LESSON OF THE DAY 511

Ayah of the Day:
For those who rejected and impeded the cause of God, We will add a penalty, because they sowed dissension. [16: 88]

Hadith of the Day:
You will not believe as long as you do not love one another. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Let the believer get one of the three things from you: If you do not benefit him, atleast do not harm him; if you do not make him joyful, atleast do not make him grieve; and if you do not praise him, at least do not criticize/insult him. [Yahya ibn Mu'adh]

Guidance of the Day:
The past is gone forever. By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one exhibits a form of insanity--a kind of sickness that destroys resolve to live for the present moment. Those who have a firm purpose have filed away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never again see light, since they occupy such a dark place in the recesses of the mind. Episodes of the past are finished with; sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot make things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because past is non-existent.

Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think that you can return the sun to its place of rising, the baby to its mother's womb, milk to its udder, or tears to the eye? By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind. Reading too much into the past is a waste of present. Former days are gone and done with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheels of history.

The person who lives in the past is like someone who tries to saw sawdust. Of old, they used to say: "Do not remove the dead from their graves." Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring back the past, they would most certainly fail. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season--and should you. [Don't be Sad]

Food for Thought:
The past is over for all of us. The future is promised to none of us. All we get is this one. That's all we get.

LESSON OF THE DAY 510

Ayah of the Day:
And when those who went wrong see the penalty, it will not be lightened for them, and they will be granted no stay. [16: 85]

Hadith of the Day:
The best jihad is to speak a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. [Abu Dawud]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Between you and spiritual counsel is a veil of heedlessness. [Ali radi allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Contemplate and be thankful. Remember the favors of Allah upon you and how they surround you from above and below--indeed, from every direction. Health, safety, nourishment, clothing, air, and water--these all point to the world being yours, yet you do not realize it. You possess all that life has to offer, yet remain ignorant. You have at your disposal two eyes, a tongue, lips, two hands, and two legs.

Can you picture yourself walking without feet? should you take it lightly that you slumber soundly while misery hinders the sleep of many? Should you forget that you fill yourself with both delicious dishes and cool water while the pleasure of good food and drink is impossible for some, due to sickness and disease? Consider the faculties of hearing and seeing with which you have been endowed. Look at your healthy skin and be grateful that you have been saved from diseases that attack it. Reflect on your powers of reasoning and remember those that suffer from mental ailments.

Would you sell your ability to hear and see for the weight of mount uhud in gold, or your ability to speak for huge castles? You have been given abundant favors, yet you feign ignorance. You think about what you do not have and are ungrateful for what you have been given. You are troubled by a loss in wealth, yet you have the key to happiness and many blessings. Contemplate and be thankful. Reflect upon yourself, your family, your friends, and the entire world that is around you. [Don't be Sad by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni]

Du'a of the Week:
When something pleasing occurs: Al-hamdu li'Llahi bi ni'matihi tatimmu's-saalihaat. (Praise be to Allah, by whose grace all good things are perfected).

Food for Thought:
When you think positive, happy, loving thoughts, there's a different chemistry that goes into your body than when you think depressing, negative, anguished thoughts. The way you decide to think has a dramatic effect on your chemistry and on your physiology.

LESSON OF THE DAY 510

Ayah of the Day:
And when those who went wrong see the penalty, it will not be lightened for them, and they will be granted no stay. [16: 85]

Hadith of the Day:
The best jihad is to speak a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. [Abu Dawud]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Between you and spiritual counsel is a veil of heedlessness. [Ali radi allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Contemplate and be thankful. Remember the favors of Allah upon you and how they surround you from above and below--indeed, from every direction. Health, safety, nourishment, clothing, air, and water--these all point to the world being yours, yet you do not realize it. You possess all that life has to offer, yet remain ignorant. You have at your disposal two eyes, a tongue, lips, two hands, and two legs.

Can you picture yourself walking without feet? should you take it lightly that you slumber soundly while misery hinders the sleep of many? Should you forget that you fill yourself with both delicious dishes and cool water while the pleasure of good food and drink is impossible for some, due to sickness and disease? Consider the faculties of hearing and seeing with which you have been endowed. Look at your healthy skin and be grateful that you have been saved from diseases that attack it. Reflect on your powers of reasoning and remember those that suffer from mental ailments.

Would you sell your ability to hear and see for the weight of mount uhud in gold, or your ability to speak for huge castles? You have been given abundant favors, yet you feign ignorance. You think about what you do not have and are ungrateful for what you have been given. You are troubled by a loss in wealth, yet you have the key to happiness and many blessings. Contemplate and be thankful. Reflect upon yourself, your family, your friends, and the entire world that is around you. [Don't be Sad by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni]

Du'a of the Week:
When something pleasing occurs: Al-hamdu li'Llahi bi ni'matihi tatimmu's-saalihaat. (Praise be to Allah, by whose grace all good things are perfected).

Food for Thought:
When you think positive, happy, loving thoughts, there's a different chemistry that goes into your body than when you think depressing, negative, anguished thoughts. The way you decide to think has a dramatic effect on your chemistry and on your physiology.

LESSON OF THE DAY 509

Ayah of the Day:
One day We will raise up a witness from every people; then those who were ungrateful will not be heard, and not regarded with favor. [16: 84]

Hadith of the Day:
The one who holds on to my sunna when corruption spreads in my community shall have the reward of a martyr. [Tabrani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
You are determined to lose yourself in the baggage of this world, while the world is equally determined to remove you from itself. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Live This Day as if It Were Your Last. It Might Be! When are you going to die? In fifty years, twenty, ten, five, today? Last time I checked, no one had told me. I often wonder, when listening to the news, did the person who died in the auto accident on his way home from work remember to tell his family how much he loved them? Did he live well? Did he love well? Perhaps the only thing that is certain is that he still had things in his "in basket" that weren't yet done.

The truth is none of us has any idea how long we have to live. Sadly, however, we act as if we're going to live forever. We postpone the things that, deep down, we know we want to do--telling the people we love how we care, spending time alone, writing a heartfelt letter, learning to meditate, becoming a better listener, and on and on. We come up with elaborate and sophisticated rationales to justify our actions, and end up spending most of our time and energy doing things that aren't all that important. We argue for our limitations, and they become our limitations.

I felt it appropriate to end this book by suggesting that you live each day as if it were your last on this earth. I suggest this not as a prescription to be reckless or to abandon your responsibilities, but to remind you of how precious life really is. Please don't forget the most basic strategy of all, Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff! [Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson]

Food for Thought:
Our days are the precious currency of our lives. The more we let go of people and things, the fewer obstacles we will have on our life's journey.

LESSON OF THE DAY 508

Ayahs of the Day:
But if they turn away, your only obligation is clear communication. They recognize the kindness of God, but they deny it, as most of them are ingrates. [16: 82,83]

Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who, when you look at them, you remember Allah. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who knows Satan to be his enemy and yet listens to him obediently. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Schedule time for your inner work. In the field of financial planning there is a universally accepted principle that it's critical to pay yourself first, before you pay your other bills--to think of yourself as a creditor. The rationale for this wisdom is that if you wait to put money into savings until after everybody else is paid, there will be nothing left for you. The result is that you'll keep postponing your savings plan until it's too late to do anything about it. But, if you pay yourself first, somehow there will be just enough to pay everyone else too.

