LESSON OF THE DAY 44

Ayah of the Day:
All that they said was: "Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that transgressed our duty; establish our feet firmly, and help us against those that resist faith." And Allah gave them a reward in this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. For Allah loves those who do good. [3: 147,148]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah is self respecting and His self respect is roused by a person indulging in acts which He has forbidden. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wisdom of the Day:
If someone wants to know what position he enjoys in the eyes of God, he has only to look at what place he gives to God in his heart and life. [Hakim]

Guidance of the Day:
The cure for heedlessness is in four things that possess authentic rectifying qualities. The first is repentance and seeking forgiveness. As a matter of regular worship, one should ask for forgiveness (istighfar) at least 70 or 100 times a day, according to the Prophet's teachings, which were closely followed by the righteous forbears (salaf). The practice is connected to accounting for one's deeds. Each of us is a merchant with regard to what we lost or gained with respect to God's pleasure. When there is loss which is a frequent occurrence, seeking God's forgiveness balances things out. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
The majority of men fail because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail. Failure doesn't mean you are a failure, it just means you haven't succeeded yet.

LESSON OF THE DAY 43

Ayah of the Day:
How many of the Prophets fought (in Allah's way), and with them (fought) large bands of Godly men! But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah's way, nor did they weaken (in will). And Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast. [3: 146]

Hadith of the Day:
Be careful and follow Allah's commands perseveringly and Allah will protect you. You should safeguard His rights, and you will always find Him with you; if you need something ask Allah, and when you need help, solicit Allah alone for it. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Too much laxity concerning permissible matters pulls the heart backward in its journey until even a man of resolve ends up looking like a foolish boy. [Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]

Guidance of the Day:
The ultimate trauma of heedlessness is not seeing things the way they truly are. It is choosing a way of living that allows divine signs to pass one up without notice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated that God the Exalted show him things in their reality, distinguished and clear.

Ghafla is also heedlessness of what God has commanded and what He has prohibited, or seeing the difference between the two as irrelevant.

One of the cures for heedlessness is keeping good and sincere company. It is recognized in virtually all traditions and cultures that the company one keeps has inroads to one's heart and morality. When someone is surrounded by people who are sincere and trustworthy, he only stands to benefit from them. Even when a person errs, good companions remind him and set him right. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
The one who uses his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give, is bound to succeed.

LESSON OF THE DAY 42

Ayah of the Day:
No soul dies without the permission of Allah, and at a term appointed. He who desires the reward of this world shall have it from Us; and he who desires the reward of the Hereafter shall have it from Us. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude. [3: 145]

Hadith of the Day:
One who sincerely supplicates to Allah for martyrdom is raised by Him to the status of a martyr although he dies in his bed. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The thing that will aid one in learning fiqh is peace of mind, which is acquired by reducing the attachments, by taking what is essential and leaving what is not. [Imam abu Hanifah]

Guidance of the Day:
Ghafla is heedlessness, which is being careless concerning what God has commanded one to do and has prohibited. It is a terrible lack of attention to what is infinitely more important in one's life than material goods. It is the one pathogen that breeds all the diseases of the heart. A heedless person is easily fooled and is diverted away from what is essential and consequential toward what is ephemeral and ultimately pointless.

One of the characteristics of human beings is forgetfulness, which further implies that we need to be reminded often, hence the centrality of repetition in spiritual practices. The most menacing forms of heedlessness are: being heedless of divine purpose, accountability, and the resurrection, ultimate standing, and judgement in the Hereafter.

The full manifestation of these events are veiled to us now by the thin wall of death, the timing of which is a secret that hovers above the heads of all men and women, Even though the reality of these things is hidden in the realm of the unseen, what is expected of us is to receive and accept what the Prophet (peace be upon him) came with.

Food for Thought:
Our work is the presentation of our capabilities. One of the test of leadership is to recognize the problem before it becomes an emergency.

LESSON OF THE DAY 41

Ayahs of the Day:
Allah's object also is to purge those that are true in faith and to deprive of blessing those that resist faith. Did you suppose that you would enter the Garden before Allah had tested those of you who really strived (in His cause), and who remained steadfast. [3: 141, 142]

Hadith of the Day:
Leave alone that which involves you in doubt, and adhere to that which is free from doubt, for truth is comforting and falsehood is disturbing. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Organize your time in a matter appropriate to the time's specific need using gentleness and toleration and be weary of either harshness or laxity. [Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]

Guidance of the Day:
As for anger as a disease of the heart, there are two cures. One of them removes anger when it comes, and the second suppresses or thwarts it. The first cure is to remember the extensive praise and goodness associated with forbearance and humility. The main reason people become angry is because they are filled with themselves; their egos get in the way.

