LESSON OF THE DAY 106

Ayahs of the Day:
If He wished, He could destroy you, O mankind, and create another race; for He has power to do this. Anyone who wants a worldly prize (should know) God holds the worldly prize plus another in the Hereafter. God is Alert, Observant. [4: 133,134]

Hadith of the Day:
None of you should pray for (his own) death, because if he is a good person, it is possible that he might add to his virtuous deeds, and if he is not a good person he might get a chance to rectify his (evil) past. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The action which is sincere and incorrect is not accepted, and the one which is correct and insincere is not accepted. It is only accepted when it is sincere and correct. [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day:
The true ascetic is he who is careful to protect himself from dubious and unsanctioned practices in commerce. The same (attitude) applies to all other occupations and professions. Anyone who works in a given field is duty bound to learn how to guard against what is forbidden therein. This is also obligatory with knowledge of the conditions of the heart, such as complete reliance on God, repentance, fear, satisfaction (with God's decree)----for this applies to people of every walk of life.

The nobility of learning is not foreign to anyone, since it is something peculiar to all mankind. With the exception of knowledge, humans as well as animals are associated with several virtues, such as valor, courage, strength, generosity, and compassion. Learning, however, is the exception. Through it, God revealed the preeminence of Adam (peace be upon him) over the angels whom He commanded to prostrate themselves before (this first human). Learning is indeed noble, for it leads to a fear of God which entitles (the believer to receive) God's benevolence and eternal bliss (in the Hereafter). [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al Zarnuji]

Food for Thought:
Life is an adventure in forgiveness. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every man has need to be forgiven.

LESSON OF THE DAY 105

Ayahs of the Day:
To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth. Verily We directed the People of the Book before you, and you (O Muslims) to fear Allah. But if you deny Him, to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and enough is Allah to carry through all affairs. [4: 131,132]

Hadith of the Day:
You should not be envious of anyone save: One he upon whom Allah bestows the (knowledge of) Quran and he studies and practices it through the day and night; and the other whom Allah gives wealth and he spends it in the cause of Allah, throughout the night and day. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
A person's fear of Allah is equal to his knowledge of Him and his renouncing of this world is equal to his desire of the Hereafter. [Ibrahim al As'ath]

Guidance of the Day:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The quest of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim man and Muslim woman." But it is not obligatory for every Muslim to seek all (aspects) of learning, but only that in keeping one's standing. It is said that the most meritorious knowledge is that in keeping with one's standing, and the most meritorious action is to maintain one's standing (soundly).

It is necessary for the Muslim to strive for as much knowledge as he may need in his standing whatever this may be. Since one must perform prayers, he must know enough about the prayer ritual that will help him acquit himself of his obligation. Knowledge of his (other) religious obligations is likewise incumbent upon him, for whatever leads to the fulfillment of a duty is itself a duty and what leads to the establishment of an obligation is an obligation. This applies to fasting; paying zakat if one possesses wealth; and the pilgrimage when one is under obligation to perform it. It also applies to trading goods if one is engaged in commerce. [Instruction of the student--The method of learning by Imam Al-Zarnuji]

Food for Thought:
Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note, torn into two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one." I forgive but I cannot forget", is only one way of saying, "I will not forgive."

LESSON OF THE DAY 104

Ayahs of the Day:
Who can be better than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the upright in faith? Allah (Himself) chose Abraham for a friend. To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. It is Allah that encompasses all things. [4: 125,126]

Hadith of the Day:
Charity does not diminish the wealth; Allah enhances the honor of one who forgives, and one who humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah exalts him in rank. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
When you find yourself slipping, remember Allah and the Last Day. If you died this very moment, is this a state you would want to die in? [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day:
The treatment for miserliness is realizing that those who achieve wealth usually do so only after exhausting themselves over long periods of time, working for it day and night. Meanwhile life passes on, and the time runs out. The culture of wanting more for the sake of more can literally occupy a person for life.

Reflect long and hard on the fact that just as people climb the heights of affluence and start to achieve what they have worn themselves out for, then death assails them without invitation. When death takes us and moves us on, our wealth stays behind for others to wrangle over and spend.

One must also realize the level of disdain shown to misers. Nobody likes a miser. Even misers loathe each other. Realizing the hatred people have for misers is enough to turn one away from their disease. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
The best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness, to an opponent tolerance, to a friend your heart, to your child good example, to your father deference, to your mother a conduct that will make her proud of you, to yourself respect and to all men charity.

LESSON OF THE DAY 103

Ayahs of the Day:
Not your desires, nor those of the people of the Book (can prevail); whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly. Nor will he find besides Allah, any protector or helper. If any do deeds of righteousness--be they male or female--and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them. [4: 123, 124]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah the Exalted, says: "O son of Adam spend (in the way of Allah), Allah will also spend upon you." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Argumentation busies the heart with darkness, and fills it with blameworthy character traits, such as arrogance, love of dispute, anger, and leaving sincere council. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
The etiology of miserliness comes down to loving the fleeting stuff of this world. The miser ardently clings to his wealth and hoards it up. Miserly people are those who are unable to let go of something that otherwise poisons them. Giving Zakat is letting go of something to purify one's wealth and soul. It is possible that someone's earnings may have some impurity in it, some doubtful source. By giving Zakat, one purifies one's provision from whatever unknown impurities that may have entered.