The identical principle is critical to implement into your program of spiritual practice. If you wait until all your chores, responsibilities, and everything else is done before you get started, it will never happen. Guaranteed. Scheduling a little time each day as if it were an actual appointment is the only way to ensure that you take some time for yourself. You might become an early riser, for example, and schedule one hour that is reserved for reading, praying, reflecting, meditating, exercise, or however you want to use the time. How you choose to use your time is up to you. The important thing is that you do schedule the time and that you stick to it. If you set your mind to it, you can find the time you need. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
When you truly know that your life has a grand and heroic mission, then you will realign yourself as a spiritual being.

LESSON OF THE DAY 508

Ayahs of the Day:
But if they turn away, your only obligation is clear communication. They recognize the kindness of God, but they deny it, as most of them are ingrates. [16: 82,83]

Hadith of the Day:
The best of you are those who, when you look at them, you remember Allah. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who knows Satan to be his enemy and yet listens to him obediently. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Schedule time for your inner work. In the field of financial planning there is a universally accepted principle that it's critical to pay yourself first, before you pay your other bills--to think of yourself as a creditor. The rationale for this wisdom is that if you wait to put money into savings until after everybody else is paid, there will be nothing left for you. The result is that you'll keep postponing your savings plan until it's too late to do anything about it. But, if you pay yourself first, somehow there will be just enough to pay everyone else too.

The identical principle is critical to implement into your program of spiritual practice. If you wait until all your chores, responsibilities, and everything else is done before you get started, it will never happen. Guaranteed. Scheduling a little time each day as if it were an actual appointment is the only way to ensure that you take some time for yourself. You might become an early riser, for example, and schedule one hour that is reserved for reading, praying, reflecting, meditating, exercise, or however you want to use the time. How you choose to use your time is up to you. The important thing is that you do schedule the time and that you stick to it. If you set your mind to it, you can find the time you need. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
When you truly know that your life has a grand and heroic mission, then you will realign yourself as a spiritual being.

LESSON OF THE DAY 507

Ayah of the Day:
And God made things that create shade for you, and made shelters of the mountains for you, and made you garments to protect you from the heat, and mail to protect you against your violence. Thus does God complete Divine favor to you, that you may acquiesce. [16: 81]

Hadith of the Day:
Make much remembrance of the destroyer of pleasures (i.e. death) [Tirmidhi & Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The key to knowledge is intelligent questions and listening attentively. [Imam al Mannawi]

Guidance of the Day:
Look for Extraordinary in the Ordinary. I have heard a story about two workers who were approached by a reporter. The reporter asked the first worker, "What are you doing"? His response was to complain that he was virtually a slave, an underpaid bricklayer who spent his days wasting his time, placing bricks on top of one another. The reporter asked the second worker the same question. His response, however, was quite different. "I'm the luckiest person in the world," he said. "I get to be a part of important and beautiful pieces of architecture. I help turn simple pieces of brick into exquisite masterpieces.

They were both right. The truth is, we see in life what we want to see. If you search for ugliness you'll find plenty of it. If you want to find fault with other people, your career, or the world in general, you'll certainly be able to do so. But the opposite is also true. If you look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, you can train yourself to see it. This bricklayer sees cathedrals within pieces of brick. The question is can you? Can you see the extraordinary synchronicity that exists in our world; the perfection of the universe in action; the extraordinary beauty of nature; the incredible miracle of human life? To me, it's all a matter of intention. There is so much to be grateful for, so much to be in awe about. Life is precious and extraordinary. Put your attention on this fact and little, ordinary things will take on a whole new meaning. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Looking into the mirror and disliking the self that you take with you everywhere you go is one of the most self-defeating things you can do.

LESSON OF THE DAY 506

Ayah of the Day:
And God made your houses places of quiet for you, and made you tents of hides, which you find light on the day of your departure and on the day you pitch your camp; and, from their wool, fur, and hair, furnishings and goods for a while. [16: 80]

Hadith of the Day:
Do not gloat over your brother's misfortune, lest Allah gives him well-being and afflict you. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Faith is experience by the heart, avowal by the tongue, and action by the limbs. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Mind Your Own Business. It's tough enough trying to create a life of serenity when dealing with your own mental tendencies, issues, real-life problems, habits, and the contradictions and complexities of life. But when you feel compelled to deal with other people's issues, your goal of becoming more peaceful becomes all but impossible. How often do you find yourself saying things like, "i wouldn't do that if I were him/her," or "I can't believe he did that," or "What is she/he thinking about?" How often are you frustrated, bothered, annoyed, or concerned about things that you not only cannot control or be of actual help with, but are also none of your business?

This is not a prescription to avoid being of help to people. Rather, it's about knowing when to help and when to leave something alone.Minding your own business goes far beyond simply avoiding the temptation to try to solve other people's problems. It also includes eavesdropping, gossiping, talking behind other people's backs, or analyzing or trying to figure out other people. One of the major reasons most of us focus on the shortcomings or problems of others is to avoid looking at ourselves.

When you catch yourself involved where you really don't belong, congratulate yourself for having the humility and wisdom to back off. In no time at all, you'll free up tons of extra energy to focus your attention where it's truly relevant or needed. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
With God, all things are possible. Now what does that leave out.

LESSON OF THE DAY 505

Ayah of the Day:
Don't they look at the birds, suspended in the air in the sky? Nothing holds them up except God. Surely there are signs in that for people who believe. [16: 79]

Hadith of the Day:
The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his sadaqa. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The strength in one's resolve is that one does not leave for tomorrow what one can do today. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Be Open to "What Is". One of the most basic spiritual principles in many philosophies is the idea of opening your heart to "what is" insisting that life be a certain way. This idea is so important because much of our internal struggle stems from our desire to control life, to insist that it be different than it actually is. But life isn't always the way we would like it to be--it is simply the way it is. The greater our surrender to the truth of the moment, the greater will be our peace of mind. When we have preconceived ideas about the way life should be, they interfere with our opportunity to enjoy or learn from the present moment. This prevents us from honoring what we are going through, which may be an opportunity for great awakening.

Rather than reacting to a child's complaining or your spouse's disapproval, try opening your heart and accepting the moment for what is. Take a deep breath and soften your response. You open your heart in these ways, not to pretend that you enjoy complaints, disapproval, or failure, but to transcend them--to make it all right with you that life isn't performing the way you planned. If you can learn to open your heart in the midst of difficulties of daily life, you'll soon find that many of the things that have always bothered you will cease to be concerns. Your perspective will deepen.

When you fight that which you struggle with, life can be quite a battle, almost like a Ping-Pong game where you are the ball. But when you surrender to the moment, accept what is going on, make it okay, more peaceful feelings will begin to emerge. Try this technique on some of the little challenges you face. Gradually you will be able to extend the same awareness to bigger things. This is a truly powerful way to live. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Life presents itself to you and asks nothing of you. You can take life and swim deliriously through it, or you can fight it. But when you elect to spend your time fighting it, you can't use the same time to enjoy it.