The ethic promoted here is simply letting go, not allowing insult to penetrate and manipulate one's emotion. It is about keeping control, feeling secure. Humility and forbearance are praised in poetry and by all the different sages, even outside the religion of Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that God elevates a person who is humble for the sake of God; but whoever tries to exalt himself, God debases him.

One can also control anger by recognizing that nothing takes place without God's leave; there is no power and might except with God. This life is a crucible of trial, and those who are heedless of this react severely when trials come upon them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said "the strong man is not the one who can wrestle people, but the man who controls himself when he is angry". [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
A budget tells us what we can afford, but it doesn't keep us from buying it. It's not our salary that makes us rich, it's our spending habits.

LESSON OF THE DAY 40

Ayah of the Day:
If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the others. Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to mankind by turns, that Allah may know those who believe, and that He may take to Himself from your ranks martyrs -- witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loves not those that do wrong. [3: 140]

Hadith of the Day:
A true action leads to the path of virtue and good deeds, and virtue paves the way of a person to paradise, and he continues to speak the truth till in the sight of Allah he is named the truthful. Lying leads to vice, and vice leads to indecent acts and if a person goes on lying till in the sight of Allah he is named a liar. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Knowledge never sinks into the mind of a person who acquires it for worldly purposes. [Imam abu Hanifah]

Guidance of the Day:
The cardinal virtues originally stem from religion. A generous person gives from his wealth to others because he is not afraid of losing his power or wealth; he knows all power and wealth are with God. All further virtues emanate from the cardinal virtues. Mercy, for example, issues from wisdom (hikma), since forgiving someone when you are wronged requires a recognition of greater wisdom in remission and the greater good in clemency.

Anger (ghadab) remains an essential quality of the human creation. If ignorant people say something disparaging that does not relate to religion, then ignore it. One should not get angry when there is no benefit in doing so. For when one speaks ill of another, the speaker not only acquires misdeeds, but his own good deeds transfer to the account of the victim. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought:
No God, no peace. Know God, know peace. If you are too busy to pray you are too busy.

LESSON OF THE DAY 39

Ayahs of the Day:
Many were the ways of life that have passed away before you, travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected faith. Here is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear God! So lose not heart, nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith. [3: 137,138, 139]

Hadith of the Day:
The case of a believer is wonderful: there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is thexclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is grateful to Allah and at is good for him; and if he comes across some adversity, he is patient and submissive and that too is good for him. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:

Do not fix hopes on your health, and do not laugh away life. Remember how they walked and now their joints lie separately and the tongue with which they talked is eaten away by the worms. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
There is an inward and outward state in every human soul, with the inward being iman (the condition of the faith) and the outward being islam (the manifestation or practice of the faith). When the two come together inwardly and outwardly, the resulting balance is a truly beautiful human being, one generally called a muhsin, one whose worship and character are excellent. This is the taker of the straight path and what we all strive for and petition God for each time we stand in prayer.

The balance is to cling outwardly to the law and carry the spirit of ihsan inwardly. When Muslims deal with one another, they should incline toward clemency and mercy, not wrath and severity. It is more elevated act to reprieve than it is to exact justice. When love exists, there is no need for justice, what is meant by this is that when love is present and is allowed to override one's anger, the demand for retribution is quieted. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed. So little done, so much to do.

LESSON OF THE DAY 38

Ayahs of the Day
And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath, an eternal dwelling; How excellent is a recompense for those who work (and strive)! [3: 135, 136]

Hadith of the Day
One who desires chastity, Allah makes him chaste; One who wants contentment, Allah makes him contented; and the person who aspires for steadfastness, Allah bestows steadfastness upon him. No one has been awarded a bounty better than patience and submission. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
A person who discourses on religion without knowing that he will be questioned by God on what he says, knows the value of neither religion nor his own mind. [Imam abu Hanifah]

Guidance of the Day
The phrase sirat almustaqim,the straight or upright path, is repeated many times by the Muslim worshipper. The word mustaqim suggests balance. If one deviates from this balanced path, he does so in one of two ways: deficiency in fulfilling one's obligations and excessiveness therein.

