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.