The ultimate casualty of miserliness is the miser himself. The nature of the miser is that he does not benefit from his wealth in this world; and in the Hereafter he is bankrupt and debased for refusing to give to the needy--refusing to purify his wealth, allowing it to be a cause of light and relief in the Hereafter. The miser never truly feels relieved of anxiety; a miser is constantly worried about money and devoted to servicing his worry. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom. Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. Forgive many things in others, nothing in yourself.

LESSON OF THE DAY 102

Ayahs of the Day:
Allah did curse him (Satan), but he said: "I will take of your servants a portion marked off;and surely I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them and they will change Allah's creation. Whoever choses Satan for a friend instead of Allah is assuredly a loser, and his loss is manifest. Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires; but Satan's promises are nothing but deception. Those will have Hell as their refuge and find no escape from it. [4: 118,119,120,121]

Hadith of the Day:
Plenty of provision or abundance do not make a person rich and wealthy, real richness is the benevolence of the heart. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Islam is such a set of principles and beliefs that it will satisfy every seeker of truth.[Ali radhi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
In Islam, it is an anathema to give away in charity what is shoddy and inferior. There is parsimony and miserliness in this. The Muslim tradition is to give away from what one loves; God blesses this charity and extends its goodness.

Generosity is one of the highest virtues of Islam and one of the manifest qualities of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who was known as the most generous person. The word for generosity here is derived from karam, which also means nobility. In fact, one of the most excellent names of God is al-Kareem, the Generous. It is better to go beyond the minimum of what the Sacred law demands when giving Charity. This generosity is an expression of gratitude to God, who is the Provider of all wealth and provision. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.

LESSON OF THE DAY 101

Ayah of the Day:
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell--What an evil refuge! [4: 115]

Hadith of the Day:
No man fills a pot worse than his stomach. For a person few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. But if he wants to fill his stomach then he should divide it into three parts and fill one-third with the food, another third with drink and leave one-third empty for easy breathing. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The means to the haram (forbidden) are also haram. [Ibn Abd al Salam]

Guidance of the Day:
The refusal to give what is obliged according to sacred law or to virtuous merit is the essence of miserliness, which is mentioned among the diseases of the heart. Miserliness in the form of not giving Zakat is explicitly forbidden. The same is true with one's obligation to support his wife and children.

In terms of valor, one should never create difficulty over paltry matters. When it comes to debt, it is far better for the creditor to be flexible and magnanimous, than demanding and unbearable. This is especially true when the creditor is not in need of repayment, while the debtor faces hardship. An understanding and compassionate creditor is one who has the valor. It is an Islamic ethic that a wealthy person have magnanimity, generosity, and the demeanor of lenience. When paying charity, one should smile and be humble. It is a privilege to be in the position to give charity and an honor to fulfill a divine obligation. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't. Faith is courage, it is creative, while despair is always destructive.

LESSON OF THE DAY 100

Ayah of the Day:
In most of their secret talks there is no good; but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or reconciliation between men, (secrecy is permissible); To him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the highest (value). [4: 114]

Hadith of the Day:
A person who embraces Islam, and is given provision for subsistence that is just sufficient for his needs, and he is content with what Allah has given him, has achieved (alround success) and prosperity. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Consider this life as something you have left, consider the death as something you have tasted, and consider the Hereafter as a home you have visited. I swear by Allah, all of these things will happen. [Ata al Khurasani]

Guidance of the Day:
Purifying the heart is a process. First, one must understand the necessity of having courtesy with God and the importance of fulfilling its requirements. Second, one must be aware of the diseases of the heart---aware of their existence, of their ailments, and of the deleterious complications and infirmities that ensue from them, and recognize that these diseases prevent one from attaining this courtesy.

Knowledge of the diseases of the heart, their causes, and how to remove them is an obligation on every sound adult human being. Purification is a life long process, not something that is applied once and then forgotten. Purity of heart never survives a passive relationship. One must always guard his or her heart. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
He who has faith has an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well. Faith is a passionate intuition.

LESSON OF THE DAY 99

Ayahs of the Day:
If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And if anyone earns sin, he earns it against his own soul; for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. But whoever commits an offense or a crime, then throws (the blame) on to one who is innocent, has burdened himself with falsehood and a flagrant sin. [4: 110,111,112]

Hadith of the Day:
Two hungry wolves if let loose among a flock of sheep, will not do more damage than that is caused by a man's avarice for wealth and status to his religion. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Whoever acts according to what he knows, Allah will make him successful in what he doesn't know, and whoever is ill-tempered disgraces his honor, religion and generosity. [Ibrahim al Ash'ath]

Guidance of the Day:
There is no salvation like the heart's salvation, given that all the limbs respond to its desires. If one's heart is safe, so too are the limbs, for they carry out the deeds inspired by the heart. The limbs of the corrupt become instruments through which corruption is spread.

A hadith implies that the tongue is the "interpreter of the heart." Hypocrisy is wretched because the hypocrite says with his tongue what is not in his heart. He wrongs his tongue and oppresses his heart. But if the heart is sound, the condition of the tongue follows suit. We are recommended to be upright in our speech, which is a gauge of the heart. Engaging in the regular remembrance of God (dhikr) safeguards the tongue and replaces idle talk with words and phrases that raise one in honor. The tongue is essential in developing courtesy with God, which is the whole point of existence. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God and angels know of us. Money doesn't change people, it only exposes them.