Balance is not just a merciful device for adherents, but the shortest distance between a person and his or her spiritual objectives. The Quran itself calls the believers a "middle nation," which commentators say includes moderation, which leads to a consistency of worship and conduct that one can carry on throughout his or her life.

With Islam, the final message sent to earth, a balance is struck suitable for the complex societies that have spread across the face of the earth, a balance between ghadab (wrath & stern justice) and rahma (mercy.) To take the straight way, one must have both, the law and the spirit of the law. The law consists of rules, and the spirit of the law is mercy. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought
Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

LESSON OF THE DAY 37

Ayahs of the Day
Be quick in the race for the forgiveness from your Lord, and for a garden as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God fearing. Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity or in adversity, those who control their anger and are forgiving toward mankind, for Allah loves those who do good. [3: 133, 134]

Hadith of the Day
The salat is light, alms giving is proof (of one's faith), and to be steadfast is as good as light, and the Holy Quran is a plea in your favor or against you (as the case may be).Every one begins his morning ready to bargain with his soul as a steak and frees it or loses it. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Seek out a companion to help you in your affairs, and take his counsel concerning matters that occur from both inward states and outward affairs. [Shaykh Ahmad Zarruq]

Guidance of the Day
Muslim scholars have identified four essential qualities in human beings. The first of them is known in the western tradition as the rational soul, the human capacity to learn. The second is the capacity that relates to human emotion and anger. The third is related to appetite and desire. The fourth is that which harmonizes the previous three powers and keeps them in balance so that no one capacity overtakes and suppresses the others.

The one who perfected the balance between these forces was the Messenger of God (peace be upon him). The one who emulates him in his behavior, the greater balance one will achieve. The way of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the middle way, the way of moderation. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. With love even major differences become minor.

LESSON OF THE DAY 36

Ayahs of the Day
O you who believe! Devour not usury,doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah, that you may (really) prosper. Fear the fire which is prepared for those who reject faith. And obey Allah and the Messenger, thatyou may obtain mercy. [3: 130, 131 132]

Hadith of the Day
Allah will continue to hold out His hand at night so that he who has sinned during the day might repent, and to hold out His hand during the day so that one who has sinned at night might repent, and Allah will continue to do so till the sun rises from the west. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Dont just grow up, grow better with time and grow more experienced in age, keep being passionate about what you do, keep trying new things, keep patient and keep trying your best. The path to God is straight through wilfull surrender to God. [Dawud Wharnsby]

Guidance of the Day
If anger is not guided to something useful, it can possess, consume and destroy a person. Do not allow anger to lord over oneself and cause the loss of one's comportment. In other words do not become anger, its embodiment, such that people only see your rage. Instead control anger and never lose control.

Scholars have likened anger to a hunting dog: without training , it will never retrieve what its owner needs nor will it point a person in the right direction. So anger is something that needs to be trained not abolished, for if people completely suppressed their sense of anger, many of the injustices of the world would not have been opposed and tyranny would have gone unchecked. Corruption would cover the face of earth. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Anger is a killing thing, it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before, it takes something from him.

LESSON OF THE DAY 35

Ayahs of the Day
Allah had already given you the victory at Badr when you were a despised (small force). So have fear of Allah, in order that you may be thankful.And when you said to the believers: "Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should support you with three thousand angels sent down?" Yes: if you have patience, and guard yourself against evil, Allah will send to your aid five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught. [3:123,124,125]

Hadith of the Day
Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than would be one of you who were to lose his camel in a barren desert and then find it suddenly. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Your life should become a beacon of guidance and it should become a means for Dawah. [Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi]

Guidance of the Day
Anger is truly an amazing phenomenon if one reflects on its nature and presence in human life and character, its peril and liability, as well as its utility and necessity.

There is a correlation between what a person does and what he receives from God in kind -- a correspondence that our all wise Lord has placed in the working of creation. If one wishes not to incur the wrath of God, then this person should not be wrathful or angry with people unjustly.

Anger is not a negative emotion in and of itself. It is part of human creation as our flesh and limbs are. Without anger, there are many things that would not have been achieved. Anger can be a positive monitor. The Prophet's (peace be upon him) anger was always in response to an aberration in human character and behavior offensive to God. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Holding the anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing at someone else, and you are the one who gets burned. Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.