LESSON OF THE DAY 504

Ayah of the Day:
And God brought you out of your mothers' insides while you knew nothing, and gave you hearing and eyesight and feelings, that you might be grateful. [16: 78]

Hadith of the Day:
Give the sadaqa without delay for it stands in the way of calamity. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
I wonder at the miser who hastens to poverty leaving behind the very wealth he seeks, for he lives in this world like a pauper but will have to settle his account in the Hereafter like the rich. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Trust Your Intuitive Heart. How often have you said to yourself, after the fact, "I knew I should have done that"? How often do you intuitively know something but allow yourself to think yourself out of it? Trusting your intuitive heart means listening to and trusting that quiet inner voice that knows what it is you need to do, what actions need to be taken, or changes need to be made in your life. Many of us don't listen to our intuitive heart for fear that we couldn't possibly know something without thinking it through, or for fear that legitimate answers could possibly be so obvious.

If you can overcome your fear that your intuitive heart will give you incorrect answers, if you can learn to trust it, your life will become the magical adventure it was meant to be. Trusting your intuitive heart is like removing the barriers to enjoyment and wisdom. It's the way to open your eyes and your heart to your greatest source of wisdom and grace.

If you're unfamiliar with trusting your intuition, start by setting aside a little quiet time to clear your mind and listen. Ignore and dismiss any habitual, self-defeating thoughts that enter your mind and pay attention only to the calm thoughts that begin to surface. If you find that unusual yet loving thoughts are appearing in your mind, take note of them and take action. If, for example, you get the message to write or call someone you love, go ahead and do it. If your intuitive heart says you need to slow down or take more time for yourself, try to make it happen. If you're reminded of a habit that needs attention, pay attention. You'll find that when your intuition gives you messages and you respond with action, you'll often be rewarded with positive, loving experiences. Start trusting your intuitive heart today and you'll see a world of difference in your life. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Du'a of the Week:
When feeling helpless regarding a matter: Hasbiya 'Llahu wa ni'ma'l-wakil (Allah is my sufficiency, and how perfect a benefactor [is He] )

Food for Thought:
I can assure you that once you no longer need the lessons in your life that unpleasant events offer you, you will no longer have these events.

LESSON OF THE DAY 503

Ayah of the Day:
The secret of the heavens and the earth belongs to God. And the decree of the end of time is as the blink of an eye, or even quicker; for God has power over every thing. [16: 77]

Hadith of the Day:
Sadaqa appeases the Lord's anger and averts an evil death. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Your fear of Allah is commensurate of what you know of Him, and your lack of fear regarding Him is commensurate with your ignorance of Him. [Abu Bakr radi Allan anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Give up the idea that "more is better". We live in the most affluent culture the world has ever seen. Estimates are that although we have only 16 percent of the world's population in America, we use almost half of the natural resources. It seems to me that if more were actually better, we would live in the happiest, most satisfied culture of all time. But we don't. Not even close, we live in one of the most dissatisfied cultures on record. It's not that having a lot of things is bad, wrong or harmful in and of itself, only that the desire to have more and more and more is insatiable. As long as you think more is better, you'll never be satisfied.

As soon as we get something or achieve something, most of us simply go on to the next thing--immediately. this squelches our appreciation for life and for our many blessings. It seems that whatever we do--buy a home or a car, eat a meal, find a partner, purchase some clothes, even win a prestigious honor--it's never enough. The trick in overcoming this insidious tendency is to convince yourself that more isn't better and that the problem doesn't lie in what you don't have, but in longing for more.

Learning to be satisfied doesn't mean you can't, don,t or shouldn't ever want more than you have, only that your happiness isn't contingent on it. You can learn to be happy with what you have by becoming more present-moment oriented, but not focusing so much on what you want. As thoughts of what would make your life better enter your mind, gently remind yourself that, even if you got what you think you want, you wouldn't be one bit more satisfied, because the same mind-set that wants more now would want more then.

Develop a new appreciation for the blessings you already enjoy. See your life freshly, as if for the first time. As you develop this new awareness, you'll find that as new possessions or accomplishments enter your life, your level of appreciation will be heightened. An excellent measure of happiness is the differential between what you have and what you want. You can spend your lifetime wanting more, always chasing happiness--or you can simply decide to consciously want less. This latter strategy is infinitely easier and more fulfilling. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
No one, regardless of how much he or she wishes it, can put understanding into another human being. Understanding can only come from doing.

LESSON OF THE DAY 502

Ayah of the Day:
And God has made an example of two men, one of whom is mute and has no power over anything, being entirely dependent on his guardian, bringing no good whichever way the latter directs him: is he equal to one who commends straightforwardness, and is himself on the straight path? [16: 76]

Hadith of the Day:
No one has superiority over another except by piety. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who considers God to be the Ultimate Reality and yet relies on others exclusively. [Othman radi Allah anhu]


Guidance of the Day:
One more passing show: It's a subtle reminder that everything--the good and bad, pleasure and pain, approval and disapproval, achievements and mistakes, fame and shame--all come and go. Everything has a beginning and an ending and that's the way it's supposed to be. Every experience you ever had is over. Every thought you've ever had started and finished. every emotion and mood you've experienced has been replaced by another. You've been happy, sad, jealous, depressed, angry, in love, shamed, proud, and every other conceivable human feeling. Where did they all go? The answer is no one really know. All we know is that eventually, everything disappears into nothingness. Welcoming this truth into your life is the beginning of a liberating adventure.

Our disappointment comes about in essentially two ways. When we're experiencing pleasure we want it to last for ever. It never does. Or, when we're experiencing pain, we want it to go away--now. It usually doesn't. Unhappiness is the result of struggling against the natural flow of experience. It's enormously helpful to experiment with the awareness that life is just one thing after another. One present moment followed by another present moment.

When something is happening that we enjoy, know that while it's wonderful to experience the happiness it brings, it will eventually be replaced by something else, a different type of moment. If that's okay with you you'll feel peace even when the moment changes. And if you're experiencing some type of pain or displeasure, know that this too will pass. Keeping this awareness close to your heart is a wonderful way to maintain your perspective, even in the face of adversity. It's not always easy, but it is usually helpful. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Send out anger and impatience, and that's what you'll get. Send out love, and you'll get back love.

LESSON OF THE DAY 501

Ayah of the Day:
God has made an example of a slave in bondage with no power over anything, and someone for whom We provide a fine provision from Us, and he gives of it secretly and openly--are the two equal? God be praised! But most of them do not know. [16: 75]

Hadith of the Day:
The most enviable of my friends is a believer who finds pleasure in prayer, who performs the worship of his Lord, well. Who obeys Him in secret, who is obscure among men, who is not pointed out by people, and whose provision is a bare sufficiency with which he is content. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of Day:
Whenever people omit any of their religious obligations to cultivate their worldly affairs, God inflicts something worse on them. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Listen to your feelings (they are trying to tell you something. You have at your disposal a fool proof guidance system to navigate you through life. This system, which consists solely of your own feelings, lets you know whether you are off track and headed toward unhappiness and conflict--or on track, headed toward peace of mind. Your feelings act as a barometer, letting you know what your internal weather is like. When you are not caught up in your thinking, taking things too seriously, your feelings will be generally positive. They will be affirming that you are using your thinking to your advantage. No mental adjustment needs to be made.