LESSON OF THE DAY 98

Ayahs of the Day:
When you have performed the (congregational) prayers, then remember Allah standing, sitting and reclining. And when you are in safety, observe regular prayers. For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. [4: 103]

Hadith of the Day:
Man says: My property, my property; but O Son of Adam what is for you out of your property only which you ate and it vanished, which you wore and made it worn out and spent in charity and sent it ahead. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Converts need to be dealt with gently. the most important thing is to preserve their Islam. Everything else is secondary. [Shaykh Faraz Rabbani]

Guidance of the Day:
Dignity and honor are gifts. Dignity with God comes to those who are humble before Him. They place value on how they are received by their maker and not by how they will be judged by the ephemeral norms of people. There are many accounts, for example, of people who were once in position of authority and wealth, but now find themselves as paupers completely stripped of their former glory, reduced in many instances. God is powerful over all things, and all good, authority, and provision are in His hand, not ours.

If one is humble before God, He will render him or her honorable. Conversely, God humbles and humiliates the haughty ones, those who arrogantly seek out rank and glory before the eyes of people. The Quran gives the example of Pharaoh and Korah and their abject fall and disgrace. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Reason is our soul's left hand. Faith her right. Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.

LESSON OF THE DAY 97

Ayah of the Day:
Whoever emigrates for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and abundance in the earth, should he die as a refugee from home for Allah and His Messenger, His reward becomes due and sure with Allah; and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [4: 100]

Hadith of the Day:
If in the sight of Allah the world had the value equal to that of the wing of the mosquito, He would not have allowed a disbeliever even to drink a mouthful of water out of it. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
When you mention your companion's faults, remember your own faults. [Ibn Abbas]

Guidance of the Day:
Freedom is achieved when one realizes the qualities of shame and humility, and empties oneself of their opposites (shamelessness and arrogance). With these qualities come true freedom, wealth and dignity. People may claim to be "free", yet they cannot control themselves from gluttony in the presence of food or illicit relations when the opportunity presents itself. Such a notion of freedom is devoid of content.

Freedom has real meaning, for example, when a situation of temptation arises and one remains God-fearing, steadfast, and in control of one's actions. This holds true even when the temptation produces flickers of desire in a person who nonetheless refrains from indulging. One may also include in the dominant ones, the tongue, which can be a formidable obstacle. There are people, for example, who appear incapable of stopping themselves from backbiting and speaking ill of others, and they often do so without realizing it. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
If it wasn't for faith there would be no living in this world. We couldn't even eat with safety. To me, faith means not worrying.

LESSON OF THE DAY 96

Ayahs of the Day:
When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they (the angels) will ask:"In what were you engaged?" They will reply: "We were oppressed in the land." (The angels) will say: "Was not Allah's earth spacious enough for you that you could have migrated there in?" As for such, their abode is Hell--What an evil refuge!

Hadith of the Day:
Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Read and you shall only behold that the most logical of all answers are always right there before your very eyes. [Moez Masud]

Guidance of the Day:

Haya (shame) is associated with the knowledge and active awareness that God is all-seeing of what one does----a reality that is permanent. The nurturing of this realization deters one from engaging in acts that are displeasing and vulgar. This is the essence of the noble prophetic teachings.

One should also have dhul, which literally refers to being lowly, abject, or humbled. What is meant here is humility or humbleness voluntarily assumed before God, which is required for courtesy. It refers to the awesome realization that each of us, at every moment, live and act before the august presence of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one God besides whom there is no power or might in all the universe.

When one seriously reflects on God's perfect watch over His creation, the countless blessings he sends down, and then consider the kind of deeds one brings before Him---what possible feelings can a person generate except of humility and degrees of shame? With these strong feelings, one implores God to change one's state, make one's desires consonant with His pleasure---giving up one's designs for God's designs. This is pure adab (courtesy) with respect to God, a requisite for spiritual purification. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. Experiences are savings which a miser puts aside, wisdom is an inheritance which a wastrel cannot exhaust.

LESSON OF THE DAY 95

Ayahs of the Day:
Not equal are those Believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in faith) Allah has promised good: but those who strive and fight He has distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward. Ranks specially bestowed by Him and Forgiveness and Mercy. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [4: 95, 96]

Hadith of the Day:
The world is the prison for the believer and the paradise for the disbeliever. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Live in this life as if you will live in it for ever and live for the life to come as though you will die tomorrow. (i.e. Never delay the works for the life to come) [Amr ibn al Aas]

Guidance of the Day:
Excellent behavior and comportment are the doorkeepers to the science of spiritual purification. One must have courtesy (Adab) with regard to God, behave properly with respect to His presence--if he or she wishes to purify the heart.

Two requisite qualities are associated with courtesy: shame (haya) and humbleness (dhul).The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "Every religion has a quality that is the characteristic of that religion. And the characteristic of my religion is haya", an internal sense of shame, which includes bashfulness and modesty.