LESSON OF THE DAY 34

Ayah of the Day
You are the best community that has been raised up for mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and you believe in Allah. And if the people of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are evildoers.

[3: 110]

Hadith of the Day
No one should wish for death because of any misfortune that befalls him. If anybody should be so much hard up with life he should say: "Allah, keep me alive so long as life is good for me, and I may die when death is better for me. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
The spiritual warrior is the one who breaks an idol, and the idol of each person is his ego. [Al Qushayri]

Guidance of the Day
It is part of ancient wisdom to remind people that all accomplishments people admire and praise will perish until no one remembers it. There is foolishness in having vanity over what one has accomplished, given its ephemeral nature. But when one is thankful to God and acknowledges and praises Him as the source of this goodness, then the accomplishment outlasts our earthly lives and the memories of people.

If one accomplishes something, let him or her remember God and be grateful, and not swagger with haughtiness. For if we do not humble ourselves, God will humble us. When men and women are blessed with exceptional outward beauty, they introduce ugliness when they have vanity for it. To rid oneself of vanity or to prevent it from entering one's heart,one should reflect long and hard on the fact that all blessings are entirely from God and that we cannot create any benefit nor harm without His permission. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
He who angers you conquers you. For every minute you remain angry you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.

LESSON OF THE DAY 33

Ayahs of the Day
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong, they are the one's to attain felicity. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear signs, for them is a dreadful penalty. [3: 104, 105]

Hadith of the Day
For any trouble, illness, worry, grief, hurt or sorrow which afflicts a Muslim, even the pricking of a thorn, Allah removes in its stead some of his (minor) sins. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
The righteous salaf were as fearful of their good deeds being squandered and not accepted as the present generation is certain that their neglect will be forgiven. [Hasan al Basri]

Guidance of the Day
Another disease of the heart is vanity, known in Arabic as ujb, which is related to arrogance. The possessor of vanity is impressed with himself, and so admires his talents, possessions, looks, and status, and he considers himself better than others.

Ujb is a nefarious kind of vanity in which a person rejoices in the blessings he has, but forgets the sources of these blessings. The fact that someone has talent and is able to develop into a higher skill and craft and achieve remarkable things does nothing to diminish the obvious--that it is from God. Realizing that God is the source of all blessings prevents vanity from entering the heart. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Petty people seek out the faults of great people, while great people overlook the faults of petty people. If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size.

LESSON OF THE DAY 32

Ayahs of the Day
O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of submission (to Him). And hold fast altogether, to the rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you. [3: 102, 103]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say the good or remain silent. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Devotion of one's religious duty (taqwa) is the foundation of all that is good, it is a source of worldly benefit, a source of wisdom (hikma),and all kinds of knowledge (ulum) of purity of heart and of many secrets. [Shaykh Abdul Qader Jilani]

Guidance of the Day
Some assumptions are not permissible, such as holding a bad opinion about someone who manifests righteous behavior. This is something that is very easy to have but is harmful to brotherhood and injurious to one's own spiritual growth. This is allowing conjecture into one's heart without having facts.

Scholars have advised one should even beware of forming conclusions based on the bad appearances of people, for it could be that God veils their goodness from others. Having a bad opinion of someone without cause is considered a malady of heart. Often associated with this disease is backbiting, speaking ill of another person behind his or her back.

Suspicion in the heart that effect's one's thoughts and opinion of another person is called backbiting of the heart. This is not permissible. The Prophet [peace be upon him] said "Beware of a bad opinion because it is the most false of speech."

Food for Thought
No man can think when his fists are clenched. Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

LESSON OF THE DAY 31

Ayahs of the Day
O you who believe! If you obey some of those who have received the scripture, they will make you disbelievers after your belief. How can you disbelieve, when Allah's revelations are recited to you and His messenger is in your midst? He who holds fast to Allah shall be guided to a right path. [3: 100,101]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever is deprived of kindness is deprived of all good. (Muslim)

Wise Quote of the Day
Acquire knowledge because doing so is good, seeking it is worship, reviewing it is glorifying Allah, researching it is jihad and teaching it to the ignorant is charity.

Guidance of the Day
Fear (khawf) blocks two maladies: moral complacency and self righteousness. Having a good measure of fear is necessary to stay on the path. The Quran states that there are people who desire to continue in their wrongdoing throughout the entirety of their lives. They put off repentance as if they are guaranteed a long life.

