ICAN Sama-O-Basr Publications

🌿 | Pahar aur Gulehri (The Mountain and the Squirrel)

Sharing one of Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s most beautiful lessons on humility, purpose, and recognizing the unique value that Allah has placed in every creation.

The poem reminds us that greatness is not measured by size, status, or power. A mountain has its place, and a squirrel has its place. Each creation serves a purpose that another cannot fulfill. In a world where comparisons often steal our peace, Iqbal teaches us to appreciate our own strengths and contributions.

✨ Lesson: Never belittle yourself by comparing your strengths to someone else's. Allah has created every individual with unique abilities, responsibilities, and purpose. True wisdom lies in recognizing our own gifts while appreciating the gifts of others.

English Translation

The Mountain and the Squirrel

A mountain and a squirrel once had a conversation.

The squirrel said:

"O Mountain! It is true that you are grand and mighty,
Your height and magnificence far exceed mine.*

But I, too, have something to be proud of.
You are what you are, and I am what I am.

Though I may not possess your greatness,
I am not without worth or value.

If you are large, I am small—
Yet both facts have their place.

You cannot run swiftly through the forest as I can,
And I cannot carry loads as great as you can.

Each of us excels in our own task,
Each of us has a unique role in this world."

اردو

پہاڑ اور گلہری

ایک پہاڑ اور گلہری میں ہوا مکالمہ
کہنے لگی گلہری کہ اے پہاڑ!

سچ ہے کہ تیری شان بہت ہے بڑی
مجھ سے بہت اونچی ہے تیری ہستی

لیکن کسی بات پر مجھے بھی ہے ناز
تو جو ہے، سو ہے، میں بھی ہوں آخر ایک چیز

گرچہ نہیں ہے قدر میری تیری سی
لیکن نہیں مجھ کو بھی کسی سے کمی

تو اگر بڑا ہے تو میں چھوٹی سہی
لیکن یہ بات بھی ہے اپنی جگہ

تو نہیں دوڑا سکتا جنگل میں تیز
اور میں نہیں اٹھا سکتی تجھ سا بوجھ

دونوں کا اپنے اپنے کام میں کمال
دونوں کی اپنی اپنی جگہ پر مثال

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Infographic: The Reading Revolution

To read the full book, click the link below: https://www.academia.edu/143805715/The_Reading_Revival_Read_Remember_Transform

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Infographic: Keys to Tazkiyyah

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Infographic: Prophetic Method of Education (Maulana Syed Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi)

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What if the real reason you’re stuck isn’t a lack of motivation—but something far simpler you’ve been overlooking? Why do small habits seem meaningless, yet somehow create extraordinary results over time? And what’s the hidden system behind people who consistently succeed while others struggle to stay consistent?

This infographic, based on the renowned book ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear, uncover questions that challenge how you think about progress, discipline, and success—and make you wonder what tiny changes could completely transform your life.

Video Summary: https://youtu.be/ScSuappDZ3M

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✨ Did You Know? The Power of Your Fingertips
Fingerprints are not just random patterns — they are a remarkable sign of precision and uniqueness in human creation. No two individuals share the same fingerprint, and this tiny detail reflects an incredible level of design.
In the Qur’an, Allah highlights this powerful fact:

“Yes, We are able even to proportion his fingertips.” (75:4)

This verse reminds us of the perfection of creation and the certainty of resurrection — even the smallest details are preserved by Allah.
🎥 Watch the full explanation here:
👉 https://youtu.be/FSJ56o2OBMo

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🏫 What if children aren't failing school....but school is failing them?

John Holt's groundbreaking book HOW CHILDREN FAIL challenges many of the assumptions we've accepted about education for decades. Why do curious, creative children gradually lose their love for learning? And what can parents and educators do differently?

In this video, we unpack the timeless insights of one of the most influential voices in education.

🎥 Watch now and join the conversation.

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Link to the video: https://youtu.be/pUSm-9NJPeU

How Children Fail John Holt Produced by iCAN Sama-O-Basr Publications.For more visit other vid...