When a person acknowledges and realizes that God is fully aware of all that one does, says or thinks, shame is elevated to a higher plane, to the unseen world from which there is no cover. In fact, one feels a sense of shame even before the angels. So while Muslims comprise a shame based culture, this notion transcends shame before one's family----whether one's elders or parents--and admits a mechanism that is not subject to the changing norms of human cultures. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.

LESSON OF THE DAY 94

Ayahs of the Day:
He who kills a Believer intentionally, his reward is Hell forever, and the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him, and for him He has prepared a dreadful penalty. [4: 93]

Hadith of the Day:
A man came to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and requested him: "Messenger of Allah, tell me something by doing which, I should win the love of Allah and the people." The Holy Prophet told him: "Do not love the world, and Allah will love you; and do not have a longing for that which people have, and they will love you." [Ibn Majah]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Islam is not just a religion, Islam is everything. [Yusuf Islam]

Guidance of the Day:
The well-known civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. said that in order for people to condemn injustice, they must go through four stages. The fist stage is that people must ascertain that there are injustices being perpetrated. The second stage is to negotiate, that is approach the oppressor and demand justice.

If the oppressor refuses, the third stage is self purification, which starts with the questions: "Are we ourselves wrong doers? Are we ourselves oppressors?" The fourth stage, then, is to take action after true self examination, after removing one's own wrongs before demanding justice from others. This is what we have to recognize: we need to purify ourselves. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself.

LESSON OF THE DAY 93

Ayahs of the Day:
Never should a Believer kill a Believer unless it be by mistake, (compensation is due); He who has killed a Believer by mistake must set free a believing slave, and pay compensation to the deceased family, unless they remit it as a charity. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a Believer, the freeing of a slave (is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family, and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their means, must fast two consecutive months, by way of repentance to Allah; for Allah has all knowledge and all wisdom. [4: 92]

Hadith of the Day:
The world is a prison for the believer and the paradise for the disbeliever. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The Muslims have got Islam as a legacy, hence they fail to recognize its value. [Marmaduke Pickthall]

Guidance of the Day:
If we examine the trials and tribulations, wars and other conflicts, every act of injustice all over earth, we will find they are rooted in human hearts. Covetousness, the desire to aggress and exploit, the longing to pilfer natural resources, the inordinate love of wealth and position, and other maladies are manifestations of diseases found nowhere but in the heart. Every criminal, miser, abuser, scoffer, embezzler, and hateful person does what he or she does because of a diseased heart. If hearts were sound, these actions would no longer be a reality.

If you want to change our world, do not begin by rectifying the outward. Instead, change the condition of the inward. Everything we see happening outside of us is in reality coming from the unseen world within. It is from the unseen world that the phenomenal world emerges, and it is from the unseen realm of our hearts that all actions spring. One can say that Islam in essence is a program to restore purity and calm to the heart through the remembrance of God. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Certainty is not lifted by doubts, rather certainty is only lifted by certainty.

LESSON OF THE DAY 92

Ayahs of the Day:
When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (atleast) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things. Allah! there is no God but He: of a surety He will gather you together against the Day of Judgment, about which there is no doubt, and whose word can be truer than Allah,s? [4: 86, 87]

Hadith of the Day:
Those who have plenty of wealth will indeed own the least on the Day of Judgment, save those who spend their wealth like this and this and this to the right, to the left and the rear but such persons are few. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
A human being is not a human being while his tendencies include self indulgence, covetousness, temper and attacking other people. [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:
If we stop breathing, cells die, and then we die. The heart needs to breathe, and the breath of the heart is none other than the remembrance of God and what it entails. The very purpose of revelation and of scripture is to remind us again and for the final time that our hearts needs to be nourished.

We enter into the world in a state of fitra,the original state, the inherent nature of the human being that is disposed to accept faith and prefer morality, but we learn to be anxious mainly from our parents and then our societies. The heart is created vulnerable to anxiety and agitation. Those who are protected from this state are People of Prayer, people who establish Prayer and guard its performance with a humble and open heart connected with God the Lord of all creation. The highest ranks among people are those who do not allow anything to divert them from the remembrance of God. They are the ones who remember God while standing, sitting, and reclining on their sides (Quran, 3:191). [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
You should adopt a habit of reading useful knowledge, which is that which increases your knowledge of the essence of God, His Attributes, Acts and Favors, makes you aware of His Commands, and Prohibitions, leads you to work for the Hereafter.

LESSON OF THE DAY 91

Ayah of the Day:
Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein; and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden; and Allah has power over all things. [4; 85]

Hadith of the Day:
The worth of the world as compared with the Hereafter is as if one of you puts his finger in the ocean or a river and then examines as to how much water it brings when taken out. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Islam is a way of life which opens the heart to the meaning of existence. [Ahmad Thompson]

Guidance of the Day:
The best worship occurs with the combination of speech and reflection. When practiced for a long time regularly, one achieves supreme realizations about God the Exalted and His acts. When one reflects deeply, he separates himself from others and even from his own limitations.

The believer sees good in all things, even in affliction and trial, in which there is wisdom: an opportunity to grow, purify oneself, learn patience, and draw near to God. It may be that you dislike something though it is good for you, and it may be that you love something though it is bad for you. (Quran,2:216) Understanding this is the idea in witnessing God's wisdom in events of the world. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing. Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.