Besides being simply wrong, another terrible flaw in this is that people die at all ages and never get a chance to repent and make amends. More over what kind of repentance is this when people intentionally indulge in sin banking on the possibility that later on in life, after all the energy and drive diminishes, they will turn in penitence to God? We know that God loves those who spend their youth obedient to Him and His commandments.

But when one reaches his or her deathbed, one should have absolute hope in God, certain that God will forgive and allow him or her entrance into paradise. This is having good thoughts about God. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Consider how much more you suffer from your anger and grief than from those things for which you are angry and grieved about. How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.

LESSON OF THE DAY 30

Ayahs of the Day
The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Makkah, full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings. In it are clear signs, the station of Ibrahim, whoever enters it attains security, pilgrimage thereto is a duty people owe to Allah--those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures. [3: 96, 97]

Hadith of the Day
Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, whenever it is removed from it, it disfigures it. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
The person of bad character is like a piece of broken pottery, which can neither be patched up nor returned to clay. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day
There is yet another kind of hope called umniyya, which is blameworthy in Islam. Essentially it is having hope but neglecting the means to achieve what one hopes for, which is what we refer to as an "empty wish." To hope for the Hereafter but do nothing for it in terms of conduct and morality is also false hope.

Entry into paradise is a matter of God's mercy and this mercy is attained by combining faith and sincere deeds for the sake of God.

O' Allah help us do the righteous deeds in accordance with the sharia with the utmost sincerity, ameen. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
When a noble life has prepared old age, it is not decline that it reveals, but the first days of immortality.

LESSON OF THE DAY 29

Ayah of the Day
By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love; and whatever you spend Allah is aware of it. [3: 90]

Hadith of the Day
The similitude of one who makes remembrance of his Lord and who does not is like the living and the dead. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day
Whoever forgets death will be punished in three ways: he will delay repentance, he will no longer be content with what is sufficient, and he will be lazy in worship. [Shaykh al Daqaq]

Guidance of the Day
It is wise to meditate on death. Many of the righteous forbears of Muslim civilization stressed that one should visualize the states of death and the afterlife; their bodies being washed and prepared for burial, being lowered into the grave, having soil cover them, being questioned

by the angels, climbing out of the grave on the Day of Resurrection, and being called to stand in judgment before God the Exalted.

Reflecting on death brings sobriety to one's state. But an overabundance of hope is a disease that leads to complacency and dampens the aspiration to do good, since salvation is something guaranteed (in one's mind). Too many will serve their passions like slaves and still consider themselves saved. In Islam, faith must be coupled with good works for one's religion to be complete. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

LESSON OF THE DAY 28

Ayahs of the Day
Say (O' Mohammad): " If you do love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Say: " Obey Allah and His Messenger"; but if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith. [3: 31,32 ]

Hadith of the Day
By his good character a believer will attain the degree of one who prays during the night and fasts during the day. [Abu Dawud]

Wise Quote of the Day
Whoever remembers death frequently will be rewarded in three ways: he will hasten to repent, he will become content, and he will be active in worship. [Shaykh al Daqaq]

Guidance of the Day
We are warned against desiring death in a hadith, one should desire life in order to repent and make amends of past iniquities. If one did much good, he should want more life to perform more righteous deeds. If one's past has been marred with evil, then there is a new day and opportunity to turn things around.

People who recognize the urgency of the human condition and their own impending mortality do not squander their time. They set out positive deeds. It is no coincidence that those very people who do good and hope to do more of it are in fact those who reflect on death and work for the Hereafter the most, so the day of judgment will be a moment of joy and light for them. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
You end up as you deserve. In the old age you must put up with the face, the friends, the health, and the children you have earned.

LESSON OF THE DAY 27

Ayahs of the Day
Say: "Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all; He knows what is in the heavens, and what is on the earth. And Allah has power over all things. On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him. [3: 29,30]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah eases for them a path to paradise. [Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day
The best remembrance is that which involves both the tongue and the heart. [Ibn Ataillah]

Guidance of the Day
Believers are not anti-worldly in a sense propagated by some Christian theologies. The world is a place made for us to enjoy, but not to the point that we forget our purpose and ultimate destiny.

When a person suffers the passage of time without consistent and serious reflection about the Hereafter, the world takes hold of his heart more and more, which has a way of making the heart hard. Those with hard hearts become corrupt. This dynamic applies to societies as it does to individuals.