When your experience of life is other than pleasant--when you are feeling angry, resentful, depressed, stressed out, frustrated, and so forth, your warning system of feelings kicks in like a red flag to remind you that you are off track, that it's time to ease up on your thinking, you've lost perspective. Mental adjustment does need to be made. You can think of your negative feelings in the same way as you think of the warning lights on the dashboard of your car. When flashing, they let you know that it's time to ease up. Contrary to popular belief, negative feelings don't need to be studied and analyzed. When you analyze your negative feelings, you'll usually end up with more of them to contend with.

The next time you are feeling bad, rather than getting stuck in "analysis paralysis," wondering why you feel the way you do, see if instead you can use your feelings to guide you back in the direction of serenity. Don't pretend that the negative feelings don't exist, but try to recognize that the reason you are feeling sad, angry, stressed, or whatever is that you are taking life too seriously--you are "sweating the small stuff." Instead of rolling up your sleeves and fighting life, back off, take a few deep breaths and relax. Remember, life isn't an emergency unless you make it so. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Within you is the kingdom of serenity that can create all of the prosperity that you could ever want. When you know you are in charge of your intentions, then you will come to know that you are in charge of your entire world.

LESSON OF THE DAY 500

Ayah of the Day:
And God made you mates from yourselves, and made you children and grandchildren from your mates, and provided for you of the wholesome things. Will they then believe in falsehood, denying the kindness of God. [16: 72]

Hadith of the Day:
You are not better than people of (other races) unless you excel in piety. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who knows the Hell Fire to be real And then sins knowingly. How strange is the one who believes in Paradise yet spends his days in the world leisurely. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Redefine a "meaningful accomplishment." Sometimes it's easy to get carried away with our so-called accomplishments. We define our lifetimes collecting achievements, earning praise and recognition, and seeking approval--so much so that we lose sight of what is truly meaningful. If you ask the average person "What is a meaningful accomplishment?" the typical responses will be things like, "Achieving a long-term goal," "earning lots of money," "getting a promotion," "earning praise," and so forth. The emphasis is almost always on external aspects of life--things that happen outside of ourselves. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with these types of accomplishments--they are way of keeping score and improving our circumstances. They are not, however, the most important types of accomplishments if your primary goal is happiness and inner peace.

Seeing your photograph in the local newspaper may be a nice thing to achieve but isn't as meaningful as learning to stay centered in the face of adversity. Yet many people would point to their photo in the paper as being a great accomplishment, but wouldn't necessarily think of "staying centered" as an accomplishment at all. Where are our priorities? If being peaceful and loving are among your primary goals, then why not redefine your most meaningful accomplishments as being those that support and measure qualities such as kindness and happiness?

I think of my most meaningful accomplishments as stemming from inside myself: Was I kind to myself and others? Did I overreact to a challenge, or was I calm and collected? Am I happy? Did I hold on to anger or was I able to let go and move on? Was I too stubborn? Did I forgive? These questions, and others like them, remind us that the true measure of our success comes not from what we do, but from who we are and how much love we have in our hearts. Rather than being consumed exclusively with external accomplishment, try putting more emphasis on what's really important. When you redefine what it means to achieve a meaningful accomplishment, it helps you to stay on your path. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
To change yourself, look at what you fear and what you hate. Start there. There are limits to material growth, but there are no limits to inner enlightenment.

LESSON OF THE DAY 499

Ayah of the Day:
And God has favored some of you over others in substance; and those who have been favored are not about to turn their substance over to those who are under their control, such that they would be equal in that respect. Will they refuse the kindness of God? [16: 71]

Hadith of the Day:
Faith is known experientially by those who are content with God as their Sovereign, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as their messenger. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The reward of every virtue has it's measure, yet the reward for patience has no measure, [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
The next time you find yourself in an argument, rather than defend your position, see if you can see the other point of view first. It's interesting to consider that when you disagree with someone, the person you are disagreeing with is every bit as certain of his or her position as you are of yours. Yet we always take sides--ours! This is our ego's way of refusing to learn anything new. It's also a habit that creates a lot of stress. Rather than automatically defending your own position, see if you can learn something new. Don't try to correct your friend see how he is wrong. Let your friend have the satisfaction of being right. Practice being a good listener.

Contrary to popular belief, this attitude does not make you weak. It doesn't mean you aren't passionate about your beliefs, or that you are admitting that you are wrong. You are simply trying to see another point of view--you're seeking first to understand. It takes enormous energy to constantly prove a rigid position. On the other hand, it takes no energy to allow someone else to be right. In fact, it's outright energizing.

When you understand other positions and points of view, several wonderful things begin to happen. First, you often learn something new. You expand your horizons. Second, when the person you are talking to feels listened to, he or she will appreciate and respect you far more than when you habitually jump in with your own position. Jumping in only makes him or her more defensive. Almost always, if you're softer, the other person will be softer too. It might not happen right away, but in time, it will. By seeking first to understand, you are putting your love and respect for the person to whom you are speaking above your need to be right. You are practicing a form of unconditional love. A side benefit is that the person you are speaking to may even listen to your point of view. While there is no guarantee that he will listen to you, one thing is guaranteed: If you don't listen, he or she won't. By being the first person to reach out and listen, you stop the spiral of stubbornness. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
The more you have a harmonious, loving, accepting approach, the more you will see the rest of the pieces all fitting nicely together.

LESSON OF THE DAY 498

Ayah of the Day:
God created you, and then will take your souls. And some of you are kept back to an old age, such that they know nothing they once knew. For God is Omniscient, Omnipotent. [16: 70]

Hadith of the Day:
Beware of the believer's insight, for he sees by the light of God. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
I know of nothing more useful to you than four matters: surrender to Allah, to humbly entreat Him, and to perpetually renew your repentance to Him, even if you should repeat a sin seventy times a day. [Ibn Ataillah]

Guidance of the Day:
Transform your relationship to your problems. Obstacles and problems are a part of life. True happiness comes not when we get rid of all of our problems, but when we change our relationships to them, when we see our problems as a potential source of awakening, opportunities to practice patience, and to learn. Perhaps the most basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems are the best places to practice keeping our hearts open.

Certainly some problems need to be solved. Many others, however, are problems we create for ourselves. By struggling to make our life different than it actually is. Inner peace is accomplished by understanding and accepting the inevitable contradictions of life--the pain and pleasure, success and failure, joy and sorrow, births and deaths. Problems can teach us to be gracious, humble, and patient. Difficulties are considered to be so important to a life of growth that it is felt that when life is too easy, there are fewer opportunities for genuine growth.