LESSON OF THE DAY 90

Ayahs of the Day:
They have "obedience"on their lips; but when they leave you a party of them spend the night planning other than what you say. Allah records what they plan by night. So keep clear of them, and put your trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs. [4: 81]

Hadith of the Day:
The richest person in the world who had been destined to hell will be brought up on the Day of judgment will be dipped once in the Fire of Hell and then asked: "O son of Adam! Did you ever see any good, did you ever have any bliss?' He will say: "By Allah! Never, O' Sustainer." Then the one who was worst hit with adversity in the world, and was destined to Paradise, will be brought up and given one dip (in the spring of) Paradise, and then asked: "O son of Adam! Did you ever face any adversity; did you ever have any hardship? He will say: "By Allah! I never experienced any adversity; I never passed through any hardship'. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Your souls are precious and can only be equal the price of Paradise, therefore sell them only for that. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Many passages of the Quran encourage or command humanity to remember God as often as possible. The Quran says that in the Messenger of Allah we have an excellent model. The people who benefit most from this model are those who engage in remembrance frequently, which was the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Purification comes about as a result of the spiritual work that God the Exalted has graciously blessed humanity with, and remembrance plays a major role in that. Remembrance (dhikr)is a practice that is validated only by the performance of the obligatory rites of worship, including Prayer (Salat). Whoever guards and is vigilant in his Prayer, he has guarded his religion. And whoever is negligent about his Prayer, he will neglect matters of lesser importance. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Whatever act of goodness you are able to do, you must do. Mind the affairs of the Hereafter by taking from this temporary home to the eternal one.

LESSON OF THE DAY 89

Ayahs of the Day:
Whatever good, (O man!) happens to you, is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to you, is from your (own) soul. And We have sent you as a Messenger to (instruct) mankind. And enough is Allah for a witness. He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah; But if any turn away, We have not sent you to watch over their (evil deeds). [4: 79,80]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah likes most two drops, one of tears due to fear of Allah and a drop of blood shed for the sake of Allah; and two marks, one received (i.e., wounded) in the cause of Allah, and a mark received in the cause of discharging an obligation commanded by Allah. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
It is striking today that, we Muslims read so many books and still have no result of any revival, yet the Sahabas revived a great portion of the world by reading only One Book in their time; the Holy Quran. The fact is that they did not just read it, but practiced every bit of it. It was enough then, and is still enough today. [Shaykh Hasan Ali]

Guidance of the Day:
We must remember that if a person has done wrong his spiritual path is not severed. There is recourse. One seeks repentance with God. One should not confess or broadcast what he has done. If God has veiled one's wrongdoing, do not tear the veil down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever does indecency, let him veil his acts with the veiling of God and let him make repentance."

There is no better treatment for the diseases of the heart than dhikr (remembrance). Most of the other recommended cures either touch upon or include the remembrance of God as essential. It has been said, "When we are ill, we treat with Your remembrance. And when we abandon Your remembrance, we relapse into illness. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought:
Information is pretty thin stuff, unless mixed with experience. Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

LESSON OF THE DAY 88

Ayahs of the Day:
All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the grace of Allah--of the Prophets, the sincere (lovers of truth), the martyrs, and the righteous. Ah! what a beautiful fellowship. Such is the bounty of Allah, and Allah is sufficient as the knower. [4: 69, 70]

Hadith of the Day:
May I tell you as to who are the dwellers of Paradise? It is every person who is considered weak and is despised, and who, if takes an oath of reliance upon Allah, then He would fulfill it. Now shall I tell you as to who are the ones destined for Hell? It is one who is ignorant, impertinent, proud and arrogant. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The life of this world and the Hereafter, in the heart of a person are like the two scales of a balance, when one becomes heavier, the other becomes lighter. (Amr ibn Abdullah]

Guidance of the Day:
There is a confused sense of spirituality in which one feels he or she can attain to the Reality without tending to the responsibilities and obligations of the Sharia. This is a misleading phenomenon that spreads because of its appeal: spiritual sensation without any moral obligation. This virulent trend seizes people and whisks them away from the truth, although they feel quite content.

Islam does not call people to unreasoned faith. It demands that a person learn authentic knowledge which buttresses true spiritual growth. This real spirituality is protected by the Sharia, just as a shell protects its fruit. If one removes the husk, the ear is exposed and it begins to rot. A person who tries to attain spirituality without the Shariah will eventually destroy his soul and become, in essence, a false person. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
If we could sell our experience for what they cost us, we would all be millionaires. Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes.

LESSON OF THE DAY 87

Ayahs of the Day:
If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it. But if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith). And We should then have given them from Our presence a great reward. And We should have shown them the straight way. [4: 66, 67, 68]

Hadith of the Day:
Had a believer fully known what is the full extent of the chastisement with Allah, none would desire His Paradise; and if a disbeliever had known fully the extent of Allah's mercy, none would despair His Paradise. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
So many Muslims are concerned about Emaan (faith) as a conception and as a point of argument in debates but few Muslims even comprehend the depth of Emaan which is Yaqeen (total conviction). It is the latter which the Sahabas sought, attained and through which gained victory. [Shaykh Hasan Ali]

Guidance of the Day:
People ask about those who engage in a great deal of remembrance yet neglect or ignore the obligatory rites of worship as if they have transcended the need for these rites. This is unmitigated ignorance. The first and foremost obligation on every human being is to gain knowledge. A human being is nothing until he has learned what is obligatory on every individual. Without this a person has no rank or standing with regard to God, and nothing is more consequential to a person other than his or her standing with God.