Although long hopes can harden hearts, there are exceptions, like a scholarly work from which many people may benefit. It is one of the highest things a person can do. In fact, it is a form of sadaqa jariya (a continuos charity). In cases like this, one is not censured for wanting a long life, because one seeks to strive in ways that serve God, His religion and humanity. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty, anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep the mind young.

LESSON OF THE DAY 26

Ayahs of the Day
Say O'Allah! Lord of Power, You give power to whom you please, and take it from whom You will. You exalt whom You will and abase whom You will. In Your hand lies all that is good; You have power over all things. You cause the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night. You bringforth the living from the dead and the dead from the living; and you give sustenance to whom You choose, without measure. [3: 26,27]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the fire on the Day of Judgment. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day
Know that hearing and sight are two open doors, whatever enters through them reaches the heart. [Ibn Alawi al Haddad]

Guidance of the Day
The world is divided into two types of people: sa 'id (felicitous) and shaqi (wretched.) There is not a third category.

There are well-known signs of wretchedness. The first is having a hard heart. A person who has sympathy and softness in the heart is said to have a moistened eye. If it is dry and unmoved to tears, this is an indication of a hard heart. The second sign is a lack of modesty. From the first words of prophecy, it was said, "If you have no shame, do what you will."

The third sign is coveting the world. It is said that no one increases his good share in the Hereafter without incurring loss in his worldly affairs. The last sign is having long hopes which can also generate indolence regarding one's obligations. This indolence (kasl) Shows itself in lack of energy in working for the Hereafter, which includes performing the obligatory acts of worship. There are people who find reservoirs of energy when it comes to worldly matters, but are overcome with sloth when it comes to matters of the hereafter.

O' Allah help us prepare for the Hereafter to the best of our ability, ameen.

Food for Thought

A comfortable old age is the reward of a well-spent youth.

LESSON OF THE DAY 25

Ayahs of the Day
Those who say; "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the punishment of the fire." Those who show patience, firmness and self control, who are true (in word and deed), who worship devoutly, who spend (in the way of Allah), and who pray for forgiveness at the time before dawn. [3: 16,17]

Hadith of the Day
You cannot reach all people with your wealth, so let your smiling face and good character reach them. [Hakim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Know that you should reflect on God's complete awareness of you, and His seeing and knowing all about you. [Ibn Alawi al Haddad]

Guidance of the Day
For most people today, happiness is sought by acquisition of material goods. The believer, though, finds happiness in genuine worship, a connection with other-worldliness. The human being is a creature which cannot pursue two things simultaneously, especially when they are on the opposite poles of the universe.

Islam connects the definition and understanding of happiness with what is permanent and real. True happiness is derived from one's relationship with God and happiness in the Hereafter. This includes living a life that prepares one for this destiny. Regarding one who is engaged in preparing for tomorrow or writing works of knowledge, extended hope is not blameworthy.

If one is happy in the next world, this is the greatest possible achievement, regardless of one's material accomplishments in this life. [Purification of the Heart]

O'Allah grant us the true understanding of this world and the next,ameen.

Food for Thought
Some people no matter how old they get never lose their beauty, they merely move it from their faces to their hearts

LESSON OF THE DAY 24

Ayahs of the Day
Made beautiful for mankind is the love of desires, for women and offsring, of hoarded treasures of gold and silver, of branded horses, cattle and plantations. These are the comforts of this life; yet with Allah is the best of all goals. Say(O Muhammad:) "Shall I tell you of better things than that? For those who are Godfearing shall be gardens with their Lord, beneath which rivers flow, and pure spouses, and the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah's sight are (all) His servants. [3: 16,15]

Hadith of the Day
The most hated to Allah is one who constantly argues. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
The sickness affecting your heart, O poor one, comes from the passions which pass through you. If you were to abandon them and concern yourself with what God ordains for you, your heart would not suffer as it suffers now. [Shaykh Al Darqawi]

Guidance of the Day
A quick-acting poison is extended false hope, which is assuring oneself that death is a long way off. This generates hardheartedness and indolence regarding obligations, which leads to inroads to the prohibited. The dangers of this delusion are self-evident.

There is a place for long hopes; in fact, it's a mercy from God that we are capable of it, otherwise no one would embark on a course of education, or undertake any endeavor that takes years before completion.