I wouldn't go so far as to recommend that you seek out problems. I would, however, suggest that if you spend less time running away from problems and trying to rid yourself of them--and more time accepting problems as an inevitable, natural, even important part of life--you will soon discover that life can be more of a dance and less of a battle. The philosophy of acceptance is the root of going with the flow. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Create an inner harmony where your loving soul guides your physical behavior, rather than having your soul always come in second place.

LESSON OF THE DAY 497

Ayahs of the Day:
And your Lord inspired the bee, "Make your homes in the mountains, in the trees and in the buildings they construct; then eat from all the fruits, gently walking the pathways of your Lord." From within them exudes a drink of various colors, in it healing for human kind. Surely in that is a sign for people who reflect. [16: 68,69]

Hadith of the Day:
A man has sinned enough if he neglected to feed those in need. [Fiqh us Sunnah]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Death: A single word which contains within it a goodly advice. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Nurture a plant: At first glance this may seem like a strange or superficial suggestion. What good could it possibly do to nurture a plant? One of the goals of spiritual life and one of the requirements of inner peace is to learn to love unconditionally. The problem is, it's really hard to love a person, any person, unconditionally. The person we are trying to love inevitably says or does the wrong thing, or fails to meet our expectations in some way. So we get upset and put conditions on our love. "I'll love you, but you have to change. You must act the way I want you to act." Some people are better at loving their pets than the people in their lives. But to love a pet unconditionally is hard too. A plant, however , is easy to love just the way it is. Therefore, nurturing a plant offers us an excellent opportunity to practice unconditional love.

Why does virtually every spiritual tradition advocate unconditional love? Because love has such transformational power. Unconditional love brings forth peaceful feelings in both the giver and the receiver. Select a plant, indoor or outdoor, that you'll see every day. Practice taking care of and loving that plant as if it were your baby. Talk to your plant, tell it how much you love it. Love your plant whether it blooms or not, whether it lives or dies. Just love it. Notice how you feel as you offer this plant your unconditional love. When you offer this type of love you are never agitated, irritated, or hurried. You are simply in a loving space. Practice this type of love. Practice this type of love each time you see your plant, at least once a day.

After a short while, you'll be able to expend your loving-kindness beyond your plant as well. As you notice how good it feels to love, see if you can offer a similar love to the people in your life. Practice not needing them to change or be different to receive your love. Love them just the way they are. Your plant can be a wonderful teacher--showing you the power of love. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Du'a of the Week:
When becoming frustrated about paying a debt: Allahumma ikfini bi halalika an haramika wa aghnini bi fadlika amman siwaka. (O Allah, suffice me with what You have made lawful in place of what You have made unlawful, and by Your grace free me of the need for anyone besides You).

Food for Thought:
To accuse others for one's misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows one's education is complete.

LESSON OF THE DAY 496

Ayahs of the Day:
And there is a lesson for you in cattle: We let you drink from what is inside them, between feces and blood, milk that is pure and palatable to those who drink. And from the fruits of the date palm and the grape you make wine and wholesome food; surely in that is a sign for people who understand. [16: 66,67]

Hadith of the Day:
O Allah! I seek refuge in you from knowledge which holds no benefit, from a heart which is not submissive and humble, from a soul which is never satisfied, and from a supplication which goes unanswered. [Ahmad]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who believes in destiny yet cries over the loss of that which is fleeting. How strange is the one who knows Reckoning to be true and yet goes on hoarding ceaselessly. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Lighten up: These days, it seems that almost all of us are too serious. The root of being uptight is our unwillingness to accept life as being different, in any way, from our expectations. Very simply, we want things to be a certain way but they are not a certain way. Life is simply as it is. Our limited perspective, our hopes and fears become our measure of life, and when circumstances don't fit our ideas, they become our difficulties. We spend our lives wanting things, people, and events to be just as we want them to be--and when they are not, we fight and we suffer.

The first step in recovering from overseriousness is to admit that you have a problem. You have to want to change, to become more easy going. You have to see that your own uptightness is largely of your own creation--it's composed of the way you have set up your life and the way you react to it. The next step is to understand the link between your expectations and your frustration level. Whenever you expect something to be a certain way and it isn't, you're upset and you suffer. On the other hand, when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free. To hold on is to be uptight. To let go is to lighten up.

A good exercise is to try to approach a single day without expectations. Don't expect people to be friendly. When they're not, you won't be surprised or bothered. If they are, you'll be delighted. Don't expect your day to be problem free. Instead, as problems come up, say to yourself, "Ah, another hurdle to overcome." As you approach your day in this manner you'll notice how graceful life can be. Pretty soon , with practice, you'll lighten up your entire life. And when you lighten up, life is a lot more fun. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Instead of judging others as people who ought to be behaving in certain ways, see them as reflection a part of you, and ask yourself what it is you are ready to learn from them.

LESSON OF THE DAY 495

Ayah of the Day:
By God, We have sent messengers to peoples before you, but Satan made the latter's acts seem pleasing to them, so he is their patron today; and there is a painful penalty is store for them. [16: 64]

Hadith of the Day:
Be keen to pursue that which is beneficial to you, rely upon God for aid, and be not helpless. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Silence: The best remedy for anger. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
When trying to be helpful, focus on little things. Mother Teresa once said, "We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do little things with great love." Sometimes our grandiose plans to do great things at some later time interfere with our chances to do little things right now. There are hungry people in the streets, elderly people who can use some company, mothers who need help with their children, people who can't read, people who need to be listened to, and thousands and thousands of other little things that need to be done.

We can't change the world, but to make the world a brighter place we don't need to. All we really have to do is focus on those little acts of kindness, things we can do right now. If we focus on how little difference our acts of kindness really make in the scheme of things, surely we will end up frustrated--and will probably use our helplessness as an excuse to do nothing. If, however, we take great care in doing something--anything--we will feel the joy of giving and will help to make our world just a little bit brighter. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
You are the creator of your thought, which means that in some metaphysical way, you're the creator of your life.

LESSON OF THE DAY 494

Ayahs of the Day:
And We only sent down the Book down to you so you may clarify for them what they differ on; and as guidance and mercy to a people who believe. And God sends down water down from the sky, enlivening the earth thereby after it has died. Surely in that is a sign for people who are listening. [16: 64,65]

Hadith of the Day:
Indeed the angels lower their wings before the seeker of knowledge. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Worldly honor may be through wealth, but heavenly honor is certainly through works. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Remember, one hundred years from now, all new people. In the scheme of things, one hundred years isn't all that long a time. However one thing is for sure: A hundred years from now we will all be gone from this planet. And when kept in mind, this idea can fill us with needed perspective during times of perceived crisis or stress.

If you have a flat tire or lock yourself out of your house, what's it going to mean one hundred years from now? How about if someone acted unkindly toward you or if you had to stay up most of the night working? What if your house didn't get cleaned or your computer breaks down? Suppose you can't afford to go on a much needed vacation, buy a new car, or move to a larger apartment? All of these things and most others are brought into a deeper perspective when looked at with a hundred-year view. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
The antecedent to every action is a thought. It isn't the world that makes you unhappy, or the way people are in the world. It's how you process the people and events of our world.

