To return to other stories of Baba, there was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name Mohiddin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some items, and both had a fight. In this, Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waistband) and covered His head with a piece of cloth. He took a piece of sackcloth for His seat, sackcloth for His bed, and was content with wearing torn and worn out rags. He always said that "Proverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother of the poor”- Sri Sai Satcharitha, Ch.5.

Baba lost the fight. However, He won the world and beyond. Stories of lives of saints are uniquely impregnated with interesting events. Some times, the events may sound trivial, but every incident seems to have its message. Human life is constant struggle and competition. Almost always, the judgement of a person or an event depends on its outcome and the judgement itself in reality is the ego ratified. Sainath’s contention is perhaps the same. Accomplishing victories of mundane nature may ratify one’s ego, but does not necessarily guarantee the permanent happiness, a pursuit every human birth longs for. Accepting God’s dispensation and long for, if any, His grace will bring permanent happiness. True winners are those who accept God’s will, surrender their selves to His cause, accept their roles in His play and strive for the permanent happiness.
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RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD Part IV
(Contributed by Mr. Somalingam, Christchurch, Newzealand)

ISLAM
The Prophet Muhammad, who was born in the city of Mecca in AD 571, proclaimed the Islamic faith. Mecca is in present-day Saudi Arabia. When Muhammad was about 40, he developed the habit of going off into the hills to think and contemplate. He claimed that he realized God, whom he called Allah, and started worshipping the one true God. Muhammad could not read or write, but he dictated Allah's words, which he said were given to him by the Angel Gabriel, to his companion, a follower known as Abu Bakhar. These words formed the Qur'an, the holy book of the Islamic faith. Followers of Muhammad became known as Muslims. They believe that he was the last of the great prophets of God- the prophets of the Jews and Christians.

Reading the Qur'an

The Qur'an has 114 chapters (suras). It contains many instructions to Muslims on how to worship, how to treat their fellow human beings, what to eat and wear and general rules about family life and community.

Ramadan

The Muslims have several important festivals each year. Festivities of Ramadan last for a whole month and during this holy month every Muslim over the age of 10 fasts between sunrise and sunset. Muhammad felt that this gave his followers self-discipline. At the end of Ramadan, they celebrate the Night of Power, when Muhammad received his first revelation.

Jinn

The Qur'an tells of the existence of angels and of jinn, or genies, who are spirits created from fire and who serve God. Wicked jinn are called demons and their chief is Satan, some times called Iblis. God allows Satan to tempt people and to test them. Many of the folk tales from Islam are tales of jinn who can grant wishes or perform magic feats.

The Five Pillars of Islam

SHAHADA

SALAT
Prayers must be said facing Mecca at sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night.

RAMADAN
Muslims must not eat, drink or smoke between sunrise and sunset in the month of Ramadan.

ZAKAT
Muslims must give about 2.5% of their income and some other types of property to charity.

HAJJ
A Muslim, if physically and financially able, must make the journey to Mecca at least once.

May Allah bless every body in this world.
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Devotees say...

Nisha Patel, from Ahmedabad, India wrote to us, "Thank you for sending the below email as requested by us. As I am an ardent devotee of Lord Saibaba of Shirdi, I request for sending all information on this email. I regularly visit Shirdi every year. Jay Sainath".

Sai devotee Parvinder wrote to us, Om Sai Ram, I am grateful to you for making me a part of this Dwarkamai and a part of growing number of Baba’s devotees. Reading the Sai newsletter was highly informative as well as helped me know about the gurupoornima festival and its importance. Please do keep me informed and updated with all the information related to Shirdi Sai Baba. Thanking you again whole-heartedly, Sai Das, Parvinder.

Thanks Nisha ji and Parvinder ji. None of our efforts is possible without the involvement and contribution of other devotees. Please do write to us your comments and we also welcome any contributions to Sai Vichaar in the form of writings on Sadguru Sainath.

Richa Singhal wrote...dear webmaster, I want to ask that recently , I went to Shirdi. I felt as though Baba is actually present there .Why can't I feel the same way anywhere else ??

The power of Shirdi deity is such Richa ji. People visiting Shirdi experience His presence so strongly, believers and non-believers alike. Sainath said that He would speak from His tomb and that He will be with those who meditate on His name constantly, even if one is thousands of miles away. God can be realized either in Sagun form or nirgun form. For humans it is so easy to relate to the sagun form and that is why we respond to His presence and miracles with such a love, devotion and faith. How can one realize the "attributeless absolute"? For most of us, this can accomplished only by constant contemplation or Saadhana.

Sai Vichaar Team
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