Taking it a step further, one of the problems of the modern society is that people are beginning to completely lose hope in the future. We live in a fast food culture, in which we are lead to believe that we need to have everything now; it is a culture that causes people to lose a sense of a future worth waiting for. [Purification of the Heart]

LESSON OF THE DAY 23

Ayahs of the Day
(They say), "Our Lord do not cause our hearts to go astray after you have guided us, and bestow on us mercy from your presence, for You are the Granter of bounties without measure. Our Lord! It is You Who shall gather mankind together to a day of which there is no doubt; for Allah never fails in His promise." [3: 08,09]

Hadith of the Day
Glad tidings to the one busied by his own faults from the faults of others. [Bazzar]

Wise Quote of the Day
Abstaining from the unlawful is the beginning of renunciation (zuhd) of the world, just as contentment with one's lot is a branch of satisfaction with the will of God. [Abul Qasim al Qushayri]

Guidance of the Day
God divides the provision of people into two kinds: inner (batini) and outer (zahiri). The outward provisions include such things as food, shelter, and well-being. Inner provisions include knowledge, good character, contentment, and similar qualities. Even the people in a person's life (friends, teachers, spouse, family, and so on) are considered provision.

Along with the provision that God gives, He also has given the means by which one must seek out his provision. There should be no confusion between the means of attaining wealth and wealth itself. When one starts to believe that his wealth is in the hands of another person, this creates a breeding ground for diseases, such as coveting what others have, doing whatever it takes to get it, and becoming angry when one does not receive what he expects. One must trust in God and seek refuge in Him for resorting to illicit livelihood out of fear of not having enough wealth. [Purification of the Heart]

O' Allah make us content with what You have provided us with and include Your Blessings in them, ameen.

LESSON OF THE DAY 22

Ayahs of the Day
It is He Who has revealed to you the Qur'an. Some of its verses are precise and clear in meaning; they are the Mother of the Book; while others are allegorical. Those with a swerving in their hearts pursue the allegorical, to seek to create dissension by seeking to explain it. Yet no one knows their explanation except Allah. Those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: " We believe in it; it is from our Lord," but only man of understanding really heed. [3:07]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever eaves drops on the conversation of the people who dislike to have him listening shall have molten lead poured into his ears. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day
If men seek to draw near to God, they must seek Him in the Hearts of the men. They should speak well of all men, whether present or absent, and if they themselves seek in a light to guide others, like the sun they must show the same face to all. [Abu Sa'id]

Guidance of the Day
Covetousness is the root cause for many iniquities, like slander. A person who slanders another does so for some perceived gains. For example, he desires to instill negative thoughts in others toward the object of his scorn. Covetousness can be so overwhelming that it occupies one's mind during salah. It also leads to insincere praise of others to get something from them.

What makes the process difficult is living in a time when the abnormal is made to seem normal. The Qur'an warns that satan seeks to adorn things before human eyes, so that we do not see things for what they are. As such even covetousness is adorned. It leaves one with the feeling of desiring more, which leads to a culture that cannot be satisfied. Covetousness, if it is not for God and His religion, will be for worldly things. Hence we need to place it

in the proper place. [Purification of the Heart]

O' Allah give us the true understanding of this world and of the next world, ameen

LESSON OF THE DAY 21

Ayahs of the Day
Do you believe in one part of the scripture and disbelieve in another? Those of you that act thus shall only be rewarded with disgrace in this world, and with the grievous punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Allah is not unaware of what you do. Such are they who buy the life of this world at the price of the hereafter.Their punishment will not be lightened, nor will they be helped. [2;85.86]

Hadith of the Day
Whoever will withhold his anger Allah will withhold His punishment from him. [Tabrani.]

Wise Quote of the Day
To advise others is an easy matter, the difficulty is accepting advice, since it is bitter for those who follow their own inclinations and desires. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day
The above mentioned ayahs and the ayahs from the previous lesson (i.e., 2;80,&81), have a very special place in my life. People often ask me about what brought about my religious inclination. To this day I remember exactly that it was listening to Dr. Israr Ahmad's tafseer of these ayahs in such a way that these ayahs just entered my heart (may Allah bless him). I wanted to share these very special ayahs with everyone.