When God created us, He gave us accountability and the means and ability to carry out our responsibilities. Anyone who does not care to learn the first order of knowledge is living the life of a farm animal. He does nothing but graze in this life, which is entirely insufficient in God's sight. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Good judgment comes from experience and often experience comes from bad judgment. What one has not experienced, one will never understand the spirit.

LESSON OF THE DAY 86

Ayahs of the Day:
We sent not a Messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had but come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah, and asked forgiveness of the messenger, they would have found Allah Forgiving and Merciful. But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them. And find in their souls no resistance against your decisions; but accept them with the fullest conviction. [4: 64, 65]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah, the Lord of honor and glory, says: "One who comes to Me by a hands breadth I shall approach him an arm's and one who advances towards Me by an arm's length I shall approach him the length of two arms; and the one who comes to Me walking, I shall go to him running. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
O my son, let not the rooster be smarter than you, it calls at the early hours of dawn, while you are asleep [Hadhrat Luqman]

Guidance of the Day:
The objects of reflection (tafakkur) are many. One may reflect on the verses of the Quran. Another may reflect on the signs of God in creation or reflect on the promise of God, the reward that He guarantees believers who are patient and obedient. Such reflection creates ardent desire and hope for Paradise with its unfathomable bliss, peace, provision, landscapes, and excellent company.

Likewise, one reflects on the punishment God has promised those who choose wickedness over purity, misguidance over guidance, and corruption over wholesomeness. Reflecting over the terrors of the grave and the horrors of Hell instills the kind of dread that strengthens a person's resolve to never stray from the path of God.

When we reflect on all that God has given us that infinitely exceeds the measure of what we deserve, and then reflect on what little is required of us, this extinguishes self-righteousness and arrogance and increases gratitude. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
However independent-minded and frank a person may be, he cannot help being influenced by those from whom he accepts favors.

LESSON OF THE DAY 85

Ayah of the Day:
O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and the last day; that is best, and most suitable for final determination. [4: 59]

Hadith of the Day:
A servant of Allah will remain standing on the Day of Judgment till he is questioned about his age, how he spent it; and about his knowledge and how he utilized it; and about his wealth from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it, and about his body as to how he consumed it. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Many a spoken word is more piercing than an attack. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Have the same reverence during dhikr (remembrance) as you would during Prayer and guard yourself from any mispronunciations, to the best of your ability.

To reflect on God's creation is known as a great act of worship, a practice that helps a person see the signs--those glimpses of the unseen purposely placed in the physical world so that we may be increased in faith and certitude. This meditative contemplation, is the most virtuous of devotions. Those inclined to reflection are known as people of understanding and are described as those who remember God while standing or sitting or lying on their sides (Quran 3: 191). This combines remembrance of God with a presence of heart and mind that augments the power of remembrance. There is a hadith that states, "To reflect for one hour is better than a year in worship." [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Islam will prevent one from sins, or sins will prevent one from Islam. The candle is not there to illuminate itself.

LESSON OF THE DAY 84

Ayahs of the Day:
Allah does command you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between mankind, that you judge with justice; verily how excellent is the teaching which He gives you! For Allah is He who hears and sees all things. [4: 58]

Hadith of the Day:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah has decided: "It is incumbent upon Me to bestow My love on those who love one another for My sake, meet one another for My sake, visit one another for My sake, and spend for each other for My sake." [Malik]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Beware of the flight of the blessings, for nothing that runs away returns. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
In making remembrance, one should start with seeking God's Forgiveness (istighfar) for his or her neglect and misdeeds, past or immediate. Istighfar is the process of asking God to remit our sins and cleanse us of their ill effects. One should say, for example, atleast one hundred times in a day astaghfirullah, which means, "I seek forgiveness from God."

One should also begin with benedictions on the Prophet (peace be upon him), that is asking God to bless him and grant him peace. Many scholars have specified benediction of the Prophet as particularly effective because it is a prayer that is guaranteed to be answered by God. When one prays on the Prophet (peace be upon him) , it is appropriate to imagine the Prophet teaching us guidance and the proper way to worship----essential teachings that we never would have learned had he not taught us. We must also remember God's love for him. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought:
Whoever busies himself with that which does not concern him, then he misses out on much of that which does concern him.

LESSON OF THE DAY 83

Ayahs of the Day:
Have you not seen those who praise themselves for purity? Allah purifies whom He will, and they will not be wronged in the least. See how they invent lies about Allah! But that by itself is a manifest sin. [4: 49,50]

Hadith of the Day:
Allah, the master of honor says:" For those who love one another for the sake of My majesty and magnificence, there will be high seats of light, that will be the envy of prophets and martyrs".[Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Put aside your pride, set down your arrogance and remember your grave. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Allah the Almighty has said; "Remember Me; I will remember you", (Quran, 2:152). Whoever remembers his Lord, God remembers him, and whomever God remembers, he is enriched in this world and the Hereafter and is in need of nothing.