LESSON OF THE DAY 493

Ayahs of the Day:
If God were to punish people for their injustice, not a single creature would be left on earth: but God leaves them be until a determined time. And when their time has come, they cannot postpone it even an hour nor yet bring it on. [16: 61]

Hadith of the Day:
Protect (yourselves) from the earth for it is your mother and there is no one who does any act, good or evil, except that it will tell about it. [Tabrani]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Beware, beware! For God has been so protective that it almost seems like Divine forgiveness. [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Become an early riser. This simple, practical strategy help many people discover a more peaceful, even more meaningful life. So many people wake up, rush to get ready, grab a cup of coffee, and charge out the door to work. After working all day, they return home, tired. The same is usually true for men and women who stay home with their children: They get up just in time to start doing things for the kids. There is virtually no time for anything else. Whether you work, raise a family, or both, for the most part you are tired to enjoy any time left for you.

As a solution to the tiredness, the assumption is often made, "I'd better get as much sleep as I can." So, your free time is spent sleeping. For many people this creates a deep longing in the heart. Surely there must be more to life than work, children, and sleep. Another way of looking at your fatigue is to consider that a lack of fulfillment and a sense of being overwhelmed both contribute to your tiredness. And, contrary to popular logic, a little less sleep and a little more time for you might be just what you need to combat your sense of fatigue. An hour or two that is reserved just for you--before your day begins--is an incredible way to improve your life.

Many people have told me that this one shift in their routine was the single lost important change they have ever made in their lives. For the first time ever, they are able to participate in those quiet activities they never found the time to do. All of a sudden, the books are getting read, the meditation gets done, the sunrise is appreciated. The fulfillment you experience more than makes up for any sleep you miss out on. If you must, turn off the television at night and get to sleep an hour or two earlier. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Most people are searching for happiness. They're looking for it. They're trying to find it in someone or something outside of themselves. That's a fundamental mistake. Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way that you think.

LESSON OF THE DAY 492

Ayahs of the Day:
Ungrateful for what We have given them. Then enjoy yourselves for now; for you will come to know. And they assign part of what We have provided them to what they do not know; by God, you'll surely be questioned about what you invented. [16: 55,56]

Hadith of the Day:
The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in (both) prosperity and adversity. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
He who busies himself in Lord's Work, finds the Lord busy in his work. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Cut yourself some slack. Each of the strategies in this book are geared toward helping you become more relaxed, peaceful, and loving. One of the most important pieces of this puzzle, however, is to remember that your goal is to stay relaxed, to not get too worked up or concerned about how you are doing. Practice the strategies, keep them in mind, yet don't worry about being perfect. Cut yourself some slack! There will be many times when you lose it, when you revert to being uptight, frustrated, stressed, and reactive--get used to it. When you do, it's okay. Life is a process--just one thing after another. When you lose it, just start again.

One of the common mistakes I see when people are attempting to become more inwardly peaceful is that they become frustrated by little setbacks. An alternative is to see your growth and perspective. Say to yourself, "Woops, I lost it again. Oh well, next time I'll handle it differently." Over time, you'll notice drastic changes in your responses to life, but won't happen all at once. No one is going to bat 100 percent, or even close to it. All that's important is that, generally speaking, you are doing your best and that you are moving in the right direction. When you learn to keep your perspective and stay loving toward yourself, even when you prove you are human, you'll be well on your way to a happier life. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Habits are changed by practicing new behavior, and this is true for mental habits as well. What distinguishes what's alive from what is dead is growth, be it in plants or in you.

LESSON OF THE DAY 491

Ayahs of the Day:
Whatever blessings you have is from God; and when adversity touches you, it is to God that you groan. But then when God removes the adversity from you, some of you attribute partners to their Lord. [15: 53,54]

Hadith of the Day:
Procrastination in repaying debts by a wealthy person is oppression. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
O son of Adam! When you see God following you with blessings even though you are disobedient, watch out! [Ali radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Acknowledge the totality of your being. We deny the parts of ourselves that we deem unacceptable rather than accepting the fact that we're less than perfect. One of the reason it's important to accept all parts of yourself is that it allows you to be easier on yourself, more compassionate. When you act or feel insecure, rather than pretending to be "together," you can open to the truth and say to yourself, "I'm feeling frightened and that's okay." If you're feeling a little jealous, greedy, or angry, rather than deny or bury your feelings, you can open to them, which helps you move through them quickly and grow beyond them.

When you no longer think of your negative feelings as a big deal, or as something to fear, you'll no longer be as frightened by them. When you open to the totality of your being you no longer have to pretend that your life is perfect, or even hope that it will be, Instead you can accept yourself as you are, right now.

When you acknowledge the less than perfect parts of yourself, something magical begins to happen. Along with the negative, you'll begin to notice the positive, the wonderful aspects of yourself that you may not have given yourself credit for, or perhaps been aware of. You'll notice that while you may, at times, act with self interest in mind, at other times you are incredibly selfless. Sometimes you may act insecure or frightened, but most often you are courageous. While you can certainly be uptight, you can also be quite relaxed. When the negative characteristics arise you can begin to recognize them as part of a bigger picture. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There's only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.

LESSON OF THE DAY 490

Ayahs of the Day:
God said, "don't adopt two gods, for there is only one God: so let it be Me that you fear." And to God belongs what is in the heavens and the earth; and to God is due perpetual devotion. So do you fear other than God? [16: 51,52]

Hadith of the Day:
Someone who sets forth in search for knowledge is busy in the cause od Allah until he returns from his quest. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The thankful believer is closest to well being. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Think of your problems as potential teachers. Most people would agree that the greatest sources of stress in our lives is our problems. To a certain degree this is true. A more accurate assessment, however, is that the amount of stress we feel has more to do with how we relate to our problems than it does with the problems themselves. In other words, how much of a problem do we make our problems? Do we see them as emergencies, or as potential teachers?

Problems come in many shapes, sizes, and degrees of seriousness, but all have one thing in common: They present us with something that we wish were different. The more we struggle with our problems and the more we want them to go away, the worse they seem and the more stress they cause us. Ironically, and luckily, the opposite is also true. When we accept our problems as an inevitable part of life, when we look at them as potential teachers, it's as if a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.

Think of a problem that you have struggled for quite some time. How have you dealt with this problem up until now? If you're like most, you've probably struggled with it, mentally rehearsed it, analyzed it again and again, but have come up short. Where has all this struggle led you? probably to more confusion and stress. Now think of the same problem in a new way. Rather than push away the problem and resist it, try to embrace it. Mentally, hold the problem near to your heart. Ask yourself what valuable lesson(s) this problem might be able to teach you. Could it be teaching you to be more careful or patient? Does it have anything to do with greed, envy, carelessness, or forgiveness? Or something equally powerful?