The message of these ayahs as you can see is clear and simple to do what we have been commanded to do in the best possible manner without exceptions. Every single command is big, because it is from Allah the Almighty. Once we claim to be Muslims, it is supposed to be the submission of our will to His command. Allah has given us the complete SHARIA to practice as a whole package, we have no right to pick and choose, when we do this Allah has promised to forgive our shortcomings, and the scholars have explained that this is what hope is, i.e., it is always accompanied by hard work otherwise it's just wishful thinking.

I still have a long way to go, but every time I recite these beautiful ayahs I feel like I can keep a check on myself through them.

O' Allah open our hearts for the true undestanding of Your Book and make us from those who are guided in every way, and from those who You are pleased with, ameen.

LESSON OF THE DAY 20

Ayahs of the Day
And they say: "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days;" Say:" Have you taken a leave from Allah, for He never breaks His promise? Or is it that you say of Allah what you do not know?", No, but whoever earns evil and becomes surrounded in his sin shall be doomed to Hell, and abide therein forever. [2:80,81]

Hadith of the Day
Do not insult the dead, for they have moved on to what they sent forth. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day
Many "educated" people today feel that the most cursory knowledge of religion gives them the right to speak in its name and opposition to recognized religious authorities. Such people have already committed monumental blunders. [Mustafa al Badawi]

Guidance of the Day
When the topic of God's power is discussed, questions often arise about those who hold rancor in their hearts to the degree that they wish harm to come to others. There is real concern about the affliction these people can cause.

It is necessary to remember that when a person is straight with God---observant of His commands, avoiding what He has prohibited, and going beyond the mere obligations and remembering Him often through dhikr and voluntary acts of worship and generosity in charity...the evil prayers of others will not prevail. [Purification of the heart]

LESSON OF THE DAY 19

Ayahs of the Day
If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay. But if you remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if you only knew. And fear the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly. [2: 280, 281]

Hadith of the Day
It is sufficient evil for a man to look down upon his Muslim brother. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Before the time of prayer comes, the servant must be in a state of preparation and his attitude must be that which is essential for prayer, namely a state of meditation and recollection, free from wandering thoughts and consideration or remembrance of anything save God alone. [Abu Nasr al Sarraj]

Guidance of the Day
Performing an act for God is ruined when one goes about informing people of it afterwards. Repentance restores the value of the good deed. There is no harm in informing others of one's works for the purpose of encouraging them to do good. But even in this case one must tread carefully.

The life support for ostentation and reputation is covetousness. And the cause for this covetousness is heedlessness. A person permits himself to forget that blessings are from God alone. No good are harm can come to one except by God's leave. People can become so terribly preoccupied with seeking things from other people, they become heedless of God's power and ownership. When this happens, a person opens his or her heart to all kinds of spiritual diseases. [Purification of the heart]

LESSON OF THE DAY 18

Ayahs of the Day
O you who believe, fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand of usury, if you are indeed believers. If you do it not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger, but if you turn back, you shall have your capital sums, deal not unjustly and you shall not be dealt with unjustly. [2 : 278, 279].

Hadith of the Day
Whoever Allah wishes good for, He gives profound understanding of religion. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day
Try to gladden the hearts of believers in every way as long as these ways are not sinful. [Imam Haddad]

Guidance of the Day
To be displeased at God's divine decree is to plunge into heedlessness. God has decreed that evil will exist in this world in order to test humankind and for reasons that accord with His wisdom. We should not be displeased with His choice in allowing this.

There are three blessings hidden in every trial: it could have been worse, it involved one's worldly affairs and not religion, and it came in this world and not the Hereafter. [Purification of the heart]

LESSON OF THE DAY 17

Ayahs of the Day
Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity, for He loves not creatures ungrateful and wicked. Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. [2: 276,277].

Hadith of the Day
All the children of Adam err, and the best of those who err are the oft repenting. [Tirmidhi].

Wise Quote of the Day
The outward appearance of an angry person is ugly enough, yet his inner appearance is even uglier. [Al Shabrawi]

Guidance of the Day
(States & responses cont.)

As for obedience, one must recognize that obedience is a blessing from God. What God demands from obedient people is simply acknowledging that their obedience is a gift from God.

When it comes to disobedience, the response is repenting to God, seeking His forgiveness, pardon and mercy, feeling remorse for the past, and having the resolve never to sink into disobedience again.

What comes to a person in his or her life, however difficult it may be, perhaps will help a person move closer to God when the response is right. [Purification of the heart].

O'Allah help us respond in the most appropriate manner, ameen.