One of the great things about dhikr (remembrance) is that it is different from other acts of worship, like Pilgrimage and Prayer. Remembrance is not time restricted; it is associated with all aspects of life, such as meals, getting dressed, traveling, and the like. It is said that when one is in the state of remembrance, any affliction that comes to him raises his rank, and if one dies in the state of remembrance, he or she dies as a martyr. [Purification of the heart]

Food for Thought:
Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the spark of a human spirit, compassion, love and understanding.

LESSON OF THE DAY 82

Ayahs of the Day:
How then if We brought from each people a witness, and We brought you as a witness against these people! On that day those who reject Faith and disobey the Messenger will wish that they were level with the ground,but never will they hide a single fact from Allah! [4: 41,42]

Hadith of the Day:
On the Day of Judgment, Allah, the most High, will announce: "Where are those persons who love each other for the sake of My pleasure? This day I will shelter them in the shade provided by Me. Today there is no shade except My shade". [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
If knowledge had no other merit than the ignorant fear and respect you, this would be good enough reason to seek it, let alone its other merits in this world and the next. [Ibn Hizam]

Guidance of the Day:
Remember God much, it is vital to the cure of each disease of the heart (and society). And know that the Quran is the best of it. This rule excludes those times when other types [of remembrance] have been prescribed. When one recites while reflecting deeply on the meaning of the words, doors of insight open and one's Imaan grows stronger.

Someone who remembers God has a heart that is alive and busy with the best of deeds, for we were created to remember God, and all else we do is in order to establish the conditions that permit this remembrance. There is a hadith that states that whoever remembers his Lord, God remembers him, and whomever God remembers, he is enriched in this world and in the Hereafter and is in need of nothing. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
An educated person can figure out how to be useful to others, and in trading time, insight, and service to meet the needs of others, he can learn the material things he needs to sustain a wholesome life, he has the capacity to create new things, new experiences and new ideas.

LESSON OF THE DAY 81

Ayahs of the Day:
And what burden were it on them if they had faith in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spent out of what Allah has given them for sustenance? For Allah has full knowledge of them. Allah is never unjust in the least degree; if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from His own Presence a great reward. [4: 39, 40]

Hadith of the Day:
There are three qualities whosoever have them, may taste the sweetness of faith: firstly one who loves Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) above all else, secondly one who loves someone simply for the sake of Allah, and thirdly, one who abhors return to disbelief, after Allah has rescued him from it, as he would abhor being thrown into the fire. [Bukhari &Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Upon Allah is the Bayaan (explaining), upon the Messenger is the Balaagh (conveying), and upon us is the Tasleem (willingly accepting). [Imam Ghazali]

Guidance of the Day:

The effect of the reviving light of wisdom upon the heart is that of a lush downpour upon the Earth. The learned are like rain that quickens a lifeless land. Sitting with esteemed company enlivens the heart and makes it more fertile for the growth of Imaan. It will take one from six things to six things: doubt to certainty; ostentation in one's acts to sincerity; heedlessness to remembrance; desire for this world to desire for the Hereafter; arrogance to humility; and a bad internal nature to an excellent one. Imam Ibn Ataillah advised the same: "Do not take as a companion someone whose state will not elevate you and whose speech does not direct you to God." [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
The best provision is piety. If sin had an odor, everyone would be sitting alone.

LESSON OF THE DAY 80

Ayahs of the Day:
(Nor Allah loves) those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on others, or hide the bounties which Allah has bestowed on them; For those who resist faith we have prepared a punishment that steeps them in contempt. Nor those who spend there wealth to be seen by men, and have no faith in Allah and the last day. Whoever takes Satan for a friend, an evil friend he is! [4: 37, 38]

Hadith of the Day:
And the spirits are like gathering armies, among these are similar in qualities, they get mixed up with each other and those who are not, they drift away from each other. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
When light enters the heart, it causes illumination of the depth, a purification of the consciousness, an enlightenment of the intellect and an establishment of the foundations of dhikr and shukr and beautiful worship. [Habib Omar bin Hafiz]

Guidance of the Day:
The origin of either good or evil states relates to the company one keeps, for a man's character is that of the company he keeps. Thus, if a man achieves any state, inevitably his companions will be effected by it. For this reason, Luqman, the full moon of wisdom, advised his son to keep close company with the people of knowledge. He compared the effect of the reviving light of wisdom upon the heart to that of a lush downpour upon the barren earth.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "A man takes on the religion of his companion." The company of a person who delays or neglects Prayer, or a person who abandons paying Zakah, or a person who is promiscuous, drags others into his way of life. Conversely, the company of a righteous person will pull one upward. As it is said, "If you sit at the door of a tavern, you will either walk in and partake or merely smell the stench of alcohol and drunkards. But if you sit at the door of a perfumer, you will either walk in and wear the scent or atleast enjoy the fragrance." [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Whoever loves a thing mentions it frequently. The lower self is greedy, teach it to be content.