Whatever problems you are dealing with, chances are they could be thought of in a softer way that includes a genuine desire to learn from them. When you hold your problems in this light, they soften like a clenched fist that is opening. Give this strategy a try, you'll agree that most problems aren't the emergencies we think they are. And usually, once we learn what we need to learn, they begin to go away. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Du'a of the Week:
When something bad occurs: Al-hamdu li'Llahi ala kulli hal (Praise be to Allah, in every state)

Food for thought:
Every moment that you spend upset, in despair, in anguish, angry, or hurt because of the behavior of anybody else in your life is a moment in which you've given up control of your life.

LESSON OF THE DAY 489

Ayahs of the Day:
And all in the heavens and all on the earth bow to God, from animals to angels, without being proud; they are in awe of their Lord above them, and they do what they are directed. [16: 49,50]

Hadith of the Day:
Every sin of a martyr is forgiven except debt. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The accomplished spiritual is the one who has achieved the balance between hope and fear. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]

Guidance of the Day:
Do a favor and don't ask for, or expect, one in return. This is a strategy that can help you practice integrating service into your life. It will show you how easy it is and how good it feels to do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. So often, either consciously or unconsciously, we want something from others, especially when we have done something for them. It's almost as though we keep score of our own good deeds rather than remembering that giving is its own reward.

When you do something nice for someone, just do it, you'll notice (if you are quiet enough inside yourself) a beautiful feeling of ease and peace. Just as vigorous exercise releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good physically, your acts of loving-kindness release the emotional equivalent. Your reward is the feeling you receive in knowing that you participated in an act of kindness, or don't need something in return or even a "thankyou." In fact, you don't even need to let the person know what you have done.

What interferes with this peaceful feeling is our expectation of reciprocity. Our own thoughts interfere with our peaceful feelings as they clutter our minds, as we get caught up in what we think we want or need. The solution is to notice your "I want something in return" thoughts and gently dismiss them. In the absence of these thoughts, your positive feelings will return. See if you can think of something really thoughtful to do for someone, and don't expect anything in return. When you complete your favor, see if you can tap into the warm feeling of knowing you have done something really nice without expecting anything from the person you have just helped. If you practice, you'll discover that the feelings themselves are reward enough. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Your own expectations are the key to the whole business of mental health. If you expect to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled in life, then that is where you'll place your attention, and that is what you will manifest.

LESSON OF THE DAY 488

Ayahs of the Day:
Or God's seizing them with gradual wastage? Yet it is the fact that your Lord is indeed kind, merciful. Do they not observe what God has created? their shadows revolve from the right and the left, bowing to God as they shrink away. [16: 47,48]

Hadith of the Day:
Pay (regular charity) out of your property, for truly it is a purifier....be kind to your relatives, and acknowledge the rights of the poor, of (your) neighbors, and of those who ask for assistance. [Fiqh us Sunnah]

Wise Quote of the Day:
How strange is the one who claims to know the reality of death and yet can go on enjoying himself heedlessly, and the one who recognizes the evanescence of the world yet longs after it tirelessly. [Othman radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Make service an integral part of your life. To become a kinder , more loving individual requires action. Yet, ironically, there is nothing specifically you have to do, no prescription to follow. Rather, most genuine acts of kindness and generosity seem natural; they stem from a type of thinking where service and giving have been integrated into the person's thought process.

If one of your goals is to help others, you will find the most appropriate ways. Your chances to be of service are endless. The key, is to remember that being at service isn't a one-time effort. It's not doing something nice for someone and then wondering why others aren't being nice too, or doing things for us. Instead, a life of service is a life long process, a way of thinking about life. Does the trash need to be taken out? If so, go ahead and take it out even if it's not your turn. Is someone you know being difficult? May be they need a hug or someone to listen to them. Are you aware of a charity that is in trouble? Could you possibly give a little extra this month?

The best way to be of service is often very simple--it's those little, quiet, often unnoticed acts of kindness that I can choose on a daily basis--being supportive of a new endeavor by my spouse, or simply taking the time and energy to listen. There is an ancient saying, "Giving is its own reward." it's really true. When you give, you also receive. In fact, what you receive is directly proportional to what you give. As you give more freely of youself in your own unique ways, you will experience more feelings of peace than you ever thought possible. Everyone wins, especially you. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for thought:
Be consistently aware of the need to serve God and to serve others in any way and all of your actions. That is the way of the miracle worker.

LESSON OF THE DAY 487

Ayahs of the Day:
Do those who plot evils feel secure from God causing the earth to swallow them up, or the coming of punishment to them from where they do not perceive, or God's seizing them in the midst of their comings and goings, they being unable to prevent it. [16: 45,46]

Hadith of the Day:
Do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Covetousness is itself poverty regardless of how rich one is; detachment is itself wealth regardless of how poor one is; and not wanting vengeance is itself patience regardless if one was wronged or not. [Omar radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
A quiet mind is the foundation of inner peace. And inner peace translates into outer peace. Although there are many techniques for quieting the mind, such as reflection, deep breathing, contemplation, and visualization, the most universally accepted and regularly used technique is meditation. In as little as five to ten minutes a day, you can train your mind to be still and quiet. This stillness can be incorporated into your daily life, making you less reactive and irritable, and giving you greater perspective to see things as small stuff rather than as emergencies. Meditation teaches you to be calm by giving you the experience of absolute relaxation. It teaches you to be at peace.

There are many different forms and variations of meditation. Essentially, however, meditation involves emptying your mind. Usually, meditation is done alone in a quiet environment. You close your eyes and focus your attention on your breath--in and out, in and out. As thoughts enter your mind, you gently let them go and bring your attention back to your breath. Do this over and over again. Over time, you'll train yourself to keep your attention on your breath as you gently dismiss any stray thoughts.

You'll quickly discover that meditation isn't easy. You will notice that your mind will fill with thoughts the moment you attempt to keep it still. It's rare for a beginner to be able to focus attention for more than a few seconds. The trick to becoming an effective meditator is to be gentle on yourself and to be consistent, Don't be discouraged. A few minutes each day will reap tremendous benefits, over time. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

P.S: Our meditation has been prescribed for us in the form of five daily prayers, if we are able to focus more on what we are uttering, rather than just the mechanical aspect of it, we will be able to set our minds free, inshaAllah.

Food for Thought:
A non-doer is very often a critic--that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and changes.

LESSON OF THE DAY 486

Ayahs of the Day:
We never sent before you any but men whom We inspired--so ask the people with the Reminder, if you do not know--with clarifications and scriptures. And We revealed to you the Reminder, that you might clarify to people what had been revealed to them, and that they might reflect. [16: 43,44]

Hadith of the Day:
One who cares for widows and the poor is like those who fight in the way of Allah or those who spend their days fasting and their nights praying. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Rein in your tongue from complaining about others, and you will be granted a life of happiness. [Abu Bakr radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Remember that you become what you practice most. Repeated practice is one of the most basic principles of most spiritual and meditative paths. In other words, whatever you practice most is what you will become. If you are in the habit of being uptight whenever life isn't quite right, repeatedly reacting to criticism by defending yourself, insisting on being right, allowing your thinking to snowball in response to adversity, or acting like life is an emergency, then, unfortunately, your life will be a reflection of this kind of practice. You will be frustrated because, in a sense, you have practiced being frustrated.