Infographic:
Key ideas from the book: The Reading Revival (Published by iCAN Sama-O-Basr Publications)

Read the full book from here: https://www.academia.edu/143805715/The_Reading_Revival_Read_Remember_Transform
Book review (video): https://youtu.be/SlFGJvDkD2k

Summary: The Reading Revival — Read, Remember, Transform

Core Idea
The book argues that reading is not just an intellectual activity but a transformative spiritual and civilizational force. It calls for reviving a deep culture of reading that leads to reflection, action, and personal and collective change.

1. Purpose of Reading

Reading expands human experience beyond personal limits—allowing a person to “live many lives.”
Without meaningful reading, a person remains intellectually and spiritually limited.
The ultimate goal of reading is ḥikmah (wisdom), not just information.

Key insight:

Knowledge = information
Wisdom = understanding reality correctly and acting rightly

2. Transformative Power of Books

Books—especially divine revelation—have shaped history and civilizations.
The Qur’an is presented as the greatest revolutionary book, transforming individuals, societies, and global systems.

Key argument:

Books can:

Ignite revolutions
Shape ideas and movements
Influence entire societies

But:

Their impact depends on people living and acting upon them, not merely reading them.

3. Reading as a Foundation for Islamic Activism

Reading is essential for daʿwah, leadership, and societal reform.
Islamic movements decline when intellectual growth stops.
Activism must be built on deep understanding of Qur’an, Sunnah, and contemporary realities.

Key principle:

Intellectual revolution precedes social and political change.

4. The Model of the Scholars

Early Muslim scholars had an intense love for books:

Reading constantly
Sacrificing wealth for knowledge
Preferring books over social distractions

They treated books as:

Companions
Tools of worship
Sources of guidance

Lesson:
A strong civilization requires a strong culture of reading.

5. What to Read (Structured Framework)

The book proposes a balanced reading plan including:

The Qur’an (central reference)
Islamic sciences (ḥadīth, fiqh, tafsīr)
Islamic movement literature
Professional and technical knowledge
Contemporary ideas and challenges
Opposing ideologies (to understand them)
Literature (to develop expression and insight) [academia.edu]

6. How to Read (Methodology)

Reading must be intentional and structured, including:

Clear purpose (“why am I reading?”)
Different levels of reading (skimming, analytical, deep study)
Note-taking and summarizing
Repetition and review
Comparative reading across sources

Key emphasis:
Reading is not complete until it leads to:

Understanding
Retention
Application

7. From Reading to Transformation

The central thesis of the book is:
Reading must move through three stages:

Read → acquire knowledge
Remember → retain and internalize
Transform → apply in life and society

Without the final stage, reading remains incomplete and ineffective.

8. Barriers and Solutions

Modern challenges to reading include:

Distraction
Procrastination
Superficial reading

Solutions include:

Structured routines
Discipline
Purpose-driven reading
Consistency over intensity

9. Final Message

The decline of the Ummah is linked to its disconnection from books, especially the Qur’an.
Revival requires rebuilding a reading-centered intellectual culture.
True success lies in:

Deep reading
Reflective thinking
Practical implementation

One-line Essence
This book is a call to revive reading as a disciplined, spiritual, and intellectual practice that produces wisdom, shapes character, and drives meaningful change in individuals and society.

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🌱 Infographic: Understanding the Neuroscience of Raḥmah
(An explainer video on this topic will also be released soon).

We are often told that making a difference in the world requires more empathy. But what if empathy on its own is not enough—and can even become overwhelming?

Empathy by itself can be emotionally draining and take a toll on both the mind and the body. However, when empathy is followed by action - Rahmah-Centric Activism—it transforms how we act as individuals and and as nations. It moves us from reactive feeling to purposeful, sustainable action that is not confined by narrow boundaries of race, geography, language, or color.

This infographic aims to show this idea visually, and in shāʾ Allāh, we will be releasing a detailed explainer video soon to expand on it further.

How beautifully this reflects the timeless wisdom and depth of Islam—Alḥamdulillāh.

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