LESSON OF THE DAY 79

Ayah of the Day:
Serve Allah, and do not ascribe partners to Him. And show kindness to your parents, and to your close kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin, and the neighbor who is not of kin, and the fellow traveler and the wayfarer and (the bondsmen) whom your right hands possess. For Allah does not love the arrogant, the boastful. [4: 36]

Hadith of the Day:
People are like mines of gold and silver. Those of them who are best before Islam are best in Islam, if they have religious knowledge and understanding. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
And love your Lord by serving Him. For lovers are but servants of the Beloved. [a poet]

Guidance of the Day:
Dissatisfaction is a motivator to seek out better character. A human being is spiritually stalled as long as he is content and smug with his state. The basis of achieving good is knowing yourself. When this happens, a person becomes aware of his imperfections, minor and major, and ashamed of them to the point he strives to replace them with generosity, agreeableness, honesty, reliability, dignity, and other noble traits.

When the mind is given the responsibility to decide upon right and wrong it will usually base its judgment subjectively: what advances or thwarts one's whims? Our understanding of right and wrong, licit and illicit, needs a judge higher than ourselves and our whims. We are beings who are created and, therefore, have a Creator who brought us into existence for a reason. It is His purpose and guidance that informs our sensitivity and response to right and wrong. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
If you want to talk to Allah perform salah, and if you want Allah to talk to you, read Quran.

LESSON OF THE DAY 78

Ayah of the Day:
And if you fear a breach between them (man and wife), then appoint an arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her people. If they wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation; for Allah has full knowledge, and is aquainted with all things. [4: 35]

Hadith of the Day:
A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend. [Abu Daud & Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Be hard on yourself easy on others. [Imam Shafi]

Guidance of the Day:
The root cause of all good qualities is the lack of self satisfaction, and this conclusion is obvious because being dissatisfied with oneself prompts one to seek good character and to vigilantly avoid what is inappropriate.

There are three signs that someone is not content with himself. First is when a person checks himself, is self accusing, and wary of his intentions. One should ask himself, "Am I doing this for show or for the sake of God?" Second is being careful of the blemishes of the soul. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated, "O God, do not leave me to the soul even for a blink of an eye." Third is forcing the self to do difficult things, for example, eating less and spending money in charity.

Abu uthman said, Whoever sees anything good about himself has not seen the faults of his soul." Being vigilant about one's faults does not imply self loathing or depletion of confidence. In fact, confidence gives one the courage to find fault in oneself. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
Action is the biggest measurement of knowledge. All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

LESSON OF THE DAY 77

Ayahs of the Day:
If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden, WE will remit from you your evil deeds, and make you enter a Gate of Honor. And do not covet the things in which Allah has made some of you excel others. To men is allotted a share of what they earn, and to women a share of what they earn, (Do not fall prey to envy), but ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah has full knowledge of all things. [4: 31,32]

Hadith of the Day:
The most excellent worship is expectation of relief. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You can't separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. [Malcolm X]

Guidance of the Day:
The root cause of all of the diseases of the heart is love of the temporal world and self satisfaction. The source of every disobedience, indifference, and passion is self satisfaction. The source of every obedience, vigilance, and virtue is dissatisfaction with one's self. It is better for you to keep company with an ignorant man dissatisfied with himself than to keep company with a learned man satisfied with himself. For what knowledge is there in a self satisfied scholar? And what ignorance is there in an unlearned man dissatisfied with himself?

There are three signs of being overly content with the soul. First is being sensitive to one's own rights and indifferent to the rights of others. In Islam, one's responsibilities preponderate over one's rights. The second is ignoring one's faults, as if he has none, while being preoccupied with the faults of others. A contented eye does not see faults. The third sign is giving oneself too much leniency. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
An educated person learns from all ages, even from the last minutes of his life, he accepts and understands his own mortality and its reasons. he understands that without death and aging nothing would have any meaning.

LESSON OF THE DAY 76

Ayahs of the Day:
O you who believe! eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities; except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Surely Allah is ever Merciful to you. Whoever does that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into fire, and that is ever easy for Allah. [4: 29, 30]

Hadith of the Day:
A man marries a woman for four reasons i.e. either for the sake of her wealth, her lineage, her charms or her love of religion. Try to get one for her religiousness, may you be blessed. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Succeed with knowledge and live energetically forever, men are all dead, only the possessors of knowledge are truly alive. [Ali Radi Allahu anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Of particular benefit is that which extends beyond the individual or is difficult for the self, or the years of youth spend in avoiding wrongs and in willing obedience, or the contribution from the miser from the best of his wealth when he is of sound mind, seeking thereby the pleasure of God with absolute sincerity. All of these purify the heart, Moreover, doing a good deed which one conceals is also purifying; and the best of endeavors is one that purifies the heart.

Likewise, the most harmful of wrongs is what hardens the heart and was done with consistency. One of them is speaking a lot without mentioning God.

Sages have preferred a wrong that engenders humility to a right that clothes one in a gown of self righteous arrogance. An atom's weight of exalted praise worthy action from the heart-----like contentment with what one has, detachment from worldly things, and reliance (upon God) is better in God's sight than high mountains of external actions (without sincerity).

Indeed leaving a dollar because it is from a prohibited source is better than giving much in charity and (better than) several pilgrimages. [Purification of the Heart]

Food for Thought:
An educated person knows the ways of the human heart; he is hard to cheat or fool, he can form healthy attachments where ever he is because he understands the dynamics of healthy relationships.