Likewise, however, you can choose to bring forth in yourself qualities of compassion, patience, kindness, humility, and peace--again, through what you practice. It's safe to say that practice makes perfect. It makes sense, then, to be careful what you practice.

This isn't to suggest that you make your entire life into a great project where the goal is to be constantly improving yourself. Only that it's immensely helpful to become conscious of your own habits, both internal and external. Where is your attention? How do you spend your time? Are you cultivating habits that are helpful to your stated goals? Is what you say you want your life to stand for consistent with what your life really stands for? Simply asking yourself these and other important questions, and answering them honestly, helps to determine which strategies will be most useful to you.

Sadly,many people spend far more time washing their car or watching reruns of television shows they don't even enjoy than making time for aspects of life that nurture their hearts. If you remember that what you practice you will become, you may begin choosing different types of practice. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered. The elevator to success is out of order. You're going to take the stairway, one step at a time.

LESSON OF THE DAY 485

Ayahs of the Day:
As for those who have gone into exile for God after having been oppressed, We will make a good place for them in this world, though the reward of the hereafter is certainly greater--if they only knew--those who are constant and trust in their Lord. [16: 41,42]

Hadith of the Day:
Verily, Allah will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
To be humble is to accept the truth and submit to it even if you heard it from a child or someone who is uneducated or ignorant. [Fudhayl ibn Iyaadh]

Guidance of the Day:
Be willing to learn from friends and family. One of the saddest observations I've made centers on how reluctant many of us are to learn from the people closest to us--our parents, spouses, children, and friends. Rather than being open to learning, we close ourselves off out of embarrassment, fear, stubbornness, or pride. It's almost as if we say to ourselves, "I have already learned all that I can (or want to learn) from this person; there is nothing else I can (or need to) learn."

It's sad because the people closest to us know us the best. They are sometimes able to see ways in which we are acting in a self defeating manner and can offer very simple solutions. If we are too proud or stubborn to learn, we lose out on some wonderful, simple ways to improve our lives. It's such a simple shortcut for growth, yet almost no one uses it. All it takes is a little courage and humility, and the ability to let go of our ego.

This is especially true if you are in the habit of ignoring suggestions, taking them as criticism, or tuning out certain members of your family. Imagine how shocked they will be when you ask them, sincerely, for their advice. Not only does this make the person you are asking feel wanted and special, but end up getting some terrific advice. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
The trouble with experience is that so few people are born with it. Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.

LESSON OF THE DAY 484

Ayahs of the Day:
They swear by God the most intent of their oaths that God will not resurrect the dead. Oh, no! It is a promise binding on God--even though people don't know--to clarify to them what they differed on, and so that those who scoffed may know that they were the ones who were liars. Our only word to something when We intend it is that We say to it "Be," and it is. [16: 38,39,40]

Hadith of the Day:
Those who show no mercy will be shown no mercy. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
There is no good in excess, just as there is no excess in good. [imam Abu Hanifa]

Guidance of the Day:
Practice ignoring your negative thoughts. It has been estimated that an average human being has around 50,000 thoughts per day. That's a lot of thoughts. Some of these thoughts are going to be positive and productive. Unfortunately, however, many of them are also going to be negative--angry, fearful, pessimistic, worrisome. Indeed, the important question in terms of becoming more peaceful isn't whether or not you are going to have negative thoughts--you are--it's what you choose to do with the ones that you have.

In a practical sense, you really have only two options when dealing with negative thoughts. You can analyze your thoughts--ponder, think through, study, think some more--or you can learn to ignore them--dismiss, pay less attention to, not take so seriously. The latter option, learning to take negative thoughts less seriously, is infinitely more effective in terms of learning to be more peaceful.

When you have a thought--any thought--that's all it is, a thought! It can't hurt you without your consent. For example, if you have a thought from your past, "I'm upset because my parents didn't do a good job," you can get into it, as many do, which will create inner turmoil for you. You can give the thought significance in your mind, and you'll convince yourself that you should indeed be unhappy. Or, you can recognize that your mind is about to create a mental snowball, and you can dismiss the thought. This doesn't mean your childhood wasn't difficult--it may very well have been--but in this present moment, you have a choice of which thoughts to pay attention to.

The same mental dynamic applies to thoughts of this morning, even five minutes ago. An argument that happened while you were walking out the door on your way to work is no longer an actual argument, it's a thought in your mind. This dynamic also applies to future-oriented thoughts of this evening, next week, or ten years down the road. You'll find, in all cases, that if you ignore or dismiss a negative thought that fills your mind, a more peaceful feeling is only a moment away. And, in a more peaceful state of mind, your wisdom and common sense will tell you what to do. This strategy takes practice but is well worth the effort. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
If you see a problem, it's yours. If you think somebody should do something about it, remember, you are as much a somebody as anybody.

LESSON OF THE DAY 483

Ayah of the Day:
We have in fact sent a messenger to every people, telling them to serve God and turn away from idols. Among them were those whom God guided, and among them were those who deserved to go wrong. So travel the earth and see how those who denied truth ended up. [16: 36]

Hadith of the Day:
On the Day of judgment, every relationship will appear before those who have them, and then the relationship will testify that it was maintained, if it was maintained, or that it was severed, if it was severed. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Only take as your companions those who have these four qualities: generosity even when they have little, willingness to pardon an offense committed against them, patient endurance in times of affliction, and contentment with God's decree for them. [Shaykh Abul Hasan Shadili]

Guidance of the Day:
Think of what you have instead of what you want. One of the most pervasive and destructive tendencies is that of focusing on what we want instead of what we have. It doesn't seem to make any difference how much we have; we just keep expanding our list of desires, which guarantees we will remain dissatisfied. The mind-set that says "I'll be happy when this desire is fulfilled" is the same mind-set that will repeat itself once that desire is met. If we don't get what we want we keep thinking about all that we don't have--and we remain dissatisfied.

If we do get what we want, we simply re-create the same thinking in our new circumstances. So, despite getting what we want, we still remain unhappy. Happiness can't be found when we are yearning for new desires.Luckily, there is a way to be happy. It involves changing the emphasis of our thinking from what we want to what we have. Each time you notice yourself falling into the "I wish life were different" trap, back off and start over. Take a breath and remember all that you have to be grateful for. When you focus not on what you want, but on what you have, you end up getting more of what you want anyway.

If you are grateful for your spouse he/she will be more loving. If you're grateful for your job, you'll do a better job, be more productive, and probably end up getting a raise anyway. If you focus on ways to enjoy yourself around home rather than waiting to enjoy yourself in Hawaii, you'll be in the habit of enjoying yourself. Make a note to yourself to start thinking more about what you have than what you want. If you do, your life will start appearing much better than before. For perhaps the first time in your life, you will know what it means to feel satisfied. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Du'a of the Week:
Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum, bi rahmatika astaghith. (O You, the Everlasting and All-Sustainer, persistently Do I invoke Your mercy).

Food for Thought:
Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep saying it.