had worn away the stone which was a far harder substance. The strong element had given way to the weak just through constant action. ”Then why should I not succeed in my examinations if I too persevere? I can surely overcome my shortcomings by putting greater effort into my studies!”

Such thoughts brought him to a halt. He immediately decided to go back home and start working hard on his studies once again. The following year he appeared for the fourth time in his high school examinations. This time the result, astonishingly, was the opposite of the previous year. He had done his papers so well this time that he secured first class. After having failed three times he had finally distinguished himself. The lesson of the stone had worked like a miracle, and this had altered his attitude altogether. The same student who had run away from home, unable to face defeat, passed with flying colours in all the examinations he took. When he topped in his MA examination, he was given a scholarship to study abroad and from there he took his doctorate.

Any seemingly trivial event can teach a lesson pointing to man’s shortcomings and failures provided he shows sufficient receptiveness to the message it conveys. If he only cares to look, he will find around him some “stone” or the other, which he needs to set him on the right course again.

The Community of Saint Egidio provides a good example of a continuing dialogue of this nature. This promotes interaction on a mass scale between adherents of different religions. In view of its vastness, it may be rightly termed a super dialogue. The religious meet held under the auspices of the Community of Saint Egidio on a large scale each year makes a considerable contribution towards the achievement of the goal targeted by interreligious dialogue.

We should not judge our efforts in this matter only by the results of meetings held in the name of formally arranged interreligious

dialogue. The truth is that “interreligious dialogue” is not now limited to specific meetings held in the field of religion. It has rather assumed the form of a vast historical process—spontaneous, ongoing and perhaps never fully recorded. Negotiation in controversial matters is in tune with the spirit of the age. Today, it has permeated all walks of national as well as international life.

Modern industrial revolution and modern communication have added such vast dimensions to human relations that now the entire world has been converted into a global village. People of various persuasions are coming closer on a universal scale. This interaction serves as an ongoing dialogue of an informal nature. In this way with distances narrowed, the confrontational attitude now gives way to compromise.

Saniyasnain Khan is a children’s author, with over 100 children’s books to his credit. His books have been translated into Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Swedish, Bosnian, Russian, Turkish, Malay, Thai, Urdu, Malayalam, and other languages. He hopes that his books will be a true companion on the path of spiritual development and will help children to know the true purpose and meaning of life.

This selection of prayers for children of seven years and above expresses the variety and richness of prayer and is designed to be used at home, or at school. With bright and colourful illustrations, this book will encourage children to explore their own ways of praying. The best prayers are often the ones we say naturally when we are happy, excited or sad about something. But at that time, we don’t always find the right words to express our inner feelings. Reading these prayers from the Quran, you will find the best words and phrases to pray with, at any time and in any situation. In that way, you will find yourself closer to God, as if you are whispering to Him. Then it will not be just you alone, but an exchange between you and the Almighty, which will begin to flow, inspiring and lighting up your mind and heart. May this collection of prayers bring you wisdom and many blessings!

WATER is a great boon for life. And greater the boon, greater the conservation required. Without water, life could not exist on Earth. Without water, there could be no development of civilization. In the absence of water, the Earth would become barren like other planets in the solar system and beyond. It is this reality towards which the Quran points the reader when it asks:

‘Have you considered if your water were to sink into the ground, who could then bring you flowing water?’ (67: 30)

The importance of water cannot be overstated. Up to 60 percent of the body of an adult human comprises of water. The Quran says that God has made every living thing out of water (21: 30). Abdul Rahim Khane- Khana was an important minister and poet during the Mughal rule in India. A line from one of his poems is:

Rahim pani rakhiyo bin pani sab soona

(O Merciful, preserve water, as without water there is nothing!)

It is a fact that water is a great bounty bestowed by the Creator on us. If we look at it in this perspective, we realize what a great source of spirituality water is, as it reminds us of the Merciful Creator. This important water resource evokes the spirit of gratitude. Human life is so very dependent on water that our reliance on it repeatedly brings to mind the Creator. According to Islam, the quality most desired in a person is his willingness to acknowledge the Creator. If a person truly discovers the value of water, he will see it as a source of spiritual nourishment. Water is a symbol of the virtues of peace, tolerance and the spirit of giving, traits that human beings need to develop. If a spiritual culture is fostered in human society, its every member will take great care not to waste water. Such people will make sustainable use of this precious resource. The realization of the importance of water will tell one how to manage water properly.

The Prophet of Islam laid great emphasis on conserving water. He once observed someone using water extravagantly and advised him to be very cautious in its use. The person in question asked if we needed to be meticulous even when using water. The Prophet replied: “Yes, do not waste water, even if you are on the banks of a flowing river.” There are many verses in the Quran that make such references to water. When studied in the light of modern scientific data, one will realize that oceans on Earth are not only reservoirs of water, but also oceans of spirituality.

The Gathering at Arafat: After engaging in various rituals all these people gather in the vast field of Arafat and a remarkable scene unfolds at that moment. It appears as if all the differences among human beings have suddenly vanished. People have let go of their conflicts and have become one, just as their God is one. When all the pilgrims, dressed in white Ihram attire, come together in the expansive field of Arafat, observing from a height, it seems as though, despite differences in language, colour, status, and gender, everyone has become completely united. Different nationalities seem to merge into a larger nationality. The truth is that Hajj showcases such a profound demonstration of unity and solidarity that no other example can be found anywhere else in the world.

Visit to Madinah: Although the prescribed rituals of Hajj are concluded in Makkah, most pilgrims also visit Madinah after completing Hajj. The ancient name of Madinah is Yathrib. However, towards the end of his life, the Prophet of Islam made it his centre. Since then, it has been known as Madinat al- Nabi (the city of the Prophet). Madinah is its abbreviation. Masjid al Nabwi built by the Prophet Muhammad, is located in Madinah. His grave lies inside this mosque. The remnant signs of his prophetic life can be seen all around. When the pilgrim reaches Madinah, it serves as a profound lesson for them in unity and social cohesion. In the Prophet’s Mosque, they are reminded that they have only one guide. As they depart, they realize that in spite of the multitude of geographical and national differences among them, they are all required to follow the path shown by the same Prophet. They endeavour to make him the guiding force in their lives.

What is the spirit of sacrifice?

During the occasions of Hajj or Eid al-Adha, the act of animal sacrifice encompasses two dimensions: one is its spirit, and the other its form. In terms of its spirit, sacrifice represents a commitment or pledge. The physical act of sacrifice serves as a pledge in action. By sacrificing an animal, a believer symbolically pledges to devote his entire life to the path of God. He follows the footsteps of his forefather, Abraham, in being so devout and obedient to his Creator that he is ready to sacrifice even his most prized possession if need arises in God’s way.

What is the social aspect of Hajj?

Every year, approximately two million individuals take part in Hajj, and this pilgrimage serves as a unifying platform that brings Muslims from different nations together in a religious gathering, fostering a profound sense of unity within the Islamic community. God has designated the Kabah as a sacred place where people return to find peace. It is a centre, a gathering place that serves as a common reference point and symbol for all. Though Muslims from different corners of the world are gathered, speaking different languages, during Hajj season, they all become united. They come together to worship the same God. Throughout Hajj, their focus remains steadfastly on the same God. Thus, Hajj becomes an act of worship, that, with all its rituals, imparts lessons of social cohesion and centrality.